THE ELMS, "Promises"

It's 92 and it's October

Saturday's lesson was fantastic. My 'rents came out to watch and I think were impressed with how far we have come in a month. They were also amazed at how hard both of us work (didn't make things any better that it was 92 degrees). Horse and I were both drenched in sweat by the end.

We started out working on changing the bend within the trot. We did shallow loops on and off the rail and then loops on the centerline. This was followed by work on shoulder in and leg yielding. This is clearly not T-Bone's favorite movement, and I think he still is insecure from the bad experience back in March during which we spent and hour leg yielding and pissing him off. Ugh. But, it's getting better. It's just a matter of time and practice. What we do well, tho, is turn on the haunches. I've never really worked that much on this movement with the horse, but both of us have a real knack for it. So much infact, that walk piroettes are not far away. TOH really helps lighten his front end as well. The lesson ended with more canter work - this will be the horse's strong point. He is incredibly talented and able to sit down on his haunches and damn near canter on the spot already. This is after maybe 2 weeks of asking for just a little more collection each day in the canter. It isn't perfect, he still tends to get tense in the neck and stiff in the jaw, but I just have to work through it.

Anyway, the photos are from yesterday.

Tired human and pony!

Dressage: Behind the scenes, and life

Since my barn-mates have been at regionals all weekend, the barn has been basically a ghost town. This suits me just fine, because the first thing I do is turn the radio on to a very inappropriate level. (The arena has surround sound - pimp, I know.) And it's fabulous having an entire arena all to yourself. Horse and I worked on our leg yielding, which is starting to improve but we still have a long way to go before it will be acceptable for First-4 (our goal for next season). Here's the problem: If I focus on getting excellent leg crossing, he gets tense and comes above the bit. If I focus on keeping him round, his legs don't cross as well as they need to be. I need to figure out how to put the two together. Shoulder-in is also improving, and travers is just about second nature now. The winner for most improved gait is the canter. In one month, we have gone from a rather quick, unbalanced Morgan canter to an almost-appropriate-for-third-level collected canter. It still needs more sitting quality, but it is MUCH improved. With that, trot to canter transitions are also much better. We've also begun some half-step work, which confuses the hell out of T-Bone at the moment. Teaching piaffe takes years, so we have to start now with very simple steps. I think my parents are going to come out and watch a lesson next week, so perhaps I can get some updated photos. I just remembered, I need to worm the horse soon. Especially now that he's been living outdoors.

The other great thing about riding alone in a large arena blasting music so loud my horse had a hard time hearing me talk to him, is that it really clears my head and relaxes me. Over the past 2 or 3 years I have tried really hard to try and connect with people more. I have always been shy and not one to open up, but lately I've been finding it easier and truthfully, pretty rewarding. I think allowing myself to be vulnerable (to certain people, mind you), is scary but also allows me to grow and bond with people who are open to that. The past few years have not been easy for me, and I've been through some situations I would never wish upon anyone - but its during these times you find out who your real friends are. It's sounds so cheesy and cliche, but it's true. For almost a year I was isolated from having any friends at all, and I have never felt so alone and sad. But even after I was able to escape that, they were still there for me. Now I am so much more aware of the qualities I want in a friend and how to seek out people who have those qualities. I will never let anyone treat me like shit ever again - friend or otherwise. I don't deserve that - no one does. Plus, there are so many other amazing people out there who are so selfless and compassionate. I mean seriously, in the past few months my faith in the human race, and more specially, in men, has really been restored. I was never bitter or hateful, but I was seriously weary. Ok sure, I may still have bad timing with boys but I can handle heartache. There are WAY worse things, I have learned. I just reflect back on when I was 23 ... intoxicated with this certain person to the point where I had tunnel vision. That period of struggling with myself and my heart taught me a lot - most importantly, if I can get over that kind of angst, I can get over ANYthing. I was convinced I'd "never meet another one like him." and that he's the "one who got away." ... but you know what? I was wrong. Yes, wrong. And this is one time where I was thrilled I was wrong. But at least I know what I want now, and I know that if I can meet more than one guy like that - than surely, there's one out there for me. Surely. Right? Right? I'm just going to wait here for him. One of these days my timing will be right.

Well this blog has turned into pointless ramblings. Somedays I don't even know how to verbalize what goes on in my head. So, sorry if you actually made it to the end. What a trooper. Anyway, I'll close with some dressage humor.

What dressage is really about:
A dressage test is a test of your skill against another competitor's luck.

Dressage is about achieving a harmonious working relationship with your horse, whose only idea of harmony is eating grass in a field.

If you want to end a drought or dry spell, wear a new jacket and Patey hat to an outdoor arena.

Untalented, difficult, aggressive horses have robust health and long lives.

Talented tractable horses are accident prone.

You will ride the best test of your entire life just prior to being disqualified for not wearing your gloves.

Horses do not improve their paces because you are wearing expensive German jodhpurs.

If you chose a disco theme for your dressage to music test then the judge will not be less than 90 years of age.

The less skilled the rider, the more likely they are to share their ideas and advice on riding a test.

If you are considering the services of a horse clairvoyant to help you with training then you have reached the point of total desperation - try the German jodhpurs instead.

If you fall off your horse in the arena you will have paid to have the test videoed.

If you are feeling confident before a show then three of the British team and one leading eventer will turn up to give their young horses some "experience."

Your horse will perform its best piaffe ever when you ask for extended canter.

No one cheats at dressage because no one has worked out how to.

It is surprisingly easy to end a test with a perfect square halt once you have scored a four for every other movement.

***
Lyric of the day: "Come up to meet you, Tell you I’m sorry, You don’t know how lovely you are. I had to find you, Tell you I need you, Tell you I set you apart Tell me your secrets, And ask me your questions, Aww let’s go back to the start" (Coldplay)

Dressage cancelled

Horse and I have been working so hard this week that I made the executive decision to just screw off today. So, while everyone else was focused on their work in the arena, T-Bone and I went outdoors and flew around the farm with no regard to many dressage theories at all. I did fit it some actual work at times, and worked a lot on cantering on a straight line. Worked on collected canter, collecting the trot and many transitions. But, it was so gorgeous out that the rest of the time we spent trotting and cantering around the farm just as happy as can be. If the weather is as nice tomorrow, I'm planning on the same. Maybe a little more work this time ... but it's great, just me and the horse doing our own thing - galloping through meadows, down the driveway, around the fields. It's amazing how we have developed this bond and mutual understanding over the past 3 years. He always waits for my go-ahead to gallop, and obviously has a great go-button, but once I sit back and say "easy" he comes back immediately. He's so trustworthy. There is nothing like galloping down a grassy lane with your horse on a day like today. As dweeby as that sounds. What can you expect.

Injury

Wednesday's lesson wasn't very pretty. T-Bone was fresh (the weather had suddenly changed and it had gotten to 40 degrees that night), and so the entire lesson I spent mostly on relaxation. He just would not wear down - I trotted and trotted, cantered, galloped, changed directions, all to no avail. It was just one of those days. He did have moments of brilliance tho, which I was quite pleased with. We started work on half-steps, which didn't last long due to his mindset. We also worked on collected canter which is improving quite a bit.

What bothered me was that he was getting so irritable during lateral work. Teeth grinding, locking his jaw, slinging his head at times. This is totally out of character for him - even on a fresh day - so I was getting a little concerned. Was I doing something wrong? I checked the bridle, his tongue was not over the bit or anything. So, we just ended the lesson on a good note.

It was after I had untacked him that I noticed what the problem probably was. Right on the inside of both of his hind ankles were two big gashes/rubs. They were fresh and bloody and about silver dollar size. He had been hitting himself the entire time! Gah! I have never had to wrap or boot his hind legs, but you bet I will be now! So I am giving him a couple days off so that those can heal a little bit. Poor guy! We have been started a lot of difficult movements which includes much leg yielding and shoulder in so I bet in his efforts to balance himself and try to place his feet right, he's hit himself. Its boots or wraps from now on!

A critique

Something cute and funny for this blog. It's a psin off of Lisa Wilcox's column:

Photo 1 – A Recipe for DisasterPooh writes that though he has been friends with Eeyore for many years, he got tired of listening to Eeyore’s self-pity binges, so decided to saddle him up and give him something to cry about. While it appears that some effort was made to improve the appearance of both donkey and rider, I’m afraid they have a lot of work to do. The first thing I notice is that Pooh is not wearing any breeches, or underwear for that matter. Proper, good-fitting breeches are essential for a polished picture as well as adding to the comfort of the rider. His jacket is ill-fitting and has short sleeves. Also, Eeyore’s bridle lacks a browband, and it appears that the noseband sits a little too high – it should not interfere with his eyes. I am also very concerned about that fact that your donkey appears to have no hooves. This is either a horrible case of abuse and neglect, or you have some serious trimming of feathers to do. Pooh’s position leaves a lot to be desired. He holds his legs way too far back to give an effective leg aid. It appears that he needs to open up at the hip and roll his thigh inward so he is riding with the inside of his thigh on, not the back. In the photo, his foot is about where his knee should be (if he had a knee), giving the appearance of a “chair” seat. I recommend a lot of stretching and suppling exercises for Pooh, as well as investing in some surgery to have knees constructed. Eeyore suffers from a variety of conformation issues, such as a low-set neck (from all that woe-is-me stuff) that would make it hard for him to achieve an uphill, or even round, frame. He could also benefit from a more vigorous diet and exercise program. And Pooh has the worst possible body conformation for a dressage rider: short stubby legs, a long chubby torso, and short, chubby arms, all of which make it difficult for him to use supple, fluid leg aids and allow Eeyore to reach into his hand and make the most of his sad conformation. Pooh also needs to close his big, sappy mouth and balance his head over his spine.Pooh, I understand you wanted to teach that mopey little ass a lesson, but I have to say, I’m the one who is crying after seeing your photos. Best of luck to you both, you losers.

Here we go again

I have no business buying another new saddle. I've been through two already, both failures. But I tried a saddle of the exact same size and type and it fit both me and horse quite well. So I went ahead and found a used one online and it will be arriving for a 5 day trial soon. Then, I'll probably buy it. I can't afford it. (Rent, board and truck payments leave me with nothing) ... but that is what credit cards are for. A saddle is very important and I want to be able to keep making progress with T-Bone. Not be held back by a saddle.