Search found 68 matches

by Bats79
Fri Sep 15, 2017 11:33 pm
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Episode 2 in which Bats79 expertly solves my lunging problem
Replies: 24
Views: 15610

Re: Episode 2 in which Bats79 expertly solves my lunging problem

You don't need to scope for ulcers. Just treat him as though he has them as far as diet is concerned. I am now of the opinion that every horse that gets a course of antibiotics or goes through some stressing / irritating time gets ulcers. We have just had a traumatic few months with our older stalli...
by Bats79
Fri Sep 15, 2017 3:18 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Adventures in lunging
Replies: 25
Views: 18570

Re: Adventures in lunging

Free work certainly show you what is going on. Liberty work can certainly be done with the horse correctly positioned biodynamically. What I find is that once you have understood how to bring your horse to the correct position in-hand people fall into two categories - those who are interested in lib...
by Bats79
Fri Sep 15, 2017 3:11 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Episode 2 in which Bats79 expertly solves my lunging problem
Replies: 24
Views: 15610

Re: Episode 2 in which Bats79 expertly solves my lunging problem

That's fantastic. :D When he is ready to trot you will have to insist that he doesn't run away in fear of how it will feel. Many horses use speed to escape discomfort and discomfort doesn't automatically equal pain.
by Bats79
Thu Sep 14, 2017 11:28 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Adventures in lunging
Replies: 25
Views: 18570

Re: Adventures in lunging

Proprioception has changed with the pulling of the shoes. Even a small amount of "yield" through the hoof that wasn't there with the shoes - also perhaps different breakover - has changed the whole way the energy returns through the leg. Forelegs are particularly sensitive to this. A good ...
by Bats79
Thu Sep 14, 2017 2:30 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Pony trot?
Replies: 120
Views: 69172

Re: Pony trot?

and horses that are energy averse may feel like they have given it all, and still have a full tank. that is way its way easier to say something than to do it. You are not wrong. I have a pupil who has been having issues with tension when she goes out to compete. Turns out that she was trying to &qu...
by Bats79
Tue Sep 12, 2017 10:46 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Pony trot?
Replies: 120
Views: 69172

Re: Pony trot?

Which point are you not 'with' the clinician on? About the kicking? I wasn't 'with' her on that one either. :P And I'm still not. In the lesson, I had to at least try what she was telling me. Yes, about the kicking and then spending the whole lesson getting the horse 'in front of the leg'. And yes,...
by Bats79
Tue Sep 12, 2017 10:43 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Pony trot?
Replies: 120
Views: 69172

Re: Pony trot?

No it isn't. It has nothing to do with training except for muscle memory. It is about loosening in a calm way that allows the training that is already there to be utilised before having the horse in the dynamic position that allows new training and increased gymnastic control. Of course "dynam...
by Bats79
Tue Sep 12, 2017 12:11 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Pony trot?
Replies: 120
Views: 69172

Re: Pony trot?

The only place I was "stuck" for 30 minutes was on the 20m circle. I have been letting him pick his tempo and stride length when I warm him up at home on lots of bending lines. As he gets looser, his stride opens up, and he goes nicely forward. I have found on my own that kicking is detri...
by Bats79
Tue Sep 12, 2017 12:05 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Pony trot?
Replies: 120
Views: 69172

Re: Pony trot?

Unless establishing tempo control was the actual aim I wouldn't expect to "pony trot" for more than 10mins. The whole idea of working in pony trot is to save the horse while teaching him what the aids mean, and because of that the bulk of the training, rather than just the warmup, is done...
by Bats79
Mon Sep 11, 2017 9:06 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Pony trot?
Replies: 120
Views: 69172

Re: Pony trot?

The other thing is after years and years I developed the ability to tell an instructor that I thought they misjudged and then attempted to show correct work. Some times I succeeded and sometimes I failed. But I learned to speak up. Speaking up is very very very hard, especially in a clinic situatio...
by Bats79
Thu Sep 07, 2017 4:06 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Pony trot?
Replies: 120
Views: 69172

Re: Pony trot?

So to get back to the topic, I think that in order to do a "steady shortened trot", one would need to be a little beyond the first two rungs of the training scale (rhythm and relaxation) or at least have those rungs well in place. And even then, as AmityB points out, the technique doesn't...
by Bats79
Thu Sep 07, 2017 3:08 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Forward versus impulsion
Replies: 13
Views: 11218

Re: Forward versus impulsion

As I'm not inclined to explain to my pupils everyone else's version of forward - specially for people who have never heard of CdK or Dueck but just hear other coaches yelling "more forward, more forward" or judges writing "not forward enough" on their tests sheets all the random ...
by Bats79
Mon Sep 04, 2017 5:47 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Forward versus impulsion
Replies: 13
Views: 11218

Re: Forward versus impulsion

I tell lower level riders what the horse needs to go faster if the tempo is too slow to be quicker off the leg if the transition is lagging to have more impulsion if the horse is lacking connection with the rein I don't teach lower level riders as if they have less intelligence than upper level ride...
by Bats79
Sun Sep 03, 2017 11:36 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Forward versus impulsion
Replies: 13
Views: 11218

Re: Forward versus impulsion

Instead of trying to include all kinds of different meanings into one term, how about we just use each term to mean one thing? IOW, forward means the desire to move in a forward direction. Then, if we want to convey other aspects of the desire to move in a forward direction we can add other terms. ...
by Bats79
Sun Sep 03, 2017 11:18 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Forward versus impulsion
Replies: 13
Views: 11218

Re: Forward versus impulsion

Forward is a direction that's why it isn't, and shouldn't be, on any training diagram. Do you mean like an actual bearing in space? I would say a horse can be moving in a particular direction without being forward. Clearly. How? If it is moving in a direction then the direction is either forward, s...
by Bats79
Fri Sep 01, 2017 1:11 pm
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Pony trot?
Replies: 120
Views: 69172

Re: Pony trot?

Bats79 wrote: Podhajsky refers to warming up in the slowest trot on the longest rein (but not necessarily what would be called long and low) through all the movements including laterals in trot and canter before asking the horse for collection Bats, do you remember which book this was in? I don't r...
by Bats79
Fri Sep 01, 2017 1:03 pm
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Forward versus impulsion
Replies: 13
Views: 11218

Re: Forward versus impulsion

Forward is a direction that's why it isn't, and shouldn't be, on any training diagram.
Not should "throughness' or "over the back".

Rhythm, tempo, impulsion, engagement & cadence are all descriptions of the gait and describe the quality.

Energy is energy.
by Bats79
Wed Aug 30, 2017 2:32 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Suggestions for a pokey walk
Replies: 17
Views: 14158

Re: Suggestions for a pokey walk

Sometimes the "lack of desire" for a big walk is also lack of gymnastic ability. If the horse is tight through the shoulder and rib cage then "big walk" is only going to be "fast walk down hill" so you really need to look at her ability to reach under with the inside hi...
by Bats79
Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:37 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Pony trot?
Replies: 120
Views: 69172

Re: Pony trot?

FWIW, although I recognized what Rosie meant by "pony trot", I was taught this as "school trot." That's interesting because I was always taught that "school trot" was a highly cadenced and collected trot that was almost between collected trot and passage. Podhajsky ref...
by Bats79
Thu Jul 27, 2017 10:03 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Connection or Lightness: bit choice
Replies: 23
Views: 18629

Re: Connection or Lightness: bit choice

I've just moved a dry mouthed horse from a fine loose ring into a thicker, hollow egg butt for good results. This horse tended to lock his jaw "open" away from the finer bit and is willing to take a firmer contact (at least in the corners of his mouth) with the thicker bit and is starting ...
by Bats79
Tue Jul 25, 2017 1:29 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: The "falling down" neck / neck like a waterfall
Replies: 19
Views: 15484

Re: The "falling down" neck / neck like a waterfall

Don't like the description at all. For me that says that all the energy is going down the neck to the ground.
by Bats79
Tue Jun 13, 2017 9:35 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Favourite warmup exercises?
Replies: 20
Views: 15139

Re: Favourite warmup exercises?

This half-halt exercise has been working well with Kyra lately: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWPQN9sBYNc Basically, working trot, almost walk, trot off again briskly. . so none of you noticed that the horse came behind the vertical through the exercise? In the video. and despite what the instruc...
by Bats79
Mon Jun 12, 2017 11:40 pm
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Favourite warmup exercises?
Replies: 20
Views: 15139

Re: Favourite warmup exercises?

I have one who warms up best with shoulder-in volte followed by medium trot on the left rein and then leg yield (not quite ready for half pass) right followed by stretchy circle on the right rein.
by Bats79
Thu Dec 08, 2016 2:20 pm
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: How to handle seller who is not the breeder who wants to sell to competition home only
Replies: 27
Views: 18923

Re: How to handle seller who is not the breeder who wants to sell to competition home only

I view lying about whether I will be showing a horse bought from a non-breeder as lying that you are hiding Jews from the Nazis. It is not morally wrong since showing is for the riders' interests only. Not quite, because in this case lying about having no plans to show the horse would not be for th...
by Bats79
Mon Dec 05, 2016 12:31 pm
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: How to handle seller who is not the breeder who wants to sell to competition home only
Replies: 27
Views: 18923

Re: How to handle seller who is not the breeder who wants to sell to competition home only

It's code for this horse needs to be in a trainer program in a show or training barn, won't do well in an unstructured environment. Tell them you are a serious rider who isn't going to keep it in your backyard behind a Strand of saggy barb wire and you'll probably be OK. And it can actually mean ex...
by Bats79
Sun Dec 04, 2016 12:08 pm
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: How to handle seller who is not the breeder who wants to sell to competition home only
Replies: 27
Views: 18923

Re: How to handle seller who is not the breeder who wants to sell to competition home only

It's code for this horse needs to be in a trainer program in a show or training barn, won't do well in an unstructured environment. Tell them you are a serious rider who isn't going to keep it in your backyard behind a Strand of saggy barb wire and you'll probably be OK. And it can actually mean ex...
by Bats79
Wed Nov 09, 2016 2:17 pm
Forum: The Observation Lounge/ Cookbook Forum even Hot Topics
Topic: GO VOTE!
Replies: 52
Views: 28943

Re: GO VOTE!

Did those who should have not or has the majority spoken? And do you want to be ruled by those masses? HRC has a very slim popular vote margin (both currently at 47%). So maybe the "majority" didn't speak as the electoral college did but IMO the "masses" did speak. It is not lik...
by Bats79
Wed Nov 09, 2016 9:53 am
Forum: The Observation Lounge/ Cookbook Forum even Hot Topics
Topic: GO VOTE!
Replies: 52
Views: 28943

Re: GO VOTE!

So "go vote" was a double edged sword.

Did those who should have not or has the majority spoken? And do you want to be ruled by those masses?
by Bats79
Tue Nov 08, 2016 1:10 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Clinic / lesson cut short
Replies: 39
Views: 23594

Re: Clinic / lesson cut short

I have seen lessons that seem shorter (when you video the entire lesson for someone you get a good idea of how long it really goes for) but with a GOOD instructor there is a genuine reason and even then it has only been at the max 35 mins out of 45. In this case the horse was clearly tired from usin...
by Bats79
Mon Nov 07, 2016 4:08 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Suggestions for an over eager forward horse.
Replies: 24
Views: 16724

Re: Suggestions for an over eager forward horse.

As I understand, this horse is indeed forward ("Think of those German sale videos where they have the young horses canter up and down the long side - that is how he goes - very eager and strong"), but the rider feels it too much forward and as a result of this forwardness and overeagernes...
by Bats79
Mon Nov 07, 2016 4:05 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Suggestions for an over eager forward horse.
Replies: 24
Views: 16724

Re: Suggestions for an over eager forward horse.

How does he steer? Many people forget that the horse needs to respond to the rein firstly for steering and stopping, then for contact. Can you steer him at the canter? If not you might need to look at your basic turns first in walk and then trot so that he doesn't fall over himself in front when you...
by Bats79
Mon Oct 17, 2016 10:07 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Discussing hill work
Replies: 17
Views: 12392

Re: Discussing hill work

That's a decent sort of hill. You are so lucky to have access. :D
by Bats79
Sun Oct 16, 2016 9:19 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Half Steps ++
Replies: 4
Views: 5014

Re: Half Steps ++

I start in hand as soon as the horse is confirmed in wtc. First, in hand. Walk from whip raised, halt from it dropped. Then halt, back up (which is diagonalizing), and then forward (with hh upward on the caveson)...never holding backward. Then rider put on and handler doing the 'enflaming', and gra...
by Bats79
Tue Oct 11, 2016 10:34 pm
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Tell me about your good horse/ experience
Replies: 44
Views: 24279

Re: Tell me about your good horse/ experience

All of a sudden Sol stops in his tracks while my mom kept walking. Sol turns his head around and looks at me for a moment. Then he turns completely around and walks back to me. Keep in mind I don't typically feed him treats because he can be mouthy (see the above pig comment). To this day I think i...
by Bats79
Tue Oct 11, 2016 5:13 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Aids during canter
Replies: 10
Views: 9140

Re: Aids during canter

Position for the best return of energy from the hindquarter to the forehand and into lift is shoulder fore with balance. Inside leg for energy unless the horse has a bad problem with moving to the outside and in that case both legs at the girth for energy. Hands should be receiving, up and forward. ...
by Bats79
Wed Sep 21, 2016 1:46 pm
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Collected walk
Replies: 0
Views: 2387

Collected walk

Looking for some nice video of collected walk and finding it a hard job.

Anyone have any links?

This is the only one I've found so far

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E4gqOASkZg
by Bats79
Wed Sep 21, 2016 1:37 pm
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Does my butt look funny? (a training question)
Replies: 11
Views: 9813

Re: Does my butt look funny? (a training question)

Her right hamstring looks way different to her left and her right hip looks dropped - a lot more than I would expect from her stance .

She also seems to have more of her body to the left of centre than to the right.
by Bats79
Tue Aug 23, 2016 12:26 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Tell me about your "difficult" horse-- or difficult times
Replies: 61
Views: 31989

Re: Tell me about your "difficult" horse-- or difficult times

Can't do "difficult" horses emotionally, financially or physically. I can sometime school other peoples difficult horses (so long as they aren't actually dangerous) but have to weigh up the value in doing so. And I have had a horse pts because it was too difficult to train and dangerous to...
by Bats79
Mon Aug 22, 2016 12:19 am
Forum: The Observation Lounge/ Cookbook Forum even Hot Topics
Topic: Adelinde is angelic.
Replies: 42
Views: 23664

Re: Adelinde is angelic.

Polarising isn't a bad thing to be. It means you get people to make choices, chose one or the other, bring people to the "ends" of the rail. Always needs to be someone who does that. Way better than being someone who gets people to sit on the fence - enough people do that already - better ...
by Bats79
Thu Aug 18, 2016 4:31 am
Forum: The Observation Lounge/ Cookbook Forum even Hot Topics
Topic: Victory for Diddy, Valegro et al
Replies: 6
Views: 5355

Re: Victory for Diddy, Valegro et al

I feel so happy for the sport of dressage. Valegro had a beautiful final performance and was rewarded with the Gold Medal. i did not get to see Laura Graves ride, but Diddy must've risen to the occasion as they got 4th overall. How amazing is that?! To take a horse to the Olympics with so little in...
by Bats79
Thu Aug 18, 2016 4:28 am
Forum: The Observation Lounge/ Cookbook Forum even Hot Topics
Topic: Adelinde is angelic.
Replies: 42
Views: 23664

Re: Adelinde is angelic.

I remember reading an article (horse magazine maybe) that things had improved with Parzival but I did see that video of her on the lovely black horse, at it's first GP and it was ridden with quite a short neck etc. I thought that was a shame that it looks like the same type of riding on another hor...
by Bats79
Sat Aug 13, 2016 9:03 am
Forum: The Observation Lounge/ Cookbook Forum even Hot Topics
Topic: Adelinde is angelic.
Replies: 42
Views: 23664

Re: Adelinde is such a bull shit artist.

I have to tell myself that she cannot have known the horse had a fracture in his jaw. Hopefully that is just a misunderstanding and does relate to a different horse. :( Otherwise it defies belief. It is sad enough that she rides the way she does but to even think that would be okay is unbelievable. ...
by Bats79
Sun Jul 17, 2016 1:30 pm
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: The "tells" of correct/incorrect work
Replies: 35
Views: 24764

Re: The "tells" of correct/incorrect work

He was a jumping bred stallion - Holsteiner stallion Romedio (Rigoletto - Ramzes x Waldenser XX - Fandango) out of an "old blood" TB mare. It might help to note that this horse was born 36 years ago and was trained in purely "classical" ways - including cross training with jumpin...
by Bats79
Wed Jul 13, 2016 10:20 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Improving position, biomechanics?
Replies: 109
Views: 62331

Re: Improving position, biomechanics?

To be honest I'm now not sure what I'm meant to be doing with my thighs. I think having stronger thighs has led me to just gripping with them. I have thick thighs so now I think they actually do lie against my saddle enough on their own, without me tensing the muscle? When I strengthen my thigh, my...
by Bats79
Wed Jul 13, 2016 8:31 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: The "tells" of correct/incorrect work
Replies: 35
Views: 24764

Re: The "tells" of correct/incorrect work

Great post, except. As part of our clinics, we take photos of our horses in order to compare at the next clinic to see how they are developing physically. This was brought home in a most humbling way when I brought my second horse, an Arabian, to the clinic for one day to get feedback. Well, be car...
by Bats79
Wed Apr 20, 2016 10:08 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: please give me the words to use when...
Replies: 15
Views: 12013

Re: please give me the words to use when...

"Warmblood like outside rein"? Why is okay to block a warmblood with a heavy outside rein but not a Lusitano? The horse should be stretching TOO the outside rein not being held in it, whatever the breed.
by Bats79
Wed Mar 23, 2016 2:45 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Buying a Grand Prix schoolmaster
Replies: 3
Views: 4810

Re: Buying a Grand Prix schoolmaster

I've seen more in the past year than ever before - not International level horses obviously but still pretty good.
by Bats79
Tue Mar 22, 2016 5:50 am
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Buying a Grand Prix schoolmaster
Replies: 3
Views: 4810

Buying a Grand Prix schoolmaster

Has anyone ever looked for a schoolmaster in the USA or Europe and what type of price are they asking / getting? I've just noticed that on an Australian facebook page two Grand Prix horses have come up for sale recently - one a school master and the other an 11 year old just starting (but scoring 63...
by Bats79
Fri Mar 11, 2016 12:08 pm
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Okay Internet Jockeys - Mount up: Nip Tuck video for Discussion
Replies: 42
Views: 22893

Re: Okay Internet Jockeys - Mount up: Nip Tuck video for Discussion

If I rode that exact test around here the judges would probably give an 80%. After we revived them with smelling salts. I would have scored it a 73. It's a good hind end and has consistent carry. It is not an out behind pushing against the contact hind end that has no carry. IMO, in general and bar...
by Bats79
Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:46 pm
Forum: Dressage Training
Topic: Horse locks/tightens jaw.
Replies: 22
Views: 18367

Re: Horse locks/tightens jaw.

If you look at Brydie's photos in the "progression" thread (they are GREAT photos Brydie you are doing very well) :D there is a clear indication that Red does have some weakness behind and difficulty in activating and carrying his front. If you "push" him into the hand to create ...

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