Cantering is my Nemesis

OK - so I'm having problems with my canter...... I was on Murphy this morning, and did loads of trotting with 5m lops and stuff and keeping him on the track, and it was all going fine. Legs ok, hands ok, body position was fine. Then I had to canter. On the right rein it wasn't too bad, I did a few circuits of the school, but I did feel a bit like he knew what he had to do without me asking. I tried to concentrate on keeping in a good position and keeping my hands still. Then I had to change rein and it all went a bit pear shaped! His left rein is his less flexible side, and I struggled to get him into canter, and when he did I felt really, really unbalanced. My hands went up, my bum when down as his back came up, my legs were, well, I'm not entirely sure what they did, and there was quite a bit of daylight between my bum and the saddle. I got off, Bev got on, they showed me how it should be done. Ho hum.

I'm back there on Tuesday and I WILL crack it.

In other news, younger son is off school poorly today, but I think he's ok - just a bit under the weather. Older son has secured an apprenticeship starting on Monday. We are all very pleased for him. It'll be a shock to his system having to get up and out by 8am each day !

Happy Leap Day

For yesterday!

Soooooo busy yesterday, so didn't manage to pop in with a riding update. So, a day late, I can tell you that I did loads of trotting with no stirrups, 20 metre circles, and then a few canters:-). All on Murphy.

Today was neck-reining on Lara, with barrel racing thrown in too. Now Bev has told me that I need to go to the yard every day next week and ride in the school for half an hour or so to build up my time in the saddle. Yay me ! Tomorrow I am hacking out with Frankie - just walk and trot - Yay again !

Legs update - not too achy, but a bit bruised according to my husband!

I have had some disappointments over the job I was hoping for, but then I have had 2 calls in the space of half an hour about other contracts. Fingers crossed.....

No stirrups

I had another riding lesson this morning and I loved it! I was on Murphy again, and we walked and then trotted around the school both in rising and sitting. Then it was time to work without stirrups apparently..... Bev had me doing a few exercises to loosen off my lower back and then I was trotting around in sitting trot, doing serpentines and all sorts! Then a bit of rising trot which was a bit more painful (!). Stirrups back and a couple of attempts to get a canter. Success of sorts with the canter, but this is now what we will be working on mainly. I have another lesson tomorrow and the day after.

Older son is on a driving lesson at the mo, so the house is nice and quiet. Bliss.....

Best get on and do some housework I suppose. Or shall I put the kettle on first?

Pancakes

It was pancake day yesterday, and boy did we eat some ! I made the batter in the afternoon so that we could all eat them when my husband got back from work. But the kids couldn't wait. So by 4pm I was making pancakes and they were piling them high with strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. They did look sooooooo yummy.

Then I had to do it all over agin when my husband got home. They are lovely but I can't get the smell out of the kitchen yet as it's too windy to have the windows open. Ah well...

Anyway I'm just back from my second riding lesson. I was on Murphy again, and we did loads of trotting, rising and sitting, controlling the speed of the trot (or trying to) and 20 metre circles (which weren't particularly circular). My legs are aching now already.

Bev also told me about the benefit of Pilates and how flexible it can make you. So I have been looking on the web and there is a book, Pilates for Equestrians, which I may buy or download. I am also going to keep a track of my weight and try and lose a few pounds, and hopefully tone up a bit. And as it's Lent, I think I may try and give something up - possibly chocolate which does appear in most of my meals, snacks and treats...

So pleased with myself

I'm back. I had a fab time and I am really pleased with myself. I got there and there were loads of cars parked up, so I realised that I wasn't going to be keeping this a secret! A couple of the girls had been to McD's and got pancakes and were sitting in the barn eating. Bev came along and got me the indemnity to sign, and off I went for my lesson in the indoor school. Murphy (piebald? skew bald?) is lovely and solid and not too bouncy in trot apparently. And while he's not as tall as our horse (Lara) it's still a long way down when you are sitting on him.

Bev led me round the school in walk for a couple of laps so I could get used to being on a horse again, then I was walking him on my own. Then we trotted - rising trot which felt quite smooth and natural and Bev reminded me how to make sure I was on the correct diagonal. Sitting trot was next, which was more comfy than I had remembered from those long distant lessons many years ago. We changed rein and trotted some more. Then on to serpentines in walk, rising trot and sitting trot, and again on both reins. More trotting on the large track on both reins, then it was time to do some exercises on Murphy. Feet out of the stirrups, lifting my feet up and pointing my knee down to stretch the thigh muscles. Bliss! Attempting box splits and leaning forwards. Not bliss. Lying back flat and then sitting up again. Comfortable in lying position, but getting back to sitting without a winch was a challenge! Feet back in the stirrups for a bit of trotting in light seat. Now that was fun, and the weight of my bum acted as a counterbalance so I didn't tip forwards ! We had covered downward transitions, with varying degrees of success. Walk to stop was ok, but trot to walk will take some more practice! Bev had warned me that my legs would be wobbly as I dismounted, and sure enough I landed on my feet then on my knees!

I had a great time. I was so pleased with what I could remember from when I last rode. My legs ache now, well the insides of my thighs do. But it's that nice ache from when you know you have worked hard, like after a run or a swim or a bike ride.

I'm there again tomorrow and Thursday for more lessons. I think I could quite easily be bitten by the riding bug again...