Dressage Speedhump... or is it?

So the last few weeks have been challenging in my path towards my dressage goals. We have begun the task of pulling apart each section of my riding to better improve me in the long term.

I remember starting off with Jules a few years ago and wanting to get it all right. Of course, this was an impossible task to ask of myself and Jules. It takes time to develop any form of balance or seat needed to begin the intricate parts of dressage and all I wanted to do was to be able to canter with our zooming diagonally off the rail.

A few years on and much has changed, I am a rider now, or thereabouts anyway. Enough so to look like I nearly have a clue.

But....

Now we begin the task of improving my seat, being able to sit the trot properly and use seats, legs and hands all independently.

In doing so we have managed to fit in a few lunge lessons, these are incredibly helpful in improving my seat and I feel like i need about a hundred more. I have a tendency to use my thighs to keep me on, which in turn actually lifts me out of the saddle, so my seat mantra right now is, thighs off, flatten back and really allow my hips to move with the horses back legs.

The other part, that is my current weeks struggle, is the outside rein. I think its a typical issue that many riders use too much inside rein. From the mouth of Sara, is the mantra "your inside rein will not save you". If I feel the horse drifting to the outside I have a tendency to use too much inside rein which instantly affects the whole balance and picture. This week I had to let go of that rein totally and just use my outside aids. We had a few hairy moments but I started to get a feel of what I need to do by the end of the lesson.

Before this week I felt like I was starting to get the horse to work on the bit correctly, but the feel of true engagement over a false outline is very different and has not only a huge affect on the overall picture but on the horses mental and physical health too. The feeling of the horse taking the contact our and forward and lifting over their back as opposed to the tight neck and body when they are just holding themselves in.

But I have a mountain to climb. Just when I feel like I am gaining ground, I slip back down to a different ledge that I didn't even know existed. At best it is frustrating and demoralizing but the feeling when its going right is worth it all. Thank you to my ever patient instructor/s and the horses that are teaching me.

Signing off this week as Dressage Diva... well a girl can dream can't she? xoxo