Education-palooza

Unrelated, by somebody got a new brow band! 

Hampton probably thinks I have lost my damn mind. After the amazingness of the JJ Tate clinic, we turned right around and participated in a clinic with Courtney King Dye on Sunday.

(sidenotes: The JJ post will come soon. I am still waiting on the video. My friend who took video is currently getting married. And she is not in the country soooo ... I'm not going to bug her for my clinic video right now. haha. Also, if you are not familiar with Courtney's story - you can click HERE, or go to Chronicle of the Horse forums and catch up)

I was really pleased with the CKD clinic. Hampton was on good behavior. I was a little worried because earlier this week he was PSYCHO. But he behaved himself and even wanted to show off a bit.

CKD had me shorten his neck "more than you are comfortable with," she said. The porkchop isn't one to carry his head that high naturally, so he was getting a bit confused with my constant nagging to keep his neck up and short. He assumed I wanted half/steps or piaffe and so that is what he did. It was a fair response.

Neck too low. Karen's reins too long. Womp womp.

I really liked how CKD explained that instead of stopping him from piaffing, that I should direct that issue into something positive. So when he would mistakenly piaffe, I would just do shoulder-in. That resulted in him walking normally but without "punishing" him for piaffing (which I would never do anyway).

We also worked on many transitions. I have a BAD BAD habit of letting my reins slip through my hands, and also my elbows are too nice. This is identical to what JJ Tate told me. I need to anchor my elbows and not be so wishy washy with the contact. AND KEEP MY REINS SHORT FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY.

Looking more Third-level like. But I could probably still shorten my reins.

Something interesting CKD said to me: Use more rein in the upward transition and more leg in the downward. After I got my brain together (so much multitasking going on now because through all of this I had to remind Hamps every stride to keep his neck up), I started to get the hang of it and we had some nice transitions from walk to trot, and trot to walk. We worked so hard that we didn't even canter. Totally fine by me because I know if I can improve the basics, that the movements will happen.

Keep that neck up, horse.

So overall I really enjoyed my lesson. There were only a couple times when I found it difficult to understand CKD. But for the most part I understood her just fine. You can tell that she has a wealth of knowledge and is a perfectionist. Probably why she was a 2008 Olympian!

After our ride, Hampton had to do his least favorite activity ever.

Tying to the trailer.

He hates it and believes it is cruelty. He fusses, and paws, and tries to untie himself, and chews on things, and paws some more. Interestingly enough, when I walked away from him to get a drink - he quit and stood like a proper cowhorse! Busted! Getting him to stand tied - quietly - by the trailer may have actually been the biggest success of the day.

Caught in the act! It's a damn miracle people.
He is actually capable of standing tied quietly!

Poor abused pony.

Now it is time to take what we have learned the past 2 weeks into the show ring. We have a schooling show on Saturday so I can run through Third 1 and Third 3 and see where my weaknesses are. It's actually back home again in Indiana, so I am looking forward to that. :) Off we go for more craziness!