This year I went to the California Dressage Society/USDF state championships. I found the competition was very stiff. The were a lot of great riders with terrific horses at first level. The biggest barrier to placing was my inability to remember the tests. Of the four tests I took, I made at least one error, if not two -- that dropped my score a lot. The judges who watched my rides also suggested that an independent seat would increase my score (and make me a better rider).
At age 55, I am not completely brittle, but I not particularly flexible. My underlying fear of going to fast on anything, plus a terror of hitting the ground, shows. I grip with my thighs and balance with my hands. This is a problem I must solve if I ever hope to rise through the dressage levels.
Since I started riding as an adult (age 40), I have never had a real "feel" for sitting on a horse -- not like a rider develops as a youngster. I am also not athletic and my aids are quite crude. I yank, kick and can move with a rhythmic spasticity that sometimes alarms my trainer.
I decided to do my horse and myself a favor by taking lunge lessons in an attempt to develop more feel and hopefully more subtly as a rider.
I thought that those who are in the same situation might like to see the process. The horse in this video is a 20-year-old thoroughbred. His name is Beau. The scariest part of this lesson, I chose not to show. My trainer asked me to close my eyes with reins and then without stirrups as well. The sound level is low on this video, so crank up your volume.
Lee, yes I was engaging my core muscles, but I still seem to bounce around like crazy :) Like you I started riding dressage at age 40, but unlike you, I did not ride at all before. I cannot tell you what possessed me to do it. I was just struck by the most glorious feeling.......I will add your blog to my blog roll when I have time to sit down and review. I look forward to more comments from you :)
Posted by: Elizabeth Zima | November 17, 2009 at 01:10 PM
Good for you! I think you did quite well. Were you engaging your core muscles and bearing down? Don't grow tall but rather drop your shoulders in a relaxed way and your ribs. That will help you stay glued to the saddle.
I did the same thing recently and feel your pain. I found your blog thru COTH and I'm also an adult rider starting dressage over 40. Can you say tight hips?
Posted by: Lee | November 17, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Great! Now just do that about 700 more times, you'll be set. ;)
LK, at somewhere around lunge lesson #250...
PS-what a nice lunge horse
Posted by: Laura Kinsale | November 05, 2009 at 07:38 PM