I read the latest Savvy Up newsletter and decided to try the new passenger lesson that Linda Parelli wrote about. I haven't been able to do too many passenger lessons because the round pen is too small for Doc; the riding ring is not enclosed so he just goes in the barn; the front pasture has too many low branches which I frequently have to dodge; and the back pasture had too many bushes & trees that Doc would try to take me through. Well last fall Lisa roped off a part of the back pasture to make another paddock. And this little paddock is almost perfect for passenger lessons. There are only a couple of obstacles and these don't seem to be so bad. So I tacked up and headed out. Doc was most excited about the green grass and cinching the final hole was a challenge as all he wanted to do was eat. But once I mounted he was eager to check this part of the pasture out. He hasn't been there in a while. So he walked all over, periodically returning to the gate and stopping. After about 10 minutes of walking, we moved to the trot. Same thing. He trotted all over broke into a canter a couple of times going up & down the hill and periodically stopping by one of the 2 gates. Towards the end of the 20 mintues he would do this more and more and it was harder & harder to keep him going. Next time I will need to have a savvy string. =)
Anyway, I found the new passenger lesson very awkward and at this moment, not sure how I feel about it yet. I felt very unbalanced. It was hard for me to sit in the saddle, and after a while my shoulders and lower back began to ache. I'm sure its because I'm not used to using these muscles in this manner. As a result, I actually felt more tense than normal and I had a hard time figuring out how to move my lower body with the horse when my upper body was planted on his neck. To me I felt much more stiff and unnatural than ever. BUT I will keep trying it as it was a fun new experiment and I'm curious to see where it will lead.
I finished up with the clover leaf at the canter. What a blast. I haven't been able to do it in the dressage ring because it is too small. But the small paddock has a perfect area for it. I wasn't able to do it as well on the right lead. Doc kept breaking into a trot, but on the left lead we were able to do the pattern a couple of times and it was helping with his impulsion - who would have thunk. It was soooo much fun!!!
Anyway, I found the new passenger lesson very awkward and at this moment, not sure how I feel about it yet. I felt very unbalanced. It was hard for me to sit in the saddle, and after a while my shoulders and lower back began to ache. I'm sure its because I'm not used to using these muscles in this manner. As a result, I actually felt more tense than normal and I had a hard time figuring out how to move my lower body with the horse when my upper body was planted on his neck. To me I felt much more stiff and unnatural than ever. BUT I will keep trying it as it was a fun new experiment and I'm curious to see where it will lead.
I finished up with the clover leaf at the canter. What a blast. I haven't been able to do it in the dressage ring because it is too small. But the small paddock has a perfect area for it. I wasn't able to do it as well on the right lead. Doc kept breaking into a trot, but on the left lead we were able to do the pattern a couple of times and it was helping with his impulsion - who would have thunk. It was soooo much fun!!!
