Horse manspreading

It's not just humans who participate in the annoying habit of manspreading.

This is from a week or so ago, but here is my friend's horse - rudely manspreading in the trailer.

Poor Hampton.

Happy New Year!

Spent New Years Day with the same guy I have spent it with since 2010. :)

Another New Year's Day ride with this swamp monster.

I've decided not to set official goals this year. I just want to roll with the punches a bit, and not be afraid to change the "plan." Competition scores are not everything - at least not for a very ordinary amateur rider like myself. I felt like my goals for 2015 were way too competition focused and I think that caused me to put too much pressure on myself and Hampton.

Plenty of shows on the radar, as well as clinics, lessons, jumping and much more. I still plan to be dedicated to the sport of dressage and our pursuit of PSG. Just going to try to not be so rabid about it. But perhaps that's part of being a dressage rider. We are just that way.

I have a wonderful horse. I need to not be so stressed about whether or not his half pass has enough bend all the damn time. Or how he lacks enough expression. Or blah blah blah.

This year my focus is happiness, fitness (both of us), and trying to be more in the moment.

Cheers.

2015 Goals. Success and failure

2015 Goals Review

(A norovirus has annihilated my entire family that came to Christmas. Including yours truly. So while I enjoy my Zofran, you get a goals post!)

In January, I set these goals for myself. Let's see how that turned out:

{{Keep Hampton's happiness and health AND my happiness and health the No. 1 priority}}
SUCCESS. We battled some anxiety, behavioral, and I suspect ulcer issues in the spring and early summer. It got so bad that I actually considered selling Hampton. I even listed him on FB. I also was battling anxiety and eating issues related so my stomach. I lost 22 pounds along with a lot of strength. I found a good doc and some good meds, plus better eating habits. I've now gained all but 2 of those pounds back. Hampton hasn't had an "episode" in a very long time. He is happy, quiet and in a much better frame of mind now. But it was touch and go this spring. I didn't write about it all that much because I didn't want to sound like a whiney kid who says "Oh my horse isn't perfect anymore so I'll just sell him and get a new one!!" (and I'm not referring to people who truly do not get along with a certain horse and choose to move on. That is a different story) .... I'm glad that we were both able to work through it, even though it meant not making as much progress as I had hoped.

Spring 2015

{{ Show Third Level, qualify for Regionals }}
SUCCESS. We actually did this in one weekend, at Harmony in the Park.

{{Score a 65%+ at Third Level}}
FAIL. Didn't really come close. I think our best was a 61% and some change this year.

{{Create and show a Third Level Freestyle}}
SUCCESS. We weren't ready for this, but I did it anyway. We did squeak out a 60%. But in the future, I will need to make it much more difficult and change up the music. But I did it. On my own.

An "exuberant" change in our freestyle

{{Improve and continue working on my position}}
I did well some of the spring and summer on keeping my reins short, but old habits die hard. I would say there is some improvement here, so I will call this a semi-SUCCESS. But, it's a work in progress. I'm no Charlotte D.

{{Develop more reliable flying changes. Develop the 4s and 3s}}
I'm not sure if this is a success or failure. We can't do reliable 4s and 3s yet, but the quality of the changes continues to improve. We are battling major straightness issues and until that is ironed out, the tempis are impossible. However, the single changes are pretty darn reliable now. So, another semi-SUCCESS.

{{Debut at Fourth Level}}
SUCCESS. We did do this, twice at schooling shows. My first try we got a dismal 54%. Our second try at the KHP earned a 57%. 

Flying change: NAILED IT

{{Show at 3 rated shows}}
FAIL. We only made it to 2 rated shows. It's not a big deal. My cat had surgery in May, and then shortly after his cancer returned and it was very aggressive and angry. I ended up spending all of my money and then some on poor Grover, who I ended up euthanizing anyway. It was heartbreaking and depressing. So, needless to say I had no money for anything else. Oh well. First world problem!

{{Attend one clinic}}
SUCCESS. We have clinic'd a couple of times now with Lainey Ashker, who I am really enjoying learning from. More in the future! 

Lainey clinic

{{Develop canter pirouettes}}
SUCCESS. These are coming right along. Hampton has a real gift for these, and I just need to be careful not to ruin it.

{{Take more photos}}
I tried! I consider this a SUCCESS. I brought my camera to the barn frequently, and took quite a few photos at shows. Still need to be better at this though. Instagram doesn't really count.

{{Be better at money/budgeting}}
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. FAIL.

Super secret "it's a big maybe if all the stars align" goal:
 Debut PSG in the fall. ssshhhhh, this one is the big ambitious goal!
BIG FAT FAIL. No way were we going to be ready for the PSG. That was just wishful thinking on my part. Maybe next fall? We need much better balance and consistency. And the pesky tempis. The reality is that Hampton just needs more time to develop. He is not built for this and so he struggles with things a more talented horse would not. That's ok, he can have more time! I'm still enjoying the journey.

I don't what the heck to strive toward in 2016!!

Just call him stoic

Remember how I said I couldn't get Hampton to push off the ground like he normally does?

Guys, I think I found the reason by Hamps was a bit sulky at the show. Check out this mofo that burst last night sometime:

I mean holy hell! He was NEVER lame! He has never popped an abscess like that out of his foot. Sometime he gets little tiny ones in the frog ... but this is a monster. Many horses probably would have been non-weight bearing.

It's not surprising though, considering it's been extremely wet around here. I mean I am loving 70 degrees in December, but the hooves are not.

Anyhoo, thank you for the words of support. Sometimes we all get down on ourselves I think. I guess I was hoping for more improvement in scores with all the work we have done this summer, but have to remember that a lot of things have to come together to get good scores. It doesn't mean we have not improved, just means during those few 5 minutes we didn't quite perform like we can!

Oh, and my horse is a stoic fellow apparently!

Operation Get Your Sh*t Together

The KHP had their holiday lights on display.
Rather pretty!
(ignore the pile of poo)

I had a long post written up about the schooling show we went to Saturday. But then, I deleted it because it was boring.

Basically, we took a trip to the KHP for one of their winter schooling show series. It was just me and Hamp, so I was a little stressed because I had ZERO help. And thus ZERO pics or video, except you do get some ear shots.

Short story, Hampton started out spooky and fresh. So I warmed up accordingly. By the time we went into the ring, he remembered he was a trained show horse. But then decided he was exhausted. I struggled to keep his poll up, there was no extended trot (might have been the footing, he did not want to push at all), and some rather big bobbles (breaking out of the canter, rein lame half pass, a late change, etc).

Hampton's first indoor dressage show!
(He couldn't have cared less)

Scores:
3-3: 58%
4-1: 57%

So, yeah. We are right where we have been. No improvement in scores.

While I was down on myself, there was in fact improvement in that the issues we have battled for two years did NOT happen - such as bucking in the changes and shutting down in the half pass.

And the judge did have good things to say such as:

"On the right track!"
"Good basics, needs more freedom"

KHP

I think we might have broken a 60 if I had ridden him more uphill (I was sick and just did not have the strength in my core to carry his damn neck up, so he was diving down on me), and without the bobbles. So I suppose that is a positive. The judge is known to be pretty tough. *shrug*

There is a little voice in me that says just to go back to First/Second level. That he is just not going to be able to be successful in the show ring above that. Can he school the PSG? Oh yes, but showing is a different ball game.

But then there is the other voice that says just keep working at it. Looking at the tests, there is SO much room for improvement. We are both still very green at putting the tests together. Plus, Hampton is only 8 years old. He hasn't told me he "can't" do this. Only the judges seem to be saying that.

SO I dunno?

We are aiming for another schooling show in January to try again. Operation Get Down the F*cking Centerline. I will learn to ride a 3rd level test if it kills me. (I hope it does not, however).

... and Happy Holidays!

Year In Review Post coming up soon!

Developing the bigger trot

We have returned to the land of dressage after our little affair with eventer land.

womp womp.

One of many (MANY!) things we work on is developing Hampton's trot. For reference, here is a video from 4 years ago. It's an intro test, and shows his "natural" trot. It's not disgusting, but it's totally ordinary and pretty flat. He pony trots "over his shoulders" quite a bit. He is barefoot.




Compare to today's video of a little bit of medium trot. Note how he has developed the ability to push off the ground, and reach with his shoulders instead of falling all over them. (Again, barefoot)

Can he be more uphill? Yes. That is something I will always struggle with in Hampton's work. Frankly, the only time he is TOO uphill is when he is rearing. So, there is that. Does he have more trot in there? YES. I could kick on and ask for more, but I feel that maintaining the rhythm and balance at this point is more important. Had this not had been at the end of a pretty hard session (the hot mess that has become our flying changes is another post for another day), I might have asked for another diagonal and gone for it more. No, we will never look like some international CDI pair. But he has come quite a long way.

So what are some exercises to help your non-Valegro-moving horse move a little bit better? Trust me, if Hampton's trot can improve - ANYONE can improve their horse's trot. Here are some of my favorites:

This was our First Level "lengthening" a few years ago.
Yeah, NON-EXISTENT.

Later that year, we started getting a little bit better at Second Level.

Ok, now we are rockin and rollin a little bit.

1. Forward and back.
I basically LIVE in these types of transitions. This work is pretty boring - UNTIL you really start to feel the result. It's constant "sit, now push. Sit, now push." You have to have quick reactions both forward and back. Don't be afraid to make it ugly a time or two. Then ask quietly again.
Issues: Hampton likes to try and run through me. Nope, not allowed. If this happens, then do a full transition like trot to halt. A rein back may be needed. OR, he will not react forward quick enough. Possibly even suck back (A Hampton classic). If this happens, WHAM with both legs. Maybe even the whip. Be prepared for a jolt forward, or even a buck. That's ok. As long as the horse goes forward, that is what you wanted. Then come back and try again. I have this discussion with Hampton almost everyday. But after 10 minutes of forward and back, he will go forward (think medium) and then collect just off my seat. But yes, at first it can be a little ugly. Do not be afraid of that.

Bad halt. Not square and over the shoulders.
Bad.

That's better!

2. Trot - Halt - Rein Back - Trot
Repeat, repeat repeat. Again, the reactions have to be SHARP. And for more advanced horses, NO WALK STEPS into the halt. Sometimes I have to tickle with the whip within the aid for the halt in order for Hampton to bend his hocks and step under. Otherwise, our halts are on the forehand and lazy. For an added challenge, do a double rein-back. So trot, halt rein back ... walk forward maybe 4 steps, rein back, trot off. My tried and true method to bring the poll up.
Issues: Don't do this too much right before a show. You don't want your horse thinking rein back when you halt at X. :)

3. Lateral work to power.
Fellow blogger TempiChange gets credit for introducing me to this. Shoulder in down the long side, at B (or E), straighten and think Totilas trot. Ask for as much power as your horse will offer. You can also do this out of Travers, but shoulder-in worked best for Hamps because he made him sit back on his hind end. For added difficulty, try this on a circle. Add in travers and renvers on a circle, add in half steps. Then power forward and see what your horse has to offer.
Issues: Your horse will probably only be able to sustain the power trot for a few steps at a time. Eventually, a long side. And so on. Be happy with some good steps at first. It's a totally different balance. You may feel like you are getting run away with (I did.) It's ok if your horse breaks, loses rhythm, etc. Just bring back, balance and try again. Reward often. The first few times I did this, I will admit that Hampton got PRETTY lit. So if you have a horse of a more hot or sensitive nature, I would not drill this. Bits and pieces. :) Always return to suppleness after this exercise because you will probably lose some.

Just don't let your horse stay stuck in the neck and poll, like this pair. ha.

4. Transitions within lateral work.
Remember those forward and back thingies? Now try them within leg yields, shoulder-ins and half pass. For example, leg yield across the diagonal. Start slow, then ask for power, then collect. Hampton has a tendency to lose the forward especially in lateral work. So we work a lot on getting that reaction. I don't care if you are in shoulder-in, you need to go forward anyway! Hampton is king of speed evasions, so if you also have one of these creatures - be diligent. Is your rhythm slowing down and you don't want it to? Fix it!
Issues: Not getting a reaction? Do full transitions. Leg yield in trot. Walk (keep leg yielding), trot off again - stay in the leg yield. Or go across the diagonal and think extended trot, then turn it into a leg yield.

Now we have some power to play with!

5. Think a little passage.
After you and your horse have spent some time developing the above exercises, you can use all that strength and ask for the IDEA of passage. Just a couple of steps at first. Some horses will pick this up faster than others, so don't get frustrated. Once your horse has the idea, then you can think a little passage but let it go forward into a normal trot. Sounds so easy. It is not. If anyone would like a post on how I taught Hampton passage, I would be happy to write that out. Does he passage like Valegro? No. But it's installed and it has helped a lot in teaching him push.
Issues: Some horses may learn this and then use it against you as an evasion. Ask me how I know.


I hope this helps! I am no expert, but these have helped me and Hampton a lot along our journey so far. Happy dressaging!

It's a bird. It's a plane. It's .... a unicorn?!

Those who are friends with me on FB probably already know that the Lainey Ashker clinic was a total success. It was far too much fun and frankly made me want to quit pure dressage and take up eventing or the jumpers. Why are lessons with eventers so much more fun?! Everyone there would cheer and clap when you got shit done. It was incredibly supportive and a total blast. Unlike dressage clinics, where the rail birds whisper about how shitty you are.

Then there was the horse. We hauled over (maybe a 5 min drive) to a GORGEOUS indoor arena that belongs to a large barrel racing facility. Hampton hopped right off the trailer and walked into the arena like it ain't no thang. I guess I should stop acting like he is a green bean anymore, because he is not. He is a veteran and acts like one.

So wild.

My friend thankfully let me borrow her awesome saddle and we went right to work. After a quick warmup, we started with a grid. Trot pole, vertical, one stride (with a pole), to a vertical then out.

Lainey says to me "Oh, the dressage horse showed up to play!" ... and when he jumped through that grid the first time, people were silent because Hampton jumps like a damn show hunter. Seriously, you guys he has some serious talent for jumping. I just try to stay tall and keep out of his way.

After a few times through the grid, we started right off with a course. We did have two silly stops - one at a plank, and one at the barrels. Hampton was very honest about it, it wasn't dirty at all. He is just still green in between the fences. He doesn't know to land and look for another jump. His greenness there is no fault of his own, just inexperience. But after those little stops, he caught on to the game and was a damn unicorn the rest of the day.

This is my unicorn.

Little issues that popped up were the same issues we deal with in dressage. He is chronically behind the leg. You will see my position is somewhat defensive because I was driving him like mad in between fences. The more forward he was, the straighter I could keep him. I felt like I was flying, but as you will see in the video we are merely cantering. Toward the end, he got a lot better though. Lainey was really complimentary of my position, which left me beaming because it is something I have always struggled with. For some reason, I was really on fire that day and did not jump ahead much at all. My lower leg was a little loose at times but I expected that, being a DQ and all. haha.

Gallop! 

Anyway, we did bending lines, sharpish turns and jumping the skinny barrels. The jumps were not huge - maybe 2'6" .... the big oxer at the end of the arena might have been 2'9" at the end of the session. As you will see in the video, Hampton jumps cute as a button but ... he isn't really trying. The jumps are a cakewalk for him.



Hampton seemed to have a great time and got an excellent education that day. I bet the next time I jump him, I will have a different horse. He left with a lot more confidence. So did I! The jumps never looked big to me, which tells me that my confidence has really been boosted. Hell, when she comes back I may just ask to be in the Novice group again. Clearly, we were not overfaced.

At the end, Lainey comes up to me and says "You ride very well, that's no bullshit." Major, major compliment coming from someone like her.

I am going to make it a point to incorporate more jumping in our schedule. At least once a week or every other week. Hampton loves it. Except that I may need to buy a jump saddle again .... ugh. :)