DefinitelyDressage.com

exvet

Tanga, I hope all goes well with your older mare. I would really like to see the video you posted but I'm having trouble getting it to open. The Championships are 3 weeks away for me. I too am hoping that the weather cools off because despite the fact that the rings will be in the air conditioned bu...

exvet

He's absolutely dashing! LOL......Seriously he is a looker. Love that kind eye. Thank you for taking the time to detail this aspect of your clinic. I will definitely re-read this a few times. Anything I can do to decrease the tension is most welcomed.

exvet

I woke up to 49 degrees! This morning's weather was absolutely gorgeous. I decided to review some video by JJ Tate on improving the canter and more importantly working through and developing the canter half pass in order to really supple the horse, improve the jump in the canter and quickness of the...

exvet

I'm a bit late closing out - as per usual, "where does the time go?!?" - but here's what I said I'd do the past 60d: Goals this time around: - Maintain: diet & exercise; try to at least not gain weight when trapped indoors - Online show: aiming for 65+% at 3rd - Address this connectio...

exvet

We go on and on and on - just trying to get Junior to be honest in the connection of the right rein and allow the lift of the wither/over the back on that side. My self- proclaimed commitment is that from now on (focusing on the regionals and beyond) Junior will not be allowed to give any answer oth...

exvet

Ah Mari I have the same goals more or less...............it's endless. The next two months are probably the nicest at both of my residences. I'll be moving the horses back down to the Valley in a couple of weeks. Prior to that I have one more schooling show up here, then we move back for two weeks o...

exvet

Monty has a broken tooth that doesn't really bother him either. No odor, no swelling. His owner (and I've agreed) decided not to pursue extraction due to the toll we think it would take on him at his age. Doesn't seem to affect him when he's being ridden either. We managed to get through our schooli...

exvet

LSP, ponichiwa beat me to it; but, I would say two thumbs up on Nancy. I watched her show Chime back in the day. She came up to Region 4 to show him to get her scores to qualify in order to go to Florida (too short for CDIs) but her dedication and sheer joy in riding that stallion convinced me that ...

exvet

Western dressage is going like gangbusters here. It is far more affordable, open to many more horse 'types' and many of our schooling shows are a combination of classical dressage schooling classes and rated/recognized western dressage via the judges hired. In order to vie for awards, there are far ...

exvet

mari, I have a friend who 100% agrees with you. She always apologizes for not being more competitive though is very matter of fact about it. I tell her she has no reason to apologize. At home schooling shows are just as legitimate of a measure of her progress and training as away shows especially wh...

exvet

I complained about the weather last week, so naturally this week temperatures are 3-5° warmer. As I type it's currently 107 and heading to 109 (43°C). So I should probably take that as a cue not to complain lest things worsen yet more, but. Guys. It's too damn hot. Despite that, Queso is the best b...

exvet

Another couple of great lessons. I need to find a way to follow my horses but not follow my horses...................I've worked very hard to not roll my shoulders forward and to sit up straighter; but, with my focus on softening my back (not tensing) and really rolling my hips to take larger ground...

exvet

Chisamba it looks like you guys had a grand time.....so jealous.

exvet

Good luck Moutaineer. That's an ouch on the pocketbook SF but I've had good luck with the predecessor to this vaccine and hear that this one has had better results from a research stand point. My daughter came up today to go riding. She had a blast riding Brandon, working him the dressage arena. The...

exvet

Congratulations mari on surviving the show and doing pretty well for your first time at elementary medium in competition. The score is really pretty good. Unfortunately I can't see the pictures; but, I'm sure you two look like you belong there just based on the score.

exvet

The weather has turned really nice this week. I had to work yesterday but got up this morning to temps in the high 50s, by 7:30 it was in the low 70s with a nice breeze and low humidity. Doesn't get much better than this imo. I rode Junior first and really worked hard on 'bouncing that ball' and kee...

exvet

What a nice confidence building ride, chisamba. I used to tell my (ex) husband one reason why I had so many is so I would have 'back up plans' in case one came up lame. Congratulations on the score and the placing. He looks like one who wants to please so no practice necessary just a rider who knows...

exvet

Congratulations Tanga on some really good scores even if it didn't all pan out as you had hoped. Good luck today! SF, so glad that Annabelle wasn't phased by her previous mishaps. Sounds like she's a tough cookie. I rode Brandon in the arena today building on some of yesterday's key points. I'm happ...

exvet

I'll have to wait and see if I'm sore tomorrow. I wasn't so much sore as just worn out after my four tests last Saturday. I then drove down to the Valley to work Sunday, and rode Mon & Tues (both boys). After working Wed - Friday here in Prescott, I was able to get two very valuable lessons from...

exvet

Well you know what needs to be improved but there is so much more to like. Love the last picture. Again, congrats chantal. Mikey is a keeper for sure.

exvet

Both a nice test and a nice score Chantal. I think Brandon has strained his extensor tendon on his back right which is making it difficult for him to maintain the canter left. Darn horses.......I don't believe it's torn because there's no heat or swelling anywhere. I do think it's going to set us ba...

exvet

I thought that was a very pleasant test, SF. I'd be happy with it. I rode under Ellie Stine-Masek today. She is an S judge. Ellie has been well known as NOT being a gift giving type of judge; but, to be fair, it's always obvious that she is watching the test you ride. I'm grateful I got a 66 from he...

exvet

Just returned from our schooling show. So, I apologize because I first must digress in order to set the stage properly ;) I worked all day on Thursday, planning to pack the trailer, memorize my tests etc etc on Friday (y'all know the drill). Set up to have my daughter meet me at the show venue at 8:...

exvet

So, I am not saying that I post well or sit well; but, having one younger and one more mature keeps me working on both. I too use my post to maintain tempo and am able to hold/slow a trot and swing and 'draw' a horse forward with it. This is why I think I am able to do develop a better lengthening w...

exvet

I find I can get a better lengthening for most of mine if I post but to really get a good medium (or extended), sitting for me gives me more control in keeping a horse up and open, not falling on the forehand. I'm fine with the rule change if it takes effect. I think we should all have the ability t...

exvet

Boy a lot of discussion all of a sudden. I appreciate everyone's view; however, I will say that I did not comment on the rides [Chisamba & Moutaineer] because so many of the challenges I too face in regards to tension in the horse, striving to keep the poll the highest point, etc and I have no r...

exvet

I've repeatedly had the comment that Junior needs to be rounder (lower poll) to score higher in his mediums because otherwise it looks like he's swallowed the proverbial broom. I agree with them (judges) that he is tense but elastic so my goal isn't going to be to get his poll lower but if he feels ...

exvet

I have in my bit collection a few KK of various sizes, an egg butt snaffle, a D ring snaffle, a mullen mouth, a plethora of mylar bits (those legal to show in dressage) and then a couple of those horribly expensive bits, not to mention the doubles I have - I've used, sold and then bought again some ...

exvet

It's been another day of soaked saddle pads for sure. Brandon did so much better today. He didn't even bat an eye at the largest skunk I've ever seen that jumped out and scurried down the path in front of him on our way to the arenas before diving into what I presumed was his/her den. Now this is th...

exvet

Congratulations Aleuronx! I hate driving my rig in the rain so I can relate to what I assume was a huge relief as well as pride in a job well down after you got home. I rode both boys this morning. Still in a heat wave but the temps were at least below 100 (97 is the high today). Brandon didn't requ...

exvet

It has been unreasonably hot even at the higher elevations here. Today got to 100 degrees so I did a lot of walk work - lateral work, reinback, turn on haunches, full pirouettes, turn on forehand etc. I also did some walk pirouettes to canter pirouettes with Junior. He's the bomb. His stamina held w...

exvet

Felt like I made some good progress with Junior's tension/broom stick issues. He has had four days off due to being too sick to ride on Sunday and then working Mon - Wed. Got up early enough to ride him at six 'cause all of Arizona is experiencing a heat wave (so glad to be out of the valley). He wa...

exvet

Great pictures Chantal! Blob, I think I mentioned it before but Monty, who earned my silver for me, did have canter issues when he was 5. He all of a sudden started swapping leads in the back and cross cantering. I got a lot of 'bail out' recommendations from many people; but, we persevered and work...

exvet

I have a schooling show in one month so I worked Junior through parts of Fourth 1. I'm not sure we're going to convince anyone we're able to perform at that level but I didn't think it was too bad. It was actually easier to keep him supple and forward doing the three changes across the diagonal than...

exvet

Nothing major or new on our path. We'll be working on contact and being supple and through with both boys. Getting ready for regionals, hoping to find the magic key to tension, realizing it's likely me (as in I'm the cause). I have two schooling shows before the regionals, both with rated judges. I'...

exvet

I lean towards flight's suggestions with the music Tanga and thank you for the videos, always helpful to watch. I think whatever name you go with for your service/offering will be good but I do like Attainable Dressage. I had two friends I was very close with while living and showing horses in KC, M...

exvet

Congratulations Tanga! It's long deserved. So, glad you persevered and hoping for a quick recovery from the heat.

exvet

Great pics Chantal and congratulations on not only the accomplishments but the awesome scores.

Flight, loved the video clip. Looking at going to a working equitation clinic next month.

exvet

So sorry SF. The only thing I hate worse than saddle shopping/selling is horse buying/selling. I've had people come out despite phone conversations of a very frank nature that were turned away after a few minutes of 'chit chat' on my property because I wasn't willing to take the liability of an obvi...

exvet

I'm hoping our new 'digs' is giving me an opportunity to work on the tension Monster on both boys. I worked Junior today in the large (roping size) arena and we worked through the exercises to help with him connecting sitting, forward and elasticity without becoming stiff as a board. Our changes wer...

exvet

That's scary, exvet! I'm glad you're just* scuffed up. And good on Junior for not freaking out! That could have gone far worse. *Can we ever say "just" when we have a horse land on us?? I still have bruising and scars from Maia landing on me hoof-first. Well, it was scary but my greater c...

exvet

I no longer have the type of access I once did; but, I would take my younger horses to 'blue ribbon' shows. These were open, all-breed multi-discipline shows that were relatively low-key but still had many horses, multiple trailers and all sorts of distraction. I would enter walk-trot or english ple...

exvet

Tanga, I hear you. Both with the scratching the head regarding dressage scores and the value of having access to FEI horses and advice as you describe. It's hard to know these days where one fits in when it comes to finding 'your' place in dressage, since the advent of 'qualifying' the medal scores ...

exvet

Nice transitions SF!

Good luck at the show Moutaineer!

exvet

The last two days have been a blur moving horses (took two trips with my 2-horse) and dogs from the valley to our place up in Prescott. Temps are predicted to hit over 110 next week in the valley so we were in a crunch to get them moved to the higher elevation. Can't say that our place in Prescott i...

exvet

Sending jingles for your Mom, Susan. Hope she starts to feel more herself soon.

exvet

Today's lesson did NOT have anything to do with the flying changes. I think Junior was rather relieved to be honest. It did, however, focus on keeping Junior more supple and round during my medium and extended gaits as well as more power and bend in my half passes. Molly said that I'm leaving too ma...

exvet

Boy do I hear you guys on the advantages of riding what you know as you get older. I far, far, far prefer to ride those I've bred and raised; however, I will say that I lucked out with Brandon. Key is I knew the breeder and her program; so, in essence that worked well as it did before I started bree...

exvet

Gosh so much to catch up on. LSP so glad you're back. We've had similar addiction issues sneak up on our family. It's a tough road and one you have to take just one day at a time. Susan, glad you enjoyed your trip and wishing your mother a full recovery. SF - I can so relate. Today I took Junior and...

exvet

Love the pictures. Both Kora and A look great.

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