New (Indoor) Horizons

all by ourselves

I've been really frustrated with riding lately because I'm not able to be consistent over fences with a trainer. There are things I'm 100% confident at (ground work, some lower level flat) and things I definitely need my hand held for (starting greenies over fences). I won't get in to the semantics of it all, but I've been considering my options and finally came up with something like a plan.

So Sunday, Courage and I had our first ever lesson with a new (to us) trainer. I'm hoping to join in on a consistent and appropriate group lesson, but G (trainer) asked if we'd be interested in doing some private lessons first to get acquainted to which I said OH HELL YES I WOULD. (Dear Bank Account: I'm sorry. Please don't hate me.)

cuz planning ahead is totes lame

I felt quite grown up with my (borrowed) rig and hauling my horse over all by my onsie, even if it's like a 4 minute drive from home base.

Oh and it was Easter Sunday and I hatched this crazy plan like Saturday morning, and thus was completely unable to procure a photographer. Oops.

Anywho. Courage semi-settled in the new to him indoors (with mirrors! everywhere!) and G immediately had us leg-yielding in and out of a circle in the walk and trot to get Courage moving his feet and loosening his back while focusing on me.

mirrors! windows! also the poles for the day

Did I mention that G started out on Thoroughbreds and does a decent business finding good ones on the track and actually likes them? All positives, imo, when you need help with a thoroughbred.

We didn't even jump as such--we walked, trotted, and cantered through poles on the ground with G making me be much more conscious of my weight/body placement. Some of the things ran counter to what I've been taught before, but that's kind of the point. What I'm doing on my own isn't working and I need new ideas. I'm giving them the ol' fashioned try. (Noted: nothing revolutionary or weird, just a different way of riding.)

proof of nose

About half way through, Courage started flinging himself around while cantering a single pole and G asked if I minded if he rode and I was like "LULZ NO HE'S ALL YOURS". I mean, Courage's antics look dramatic, but aren't hard to ride. HOWEVER, I wanted to see what G would do with them and if he could improve them. And how he and C-RAGE would get along. And all that.

Answer: quite well.

z poooooor leetle horsie gots all sweaty

G demonstrated the things he was explaining to me and rode through Courage's little tantrums and then was able to do all the exercises and let Courage figure things out. It made sense to me and it made sense to Courage.

And that's what matters to me right now. Next lesson with G is in two weeks. Lots of homework before then!