Last week I literally cried about not getting to the yard. Not only had P and I worked out a way to get work done even with my back playing up, but M was on the yard: a German girl who we all loved, but moved to Chile with her dad at the end of the summer. She was back for the first time since before heading to Germany to see her mum. I was all ready to go and as soon as I left my flat I heard the wind. Before I was out of range of the wireless I checked the bridge: it was closed to buses. I checked the weather: the winds were not set to die down until midnight. I checked every hour to see if things changed but they didn't: I therefore missed riding and missed M too 80(
This week I got down without trouble, despite the fact that an earlier accident was causing serious delays (which often means the bus terminates early). However, the website had not updated and not only was my bus in early, but it arrived at the yard ahead of time. I was thrilled!
I watched a lesson: a jumping class. I saw the course and saw every line and turn. I was a bit surprised that riders who I think are fairly good saw none of them on their own and had to be coached. It almost gave me some of my jumping fire back, seeing them not quite getting it right and wanting to show them. Also the girl on Murphy was not pushing him. When he's dilly-dallying he sort of cat leaps in two phases. It is horrible to ride and ugly to watch. When asked which horse I wanted to ride I said Murphy: not only did he need to work properly, but Bailey's on box rest and Guinness had done two lessons in a row already. I didn't think a third was fair.
Murphy was walked off and got a 15mins break, then I got on. I warmed him up fully, as he'd not just been ridden at all. He was sluggish even in walk, and responding minimally to the leg. Backing up with the crop worked a treat: all of a sudden his ears pricked forward, he paid attention, and one ear came right around towards me every time I used my voice. (I'm a firm believer in using one's voice as not only is the horse taught this first, but it also gives the horse the chance to minimise the leg it needs, much like correct use of the crop means the horse works to minimise its use). The first canter was sluggish, but only for half a length before I backed up my leg. I had this horrible thing where I lost the rhythm all of a sudden: it did take me a minute to get used to Murphy stride in trot as it's been over a month since I rode him (maybe even November) so tried not to panic. I hate when I feel myself tense up. I got relaxed and got the rhythm again though: my weight was nicely back and legs nicely squeezing him. It felt good.
P then told me that I was to do what I want, rather than have a lesson (paying only a token amount for the loan of the horse). I was delighted – if I'm honest I was a bit miffed at paying full private prices in my last two lessons when because of my back I was essentially deciding what I did and when, but without any feedback whatsoever from P. This made up for it.
Transition work is what I did most of the time, along with work on extension. Not only do I find Murphy difficult to collect because his stride is so tiny, I find his collection hard to ride. I did however get some great working and extended walks: he really lowered for me and it felt like he was over-tracking well in the latter. The extended trot felt great: it was impulsive, good speed, and his ears were pricked. I would have loved a picture! However, given his sluggish canter earlier I took the opportunity to go from extended trot to canter in the corner, as with a poor quality trot only a poor canter will follow. I therefore cantered off a great trot and it worked – he gave me better impulsion. However, when switching reins to repeat the exercise the length of the school that I asked for extended trot, all I got were anticipatory canter transitions. I wasn't putting my leg back for canter, I merely had them on and increased the height of my rise. It didn't work though: he knew a canter was coming so kept breaking into it. It was a fab canter, just a bit early.
I also did some circle work with him. His trot was awful: I was really trying to bend him round my leg and he was having none of it. It was therefore more of a series of straight lines (more like an octagon) than a circle. Canter was much better though: I was able to isolate my seat bones to switch me balance in the saddle, and his shoulders followed mine into the bend much better. I'd never done canter circles with him before, and I was impressed with him: some flexion and no motor biking!
The jump course meant figures of eight were impossible, but I persisted with serpintines for the length of the school. He had no idea what I was doing and was alert: I hope he enjoyed doing something different in the school, rather than the formulaic walk, trot, canter, jump, walk of many group lessons. Apart from a couple of occasions, he did not anticipate the direction early. Again I was able to isolate and use my seat to indicate direction before I used my hands and he responded. It was rather beautiful to me, in an understated way.
The only real problem I had was halting. Murphy has the RS pony mentality that if you stop, it's to move out of the way as it's someone else's turn to do something. So if you stop near the school entrance, he walks to near the gap by the mounting back. Down the sides, he moves into the middle out of the way. I'm gentle with my halt commands – I use my voice and squeeze the reins. P told me it would be great for Murphy to learn to halt properly, so I repeatedly checked and if needed leaned to get him to stop. Whilst in the main groove he was pretty good, and I fussed over him every time he halted correctly on the spot. Any time he veered off and kept walking, we repeated it until correct. I did make the mistake of practising halt when we warmed down though. Murphy knows that being rid on the buckle means the end (which is why I don't do it during a lesson as he can switch off). Therefore in rest time I was asking him to work against habit: no wonder it didn't happen. It's definitely something to keep working on though!
So all in all, after a crappy week full of marriage separations, ill health and general stress, I had a ball riding my favourite horse, in complete control of my own schooling. One of the biggest changes from RS to horse owning is that most of the time, unless you can afford regular lessons, you work on your own. You need to plan what to do, so I appreciate the chance to do this. The same way that driving lessons teach you how to pass your test, but only after you have your licence do you learn how to ride, I do believe a lot is learned when you're alone with your horse without an instructor there. While you can't have snippets of driving alone while a learner, the chance to school a horse on your own before being an owner is a treat. I enjoyed it, and I haven't done it properly since I was down often enough to be given horses to exercise. Oh how I miss those days!
So, roll on next weekend, if the gods of the weather are with me!
