I'm starting at 69, although I'll be 70 in a few weeks. But I'm in good shape and have good balance, I currently have 1168 miles on my Onewheel. I interested in learning English, but all the instructors I've spoken to here in Southern CA start new students in Western. I just want to learn arena then eventually trail riding. I've been reading voraciously and watching hundreds (thousands? 😉 ) of videos for weeks. It's amazing how many variations and contradictory opinions/methods there are for so many aspects of teaching and riding there are.
I'll start leasing next week and taking lessons twice a week. During my first hour long private lesson, I was trotting about half the time and at one point it broke into a lope (it felt soo much smoother). But I found another ranch that costs much less, where I'll be leasing and taking lessons, they tell me I'll be walking for many lessons before I start trotting. So what's the normal progression, my first or my future lessons?
As for my first dumb question, I've been reading about bits. What's the purpose of that raised area on the center of the mouthpiece bar on a leverage bit? As it can't be for direction control, is it just to put pressure on the top of the tongue to the point of causing pain, or what?
I'll start leasing next week and taking lessons twice a week. During my first hour long private lesson, I was trotting about half the time and at one point it broke into a lope (it felt soo much smoother). But I found another ranch that costs much less, where I'll be leasing and taking lessons, they tell me I'll be walking for many lessons before I start trotting. So what's the normal progression, my first or my future lessons?
As for my first dumb question, I've been reading about bits. What's the purpose of that raised area on the center of the mouthpiece bar on a leverage bit? As it can't be for direction control, is it just to put pressure on the top of the tongue to the point of causing pain, or what?
