Today's lesson was with Ashley, Peaches, and two of John's boarders (kids on ponies). Charlie got to be the leader, which was a surprise to everyone involved, including him. He got a little spring in his step from the honor.
The biggest insight was for the bend to the inside, instead of pulling my hand down, pull it back, like from my elbow.
We went over the aids for a flying change, because yesterday at home, Charlie made his neck all stuck out and stiff instead of bending to the inside, and John confirmed that yes, I bend him to the inside, reverse my leg aids (so they're for the correct lead), and then do a half halt with the outside rein. He said that if Charlie has a stiff neck or tries to swing his haunches out to avoid it, bring his haunches in, and then if I have to, make the circle so small he does a trot step to change.
The group lesson had a lot of changes of direction, some leg yield (trot and canter), some lengthening (trot and canter), and 20 meter circles. We'd also turn down the center line (trot and canter) and then change direction, as well as some shoulder in, then haunches in (just a tiny bit), and a bit of counter bend. Because Charlie was so much faster (?!) than the other horses, a couple times we had to do some shortening of his trot.
It was really fun to work in a group, and good practice for show season coming up, since I spend so much time alone. Charlie seemed to really like being leader of the pack, and I rode most of the lesson in the sitting trot. It kept me busy enough, though, all the changes, and leading, so that I couldn't really watch the other riders very much.
Next week I'll go back to lessons twice a week, although things start picking up with work, John's shows, and weekend shows so those won't get to be as consistent as January was with my 2 on Saturday.
Charlie with the long sought after cooler
Spring NWEC 2013 Novice
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Saturday, January 23, 2016
A training height fence (I thought it was like advanced)
We had a jump lesson today. Charlie had the prior two days off while I was at work in Seattle, so during warm up he was soft and forward, but still a bit stiff. We warmed up, walked a bit, but the softness and forward disappeared in between, so we had to start with a bit of a grind in the canter. If I took up the reins, he would make his steps very short, so then I'd have to bend him to the outside and he'd slow down to like slow motion.
That was the downside.
The upside was he jumped beautifully. The problem with the jump night at home, when he was long and flat, was that I'm a moron who doesn't know how to measure, didn't think to check, and as John pointed out, could easily have texted him to ask. I made ground poles 12' on each side of the fence but they should have been 9'. 12' is pretty much a recipe for making Charlie jump long and flat. Live and learn - thank god I've got Charlie who gave it his best even with a nincompoop for an owner.
So we started with a little vertical, and then John whopped it up what looked like a foot. This had two properly spaced ground poles, and we jumped it on a circle from both directions. The circle was just a bit tight (20 meters, though, but it felt tighter) and Charlie actually did pretty great landing on the left lead. Our second time through (to the left), he wasn't as good, but he was pretty quick to change in the front and it usually took just a few tries for the hind. But by the end of the lesson, he was struggling to change, so I think that's good information; it is not just a mental thing but also a strength thing.
Then John added in an airy vertical over some flowers, which he said was a hole up. I think that one was about 3'.
Then he added in a little lattice wall with a vertical on top, which looked freaking gigantic (I was sure it was armpit height; i.e. 4'2") which Charlie jumped like a dreamboat. Afterwards, I checked, and it was only 3'3". So my eye has some adjusting to do, but Charlie got right back to it.
I thought Charlie did great on the flying changes; it rarely took more than a couple laps for the full change, but John said that when he changes in the front, I don't need to bend him to the outside to get him to change to the back; that will just encourage him to change back to the right in the front. Instead, I just need to pull my outside leg back (the right leg) and do a half halt with the outside (right) hand. Once I quit making too big a deal out of it, he popped in like a dream. I think he's catching on, and I hope that his back to work was more proper working so his back muscles are building up.
John said this week to practice on the left lead; do a jump and go to the left over and over and make him change if he doesn't land properly. Next week is dressage, and then in February we'll go back to two lessons a week.
It was super fun jumping, but using my legs to line up the circle with the fence was hard to keep consistent. Every once in a while I would hit it dead on and feel it coming, but most of the time I was still wiggling right up to the end.
Charlie is such a good boy. He's a total trooper.
That was the downside.
The upside was he jumped beautifully. The problem with the jump night at home, when he was long and flat, was that I'm a moron who doesn't know how to measure, didn't think to check, and as John pointed out, could easily have texted him to ask. I made ground poles 12' on each side of the fence but they should have been 9'. 12' is pretty much a recipe for making Charlie jump long and flat. Live and learn - thank god I've got Charlie who gave it his best even with a nincompoop for an owner.
So we started with a little vertical, and then John whopped it up what looked like a foot. This had two properly spaced ground poles, and we jumped it on a circle from both directions. The circle was just a bit tight (20 meters, though, but it felt tighter) and Charlie actually did pretty great landing on the left lead. Our second time through (to the left), he wasn't as good, but he was pretty quick to change in the front and it usually took just a few tries for the hind. But by the end of the lesson, he was struggling to change, so I think that's good information; it is not just a mental thing but also a strength thing.
Then John added in an airy vertical over some flowers, which he said was a hole up. I think that one was about 3'.
Then he added in a little lattice wall with a vertical on top, which looked freaking gigantic (I was sure it was armpit height; i.e. 4'2") which Charlie jumped like a dreamboat. Afterwards, I checked, and it was only 3'3". So my eye has some adjusting to do, but Charlie got right back to it.
I thought Charlie did great on the flying changes; it rarely took more than a couple laps for the full change, but John said that when he changes in the front, I don't need to bend him to the outside to get him to change to the back; that will just encourage him to change back to the right in the front. Instead, I just need to pull my outside leg back (the right leg) and do a half halt with the outside (right) hand. Once I quit making too big a deal out of it, he popped in like a dream. I think he's catching on, and I hope that his back to work was more proper working so his back muscles are building up.
John said this week to practice on the left lead; do a jump and go to the left over and over and make him change if he doesn't land properly. Next week is dressage, and then in February we'll go back to two lessons a week.
It was super fun jumping, but using my legs to line up the circle with the fence was hard to keep consistent. Every once in a while I would hit it dead on and feel it coming, but most of the time I was still wiggling right up to the end.
Charlie is such a good boy. He's a total trooper.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Charlie earned a "wow"
We had an amazing dressage lesson today. It was all the more amazing because although Charlie was better at home this week than last week, he certainly wasn't full of zest and vigor.
John had us work in draw reins on several 10 meter circles, sometimes with just a bit of a bend to the outside, followed by some lengthening. Then he added in canter circles, followed by canter lengthening. I don't know why, but Charlie was willing to just spring forward into the lengthening. We even had a moment where he rocked back and was using his haunches! John also had me sit the lengthened trot, which makes me bouncy, and he said to think about hips going "right left right left" so that I don't impede the movement. He said that it's rough, but that it makes my back loosen up afterwards.
Unfortunately, I am not sure why Charlie was such a rock star today. He was a bit of a slug yesterday in the jump saddle, and I thought that was because he was sore from the day before, when we worked in draw reins at home. There certainly wasn't any hint that he was going to pull out all the stops and be flashy.
We did a few trot 10 meter circles with a change of direction in the center, and we also would do a 10 meter circle and then a shoulder in. John said I was using too much hand and needed to bend him from the inside leg.
John said that our shoulder in is much better, that I don't have to struggle to keep it, although I could feel that I would lift the inside seat bone (and shift to the outside, to try to push him over) so I need to be more aware of that.
In the canter, we would do a hint of bending to the outside, and then lengthen even with the outside bend.
At the walk, I have to give a little forward with my hands, and then I give with the opposite hand from the leg (so if my right leg is active, my left hand gives just a bit) when he is walking with the mincy steps in the draw reins. To make his stride longer, I swing my hips bigger. Charlie responded to this like he'd been waiting for me to do it.
John suggested that his tip last week for the sluggish canter was probably to try a bit of haunches in at the canter. We didn't need it today, but I bet I'll get a chance to try it this week.
John said for dressage, it is best for Charlie to do short bursts that are hard work like this (he had frothy sweat under his girth - I had to flick it when I took it off), and then build his stamina with trot work in the jump saddle. He said that it is possible to do two long formats in a year - that Rebecca in July and Galway in November would probably work, but we need to wait and see how Charlie is doing. He said the one star speed used to be like 620 mpm!!
As best as I can tell, Charlie was just in a mood to work today, but I will try to repeat the sequence of exercises to see if there was something about it that helped Charlie to get in the proper frame, and frame of mind.
John gave us a "wow" for one of the canter lengthenings. I think it is the first wow we have earned that is not a "wow you are a bonehead" wow. Charlie tripped a few minutes later in front of John trying to do a down transition, so that evened things out.
John had us work in draw reins on several 10 meter circles, sometimes with just a bit of a bend to the outside, followed by some lengthening. Then he added in canter circles, followed by canter lengthening. I don't know why, but Charlie was willing to just spring forward into the lengthening. We even had a moment where he rocked back and was using his haunches! John also had me sit the lengthened trot, which makes me bouncy, and he said to think about hips going "right left right left" so that I don't impede the movement. He said that it's rough, but that it makes my back loosen up afterwards.
Unfortunately, I am not sure why Charlie was such a rock star today. He was a bit of a slug yesterday in the jump saddle, and I thought that was because he was sore from the day before, when we worked in draw reins at home. There certainly wasn't any hint that he was going to pull out all the stops and be flashy.
We did a few trot 10 meter circles with a change of direction in the center, and we also would do a 10 meter circle and then a shoulder in. John said I was using too much hand and needed to bend him from the inside leg.
John said that our shoulder in is much better, that I don't have to struggle to keep it, although I could feel that I would lift the inside seat bone (and shift to the outside, to try to push him over) so I need to be more aware of that.
In the canter, we would do a hint of bending to the outside, and then lengthen even with the outside bend.
At the walk, I have to give a little forward with my hands, and then I give with the opposite hand from the leg (so if my right leg is active, my left hand gives just a bit) when he is walking with the mincy steps in the draw reins. To make his stride longer, I swing my hips bigger. Charlie responded to this like he'd been waiting for me to do it.
John suggested that his tip last week for the sluggish canter was probably to try a bit of haunches in at the canter. We didn't need it today, but I bet I'll get a chance to try it this week.
John said for dressage, it is best for Charlie to do short bursts that are hard work like this (he had frothy sweat under his girth - I had to flick it when I took it off), and then build his stamina with trot work in the jump saddle. He said that it is possible to do two long formats in a year - that Rebecca in July and Galway in November would probably work, but we need to wait and see how Charlie is doing. He said the one star speed used to be like 620 mpm!!
As best as I can tell, Charlie was just in a mood to work today, but I will try to repeat the sequence of exercises to see if there was something about it that helped Charlie to get in the proper frame, and frame of mind.
John gave us a "wow" for one of the canter lengthenings. I think it is the first wow we have earned that is not a "wow you are a bonehead" wow. Charlie tripped a few minutes later in front of John trying to do a down transition, so that evened things out.
Saturday, January 09, 2016
2nd jumping lesson; 2'9", two grids, cavaletti and flying changes
I started the lesson by running over one of John's sandbags and then being completely unable to park the trailer or get out of the parking area. Hot start.
Charlie was fine on Sunday last week, got Monday and Tuesday off, but then was stiff and flat on Wednesday in the dressage saddle, and horrible - completely ignoring my leg - in the jump saddle on Thursday. I must have whipped him 1000 times. I changed hands, in case it was raising welts; that's how bad it was; and he would buck instead of just freaking going forward.
So that's what I told John about, and he said that yes, every once in a while Charlie gets in a snit and needs that, and that usually he does it (or Shannon would do it). He said that everyone thinks Charlie is a saint, but he's got a dingy halo. He said it should have improved by the third day. He also said that I can call or text him when I get stuck, but lateral work would be one way to break the snit and the other way is draw reins. Charlie shouldn't be doing a lot of lateral work yet, so he said just go get draw reins, and then let Charlie fight the draw reins.
He said it does no good to beat him if he just runs out long and stringy, that I have to get him back a bit on his haunches.
It made me feel about a million times better because I felt awful after riding him and so guilty I didn't ride him Friday, although I was pretty sure that it was one of those things he had to work through or else the behavior would get worse.
We started on the flat with some bending to the outside, then back to the inside. Then we did work over one cavalleti, then two. Two that are 9' apart can be cantered or trotted, and it was Charlie's job to figure out where to put his feet, not mine.
Then we did the same grid as last week, a pole, cross rail, and then a pole, vertical. You had to turn left after this one and Charlie pretty much landed on the right lead every time. John said once he landed on the left, but went 1 1/2 strides and then switched to the right.
So we went ahead and worked on lead changes, mostly so John could see where he was from last year. Which was much improved from where he was a year ago when we started working on them, but not as far as at the end of the year. Charlie had the concept, and changed pretty easily on the front. I'd usually have to bend him to the outside, and the shift in balance would make him change in the back (or trot and change). John said that it's a huge improvement, since last year he would just canter 100 circles like he had no idea what a lead change was.
Then we did the other grid, a pole, cross rail, vertical, and oxer. Charlie jumped the oxer like a rainbow. It was awesome. And I forgot to ask John, but I'm still pretty sure my hips are going back better and my lower leg is more stable than last year.
Then we went back and tried the left turn again a couple times, but we still had to do lead changes after.
John said it's ok to work at home on simple changes, like we were doing last year, to start to get it back in his head.
The lesson made my day. I had been worried I was on a downward slide after our two battle rides and then the horrible parking, but all is now right in the world.
Damn I love those lessons. John just knows how to deal with everything.
Charlie was fine on Sunday last week, got Monday and Tuesday off, but then was stiff and flat on Wednesday in the dressage saddle, and horrible - completely ignoring my leg - in the jump saddle on Thursday. I must have whipped him 1000 times. I changed hands, in case it was raising welts; that's how bad it was; and he would buck instead of just freaking going forward.
So that's what I told John about, and he said that yes, every once in a while Charlie gets in a snit and needs that, and that usually he does it (or Shannon would do it). He said that everyone thinks Charlie is a saint, but he's got a dingy halo. He said it should have improved by the third day. He also said that I can call or text him when I get stuck, but lateral work would be one way to break the snit and the other way is draw reins. Charlie shouldn't be doing a lot of lateral work yet, so he said just go get draw reins, and then let Charlie fight the draw reins.
He said it does no good to beat him if he just runs out long and stringy, that I have to get him back a bit on his haunches.
It made me feel about a million times better because I felt awful after riding him and so guilty I didn't ride him Friday, although I was pretty sure that it was one of those things he had to work through or else the behavior would get worse.
We started on the flat with some bending to the outside, then back to the inside. Then we did work over one cavalleti, then two. Two that are 9' apart can be cantered or trotted, and it was Charlie's job to figure out where to put his feet, not mine.
Then we did the same grid as last week, a pole, cross rail, and then a pole, vertical. You had to turn left after this one and Charlie pretty much landed on the right lead every time. John said once he landed on the left, but went 1 1/2 strides and then switched to the right.
So we went ahead and worked on lead changes, mostly so John could see where he was from last year. Which was much improved from where he was a year ago when we started working on them, but not as far as at the end of the year. Charlie had the concept, and changed pretty easily on the front. I'd usually have to bend him to the outside, and the shift in balance would make him change in the back (or trot and change). John said that it's a huge improvement, since last year he would just canter 100 circles like he had no idea what a lead change was.
Then we did the other grid, a pole, cross rail, vertical, and oxer. Charlie jumped the oxer like a rainbow. It was awesome. And I forgot to ask John, but I'm still pretty sure my hips are going back better and my lower leg is more stable than last year.
Then we went back and tried the left turn again a couple times, but we still had to do lead changes after.
John said it's ok to work at home on simple changes, like we were doing last year, to start to get it back in his head.
The lesson made my day. I had been worried I was on a downward slide after our two battle rides and then the horrible parking, but all is now right in the world.
Damn I love those lessons. John just knows how to deal with everything.
Saturday, January 02, 2016
Jumping again - yaaaayyyy!!!
We had a group jump lesson with Brooke on her young horse (and someone whose name I should know but don't); it was exactly right for our first time jumping after over four months off.
We warmed up on a circle, and John had me do a bit of leg yield out at the trot, and then a bit of counter bend back to regular bend at the canter. Charlie started off just smooth as silk, and carefully hid my spastic monkey flapping that happened the first day back in the jump saddle (four rides ago in that saddle).
Then we did a cavaletti at its high end, and we were supposed to just canter over it, but I kept doing a two point. Charlie couldn't decide whether to just step over it or hop it, so when I gave him leg he'd hop it.
Then John put a ground pole out, which made things much messier. Charlie couldn't decide where to put his legs, so I just stayed out of his way. What made things the smoothest would be coming around the corner, using the outside aid, and then compressing him (just a bit) as we approached.
Then we did a line that was a ground pole, cross rail, ground pole, cross rail (which John eventually turned into a small vertical). These went ok; unmemorable.
Then we did a line turning to the right instead that was a ground pole, cross rail, vertical, oxer. The oxer was not puny, but wasn't huge either. Charlie jumped this line like a freaking rock star. So despite four months off, he still prefers to work over something a bit bigger (not big, for sure, but bigger than the cavaletti). If I didn't bring him in exactly straight, he would drift to the left, so I tried to use my left leg and make sure to look at the right side of the oxer. We got a few really nice round jumps over the oxer when I kept him from being crooked.
I was pleasantly surprised with my position. It didn't feel anywhere near as awful as I thought it was going to. And my lower leg didn't feel like it was swinging, and I felt like I had a bit better grasp of coming out of the corner, which I was struggling with last year.
John said Charlie's not ready for two days a week of lessons yet. He said we'll jump again next weekend, but he'll probably just rotate jump and dressage lessons on the weekends for a while because Charlie isn't going to be able to go more than half an hour.
It was crowded today, and John had to line my truck and trailer up to leave. I guess I should get out some cones and start practicing at home. And it was cold - a high of 38 today, but the water buckets in the barn got floating ice in them during the day.
Charlie is so good and reliable. I am so, so lucky. Also, our tractor came today. SUPER fun.
We warmed up on a circle, and John had me do a bit of leg yield out at the trot, and then a bit of counter bend back to regular bend at the canter. Charlie started off just smooth as silk, and carefully hid my spastic monkey flapping that happened the first day back in the jump saddle (four rides ago in that saddle).
Then we did a cavaletti at its high end, and we were supposed to just canter over it, but I kept doing a two point. Charlie couldn't decide whether to just step over it or hop it, so when I gave him leg he'd hop it.
Then John put a ground pole out, which made things much messier. Charlie couldn't decide where to put his legs, so I just stayed out of his way. What made things the smoothest would be coming around the corner, using the outside aid, and then compressing him (just a bit) as we approached.
Then we did a line that was a ground pole, cross rail, ground pole, cross rail (which John eventually turned into a small vertical). These went ok; unmemorable.
Then we did a line turning to the right instead that was a ground pole, cross rail, vertical, oxer. The oxer was not puny, but wasn't huge either. Charlie jumped this line like a freaking rock star. So despite four months off, he still prefers to work over something a bit bigger (not big, for sure, but bigger than the cavaletti). If I didn't bring him in exactly straight, he would drift to the left, so I tried to use my left leg and make sure to look at the right side of the oxer. We got a few really nice round jumps over the oxer when I kept him from being crooked.
I was pleasantly surprised with my position. It didn't feel anywhere near as awful as I thought it was going to. And my lower leg didn't feel like it was swinging, and I felt like I had a bit better grasp of coming out of the corner, which I was struggling with last year.
John said Charlie's not ready for two days a week of lessons yet. He said we'll jump again next weekend, but he'll probably just rotate jump and dressage lessons on the weekends for a while because Charlie isn't going to be able to go more than half an hour.
It was crowded today, and John had to line my truck and trailer up to leave. I guess I should get out some cones and start practicing at home. And it was cold - a high of 38 today, but the water buckets in the barn got floating ice in them during the day.
Charlie is so good and reliable. I am so, so lucky. Also, our tractor came today. SUPER fun.
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