first lesson in nearly a year

[AlpinePony]

And I am so nervous!

I haven't had proper lessons since I was a teen and then last year had a couple when I was first pregnant with the woman who taught me when I was a teen. That was so awesome - it was like it hadn't been 20 years as she just took up shouting at me where she left off! ;)

Pls not to fall off even though nag is currently giant fizzing ball of hormonal strop!

Should I tell her my goals (ode), or just let her guide me?

Good luck Alpine! Maybe see how it goes then book more lessons and tell her your goals after you've had a great confidence boosting, poised and accomplished lesson? Or keep it to yourself a bit longer if fizzing hormonal strop gets in the way? I'm sure you'll be fine and really enjoy it

how did it go?

It was fab - she really knows her stuff. You know, instead of just saying left rein, shoulder in, right leg type stuff it was much more "ok, when she's using her leg like this, which side has the longest muscle and how does it affect her forehand and what should you do?".

So I feel like I've had a brain work out too. ;)

She zeroed in on a longterm problem within 2 mins and has given me concrete steps to correct it, and rather than just saying "get it right in walk first", she's said go in all paces, because if you concentrate on one then the problem simply re-emerges in the next.

Time to get the dressage saddle out and get serious. ;)

Loved it, loved it - and she didn't laugh at my goal either. :)

:) yay

why would she laugh? for some reason I thought you already did ode

it sounds a much more interesting and effective way of teaching - is it someone we might have heard of? where did you find her?

No I don't think you'd know her. She's Dutch and I'm stables in Germany - I've spent the best part of 8 years looking for someone who doesn't just speak good english, but can teach in English using technical terms, and miraculously stumbled across her!