Going back to basics

I am still catching up on blog posts since I have been a bit MIA on here for a while. But basically in our land, we are filling in holes and re-assessing basics.

Going back to basics often is a good thing, but it can often times feel like a step back. I am trying not to allow that feeling to creep in because basics are, after all, the foundation. Without those building blocks everything else will come crashing down at some point.

So we can get killer jump form like this again

My last jump lesson with Dom last week, we kept the jumps low...we tried a new bit and wanted to work on some of my own frustrations and to iron out my own inconsistencies. Like being able to see a distance.

We warmed up over a x-rail - simple enough right? But it was a great way to establish how this new bit felt:

Pretty  quickly I felt a difference and Dom and I discussed saving this bit for competing only, or schooling XC. He recommended we keep schooling in our snaffle bit in the hopes she would learn from the gag and carry it over to the loose ring snaffle.

So Dom sent us through a mini course with a line which has been giving us the most trouble lately since she locks on and gets flat through them. Basically not giving me any response to a half halt at all...but she did and it was more or less me needing to work on finding the right canter and then leaving it alone:

It would help if we didn't almost run into someone

Dom sent us through the outside line a few times to feel how riding different approaches to the first jump and how it changes the ride to the second. So here is getting the chip in, which isn't the ride we want but tends to be what I do as a rider when I cant see a distance:

So he reversed the course and had us run through it again this time we found a slightly better rhythm:

Now I need to learn how to keep her forward through the turns with her responding better to the half halt so we can get the better distance. As Dom says "Getting to the base or deep to the fence doesn't always mean by adding a stride, it sometimes means pushing the stride out to get closer"

Tillie the lesson horse

Lately I have been trying to see if I can use Tillie for some of my advanced riders' lessons (Note: I do not want her being a lesson horse at all but hear me out). I am hesitant to do this for many obvious reasons (one being she is so unpredictable) but I do think it is good for her mentally to accept other riders then just myself...since she does sometimes to seem to protest riders. 

I think here and there, she can and should be able handle this just fine. I know which students can handle it and use the opportunity to teach my students some things the older "up-down" lesson horses do (like lateral movements) while also testing Tillie to see how well she can reproduce what training we have established. So for her its knowledge she knows so there is no confusion, just getting used to someone other then me asking. 

One of my advanced kids jumping Tillie earlier this summer on a quiet day...eeeek!

I have used her sporadically before but usually always on a lunge line for most of the lesson, especially cantering. Oddly enough, she tends to be pretty darn quiet for students...my theory is they don't use the same amount of leg and just are less sure of the aids or leg usage so she happily thinks shes coasting and getting away with doing less. I dont want her falling into this mindset though, hence the whole not doing this very often. 

Tillie LOVES attention and is very sweet with the kids.

I have one talented student as of late that has ridden her now the past two Sundays with me being sick... I have at least been able to use the lessons as an opportunity to educate this rider on handling a forward thinking horse properly while getting those basic buttons pushed for Tillie to have her remember them.

She handles her very well and the first time Tillie got a little stronger for her in canter, she did a great job sitting tall and still listen to my voice rather then freeze and get her supple enough again to stop bracing (which is what she always is doing when the heavy/strong rushing gait happens). 

I was pleasantly surprised the first lesson with this rider where we worked on a trot canter trot exercise. Both of them nailed it.

There were times where I could barely lead my horse...
and here she is behaving like a lady for my student.

The following lesson when we built on that and talked more about leads, the student struggled a bit getting Tillie to stay as quiet. I believe it was from overusing leg and Tillie just got offended and never recovered and settled back down. 

The rider stayed calm though and was determined. She eventually did get through the exercise, just not as smoothly as the week prior. Was it as quiet from Tillie as I would have liked? no...BUT she did behave according to Tillie standards. In hindsight, while Tillie's forwardness in the lesson made me a bit frustrated and thinking she hasnt progressed, she really has. If her bad day was just that she had a bit more bracing going on and slightly more forward over the leaping through the air, tail swishing and other shenanigans - I consider that a win. 

Loch Moy - Dressage

With the day being so packed with awesomeness, I will be breaking down the three phases of Loch Moy in different posts...I hope the anticipation isn't too much to handle!

The morning of the show was an early one since fellow trailer mate, Brita, had a dressage time before 8am. Luckily for me, I was so beat after CHA and lessons and keeping myself busy, I came home and crashed early so waking up at 4 wasn't so bad. More importantly I didn't have any time to get in my head and get nervous.

Brita put in nice test with her boy and we quickly ran off to get a cart for Emma to walk our XC course. Fellow blogger, Austen, also joined us! She was such an amazing help and event lent me her belt (opps!) for the day.

Thanks Austen for this picture! 

Well right after our course walk, we rushed back and I got myself ready. I thought I had given myself enough time, but I didnt plan on Tillie coming off the trailer a nervous ball of tension. They were running ahead of schedule and I should have declined and opted to do a few minutes longer...so I only got about 20 minutes.

Luckily, Tillie JUST started to settle and while she didnt feel that great, it was good enough. Re-watching the video the first few times, I focused on Tillie and agreed it looked better then it felt. BUT when I watched it and focused on me, I was appalled at how noisy of a rider I appeared to be. **Sigh** I guess the quiet ride all around will come with time.

I am grateful I had such a strong support system which included a bonus of Emma yelling profanities at me to get me to look up not down at my horses neck....I never want to show again without them!

Anywhere here is the video:

So yea....that happened. In the moment, it happened so fast I was shocked. But I went back in and asked to finish. We did, and silly mare tried to pull the same trick again. Not really sure what gremlin was lurking on the inside of the right entrance, but Tillie thought there was one for sure.

The moment I knew I botched royally

It ended up taking a lot of the pressure off and you could even see her relax that much more since I did. I was severely disappointed and it was my first Elimination in dressage ever - but I guess there is a first time for everything right? I was even more disappointed that, despite the judge allowing me to finish, didnt score the remainder of my test...with it being a starter trial, we all assumed they would to at least give my something to go off of.

If only we had a test to score the lovely parts! 

I was really ready to cry. I felt tears stinging and kept trying to tell myself it happens, but it still just sucks. At least this event still allowed me to jump (which I was really not feeling up to at first and felt maybe this test was a bad omen). But Emma convinced me to and insisted I would regret it if I didnt.

Oh haaaaaay fancy pants.

So lesson learned: I need to prep for a longer warm up and I need to not forget to steer. 

Another lovely ride!

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.

Clearly Tillie didnt care one bit:

Slower and deeper

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.

Speak softly and carry a big stick

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.

Evil pony! 

Soooo thirsty after working so hard.

Sunday struggles (Dressage lesson)

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).

Oh lessons how much I have missed you

FINALLY!!!! I have a horse that can stay sane enough and was sound to ride in the weekly Tuesday lessons with Emma.

Old picture, but captures Tillie's enthusiasm perfectly 

While I felt the lesson was a bit lack luster in general (Ill explain more in a moment), it felt nice to be back in the swing of things.

The lesson went long actually, closer to an hour and a half.  It worked well since we took turns under the magnifying glass with D and then would go walk on a loose rein or watch while the other one went.

Tillie and I focused on the walk and trot really trying to work through resistance and activating her hind end without losing the rhythm. She has a tendency to find a good rhythm and small steps but be a bit lackluster and flat, but when starting to ask for more push she starts to rush and lose the rhythm.

So in true trainer fashion it was all about LEG last night. Inside leg at the girth, outside leg slightly back to protect the haunches from swinging (all while keeping my heel down when using leg which is sooooooo hard!). He had me try some sitting trot to really use a driving seat and alternate with posting. Trying to get her to relax without being "dead"

Tillie also was being quite rude and trying to root here and there to which D exclaimed - That is resistance and you need to reprimand her. Well I guess what I was doing to correct it wasnt blatant enough and he pushed me a bit further asking to see her react. I admit a lot of times I am guilty of avoiding the fight with Tillie because she gets so tense and offended, but I think that is exactly what D wanted so we could attempt to work through that.

Tried on a new bonnet I got on clearance...Tillie clearly loved it.
Does this new bonnet make my ears look big?

By the time I figured out what he wanted we were an hour into the lesson, but I finally had a "OHHHHHH, I get it..." moment. Tillie slightly shut down on me, but she did eventually give me different answers and tried. Being only our 4th ride back since being out of work, that is fine for me.

Emma kindly snapped this shot at some point in our lesson...Hey she really can extend that short neck of hers! 

New bits new problems

So this weekend was rainy and chilly - two things Tillie thinks are good excuses to be a bit sassy. We eventers usually dont mind a bit of bad weather, but it was really windy as well which caused me to sit on the sidelines until yesterday. Despite it still being chilly and dreary out, yesterdays ride Tillie chose to remain pretty sane sans sassy (but not totally!)

New Bit:

So my last post I asked about possible new bits to try so Tillie couldn't lean as much as she is now on the shaped snaffle. I opted to try for an eggbutt slow twist snaffle. 

Result:

It didnt make a screamingly huge difference, but it did make a difference in the canter. She was a bit inconsistent in it at first but I let her walk and trot around with a loose rein to get a feel for it at first. I am trying to re-attack the basics and trotting on a loose rein should be something Tillie can do. I know canter should be too, but her excitement levels dont really allow me to trust that right now...

Anyway...I felt I could half halt much better and give back more than the other bit. A few times could get her to sigh or breath out and relax which for her at the trot is HUGE! We will see if it sticks! 

Tillie says, "That was fun!"

One more because shes pretty!

Pot roast and pumpkin beer (Yea we do it fancy in my house) after a cold day! 

Found this gem online today and it sounded so much like tillie: http://www.horsecollaborative.com/15-moments-that-perfectly-sum-up-riding-a-cold-backed-horse/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=cold-horse 

Luckily the weather isnt so hot I can start using out BOT blanket to help!

Dusting off cobwebs...

RECAP:

I know I have been a bit MIA from blogging, but work and design work has really taken its toll on saddle time lately :( I have only sat on Tillie 3 times since shes been cleared to return into work which is NOT enough for my high energy powder keg. 

BUT luckily, fellow blogger Miseventer has kindly helped ride her as well. I am sincerely hoping she will consider taking over part of the ride on Tillie to help her stay in more consistent work and help me get more mileage. I really think at this point Tillie needs repetition and just more time under saddle to mentally settle in and accept the aids better. 

Anyway...I didnt realize my students were filming and discovered a few stills and a video from our ride.

Tillie having a nice uphill canter! 

CANTER WORK:

Her canter work right now is a bit of a struggle...poor Miseventer had the misfortune (lol alliteration?) of experiencing just how ride Tillie can get when she feels something is too difficult. Since coming back into work she really looks for me or her rider to "help" her more and attempts to really lean or hang on one rein or both depending on that moment in time.

My solution was to try to do some over exaggerated counter bending, inside bending and then riding straight. I found this allowed me to alleviate tension on one of my reins and I could soften without her leaning on it and fill up the outside rein more appropriately rather than hanging on the inside rein. 

So the below clip is my attempting it at the canter, which at the end asking her to go straight (which is when she goes out of the view) she breaks so I circled back to try again...she did do it, but unfortunately this is all my students shot.

GOAL:

My immediate goal is to get her canter trot canter transitions back to being smoother...especially canter-trot as she really has a hard time responding to my seat to come down to the trot. She will happily canter along in this itty bitty canter rather than come down to the trot. We were just ironing this out before our break so cant expect too much yet...

BIT SUGGESTIONS?

I have been toying with the idea of trying her in a slightly harsher bit for jumping since earlier this summer with her tendency to cross her jaw and race - right now she goes in a HS Shaped snaffle which shes been going really well in for dressage since this winter. 

I do think she would benefit from a few rides flatting in more bit right now too...so I am looking for suggestions! I was thinking a slow twist snaffle...anyone else have any recommendations?! 

Guess who's back in business!!

Hopefully without any more hiccups!  Tillie is back in work and we have had 2 rides under saddle so far. I rode in the PF jump saddle and so far realllllly LOVE IT! I may have to ask Emma write a guest blog on it since shes been borrowing it and riding in it much more then I have so far...

After the first ride back! 

First ride, we kept it simple and I really only expected basics. I re-pushed some buttons to make sure they are fully installed and not sticky or rusty ;) All was good and there was no sass or unnecessary excitement. 

Add caption

Just cuz shes cute! 

Second ride back we braved the canter...and it woke the beast a bit to say the least. She was perfectly fine and did exactly what I expected which was celebrate how fun going fast is!!! She did some head tossing, shoulder flinging and finally some dolphin diving/leaping to really express how much she enjoyed stepping up a gear. 

Clearly please with herself after the second ride...notice my stubben has slipped forward from the head-between-the-knees celebrations. 

Tillie really clearly enjoyed herself in our ride and was eager to work. A good friend who has seen Tille go a lot over the last two years remarked how even she looked and it looked like she was the most "sound" and comfortable ever!

One of my students taking Tillie out after our ride.

Tillie has gained quite the belly while out of work!