The Making of a Freestyle: Part 1 (music & elements)

I am going to attempt to write a series about how I go about making this new freestyle. I am hoping it helps others in my position who can't afford the $800+ for a professional to make them one, or would just rather do it themselves regardless.

SO ... here is Part 1.

Selecting music and choreography elements

I really loved everyone's input on my theme selection. I have decided to go with the Talking Heads. They are obviously da shizznit, I love the music, and there is plenty of variety plus their songs often have decent portions with no lyrics but plenty of funk.

Right now I am listening to a couple of their albums while I drive to the barn in the mornings, making notes on which songs I think might fit Hampton and/or certain movements. Once I have 5-6 songs to choose from, I will listen to them while watching video of Hampton to match them with his gaits.

The first thing you should do is determine how many beats per minute (bpm) your horse has in walk, trot, canter. Then you can match that gait with a song with the same bpm. With the right software, you can slow down or speed up the song but don't go overboard or it will distort the song. Unless you are into that kind of thing I guess.

Once I have a more solid idea of songs, I am going to burn those on a CD/iTunes and play them while I ride. Then I will be able to make final decisions.

The process of finding songs is still in progress, but meanwhile you can also familiarize yourself with that movements you can/should/cannot do at the level of freestyle you are aiming for.

CLICK HERE for the PDF of the 4th level freestyle score sheet. Has more details.

Since I will be showing at 4th level freestyle some things I need to note:
MAX time: 5 minutes
SCORING: You are scored on both technical and artistic impressions
MOVEMENTS: I am allowed to perform any movement in 4th level, or any level below. In addition, trot/canter zig zags, 8m circles, canter half pirouttes, and 4 and 3 tempis are also allowed.
Movements that are required include: halts, walk (collected and extended), shoulder-in, trot and canter half pass (both directions), extended trot, flying change every 4th stride, working half pirouette at the canter, and extended canter.

WARNING: If you sneak in movements ABOVE the level you are showing at, you will get knocked 4 points from your total for each illegal movement. So, for instance, I could not be like "Look at these amazing 1-tempis we can do!" ... or piaffe or anything like that.

So that's where I am at!

Next up: Qualifying for a freestyle

Thinking of a theme

A picture from summer because it was 13 degrees this morning.

One of my goals for next year is to do a freestyle.

My Third Level freestyle was ... not good. It was not what the judges want, even tho it was fun to ride for me personally. Unfortunately, in order to get good scores I am going to have to sell out and play their game. Which means, I am going to create a brand new freestyle for 4th level. I will have the help of my coach this time, too.

Her instructions to me were to start picking out music.

And - it should preferably have a theme.

I am going to save a Phish freestyle for Grand Prix, so that's out.

Also themes I refuse to ride to include BOR-ING classical music, twangy country, bluegrass, anything remotely resembling Nickelback, and emo.

So I am coming to you - my dear blogging friends - for your opinions.

Below you should find a poll on which theme you like best. Help me decide! Also, please feel free to leave specific song suggestions in the comments, too.

What should Hampton dance to?

80s theme (general)

80s theme (funk. i.e. Golden Earring, etc.)

The Talking Heads

Dave Matthews Band

90s theme

Disco Biscuits (untz music theme)

The Development Year

How is 2016 almost over?! Holy crap.

2016 loot. Not bad!! 

I didn't really set many specific goals for this year, because I knew that it was probably going to be a development year for us.

It was time to really make the move up from Third level to "upper level" and that is so easy task. No more fucking around. For real.

We did do a fair amount of showing in the spring and early summer, but after that I decided to really get into a regular lesson program and spent my (very little) money there, instead of shows. Let's be real, I am now in territory where I really have no utter clue what I am doing. Tempi changes, canter pirouettes, zig zags!? It is by far the most challenging riding I have ever attempted. Somehow Hampton manages to figure out what I want most of the time, and for that he is a Saint.

Staying in regular lessons has really been one smart decision because we are making some great progress. Granted, we are still very much a work in progress but we do not look as drunk and clueless as we used to in certain movements. ha.

I invented a new dressage salute.

I think I'll do a separate post for 2017 goals. But of course my top priority is that my horse and myself are happy and healthy. If you and your horse are healthy, you have everything. You really do.

So anyway! Here is a quick roundup of 2016:

JANUARY
 -- Basically just froze our asses off

FEBRUARY
-- We participated in a clinic with Lainey Ashker. A really good time, and Hampton got to show off what a great jumper he is.

-- Ooops I purchased a saddlebred with BFF Liz! Welcome Royale!

Right off the trailer. Little squirt.

MARCH
-- We go to a local schooling show and have pretty good rides. We pulled off a 69.5% at 3-1, and a 64+% in 4-1.

APRIL
-- We head out to Majestic Farm for our first rated show of the year. It is WINDY, COLD and fucking SNOWED. Hamps got a little naughty about the indoor, but overall we had a good show. We got our first score toward our Silver medal. Scores were 61% are 3-1; 61% at 4-1; and 64% at 4-1.

Remember this comment we go though?!? LOL!!!

MAY
-- After losing a shoe and his face swelling up, I manage to get to the IDS schooling show with Hampton AND Royale. The 3-year-old saddlebred is basically perfect at his first show ever, pulling a 66% and a 69% at Intro. (Remember, he was barely broke at this stage in the game). Hamps was a little tired, and my back was in terrible shape but we earned a 64+% at 3-1, and then a 61% in 3-3 while in the snaffle. It was just not my best riding, but we got it done.

JUNE
-- We show at the Indy Dressage Classic. Temps are sweltering. Borderline dangerous, actually.
In 4-1, I had zero horse and zero energy to hold him up. We struggle through the test and squeak out a 58%. On Sunday I decided to quit f-ing around and got after him a little, had a much better ride and earned our second Silver score with a 61+%.

So hot coats were waived and I took them up on it.

JULY
-- I go back to another IDS show, but leave Hamp at home this time. Baby Royale in the spotlight! He is completely unphased by the heat, and in fact was fresh and squirrely in the first test! But was much more focused and won the second class with a 70% in Intro B! Can't forget that I got to spend time with Jenn from Cob Jockey who kept me well fed and laughing, when really all of us just wanted to stick our heads in a bucket of ice. Meanwhile, Hamps is struggling with feet issues. And Royale comes to KY.

Good chicken nugget!

AUGUST
-- No shows this month (frankly I was burned out), but we did have the amazing opportunity to ride in a clinic with Liz Austin.

SEPTEMBER
-- I bought a condo, and we moved barns. Focus on training & lessons.

Hamps works on his artistic body art

OCTOBER
--Hampton starts cribbing. UGH. But we keep plugging away at 4th/PSG. Royale goes back to Indiana at the end of the month.

NOVEMBER
-- More training. And we earn 5th place in 4th level AA from KDA. Donald Trump somehow gets elected President of the United States.

DECEMBER
-- Back to freezes our butts off, but the footing in the covered arena has not frozen yet so we keep working!

Whew. Onto 2017!!

It's not you, it's me

Notice really how enormous Hampton is ...

Lately I have been having trouble with the right half pass. Hampton would get stuck, not really bend, not bring the haunches, go rein lame, you name it.

I was starting to think that maybe he really does need a major vet workup because the left half pass is FINE. Lovely, in fact.

Remember this for later.

....

Back at a schooling show in May, I threw my back out. Like, I had to stop riding and catch my breath. That sort of thing just never happens to me. Throughout this year, this same pain has been chronic - on and off. It is the left side of my lower back.

My when my back hurts all the time
Or, Buckley when is food bowl is empty.

Over the past month or so, it was getting to the point where it was difficult for me to even put my socks on in the morning. Or sit in the car. Anytime I put weight on my left leg, my back would spasm. Anytime I bent over. Even at sometimes random moments. Cantering Hampton would become painful - and thus I would brace and that didn't help anything.

After 3 visits to the chiro, and 2 massages from 2 different people - I was no better.

What the hell.

So on Tuesday I saw a physical therapist. She worked on me for well over an hour. She explained that my SI joint AND pelvis were pretty torqued up and to the left. It was so bad, that even my collar bone was up on the left. My entire body was affected.

While she was working on me, she said "You know, this type of injury I have seen from people who have jumped off something. It is an impact injury."

That's interesting, I thought. What tall thing do I jump off of on a daily basis?!?!

The guilty party

So after seeing the miracle worker, and one pill of Tramadol (a narcotic. I sure did not feel any pain the rest of the day but it made me feel AWFUL! How do drug addicts function?!) ... I felt only a few twinges the day after, and today I have been pain free.

So no more jumping off Hampton for a while. That's ok, he will stand by the mounting block while I climb down. Sorry pal, your human is getting old.

I guess if you own a 17 hand horse, maybe be more careful dismounting and don't just plop down like you are 15 years old again. That is the lesson here kids.

.....

When I rode Hampton in my lesson, guess what.

Right half pass no problem.

The coffin

My wonderful fellow bloggers I need some advice.

Here's the deal.

Here is the current situation of my tack trunk:

My trunk is lovingly referred to as "the coffin." My dad purchased this baby for me A LONG time ago when I was a student at the University of Findlay. (ummm damn near 20 years ago holy shit)

He customized it a little with wheels and a put saddle rack inside. It has made the trek with me to college, numerous barns, 3 horses and a shit ton of tack. It has trapped a number of barn cats (all lived to tell the tale), and has been well used over the years.

When I was working on the Morgan breeding farm, one of the very ornery barn boys would constantly tell me I "had a nice chest." After smacking him repeatedly, he pointed at my tack trunk and said "NO -- THAT CHEST!" .... hahaha, so after that it was named "the coffin."

Anyway. I simply have outgrown the coffin. For right now, I have two additional tubs I keep next to it. But my space looks disorganized and cluttered, and it's sort of making my eye twitch. My bridles hang on a hook and constantly get dusty from the barn aisle. But the bigger deal is that my saddle does not fit in the coffin. The cantle is just too tall. I was riding huntseat when I first got the coffin, and of course those saddles fit in it perfectly. So as it is, I can't really lock it and I would really like to be able to lock it. I don't really want to just stuff my saddle down in there. I would rather have it on a rack, seeing as how it is my saddle and all. And I love it.

So, I have been thinking about retiring the coffin to just a storage contained for blankets, saddle pads, random stuff I don't use that often. Medical supplies, etc. etc.

Which means I am going to need an upgraded track trunk/locker.

At first I was all like "Oh hell no I am not spending more than $200 on a BOX." But then I realized that I could maybe really save up and invest in something nice, because it will last a really long time. Just as the coffin has.

At first I looked to Dover, which had this handy thing on sale:

But then I saw the price and about choked. No. ($700+ ? are you high, Dover?)

BUT!! Then I remembered someone posting about Stable Lockers. (Hillary? was that you?). These things are AMAZING! And the small version is about $485 which I think is well worth it. It has everything I need, and is sturdy and strong for barn use. I'm not so sure I really need the tall version, although that would be nice.

Does anyone else have any recommendations? I am just looking for something organized, that can be moved if need be, has a saddle rack, bridle hooks and will lock.

Then the coffin can retire.