Riding Lesson

Sadly, I don't have any pictures or video of me today to show you all what I'm talking about, but I'll post pictures of Marti on different days for your viewing entertainment. Anyway, I had a lesson this morning (had to get up at 5:30 am to get there on time, such a chore for my teenage mind, haha, but worth it), and Marti and I have been progressing a lot. It was the first jumping lesson I've had since Las Cruces, so I wasn't expecting anything grand, but I was surprised. The ride went very well with no refusals, and by the end, Marti and I weren't having our usual problem of drifting to the right after jumps anymore!

One of my Sr. Pictures for High School

I need to work on being able to stop her after a jump quicker, but that will come. Also, she's beginning to rock back before jumping, and her knees are finally coming up as she gets great jumping form. Part of it is because, thanks to Eventing, a lot of Dressage is implemented into her training. Dressage really helps create the collection, balance, and bouncy strides I need to jump. Also, I've been working out a LOT more, and riding has been becoming a lot easier. An old instructor of mine used to say,"You have to ride five horses a day to be fit enough to compete one well.If you can't do that, hit the gym." She was right. People say riding takes no strength, but I actually wasn't strong enough to be able to ride well because it takes so much.
What I really want to say here is that the main reason Marti is coming along well and seeming to enjoy it herself is because I haven't rushed her. A lot of people, when they see their horse doing very well in the beginning, push their horse too far and too fast. The horse may do great for a while, or it may not, but it will get its mind blown,lose interest in its job, and not want to do it anymore. Then the owner blames the horse. No, instead, keep the steady pace. Work on one thing at a time until it is mastered. The day after you master it, move on (no need to drill something once you have it down. Do you still study 1+1=2 every day? Didn't think so. Don't make the horse do what it's mastered over and over). However, while I have certainly wanted to go go go and be advanced by now, haha, I've waited, and Marti is becoming very solid at the lower levels which will just make her better and easier to ride later on. Each step is important! Do not rush your horse before it tells you it's ready to move up.

From the internet. Not my horses, haha