Being an instructor

The first times my Hubby rode a horse with no instructor I was very busy with getting to know this new horse I was riding. Me myself and my horse.
I did not take much notice of Hubby.
That was until he was almost thrown off 4 times in half an hour...

As an experienced rider it is off course my responsibility to make sure he has a good introduction to the sport. I am not sure why I did not see that before...

As a 20 year old I worked as a riding instructor for kids learning to ride, but it is such a long time ago, and the ponies was slow and tired of the arena.

Now it is a grown man and a tall proud young Irish Warmblood.
Something entirely different...

So I did what I always do... I googled!
And I found a very useful tool, a lesson plan!
This brilliant web page har quite a few blog posts on instructing, but most importantly, when assigning to the news letter you get a lesson plan template.

I filled it out and had this planned:

In the stable/prep: 
* Learning about the horse boots and bell boots. How they are fitted and why we use them

Warm up:
* Riding out against the fence, not cutting corners in walk
* Round volts/circles, not square

Main part:
*Working on posting trot, low silent hands
* Riding in slalom/ weaving game

Cool down: 
* Talk about next time, plant a seed to go hacking soon
* Ask him to let out the rains (this was what brought on the first buck that almost sent him in the ground)

I felt very prepared, had a clear goal and all went to plan!
So pleased!

First time alone - Spooky horse

So for the first time in quite a while my hubby and I was to ride alone. No instructors, no owners...
We arrived at the stable and it took forever to find the correct tack, get their food made and cleaning out the stalls. By the time we where out of the doors with the horses it was very late indeed.

We headed up to the fenced area and again it was frozen. We tried to get the generator thingy that runs the light up and running, but we did not manage to get it going. We rode in the dark for about an hour working both on the horses and from the ground learning to know each others.

After about half an hour my hubbys horse went in the air almost throwing him off. He was off course scared but managed to do all the correct movements getting the horse to relax again. Well that was my husbands first canter ever... Not the way we planned it.
His horse kept suddenly going off in gallop, and in the end we counted 4 times where hubby totally lost control and of course his confidence.
This was NOT the introduction I was wanted. He have been riding for about two months in a steady pace learning in a good tempo, and then this came and ruined it all.
I felt so incredibly guilty and a poor mentor.
I really need to find ways to ensuring that this do not happen again.

My horse, sweet Mister did everything perfect this time. He was calm, collected and attentive. Never jumpy or scared. He even let me open a tricky gate from his back.
Very sad that Hubby had such a troubled day, but at the same time, happy that Mister was more of a treat this time around.

As you probably can tell from the images, Mister needs his stall cleaned. Maybe that will be my Christmas gift to him! ;)

So until next time...

Testing another horse

After calling the local stables checking if any of the horse owners needed help during their week, we have become quite popular. Not many grownups want this type of hobby/work and most girls wanting to ride are under 16.
We have gotten three places to check out where there are at least 2 horses that needs riding 1-2 times a week.
Last week I tried one horse in a nabouring village, this week I tried one in our village. My husband has just started riding and we are a package deal him and me. He wants to ride both learning at a local riding school, but would also like to ride once a week, if there is a calm horse available.

Luckily for us todays stable visit was just perfect. Two horses was needing a rider, and one of them is very calm and safe. I tried the older horse, him being 19 years old, however claiming he was only 6. :) Loads of engine, happy chap and the owner reminds me of me when I was loads younger.

The horse my hubby tested is about 10 I think. He is an Irish chap and loves to jump. He has apparently jumped 1.75m more than once. Very impressive indeed.
We rode in a fenced area and although it was frozen solid, we got a god impression of the horses.
And we where both happy.
I might admit that I would love more of a challenge riding and an indoor riding arena would be preferable, but right now, I am all for getting my hubby into this sport, so I will run with this!

The owners was happy and after a signing of some documents giving us responsibility if something went wrong, we were ready to start this adventure!

Horse: Mister and Ginger

Type: Dressage / Trying out
Conditions: Frozen solid

Testing a new horse

As mentioned before I am missing the regularity and bond with a horse I ride regularly. So after a lot of googling and searching I have found three horses in need of a rider once a week.
So now I have tried one of them!

He used to go dressage/showjumping on a Grand Prix level, so he is very spoiled when it comes to riders. He doesn't want them too slow, and not to heavy in the saddle and NOT to strong in the hands. Well, at least it felt like it riding him.
Very easy to do something to trigger him to just run away with me. But at the same time he really begs for work. He wants to go, and go fast.

After a few rounds I found that as with so many other horses. Great success comes with good work from the seat and posture. Sitting up proud and work with the seat to slow him down and collect him is sooo very effective indeed.

The owner is struggling with back issues and has been advised to use draw rains as a backup solution to the energy and him wanting to run off.
I am not a fan of these rains, but as a rider wanting to ride I am not going to be picky. If I manage to be hired to ride this horse, I will use the rains until I feel safe and then ride without them.

This is me riding him. The very active seat is due to me trying to slow him down by being behind and slower than him in the posting trot and canter.

Finally some progress - riding more frequent does give results

At our favorite place to ride Blixland they have weekend courses and all day courses. This offers 1 riding lesson in the morning, theory and lunch, and then one riding lesson in the afternoon.
We had heard good things and was really exited about our "One day adult course"!

We got divided into groups by our riding ability (beginner, intermediate and expert) and I was put in the intermediate group. When I heard that the experts was supposed to go jumping in the afternoon, I was sorry not to being able to join them. Well, maybe next time!

I got a pony named Laika. She is so sweet... and tiny! She is not the most enthusiastic of horses, but she does go on the bit easily and knows her sideways movements.

In the first riding lesson I did not get a lot of tutoring, I was left to explore Laika on my own, and in a way, that was good too. It does sometimes take a while to find the good connection and communication.

For lunch we got an splendid autumnal soup. It might very well have been the best soup I've ever had. Sitting at a beautiful table, with great food and good company, all talking horses is my new favorite thing to do.
Having my husband there in the middle joining in just made it perfect!

The second lesson felt a bit better. The instructor gave really valuable input and I was able to connect far better with Laika and also concentrate on more then just keeping her moving forward.
I even got my first praise back in the saddle again so that felt really good!

I was told to give more on the inside rain and not stiffen up in the outside rain. Collect my hands together not out sideways which still is a bad habbit of mine. For the first time I was not nagged about not slouching, so I take that as an improvement.

The instructor also kept reminding us to ride from the inside leg to the outside rain. It might not make sense at first, but just try it! It does give results!

Stable: Blixland
Horse: Laika
Instructor: Kaia
Type: Dressage

Probably discussing mud, hay and stupid riders...

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