Dressaaaaahhhhhge Lesson

What Hampton wished he was doing this morning. Yes, this is him. 

Loaded up the steed this morning and headed over to FHF for our dressage lesson.

It is such a treat to not only ride with an incredible instructor, but also in an indoor with fantastic footing and mirrors.

The indoor was especially nice today because it was raining and muddy and dreary and gross outside. So, screw you, Indiana, you did not stop me from riding today! BAM!

Spring 2011

Anyway, Hampton was his usual, wonderful self. He just keeps getting better and better. Our issues are small and very normal ... and also mostly my fault. Such as, I need to remember to turn with the outside aids and not let the wall turn us. I need to make him quick to my aids right away, and not let him fall apart in the walk. He also tends to blow through my aids in leg-yield-head-to-the-wall, and we end up hugging the damn wall. So that's homework to do.

Here's what else we did:

• Leg yields: And lots of them. Leg yield away from the wall, and head to the wall. By bringing my hands away from the direction of travel, our leg yields became straighter and smoother. We did some leg yielding in the canter, too, which is much improved.

• Trot lengthenings: Hamps is really getting the hang of this now. He's learning to put his front feet out in front of him and really pushes from behind. We also did lengthen across the short diagonal, then immediate leg yield (head to the wall) when you reach the wall. This helps prevent the horse from dumping on the forehand at the end of the lengthening.

• Turn on the haunches: While I have worked on TOH in terms of aiming toward a walk pirouette, today we did an actual TOH, with a dramatic turning of the shoulders and keeping the butt more in place. This forced Hamps to really cross his hind legs over.

• Canter work: Our trot-canter transitions were the bombdiggity. We mostly did more turning off the outside aids and leg yields. Also, canter to trot and right away leg yield. That's a challenge for Hampton's balance, and also the timing of my aids. But a great exercise.

... So I hope we can get back there soon. I typically stay to watch others ride for a bit because I always learn something else by watching. So really this hour-long lesson was an all-day event. :) Fine by me.

Can't wait for our jumping lesson on Sunday. Holla.

Merry lesson week!

As one of many a Christmas treat to myself, I am taking Hamps for a dressage lesson on Wednesday AND then to CAF on Sunday for a jumping lesson.

Sure is nice when you only have to work on Monday and the rest of the week I am on vacation.

Vacation for me = riding lessons, beer, wine. Food. Not all at the same time.

Engineers, cats & rainbow physics

You may remember this YouTube video that went viral earlier this summer. It is supposedly an eHarmony ad. Even if she is just acting, it's still funny.



So I just found a response to this ad - made by Paul from "An Engineer's Guide to Cats."



And here is "An Engineer's Guide to Cats:" T
The cat yodeling should not be watched while eating or drinking.

Sunshower

Hampton has morphed from sleek showhorse to furry yak-looking creature for the winter season. I haven't  pulled his mane or clipped him since Octoberfest so he is looking extra feral.

at least he's staying chunky so far!

Temps were around 28 today but it was sunny with little wind so I rode. Yesterday the arenas were actually in good shape, but today they were both frozen. BOO. I thought about riding in the back hayfield but someone was shooting guns off in that direction. So, no.

Instead we ventured out into the drainage ditch between corn fields. Footing was good, but you can't really do much other than ride in a straight line. So we did trot/walk/trot transitions. Boring, but beneficial work. And I concentrated on my position and sitting trot. I didn't feel especially productive but that's how it's going to be until spring. meh.

Hopefully I can sneak in a dressage lesson next week before hitting up CAF for a jumping lesson. May have to clip the yak up as well so we look presentable.

I wish I was making the migration to Florida. Maybe one year?

Murky

Still no clue on which direction to take concerning career/place to live.

I WISH there was an obvious answer.

So far, nothing/no one has given me any clear reason to stay where I am.

Or to move.

Dear clarity: Quit hiding and make yourself known to me.

Spanx.

Wofford and banks!

THANK YOU Eventing Nation for posting this. :)



Some really helpful points in this video. I really wish I had a bank I could go practice on now.

"He will be wimpy if you are wimpy."

Busted.

Pretty sure that was the source of our struggle with the bank at the HHP.

You be the judge

Here's a hypothetical class of fine dressage ponehs - all at the Grand Prix level. And all doing a musical freestyle.

How would you place this class?

Why?

Horse A: Moorlands Totilas


Horse B: Brentina


Horse C: Max


Horse D: Olivier


Horse E: Herzruf



I may or may not publish answers in another post. :)