My Riding Journal

      Even though we have been having a lot of winter weather, we have gotten a lot of riding in. However, I haven't been keeping up with the riding journal. Have been riding at Tally Ho EC under the instruction of Amara Packwood. The first lesson was an impulsion lesson on a almost 17 hand slow to go beginning lesson horse. Trained to stop when his rider is off balance, I spent the whole lesson trying to get a 'go.' Guess I had some balance issues to work out. I did learn how to offer impulsion cues with my legs while posting. Additionally, learned which muscles I use posting that apparently I don't use for anything else.
     After that ordeal, I starting riding Sugar. Sugar also is happy to stop on the dime if you are off balance but very senstitive to cues. Unfortunately I do a lot of cueing that I am unaware of. After three weeks of riding Sugar, I have learned to maintain a better seat, keep my shoulders balanced, use my inside leg to keep her on the rail, avoid crossing my reins over the whithers, and to maintain a soft contact. In addition to the continuous implusion cues with my legs. Needless to say my thighs and calfs love me!
     This week I continued my work with canter departs from the posting trot. Did not realize that I need to stop posting, sit, and then ask for the canter depart. The trick is to sit with impulsion...LOL! In other words, sit while asking for forward impulsion so that the horse doesn't stop trotting. Then ask with a half halt (which I call a rein jiggle) to prepare the horse to listen for the next cue and then ask for the canter. The ask for canter is outside leg slight behind the girth and inside leg on the girth and check your hands to make sure they are soft then squeeze and let your hands go slightly forward making sure you don't brace against the reins. With Sugar I also have to encourage forward impulsion with a crop. Just a tap on the shoulder immediately after I squeeze usually does the trick. I then transition back to the trot and try to keep the impulsion. Working to keep or regain my balance and actually keep him from cutting the corners with my legs.
     My lessons to Opie transition was not as encouraging as I had hoped. Possibly because Opie just came out of the paddock after a long rest and wasn't listening very well at all. I expected to start up where we had left off-- a very positive note on our last ride in January. That didn't happen. It was obvious Opie wanted to be back at the hay bale just slightly barn sour. He even took off on me once when someone opened the arena gate. Our ride back to the barn wasn't much more impressive as he took off and cantered down the hill to the driveway and almost hit my car.
     I was much more encouraged after this week's lesson though. I felt I had a great sense of balance, I was able to stay balanced during the posting trot and keep Sugar on the rail with leg cues. The trot to canter transitions went well and I really didn't feel like I was going to come off during the down transtions even if he took a tight corner unexpectedly. I must say I was pleased and as an added bonus... I could still walk the next day.