My trainer is evil! :)

it just is good practice for most. I can do no stirrups without lunge as well.

When there is a young child on a horse its always best to do a lunge lesson before you let them on the rail it makes the parents feel more safe for there child to be safe I guess.

Learning on a lunge line helps you get your seat, balance and feel for the horse...I learned to ride on a lunge line, and did exercises like stretching my arms out, touching my toes. It really really helps you have a nice form and good seat.

I know I was just giving her a small example. I could actually use more lunge lessons.

Having a trainer that is going to tell you like it is; that is what makes riders better! My new instructor kind of gave me a more gentle "what-for" when I asked a question regarding my horse not listening (she had given us a task and I felt hindered by my horse not listening, she told me to do it again, and I, in a flustered manner said "He is not listening!")... she let me know in NO uncertain terms that I needed to listen to her and do what she says WHEN she says it and we will overcome the problem, haha. A spectator to my lesson later said "Wow, she was on you HARD!" While I don't think she'd cuss at me, I do anticipate some future being yelled at sessions, lol.

I love my first instructors to death, but they just didn't have the "what-for" kind of personality when it came to me riding! I was super-excited when I called the new trainer and she said "Okay, I'm putting you on a lunge lesson first off..." Okay, super excited and crazy nervous!

I going to sound dumb, but why can't one do it on horse without the lunge line? I'd think if horse is rythmic and stay on rail you can do pretty much anything you do on lunge line.

It's great that you have a trainer that will push you out of your comfort zone, that's what will really make you progress. When I was learning Eventing, I had to do everything with no reins, no stirrups for longer than I would have liked, but it paid off! Keep up the good work and have fun!

Ha ha, this sounds a lot like my Toni. She's a total drill sergeant, but her semi-sick sense of humor is what makes everyone love her ^^

Hang on to this one girly. Alot of fine horsewomen are like that ^^

I really got along well with my old trainer. She was totally fabulous! While she doesn't usually compete anymore unless someone asks her to show a horse they have for sale, she definitely is still very much involved in the show world and knows the ins and outs. She also rode for a while with Karen O'Connor, went to England with her and such, so I know that she knows her stuff. She was not afraid at all to push me (though I'm pretty much comfortable with anything in my riding) and she really helped me become a more versatile rider, putting in a good word with other owners that were looking for someone to temporarily ride their horses for them.

I also rode with a fabulous rider/trainer in a few clinics named Eric Horgan (some people might recognize the name, but he's a fabulous coach) and he was one of those not afraid at all to yell at you. I remember in a clinic one of the other riders just really wasn't /trying/ to control her horse, she had just gotten into the habit of letting him do basically whatever, and he said straight up "If you do not get this you will never progress in your riding. If you want to throw your money away by not listening to me then fine, get out of the arena and go ride on your own!" It really made her sit up and listen and actually make progress in the hour that she rode with him!

It's amazing how that works isn't it? I can feel my horse's movements best when my eyes are closed. I can feel them when they're open, but not to the same extent. There's too many distractions.

You still have to be aware of everything that is going on. You have to watch to make sure the horse is staying on the rail. You have to watch to make sure there are no hobgoblins hanging in the arena. You have to do this for safety's sake if nothing else. When being lunged, the person holding the lunge line is controlling the horse. They are watching for hobgoblins and making sure the horse keeps going. That leaves you to focus completely on your position.

The theory is the same as studying. Sure, in theory I could write my essay with FaceBook open on another window. But in practice, I get distracted, and the essay suffers.