Has Talent, Needs Direction: Quaid's Clinic Recap

 I also had Quaid signed up for the 3 day clinic. I was really looking forward to working with him and moving forward. 

I rode him first on Friday because the weather was supposed to get hotter as the day went on and he's not a fan of the heat. It was a really good lesson. Jane had us riding forward to contact and staying upright and balanced. My tendency is to curl forward. I've had that flaw forever. As soon as I feel the least bit of unbalance I want to drop my shoulders forward and curl. But it's getting better. 

upright(ish)

 Jane had us canter pretty early in the ride and it was a bit zoomy but not too bad. 

Quaid: I go fast! Eat my dust! 

In the past I would be grabby and unbalanced. While I was not perfect by any stretch of any imagination, I wasn't in imminent danger of falling off.  And it got a lot better. 

better trot

I'm still leaning but at least my seat is following. 

At about 30 minutes into the ride he began to spook at the far corner. 

Quaid: na- uh

Quaid: also nope

Jane had me sit up and quietly ride him through. The first couple minutes he actually backed up. the aim was to sit up, put my leg on (quietly but firmly) and encourage him forward without giving away or grabbing contact.  After a bit we worked through it and had some lovely work at the end. 

Overall I was really pleased with him and our lesson. 

On Saturday I rode him in the afternoon. He was restless going down to the ring but stood fine outside. When I brought him we walked around the rail for a bit and then I started to the mounting block. When I went to line him up for mounting he nipped me! I was pissed. Biting is a non-negotiable for me. I gave him a couple good whacks with my crop immediately and then stood there getting my breathing and adrenaline back. It was the first time he's ever down that. Given that he's a gelding and young I had been expecting it earlier in the year. But when I never happened I stopped worrying about it. 

Anyway, I got on and he stood just fine at the block. We walked off and he was obviously tense but listening. Jane was immediately on me to sit with my butt in the saddle and a following hand. 

Things were going well and then Jane asked us to trot. The hamster came off the wheel pretty quickly. We'd get a bit of nice trot and then he'd throw his body around or refuse to go away from the in gate. And I really do think it's an in gate problem. Even though I never ever rest by the gate or get off there. Like ever.  

I was struggling with leaning forward. Although, when I look at the video I can see how much better I am. Even 4 months ago, with how tight and fling-y he was being with his legs I'd have been up on his ears. 

Quaid: no! 

Quaid: I want to talk to my union steward

When I look at the video I can see how well he steps under with his hind and his reach with his front is amazing. He also piaffed a little. I was really struggling on how to ride this. I even said to Jane "I think I'm ruining my horse".  She said "look at me. YOU ARE NOT RUINING YOUR HORSE." 

In the end she settled us into an exercise of small circles, keeping his body bent and his legs on the same track as the circle. She called it 'making his toes follow his nose'.  He would bend but still travel in a straight line. But when I added the outside rein and leg he would turn nicely. This work settled us both really nicely. It gave us a safe exercise to work from. A few times he'd plant his front leg and pivot around it (like how horse?). But was a good exercise. I even trottted him on it, although every time we'd move away from the gate he'd break and throw his shoulders a bit. 

Here's a semi- short video if you're interested: 

I have to say she was so supportive through the whole thing. Giving me directions, praise when I did it correctly, encouragement when I looked overwhelmed. I don't think I could have ridden through it all without her. I was disappointed because it seemed like every time I take him somewhere he was worse instead of better. I realised I needed more help and I asked Jane if she would ride him on Sunday. She thought about it and agreed. 

I have zero issue with swallowing my ego and letting someone with more skill help me through a patch. I think as horse people we need to know when we've reached the end of our knowledge and skill and seek others. 

Anyway, Jane rode Quaid on Sunday and it was eye-opening. I'm not going to share photos or videos because it's one thing for me to post myself but it's not fair to expose someone else to the internet trolls. But here is what I saw and what Jane explained to me: 

• he needs a following hand all the time. Keeping the rein shorter and shoulders relaxed allowed her to keep a steady feel when he was in front, on and behind the vertical. In other words he could yank the reins out of her hand or duck behind contact. It was just there, talking to him all the time. 
• Her seat stayed steady and her legs on while she rode. But not tight. She encouraged him forward. When he gets chaotic I cannot let myself join that. Instead she was the calm centre that he could return to. 
• She knew what level of forward she wanted and she asked for it. She didn't let him decide how fast or forward he'd go. 
• When he fell all apart she would bring him back and put him right back up. Jane said that she's thinking he's learned this as a way to make the work back off. And I think she's right, when he would get upset I'd stop and let him relax. Which was fine but not if he does it in order to stop (this makes sense in my head). 
• She kept her aids simple and clear. There was no fuzziness. We walk or we trot or we halt. She even did a walk pirouette and he was just like 'okay'. 

Watching him I was struck by how adult and handsome he's become. There's been a huge change in his body, especially his neck.  He's also a lovely mover. I mean, like, I knew that but then I saw it and went 'oooh'.  Tanya tells me that I can't call him a baby genius anymore. Because he's not a baby. How about evil genius? I quipped. 

Jane told me that, because he's been so good at home, I haven't been testing him enough so he can learn to deal with distractions and new places. He's fine because he feels fine. He doesn't know how to be fine even when he's not feeling it. Carmen was a lot more obvious so I made the mistake of thinking he's just fine all the time. And she shared all this without making me feel stupid or incompetent. Which is a talent.

I definitely learned a lot last weekend. About myself and my horses. And I came away armed with a training plan. And I do love a good plan.