So I had a joint lesson with an instructor I had never been with before. Teddy was in a new environment so he was hyper and I wasn't quite sure if my bruising had healed, so I was a bit nervous. It took me a good half hour to calm down Teddy with ground work as he was quiet flighty and even rears up a few times but we got through it. Then when I mounted he had a few half-hearted attempts at bucking me off! Half-hearted but for real, so that was a surprise to me. We walked through that then the lesson began.
I was quite confused by the instructor asking me not to do things that my regular instructor tells me to do. With this instructor it was all about the head and knees. I wasn't allowed to move my head at all, even when turning, which is different to what I normally get told, and I wasn't to use my body weight at a slight tilt to tell Teddy the direction I wanted to go, I had to do it with the opposite knee. I had already formed a habit with my regular instructor so I was spending most of my time correcting these things to the new way. It took some time and I was still a bit sore, particularly after a while, but I could really see a positive difference in the way Teddy carried himself; particularly his head. It was a very good lesson. The instructor was thorough and attentive.
When I got off Teddy all the other riders had been talking and one was waiting around to tell me how sore Teddy was. I knew he had a bit of soreness but they went to the extent of telling me I shouldn't be riding him at all. She even implied that they thought he must have a very old back injury and I should consider selling him or putting him out to pasture! This shocked me as I didn't think it was that bad. I heard this and all the other stuff being said about his back and his behaviour issues being a result of his back and I felt really deflated and sad.
I was watching Teddy socialising with one of the other horses in the corral opposite him and he was calm and peaceful. But the bucking is a clear indication that he has some soreness. To what extent I really don't know. When riding with my regular instructor I'm told that he works his way through it. Today I was told by onlookers that he flinched each time I rose to the trot. I haven't ridden since the last time I was with my regular instructor, approximately three weeks ago when I had received the injury. Today Teddy cantered fine and when I implemented the instructors no-moving-head rule I was stunned at how well he carried himself; so while I stood there watching Teddy play I was mulling all this over in my mind.
I've ridden with one other instructor before but I wasn't too impressed so I thought that I should give this new instructor a go. I don't think it is fair to just dismiss my current instructor because we all have our own methods that are adapted over time so it may well be that this is just another version of how to ride dressage. I'm also more interested in eventing than dressage anyway. This new instructor is more expensive and give you less time in the saddle but I've decided that I'll go to both instructors on alternate weeks for a while to compare.
However I am confused on whether or not to do lessons with Teddy. Neither instructor has told me his soreness is so bad that he shouldn't be ridden but I'd hate myself if I hurt him. Which reminds me - a strict diet for me is in order! Maybe I should look at retiring him and getting another horse but I'm definately not selling him and I cant afford a new horse now anyway. I don't want to stop riding either, particularly as I just got the float! I've been lead to beleive that back problems take years to resolve. I've come so far but it would be impractical to return to a school horse.
What to do?... I don't know.
My gosh Tania don't u listen to those other riders from ur lesson!! They have no right to be telling you to sell him or put him out to pasture, this is absurd!
ReplyDeleteFirstly, if he was SO sore Kim (or ur rally instructor) would have told you.
Secondly you know he works though it ( nervousness and evasiveness) like you mentioned! It being a new environment, new smells, sights, horses people would have been a lot to take in and more reason why he would be more..err expressive?
These other riders no nothing about you or your horse & have no right to say anything to you. You should congratulate urself for riding him though it and being calm ;)
As for his soreness, putting him out to pasture will not fix anything (he will just be fatter, more unfit & still sore), soreness needs massage, physio, acupuncture or whatever you want to try to fix the problem.
With the instructors: as I have had a lot of experience with a variety of instructors from years of pony club, take what works for you and Teddy and don;t worry about the rest. (personally i'm a bit confused about the use of knee, I'm from the school of seat and lower leg but yeah.
Lastly, do lessons with Teddy & don't you dare retire him!! It would be a terrible waste and he has come along so far! You are not hurting him, he would let you know in no uncertain terms if he was in that much pain under saddle.
-Amber