Was pretty pleased with myself. I eventually got round to telling my instructor that from now on I would prefer to have my weekly group lesson on a school horse so I could concentrate on my own riding for a bit rather than on Pinto who I have to try and teach as well as teaching myself (I felt like a bit of a traitor, to be honest, but I *do* need to concentrate on my own riding for a bit... and there is lots I can do with Pinto on days other than Thursdays... like try to get him fit etc)
So got to my lesson today to find out I was riding Fleche, who is an anglo-arab x trait, and a bit of a sweet old boy; probably about 15.1 and definitely on the cobbier side... still felt like sitting on a fence after riding Pinto for so long though!
Also found out today that 6/8ths of my class have been replaced by complete novices (all adults); including 3 men I guess the others have moved up a different class... my nerves completely get the better of me by the end of the last school year and I started to really dread lessons. Now have absolutely no excuse!
So today we worked on steering, working at the correct distance in a ride, using judgment on when to find a new space etc.
I found, to my horror, that my leg muscles are completely wasted away! After riding Pinto, who is soooooo light and responsive off the leg, riding Fleche, who is - dare I say - a typical riding school horse, was a bit of a shock to they system... just a tad!
It has been so long since I have ridden such a switched off, dead to the leg, follow-the-leader horse, I didn't know what to do with myself. Yet, once he was trotting (following someone else ) he is such an active, forward little thing. Could I get him to turn away from the horse in front? grrrr... well grrr was said quite a lot tonight.
When we were meant to be trotting round the piste as a ride, if the horse in front even looked like it was going to slow down, Fleche slammed on the anchors and back to walk it was. I felt so guilty, because it really felt like I was having to kick his ribs in to get him to move off. (seat aids? woz them then? la la la *hoofs in ears* not listening....) Next time I'll know, and I'll carry a schooling whip.
I dunno, all in all the lesson completely baffled me. Here you have a group of complete beginners (like only ever sat on a horse before once or twice), and the majority of the lesson was in rising trot (or at least supposed to be)... even at the end of the lesson all the newbies had to have a go at cantering from the front of the ride to the back (which I managed on the second attempt... aaaaaaaaand managed to keep in canter round the corners of the school
So I think that I will probably get bored with the flat work after a few weeks, but going right back to the beginning is exactly what I need for the cantering and (eventually) the jumping. And as I said before, I have no excuse, as I've been riding longer than anyone else in my group now.
All in all I really enjoyed my lesson (even if I did feel a bit traitorous), and very pleased with myself that I managed the canter exercise... roll on next week
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