Planning to Ride

Do you plan your rides out in advance?

This is something that I've thought about quite a bit in the last few days, especially since I signed my name on that lease agreement. I want to plan ahead so that I can actually improve between lessons.

I decided yesterday that I would make a list of the things that I want to work on as well as the things that we have been doing in lessons so that I could choose a few things to work on every time I go out to ride.

Here is that list...

• Breathing.
• Picking up the correct canter lead every time. My aids need improvement.
• Two point. (From lessons.)
• Getting the correct diagonal in the trot. Its frustrating me that I still can't get it right.
• Improving transitions. Again, my aids need work.
• Heels down, especially in the two point and rising trot.
• Hands up. (From lessons.)
• Head and chest up. (From lessons.)
• Rhythm and pacing. (From lessons.)
• Improving my straightness in the saddle.
• Dressage tests, just for fun and to test my memory.

I'll update every so often to see how this list has changed and what we've been working on.