[StormyBlues]

Ok, so a week ago, I had my first serious dressage lesson back for the season. My trainer pushed the fact that my right wrist breaks, and needs to be more steady, straightness, and that inevidable inside leg to outside rein. We tweaked and fixed my minor problems, then she made me basically ride only on my outside rein, then when I got that could I get some contact with my inside. Let me tell you, his headset and way of movement after that was PERFECT! It was like a lightbulb went off for both of us! Now I'm able to apply my inside leg and put just a little pressure on his outside rein and BAM instint dressage headset and he will push his hindquaters down! I'm so excited and just had to share! lol!

 

[MyBoyPuck]

I love lightbulb moments. I had one myself today. For about 11 strides at the trot, I felt what good, elastic, consistent contact with the bit felt like. Nothing better than improving on the last ride!

 

[StormyBlues]

SO true! My trainer has been working on body control now, and it's so hard but when it all clicks and feels good and she goes "STAY LIKE THAT! IT'S PERFECT! DON'T MOVE!" or "Feel that?! That's what it ALL should be like!" you can definatly tell the difference!

 

[NittanyEquestrian]

I love dressage but my thighs and hips weren't made to rotate like that!!! haha. Glad you got the lightbulb moment! I tend to ride too much with my legs and don't contain and channel the energy I create as well as I should with my outside hand. I'm with you on the needing to ride more inside to outside as well. Kudos for finding the sweet spot and I wish you many more rides like that!

 

[MIEventer]

Great job Alex, glad you had a great ride and a light bulb moment!

I audited a clinic a while ago, taught by ....dang...cannot remember her name. It'll probobly come to me when I am at work. Anyways, she is high up there in the "chain of dressage" and she was showing us all how important the outside rein is.

So many ride with the inside rein, turning, bending, etc, etc - when the majority of the questions should be coming from your outside aids. She was able to get on a students horse and ride with her outside rein - doing circles and serpentines and half passes and etc, etc. It was a major eye opener.

She said during the clinic that a great way to test to see if you are riding correctly, is to drop the inside rein and if your horse doesn't change, then he/she's on the outside rein. If your horse does change, then you're doing it incorrectly.

I can get Nelson to keep it going clock wise, but the momemnt we go counter, I loose it. It isn't him, it is me - I know I am not balanced going counter clock wise, so that is an issue I have to work on.

Great job! Keep it up

 

[Spyder]

Ok, so a week ago, I had my first serious dressage lesson back for the season. My trainer pushed the fact that my right wrist breaks, and needs to be more steady, straightness, and that inevidable inside leg to outside rein. We tweaked and fixed my minor problems, then she made me basically ride only on my outside rein, then when I got that could I get some contact with my inside. Let me tell you, his headset and way of movement after that was PERFECT! It was like a lightbulb went off for both of us! Now I'm able to apply my inside leg and put just a little pressure on his outside rein and BAM instint dressage headset and he will push his hindquaters down! I'm so excited and just had to share! lol!

Good first step, now you need to discover the rest.

 

[StormyBlues]

^ain't that the truth! We still have SUCH a long way to go, but I have a feeling Geof is the right horse to teach me it!

Kim, I'm like that with my left side! I can be going perfectly going counter and then it all turns to blech in a second! My trainer litterally has my physically turn my body from the waist up to get my centered on the left side, then it's perfect! I'm a strange, strange child......... and one that has many bad habbits!