Sideways
Session 7 (32 mins): Nancy and Posh have had a few months away from riding due to illness. In this session Ali shows Nancy some more advanced groundwork. Posh comes into the session very "switched on" and the session starts with tempo control and shaping the walk to stop Posh running away with Nancy in the walk.
This is the latest, and also the last post from Nancy & Posh. Posh was on loan to Nancy, and he has now returned to his owner.
We are really grateful to Nancy for sharing her training journey with Posh.
We are really grateful to Nancy for sharing her training journey with Posh.
A great session to watch for anyone who is new to groundwork and RWYM methods!
Session 1 (37 mins): In this session, Peter and Ali meet Posh for the first time and demonstrate the basics that should be checked both on the ground and ridden.
Ali and Peter then coach Nancy in the basic groundwork skills: stop, go and back and get her doing some desensitisation work.
Nancy has a showjumping background and Ali works to realign her into a flatwork-for-dressage position.
Session 1 (37 mins): In this session, Peter and Ali meet Posh for the first time and demonstrate the basics that should be checked both on the ground and ridden.
Ali and Peter then coach Nancy in the basic groundwork skills: stop, go and back and get her doing some desensitisation work.
Nancy has a showjumping background and Ali works to realign her into a flatwork-for-dressage position.
You don't need an arena to improve your riding!
Session 2 (29 mins): In this session, Ali looks at how Nancy has been getting on with groundwork with Posh and then works on walk and rising trot in ridden work.
Ali gets Nancy to stop shoving with her seat and reduce the movement in her seat bones to shorten Posh's length of stride in walk.
Ali explains the rising trot trot mechanism to Nancy and Nancy puts this into practice.
Ali gets Nancy to stop shoving with her seat and reduce the movement in her seat bones to shorten Posh's length of stride in walk.
Ali explains the rising trot trot mechanism to Nancy and Nancy puts this into practice.
'Little' trot to slightly less 'little' trot - getting Posh to engage his core!
Session 3 (29 mins): Posh knows the groundwork basics so now Nancy needs to work on 'shaping' him. Ali teaches Nancy how to move Posh's hind quarters.
In ridden work, Nancy needs to put her stirrups down! Ali helps Nancy with her alignment, getting her to point her seat bones down and pulling her stomach in to make a wall.
Ali reminds Nancy of the correct rising trot technique. To get Posh to shorten his underside and engage his core, Nancy works on 'little' trot and then back to a slightly bigger trot which is hard work for both of them!
Session 3 (29 mins): Posh knows the groundwork basics so now Nancy needs to work on 'shaping' him. Ali teaches Nancy how to move Posh's hind quarters.
In ridden work, Nancy needs to put her stirrups down! Ali helps Nancy with her alignment, getting her to point her seat bones down and pulling her stomach in to make a wall.
Ali reminds Nancy of the correct rising trot technique. To get Posh to shorten his underside and engage his core, Nancy works on 'little' trot and then back to a slightly bigger trot which is hard work for both of them!
'Hitch up' the right seat bone to stop sliding right!
Session 4 (22 mins): It's been a few months since Nancy and Posh's last session so Ali starts by looking at Nancy's stirrup length and position.
Nancy has a tendency to slide right and Ali gets her to 'hitch-up' her right seat bone to get it closer to Posh's spine.
Nancy works on keeping her position in trot and also keeping Posh's stride short.
Session 4 (22 mins): It's been a few months since Nancy and Posh's last session so Ali starts by looking at Nancy's stirrup length and position.
Nancy has a tendency to slide right and Ali gets her to 'hitch-up' her right seat bone to get it closer to Posh's spine.
Nancy works on keeping her position in trot and also keeping Posh's stride short.
'Shrink Wrap' Yourself!
Session 5 (26 mins): Nancy has been working on 'hitching-up' her right seat bone and filling into her left side to avoid sliding right and collapsing left. Ali can see that Nancy has made good progress. She is sitting straighter in halt but there is some movement in walk.
Ali gets Nancy to imagine she has been 'shrink wrapped' to make her stiller and increase her tone.
Nancy shows Ali Posh's canter for the first time. Ali gets Nancy to 'get behind him', as if she is going towards a jump, to shorten his canter stride to get a bouncy canter.
Session 5 (26 mins): Nancy has been working on 'hitching-up' her right seat bone and filling into her left side to avoid sliding right and collapsing left. Ali can see that Nancy has made good progress. She is sitting straighter in halt but there is some movement in walk.
Ali gets Nancy to imagine she has been 'shrink wrapped' to make her stiller and increase her tone.
Nancy shows Ali Posh's canter for the first time. Ali gets Nancy to 'get behind him', as if she is going towards a jump, to shorten his canter stride to get a bouncy canter.
Are your circles the same size on both reins?
Session 6 (36 mins): Since the last session, Nancy has been working on her position and straightness.
In trot on the right rein, Nancy has to think about getting Posh to almost fall out to get him straight. On the left rein, Nancy has to flex Posh to the outside to stop him falling out. Their circles on the left rein are bigger than on the right rein!
In canter, Nancy has to think about keeping back and 'bouncing the ball' to keep Posh shorter. In the transition Nancy has to give him a sharp aid and jump him up into the canter.
Session 6 (36 mins): Since the last session, Nancy has been working on her position and straightness.
In trot on the right rein, Nancy has to think about getting Posh to almost fall out to get him straight. On the left rein, Nancy has to flex Posh to the outside to stop him falling out. Their circles on the left rein are bigger than on the right rein!
In canter, Nancy has to think about keeping back and 'bouncing the ball' to keep Posh shorter. In the transition Nancy has to give him a sharp aid and jump him up into the canter.
(32 mins) Sideways?
Session 7 (36 mins): Nancy has been unwell and consequently Posh has had some time off. This is only the second time that Posh has been indoors at their new livery yard.
Session 7 (36 mins): Nancy has been unwell and consequently Posh has had some time off. This is only the second time that Posh has been indoors at their new livery yard.
ABOUT NANCY & POSH
NANCY
I’ve loved horses since childhood. At eight years old my parents gave in to my relentless begging and signed me up for riding lessons. To their dismay, the lessons completely lived up to my expectations and I loved horses more and more every time I went to the stables!
I got my first horse at the age of seventeen, a naughty, nappy little four year old cob, who taught me how to sit a buck, fall off, get back on again, what setting on the washing machine to use to get grass stains out of white jodhpurs… the lot!
When I retired him I struggled to find a horse that could be my new riding companion and after a few new horses, shares and loans didn’t work out I decided to go and have some more riding lessons while I tried to figure out exactly what I wanted in my next horse. I went and had some jumping and dressage lessons at The Talland School of Equitation, which had a massive positive impact on my riding and my confidence.
It was during this time that Posh sort of just… fell into my lap! I wasn’t looking for a horse at the time and I had firm intentions of a nice little 15.2 cob for when I did start looking. But through various turns of events, I suddenly had an enormous ginger sport horse who was definitely, completely my new team mate.
I got my first horse at the age of seventeen, a naughty, nappy little four year old cob, who taught me how to sit a buck, fall off, get back on again, what setting on the washing machine to use to get grass stains out of white jodhpurs… the lot!
When I retired him I struggled to find a horse that could be my new riding companion and after a few new horses, shares and loans didn’t work out I decided to go and have some more riding lessons while I tried to figure out exactly what I wanted in my next horse. I went and had some jumping and dressage lessons at The Talland School of Equitation, which had a massive positive impact on my riding and my confidence.
It was during this time that Posh sort of just… fell into my lap! I wasn’t looking for a horse at the time and I had firm intentions of a nice little 15.2 cob for when I did start looking. But through various turns of events, I suddenly had an enormous ginger sport horse who was definitely, completely my new team mate.
POSH
Posh is a 15 year old Irish Sport Horse. He’s a big 17.2hh gentle giant and is one of the kindest, sweetest horses I’ve ever met. I’ve had him for about a year now and I hope to do some very low level eventing with him. He has mainly hunted in his life so he’s brilliant out hacking and on the cross country but his dressage is in need of some… finer tuning. Our progress has been slightly slow over the past year because of some lameness issues in the spring but we are now ready to get training and get out to some competitions!
