Finally got good instruction

After last lesson, my hopes of regaining the control I used to have on horse back was smothered. But as I need to get fit for my England hacks, I called a different riding school to get some more easy access to lessons. 

The instructor Anita is the owner of the stables and I was riding her private horse Milo. 

He is such a handsome fellow. 

And he was a dream to ride. 

Anita gave me very detailed instruction and I really liked to ride for her. 

She picked on these issues: 

I am still sitting with a too forward lean in the saddle (no surprise there)

I am to stiff in the inside rein

I need to use my weight not just the rains to get him out in the corners and rounded in circles

My hands are too low

I need to quiet my posting trot

Stable: Stall Svartedal

Horse: Milo

Instructor: Anita Aam

Type: Dressage

The wrong way home

So this was my second time on a horse in a looooong time.
It was the same horse, new instructor. My brilliant husband has decided to join my riding endeavours and this was his first ever time in the saddle. And off course he was excellent at it. He has such a great body control and is physically and psychologically very strong.

I still was sitting to much forward leaning. Not sure if this actually slows the horse down or not, but she was doing her thing, taking the bit in both walk and trot.
Cora has loads of up and down movement and she is hard to sit in the sitting trot and canter. As she is a bit stiff and has a hard time going collected in the canter, and I am also struggling to sit her comfortably.
She is such a sweet horse, but does not really give me a feeling of mastering the trot or canter.

The instructor this time gave me a hard time. He was trying to explain to me that I was putting to much effort into riding Cora, and that I could achieve the same, with less effort. As I did not understand what I should do less of, I might have disappointed him... and me by not improving at all. I hope for more detailed instruction next time around.
This time really felt like the wrong way... less progress is not the way to go forward!

My hubby!

I have decided to travel to England again, and this time go on some exiting hacks.
The Queen of England has a castle and around it is this amazing park land. It is dotted with trees and deer. They have hacks in there, and I am going on one.
Also a hack in Surrey is planned!

Need to get better and more fit for these hacks!

Blixland in the rain!

Stable: Blixland ridesenter

Horse: Cora

Instructor: Sergiusz Sajna

Type: Dressage

First time back in the saddle again

It´s just like riding a bike... 

Well so they promised me when I told friends that I would start riding horses again. Well it is not like riding a bike. At all. 

After a longer period of stress at work I was advised to pick up a new hobby that had the power to steal away my thoughts, head and heart! 

When I was a teenager I rode every day. I had my own horses and it was all I ever wanted to do. 

And then I moved to the city, got a husband and a lovely son. Life happened. 

Now stuck in the IT business I am not always controlling my stress sufficiently, initially picking up riding was suppose to help out. 

Well it is not just a little quick fix now is it. I am now in my 40s and it has filled me with as much joy, peace of mind and sense of achievement as when I was a teenager. 

Its like my heart and breathing slows down when I am with this magnificent creatures!

The first lesson back I was very fortunate to ride for the brilliant Sean Topsom. He showed me how to make sure the horse was properly warmed up in all ways possible so that I would get the maximum out of the horse. 

I was given the horse Cora and I have ridden her for other people after, but this time, with all the proper warming up in smaller circles, she preformed her best.

We worked on leg yields, half halts and my position in the saddle. 

I was told what I have been told so many times later: 

* Sit more up and back - Proud

* Twist hands, thumbs up

* Bend in elbow

The sweet Cora!

Stable: Blixland ridesenter

Horse: Cora

Instructor: Sean Topsom

Type: Dressage