DefinitelyDressage.com

Ponichiwa

^ Agree with Chisamba. Shoulder-fore is handy for being a natural collection agent. Other thoughts: - Make sure you don't ride past your uphill balance in the medium canter, because once that train starts rolling downhill it's tough to bounce it back up into the collected canter. You can break the l...

Ponichiwa

Kiwi must have heard my pledge to fitness, because for the first time since I've owned her (6+ years) she decided not to be caught when I tried to pull her in from turnout. Thanks for some light cardio, Kiwi.

Aside from that, though, things are going according to plan.

Ponichiwa

Late to the party, but my thoughts: Contact is a part of connection, and it's usually my signal for when things are going off the rails. The quality of the contact tells me the quality of the connection to the aids, and often points out where things are going awry. If my pony is hollow in my left re...

Ponichiwa

I would stay away from anything that has a resume in gaming/gymkhana/playdays/rodeo. From your description of your mobility/needs, that's going to be much more go than you need.

Ponichiwa

I am not fit enough. I was doing trot sets today and decided I am not fit enough. My gosh is to incorporate a trot set each ride, for my fitness and that is the horses This. 1000 times this. Yesterday I tried to do variations on posting trot-- up-up-down-up-up, etc.-- to solidify my leg again after...

Ponichiwa

Contact discussions aside, I'm finally back in the saddle! Little bit of good news/bad news: + Kiwi has had 2 rides since I arrived on Thurs, and has been stellar both times. Granted I'm not asking for much, but we've both had time off and need to leg up. Today's challenge was an extended trail rid...

Ponichiwa

Contact discussions aside, I'm finally back in the saddle! Little bit of good news/bad news: + Kiwi has had 2 rides since I arrived on Thurs, and has been stellar both times. Granted I'm not asking for much, but we've both had time off and need to leg up. Today's challenge was an extended trail ride...

Ponichiwa

Congratulations! It's a big decision but sounds like you made the right move.

Ponichiwa

This is my now-9-yr-old German Riding Pony, Kiwi: https://scontent-yyz1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/1619119_10152790733465990_7994510053537928972_n.jpg?oh=b3083afae3b48b89e68ddda7372ad59f&oe=580A1CB8 As of Summer 2016 she's touched on all the things in 4th level but has only shown through 2nd. Goals...

Ponichiwa

T-2 weeks til I get to ride my horse again and my move is over! Hurray! Our goals will be: - Fitness for both of us. Measured by cleanliness of changes for her (luxating patellas), ability to zip boots without swearing for me. - Relaxation under saddle in a new environment... with cows - Resuming 3r...

Ponichiwa

The reality is that I am routinely stunned by how many people do and believe what is most convenient for them, are focused on their own immediate gratification, and take the easy way out with no consideration of priorities or how it affects others.. Isn't there a flip side to this, though? The real...

Ponichiwa

It's probably also worth pointing out that this debate is, mainly, semantics. What's "best" for me may not be best for society at large (or vice versa), and generally all life is geared towards forwarding their own self interest. Regardless, I've found the re-framing of my perception of pe...

Ponichiwa

This is an interesting topic, and thanks for bringing it up. I'll look into the Brown book because I've been kicking this idea around for a while. I think what we believe about others depends on whether we subscribe to the theory that the decisions a person makes are predetermined by their genetics ...

Ponichiwa

Regardless of whether or not everyone is in fact doing the best they can, I tend to find it easier to be patient or positive if I tell myself they are. And that in turn improves my outlook, which makes me easier to work with for others, which just makes the whole day better. I happen to know for a f...

Ponichiwa

I still read here sometimes, but mostly gave up posting. Unless you're part of the "in crowd", I find "outsider" posts are largely ignored. Coth will at least engage with lesser known posters from time to time, so I post there. I've seen something similar here, but not to the ex...

Ponichiwa

The art of dressage is riding so well that your horse moves as well (or better) under saddle as at liberty. It's easy for us, as hand-centric thinkers, to focus on the contact part of the equation as the source of the problem. But that ignores the vast majority of your aids. I think the problem is ...

Ponichiwa

kande have you ever lunged a horse with no side reins and have them "come on the bit"? That is self carriage at its best and yes it can happen when a horse is properly developed and in balance. I was free lungeing my horse outside last week because he was a little too "up" for m...

Ponichiwa

That's fair. My read on it was a bit different, as my reaction was: Why on earth would anyone advocate for dying in a very public way (Rolex, cutting off Jung) right after the eventing community lost someone? I know the point she was trying to make isn't what I got out of it. But that's how it struc...

Ponichiwa

Is this the blog in question?
http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/left-left

I also had a bad taste in my mouth after reading that.

Ponichiwa

capstone wrote:I do worry that my crummy lower level scores are detracting from his otherwise awesomeness. But she said it shows his character and versatility. So I'll hold onto that.

Guarantee you he doesn't worry about his record on Centerline Scores. Keep enjoying your great horse!

Ponichiwa

After thanksgiving:
"My boots are too loose."

Ponichiwa

If you knew how to do it, wouldn't you already be doing it? You would think so but not always. I know how and can do it but sometimes only when she is coaching/pushing/prodding almost every stride. Which she can't do in a test, obviously. This is definitely my issue and something I need to be mire ...

Ponichiwa

I can kneel on a ball. I can throw a ball in the air. I can catch a ball. I cannot do all three at the same time. Guaranteed. Things have gotten off the rails over here. I've sold my house (yay), but haven't yet found a new one in my new city. And Kiwi is getting shipped down to my parents' place to...

Ponichiwa

Super hot. Super humid. If you buy in Galveston, make sure that you get a house on stilts. Hurricanes can bring the water in pretty high. Houston is a big place, so I'm sure there are people that commute from Galveston to some parts of Houston. Here's a visual of just how big Houston is: http://i.im...

Ponichiwa

And this, Ponichiwa, is why we are fans of you and Kiwi. It ain't easy, but damn, she is just gorgeous when she sets her mind to it! I also think "Kiwi" is one of the best names ever. :D :D This is a totally different thread, but my Emi is one step removed from a craigslist horse. She was...

Ponichiwa

Thanks for the love! I've let Kiwi know. She was unimpressed: https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlp1/v/t1.0-9/12088229_10154011159180990_2869875207472511200_n.jpg?oh=d4821e690e98955a08bf1bbab73befe4&oe=57BE8FD9 Updating to say that the pony that once wouldn't let me put my legs on her...

Ponichiwa

Rosie and Brydie, sorry to hear about the health woes! Hope all heal up soon. If I had to put a theme to this year thus far, it'd be inconsistency. Weather, training, saddle time, travel, diet (whoops), health (currently suffering from the head cold to end all head colds), the lot of it. Maddeningly...

Ponichiwa

Hey Piedmontfields, how'd it go?

Ponichiwa

She is! Hilkens Black Delight x Welsh/TB mare.

I also know another Hilkens Black Delight mare (also 2007), out of a Connemara. Both she and Kiwi are pretty spicy. Now I respect those little European pony jocks even more.

Ponichiwa

Sorry, just briefly popped in this afternoon. I found Kiwi via, of all places, Craigslist. She was unbroke, fat, and was "free to good home". Later, that was edited to "free". Someone had apparently tried to get her started under saddle and failed.... or so we learned when she la...

Ponichiwa

Sorry, Rockabilly.... that's my 2007 German Riding Pony mare Kiwi.Thanks, Chancellor!

Ponichiwa

I'm totally in! No shows or really even clinics on the horizon; I've got a relocation coming up in June so lots of my time is going to be spent fixing up/staging the house to sell and figure out where I'm going to be living next. But that doesn't mean I don't have horse goals! - Regain the fitness! ...

Ponichiwa

I would like to show this horse one day, but good grief, if it takes him months to be comfortable with new surroundings, I will never get him settled at a show! BAH! This is only your first how many rides on him since bringing him back? And he's already progressing! Although I know it's easy to sno...

Ponichiwa

But in Tuddy's case I'm not sure it matters whether he's always required to go down there or allowed to stay further inside his comfort zone, because the trainer, who probably isn't worried about coming off if he loses it, takes him down there? Sure, but the trainer isn't feeding into his spookines...

Ponichiwa

I'd been avoiding this thread for the better part of a week as part of my tried-and-true coping strategy with things I feel guilty about because, for various work-related reasons, Kiwi has had 10+ days off between the end of Feb through yesterday. But yesterday I went out immediately after work, got...

Ponichiwa

Agree with Chisamba. Other thoughts: you may need to keep him busier. He's got a lot of time to think about spooking (you can see it building before you get the actual spook/look) on big 20-m circles. I'd put this horse on some serpentines, transitions, and/or leg yielding and get his brain back on ...

Ponichiwa

I've been using pirouettes to help the quality of the changes, and it's been really helpful. I start by doing square turns on approximately a 20m "circle". Then, instead of a 90* turn I ask for 120* (triangle instead of square) and set off across the diagonal. Ask for the change within 2-3...

Ponichiwa

Lovely progress, all. I love the pictures. Yesterday, the lovely Kiwi turned 9 yrs old. She was unimpressed: https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlp1/v/t1.0-9/12088229_10154011159180990_2869875207472511200_n.jpg?oh=c3436fda918dfdbe04a4a5c906c55685&oe=579702D9 We're still reaffirming str...

Ponichiwa

The piaffe isn't perfect, but if I were a bettin' gal I'd say the judges rewarded the clean transitions into and out of piaffe, the clarity and regularity of the steps, and the appearance of staying on the spot. This would elevate an otherwise meh piaffe into 7 or 7.5 territory. For example, compare...

Ponichiwa

Spinning off from the 8-week challenge thread... What's your go-to for introducing pirouettes to your horse? I'll go first: Exercise 1: The Octagon Helpful for introducing the idea of sitting and turning; can be performed in any gait (but my mind breaks when trying it in trot) - On a 20m circle in y...

Ponichiwa

I'd say that it depends on the horse, which is ultimately not a helpful response at all. Absolutely it's invaluable to learn this sport on a horse with training. However, if you start asking for big scores at the shows, it may be at the expense of some rideability. They've got to be really hot to th...

Ponichiwa

USEF Dressage rules are that the horse can only show at consecutive levels (for a maximum of 3 tests/day) at any given show. However, there are no rules about what the horse can show in a year-- or even at two different rated shows in the same weekend (e.g. Dressage Classic I, Dressage Classic II). ...

Ponichiwa

Never mind?

Ponichiwa

Ponichiwa, can you ever video your rides? I would love to see what you are doing. It's so hard to find stuff of people/horses learning things in the earlier stages (eg early pirouette work, changes etc) I ride by myself 90% of the time, unfortunately. Let me know if you want some of the exercises I...

Ponichiwa

Sweet, sweet success: I did multiple changes on a line two rides in a row. And they were only marginally explosive. Victory! I can only fit 2 in the indoor because it's basically a short court, but I can still fit in 2. Calling it a success. Things that also weren't explosive even though I expected ...

Ponichiwa

Flight, I think we've all been there. I had a season where all my movement scores were 8s or 4s-- with final averages ranging from 54-71%. Go figure huh? My horse is more than capable of doing a very respectable test at this level and I feel like it's time I stepped up and rode a more polished test ...

Ponichiwa

Hmm, Ponichiwa, your experience sobers me. I was thinking of signing up for an upcoming clinic with him. I prefer the opinions as part of dinner or lunch chit chat--not teaching. Maybe I should just audit this time. I watched a lot of other rides and he was very helpful to some others. Maybe it's j...

Ponichiwa

I had a GREAT ride on Kiwi yesterday. We've got canter pirouettes, people. They're big, and sometimes turning gets a bit out of control, but they're there! Easier right than left, although after too many steps of R pirouette I lost all control of the haunches.

Stuff to work on. Feeling good!

Ponichiwa

It's easy to point out what's wrong. Honestly, it is. Especially on a forum! The challenge is to diagnose how to fix it--or to execute that diagnosis. Full disclosure: I rode in a clinic with Steinberg several months ago. My horse and I have some flaws. Instead of focusing on me/my mare, he stood of...

Ponichiwa

Flight, great work! Although right now, thanks to being mired in the depths of winter, I'm mostly jealous of what looks to be fantastic weather. Speaking of, check-in time for Kiwi: The third level work is all pretty easy now! I'm taking a moment to bask in that glory; Kiwi is the first horse I've t...

Search found 851 matches