Hello all!
I have recently been reflecting on my past riding experiences, how I ended up here, and where I see myself in the future. As I was finishing up a ride today I began thinking about all of the seemingly easy tasks I completed in my ride and how those same tasks used to be daunting to me! For example, riding a short course used to completely wipe me out. staying on was my goal for the course let alone balancing my horse through a turn. As my thoughts turned from how I used to ride to where I am today, I came across some truth's that I hope you find encouraging for your riding and your future in this sport.
1.Your equitation: "put your heels down, and thumbs on top"........"put your thumbs on top and put your heels down...... we have all been there or heard coaches say these a thousand times. It took me a long time to realize that I was so bent on my making equitation looking right (and consistently knew it was wrong) that I had lost touch of the reason why we put our heels down and thumbs up! Once I began focusing on the reasons like keeping my balance, and feeling a straight line from my hand to the horses mouth I realized.... Huh! my thumbs were on top and my heels down!
2.Your horses "head carriage": I had a fantastic teacher who taught me head carriage was an art and a formula that is ever changing. That instructor was a young chestnut thoroughbred by the name of Simon! When I got Simon off the track I practically purchased a giraffe. I began going down the list of fixes my inexperienced self knew. Draw reins, standing martingale, running martingale, side reins, any gadget out there you name it, I tried it. Defying most odds, nothing brought his head to an "ideal head carriage".... or even close. I took me years of experimentation and some wise dressage coaches along the way to come to the realization.... my horses head and neck were not the problem! Shocker! after forgetting about his head and learning to ride him straight.... not just from point a to point b, straight between both legs and both reins, my giraffe turned into a horse, and a nice moving one at that!
3.Finding your distance: This is something I think a lot of riders struggle with, myself included! I spent years and years obsessing over finding the "perfect distance" to every jump. I thought every time I cantered into a jump I had to find it, surely it was there.... as we chipped in for the 50'th time.... I beat myself up, yet again because apparently I was too dumb to find that distance. When I attended the Candice King clinic this past fall, I over heard an on looker after a session talking with Candice about how amazing it was that once she got her students to ride their horses straight as well as keeping power through the turn the distance to the fence came up every time. Candice replied "I can't stand when I hear coaches at the ring tell their students.... find a better distance than last time... that's like trying to read Chinese to me!" Those were music to my ears.... you mean finding a distance isn't about... finding a distance? No! This is a truth I am still learning, experimenting and understanding but I had became so distance obsessed I forgot to ride my horse. I forgot about my canter, my turn, my horses adjust-ability and beat myself up every time I did it wrong.
The more I learn and attempt to understand this sport the more I realize I have yet to learn. This sport is a never ending learning process and I find that fascinating. I hope this post only encourages you in your riding that you will have an ah ha moment and it will all make sense! Continue pressing on and trying your hardest and some day you will look like all your doing is, sitting still and looking pretty!
* I will also note that I believe all the gadgets I listed above do have a time and a purpose. I understand they can be useful tools in the right hands but often they are used to speed along a process that takes time and patience!
