I've started working on full pirouettes with Nikita. We can do them in one place, turning on 2-3 meters or so, although sometimes I get a little stuck in the middle. I'm trying to figure out the right combination of turning and slow motion needed. I'm learning that the more collected I have her before the pirouette, the easier it is to keep her on her haunches.
Everyday I get the feeling Nikita is merely humoring me. I'm waiting for her to get bored with my endeavors and drop the good-girl act.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Morven Park CDCTA Dressage Show: May 2, 2010
Today an exciting thing happened both for me and for a friend. A friend and fellow student asked me to be her "eyes on the ground" at a show because our trainer could not be there. This friend is a more recent devotee of my trainer, and isn't as familiar with our system as I am. So I was happy to oblige, and share what I know. But here's the hitch: my friend was competing in the Grand Prix.
I'm quite certain this friend has forgotten more about training than I'll ever know. She made her Grand Prix horse, a horse that she's owned since the mare was around 6 months old. So she's really made this mare into the Grand Prix horse she is today, from backing the horse to putting on the 1 tempis. I was flattered she wanted my help, but who am I compared to her?
This rider sought my trainers help because she wanted to get her USDF Gold Medal this year, and had only once scored over 60%. This weekend she was trying for her 2nd Gold Medal score. No pressure or anything.
I helped as best I could, being more familiar with our trainer's system, and coached her though her warm up, very concerned I was going to mess her up. Happily enough, my friend not only scored over 60% on the first day, but won her class over a much more experienced rider (who used to be a student of my trainer, but has since eschewed his system)! The second day, my friend competed Grand Prix again, this time for her Gold Medal score. She scored over 60%, and is now a USDF Gold Medalist.
She said she did well because of my trainer's system and my help at the show, which is a nice compliment for me, who is far from a Grand Prix rider. I'm sure it's rare someone at my level gets an opportunity like this, to have a Grand Prix rider have that kind of confidence in my abilities, to help someone win at Grand Prix with a score over 60%, and to help them get a USDF medal. I helped her, despite my concern about my knowledge, because it is such a rare opportunity, and a testiment, I suppose, to my abilities. I'm glad I was able to help her, and not totally screw her up.
I'm quite certain this friend has forgotten more about training than I'll ever know. She made her Grand Prix horse, a horse that she's owned since the mare was around 6 months old. So she's really made this mare into the Grand Prix horse she is today, from backing the horse to putting on the 1 tempis. I was flattered she wanted my help, but who am I compared to her?
This rider sought my trainers help because she wanted to get her USDF Gold Medal this year, and had only once scored over 60%. This weekend she was trying for her 2nd Gold Medal score. No pressure or anything.
I helped as best I could, being more familiar with our trainer's system, and coached her though her warm up, very concerned I was going to mess her up. Happily enough, my friend not only scored over 60% on the first day, but won her class over a much more experienced rider (who used to be a student of my trainer, but has since eschewed his system)! The second day, my friend competed Grand Prix again, this time for her Gold Medal score. She scored over 60%, and is now a USDF Gold Medalist.
She said she did well because of my trainer's system and my help at the show, which is a nice compliment for me, who is far from a Grand Prix rider. I'm sure it's rare someone at my level gets an opportunity like this, to have a Grand Prix rider have that kind of confidence in my abilities, to help someone win at Grand Prix with a score over 60%, and to help them get a USDF medal. I helped her, despite my concern about my knowledge, because it is such a rare opportunity, and a testiment, I suppose, to my abilities. I'm glad I was able to help her, and not totally screw her up.
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