Kelly and I talked about a few adjustments to my riding during my Saturday lesson to see if we can't get Ellie to like me a little more under saddle. She and I get along just fine on the ground but we need to connect during the ride, which we're just not doing right now.
To kick things off I'm going to start riding MORE. Ellie will still get her training rides but I'll be out after work to do 10-20 minutes of hack. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Working on no stirrups to build up the old legs.
Kelly also suggested some longe line lessons, bringing things back to basics to focus on balance and leg aids. So I was SUPER excited to see that Brook had Rouie and Winslow on the longe before my Sunday lesson. Of course I asked if I could have a go and Ellie and I trotted around for the entirety of our private lesson working on moving haunches and shoulders with legs and not hands.
I asked Rouie to take a few photos during the lesson for this blog and that's where things went a bit south. Ellie just looked so upset in every. single. photo. Ears pinned, back/ neck inverted. To see her so frustrated was just disheartening. I can understand when she gets snarky about too much inside rein, too much wiggling in the canter depart, too much nagging forward leg. I get it. I can be annoying.
But she's just being asked to go around in a circle at the trot. We were working specifically on a NON-nagging leg. I was trying to be light in my seat, down in my heels, and guide with quiet aids.
I am sure we will work through this once we figure out what she needs from me, but it's challenging to ride a horse that clearly wants nothing to do with you.
:/ Is she like that with Kelly too? Think it's a good plan to move forward with though.
ReplyDeleteIt probably has nothing to do with you and everything to do with working.
ReplyDeleteFiguring out what to do to make your horse happy can be really tough. Hang in there though! You've got a great team around you, and you'll figure it out soon :-)
ReplyDeletesorry you're frustrated - tho the idea of a lunge lesson sounds fabulous, and i think your plan for getting in more saddle time will help. my mare kinda hates working on the fundamentals, but then gets all happy when we move on to the fun stuff that's only possible when the basics are in order. good luck!
ReplyDeleteI second L!! My mare went through a whole phase where she just wasn't interested in having to work! She tossed her head, wouldn't move off contact, pinned her ears everything. It's not fun, but as hard as it is-try not to take it personally. It will get better!
ReplyDeleteThird what L said. She's a young mare. They have opinions.
ReplyDeleteMy gelding acts likes a hateful and opinionated mare, too. I think part of the problem was him not understanding exactly what he was supposed to do, and the other part was having too much opinion to hear my input. We worked it out finally, but it took months. And it sucked. Hard. On the plus side, my riding got better. I can't think of a single thing I'd recommend other than exactly what you're doing. Just keep at it.
ReplyDeleteIt may not be much consolation, but I've had my mare a year longer than you and Ellie and we recently overcame this identical phase (reining horse based but same reactions) I really think some of it comes down to the honeymoon is over you hit a rough patch, then I promise it will look up and improve :)
ReplyDeleteDiva went through an I hate work phase too, don't take it personally. This shall pass and the struggle will be worth it.
ReplyDelete