DefinitelyDressage.com

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fwiw: i've actually found that using this CC method for training the flying changes has helped me maintain the counter canter better than when i tried the change over the diagonal. Over the diagonal, the idea of CC went out the window for RP. But when I asked for the change from the CC, waiting for ...

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SF--RP kicks up a lot in changes too, not out so much as needing to hop up and back behind to coordinate his legs. But also it does feel like it happens more when he anticipates and gets a bit behind the leg and hoppy. The exercise pattern that has helped the most is actually counter cantering aroun...

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SF--good luck on the saddle search, it's the worst. Fingers crossed for your Veritas Eximo. Sounds like your changes are coming along well. I don't know that RP and I are further along on them. I think probably around the same--where the idea of the change is there but the comfort in the mechanics i...

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MM had a bad asthma episode over the weekend, that I'm still trying to sort out and she's still recovering from. On Saturday she was great and normal and we went for a nice hack about (walk only, but about 40 minutes) with a friend. She was totally fine after and she went back out like normal. Sunda...

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thank you for sharing, lots of helpful tips in here!

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Exvet--glad you're having luck with new trainer and that you have a good, supportive path with Junior at the moment LSP--leaving and moving barns is always a hard decision, but it sounds like you have made the right one. My two are at a place they are out 24/7 unless weather is extreme and they are ...

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Sounds like you have a good system, Khall. It's so tough when they're out of work and in restricted movement healing. I hope everyone healiing from surgeries, Khall, Chisamba, Tanga is doing well! Hopefully i'm not missing anyone. We had ice on saturday, but thankfully kept power. Since then we've h...

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I have a dentist/vet who i really really love and trust. When I had a sr. horse in my care, I had her check him 2x a year, but she only intervened as needed. So it was higher frequency evaluation/checking in but less frequent floating, etc.

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Khall, so sorry Joplin's insulin numbers were not great. Hope the E drug kicks in and hopefully the increased work will also help. I'm guessing she hardly eats much, but are there any calorie reductions you can do? Last summer I realized most balancers aren't that low calorie, you just only need to ...

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LSP, it's good that changes are of high quality. But it's still stressful! Hopefully in the next few weeks you'll have a better sense of whether this is an ok set up for you, Lynx, and your daughter. SF, I'm sure you shared it earlier, but T's trace clip is so sharp looking! I love the clean points ...

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ugh, LSP, what a nightmare. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. Barn changes are so stressful and these seems especially unideal. It might make sense to start exploring what other options there are out there, just in case? Not sure how it works in your area. But around here, there are a lot of ba...

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I don't know what my year goals are, feels too lofty, but I can think two months in advance! Me: Continue to eat at home/cook more than eat out/order in Walk 2-3 times a week Find a better daily cadence for work days Get trailer sorted Get bedroom sorted MM: Continue getting her back in shape Enjoy ...

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Closing out this period and the year, ready for 2025 to be done! Me: Eat healthy options more Walk more Find time to ride despite work, despite weather MM: Get her back into shape Enjoy her RP: Work on changes Continue working on hind end strength for better collection and extension Get a more fluid...

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Yay Dijon! SF, hope you get a break from the rain and are able to get to the clinic Khall, oh no, I"m sorry you're in pain but sounds like you've found a good one. Fingers crossed for the PPE! Exvet, sounds like a productive period for you! I'm hoping to get some more riding time in over the ne...

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I don't have that bridle but I do have a kavalkade and am happy with it!

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Great to see everyone's updates! Khall, any updates on the potential new pony? Chisamba, hope surgery and healing go well and a snowy winter seems like the best possible time to take care of it Aleu, lovely snowy footage, as always. SF, T looks like she's doing well! Have you started working on chan...

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Blob, can't say it will be a bargain but I have found stubben to be the one to offer the most variety of 4.5 inch bradoons during my 'pony' tenure. I have also found companies who focus on tack for driving also tend to carry options that would meet your specifications. Also if you access some of th...

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I'm also here to complain about weather related lack of riding, ha! Less cold (though it has been chilly for georgia), but more that it's been wet. We've had so many days of rain this week that riding has been essentially a no go. Even though at times it's only a misting, the ground is so wet from p...

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Welcome back, Flight and Mari--hope things are progressing nicely and weather is not too warm! I think I got a bit greedy with wanting to school changes last week and RP got over excited. We were not successful that day in anything clean and fluid and we had a moment of broncing. Thankfully as soon ...

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I'm so sorry, Khall. Echoing others that it sounds like very much the right decision. You did so much to keep him happy and comfortable--he was so lucky to you. Hugs to you and Joplin as you both deal with the loss.

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I think it is possible to be both, but it may not be the kind of dressage ride you would want. But might be a very fine dressage horse for her. Yes, as dressage riders we want horses that are electric off the aids, but there are many riders who are successful riding absolute push ride horses even up...

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I think energy matters a lot. I always tell people who are riding MM that she needs to believe you will kill her. I'm kidding mostly, but MM is NOT a physical ride if you win the mental game with her. If you come in calm and gentle she will say 'oh, ok, we're doing nothing today" and then she b...

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Aleu, continued jingles for the pup, glad things are trending in the right direction. SF, on no! I hope T is feeling back to normal soon. Chisamba, how is Kimba? I'm sorry your knee needs a surgery, hopefully you can get it scheduled quickly. It's a bit of a toss up whether I end up getting to ride ...

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Hope the US goes well! The two links above are both to the same video, fyi, but the chestnut foal is nice! Are you priortizing fresh? or does it not matter too much at this stage? I am not much help knowing lusitano bloodlines. But I do have a friend who has done a decent amount of lusitano and PRE ...

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I have started in the last couple rides trying to be more consistent with working on changes. Not yet making it a thing we are schooling during a portion of a ride. But instead of only throwing it in every several rides, I wanted to do it a couple rides in a row--still just asking for one or two per...

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This year I am so grateful for the dark and cold after what felt like a very difficult summer in so many ways. I am also grateful for the stillness of this time of year. On to goals: Me: Eat healthy options more Walk more Find time to ride despite work, despite weather MM: Get her back into shape En...

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Thank you for the thoughts, Aleu. I agree it's a hard place to be and in the past I've had that supportive team so I know what it feels like. I feel limited in my options without moving my horses to the other side of town, which isn't the right choice for other reasons. So, in that way I feel a bit ...

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one idea could be having her work on a pattern, something like: walk 4 strides, turn left, walk 2 strides , trot, go through some cones and halt between them, etc. You can make it as complicated or simple as you want while still making it safe and low key. another thing could be working on transitio...

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Mountaineer, glad surgery went well and you are on the mend. Jingles for an easy recovery and clear success after the fact. LSP, glad your daughter is getting her confidence back and hopefully feeling better. I'm glad you got some clarity from the vets around Lynx even if it's not what you wanted. F...

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Oh no, LSP, I hope she is ok! SF, I'm glad your dad is improving and keeping his humor. It is such a hard thing to deal with. Chisamba, sounds like a great show season for Kimba. I will agree that second level is just so hard. I will be ready and happy to leave it behind (if I can). On the LY: they ...

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In Portugal they had us start out of si before any hp. For me that is not always the best way to start. Cedar will often have us ride hi through the corner and then take it across the diagonal. Advancing the shoulders so that the haunches don’t lead. But we also will purposefully advance the haunch...

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Oh gosh, Exvet, I'm so sorry you've had this drama to deal with. Finding a new trainer to work with is such a pain even if it is the right choice. I'm glad Jr's workup didn't show anything alarming or that needed major intervention. Are you planning on doing anything for the minor arthritic changes?...

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Oh no, LSP and SF, sorry to hear you both had tumbles. Glad you're both ok. LSP, hope the vet is able to come out and that it was just one of those things. And I also hope you and your daughter feel better soon. There are a lot of people out sick right now in my various circles. SF, I hope the time ...

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I agree with you, Tanga that somehow HP can be easier than HI. It certainly is for me and RP. I think part of it is their is a bit of claustrophobia having front legs pointed more at the rail. One of the things I've found useful is to almost think of neck reining. So, I set up a shoulder in position...

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Oh no, Khall, I am so sorry to hear about Joplin. I will def be sending jingles your way for a speedy recovery and easy stall rest process.
SF, picture looks great! T is so beautiful.

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Troy is looking great, Exvet, sorry you had a rough lesson with Junior. I hope it was a minor blip and the two of you will be back to normal soon--looks like you're trending in that direction. LSP, great pictures! Sorry the Conrad clinic was cancelled--I know many people who really enjoy riding with...

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I've been reading and following along the last couple of weeks even though I have not been posting much. Work has been busy and my updates are more of the same: Still too hot for MM. Trying to work towards regionals with RP and our problem areas remain stagnant, as do our strong suits. On top of tha...

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late to this thread, but i gave up on rubber boots and instead use waterproof trail runners/hiking sneakers. They are much more comofrtable to run around the barn in. They double as my hiking shoes and while the waterproofing isn't as ironclad as a rubber boot, it's also more breathable in the summer.

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Thanks, Tanga, that's helpful input. I need to assess whether light work/stretching makes it better, worse, the same. SF, ugh so sorry. Saddle stuff can be such a nightmare. I'm glad you have something to ride in while you get the Erreplus sorted. I'm glad you noticed the treepoints! I'm not sure I ...

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Khall-- have an amazing time on your trip, can't wait to hear about! Tanga-- good look at champs! gosh, 2 weeks is so soon! Ours are in 4 week and even that feels too soon! I need to do entries this weekend Haven't tried the double bit set on RP yet. I have found a curb that sounds like it might be ...

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Ok, officially sept/oct!

Me:
Keep making time for riding
start finding time to go on walks
Cook more

MM:
Make it through last of heat
Get her comfortable again
Start trying to get her fit again

RP:
Regionals in Oct
Better HI
Start working on third level after regionals

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thank you for sharing, LSP! Super interesting and lots of nice takeaways. I know JJ's name of course, but I haven't actually seen her teach (live or even online), so nice to see how she approaches different challenges.

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closing out! New thread! I have a bunch of travel this period, so I am trying to make my goals appropriate Me: Find time to ride Eat healthy Get some exercise to make up for days when I'm not riding during travel MM: Keep her comfortable through heat Continue to keep fitness up (even if it's other p...

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thanks, for sharing the video, SF! Def a lot to like in that and nice to see other 2-3 tests, as that's also where RP and I are right now. The lateral worked looked really very steady and strong. And it was such a clean/accurate test until that last little bobble. Glad the clinic was valuable, LSP! ...

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Great picture, LSP. They look great together. And sounds like Lynx is doing well too. I hope your ankle is healing up quickly. Mountaineer, so sorry you're stuck in the kicking butt part of PT and out of the saddle. I hope the neurosurgeon appointment went well and you have a clear plan for what's t...

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Lots of updates to get caught up on! Sounds like a lot of good progress and good news for loved ones. I am just getting back after 12 days away hiking in the mountains. It was a wonderful and unplugged time, good timing for RP to get a break before we buckle down and get ready for regionals in early...

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Oh, Khall, so sorry for Lio and for the rattle snake scare. I don't hear of them being in the area as much as some other venmous types, but hoping you never hear or see from it again. Mountaineer, sending you healing thoughts, hoping you're improve quickly. Congrats on the show, Tanga--some really g...

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oh no, Khall! Jingles for Leo and also hope you don't hear or see from that snake again. What a scary situation. Hope your crew managed this heat new heat wave coming in. MM still has no sweat. She does have AWFUL fungus now. We've been keeping her wet to keep her cool and well, this is the result o...

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congrats on the 72, tanga, that's super! and congrats to Cedar as well, Khall. We don't have a mister fan, but we do have a quick chill blanket that the barn has been dunking in ice and putting on her. Of course she is getting fungus now from being wet so much and so often. But that is the least of ...

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congrats, Aleu! what an accomplishment and I love that smiley picture of you on Kora. Khall, glad to hear your herd is doing well and that Rip is responding to acupuncture. things have been very tough with MM. It's a bad cycle to suddenly have anhidrosis and a breathing issue given that now they are...

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