September October, we go on and on.

[Kyras_Mom]

My condolences Tanga. {{{HUGS}}}

Susan

[khall]

I’m so sorry Tanga.

Chisamba difficult decision to make, a part of our caring so much for our animals. Giving them a peaceful ending.

Exvet so sorry it was a tough show. You are most definitely going out there and giving it your best even with challenges of work and Brandon.

Mountaineer ah dang on the rebound. I did not take paxlovid but tested positive and felt blah for almost two weeks. My first go around with the Rona.

We are cooling off finally! Great clinic with some great people. So much fun we had! Joplin is stepping up. Working on straightness to the bridle and softness overall. Some minute detail lessons which is fun and I get to geek out.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... tid=cr9u03 our 4th ride of the clinic concentrating on being able to move the shoulders and soft and up. Felt a right lead that was amazing considering it’s her more difficult lead. Joplin is just a blast.

Juliet had her eye out and it looks good. Should be in good shape now. Gaila is getting big belly:).

Schooling show 10/21. Then WE clinic in November and last Cedar clinic of the year December. Hoping to get her 5 times next year weather permitting

Need to teach Joplin to long line in case I have to have surgery. I’ll know more next week. Lost about 6 lbs another 36 to go. Tracking macros and learning what I can eat.

[Tanga]

Thank you, everyone. I'm still not processing very well. I'm still quite sick and walking up the hill even a little to get the girls exhausts me. At least I'm not sleeping 18 hours a day. My leasors are giving attention to the Q's. They were already looking for mom when ridden by where she was, and I think they're feeling it. Quinn esp. seems to be.

khall--that is a wonderful picture. Everything about it tells me correct and soundness.

[exvet]

Weekly Update -

Lunge lesson was fantastic. I got Junior really taking off at the canter, correctly in both directions. It also was a time to focus on what in front of the leg really means. Hope to continue this trend and focus.

Brandon was taken to the sports medicine specialist. After a lameness exam, it was determined that he is not lame but he does have upward fixation of the patella, mostly on the left. This is due to his very straight conformation. I had his suspensories checked as well and there was very mild proximal desmitis of the medial branch on the left side, considered subclinical. I got my list of exercises, suggested treatment and the green light to put him back to work and show in 3 weeks. Looks like more poles, more cavalletis and more hills along with rein back (from the ground and in the saddle) are in our future.

[goldhorse]

I am so sorry Tanga. It hurts so bad.

[blob]

So sorry, Tanga. It is never easy.

Exvet, glad you have some answers and a clear path forward with Brandon.
Mountaineer, hope you are feeling better
Khall, wow! great picture. Glad you are getting some riding done in this beautiful weather. Remind me, when is gaila due?

Another brutal work week for me and no riding. I will get to ride over the weekend, thankfully. But at this rate my horses may not get much riding from me until december. I'm going to see if there is someone else who can put some rides on MM just to keep her fit and going. Even if she just gets hacked around the xc field and frolics around that'll be good for her and easy for lots of people to manage. RP is harder...even though it has been a long time since any antics, he is still sensitive enough that I can't consider him a safe or easy ride. He's also so attached to me and so dependent on what he knows that many different riders just might not work for him at all. I've debated finding a good, small trainer to send him to where he can have a single other person and benefit from a professional. But I dont' think there is a right fit in the area (most trainers I would utilize here are simply too tall for him). And I think sending him further away might come with its own set of difficulties and I think would be quite stressful for him.

[zevida]

I’m so sorry for your loss Tanga.

[Aleuronx]

Be kind to yourself Tanga. It certainly doesn't help when you're feeling poorly as well.

I've been plucking away. I dare say training has been quite fun and just progressive? We've had some great lessons where we just tweaked things and that is such a blast. Kora is starting to understand the flying changes mechanics especially the trickier side to the right lead. The more I ride and not faff about the better they are. I'm feeling slightly positive that we can secure them over the winter for some fun things next season.

First change here is hilarious, sass but clean
https://youtu.be/nCZKzKO9w40?si=xX-pmWDEDrL3tfLI

[Kyras_Mom]

Aleuronx…those hinds can be quite active . Looking good!

Susan

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Tanga, I am so sorry for the loss of your old mare:(

Exvet, I am glad Brandon will be okay with some physical therapy type work!

Khall-, wow such lift in the canter! Thank you for sharing!
Aleuronx, nice but spirited change ha ha

Lynx is doing good, I think. He has been pretty rambunctious since getting his back injected. Planning on getting on him next week to see how he feels in work. Hopefully we don't need ace! I take his high spirits that he's feeling pretty good at the moment. I think even his top line is improving just with the ground work that I'm doing so that's encouraging.

I will keep reading along for inspiration from you all!

[Moutaineer]

I tested negative this morning. Let's hope it sticks this time. Still feeling a bit weak and watery so don't think I will be leaping onto a horse tomorrow, but with any luck, later in the week.

[Chisamba]

So, I lied. I went to one more show this season. Some how I had forgotten that the last show is the schooling show stopped we attend was today. My students who were in line for year end awards reminded me.

It was chilly and the horses were in their high jinx. Saiph got totally distracted in her first line of 5 flying changes so we had an error. The error was specifically adding a volte in the line to teach her that running through my sidsc was not going to get her across the diagonal without changing and after the come we got our 3 remaining changes. For tyke next diagonal we did get our five bit the count was 4 instead of the on one of them. So with the error and the missed count I only scored a 59.8 . But I did well enough to earn the PSG champion for the schooling series. Now remember this was a schooling show series so I was not going up against the creme de la creme. But it was fun doing flying changes and half pirouette with the music playing and the sash around Saiph's neck.

Two of my students for champion and reserve in second level.

My third student got enough courage to attempt not one but two canter classes, which is a huge stride forward for her.

In a funny aside I rushed to church in my full seats and tails between classes because I am the choir director and had a choir practice to conduct.

So the last show of the season was put to bed while everyone in my region is at the regionals.

[mari]

Aleuronx - those are really coming along, lovely.

Chisamba - Good results for you and your students, congrats!

We had a lesson this morning in nice cool temps for a change. My instructor ran us through a Prix Caprilli test for fun (her fun, not so much mine). Lots of changes, and half-passes, and it felt very very long so I had a walk break near the end (much to her disgust). But we actually went nicely, especially the canter work.

[Chisamba]

Mari the PSG test has 14 changes. Which sounds huge until you think that's one line of changes in grand prix lol. Saiph think 14 changes is outrageous. Hopefully she will soon be so ok with that that she thinks it's fun

[Chisamba]

For people who like photos.

[exvet]

Very nice photo Chisamba. You two look great.

[Moutaineer]

Nice pic, Chisamba!

Well, I'm not quite up to riding yet. I will try and get on for a pony ride at the end of his training session on Thursday and see how that goes.

I did go out and watch yesterday. I've had time over the past few weeks to think through what I believe we need to be working on based on our judges comments this summer and It would appear that my trainer and I are of the same mind, which is always gratifying! He's got to use that hind end and get it underneath him and push more from behind, and he needs to develop a better topline behind the saddle in order to do so. He thinks that's hard work and he'd really rather not. I think he's managed to intimidate me out of asking for that much, really, and he's entirely capable of doing it.

I'm lucky to have Justin to work with him, and TBH get some of the "wait, that wasn't part of the contract" stuff sorted out before I get back on in earnest.

[Flight]

Yay for changes Aleuronx
Lip smacker that’s great if you can ride Lynx soon.
Chisamba lovely photo! Ha, you would have looked great conducting a choir in dressage tails

I went to my working equitation comp on the weekend. It was my first time riding it all one-handed. The walking around actually did my sprained ankle good. I dosed up on ibuprofen and it improved, still hurts if I twist but I’m soo relieved it’s much better.
Watching the video, we need much more collection. We get it at home but he’s always a bit scared t a comp in that arena and backs off. He’s still scared of the jump, so I’ve gone back to just poles on the ground and will try and build his confidence up.
When he’s distracted he doesn’t ‘hear me’ and you can see the late changes in the slalom where he’s looking at the bridge or outside.
But all in all I was happy for our first go at this level, and it was a nice horsey weekend away.

EOH and speed round:
https://youtu.be/-D-DHPz0OAo

[khall]

Tanga I hope you are feeling better!

Mountaineer glad you are testing neg now even if you aren’t feeling up to par yet.

Chisamba congratulations on the PSG win! Love the tails pic!!

Alueronx nice changes! Even with the cheeky one:)

Blob I hope things settle more for you job wise. Especially now we are finally getting some lovely weather. Gaila’s due date is March 2. Now to come up with a name. I think it should start with a T. Need to check on that one.

Mari gosh a prix Caprilli test! It’s been years and years since I’ve looked at one of those.

I’m gearing up for schooling show. Going to give 2 nd 3 a try. We will see! Riding HC because I’m in saddle hell again and am going to ride the tests in my Spanish saddle which is not dressage legal. Ah well.

Forgot to tell about our piaffe adventure in the clinic. Asking for more sit and Joplin being of the Iberian variety can get very wiggly. Either side really but worse asking on the left side. So Cedar had me start piaffe and then do a piaffe pirouette turning right. Joplin really had no trouble doing so and it really set her up for better mechanics in the piaffe. So
I played with her last night in just the rope halter and asked for the piaffe pirouette and she quickly and easily gave it to me twice so we stopped. This is an excellent exercise for her. Need to get video to share. Very exciting!

We now have several days of rain in the forecast which we really need so I’ll get some other things besides riding done.

Happy riding all!!

[Moutaineer]

Back on my horse today for the first time in 6 or 7 weeks. It felt like home. I'm completely wiped out from 20 minutes of walking and a couple of circles of trot.

My request to trainer is back to basics and let's not continue band-aiding over my holes.

I'm going to be sore later...

[Tanga]

Good job, Chisamba, keeping on keeping on, and everyone else. khall--love the piaffe thing. I think doing it in hand every which way is totally the way to go.

Two weeks down and I finally, mostly can get up and walk and do things and not feel like I need to sit down because I'm dizzy and need to breathe and want to take a nap. Went to the barn and did a trail ride. Sora's boyfriend in the pasture is still looking for her hoping she will come back when I bring the girls back. They are both fine and looking like balls they're getting so fat, which is all good going into winter. My wrist is healing very well, so as long as I don't do anything stupid, I can use it just fine. Going to scribe at the end of the month, but other than that, I don't want to think about anything.

[StraightForward]

Flight, I think you are too humble - the whole thing looked really good (except maybe the refusal at the fence ). I really looks like lots of fun!

Chisamba, nice pic, and well done getting out there, and then attending to choir in between!

Moutaineer, glad you are back up in the saddle. I'm sure your endurance will make a comeback soon enough.

I'm getting the girls back to work. I did one ride so far with the new hackamore on Tesla and she seems to go well in it. If anything, maybe a bit too much leverage, but she has had moments of charging at fences, so I don't want to give up too much control. She did try to snatch the reins away from me a few times, so we'll have to work out an agreement about that. Last night and tonight we did dressage and she continues to improve in the rubber bit. I think now the challenge is keeping her between my leg and hand as she is charging off a bit, but also falling out of the canter, especially when CC is requested. We did make a big step forward in maintaining softness and bend through transitions to the right. I actually had to start circling left with exaggerated right bend, and get the transitions that way, before she would believe me that she could, in fact, step into trot without going stiff as a board or falling in on her right shoulder.

I have lessons on both girls this weekend. Hoping to chip away at changes with Annabelle. There is also a Halloween obstacle course thing just down the street on Saturday, which I could take A to. The following weekend will be the last schooling show of the year. I'm planning to give First 1 and 2 another try with T. Pretty sure we'll be able to produce a canter this time. Not sure if it will be the same judge or someone else.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Chisamba, What a lovely photo and it sounds like it was a pretty good show. This time of year is kind of hard isn't it? They all get so fresh.

Mountaineer- glad you were out to watch at least! Hopefully you are 100% soon.

Flight- Working equation looks so fun but not easy at all! Thanks for sharing the fun!

Well I heard back from my vet that the internal medicine specialist at CSU didn't see anything of significance in Lynx's neck x-rays. Of course an x-ray done in barn is not 100% but I feel pretty confident with that green light. He does have a little sore spot on his right side of his neck but his muscling is kind of weird on that side... Looking back through pictures It's gotten a lot better but I do wonder if there was a soft tissue injury or muscle injury at some point in the last 2 years. Maybe we were looking at the stifle so much that we missed it.

He seems like he's doing a lot better but when I tried to take him off the roboxin He started looking funky behind. Sounds like we can keep him on it for awhile so we might do that but lower the dose a bit. He has mesotherapy in a couple weeks and he has a massage session.

The idea is to get him pain-free so we can really start to build up that muscle soon so we can see if he can support that back enough to not need surgery! Fingers crossed. I have still been happy with some of the improvements I've seen. I've been told I need to be a little more"aggressive" in the rehab which is perhaps right. If mostly been doing a lot of hand walking. Although when I say hand walking I mean all over the property up and down hills, over poles, backing him up, keeping his head down and encouraging him to stretch out. I also do a little bit of turn on the forehand and stuff like that. But we are going to try and teach him how to long line or ground drive next week. I really don't want to lunge him much.

I will see I'm trying not to rush it and really get him feeling better in his body. He's been such a good boy and it's clear he's been dealing with a lot. But he's had a good attitude through it all and I'm grateful.

Flight-

[exvet]

I had another lesson on Junior though this time it wasn't on the lunge line. It's quite a different journey this time with Junior as compared to all the ones before him. He is SOOOOOOOOOO PONY that he makes the stinker pony seem like a thoroughbred LOL. The lesson was focused on getting him to supple, then engage, then FORWARD. By the end of the lesson, Junior was getting a bit overbaked but what was nice is that he was actually anticipating and getting in front of my leg even if there was a bit of a tude with it. Trying to get him to associate the reward and praise with the right answers and the mechanics that went along with it. I think we're chipping away at it in the right way. Molly commented that his walk is much better with him lifting up through his withers most of the time. Baby steps, as always baby steps.

Brandon has been getting all sorts of attention - work over poles and cavallettis; lots and lots of hill work even in the evenings after work I walk him up and down our road in hand because it's quite hilly; backing up hill; and tons of trot/canter/trot transitions. He's on his second week of equioxx, finishing his round of adequan soon and just started estrone injections. I used estrone some when I was in equine practice and can't really say I saw a huge difference in the majority of horses I used it in but a couple did seem to improve. What I read then and heard recently is that the ones who demonstrate a behavior change on the injections tend to show the greatest improvement with the stifles.............well I never really appreciated that when I was in equine practice but after one injection I had a different horse behavior-wise in my barn. It was like......ahhhh this is what they mean!!! Too soon to tell if this will equate to tighter patellar ligaments but it does give me some hope. The sports medicine vet wants me to keep Brandon down to just supervised turnouts and more intentional exercise but after one week of him stocking up due to being stalled, I decided that I'll follow all of her advice except THAT. Today he's going back to 24/7 turnout. I'm hoping the behavior differences I'm seeing with him on the estrone will keep him from being too stupid out in turn out. This morning my farrier came out and his opinion was that we should also pull Brandon's shoes after seeing his tendon sheath swelling in the back legs; so, he is back to being barefoot all the way around. Fortunately I have boots left over from another horse that I can use on him for the trails.

[Moutaineer]

I drove to the barn, groomed, tacked up, and by then I was toast, so I didn't get on today.

Justin rode him (very well) and I sat and watched. As it was just the two of us, I had the chance to ask Justin a lot of questions about how he was riding him--specifically the fact that I feel like I'm nagging him when I'm trying to get him in front of the leg, which of course he just tunes out and it makes things worse. His answer was that he just makes it VERY CLEAR within the first few strides of a ride that leg is to be listened to and backs it up with the whip, then Potters accepts it and gets on with his job. I know that, but apparently, I'm not very good at it... Potters entirely has my number on that! He also walks him for 5 minutes or so--a really forward march, and then moves straight up to canter. The trot work after this is really nice, supple and loose and forward over the back.

He's working on getting him to get his hind-end underneath him and really push. Trainer has had him working on his position, getting his pelvis tucked under and really using his upper abs to support himself, and it is interesting how the horse mirrors him. This, I need to work on. The trick is getting your pelvis under you without getting tight in the seat...

I think half the people I know around here are sick with Covid or some other mystery bug. I'm just so tired all the time. I think there may be a nap in my near future.

[Kyras_Mom]

Jingles you get over the fatigue Mountaineer. COVID sucks.

Flight…that was so neat. The BO said she was going to have a WE instructor coming to the barn but since then (about 3 weeks ago) I haven’t heard anything. I love riding with one hand with my ‘western curb’. WE looks like fun. I will have to follow-up with her.

Kyra has continued to work well. Last week she was a bit lazy but it was pretty warm (mid-80’s) for the amount of hair she has. Yesterday, she was much more energetic after a couple cool days. She was quite cheeky while I was tacking..pawing of all things. I asked her where that came from.
There were no turnouts open and I could have lunged her but just climbed on and hoped for the best. There were 2 others riding so she ended up pretty happy and relaxed because she had company. Her canter felt sweet so we tried a couple passes of lengthened canter on each lead. Wheeee.
She was hot off the leg and came right back for the short side. Kind of (pleasantly) surprised me.

I got her to the vet for her dental on Tuesday and he said that tooth root was stable and he didn’t even see a reason to x-ray it. He probed the area well and found no pockets or any sign of infection and she really isn’t even packing much into the hole so we are going to leave it be for now. Of course, that could always change and if it does, it needs to come out but for now, that root can stay.

Tomorrow is trimming day providing my back stays calmed down. Earlier in the week, it was very unhappy but it seemed to coincide with the big change in the weather with a couple wet days and a 25 degree drop in the temps. My personal weather forecast.

Susan

[Quelah]

Gorgeous pic Chisamba, I'm drooling over your horse!

[Chisamba]

Gorgeous pic Chisamba, I'm drooling over your horse!

Thank you. She is quite pretty and photos never quite so her justice. She is a bit of a bronze color with dark dapples and a pretty face.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Brandon has been getting all sorts of attention - work over poles and cavallettis; lots and lots of hill work even in the evenings after work I walk him up and down our road in hand because it's quite hilly; backing up hill; and tons of trot/canter/trot transitions. He's on his second week of equioxx, finishing his round of adequan soon and just started estrone injections. I used estrone some when I was in equine practice and can't really say I saw a huge difference in the majority of horses I used it in but a couple did seem to improve. What I read then and heard recently is that the ones who demonstrate a behavior change on the injections tend to show the greatest improvement with the stifles.............well I never really appreciated that when I was in equine practice but after one injection I had a different horse behavior-wise in my barn. It was like......ahhhh this is what they mean!!! Too soon to tell if this will equate to tighter patellar ligaments but it does give me some hope. The sports medicine vet wants me to keep Brandon down to just supervised turnouts and more intentional exercise but after one week of him stocking up due to being stalled, I decided that I'll follow all of her advice except THAT. Today he's going back to 24/7 turnout. I'm hoping the behavior differences I'm seeing with him on the estrone will keep him from being too stupid out in turn out. This morning my farrier came out and his opinion was that we should also pull Brandon's shoes after seeing his tendon sheath swelling in the back legs; so, he is back to being barefoot all the way around. Fortunately I have boots left over from another horse that I can use on him for the trails.

Exvet, please keep us updated on the Estrone. I know it's not favored around vets in this area anyway but I've heard from a few people that if it worked- it really did work significantly. From what I've heard there is a little bit of debate about how it works. I've heard from some that they felt the changes were actually from it relaxing the pelvis / lower back region which then allowed the horse to use themselves better which then helps the stifles. No idea if that's even scientifically accurate but I found it interesting.

It's something I've thought of for Lynx. It seems like his back is feeling quite good right now on Roboxin but now his stifles seem to be slipping way more. So thinking about switching to equioxx or asking about Estrone with the mesotherapy too.

Best of luck with Brandon. You are so dedicated and extremely knowledgeable that I have no doubt he will be just fine!

[Quelah]

Gorgeous pic Chisamba, I'm drooling over your horse!

Thank you. She is quite pretty and photos never quite so her justice. She is a bit of a bronze color with dark dapples and a pretty face.

Forgive me I feel like I should know this but what is her breeding/bloodlines?

[StraightForward]

I had a lesson on Tesla yesterday, and then on both girls this morning. My instructor was really throwing the instructions at me; I was mentally exhausted when I got home!

Yesterday we were cantering a diamond with a walk transition and counter bent ToH at A and C, and a little thought of pirouette to make the more obtuse corners at E and B. I can see from the video how much farther we have to go with the canter work, but she is so much more ridable since switching bits, that I believe we are on the right path to start building her weight-carrying behind to get what we need for second level in the spring.

Today was mostly about SI and HI for both girls. We put Annabelle in a double-jointed bradoon, and she definitely got off my hand and went softer. She's been in her single-jointed Baucher for about two years, so maybe it is time for a change. I'm going to put her in the double this week and see how that is, since she hasn't had it on in almost a year, IIRC. The exercises for her were transitions in SI, riding HI and then turning it into a LY along the wall, walking into a ToF off the outside leg adding an extra step to end up facing the other direction back in SI, and then doing transitions. Also long LYs across the diagonal with transitions including halt and RB. Overall we got some good quality in her canter, which I need to of course keep working on if we want to get to changes in the semi-near future.

Next weekend I've entered T in 1st 1 and 2 at a schooling show, and then the week after will be the second Leslie Morse clinic to close out this period.

[Chisamba]

Gorgeous pic Chisamba, I'm drooling over your horse!

Thank you. She is quite pretty and photos never quite so her justice. She is a bit of a bronze color with dark dapples and a pretty face.

Forgive me I feel like I should know this but what is her breeding/bloodlines?

I don't think I ever shared her bloodlines. She is a premium Oldenburg ( inspected and branded) By Red Wine, out of Faux Finish. ( a Guaranteed Gold daughter) . She was bred by true colors farm so specifically bred for color. ( rather than brain or sport lol)

She came to me to be rehabbed and while she was here her owner retired from riding so I was given the opportunity to keep her. Which I did.

I believe her previous owner had already made plans to sell her when she took a sore step so it was that sore step that brought herbto me instead.
She is a very affectionate sweet and pretty horse who fortunately came sound. She didn't get exposed to a lot of things under saddle before me, so getting her as relaxed and confident in busy environs as she is at home is the true work in progress. I'm at a clinic this week with Patricia Kottas ( Austrian FEI rider and daughter of Arthur Kottas ex Spanish Riding school chief rider

Saiph is being very settled and confident when someone was wheeling in barrows of plastic shavings bags through the indoor while I was schooling.

I'm adding this silly photo a professional took for fun.

[Tanga]

Best photo, ever, Chisamba! By Red Wine. Wow. That was the stallion involved in the abuse/neglect case here in Santa Rosa and some whole thing where he sort of disappeared somewhere or something.

[StraightForward]

I remember that mare Faux Finish, she was stunning.

[Quelah]

I love that photo LOL!

Wow, what cool and interesting bloodlines. I met Red Wine as a hunter show a loooong time ago, he was a very good boy. I'm glad you have her, she will have a grand life with you.

[Chisamba]

Best photo, ever, Chisamba! By Red Wine. Wow. That was the stallion involved in the abuse/neglect case here in Santa Rosa and some whole thing where he sort of disappeared somewhere or something.

There was some big drama surrounding him and his owner.

[Chisamba]

Interesting exercise . Halfpass from quarterline to quarterline , half pirouette, and half pass back, and half pirouette. Start the half pass shoulder fore. So when you half pirouette take the shoulder ever so slightly past 180 degrees.

Second interesting exercise. Really good canter trot transitions on the circle. ( to improve the impulsion between the flying change) by really good she means staying forward uphill off the seat into an honest contact with still hands but relaxed shoulders and chest out.

Third. Take your whole leg off for impusion and before you put rhe ankle back on the horse should already be responding forward into contact.

For me personally, be careful.not to open fingers to go forward
I. But do not stiffen my shoulder.

Common errors for many riders, losing the seat in transitions. Too much hand in the half halt. Being able to ride the horse forward any time, most especially between changes and the more collected work. Like collect for pirouette but go forward into medium instead so that the pirouette stays over the hind leg. Not to one side. Twisted or in front of the grounded hind leg

I'm just noting snippets so the thoughts may seem incomplete

[exvet]

Thank you Chisamba for sharing. Several of your tidbits resonate with me for where I am with Junior. So helpful as always!

[Aleuronx]

SF, interesting SI/HI to LY and ToF exercise, I'm going to give it a go as it seems like a good one to step them on the hind leg and bend.

Will also be trying the HP to piro and back Chisamba. I like the symmetry and turning the shoulders, will be curious to give it a go.

We played with a fun thing this weekend. I was beaming from ear to ear, this winter is going to be so fun.

Half steps beginning.jpg (106.82 KiB) Viewed 222474 times

[blob]

great to hear everyone's riding updates and looks like many of you are making good progress, working hard, getting great lessons in.

Work remains really difficult and I've turned into a weekend only rider, which is barely enough to keep my horses it and certainly not enough for any progress. I'm dying for a lesson soon, but not sure when/how I will be able to get it on the calendar as the trainer only does weekdays (she typically travels for judging on weekends).

Perhaps I just need to schedule it and then make it happen.

[Chisamba]

Blob, sometimes I get very busy, it's why I schedule shows and clinics, because otherwise I'd sleep instead of riding.

[exvet]

I totally get the work-life/home-life/the rest of crap that must happen - juggle. If I don't put it in my phone it won't get done; so, scheduling is a priority for me regarding just about everything.

I had a good lesson on Junior yesterday. Anyone remember the string of pearls exercise that Zettl was always so fond of? Molly and I were commenting and reminiscing when we each were first introduced to the exercise (she in 1997 on one of her grand prix horses and me in 2000 at a symposium). Well poor Junior worked the exercise at all three gaits, we worked leg yields and half passes into the exercise to boot. He wasn't exactly thrilled about it but he is starting to connect the dots. I also seem to FINALLY be figuring out how to connect my 'right elbow' to the bit ring which is helping me figure out how to get around my paresis on my right side and be more effective.

Brandon had some issues with his stifles yesterday but today he was totally solid. The only differences between yesterday and today was I added raised poles to our regimen (felt like it was too much to do it yesterday after two days off) and I decided that I was going to NOT give up my position or get lazy in any way and really force him to stay balanced. He's been getting pretty focused PT for his stifles; but, I think it's time I really get him more focused on his self-carriage too if we're ever going to get past this.

I feel like both boys and myself are in boot camp........LOL......I guess all three of us will do our best to persevere.

[Moutaineer]

I've ridden 3 days this week. Today didn't happen... combination of very sick kitty needing emergency vet trip and a client flying in for a meeting. I'm paralyzed with exhaustion this evening. Still sitting at the dinner table surrounded by dirty dishes and lacking the oomph to do anything about it.

However, the 3 days i have ridden (post-Justin warm-up, I'm still feeling a bit fragile...) have offered me some serious lightbulb moments and positional understanding.

It's got nothing to do with "tucking your pelvis under you." All that does is make you tighten your glutes and bounce around like an overinflated basketball. It has everything to do with opening your hips, riding up to the front of your saddle and carrying your upper body independent of your lower body. We decided "leading with your womb" was a pretty good visual...

The weather has been stunning here all week. Its going to change next week but it has been a glorious Fall. And I've missed most of it.

[Chisamba]

I'm so sick of this forum logging me out mid post and erasing my whole train of thought.

Am I the only one who had that happen?


Autumn and winter are prefect for boot camp. It's time to rebutton the sweater. ( You know, that analogy about training being like buttoning a sweater wrong. The only way to fix it is to unbutton and rebutton it. )

I don't think anyone goes through training a horse without having to undo and rebutton the sweater.

Mine is working out how to get impulsion from a horse who is not naturally forward. I keep appeasing her and now I have to go back and fix my appeasement, or make the choice to work out how to manage progress with buttons awry. I see lots is horses getb the tricks work buttons awry. (totilas with his no trot no bend, and salinero with his no halt being very successful examples but of course both of their riders had a lot of skill and chachet)

I cannot get away with the sherbert that a to ride can.

But it's an interesting question. Every upper level horse I have trained Sunstorm Rose and Kea being the three that had tempi changes piaffe and passage, were all very imperfectly trained. I just forged ahead. Now with Saiph in trying to perfect things. Maybe that is a social media fueled quest . Maybe all the stupid quotes about sweaters and the hundreds of sketches and tips that are unrealistic and unfeasable actually derail progress instead of assisting it.

Have you noticed how often these things are sketched, not actual pictures of real horses. Hmm, why? Because reality isn't this perfectly buttoned sweater. It's messy. The sweater still serves its purpose buttoned awry. It still keeps you warm. it still keeps you warm with a button missing. If it is your only sweater you put it on and go to work.

So exvet, you do not have to have a perfect connection on your numb hand. Train your horse with what you have.

Who was the lady who had to be lifted onto her horse because polio had robbed her of lower leg strength but she rode in the Olympics and medaled?

Just a jumble of thoughts.

[Chisamba]

So a perfect example of real.life. I spent 3 days working on keeping my reins short and my hands low. Each day there was positive gains. Saiph started to learn to go forward into the dirt rein and so many people have continually criticized my long rein and high hand. So was perfection achieved as we hit day 3? No. Saiph was so curled and in the forehand and no amount of seat or leg would change her balance. So the clinician said when she gets so.low raise your hands. I burst out laughing.

Anyway. Perfect training completely ignores the imperfections in riders and horses.

[exvet]

So a perfect example of real.life. I spent 3 days working on keeping my reins short and my hands low. Each day there was positive gains. Saiph started to learn to go forward into the dirt rein and so many people have continually criticized my long rein and high hand. So was perfection achieved as we hit day 3? No. Saiph was so curled and in the forehand and no amount of seat or leg would change her balance. So the clinician said when she gets so.low raise your hands. I burst out laughing.

Anyway. Perfect training completely ignores the imperfections in riders and horses.

Also having to train or find the motivation in the horse that is naturally so NOT forward, I hear ya. I do think Moutaineer hit a strong point that I also have come to be reminded of lately - the not tucking the tail bone, more it's opening up the front and getting the wind in the sails to send the whole idea forward. But more to what you just said, chisamba, while working the string of pearls in my lesson, Molly was a running monologue of pointing out all of the different ways Junior was trying to answer my question without having to be supple and forward. We did hit glimpses and passing moments of 'perfection' but sustainable.................so NOT. He is a pony and oh so clever. He is willing (which is what Molly says is the only redeeming trait) but definitely not subscribed to the thought that dressage encourages correct use of the body LOL. In addition to buttoning and re--buttoning the sweater it's also the ongoing saga of three steps forward 2 steps back. I'm experiencing it with both boys. Monty probably did the most for me in terms of learning that you have to work with what you have under you and simply exaggerate the good and mitigate the not so good. I think both of my boys will benefit from the past lessons. THIS requires listening to the horse and figuring out what Does work and make the connection in their brain to at least understand the concept even if the practical working isn't perfection

Junior is 9. Molly already refers to him as being old...............maybe I won't ever earn my gold on him. What ever happened to the days when it was okay to reach GP in the early teens? I guess what keeps me going is knowing that Kentchurch Chime a Welsh Cob stallion hitting the Florida circuit in the early 90s and introducing the breed to many through his GP freestyles (palomino with a lot of feather even for a Welsh Cob) was only 9 when he was first introduced to dressage (competing at training/first level that year). He continued to compete through his 18th year and passed away in his late 20s. Monty never reached GP but it was only 2 years ago that he performed his last I-1 and PSG tests in competition. He continues to give lessons to those wanting to learn/feel the flying change at age 25 though I think [almost] full retirement is coming soon. He's earned it.

[StraightForward]

Nine is not old! As long as the horse is sound and progressing, I can't see how it matters.

IDK about rebuttoning the sweater. A horse is not a sweater; all the past training is imprinted in them good and bad, and all we can do is work more with the good, and darn the holes. Now that Tesla is not effectively rein lame in her new bit, yes, we have to address the canter purity and the suppleness. But we have a lot more buttons installed now -like suppling with half pass- that can be used to address the problems. But of course I'm not planning to go out and show 2nd or 3rd if I'm not satisfied with her basic working canter.

Schooling show this afternoon. Hopefully my husband will make it out to get some video.

[goldhorse]

It's got nothing to do with "tucking your pelvis under you." All that does is make you tighten your glutes and bounce around like an overinflated basketball. It has everything to do with opening your hips, riding up to the front of your saddle and carrying your upper body independent of your lower body. We decided "leading with your womb" was a pretty good visual...

Try to imagine that you're pulling the front of your pubic bone up with your belly button. That is use your front core to pull the pubic bone up without collapsing over your waist or tightening your glutes.

[StraightForward]

We had a super day to wrap up our show season, if you can call it that.

Tesla was charged up right off the bat when I got her out of the pasture, and still pretty charged up by the time we got to the show grounds, tacked and started warming up. She has been to this place several times, but was a little more looky than usual despite less going on, and perfect, warm weather. We had a good warmup, but with the lumpy grass, not much opportunity to build in LY or lengthenings. The first test she was a bit tense and jumped into canter in the first 1/2 20m circle, and had a couple other tension-related mistakes. Ironically we did grab an 8 for our stretchy circle there and ended with a 65.9. For first-2 she felt great and we really nailed all the transitions. I probably could have ridden a little more assertively and squeezed out a few points, but I'm super happy finishing on a 68.8. Our stretchy circle was a 7 on the second test, so that makes 70% feel like is within reach. The judging was kind of generous, I think, but I won't complain.

We got a little into the Halloween spirit with a bat shaved on Tesla's hip and spiders in her braids. My shirt is kind of a dia de los muertos design, and she had her skull browband on, of course. Now to clinic with Leslie Morse again next week, and then buckle down on the second level work for the winter!

https://youtu.be/K-oRBJyAmaw

[Chisamba]

https://youtube.com/shorts/gUPcJ_nMVBM? ... KRaXh3V9Z0

I was looking at my videos from the clinic and my friend made this cute little clip.

Lots to learn again in reviewing the video.

Tesla looks might cute, and what lovely scores.

Wrt loose hips, the clinician had me relax my whole leg, and said I had too much tension in my shoulders. She wanted me to keep on place ( stay in position) without tension. Relaxed knee, relaxed hip, relaxed shoulders but stay in position.