Riding in a busy ring
So anyone have any mental tips on riding in the ring while lessons are going on and you're not in the lesson? I'm super-excited to finally part-lease the schoolie I love, but there'll be no avoiding riding at the same time as lessons. I think I can avoid the large group IEA lessons, at least. Anyway, I know the general ring rules - calling when passing, yielding the rail to faster gaits, generally being aware of other riders/horses. But how do I make myself not get so flustered by the other riders that I end up just bopping around and not doing anything? My plan right now is to ALLOW myself to bob about the first couple times, just so I can get an idea of what the ring is like at the times I'll be there.
It's not that I haven't ridden with others in the ring before, but I've always been the one in the lesson so had direction and a plan to follow. I'm worried that my lack of confidence will lead to unproductive rides!
It's not that I haven't ridden with others in the ring before, but I've always been the one in the lesson so had direction and a plan to follow. I'm worried that my lack of confidence will lead to unproductive rides!