. . . Usually, my physical body has to play catch up with my mental acquisition. The ironic part of my circle frustration was that until my body proved it could be done, my brain refused to accept the concept that I could keep my horse on the circle through using my outside leg and rein aids. . . .
Read More. . . I yelled back at my instructor, “What in the hell is a hole in my corridor of aids? Stop speaking in metaphors and just tell me what to do.” I then found myself, at age 28, sitting on my horse in the middle of the arena in “time out” until, I, “could get my attitude realigned”. I sat on my horse silently fuming for the rest of the lesson.
Read More. . . I decided to be like a frog; I literally took my outside thigh away from the saddle in a highly exaggerated release of leg, and at the same time, I pressed my lower leg firmly against my horse’s side and – WOW! . . . I practically fell off my horse as I hugged him from the saddle, laughing and crying at the same time.
Read MoreQuick quiz: You put your friend, your husband, your daughter, your niece, anyone on a horse for the first time. What is the first thing you teach them? You give them the reins and say: Kick to start. Pull left to go left and pull right to go right. Pull both to stop. Right? Of course that is what you do, no matter what you know. . . .I was never taught that there might be another method in which to communicate with my horse. . . .
Read More. . .The feeling of an effortless flying change is one of those almost indescribable moments in time. . . .Today, I gave my horse a liniment bath and walked him back out to his pasture, quietly savoring one more step on my journey. I now know that today is still a beginning. I have more flying changes to ride tomorrow.
Read MoreI keep on learning new skills! But, once again, the skill of applying the leg aid it is not as easy as it sounds. We started by working on my seat. Then we focused on my legs. After all of my body parts were moving in concert with each other and following my horse’s motion, I could concentrate on closing my legs for a canter leg aid. For me, it helps to feel like I wrap my legs around my horse’s barrel and pick him up under my seat using my legs. Now I feel like I am making the canter happen with some control over the length of stride and activity vs simply following the canter. I have leg aids in canter!
Read MoreI am learning to use my leg aid in rising trot. I don’t think I ever thought about how to use my legs in all of my years riding beyond gripping to stay on, banging them against my horse’s sides for go, and taking them off to slow down. Pretty rudimentary.
Read MoreRider Development. What are the stages that you go through as a rider? Physical acquisition of skills. Cognitive understanding of theory. Emotional stages as you overcome fear, learn discipline, and find joy riding horses. Share with me your development as a rider. Come with me on my journey as a dressage rider.
