A Lesson for Me!

I got to take a legit, real lesson tonight! I have been riding Mazzarati (though not enough) and today got the opportunity to take a dressage riding lesson on him, from the wonderfully talented trainer that comes once a week to the clinic barn. I was very nervous- I have never really taken any fancy lessons before, and haven't had instruction since my equitation lessons in college. I was a bundle of nerves, since I'm really not a very advanced rider, but once I was up on Mazzi, it was better. And boy let me tell you, it went SO well! I told her my goal was to get better downward transitions with Mazz, because I struggle with him getting all strung-out and upside down in them. And she showed me the correct way to ask him to collect and round himself and be on my aids, and how to feel when Mazz is doing it right. I like the way she teaches- its not 'move this rein here and that leg there'. Its- this is the idea of what you need to do, but work with it a little bit to find the right way to do it for this horse and what he is doing right now. And OH BOY! Did I have the best ride ever on him. I started to be able to really feel when he was rounding and bending through his body like he should, not just being a noodle and bending in his neck. And he also pulled more naughtyness with me than he has before, but she gave me new tools to deal with the naughty, and exercises to do with him to strengthen my aids and his body. And let me tell you, when I got a GOOD downward canter-trot transition, and a trot-walk transition, it felt great!
Now I want to go and ride Joe and try the things out I learned on him! I was really wanting to ride him tonight, but now I am feeling tired. I got up early and went to work, got off around 5:30, my lesson on Mazzarati was at 6:15, got home around 8, cleaned stalls and fed horses and ate my own dinner at 9..... and now here it is at 9:30 and I am finding it slightly difficult to get myself out and riding Joe. Ha. I had coffee with my dinner. Maybe that will kick in shortly and give me a second wind.
Yay for riding lesson succcess! I am looking forward to using what I learned and riding better, and hopefully eventually taking another lesson!