Training with Yogi Breisner Part 2

Hello again! As promised here is the second part of my training report. Yogi had some clear principles when it came to riding XC and approaching a fence. > Rider Position. Make sure you are Sat up with the lower leg secure and knees relaxed. Sitting up (or what can feel like sittng back) in a light seat which allows the horse to raise its shoulders. > Straightness. Know your line! > Correct gear for the type of fence.

There were 3 gears and I think I really need to develop a feel for these. > 1st gear steady pace but still maintaining impulsion. This allows the horse to see the question, understand the question and complete it (hopefully!). This might be for a water complex or steps with skinny > 2nd gear. Bit more pace. Again allowing the horse to understand the question but enough go to make stopping not an option! - ditch and rails combination. Or to have impulsion to jump at top of a bank. > 3rd gear. Hedges, big bold 'galloping' fences. I hope I've not done this an injustice, but it's how I understood it. I'm sure there's possibly more to it which I'll learn as I do more.

So I asked if he thought I slipped my reins too much? I'm always doing it and then rapidly gathering up for next fence. He politely pointed out that I was not bless with long legs! Yep, I'm a short arse! And apparently Milly has a long neck. So "no" was his answer. He said if he did try and stop me slipping my reins I'd just get pulled out of the saddle. He may ask a different combo not to, but he was happy that I gathered my knitting in good time 👍

Unfortunately my diabetes management was not good! My blood glucose was 14mmol/ml on arrival and I gave myself a conservative correction dose. I was worried that as I was due to be out on XC for 2 hrs I couldn't risk it going low. I was, once again, without anybody on the ground. It's also really inconvenient, embarrassing and dangerous to go low (blood sugar). There were two lovely ladies who had come to watch Yogi coach who were happy to carry my glucose testing kit and back up sugar. So thank you to you both. I was at 16.8mmol/ml on finishing 🤦‍ felt 'not so good'!

I'll post the amazing stirrup leather thing soon...