It is no secret that I have my fair share of straightness problems...especially with my alignment issues that drive me insane! I have seen a chiropractor and started yoga - both of which have helped - but my delicate flower of a mare really calls me out on it when I have an off day.
I had a dressage lesson with C last night and could feel as soon as I sat in my saddle the right side was tighter. I attempted to stretch it out in the warm up but I decided not to get too hung up on it and just ride what I had.
A few stills from last nights lesson...amazing the transformation since July!
I am so incredibly proud of Tillie and how much shes grown up this time starting back up after an injury. This is the first time I feel like my horse may be not so green anymore and is beginning to understand her job.
This lesson we had some shoulder alignment issues...pushing them all over the place except square. In all honesty, it was me not owning the outside rein enough. This is a new issue tracking left since she usually falls in. Is it odd to be excited over having a new issue to fix?
Ok maybe not excited, but to me it means shes trying to figure out what I am asking for a trying different answers. Eventually we may end up in the middle where we belong.
Warm up trot:
I was also really excited that we spent maybe 5 minutes at the walk (yay for progress) and much more time at the trot. I was also quite surprised at how quickly she put herself together without bobbing above or below the contact...
Here is an old video from July for reference:
C commented how much more balanced she is since this video and more uphill...she no longer is rooting or pulling on my nearly as much and much softer through her entire body. We still have a lot of work to do, but its nice to finally see progress and not feel so stuck.
More stills:
On the other hand. I have no idea what in the hell is wrong with my left leg lately swinging back and my heel...Ill have to make a point to work on that the next few rides.
Then onto the canter - which now C has me sitting again!
Working on my hitting letters better and keeping Tillie focused through a diagonal/straight line. I really do suck at figures and my circles it turns out.
Trying to fix the shoulder issues:
Warm up right lead canter working on softer hands so she can better carry me...not me carry her.
Finally we did a dry run of the BN test B:
Not the greatest test...many things being my error. I need to do better with my circle sizes, riding my corners and hitting letters. Basically all the basics lol. Considering Ive only ridden 6 tests in my life I can acknowledge riding tests arent my strong suit...planning ahead and being deliberate is tough after riding "training" rides and the horse I have.
C recommended not overriding this test as she fears Tillie would learn it. She said that if I can ride her the way I have been, we would easily score low 30's / high 20's...YAY!!
I have a D lesson tonight...lets hope it goes just as well!
The new potential trainer/instructor made the drive out to the farm last night. He was polite and seemed to know a lot from what I could decipher from his accent.
I did my research on him before coming, the little that I could find. I dont want to share too much to keep his identity safe, but he is fairly new to the US (which I knew) so does not have many clients yet or any prospects. His background is in jumpers and eventing at the 1* level...which I did find records on.
So not quite as experienced as the other few trainers I have used and he is the youngest (not by much). BUT age and experience, while they do mean more wisdom, does not always mean they are good at sharing and teaching that wisdom.
He said all the same things about Tillie that I have been hearing from all the other trainers. The top ones that stood out:
She needs to soften her back more
Her lateral movements are shockingly amazing and nimble
She needs to use her hind end more
He rode her first so I could see his style....and because this person or whoever my next trainer will be, will potentially help me with a training rides here or there like D does. Right away I noticed how much Tillie did not seem to mind him. New riders to her are usually like fresh meat...she tail swishes and squeals and threatens all sorts of non-sense before settling in to work.
Tillie did none of those things and seemed pleased to work. Her ears were listening and floppy at times and you could see the wheels turning in her head as he rode her around.
He did a lot of counter bending, asking for bigger steps then "shhhhing" her and asking for slower steps. He played around with some shoulder in too.
They trotted A LOT. He seemed to have the same approach as C in getting her going before asking to connect. He worked with her on her wanting to brace through the changing rein when changing from tracking right to left. I like what I saw when he would put his inside hand forward giving her a floppy rain for few strides and pat her before picking it up again...something I am really bad about doing.
They then moved on to schooling canter transitions. He said she needs to be better about sitting when going into them and make it clearer rather then the few quick trot steps before leading into the canter. He also instigated a more forward canter to attempt to get her excited (since I mentioned this was an issue) and then correct it by using his seat.
He was quite impressed at the walk and trot how responsive she was to the seat for transitioning and said she just needs that same level at the canter. He then was trying to get her to stretch more at the trot, but she just didnt relax enough in her back to allow for that. I heard him using his voice and "shhhing" her a lot which I thought was cool.
He then had me get on to try to recreate the canter transitions he just schooled. So it was a little bit of a taste for what a lesson would be like. Immediately when I got on, I notices how much more in the reins Tillie felt. It's hard to say if it was a good feeling or bad, it just felt like I had a lot more there...usually the contact is so light so sometimes its hard to make that half halt with her.
He gave me some homework to do - which I always love homework! I need to be able to recreate the lesson without my trainer there to a certain extent. He suggested lots of random ground poles to randomly work over them to help "surprise" Tillie and ride through that to promote getting her relaxed...Also raise caveletti in trot work to build strength.
When jumping she recommended only using placement poles.
So here is their first few rounds of trotting...so she wasnt quite as relaxed here. But I look forward to hearing anyone's thoughts and open to suggestions on other local trainers.
I did a lot of riding this weekend in the hopes that staying on top of Tillie, we can really get some progress. I have expressed many times my disappointment in how slow progress has been. So I am anxious to start chipping away at holes and be able to reflect back and go "wow we look totally different." I'm not sure I can say that now and mean it.
Though, I ask myself sometimes...why? I am not a professional. I am an amateur. Yes I teach beginner lessons, so I enter all my events in the rider or open divisions, but Ive never ridden past the beginner novice level before three years ago. Even then, I didnt know what I was doing and just said hmmm I'd like to try that and had an incredibly minded horse that put up with me for two events before he had to retire.
No idea why I thought it would be a good idea to get something young and green when I am also green. You know the saying right? Green + Green = Black and blue.
Luckily, Tillie and I havent had too many black and blue moments. But it has made progress slower. I have really come to a conclusion recently that I am allowed to feel sad and wallow but I must cut myself off...otherwise Ill always live in wallow land and then Tillie and I surely wont ever progress.
Ok, so on to the good stuff.
Weekend Rides Recap: Saturday:
I dont usually jump outside of my Tuesday night lessons, but decided Tillie needs to be doing it more frequently then that. She can certainly benefit from the smaller stuff and work on making it not soooo exciting.
I thought she was really great! We started off a bit out of sync with each other, but by the end of the ride I felt we were both on the same page and she was giving me a quality canter (Which D always stresses). Although, D also has said I need work on better recognizing and feeling that canter so maybe I was off lol.
I started off warming up jumping off a circle like usual and then a mini grid was set up so tried to let her go through that to figure it out...then get her landing from that grid without tearing around.
She dropped a little over the last one...
Then I moved on to a bending line, with a change of rein to a 2'7 vertical off a turn. So if she really was listening she would be able to re-balance and the whole thing go smoothly. The first few times she got a bit excited at the bending line question, BUT it didnt feel anywhere nearly as bad as it has in the past. In fact, I felt it was totally manageable and was really proud.
I guess its all relative because then the video was commented on by a potential new trainer (Ill elaborate more on this later) and a few others I shared with it that she seemed "hot," as in a bad thing.
This was the first attempt, where yes she gets a bit forward. But like I said, I was still really excited at how she contained herself compared to previous rides. I watched back the video and stills and honestly was more horrified at my position.
It is the first time I have seen myself in this saddle and it is really apparent I have gotten used to fighting my stubben XC saddle to bring my lower leg back...Because this saddle now its ALWAYS too far back. I forsee asking help for grids for my own merit in the future.
Please ignore my terrible lower leg, BUT relish in landing
in an uphill canter!!! HUGE WIN!
Despite my poor form, I really thought Tillie did great. She actually wasnt diving nearly as badly as she has and that is a huge win! Mare even had flying changes!!!
We did finally get it right with me jumping this to finish:
Sunday:
I finally tried my new PF dressage saddle. I am a bit worried it is too tight on Tillie's shoulders but decided to try riding in it anyway. I do like it, but would want secondary opinions on my position in it vs my Passier.
I was so pleasantly surprised at the willing horse I had, especially after jumping the day before. She usually gets wound so tight that shes a spinning top until we dressage for a few days in a row. I really think our C lessons are paying off!
Potential new trainer to try:
I'd like to preface this by saying I am not eliminating or leaving any current trainers I ride with...but I feel more help for us would be a good thing lol. I am trying a new trainer this evening - Ill refer to him as N. My hopes is to use him as an additional resource as a jumping coach or even trainer for Tillie to help me where I cant help Tillie yet.
He has already seen the videos above and pretty much said he personally doesnt compete until the horse is 100% (So admittedly I am worried he may even be more strict then D)...While I do agree, I also think she hasnt been unmanageable at shows or worse then home and getting her out there for the experience is worth it. I guess I was a bit sad hearing that because while I know we have work to do it makes me feel sooo stuck at BN. Anyway...In time right?
Ill be sure to capture some video or pics and fill everyone in tomorrow!
So my lesson post two days ago was so over joyed that I admit I felt like I was on top of the world. I have to really watch and manage my emotions better when it comes to our progress because such highs make the lows that much lower.
Let me stop right here and preface the rest of this post by saying, my ride last night was not a low worth complaining about at all by any means. It just feels that way after having THAT fabulous of a ride...and in all fairness, I did get on knowing I would probably not get even a shadow of the ride I had in my lesson with C. I know it will take way more time for both Tillie and I to achieve the consistency of what we can in a lesson setting, outside of one at home.
Sweaty Tillie says "I tired"
The tone of the ride didnt start of well for a number of reasons. First, there was a HUGE lesson happening with 4 or 5 students in addition to two other rides (aside from myself) also trying to get in rides. Now, I can share my space...and I also teach beginner lessons at my barn so understand the difficulty of trying to herd the students and remind them of ring etiquette...But trying to ride amid the chaos was really frustrating once I tried to start our trot work.
Look, I totally understand, these students are learning and just don't always have the degree of control and sometimes cut the ring corners, come off the rail..etc. I ALSO understand I am an adult advanced rider that should be capable of navigating and adapting to this environment. I guess though I was on the struggle bus because I felt like every time I began to ask for our trot we would have to suddenly veer or dart out of someone's way.
I at first was frustrated with Tillie...Why mare cant you just soften like the wonderfully flexible cloud I was riding the day before? Why on earth are you falling in left and speeding up tracking left? Well take a stressful day at work + the chaos of that many riders in the ring = a very tense me.
I pulled a few one-rein stops because she would tense up, especially tracking left, brace and cross her jaw - to which a spectator would think I am crazy for flexing my horse into a one rein stop. Can I add: I HATE getting after my horse in front of other people. I know sometimes you have to and I feel terrible too because I know it wasnt her fault exactly...but I still really get unsettled by it.
The wonderful thing about horses - they dont hold it against you.
Hey mom, dont be sad!
So the ring cleared out a bit and all was left was myself, fellow blogger Emma and a lease rider. So all perfectly capable of navigating a ring. Well struggle bus was still full force because I STILL felt in the way.
I also admit my homework from C is to stay off the rail so Tillie can balance herself without the rail as a guide so I am probably the one at fault here.
I basically threw up my hands at one point and just took a minute to try to erase the first 20 min and start over. After a few more conversations with Tilie and pushing through tension, I felt like we FINALLY got over the hump and parked the struggle bus for the night.
A very worn out Tillie just wants to go to bed
I did a lot of changing rein again, REALLY trying not to let her rush to the left or pull her out with my right rein. I played around a bit with my weight like we did with C and VOILA!! Magically we got left bend.
From there, things got better. Cantering was a huge win...I could throw away my inside rein and she would stay bent, turning off my outside aids. Right lead especially I got the most lovely soft connection and downward transitions. Something really clicked in the canter for me and I felt like I could use leg and ask for more without thinking "OMG this is way too fast!"
I let her stretch at the end and played with her moving off both legs and a stretchy trot...which shockingly Tillie did without pulling or yanking the contact down like she normally wants to.
All in all, I walked away from the ride feeling a bit let down on myself for not having patience and not adapting to the situation (considering its the perfect show ring warm up scenario) and feeling incredibly happy my horse is resilient...for the most part.
How do you guys turn off and reroute your frustrations?
I am beyond excited to report on my dressage lesson with C last night. My posts usually lie on the frustrated, we-aren't-getting-it side...but today's will be just over the top patting myself and Tillie on the back.
I don't brag or have a lot of confidence so I hope this post doesn't come across that way...BUT:
I sadly did not have a wing man to get and footage this time so Ill do the best I can to describe just how phenomenal it was.
Tillie says "I was a good girl!"
Tillie loaded on the trailer wonderfully both times! This is always a bit stressful when going without a wing man, but thankfully Tillie practically self loads. She is always a bit restless when we load at home and didnt settle in or eat any hay until well after arriving to C's. Even still she was looking around and wide-eyed like she never has seen this place before (it was our 4th time I believe?)
We got on, filled in C on our progress, frustrations etc and we picked up where we left off last lesson. We stared at the walk, again focusing on keeping the rhythm as we pick up contact without slowing down.
Much calmer Tillie after the lesson...munching on hay like no big deal
Tillie was able to achieve this in less time so we moved into the trot. The first transition was a bit all over which is to be expected. We lost the contact and she inverts. C insisted she didnt mind as the main goal here in warm up is to get her going forward without rushing no matter where her head is. We took this opportunity to address my position.
C said my spine curves too much, so "suck" in my tummy to flatten out my spine
Hands are better! The right hand still needs to stay lower and at my saddle pad until it stops going rouge
I am better about posting and moving with her (C said I am less protective of myself and more relaxed).
Isnt she just the cutest!?
After a few 20 meter circles and we started asking for contact. She started a bit tight on the right (last time it was left). Silly mare likes to change things up. Once we established bend both ways, we did serpentines where we discussed changing the rein and how to ride it.
Initially Tillie would go full giraffe mode through the change on the straight-away until C explained that even when riding straight, you still need to ride the new direction...so essentially always ride the bend just a little less. Once we did this, Tillie was offering to move into the contact more and when softening would stretch - C was ecstatic over this!
X marks the spot to change...so simple and ridiculous
We focused a lot on staying off the rail to allow her to balance herself. C was excited at how much less I was doing and Tillie balancing herself better which allowed a more correct contact. We also addressed my own crookedness here and talked about stretching taller through my right side without getting crooked in my spine. What do you know, Tillie magically was more even feeling under me!
We then moved to canter and the transitions in and out were really spot on. C exclaimed at one point that they were easily 8 quality transitions!!!! WOOO this is where we lose a lot of points in past dressage tests.
Can we go home and get dinner now?
We really then focused on throwing away the inside rein and correctly using my seat to turn her of the outside aids. Tillie responded immediately as soon as I correct my weight placement. What a good Tillie!
All in all I felt like a million bucks. Especially when C said Tillie looked like a totally different horse from our last lesson. She said she was much softer through her back, uphill and carrying herself more correctly. She also said my position has greatly improved since the first lesson with her.
My weekly Tuesday night lessons with D have always erred on the side of painful. Reflecting back, I now realize I have fallen off Tillie 5 out of the 7 times under his supervision...always to my horror and embarrassment. (Kind of amazing I havent fallen off more honestly...I swear I am missing counting a few or something).
Not a picture after a fall, but her expression here pretty
much captures her expression shes had after Ive fallen each time,
These lessons arent just painful due to falling off, but the sheer amount D pushes me which requires the use of so much leg. I should essentially have legs of steel by now (and sadly don't). So I realize now, I most likely fall more in D lessons due to how much he forces me to push the boundaries and get out of my comfort zone.
Last night's lesson was no different as far as pain. It was a wonderfully challenging lesson and can't stress how great a learning experience it was. Please don't take my snarky tone following as it was terrible.
No, there was no falling off for myself or Emma but it wasn't without some huge biffs (which Emma and I always laugh which receives stone cold silence from our trainer).
Amazing how a screen shot just doesnt do it justice. Good mare for saving by butt.
So here is is in a gif...Gorge Morris would rip me a new one!
I was a bit worried when 20 minutes in to our lesson doing flatwork, I felt like I might die. Right away I was scolded for going around for a while without changing anything. I admit, I hadn't because things felt fine. There was no direction to change anything and more or less D was watching and evaluating...so I plodded along happy as a clam.
This is something I need to work on...feeling when it is correct vs. Tillie faking me out. I felt like she was soft and supple where as D voiced that she looked like she was bracing and holding herself in the neck (the same critique I have heard many times). Ok so add leg to push through right?! Well then I get rushing...so half halt, leg, half halt leg and just a lot of garbage that isnt working.
The moment when D insists I try harder so we can be done our lesson already.
To which D says "you can't ride around in the middle of a half halt all the time. Be clearer about the half halt and releasing the inside rein" BAH!! ok fine...dig a little deeper and Tillie becomes a pretzel. Whew...except it only lasts one stride. This is when I know I am in trouble.
When we finally cantered, D had us focusing on shoulder fore and then asking for a more medium canter. Another thing I struggle with - finding a true forward enough medium. I tend to want to over collect Tillie's canter...watching videos of myself its so apparent, but under saddle it feels like we are out of control and too forward. **Sigh** We will get it...
Hey look we have a canter transition!
So we move on to jumping and my mare had her A game on. While it wasnt quite as on point as the slices lesson but it had more to do with my being off my game while Tillie saved my booty. I just didnt have the balance or body control needed to support her so its amazing really we didnt take out more rails or entire fences for that matter.
Look!! Mare is capable of an uphill trot after all!
Here is the whole sequence of events of that last try at this exercise. He wanted us coming in shoulder fore, re-balancing in the line and landing after the last fence straight, but achieve the bend again using the shoulder fore. Not quite what happened here....
Once again, I do not have photo proof or video of the two of us...Just what I could capture sitting on the beast. I need to try to sync up with fellow blogger Emma and start getting more under saddle images.
Anyway, Its a bit chillier here since the weekend so was really expecting a tense Tillie...I was pleasantly surprised again with a nice quiet and soft ride!!! Yay Tillie!
Loopy reins, droopy ears = happy horse mom!
I think the last few rides of loopy reins for warm up has really made for a much more relaxed and willing horse. She didnt race into the trot this time and the canter transitions werent explosive! They were slightly sticky, but I'd take that over the leaping forward.
Once I started picking up contact she thought about leaning a bit, but I just put my leg on and said nope we stay "up!" She was much less stiff to the left then she has been lately which was pleasant...I know any lack of bend at this point is my biomechanics issue. I can still feel the right side of my body pulling forward when I track left. I try to open my hip, bend my right knee etc but its just aggravating.
Not that Tillie seems to care with my flailing around and wiggling. lol
She was much more even in both reins even when changing the rein . While our trot started a bit flat, she moved into the bridle nicely when I asked, without diving. We did a couple of the small fences set up again just to see about maintaining the rhythm and softness through her back and she did it flawlessly! I played a bit too with some lateral movements mostly making sure I could move her haunches where I wanted them and it was so ridiculously easy...if only it was that easy every ride!
I decided to push the limits and hack out in the top field. Last year Tillie thought there were horse eating gremlins and more often would freak out then behave.
Ill admit, when she is this well behaved, my confidence soars. I really feel like we can conquer more and I get a bit braver as a rider - exhibit A: Hacking out in the field with deer leaping and running around.
I was really hoping this year to be a huge break through in Tillie and I's progress...which I was hoping would mean showing until I became bored at the level. Honestly I came into this season thinking we would be killing it at Novice by this time this year.
As we all have experienced our horses sometimes have different plans in store for us...and my fire cracker mare just cant help but injure herself right at the most inopportune times and always just long enough to slide back a few clicks. - don't worry ill try not to get too whiny in this post.
Tille really enjoying her time off by eating A LOT.
SIDE NOTE: I am so incredibly excited for my barn mates and fellow blogger Emma and B who both have been working hard with their horses, competing all year and just over all killing it. The improvements made by both pairs have been amazing! They both are what I hope Tillie and I will be one day.
With that said, it makes me a bit sad I am not out there with them. Ok more then a bit - a lot sad. I have only been able to get us to two starter trials when my goal was to do at least 4 with some jumper shows sprinkled in. *sigh*
I know Tillie and I are progressing...it just feels like the slowest progression on earth. I know I need to be patient and understanding. That is so much easier said then done. I realize our goals are different now. We are focusing on smaller (but HUGELY important) things that sometimes I find difficult to feel good about. Like finding the right trot or canter. I KNOW these are important, I just get so frustrated at ride after ride and now a full year later this is what we still are focusing on.
Tillie doesnt know what all the fuss is about.
OK OK I know, I am starting to sound sorry for myself, but I find it really hard to find motivation without having that looming show on the horizon.
I get tired after a long day and excuse myself from a ride thinking "what will one off day here or there hurt?"
I know for Tillie they hurt a lot in the bigger picture. Mare needs miles. That is one less day she gets them...but finding that motivation to push through and with winter coming is really really hard.
So I am trying to challenge myself to go X amount of days in a row riding. Even if it means early mornings...Lol ok who am I kidding. I am the snooze button queen, but I need to start somewhere right?!
Motivation of the day: Our first ST of the year at BN and Tillie was a bit wild in stadium, but still the best pony I could ask for especially saving my butt XC.
Al whining aside, I know my focus and motivation needs to stay on the small things. So I promise to keep taking lessons as much as possible and working on my confidence.
Doing my homework:
My last blog post (slower and deeper) was outlining what I know my immediate goals are. One of the biggest ones is not using my reins as much to maintain Tillie's tempo when she gets too fast on the flat or over fences.
So Saturday's ride that is EXACTLY what I did. I got on and resolved to try not to touch my reins through our warm up at the walk, trot and (wait for it) canter. In true tillie fashion it took some time to settle into the trot. She really wants to rush and build. I was using my legs so hard I thought I might die.
Tillie says "But I's a good girl?!"
Finally we found a good tempo and so I took a big breath and went for the canter. Shockingly, Tillie strolled around like it was no big deal.
I contemplated calling it a day on that, but decided I need to do better about pushing the limits sometimes and today felt like one of those days. So I set up a few X rails.
I started on the circle like my last D lesson. First at the trot and then at the canter. It was so smooth and fun, I felt like the luckiest horse owner in the world. So it begs the question, why does she act so much nuttier in D lessons?
One ear on me at all times saturday
My theory, I tense up and over ride my horse. Not to say she isnt at fault sometimes...but I do think its me. So back to chipping away to just chilling out which this winter with D away in Aiken will be a good time to evaluate.
Tillie oblivious to how psyched I was after that ride
Unfortunately I do not have any photos from our weds night lesson with D, but it was a good one! It was perfectly balanced with frustrations and break throughs...which normally I feel like my lessons with D are more on the frustrated side.
I rode her in the HS Shaped snaffle, not knowing if he would keep us on the ground or jump...Either way the shaped snaffle is ok to jump in just not ideal when she gets strong.
We started where we left off last lesson on flatwork. The walk we got fairly quickly with a lot of "goods" which is always exciting to hear from D. Pushing into the trot she always starts off excitable lately and was just about getting a correct forward with looser/light contact to let her settle into the tempo first. He brought up the dressage pyramid:
He reminded me that this applies more to just the bigger picture but also within every single ride. She needs to have a rhythm and be relaxed before we pick up a contact and ask her to push into a connection.
So once she did settle into the trot despite being a giraffe, we really worked on getting her connected by slowing the trot without losing energy and riding her deeper (I thought my legs were going to fall off).
Usually what I am saying in my head to Tillie when we trot.
It is interesting to me the different approaches D uses versus C. D likes to get her slower to connect, C likes to ask me to push her more forward. Both work better depending on the day it seems. When it came time to canter he wanted me trying to prevent her from coming above the bit, so riding a strong half halt just before and do a better job holding the outside rein since she has a tendency to swing her haunches out.
He scolded me on the same thing C did when she breaks and jumps right back into the canter...I need to so better asking her to maintain or when she breaks making her TROT.
He really wanted me focusing on getting an even feel in both reins so long as the inside rein wasnt too heavy. I actually got a nice comment that I am riding her more correctly than I used to flatting, I just need to still focus on my hands when it comes to jumping.
So we did jump a little over a X-rail off a circle. I got scolded again when he said to jump that Tillie wanted to trot off above contact/on no contact..."Jumping should be the same as flatwork!!!! My biggest pet peeve is when that gets thrown away as soon as jumps come in the mix."
I died a little inside.
But we took a lap, got connected and he had me use the turn/bend to soften her. He also said I need to be more supportive right to the base so she doesnt drop her shoulders. So here lies my issue.
D said my hands when I jump raise higher and come back...I need to use my body more to balance her without throwing away my hands. This concept is so amazingly simple. Putting it into practice is another thing.
All in all I walked away knowing my homework - jump all the things and do it repetitively over small things correctly to fix the leaning on my hands and my own issue with my hands.
Finally, we are starting to settle into a training schedule...with her shenanigans and my work calming down maybe we can stay on another positive streak!
I really wanted to get back in the saddle right away after our lesson with C to make sure I could freshly remember the feel of what we worked on. So away we went! I tried not to think of pretty anything, so doubt we were really connect or in a deep enough frame, but rather worked on the step behind and staying lighter in front. I also tried to take C's advice and ASK for what I wanted quickly and concisely...rather than a holding aid but a effective, quick aid and increase it if needed. So I tried to "Speak softy and carry a big stick"
First I let her walk on a loose rein both directions really just asking nothing just letting my legs "flap" and trying to allow her to freely swing her back. After she settled in and found a good rhythm I slowly started picking up my reins with the goal of not breaking the rhythm or tempo.
Once there, I began thinking about my hands - Giving more with the right hand and asking of more with the left (In general this seems to be true for me no matter which direction we go),
I can only imagine her expression based on the ears back "I'm over this" stance.
Once the walk felt good, I asked for a trot. She got a bit wound up at first and it took two 20m circles to get her to relax, all while using my body to do it and not my hands. I really focused on making my post deliberate and sitting tall and more forward than usual.
Left was her harder side on Sunday so I decided to start there...she wants to fall in that direction and not bend as much so C suggested letting her fall into a smaller circle until she re-balances herself. So that I did hearing C's voice in my head reminding me not to use my outside, right rein to hold her or pull her out, but rather inside left leg.
It was hard for her but we did it! Then we changed the rein and tracked right for a bit which was much easier. I then decided to do serpentines to focus on staying consistent in our rhythm through the change. Tillie has the tendency to speed up or slow down depending on the day.
Last but not least, we worked on our canter. I tried to listen to what C said and not surprise her so much in the transition and well they felt as smooth as glass! I stayed light in my seat and was more in a half seat to allow like C suggested and let her settle, then added the "flutter" leg to get the inside hind to jump. She was a good girl!
I did tie twine to my stirrups to help me keep my leg where it needed to be (A suggestion from a different trainer) and boy were my legs on fire.
This past Sunday, fellow blogger, Emma, kindly trailered Tillie and I to a dressage lesson. Tillie walked right on, stood like a lady and was a pleasure overall to handle. She did have a miner mare moment when she attempted to eat Isabelle when Isabelle was unloading for her turn...Ah mares.
Emma also snapped a few short clips for us (below)! Knowing this was only our 6th or 7th ride back into work, C had us work on starting over. She fondly said time off can be a blessing in that you get to have a blank canvas...and I couldn't agree more since I know I was getting a bit frustrated around the time she needed stall rest.
Below is a list of things we worked on (probably more for me to remember):
Walk:
Relaxing my lower leg down and only using it "quickly" on and off not just holding.
Keep Tillie higher, not letting her bury herself low and in her shoulder so much
Keep the tempo she has on the loose rein the same as when putting her together
Stirrups more on the ball of my foot
Lower leg back more underneath my body
Sit more on pelvis to feel the "triangle" of points of my seat (I tend to sit too far back on my butt bones which drives her forward and down on the forehand)
Trot:
Make a deliberate post (rather than the back to front shimmying I was doing) and sit lighter to not get behind the motion.
Dont worry so much about the transition being perfect. Should be deliberate and pushing from behind.
Tracking left she was tighter - I need to step more left, left shoulder back, inside hand slightly higher, outside right hand softer, lower and allowing her to bend.
Let her fall in on the smaller circle so she can rebalance herself, push her out with the inside left leg to be used on and off with each post (not staying on)
Tracking right, much softer and keep the left shoulder straighter to prevent over-bending.
Canter:
Let the trot build to the canter, transitions have been so exciting because of me not giving enough warning at the trot and essentially surprising her into it
Dont sit the canter, stay lighter and out of the saddle
Inside leg back and on and off to get the inside hind leg to "jump"
If she breaks, dont rush back into the canter, deliberately trot and correct.
I forgot my dressage saddle, so in these I am riding in my new jump saddle (PF).
It has been getting colder out and the colder weather + field change = a very wound up Tillie. Tillie confused her gender as Stallion on Friday, filled with snorting, tail up and neck arched...
For those of you that cant see the video here are a few stills:
Look what I can do mom!
Watch me Whip...
Watch me neigh neigh
Oh watch me, watch me!
I don't always tranter....but when I do its awesome.
Just before this 5 minute episode, we had a lovely ride. Which Tillie clearly felt depleted her energy to enough to warrant:
Must. Eat. Before. I. Starve.
I have decided to try her on Depo again and so far, no negative swelling like last time...and hopefully will keep her stallion like behavior to a minimum.
