Saturday, January 30, 2010
January 30, 2010
I really think staying up North for the winter is a total waste of time. I haven't been riding in 2 days - it's been below 30*, which is my threshold. Below 30*, I think you're asking for an injury. We've had some days in the high 50s and I noticed I rode better and was definitely less cranky. Maybe this makes me a whimp, but I see it as a matter of efficiency to prefer warmer weather for riding. I learned a long time ago that bearing adversity and training no matter what is a load of crap.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Nicole, Nikita, and the 5 Stages of Grief (err...Throughness): January 23, 2010
Finally, it's starting to feel like I'm getting consistent throughness in the lead changes with Nikita. I've been after this feeling for months, and it's been elusive since the mare ain't givin' it up until I ask the right way. Oh sure, they've looked fine from the ground in the past, but the feeling hasn't been right to me. Maybe other people don't care about this stuff, but the feeling is what's most important to me. I've spent the past month or so just working on throughness and collection at the canter, imprinting the correct feeling into my muscle memory, first on the circle, then down the longside, then in movements.
It seems this effort is paying off, as evidenced in Nikita's pinned ears. Someone's not happy I'm gaining the upperhand. I still laugh at the memory of Nicole pinning her ears the first time I started to keep her through at the canter, and the marrish quality of the moment. There's a sort of Kübler-Ross model involved, I've found, when a rider starts to find the way to get more submission out of their mount (which is what dressage is about in the first place, right?)
First comes bargaining (Oh, ok, I'll give you some but that's all you're getting), then the pinned ears expressing the anger at actually having to work (WHAT?! You're asking for MORE?!), then comes that confused, depressed look (How the hell did she sort this one out?), then comes denial (This has to be an accident, let's spook to test it out) then finally, acceptance (Crap, spooking didn't work. Oh, all right, fine, sigh.) and the forward ears which show she's happy to be working.
Horses don't like control (who does?), and a big question in my mind lately has been, "how do you know what each horse needs to improve?" Nikita has different needs than Nicole, and it's not just because of the disparity in their training - each is a different animal, with different personalities. They play different under saddle, have different evasions, so clearly all horses aren't alike, and you can't ride or train each one the same way. So how do you know what to do to bring out the best in each horse and make them the best they can be?
On another note, Nicole can now start in hand work for piaffe & passage. I think that's pretty cool.
It seems this effort is paying off, as evidenced in Nikita's pinned ears. Someone's not happy I'm gaining the upperhand. I still laugh at the memory of Nicole pinning her ears the first time I started to keep her through at the canter, and the marrish quality of the moment. There's a sort of Kübler-Ross model involved, I've found, when a rider starts to find the way to get more submission out of their mount (which is what dressage is about in the first place, right?)
First comes bargaining (Oh, ok, I'll give you some but that's all you're getting), then the pinned ears expressing the anger at actually having to work (WHAT?! You're asking for MORE?!), then comes that confused, depressed look (How the hell did she sort this one out?), then comes denial (This has to be an accident, let's spook to test it out) then finally, acceptance (Crap, spooking didn't work. Oh, all right, fine, sigh.) and the forward ears which show she's happy to be working.
Horses don't like control (who does?), and a big question in my mind lately has been, "how do you know what each horse needs to improve?" Nikita has different needs than Nicole, and it's not just because of the disparity in their training - each is a different animal, with different personalities. They play different under saddle, have different evasions, so clearly all horses aren't alike, and you can't ride or train each one the same way. So how do you know what to do to bring out the best in each horse and make them the best they can be?
On another note, Nicole can now start in hand work for piaffe & passage. I think that's pretty cool.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Nicole, Dirt, and the Lack of Dignity: January 15, 2010
Omg. Nicole fell during turnout today. You'd think my mare, with her education, would have a modicum of dignity, but no. She reared, while still attached to her leadline, scrambled away when released, and promptly slid in the mud, landing on her fat mare belly. See, Nicole doesn't just get turned out. She makes it an event, and makes sure EVERYONE notices her in all her nutbar glory.
To make matters worse, she got a hoof stuck in the fence momentarily, but Nic doesn't panic at stuff like that, and managed to dislodge herself with enough agility to go galloping across the 1/4 acre she had to run around in, snorting away. Apparently, this was my invitation to indulge in games of the equine kind. We spent the next 1/2 hr playing tag and finding treats to eat.
To make matters worse, she got a hoof stuck in the fence momentarily, but Nic doesn't panic at stuff like that, and managed to dislodge herself with enough agility to go galloping across the 1/4 acre she had to run around in, snorting away. Apparently, this was my invitation to indulge in games of the equine kind. We spent the next 1/2 hr playing tag and finding treats to eat.
Friday, January 8, 2010
January 8, 2010
I've been working on getting Nikita more connected in the canter. She had always felt like I wasn't getting her through enough at the canter, and that my hands weren't connected to my legs. I figured it out at trot a while ago, but getting that same sort of connectivity at the canter has always eluded me. I think I'm finally starting to get it together.
My trot is also solid enough, meaning I'm consistently keeping her pushing enough into the bridle to keep her hind end working, to start shoulder-in and half passes at the trot. For me this is exciting because it means I'm finally starting to become more consistent.
My trot is also solid enough, meaning I'm consistently keeping her pushing enough into the bridle to keep her hind end working, to start shoulder-in and half passes at the trot. For me this is exciting because it means I'm finally starting to become more consistent.
Friday, January 1, 2010
December 31, 2009/January 1, 2010
Happy New Year!
I got a New Year's kiss from Sophie, the little orange cat. I would try to get one from Nic, but it's below 32* and raining (i.e., too icy for me!!) Tonite is also a blue moon as well as a lunar eclipse. Too bad it's raining!!
I got a New Year's kiss from Sophie, the little orange cat. I would try to get one from Nic, but it's below 32* and raining (i.e., too icy for me!!) Tonite is also a blue moon as well as a lunar eclipse. Too bad it's raining!!
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