However, that does not mean it was easy in any way, shape, or form... he certainly made me work for it. We started out with the same old stuff, trotting around and doing small circles to keep his attention. My plan was to trot and maybe canter some cross-rails, which had to change when I realized how sticky he was going to be about his canter transitions. He pulled the exact same move he's been using the past couple of days, AKA running trot instead of actually transitioning.
Luckily (but not so lucky for him), something in me snapped and I was suddenly incredibly sick of it. I took off my spurs (didn't want to get too aggressive with them), grabbed a whip, and got down to business. Let's just say I used it judiciously enough that he was much more responsive for the rest of the ride... like Shelley said in one of her comments, I was a little bit of an evil dictator, but he more than deserved it. I'm sick of him being lazy, sick of him not moving off my leg, sick of having to wallop him with my leg, and sick of that stupid-bouncy-running trot!!!!!!
All that said, I felt extremely accomplished and proud of myself afterwards- probably the best I've felt after a ride in a while. I needed to finally stand up to him and letting him stop pulling me around, but I wish that I had made this kind of progress in my lesson. Do any of you ever feel like you don't ride your best in lessons? Sometimes figuring things out on my own helps me more than anything else... I've also decided that I LOVE this bit for us, I just have to remember to keep my hands low and quiet to avoid pissing him off. Hill was nice enough (even after a crappy day) to record most of my ride, so here you go!
Also, here are some screen shots from the vid:
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| He's "listening," his ears are not pinned! |
Yay for feeling confident!! And I'm glad you got the courage to be a bit of a dictator, sometimes thats what they need!! The hard part is knowing when to be an enforcer, and when to turn it down and be gentle. And I know EXACTLY what you mean about not riding your best in lessons. I'm a perfectionist by nature, and during lessons I'm always nervous I'm going to mess up in front of my trainer. Silly fear, I know.
ReplyDeleteBTW I know I've said it before, but Lims color is so deep and gorgeous!
I know, I love my confident days :)! It's definitely a fine balance, but normally I'm too soft and not nearly aggressive enough, so I think I'm ok.
DeleteThat's exactly it, I get nervous in my lessons and really want to prove myself, but it totally ends up backfiring :(
Thank you again, I love his color too!
You kicked butt. I think you did the perfect amount of dictator ness... Let your inner dictator shine! Sometimes it is good to get a little bossy and show him who is boss. Good job! And I know you are going to rock in your lesson :)
ReplyDeleteHaha thank you :)) I actually think I could be a dictator a little more often, especially about those transitions...
DeleteAlso best Banner EVER! :)
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have it without you :)
DeleteYOU TWO LOOK SO GOOD. I really mean it! If anything, so much more comfortable and confident than where you guys were at the start of this past semester. You don't take no limerick sass! And he says, "okay, mommmmm". You're a champ!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU, COLLYN!!! I feel much more comfortable on him and I'm really starting to trust him/feel confident most of the time :)
DeleteWoohoo on putting the foot down and getting the reaction you wanted. Video stills look fab, have to say I love the purple schooling outfit - another request for where I might get my hands on similar gear.
ReplyDeleteCan i just say that I love yours & Lim's wardrobes!
He's looking so much better in the photos, can't watch video in work- but it sounds like ye are coming on in leaps and bounds. Cannot wait to hear how your next lesson goes.
Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much :) The purple shirt is from Gap and is from their athletic wear line.
DeleteThis bit is helping us a TON and I feel like we've made quite a bit of progress just since I started using it!
Will do :)!
I agree with everyone else on being a dictator. Especially because horses just love to test us, and sometimes they need to be reminded who is the boss!
ReplyDeleteI also love that you talk to Limerick while you ride as though he understands what you're saying. I do that too!
Haha Limmers is definitely one of those! I talk to him constantly while I'm riding, not always super nice things but he definitely understands some of what I say... he responds well to WOAH and trot :)
DeleteI also agree with all of the above comments, horses do love to test us and u showed him that he is NOT going to win.
ReplyDeleteI talk to Gatsby when I am riding, I love that other people do it to and it's not just me. I love the photo's you and him really do look good together
keep up the good work
Thank you so much, I will :)!
DeleteI think your trot/canter transitions look really nice. Good job being aggressive! I struggle with not just getting frustrated and giving up...sometimes it is good to get mad and more aggressive!
ReplyDeleteThank you :)! I definitely get frustrated and give up too, but I think I'm finally getting confident enough to get mad at him rather than just letting him do what he wants.
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