Tag Archives for half halt

What a Rollercoaster Ride of a Weekend

013Yes, we did make it to our show this weekend after one emergency vet visit, multiple test rides under Ms. C’s watchful eye, and a last-minute, Saturday morning visit by our farrier to put Equi-Pak on Ike’s front hooves.  Sheer luck, divine intervention or a miracle?  Who knows for sure, but what I do know is that there are many take away lessons from this experience that have nothing to do with the color of the ribbon or the number on the scoresheet…although I will admit that I jumped up and down in the aisle of the barn after earning our first qualifying score for the regional finals.  But let’s get back to the big picture stuff.

Be an excellent client/student/friend/partner.

Unless you are a superhuman, you cannot succeed in this sport alone.  You need a tremendous support team to make your goals come to fruition.  You need to be a reliable client for your veterinarian, trainer, and farrier if you need to call in any favors.  Be willing to reschedule your appointments on occasion when they need to take care of someone else’s emergency – one day you will be that emergency call.  Pay your bills on time.  Show up on time to all appointments.  Show your appreciation and most definitely, say thank you.

Be kind to your pet sitter so that they will be willing to come let the dogs out and feed them while you are at your weekend show.  The kindness is especially important when you have to tell them that you may or may not need them, but can they still keep their calendar open just in case.

Be willing to be the supportive “ear” for your friends so that when the tables are turned, they will be there as you vent your latest horse woes.  Saying thank you to them is also not optional.  Express your gratitude over and over again.

And lastly, kiss and hug your mate when the rollercoaster ride is over.  They might not always understand your crazy obsession with your horse, but they hop on the coaster next to you to wipe your boots, drive the truck, scoop horse poop, and retrieve your tests and ribbons.  If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is.

You are not your score or the ribbon color.

Who among us doesn’t fret about the score we see on the front of the test?  Especially when you know that 55% is going to get posted at the show and online for the world to see.  Will they think I’m an idiot who cannot ride?  Will they secretly smirk and take joy in my bad luck?  Before you sell the trailer, turn the horse out to pasture and throw away those sweaty riding clothes, take that test home and read the individual scores used to calculate that final average.  Yes, all the scores.  Yes, all the comments, even the bad ones.

Once you read the individual scores and comments, you realize that up until your horse decided to spook in the corner when it came time for the canter transitions, you were scoring 6.5s and 7s.  You know that those 4.5 marks with “horse looks tense” and “explosive transition” comments are due to the horse getting scared by the judge’s booth (there is video as proof).  Yes, you have to take your hits for those moments, but you rode through them and stayed on the horse and in the ring.  The judge can only comment on that 7 minute ride they see that day.  Come back another day and try again….and get a 69.4% on Training Level Test 3 that wins you the class riding in front of the same judge.

This is a tough sport.  In order to succeed, you will most likely fail once or twice or more times than you wish to remember.  It will teach you patience and perseverance if you stick with it.  You will be a better person for living through the hard times.  It makes the good moments that much more special.

At the end of the day, hug your horse.

I think we sometimes forget that our horses are not machines.  They are living, breathing creatures with minds of their own.  If only we could really peer inside those brains to know what was they are really thinking.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they could tell you exactly where they hurt and how bad the pain was?  Unfortunately we cannot read their thoughts, so we are left to interpret the symptoms before us as best we can.

We must be the best advocates for our horses and make the best decisions for their health and well being, even if it is not always best for our checkbook or our egos.  Had Ike still been off after the Saturday morning farrier visit, I would have scratched my rides.  Yes, it would have been disappointing, but it would have been the right thing to do.  I got lucky this time.  Big Man came back strong and showed everyone just what strong character he possesses.  Our horses give us their all, the least we can do is give them a hug.

One Cicada, Two Cidada, Three Cicada, No More

005We are in the midst of a cicada invasion of the 17 year variety.  If I looked like these creepy creatures with big red eyes and orange wings, I’d hide under ground for 17 years too.  There are so many in the woods out near the farm that I feel like I’m on a distant planet in an old Star Trek episode as they buzz away.  They normally don’t bother me as long as they keep their distance.  Over the past few days though, we have had a few close calls.

At least 6 cicadas dive bomb my windshield with every trip to the barn.  I’m starting to question their maneuverability.  I’m also weary of scraping the residue off the glass.  On another day, poor Ike kept looking at one of the empty buckets in his stall and then looking at me.  I finally caught a clue and peeked in the bucket and found a cicada buzzing about apparently unable to find its way out.  I assisted its departure and Ike was much relieved.

The worst run in came yesterday at the end of my lesson.  I’m just glad that there were no cameras around or I’d be a star on YouTube by now.  I was still mounted and walking Ike to the gate when I heard a buzzing sound behind me.  Next thing I know, a “friendly” cicada decided to land on my shirt collar and THEN start to take a stroll up the nape of my neck and then down my shirt.  EEK! UGH!  I start squirming and screeching while trying to hold onto the reins and swatting away the offending creature.  This causes Ike to jig and become a bit worried.  I’m undeterred since there is no way I’m going to let the offending creature hide in my clothing.  Although it felt like forever, the struggle was over after about 15 seconds.  My new-found friend and I parted ways.  No offense, but I don’t think we will be hanging out in the future.

Riding this week was challenging as well.  Work, a trip out-of-town, and the weather all kept me out of the saddle more than I liked.  Ms. C did ride Ike for me one day and had positive things to say about our progress and the Myler bit.  She put Ike through the paces to gauge our recent progress.  She stressed that he is at the point in his training that we need to be black and white in what we want from him.  My sloppy habits aren’t going to help our progress.  If we don’t train for excellence, then it cannot be expected on centerline at a show.  It won’t be fixed in the next week, but I am going to try my best to think about what I am doing as we work rather than putting on the cruise control as I’m prone to do.

I’m still loving the new bit as are my arms and shoulders.  It is a great feeling to actually be able to give a correct half halt in the canter and have Ike respond appropriately.  With my other loose-ring snaffle, Ike would just lean on the bit.  I was just not strong enough to speak effectively.  Say what you like, but it is what it is.  If all I can do is whisper, but Ike needs me to yell, then we aren’t going to progress until we learn to communicate well.  The true test comes this coming weekend when we hit centerline.  Will the judge’s see what I am feeling or will they just see the flailing cicada-wearing rider?  Find out in six days!

Forgive Me Kind Readers For I have Sinned

001It has been 30 years since my last confession and six days since my last blog post, but hey, who’s counting?  Please forgive the lack of updates on our progress and goings on around the barn.  I have just finished a rather sloth-like week.  My only explanation is the July like weather that decided to park itself over the mid-Atlantic region.  All I have wanted to do was hide indoors and do a lot of nothing.  This weather has not inspired me to walk the dogs, or work in my flowerbeds, or ride my horse.  I did ride three times with two of those rides being lessons with Ms. C, but it would have been nice to have a gradual warm up rather than immediate searing heat.  By scheduling lessons, it forced me to commit to some serious riding.  We now have just two weeks before our first two-day dressage show.

I have been struggling lately to get an effective half halt in the canter.  Heck, some days the trot is a challenge as well.  Ike, as you know, is a big boy and there is a serious amount of strength in those long limbs and giraffe neck.  When you add the power of the canter to that strength, Ike can take advantage of my lack of strength and blow through any attempt of a half halt.  There are days that my arms burn and ache from the exertion; I feel cramps in my fingers and pain in my elbows and shoulders.  Ugh.  It is so very frustrating since our progress is stunted by these issues.  I was at a loss on what to do other than use large doses of ibuprofen to mask my pain.

Then Ms. C had an idea that took hold during the first of my two lessons this week.  She left the ring and a short time later emerged from the barn with a bridle in hand and suggested that we switch because of the bit on that bridle.  I’ve been riding Ike in a basic loose ring single-joint snaffle.  This other bridle had a Myler Level 1 Bit in place.  Not knowing much about it, but trusting Ms. C, we switched bridles and carried on with my lesson.  We gave Ike a few minutes to adjust to the change.  The new bridle had no flash, so Ike walked around with his mouth gaping open and tongue hanging out as he played with the new bit.  Ms. C was laughing so hard that I thought she’d collapse in a fit of giggles.  After this short adjustment period, we put big man back to work.  Interesting.  Ike definitely felt lighter in my hands.  With our regular bit, he has a tendency to lean on the bit even when I politely give a half halt.  With the Myler bit, he seemed to carry himself rather than asking me to carry him…maybe that is why my arms ache…

I was intrigued by the difference with the Myler bit, so I did some research while hiding from the heat.  Level 1 and Level 2 Myler bits are approved by the USEF for dressage competition (DR121.16.A).  The Level 1 bits apply evenly distributed pressure over the tongue with very little bar or lip pressure.  They are recommended for horses just starting with their training.  The bars of the bit are curved (known as a “comfort snaffle”) to allow for more space for the tongue under the bit.  My research didn’t show any negatives, but before committing to the purchase, I set up a second lesson with Ms. C to try the Myler bit one more time.

For my second lesson, we put the bit on my bridle that has a flash.  [Note to self: Ike keeps his mouth closed with the flash secured – do not buy a bridle without a flash.  I don’t think the judge would appreciate Ike sticking his tongue out at them.]  My second lesson was even more successful than the first.  Ike appeared to hear my half halts and responded correctly in both the trot and canter.  It was nice to be able to execute a half halt and see and feel a difference in Ike’s stride.  I had no aches or pains in my arms during the lesson which was a nice bonus.  Ms. C noted that Ike appeared lighter in his movement because he can look heavy when he leans on the normal snaffle.  I can assure you that he is heavy when he leans.  The key with this bit is making sure that you keep your hands soft and following.  Not hard to do when your horse doesn’t have a death grip on the bit.  The order has been placed for a Myler Level 1 bit of our very own.

So while I may not have ridden all that much this week, our work we did accomplish was quite positive.  I am feeling much better about my ability to communicate with Ike.  I wouldn’t say that a different bit is the magic elixir we need to boost our scores.  If it does allow me the means to better communicate with my horse in a positive way, then it seems to me that it is a step in the right direction in achieving better harmony and more thoroughness and maybe even an extra point or two in our scores.  We will find out in two weeks…

Alison

p.s. For those who might be wondering how the DEET is helping our tick situation, it appears that strategic use of the DEET bug spray (wiped on Ike’s ears and nose, sprayed on Ike’s neck, lower legs and tail) is helping keep the ticks at bay.  Haven’t seen one in over a week.  Seems well worth the $7 spent.

I Think I Can? Maybe Not? Yes, We Can!

Commanders Eisenhower Spring 2013Ike and I have a few weeks before our next dressage show.  During this brief intermission, we are working hard towards boosting our scores.  I’m trying not to psych myself out, but to remain positive that we will see some improvement before we head down centerline again.  Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you are right.”  In other words, what you think, you become.  If I think Ike and I can’t hit that magical 70% mark, then chances are that we won’t.  So I’m going to push on and do what I can to make that magic happen.

One tool that we are going to try for the first time is the free analysis on the Global Dressage Analytics (GDA) website (http://www.globaldressageanalytics.com/).  I learned of this website in my latest edition of Dressage Today.  It is the brainchild of David Stickland, a British physicist, whose daughter was struggling to boost her dressage scores.  He sat down with her score sheets and discovered that she could achieve decent marks for every movement (6.5-7.0), but that she had a movement or two go poorly during each ride which kept her average score in the lower 60’s.  Hmm, that problem sounds vaguely familiar.  He then created GDA so that riders can see trends in their scores, and see which movements are hurting the final score.  If more than one judge scores the ride, it allows all the individual marks to be entered.  I’m certainly not averse to doing my own statistical analysis, but why not take advantage of this tool that has already been created.

It is easy to enroll for an evaluation package; the basic analysis is free and there are more options if you are willing to pay the monthly fee.   You enter some basic information on you and your horse and submit it to GDA along with your USEF/USDF member numbers.  If you are outside the USA, you would provide your member number for your national organization.  Once they create your account, you enter your scores from each competition.  Luckily, GDA is big on confidentiality, so have no fears that people will see any of your scores, including the abysmal ones.   I had my access the next day and uploaded my scores from this competition year.  Hmm, unfortunately with only four scores to enter, there aren’t any meaningful conclusions to be had from the statistics yet…too few data points.  Once I enter enough scores to actually generate meaningful statistics, I’ll be sure to share the results.  You may as well learn from my mistakes.  So much for this helping me out before my next show in June.

Luckily, Ms. C didn’t need any fancy statistical software to interpret the scores and judge’s comments on my newest score sheets.  She scrutinized the video of my Test 2 ride as well.  When she reads comments like “losing balance,” “rushing,” “head wagging,” and “not quite steady,” she knows immediately that my half halts are not effective (shocker) and that I am not maintaining thoroughness and a steady connection.  We are truly inconsistent at this point and no statistical evaluation is necessary to tell me that we need to be consistent to get the higher scores.  Part of it is Ike’s young age and lack of knowledge, strength and stamina.  The bigger part of the problem is of course the rider’s inability to be heard with too little a half halt or to pull on the reins rather than squeeze them so then I appear to be hanging on Ike’s mouth (where are those soft, following hands??).  Either way, it is not a pretty picture and we throw away valuable points in each test.

Much like Mr. Stickland’s daughter, Ike and I have also consistently botched at least one or two movements in every test.  I’m assuming our blunders were more costly than hers, but it still hurts that bottom line and the ribbon color.  Making mistakes during our tests is the only consistent thing we do right now.  When you want to cross that mythical 70% mark, you really cannot have 3’s, 4’s, or 5’s anywhere on your score sheet.  Sigh.  Maybe we need to reassess our goals for this competition year?  The plan is to successfully ride our four tests at the June competition and then decide if the game plan needs to be retooled.  In the meantime, we will channel Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel, “We think we can.  We think we can.”

The Latest Show News

004

After yesterday’s pre-show antics, I feel I must add another definition to my last post.

Definition #5 – An involuntary spasm of a muscle when one’s horse acts like a fool.

So Sunday dawned with clouds in the sky and a drizzly rain falling – fingers were crossed that we’d have no heavy rain showers.  We headed out to the barn to put the finishing touches on Ike’s braids and to get the trailer hooked to the truck.  Ike was peacefully grazing when we arrived and decided that grazing would be his chosen activity for the day.  When I went to retrieve him for grooming, he decided to be the gingerbread man, as in “Run, run, as fast as you can!  You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!!!”  Aaarggghhh!  Really Ike?!  He trotted, and pranced, and galloped and bucked, and almost ran into the fence as he came to a sliding stop.  The bucket of grain was not even tempting enough to stop the silliness.  Ms. C finally caught the stinker with an armful of fresh cut hay.  As if running wasn’t enough, he had also practiced his Stop, Drop, and Roll technique to plaster mud on the left side of his body.  Cool.  The best I could do was smear it around and wait for it to dry.  I could feel my neck muscles beginning to tighten and threaten to throb and tick.  Deep breath.  The day will get better.

And the day did get better.  We arrived at the show with plenty of time to spare.  Warm up went smoothly and I was lucky enough to meet a fellow blogger Geri who was at the show with a friend!  How awesome was that!  And Geri was kind enough to video our first ride (which was the better of the two), so for your viewing pleasure:  Alison and Ike – Training Level Test 2:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QghrZad7wa4

We received a 65% and fourth place.  Now I need to spend some time comparing the video to my score sheet, but even without that analysis, I can see the difference in the 7 trot and the 6ish trot.  Not quite sure what caused Ike to scoot down the long side after the right lead canter transition, but luckily we recovered soon enough to attempt our circle.  Judge wants more half halts (surprise) – I want Ike to listen to more of my half halts.

Our Training 3 test was not as stellar.  Our canter work was FAST!  Marmaduke decided to pop out for a romp.  Not sure what changed, but such is life.  Still trying to find that magic formula where the stars and planets align and all our work is solid.  Right now we just have bits and pieces of good in each test, but not everything at one time.  Came home with a 62%…the 70% mark seems like it will never come to fruition.  Patience, grasshopper, patience.

How Could You Have Made That Better?

DSC02383

That is the dreaded question that Ms. C likes to ask me during my weekly lesson.  “That” could be a transition, a circle, a halt, a centerline.  Well, just about anything during the lesson.  This is when I most appreciate that it is a private lesson with no one watching or listening.  The Socratic Method of Teaching is well-known to law school students and many of my graduate school professors also enjoyed putting you on the spot by firing questions at you.  It must also be recommended in the secret handbook of dressage trainers.  In grad school, it is amazing how they would always manage to call on me when I’d either not done the required reading or spent most of the lecture doodling in my notebook and not paying attention.  That bright crimson flush would overcome my face as I stammered through a pathetic answer.  These days, I don’t flush, but I still muddle through when asked what I could have done to better my ride.

Class participation almost always played a role in my final grade, and here I am, almost 20 years later, still having to participate to improve my grade.  Only now, my grade is a score from a stern looking judge sitting at C.  If my dressage scores were graded on the same scale as my engineering courses, I would still be in school attempting to bring my grades up enough to graduate.  Mid-60’s would not cut it.  In my current world, mid-60’s are the norm.  My how times have changed.

But back to the question at hand, “How could you have made that better?”  My go-to answer is “a half halt.”  Safe enough, but the follow-up question of, “And, what else??”  or “What was wrong with that half halt?” is usually where I get tripped up and the stammering starts.  Lucky for me, Ms. C will patiently explain what the “else” is when it is evident that am clueless.  Typically, I forget to include enough leg with my half halt. I also have the tendency to pull rather than squeeze my reins during a half halt which puts Ike behind vertical.  And if you have followed our adventures for a while, you know that I tend to overuse my inside rein and overbend Ike’s neck rather than just achieving the proper flexion at the poll.   These problems were clearly evident in the photos from the show.  If you are so inclined and need a good chuckle or a good example of what not to do, here is the link: http://www.picsofyou.com/store/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=20459#page=1.

On a positive note, I can now identify what the problem is when I see the photos.  Now I just need to translate and transmit that knowledge to my arms and legs while astride.  There is a disconnect or maybe it is a lack of……SQUIRREL………..focus. [My dogs tend to have great focus during training until one of our furry-tailed friends cross our path; then all bets are off.]  Whatever the problem is, it is keeping us from crossing that magical 70% threshold in our scores.  Luckily, there is no pending graduation, just a passion to indulge and a dream to fulfill.

There is No Place Like Home, No Place Like Home

DSC02382Well, that was a lonnnnnnnnngggg weekend.  It is no wonder that I only consider doing big licensed shows one weekend a month.  We were all exhausted last night and bedtime arrived early.  Brain was non-functional so the thought of writing was quickly cast aside.  Unfortunately as well, the laundry and cooking fairies did not show up at the house to magically take care of the neglected chores.

Overall it was a successful weekend.  Sadly we missed a qualifying score by 0.4%, but there was too much other good to worry about that.  Here are the  observations and high points from the weekend:

1) After schooling on Saturday, Ike and I walked around the competition rings.  Sound checks for the musical freestyles were in progress, so he got to hear the squelching speakers so it wouldn’t be a surprise on Sunday.  As we were standing around a freak gust of wind blew over a pop up tent and a trashcan.  I think Ike grew about 2 feet taller in his panic.  Luckily, I kept my ass in the saddle (many years of practice with his brother), so crisis was averted.  So proud of Ike trusting in me to save him from the evil tent monster.

2) Ike survived his first night away from home and overcame his disappointment at the lack of a surprise party.  If I’m completely honest, I really didn’t sleep much Saturday night as I worried about what was happening back at the show grounds.  This must be what parents feel like when their child leaves for college and you realize that you have to trust that all will be okay.  Ike obviously got some rest as evidenced by the shavings in his braids and tail.  Maybe I should have taken the Gastrogard.

3) I learned that leaving a young horse cooped up for over 12 hours makes for a very energetic walk around the show grounds.  I quickly gave up for fear that Ike would dislocate my shoulder.  So when he couldn’t move forward, he decided to go up….as in I’m going to rear in my stall to try to see the horse on the other side of the stall wall.  Suggesting to Ike that he keep four on the floor was met with pinned ears and a very grumpy facial expression.

4) Warm up for my first ride at 8:37 started well over an hour before.  Since I couldn’t walk Ike from the ground, I let him do the walking, and more walking, and even more walking.  We were early enough that we were able to do a couple of laps around the outside of our ring.  Not sure that Ike liked the flowers.  He stopped to sniff the petunias, but seemed disappointed that they were not more fragrant.  I had to strongly suggest that he not try to eat one.

5) Our first test was going extremely well until I decided to half halt at the end of our canter circle to rebalance as we went down the long side.  Ike heard “trot” and we got the wrong lead when I asked for canter again.  Our lovely canter circle work was erased and the number 3 appeared on the score sheet.  And since we trotted early, there went the next score as well.  Lesson learned.  If things are going well, be a quiet rider.  That was a hard lesson because it cost us enough to prevent us getting the magical 63% to qualify.  We came out of the class with a pink ribbon.  The rest of the test was scored quite well and I agreed with the scores we received and the comments the judge provided.

6) We had five hours until our next ride, but the silver lining to that long wait was that Ms. C was able to be there for our second warm up and ride!!  Phew!  She analyzed our first test and developed our game plan for warm up.  Thank goodness Ike is a willing partner for part two of the day.  His darling brother hated the restart “I already worked today.  I’m done.”  Let us hope that Ike does not learn that behavior.  It also doesn’t hurt that he loves Ms. C and know she comes bearing candy if he is good.  Food motivation is a good thing when training animals.

7) Warm up went smoothly with Ms. C reminding me not to pull Ike behind vertical and also schooling our canter – let go of that inside rein Alison!!  Our second ride was one of my favorite Training Level rides ever on Ike.  Ike didn’t want to give me 100% committment at the trot and I decided against any arguments.  We received a decent score (63.9%), but the high point for me was his canter work.  This is the canter that we have all been waiting for – balanced, rhythmic, uphill, and just way too much fun to ride.  Ms. C even said it was some of his best.  What a way to end the weekend.

And while we didn’t have ruby slippers to click together, we rubbed our red ribbon from our second test and said, “there is no place like home, no place like home,” and we headed home with smiles on our faces and visions of the future in our heads.

Can Anyone Tell Me What a Sleepover Is?

DSC02383Hi Everyone!  Ike here.  I’ve hijacked Mom’s blog since she is apparently too busy to keep you updated on the goings on this week.  She is very distracted getting ready for our first show of the season.  She seems a bit more keyed up with this particular show that she was last year.  I keep hearing the word “licensed” paired with the word show, but I’m still not clear what that means besides the fact that she has been harping about the money she has spent and is very worried about what the scores will be.

Sheesh!  All this fuss about a show overshadowed my 5th birthday on April 30th.  Where was the cake?  The peppermints?  How about a massage?  Where are my PRESENTS?!!  All I got were some stinking carrots and I had to share them with my brother and barnmates.  Uncool.  Everyone tells me that I’m starting to look more mature and less like a baby.  I might be looking older, but I still want a party.  If I can ever figure out how to dial a phone, look out.  I shall be calling the Humane Society to report this apparent lack of follow through on my birthday celebration.

I have really been enjoying the weather this week.  The recent rain and the warmer days mean that I finally have tender spring grass growing in my paddock.  Yum.  Hay is good, but nothing beats the first green grass of the season.  My brother and I have been playing a lot over the fence which is tons of fun.  I rear, Cigar does a rear/buck/cow kick, and then we run down the fenceline and do it again.  Big fun.  We got in trouble to getting a bit too rambunctious and pulling down the electric fencing.  Cigar didn’t like getting in trouble, so he went and kicked down a fence board in protest.  I just stood there and looked adorable when asked what transpired.  Brothers have to look out for each other.

Mom and I did two back-to-back riding lessons with Ms. C to try to fine tune us for the “licensed” show.  More money spent that should have been used for an awesome birthday present.  They seem pleased with how I’m doing.  Thank goodness that she is finally figuring out the whole half halt timing.  Mom keeps saying how much better our canter is this year that it was last April.  Again, sheesh, what did she expect?  I was only 3 years old when we went to the first show last year.  My bet is that she wasn’t exactly the most graceful mover when she was 3 years old.  You don’t get scarred up knees if you aren’t eating gravel every once in a while.  My knees are still scar-free thank you very much.

Now, I need to ask you kind readers for some help.  I heard a new word today that has not to date been part of my every day vocabulary.  Can someone please tell me what a sleepover is and why I am going on one?  It seems to have something to do with our show.  Mom was in a frenzy this afternoon putting stuff in the trailer.  She even put some covered buckets filled with water, some of my food (with no sharing with me), and a whole bale of hay.  If we are just going to a show, why do we need all these provisions?  Ms. C then gave me a tube of GastroGard right before dinner and said that I need it to keep me healthy in case I get stressed.  I think all this has something to do with that sleepover word.  I sleep in my stall, so sleeping over my stall would put me on the roof of the barn.  It is so confusing.  I asked the other horses, but no one is divulging any details.  The best I can hope for is that maybe sleepover is code for “Ike’s Surprise Party.”

Hoping to come home from the show with some new ribbons to decorate my stall.  Mom will fill you in on all those details on Sunday night.

Ike

Disappointment Takes a Turn to Elation

Great photo of Ike and I...yes, I know, you can't see much of me. That is what makes it great.

Great photo of Ike and I…yes, I know, you can’t see much of me. That is what makes it great.

So of course I was bummed that our show tomorrow was cancelled, but the money that was going to be spent on the show was used for an extra lesson with Ms. C and a clinic with Rebecca Langwost-Barlow.  It turns out that sometimes the unexpected can turn out to be just what you need to feel good about you and your horse and the progress you have made over the winter.  To hear from both these ladies that Ike and I are working well together and that they can see the progress that we’ve made, gave me a warm fuzzy feeling that perhaps I am starting to “get” what dressage is all about.  There is a glimmer of hope that we will succeed this season AND even more exciting, make it out of Training Level.

A big part of progressing is, of course, the half halt that I talk about incessantly, but the other necessary skill is (ugh) the sitting trot.  That was my nemesis today at the clinic.  OMG!  I do believe that it is going to be harder to master than the half halt.  I either lean too far back, or shoot my lower leg out like a water skier, or pinch with my knees, and most frequently, tense my shoulders.  Meanwhile, I’m also huffing and puffing and trying to move my seat with Ike’s trot rhythm.  It gets even more challenging when I try to down transition from canter to trot.  Ike’s trot as we come out of the canter is very forward.  Whoa, that is a lot of motion to absorb and keep my tush in the saddle in a somewhat relaxed fashion.  By the end of the clinic I was doing it, but so very glad that there is no video evidence of my less than masterful skills.

I find it interesting that there are so many things you can learn to do proficiently from reading a book: baking, cooking, gardening, and bike maintenance are all things I’ve learned from reading books.  In my humble opinion, riding is not one of those skills that can be learned from reading a book or magazine.  Sure you can read the concepts over and over, but to truly be proficient, one must ride.  Not just once, but over and over and over again.  But wait, if you truly want to master a riding skill, you must ride many different horses since each one is unique.  No wonder so many of us struggle to progress.  Who has limitless time and a barn full of horses to ride?  Not this girl.  So it means that much more to earn the complements from those skilled trainers…almost better than a blue ribbon. 🙂

p.s. We have ride times for next Sunday, so the countdown restarts…8 days.

Master the Half Halt, Escape Training Level

463The title of this post kind of sums up this week’s riding lesson and it is going to be my new mantra…I think it would also make a fabulous book title as well.  It is a sobering realization that Ike’s success in the world of dressage is completely dependent on my ability to master the elusive half halt.  Before my riding career is done, I would love to say that I could execute a correct half halt and that I was able to be an effective rider at something other than Intro and Training Levels.  The half halt is the necessary skill to claw my way out of these lower levels.

I have written quite frequently about my struggles with learning a correct half halt.  Could probably be the poster child for How Not to Half Halt.  You know you are doing it wrong when your trainer screams, “Stop pulling on the reins and squeeze your fingers!”  “Stop squeezing your fingers and release.” “Close your legs as you squeeze your fingers.  Your lower leg is not on your horse.” Oh, yeah.  Yes, I do realize that I need to perform these movements as part of a correct half halt, but when the 1200 pound freight train ignores my gentle squeezes, the mind goes blank.  The arms, fingers and legs then start doing whatever they please until my blank mind reboots.

Another key point that I need to add to the list of skills to master is the ability to keep my reins at an equal length so that when I do half halt, I do not cause my horse to end up crooked.  Then I also have to make sure that my dominant hand doesn’t do more than my other hand whereby making Ike even more crooked.  Lots of crookedness plus my blank mind equals one very unattractive picture.  Think of a worm wiggling down centerline.  Pretty, huh?

With less than two weeks until the show, we schooled the movements of the tests during my lesson as well.  Lots of reminders from Ms. C to half halt my outside rein to help straighten Ike.  Yes, there was a lot of crookedness on centerline, on circles and on my long diagonals.  The centerline crookedness was subtle – Ike was slightly flexed to the right.  Worst part was that I couldn’t tell that he was, but I bet the judge will see it.  On circles, I need to make sure to let go of my inside rein a bit and utilize my outside rein to turn my horse…just don’t let that outside rein cross over the neck.  Arrgghhh!  So much to think about to be an effective rider – no wonder my brain likes to reboot regularly to help clear out the clutter.

Fingers crossed that one of my reboots doesn’t occur as we head down centerline nine days from now!