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I’ve heard from many, many sources that if you are in a self-defense situation and need to kick or punch someone, you always aim beyond where you think you want to hit. That is, if you’re going to kick the side of the knee (an excellent choice), you kick as though your real goal is to stomp on the pavement. It’s instinctive to pull back a little at the moment of impact, and by aiming beyond the actual point of impact you avoid that.
This public service announcement was brought to you by the Bureau of Random Connections.
Last week, in riding, I realized that I need to be thinking about the next transition while I’m riding the current one.
I tend to focus so hard on the current transition that I just can’t adjust in time for what comes next.
For example, we were leg yielding in a stride or two at the canter, then leg yielding back out. I focused so hard on ‘in’ that I was never prepared for the switch; even if I managed to switch my aids, I was so discombobulated that I lost the canter. Similarly, I had some decent transitions into the canter, without setting them up for six thousand strides, but no plan once I got the canter. By the time my body caught up with what was happening, we’d lost any quality in the canter and I then had to spend time trying to get a decent canter back.
My trainer also discovered my mental block with the trot-to-halt transitions. Consequently, we spent some time working on working trot - collected trot - working trot. I think trot-halt; she had me thinking trot-collected trot-trot. We didn’t actually halt because I like to drop my aids when I am going to halt. This way, I had to keep them on in order to get the upward transition. Again, it’s that need to think ahead and not just ride the immediate transition.
At one point, we tested a trot-halt transition, and it was not pretty. A few minutes later, however, we had a very respectable trot-halt transition. I can’t really articulate it, but I felt the difference in the collected trot that said “halt now.”
Perhaps what I need is a “true” freestyle test: go out in the ring and ride whatever is going to work for me right this moment, instead of demanding I be ready at X.
Just kidding. Last week’s lesson was actually very good for showing me where I have made progress (my trot work has improved greatly, and is finally becoming consistent. The extended trot and stretchy circle we rode were the highlights of the lesson) and where I need to keep working (my canter work in general, those evil halt transitions, and the canter. Did I say canter twice? It needs a lot of work.)
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Comments
The Bureau of Random Connections has hit my nail right on the head. Great PSA! I needed to hear this again (and again). I like the analogy of thinking beyond the target, that is going to help me.
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On May 29, 2009, greyhorsematters said:
I know how you feel, I seldom think ahead and only live/ride in the moment. I would say that the only time I really do think ahead is when I’m jumping a course(which hasn’t been for a long time).I’ve got to use what I used to do and incorporate it into what I’m doing now. I’m sure with enough lessons it will all come to you so it’s second nature.