New trainer...yay or neigh?

The new potential trainer/instructor made the drive out to the farm last night. He was polite and seemed to know a lot from what I could decipher from his accent.

I did my research on him before coming, the little that I could find. I dont want to share too much to keep his identity safe, but he is fairly new to the US (which I knew) so does not have many clients yet or any prospects. His background is in jumpers and eventing at the 1* level...which I did find records on.

So not quite as experienced as the other few trainers I have used and he is the youngest (not by much). BUT age and experience, while they do mean more wisdom, does not always mean they are good at sharing and teaching that wisdom.

He said all the same things about Tillie that I have been hearing from all the other trainers. The top ones that stood out:

1. She needs to soften her back more
2. Her lateral movements are shockingly amazing and nimble
3. She needs to use her hind end more  

He rode her first so I could see his style....and because this person or whoever my next trainer will be, will potentially help me with a training rides here or there like D does. Right away I noticed how much Tillie did not seem to mind him. New riders to her are usually like fresh meat...she tail swishes and squeals and threatens all sorts of non-sense before settling in to work. 

Tillie did none of those things and seemed pleased to work. Her ears were listening and floppy at times and you could see the wheels turning in her head as he rode her around. 

He did a lot of counter bending, asking for bigger steps then "shhhhing" her and asking for slower steps. He played around with some shoulder in too. 

They trotted A LOT. He seemed to have the same approach as C in getting her going before asking to connect. He worked with her on her wanting to brace through the changing rein when changing from tracking right to left. I like what I saw when he would put his inside hand forward giving her a floppy rain for few strides and pat her before picking it up again...something I am really bad about doing.

They then moved on to schooling canter transitions. He said she needs to be better about sitting when going into them and make it clearer rather then the few quick trot steps before leading into the canter. He also instigated a more forward canter to attempt to get her excited (since I mentioned this was an issue) and then correct it by using his seat. 

 He was quite impressed at the walk and trot how responsive she was to the seat for transitioning and said she just needs that same level at the canter. He then was trying to get her to stretch more at the trot, but she just didnt relax enough in her back to allow for that. I heard him using his voice and "shhhing" her a lot which I thought was cool.

He then had me get on to try to recreate the canter transitions he just schooled. So it was a little bit of a taste for what a lesson would be like. Immediately when I got on, I notices how much more in the reins Tillie felt. It's hard to say if it was a good feeling or bad, it just felt like I had a lot more there...usually the contact is so light so sometimes its hard to make that half halt with her. 

He gave me some homework to do - which I always love homework! I need to be able to recreate the lesson without my trainer there to a certain extent. He suggested lots of random ground poles to randomly work over them to help "surprise" Tillie and ride through that to promote getting her relaxed...Also raise caveletti in trot work to build strength. 

When jumping she recommended only using placement poles. 

So here is their first few rounds of trotting...so she wasnt quite as relaxed here. But I look forward to hearing anyone's thoughts and open to suggestions on other local trainers. 

Weekend recap

Tillie and I had one more lesson going into this weekend. I left this one feeling satisfied and still in good spirits! Which right now, feeling accomplished and good after a ride is the ultimate goal.

Luckily for me, Tillie has been on point and allowing me to concentrate more on me. She has been far surpassing my expectations and all of my trainers lately it seems! 

Tillie says this is easy!

So this Friday we did a gymnastics lesson that Tillie totally ate up while we focused more on my form. I really struggle with dropping her at the last second and something with my body over the last fence that instantly makes Tillie go wild. 

I still see stiffness in my shoulders and butt not back enough which indicates a weak core.

So we worked on me staying taller and hands staying off her neck to get out of that safety blanket. I am still hunching/collapsing in my core...so I having a hard time finding the balance between staying taller in my body and folding at the hip as well as not sitting too soon for landing. 

I guess it doesnt look too bad...lol but I have faith we will keep improving.

Some videos from the end:

Yesterday our farm hosted a fun Combined training show and I decided afterwards to sneak in a ride. I jumped around the Novice course and was just smiling like a big kid...Miss Tillie jumped everything no questions, slices, bending lines...whatever I threw at her. She ate it up and it feel easy and fun. WOOOO!!! there was a time jumping her was slightly nightmarish...heavy on the marish. So just getting on a schooling like it was no big was refreshing and again a huge help to keeping my confidence on track.

I solemnly swear I am up to no good

The last two rides I have been trying to focus on just going with the flow...not overthinking too much but also not letting things slide either. Tillie is way too smart to let things go. The trick for me is trying to the find the balance between taking it serious enough but also not too seriously. 

I have been trying to ride with music lately and it has seemed to help. I tend to get so in my head I sort of realize I am tuning the music out at times. So I shake it off, take a breath and focus on the beat. It sounds silly, but its been working. 

Between Tillie's attempts to mutilate herself, I have managed to get a few rides in since my last post. 

Look Mom I'm trying to be like Harry Potter

We have also had quite the heat wave here but it hasnt stopped Miss Tillie or made her worse for wear. Ill break down what I have been working on for myself and then what I have been working on for Tillie (I know both relate so I will do my best to separate for the sake of making it easier to skim!)

What I have been working on for myself

• Primarily:
• Even hands - Left hand has this tendency to drop lower and be uneven
• Tucking my butt under myself so my lower back isn't perched
• Stepping into my right stirrup without bracing and skiing on that leg 
• Jumping flaws I've been wanting to fix:



Hunching on landing



Toes out, jumping ahead, swinging lower leg



Not giving enough release

Winging out toes and sitting too soon indicating weak lower leg and core

Some others I cant find pictures of:

• sit too soon on landing http://akdragoophoto.zenfolio.com/p1007580988/e4a20987f
• Hands rise the last few strides to a fence - anticipating
• Hands drop the last stride at a fence (yes both of hand issues have happened simultaneously and its quite the skill) 
• Tip forward/lead with shoulders up to the fence

See told you I am up to no good ;) 

What I have been working on for Tillie:

• Taking the bigger step behind for more push and impulsion 
• Keeping the shoulders up no matter what we are doing (especially after landing on jumps)
• Not bracing on my inside rein
• Canter to trot transitions without needing hand

My ride yesterday:

Yesterday I rode and focused the first 30 minutes just on me. The whole hand thing I listed and all... Then worked on adjustability in our walk and trot...slow smaller steps to larger steps (without going fast and flat) I have tried to get out of our safety zone of the 20 meter circle and try serpentines and changing directions to really test acceptance of the aids. At first she would get a bit tight in her back through the change but by the end was perfect - in relative terms of course.

 Next, I did trot to canter transitions without holding her and really stepping into my inside leg (boy is that hard!). She somehow lost the ability to come back to trot just on my seat which was frustrating since the last few rides shes done them flawlessly. BUT we took a break and I decided to test our jumping to see if our flat work is paying off. 

Jumping from a more forward canter

Lets break it down: 

Approach stayed in rhythm, hands are stable and I am sitting tall. Tillies shoulders are up!!! WOOOO!!
Some tension though in my shoulders and lower back still. 

Hands are the same! But tension in the lower back...at least I waited and didnt jump ahead right?

Good with the lower leg, still see tension though which is preventing a bigger release.
Reins are better and much longer than usual but will become an issue with higher fences if I dont release better.

Siiting too soon still, only slightly hunching though! Lower leg isnt pushing forward
and water skiing as much

ANNNNNND back to tension and hands coming back, at least my upper body is up and tillie isnt on the forehand.

Still with the hands **head desk** but Tillie is taking a nice big stride without being downhill

And just telling her how smart she is

Another "such a smart pony" because the downward transition after this was spot on with no hand!