Well big bird performed well today! Much more like she should and did let the throttle out despite the heat. Sadly mother, aka me, managed 2 errors so decided to retire! Now the judge who is not known for her generosity of marks was quite disappointed, turns out I would have won! Ah well Im just pleased that the comments from 2 ladies what lunch were really positive and flattering. That will be the diet and losing 8LBs as well as the heat causing complete melt down. One of our lovely British team members was at the show today. She and her entourage were charming and chatty and her lovely mum went off and bought everyone icecreams, she offered me one but I had to decline as I still need to lose at least another 5LBs so I can match the stick insects riding at the show today.There are some lovely people involved with horses, well you would expect that anyone who loved animals would be nice wouldnt you? Why some have to be down right nasty or hoity toity I will never know. Thank goodness 'they' weren't there today!
Back to explaining this dressage lark. Once you have mastered walk, trot and canter on a horse then you have to master developing your seat. Obviously this is the bit you sit on and one would think that was all there was to it. Not that easy I'm afraid! Those 2 bones you can feel in your buttocks (one in each) are all you are allowed to sit on! Balance is required to do this and there lies the problem! Too far back and you are in a chair seat, to far forward, sitting on fork so finding the balance is an art in its self! The idea is that you sit tall (difficult if you are 4' 3"), then by tightening your core (tummy muscles) and pushing your spine to the back of your breeches you are now in the correct position, well upper body anyway. So now you have to open your hips, yes I kid you not, and open your knees whilst keeping your lower leg 'underneath you hips' and the weight down in your heel. Hands must stay in front of you holding the reins as light as possible so that you ride the horse to the contact and he takes an elastic feel at the end of the rein. Hmmm. Pity nobody told the horses this! Very difficult to keep this position when said horse has elastic contact between his knees!
However I have been assured by many trainers that when you manage this you can make the horse dance. Its true, I have seen these riders make them dance and its beautiful! A true union of two bodies and minds performing effortlessly. Unfortunately some horse are doing the Rumba while the rider is trying the Tango. This is when the rhythm becomes a problem, I did mention rhythm didn't I? Well its the beat of the pace and it has to stay even, oh yeah the pace? Walk, trot and canter. If you havent died of boredom by now well done! You are on your way to becoming a serious dressage student! Well on paper at least!
Must away and soak my aching muscles in a luxurious bubble bath and prepare for another day tomorrow. By the way, any wealthy males looking in I am available!
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