I had a whole lesson plan in my head as I led a lazy Hampton out to the arena today.
I picked out two exercises from 101 Exercises for Dressage riders that catered to his specific issues right now. Balance, and flying changes. I had visions of nailing the exercises and really focusing on an upright, bouncy canter.
Those with horses probably see where this is going.
I had not even made one lap around the ring at a walk before Hampton started snorting and spooking at two people who were working on a trailer in the indoor. There was a lot of tensing of the neck and craning his neck around to have a look. I wouldn't really call it "spooking," I would say his general attitude was:
"Oh! What's going on over there? I want to look. Stop asking me to work. Shush up there. NO. I am going to look at what's going on!"
This is what I like to call "going off the grid." It is when Hampton is so distracted that ALL of my aids stop working. If you get after him, it REALLY turns into a pissing match. I have almost gotten bucked off a couple of times because I got after his ass when he was off the grid.
In the past, I would have gotten irritated. I would have picked a fight and MADE him work past the "scary" spot. The session would have ended with us both dripping in sweat, hating each other and I would have written up his sales ad in my head.
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| FOR SALE: One Indiana Warmblood with no brain! |
But today ... instead I walked him calmly out of the ring and to the back fields. We did hill work with PLENTY of transitions. I am talking walk-canter one stride-walk repeatedly up a rather steep hill. I was quiet with my aids, but gosh darn it if that horse didn't sit and lower his haunches. We also did lateral work up and down hills, and extended trot going up hill. I also asked him to back UP a hill a couple of times. He was grunting by the end.
And not a lick of distracted behavior.
So instead of ending the ride hating my horse, he got cookies for working so hard. Instead of wanting to sell him to the first bidder, I'll keep him another day.
All because I picked a different path today.
"Going off grid." That's a perfect way to describe it. I really liked how you took advantage and turned things around ending on not just a good note, a fabulous note. There are days to pick battles and then there are days like this.
ReplyDeleteThat's riding smart for sure!
ReplyDeleteugh i can have a very hard time walking away from my 'lesson plans' lol - you're right tho, being adaptable frequently gets better results
ReplyDeleteI love it. This is somewhat the philosophy I've adopted with Courage, and it is so much better for both of us. Night and day.
ReplyDeleteI'm slowly learning how much better it is to do this. This was another good reminder :)
ReplyDeleteI like the phrase "going off the grid" to describe that kind of a ride, super accurate!
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of going into rides with a plan, but one thing my Trainer always tells me is that I have to be willing to change the plan. Kudos to you!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely need to remember this - great way to handle those days!
ReplyDeleteIt makes a difference for sure! So hard to remember in the moment sometimes.. good job!
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