Teri
Posted by Michelle at 2/24/2008 8:45 PM and is filed under uncategorized 
The Good and The Bad
Today was Teri's 3rd riding lesson and she has greatly improved from where she was. I feel that the concepts that I am trying to teach Teri are really starting to click. She looks a lot more secure in the saddle and her horse is even riding a little better. Penney was a very good girl today! We are starting with her legs as a foundation for everything else she will learn. In my opinion and from my own experience there is no greater asset than riding with ALL of your weight in your heals, with your toes facing forward. Secondly, being able to balance over the horse while riding in two-point has proven to be a priceless skill as well. What Teri and I have been doing in her very first riding lessons is focusing on her leg position and balance in two-point. What I do is lunge Penney while Teri focuses on riding in two-point staying mindful of her leg position. We've done a little trotting work and she's beginning to grasp the concept that her ankles / heels are basically the "shocks" on her body when she's riding in two-point.
This is Teri and Penney before we began Our Lessons Together - Walking
What's wrong?
Today was Teri's 3rd riding lesson and she has greatly improved from where she was. I feel that the concepts that I am trying to teach Teri are really starting to click. She looks a lot more secure in the saddle and her horse is even riding a little better. Penney was a very good girl today! We are starting with her legs as a foundation for everything else she will learn. In my opinion and from my own experience there is no greater asset than riding with ALL of your weight in your heals, with your toes facing forward. Secondly, being able to balance over the horse while riding in two-point has proven to be a priceless skill as well. What Teri and I have been doing in her very first riding lessons is focusing on her leg position and balance in two-point. What I do is lunge Penney while Teri focuses on riding in two-point staying mindful of her leg position. We've done a little trotting work and she's beginning to grasp the concept that her ankles / heels are basically the "shocks" on her body when she's riding in two-point.
This is Teri and Penney before we began Our Lessons Together - Walking
What's wrong?
- She's looking down at her horse.
- Not a lot of weight in her heels.
What's right?
- Her lower leg is back in a more correct position.
- She has some weight in her heels.
- She's sitting up nice and straight.
This is Teri and Penney before we began Our Lessons Together - Trotting
What's wrong?
- She's looking down at her horse.
- She has no weight in her heels, her toes are even pointing down.
- She's bouncing in the saddle.
- She's leaning forward.
- Puppy dog hands.
- Her horse is in the middle of the round pen, not on the rail.
- Her heels are digging into the horse a little.
What's right?
- She's trying.
Teri Today -
After the lesson, she rode without me "spotting" her.
Below each picture I'll comment.
What's wrong?
- She's gripping with her knees.
- She's to straight up and down, she needs to get down a little and lean forward a little more.
What's right?
- She's looking up.
- Her toe is forward.
- Her lower leg is back.
- Her horse is on the rail.
What's wrong?
- She's just a hair too far forward in this picture, she's not quite in the "titanic" zone.
- She needs to squat down just a tad more.
What's right?
- She basically looks wonderful in this picture.
- Her leg is in perfect position.
- Her weight is in her heels.
- Her toes are forward.
- She's looking up.
- Her back is straight, not hunched.
- Penney's on the rail.
- Great job Teri!!
What's wrong?
- Toes out.
- Not quite far enough out of the saddle.
- Heels aren't down enough.
What's right?
- Her lower leg is just behind the girth.
- Her chin is up.
What's wrong?
- A little too far out of the saddle.
- Heels digging into horse.
- Toes out.
- Needs to bend at waist more and flatten back, cop a squat!!
- Might be looking down at horse.
- May be gripping with knees again.
- Focus on getting your weight in your heels.
- Learn to depend on your lower leg, ankles, and heels to balance yourself instead of your knees, hands, thighs.
What's right?
- Her lower leg is in a good position just behind the girth.
What's wrong?
- Hands way up in the air, but that's ok because we've just been working on your legs.
- Get your heels down more.
What's right?
- Nice leg position.
- Toes are forward, not out.
- Looking ahead instead of down.
- Penney's on the rail.
- Good job!
What's wrong?
- Leaning too far forward just a little, lean back a little and look up.
- Get your heels down more.
- Hands too far up.
What's right?
- Nice leg position.
- Toes forward.
- Chin up.
Teri acting silly.
What's wrong?
- Toes out.
- I think you are sitting too far back in the saddle, you need to find the "sweet spot" in the saddle, I'll show you next lesson. I think you'll do better in an 18" saddle.
- Hands too high.
What's right?
- Sitting up nice and straight.
- Good flex in your ankles, heels nice and down.
Looking Good Teri, you have really come a long way. Don't sell yourself short, you are becoming a very good rider.
You are not just sitting up there hanging on anymore.
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I keep telling her the same thing! She catches on fast. Thanks for your comments Julie.
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