Rode Today
Helped at the show all morning, and most of the afternoon. Remembered why I really really like dressage shows. For one thing, you don't have to go looking for the riders-they're right there waiting, usually ahead of time. Of course, they also know what time they're supposed to be there, so, makes it a lot easier. LOVED watching the little kids on the ponies, though. heeee! Of course, there's always some kid up on a push-button horse that wins the pee-wee classes. That makes me mad, cause the little shit riding the pony really is the better rider, know what I mean? Oh well.
But, got to ride James after I finally got home. He was a bit slower in the walk. I hope it was because he was a bit sore, as opposed to his feet hurting again. :(
Remembered the keeping his head down. Remembered the transitions, trying to keep him soft and working through the back. Remembered to not move the hands with the rein back.
Need to remember to keep the upper body straight with the rein back, and just tilt the pelvis.
Need to remember to give more-James looked at me funny the first time I got frustrated with using the shoulder blades to try to get him soft (instead of the hands) I just let the inside hand go, and he relaxed even more. pbpbpbpbpbbpb But, it did make it really super easy to tell if he was leaning because we had, like, 5 pounds of pressure on the reins, and that was all.
Need to remember to check the neck. Are there muscles there? Then he may actually be using himself properly, even if it seems the head is weird. He had his head/neck kind of flat, but duh, he still could have been working through. (Felt not quite as smooth as usual, but again, that happens occasionally, especially when he's a bit sore).
Oh, and I just have to say they so have been testing me since construction started. Apparently, since some things are changing, then the rules should, too. sigh. Something about having to chase them around to get them in their stalls at night. So I yelled, and didn't give them cookies. Tonight James let me just catch him in the back field, so not sure what was up with that. (Usually if I want them, and they're in the back, I have to catch the girls, and bring them in, then James can come thundering in to make a grand entrance.) Please, please let him just be sore, and not owie with the feet.
But, got to ride James after I finally got home. He was a bit slower in the walk. I hope it was because he was a bit sore, as opposed to his feet hurting again. :(
Remembered the keeping his head down. Remembered the transitions, trying to keep him soft and working through the back. Remembered to not move the hands with the rein back.
Need to remember to keep the upper body straight with the rein back, and just tilt the pelvis.
Need to remember to give more-James looked at me funny the first time I got frustrated with using the shoulder blades to try to get him soft (instead of the hands) I just let the inside hand go, and he relaxed even more. pbpbpbpbpbbpb But, it did make it really super easy to tell if he was leaning because we had, like, 5 pounds of pressure on the reins, and that was all.
Need to remember to check the neck. Are there muscles there? Then he may actually be using himself properly, even if it seems the head is weird. He had his head/neck kind of flat, but duh, he still could have been working through. (Felt not quite as smooth as usual, but again, that happens occasionally, especially when he's a bit sore).
Oh, and I just have to say they so have been testing me since construction started. Apparently, since some things are changing, then the rules should, too. sigh. Something about having to chase them around to get them in their stalls at night. So I yelled, and didn't give them cookies. Tonight James let me just catch him in the back field, so not sure what was up with that. (Usually if I want them, and they're in the back, I have to catch the girls, and bring them in, then James can come thundering in to make a grand entrance.) Please, please let him just be sore, and not owie with the feet.