Well that might get me some interesting feedback.
I am not actually claiming to have unlocked any great secrets that will guarantee that you will achieve scores of 10 in dressage competitions.
A better title is probably the key for me and Carmen in training is 'more leg'.
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A little geeky aside here: scientists have found that the actual answer to 'life, the universe and everything' really is 42
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For me that has been a great revelation brought home to me in my last lesson with Shanea. See when Carmen is nervous and/or thinking of spooking she shortens her frame, gets tight and goes behind the leg. I shorten the rein, get tight (in preparation) and take my leg off.
Funnily enough none of that helps.
What Shanea was trying to get me to understand is that when she sucks back, put my leg on, give her some rein and ride her forward (not curled up like a monkey) to the location I have chosen.
Frankly, this takes a lot of bravery on my part. When I first started putting my leg on she got tighter and faster and was still behind the leg. Carmen is really good at being fast-behind-the-leg.
I felt it work in the lesson and I've been consciously trying to do the same in my rides on her. As soon as I feel her curl up I urge her forward. I'm not always really good at giving her the rein too but I am trying. And it really is working. And as it works I gain confidence that it will work.
I haven't been able to ride much- Ed has been away and between my job and the chores it hasn't left a lot of energy or time to ride. In the past that would be freaking me out because I have this clinic coming up:
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| it's getting real! And can we reflect on how perfect my ride times are? |
Today the horses were much more calm. The weather was a perfect fall day: warm sun, crisp air and no bugs. Carmen and I had one of our best sessions since our lesson. She was forward, responsive and willing to listen. Her hesitations in the corner were just that and we rode forward. I was so happy with our work that I ended it after about 45 minutes.
I spent a long time in the barn just giving a nice grooming session and enjoying spending time with her.
So that is my answer to schooling. Have you found something that really makes a key difference in your rides?
LOL - I read your blog title and was hoping 42 would be there :) When Tesla gets distracted and looky, we disengage the hind end - which is moar work than just listening to me in the first place, and helps her to relax - also moar leg, all the time :D
ReplyDeleteLove the Hitchhiker's Guide. :)
DeleteThis is kind of the same answer I received at the Anthony clinic - except I have inadvertently taught my mare that I'll take my leg off if she acts pissy. Kind of neat you had the "same lesson" in some respects, altho for completely different reasons!
ReplyDeleteIt really is a basic answer I guess. It's amazing what we teach them not meaning to
Delete42, huh? Well, that's interesting. If I start having issues in my rides, it always helps to refocus and come back to a collected jog/trot. Which I think basically means "more leg." ;)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds pretty much the same- it's not about faster just more forward.
DeleteForward is generally the key - if only I could consistently follow through with that when in the saddle.
ReplyDeleteJust had a long conversation with a friend about life, the universe and everything - then I came here. lolol
So long and thanks for all the fish! ;D
The universe can be really weird like that. I am trying to be more consistent, but there are so many things to be consistent about!
DeleteI giggled about the nerd news about 42 and had to go read the article :) I love how you're figuring out how to work with Carmen and feel like I've had similar realizations with Katai this year too. sometimes its just not worth trying to work with her under certain conditions.
ReplyDeleteDressage Nerds unite!
DeleteMore leg and a looser rein makes sense to me. When I see young, inexperienced nervous horses at shows, the riders always have the nose cranked into toward the chest and I always wonder how that is helping beyond offering the rider more control. I don't think it does much to help the horse's fear, though.
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense but when it feels that the horse could fly in several directions at once it's hard to let go
DeleteThis probably sounds so stupid of me... but breathing steadily is key for me to keeping my hip open. I realized one day that I was sometimes holding my breath & letting my hip collapse. I actually had to concentrate on my breathing (how dumb am I that I have to learn how to breathe?); once I mastered breathing steadily (Gold Star!) I noticed my hip stayed open. I might be the only rider who could not breathe & ride at the same time - luckily, Padre breathes for both of us.
ReplyDeleteBreathing is critical- that's where Centred Riding starts. And it's hard to do when tense.
DeleteMy younger horse is very forward and too sensitive to leg. The solution (found from one of Elisa Wallace's videos) has been to wrap my legs on (think one heck of a hug) and you know what? She calms and slows.
ReplyDeleteyes- the more leg is really about that as well.
DeleteI feel you - more leg is hard sometimes! Since I am riding bareback so much lately I don't want my steed to blast off haha! But I have found if I let Henry get behind the leg/slow as hell he starts looking for things to spook at, so that's my motivation. Those are great rides times!
ReplyDeleteYes. I can't believe how long it took for me to learn it!
DeleteI agree. It sounds counterintuitive, but it works. I’ve always thought that one reason it works is because you’re encouraging your horse to do what it actually wants to do. Pulling back, curling in the fetal position, “trapping” the horse just makes it nervous and want to explode. Plus, it’s harder to buck, bolt or rear when they’re moving forward. All a plus.
ReplyDeleteWhat has made a big difference in my rides is envisioning positive and silencing the voice of “reason”. Having fun. Horses like to have fun. It is proven that they recognize a smiling face as a good thing. We share many facial expressions. They’re so sensitive, they really pick up on our low (or high) expectations.
Riding on a loose Rein has also really helped me. I only take it back if I have to.
And, lately, using my spurs to help with that leg communication has done wonders!! I don’t use them if I don’t have to, but when they decide to push through the leg in a bolt (Leah’s go to move) the door is quickly closed with the spur and they don’t even seem to recognize it was me that did it. They kind of do it to themselves. (I say they because I rode Cowboy in spurs yesterday and he tried to bolt to the right, but found the door closed.)
I've been considering spurs and they may find their way onto my boots at some point. And yes, staying on the fun side and not let Carmen dictate how we feel is helping as well.
DeleteMore forward seems to always be the answer!
ReplyDeleteIt really does. It helps that I understand now that 'forward' is not the same as 'faster'. :)
DeleteI haven't figured out a trick to getting Levi engaged in schooling. Leg isn't something he really understands so I think we need to go back to some basics.
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend just spending time on the leg. It can take a while -especially for horses that are used to being self-reliant.
Deletemore leg forever and ever.... amen. haha
ReplyDeleteYes.
DeleteI love your note about not drilling her or riding more to make the clinic better - all of my horses are like that. If I drill endlessly or ride a ton, it's not necessarily going to help, which isn't really shocking as an athlete because when I've been drilled or workout out in excess I'm just tired and sometimes frustrated for competition day!
ReplyDeleteAnd adding leg when she gets spooky/sucked back, oh man. That really resounds with me! Now that Q is building some confidence and not wigging out over, oh, y'know everything I'm feeling bold enough to ride her forward more. It's still a little nerve wracking to give rein and leg her forward with purpose, but it really does seem to do the trick more often than not! Still get that butt-scooting shuffle-bolt for a step or two at times, but it's crazy how she settles right back down into work quickly most of the time. Go figure lol
Yes, more leg!
ReplyDelete