DefinitelyDressage.com

Anne

Everyone, I'm enjoying reading all the updates, and I'm sending jingles for those horses and humans needing them :-) I'm finally riding again now that my back has recovered to a large degree (still doing some physio exercises for it, but am pretty much pain free). However, Connor got a kick to the k...

Anne

I'm currently re-reading The Goldfinch (Donna Tartt), for the 3rd time, and about to start Barkskins (Annie Proulx)... I'm also part way through The Blind Assassin (Margaret Attwood), but it is an ebook on my phone and wow, I hate that format! Might try to find a print copy because I'm really enjoyi...

Anne

Good one Blob, very nice that she 'stayed' while you went around to shut her in, sounds like she needed the extra reassurance of having you up front with her, but then was willing to 'stay'. We have made a little bit of progress, I think. I did a few days with 'parking' on the ramp, then backing off...

Anne

thanks guys for your further input! Had a pretty good session today I think, trying the 'parking' on the ramp (2 front feet on). He was super good with that, I could drop the lead rope and walk right around him, and away a bit and he stood like a rock. Then asked him to come further on, I stood insi...

Anne

Yes, we work on ground tying/staying. He's not super good at it yet, but it's improving. I've been sort of hesitant to stop him on the ramp (ie 2 feet on ramp), because these days he normally walks all the way in when I ask. If I stop the momentum, won't that confuse him? But I'm up for trying a new...

Anne

I'm appreciating your progress blob, and yours, silk. I have a difficult loader, in fact, he has not been on a trailer since he had a very bad experience in a previous home. I can now get him to walk up confidently, and stand for a little, but then he takes himself out (calmly, but very determined)....

Anne

Flight, your whip is so vertical it blends into the corrugated-iron (?) background!! Lovely photo :-) 6 weeks on from my back injury, I'm fit enough to have done a couple of rides, but Connor has a swollen knee, so am riding the 'spare' horse (my partner's 2nd one), and mostly at walk. Trot (rising)...

Anne

Oh I like the buckskin Morgan!!

Anne

Oh super! Let us know how you get on

Anne

Yeah, listening in from NZ....

Anne

Hello and welcome MsM and the handsome Alfie!!

Anne

Was going OK, until my back packed up 3 weeks ago, and I haven't been able to ride... happily, it is improving now. Maybe back in the saddle next week... Goals were : 1. Improve the walk : insist on active & 'marching', but I must not nag at him. can't say we achieved this, but somewhat improved...

Anne

Hey! Welcome to the DDBB. My Mum and I still often refer to it as 'ultimate-dressage', so the UDBB lives on in spirit. Tell us what is happening in your world

Anne

Tanga, well, damn! Competing is tough huh, good for you to be getting out there and doing it even though you had some hiccups. No riding for me because I tweaked my back a couple of weeks ago and it is still sore. Going to physio next week so hoping that will help get it right. However I had a dress...

Anne

SueB - Awesome fantastic news on the non-weirdness when cantering Tio!! I completely understand and sympathise, because I think I have a little bit of that weirdness when I canter Connor. This is after my last fall from the bucking ratbag Fergal (over a year ago) which was from a canter. Connor (the...

Anne

Flight, your (lovely) photo doesn't look very residential to me! I do the same thing sometimes, take the horse for a walk, it's good exercise for me, and good 'bonding' time away from the rest of the herd. SF - you and Annabelle are looking super! And loving everyone else's updates, even though I ha...

Anne

Wow, lovely! Well followed, he/she was quick. I love otters, thanks for the video

Anne

The fires sound awful, and hard to imagine from this side of the world... but the pictures I see on the news are just terrifying. Good luck to you guys who are dealing with it. exvet, Brandon sounds like a total dude! I realised today the value of a good groundperson : we were struggling with SI rig...

Anne

Wow, good luck with the stormy weather there in Idaho and Utah, sudden changes like that are hard for horses and humans to deal with! For us (other hemisphere) it is coming into spring and we had (for us) a chilly windy day today for my first ride in over a week. Connor's sound again - must have bee...

Anne

Looking good Kelo and SF!! Working cows looks like fun (nothing like giving a horse some purpose to focus their minds). Tesla looks confident trotting out, and I love her ears in the 2nd pic.

Anne

I'm in, although it will be a slow start as Connor has a bruised heel, and is a bit gimpy today. Goals: 1. Improve the walk : insist on active & 'marching', but I must not nag at him. 2. get confident and prompt trot->canter transitions : we can trot, we can canter, but getting between the two o...

Anne

Thank you fellow DDBBers. Yeah, he's fuzzy at the moment, but shedding flat out. I'm looking forward to seeing him in his summer coat

Anne

New horse announcement!! Introducing Connor, rising 7, OTTB gelding, by Rip van Winkle. Has been off the track for about 18 months, and actually, he's been here at our place for 3 months (already!), but I feel we are still in the getting-to-know-you stage, so he's still the 'new horse'. His exercise...

Anne

Echoing Silk : I expect that NZ will soon be further locked-down (12 new covid cases today....). Won't be much change for us, we live very rurally, so tend to only go in to town once every 2 weeks or so for supplies. I'm pleased to still have a job, albeit on a standby rate until we can go back to w...

Anne

I've also been wondering about these two, and Tuddy.... hope all are well. Please check in guys!

Anne

Well, most people have graduated from this thread, but here I am, back to square 1 with Fergal.... He's had about a year off while we decided what to do with him. I bought another horse to get some confidence back and have fun riding again (yay Connor!!, will post obs lounge and/or training forum at...

Anne

Jeez Srhorse, that sounds completely mad... it would test your perseverance huh! Good for you being active and fit, I think it must help with recovery etc.

Anne

Wow!! Just want to shout out to everyone for the fabulous progress and exciting updates. I'm loving the photos. I too had a minor victory today, with my first hack out alone on my new horse. Yay!

Anne

Yay for everyone's progress here. I've been walking lots, but have been slack on any 'mat' type exercise (planks, yoga etc). However, today I signed up for 10 weeks of pilates, and did the first class. I think it will help with my motivation to actually go to a class. It is midwinter here (and curre...

Anne

I use those plastic 'cages' on my jumping saddle stirrups. Think the actual stirrups are plain stubbens, and the 'cages' fasten onto the bottom of the stirrup. I really like them. They give me confidence on my youngster, just knowing my foot can never get caught, although they kind of look a bit clu...

Anne

Well hey, I just want to say welcome to the DDBB SuziQ! Of course we would love to see pics of you and your lovely Morgan... (sorry, I don't have any wisdom re. correcting your left 'tilt').

Anne

Tanga, thank you for posting the boredpanda link, it made me cry too, very very powerful photos. We watch the situation in the US (from here in distant New Zealand) with, as Trudeau said (eventually!, wasn't that an interesting 'pause'....) 'horror and consternation'.

Anne

Oh damn. He looks like such a lovely boy, I wish you the best in getting him comfortable.

Anne

Ouch! Sending jingles for your friend Khall. I've stepped down from my 'project' youngster who is prone to buck, I sprained my ankle coming off him nearly a year ago and it is still not quite right... yes Flight, crunch is right!

Anne

I love love love this!! Horse looks light and attentive and it seems such a harmonious partnership. I wish Working Equitation was more of a 'thing' here in NZ.

Flight, so awesome that you got to clinic with PT.

Anne

Wow, she has really filled out and is looking gorgeous! Good luck with getting on board

Anne

SF - hope the shoulder comes good soon. Khall - I do a couple of pilates things and find them good, but I should do more! 15k steps a day is good going. Good luck with your lame pup... I was super happy to be sent home at the end of last week, though I'm still in isolation for another couple of days...

Anne

oh, 6.5's a biggie, only 10km deep too. Glad all is OK with you; tectonics continue, despite what is happening in the biosphere

Anne

Oh my gosh Paula, what a shock, and what a good tidy job the vet did. Jingles for easy quick healing, and (hah hah, trying to see the lighter side!): you weren't meant to be riding anyway, right?

Anne

Hey everyone, thanks for positive comments on the new boy (he does have a name, but I will probably change it, so not sharing yet).... for me, I now have to find a way to keep my fitness during 2 weeks quarantine in a hotel, at the moment, we are not allowed out of the building. Damn! I'm hoping the...

Anne

Well, he's not home yet, but here is a sneak preview (I was trying him out): (note to self, don't wear baggy jacket for photos!!). He's an OTTB, 6 yrs, ~16hh, just seems like a sweety, easy going, big engine, hasn't done much, but been out to a few competitions, and jumped a little bit. Some of you ...

Anne

I'm trying to keep motivation for fitness while I'm away at work, so I appreciate you starting this thread! I work 12 hr shifts on a vessel offshore, so I'm generally exhausted at the end of a day, but happily at the moment my shift ends just around sunset and the weather's been lovely so I am tryin...

Anne

Dear Khall, many thoughts and hugs to you and your family. What you are going through is extremely distressing and difficult, and I wish you strength and courage. The Maori phrase is 'kia kaha' ('be strong').

Anne

Xan I am so sorry for your loss of Baby Bronto. I really hope the teaching hospital can find some useful results. Hugs!

Anne

I love that Dressage Today article, I found it a few months ago (linked from something else I was reading), and it seems to make a lot of sense to me to encourage the activation of 'other' muscles. I also like what I have read of the Masterson method, and am trying to use some of it to release the t...

Anne

Xan, adding my thoughts and cyber hugs for your courageous and correct decision. Kia kaha.

Anne

Adding my heartfelt THANKS to Chancellor. I only post occasionally, but read a lot, and really appreciate the 'threaded' discussions, so much easier to read and follow along with than FB (no clue about IG, I've never been there).

Anne

yay SueB!! Well done You

Such a confirmation of your abilities to stick on and great that your back coped with the antics. [said with heart felt sympathies from a fellow rider-of-an-occasional-bucker!].

Anne

oh Xanthoria that is such bad news, my sympathies to you both, and healing jingles too.

Anne

So great to hear you are doing well, and glad you posted here to let us know!

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