DefinitelyDressage.com

piedmontfields

Well, to return to the topic of "wayward hands", I feel I should admit that a few weeks of riding in a bitless bridle has my horse really telling on me! Taking the bit out makes my hands extra quiet according to my mare, and she is much more willing to stretch into either rein and to follo...

piedmontfields

For connemaras and crosses, I think you could easily work with that budget. I'm not sure of your location, but this is someone I know in E TN who breeds sensible and capable ones: http://connemaras.com/

piedmontfields

BTW, another "fix" for me at the moment is riding in a bitless bridle due to Emi's tongue cut. It is more crude in some ways, but it makes my body aids ultra vivid---so that is a bonus for review and correction.

piedmontfields

Great topic and lots of good tips. As I've been doing on-line study with JJ Tate, a great reminder she shares with students is to "sit on your AR (anal ring)". She was told this many years ago when being taught by Kyra Kyrkland. There is a funny story about this on her public Team Tate FB ...

piedmontfields

If you like TBs and are small, another breed or cross to watch out for are Connemaras. They are talented and generally hardy.

I don't know your budget, but Pam Liddell breeds some nice ones and some have really excelled in dressage:
https://www.facebook.com/kynfarm/

piedmontfields

Dresseur, I'm very sorry for the news.

Exvet gives excellent perspective and insight. Although I have not been through a divorce, the people close to me who have and have come out the other side in good mental and overall shape had a similar timeline and process.

Thinking of you.

piedmontfields

When I was last horse shopping, I made a very clear list of "must-haves" and "nice to haves." Most of the "must haves" focussed on temperament, rideability and soundness. The nice to haves included size, feel, gait quality, amount of training. After a 10 month search, I...

piedmontfields

Tanga, I'd encourage you to just do the show. Life is uncertain! If you have a healthy horse, you're fairly ready and the air quality its okay, go for it! Plus the Suburban has recovered :-) I'm appreciating the wide range of updates and the great photos. Sue, is that your new saddle? Looking good. ...

piedmontfields

Paula, both those colors would look great on your red mare. For Emi's super duper warm blanket, I have black (on a white-grey horse). I figure it helps her absorb more of the sun's rays! (she is always colder than normal horses). I did just get her a new purple Rambo sheet (her older version still w...

piedmontfields

Lots of great progress and new goals in formation! You all are inspiring. Moutaineer, would you be willing to share your Triology re-tree contact? I may need that sometime. I'm continuing to do incredibly basic work (like super prompt, clear and straight w-c-w on circles & diagonals, lots of ver...

piedmontfields

Good to hear from you, MC! Glad you are well. Hope you are finding every day joys during these strange and challenging times. And yes, please chime in on the training forum!

piedmontfields

Very true that desperate and lonely times are intensifying for so many people. And those lucky enough to be able to weather this situation will also feel it in time, as suffering, homelessness and infection rage throughout the country. On a lighter note, I laughed at heddy's "ready to eat"...

piedmontfields

Certainly working remotely has not been that bad from my perspective as an introvert. Still, it surprised me that I could embrace this arrangement, as I have often used work for connection time. I have lot more meetings and I work longer hours---but my meetings are shorter and I am more in control o...

piedmontfields

I have no idea if ideas are changing about neutering, but I do know there are still plenty of irresponsible dog owners who simply shouldn't have any dog. FWIW, we usually wait until about age 2 or so to neuter a male dog---just to help their physical development and give them an improved shot of avo...

piedmontfields

You all would laugh at our "deer fence" around the main veg garden. It is just a few strands of electric fencing, about four feet high (any deer could jump it). We bait it in spring with peanut butter to "train our deer" to stay away from it. Occasionally we reconfigure it to mak...

piedmontfields

Love the garden shots! Very nice output, SF, even with small tomatoes. M., your new garden layout looks awesome! I had to laugh at fighting back Russian Sage, as I actually I have to baby that plant a bit where I live. Here are some views of the productive garden in our very different from your loca...

piedmontfields

So many great updates, people. Can't wait to see the new horses in the crowd. And I love the chestnut, spotty and pinoto horse photos. Seems like a theme :-) Big congratulations to Dresseur, too! I think Emi is on the same silliness track that seems to be inspiring Laddie. But I apparently still hav...

piedmontfields

SrHorseLady, I'm so glad you recovered well and appreciate you sharing your experiences. We are in quite a mad mad time. I had a couple of friends get ill with C-19 in March. Both were fit, healthy and much younger than you, but it took them about 3 weeks to feel okay. Even now I worry about them ha...

piedmontfields

Also, now that I've caught up a little: Great job, Chantal! Lovely photos and process work (we all do it) and really great experience. Well done.

p.s. I love Vizslak. I've had and loved Weimaraners and now (English/american style) Pointers. Maybe one day a Viszla!

piedmontfields

Just have to say: Hots4Spots, that is quite a good update on all fronts! I feel like I missed something with Dresseur. Her work with Miro sounds very good, interesting and challenging! I am surprised D. that you are not a musical/rhythm person, given your artistic bent. I agree that without it, it i...

piedmontfields

heddylamar, our arena is also on top of a ridge in full sun. It can be brutal!

But it is possible to work along shade lines bordering woods in other parts of the farm, or hack in the woods. For some reason, flies are much worse in the sun than in the shade around here.

piedmontfields

Paula, my DH is from Chicago area and he thinks the weather is much worse there than here in E TN. You get hot days in summer *and* cold days in winter! We really only get at most several weeks of weather stuck in the 90s; the rest of summer is usually in the 80s. Spring and fall are long and winter...

piedmontfields

I'll be curious if the bag balm stays on longer. It is very soothing.

I'm a big fan of neem for insect management, too.

piedmontfields

As always, I really appreciate everyone's updates. I'm continuing to enjoy my online learning program. It is dense enough in content yet "short" enough in homework that I actually do the homework every week++! I would say my ability to warm-up horse up properly and thoroughly has already i...

piedmontfields

Thanks to everyone for the updates! Lots of lovely and inspiring photos :-) I am riding regularly and am also taking part in an online JJ Tate learning program. So far, I am being reminded of what I know and should practice---so it is a great incentive to more accountability and a reminder to be cle...

piedmontfields

That's a very validating score! Well done.

And this is with your "newish" partner, too, right? Would love to hear more about what you're learning/developing in your journey.

piedmontfields

Great photo + congratulations!

These are not maternity breeches, but I find the Goode rider bodysculpting tights to be very adaptable and generous in their sizing. Despite being called "bodysculpting", they are not too tight and are very comfortable. They are quite high in the rise, too.

piedmontfields

Nice video, Chiasamba. And you look so fit!

piedmontfields

Tricky, Tanga! I do think mares are extra particular about the situation that they desire. My mare *never* pees in the arena (or in cross ties---"gross!" she says) and only twice in about 4+ years has pee'd under saddle (on an extra long trail ride). She also never poops in the arena (imag...

piedmontfields

Sue, FYI I use a Trilogy Debbie (short flap) on my mare. She had a similar first reaction to Rudy. I'm enjoying all of the updates! I'm doing some on-line learning, too, with one of my favorite trainers. The Anja Beran series sounds very interesting! Flight, you seem to be doing quite the deep dive-...

piedmontfields

Demi, that is interesting how you shifted your tactics and Rocky is still fresh with just ring work. Good job! When I'm doing hard work in the arena and get a big effort or breakthrough from Emi, it is not that unusual for me to praise her (which she loves) and just walk her out of the arena to an e...

piedmontfields

We are living in historic times. And that is challenging and exhausting! I'm awed by the peaceful protesters and their numbers and determination. I'm also scared for them (we are not in a time that peaceful protest is protected across the nation) and worried about C-19 infection escalation. And I'm ...

piedmontfields

Thank you all for the updates. Alx., I could feel your joy in that video! Awesome. Moutaineer, thanks for the tip on more exercises---those are great. I love the photos, too. Blob, I can't remember if the trailer is yours or shared, but a mini trip (even around the farm or quick in and out) seems re...

piedmontfields

I would caution with the Iberian body type that hyper mobile/hyper reactive is not the same as "supple" IMO. Obviously some Lusitanos/Andalusians are very supple, but they tend to have a more "modern" dressage body type.

piedmontfields

Wow, there are lot of great questions and reflections already in this thread. Thank you. One comment is that I do have to work with/through the horse that I have. If you've never ridden a naturally supple horse, you might think my horse was reasonably supple, as it's pretty easy to go through the la...

piedmontfields

My most recent lesson we did a warmup suppling exercise that was basically stay on the rail, renvers/travers/shoulder in, changing every few strides while getting him to move as extravagantly as possible for him. I am mentioning this because 9 months ago, when we were tasked with doing this exercis...

piedmontfields

You all are inspiring, both with your horses and fitness/health! There are so many great updates, but I wanted to be sure to comment that I really like that canter shot of Rocky, Demi. We are trucking along with getting back to easy 2nd level/schooling 3rd level balance. Our more modest work in the ...

piedmontfields

Well, my comments would tend to focus on the rider. I would like to see her improve her chair seat tendency and also learn how to influence the horse's shape with less hand and much less use of W I D E hands. Wide hands are a crutch for baby horses and new riders---and they should not be something u...

piedmontfields

I agree that the tumbler types are a bit fussy and not worth the $. I mostly compost to eliminate garbage---not necessarily to add to our gardens (although I do take out very nice compost 1-2 x year). I find one of these types of bins works great for two avid cooks/gardeners who generate large amoun...

piedmontfields

FWIW, I give my pssm mare 4000 IU of natural Vitamin E during months with grass and 8000 IU in winter. Some folks have to use much higher amounts for pssm or other cases that benefit from more E. I don't supplement magnesium, though. I tried it, saw no difference, and dropped it. Again, YMMV! It's a...

piedmontfields

Blob, do keep us posted on what you figure out. We can all learn from your experience. Some horses are just very tricky! And some with the same symptoms just put up with it and don't tell us....I try to tell myself that at least my mare complains (politely, but clearly) when her body is bothering he...

piedmontfields

It does not seem like tying up, since it's not as if he starts out ok and then has difficulty. Yeah, that is less typical, although I know there is variation. Soreness when grooming is common with PSSM and other conditions. Is it is like muscle fatigue as work goes on? Is lyme a possibility? (a mil...

piedmontfields

Very scary! Glad for your check in srhorselady, but as texsuze says, stay vigilant.

piedmontfields

Continued jingles...and cajones! That is a lot of hospital calls, khall. I'm at an eventing barn and I just cannot imagine! Not to jinx anyone but I think it's been many years since anyone needed a sudden ER visit.

piedmontfields

blob, has he ever had like 2 months of very easy, consistent light work? (like walk only and not even challenging hills) What you describe might be PSSM, but if so it sounds more like he never recovered from past episodes. It takes a long time to come back to their normal if they've had various degr...

piedmontfields

Jingles for all! And yes to using your spidey sense to stay safer on whatever horse you ride. I've always been one to pick my goals/battles, based on the circumstances of the moment and how well my horse and I work together in challenging circumstances. Even though my current horse is quite obedient...

piedmontfields

Well, I am also in the practice of millions of transitions. My bad habit is not being solid enough *all the time* in my position so that I AM THE SIDE REIN for those moments that I need them. I think I've been so tired from work and life changes that I've lost focus...and miss mare noticed. Exvet, y...

piedmontfields

Chancellor wrote: I spent forever training my boyfriend's Lippizan to be calm and quiet and do dressage. And then we had to barrel race. It was GREAT!

That is really funny and cool!

piedmontfields

SF, that's what I was going to say--Ding and Flight can do it!

Actually, my mare can do a lot of these maneuvers, including jigging between obstacles

. I think it's very fun training and very useful (for trail/life), I love watching these competitions.

piedmontfields

I do love the photos and updates. Such a good looking group of horses!! Also, I appreciate the specificity of description around the work (ex. dresseur, but there are many others!). I feel like after a lazy for us winter, Emi is coming back to strength. As a result, I am more exposed than ever as a ...

Search found 2738 matches