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Post by pootle on May 4, 2010 19:41:26 GMT
In the old days as a kid, I used to lollop around on anything, long sloppy reins, headcollar even sometimes, but I always got a horse to trot when I wanted it to, canter when I wanted to and then back to trot when I wanted to. Now, as a middle aged mother who can now afford dressage lessons of which I have had many, I can no longer ride. I've just tried a pony out for my daughter. A lovely big moving but green section d. I tried to take it in hand and 'boof' I could no longer ride... The lady who owned him had a bad back and walked like a cripple. She got on him and he went lovely. relaxed and rythimic.although not collected. I got on him and he just stuck his head up and practically bolted. She told me I 'rode with my hands' and it felt as though she was right I wouldn't be so worried but this is not the first time I've got on a horse and wound it up. I know it's difficult without seeing me, but can anyone help??? It
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Post by mcw on May 4, 2010 20:28:24 GMT
Just relax whilst your riding x
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Post by Julie(luke3) on May 4, 2010 20:57:04 GMT
I would try and have some lessons somewhere. Being put on the lunge without having to use your hands will really help you get a good seat and balance. Good luck.x
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Post by sageandonion on May 5, 2010 6:20:19 GMT
You CAN ride, you just have areas for improvement, which we all have, so have some lessons, particularly lunge lessons as luke advises. I would also take a few classes up the gym, especially yoga or there is a super class called 'Body Balance' which works on balance, suppleness and core stability and is a mix of yoga, tai chi and pilates.
It is interesting you have had 'dressage' lessons and yet you ride with your hands? You need to change your instuctor and perhaps go for a more alround person. Avoid anyone claiming to be a 'Dressage Trainer', these people are often not BHS qualified and have a tendency to tell you to take a hold of the front and push the back in. May work with a warmblood if you are particularly strong in the leg, but a section D will tell you sharpish that isn't the way to do it.
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on May 5, 2010 7:54:23 GMT
Not all "dressage trainers" will do that although I know there are some, you just have to choose carefully, as with any instructor - and being BHS qualified doesn't guarantee a good one either!
Ds are typically sensitive and like to form a partnership and are very likely to object to anyone who gets on and grabs the front end or does anything that says to it "right horse, let's do it my way!". Best to start gently, not ask for too much to start with and gradually up the requests as you get to know each other - but then I'd do this with any horse I didn't know anyway, or did when I still rode. And I always started by "introducing myself" by having a chat to the face and saying hello, not just grabbing reins etc and getting aboard.
I've seen a D tolerate a very very elderly lady so stiff she made dressage judges cringe watching her and get really good scores in tests too, but then it was that D's long term partner, she may have bred him, can't remember.
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Post by Ziggy on May 5, 2010 9:50:13 GMT
I would imagine the problem is that you tensing up and the minute you get on the horse/pony senses that straight away. I rode non stop as a child but although I was a bit nervous. Now as a middle aged person, well.... I so want to ride again but every time I go and have a lesson at our local school I get so nervous. One school I went to the pony tried to take off with me. A riding school pony!!! I went with two freinds from my childrens school, I can't look them in the face now. At the other school I have been to the lady is lovely, really patient. She even said I rode very well and could see that once (many moons ago) I had ridden show animals. Made me feel very pleased. Moral of the story is go back to basics and as someone else said ride on lunge without stirrups, reins etc and above all be pateint with yourself. try relaxation techniques and it will come. Good luck!
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Post by Kerbeck on May 5, 2010 10:10:25 GMT
I had the same problem with my D when I got him, I felt so out of tune with him at first and felt like a complete idiot! It didn't help that at our yard everyone makes a point of watching you when you have a lesson! I couldn't get him to canter, he was tense, I was tense he hated feeling me on his mouth - 3 mths later we have just done our first dressage test coming second out of 27! He goes beautifully for me now and all the witches at the yard are even commenting on how good we look! I just took my time, didn't rush and had a good instructor that pushed me out of my comfort zone, did lots of transitions, did some lunge lessons without my reins and took my stirrups away sometimes, lots of trotting standing up and its worked wonders, I agree Section D's are very sensitive, he is like nothing I have ridden before but its worth it in the end, its not that you cant ride its just that the horse you tried is different to any thing you have ridden before! I have seen many horses go much better for their owners than their much better instructors!
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Post by pootle on May 5, 2010 10:22:05 GMT
Thank you so much girls I have slept on it and feel more positive today. Your posts in particular have inspired me. Body balance and lunge lessons sound like a great idea, I am going to book some straight away I'll keep posting and tell you how I go on. xx
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on May 6, 2010 9:26:20 GMT
I define a good instructor as one that can ride my horses better than I can, and they will then go better for me when I get back on!
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Post by Twiggy on May 10, 2010 19:42:24 GMT
If you can, i'd try and have a sit on something very responsive to your seat and legs and drop your reins, have a little play around so you can really feel what its like when a horse listens to your seat lunge lessons as mentioned are a great idea . Practise riding transitions with loose reins even if its just halt walk etc , focusing on your position and weight, it takes perserverence I've always been taught the head is the last piece of the puzzle, not the thing you aim to fix first, it will come naturally once you have your horse working from behind and rhythmically Don't worry, enjoy and keep perservering! Everything will come right! XXX
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