(no subject)
Shattered after long day at work followed by 70 mile round trip for riding lesson. That may sound strange but it's worth it - good riding teachers with well schooled horses are a bit thin on the ground. Learning on a horse which responds in the correct way when you get it right (and conversely does not when you get it wrong) is a joy;
I've been having lessons for 2 1/2 years on my own pony, but he was lame for a few weeks recently so I've been making the journey to my teacher's yard for the last couple of months. The 8 lessons I've had so far on one of his horses have absolutely transformed my riding. The wonderful thing is that the better I am able to ride, the better my own pony goes for me. It's a long slow process, but so rewarding. It's humbling to understand that the vast majority of "problems" one has with one's horse, are actually down to lack of skill as a rider. To ride well you have to be able to show the horse what you want, with both firmness and subtlety, and then allow the horse get on with his job without interference. To do this you have to be able to continuously support and help the horse to balance himself, while maintaining your own position and balance so as not to hinder. As horses did not evolve to carry large weights in the middle of their backs, a horse's carriage with rider needs to be different to it's natural carriage without - the rider has to help the horse to do this, and to use and build his muscles to support this burden without injury. It's a curious combination of exercising complete control over the position and tone of the whole of your whole body, whilst being supple and relaxed enough to absorb the horse's movement; of being mentally very focused whilst at the same time very calm. It takes a lot of concentration and huge amounts of practice. The magical part is when you feel your horse in total balance and poise, when he is feels as if he is floating, when you find you are so in harmony that he can carry himself like this without hindrance or direction. I'm finally beginning to get this on occasion and it's just amazing.
I must sleep now.
I've been having lessons for 2 1/2 years on my own pony, but he was lame for a few weeks recently so I've been making the journey to my teacher's yard for the last couple of months. The 8 lessons I've had so far on one of his horses have absolutely transformed my riding. The wonderful thing is that the better I am able to ride, the better my own pony goes for me. It's a long slow process, but so rewarding. It's humbling to understand that the vast majority of "problems" one has with one's horse, are actually down to lack of skill as a rider. To ride well you have to be able to show the horse what you want, with both firmness and subtlety, and then allow the horse get on with his job without interference. To do this you have to be able to continuously support and help the horse to balance himself, while maintaining your own position and balance so as not to hinder. As horses did not evolve to carry large weights in the middle of their backs, a horse's carriage with rider needs to be different to it's natural carriage without - the rider has to help the horse to do this, and to use and build his muscles to support this burden without injury. It's a curious combination of exercising complete control over the position and tone of the whole of your whole body, whilst being supple and relaxed enough to absorb the horse's movement; of being mentally very focused whilst at the same time very calm. It takes a lot of concentration and huge amounts of practice. The magical part is when you feel your horse in total balance and poise, when he is feels as if he is floating, when you find you are so in harmony that he can carry himself like this without hindrance or direction. I'm finally beginning to get this on occasion and it's just amazing.
I must sleep now.