by Trufflemaker » Wed Jun 29, 2005 6:05 pm
#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#My new barn is hosting a clinic by Per Meisner over this weekend, and I decided to sign up for a session this afternoon. I was soooooo nervous about it. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I have been having problems with my horse lately, and wasn't sure that we would be up to doing the lesson together, but I am SO GLAD we did. I had a chance to talk with Per in advance about the issues we're having, so he knew what we needed to work on. By the time I finished my warm-up my butterflies were gone. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#The main problem we've been having is my horse avoids the bit, sticking her nose WAY up in the air, sidestepping, and all kinds of foolishness. I have been using a training aid to help keep her head down (yeah I know lots of people disapprove but I honestly was not able to get her to cooperate--due mostly to rider inexperience #ed_op#IMG src="/richedit/smileys/confused.gif"#ed_cl# ). I had had her teeth floated to rule out soreness issues (it did need to be done so that was definately a good decision). Today was our first ride since the vet's visit.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Per was soooo nice. I am not a really advanced rider and my horse is young (yeah I know a bad combination but...). He has such a good sense of how to give instruction a little at a time, and constantly encourages and praises when you make improvements. He explained so well what I need to do to help her understand what I want, and I got her to give to the bit at every gait--WITHOUT the training aid. I feel so good about the whole thing! #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#So we had a GREAT ride and luckily my friend videotaped the whole thing so I can watch it and continue to learn from the lesson long after Per has gone back to Denmark. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Oh yeah, I had dropped my stirrups partway through my warm up, and I never did pick them up again. That means I did 60+ minutes without stirrups! I could hardly dismount at the end mind you, but several hours later, I find my walk is back to normal.#ed_op#IMG src="http://forums.equestrianconnection.com/richedit/smileys//silly.gif"#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Best of all, I feel that there is hope for me to become a better rider, and to help my horse improve her self-carriage etc. I was feeling pretty discouraged for the last few weeks. It was expensive, but I think the money was really well spent. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#
"No one can teach riding so well as a horse."
C.S. Lewis, "The Horse and His Boy"