Im too excited to string it out so to cut to the chase....Ted won his class AND so did Buster:)))
How amazing is that! I had two dogs in the line up at the end,we didnt get best pup or anything but im just chuffed to bit for them both to have won their classes. To top it all off Mouse was placed fourth in her class which was brilliant as it was a big class and to have them all placed was just the icing on the cake.
I was getting myself in a flap as Peter hadnt arrived towards the end of the dog classes so I didnt know who to ask to take one of them in for me luckily her turned up just in the nick of time and took Ted in the line up for me.Actually Ted stood better for him and was much better behaved as he was still rather exuberant in the puppy class bouncing along and fidgeting a lot.
Today I had a lesson and it was a tough one. D decided to step it up a gear and it was hard!
He is still not wanting to bend in the direction of travel on the left rein so D has us doing more lateral work this time which resulted in me struggling to control his shoulders. I seem to be better/more correct with my right hand as on the left rein although I stuggle to get him to bend when he does bend im controlling the shoulder well. Where as on the right rein although he bends/flexes better I struggle with my left hand placement so he totally falls out on the shoulder. Im sure I wasnt riding particularly well as I was so tired from the very early drive and long day at the show yesterday so the instructions werent really sinking in.
Plus on Friday I helped the YO and her friend catch her friends recently purchased horse who had decided not to be caught ever again.I ended up being swung around like tarzan several times by a 17hand Warmblood and as usual my stubborness got the better of me so I hung on in there till she gave up and came in. Which has resulted in me being very stiff and sore.
Anyway the result seems to be despite me thinking we had the outside rein sussed we obviously havent as D was totally correct in pointing out that im hanging on the inside rein and he's getting very heavy in my hand.
His build is partly to blame as he is very short and thick in the neck so he finds it difficult to bend but as D said this doesnt mean he cant do it and that it isnt important that he does.
We have another lesson on Friday so hopefully with some practice in the school this week that lesson will be a bit better.
Im really tired tonight so an early night is in order...
4 comments:
well done your border tribe!
nothing to say about lessons .. i'm bad on hand placement for bend, never put enough outside rein against the neck!
Way to go, Buster, Ted, and Mouse! And you were worried about Buster's coat, too. Congrats to all. Glad you had a handler for the little monster at the end. Good to see he was listening to someone else. Shows your training has had some effect. *G*
I suspect some of your rein issues might well be related to your seat. Could be you are sitting either a bit more into your right seat bone, pushing his shoulder out to the left, or sitting to the left so he falls out under you. Try adjusting your seat on either rein by dropping your knee and getting longer on that side to see what effect it has on where his body goes. But do remember to stretch LONG on the inside in each directio to see what effect it has.
Most of the time, you can correct a horse's crookedness by sitting more correctly yourself. Once you figure out how your seat affects him, then the trick is to blanace your seat equally left to right no matter what he does. He will naturally be crooked to one side or the other as nearly all horses are and try to carry you so he is comfortable. It's up to you to adjust yourself against that and ride him truly straight.
Hope I haven't confused things, but it's worth a try. Most of the time just trying to fix things with the rein will not get you far.
Thanks im as pleased as punch with them!
Jean you might be onto something there I know when I was at Rachels she spotted I collapsed my right hip so struggle to sit up and straight down that side. I thought I was better but maybe this is the problem,my friend (well her OH) has recorded the lesson so will study it to see if this is what im doing!
Thanks Jean:)
Congratulations to you and all the pooches! What wonderful news :)
Likewise I can't say anything about the riding but sounds like very hard work!
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