Friday, November 5, 2010

That did the trick.

So! So! My wiggly leg, questionable seat, airborne heels and bouncing hands ALL boiled down to the fact that my stirrups were far too long. After having a chance to properly ride with them short today, the difference was amazing.

My leg was very stable, heels were down, seat was consistent and secure, and hands were quiet. Yay! I'm going to measure the wrapped length to insure I set my new stirrup leathers I ordered to that length, because it was really a perfect length. What I will probably need for jumping.

My back muscles are KILLING me, by the way. Did lots of two-point today. Casey said I didn't have to if my back wasn't up to it, but no pain no gain. I have to get my muscles accustomed to it, simple as that.

I know my short stirrups kind of threw me off in the canter for a few strides. Took me a second to adjust myself to the new feeling. Casey said I looked fine though. Right lead canter was much better! I think working with Gulliver and Jack has simply made me very rusty tracking right. I can remember before them, my right lead canter was always my better direction personally. Hmm. Well, that will change.

Going to meet Josie on Sunday - wish me luck guys. Casey still holds her opinion that I should buy, but I think I might give this a chance if I like the mare enough. I'm in no hurry to buy, and my main issue is the liberties I have with the horse I'm leasing. When you lease on property, especially leasing a school horse that will continue to be used as a school horse...well, honestly, I've come to feel that you're blowing your money out the window. Especially if you do not have the right to make general decisions for the horse, such as blanket on blanket off, things like that. You go nowhere, and it's hard to decide the future of the horse with various students on it. Let's face it - often, a general lesson horse is NOT going to have a focused mindset with one certain rider. Even if the leaser rides it most often. Patricia had that problem with Teddy - she could not get him into the mindset to do 2nd level dressage if she put her students on him (especially her beginners). He was stuck in the mindset of 'packer'.

So...yeah. Off property is a must at this point. Because, for lack of a better way of putting it, I want to be treated like the owner, because the barn will NOT own that horse, no matter what my legal rights to the horse are. I will the sole decision maker for that horse while it's at that barn. In other words, I won't have a slew of individuals making choices for the horse that may be a setback for me personally. Nor will I have the owner wanting to do this and that with the critter in question --- that tends to happen on-property.

But that's my thoughts on the whole leasing again thing. I'm not totally against it is all. It just depends on the terms.

3 comments:

  1. I hope you like the mare and she likes you. Leasing off property sounds like a great idea to me.

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  2. Wishing you a great experience with the mare, no matter what the outcome. Owning is a big responsibility, but it does have tons of benefits over leasing. I'm sure you will make the right decision for yourself.

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  3. I agree. And having been through both, I'm kind of on the fence. They BOTH have their benefits...and pitfalls...

    Off-property is, IMHO, kind of the "in between" though. You have more of an "ownership" role, but at the same time, less "risk" involved.

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