Rio and I have had OK lessons since Ft. Worth. Just ok. I was so ready to hit the ground running when we got home, but it took a few lessons to get out of “show mode”. It seemed like I had opened up his stride so much for the show ring ride, that I couldn’t bring it back all the sudden, and I was the tiniest bit frustrated. Just feeling hard on myself is all.
Our Thursday lesson was cancelled this week due to a storm rolling through, so I didn’t have one until Sunday morning. Rio is doing a little better on the sweating front. Not great, but he seems to be handling the heat a bit easier. I took everyone’s advice and I have been filling a water bucket with half a bottle of rubbing alcohol, and throwing some ice packs in as well. I also realized I could use a large hook and hang the water/alcohol bucket on a jump standard so I could reach it while mounted. This has helped a TON, and I have noticed a huge improvement. I feel like we can actually work in our lessons now, and not like he is just struggling to survive the heat.
Something really strange happened during out lesson. We added in a line. Several lines in fact. We did a 7 in a 6 stride, followed up by a 5 in a 4. WHAT?!?!?!
Since when can we add? Last I checked with Rio, we could barely fit in the assigned number of strides, much less ADD A STRIDE.
Trainer Julie was like, “Umm… can you ride better please?” (Jk she was way nicer and more tactful). I had to look at her and go, “You know my brain is kind of confused. It’s not used to adding LEG in a line. Hands yes, leg, no”. Usually we jumped in, and I have to sit up, give a pretty strong half halt to re-balance, and then soften if I want any hope of fitting in the appropriate number of strides. On Sunday we had to jump end, soften the arms and actually add a bit of leg. It was foreign, but also super awesome and really fun once my brain kicked into gear. Julie explained that I can’t keep riding Rio like he doesn’t have a balanced canter, because he has significantly improved, and my riding needs to evolve with his progress. Makes total sense. He’s a grown horse now and I need to ride him like one.
If anything, I am now shutting down his canter a bit too much, and coming out of corners too weak. I need to balance him going into the turn, then let him flow out of the corner and stop “taking” every stride. Thankfully, we have 2 more lessons before Waco to smooth things out a bit more.
Short video of one of our trips (Thanks Liana!)
4 comments
It’s. So. Hard! Just when you feel like you kind of have the ride figured out, something changes. I totally feel your pain! Sterling is always a bit “up” on the first day of a show and I have to half halt down some lines, then the second day I have to use more leg and keep him from getting flat in he canter. However, for some reason, I seem to have to re-learn that lesson at every show! (insert eyeroll) Best of luck in Waco! We are headed there this week. 🙂
oh man, nothing throws me off nearly as much as a horse i’m used to having to half halt and rebalance and slow down suddenly crawling along behind my leg… it’s hard to reprogram that feeling at a moment’s notice!! tho in a way it’s gotta feel good to see Rio developing so much more adjustability in his canter!
I jumped for the first time this weekend since probably December. And all I could think to do was take away. Poor giant horse I was riding was like, um… is it ok if I canter? Thank goodness he’s a saint.
But it’s great that Rio’s getting so adjustable. Now that you know it can happen, you’ll be comfortable with it in no time. He looks great!
Who knew right? He looks great and it must be nice to have an adjustable horse….:) Wouldnt know! HA You will get there by Waco!!