Kathy lesson summary

Homework

Videotape

Downward transitions using HQ

Dan’s rhythm—follow Try, sync, my legs in trot

Half halt: abs first, sit deep then reins to engage HQ/slow/alert to transition/stop etc

Canter—stretching, self-carriage –do it in the ring on the rail. Bareback?

Elbows—stay close to my side and they cue Try not my hands

If Try inverts: my reins come up with her maintaining contact until she decides on the better deal

Outside rein to help rebalance Try

Be careful in turns that my weight is balanced—more weight in outside stirrup better than inside/falling in

Change habit of lifting leg to cue

OK to use holding legs to cue slowing the gait or reset

Moving out to go forward—at canter if need be and repeat if need be

Can use carrot stick or orange hay string to work on my hands/elbow position

Practice getting contact and vertical flexion fairly quickly

Frequent changes of rein and shaping and patterns as warmup to gain good gait then contact/flexion

Turning: turn my shoulders to turn: Turn half halt to warn, go straight, then turn my shoulders

Keep reins from slipping through my fingers

Reins short enough to motivate Try to find the good deal

For HQ—ride uphill in Ollie’s pasture

Lengthening the trot: increase my energy and hip swing in post—followed by relaxation back to working trot

Stretching in all 3 gaits and then test self-carrriage.

Strategies

 

Short and choppy, fast, emotional:

Slow up in my body

Bending and laterals

Outside rein

½ halts

Post hard

Relax myself

Too fast: slow my body, abs out and post slowly

Sluggish and slow

Swing in hips in posting

Outside leg

Move out long lines canter

Laterals and bending

Partial displacement of HQ

Downward transitions

My energy, weight aid, sit deep, core (1/2 halt)

Engage to a stop

Inside leg cues

Shape

Cue laterals

Rebalance

Move balance to the outside

Outside leg cues

Going forward

Stand up balance

Prevent/stop escape in drift

Assist in shaping around the inside leg by influencing the shoulder

Keep forward attitude

Goals

By September, improve my ability to identify a good rhythm by feel.

Videotape and study

 Downward transitions on the HQ—understand and be able to influence

Lovely swinging rhythm—tracking up

Supple balance of HQ/FQ

My Position

Stretch quads before mounting

Pelvic swing in posting trot for more forward impulsion

Hands close to each other—thumbs, light fingers

Elbows close to side and do the cueing

Do not lift my leg to cue

Warmups

My pilates

Walk til she blows

HQ/FQ on the ground

HQ/FQ in the saddle

Ride out for energy

Dan’s passenger/rhythm

Sideways and backing

For My Strength

No stirrups

Dan’s rhythm

Two point/standing

Bareback

Patterns

I am not yet able to do patterns while maintaining contact/flexion/ and quality of gait. To begin it is wise to pick large patterns without too many quick changes of rein at first. Also it might be a good idea to establish the pattern at freestyle first.

½ halt, go straight then turn shoulders

See book 1001 patterns

Canter patterns: bowtie, figure 8 variations

Cloverleaf, serpentine, circles, zigzags, S shapes

Walk and ¼ turn on haunches and forehand and keep going; repeat with turn on haunches at the trot

On the rail go into a circle w/HQ yield plus small swing of the shoulders across until I get parallel to the rail and then leg yield back to the rail (lesson 6)

Walk, rising trot, sitting trot, walk. Do first with working rein to loosen shoulders etc. Each go add a bit more contact/flexion. Let go myself—relax—muscle memory. Reins need to be short enough.

Sideways around the barrel

½ circles on and off the rail

Ask Kathy

Review leg yield, renvers etc for cueing

Trot on the spot

Inhale/exhale for upward transitions

Sideways around the barrel