teeny dog is on the case |
See, Courage started his trainer rides last week. I got a ride report on one and I got to watch the other. They were fine. He didn't magically turn into a confirmed third level packer (dammit). He wasn't so much brilliant as solid. He tried hard, he learned, he tried pushing trainer's buttons because sometimes you just gotta live the asshole life.
Whatever. It's great.
So basically, I put a nice ride on him Monday, then trainer rode Tuesday when I wasn't there, then I toodled with him Wednesday, and I watched trainer ride Thursday. That means I hadn't really "ridden" since trainer rides started until I tried to ride him Friday.
TRIED.
and OMG trainer broke my horse.
And not in the way that I expected. See, I wanted to get on and make sure he didn't think asshole life was a thing that was ok. He'd been a little naughty about his right lead, so we were going to do a bunch of right lead canter go get that shit SORTED OUT.
Except not.
Because wtf all of a sudden C is like "bitch please. you want canter? you have to sit up and hold the contact and keep your leg on and use your seat in the magical dressage way and THEN I WILL THINK ABOUT IT."
he's a diva. what can i say? |
Except not anymore.
Now he has STANDARDS and EXPECTATIONS and I actually have to ride. Which BY THE WAY, is freakishly hard and not my norm. It was so hard I even bitched about it to my friends.
said friends not overly sympathetic |
I'm not sure I'm ok with this development.
I feel this so hard! Whenever my trainer rides, I immediately notice a change for the better in my horse. But only if I rise up to meet him! It's so weird and I have a love-hate relationship with trainer rides for this reason :)
ReplyDeleteThis whole trainer rides thing is a whole new world for me. I don't know what I was expecting, but I'm not sure this is it. It makes sense when I think about it I guess, haha.
Delete"Use your seat in the magical dressage way"
ReplyDeleteHAHHAA.
#struggleisreal
Deletethis made me laugh out loud, probably my fav post of yours to date.
ReplyDeletesame thing happened with my horse. he started picking up the wrong lead suddenly and im like what are you on about, you know when i throw my upper body forward and to the right it means canter right lead????
I was thinking that maybe he could learn the cool new skills without forgetting all the half-assed stuff I taught him on the way? Guess that was a funny joke.
DeleteOmg no! Ughhh trainer - why didn't she understand that you meant "train" but like... Train such that you can still ride it?!?
ReplyDeleteDUDE, I UNDERSTAND THIS. The big red lesson horse Oz is the same way. He's so well trained that if you try to tell him to do something your way instead of a properly trained horse way (like, is my right rein carrying half an once too much pressure? Just ask Oz because he will politely tell you to eff off and run out if it is) he has no time for you. Accept mediocre, horses! Ain't nobody got time to ride like a pro!
ReplyDeleteHaha right? I get that it makes me a better rider, but somehow I thought riding better would be easier instead of harder.
DeleteHahahaha welcome to the club!
ReplyDeleteriding correctly, the hardest
ReplyDeleteDressage way of riding? Please, who has time to do that!!
ReplyDeleteYes, this is just like riding a good dressage schoolmaster. You know, the one that will give haunches in forever unless you correctly ask for the canter. Who will two's but only if you ask correctly. Frustrating, but possibly the best way to learn the right way. You are smart to put him in training and you will catch up with him...
ReplyDeleteYou raise a terrifying issue.
ReplyDeleteHaha- love this!
ReplyDeleteTrainer rides are both the best and the worst at the same time
ReplyDeleteRuh roh! I anticipate a whole new version of #couragehasopinions
ReplyDelete#dressageopinions
You win genius for a day. I can take my lackluster shots and make memes!
DeleteAss cramps are one thing. Tearing a muscle in your ass- whole different ballgame.
ReplyDeleteThere is only one way to dressage-> the right way. You either do it or you don't and it all shows up on the scoresheet.
My lack of sympathy has been thrown under the bus
ReplyDeleteA diva with expectations sounds like a formula for obscene success or failure. I don't know if middle ground can exist with that combo! Frighteningly....awesome?
ReplyDelete