WW: Counter flexion

I love how he has one ear back here. Listening to me. :)

The 2nd Level Wall

Post inspired by Jen over at Cob Jockey.

If you read the COTH forums, you may have found the thread about this "2nd level wall."

I think there are numerous reasons why there seem to be many more Training and First level horses and riders, and why the numbers dwindle as you get to Second level and above.

• QUALITY INSTRUCTION: I think this is the biggest reason. I live in horse country and there is a serious lack of quality dressage instruction here. I am lucky to have found an instructor who is pretty good and helping me make progress. But many people do not find that. You really need an instructor who has trained (and shown) multiple horses through the levels. They have many tools and have seen many different issues and know how to fix them. It also takes a special teacher to be able to teach the rider how to teach the horse (like my situation) because most of us cannot afford to buy an upper level school master. 

2009: First time trotting under saddle. 

• SITTING TROT: At 2nd level you have to sit the trot. You also have to sit the medium trot. It took me probably a good year to learn how to do this. I could sort of "fake it" but still flopped around a bit. Now it's one of my favorite movements in the test! But a lot of people can not sit the trot well enough. Second level is now starting to demand a level of fitness from both horse and rider. If you ride once or twice a week, and then also lack quality instruction ... you probably are going to take much longer to learn how to sit.
• 2ND LEVEL IS ANNOYING: The difficulty level from First to Second level is enormous, in my opinion. Not really for the horse, but much more so for the rider. When I went into the ring last year at 2nd, I was in for a rude awakening. You had better be accurate and your horse had better be on your aids. There is no more coasting around going "oh la la la how lovely is my horse." If you do not ride every stride, you will probably blow the next movement. I suspect that some riders take a stab at the Second Level tests ... say "screw this!" and just start aiming for Third. Thing is, once you start teaching and schooling flying changes, it's very difficult to then show Second level because your horse is probably going to try and change during the counter canter. You need a much more confirmed Third Level horse to then be able to go back and show Second .... but then if your horse is confirmed at Third, why would you do stupid Second level? See where I am going with this?

2010: Learning to be on the bit

• CANTER TO WALK: I am no professional, but in my opinion this transition is actually more difficult than the flying change. It was not easy to learn this for me or Hampton. It required precision, timing and use of my seat that I hadn't really needed to do before. And it required Hampton to be balanced, collected and on my aids. 
• TIME: Second level is now getting to the point where you can't get away with riding once or twice a week and then go to a show. I dunno. A lot of amateurs just can't make the time commitment. Stupid real world jobs! That is just life and reality. But you CAN ride a couple of times a week and still go in and do a decent Training and maybe First level test. 

2011: Learning lateral work, balance, rhythm, transitions.
Also, how to go places and behave yourself.

• MENTAL CHALLENGES: Now the work starts to get a little more difficult, and some horses will start to "voice opinions" on the matter. I think this is one stage where people want to send their horse off to a trainer to work through some issues. Some of this behavior may scare some people and they back off. Maybe think it's too much for their horse. (maybe it is at times) I can say in my personal experience that the Second to Third level stage was/is (we are still in it) the UGLIEST stage of training so far. However, I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel ... some days. ha. A think a lot of people, mostly amateurs, are too easy on their horses. Myself included. It's ok for things to be ugly! Once you work through it, then it will be beautiful.

And trust me we have have PLENTY of ... err ... mental challenges ...

Trot to canter transitions sometimes including popping his croup up.
Oh how fun.

... that little problem likes to show back up in the show ring!

• MONEY: It costs money for regular lessons. For shows. For chiro/massage for your horse. Etc. You all know the drill. If you are a normal rider (not Charlotte D.), you are going to need many many lessons to progress. 
• A HOLE IN YOUR BASICS: If you were faking it through Training and First, then you will bomb at Second level. Now you really must be able to coordinate your aids, your weight, your timing. Everything is just more difficult for horse and rider. If the basics are not confirmed, then Second level will probably be too difficult.

but eventually ... with time and hard work ...

you see the progress you have made.

BUT ... While the 2nd level tests are busy and difficult, I found them invaluable to my dressage education. It taught me A LOT about how to use the arena to prepare and get more out of my horse. I actually came to like riding Second 3! In fact I probably moved up to Third too quickly. Another season at Second would probably do me some good. 

I really think just about any horse with 3 decent gaits can do Second Level (and actually probably up to PSG). You may not score 70s, but you will do alright.

Maybe people just don't believe in themselves or their horses? Maybe people are scared to fail? Are people afraid to struggle a little bit? Are instructors not encouraging their students to get out there and try?

... and you realize, holy shit, look how far we've come!

What do you guys think?

Saddle for sale

Wintec Isabell dressage saddle. 17.5" seat. CAIR panels, changeable gullet system. (It has the wide setting in at the moment, but I do have the others) A wonderfully comfortable saddle that encourages a correct seat. Deep seat and very secure. I rode many young horses in this saddle and was really great to have during "turbulence!" Used, but still in good shape. Cleans up great. Missing one of the front "buttons" and the billets could use a good conditioning but the integrity is not sacrificed. These retail for around $1,000 brand new. Offering this saddle for $500. Shipping is $45 (with insurance). Offers considered.

KDA Spring Show summary

Our loot. The 12 year old in me is thrilled with the color variety!

We are back from FIVE DAYS at a horse show! I am still exhausted and brain fried, so good luck getting through this blog, my dear readers.

We arrived at the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park on Wednesday afternoon. I took Hamps schooling and he was electric, but behaved. Even so, I got up at 5 am on Thursday to lunge him because I was not about to have the explosive Hampton I had a couple of weeks ago.

I let him rest for a bit after out early morning lunge and our first Thursday test was around 9:15 am. He warmed up pretty well and I felt much better about going into the ring. (cue ominous music).

So we trot down the centerline and he ... just ... shut down. I am talking the complete opposite problem I had at the schooling show. He was sluggish. Behind my leg. Rooting the reins and nearly yanking me out of the tack. He was rude, crooked, breaking from the trot and canter, picking up the wrong lead, late flying changes.

It was ugly. It sucked.

I walked out of the ring really defeated and at that moment I just wanted to quit. I thought maybe we should go back to First Level and work out these problems. That clearly we just were not ready for Third. I didn't belong here. I was "THAT PERSON" that you watch and pity as they struggle around the ring. It was a total bomb.

After I threw my little hissy fit, then something interesting happened.

I got PISSED OFF.

This horse is very capable of this level, and while still green and developing, I knew we could do better. Our next test (Third 3, the most difficult of the tests) was in another 40 minutes. So I stayed in the warm up and I gave Hampton a piece of my mind. I slammed him a couple of times with my spurs (unprofessional? maybe, but he needed it) and basically told him that he is to DO WHAT I SAY and DO IT NOW.

We marched into that ring and out came the best test of the entire weekend! He was right there for me. Nice half passes, solid mediums, clean flying changes on the centerline! We NAILED it and I was much happier coming out of that test.

Our first test we scored a 54% and that was probably generous. The second test? A 63% !! That is a nine percentage point difference! I was beaming. I knew we are capable of scores like that, we just need experience. That gave me one score toward my Bronze medal, AND a qualifying score for regionals! Sweet!

You can see here that I sit to the left too much.
 I should be either straight, or slightly seated to the right. Hampton still looks
nice in spite of me.

Next up was another try for Third 1 Friday morning. Hamps warmed up super and once again I was pretty demanding of him. This test was again really solid. It was consistent and I was accurate with my geometry and transitions. I was pretty darn happy. We earned a 60+% on that - good enough for my USDF BRONZE MEDAL!!!! I really did not think I would achieve this in one show (and my first recognized at Third Level at that), but there it is!

Saturday morning's first test was Third 1 again and we pulled off another solid test. Smooth and mistake free. However, Saturday afternoon all of a sudden HellBent Hampton was back! He was snarky in the warm up and even though I tried to be firm with him, he just blew me off and threatened to rear and buck. Not wanting to be "that person" on the rank horse, I backed off and went into the ring anyway. Bet you can't guess what happened next. ha. ha. ha.

The trot work was actually ok. But I knew I was in trouble when we hit the canter half pass and he scooted over with a big hump in his back. I didn't even ask for a flying change. He took that upon himself to leap into the air. Great. The rest of the canter work quickly fell apart and I nearly forgot where I was going at the end of the test. Christ. BACK into the schooling area I went and kicked his snarky little ass once again until he was obedient and quit bucking. I felt better after that since we at least ended on a better note.

Amazingly, we still pulled off a 58% in that test in spite of the messy canter work.

And finally we had one more Third 1 test on Sunday morning. I rode in the snaffle at the suggestion of my instructor (at that point I had nothing to lose so wanted to expirement a bit). He was a little sluggish again, and much more downhill (someone must have been tired finally) but overall I was not upset with this test. He listened to me and it was very workmanlike. The judge however hated us and we got dinged for being really downhill and a little uneven in the half pass (my fault). A wonderful 53% there. I did notice that this judge was pretty harsh on everyone. A lady in my class who had been scoring 70%+ all weekend got a 63% from this judge so I shook it off as a harsh judge. Not that he was wrong in any of his comments (downhill, needs more energy, etc.).

Overall: A super fun weekend and I do consider it a success! Obviously we still need much more experience, and have a lot of homework to do. The fact of the matter is that the bar has really been raised at Third Level. Hampton is still very young (he doesn't even turn 7 for another month). And this level is new to me as well. So to earn my Bronze so quickly, on a young horse I broke and trained myself ... I am very proud of that! But we have much more work to do. I guess it never ends though, right? :)

For the horse: Hampton needs to learn to be comfortable in an uphill balance. We can get there, but have a hard time staying there, especially in the canter. He is not naturally uphill so this is a difficult obstacle to overcome. I think he can get there though. No, he will never be a 70% horse but I think we can score in the low to mid 60s with some more work. :)  He needs more engagement and energy and that, too, will come. It feels like we are trucking along, but upon seeing a video I see that Hampton has a "hot dog" trot. That means when he trots, everyone gets up to get a hot dog. We look boring. And mediocre. Just needs work! I think he can still improve and has more to give.

This rider ( won't name any names) is way too nice with her elbows.
Horse has figured out he can con her into letting him continue to be downhill. Must work on this!

For me: I need to spend some time working on my own position. I sit to the left and even tilt my head to the left. I am sure this is not helping the poor horse especially in lateral movements. My right toe also still points out to the side. I have got to fix these things! I also need to get out of the mindset that the show ring needs to be perfect. If he shuts down on me again, it is OK to give him a boot and get on with it. The judge is not going to ring me out or yell at me. I should have done this in our first test, but I didn't. I let things keep going badly.

Misc: ... Hamps is now on a mini vacation after a super intense April and May. He handled the atmosphere like a CHAMP this weekend. It was chaotic as not only the dressage show pretty big, there was also a large 3 day event and a western show going on at the park. We encountered loose horses, tents, bikes, scooters, trucks, trailers, loose children, dogs, loud music, tractors, lawn mowers, you name it! Never a spook from Hampton. He has turned into quite the veteran! There was also quite a few big names at this show. I spotted Debbie McDonald standing by the warm up one morning. Yikes! Not intimidating at all! Geez!

Debbie McDonald

What's next: We may go back out again in the fall, but for now we are taking the intensity down and going back to basics. Maybe even throw in some jumping. :) I also need to recover financially. lol

Ok, this novel is done!

Peace out.

Evening hand grazing at the horse park.

Under pressure

Upon reading my last post, I have to agree with several of you who said "don't be so hard on yourself." I put a lot of pressure on myself to succeed.

I don't mean blue ribbons (have plenty of those, it's not about that anymore). It's not really about the score because it's just a judge's opinion on that particular day. It's the fact that I want to go into that show arena and be the best we can  be. When my horse is explosive and dangerous to ride, I feel like I have failed him and myself. And everyone who supports me. I can't blame his behavior on anyone but myself. I raised him!

So we had a not so great show. It was a combination of 1) rain 2) early morning 3) it was chilly and 4) first show of the year. Not really setting us up for success!

I need to quit putting so much pressure on myself. Because it's just dressage. It's no big deal.

So I took the pressure off Hampton, and myself this week. We have done light lunging, trail rides and just basic flat work. No pressure. Keeping it easy. It has been nice and today he was a little fresh but was going quite nicely. He has never been so fit in his life and looks wonderful.

Next week is our big show. And by big show I mean it will be the largest dressage show I have ever attended as a competitor. (A CDI runs alongside the national show). Some of the other entrants include some BIG names in dressage land. A couple of horses I will be competing against are already proven PSG and I1 horses, and national champions.

We are WAY out of our league.

But .... because of that, all the pressure is off. I am going to go in there and do our best. We are not going to blow anyone away. We won't win. I am not holding my breath for my bronze scores. But it doesn't matter. It's not time to do that yet. It's time to go in the ring, and make sure the basics are there. To be accurate. To gain experience. If he needs a texas half halt during the test, this time I will HALF HALT the crap outta him instead of letting things get out of hand like last time.

But I suspect he will be fine this time around. We have a schooling day before hand, plus great ride times that will allow me to lunge him as well. Much more fair circumstances.

No pressure.

Setting myself up for success.

(let's hope it doesn't pour on us again!)

Explosive

Well yesterday was a day of many firsts.

My first time showing Third Level.
Hampton's first time showing Third Level.
First time I have met fellow blogger Austen from Guinness on Tap (She is as cool as I thought she would be!)
2 first place ribbons.
First time I have gotten "explosive" comments on my test.

:)

So, what happened?

THE BAD.

• I had to work until midnight on Friday, so I did not roll into the HHP until 1:30 am. I went right to bed, but didn't sleep well. The hotel room smelled weird.
• My first ride was 8 am. It was Third-3.
• Hampton did not get to see the show ring before we went in.
• It started to RAIN when we were warming up. Not just sprinkle, RAIN.
• Hampton was very tense, but trying to be good. I'm not sure if he was hating the rain, or if he would have been tense anyway.
• I tried everything I know to help him loosen up his lower back. It got better, but I didn't have my usual horse that I have at home.

• I went straight into the show ring. I didn't even circle it once. (dumb of me)
• Half passes were a joke. 
• Toward the end of the test, when I asked for the left half pass - Hampton suddenly started to violently root the reins out of my hands.
• When we got to the center line, we were supposed to do a flying change but I had NO control of my horse at this moment. His body was crooked and stiff as a board.
• So ... he changed leads, but not without a rather spectacular buck. All 4 feet off the round give you whiplash type of buck.
• Right in front of the judge.
• And my parents.
• Thanks, Hampton.

Hampton doing a flying change.

• Went back to the warm up to school and he did it AGAIN.
• Back to stalls to get the lunge line.
• Oh, it's still raining at this point.
• My white/pink legs are now showing through my white breeches.
• Coat is soaked.
• Saddle is soaked.
• Lunged him for about 5-6 minutes before I waved the white flag.
• 57% and some change. It was well deserved.

The GOOD

• The second test - Third-1 - was much more relaxed. He was still very tense in his back and I had no bend, no swing. I also let his frame go all to shit. All I cared about was a relaxed, steady test at this point. So I rode conservative and didn't demand much from him. It was really sloppy.

I let everything go to shit. Yuck.

What we are capable of looking like ....

• One change was late behind (that's what I get for having him strung out), the other there was a tiny little buck, but nothing "explosive" this time.
• I was much happier that we got around and I did remain in control this time, even though we were running at about 40% of our real ability. He was acting like a wild, green horse and so I had to treat him as one at that time. Forget Third Level collection and bend.
• 58% and some change. Still well deserved.
• BUT out medium and extended trots were the highlight of our tests I think. Major improvements there! Yes I let them get a little low in the neck, but we earned 7s on a couple of these and I was really happy with that!

Downhill and on the forehand, but he is actually lengthening his stride now.
I'll take it! This is the only photo I have of me from the show, no one wanted to
get their cameras soaking wet I guess. lol

• I did not forget my tests!
• I stayed on the horse.
• I stayed in the ring.
• Hampton got a ride home in the trailer. I was about to leave him with a "for sale" sign on his stall. hahah. ha ha. ha. sort of joking.

The UGLY

• It's obvious that neither of us is ready for Third Level. That was a mistake and a result of just ignorance on my part.
• It was unfair of me to ask Hampton to perform at this level 1) without working him on the show grounds before hand 2) in the pouring rain.
• I THINK he may have gotten his tongue over the bit in the first test. It was just a very sudden, weird feeling in his mouth and the rooting is not like him. So - do I need to try a new set of bits maybe? Maybe a one time freak thing? I don't know.
• Then there is the issue of our big show in May. I already entered Third Level. I can 1) scratch and eat that money (a paychecks worth. ugh). 2) see if they will change my tests and do First ot maybe Second Level. or 3) Show Third Level anyway and suck. Bronze medal is obviously not within reach at this moment. Maybe by fall or next year. 

Still smiling in spite of horse acting like a green 3 year old, and soaking wet clothes!

So what's next? There is two weeks until our big show. I think Hampton needs to see his chiro/massage therapist. I am going to do a few days of hacking and trail rides before we go back to work. I do know that Hampton MUST be ridden and/or lunged the morning before his first test at shows now. NO exceptions. I am hoping that will curb some of this tension issue. At first and even second level, you can sort of still make your way through the test with a tense horse and do OK. It's just impossible to do that at third level. He has to be relaxed. He has to bend and be supple. By the second test he was much, much better but I was too scared and cautious to start asking more of him because I was afraid he would light back up again. I really wish these bucks were caught on camera because they are no joke. I know it happened because he was crooked and tense and he cannot do a flying change like that. He was never on my aids at all during the show, so that is another problem that needs to be addressed. He was either behind my aids or absolutely explosive to them (which is still not on the aids in my mind). So many things that need worked on. Unfortunately I can't work on these issues at home because he is normally super at home! Of course. Argh.

So overall it was a good first show of the year. I did learn a lot about what I need to do to prepare him. It seems like tension is our biggest issue at the moment. So next time I go in with a better plan and see how it goes.

Moving on!

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!