I have figured out my problem at riding
Dec. 4th, 2011 04:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
siglinde99I can't hold enough instructions in my brain when trying to jump. Nothing is sufficiently internalized to be automatic, and when I try to remember too much at once, I tense up and it all falls apart. For the last four months, my friend Rowan and I have been asking for one take-away from each lesson - the thing we need to think about all week so that it will be automatic next time. It seems to be working.
Today, I did a three jump gym line at the canter. To do this and look good, I had to have short reins before getting to the first jump, dig my knuckles into Mercedes' mane, keep my heels down and legs on, get my left (outside) leg back to ask for the canter, and stay in a nice two-point position. I actually did it, which meant my upper body didn't go all tense and Mercedes stayed at a nice canter, if not a perfectly straight line. This week, I'll be remembering how that felt and how I need to put all the pieces together at the same time.
Today, I did a three jump gym line at the canter. To do this and look good, I had to have short reins before getting to the first jump, dig my knuckles into Mercedes' mane, keep my heels down and legs on, get my left (outside) leg back to ask for the canter, and stay in a nice two-point position. I actually did it, which meant my upper body didn't go all tense and Mercedes stayed at a nice canter, if not a perfectly straight line. This week, I'll be remembering how that felt and how I need to put all the pieces together at the same time.
