'If I thought the first lesson was intense, then I was in for a shock!'

Layla and I had our second lesson with Cassie Price last week ahead of Calmsden (2). Having had a successful outing to the WillBerry WonderPony Combined Training following our first lesson, I was confident that my hands and contact had been nailed! My confidence was well placed as there were only a couple of tiny moments in the whole lesson where my right hand niggled slightly.

We warmed up working long and low to allow Layla the time to stretch over her back and through her neck. I used to have a tendency to tip forward and pitch but have found since concentrating on my hands and shoulders I sit up better, which helps to keep Layla balanced and not running on her head. I then picked her up into a more uphill frame and Cassie said that we now have a better overall image and Layla was able to step under and through.

So, we had done our first lot of homework and received a good grade. What was next?!

If I thought the first lesson was intense then I was in for a shock. It was great to be moving onto new exercises so we are pushing ourselves to keep improving and progressing. Cassie had me focusing on straightness and we rode an exercise using the ¾ lines. First up was riding straight, then leg yielding back to the track before a straight line again. As Layla is a clever little Welsh she worked it out quickly and tried to leg yield instead of going straight so this highlighted the need for me to keep the outside leg on to prevent her drifting.

We also worked in some shallow loops to keep her guessing and me changing aids whilst thinking ahead. In trot it was fairly easy, we then produced some nice canter leg yields and improved shallow loops in the canter from our first lesson. I was pleased and felt we were looking and feeling good. 

Then onto the last exercise for the lesson, working on our trot to canter transitions on the ¾ line. Cassie had me trotting down and then picking canter up on the straight line without the support of the outside boards. Instantly we struck off incorrectly so when I asked again and got the correct lead Cassie said I was swinging my hips to the outside to help disguise the problem. This was kicking Layla’s back end out and producing the correct answer but we weren’t straight! It was tough and I had to be really disciplined with myself whilst being sympathetic to Layla as she was trying her heart out, but as I wasn’t trying to disguise things she had to stay straight and work it out. After a few attempts we got it on both reins neatly before having a well-deserved trot and walk stretch.

Whilst stretching off we did a little bit of work on our free walk to medium walk as Layla can get a little tense anticipating that we might be about to do something. We produced some good changes within the pace before a lovely square halt and big pat.

I am really pleased with the difference I have felt as well as seeing it reflected in test sheet comments and marks. I hadn’t practiced the ¾ canter exercise until Tuesday morning but we were much improved and only got the incorrect lead once which I think I didn’t really prepare properly. We also have been repeating the square exercise from 

our first lesson and with these new tools I am looking forward to riding down the centre line for the last time this season at Calmsden this weekend.

'Thank You' to EquiFeast for this opportunity and to Cassie for helping us with our dressage!