Native & My Legs Part 1

One of my favorite things about having a near-by college with an equine Studies Department is that when I have a problem that can't be easily fixed in class, there is a staff of student tutors.
Marina is one of my favorite people...she has this sixth sense that tells her my legs are hanging 1 inch off from where they should. She can see when my shoulders drop, and when I am slouching. I wish this was all that is wrong with me... but the list goes on and on...and my bad everything affects my horse.
For now, one of the biggest things wrong with me is my legs. They are super jacked up. They hang wrong. My feet point in the wrong direction. When I am riding and get scared my legs get stiff....add this to my other problems and it looks pretty dismal.
As Marina patiently and with humor tells me again and again how my legs should be, her descriptions reminded me of a book I keep meaning to get out again and read. Centered Riding by Sally Swift. "Pretend your legs are so long that you can wiggle your toes in the mud" and " put your feet out so that if your horse disappeared from under you..you would still be standing.
We work on it...and she says I am improving... but blast these legs!


This is how I try to imagine myself when concentrating on fixing my legs.

My assigned horse in the Colt Starting Class in Native. (remember, I am not actually starting a colt, I'm just watching everyone else do it) Native is a really cute sorrel bugger with a big white patch on his nose adding to his slightly dorky appeal. I am a little nervous about Native since everyone I have seen ride him, never had the look of calm control. Native kinda just runs with his nose out...clearly not worried about the wishes of his rider.
We started with groundwork for the first 2 days of working with the horses. Right away while sending him around his nose shot out, weary of me & the end of my lead rope I guessed. I want a horse to walk around me in a relaxed manner. His nose should be down, with a bend in his poll, eyes on me, and hind legs crossing over as he walks. I asked the instructor, Chuck about it and he pointed out how stiff Native was and suggested I do alot of getting him to move his hind quarters over and reward him liberally. I found that when I lifted on the lead rope to cue him to move his hind quarters, and let off really quick, encouraging him to keep moving around, I could see some relaxation in his head & neck. This and a whole lot of rewards of petting should let him know I am not here to beat him with my rope and get things a bit more relaxed.
The 2nd day of groundwork was nicer and he did all the groundwork exercises like a champ. He is nice & bendy in his neck. He backs well with slack in the lead, and even backed in a circle, when I asked him properly.
Tomorrow we ride.