Today was another eureka moment - my second with John (the first was when I looked down and realized that yes, indeed, before each fence I *was* pulling back on the reins). Today's was the significance of outside rein and outside shoulder on a circle.
I haven't seen John in a few weeks, and I had two derbies at Aspen where I could feel the problem, but couldn't tell how to fix it, and I know it has to do with a bigger canter, so I brought my dressage saddle instead of my jump saddle to follow up on the last lesson.
We worked mostly on the circle, and it was still a bit out of my grasp, but I got it much better this time than last time.
First, my questions:
- Do not condition in the sloppy footing. Work harder and for longer periods inside instead. So do 6 minutes of canter work without a break, and do harder canter work than I would normally do, like 15 meter circles to a lengthening. It won't help with the gallop work, but it is better than risking injury.
- To strengthen Charlie's back, more forward/back work is better, and then do short, elevated trot poles, like 3' maximum each, not just the trot/canter elevated poles.
- If I have the wrong lead in show jumping, and I only get half the change, then trot the first few steps of the turn, so I can come out of the turn on the correct lead. Work at home on the simple changes (simple = canter, trot, canter) so Charlie knows he has to do it within three steps.
- John wants Charlie to be a bit more up and forward for show jumping canter than dressage canter. So Charlie's dressage canter will have a bit more flexion (head down), but his show jumping canter will give him a bit more lift in his head to look at the fence.
Ok, so we worked on the sitting trot on a circle, and what John had me do was moving Charlie's shoulders, so that he knows he can do it. I would lift the inside hand to get him to stop twisting his head left; I would do a half halt ONLY with the outside hand, and I would ride the down transition from canter to trot with my reins a bit higher, instead of dropping them onto his withers. I would also use my outside leg a little forward (up closer to the girth) and going to the right (clockwise) I would do some haunches in and then bend him to the right. Bending him to the right was much harder than the left (surprisingly).
If Charlie started to hang on my hands, then I would ask for the half halt with my outside hand, and if he ignored it, then I would counterflex him to the outside. This would make his inside shoulder pop up, so then I would go back to normal flexion.
When I half halted, it is very important when he gives, to then release the half halt.
If he gets tight in his jaw, I can also give for a second and then take back.
I could, about half way through, suddenly feel his right rein, which I didn't realize I couldn't feel until I felt it.
I could also - eureka - feel that he would move out through his outside shoulder (if we were going right, he would move out through his left shoulder) instead of bending around me.
The hoppity at the canter is an attempt not to use his inside hind leg (usually going to the left, I think), and I think I give with the inside hand.
I can also, with the canter, open my inside hand, so that he can move his shoulder to the inside.
I still need a lot of work, but with John coaching each movement (i.e. sit deeper, use your inside hip, lift your inside hand, put your outside leg on), I could get Charlie centered and balanced.
What is amazing is how much John knows and how he knows how to tell you what to do when to get a specific result. And not just that, but how to make it adjust - i.e. the difference between a show jump canter and a dressage canter and why. And that he could walk me through the steps so that I could make it happen and feel it. I definitely couldn't do it by myself yet, but now I know that I can do it, and with enough time with John, I'll be able to do it by myself, and even better, know when to use the tool and why.
It was great. I am really looking forward to working on it. I feel like just one lesson with John jumps me like a year ahead. Looking back at the last three years, first - no wonder Charlie is reluctant to change - he's had three years of blowing out through his shoulder and not having to use his hind end. Why would he think we're suddenly doing it differently? But second, how much progress I've made as a rider. Charlie is my golden ticket to figure out how to get a horse round and forward because he's making me learn it and work for it, but while being generous, willing, and responsive. I have to ask, but once I ask, he gives.
I am so, so lucky to have Charlie and be able to work with John.
Charlie with the long sought after cooler
Spring NWEC 2013 Novice
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Sunday, March 08, 2015
Aspen Farm Ride & Review - Training Dressage and Jump
Our first outing this year was a brilliant, warm, sunny March day. Charlie got sweaty!
Both my dressage test (Training B) and the jump round had the same suggestion as John - canter is too flat, and needs to have more jump (be bigger).
The dressage ride and review (which, by the way, we got a 9 on the first movement and our first 8 on the collective marks!!) suggested that I try 4 strides lengthen, 4 strides collect, 4 strides lengthen, 4 strides collect, to get Charlie better balanced and more attentive. It actually seemed to work pretty well.
The 15 meter - 20 meter lengthen circles felt flat and angled (like a motorcycle taking a turn), and his stretchy trot circle wasn't stretchy enough, but other than that, it actually felt like a decent test. Especially because I haven't ridden it since last August!
I didn't warm him up much for jumping because I didn't want to wear him out, so we ended up doing the cross rail, two verticals, one oxer, waiting a few minutes, then doing the two rounds back to back. The good news is that the jumps weren't overwhelming intimidating. The bad news is we got a rail down in the combination in the first round, then a rail down and the skinny down in the second round. The good news in the bad news is I could feel them coming!!!
Jonathan said his canter isn't big enough, that I need to rev it up in the opening circle and down the long sides and in the big spaces - and the same sort of back and forth. He also said I'm slipping my reins, so I need to try to keep the same length or get them back for the second half. Charlie just crashed through the skinny in the second round - he didn't even try - but I had him at the wrong spot, shooting at it, and at an angle. He did do a nice recovery though for the up and down bank. I was pretty happy with it.
Charlie is such a good guy.
Dogs did well too.
I had a wicked head cold and wasn't sure if I was even going to go - my head was so stuffed I was dizzy when I got up.
Both my dressage test (Training B) and the jump round had the same suggestion as John - canter is too flat, and needs to have more jump (be bigger).
The dressage ride and review (which, by the way, we got a 9 on the first movement and our first 8 on the collective marks!!) suggested that I try 4 strides lengthen, 4 strides collect, 4 strides lengthen, 4 strides collect, to get Charlie better balanced and more attentive. It actually seemed to work pretty well.
The 15 meter - 20 meter lengthen circles felt flat and angled (like a motorcycle taking a turn), and his stretchy trot circle wasn't stretchy enough, but other than that, it actually felt like a decent test. Especially because I haven't ridden it since last August!
I didn't warm him up much for jumping because I didn't want to wear him out, so we ended up doing the cross rail, two verticals, one oxer, waiting a few minutes, then doing the two rounds back to back. The good news is that the jumps weren't overwhelming intimidating. The bad news is we got a rail down in the combination in the first round, then a rail down and the skinny down in the second round. The good news in the bad news is I could feel them coming!!!
Jonathan said his canter isn't big enough, that I need to rev it up in the opening circle and down the long sides and in the big spaces - and the same sort of back and forth. He also said I'm slipping my reins, so I need to try to keep the same length or get them back for the second half. Charlie just crashed through the skinny in the second round - he didn't even try - but I had him at the wrong spot, shooting at it, and at an angle. He did do a nice recovery though for the up and down bank. I was pretty happy with it.
Charlie is such a good guy.
Dogs did well too.
I had a wicked head cold and wasn't sure if I was even going to go - my head was so stuffed I was dizzy when I got up.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Follow up lesson with John - an 8 meter circle!
I had my first weekly weeknight lesson with John in my attempt to get more consistent with my lessons. It worked really well. I left work at 3:45, had the tack already in the trailer, and got there at 5:45 and on by 6. I was off by 7 and home by 8:30, which was just enough time to groom Charlie and park the trailer. 5 more minutes and I could have unloaded the trailer too.
It will be a bit less pleasant on a rainy day (in the dark) but it's doable.
This was my first dressage lesson with John and it was great. John's style of communication works really well for me. He's good at describing what Charlie is doing, and precisely how to correct it. He can not only watch Charlie, but he also watches what I'm doing, and makes the adjustments to me as well.
We started working on a circle, and then a 10 meter circle (precisely) and then a 10 meter circle at the sitting trot. The reason to be precise on the dimensions of the circle is so I can feel when Charlie is avoiding - if he is bulging his shoulders out (or in), the circle loses its shape.
This lesson, like the last one, is still in the gray realm where I can do it while John is talking - and as he describes what is happening, I can begin to associate the feel with what he's describing - but is still a bit out of my grasp to articulate afterwards.
He told me there's two things I need to work on, and I think it was to do a better job with my lower leg contact - "on-off-on-off" when I need it, not "on-squeeze harder-lift heel", and to experiment. Even if I can't feel that Charlie is stiff in his right jaw, don't just putz around in a circle but try flexing him to the outside for a step or two and see what happens. He said that the first two days he rode Charlie, he was stubborn, but then he became pliable again. It's kind of a miracle it only took to the third day with how long Charlie has been able to get away with things with me.
We worked on 10 meter circles, 15 meter circles, and even some 8 meter circles towards the end. John got spring in Charlie's step, and he also worked on getting him to bend around my leg. I had to lift my left hand and then use my right leg (going left) NEXT TO THE GIRTH (this part took me a while to catch on to) to - at the trot - get Charlie's right leg to cross over his left (front) leg and start to get that bend. Charlie is VERY good at acting like he's doing the motion, but evading. He'll try almost everything he can to avoid actually engaging his back.
It will be interesting to see when his new saddle arrives if that is because he's been working for so long with a saddle that makes his lower ribs hurt, or if it's a long-standing habit and he's never going to have the light bulb go off that he can lift up without it hurting. I certainly haven't helped him much up to this point, but now the light bulb has gone off for me.
John had me constantly adjusting, and this is the part I can't feel yet. John could instantly see when Charlie's shoulder would bulge out (or in), or when he'd tilt his head instead of bending, and he'd have me lift a hand, use an inside leg, use an outside leg, use both legs, or use the whip. It will be SO cool when I can feel that too.
So we did 10 meter trot circles, and then circles around the ring at different spots. Then we flexed to the outside with a bit of haunches to the outside on a slightly smaller circle, then would go back to normal bend and get some extra oomph. Then we did canter 10 meter circles, and the same flexion to the outside (but without the legs crossing over in front). Then we did 8 meter trot circles out to 15 meter circles, and canter on the 15 meter circle.
The art was in the adjustments in between. John would tell me, for example, to use my inside rein, and then Charlie's shoulder would lift and we could get the springy balanced trot. But until John would say that I needed to use the outside rein, I wouldn't feel how Charlie was bulging in the shoulder (or leaning on the rein, diving down on the forehand, etc.).
At the end of the lesson, Charlie had a steam wall coming off of him, and I was amazed at how well he did. It's probably because John just rode him for two weeks, but it was great for me to feel how well he moved and try to get that locked into my muscle memory. Fingers crossed for many more great lessons.
Also, John noted that my lower leg isn't really that bad once Charlie is going - it's just that tug of war to get him going where I keep squeezing tighter and lifting my heel that is doing me in. He said Charlie needs to get more responsive to the aids - when I squeeze both legs, he should be surging forward. It made me feel a lot better. I've been so worried that I'm ruining Charlie (for so long) that I'm timid about trying new things or using stronger aids (like using my right rein). This was - like most of my jump lessons have been - very confidence building to trust myself a little more and to ask more of Charlie. If I wasn't so tired, this post would probably rave on and on and on about how great this lesson felt, even though it was still over my head. I'm just happy to be continuing to progress and not to have hit as best as I'm going to get yet.
It will be a bit less pleasant on a rainy day (in the dark) but it's doable.
This was my first dressage lesson with John and it was great. John's style of communication works really well for me. He's good at describing what Charlie is doing, and precisely how to correct it. He can not only watch Charlie, but he also watches what I'm doing, and makes the adjustments to me as well.
We started working on a circle, and then a 10 meter circle (precisely) and then a 10 meter circle at the sitting trot. The reason to be precise on the dimensions of the circle is so I can feel when Charlie is avoiding - if he is bulging his shoulders out (or in), the circle loses its shape.
This lesson, like the last one, is still in the gray realm where I can do it while John is talking - and as he describes what is happening, I can begin to associate the feel with what he's describing - but is still a bit out of my grasp to articulate afterwards.
He told me there's two things I need to work on, and I think it was to do a better job with my lower leg contact - "on-off-on-off" when I need it, not "on-squeeze harder-lift heel", and to experiment. Even if I can't feel that Charlie is stiff in his right jaw, don't just putz around in a circle but try flexing him to the outside for a step or two and see what happens. He said that the first two days he rode Charlie, he was stubborn, but then he became pliable again. It's kind of a miracle it only took to the third day with how long Charlie has been able to get away with things with me.
We worked on 10 meter circles, 15 meter circles, and even some 8 meter circles towards the end. John got spring in Charlie's step, and he also worked on getting him to bend around my leg. I had to lift my left hand and then use my right leg (going left) NEXT TO THE GIRTH (this part took me a while to catch on to) to - at the trot - get Charlie's right leg to cross over his left (front) leg and start to get that bend. Charlie is VERY good at acting like he's doing the motion, but evading. He'll try almost everything he can to avoid actually engaging his back.
It will be interesting to see when his new saddle arrives if that is because he's been working for so long with a saddle that makes his lower ribs hurt, or if it's a long-standing habit and he's never going to have the light bulb go off that he can lift up without it hurting. I certainly haven't helped him much up to this point, but now the light bulb has gone off for me.
John had me constantly adjusting, and this is the part I can't feel yet. John could instantly see when Charlie's shoulder would bulge out (or in), or when he'd tilt his head instead of bending, and he'd have me lift a hand, use an inside leg, use an outside leg, use both legs, or use the whip. It will be SO cool when I can feel that too.
So we did 10 meter trot circles, and then circles around the ring at different spots. Then we flexed to the outside with a bit of haunches to the outside on a slightly smaller circle, then would go back to normal bend and get some extra oomph. Then we did canter 10 meter circles, and the same flexion to the outside (but without the legs crossing over in front). Then we did 8 meter trot circles out to 15 meter circles, and canter on the 15 meter circle.
The art was in the adjustments in between. John would tell me, for example, to use my inside rein, and then Charlie's shoulder would lift and we could get the springy balanced trot. But until John would say that I needed to use the outside rein, I wouldn't feel how Charlie was bulging in the shoulder (or leaning on the rein, diving down on the forehand, etc.).
At the end of the lesson, Charlie had a steam wall coming off of him, and I was amazed at how well he did. It's probably because John just rode him for two weeks, but it was great for me to feel how well he moved and try to get that locked into my muscle memory. Fingers crossed for many more great lessons.
Also, John noted that my lower leg isn't really that bad once Charlie is going - it's just that tug of war to get him going where I keep squeezing tighter and lifting my heel that is doing me in. He said Charlie needs to get more responsive to the aids - when I squeeze both legs, he should be surging forward. It made me feel a lot better. I've been so worried that I'm ruining Charlie (for so long) that I'm timid about trying new things or using stronger aids (like using my right rein). This was - like most of my jump lessons have been - very confidence building to trust myself a little more and to ask more of Charlie. If I wasn't so tired, this post would probably rave on and on and on about how great this lesson felt, even though it was still over my head. I'm just happy to be continuing to progress and not to have hit as best as I'm going to get yet.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Two weeks with John
Charlie spent two weeks with John while we were on our honeymoon. John said Charlie doesn't have enough muscle on his topline for the flying changes yet, which was incredibly useful to know (and the same thing - in a way - that Major Beale said). John also said that he got his right side soft, that he jumps better from that bigger canter, and that we need to improve the puking transitions from canter to trot (what Beth had us work on last time!).
So we worked on the flat on the proper feel for when Charlie is using his back, but honestly, it's a bit out of my grasp. It is having him connected, and moving forward, but forward first. John said the lower leg position over fences that I asked him about - after reading too many George Morris jumping clinics in a row on the plane - is because I'm trying to get Charlie to go forward. It's an incredibly consistent - but improper - lower leg, and I got horrified that I was the worst rider ever and would get one of those "you shouldn't be jumping" critiques if we sent in my photo.
So the exercise to work on at home is canter - trot - lengthen. Trot should be the same speed as canter, not slowing down.
And then the other exercises are getting his jaw to soften - by flexing to the outside and then squeezes - and once it does, then using both legs to move him forward, in both directions. That sounds like a simple exercise, but I couldn't totally feel when his jaw softened, which is why poor Charlie has gotten away with it. It also made Charlie work much harder, so the 30-45 minutes of work was way more "efficient" (for conditioning) than the work I do with him at home (where he hardly breaks a sweat).
It was really, really useful, and it was also helpful to have the time off to reprioritize. My schedule is so jam packed I wouldn't be able to see John again until March 21 (assuming he's free) so I'm going to try to take evening lessons every Thursday - alternating jumping and flat.
So we worked on the flat on the proper feel for when Charlie is using his back, but honestly, it's a bit out of my grasp. It is having him connected, and moving forward, but forward first. John said the lower leg position over fences that I asked him about - after reading too many George Morris jumping clinics in a row on the plane - is because I'm trying to get Charlie to go forward. It's an incredibly consistent - but improper - lower leg, and I got horrified that I was the worst rider ever and would get one of those "you shouldn't be jumping" critiques if we sent in my photo.
So the exercise to work on at home is canter - trot - lengthen. Trot should be the same speed as canter, not slowing down.
And then the other exercises are getting his jaw to soften - by flexing to the outside and then squeezes - and once it does, then using both legs to move him forward, in both directions. That sounds like a simple exercise, but I couldn't totally feel when his jaw softened, which is why poor Charlie has gotten away with it. It also made Charlie work much harder, so the 30-45 minutes of work was way more "efficient" (for conditioning) than the work I do with him at home (where he hardly breaks a sweat).
It was really, really useful, and it was also helpful to have the time off to reprioritize. My schedule is so jam packed I wouldn't be able to see John again until March 21 (assuming he's free) so I'm going to try to take evening lessons every Thursday - alternating jumping and flat.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Beth 2 - *I* control the tempo and rhythm!
I had a lot more questions for Beth today, and Charlie was not at his best. He was a little stiff and sore from yesterday, and because we rode with George, he was way more interested in where George was and what he was doing than what I was asking him to do. He got back in the trailer and proceeded to paw it for like 30 minutes - very annoying.
We started with how you halt by softening your legs. The trick is to soften your butt and legs. I've been driving forward with my butt while softening my legs, but the halt needs to come from the lower belly instead. This same place is the center of all activity - before every request (an up transition, a down transition), breathe into the belly and then think about it. So if I am asking him to pick it up a bit, I use my leg, but I keep the impulsion from just going out his nose by stopping it with my core - not my hands.
This, I think, is the piece I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around. It is something I rarely use, but once it's operating, it makes everything else so much easier.
So for a down transition from the canter, I use the core and the outside rein and then use the core again to keep the trot speed the same as the canter, just a different rhythm.
We worked on trot circles one direction, then changing through the center to the other direction. Each time we'd change direction, I'd throw everything away, so Charlie would rush off onto the forehand at the start of the next circle and it would take me a whole circle to get it back.
I'm not sure why I'm doing that, but it was good to know once I figured it out. It goes back to riding every step.
The other big issue was the same as what Major Beale has said - being an interactive rider instead of a reactive rider (with the following step being a proactive rider). I can control how big the trot is by how big my seat is - I don't have to let Charlie choose. Because Charlie was pissy today, this actually gave Beth an opportunity to have me redirect it instead of just going along for the ride. As annoyed as I was (and as useful as it was to know he's better alone), that was worth it.
All gaits down transition is through the core, which also controls tempo and rhythm. But an up transition needs leg first, but then you have to channel the energy.
This sounds so - hang on, let me go get my magic crystals - but it made sense while I was riding it. But it is a slippery one - not quite fully within my grasp yet.
I think I said this yesterday too, but the other important part is to do well what I can do, and once I've mastered that, ask for more - just like the stages of dressage tests go. Just because I want to be doing a stretchy trot circle doesn't mean that Charlie can zing along in a stretchy trot circle the first time I ask for one, especially after several years of not doing it.
It was another great lesson, and it was fun to go with Julie and have company on the drive.
I watched Julie's lesson (while Charlie was kicking the trailer) and it was really, really helpful. Julie was nagging George for more canter because he was being slow, and she is a much better rider than me, so it was really helpful to watch someone better than me have a problem I have too. There is something about not trying to ride at the same time, but being able to watch the cause and effect and the instructor's words that really helps me get some of the concepts. It also helped because Julie would ask clarifying questions, so I could see where she was struggling with how to implement the instructions. George responded a little differently than Charlie might, but it was still really interesting to watch.
We started with how you halt by softening your legs. The trick is to soften your butt and legs. I've been driving forward with my butt while softening my legs, but the halt needs to come from the lower belly instead. This same place is the center of all activity - before every request (an up transition, a down transition), breathe into the belly and then think about it. So if I am asking him to pick it up a bit, I use my leg, but I keep the impulsion from just going out his nose by stopping it with my core - not my hands.
This, I think, is the piece I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around. It is something I rarely use, but once it's operating, it makes everything else so much easier.
So for a down transition from the canter, I use the core and the outside rein and then use the core again to keep the trot speed the same as the canter, just a different rhythm.
We worked on trot circles one direction, then changing through the center to the other direction. Each time we'd change direction, I'd throw everything away, so Charlie would rush off onto the forehand at the start of the next circle and it would take me a whole circle to get it back.
I'm not sure why I'm doing that, but it was good to know once I figured it out. It goes back to riding every step.
The other big issue was the same as what Major Beale has said - being an interactive rider instead of a reactive rider (with the following step being a proactive rider). I can control how big the trot is by how big my seat is - I don't have to let Charlie choose. Because Charlie was pissy today, this actually gave Beth an opportunity to have me redirect it instead of just going along for the ride. As annoyed as I was (and as useful as it was to know he's better alone), that was worth it.
All gaits down transition is through the core, which also controls tempo and rhythm. But an up transition needs leg first, but then you have to channel the energy.
This sounds so - hang on, let me go get my magic crystals - but it made sense while I was riding it. But it is a slippery one - not quite fully within my grasp yet.
I think I said this yesterday too, but the other important part is to do well what I can do, and once I've mastered that, ask for more - just like the stages of dressage tests go. Just because I want to be doing a stretchy trot circle doesn't mean that Charlie can zing along in a stretchy trot circle the first time I ask for one, especially after several years of not doing it.
It was another great lesson, and it was fun to go with Julie and have company on the drive.
I watched Julie's lesson (while Charlie was kicking the trailer) and it was really, really helpful. Julie was nagging George for more canter because he was being slow, and she is a much better rider than me, so it was really helpful to watch someone better than me have a problem I have too. There is something about not trying to ride at the same time, but being able to watch the cause and effect and the instructor's words that really helps me get some of the concepts. It also helped because Julie would ask clarifying questions, so I could see where she was struggling with how to implement the instructions. George responded a little differently than Charlie might, but it was still really interesting to watch.
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Beth at Anne's - hula hips = improved down transitions
Today was my first of two days with Beth at Anne Appleby's. It was one of those lessons where it was "ah-ha" moment after "ah-ha" moment, making me nervous that I'll forget them all on my own. I wish I could ride with Beth every week, because I get it, but then I'm afraid I'm practicing it wrong and making it worse in between.
I had three issues for Beth, but got very good insight into right circle issues as well. My issues were Charlie wagging his head at the canter, down transitions from the canter to the trot, and stretchy trot circles.
We started with the walk, and getting a nice connected walk, but allowing the movement to come up through my hips instead of forward and back through my back. This was really hard for me to get. I put my left hand on my stomach, with my thumb on my ribs and my pinky on my hip, and the goal was that the distance would stay the same instead of scrunching closed, lengthening open. It is like a slinky going back and forward with your back (wrong way) vs. hula hooping with your hips (right way). When I hula hoop, Charlie can lift his back up into me, and I am more deeply seated, and also my legs can move with him. This isn't just in the walk, but also in the sitting trot.
Beth said she can see a big difference in my swishy seat, although it came back more strongly as the lesson went on.
So we started with the walk and trying to shift the movement from my belly forward and back to hips up and down. Then we went to a stretchy circle at the walk, and focused on feeling the "round" Charlie underneath me (the "poof" in his shoulders, which means he's stepping up underneath himself with his hind legs), which required slow, gradual letting the reins out, not flinging them away. I had to ask him to tuck in his nose a little bit, but if I didn't expect immediate results, I got a much better stretchy walk.
Then we did trot work, and it is easier for me to keep Charlie round and connected on a circle than on the long side. I had never noticed this, so it was really good to have Beth point it out. If I pay attention, I can feel him go a little flat, and then if I do another circle, we reengage.
Then we did some trotting at the sitting trot, and I had to start slow, but then gradually work on building that trot up to "normal" speed. I can control the tempo with my hips, but I have to be careful not to get tense, and I need to try to sit back just a little more so that I can use the flat lower part of my belly more powerfully.
Then we did some stretchy trot work, and I am basically just rushing it. I fling everything away and expect him to do it perfectly, and what I need to do is 20%, then another 20%, then check in, then another 20%. Then, once he gets it, I can speed up. But for now, it is keeping the connection and making sure he goes down round and not out and flat and racing on his forehand.
Then we did canter work. A down transition is really the same speed between trot and canter, it is just using the outside rein to say "here is the new gait". This was really, really useful to hear. And - fascinatingly - the right stretchy circle at the trot and right canter are the same issue. It is still really different to go left and right, although on an entirely different level than last year. I kind of fall apart and get all twisted, crank Charlie's head to the right, and he is also kind of lazy about pushing off of his left hind leg, so it is really not as good or easy as going to the left. I have to remember to twist my spine a little left (my left shoulder gets further ahead than my right one), put weight on my right stirrup, and think about the rectangle and push my left side into the inside of the circle.
Charlie got pretty sweaty and was not forward enough in the canter, but it was hard because he would lift up into it but then kind of just stall in the air. So I need to work on the correct feeling there.
This written version doesn't do the lesson justice. I was like "OH! That's WHY that is happening!" over and over again. And - for the first time in a while, I started to see the next step up.
It is great! We are progressing. There is still a long way to go, but we are so much further than where we started. And Charlie is a real trooper. Some of this is hard work for him, and he is a little less honest about offering it when I do it right, but once I am firm and say "this is what I want", he changes and shows me whether it worked or not. He is such a good boy.
Next step is tempo. Beth said it is a real eventer issue - we want to tear around going too fast, and I need to distinguish speed from impulsion. I can feel it when it is up in his shoulders, but I can't always tell if things are too slow or too fast.
I had three issues for Beth, but got very good insight into right circle issues as well. My issues were Charlie wagging his head at the canter, down transitions from the canter to the trot, and stretchy trot circles.
We started with the walk, and getting a nice connected walk, but allowing the movement to come up through my hips instead of forward and back through my back. This was really hard for me to get. I put my left hand on my stomach, with my thumb on my ribs and my pinky on my hip, and the goal was that the distance would stay the same instead of scrunching closed, lengthening open. It is like a slinky going back and forward with your back (wrong way) vs. hula hooping with your hips (right way). When I hula hoop, Charlie can lift his back up into me, and I am more deeply seated, and also my legs can move with him. This isn't just in the walk, but also in the sitting trot.
Beth said she can see a big difference in my swishy seat, although it came back more strongly as the lesson went on.
So we started with the walk and trying to shift the movement from my belly forward and back to hips up and down. Then we went to a stretchy circle at the walk, and focused on feeling the "round" Charlie underneath me (the "poof" in his shoulders, which means he's stepping up underneath himself with his hind legs), which required slow, gradual letting the reins out, not flinging them away. I had to ask him to tuck in his nose a little bit, but if I didn't expect immediate results, I got a much better stretchy walk.
Then we did trot work, and it is easier for me to keep Charlie round and connected on a circle than on the long side. I had never noticed this, so it was really good to have Beth point it out. If I pay attention, I can feel him go a little flat, and then if I do another circle, we reengage.
Then we did some trotting at the sitting trot, and I had to start slow, but then gradually work on building that trot up to "normal" speed. I can control the tempo with my hips, but I have to be careful not to get tense, and I need to try to sit back just a little more so that I can use the flat lower part of my belly more powerfully.
Then we did some stretchy trot work, and I am basically just rushing it. I fling everything away and expect him to do it perfectly, and what I need to do is 20%, then another 20%, then check in, then another 20%. Then, once he gets it, I can speed up. But for now, it is keeping the connection and making sure he goes down round and not out and flat and racing on his forehand.
Then we did canter work. A down transition is really the same speed between trot and canter, it is just using the outside rein to say "here is the new gait". This was really, really useful to hear. And - fascinatingly - the right stretchy circle at the trot and right canter are the same issue. It is still really different to go left and right, although on an entirely different level than last year. I kind of fall apart and get all twisted, crank Charlie's head to the right, and he is also kind of lazy about pushing off of his left hind leg, so it is really not as good or easy as going to the left. I have to remember to twist my spine a little left (my left shoulder gets further ahead than my right one), put weight on my right stirrup, and think about the rectangle and push my left side into the inside of the circle.
Charlie got pretty sweaty and was not forward enough in the canter, but it was hard because he would lift up into it but then kind of just stall in the air. So I need to work on the correct feeling there.
This written version doesn't do the lesson justice. I was like "OH! That's WHY that is happening!" over and over again. And - for the first time in a while, I started to see the next step up.
It is great! We are progressing. There is still a long way to go, but we are so much further than where we started. And Charlie is a real trooper. Some of this is hard work for him, and he is a little less honest about offering it when I do it right, but once I am firm and say "this is what I want", he changes and shows me whether it worked or not. He is such a good boy.
Next step is tempo. Beth said it is a real eventer issue - we want to tear around going too fast, and I need to distinguish speed from impulsion. I can feel it when it is up in his shoulders, but I can't always tell if things are too slow or too fast.
Sunday, January 04, 2015
Group lesson with two of John's other students
Today I got to ride with two of John's students in a group lesson. It was really helpful, because I could watch them out of the corner of my eye and try to make Charlie look like their horses did. I could also watch what their horses did, then listen to what John told them to change. We started working on a 20 meter circle, and my main instructions were to get my heels down, to bend Charlie to the inside, and then to use outside rein to connect him.
Then we added in a tiny vertical, but you had to make a hard left to get to it - it didn't feel like a 20 meter circle turn. To get over it smoothly (after a couple awkward leaps where I got left behind), I figured out the trick was to make Charlie really suck up, so he could rock back onto his hind legs and kind of lift over it. Then, John made it higher, but the same method worked. When I tried to increase Charlie's speed around the last quarter of the circle, I couldn't suck him up enough and we'd sprawl over it again.
We did it first to the left, and then to the right. From the right, it was much harder to get the bend right to the fence. We'd either kind of angle it or overshoot to one side of it, so that was interesting. But Charlie was pretty good once he figured out what was going on.
John took his grid and rebuilt it to be a vertical at about M, with six strides to another vertical at F, then a bending right turn to a vertical angled just shy of X, with a slight left bending turn back over the first vertical at M. You started on the right lead and ended on the left lead, so that last line was hard to get the line right and to end on the left lead. Our final round, John had me do a flying change, and after a lot of hopping around, Charlie got it.
Then we finished and John put the fences up for them, and they did the same thing, but ending with another vertical (mid-line north of X) back to the second vertical (at F).
We also looked at the 2015 rules, and John said that because they conflict (Appx 8 (?) says that you have to get your last qualifying score by the closing date of the 3 day, but Appx 3 (?) says you have to get your xc score 10 days before the xc for the event), the people putting on the show will probably use the 10 day rule (he said they used to be guidelines) because they want more people to enter the 3 day.
I really liked riding in the group.
Then we added in a tiny vertical, but you had to make a hard left to get to it - it didn't feel like a 20 meter circle turn. To get over it smoothly (after a couple awkward leaps where I got left behind), I figured out the trick was to make Charlie really suck up, so he could rock back onto his hind legs and kind of lift over it. Then, John made it higher, but the same method worked. When I tried to increase Charlie's speed around the last quarter of the circle, I couldn't suck him up enough and we'd sprawl over it again.
We did it first to the left, and then to the right. From the right, it was much harder to get the bend right to the fence. We'd either kind of angle it or overshoot to one side of it, so that was interesting. But Charlie was pretty good once he figured out what was going on.
John took his grid and rebuilt it to be a vertical at about M, with six strides to another vertical at F, then a bending right turn to a vertical angled just shy of X, with a slight left bending turn back over the first vertical at M. You started on the right lead and ended on the left lead, so that last line was hard to get the line right and to end on the left lead. Our final round, John had me do a flying change, and after a lot of hopping around, Charlie got it.
Then we finished and John put the fences up for them, and they did the same thing, but ending with another vertical (mid-line north of X) back to the second vertical (at F).
We also looked at the 2015 rules, and John said that because they conflict (Appx 8 (?) says that you have to get your last qualifying score by the closing date of the 3 day, but Appx 3 (?) says you have to get your xc score 10 days before the xc for the event), the people putting on the show will probably use the 10 day rule (he said they used to be guidelines) because they want more people to enter the 3 day.
I really liked riding in the group.
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Tips from John, a grid, and flying changes
Today we started with a few questions.
First - riding 30-45 minutes 4x a week is ok, so long as we're working hard in that time. But I should include about 20 minutes of walking (warm up and cool down). John says 60 minutes of work is too long - to think about being a runner and how there are few benefits to just running for more than 60 minutes.
Second - all horses break down eventually, and I can't do anything to prevent it. But they more frequently break down from not enough conditioning (not being in shape, then going to an event) than from too much work (being ridden six days a week in the months leading up to an event). John says not to worry, that I am not going to wear Charlie out riding him too much.
Third - Yes, Charlie can go to John's for two weeks of training in February, but he isn't sure he'll be able to teach him that lead change either. (But see below for today's progress!)
Fourth - Yes, I should try to go to the Rebecca three day for Training this year. It isn't too much to go two years in a row.
Fifth - I start conditioning and doing speed work as soon as the footing allows. John says for the California shows, they have to just do tiny little gallops in the indoor arena because our footing doesn't get good soon enough.
Then, because we were chatting, John worked me all the way through the warm up. At the trot, he had me bend Charlie a bit more to the inside than I normally do, and then a bit more contact on the outside rein to get him round. Then a bit more of both legs for forward.
After that, we started working on the lead changes. They were kind of brutal. Charlie was half rearing - leaping up into the air with his front legs (and flailing, apparently) and then when I'd whip him, kicking out in a buck behind. I was breathing hard by the time we got one. BUT - we got them! Charlie was really, really confused about what I wanted, but as we got through his thick skull, it took less time.
Here's how: canter on right lead. Cut across the diagonal and change direction. Bend Charlie's neck to the left. Half halt. Ask for the change of lead with a lot of emphasis on the outside leg. Ride a few leaps and bucks. Half halt again, get the bend there, and then ask again.
Charlie would change in the front, but not the back, and then it is just the half halt on the outside hand to get the rest of the change.
What John said to work on by myself was to keep doing the simple changes, but get him supple to the inside (the new lead) and half halt and make sure he is bent, and then do my trot steps and change leads. That will help him to recognize that when he bends to the inside, he is going to do a lead change and not be able to brace and avoid it (which is what his m.o. is). He said if it takes a couple of circles, fine, but make sure Charlie knows he is going to have to work hard and eventually supple and bend and do the change. I was really pleased that we got them at all - and going both directions.
We also did a grid that was a cross rail, ground pole, vertical, oxer. The oxer ended about 3'6" and I did a way better job keeping my heels down and in front of me than last time. I also, a couple of times, got my line a little straighter and corrected it on the way through. When Charlie would land on the wrong lead, (the right lead, when I wanted left), we would circle at the end until he got the lead change.
Twice John had me do laps (one, then two) in a two point at the trot in between.
John is the best.
First - riding 30-45 minutes 4x a week is ok, so long as we're working hard in that time. But I should include about 20 minutes of walking (warm up and cool down). John says 60 minutes of work is too long - to think about being a runner and how there are few benefits to just running for more than 60 minutes.
Second - all horses break down eventually, and I can't do anything to prevent it. But they more frequently break down from not enough conditioning (not being in shape, then going to an event) than from too much work (being ridden six days a week in the months leading up to an event). John says not to worry, that I am not going to wear Charlie out riding him too much.
Third - Yes, Charlie can go to John's for two weeks of training in February, but he isn't sure he'll be able to teach him that lead change either. (But see below for today's progress!)
Fourth - Yes, I should try to go to the Rebecca three day for Training this year. It isn't too much to go two years in a row.
Fifth - I start conditioning and doing speed work as soon as the footing allows. John says for the California shows, they have to just do tiny little gallops in the indoor arena because our footing doesn't get good soon enough.
Then, because we were chatting, John worked me all the way through the warm up. At the trot, he had me bend Charlie a bit more to the inside than I normally do, and then a bit more contact on the outside rein to get him round. Then a bit more of both legs for forward.
After that, we started working on the lead changes. They were kind of brutal. Charlie was half rearing - leaping up into the air with his front legs (and flailing, apparently) and then when I'd whip him, kicking out in a buck behind. I was breathing hard by the time we got one. BUT - we got them! Charlie was really, really confused about what I wanted, but as we got through his thick skull, it took less time.
Here's how: canter on right lead. Cut across the diagonal and change direction. Bend Charlie's neck to the left. Half halt. Ask for the change of lead with a lot of emphasis on the outside leg. Ride a few leaps and bucks. Half halt again, get the bend there, and then ask again.
Charlie would change in the front, but not the back, and then it is just the half halt on the outside hand to get the rest of the change.
What John said to work on by myself was to keep doing the simple changes, but get him supple to the inside (the new lead) and half halt and make sure he is bent, and then do my trot steps and change leads. That will help him to recognize that when he bends to the inside, he is going to do a lead change and not be able to brace and avoid it (which is what his m.o. is). He said if it takes a couple of circles, fine, but make sure Charlie knows he is going to have to work hard and eventually supple and bend and do the change. I was really pleased that we got them at all - and going both directions.
We also did a grid that was a cross rail, ground pole, vertical, oxer. The oxer ended about 3'6" and I did a way better job keeping my heels down and in front of me than last time. I also, a couple of times, got my line a little straighter and corrected it on the way through. When Charlie would land on the wrong lead, (the right lead, when I wanted left), we would circle at the end until he got the lead change.
Twice John had me do laps (one, then two) in a two point at the trot in between.
John is the best.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
5 or 6 stride grid with John
Today we worked on two things, changing lead over a ground pole and then the same grid but in a different set up.
The lead change was encouraging, in the sense that it isn't me (for once), but Charlie genuinely appears to have no idea what I'm asking him to do, so when I was working on it at home, I wasn't totally out to lunch.
John set up a ground pole, and had me canter on a right lead circle, go over the pole and change direction and ask for the left lead. Charlie pretty much did it twice in 15 minutes. The two pieces I have a hard time with are having him enough forward, so that he has enough impulsion to change in the air, and then with enough aids enough ahead of time - this includes whip and leg a few strides out. If he doesn't change, instead of changing through the trot, make him counter canter (with his neck bent to the left lead) so that it is harder work for him not to change the lead than to change it. John tried throwing his hat at Charlie and also putting out a second pole, but it seemed to be more dumb luck - with Charlie leaping huge through the air for a change - than him catching on. Sometimes he'd change just the front or just the back, but then he'd flip back to the right lead next chance he got.
So we can continue to work on that on our own - I was not on the wrong track, and the tips were super helpful. John noted that Shannon found that Charlie did just fine going around on the wrong lead, so I think he never learned, and he's got 12 years of it not mattering under his belt that I'll need to get through. He's really good on the flat with the simple changes, so I think it's just a question of helping him have the light bulb go off.
Then we did the grid, with a trot to a small cross rail, two ground poles (one canter stride - I stepped it but it was a weird distance, like 9' to the first one, but then 4 1/2' to the second?) and then, depending on what John yelled, either 5 or 6 strides to a vertical, which ended at about 3'6". Charlie jumped it like a freaking champ, regardless of whether we were doing 5 or 6 strides, and because he was rocking back and lifting up, it was easier for me to keep my legs down and centered. It was great.
John gave me a course to work on at home - he says that when I'm alone I really need to work on "flow", so having three fences that I can turn easily into a 7 jump course (vertical at E, angle to a vertical on center line, then vertical at M, then go down longside back to E and change direction over center line, then do M to center line to E, etc.). He said also that I don't need to jump more than 3' at home.
Love the lessons with John!!
The lead change was encouraging, in the sense that it isn't me (for once), but Charlie genuinely appears to have no idea what I'm asking him to do, so when I was working on it at home, I wasn't totally out to lunch.
John set up a ground pole, and had me canter on a right lead circle, go over the pole and change direction and ask for the left lead. Charlie pretty much did it twice in 15 minutes. The two pieces I have a hard time with are having him enough forward, so that he has enough impulsion to change in the air, and then with enough aids enough ahead of time - this includes whip and leg a few strides out. If he doesn't change, instead of changing through the trot, make him counter canter (with his neck bent to the left lead) so that it is harder work for him not to change the lead than to change it. John tried throwing his hat at Charlie and also putting out a second pole, but it seemed to be more dumb luck - with Charlie leaping huge through the air for a change - than him catching on. Sometimes he'd change just the front or just the back, but then he'd flip back to the right lead next chance he got.
So we can continue to work on that on our own - I was not on the wrong track, and the tips were super helpful. John noted that Shannon found that Charlie did just fine going around on the wrong lead, so I think he never learned, and he's got 12 years of it not mattering under his belt that I'll need to get through. He's really good on the flat with the simple changes, so I think it's just a question of helping him have the light bulb go off.
Then we did the grid, with a trot to a small cross rail, two ground poles (one canter stride - I stepped it but it was a weird distance, like 9' to the first one, but then 4 1/2' to the second?) and then, depending on what John yelled, either 5 or 6 strides to a vertical, which ended at about 3'6". Charlie jumped it like a freaking champ, regardless of whether we were doing 5 or 6 strides, and because he was rocking back and lifting up, it was easier for me to keep my legs down and centered. It was great.
John gave me a course to work on at home - he says that when I'm alone I really need to work on "flow", so having three fences that I can turn easily into a 7 jump course (vertical at E, angle to a vertical on center line, then vertical at M, then go down longside back to E and change direction over center line, then do M to center line to E, etc.). He said also that I don't need to jump more than 3' at home.
Love the lessons with John!!
Sitting trot eureka
After enduring snow flurries and extra-cautious driving on the completely clear roads, we arrived late for a pilates session and lesson with Beth.
The pilates session was great - Beth had to go back a bit because I've been struggling at home with engaging the core muscles - something I can do with her but immediately forget as soon as I leave. She gave me some simpler exercises to work on at home.
Then our lesson was amazing. We worked on even weight (I sit heavy on the left - I can feel it under my left thigh), so trying to think about the weight being in the right. When my left hand crosses over the top of Charlie's neck, that means I'm sitting off to the left and need to shift my weight right. It's an easy indicator. I also need to turn my shoulders (but not my head) left most of the time.
Beth spent some time showing me how when I sit off to the side, it makes Charlie's ribs unable to bend, which is why he's reluctant to bend left but it is so easy for him to bend right. I told her that I was having trouble with lead changes over fences (from right to left) and also that when we're going left, I put my right hand forward. She said he actually needs a bit of release to the right.
We worked on 10 meter circles and transitions, and the first thing she had me do was sit the trot and then focus on having the right hip move like the left hip. The first miracle was that I could feel Charlie's hind legs, so I could time the aids. Then, I have to think forward and up with the right hip, but as soon as I do, Charlie's back evens out underneath me and he gets more balanced.
He did all of his lead changes (simple changes, through the trot) perfectly, so he didn't give Beth much to work on there.
But then we took the right hip moving and added keeping my upper body still for the request for the transition. It was much harder to do on the down transitions, but on the up transitions, if I consciously thought about keeping my upper body still (it tends to lurch forward briefly, just as we do the transition), Charlie lifts up into the new gait instead of lunging down and forward. Beth said that he mimics what I do, so if I lurch forward, he lurches forward, and if I am crooked to the left, he is crooked to the left.
Following the still upper body and the hip, we suddenly got exactly the right balanced sitting trot, and I just went around and around and around grinning like a fool because it was so EASY to sit. I didn't have to give him any aids, we just went around smooth and connected. It was a total delight. I can't wait to work on that more.
He had a bit of a hard time on canter circles that were smaller than 15 meters, but I think his back was sore because I overjumped him a couple days ago in my attempt to work on three things at once to save time.
I have been feeling down and like a lousy rider, lurching all around and just horrible in general, and I think that is actually a good sign. I think that it means that we're working on the next layer of the onion, and once this starts to feel good, then we'll have to go back to horrible while we work on the next layer. But overall, I think this is good - I think this is much better riding than last year, and Charlie is so sweet and generous, just waiting for me to allow him to move freely and then rewarding me by changing as soon as I get it right.
The pilates session was great - Beth had to go back a bit because I've been struggling at home with engaging the core muscles - something I can do with her but immediately forget as soon as I leave. She gave me some simpler exercises to work on at home.
Then our lesson was amazing. We worked on even weight (I sit heavy on the left - I can feel it under my left thigh), so trying to think about the weight being in the right. When my left hand crosses over the top of Charlie's neck, that means I'm sitting off to the left and need to shift my weight right. It's an easy indicator. I also need to turn my shoulders (but not my head) left most of the time.
Beth spent some time showing me how when I sit off to the side, it makes Charlie's ribs unable to bend, which is why he's reluctant to bend left but it is so easy for him to bend right. I told her that I was having trouble with lead changes over fences (from right to left) and also that when we're going left, I put my right hand forward. She said he actually needs a bit of release to the right.
We worked on 10 meter circles and transitions, and the first thing she had me do was sit the trot and then focus on having the right hip move like the left hip. The first miracle was that I could feel Charlie's hind legs, so I could time the aids. Then, I have to think forward and up with the right hip, but as soon as I do, Charlie's back evens out underneath me and he gets more balanced.
He did all of his lead changes (simple changes, through the trot) perfectly, so he didn't give Beth much to work on there.
But then we took the right hip moving and added keeping my upper body still for the request for the transition. It was much harder to do on the down transitions, but on the up transitions, if I consciously thought about keeping my upper body still (it tends to lurch forward briefly, just as we do the transition), Charlie lifts up into the new gait instead of lunging down and forward. Beth said that he mimics what I do, so if I lurch forward, he lurches forward, and if I am crooked to the left, he is crooked to the left.
Following the still upper body and the hip, we suddenly got exactly the right balanced sitting trot, and I just went around and around and around grinning like a fool because it was so EASY to sit. I didn't have to give him any aids, we just went around smooth and connected. It was a total delight. I can't wait to work on that more.
He had a bit of a hard time on canter circles that were smaller than 15 meters, but I think his back was sore because I overjumped him a couple days ago in my attempt to work on three things at once to save time.
I have been feeling down and like a lousy rider, lurching all around and just horrible in general, and I think that is actually a good sign. I think that it means that we're working on the next layer of the onion, and once this starts to feel good, then we'll have to go back to horrible while we work on the next layer. But overall, I think this is good - I think this is much better riding than last year, and Charlie is so sweet and generous, just waiting for me to allow him to move freely and then rewarding me by changing as soon as I get it right.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Grid plus one with John
This week's grid was the same as last weeks, with a fourth fence, a vertical, at the end. John made the vertical 3'11", which I think was a few inches shorter than the oxer last week. It still popped me out of the tack pretty much every time, though.
We started with an excellent exercise over a ground pole. John made me half halt as we approached it, and even when we hit the wrong spot, Charlie would add a stride, and he would round up over the top of the pole. John said that a lot of times practicing ground poles, you just puke over them, which defeats the purpose of the exercise. I have definitely been doing that, so this was a great exercise that was another "click" like last week's.
John also said he could tell that I had really worked on the half halt after last week - he said he could see a difference, and I could definitely feel one making the turn to come down the line. Charlie didn't have to canter and we were much more "round" and could go in bouncy which saved everything.
The other thing the grid showed was how badly we are drifting to the left. Even though we start straight in the center, we'd end up close to the left standard by the fourth fence. John said to look right - at first he had it really exaggerated - he stood off to the side and told me to look at him, then he stood closer, then he had me look at the right standard, and then finally just to the right of the centerline of the pole. Amazingly enough, that was all it took to get us through the grid straight. What it did though - adding another thing onto the plate - was make it hard for me to remember to snap my head up and look out the exit, so I kept missing my leads.
Also, I had to really kick Charlie to get over the oxer (not that big, maybe 3'6"?) and then over the vertical (which felt huge, but was less big than the oxer last week), and that was good too, to have to kick in the middle.
It was really great to feel the progress from last week and that what I was doing made a difference, and the ground pole exercise was really timely since I've been working with them. I told John I'm having trouble with lead changes, and he asked flying? I said no, Charlie could only do them one way and he said, probably left to right but not right to left. So next lesson (Thanksgiving week) I'm going to try those.
It was another great lesson. John is really good at building things up and building confidence but helping get the lesson through my thick skull. It was also a gorgeous, cold day.
We started with an excellent exercise over a ground pole. John made me half halt as we approached it, and even when we hit the wrong spot, Charlie would add a stride, and he would round up over the top of the pole. John said that a lot of times practicing ground poles, you just puke over them, which defeats the purpose of the exercise. I have definitely been doing that, so this was a great exercise that was another "click" like last week's.
John also said he could tell that I had really worked on the half halt after last week - he said he could see a difference, and I could definitely feel one making the turn to come down the line. Charlie didn't have to canter and we were much more "round" and could go in bouncy which saved everything.
The other thing the grid showed was how badly we are drifting to the left. Even though we start straight in the center, we'd end up close to the left standard by the fourth fence. John said to look right - at first he had it really exaggerated - he stood off to the side and told me to look at him, then he stood closer, then he had me look at the right standard, and then finally just to the right of the centerline of the pole. Amazingly enough, that was all it took to get us through the grid straight. What it did though - adding another thing onto the plate - was make it hard for me to remember to snap my head up and look out the exit, so I kept missing my leads.
Also, I had to really kick Charlie to get over the oxer (not that big, maybe 3'6"?) and then over the vertical (which felt huge, but was less big than the oxer last week), and that was good too, to have to kick in the middle.
It was really great to feel the progress from last week and that what I was doing made a difference, and the ground pole exercise was really timely since I've been working with them. I told John I'm having trouble with lead changes, and he asked flying? I said no, Charlie could only do them one way and he said, probably left to right but not right to left. So next lesson (Thanksgiving week) I'm going to try those.
It was another great lesson. John is really good at building things up and building confidence but helping get the lesson through my thick skull. It was also a gorgeous, cold day.
Sunday, November 09, 2014
Grid with John
Today we started with some flat work and then jumped a grid.
The grid started with ground poles, and ended with a cross rail, vertical, and 3'9" - 4' oxer, which is (I had to look it up), Intermediate (3'9") to Advanced (3'11").
I had trouble with the grid when it was poles, and then I had trouble with it again when it was huge - I kept popping out of the tack in the air. John says I need a more secure lower leg (and about 10 other things, but he said since I can only listen to a few things at a time, for now to just focus on the secure lower leg and we'll do the others once that is fixed).
It was a "classic" John lesson - starting with the ground poles and working up to a fence so freaking humongous when I was done I had to walk over and measure it (my armpit). He is a master at gradually building until you are doing more than you would ever have thought.
What I could not get - no matter how big the fence was, was the turn in the corner to the fence. We would just puke down and then have to lunge forward. The good part was how grossly obvious it was that there was a huge difference turning right and left - I could do the right turns meh, but the left turns Charlie would break into a pukey canter (and there wasn't room for me to fix it) instead of just freaking engaging his hind end. John made us do some 8-10 meter circles to get Charlie to bend to the left and afterwards he showed me how it is "easier" for Charlie to puke canter instead of just bend.
He said we can practice small circles but we need to make sure to practice them correctly.
Charlie jumped it like a freaking rock star - he would round his back up and actually try and we were in the air for SO LONG. But it was also a good slice of humble pie because I was thinking I was a freaking genius who was going to go prelim next year (2016), and I just kept making the same mistake and then getting popped out of the saddle. I couldn't keep my form most of the fences even though I knew it was coming. We got a couple just right, which just felt divine.
John said Shannon never wanted to jump height, but that Charlie jumps much better when he tries - which is why when he slams a fence, then he respects them again for a while - and that now 3'3" will feel like a cake walk. I like the height - with John.
We started on the flat with some bending. The thing I'm not doing is asking him to bend with inside rein, and then using outside rein to make him round. I need to get the proper bend, which uses inside rein and inside leg, then ask him to connect with outside rein, THEN ask him to go forward with both legs without throwing away the contact.
It was much harder to do going left (huh, interesting - see above on the turn to the fence), because my right elbow would drift forward and not stay next to my hip. Charlie has a harder time bending to the left, and apparently I am compensating by throwing him away.
Our transitions were pretty pukey, and while I would prefer to ride perfectly any time I am doing anything, even if it is something I have never done before, I felt a little "ah-ha" moment when John went through it step by step. When he connected with the outside rein, I could feel his shoulders lighten - I could FEEL it, which is good.
So I can work on that before next week, and then once I have that down, go back and work on the transitions, which were a little out of my league for today. I knew they weren't exactly right, but I couldn't feel the mistakes as well as I did on just the connection exercise.
I also need to drape my legs (my stirrups are not too long, I asked John to check) and not suck them up and nag when I'm trying to get Charlie to work harder.
The grid started with ground poles, and ended with a cross rail, vertical, and 3'9" - 4' oxer, which is (I had to look it up), Intermediate (3'9") to Advanced (3'11").
I had trouble with the grid when it was poles, and then I had trouble with it again when it was huge - I kept popping out of the tack in the air. John says I need a more secure lower leg (and about 10 other things, but he said since I can only listen to a few things at a time, for now to just focus on the secure lower leg and we'll do the others once that is fixed).
It was a "classic" John lesson - starting with the ground poles and working up to a fence so freaking humongous when I was done I had to walk over and measure it (my armpit). He is a master at gradually building until you are doing more than you would ever have thought.
What I could not get - no matter how big the fence was, was the turn in the corner to the fence. We would just puke down and then have to lunge forward. The good part was how grossly obvious it was that there was a huge difference turning right and left - I could do the right turns meh, but the left turns Charlie would break into a pukey canter (and there wasn't room for me to fix it) instead of just freaking engaging his hind end. John made us do some 8-10 meter circles to get Charlie to bend to the left and afterwards he showed me how it is "easier" for Charlie to puke canter instead of just bend.
He said we can practice small circles but we need to make sure to practice them correctly.
Charlie jumped it like a freaking rock star - he would round his back up and actually try and we were in the air for SO LONG. But it was also a good slice of humble pie because I was thinking I was a freaking genius who was going to go prelim next year (2016), and I just kept making the same mistake and then getting popped out of the saddle. I couldn't keep my form most of the fences even though I knew it was coming. We got a couple just right, which just felt divine.
John said Shannon never wanted to jump height, but that Charlie jumps much better when he tries - which is why when he slams a fence, then he respects them again for a while - and that now 3'3" will feel like a cake walk. I like the height - with John.
We started on the flat with some bending. The thing I'm not doing is asking him to bend with inside rein, and then using outside rein to make him round. I need to get the proper bend, which uses inside rein and inside leg, then ask him to connect with outside rein, THEN ask him to go forward with both legs without throwing away the contact.
It was much harder to do going left (huh, interesting - see above on the turn to the fence), because my right elbow would drift forward and not stay next to my hip. Charlie has a harder time bending to the left, and apparently I am compensating by throwing him away.
Our transitions were pretty pukey, and while I would prefer to ride perfectly any time I am doing anything, even if it is something I have never done before, I felt a little "ah-ha" moment when John went through it step by step. When he connected with the outside rein, I could feel his shoulders lighten - I could FEEL it, which is good.
So I can work on that before next week, and then once I have that down, go back and work on the transitions, which were a little out of my league for today. I knew they weren't exactly right, but I couldn't feel the mistakes as well as I did on just the connection exercise.
I also need to drape my legs (my stirrups are not too long, I asked John to check) and not suck them up and nag when I'm trying to get Charlie to work harder.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Slimy layer of the onion with Beth
Today we got a little closer to the explanation for why I'm so crooked. Not solved yet, but closer.
Right leg is stronger, especially in quad.
Exercises to do at home are quadriped (on hands and knees, right arm and left leg out - don't make a C curve when left leg is out); rocking on the ball and then roll back, making sure to elongate the back and shorten the ribs to pelvis, with knees relaxed - not just plummet back from shoulders; and scarecrow or swimming, with an emphasis on a long neck and the space between the shoulder blades, not the space below the shoulder blades. Also, plank, but up on the forearms so it is hard to do only after a second or two.
On Charlie, we worked on halting or other down transitions from relaxing the inner leg, not squeezing him forward with my legs; then with an engaged lower ab and the motion coming right hip - left hip - not forward and back with the belly; then adding in relaxed legs, not gripping legs; and finally scarecrow back with the correct amount of tilt forward (that last bit is super hard).
Then we did some leg yielding with me not shifting my weight. One way was easy, the other way much harder (off my right leg - I pushed my weight way over on my left seat bone).
Then a bit of sitting trot and posting trot without my right stirrup, which helped even out the snakey twist a lot, but Beth says don't work on too much at home because it might make my right leg clamp up more.
For sitting trot, it was leaning back with my shoulders (which really wasn't in the mirror) and then feeling a lift up - like a hook was pulling me up by the belt. I had a few really good sits where I had relaxed legs and could bounce up.
We did some trot work where I'd slow him down by slowing down my posting, but when we go forward, I tend to let everything go loose and let the energy all dissipate.
Charlie did a good job trying to stay under me but then got bored and nonresponsive, which was a good example of leg aid on, then off, then a smack with the whip if he ignores me.
Finally we did some canter work both directions, but I don't remember the homework.
There is a lot to think about just in the walk with the hips leading and pelvis staying still, and finding that balanced, even weight over the seat bones. It still feels all vaguely out of grasp, like I'm not quite catching on, but I am getting bigger and bigger glimpses and feeling it more and more when I get it right, so I think we're continuing to make progress.
Right leg is stronger, especially in quad.
Exercises to do at home are quadriped (on hands and knees, right arm and left leg out - don't make a C curve when left leg is out); rocking on the ball and then roll back, making sure to elongate the back and shorten the ribs to pelvis, with knees relaxed - not just plummet back from shoulders; and scarecrow or swimming, with an emphasis on a long neck and the space between the shoulder blades, not the space below the shoulder blades. Also, plank, but up on the forearms so it is hard to do only after a second or two.
On Charlie, we worked on halting or other down transitions from relaxing the inner leg, not squeezing him forward with my legs; then with an engaged lower ab and the motion coming right hip - left hip - not forward and back with the belly; then adding in relaxed legs, not gripping legs; and finally scarecrow back with the correct amount of tilt forward (that last bit is super hard).
Then we did some leg yielding with me not shifting my weight. One way was easy, the other way much harder (off my right leg - I pushed my weight way over on my left seat bone).
Then a bit of sitting trot and posting trot without my right stirrup, which helped even out the snakey twist a lot, but Beth says don't work on too much at home because it might make my right leg clamp up more.
For sitting trot, it was leaning back with my shoulders (which really wasn't in the mirror) and then feeling a lift up - like a hook was pulling me up by the belt. I had a few really good sits where I had relaxed legs and could bounce up.
We did some trot work where I'd slow him down by slowing down my posting, but when we go forward, I tend to let everything go loose and let the energy all dissipate.
Charlie did a good job trying to stay under me but then got bored and nonresponsive, which was a good example of leg aid on, then off, then a smack with the whip if he ignores me.
Finally we did some canter work both directions, but I don't remember the homework.
There is a lot to think about just in the walk with the hips leading and pelvis staying still, and finding that balanced, even weight over the seat bones. It still feels all vaguely out of grasp, like I'm not quite catching on, but I am getting bigger and bigger glimpses and feeling it more and more when I get it right, so I think we're continuing to make progress.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Another great lesson with John
We lucked out with some fabulous fall weather - warm with just a slight breeze - although with his full coat, Charlie got pretty sweaty.
We warmed up and John said to make sure to keep him connected and not to let him get too stiff going to the left or hang on the reins going to the right. I had to push him forward and then bend him out with the inside leg. We also did some half halts in the canter and then sending him forward.
Then we did a few tricky combinations. We ended with an oxer - 5 strides - vertical - 2 strides - hard left turn to oxer - right roll back turn to vertical - 2 strides - hard right turn in 4-5 strides to an oxer - then a left turn to a skinny.
I could NOT get the left lead on the last two (oxer, skinny) so my first homework is just to set up a pole or a small jump and work on my left lead. I could get it fine when it was just the skinny or just the plank, but not when I was doing it as part of the course.
Instead, I would pull hard on the left rein, but the good news was that I could feel that I was doing it, like that eureka moment when I felt I was pulling back before each fence and could finally stop.
We also worked on doing the line in 5 strides, then 6, but just a little bit.
I also had another eureka moment where I finally got "sit up" around the corner, and I half halted without losing impulsion. Then, we bounced in and just flew over the fence, instead of kind of chipping over it.
A third eureka moment was when I got too close to the first vertical of the three combination, and how it screwed up the next two and I still didn't get it back together for the skinny.
However, since we haven't jumped since the derby, and John said we just jumped right in and were pushing Charlie, I was really happy with how well we did, considering.
My homework is leads and then to work on three fences in a row (two strides between each) but the center one wonky angled, so that I learn to ride to my spot regardless.
John said that yes Jumpernite is worthwhile - because any time in the arena is. He said to ride one level below, my level, and if he's going well, the next level up. So three classes.
He also said that Devoucoux are the best saddles, and there are a couple other good ones (one that starts with A and one that starts with R) but that I don't need to specialize between my xc and sj saddles until my second year at Prelim. He said that's when I'll feel that with a different saddle, I could go faster.
We warmed up and John said to make sure to keep him connected and not to let him get too stiff going to the left or hang on the reins going to the right. I had to push him forward and then bend him out with the inside leg. We also did some half halts in the canter and then sending him forward.
Then we did a few tricky combinations. We ended with an oxer - 5 strides - vertical - 2 strides - hard left turn to oxer - right roll back turn to vertical - 2 strides - hard right turn in 4-5 strides to an oxer - then a left turn to a skinny.
I could NOT get the left lead on the last two (oxer, skinny) so my first homework is just to set up a pole or a small jump and work on my left lead. I could get it fine when it was just the skinny or just the plank, but not when I was doing it as part of the course.
Instead, I would pull hard on the left rein, but the good news was that I could feel that I was doing it, like that eureka moment when I felt I was pulling back before each fence and could finally stop.
We also worked on doing the line in 5 strides, then 6, but just a little bit.
I also had another eureka moment where I finally got "sit up" around the corner, and I half halted without losing impulsion. Then, we bounced in and just flew over the fence, instead of kind of chipping over it.
A third eureka moment was when I got too close to the first vertical of the three combination, and how it screwed up the next two and I still didn't get it back together for the skinny.
However, since we haven't jumped since the derby, and John said we just jumped right in and were pushing Charlie, I was really happy with how well we did, considering.
My homework is leads and then to work on three fences in a row (two strides between each) but the center one wonky angled, so that I learn to ride to my spot regardless.
John said that yes Jumpernite is worthwhile - because any time in the arena is. He said to ride one level below, my level, and if he's going well, the next level up. So three classes.
He also said that Devoucoux are the best saddles, and there are a couple other good ones (one that starts with A and one that starts with R) but that I don't need to specialize between my xc and sj saddles until my second year at Prelim. He said that's when I'll feel that with a different saddle, I could go faster.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Charlie majorly good for Major Beale
I forgot to include in yesterday's post the hardest part about the collected canter - doing the uberstriechen when Charlie gives with his head. That actually applies to all things Charlie does - I'm a good clamper but not good at letting go (like the rest of my life, actually). So I need to concentrate on that.
I started today by asking Major Beale for specific exercises to improve Charlie's musculature on his topline. In addition to transitions and marching, he said to do lateral work and today's exercises. I also asked about bending properly, and he said that yes, the aids were right (a squeeze on the inside, leg aid on the inside, and a firm hand (but a bit of give, to give him room to bend) on the outside). He suggested thinking of it as a contraction on the inside and a lengthening on the outside, because a horse can't actually bend through its ribcage, but also it is ok to bend a bit more in the neck at this stage.
So then we got started, and he was not happy with the walk to halt transition, especially after we worked on it yesterday. Ominously, he got up, got down a lunge whip, and came out into the arena.
If Charlie is working with impulsion, he will naturally halt square. So all my efforts to fanagle him into halting square would have been better spent working on the underlying cause - adequate impulsion and proper carriage - than trying to skid him into it and all my other shenanigans.
What he ended up doing was NOT beating me with the lunge whip, but using it like the stick with Charlie's hocks to encourage him to step up and under - like I have seen Mike do when he is teaching piaffe.
We worked on "half steps". This is walking, then pull both legs back a bit (hard to do in my hips, side note), and ask for a trot aid, but then hold it to tiny steps. From half steps, we would transition down to walk or to a regular trot.
The regular trot then felt lofty. It was not rushed - something I tend to do when I try to get "big" - but there was suspension - I could feel how long I was in the air posting compared to normal.
From there we worked on small circles around Major Beale (maybe 10 meter or 8 meter?) with haunches out but neck bent in - so if we were moving counterclockwise, haunches were out to the right, but neck was bent a bit to the left. Then we would go bigger, reverse it - haunches to the left - and then straighten and go to a trot or straight to a canter. We did this several times both directions, with improvement each time.
My left leg (and Charlie's left hind leg) are still noticeably weaker than the right, making it much harder to do it with the left leg as the dominant aid, and I am also slow to put on my "outside" leg to keep him moving "forward".
But when we connected all the dots and then did trot or canter - yowza - his shoulders were so high it was like sitting on a pillow. It was divine.
From there we did some shoulder-in to trot lengthening exercises, with the important part being to give Charlie enough time to collect again and BEND before we headed into the corners - I would just barrel into the corner and he'd lose his balance.
Major Beale said it is correct to give him tomorrow off - he'll probably be a bit stiff and sore from using all those muscles for so long, but I have to say - Charlie was such a gentleman. It was hard work - he was sweating and huffing and puffing, but he tried to figure it out and then gave it his best. He didn't get frustrated or worn out.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to ride with Major Beale and learn from him. He is very good at describing what the rider and horse are doing, and how that affects the movement. I felt like I learned more in these two days than in years of struggling on my own. And I am so, so lucky to have Charlie. He is just a phenomenal horse, exactly the right personality at exactly the right time.
I feel like I am finally starting to catch on, and that maybe it isn't hopeless after all. I've made so much progress from when I first rode with him!
I started today by asking Major Beale for specific exercises to improve Charlie's musculature on his topline. In addition to transitions and marching, he said to do lateral work and today's exercises. I also asked about bending properly, and he said that yes, the aids were right (a squeeze on the inside, leg aid on the inside, and a firm hand (but a bit of give, to give him room to bend) on the outside). He suggested thinking of it as a contraction on the inside and a lengthening on the outside, because a horse can't actually bend through its ribcage, but also it is ok to bend a bit more in the neck at this stage.
So then we got started, and he was not happy with the walk to halt transition, especially after we worked on it yesterday. Ominously, he got up, got down a lunge whip, and came out into the arena.
If Charlie is working with impulsion, he will naturally halt square. So all my efforts to fanagle him into halting square would have been better spent working on the underlying cause - adequate impulsion and proper carriage - than trying to skid him into it and all my other shenanigans.
What he ended up doing was NOT beating me with the lunge whip, but using it like the stick with Charlie's hocks to encourage him to step up and under - like I have seen Mike do when he is teaching piaffe.
We worked on "half steps". This is walking, then pull both legs back a bit (hard to do in my hips, side note), and ask for a trot aid, but then hold it to tiny steps. From half steps, we would transition down to walk or to a regular trot.
The regular trot then felt lofty. It was not rushed - something I tend to do when I try to get "big" - but there was suspension - I could feel how long I was in the air posting compared to normal.
From there we worked on small circles around Major Beale (maybe 10 meter or 8 meter?) with haunches out but neck bent in - so if we were moving counterclockwise, haunches were out to the right, but neck was bent a bit to the left. Then we would go bigger, reverse it - haunches to the left - and then straighten and go to a trot or straight to a canter. We did this several times both directions, with improvement each time.
My left leg (and Charlie's left hind leg) are still noticeably weaker than the right, making it much harder to do it with the left leg as the dominant aid, and I am also slow to put on my "outside" leg to keep him moving "forward".
But when we connected all the dots and then did trot or canter - yowza - his shoulders were so high it was like sitting on a pillow. It was divine.
From there we did some shoulder-in to trot lengthening exercises, with the important part being to give Charlie enough time to collect again and BEND before we headed into the corners - I would just barrel into the corner and he'd lose his balance.
Major Beale said it is correct to give him tomorrow off - he'll probably be a bit stiff and sore from using all those muscles for so long, but I have to say - Charlie was such a gentleman. It was hard work - he was sweating and huffing and puffing, but he tried to figure it out and then gave it his best. He didn't get frustrated or worn out.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to ride with Major Beale and learn from him. He is very good at describing what the rider and horse are doing, and how that affects the movement. I felt like I learned more in these two days than in years of struggling on my own. And I am so, so lucky to have Charlie. He is just a phenomenal horse, exactly the right personality at exactly the right time.
I feel like I am finally starting to catch on, and that maybe it isn't hopeless after all. I've made so much progress from when I first rode with him!
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Major Beale - major fun
I was a little anxious about today's ride with Major Beale. Charlie got 3 weeks off of work instead of 2, and his right front hoof feels warm to me. He felt off the last day I tried to ride him (so I quit) and a few days later he was noticeably lame. The one day I got to ride him (two days ago), he was downhill and rushing, and I couldn't tell whether he felt off or not.
And, like every other lesson, with Major Beale, it was miraculous.
First, I come in and loaf around. No more. Charlie can walk on a long rein, but he is going to MARCH forward.
Second, I asked for help on the two 15 meter circles at X for Training Level B. The problem is the outside shoulder - I'm losing contact in the outside rein, and Charlie's shoulder bulges out, and that's what makes the circle the wrong shape.
Third, I had lengthening the canter all wrong. It made sense for a horse not round, but for a horse that is connected, there is a different way to ride it. If Charlie has impulsion, then I don't need to kick, but just let my seat swing bigger - that stretches him out without driving him down. But to collect it back up, I need to wrap my legs around him and then hold it in front.
Lengthening the trot is not the same aid as canter. There, I do need to use leg to lengthen - and also post higher. But the feeling of bringing it back is similar.
Fourth, I asked for help with the trot stretchy circle, and as I suspected, it's because I'm not riding the right basics. If Charlie is working over his topline, the stretchy circle is a relief, and he naturally goes round and low to stretch out his topline. But if he's already downhill on the forehand, he has no reason to stretch, and I have to make him do it. So after I worked him correctly, and allowed the reins to lengthen, he just naturally went down.
Fifth, when Charlie is tilting his head it means that he's not working symmetrically on both sides. I can't always feel this, but it's good to know that's the root cause.
Sixth, I need to push Charlie into the halt (or whatever downward transition) with my legs and not pull with my hands. I have heard this before and thought it was crazy, but today it totally worked. I just kept my hands steady and used my legs and miraculously we stopped every time - and we stopped with lifted (lofty) shoulders instead of heading downhill.
Major Beale said that we have made definite progress, but that I need to sharpen Charlie up so that instead of it taking 13 steps to make a transition, it takes no more than 3. He also said because Charlie is lazy and has always been lazy I really have to stay consistent and dedicated to working on making him move forward with impulsion.
He also said that Charlie needs to develop muscles over his topline. It sounds like a chicken and egg problem. If Charlie had those muscles, it would be easier for him to do this work, but he needs to do this work to get those muscles. Mostly a lot of transitions but they need to be from a marching walk and done properly, not puked out onto the forehand downhill stuff.
And, like every other lesson, with Major Beale, it was miraculous.
First, I come in and loaf around. No more. Charlie can walk on a long rein, but he is going to MARCH forward.
Second, I asked for help on the two 15 meter circles at X for Training Level B. The problem is the outside shoulder - I'm losing contact in the outside rein, and Charlie's shoulder bulges out, and that's what makes the circle the wrong shape.
Third, I had lengthening the canter all wrong. It made sense for a horse not round, but for a horse that is connected, there is a different way to ride it. If Charlie has impulsion, then I don't need to kick, but just let my seat swing bigger - that stretches him out without driving him down. But to collect it back up, I need to wrap my legs around him and then hold it in front.
Lengthening the trot is not the same aid as canter. There, I do need to use leg to lengthen - and also post higher. But the feeling of bringing it back is similar.
Fourth, I asked for help with the trot stretchy circle, and as I suspected, it's because I'm not riding the right basics. If Charlie is working over his topline, the stretchy circle is a relief, and he naturally goes round and low to stretch out his topline. But if he's already downhill on the forehand, he has no reason to stretch, and I have to make him do it. So after I worked him correctly, and allowed the reins to lengthen, he just naturally went down.
Fifth, when Charlie is tilting his head it means that he's not working symmetrically on both sides. I can't always feel this, but it's good to know that's the root cause.
Sixth, I need to push Charlie into the halt (or whatever downward transition) with my legs and not pull with my hands. I have heard this before and thought it was crazy, but today it totally worked. I just kept my hands steady and used my legs and miraculously we stopped every time - and we stopped with lifted (lofty) shoulders instead of heading downhill.
Major Beale said that we have made definite progress, but that I need to sharpen Charlie up so that instead of it taking 13 steps to make a transition, it takes no more than 3. He also said because Charlie is lazy and has always been lazy I really have to stay consistent and dedicated to working on making him move forward with impulsion.
He also said that Charlie needs to develop muscles over his topline. It sounds like a chicken and egg problem. If Charlie had those muscles, it would be easier for him to do this work, but he needs to do this work to get those muscles. Mostly a lot of transitions but they need to be from a marching walk and done properly, not puked out onto the forehand downhill stuff.
Monday, September 01, 2014
Training work with John
I had a lesson with John following Caber. He got to see show jumping, and I described the three fences that felt awkward from cross country (how to jump the down bank on the C curve - I had done it correctly*; the puke over the big table; and the chip on the narrow skinny). The puke on the big table was because we were coming fast out of the woods downhill and then streaking across the pasture, so I didn't balance him but just launched at it. This was true. He said about 10 strides out to sit up and rebalance when you have a situation like that.
*Correctly was a C curve, but with a flat part to make the bank perpendicular. Although you can ride a down bank at an angle, John doesn't think it's fair to the horses depending on which is their dominant eye (one will see the bank and water, the other will see the ground).
The chip on the skinny was because I tried to half halt and make a hard right turn at the same time (doing two things at once is still beyond my skill set) so I probably lost all impulsion and didn't have enough room to pick it up again.
That is what we worked on during the lesson because it was the same thing that caused the one rail down during show jumping.
John had some of the same fences set up - still huge, and we worked on making hard turns - 10 meter circles basically - while keeping forward. A lot of this was controlling the outside shoulder. If I let his shoulder drift out of a tight corner, we didn't hit the take off location correctly, and Charlie had to sproing up over the fence. I also completely clobbered an oxer with a two stride to a vertical, I rode in looking at how freaking huge the oxer was, so we puked over it, and Charlie ran out on the vertical.
Like every lesson with John, every mistake was a gift, because he explained (and I could feel) what went wrong, how to correct it, and then I rode it again properly.
Much to my amazement, by the end of the lesson we could make hard right and hard left turns off of huge fences and get to the next fence with enough impulsion.
It is easier to ride Charlie over these fences because he brings the impulsion, so I don't have to ride in kicking and smacking and clucking, and can work instead on his balance. And, because he is actually lifting up, it is so much easier to stay centered and balanced over him.
John said that I need to make sure not to get reliant on schooling a cross country course before I compete, and to just know that I can do it and Charlie can do it if I ride assertively. The oxer/run-out was perfect for that because I rode it hesitantly, and then I got mad at the run out and rode it assertively, and it was night and day.
He also said that it's going to be tough when people start talking and saying this is all Charlie and not me. He said Charlie is a great horse for the level I ride at, but I am not just sitting up there.
It was a great lesson - I left with that feeling of having grown as a rider and improving my understanding of the technical side as well, and feeling really positive that if I can keep working with John (and now I know on the flat I can also practice those 10 meter circles), Charlie and I can keep improving. He is a phenomenal instructor.
John also said to put my foot on the outside of the stirrup bar (particularly the right foot), keep my legs down and long over the fences (I am pinching with my knee), and that someone competitive (like me) gets bored if they ride at too low of a level for too long, and will start slacking off working at home (true).
*Correctly was a C curve, but with a flat part to make the bank perpendicular. Although you can ride a down bank at an angle, John doesn't think it's fair to the horses depending on which is their dominant eye (one will see the bank and water, the other will see the ground).
The chip on the skinny was because I tried to half halt and make a hard right turn at the same time (doing two things at once is still beyond my skill set) so I probably lost all impulsion and didn't have enough room to pick it up again.
That is what we worked on during the lesson because it was the same thing that caused the one rail down during show jumping.
John had some of the same fences set up - still huge, and we worked on making hard turns - 10 meter circles basically - while keeping forward. A lot of this was controlling the outside shoulder. If I let his shoulder drift out of a tight corner, we didn't hit the take off location correctly, and Charlie had to sproing up over the fence. I also completely clobbered an oxer with a two stride to a vertical, I rode in looking at how freaking huge the oxer was, so we puked over it, and Charlie ran out on the vertical.
Like every lesson with John, every mistake was a gift, because he explained (and I could feel) what went wrong, how to correct it, and then I rode it again properly.
Much to my amazement, by the end of the lesson we could make hard right and hard left turns off of huge fences and get to the next fence with enough impulsion.
It is easier to ride Charlie over these fences because he brings the impulsion, so I don't have to ride in kicking and smacking and clucking, and can work instead on his balance. And, because he is actually lifting up, it is so much easier to stay centered and balanced over him.
John said that I need to make sure not to get reliant on schooling a cross country course before I compete, and to just know that I can do it and Charlie can do it if I ride assertively. The oxer/run-out was perfect for that because I rode it hesitantly, and then I got mad at the run out and rode it assertively, and it was night and day.
He also said that it's going to be tough when people start talking and saying this is all Charlie and not me. He said Charlie is a great horse for the level I ride at, but I am not just sitting up there.
It was a great lesson - I left with that feeling of having grown as a rider and improving my understanding of the technical side as well, and feeling really positive that if I can keep working with John (and now I know on the flat I can also practice those 10 meter circles), Charlie and I can keep improving. He is a phenomenal instructor.
John also said to put my foot on the outside of the stirrup bar (particularly the right foot), keep my legs down and long over the fences (I am pinching with my knee), and that someone competitive (like me) gets bored if they ride at too low of a level for too long, and will start slacking off working at home (true).
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Caber Contentment
Our first training show was a roaring success.
Charlie was spot-on for dressage, with a couple of stumbles in the grass, but otherwise a solid A. Not an A+ - I couldn't get that last bit of sparkle out of him like he voluntarily brought at Rebecca, so I've got to keep working on that to figure out how to get him to volunteer it.
Our dressage ride gave us some breathing room to either be too slow or get a rail down in show jumping.
Cross country rode great. Thank goodness John had me jump a lot of the fences last week without seeing them on the ground first; otherwise I would have psyched myself out. There were three sets of A-B-C combinations (an up bank, down bank, skinny; a roll top, ditch, skinny; and a roll top; down bank into water; skinny roll top), and a table with a hard right to a narrow. Although all the fences weren't perfect - Charlie had to save me on a couple - we rode the lines pretty much exactly as I envisioned and I had the speed spot on. I measured by minutes instead of by fences, so I knew when my watch should go off at 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 and didn't have to look at it while we were going. I also measured where to speed it up to make up for the places I had to slow it down.
It was so fun.
Then today I was super nervous since we seem to be weakest at show jumping and then the fences were freaking huge with hard turns to them to make it even harder. Thank goodness there were just three sets of combinations, and none were triples. I saw John while walking and he gave me some pointers, and then I just rode Charlie hard to each fence, thinking forward with my leg, but trying to use my seat and hands to lift him instead of hold him back. In warm up and in the ring, he jumped everything like a champ, totally taking care of me. We got one rail down, and John said we came out of that corner a little flat, but we rode the rest of it great. I felt us bump a couple of rails, so we got really lucky, and we will really need to work on this over the winter.
It far exceeded my expectations and now I am really looking forward to working hard over the winter so we can stick with the accelerated schedule with my eye now on Prelim!!
Charlie is the best horse ever.
Charlie was spot-on for dressage, with a couple of stumbles in the grass, but otherwise a solid A. Not an A+ - I couldn't get that last bit of sparkle out of him like he voluntarily brought at Rebecca, so I've got to keep working on that to figure out how to get him to volunteer it.
Our dressage ride gave us some breathing room to either be too slow or get a rail down in show jumping.
Cross country rode great. Thank goodness John had me jump a lot of the fences last week without seeing them on the ground first; otherwise I would have psyched myself out. There were three sets of A-B-C combinations (an up bank, down bank, skinny; a roll top, ditch, skinny; and a roll top; down bank into water; skinny roll top), and a table with a hard right to a narrow. Although all the fences weren't perfect - Charlie had to save me on a couple - we rode the lines pretty much exactly as I envisioned and I had the speed spot on. I measured by minutes instead of by fences, so I knew when my watch should go off at 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 and didn't have to look at it while we were going. I also measured where to speed it up to make up for the places I had to slow it down.
It was so fun.
Then today I was super nervous since we seem to be weakest at show jumping and then the fences were freaking huge with hard turns to them to make it even harder. Thank goodness there were just three sets of combinations, and none were triples. I saw John while walking and he gave me some pointers, and then I just rode Charlie hard to each fence, thinking forward with my leg, but trying to use my seat and hands to lift him instead of hold him back. In warm up and in the ring, he jumped everything like a champ, totally taking care of me. We got one rail down, and John said we came out of that corner a little flat, but we rode the rest of it great. I felt us bump a couple of rails, so we got really lucky, and we will really need to work on this over the winter.
It far exceeded my expectations and now I am really looking forward to working hard over the winter so we can stick with the accelerated schedule with my eye now on Prelim!!
Charlie is the best horse ever.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
What is there to gain and what is there to lose?
Charlie and I had a great lesson with John yesterday. He was working on cross country, so after warming up, we met him out there. I told him I've been having problems with show jumping; I just can't get Charlie to lift his legs up, even when we go clear, but I figured John would diagnose it and could look at us jumping cross country just as well to figure out what the problem was.
We started with a little log, and then proceeded to jump our way around the course, doing some new stuff that was really fun. And thankfully, far off in the distance until I was right up on it so I couldn't get intimidated. We jumped a chevron, a three log split rail, a table with some cut outs, then a roll top to the up bank down bank skinny, down the long aisle to a bigger table with cut outs, into the woods for an angled fence, and around the corner to a roll top, ditch, skinny, then down the long side over the ditch with the wall behind it (!!), and then into show jumping where we did an oxer, right hand turn, vertical six strides to oxer, left hand turn, vertical with 1 stride to another vertical (that looked like a whopper) with five strides to another oxer.
Charlie jumped everything like an absolute champ.
John said he was surprised we hadn't signed up for Training at Caber and I said I had wanted to but got talked out of it. He asked me to think about what there was to gain and what there was to lose, and if the potential gain outweighed the potential loss, I should go for it.
I went home and looked through everything - the dressage test (I rode it today to try it out), champs, any year end awards, and my schedule, plus the things that can't be weighed because they're too uncertain - my goal to go Training, and the thought that who knows what can happen over the winter, and then asked to change my entry to Training, withdrew from Aspen at Novice, and signed up for two of the three derbies at Training.
So here we go ...
Riding Charlie over those wide tables was AMAZING. We were actually in the air long enough to feel the difference, and Charlie just went for it with such gusto, like he really loves his job.
John's take on the pukey show jumping is that Charlie's strength - going fast - isn't utilized in show jumping, and then to compound it, I get nervous and try to suck him back, which just takes away all of the impulsion and he has to puke over each fence. When John made the fences higher and harder so I couldn't spend as much time screwing around and just had to concentrate on riding and getting over them, things just flowed.
Charlie isn't challenged by novice, and then I suddenly remembered our first lesson at John's, where he was talking to Shannon about how much better Charlie was when he went Training than Novice, because at Training he actually tried.
We started with a little log, and then proceeded to jump our way around the course, doing some new stuff that was really fun. And thankfully, far off in the distance until I was right up on it so I couldn't get intimidated. We jumped a chevron, a three log split rail, a table with some cut outs, then a roll top to the up bank down bank skinny, down the long aisle to a bigger table with cut outs, into the woods for an angled fence, and around the corner to a roll top, ditch, skinny, then down the long side over the ditch with the wall behind it (!!), and then into show jumping where we did an oxer, right hand turn, vertical six strides to oxer, left hand turn, vertical with 1 stride to another vertical (that looked like a whopper) with five strides to another oxer.
Charlie jumped everything like an absolute champ.
John said he was surprised we hadn't signed up for Training at Caber and I said I had wanted to but got talked out of it. He asked me to think about what there was to gain and what there was to lose, and if the potential gain outweighed the potential loss, I should go for it.
I went home and looked through everything - the dressage test (I rode it today to try it out), champs, any year end awards, and my schedule, plus the things that can't be weighed because they're too uncertain - my goal to go Training, and the thought that who knows what can happen over the winter, and then asked to change my entry to Training, withdrew from Aspen at Novice, and signed up for two of the three derbies at Training.
So here we go ...
Riding Charlie over those wide tables was AMAZING. We were actually in the air long enough to feel the difference, and Charlie just went for it with such gusto, like he really loves his job.
John's take on the pukey show jumping is that Charlie's strength - going fast - isn't utilized in show jumping, and then to compound it, I get nervous and try to suck him back, which just takes away all of the impulsion and he has to puke over each fence. When John made the fences higher and harder so I couldn't spend as much time screwing around and just had to concentrate on riding and getting over them, things just flowed.
Charlie isn't challenged by novice, and then I suddenly remembered our first lesson at John's, where he was talking to Shannon about how much better Charlie was when he went Training than Novice, because at Training he actually tried.
Saturday, August 09, 2014
Amazing session with Beth (but my abs are tired)
I had my third (?) dual pilates and riding session with Beth today. This one had a breakthrough!
I really get a lot out of the dual sessions because Beth has seen me often enough now that she works on the current issue inside, so I can feel it without having to think about riding - and then she gives me exercises for continuing to improve at home.
Then we work on the same thing on Charlie, which helps me feel how changing my alignment can really change how Charlie can move.
Today we worked on my upper back, which has to do with pinching my shoulder blades together, and not rolling my shoulders back. We did quite a few exercises and they were surprisingly hard to do. The right shoulder in particular is reluctant to move. Using my lats, instead of my shoulders, was also quite hard. The at home exercises are to do quadriped on a ball and to do scarecrow on the ball and then lift my arms at the end.
Then we did some work with Charlie at the sitting trot. This ended up being genius. Without messing around with the angle I create at the posting trot, I could focus on lining up the two plates - the lower abs, which need to come forward (tuck my butt under me); and my shoulders, which also need to come forward, but not until after they pinch back. I feel like I am tilting forward with the shoulders, but once everything lines up, I quit being behind Charlie's motion and I feel completely solid and planted.
Then the next big thing to work on was to loosen my legs. I tend to grip with them, particularly after a down transition. When I consciously loosen them, I sink deeper into the saddle and have much better feel.
With loose legs, I could then think "up" and control the rhthym and increase the bounce. It was actually kind of a miracle how much I could do with the tucked under butt - all coming from the abs, not the butt itself. Using my butt actually defeats the progress.
I had a hard time with opening my fingers. As we go, and particularly for up transitions, I loosen my fingers which doesn't help Charlie at all. I need to pay a lot more attention to this because I don't notice I'm doing it.
Then we worked on canter both directions, getting an active walk where Charlie's shoulders lifted and I could feel either a halt or trot at any step. Then we would trot, trot a 10 meter circle, and canter leaving the 10 meter circle. We went out to a 20 meter circle, and then interestingly, when we made the circle more like 15 meter circle, to the right Charlie just fell apart. For now, I'm going to assume that's coming from me, but it was a huge difference in his ability to hold that canter on the left and right side (I also had to ride him counterbent, so that's one of many reasons I assume it is me preventing him from doing them equally).
I got a longer whip after using Beth's, and I'm going to start riding him with my little spurs. He's ignoring my aids again, which I know is my own fault, but I need to break that habit so we can work on cooler things.
It was a great lesson. I felt like I started to feel how to use my core, and that will help motivate me to stay on top of the mat exercises at home too.
There were like 100 other tips and steps, but my brain is full from trying to feel it all so that I can work on it before next time. This has been so helpful for me.
I really get a lot out of the dual sessions because Beth has seen me often enough now that she works on the current issue inside, so I can feel it without having to think about riding - and then she gives me exercises for continuing to improve at home.
Then we work on the same thing on Charlie, which helps me feel how changing my alignment can really change how Charlie can move.
Today we worked on my upper back, which has to do with pinching my shoulder blades together, and not rolling my shoulders back. We did quite a few exercises and they were surprisingly hard to do. The right shoulder in particular is reluctant to move. Using my lats, instead of my shoulders, was also quite hard. The at home exercises are to do quadriped on a ball and to do scarecrow on the ball and then lift my arms at the end.
Then we did some work with Charlie at the sitting trot. This ended up being genius. Without messing around with the angle I create at the posting trot, I could focus on lining up the two plates - the lower abs, which need to come forward (tuck my butt under me); and my shoulders, which also need to come forward, but not until after they pinch back. I feel like I am tilting forward with the shoulders, but once everything lines up, I quit being behind Charlie's motion and I feel completely solid and planted.
Then the next big thing to work on was to loosen my legs. I tend to grip with them, particularly after a down transition. When I consciously loosen them, I sink deeper into the saddle and have much better feel.
With loose legs, I could then think "up" and control the rhthym and increase the bounce. It was actually kind of a miracle how much I could do with the tucked under butt - all coming from the abs, not the butt itself. Using my butt actually defeats the progress.
I had a hard time with opening my fingers. As we go, and particularly for up transitions, I loosen my fingers which doesn't help Charlie at all. I need to pay a lot more attention to this because I don't notice I'm doing it.
Then we worked on canter both directions, getting an active walk where Charlie's shoulders lifted and I could feel either a halt or trot at any step. Then we would trot, trot a 10 meter circle, and canter leaving the 10 meter circle. We went out to a 20 meter circle, and then interestingly, when we made the circle more like 15 meter circle, to the right Charlie just fell apart. For now, I'm going to assume that's coming from me, but it was a huge difference in his ability to hold that canter on the left and right side (I also had to ride him counterbent, so that's one of many reasons I assume it is me preventing him from doing them equally).
I got a longer whip after using Beth's, and I'm going to start riding him with my little spurs. He's ignoring my aids again, which I know is my own fault, but I need to break that habit so we can work on cooler things.
It was a great lesson. I felt like I started to feel how to use my core, and that will help motivate me to stay on top of the mat exercises at home too.
There were like 100 other tips and steps, but my brain is full from trying to feel it all so that I can work on it before next time. This has been so helpful for me.
Rebecca Farm Logistics
For the three day
Monday: Drive to Spokane (6 hours)
Gas at Ritzville - truck stop with big easy station
Stay at Spokane Sport Horse: http://www.spokanesporthorse.com/ ($20/horse/night) - gmackie@spokanesporthorse.com or info@spokanesporthorse.com
Humans stay at Ramada Inn – use Spokane Sport Horse Farm special rate
Tuesday:
Gas again in Spokane and gas at St. Regis - none really between interstate and Kalispell
Drive to Kalispell (5 hours, plus time changes)
Check in, check outside of office for times for sessions
Easy hack
The Holiday Inn Express & Suites is the closest hotel to Rebecca Farm - accepts pets, no fee
(Red Lion was very nice and had a good breakfast with omelet bar but difficult hours with horse show)
Wednesday:
In-Barn inspection (papers, with vets) 9 am - noon (ish)
Sessions begin (in hand inspection, roads and tracks ride, steeplechase session)
First inspection (gussied up)
Walks and ride
Walk cross country first time
Thursday:
Dressage
More sessions (10 minute box, course walk)
Walk cross country at least twice
Hack roads and tracks; measure it too
Measure steeplechase to 30 seconds and 1 minute marks
Friday:
3 day - starts early (8-9 am)
Walks
Saturday:
Final inspection (gussied up)
Show jumping
Sunday:
Drive to Spokane (5 hours, time change)
Good food and dogs on patios, Elk Public House: 1931 W Pacific Ave
Monday:
Drive home (6 hours)
People to stable with:
Jessica Bryant, John Camlin (Caber Farm), Britt Roden
Monday: Drive to Spokane (6 hours)
Gas at Ritzville - truck stop with big easy station
Stay at Spokane Sport Horse: http://www.spokanesporthorse.com/ ($20/horse/night) - gmackie@spokanesporthorse.com or info@spokanesporthorse.com
Humans stay at Ramada Inn – use Spokane Sport Horse Farm special rate
Tuesday:
Gas again in Spokane and gas at St. Regis - none really between interstate and Kalispell
Drive to Kalispell (5 hours, plus time changes)
Check in, check outside of office for times for sessions
Easy hack
The Holiday Inn Express & Suites is the closest hotel to Rebecca Farm - accepts pets, no fee
(Red Lion was very nice and had a good breakfast with omelet bar but difficult hours with horse show)
Wednesday:
In-Barn inspection (papers, with vets) 9 am - noon (ish)
Sessions begin (in hand inspection, roads and tracks ride, steeplechase session)
First inspection (gussied up)
Walks and ride
Walk cross country first time
Thursday:
Dressage
More sessions (10 minute box, course walk)
Walk cross country at least twice
Hack roads and tracks; measure it too
Measure steeplechase to 30 seconds and 1 minute marks
Friday:
3 day - starts early (8-9 am)
Walks
Saturday:
Final inspection (gussied up)
Show jumping
Sunday:
Drive to Spokane (5 hours, time change)
Good food and dogs on patios, Elk Public House: 1931 W Pacific Ave
Monday:
Drive home (6 hours)
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