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| always time for cookies though |
I am actually okay with this. Which makes me wonder whether this is really me. Typical me would be annoyed at myself and putting pressure to spend time in the saddle. After all we all know that saying 'wet saddle pads make good horses'.
But I don't believe that as much anymore. Like everything else, reality is more nuanced. Especially with a sensitive, reactive horse like Carmen. Instead I'm recognizing that stressed out me does not result in a good training session no matter how wet the saddle pad is at the end (not that we don't work hard).
Last year I was feeling very unsettled because of the whole ulcers ordeal. When she began to feel better it was like we had gone backwards and I had to rebuild. I don't have that this year. We are in a much better place and that makes me feel less urgent.
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| Yes, I'm feeling much better but more carrots would be really good for me. Just sayin'. |
As you know I've been using the Tristan Tucker stuff or a while and it has made a huge difference. I am also a fan of Warwick Schiller and he has this great new series on his youtube channel called The Principles of Training. I have getting a lot out of it. I love that it's on principles rather than a recipe approach.
The one I'm really getting benefit from is his discussion of helping horses find the balance between being too reactive and too quiet. What I got from this is that when Carmen gets to be too 'up' I need to help her get back down. It seems to be helping. When Carmen gets tight and spooky I can ride her through it but getting her to let go of the tension was not happening. Of course I don't want to stop when she's being resistant because that just reinforces her to say 'no'.
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| we do the TRT leading exercise a lot. I find it really helps me to know where she is and helps her to relax. |
For example, today I was riding her on a circle and something spooked her over by the rail. I rode her a few times on the circle asking her to bend. At first she was not having it but once she gave a little I rode her by and then stopped, dropped the reins and let her regroup. Then when I picked up the reins again she was more settled. Giving her time to breathe and let down is helpful.
Our rides are focussed on transitions- coming more from behind and less grabbing the ground with her front legs. The more back she gets the better and less spooky she is. Her shoulder-in and haunches-in are really coming along nicely.
I'm also continuing to play with the itty bitty jumps. She give zero cares about it. I can feel her lock in and go which is nice. It gives us other things to do. We are probably ready to add some more jumps and raise it up a bit now. I'm going really slow with this to build the confidence of both of us.
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| we are jumping so high..... Also, note the jump coach |
It fun to pick up a trot, hop over the little X, turn and do a haunches in down the long side, etc. It keeps us both busy.
Our gains are slow but they feel solid and we're having fun.
That's enough for me.
Having fun is a good thing. In the end the horse really doesn’t give a rip what level they are at or what ribbons they take home.
ReplyDeleteYou ar3 right. Mostly Carmen cares about scratches and food.
DeleteI love Carmen's white eyelashes over her black eyes. That is the one (only?) thing I love about grey horses.
ReplyDeleteIt is pretty. I also love that any colour works on them. 😁
DeleteSounds like fun and you can't beat a good jumping coach.
ReplyDeleteHe’s very dedicated to his job.
DeleteI think what you are describing is called “wisdom.”
ReplyDeleteAw thanks friend. It’s been hard earned. 😉
DeleteI really enjoy reading about how your relationship is building together. It's a real give and take between you two, and it seems to be coming together really well.
ReplyDeleteAlso... YAY FOR JOMPIES!!!
It's not always sunshine but we keep working at it.
DeleteGiving her those moments to breathe and regroup sounds like just the ticket! I'm glad she's continuing to like the jumping exercises, too. What a great way to mix up your routine.
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying incorporating it into the routine. And letting her get down again really seems to be helping.
DeleteI'm right in there with you! Hang in, soon it will be the glorious winter fairyland. If we can just make it through the muck of November and frozen ground of December.
ReplyDeleteAlas, it's unlikely to be a fairy land here- we are often very icy making riding impossible. But that's okay.
ReplyDeleteI loved that video. I hate that feeling of “gotta do it because...”. I rode with a person like that yesterday—you can hear it in their language—competitive, driven.... When I got home I felt awful, and I’d just had a lovely three hour ride on Leah that was nullified. The rider kept saying how she has to put miles on them everyday, rain or shine or snow, and she has several—so all of them. I was like, I have nine, and I don’t. But then, I’m not competing, and she is a competitive endurance rider. Which is all okay, but not where I’m at with life and horses. I do less and I get more, but I’m on my own schedule and I know each horse’s limitations. i Hope I can ride today to make up for it.
ReplyDeleteI used to be her. I’ve changed. It takes time.
DeleteYou're right and, no doubt, she will, too. She's a good person and loves horses. She had a tragedy that very day with a different horse. He tied up..from what, they don't know yet. He's a young endurance horse and they were in a challenging dressage lesson. It's a journey, with lots of heartbreak along the way. I came out on the other side of mine wanting to err on the side of extreme caution-for all involved.
DeleteI feel like a lot of us bloggers are on the same trajectory - I, too, have not ridden much lately (and while some of it is Vet prescribed), I am kind of enjoying it. Sometimes breaks are well needed, and sometimes it isn't about the wet saddle pads (altho in some circumstances they are certainly helpful). I think as a horse grows up and ages and gains experience, things shift. A young, more defiant horse is the starting recipe for rinse, lather, repeat (ie. wet saddle pads), whereas horses who have been undersaddle for a few years (ie. Annie, Carmen), the rinse, lather, repeat method just doesn't really work anymore. Yeah, they still work hard and they still are learning new things, but to tap into them mentally and have them work with us takes a bit more careful consideration.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really sure where I'm going with this comment, but your post kind of made my thoughts churn a bit as I consider where I started with Annie (easy peasy, lots of praise, simple exercises), where we headed (defiance, wet saddle pads, make the wrong thing hard and right thing easy), and this weird new path we're on that borders more understanding and has less to do with "wet saddle pads" and more to do with "If you TRY this, I'll be happy enough to reward you"
I agree - things change as our horses change. It’s new for me rewarding the try like this but I’m going to see where it takes me.
DeleteI’m so super far behind right now but am glad to read that things are going well. I esp love how you’re integrating the jompies ;)
ReplyDeleteEvery time I hop over my 8" cross rail I think of you and Charlie. :D :D
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