Lesson # 9 – Quietness and Frame

Lesson #9 was a workout session!  Another one-hour private session with Paulette, as my classmates were still away.  I have learned so much in the past two weeks, it is indescribable.

Paulette has immense patience and tonight she worked me at being more quiet in my seat, core, upper body and hands.  It was intense and I “think” by the end of the night, I was getting closer/better.  Out came the stirrups which forced me to sit the jog and I worked on collecting R.Z. in a slower jog to bring my awareness of how “loud” I was in the saddle/hands.  It was an excellent awareness session. 

Then I practiced transitions from a jog/trot/jog (quiet jog, extend into a more moving trot, back to jog, etc.etc.).  After I had those chops fairly good, then the hard work began and boy oh boy – what a work out it was.   It was time to learn about proper “frame” – western style.  In English style, you have a more collected, “shorter” framed horse.  In western, the frame is longer and the head set is lower, so the neck runs longitudinal.  Sounds easy?  that’s what I thought – LOL!!!  and the workout began!    R.Z. was playing with me all the way, how much would I “push” him into the bit and get him to drop his head to the proper set.  I am a softie and I would give him the cues (which I thought was enough force) and he would “play” with me … Paulette then demonstrated how much force I needed to give (hard to describe, put had to pull back with hands, push forward with legs – until he dropped his head).  After a lengthy period of “push me – pull me”, R.Z. and I connected and I had it!  Even if it were for only a brief moment of time, I now understand what Paulette was trying to convey to me.  R.Z.’s head “dropped like a rock” and we jogged off into a western frame.

The past two weeks have been absolutely incredible and I look forward to my “summer session” with my group.

Heather

Lesson #8 – Refining the Aids and Looking Ahead!

I was apprehensive going into Lesson #8, I have had a past week of whirlwind emotions and my mindset was not “into” a Lesson.  However, I knew in my heart that I couldn’t miss a riding lesson and off in the car I went – heading towards Lesson # 8.

My two riding partners (students) were away this week, so I lucked out immensely into a 1 hour private lesson with Paulette.  It was incredible and one of the best that I have had to date.  We worked on circles set up in “mid” arena (i.e., OFF the bends) to fine tune my aids.  We also worked on my seat more, as I tend to “two point” my seat (from my English Lessons background) instead of firmly planting my seat in the Western style.  The feet came out of the stirrups and off we jogged, forcing me to sit it and comply

In the last part of the session, my instructor asked me how I was feeling and if there was anything I wanted to specifically work on (since I was the only person in the class today, we could focus on what I really wanted to).  I told her that since my bad fall last year, I cannot help but look “at the horse” instead of “looking ahead” and it is a terrible habit that I have fallen into (always wanting to know where the horse’s feet were) and I wanted to break it and find a way to force myself to “look ahead”.  That is all I needed to say.  Paulette then put me in a whirlwind of directions at the jog/trot – instructing me to change directions at the drop of a dime.  I was going here, there, everywhere with my lovely school horse “R.Z.”.   What she did WORKED!!!  I was concentrating so hard trying to find the letters on the arena walls (for where I was supposed to go) – my aids suddenly came to me naturally (leg and rein) and my eyes were FORWARD – “looking ahead” !!!  I was now “riding” and it felt great!!!!

THANK YOU TO PAULETTE for an absolutely wonderful private session. 

There is an old Arabian Proverb that goes, “Heaven is the wind between a horse’s ears” and I felt it last night.  I was in “heaven” for a moment in time.

Heather

Lesson # 7 – Refinement and New Experiences

It’s hard to believe that 7 weeks have passed since I decided to get back into the saddle.  Time has certainly flown by and I am indeed having fun.  I cannot even convey the progress that I feel I have made.

Last night, Lesson # 7, I went out to catch my faithful and steady steed, “R.Z.” – however, lo and behold he has lost a shoe.  I told my instructor that perhaps it was a sign that I move on and select a different mount.  She asked me if I was sure about that and I said “yes” – let’s do it, before I change my mind.  I chose an older mare, actually – really “been there, done that” – 27 old Appaloosa, named “Fancy”.    The instructor warned me that I would have to get after her initially and let her know who is boss as she will refrain from working, if she knows that she could get away with it.  Well, Fancy did test me and I was after her all the time, but it was tiring - LOL!!!   My instructor then handed me a crop and with the lightest tap on the shoulder, Fancy all of a sudden stepped up her gears – and away we went!!!   Fancy was excellent at her aids (very sensitive) and a joy to ride.  She is much smaller than “R.Z” – prolly around 14.3 hh or 15 max – and was sooooooooooo comfortable!!! like sitting in a chair.  So off we went and had a very good time together, she was very good at the leg yields and was a joy to ride.

Towards the end of the lesson, my instructor said IF I feel comfortable, I can ask her for a lope, as apparently she has a very nice rocking chair lope.  I asked her a couple of times and I just got a VERY fast trot – LOL!!!! but then on the third try, I had her loping for a few strides and she was lovely.  The last round,  I asked her to go and we loped around the bend of the arena and then FIRECRACKER Fancy zipped into a big canter down the arena straight away.   The look on my instructor’s face was priceless as she was checking to make sure that “I” was OK … and surprisingly enough, I was!!!   I got Fancy back into a jog/trot and carried on … however … now Fancy was all worked up and everytime that the other horse in the arena was asked to lope, Fancy wanted to “take off”, so I had to work on keeping her at a walk.

BIG obstacles were overcome tonight.  I tried a different horse (other than my faithful steed, R.Z.) and I loped/cantered (something that I have not done in a VERY long time).

Heather

Leg Yields … Lesson #6

Lesson # 6 was all about leg yields.  These are difficult for me, as really – I am “not” a coordinated person.   R.Z. tried over and over and over again and there were times that we were crooked, half-crooked and a little bit crooked.  ONCE – we nailed it - a lovely diagonal yield, feet crossing over (I could feel it happening beneath me) – what a great feeling!  Other than the leg yields, the night was interesting.  For the FIRST time in 6 weeks, R.Z. was a bit stubborn (maybe he sensed I was tired and not feeling well? so tried to get away with a few things? – not sure, but he kept me working ALL night long on him).

Now back to those yields …

From the web site:  http://www.equestrianandhorse.com/training/flatwork.html

is this quote for leg yields:

Leg Yield
This is an exercise used to supple the horse throughout its entire body. The horse has to move both forwards and sideways at the same time, and remain parallel with the outside track. This is achieved by the horse crossing the front and hind legs over each other during the forwards stride.  It takes time to become proficient at leg yield, the rider needs to be able to give the horse clear aids for leg yield and be able to feel through their seat what the horse is doing underneath them in order to be able to correct the horse if they go unbalanced and feel to what extent the leg yield is progressing to. The horse needs to build up suppleness, strength and elasticity in order to become proficient. With time they should be able to easily move across a 20 by 40 meter school from one top corner across to the corner in the opposite diagonal.

Lesson # 5 … making progress

This past week was Lesson # 5 at Five Star Ranch.  My friend Janet came with me tonight and sat in the viewing room.  It was encouraging to have a friend with me.  Tonight we did alot of transitions (walk, jog, trot, halts) and R.Z. was a pro at it.  We also did more circles (increasing our aids).  Overall, the lesson went very well and R.Z. and I are becoming buddies!   Janet’s comments afterwards were so appreciated.  She commented that my seat/leg positions were great, but I need to relax my shoulders (this I could feel, that I was “bracing” – so to have someone notice and tell me, was so great!).

A very good night indeed.

Heather