My freshman year of College I was planning on trying out for the cross country team. I had run one my high school team each year, but during freshman orientation there was a table for the equestrian team. I didn't even realize they had one. A very nice young lady smiled up at me as I walked by and said "Do you ride?" I said "yes" and she convinced me to try out. I did and it went well, but to remain on the team I had to find somewhere I could ride twice a week in a lesson. I did not know the area at all. One of the other team members said she thought she could help me.
So off we went one afternoon to an old farm a short drive from town. She introduced me to a man who didn't even give his full name, because he wanted to stay anonymous. We will call him "Mr X " for the purposes of this article. I feel I must give you a little background on him to set the stage. He had been trained at the Radner hunt club. He then started his own farm training horses and riders and raising a family. This was all interrupted by the Vietnam war which he was sent too, while gone his wife had to sell their farm. When we met he was supporting his wife and children working in a deli. He had one horse at the moment, a Arabian stallion that he was bringing along, but he had hurt his back and was willing to help me as long as I accepted his terms. Which were I did not have his full name or phone number. I showed up on time and gave 100%. I never asked a question or spoke in a lesson unless spoken to. He did not go to shows or anywhere else to coach me.I did not tell anyone he was teaching me. I never questioned his methods accept to understand them better and only after lessons.When his back was better or he felt he had taught me what he could we were done. Which conveniently happened about the same time. I accepted these conditions and off we went.
The first day we warmed up and then he had me jump a course. The horse I was riding was not his. It was a gelding owned by the farm owner whom I never met. He was 15.3h or so, buckskin with some Arabian breeding. He had a good broad well muscled back, easy to sit, a good jump (powerful and round). Three clear gaits and nice movement, well balanced, and a super mind!
It went ok, no stops or rails down. But I missed some spots and was not always with my horse. Sometimes I got ahead of the motion and sometimes I got left. I had not ridden in a while, but also Mr X. could see the way I went about things wasn't the best way for me.
He said you need a lot of work, but you have some talent and seem willing so I will give you a chance. Between that day and the next lesson he had time to think about my vision problem which I had described to him in detail( no depth perception, only really using one eye which does not see perfectly ex).He had a plan.
It should be told at this point I had ridden from the time I was 7 and jumped a variety of ponies for years in competition without much success in the beginning but over time I won my fair share of champions in a variety of divisions hunter,equitation,pleasure,jumper at a time when outside course with some solid fences were common and classes where more creative and challenging.
The plan involved improving my seat, deep 3 point, light 3 point and 2 point or forward. My ability to control my horses length of stride and rhythm, ant to be able to ride it straight even through turns and on circles, ride more off feel and have a disciplined eye that was always looking ahead, and a special jumping technique.
At the collegiate shows you basically pull horses from a hat and catch ride them without a warm up. They are warmed up in the morning by other riders. So you have to have a style that will work with a variety of horse and right away.
He had me spend a long time on the flat. He had me do a lot of exercises with out stirrups to impove my suppleness, balance, fitness, and the independence and coordination of my aids. He taught me a great deal of Dressage without ever mentioning the word. Things like, ride your horse from back to front-leg to hand. Don't pull! instead take your horse to your hand and resist or half halt to achieve your goals. You must learn to fallow you horses mouth perfectly with your hands, only then can you teach it to follow your hands when needed. Keep the rhythm!" and so on. He also taught me to "feel a horses rhythm and stride quickly, to find what was best for them and improve a little at a time from there. To work within their capabilities, not beyond." Many times he would have me close my eyes and just feel! What we did would easily fill a book.
On to jumping, We only jumped one jump. It did change from an x to a vertical to different types of overs.What he focused on was my new way of jumping. It combined a variety of simple things. One- ride the horse to your hands in a good rhythm straight relaxed and active, never too quick in the rhythm. Two- eyes always looking ahead and level. Line yourself up with the top of the jump and decide if you need to go forward or collect a little. Look at the top of the next fence or a spot at the end of the arena. Third- always take your horse to the fence but wait for the fence to come to you , then fold and follow! He believed as I do now if you fold in your hip and keep your center above your ankle, slightly above the saddle just behind the pommel you will stay with your horse. Which is the Fold. The Follow is when your hands stay in a prefect very light but definite contact with the horses mouth. You must keep your fingers gently closed around the reins, have soft elbows and relaxed shoulders to do this well.This will do two things, it lets you feel even the most subtle change in your horse and communicate with it in a instant in a smooth and clear fashion. "As little as possible as much as necessary".
Remember even if your spot isn't perfect and your are a little too close or long, if your if horse is straight in good balance and rhythm and your go with it smoothly the jump will be good. If the spot is perfect and you lack any of the other things the jump will not be good. Our last lesson I did the course twice at a much higher height than I had the first time, it went nearly perfect, on one fence I could have had a little more leg and had my horse take off with the same vigor he did the other 15.That was it, eight months had gone by and he was done with me. I was high point rider for my team and was third at regionals just missing nationals. More importantly I was never the same, not only as a rider but a person!
I owe Mr. X the worlds BIGGEST THANK YOU!!! I hope by sharing this story I will help you in some small way. And that I put a smile on you face the way it did for me.
Sincerely, John
Ok, I'm dying to know-who was it???
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