Post by Soracha on Feb 5, 2008 16:52:49 GMT
Hi,
I'm new to this board and had a lesson with Elaine on Sunday. I'd like to post it up here because I'd like people to know that Elaine is very talented teacher
Can I just start this by saying last night I went to my horse, the day after our first lesson. I still can't figure out who had the zen experience, me or the horse, or maybe both of us, and maybe at the same time!
Anyway here's what happened. Poor Elaine had to come up on a very cold and windy day to the yard for our first meeting. Elaine was very quiet, still and unfussy. To be honest I felt like I was being examined, never mind the horse! Suddenly I was wondering if I was leading on the right leg walking to the stable door.
Off to the arena and we began our groundwork in the rain. We started doing flexion things on either side of Beoga. He does everything too quickly, too fast. Elaine showed me how to release the split second I get a less-than-negative response and before his feet started dancing. I could see his frustration while these things were introduced to him - he kicked out, shook his head, dropped his head, waved his hinds, whatever he could do to evade me he tried it.
We worked with him on flexion, touching his face, and backing up.
To be honest the most valuable piece to me was realising that moment when he become pliant or soft. When I felt his resistence go. For example, sometimes he would move his head, but he was pushing against me. Then there's this moment then when he softens...
So last night I did my homework, or rather he did. He did it with such an attitude of "yeah you want me to look left, right, across, move backwards, whats the big deal???"
Then riding him, although my lesson was groundwork, the idea of that softness was in my head, and rather than our usual half-halting escapades, I felt moments of him going soft in my hands again, and I rewarded him. And he learned something! It was a whole new riding experience. It was so enjoyable!
Like I said I don't know if it was me or him that had the zen-like experience.
Thank you Elaine!
S.
I'm new to this board and had a lesson with Elaine on Sunday. I'd like to post it up here because I'd like people to know that Elaine is very talented teacher
Can I just start this by saying last night I went to my horse, the day after our first lesson. I still can't figure out who had the zen experience, me or the horse, or maybe both of us, and maybe at the same time!
Anyway here's what happened. Poor Elaine had to come up on a very cold and windy day to the yard for our first meeting. Elaine was very quiet, still and unfussy. To be honest I felt like I was being examined, never mind the horse! Suddenly I was wondering if I was leading on the right leg walking to the stable door.
Off to the arena and we began our groundwork in the rain. We started doing flexion things on either side of Beoga. He does everything too quickly, too fast. Elaine showed me how to release the split second I get a less-than-negative response and before his feet started dancing. I could see his frustration while these things were introduced to him - he kicked out, shook his head, dropped his head, waved his hinds, whatever he could do to evade me he tried it.
We worked with him on flexion, touching his face, and backing up.
To be honest the most valuable piece to me was realising that moment when he become pliant or soft. When I felt his resistence go. For example, sometimes he would move his head, but he was pushing against me. Then there's this moment then when he softens...
So last night I did my homework, or rather he did. He did it with such an attitude of "yeah you want me to look left, right, across, move backwards, whats the big deal???"
Then riding him, although my lesson was groundwork, the idea of that softness was in my head, and rather than our usual half-halting escapades, I felt moments of him going soft in my hands again, and I rewarded him. And he learned something! It was a whole new riding experience. It was so enjoyable!
Like I said I don't know if it was me or him that had the zen-like experience.
Thank you Elaine!
S.
