So I had a lesson yesterday with Phoenix’s Owner and it was very enlightening. Phoenix and I have started the next big step in his training. Lateral work.This is only the 3rd time we have tried lateral work with Phoenix and the first time that I thought we actually had a few steps! As you all know I have issues with Phoenix and the whole bending thing so in order to fix that and get him really into the outside rein, lateral work is the next natural step in our training. Of course I am struggling teaching Phoenix how to leg yield, but I feel like I am struggling teaching Phoenix just about everything so that was not the enlightening part.
While working on keeping Phoenix connected in the outside rein we were able to get a nice 20 meter circle with correct bend and connection! YAY! We also had a nice rhythm! If I can ride my intro test this weekend like I rode in that part of my lesson I will get a 70% this weekend. So all was well until…
Phoenix’s Owner asked us to canter.
And that was when it all fell apart. I got so focused on the canter that I totally messed up the beautiful trot I had just had. And apparently it was very clear to see that I got obsessed with the canter as soon as she said the word. So this leads me to share one of my main riding problems with all of you.
I have no natural feel. None. Any feel I have now has been developed over many years of riding. I kid not when I tell you I still look down for my diagonals. It is sad that someone who has ridden for as long as I have still has to do it, but if I don’t look I can’t always feel. That is why I am such a crappy rider. And why dressage is such a struggle for me. I have to think about everything very hard before I do it, and if I don’t think and plan it, it looks like crap. So as soon as she said canter I had to think about the 100 things I needed to do before the transition, and my poor brain has a hard time thinking about those 100 things and keeping the other 100 things I need to think about to keep a nice trot. If I could just feel it would be so much easier! This is why I know that dressage is not the right disciple for me, but I love it so much that I just keep trying.
So with a little help and being yelled at I was able to get out of my own head and canter. And not only that but it was the nicest canter Phoenix and I have had in 2 months! We went all the way around the ring without swapping the leads behind! And we even did a 30 meter circle at the canter! Granted that was really hard for Phoenix…and myself, but we did it!! Maybe we will be ready to do training level again at some point soon. I was very excited. I have been working really hard at rehabbing (we are pretty fantastic at trot poles and can even do them at stretchy trot) Phoenix so to see it starting to pay off was just really rewarding.
But now I have a question for all of you out there. Is anyone else out there an over-thinker when they ride? Or do you not think enough? Do you all think it is possible to develop a natural feel? Does anyone out there have a great natural feel? I am very jealous of you if you do!
I feel your pain. I have NO natural talent or feel (and yes, I still look to see my diagonals). And I overthink EVERYTHING. It’s nice to know I’m not alone.
Well, if it makes you feel any better, you are not alone!!!
I don’t have much feel. I can get my trot diagonal to the right no problem, but I have to check to the left. I can canter to the left, but it falls apart to the right. I think about every little step and detail – just like you…
And like you, I’m totally jealous of those lucky ones that have a natural feel and a sense of timing…
I find I do better when my instructor is there telling me not to overthink things.
I have no natural feel and I am an over thinker. I have learned that when I stop over thinking and relax I can feel the horse under me. When the wheels are spinning in my brain that is all I can concentrate on. When you are on the trail try and feel the horse. Close your eyes and see if you can tell what foot is falling when. It is also a great way to warm up and get you body in the game not just your brain. If I am riding a test I concentrate on the letters and what comes next. I don’t over think about what the horse is doing and it helps me ride better.
First of all, a full disclosure: I’m probably currently riding at an advanced beginner level, having not ridden AT ALL between the ages of 18 and 44. I can’t afford lessons, and do not have a trainer available to ask questions. I’m pretty much relying on brain and muscle memories, and some advice from my daughter.
I DID have some good training way back when; when I stopped riding (girls: DO NOT GET MARRIED until you’re at least 30 years old!!!) I was probably an intermediate rider. Back then, doing any jumping without knowing any basic dressage was a huge no-no (like at least a year of flat work before jumping, or so it felt!). I ended up preferring dressage becuase of its subtle difficulty, and more brain than brawn approach.
ANyway- my point: I remember spending a lot of riding time on a lunge line, with my eyes shut, transitioning up & down between walk, trot and canter, being quizzed “what lead are you on?” “Are you guessing or do you know??!!”. I even got to the point of being able to tell when any particular hoof was hitting the ground, becuase my aunt (who trained me at home between my paid-for lessons) taught me that proper canter departures happen when one of the back feet is on the ground, inside or outside depending on your direction. And cavalettis- lots of those to develop rhythm!
Of course, all these little details are long gone from my middle-aged, pre-menopausal brain. About the only transition I still get right 100% of the time without looking is the downward from canter to trot. So I have to say I’m in the overthinking catagory, but I know you can develop a feel!
You’ve seen my daughter ride and she has that natural “feel” and can pick up her diagonals and leads without looking. Me? Not once ever. Can’t feel a thing. I can’t even tell a good 3 beat lope from a crappy 4 beat lope when I’m riding!! I also can’t clap my hands in time to music unless I see someone else doing it. When I had dance classes I had to have someone start counting 1, 2, 3, 4, so I could find the beat and count continuously in my head. Some people have it some some don’t. Hopefully you aren’t as bad as me!!
I totally understand. I don’t have a natural feel either. I chuckled a little when you said you look down for your diagonals.
I do that too.
I think some of it is focus. I’ve tried to focus when Grif and I are just walking to see when I can predict when each foot will hit the ground. I can do the front feet fine, but I always screw up the back ones…Grrrrr. I think things like this are so helpful with timing. If you know where each foot is during the walk, you learn to know just the right time to ask for a move into the trot — (or trot to canter) which will make the transition smoother and easier for your horse (although I’m sure you know this already).
If I had to say anything about myself, I’d have to say I tend to be and under thinker.. I can concentrate for a little while and then my mind will tend to wander… I like talking to Grif when we are riding alone, so I KNOW my concentration isn’t there.
In my honest opinion, I think there’s probably more people out there WITHOUT natural feel, then with. ….and I’m sure they struggle like we do too…
My motto is –keep working on it, and hopefully one day, it will just happen. That will be such a great moment!! Gives us one more reason to keep trying
If worse comes to worst though — you could always buy a gaited horse, then you wouldn’t have to worry about diagonals.. :- P LOL!! (I have yet to see a gaited horse in dressage, although I’ve been told there are competitions for them).
I totally over think when I ride. In fact I can’t do a decent halt if I plan it. If my instructor just randomly calls for a halt and I don’t have time to think-it turns out well. And, I can not count strides to save my life. It’s a good thing I am doing dressage now!
You are certainly not alone. I still have to look for my diagonals and I’ve noticed that when I think I have a natural feeling that things are right……I’m usually totally off. For instance sometimes I feel like my position is in perfect harmony with my horse…it feels so good. Well I’ve learned that when I feel really good, I must be wrong. My leg has slid forward, mt shoulders are not straight…etc.
But I still love it!
It doesn’t matter anymore, for me anyway. Dressage is only memories. After my third major surgery last January, I have been given the OK to ride again….next January. The only riding I will ever be able to do again is trail riding and putzing around the indoor on rainy days.
I really did enjoy dressage.
I think there is driving in my future.
Yup, I can’t consistently feel the steps either. I think suebee is right though, close your eyes and just concentrate on feeling the legs move at the walk. Move on from there. If you can find someone to lunge the horse while you’re doing it like Mary said, even better.
I used to surf back in college when I was too poor to own a horse or even take lessons. Believe it or not, I think surfing has really helped me develop feel as a rider. Surfing is all feel. You feel and anticipate the dips and turns in the waves and then you adjust your balance. I do the same thing as a rider. I know before my trainer opens her mouth that I did something right because it felt right. I don’t think it came naturally; I think it developed out of surfing and having to be constantly aware of something moving underneath you.
The funny part is, you surf on your feet, so trotting in two point or cantering in half seat are a breeze for me, but ask me to sit a trot or a canter and I flop all over the place. I’m used to balancing on my legs but not on my butt!