So, since Major was taken home due to issues with his stifle (which are "better now" apparently... but I'm skeptical), I've been riding Whisper. I've only ridden him for two sessions and he's very very different than Major. Very forward (although I'm starting to like that) but very well-trained once you get the hang of him.
Tonight, I think I finally made my breakthrough with him and up until hearing a few comments, I felt fantastic (as did the instructor and others watching on the bleachers). Seeing as how I've been riding an insanely slow, relaxed, easy to control QH for the last year and a half... it was a big change for me. I feel like it gave me the variety I need in order to gain some more skills; I'm really excited to put some of what I learned to the test of Major.
I was hoping to have a nice video and some pictures of how I was doing.. but Damie (a 20 year old from my barn.. who is proving herself to be quite obnoxious despite not knowing as much as she'd like to think she does) asked my mom if she could hold the camera and ended up keeping it the whole time and took a bunch of pictures. At the end, my mom asked if she got any good ones, and Damie responded with, "I just took ones that show how bad she can get". Meanwhile, the instructor was saying how great I looked and how much I improved.. plus more experienced horsemen were on the bleachers being complimentary as well. I know that my position does need tweaking, but I felt like my way of handling Whisper improved greatly.
Damie continued to go on about how she wanted me to see how bad my position got. She also said how she could've taught this class herself. This was after a week of her putting me down and talking to me like I was an eight year old who knew nothing. It might sound immature to be a bit upset, but I am. I felt like I did really well, for my second time on a horse who is much different than what I'm used to.. and I can take criticism, as I did from the instructor, but Damie isn't too knowledgeable and she's really rude about giving "advice". So, needless to say, my confidence went a bit down.
DSC_0162 by Right Cute Cali, on Flickr
DSC_0160 by Right Cute Cali, on Flickr
DSC_0153 by Right Cute Cali, on Flickr
DSC_0150 by Right Cute Cali, on Flickr
DSC_0143 by Right Cute Cali, on Flickr
Tonight, I think I finally made my breakthrough with him and up until hearing a few comments, I felt fantastic (as did the instructor and others watching on the bleachers). Seeing as how I've been riding an insanely slow, relaxed, easy to control QH for the last year and a half... it was a big change for me. I feel like it gave me the variety I need in order to gain some more skills; I'm really excited to put some of what I learned to the test of Major.
I was hoping to have a nice video and some pictures of how I was doing.. but Damie (a 20 year old from my barn.. who is proving herself to be quite obnoxious despite not knowing as much as she'd like to think she does) asked my mom if she could hold the camera and ended up keeping it the whole time and took a bunch of pictures. At the end, my mom asked if she got any good ones, and Damie responded with, "I just took ones that show how bad she can get". Meanwhile, the instructor was saying how great I looked and how much I improved.. plus more experienced horsemen were on the bleachers being complimentary as well. I know that my position does need tweaking, but I felt like my way of handling Whisper improved greatly.
Damie continued to go on about how she wanted me to see how bad my position got. She also said how she could've taught this class herself. This was after a week of her putting me down and talking to me like I was an eight year old who knew nothing. It might sound immature to be a bit upset, but I am. I felt like I did really well, for my second time on a horse who is much different than what I'm used to.. and I can take criticism, as I did from the instructor, but Damie isn't too knowledgeable and she's really rude about giving "advice". So, needless to say, my confidence went a bit down.
DSC_0162 by Right Cute Cali, on Flickr
DSC_0160 by Right Cute Cali, on Flickr
DSC_0153 by Right Cute Cali, on Flickr
DSC_0150 by Right Cute Cali, on Flickr
DSC_0143 by Right Cute Cali, on Flickr