I have really enjoyed some good instruction lately. It has been grounded and founded and very well received by my mare. She is the ultimate judge these days, for an instructor. I have had quite a few in the 4 years time since I have been in partnership with the Wa. She tells me no lies, when it comes to the knowledge base of the one instructing me. If they do not have an eye or mind for the sensitive horse and the slightly dyslexic rider, and give me false direction(or no direction)...she will tell me off, as they are inept and fail to address my issues/ flaws in the saddle...but she does address them!I have a really difficult time with my right shoulder...it blocks my flowing track. The mare will react to any body blocking (her past of being tied into frame and the heavy hand of a" Break-em' good" cowboy) it does play into our ability to move forward sometimes.
One thing I am very upset with myself for is trusting some of the people I have with the mare and I. Being green to the training world , have made some pretty awful choices. Sometimes for lack of availability to travel and sometimes just mistaking someone for genuine, having seen their ability to help others along nicely; I thought that they would take me seriously too. I discerned incorrectly last time, with an unfaithful trainer, who lacked true caring motives and showed huge lack of concern for furthering us.
Moving on from that stifling situation, we have found some truly genuine people to help us continue. I have a couple "horse riding mentors". These people are so in tune with their own horses and have been around the training circuit . They are a wonderful prevailing wind of change for good to the mare and I! One thing that is a huge blessing..though my mare has a great memory for the wrongs done to her in the past..she is pretty forgiving of my mistakes and has shown me willingness to trust me, as I get things right and am respectful to her.
My mentoring rides have been very enlightening and as of last week, I was told almost 100% growth from the first ride. I am thrilled! I finally got a bit of body positioning instruction that is helping greatly for releasing my shoulders and increasing our bend. She has taken to this so well ,that her 5 steps being on the bit has turned into 10! We used a metronome tape the first ride 2 mo ago, and that has really helped me to regulate our rhythm. Relaxation has ensued, with the mare being able to rely upon something consistent.
She seems to be settling down with our indoor riding, and I think our outdoor riding contributes well to this....
A recent chapter in reading in W. Museler's book, "Riding Logic" that really encouraged me to this end , and has me being very thankful for all the time I have spent with the mare outdoors.He says, "Riding is developed by practice and the greater the enthusiasm a rider has for it, the more enjoyment he will gain from it and the more he will want to put into it. Nothing will accord more with this ideal than riding out in the countryside.
A long hack out, even when there is no one at hand to offer words of correction, will do much for the seat simply because the rider becomes more relaxed. Undulating countryside improves his sense of balance. He invariably sits better than when he is forcing himself to sit in a way that he thinks is correct.".." Riding across country is indubitably the best test of dressage skills."
