I am finally beginning to really appreciate having bought Ace. He is making me improve my riding to another level altogether.
Today I was trotting slower and faster (shorter and longer, really), and on the left rein he was losing his rythmn. One side of my brain said "why is he doing this?" and the conversation went on:
- why is he doing this?
- because you are not going with him
- I am going with him!
- then you aren't going with him enough!!
I had felt like I was going with him, so I tried to feel like I was trying to stay in front of his movement instead. By riding to do that I managed actually to stay with him where he obviously wanted me to be, and his rythmn stayed perfect and he lengthened his stride. Before this, I would simply have assumed that he was having difficulty with the movement, but his difficulty was that I was not riding well enough for him.
He is, quite simply, incredibly sensitive. Far, far in excess of any other horse I have ever sat on. he makes me ride to a better standard than I have ever achieved before, and I am loving it.
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How very interesting! I know Tetley is a completely different type of horse yet I too feel, at the canter, that I need to really be right there with him, not against him, in seat, leg, hand, upper body... These guys are so good for us!
ReplyDeleteNow Caroline, you will chuckle at this - I am thinking of going to Maine to visit and Dave thinks he should stay here to take care of Tetley (even though Tetley is at a full care facility). It's partly that he doesn't enjoy Maine like I do, but also it's very much about Tetley.
That horse is spoilt to death! :-)
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blimme .. you have just described something that I'm working on. Interestingly I read somewhere and have a feeling it's a Mark Rashidism that one should try and mentally be about 4 - 6 horse strides ahead of where you are as this is where the horse's brain is if you want to be "with your horse".. I know from experience that the times i have hit resistance are when my brain has slipped back into the saddle instead of "out there".
ReplyDeleteHow interesting! I have never before heard of anyone being told to get in front of the movement, but I swear I thought that I was "with" Ace, but it wasn't until I tried to stay feeling as if I was trying to get ahead of him that he kept his rythmn in the lengthening.
DeleteI got the idea after watching a comparison vid on youtube where two experts are contrastign Totilas ridden by Gal and ridden by Rath. The difference between the two riders is enormous, and so is the difference in the way the horse goes. Rath is sitting down pushing the horse with his seat, whereas Gal's seat is simply "with" the horse wherever it goes.
So interesting!
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You see I think you're hunting etc stands you in really good stead as I suspect you are (when hunting at least) a good 5 - 6 strides ahead mentally.. (I think many people forget about the mental side of riding forward..) the good ones do it automatically without thinking about it .. However stick a hunter in the arena / school and their forward brain-ness that is so part of riding x country suddenly slips backwards.. I've found I'm far more accurate schooling transitions when I make a conscious effort get my brain out of the saddle and about 4 or 5 strides ahead.. this affects my body as it starts to prepare and it also communicates this "preparation" to the horse in the same time scale as the horse is working.. does that make sense?
DeleteSo much sense that I cannot understand why I have never applied the "think ahead" that comes naturally to hunting and jumping into the schooling arena.
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My Toby and PJ were both a lot like that--Toby moreso. As well, exactly "where" you sat weightwise makes a huge difference on him. And those flying changes are a big proof of that. Other people who ride him often have trouble keeping the correct lead if their seats and balance do not stay centered. A little shift to the side and "fly!!!"
ReplyDeleteHorses like Ace are a great leveler and teach us so much about finesse and how correct we must be to expect the same from them.
It doesn't feel like I am sat in a different place, Jean, just that I am quicker to get there, if you see what I mean. So difficult to describe.
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I love this post, light bulb moments everywhere. Well done you. Off skiing for a week, speak soon.
ReplyDeleteTraceyB??? Have fun in the white stuff.
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