March 14th lesson

Erin was home from Aiken for four days so I made sure to squeeze in a lesson with her. Allison was super nice and let me join in with her lesson. Since she was so nice in letting me join her I made sure she had the choice whether we flat or jump. She decided to flat which was fine by me. I was excited for Erin to see Carino and of course Carino was excited to see her! We focused on straightness and did shoulder in, haunches in and out on a circle keeping the correct bend. This helping us have more control over our horses bodies. We then went and did shoulder in on the long sides which I have been trying to really get down, I find it is much harder for Carino and I to the left. Also, I still need to sit the trot and use my seat so I can really set him up. I have been trying to not use my seat as much and more of my leg like I have been told too. Turning my shoulders more to the inside then I even do helped a lot, but I still feel as if Im twisted and so is he..I think part if it is Im still trying to figure out what a true shoulder in feels like. We then worked on his canter and straightness. I have been told to have him up and in front of me, straight and then to get him to cover more ground. I can get him quite up but we get a shorter more collected canter. When I ask for a larger canter we lose the straightness and the "up". It was difficult for me since I have a harder time feeling him get wiggly and loose the straightness in the canter. Also, the canter feels fast but when it really isn't...maybe just bigger? Im still confused with the idea of what exactly is wanted from him and I in the canter...I mean I get it but maybe just need more explanation of what I should be doing in order to achieve it. Hard to explain but I came out of the lesson quite confused..partially also since I had a lesson with Beth Buekema a few days earlier and she told me to do many things I was told not to do...the techniques worked very well but I was confused then and iffy about the differing ideas. So then when I rode with Erin and was told not to do the things I was told to do by Beth I was confused all over again. Even with how many years of different trainers and clinicians...contradicting tecniqes still shake me up.