Our lesson today! Flatwork and Jumping (grid work)

[beks the artist]

Hello,


Got there a little late, had farrier this morning, bad weather when loading and me just being stupid and forgetting the time! :scared: :lol:

Anyway, it was in an indoor school not too far away from us. Apologises about the awful photos!!

Got in, joint lesson with three others. Taran started off really well. Working nicely off the leg, responsive, listening to my aids in walk and trot with some nice transitions.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e282/bekstheartist/lesson1.jpg

We moved onto some grid work, trotting poles, excellent :D but as they were turned into 'x' poles he reverted back to 'backing off the leg' and not cantering when asked?!

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e282/bekstheartist/lesson3.jpg

My instructor said that he seems very green and thought he was a 4/5 year old! Well I supose mentally he is -for those of you who do not know Taran is 15 but spent his life used as a stallion and working at a trekking centre, until I bought him 2 years ago. He started jumping 18 months ago.

Taran didn't really know where to put his feet. :ashamed:

The grid was pole, stride, small 'x' pole, stride, large 'x'. This changed throughout the lesson to spreads and fillers.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e282/bekstheartist/lesson2.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e282/bekstheartist/lesson4.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e282/bekstheartist/lesson5.jpg

The instructor thought that he has no confidence working when not at home so I have booked some private lessons at home with her to see how he is before the next clinic. But she said he is very honest and my position isn't as bad as I think it is - although she is worried about my hands tend to go awol when I am concentrating on get him more forward going! :lol: And NOT napping to go and say hello to three mares! :pmsl:

All finished!
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e282/bekstheartist/lesson6.jpg

Ready to go home!
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e282/bekstheartist/084-1.jpg

Any advice to get more impulsion in grid work and working in a joint lesson?

Will let you know how the private lessons go!

Thanks for reading!

Beks and Taran xx

[Poppy and Harmony]

Aww bless him!
Sounds like you got alot out of it :)

[Loony]

Aww I bet that was really beneficial! It doesn't seem like he has no impulsion when you jump him at home, so I would just put it down to him being nervy in a new situation. I'm sure the more you get out and about, the less weird it will be for him. Well done!!

[ness]

Good for you for having a lesson, Beks! they had better watch out at the shows next summer!

[piccolo]

I love gridwork! You look great too!

[gem]

Aw you both look so happy!! Looks like a very good experience. You look like you've lost quite a lot of weight too missy!

[Bek B]

The confidence thing is probably just a matter of time.

Myself and Ollie have been going through similar. In his first two WT dressage tests he was distracted and daydreamy meaning he was slow of the leg and difficult to bend.

We did out 3rd attempt two weeks ago and the difference was noticable. Still faults, but he was off the leg and his attention on me more of the time. We actually got the correct bend on some circles rather than him gawping at something that took his eye!

You're both doing fab!

[My Crazy Clan]

Your doing really well with him.

[Frankie]

Well done. Who was teaching and who else was in the lesson? It was a Llyn riding club thing, right?

[chescar]

I'm sure its just lack of confidence away from home. This is why i could not take Troy to a jumping comp - he just wouldn't do it and i would look a fool. At home he will jump anything.

[beks the artist]

Awww thank you!

Was actually feeling rather cr*p as a rider today. He is such a good lad and could go somewhere with someone else - I felt like I was really, really bad!!!! :(

But I feel a little better, thank you!

Frankie it was Sue Davis teaching today as Justines is on holiday. She was lovely and gave me some really good tips! :D xx

[Frankie]

Had a couple of lessons with her. Prefer justine lol. She got back from Golga today, just seen her on facebook lol.

Glad you enjoyed it! You will have to venture up here eventually!

[daytona]

Beks you look and Taran look great as always.
It really is prob being away from home. But its a good experience glad you enjoyed it.

[Storm]

Looks to be good stuff..

Re your question about how to get impulsion in a grid. I tend to look at it this way, - you store up a certain amount of energy beforehand and that's to take you all the way through, so I like to have them pretty collected beforehand (which Satin terms 'bouncing') make sure that you, whilst giving with the reins as they go over element one, dont just drop them and say crack on, as all the woomph will just leak out of the front, they'll drop onto their forehand and it'll be a scramble.

Make sure you're looking beyond the end of the grid, have him collected, and at the first one a nice squeeze on take off, holding the front end whilst still giving (of that makes sense?) Start off with fairly short grids, 3 jumps, a bounce and a stride are a nice combination to start with as the bounce, by it's nature ensures that they are ready to ping again - if you're still needing a little more help, shorten the striding a little...

If the jumps are low (2' max) I tend to hover in jumping position through the grid, rather than forward back forward back etc etc, keeping in weight off their back...

The most I've done with Satin I think is 6 bounces in a row, that was really I think at the time the limit before the steam ran out!

You're doing great, it'll all come :)

[beks the artist]

Thank you Zoe for taking the time to reply to this. Really good advice to start with.

I had a private lesson today - just going completely back to basics as I have developed some bad habits from 10 years without regular lessons!! LOL! And Taran is very green.

Will keep you up-dated - have a lesson ever 2 weeks. :D xx

[Cinders]

You guys are so good together!

With regards to the impulsion, was this the first time he's worked away from home? It might be something that'll come with more exposure and experience. Molly generally is quite a forward going horse but put her in a new environment and she gets very babyish, tense and backs right off. It's something she's getting better at but it's taking time! x

[Cinders]

Oh and i've just read your other reply! Don't be so harsh on yourself! Your no where near rubbish, it's better to be effective than picture perfect, or at least thats what i tell myself lol from the pics i've seen you ride taran really well so focus on the positives :) x

[beks the artist]

Awww thank you Cinders!

Taran has been to quite a few shows and clinics - erm, probably about 6 in 18 months we have had the horse box. He backs right off the leg, which in turn makes my riding go to pot - if you know what I mean?

I had a fantastic lesson yesterday. Explained all my problems. Apparently I have quite a few bad habits to break, lol! I don't relax my lef, which then raises my heel. I tend to ride him with my seat, which I don't need to as he is 'naturally' forward going but is 'confused' with what I am asking him.

I nag him with my leg :( I need to learn to 'ask' him once with my leg and voice and if he doesn't respond just a little flick of the whip to back my leg and voice up - which in the lesson worked perfectly.

My hands - they go awol, one goes up and one goes down depending on going left or right. So I need to keep thumbs on top, hands together and make sure they don't go in different directions!

It is really easy stuff, which I have completely forgotten about, hoping to get 'back into' riding properly after so much time off. It is so great having regular lessons again. I think it will do us the world of good with both of confidence!

I recommend lessons to all xx