Long Ways to Go!

Saturday I found out just how much I have to learn in my riding lessons! I attended a workshop at the riding stables Saturday afternoon where we got to learn a little more about horses, women's connection to horses, and the benefits to riding horses. We got to ride for almost 3 hours in the indoor arena. The horse they assigned to me was not one of their lesson horses. She is a 1st level dressage horse that they have for sale. I learned a lot by riding her, though. She was very sensitive to leg cues and shifting of body weight and tension in the reins. I found out that I tend to sit "heavier" on my right side, which caused Ginger, the horse I was riding, to shift her weight more to that side, making it harder for her to stay walking in a straight line. I also found that I am not very steady or relaxed in my arms and shoulders. Ginger was very sensative to the give and take of the reins. I need to learn to relax more and move my arms forward and back with the natural rhythm of the horses head when they move so I don't put undo pressure on their mouths when their head naturally moves forward. It was a lot to think about! I ended up mostly walking, just trying to get intune with Ginger. I think I needed about another 2 hours! We were doing pretty good towards the end and I trotted with her a little bit. I think I probably frustrated Ginger. *laugh* I also learned that I need some new boots for riding. The ones that I have just aren't flexible enough. I realized how forgiving my lesson horse, Emmitt, really is after riding Ginger. But now I know what I need to concentrate on to get the right cues to Emmitt so he will perform for me. I think I might have to go in and practice on my own every once in a while, too. Maybe while Caisha is taking her lesson...as long as she isn't riding Emmitt for her lessons. That is what Santa is giving her for Christmas this year. Riding lessons! She will be sooo excited! And I found out that for every 10 lessons that you pay for in advance, you get one free! So she will be getting more lessons than originally planned.
I had a great time meeting other women with the same interest in horses as me and maybe I will run into them at some shows down the road!