2009.11.22 – Wannabeajumper Progress Report
November 22nd, 2009
This is where I will post Rody’s progress report.
I have been taking lessons, and riding Rody, for about a month now.
Friday night, after a long lesson with Emily, I think that I am beginning to understand the nature of this task.
1) Rody has a high level of training in dressage.
2) Rody may have been trained using “old school” training methods: rather harsh and disciplinarian.
3) It may be that the disciplinarian methods were required for Rody, or it may simply be that those are the methods used by the person who trained her.
(i) Rody seems to be quite “ornery” – she challenges the rider to determine what they will do, and where they will go.
(ii) On the other hand, once the rider establishes leadership (which has proven to be a time-consuming work which is still in progress), Rody is extremely perceptive to the rider’s hands, seat, posture and balance, reins, and legs. She responds to the slightest cue or aid, oftentimes to asks that I am not aware that I am giving her.
(iii) I am confident that I am gaining back control of this horse, and that she is beginning to accept me as “the leader of the herd.” She will now follow my lead with a minimal amount of effort on my part. Unfortunately, we learned Friday that this does not apply if there is another horse in the arena – she still thinks that she may go to the other horse to socialize, and is much less responsive (i.e. “ornery”) in such circumstances.
It is important to note: Rody has NEVER been dangerous to ride. She does NOT react impulsively or suddently. While riding Rody, I feel completely safe in the saddle (just not always in complete control).
A few months ago, after spending the summer in the open pasture with a consistent + established band of horses, I was beginning to lose control of this horse. By building confidence of the horse in myself, I began to gain back control of her hooves, and to establish myself as a “herd leader” which she would follow. That part of her schooling is (almost) complete.
Please refer to the