I rode Gatsby today for my weekly lesson and it was amazing. With everything that was going on last week I'd needed a week just me and Gatsby to chill out and do what we do best, being us. This week I was straight back to working him an outline and trying to work him in an outline at the canter as well. We are slowly progressing to be able to do it but that is the operative word, slowly. We will get there in the end. We warmed up in walk making sure that he was nice and warm, that his muscles were working and also to give me a feel of him working in his new bit (can't remember what he's got now, but when I can remember I'll let you guys know). He was really responsive and listening in this bit even if he did try to hang off my right side at times but plenty of half halts and flexion to the right soon managed to sort this out. We then moved up to the trot work this was quite simple he was forward and listening and actually doing what I wanted him to do. I soon learnt that the key to me and Gatsby working well together is me taking a firm hold of him from the start so thats what I did and will carry on to do. I did a bit of lateral work, leg yielding mainly but attempting to do some shoulder in as well. It was nice to see him listening and doing what I asked him to do. We've got to work on the leg yields more though as he does attempt to go out through the shoulder. I then moved on to doing some canter work. Recently I've been working really hard to keep my hands close together and I found that this improved my canter work to no end. It was amazing, we got some bits of canter in an outline but lots of nice transitions. It really did feel great! By the time we had finished doing canter work it was time to get off and it was safe to say I was aching like mad by then!
That's all for now! I do have photographs from this lesson but I haven't gotten around to putting them on my computer yet so they will have to be in a different post.
Until Next Time
A Girl With A Dream
Isn't it crazy how the simplest of things can improve our riding so much?? That's my I'm dying to take lessons again. I really need someone on the ground reminding me in the moment to correct my position. I'm glad you had such a fun and productive lesson! Makes the whole day better huh? :D
ReplyDeletedefinitely makes the day better when I've had a good ride on Gatsby. Makes me see things in a whole different perspective. Which is nice! I really am loving riding him and keeping busy with him. he's taught me so much over the years and I know he'll teach me more :)
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