I went last week and I had a bit of trouble because my teacher has given me an introduction to dressage and I have been practicing but for me english seems much harder than western. I can walk and I can get into a canter without too much trouble but when it comes to the trot(and in my opnion, for whatever that is worth, this is where the real skill comes in),I am all over the place...my seat is horrible...I have a hard time coordinating my movement with the horses and consequently I am off balance...I am supposed to keep contact with the horse(short rein) my arms down(shoulders relaxed--fat chance of that)and keep still while posting (all at the same time?) I know it can be done but Chuck is sensitive and I must be doing something wrong because he keeps changing speeds on me. I am trying to keep him at a slow trot and he switches to a working trot and to an almost canter...it feels as if he is in transition from trot to canter but does not quite complete it, it makes for a really bumpy ride...I amy have it all wrong but that is how it feels....now, the other day(saturday feb 17th)there were some obstacles that one of the other students was using to practice jumping(she was awsome)in the menage(that is what the training arena is called). I urged him to a trot and started to weave in, out and around the obstacles. Because he was constantly turning he did not change speed like when we were going on a straigt line and I managed to keep my balance a little better but I still can't post very well(or should I say at all)...I wish I could go more often, I know I could improve my seat if I could practice more... Poor Chuck, I know he hates to see me coming..."OH NO!!! is the beginer again"
LOL
