indygirl2560
Nov. 15, 2009, 10:16 PM
Today, the lady I school/train ponies for noticed I was having a difficult time with one of the young, greener ponies(pony was off in space and not coming back to Earth). She told me that I was tensing up my legs and had me post trot a few circles around her yelling at me every time she saw my leg tense up and until I rode extremely quietly. I asked her when I was done trotting if my legs were swinging(because they felt like they were) and she said no. Because this pony is so sensitive, she made us realize that my tenseness was negatively affecting her.
We talked for a little while longer, and then I kept riding. She also told me to "lift my diaphragm" rather than pin my shoulders back(I've always had shoulder issues-either stiff or slouched). I took what she said and everything clicked! The way she worded things all made sense. I had the pony going in a great, calm pace and frame at w/t/c and we jumped everything perfectly! I balanced myself perfectly before, over, and after the jumps so I could give the pony a nice auto release and let her jump nicely. The lady also said my position went from stiff to picture perfect(solid leg, weight in heels, straight back, no leaning, no tenseness) and the pony was much happier.
Sorry for the novel, but I'm just so happy that I've finally found a way to fix what's been holding me back on the smaller, more sensitive ponies(13.2-14hh--they can't handle some of the rider issues that the big horses can just because of my height and their size.)
Anyways, anyone else have major breakthroughs in your riding?
We talked for a little while longer, and then I kept riding. She also told me to "lift my diaphragm" rather than pin my shoulders back(I've always had shoulder issues-either stiff or slouched). I took what she said and everything clicked! The way she worded things all made sense. I had the pony going in a great, calm pace and frame at w/t/c and we jumped everything perfectly! I balanced myself perfectly before, over, and after the jumps so I could give the pony a nice auto release and let her jump nicely. The lady also said my position went from stiff to picture perfect(solid leg, weight in heels, straight back, no leaning, no tenseness) and the pony was much happier.
Sorry for the novel, but I'm just so happy that I've finally found a way to fix what's been holding me back on the smaller, more sensitive ponies(13.2-14hh--they can't handle some of the rider issues that the big horses can just because of my height and their size.)
Anyways, anyone else have major breakthroughs in your riding?