The "S" word.

You  guys all know what this is:

It's the dumb dressage training pyramid. Eh ok, there may be something to it.
But as a rider who has been working through the levels, I'd like to let everyone in on the secret of the REAL dressage pyramid:

Anyway, now for serious.

Hamps and I have really been focused on straightness lately. It is a real challenge, but we are getting better and stronger. Our issue with crookedness really come out in the tempi changes. Ok, who am I kidding. We don't do actual tempis yet. But rather randomly-placed, drunk looking flying changes.

The other place where you really notice our crookedness is the extended canter. He throws his haunches in, which is VERY COMMON. But I have trouble maintaining the straightness, AND the power needed in that movement.

Random "done with test now horse exhausted" photo from 2013
Problems with straightness really start to rear their
ugly heads in second level.

So here is an exercise we have been working on. I stole it from Lainey Ashker, but modified it some. You can modify this depending on your horse's level, mood and how much you want to torture yourself that day.

Set up 4 canter poles approx 9ft apart (depending on your horse's level of collection). I also added two poles to make a little chute.

Coming on the right lead (so counter cantering on the left rein) ... come around the corner and canter through the grid. IF he feels attentive and jumpy, try a change after the grid. Turn RIGHT (so now you are counter cantering on the LEFT lead). And repeat.

You could canter in from the true lead, you could do simple changes instead of flying. You could just canter straight on through. Maybe add a halt? So many things you could do. You could add canter leg yields even! The point is to stay straight and keep the rhythm.

It was more difficult than it looks! One time Hampton actually changed his lead WHILE CANTERING through the poles. Such talent, this one. So many times we would canter through and I wouldn't change at all. You have to wait, horse. WAIT.

My skillz

Interestingly enough, after schooling this for a while we went back to the trot and I had an extremely obedient and supple horse! Hell for you eventers you could even make this a crossrail or small vertical exercise. Go wild!!

I hope you guys find this little exercise helpful. I do apologize for my pathetic art. No one ever said I was an actual graphic designer, just a visual journalist. Lower your expectations.

Sea horse.

I have this post all about straightness and how it is KEY TO ALL DRESSAGE in the works ... but I am just too lazy to put it together right now.

So instead you get pics of our trail ride this morning. The weather was finally nice enough (and dry enough) to go creek stomping again. I love it because 1) it is gorgeous and peaceful and 2) Hampton thinks it is playtime, but he actually has to articulate his joints and work a little bit to walk through the water.

Lots of splashing ensued.

Then Hampton pooped in the water. Gross.

Derp alert.

On our way back to the barn, sometimes I let Hampton canter up a couple of hills. He was suddenly FULL OF HIMSELF and happily shook his head and cantered up the first hill. I giggled at him. Some people may not allow that behavior, but I like his spirit.

Then there is a portion of fence we have to STEP OVER to get to the bigger field. I am talking like 2 boards on the GROUND. Literally have stepped over them 100 times. It is not a big deal.

Wellllll .... Hampton thought "Oh hey human! Wanna pretend like we are at Rolex!!!??" and fucking lept 4 feet off the ground over the damn boards on the ground .... during which I was dislodged (because I did not see it coming, and I was in my dressage saddle ...) ... then proceeded to joyfully buck twice before I squeaked out a "whoa" and he stopped. I very nearly bit the dust and was thinking in my head "Dammit I am going to have to walk all the way back to the barn."

So needless to say his privileges of cantering up the other hills was revoked and we walked politely back to the barn.

Sorry to spoil your fun, horse.

Kentucky you are so gorgeous in the spring.

Send Me on My Way (show report!)

Seems like many bloggers have been out at their first shows of the season this weekend!

Hamps and I went to Majestic Farm in Ohio for our first recognized show of the year. It was my first time at Majestic, but won't be the last. I really liked the facility, rings, footing and stalls. It was well run (even a typed test, and my score was texted to me in less than 10 minutes after I walked out of the ring!).

7s on our half passes.
Never thought I'd see the day.

This show was run entirely indoors, which was fine considering it's early April. But I'd like to come back and show when all the rings are set up outdoors. It's gorgeous.

Speaking of the indoor, it was causing problems for multiple pairs all weekend. The end of the arena by the judge was highly offensive. Plus, there were 50mph+ wind gusts all day Saturday which made the atmosphere quite electric as the horses were getting spooked and feeding off one another.

One of the gorgeous outdoor arenas
Plus some sketchy ass weather rolling in
(BTW: It SNOWED that night)

Hampton was unfortunately not immune to the CORNER OF DEATH and expressed his opinions on the matter several times, especially in our first go which was 3-1. I did what I could, but he was just too much of a snarky shit spooked in that corner so our test wasn't as fluid as it could have been. Even so, we squeaked out a 61%. I'll take it considering.

Not a movement in 3-1

May be one of the best comments I have ever gotten.

Later in the day we came back for 4-1 and he was better, but still spooked a few times. After our shoulder-in on the centerline, he came to a dead halt before A. (sidenote: There was not a halt there in the test). Sigh.

But when he was listening, he was so good! Our score was 61% and some change. I was more than happy with that for our recognized debut at 4th. The environment was just not ideal and I rode the best I could. It's a score toward my SILVER medal though! That alone is worth celebrating!

Still stunned that we are now a 4th level pair!

On Sunday the weather was much better and we just did the one test, 4-1 in the afternoon. It was going splendidly until the left canter half pass when he dropped too low in the poll and shut down on me - swapping leads and napping up and down. Considering I had nothing to lose, I booted him over but it did ruin the two movements (half pass and the flying change right after). GRRRR.

BUT even with those mistakes, we got a 64%!!! I was thrilled with that!!! Many 7s including GAITS and RIDER POSITION. Boy did he make me work for it though. At no point was I ever just sitting there enjoying the ride. I was half halting every stride and basically praying for the extended walk to come up so I could catch my breath. haha.

9:30 pm visit (I may have had a lot of tequila)

Sucks that we were not allowed to be in the indoor area to take photos. Everyone had to watch in the (admittedly lovely) observation room behind glass. So, I do apologize for the crappy cell phone shots.

Between myself, my instructor and her other student we hauled in 10+ blue ribbons. Not too shabby! And BFF Liz also came along with the wonder pony and showed Second 3. I was super proud of them, the pony mare is not easy and neither is that test (or the level for that matter). She's going to get her score to do her freestyle very soon. They are knocking on the door!

Overall I am super super pleased with Hampton. The quality of our work has really improved this winter. We just need to keep focused on straightness and strength. 

The only thing we are missing for the PSG is the damn tempi changes!

Porkchop will get a day or two off and then back to work!

In this episode of cheaters

Don't tell Hampton, but I've been sneaking off and riding other ponies lately.

But he's still my main man ....

Last week I was farm sitting for my BFF and she very graciously let me ride her second level mare. What's even better, is that the mare is basically a pony! It was quite a change from riding big old Hampton!

I hauled from BFF's house up to take a lesson with her regular instructor (in Indiana). I had a wonderful time - not only riding Simone for the first time, but also taking a lesson with someone new. I learned a lot and I hope Simone did as well. She is a very forward ride, which frankly was refreshing. And VERY sensitive. She takes a tactful, sensitive rider. 

I exhausted L's pony.

It sure is nice when you ride a friend's horse and all their training makes you look good.

By the way, L SAYS she is starting a blog but I have yet to see evidence of that. Hmmmm.

*nudge nudge*

The next day I rode our little guy Royale. It was a windy day, and I hopped on him out in a field. Next to the road. With traffic zipping by. 

No spooking. No nothing. He was a total gem. We are still working on cruise control, but that will come. His bridling issue has also greatly improved over the past few weeks. In fact I didn't even have a problem bridling him at all. His innocence cracks me up. He reminds me why I just love the young horses and how quickly they learn.

snuggles with Royale!

Oh just riding the baby skadaddlebred out in a field.

And this week I am riding the BO's mare, Luna, while she is out of town. Luna is another highly sensitive mare who needs a quiet, confident ride. She has some anxiety and baggage that she acquired before she came to KY. My focus with her will be rhythm, and quiet trot/canter transitions. 

It's been a fun week and a half! Hampton has a week of work ahead of him - in preparation for our rated show on Saturday and Sunday.

Which reminds me, holy crap I have so much to do!

2016 Prancing begins: Schooling show

Derp 1 and Derp 2.

Show season 2016 has begun!

Hamps and I drove down the road to the Spring Run Dressage Show on Sunday. My plan was to knock some rust off in 3-1, and then try 4-1 and see where we were at.

The wild stallion precious pony walked off the trailer WILD. Would not stand still, prancing, snorting. Once I was on, he started passaging all over the damn place like he was some stallion making a grand entrance.

"Well f--- me." I muttered as I swerved my way to the warm up ring.

I used my warm up that really puts his brain and body to work. And sure enough, in about 10 minutes he was much more focused. THEN I could start warming up for the actual tests.

Third-1 actually was the best 3-1 we have ever done. We had one bobble in the extended trot (he cantered) but only because I asked for too much power and his legs got tangled. It was my fault totally. Had we not bobbled there, we would have gotten a 70%! .... As it was, our score ANNIHILATED any other score I have had at Third level. We earned a 69.5%. I mean in the previous two years I think I only broke 60% once at 3-1.

Weeee!

Check out this little clip of a bombdiggity flying change! I wanted to post this for anyone struggling with the changes. Trust me when I say I wish I had video of Hamps and I and our THREE YEARS of struggles with this movement. It is finally coming together (slowly). JUST KEEP WORKING AT IT is my advice.

Yes, I realize the judge was quite generous. But I will take it, thankyouverymuch.

We only had one rider between 3-1 and 4-1 so we didn't get much of a break.

I thought 4-1 went better than the previous attempts we have done, but still some issues started to pop up. "Butt high" (bucking ... eh hem) in one change, behind the leg, crooked, going more and more downhill.

So you've seen how lovely our single changes have become .. now I am going to share a video of the line of "tempis" in 4-1. You just have to do 3 changes, no count required. But notice how we start to look totally fucking drunk. So crooked, wavy, wobbly. But mostly clean at least?! Just goes to show that there are still a lot of holes and work to do before PSG.



So after our 4-1 test I started thinking. Then it sort of dawns on me.

He's just tired.

Tired pony gets kisses

I think we have come to a point where Hampton really can only do one test a day now. It's just too much for him to do two, especially so close together.

While he is cardiovascularly fit, he just doesn't have the strength and stamina to do two mid-level tests (almost upper level really) in one day. I don't know why it took me a year and a half to figure this out, but I am pretty certain that fatigue is the source of a lot of these issues. Because none of them showed up in the first test!

Anyway - a great learning experience. And a fabulous 64%+ in 4-1!

The sad thing is, I was 100% sober.

I couldn't be more proud of him! We have a rated show coming up in two weeks so now I know what we need to focus on this spring.

Oh ... and by the way, don't take dressage so seriously! (see video of my exit)

Dressage is not always pretty

I'm just going to leave this here.

We were practicing my canter down the centerline to halt at X for 4th level. The problem wasn't the halting, it was the fact that I was insisting on halting IN A STRAIGHT LINE and he was not allowed to throw his haunches left. So, in the halt he got a spur in his left side.

And that is how a tantrum over halting happened.

(I stayed on. Barely. Thanks FITS breeches!)

The professor and the kiddo

Sorry this is the newest media I have of the Porkchop

Finally I am getting my act together for a proper update on the 2 boys.

HAMPTON:

• Working on keeping the flying changes straight, straight, straight. If everything is going well, I can try some (random, no counting) tempis. But most days we just do single changes. OR no changes at all.
• Increasing the steepness of the half pass (trot and canter)
• Ranvers in counter canter (helps both above issues)
• Canter pirouettes are coming along! They are still a little big, and sometimes he gets his legs tangled, but I think as soon as I can refine the aids a bit they will be right there.
• Half pass zig zags (just one "zag" obviously)
• Always always testing the forward and back
• Refining the walk pirouettes. This is a movement we need to be getting 7s or 8s on to make up for the fact that he doesn't have 8 or 9 gaits.
• Always focusing on the suppleness.
• Continuing hill work and trail rides with power walking.
• Recently got saddle reflocked, and massages for both me and the horse. Interesting we are both tight in the same places ...
• Developing the "show trot." He can now maintain this for quite a while. BUT ... we lose it when we try to keep it within the movements. Will def be something we can show off on the short sides in the ring.

ok He is ADORABLE

ROYALE:

• Adjustment to herd life. He is doing quite well actually. He does like to play, and can be a pest but he isn't stupid. When one of the mares pins her ears, he backs off.
• Standing quietly by mounting block. He does well at this for as young as he is. He does eventually walk off and loses patience, but it will come. I expect my horses to stand until further notice.
• Stretching at the walk. Really asking him to overtrack. As a saddlebred, he has a tendency to walk "up and down" with his back feet. Lots of walking and trail riding will help this.
• "Cruise control" at the trot. He likes to start off quick, then when you ask him to slow down he slows down too much. Just needs to learn to keep the tempo I request, until I tell him otherwise.

Baby's first ears photo!

• Canter transitions. These are a hot mess. Like, I have to kick and fling my reins at him and run him into it. That's ok though, he will learn. :) Once in the canter he is quite lovely.
• Consistent contact. I don't really ask him to be on the bit, but he naturally goes there so I am rolling with it. He is quite soft and supple (compared to Hampton who has the most rigid neck evah)
• Trailer loading - CHECK! A really good boy
• Itty bitty baby leg yields at the walk
• Bridling. His only real issue is that he does not like to be bridled. He will throw his head up and back away at the moment you ask him to take the bit. This will just take time to fix. Not sure why he is doing this ... teeth have been checked, but he is young so could be losing caps.

That's about it for the baby. Mostly he is just hanging out and figuring out what herd life is about. Right now he only gets worked maybe twice a week, which is just fine for his age. He has had a lot of change happen in the past 3 weeks. Bless his little heart. :)

Royal and L's second level mare.

Hamps and I are just about ready for our first show of the season.

Next up: Vaccines, worming and coggins day and then we will be set!