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.

Poor neglected blog - Getting back to it

So I'm now having lessons with Ros Wade the mother of Jessica Wade, because Ros has more availability than Jessica so it just fits better with my limited availability.

I've been having lessons for about three months (?)

Ros has a very detailed eye for rider  position and horse way of going.

My riding has improved and I'm paying more attention to detail

The pony's physio was pleased with how he felt last time will be interesting to see if we've retained that improvement.

Our barn has been pressure washed and repainted and is looking very smart as we've had a major tidy up.

Lesson with Jessica Wade

So noticeable improvement.

I am still struggling physically to keep a grip on the left rein, some of it is neurological and some is habit.

He went noticeably better from the get go :-) so chuffed with that.

Will keep on keeping on

If he leans and buggers off then *do something* , do a circle get control back and resume exercise don't just sit and hope that somehow divine intervention will work ...

So today's schooling patterns

SI -> 10m circle to restore forwardness - > SI

On a 20m circle

1/4 circle travers -> straight 1/4 circle -> 1/4 circle travers -> straight 1/4 circle