Saddle...Michelle's 1st lesson --

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, [2] ]

Subject: Saddle...Michelle's 1st lesson

Author:
Jennifer

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 13:48:38 06/17/02 Mon

*This is Michelle's 1st lesson. After this she has 9 more left, and THEN you can write me a check ok? :-) I will set up her next lesson sometime later this week.*
"Hey Saddle!" Jenny greeted her friend. It was a sunny day at Fantail Creek Stables and Saddle was walking up with her 2 y/o daughter Michelle. Jenny was going to be giving Michelle 2 beginner lessons a week. Jenny bent down and smiled. "Hey there. I'm Jenny. What's your name?" Even though she knew. Michelle smiled and tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ears. "I'm Michelle!" she replied. "Today you're going to have a lesson," Jenny continued. "You're going to ride Barnum today ok?" She led her to the stall. Saddle walked off. Jenny helped the little girl lead the Shetland out and clip him in cross ties. She helped Michelle groom his dark coat, pick his hooves, and comb his thick mane & tail. Michelle then followed her riding instructor to the tack room. Jenny told her to put on her helmet and then she showed her the english saddle. "But that looks diffrent," she said, eyes wide. "Yes I know. This is an ENGLISH saddle...not a western saddle. Ok?" "Ok." Michelle was satisfied. *I'm asuming Michelle has never ridden english before ok? :-)*
Jenny carried the tack and they walked back to the patient 10hand pony. Jenny helped the cute little girl tack up. Then she grabbed the lunge line and the whip and led her to the arena. Saddle was watching on the side. Michelle waved to her mom and then mounted. "Does it feel diffrent?" "YES." Michelle grinned. "Do u like it?" "Yes." "Ok, good." Jenny smiled. "Here is how I want your form." She gently pushed her heels down and said firmly, "Heels down. Very important." "I know," Michelle replied. "Ok. Back straight. Hands right here." She showed her the bucking strap. "Where are the reins?" Michelle exclaimed. "Don't worry about them. Today you're just going to hold onto that ok? "Ok." "Here we go." Jenny stepped back and picked up the whip. "Walk." "When can I jump?" Michelle asked suddenly. Jenny smiled to herself. "Not yet," she replied calmly. The black pony circled Jenny smoothly. "Rock with his stride," Jenny said. "Good girl! Keep your heels down. Good!" Michelle beamed as Barnum continued to walk. "Ok, remember to hold onto to that bucking strap!" "What does it do?" Michelle wondered, glancing down at it. "It helps you keep a deeper seat. And I don't want u worrying about the reins today." They continued to walk around and around. Michelle's heels were down, her little body was straight and she wasn't bouncing, and her hands gripped the bucking strap. "Ok. Want to trot?" "Yes, finally!" Michelle giggled. "Now, have you ever seen your mommy or sister trot?" "Of course!" she replied. "Well, have you ever seen how they rise and fall at the trot? That's called posting. Remember this Michelle. 'Rise and fall with the leg on the wall.' Can you repeat that?" Jenny swished the whip. "Rise & fall...with the leg on the wall!" Michelle recited, not understanding what it meant. "Good job. Ok, now when he trots, you are going to go up and down in the saddle. Don't bounce. Push yourself up...keep on holding the bucking strap...keep your heels down & everyime I say, "1 or up, then rise. Ok?" "O-k." Michelle was determind, slightly confused. "Posting makes the trot smoother," Jenny explained quickly. Michelle laughed. "Sometime I bounce a lot!" Saddle smiled to herself. Sometimes? All the time with those ponies & their bumpy trots! She turned her attention back to the lesson, which was going well. "Ready? Squeeze and rise!" Michelle obeyed, pushing herself out of the saddle and pressing her heels to the pony's sides. Jenny fed out the lunge rope and swished the whip. "Trot!" The pony picked up a steady, boucny trot. "1,2, 1,2, 1,2..." First Jenny started out slow. Michelle went up on the 1, down on the 2. Jenny worked with her on not smacking down in the saddle, and not posting too high or too low. Michelle smiled as she got the hang of it, but Jenny knew her little legs must be getting tired." "Ok..now, rise up and stay up." "Stay?" Michelle asked. "Yes, hold onto the bucking strap and stand in the stirrups as he trots." Barnum continued his swinging trot around the arena and Michelle stood in the stirrups. A couple of times she lost her balance and fell back, but she would rise back up. After that, Jenny let her walk. Michelle had ridden for 45 minutes, working on the walk & posting trot. After the lesson and Barnum was put away, Jenny said, "Ok, ride as much as u can & practice before your next lesson!" she said. "You did very well!"
WHAT DO U THINK? DO I NEED TO CHANGE ANYTHING, IMPROVE...

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]