New Year New Habit

 So it is 2022 and rather than start a FB group or similar I'll start blogging about Arthur here 

So quick catch up I lost Chorrie on  the 11th June 2021 @ 02:17 and six months later I'm still not OK. 

I will be OK but I'm not there yet.

It is little steps that will get me there so I'm pledging to myself to ride Arthur with Ros (thank the deities for Ros, she has been there for me at every abortive attempt to get back to normal and get back to riding) 

So let's see what 2022 brings

Sunny Sunday

So this morning's lesson was good very good

I was feeling motivated to fix the not listening to my left leg having gone to Stephen Clarke on Tuesday and to insist on more forwards having gone to an Adam Kemp lecture/demo yesterday

So today I did both and the difference was amazing, we have left bend we have forwards, now I've got to up my game and ride the forward pony who has left bend and not sit there doing nothing

Set him up for corners do not just sling him into shoulder in think think think !!

Friday and Saturday lessons

Friday

Was a bit concerned after Tuesday's ride that the pony would be stiff behind but no he felt good :-)

Saturday

Again good but I need to

• Sit left
• Watch he doesn't flex right on left rein

So obvious but

So second lesson today after two weeks off games having fallen literally flat on my face in Oxford over an uneven pavement and no I hadn't touched any alcohol and nor was I looking at my phone

So the light bulb moment was I was changing the rein C started to run away (politely but even so) and instead of whinging about it to Ros a little voice in my head said 'FFS do SOMETHING' and I did

I was also pleased that someone looked to come on and I didn't immediately notice

Leg yield could potentially make him stiffer if hind leg not coming under better to use shoulder in first then leg yield once you've got hind leg better engaged

Saturday 11th November - Lesson - Indoor School

Need to get back to it, post the bullying, post the back issues.

SI on left rein need to really ask LH to step under, it simply won't strengthen without use.

Half pass has improve as has use of outside rein on circles

Monday 18th September - Lesson - Indoor School

I really need to get my head sorted

If there is an issue with the pony it WILL NOT only show up at the A end of the school (where I lose attention) , the school surface is consistent all over so an issue will not just show up in one place.

Need to keep him to the bridle and to KEEP riding not just flop around the corners

Today's exercises post warm up

1. Figures of 8 in trot
2. Leg yield to centre line, leg yield back to track

Tuesday 5th September - Lesson - Indoor School

So explained to Ros how pony went yesterday

Usual walk warm up then onto trot warm up

• SI long side
• SI -> circle -> Travers
• Half pass to centre line
• Half pass all the way across

Pony was golden :-)

Learnings

1. Left leg creeps back and heel creeps up
2. Right hand starts to bounce and elbow straightens (related to 1) 

Sunday 3rd September - Lesson - Outdoor School

So was originally booked to ride in indoor as rain forecast but changed to outdoor to enable better comparison with yesterday.

Temperature was normal at 37.2C

So usual walk warm up then onto trot warm up all felt good

Shoulder in and half pass in trot

Finished with travers on a 20m circle in trot :-) clever pony

Oddly enough today I was struggling with my left leg (lost a stirrup a couple of times)

Saturday 2nd September - Lesson - Outdoor School

Usual walk warm up pony felt less forward

Trot was 'lumpy' so stopped session

Chorrie was sound but feeling 'flat'

Trot up in hard was normal

Temperature was 37.5C normal AM temperature in 37.2C

Thursday 31st August - Lesson - Indoor School

So usual walk and trot warm up.

Then in trot commence lateral work (both reins)

• SI long side 
• SI ->  15m circle -> SI
• SI -> 15m circle -> Travers
• Half pass to CL
• Half pass to CL -> Half pass back to long side
• 20m circle in travers

The circle in travers really highlights if you have the pony in the outside rein (!)

Got some absolutely stonking trot large to finish, pony was soft and forwards and manoeuvrable 

Tuesday 29th August - Lesson - Outdoor school

So lesson outdoors not as warm as yesterday but still pretty warm.

I love the warmth and the sunshine especially after the miserable days we've had recently where it has felt more like October and Autumn  than July/August

Usual warm up -> walk on inside track with half circle at short ends starting on right rein

Then walk 20m circle 15m circle then change rein to left rein and repeat

Need to think about is he flexing left ? Also am I assisting him on the left turn, is my body turning am I sat where I need to be?
Legs long (mine)
Poll high

If walking out well and flexing then onto warm up trot. Allow him to go at his pace but keep him balanced and keep same rhythm long sides and half circles

Trot work having done trot warm up (20m circle 15m circle then change rein to left rein and repeat)

Shoulder in 15m circle shoulder in (long sides)

Turn onto centre line leg yield to change rein

Half pass from long side to centre line -> half pass back to long side

What I need to remember

If I stop to adjust girth / whip /whatever then make it a PROPER transition down to halt and a PROPER transition to walk/trot

Watch and guard the left flexion

Legs long (mine) and poll high

Saturday 15th July - Lesson - Indoor school

So lesson at 09:30 in the indoor with Ros.

Main learnings from this lesson

• No we no longer get the 'lumpy' trot on the left rein nor have we for a long time I need to recalibrate my expectations and not just be satisfied with an OK trot but to ride for a GOOD trot
• Corners riding a good corner will help with the trot half pass F -> X then X -> M as it gives more room
• Balance him 
• Ride at home schooling as you would for a test, prepare and ride corners 
• Ensure consistent bend / flexion when on left rein.