Make it hurt, Cupcake!

Well, as a result of my unplanned dismount at NWEC, I've had a chance for self-reflection and I've decided to make some changes.  Good riders don't get good by playing sunshine and daisies.  They get good by getting tough and digging in the dirt.  I ride alone most of the time.  I get to take a lesson every couple of months, so there's no one watching me or challenging me, and even if there was, no one should be able to push me harder than I've pushed  myself.  It's time to make it hurt, Cupcake.

Step One:  Toss the stirrups

That's right.  I took them off my saddle and unceremoniously tossed them in the tack trunk.  They will not see the light of day until the Aspen Farms Horse Trials on June 4th (I will make an exception for the two days of Inavale horse camp).  It's been a great boost to my pride to hear at Adult Rider Camp and in lessons that my leg is beautiful and strong- I've worked hard on it.  But, I need to be stronger in my seat and I need a better control of my body. 

See?  I'm not making it up!  And yes, that's Mac's BAMF pad (bad as@ Mother F#c%er).

Step Two:  No Straight Lines

We can jump through grids with our eyes closed.  There are no grids in a competition.  It's about rideability between fences, so we're working on jumps off turns, related distances, short distances, long distances, adjustability. 

I've set up an exercise courtesy of Boyd Martin, and due to my arena's size restrictions, I've made it harder. 

Jump the flowers.

Sharp turn, jump the bounce on the center line.

Sharp turn, jump the one stride. 

Because the turns are so tight, you need to come in a compact, organized canter, and be looking and opening your rein for the turn to the next jump. 

Step Three: Combine Steps One and Two

Yikes.  I'm not gonna lie, tight turns, hot horse, no stirrups- you better toughen up, Cupcake!

Right now the exercise is just set with cross rails, but as I become stronger, we'll raise them.  Hopefully, at the end of the month I'll be cruising through all sorts of twisty exercises set at Training height with no stirrups.

Now, for some first impressions:

Oh my lord, crotch burn.  I may need padded undies.

Oh my lord, my thighs burn. 

Wow, it's amazing how quickly you become aware of your body.  The first few times over fences, my focus was all about, "Oh my gawd, stay on!"  But as I continued, I became aware of smaller things, for example:  he took off, I could feel my weight slightly shifted to the right and I felt minutely unbalanced, I actually focused on correcting the balance, so when we landed, I was evenly sitting in the middle of my horse.

I'm also finding that no stirrup helps Mac, too.  I think he just had an epiphany and realized that Mom doesn't just stay on no matter what.  He is actually responsible for me, too.  After blasting through the exercise the first few times, he really slowed down and maintained an even tempo for me, making it easier to stay balanced.  He also stopped running off after the fence and maintained that quiet rhythm.

And should you decide to try this at home, I will give you my number one, super-best tip ever:  Beer Helps.