We started with a 15min 1-1 flatwork session where Jeanette spotted a good few rider weaknesses and pointed out how to correct them. This included carrying my hands higher (and stiller) in trot and lower (and still stiller! ;) ) in canter. Also need to make sure I'm using my thighs and calves and not my knees for leg contact. Another point to note is to rise up towards the middle of the saddle, not up and back. Being aware of and working on doing all of the above made a huge difference and Heidi did some really lovely work. :D
After a wee break while the rest of the group had their flatwork worked on, we did some jumping. Nothing big or fancy, but a couple of simple exercises to work on getting the approach and rythymn right. The first was a figure of eight over two crosspoles. Heidi did this really nicely, although as predicted by Jeanette, we started nicely, started to get a little bit "yee ha" and took some fliers and then steadied up and finished nicely again.
The other exercise was an upright and a spread fence on a 20m circle. Again, just working on keeping a rythymn and making the circle as symmetrical as possible. Sounds easy, but the fences seem to come up very fast when you're on a true 20m circle! ;)
Had a really good lesson and would definitely like another with Jeanette. :)
PS- photos courtesy of Amy who was kind enough to come along and stand for hours in the cold! :)
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