I've been tossing around where to start and decided the first two things I'd attempt are putting some bend in my elbows and improving my canter departs.
The elbow thing isn't as easy to fix as I thought it'd be. Old habits truly are hard to break. I have a tendency to ride with my hands down low and way in front of my saddle. It sort of puts me in a forward position. Therefore, I am probably not as deep in my saddle as I should be. Plus, I tend to use my wrists to cue instead my arms/upper body. All I can say, is it's going to take time and practice.
As for the canter, this is something I've needed help with for a long time since both my boys have issues. Linc doesn't like to pick up his right lead (got worse after his accident), and Ranger is a cross-firing beotch. Ron suggested, along with lifting the inside rein and cuing with the outside leg, that I shift my weight to my outside to "help" them make the right lead choice. Dang if it didn't work!
On Sunday, Cory, Chele, and I went riding at the Equestrian Center. Four times, I asked Ranger for a canter. Four times, I got nice departures without any of the funky chicken crap I've gotten used to.
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| Cory showing off her new, purple helmet |
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| Chele & Dawn strike a pose |
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| Rocky tells Ranger to step it up. |
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| Here we are! |
3 comments:
Good luck on the lesson tonight! Isn't it amazing what our horses can do when we figure out how to ask for it? "-)
Yeah, now we just need to keep at it!
The clinic sounds like fun! When I was riding at a friends we had to work on the wrists....I never realized I did it, and you are right, old habits are hard to break. Can't wait to hear how the next one went! Thanks for the tip on the canter...am going to try that too!
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