Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mary McGuire Smith on September 5, 2009 at 11:41pm

That is wonderful, Caroline! I wish you all the best with your new trainer, and your horse. It is amazing what a little inspiration will do, eh? ;-) Keep us posted!!

Permalink Reply by Caroline Pettersen on September 14, 2009 at 8:53pm

So I have had truly no formal dressage training, and "signed up" so to speak with a new instructor. As I mentioned above, I went out to watch her ride and was inspired by her skill and grace. So we had our first lesson on Sunday, she was punctual and had asked that we be warmed up by about 10 minutes prior to the lesson. I gave her a little history about me and my horse and that really neither of us has a lot of experience with formal/classical dressage. Wish me luck!!! Well it was awesome, she spoke clearly, I understood what she was telling me and asking me and I actually felt the heightening of my horses front end (albeit for just a few steps) but his fitness will come. I had expressed my concern over not maintaining his hind end drive (or as some hate to refer to it as a frame!) Well he fell into his frame as I began to bring his back up. I was only missing the keeping his back up part! Maybe it is a fitness thing with both of us so it is my personal goal to help him and myself at the same time by increasing our fitness level. Well let me just say folks that my horse gave me his absolute all on Sunday and tried to do everything I asked. leg yield 1 step, forward 1 step, yield 1 step, you get the idea. And we even did haunches in and out too!!! so cool can't wait till our next lesson. Sorry for the long winded story but nobody in my home is a horsey person, and I had to share.

Permalink Reply by Karen T on September 15, 2009 at 3:13pm

Hi Caroline
I too am very new to dressage - lessons began this spring because I had a problem horse and wanted to ensure it was not a bad habit I had that was causing it. We discovered that the horse was not balanced himself and my unsure seat was not helping him at all. With my instructors help, we decided to ride one of my other horses that was better trained in order that I could improve my fitness and my 'seat' before I started really working my 'unbalanced' mount. The idea was to introduce dressage to both me and my 'western' quarterhorse. The difference these lessons has made on my balance, understanding of seat and leg aids, and confidence combined with my horses flexibility and willingness to 'listen' to what was being asked has inspired me to work harder. My experiences now with all of my horses has improved in all aspects. I wonder now why it took me so long to try this discipline. Enjoy and keep us posted in your progress.

Permalink Reply by Caroline Pettersen on September 17, 2009 at 11:58am

So far so good, I have been able to remember and apply what I learned during my lesson. Monty responded well and we will continue to do the exercises that were suggested to obtain suppleness and collection. We are starting on the bottom of the pyramid! But I will happly engage this trainer to improve my skill and my horses also.

'Til next time "cheers"

Permalink Reply by Kinni P on September 23, 2009 at 5:22pm

That's super. I recently started training with a new instructor. She's very good. She doesn't bombard me with metaphors or superfluous instruction. She tells me what I need to know and watches me sort it out. If she sees something she wants more of, she says so. If she sees a problem, she says so. In the two months I've been with her, my riding has improved drastically, as has my confidence level.
It doesn't hurt that she has a lovely schoolmaster-in-training. He's a lot of horse, but he knows the aids and is very responsive. I had never ridden a horse with so much power, he's a Dutch Warmblood trained to GP. It really threw me for a loop. I thought I was doing dressage before, but it didn't feel like this. I can't wait for my lesson each week.