Dressage-Academy.com is dedicated to expanding public knowledge of the magnificent sport of dressage by integrating modern-day technology, information and training tactics with classical dressage principles for the betterment of the human/equine interaction, as well as the sport of dressage. To learn more visit www.dressage-academy.com.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Dressage Academy Newsletter is live
Dressage Academy's February 2011 newsletter is now online. Check it out here
Thursday, February 17, 2011
We're On Our Way
This week just keeps getting better. We're are getting back into the groove.
My mom and a family friend were coming to watch me ride. Mom hasn't seen Toby since last Summer, so she was really excited about seeing our progress.
As usual, we started our lesson with leg yielding along the wall. This seems to engage and relax Toby. Again, Toby maintained his rhythm nicely, but he would occasionally try to take over. Half Halt - (My new best friend). Half halt, re-group and on we go.
We worked on lengthening and collecting within the leg yield. This went pretty well and helped to prevent Toby from taking over. I finally feel like I am starting to have some foresight.
Next we moved on to the canter. After Tuesday's ride, my confidence was way high so I asked if I could try cantering off the lunge line. My riding instructor said of course. But much to my surprise, she said we needed to use the whole arena.
I moved Toby out onto the rail and began rising trot. As we went into the short side, I prepared for the canter depart. Toby stepped right into the canter again this time, but he had to protest a little. We had a few bucks and then we went down the long side. As we approached the next turn, the inside aids went up against and Toby maintained his balance through the turn. We continued around the arena for a few rounds completely in balance. Not bad for the using the whole arena for the first time in about 6 months.
We reversed and worked the other direction much the same way. I still can't believe what a difference a week makes. WHAT AN AMAZING WEEK!!!
It's rides like this that keep us coming back for more, huh?
My mom and a family friend were coming to watch me ride. Mom hasn't seen Toby since last Summer, so she was really excited about seeing our progress.
As usual, we started our lesson with leg yielding along the wall. This seems to engage and relax Toby. Again, Toby maintained his rhythm nicely, but he would occasionally try to take over. Half Halt - (My new best friend). Half halt, re-group and on we go.
We worked on lengthening and collecting within the leg yield. This went pretty well and helped to prevent Toby from taking over. I finally feel like I am starting to have some foresight.
Next we moved on to the canter. After Tuesday's ride, my confidence was way high so I asked if I could try cantering off the lunge line. My riding instructor said of course. But much to my surprise, she said we needed to use the whole arena.
I moved Toby out onto the rail and began rising trot. As we went into the short side, I prepared for the canter depart. Toby stepped right into the canter again this time, but he had to protest a little. We had a few bucks and then we went down the long side. As we approached the next turn, the inside aids went up against and Toby maintained his balance through the turn. We continued around the arena for a few rounds completely in balance. Not bad for the using the whole arena for the first time in about 6 months.
We reversed and worked the other direction much the same way. I still can't believe what a difference a week makes. WHAT AN AMAZING WEEK!!!
It's rides like this that keep us coming back for more, huh?
A New Day
Tuesday
Today proved to be much better. We rode with another horse and rider that have been working on many of the same things that we have been working on. This was a little scary at first because Toby was upset about having to share the arena.
We started off working on our leg yielding along the wall. Toby was pretty good about maintaining the contact and his rhythm. Overall, I was pretty happy with how he was doing.
After some leg yielding, we moved on to "spiral in, spiral out." Now, the brain went into melt down mode. Anytime that I applied leg pressue, Toby would go faster. He became strung out and fell on the forehand. After some pretty strong half halts and 8-meter voltes, Toby decided that he would try to remain calm and do as I asked. We were doing pretty well until he spotted the other horse. Then he became frustrated and started sucking behind the vertical and swinging his haunches out. UGGGHHH. Walk Break.
During our walk break, I started rubbing my legs back and forth on his sides to desensitize him. At first, he would break into a trot every time I touched his sides. After a couple of minutes, he finally started to relax and let me touch his sides without immediately breaking into the trot. Yay for walk breaks.
Then came the dreaded words..."Now, we're going to try some canter work."
ME: "Is she serious? Hasn't she seen us stuggling just to maintain some sembelence of order here?"
Riding Instructor: "We're going to put Toby on the lunge line and see how he does."
Me: "OK. We'll see."
I reluctantly put Toby into the trot thinking this was going to be disasterous. "Now sit a few strides and ask for the canter."
ME: Sit, sit, sit, sit (while half halting)...ASK
Toby: Beautiful left lead canter depart.
My jaw about hit the floor. We had never had a canter depart like that before. He just stepped right into it. No fuss, No buck. THAT WAS WAY COOL.
Next was a nice downward transition to the trot and a small walk break.
I'm not sure where that came from, but I can live with it. And reverse.
I must admit I was a little apprehensive about going to the right. This is not my best side. I tend to twist and bring my left shoulder forward.
What happened next was unbelievable to me. Again, I put Toby in the trot, sat a few strides and asked for the canter. Toby's rear end dropped so much, I thought I was going to fall right off the back. It was like riding a rocking horse. He was collected, balanced and upright. HOLY COW!!
A beautiful downward transition to the trot, then to the walk and we were done for the day. AWESOME!! You can bet there was serious treating going on after that. LOL.
Today proved to be much better. We rode with another horse and rider that have been working on many of the same things that we have been working on. This was a little scary at first because Toby was upset about having to share the arena.
We started off working on our leg yielding along the wall. Toby was pretty good about maintaining the contact and his rhythm. Overall, I was pretty happy with how he was doing.
After some leg yielding, we moved on to "spiral in, spiral out." Now, the brain went into melt down mode. Anytime that I applied leg pressue, Toby would go faster. He became strung out and fell on the forehand. After some pretty strong half halts and 8-meter voltes, Toby decided that he would try to remain calm and do as I asked. We were doing pretty well until he spotted the other horse. Then he became frustrated and started sucking behind the vertical and swinging his haunches out. UGGGHHH. Walk Break.
During our walk break, I started rubbing my legs back and forth on his sides to desensitize him. At first, he would break into a trot every time I touched his sides. After a couple of minutes, he finally started to relax and let me touch his sides without immediately breaking into the trot. Yay for walk breaks.
Then came the dreaded words..."Now, we're going to try some canter work."
ME: "Is she serious? Hasn't she seen us stuggling just to maintain some sembelence of order here?"
Riding Instructor: "We're going to put Toby on the lunge line and see how he does."
Me: "OK. We'll see."
I reluctantly put Toby into the trot thinking this was going to be disasterous. "Now sit a few strides and ask for the canter."
ME: Sit, sit, sit, sit (while half halting)...ASK
Toby: Beautiful left lead canter depart.
My jaw about hit the floor. We had never had a canter depart like that before. He just stepped right into it. No fuss, No buck. THAT WAS WAY COOL.
Next was a nice downward transition to the trot and a small walk break.
I'm not sure where that came from, but I can live with it. And reverse.
I must admit I was a little apprehensive about going to the right. This is not my best side. I tend to twist and bring my left shoulder forward.
What happened next was unbelievable to me. Again, I put Toby in the trot, sat a few strides and asked for the canter. Toby's rear end dropped so much, I thought I was going to fall right off the back. It was like riding a rocking horse. He was collected, balanced and upright. HOLY COW!!
A beautiful downward transition to the trot, then to the walk and we were done for the day. AWESOME!! You can bet there was serious treating going on after that. LOL.
And so it goes.
Day 1 - Saturday
After nearly 2 weeks of sub-zero weather, I was finally able to get out to ride Toby. Let's just say that this was not our best ride. The ice was starting to melt and fall off the barn roof. The wind was blowing pretty hard. That coupled with not working sent Toby into a frenzy. Consequently, we spent most of our lesson on the lunge line trying to contact his brain.
Mission Control: "Earth to Toby... Do you read?"
Toby: Nothin.
Mission Control: "Earth to Toby... Toby, do you read?"
Toby: Crrrrrrrrr. Static.
Mission Control: "Earth to Toby... Do you read?"
Toby: "Earth, I read you loud and clear."
Finally, we've made contact. Now we can work on some sitting trot. A little challenging since Toby's gait was not entirely regular, but we got through.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Ever Improving...
Today's ride proved better than anticipated. A riding companion was going to ride with Toby and I. This can be a challenge since Toby get's antsy when other horses are in the arena. But I had agreed with the thought that Toby needed to learn how to cope with other horses. It was a good thought, so I went into it with an open mind and figured "how bad could it be?" My thoughts quickly turned to the worst, when my riding companion's horse started misbehaving while on the lunge line. Bucking, kicking out, galloping around and sand flying all the while. I listened to the events unfolding in the arena while I was tacking Toby. My thoughts were leaning more towards ground working Toby and maybe not riding. As we entered the arena, Toby seemed to be interested in what was going on. He didn't really seem spooked though. I put him on the lunge line and he proceeded to warm up as if nothing has happened. Then, the other horse spooked at the camera tripod which sent Toby careening around me on the lunge line. Within 4-5 rounds, he was settling and decided that his life was not going to end. I decided that we would go ahead with our original plan of riding. I walked Toby over to the mounting block and climbed aboard preparing myself for what might come next. Watch the video below to see what transpired...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)