Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Lesson with Kirstin 25th June

Despite still being in pain I want to try & keep going as normal so booked a lesson with Kirstin while she was coming up too Woodhill.

We only did walk/trot as I still can't canter yet and wow I got so much out of the lesson!

As you will be aware if I have always had issues with lateral movements on this horse & have spent a considerable amount of time beating myself up about it...well it would appear that my horse actually can't go laterally when he isn't straight....so all these years of frustration were fixed in half an hour!!! 

Cobs unfortunately was a bit of a tool to start off with but worked through it okay.  Only thing on my mind was too not fall off again!  Kirstin had me taking a far more firm hold of the reins that I normally do so when he started to go crooked I could feel it faster.  He is worse on the right rein so we did a lot of work on this rein - did a lot of leg yielding on the circle & every time he bulged the shoulder I lifted my outside rein as a half halt & that brought the shoulder back into line.  By the end of the lesson I had even contact in both reins...something I have not had with Cobs for a long time.

We then did some shoulder in & leg yielding off the 3/4 line and although it was rusty we could actually do it so was super stoked with that.

Now I just have to try & remember what we went through & practice it!  I hope to have two lessons with her next week as she is going away for a while.  Not sure if I will be up to jumping by then but more than happy to stay doing flat work.




Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Winter Schooling

Have been out & about doing schooling every weekend I can - our jumping has gone completely with Cobs deciding he no longer knows how to canter nicely away from the fences....sigh...

He was jumping super at Raider Lodge (19th June) and we seemed to have got some brains back when I pushed for an insanely long stride, we landed & the next minute I know I am flat on my back in the sand/soup mix.  Feck it hurt.  Not sure what happened - I think it hurts him to land that heavy so can only guess he bucked or something.

Not ideal & over a week later I am still in a lot of pain with brusied ribs & a sore back.

Grr. Not the start to the season I wanted.