Yay for good days!

Honestly, I was starting to feel the despair of the dressage rider. Bemoaning the lack of rides that make you smile. BUT, today was a wonderful day. I arrived at the barn earlier than normal, as I went and held my mom's horse for the farrier this morning. So I was tacked up and ready to ride around noon. Today there were no lessons being given in the indoor, and only one other person working horses. TBM and had the arena to ourselves for most of the time. In addition, it looked like the footing had been very recently groomed, and it was great!

We did a bunch of lunging, and added sidereins today. I really worked on trot/canter/trot transitions, asking for forward and attentive. We started out slow and sluggish to the aids, and then really progressed to crisp. I was very pleased with TBM. Also, he looked very fluid. The joint supplements are working their magic - YAY!

After lunging in both directions (first without sidereins, and then with), I hopped on. At this point in time, we had the arena to ourselves. I was able to work the track with a BIG swinging walk. Yay, I thought we had lost that walk, but it is back!!! Then I picked him up ever so carefully (wonderfully soft in the hand, a perfect handshake) and into the trot we went. He was not grinchy, he was forward and active. Worked whole arena, added some 15 meter circles, got to work a lot of changes of direction, worked NICE canter transitions from the seat. I was pleased as punch.

We ended the session with a good roll in the sand, then used the blow dryer to clean him up a bit. It was lovely outside, and we spend a bit of time standing in the sun, and him licking snow. He's such a silly boy about that!

Back in the saddle - YAY!

I felt slightly cheated when I got to the barn today...When I left my house in Sutton, the sun was shining, and it was 40 degrees. By the time I got to the other end of the Valley, it was snowing, and 30 degrees. So, my planned ride in the outdoor was not gonna happen.

I pulled TBM out, tacked him up in the aisle way, and headed to the indoor. We shared the arena with three other horses (one tied near the door, one on a lungeline giving a lesson, and one mildy unruly pony having a very good time). TBM stayed nicely focused though the thinly veiled chaos. I lunged him first, and he looks pretty good and loose. I got on him, and he was SOOO soft in the bridle. HUGE payoff from all of the ground work we have been doing! He was also nicely responsive to the leg and staying upright in the shoulder. Did nice long walk, getting the booty goin. Headed to the trot, and he was a bit short, and not all the way there yet. The footing where we were working was less than ideal, so I didn't feel it was fair to really push him for more than he was giving at the time. Went back to walk and worked on being soft to the leg and good halts.

All in all, I was very pleased. This is day #5 on joint supplements, and I see an improvement already. Hopefully we can get into the large outdoor this weekend for some really good leg stretching.

Light at the end of the tunnel?

Today, I feel almost normal. And my voice is almost back all the way, too! Yay! I did manage to get myself out to the barn before work today. I took TBM out for 30 minutes of romping in the outdoor. Gorgeous day, lovely temps in the 40's. I took his heavy blanket off, let him roll and roll in the snow. He did a bit of bouncing around, and I got to see some trot. He has been sitting in his stall/paddock for 4 days, so I expected him to be a bit stiff. BUT!! He was NOT. He looked very good and loose. I am very heartened by this.

Tomorrow, I hope we have good weather again. I am planning to head out and ride in the outdoor. The footing is pretty good out there right now. The snow is soft enough to have good traction. Hopefully we can get into some good forward canter/gallop, really stretch those legs and fill the lungs!

I can't seem to catch a break here...

Man, with the temporary shift of schedule and the stress of learning the new job...and now, I am sick. *sighs* I can't seem to make any headway on things right now. TBM has been great, and I have continued to work on our suppling ground exercises. He started on his joint supps, and I am excited to see the difference. And even more excited to not be sick and be back into some semblance of normal work again. *sighs*

Hittin the trails!

Yesterday was GORGEOUS. So we tacked up and hit the trail again. Had a nice relaxing time, explored the side roads a bit. Threw in a little bit of legyielding here and there to keep the idea that, Yes, we are STILL moving away from the leg. *grins*

Today is Thursday, our day of rest.

Answers to Vic's questions

"What is the dressage go button? Is it repeatedly tapping the horse's ribs with your heal? I noticed this in a dressage video (the only one I've ever seen). It was done when riding a young Fjord for the very first time by a professional (German, I think) dressage trainer. Is that how the go button is developed? Or is the continual heal tapping a part of all dressage? ...as a way to move the horse forward into your hands? Or is it just done in the very beginning? I watched a whole group of imported Fjords being ridden in dressage for their first rides. Most accepted the heal tapping very well, but a few twisted their tail and were annoyed by it. Probably not understanding it. The video I saw had very little talking, so that's why I have the questions."

Ok, Vic. As promised, now that my brain is back and functioning, I'm gonna tackle some of your questions. Ideally, the 'go button' is the seat. The riders seat should be the ultimate communication tool between horse and rider. In the very best of circumstances, an onlooker really shouldn't see the rider doing very much. Here's a good video for training your eye:



This is Reiner Klimke and Ahlerich from the 1984 Olympics in LA. You'll notice that Dr. Klimke doesn't move all that much! He is a bit more 'active' in his riding before he enters the arena, but once he's in that arena, he is VERY quiet.

Here is another video, with great commentary. On a side note, I got to meet Catherine at this show, and watched this ride live. It was very dramatic and FUN!



That is Catherine Haddad performing her Grand Prix freestyle at the 2007 FEI World Cup Dressage Finals. You see she is a bit more active in her riding than Dr. Klimke, but still a VERY quiet rider.

Often, when you are dealing with horses that are new to dressage (or riding at all!), you have to be much more active in your riding and ride with bigger movements. You have to be very clear in what you are asking the horse to do, because they don't know yet! That may explain what you saw in that video of the Fjords.

March 17

Yesterday we shared the arena with two horses, one was a mare who is coming into season and was tied in the arena. TBM did great. He was much more free in his movement and felt much more forward and relaxed. Although we had a hard time not falling in to the right. We spent a fair amount of time reinforcing the idea of moving AWAY from the right leg, instead of INTO it. This seemed very foreign to him! I had Tanya, the lady who was teaching lessons, check to make sure I wasn't completely crooked and hanging off to the left or something, because I was starting to doubt! *laughs*

Today we had the arena to ourselves again, and TBM had a lot of useful energy. We changed our warm up a bit, and I think it is a good change. I wanted to focus on this softness to the leg, and the idea of moving AWAY from pressure, instead of into it. So I started with work from the ground. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of auditing a Karl Mikolka clinic, and one of the exercises he used was full passing. In the western world, this is often called a side pass. The idea is like a full blown leg yield, and it tests the horse's understanding of moving away from the leg. I started this on the ground with TBM, just as we have started the turn on the forehand from the ground to introduce the concept of moving away from the leg. He was resistant to this idea at first, because he didn't quite understand what he was supposed to do. He caught on very quickly, though, and was very soon giving me wonderful full pass from the ground away from the left and the right. I also started to introduce the idea of engaging the hind leg in response to a tap from the whip. He also picked up on this really quickly. We spent probably 10 minutes on this before I mounted. Once I hopped on, we did some long rein walk, then I picked up the reins and did some full pass from the saddle. It took a bit for him to make the connection with what I was asking him undersaddle and what we had just done on the ground, but when the light bulb went off, he was golden. After we had gotten some very nice, soft, relaxed full pass away from the right leg, we went to the trot, and that was very nice. Threw in a bit of canter to freshen the forward, and back to walk and working on full pass from the left and right. Not a very long workout at all, but one I found to be productive. At the end, I also did some leg yielding in the walk, and he staying NICELY straight through the shoulders, not bulging or falling at all. I was VERY pleased with this. I also found myself sitting up more and more, which is only making his job easier.

Tomorrow would be a good day for a trail ride, we will see what is going on with the weather. Today was still kinda windy, but the roads weren't ice like they were the day before. So hopefully tomorrow will be good.

March 16

So, yesterday TBM's mom came out to watch us ride. We had intended to get new video, but I was so late leaving home, I forgot the camera! So no new photos or video this week. Sorry!

As it turned out, there wasn't much to see anyway, as TBM was stiff and VERY lacking in energy. Probably the stiffest he's been since we started. never really got to the point where he loosened up all the way. We do have some joint supps on the way, I think that will make a HUGE difference for him. He spent years as a young horse on the lunge conditioning for halter work, and you can't tell me that doesn't put some torque on young, developing joints...

So, we did a very small bit of work in the indoor, and realized we weren't going to get much. So then we decided to take him for the long awaited trail ride. He was a little wide eyed as we first headed down the driveway, but he settled into things just fine. It was good for him to get out of the indoor and off of the circle. He perked up a bit, but not as much as I had expected. I need to really find a way to get him out on the trail at least once a week, to keep his mind fresh. Endless circles get kinda old....

March 15

Update from March 15:
Yesterday, I went to the barn after work, so arrived around 9:00 pm. There was not a soul at the barn, which was JUST the atmosphere I needed for a good, easy ride. I pulled TBM into the indoor, tacked him up, and hopped on. We did our normal, big long walk on a long rein until I felt the hind legs stepping under nicely and the back starting to soften and swing. Then went to the trot, still on a long rein, just asking for forward, powerful big strides. Took up the contact a bit, started circles and changes of direction to begin bending. And he started to come nicely into my hand, staying relaxed in the back and active in the hind leg. SOOOOO pleased! I even managed to remember how to SIT UP. hehehe. Think that had anything to do with it?

We had a lovely ride, and I started to focus a bit more on the outside bend we get in some corners, and the dropping the inside shoulder. As I was driving home, I realized that instead of focusing on that, what I need to do is start doing 15 and 10 meter circles to build the strength and balance to maintain the upright shoulder that I want. DUH. So, I will be adding that into our rides as well.

Schooled some transitions as well, we had some WONDERFUL trot/canter transitions. I tend to use too much outside leg, and that irritates TBM a bit. He just needs a little seat, and POOF, we're off. As always, less is more.

A funny thing happened when I was going to put him away. Because it was so late at night, and nobody else was around, I didn't close the gate to his paddock or the outdoor arena. Normally, I am a fanatic about closing gates. Anyway, I was leading him back to his paddock, and he was dragging his feet. Just not the normal crisp walk back to the food that we usually get. We were about, oh, 20 feet away from his gate, when I realized there was something in his paddock! It was a moose. *laughs* Well. I couldn't very well put TBM in the paddock when there was a moose in it! I also didn't want to corner it and make it feel threatened. So, I brought TBM back to the arena, tied him, and grabbed a lunge whip.

As I went back to the paddock, I realized how silly it was to get a lunge whip to chase a moose. And I stood there for a moment, trying to think of how to get that darn moose out of the paddock. Finally, I broke down and called the barn owners. Of course, at this point, it is 10:00 pm, and I felt HORRIBLE. Luckily, as I was on the phone with the barn owner, the moose wandered out of the paddock. I hung up the phone, ran across the arena and closed TBM's paddock gate so the moose didn't decide to go back in. Then I waited for the moose to wander around the outdoor, and finally trot out the other gate.

I am typically a person who thinks of every possible consequence from actions. But I NEVER thought that leaving gates open would lead to a moose in a paddock. hehehe. I tend to think of gates for keeping things IN, not keeping things OUT. Let us say that my perspective is slightly altered on the usefulness of gates!

Who said quitters never win?

I have found, that some days, it is best just not to even go there. And today was one of those days.

Up to the point where I was pulling out of the parking lot at work, I wasn't sure if I was going to the barn or not. But it was gorgeous, and I decided I would go and just go for a trail ride. But I am so stressed and worn out right now, I nearly broke down into tears at the barn today. I got TBM out, he was fine. I tacked him up, and took him to the parking lot to mount and head down the driveway. There were horses in the outdoor tearing around, horses loading up after a trailer in lesson, and a lot more activity than we are used to. Which is not a problem, really. TBM was a bit 'up' and very interested in what was going on. Still a total gentleman, and not being naughty at all. But I could feel my fuse getting shorter and shorter. "OH, no, girlfriend, we are NOT going there." I turned us around, and untacked. It was time to admit defeat for the day. I could certainly have gotten on and headed down the trail. But I know myself well enough to realize that it would have been neither pleasant nor productive nor relaxing. It would have been miserable for both TBM and myself, and would have been a setback. I would have been way too negative and prone to strong reprimands for very slight infractions. That is not fair to TBM.

TBM was certainly puzzled when I untacked him and put him back in his paddock. I'm sure everyone else at the barn was just as puzzled. But today, I had to quit in order to win.

Am I disappointed in myself? Yes, and no. Yes, because I don't want to let my life interfere with my riding. No, because I was able to realize where things were heading and avoid that crash course. *sighs* Ideally, I would like to be able to see the router, and take an alternate path. But I just didn't have it in me today.

I have two more days of working this odd shift, and then I am back to my normal shift. It will probably take me a few days to get to feeling normal again. And I am so excited to get back to my schedule. Also, today is day #8 of working. Because of the shift change, I didn't get a weekend in there. And I suspect that may have something to do with me being so tired and stressed as well.

Pooh. Not happy with the last two days at all. And I am not going to the barn tomorrow, either. Friday ought to be interesting...I think I'll plan to just lunge. *sighs*

Ugh. Some days, I just suck as a rider. *sighs*

And today was one of them. TBM was good, as always. I just could not sit up and open to save my soul. I have a bad habit of collapsing in my upper body, slouching. Which has a very negative impact on my ability to ride tactfully. We shared the arena with two horses today, one of which TBM is very fascinated with. I started out with too much hand, right off the bad. DOH! I know better. Well, that made getting him forward so much more difficult. And, in hindsight, I never really got him loosened up and swinging in the back. That is just no good. What a wasted ride. =(

Not his fault at all, I was just not in the game today. Days like this really disappoint me, because I feel like I wasted a great opportunity for progress. I'd like to come up with excuses...I'm tired, the shift change at work, my new position at work, blah blah blah. But, bottom line: I knew I was tired. So I should have planned that into the ride. Today would have been a perfect day to go for a trail ride. Positive, easy, and not a waste.

Now the big question is: How do I fix this tomorrow? Do I go for the trail ride, or do I push myself to ride better? I guess I won't know until I drive into the barn parking lot tomorrow. If I'm feeling as pooped as I did today, out to the trail we head. I am NOT going to waste another day on crappy riding like I did today.

And bless TBM for his patience with me today. He was telling me in no uncertain terms that I was riding like a sack of potatoes, and he wasn't appreciating it. But he still tried for me, sweet boy.

I find that we rarely deserve the breaks that horses give us.

Pictures and video from 3-8-09

Today was video day! Here we are, warts and all. I was so very VERY pleased with our ride today. Quitely, consistently, we progress. A little smidge each day, building progressively on what we did the day before. No fuss, no muss. Just easy and happy. I am blissing over this whole thing!













Oh my goodness. I think I might need to sit up a bit more, eh? hehehe






And, the warts!

Comments regarding the distinction of 'classical dressage'

I posted a little blurb on UDBB, and someone commented about me intending to do 'classical dressage' with TBM. This was my reply, and I felt it was worth sharing here:

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I use that term kinda 'loosely'. We're piddling around with Training Level. So, not like we're going to be hitting Grand Prix and I'm freaking out about being able to piaffe in a snaffle, here. BUT, I feel the need to make a distinction between what happens in competition dressage, and the more traditional/old skool/classical approach. To me, that is an important distinction. We are not dealing with a super talented rider and an imported wow mover of a horse. I am average, the horse is average (in current competitive dressage terms, at least). And the traditional approach can make us both into more than we are right now. I DON'T want to fall into the false frame/big front end/nothing behind/too much hand trap. WHY don't I want to fall into that? Because I have a natural tendency to move there. So, this is an exercise for ME to really be aware of staying within the tenants of what I consider to be classical in nature. We're talking basic basics. But then, that is the joy of dressage. It is ALL basic basics. *grins*
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Also, I am feeling the need to make something very clear here: I am not perfect. I do not profess to be perfect. I make mistakes. I am constantly striving to improve my riding and my understanding of the horse. I do NOT claim to know it all, or have all of the answers. I am not a world class rider, and will never be. I am just a chic working diligently to become a better rider. I love the journey that I am on. I try very hard to learn from the mistakes I make.

Pictures from 2-27-09

I finally got the video from my camera that we took on 2-27. I haven't edited the video yet, but here are some still shots I captured quickly this evening.

You will see that I have very little, if any, contact in most of these pictures. The very VERY first thing we needed to establish was a really good GO button. Active, active, and more active is the name of the game. Gotta keep everything coming in from behind. I am excited to get some more photo and video this weekend, so I can share the progress that has been made since these photos were taken! But, here they are!















(Yes, that is his tongue sticking out. hehehe)

THE UNVEILING!

*laughs* So, obviously there have been some curious people checking the blog to see WHO is this elusive APP C. *grins* So, without further ado, I give to you TBM (The Big Man):

Sully Diamonddust




For those of you who are not familiar with Sully, he is a 17 year old Appaloosa stallion. In his younger years, he had a very successful career as a halter horse.



He is GROOVING on this whole 'dressage horse' thing. I hope to have some updated undersaddle pictures and video to share after this weekend.

Days off make me sad =(

So, tomorrow is Thursday. And Thursday is the official day off of the APP C. Thursdays make me sad. I so look forward to going to the barn and seeing The Big Man. Honestly, from the moment I leave the barn, I am counting the hours until I get to go back. I think I might be a little hooked?!

I have had two stellar rides. I went and audited the last part of the most recent Judy Thocher clinic. I really like the way Judy teaches. In many ways, it was just like listening to my two favorite instructors, Paula and Tracy. Very much to the point, not accepting anything less than your full attention and effort. Things were progressive, positive, and correct. She'll be back for another clinic in April. Unfortunately, I'll be in Las Vegas for the FEI World Cup Dressage Finals. So I will miss out on the opportunity to ride with her in April. Hopefully she'll be back in June and I can schedule three days of riding with her. I think she would really make a wonderful improvement in my riding. Auditing 4 hours of rides certainly made me ride better.

On the good side, after Thursday is Friday! And this Friday will mark the close of the 4th week of the APP C trial. Saturday should be the Official Introduction and Unveiling!

New Look!

So, just today, as I was driving, I was thinking about how great it is to be a girl. And I decided I would change my blog layout to reflect that. Enjoy!

Snow and goals

So, we got a bunch of snow! I didn't quite realize HOW MUCH snow we had gotten when I set out for the barn yesterday. As I got closer and closer to the barn, the roads got worse and worse. There were fewer and fewer cars out there with me. Most of them were trucks with plows! I finally turned down the road to the barn, and it looked there only one or two vehicles had driven down the road since the snow started. Pulled into the barn driveway, and there were the tracks of one vehicle. I plowed my little car through the snow, and it was so deep in the driveway and the parking lot that the snow came up over the hood of my car! I was driving blind there for a bit, couldn't get my wipers going fast enough. But I also couldn't stop, because my car would get stuck. So I just kinda plowed onward, hoping I wasn't driving into the woods or the field. *laughs*

I ended up being the only other person at the barn. And had a GREAT ride! I just love days like that. The new snow muffles everything a bit, and the world seems so snug and cozy. After the ride, on his way back to his paddock APP C had to dive his face into the deep, fluffy stuff. He has taken to this after each ride. He gets the cutest look on his face. He just kinda snuffles around in the snow, likes a little bit.

Today the sun was out, so when we were on our way back to his paddock, we stood for a good 15 minutes. Basking in the sun while he snuffled in the snow. It was so deep, he was buried up to his eyeballs. What a silly pony!

Oh, and today was another great ride. He is getting stronger and more balanced every day. I am also getting stronger and more balanced with every ride. *laughs* And that, in turn, is making his job much easier.

Yesterday I took a look at the 2009 show schedule. Looks like there are 4 USDF shows this summer. I am hoping to hit each of them, and at least the first schooling show. Possibly the second schooling show, but we'll see how the summer is going. Right now I'm aiming for Training Level, and maybe toss in some 1st level towards the end. At this time, I think his strengths are going to be consistency of tempo, free walk, chewy/stretchy circles, submission. Weaknesses will probably be canter work. His canter is very obedient, but tends to be a tad flat right now. A lot of that is just strength, and part of it is that he finds canter easy, so he doesn't think he has to work as hard there. *grins* I plan to introduce a little bit of jumping to get the idea of JUMP in the canter. So, as far as weaknesses go, it's not much of a weakness. *laughs*