Lessons 3/26 and 4/2

I rode Junior again last Saturday, March 26. We finally were able to ride outside! I really do prefer outside to inside. Up here in the Northeast we are stuck in indoors for several months, so any chance to ride outside is a bonus! We warmed up with some trot poles; again I sat down and asked for a leg yield over the the rail, but failed every time. I'm sure it's all me. We come out of the poles, I sit, use outside rein and inside leg, but not enough. I don't think I'm strong enough yet. Plus Junior likes to root and pull so my leg yield ends up being just me trying to pull his head up and push his body over while he trots quickly and I bounce there on top of him. I don't have any video of that portion of the lesson, unfortunately. But Almost-Fiance did get the canter poles and 'jumping' recorded so I will post that.

Junior's canter is quite nice. He gets into a steady rhythm and I'm able to stand off his back and let him keep a good pace.

Canter poles were fine:

'

Next we did some baby jumping for this big baby (me). The first two times through I completely dropped him and he stopped. I'm definitely not going to post that. He wasn't dirty about it, just responded to my lack of direction. I let myself tense up and freeze - my leg came off, eyes looked down and I gave up. There's my jumping fear for you. Third time around we caught the jump fine. We continued around on a big circle, catching the jump each time in both directions. Even though I'm barely jumping, what maybe 14"?, it still feels amazing to be back doing what I love.

tiny baby jump

And I'll say, even though Junior 'stopped' I didn't feel nearly as afraid as when I was jumping Vinny.

Zoe also had a lesson and did fabulously as usual: 

yeah i know i cut her head off.

This past Saturday morning I was supposed to have another lesson on Junior, but alas he was feeling mighty stubborn, so it turned into more of a training ride. The old man would not stay at a trot more than a few steps. I tried big spurs, little spurs, small squeeze with my calf, kicking, smacking his flank with my hand, a crop, kissing sounds, clucking etc. Even M got on and while she was a bit more successful than me, still couldn't really get him to go all the way around the ring. After twenty minutes of fighting with me, we finally did a few laps and circles at the trot in each direction and that's about all we had time for. M didn't charge me thankfully. It only occurred to me later when I got home that maybe I should have tried picking up the canter to see if that would wake him up a little and then come down to the trot. Oh well. No media - nothing really to see anyway.

Next lesson is on Wednesday, First group lesson in years. M said it would be fun so I thought I would try it out. Not usually a huge fan but hoping that maybe I'll get to know other riders this way. (I'm awkward and horrible at making friends).