I am woefully behind in my Willig news and my lesson reports, which as it turns out, makes it very difficult for me to remember my take away messages from the lessons.
First, the barn news. Willig has had a few spotted hives on two or three occassions now. Oddly, they seem to go away when I ride, and they don't seem to bother him, but they're bothering me as an ominous sign they might be coming back. He also seems to have, if he has a couple of days off from riding, puffy lower legs. Odd.
He has continued to rub his tail, and I've just about exhausted the things to try (MTG, that sweet itch spray stuff, betadine soaking, iodine shampoo, regular shampoo, lotion, panacur powerpac, and now baby shampoo followed by aloe). Today, however, I cleaned his sheath - something I was trying to wait on until I was going to bathe him to clip him (next weekend, probably, and in phases - just not enough hours in the week), but he was actually quite dirty for him. Three beans and a lot of smegma. So if that doesn't clear up the tail itching, then I'm going to have to call the vet.
Second, my last two lessons. Last week I had a great jump lesson with Shannon and a great time watching Mike ride Willig again, and then a half a lesson. Although I remember the Mike lesson as magical, by the next day I had completely forgotten how to do everything he told me (which was getting Willig to lift up into the canter instead of stumble and run into it). This was an unusual amount of forgetting, but I'm trying to take a lot more lessons for the next six months, so we "fixed" it this week. My jump lesson with Shannon was outside, and we continued to work on my lower leg (that dirty stinking moving lower leg), and we took my stirrups up another hole (we actually had to twist them and then I punched a hole after). They are SHORT. And therefore, I feel solid. Willig did great.
Finally, this week's lesson with Mike. Mike helped by giving me the take aways at the end:
1. Work on my lower leg. I hate my lower leg.
2. Work on my following hip. I also hate my stiff, rigid hip. (This is work without stirrups, holding on to the pommel with one hand, and thinking about relaxing my legs and pushing them down and back, while thinking about a headlight on my belt and the bouncing, moving ball.)
3. Work on my half halts (first, though, a forward aid, which I'm also working on - a flutter for an aid instead of the long, steady squeeze where I raise my heel), so I think of Willig rearing, or popping a wheelie on a bike. This is especially easy to work on in canter.
4. Work on Willig's bend/counterbend. In circles, on the straight line, the backward bend, serpentines, and doing a little bit of a side pass (?) coming down the long side. Turns out I'm heavy on my right hand and leg. Coincidence with how Willig "leans" to the left?
Mike also pointed out that Willig has a really good walk (when he is, ahem, moving forward) and that he has been quite sweet about all this "new" stuff.
Until today, when he tried to spook at something (I have no idea what), but thanks to my rotten lower leg (that is a better lower leg than it was a few months ago), which meant I didn't tilt, which meant I kept my rein aids, which meant I was yanking his head to the left as he was trying to buck, which meant the whole thing was over with almost immediately after it started. Nice.
Mike also said it usually takes about a year of work to move up one level, depending on the horse's and the rider's "disabilities". My lower leg is perhaps what he had in mind.
Seriously though, there are two lower leg positions - my jumping position and my dressage position. Dressage is this standing position, where I think from my hip to push my leg back and back and back. What I haven't been doing, it turns out, is straightening my knee (that's how I think of it), so my lower leg comes forward while my thigh is going back. Thinking to straighten my knee makes the whole leg in the right place. My heel always wants to be up and my toe always wants to point out, AND I grip like I'll fly into space if I don't grip with my upper thigh. So one of the many, many checklists in my head is from my hip all the way down to my heel now.
Jumping, on the other hand, is a feeling of pushing my leg out in front of me (and my butt back over the saddle for the "hinge" to close and the position to be solid). Oddly, though, the pushing in front is the same feeling from the knee down - a flattening/straightening of the knee, and that relaxed but pushing down to get the solid heel down feeling. I can only get it if I think "relax."
Willig has been doing great. Today I noticed some floppy ears for me while we were working. I think he actually prefers to work most days of the week (like 6) although he has been working so hard that I've had a couple days when he's so tired I end up giving him the next day off.
Charlie with the long sought after cooler
Spring NWEC 2013 Novice
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
NY Times on Horse Prices
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/business/businessspecial3/29HORSE.html?_r=2&em
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Mike riding Willig is an amazing sight
For my lesson this week, I wanted Mike's input on Willig, now that I've had Shannon and John ride him. This ride went a bit differently.
I had Willig warmed up in the indoor arena, Mike watched us do a few laps, and then he got on.
Willig had the prettiest round neck and the floppiest ears. The only times his ears went "radar" was when he looked back to see what Mike wanted. Mike's take away (or my take away, at least) was that Willig is uneducated, but trying.
What I describe as being stiff on the left is actually falling into his left shoulder - so much that when his head is crooked, that's what it is.
The rest of it was so far above my level, that it was inspiring to see Willig move like that, but also kind of depressing to realize that I will never, ever ride that well and I will never be able to make Willig look like that. It's like a waste of Willig's time to have me crashing around up there, legs flopping, hands zigging and zagging, seat pounding around.
Even if I took lessons every day for the rest of my life, I don't think I could look that good.
That being said, I got on, and Mike showed me (he is just so good at describing things!) what's been wrong with my jump seat since oh, I started riding. It's the same as the lower leg.
My lower leg has actually gotten good at the walk (and the canter, I felt it the next time I rode) but it still needs a lot of work at trot.
And I need to keep working on everything else.
I asked Mike what he thought about my approach, and he was realistic - the more time I can spend in lessons and on training, the faster Willig will progress, but there's a time and budget limit. Once a week just means we'll progress slower than twice a week. But he thought Willig was a nice horse.
Shannon ended up riding him the next day and said he was really good for her - a bit spooky towards the end, after he saw something through the door - but nothing unmanageable. Plus, they BOTH got sweaty that ride.
I took him on a trail ride today, a mental workout but not a physical one, and although he was a looky loo, I thought he did really great for him.
So - there is still plenty of road ahead. I'm trying to feel inspired by how much Mike can teach me, instead of daunted by how much I don't know - semantics, but the positive spin makes all the difference in the world.
I had Willig warmed up in the indoor arena, Mike watched us do a few laps, and then he got on.
Willig had the prettiest round neck and the floppiest ears. The only times his ears went "radar" was when he looked back to see what Mike wanted. Mike's take away (or my take away, at least) was that Willig is uneducated, but trying.
What I describe as being stiff on the left is actually falling into his left shoulder - so much that when his head is crooked, that's what it is.
The rest of it was so far above my level, that it was inspiring to see Willig move like that, but also kind of depressing to realize that I will never, ever ride that well and I will never be able to make Willig look like that. It's like a waste of Willig's time to have me crashing around up there, legs flopping, hands zigging and zagging, seat pounding around.
Even if I took lessons every day for the rest of my life, I don't think I could look that good.
That being said, I got on, and Mike showed me (he is just so good at describing things!) what's been wrong with my jump seat since oh, I started riding. It's the same as the lower leg.
My lower leg has actually gotten good at the walk (and the canter, I felt it the next time I rode) but it still needs a lot of work at trot.
And I need to keep working on everything else.
I asked Mike what he thought about my approach, and he was realistic - the more time I can spend in lessons and on training, the faster Willig will progress, but there's a time and budget limit. Once a week just means we'll progress slower than twice a week. But he thought Willig was a nice horse.
Shannon ended up riding him the next day and said he was really good for her - a bit spooky towards the end, after he saw something through the door - but nothing unmanageable. Plus, they BOTH got sweaty that ride.
I took him on a trail ride today, a mental workout but not a physical one, and although he was a looky loo, I thought he did really great for him.
So - there is still plenty of road ahead. I'm trying to feel inspired by how much Mike can teach me, instead of daunted by how much I don't know - semantics, but the positive spin makes all the difference in the world.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Snorting = good; chewing? not necessarily
One other really important nugget from this week's lesson was that the snorting sound is a good, relaxed sound, and I should reward him. I always thought he was just blowing his nose.
The chewing may not be relaxed - it might be evasive, so I shouldn't reward it.
Who knew? (Please don't post a comment saying everyone on the planet knew but me.)
The chewing may not be relaxed - it might be evasive, so I shouldn't reward it.
Who knew? (Please don't post a comment saying everyone on the planet knew but me.)
The importance of the outside hand
Today we had a lesson with Shannon. Willig's time back from John's has been spent ... not working the snot out of him, but basically he's been on vacation. Out of desperation last week, I asked Shannon if she could start riding him once a week for me. I am slammed at work, and I just don't see how I can make more time in the week to ride him.
We worked on three things during the lesson: moving forward (but not strung out), bending to the left, and walk/canter transitions.
Thanks to the cool weather (in the 30's this morning, already!), some sunshine, and the pony club kids, Willig started out thinking he was going to find something to spook at.
Overall, the lesson was a roaring success because he didn't! He worked! But it also gave me an opportunity to work with Shannon on him paying attention to me, which sometimes involves a big crank on his head.
So first, moving forward. I give an aid. He ignores it. I give the aid and he gets smacked with the whip. He leaps forward. I reward. It's that simple. Yet I have been screwing it up by: a) giving the aid, he ignores, I give the aid, he ignores, I give the aid, give the aid, give the aid, he ignores. I give up. or b) I give the aid. He ignores. I smack with the whip. He leaps forward. I give the aid. (No reward!)
Honestly.
Second, staying together. This one is a bit more complicated. I give the aid, but I give sort of a half halt at the same time. I do this one better by feeling - he moves up and forward into my seat and my hand, and I kind of restrain him. When he rounds up, it feels divine.
Third, bending to the left. Well, this one was also my fault. I don't hold constant, steady contact with the outside rein (and I'm worse with my left hand, and so, coincidence? he is worse to the left). We worked on the spiral circles, and by worked, I tried to keep that hand steady and not give away the contact. Everything else is the same - using my legs, keeping impulsion - but when I think of planting my elbow on my hip (another good visual is thinkig of my arm as the side rein), I feel the connection and I feel him move into it.
Fourth, canter/walk transitions. To help him not be so strung out, Shannon started this last week when she rode him. Since we're just starting, they're ugly, but they're also a good example of how Willig actually does try to learn and do it properly. What's nice about these is it pulls a lot of things together for me. I have to keep that outside rein connected, then I push him into the outside rein with my inside leg, then I ask for the canter. He is trotting a couple steps (up and down), but he actually trots a couple steps when he's being naughty in the trot/canter transition, so I think it's progress. And after a couple times each direction, I can feel how much more collected he is.
Finally, with the things to look at, we did some big corrections, which really tamed the behavior. He was actually working with relaxed ears (as relaxed as his ears ever get) even with all the stuff going on out the scary door. It was me being prompt, sincere (a BIG yank), and then rewarding. I'll ride him in circles (or leg yield) past something scary, but I don't ever give the big correction and then the reward, and he really responded well to that.
This was a great lesson. At the end I was really happy, and again, I feel like this sort of progress suggests he can one day become an ok horse.
Along those lines, Shannon echoed John. He's not that much fun to ride and it's a total workout. For Willig's pride, I won't belabor the point, but it is reaffirming for me to hear that I'm not crazy because I find riding him to be a total chore instead of fun. We have maybe a few good minutes, if I'm really lucky, each day and that's it. Although he has been sweeter on the ground. Shannon also pointed out, something I was really glad to hear, that he's a pretty safe jumper. He isn't doing anything dangerous with his legs, he's just kind of lazy and distracted, and lazy isn't the worst thing in a guy as big as him. The distracted we really need to master before he goes to another event.
We worked on three things during the lesson: moving forward (but not strung out), bending to the left, and walk/canter transitions.
Thanks to the cool weather (in the 30's this morning, already!), some sunshine, and the pony club kids, Willig started out thinking he was going to find something to spook at.
Overall, the lesson was a roaring success because he didn't! He worked! But it also gave me an opportunity to work with Shannon on him paying attention to me, which sometimes involves a big crank on his head.
So first, moving forward. I give an aid. He ignores it. I give the aid and he gets smacked with the whip. He leaps forward. I reward. It's that simple. Yet I have been screwing it up by: a) giving the aid, he ignores, I give the aid, he ignores, I give the aid, give the aid, give the aid, he ignores. I give up. or b) I give the aid. He ignores. I smack with the whip. He leaps forward. I give the aid. (No reward!)
Honestly.
Second, staying together. This one is a bit more complicated. I give the aid, but I give sort of a half halt at the same time. I do this one better by feeling - he moves up and forward into my seat and my hand, and I kind of restrain him. When he rounds up, it feels divine.
Third, bending to the left. Well, this one was also my fault. I don't hold constant, steady contact with the outside rein (and I'm worse with my left hand, and so, coincidence? he is worse to the left). We worked on the spiral circles, and by worked, I tried to keep that hand steady and not give away the contact. Everything else is the same - using my legs, keeping impulsion - but when I think of planting my elbow on my hip (another good visual is thinkig of my arm as the side rein), I feel the connection and I feel him move into it.
Fourth, canter/walk transitions. To help him not be so strung out, Shannon started this last week when she rode him. Since we're just starting, they're ugly, but they're also a good example of how Willig actually does try to learn and do it properly. What's nice about these is it pulls a lot of things together for me. I have to keep that outside rein connected, then I push him into the outside rein with my inside leg, then I ask for the canter. He is trotting a couple steps (up and down), but he actually trots a couple steps when he's being naughty in the trot/canter transition, so I think it's progress. And after a couple times each direction, I can feel how much more collected he is.
Finally, with the things to look at, we did some big corrections, which really tamed the behavior. He was actually working with relaxed ears (as relaxed as his ears ever get) even with all the stuff going on out the scary door. It was me being prompt, sincere (a BIG yank), and then rewarding. I'll ride him in circles (or leg yield) past something scary, but I don't ever give the big correction and then the reward, and he really responded well to that.
This was a great lesson. At the end I was really happy, and again, I feel like this sort of progress suggests he can one day become an ok horse.
Along those lines, Shannon echoed John. He's not that much fun to ride and it's a total workout. For Willig's pride, I won't belabor the point, but it is reaffirming for me to hear that I'm not crazy because I find riding him to be a total chore instead of fun. We have maybe a few good minutes, if I'm really lucky, each day and that's it. Although he has been sweeter on the ground. Shannon also pointed out, something I was really glad to hear, that he's a pretty safe jumper. He isn't doing anything dangerous with his legs, he's just kind of lazy and distracted, and lazy isn't the worst thing in a guy as big as him. The distracted we really need to master before he goes to another event.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Willig at home
Well, back to the grind.
The fabulous feeling of the low head and the impulsion? Gone. Instead we spent the evening being scared of ... (jaws music) the mounting block.
Seriously. A hard day of work, I raced home on my bike, wolfed food, patted the dog, raced out to the barn so I could give him a good workout and we spent 45 minutes being nervous about the same mounting block that has been there since February.
Tom came to video (coming later, when I have more time), the new, improved Willig after his training, and his observation was that Willig looked pretty much like he always does, i.e. not at all like he did yesterday for Mark, then me, then John. (Until the end, when I got this fabulous trot with impulsion on the bit that just made me grin.)
While it was not one of Willig's "good" days (neither was yesterday), I was pleased that with a dog barking in the distance, riding in the dark, with Tom popping in and out of the shadows (until I asked him to cut it out, I only need one "learning opportunity" per night), and back at home, he did as well as he did. I guess that's my lowered expectations from two years ago.
Also, when I ride, I remember a lot more of John's instructions. Something gets lost in me trying to get it all written down at home. One of the big Mike ones from my last lesson is to ride like a belt is around my biceps. Instant improvement when I visualize that.
The fabulous feeling of the low head and the impulsion? Gone. Instead we spent the evening being scared of ... (jaws music) the mounting block.
Seriously. A hard day of work, I raced home on my bike, wolfed food, patted the dog, raced out to the barn so I could give him a good workout and we spent 45 minutes being nervous about the same mounting block that has been there since February.
Tom came to video (coming later, when I have more time), the new, improved Willig after his training, and his observation was that Willig looked pretty much like he always does, i.e. not at all like he did yesterday for Mark, then me, then John. (Until the end, when I got this fabulous trot with impulsion on the bit that just made me grin.)
While it was not one of Willig's "good" days (neither was yesterday), I was pleased that with a dog barking in the distance, riding in the dark, with Tom popping in and out of the shadows (until I asked him to cut it out, I only need one "learning opportunity" per night), and back at home, he did as well as he did. I guess that's my lowered expectations from two years ago.
Also, when I ride, I remember a lot more of John's instructions. Something gets lost in me trying to get it all written down at home. One of the big Mike ones from my last lesson is to ride like a belt is around my biceps. Instant improvement when I visualize that.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
My fortune tonight, after picking Willig up
"You can make the best of a bad situation - they make diamonds out of coal."
My plan
Ok, no matter what, the next six months are the hard market, so I might as well work hard with Willig and see where it gets me. Since John, Shannon, and Mike have all identified pretty much the same issues, here's my plan:
From now until March, try to get 6 "lessons" a month - two from Shannon; two from Mike; and two rides from Mike with mini-lessons at the end.
I'll work really hard during this time on the consistent message from all three - riding Willig forward and with impulsion, using my new and increasing tools on dealing with his mental issue, and if necessary, sending him back to John for a bit. We'll see how this week goes by myself - if I immediately lose the progress John just made, I'll send him back down and go down there for lessons for a month, but if I can keep it up working with Mike and Shannon, I'll hold off on more training until spring.
Then from March - August (or so), I'd like to take him to those local dressage shows, keep up my "6" lessons and add 2-4 more - with John weekly or every other week. I'll have to cut my hours at work for that, but if I don't have a heavy litigation load, I think I could handle one afternoon off a week, and hopefully trailerpool. I'll also try taking him at (huge sigh) Hopeful, just riding him around on the show grounds and schooling, and then maybe, hopefully, we could also ride Beginner Novice at unrecognized stuff if he's showing some good improvement.
Here are the big factors:
- If we move back to Seattle, even if I am working down here four days a week, I seriously doubt I can make the time commitment to really work him consistently the way he needs it. That would probably lead to his sale and me getting an easier, more reliable horse.
- If my work goes up considerably, which I suspect it will over the next few years, same as above. If I'm working 60-70 hours a week, he's going to get the short end of my time stick, and I think he works more consistently on the upper end when he is getting worked more consistently from me. (Although he never acts hot, he seems to have more trouble focusing.)
- If at the six month point or one year point we haven't made much progress, even with a lot of training aid, I'm willing to admit that I'm just not an advanced enough rider. One alternative is to send him for intensive training, but more likely he'll just need a better rider. It would be nice, though, to improve, although I have NEVER, ever wanted a project.
- I weighed this with what if I had infinite money and infinite time? Yes, I'd like to improve and I'd like to be able to ride more types of horses. Do I think I'm that good? No. But with trainers helping me, there's a lot for me to learn. Alternatively, if I knew I was only going to ride 10 more years, then we'd move back to Seattle and I'd have to give it up? Then I don't really want to spend my last 10 years riding on him. I want to be on a horse that's fun. But 10 years from now? I'm probably going to be too old to have a horse who bucks me off. I better get good now, while I still bounce a little bit.
- John also pointed out, when I asked what if it was 10 years of him being inconsistent and needing work, and then 5 good years - and John said, no more like 1. I'm going to assume the 1 replaced the 10, not the 5. :)
So that's the sort of stuff I'm thinking about. I'm not overmounted, but Willig is not an easy horse, by any stretch of the imagination. He's not a pleasure horse, and he's probably never going to be one. But John also agreed, when he has a good day, he is a pleasure to ride.
The most ominous sign, I think, is the lack of "heart" towards the fences. He's just not a jumper by nature, and he doesn't make the effort to clear them. This might not ever matter for novice, the highest I think I would ever take Willig (and the road to novice seems very, very long from here).
From now until March, try to get 6 "lessons" a month - two from Shannon; two from Mike; and two rides from Mike with mini-lessons at the end.
I'll work really hard during this time on the consistent message from all three - riding Willig forward and with impulsion, using my new and increasing tools on dealing with his mental issue, and if necessary, sending him back to John for a bit. We'll see how this week goes by myself - if I immediately lose the progress John just made, I'll send him back down and go down there for lessons for a month, but if I can keep it up working with Mike and Shannon, I'll hold off on more training until spring.
Then from March - August (or so), I'd like to take him to those local dressage shows, keep up my "6" lessons and add 2-4 more - with John weekly or every other week. I'll have to cut my hours at work for that, but if I don't have a heavy litigation load, I think I could handle one afternoon off a week, and hopefully trailerpool. I'll also try taking him at (huge sigh) Hopeful, just riding him around on the show grounds and schooling, and then maybe, hopefully, we could also ride Beginner Novice at unrecognized stuff if he's showing some good improvement.
Here are the big factors:
- If we move back to Seattle, even if I am working down here four days a week, I seriously doubt I can make the time commitment to really work him consistently the way he needs it. That would probably lead to his sale and me getting an easier, more reliable horse.
- If my work goes up considerably, which I suspect it will over the next few years, same as above. If I'm working 60-70 hours a week, he's going to get the short end of my time stick, and I think he works more consistently on the upper end when he is getting worked more consistently from me. (Although he never acts hot, he seems to have more trouble focusing.)
- If at the six month point or one year point we haven't made much progress, even with a lot of training aid, I'm willing to admit that I'm just not an advanced enough rider. One alternative is to send him for intensive training, but more likely he'll just need a better rider. It would be nice, though, to improve, although I have NEVER, ever wanted a project.
- I weighed this with what if I had infinite money and infinite time? Yes, I'd like to improve and I'd like to be able to ride more types of horses. Do I think I'm that good? No. But with trainers helping me, there's a lot for me to learn. Alternatively, if I knew I was only going to ride 10 more years, then we'd move back to Seattle and I'd have to give it up? Then I don't really want to spend my last 10 years riding on him. I want to be on a horse that's fun. But 10 years from now? I'm probably going to be too old to have a horse who bucks me off. I better get good now, while I still bounce a little bit.
- John also pointed out, when I asked what if it was 10 years of him being inconsistent and needing work, and then 5 good years - and John said, no more like 1. I'm going to assume the 1 replaced the 10, not the 5. :)
So that's the sort of stuff I'm thinking about. I'm not overmounted, but Willig is not an easy horse, by any stretch of the imagination. He's not a pleasure horse, and he's probably never going to be one. But John also agreed, when he has a good day, he is a pleasure to ride.
The most ominous sign, I think, is the lack of "heart" towards the fences. He's just not a jumper by nature, and he doesn't make the effort to clear them. This might not ever matter for novice, the highest I think I would ever take Willig (and the road to novice seems very, very long from here).
John's pointers
I watched his student ride (and jump), then I rode him just for a bit to feel how he was doing.
I love the lower frame and the impulsion and moving in front of the leg. That's what Shannon and Mike have had me working on, but to feel what it is supposed to feel like - wow. I hope that I don't ruin this and we can keep it up. It felt great.
We worked on bending him to the inside (on the LEFT) and planning the inside bend ahead of the "periscope" zone, then I actually, counterintuitively, loosen my hands (just straighten my elbows a tiny bit) and ride him forward off the leg through the spook zone. I also do a bit of a side pass - pushing him out into the spooky place. This worked incredibly well, but was really hard for me to do. Willig is bracing himself on my hand, and I'm also doing all the thinking for him, which will not do me any good out on a cross country course down the road.
Then when we went RIGHT (his easy bend side), I held my right hand steady and then did the squeezing him into the bend using my left hand. This was funky but also worked.
So the big tip was the arm straightening to loosen the reins and ride him forward off the leg.
Also, John was a lot more easy going about him being spooky or scared. He was just like "eh, ok" and then made him work harder towards the spook, so it was less work for Willig once he figured out it didn't serve him any purpose.
John pointed out that there's a big difference between, in my words, being frustrated and beating your head against the wall every time you ride, and making slow but steady progress. He thinks Willig can make progress, but I've been viewing it as a head-beating since he's nowhere near where I originally expected him to be. So, again, it depends on what I want. I took away the message that with a lot of time, a lot of lessons, and some training, Willig might turn out alright - but I will almost certainly be a better rider for it. But Willig should not have been sold as an amateur horse.
I really enjoyed the quick lesson from him. I felt like he did a great job explaining everything, and it feels like he keyed in on what I've been working on with Shannon and Mike, only he was able to do it faster and better. I think lessons with him, down the road, would be really great. Of course, he's got different preferences than Mike, and I can see how Shannon's lessons with him affect her style a bit. It was really educational.
I love the lower frame and the impulsion and moving in front of the leg. That's what Shannon and Mike have had me working on, but to feel what it is supposed to feel like - wow. I hope that I don't ruin this and we can keep it up. It felt great.
We worked on bending him to the inside (on the LEFT) and planning the inside bend ahead of the "periscope" zone, then I actually, counterintuitively, loosen my hands (just straighten my elbows a tiny bit) and ride him forward off the leg through the spook zone. I also do a bit of a side pass - pushing him out into the spooky place. This worked incredibly well, but was really hard for me to do. Willig is bracing himself on my hand, and I'm also doing all the thinking for him, which will not do me any good out on a cross country course down the road.
Then when we went RIGHT (his easy bend side), I held my right hand steady and then did the squeezing him into the bend using my left hand. This was funky but also worked.
So the big tip was the arm straightening to loosen the reins and ride him forward off the leg.
Also, John was a lot more easy going about him being spooky or scared. He was just like "eh, ok" and then made him work harder towards the spook, so it was less work for Willig once he figured out it didn't serve him any purpose.
John pointed out that there's a big difference between, in my words, being frustrated and beating your head against the wall every time you ride, and making slow but steady progress. He thinks Willig can make progress, but I've been viewing it as a head-beating since he's nowhere near where I originally expected him to be. So, again, it depends on what I want. I took away the message that with a lot of time, a lot of lessons, and some training, Willig might turn out alright - but I will almost certainly be a better rider for it. But Willig should not have been sold as an amateur horse.
I really enjoyed the quick lesson from him. I felt like he did a great job explaining everything, and it feels like he keyed in on what I've been working on with Shannon and Mike, only he was able to do it faster and better. I think lessons with him, down the road, would be really great. Of course, he's got different preferences than Mike, and I can see how Shannon's lessons with him affect her style a bit. It was really educational.
Summary of John's Comments
John had Willig pegged after 10 days and the short version is I'm not crazy and I haven't been imagining the problems and they're not coming from me.
- John said that when I called Willig a "challenge", it was a total understatement.
- He and his students didn't enjoy riding Willig. They also pointed out that he was a much nicer horse than many they have who are there for training because of issues (i.e. he isn't BAD bad).
- They didn't enjoy him because he's inconsistent. He would ride like a dream one day, then the next day spook every time he went past a sign, or a spot, or the sun, or whatever.
- John cured him of the bucking the first time he rode. He made him halt after the fences. Willig tried once, John didn't put up with it, end of bucking story.
- The spooky nervousness on the other hand - John doesn't know that it's curable because it's something inside Willig's head.
- John said that Willig is not an amateur horse and he wasn't the best choice for me. (Finally! Someone who knows something about horses said it! I'm so relieved.) He has odd, complicated training aids, and doesn't respond to very basic, simple aids (like opening your inside rein).
- John and his students preferred jumping him to dressage - the opposite of what I would have expected. They rode him in a much lower frame which I enjoyed quite a bit when I rode him.
- But he is a lazy, lackadaisical jumper. Even when they were jumping him over a 3' oxer with a few strides to a twisty vertical (another oxer, I think), he only lifted his feet just enough to get over the jump. Obviously he could jump much higher than I need him to, but he approaches the fences like he's bored.
- John thinks some horses are born great; some can be taught to be good; and some are just plain bad. He thinks Willig is in the middle category, though he doesn't think he has a ton of potential (as in, Willig is never going Intermediate, which is not news to me, but was still nice to hear someone with a lot of experience say). But the teaching takes time, money, and experience.
- If I want a horse that I can putter around on whenever I have 30 free minutes, Willig is not the horse for me. If I want a horse that will give me such a great work out that I don't need any other form of exercise, then yes, Willig is worth a shot.
- It was such a relief to watch John's student ride, then John, and to see Willig try the same bullshit on them (after 10 days) that he does to me. This alone was worth the 10 days, to know that it's not me doing something wrong.
So ....
There was nothing black and white. I really appreciated that John just NAILED Willig's personality and quirks so quickly, and he obviously has a lot of experience and a lot of knowledge about what to do, what the limitations are, and the ability to do it. But that didn't give me the answer about what to do next. I had actually barely mentioned, if at all, the spooky, when I dropped him off, because I was so focused on the bucking, but that was their predominant comment.
John's tips and my plan for the time being are coming up next.
Oh yeah - and I can load him in and out of the trailer no sweat now. We did like 7 times in a row just walking in and out and in and out when I got him home.
- John said that when I called Willig a "challenge", it was a total understatement.
- He and his students didn't enjoy riding Willig. They also pointed out that he was a much nicer horse than many they have who are there for training because of issues (i.e. he isn't BAD bad).
- They didn't enjoy him because he's inconsistent. He would ride like a dream one day, then the next day spook every time he went past a sign, or a spot, or the sun, or whatever.
- John cured him of the bucking the first time he rode. He made him halt after the fences. Willig tried once, John didn't put up with it, end of bucking story.
- The spooky nervousness on the other hand - John doesn't know that it's curable because it's something inside Willig's head.
- John said that Willig is not an amateur horse and he wasn't the best choice for me. (Finally! Someone who knows something about horses said it! I'm so relieved.) He has odd, complicated training aids, and doesn't respond to very basic, simple aids (like opening your inside rein).
- John and his students preferred jumping him to dressage - the opposite of what I would have expected. They rode him in a much lower frame which I enjoyed quite a bit when I rode him.
- But he is a lazy, lackadaisical jumper. Even when they were jumping him over a 3' oxer with a few strides to a twisty vertical (another oxer, I think), he only lifted his feet just enough to get over the jump. Obviously he could jump much higher than I need him to, but he approaches the fences like he's bored.
- John thinks some horses are born great; some can be taught to be good; and some are just plain bad. He thinks Willig is in the middle category, though he doesn't think he has a ton of potential (as in, Willig is never going Intermediate, which is not news to me, but was still nice to hear someone with a lot of experience say). But the teaching takes time, money, and experience.
- If I want a horse that I can putter around on whenever I have 30 free minutes, Willig is not the horse for me. If I want a horse that will give me such a great work out that I don't need any other form of exercise, then yes, Willig is worth a shot.
- It was such a relief to watch John's student ride, then John, and to see Willig try the same bullshit on them (after 10 days) that he does to me. This alone was worth the 10 days, to know that it's not me doing something wrong.
So ....
There was nothing black and white. I really appreciated that John just NAILED Willig's personality and quirks so quickly, and he obviously has a lot of experience and a lot of knowledge about what to do, what the limitations are, and the ability to do it. But that didn't give me the answer about what to do next. I had actually barely mentioned, if at all, the spooky, when I dropped him off, because I was so focused on the bucking, but that was their predominant comment.
John's tips and my plan for the time being are coming up next.
Oh yeah - and I can load him in and out of the trailer no sweat now. We did like 7 times in a row just walking in and out and in and out when I got him home.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Willig leaves in two days for a month(ish) of training
I'm actually pretty nervous about it because it pretty much sets the wheels in motion.
He's going to Caber Farm, http://www.caberfarm.com/index.shtml, for training with John Camlin.
John said he'll know in about 10 days about how long Willig will need to be there. He's got a show in about three weeks, so it'll depend on how he's doing whether he comes home before or after the show.
My goal is to go down there once a week for lessons while he's there.
He's going to Caber Farm, http://www.caberfarm.com/index.shtml, for training with John Camlin.
John said he'll know in about 10 days about how long Willig will need to be there. He's got a show in about three weeks, so it'll depend on how he's doing whether he comes home before or after the show.
My goal is to go down there once a week for lessons while he's there.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Lesson video clips
I have to start with the confession that I feel so much better when I ride that I'm not even sure I can call what I was doing before riding.
Having said that - I am mortified by how I look in these clips - what the hell is my heel doing? When am I going to have a decent lower leg? How can my butt be that big?
And ... looking back - I really don't see that much of a difference with me or Willig than back in April. I mean, back in April we quit being able to go over fences, and his head swings a bit more, but I still look floppy with that damn heel going up and down.
Then again, back in April, sitting the trot - even at baby steps - was totally out of my reach.
http://vimeo.com/6426176
http://vimeo.com/6426281
http://vimeo.com/6426385
http://vimeo.com/6426447
Having said that - I am mortified by how I look in these clips - what the hell is my heel doing? When am I going to have a decent lower leg? How can my butt be that big?
And ... looking back - I really don't see that much of a difference with me or Willig than back in April. I mean, back in April we quit being able to go over fences, and his head swings a bit more, but I still look floppy with that damn heel going up and down.
Then again, back in April, sitting the trot - even at baby steps - was totally out of my reach.
http://vimeo.com/6426176
http://vimeo.com/6426281
http://vimeo.com/6426385
http://vimeo.com/6426447
Hot off the press - lesson summary trumped by poodle success
Twice in the last two weeks, armed with a bag of treats, Willig and I have gone out to the terrible side of the outdoor arena where the terrible, terrible monster poodle lives. Both times he has happily munched treats with no sign of the poodle.
Today (drum roll) he did the same thing - with the poodle galavanting around in the yard. The poodle was out as we were heading in, and while his ears flicked in the direction of the poodle, that was all it was - a flick. Then they flicked right back onto the bag of treats. Although the poodle went in after a only a few minutes, it was a few very, very satisfying minutes for me because Willig acted like he could have cared less about the poodle's existence.
Granted, he was just ridden vigorously, and has had two positive experiences, and I haven't been working out there and stressing him about the poodle, but I think we've both learned a couple valuable things.
(Treats work wonders, and I am not so smart because it never even occurred to me to use the treats until Mike suggested it.)
As to my lesson.
I'm going to try to just hit the high points, so it's easier for me to review.
Lower Leg
- My lower leg is creeping forward again. We worked on this by doing the standing 5 strides/posting 5 strides, and feeling the spot where the lower leg is totally, absolutely rock solid and secure. Mike says when it's in that spot, it's an 8 or 9. We are ignoring my upper body.
- Once my leg is in that spot, I have to keep thinking about pushing my *(#&^*(^&*# heel down. I can feel it when my leg goes into the right position, but the second I stop thinking about it, sproing - it's right back to a heel up.
Leg Aids
- Wake him up - a few tippity taps.
- Then ask, with the drum swing (not the heel squeeze) once - firmly and briskly. The second time, add the whip. (I didn't need the whip - the tippity taps and then one firm ask was all he needed.)
- Give him 1-2-3 "heads up" information before I change gaits (up or down).
On the Bit
- The reason he can fling his head all around is because I ride around with the draw reins all droopy. Tighten my draw reins.
- And we practiced by looping his rein-reins and riding in just the draw reins so I could feel the proper contact.
Sitting Trot
- Slow him down, and then just keep practicing bigger sits. It will come, just more slowly than the first leg of progress.
Transitions Up and Down
- STOP THROWING MY CONNECTION AWAY!!! Every up transition (and some of the down), I just throw my hands forward. Think of the 1-2-3 (above), give him a clue I'm doing it, pull him together (push him into my hands which STAY STEADY CONTACT), and then ask with the braced back. When I can get myself together, he just lifts right up or down. When I throw my hands around or fold my body up, he flops or runs into it.
- Also, don't let him be lazy. If he's dragging around in the canter, ask with the quick drum aid to pick it up.
- We practiced this by trotting and then halting or walking. I know how to do this (braced back, braced hands) but I don't do it going up - I fold my shoulders in and throw my hands forward. So I need to really concentrate on changing that habit.
Willig is responding really well. I have a lot of ideas for where to go next with training (more lessons, Mike riding him), but first I want to tackle whether he'll go to John Camlin's for a month.
Mostly, this still seems to be coming from me. Although he has had those naughty moments, I'm letting those few moments control how I ride the rest of the time. When I ride him properly (and now we're into learning new stuff about how to ride him properly, so it's harder and I need to practice it more), he just rides beautifully. He just is green, not bad.
Today (drum roll) he did the same thing - with the poodle galavanting around in the yard. The poodle was out as we were heading in, and while his ears flicked in the direction of the poodle, that was all it was - a flick. Then they flicked right back onto the bag of treats. Although the poodle went in after a only a few minutes, it was a few very, very satisfying minutes for me because Willig acted like he could have cared less about the poodle's existence.
Granted, he was just ridden vigorously, and has had two positive experiences, and I haven't been working out there and stressing him about the poodle, but I think we've both learned a couple valuable things.
(Treats work wonders, and I am not so smart because it never even occurred to me to use the treats until Mike suggested it.)
As to my lesson.
I'm going to try to just hit the high points, so it's easier for me to review.
Lower Leg
- My lower leg is creeping forward again. We worked on this by doing the standing 5 strides/posting 5 strides, and feeling the spot where the lower leg is totally, absolutely rock solid and secure. Mike says when it's in that spot, it's an 8 or 9. We are ignoring my upper body.
- Once my leg is in that spot, I have to keep thinking about pushing my *(#&^*(^&*# heel down. I can feel it when my leg goes into the right position, but the second I stop thinking about it, sproing - it's right back to a heel up.
Leg Aids
- Wake him up - a few tippity taps.
- Then ask, with the drum swing (not the heel squeeze) once - firmly and briskly. The second time, add the whip. (I didn't need the whip - the tippity taps and then one firm ask was all he needed.)
- Give him 1-2-3 "heads up" information before I change gaits (up or down).
On the Bit
- The reason he can fling his head all around is because I ride around with the draw reins all droopy. Tighten my draw reins.
- And we practiced by looping his rein-reins and riding in just the draw reins so I could feel the proper contact.
Sitting Trot
- Slow him down, and then just keep practicing bigger sits. It will come, just more slowly than the first leg of progress.
Transitions Up and Down
- STOP THROWING MY CONNECTION AWAY!!! Every up transition (and some of the down), I just throw my hands forward. Think of the 1-2-3 (above), give him a clue I'm doing it, pull him together (push him into my hands which STAY STEADY CONTACT), and then ask with the braced back. When I can get myself together, he just lifts right up or down. When I throw my hands around or fold my body up, he flops or runs into it.
- Also, don't let him be lazy. If he's dragging around in the canter, ask with the quick drum aid to pick it up.
- We practiced this by trotting and then halting or walking. I know how to do this (braced back, braced hands) but I don't do it going up - I fold my shoulders in and throw my hands forward. So I need to really concentrate on changing that habit.
Willig is responding really well. I have a lot of ideas for where to go next with training (more lessons, Mike riding him), but first I want to tackle whether he'll go to John Camlin's for a month.
Mostly, this still seems to be coming from me. Although he has had those naughty moments, I'm letting those few moments control how I ride the rest of the time. When I ride him properly (and now we're into learning new stuff about how to ride him properly, so it's harder and I need to practice it more), he just rides beautifully. He just is green, not bad.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Quickies
Last lesson from Mike:
- Willig is using poodle as excuse to be naughty
- If he bucks, turn him in a circle, so his hind legs cross
- My interpretation: we're dumbo with his feather (I hope) for the draw reins - Mike pointed out they're slack a lot of the time.
- We're making smaller (dressage arena size, not full arena size - I'm so lucky to be at Forest Park) circles so he isn't "surprised" as he comes around the corner.
Although after that lesson, I felt like I didn't "get" anything (but should have, and wanted to) - now that I've been working on it, I actually retained a lot more than I thought.
Willig in general:
- He's too skinny. Even though he is eating a hefty amount for how hard I work him, he's showing some ribs and hips. I'm going to Panacur PowerPac him, and we're going to try some probiotics for a few months.
- The plan is to try training for a month - hopefully in October if the weather hasn't gotten too horrible, keep working on me, and then maybe do some tune up riding when he comes back, if John Camlin thinks he's still got potential to be the horse for me.
Lesson with Shannon:
- Keep my outside rein contact! I drop this ALL the time.
- Keep thinking about pushing my legs forward. This position feels so much more secure.
- Plant my hands up on Willig's neck as we approach the fence, and hold my fingers so I don't let go of the reins. The reins need to be much shorter than feel "normal" to me - almost like my arms are extended.
- Let Willig figure it out. If he is a goof and rides around a circle on the wrong lead with three opportunities (x the number of times we go around the circle) to change it - let the light bulb go off in his head.
- I'm not a terrible rider and doing terrible things to him to make him act up. He needs some training because he's green, and I can't do it myself.
- We worked on a big circle (20 m) with three little cross rails, and it took me a looonnnggg time to not jump ahead, not let go of the reins, not yank my hands, etc. etc.
- We also worked on some flat, keeping him held together and engaged and actually working (I think squeeze and release on the inside rein, and push with my inside leg like I want a half pass going past the scary door), and those things combined mean he's too busy to look for the poodle.
We also started walking outside (twice now) with a bag of treats, and eating treats next to the poodle's house. Fortunately, we have been able to do it twice sans poodle, but the second time, Willig was about ready to jump in the yard where the poodle lives if I would just hurry up and give him the treat.
- Willig is using poodle as excuse to be naughty
- If he bucks, turn him in a circle, so his hind legs cross
- My interpretation: we're dumbo with his feather (I hope) for the draw reins - Mike pointed out they're slack a lot of the time.
- We're making smaller (dressage arena size, not full arena size - I'm so lucky to be at Forest Park) circles so he isn't "surprised" as he comes around the corner.
Although after that lesson, I felt like I didn't "get" anything (but should have, and wanted to) - now that I've been working on it, I actually retained a lot more than I thought.
Willig in general:
- He's too skinny. Even though he is eating a hefty amount for how hard I work him, he's showing some ribs and hips. I'm going to Panacur PowerPac him, and we're going to try some probiotics for a few months.
- The plan is to try training for a month - hopefully in October if the weather hasn't gotten too horrible, keep working on me, and then maybe do some tune up riding when he comes back, if John Camlin thinks he's still got potential to be the horse for me.
Lesson with Shannon:
- Keep my outside rein contact! I drop this ALL the time.
- Keep thinking about pushing my legs forward. This position feels so much more secure.
- Plant my hands up on Willig's neck as we approach the fence, and hold my fingers so I don't let go of the reins. The reins need to be much shorter than feel "normal" to me - almost like my arms are extended.
- Let Willig figure it out. If he is a goof and rides around a circle on the wrong lead with three opportunities (x the number of times we go around the circle) to change it - let the light bulb go off in his head.
- I'm not a terrible rider and doing terrible things to him to make him act up. He needs some training because he's green, and I can't do it myself.
- We worked on a big circle (20 m) with three little cross rails, and it took me a looonnnggg time to not jump ahead, not let go of the reins, not yank my hands, etc. etc.
- We also worked on some flat, keeping him held together and engaged and actually working (I think squeeze and release on the inside rein, and push with my inside leg like I want a half pass going past the scary door), and those things combined mean he's too busy to look for the poodle.
We also started walking outside (twice now) with a bag of treats, and eating treats next to the poodle's house. Fortunately, we have been able to do it twice sans poodle, but the second time, Willig was about ready to jump in the yard where the poodle lives if I would just hurry up and give him the treat.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wormer Schedule
Two way:
Jan/Feb - Pyrantel pamoate
Mar/April - Ivermectin
May/June - Pyrantel
July/Aug - Ivermectin
Sept/Oct - Pyrantel
Nov/Dec - Ivermectin
Three way:
Jan/Feb - Pyrantel
Mar/April - Ivermectin
May/June - Oxibendazole or Fenbendazole
July/Aug - Pyrantel
Sept/Oct - Ivermectin
Nov/Dec - Oxibendazole
Pyrantel: Strongid paste, Rotectin P, Strongyle care
Ivermectin: Equimax, Zimectrin Gold, Rotectin 1.87%, IverCare
Oxibendazole: Safe-Guard, Panacur, Anthelcide EQ
Jan/Feb - Pyrantel pamoate
Mar/April - Ivermectin
May/June - Pyrantel
July/Aug - Ivermectin
Sept/Oct - Pyrantel
Nov/Dec - Ivermectin
Three way:
Jan/Feb - Pyrantel
Mar/April - Ivermectin
May/June - Oxibendazole or Fenbendazole
July/Aug - Pyrantel
Sept/Oct - Ivermectin
Nov/Dec - Oxibendazole
Pyrantel: Strongid paste, Rotectin P, Strongyle care
Ivermectin: Equimax, Zimectrin Gold, Rotectin 1.87%, IverCare
Oxibendazole: Safe-Guard, Panacur, Anthelcide EQ
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Lesson Review: Shannon & Mike August
Last week I had a jump lesson with Shannon in the (horrors) outdoor arena - what is to Willig the terrifying range of the poodle. After I spent quite a bit of time venting about how frustrated I am, we got on, rode big canter little canter, then jumped the little cross rail closest to the least scary side with ground poles 6' out on each side. After a couple of times stepping on them, and a couple times jumping all the way over the outside one, Willig pretty much got it.
The same can't be said for me. All I had to do was stay out of his way and point him at the jump, slowing his canter down on the way in. Yet that was too much for me, with dropping my reins, forgetting to look where I was going, steering all crazy, letting him go in sideways ... honestly - I'm not even sure why I ride sometimes.
After Shannon managed to wrestle me into some semblance of control (sit up! look where you're going! legs forward!), she set up two more of the cross rails with 6' poles on either side, so we had a serpentine AND the "condensed body" practice.
Willig did it all like an angel.
I need to work on thinking about pushing my legs forward (to make a steady base) and getting myself together faster in the event of a slip up (or just in the event that I fall apart). When we made the turns in the serpentine, it would take me half the turn to sit up and get ready for the next one.
Shannon and I discussed some of the options given poodle-hysteria. (By the by - although Willig started on the lunge line as a total ding bat giraffe, by the time Shannon got out he was mellowing out because the poodle hadn't come out, and since it was mid-day, much to my relief the poodle never came out.)
I can take some lessons with the trainer who works on desensitizing, and she will travel to Shannon's (and I think is there already for someone, sometimes).
I can have Mike ride him.
He can go to training; Shannon recommends her jump trainer, John Camlin at Caber Farms.
Given my level of frustration, Shannon thought it would be appropriate to try some training, see if that naughty streak can be corrected, and then see if it is me who can't ride him (I'm overmounted) or if I just need some help figuring out how to respond. She said the down the whole arena bucking is not acceptable.
Then today I had a lesson with Mike and once again feel like I know nothing, and the world is limitless as to how much I can learn. (In short, a very bad and a very good feeling.)
I explained, again, about the poodle, and what I've been doing to try to correct it, and how we basically have giraffe neck or snaky neck. Mike got treats, went to the scary side of the arena, I rode down there, and Willig proceeded to - once - do a very small snaky neck. In 40 minutes.
What he did do - interestingly - was take it up a notch. By "take it up" I mean, "fool me" and make me look like an ass in front of Mike.
Instead of doing giraffe neck or snaky neck, he started going very, very slowly. Like we were in slow motion. And I'm squeezing and grunting, and finally we go back to super beginner level 0 basics - how to apply your leg. A kick like to a soccer ball, not a squeeze up with the heel. Followed by a harder kick, and a sharp smack with the whip, and praise praise praise when he accelerates. Within, I don't know, 30 seconds, Willig is just prancing around in this gorgeous trot that he just keeps doing. With his head down.
(Oh yeah, and for snaky neck/giraffe neck, my job is to make waterfall neck.)
Ok. So this is frustrating because he NEVER rides like this when I'm alone.
It's also very positive because it feels great, it's consistent with my lesson with Shannon (if he has impulsion and is working, he can't act up), and I feel like, ok, maybe we can get this and be a good team, and maybe, just maybe, I'll learn something about how to ride a horse.
So Mike gave me a set of tools for the poodle problem: big, huge praise for not reacting - praise him ahead, talk to him, pat him, tell him he's the bravest chestnut in the universe; ask for this new level of WORK; no tolerating acting up or him being the boss - I'm the boss - if he rears (which he only did that one time, out of surprise, ages ago, when I bopped him in the mouth too hard), hang on to his neck, then ride the heck out of him, if he bucks, pull his head in a circle to the inside so his back legs have to cross each other and then ride the heck out of him, if he goes in slow motion, ask him and then smack him and praise him for moving forward. Willig did none of those things. Even when we changed direction, there was hardly an ear flick towards poodle-town.
So for now, Mike thinks taking him outside is setting him up for failure. Let him build confidence and learn I'm the boss and learn what I want inside - then start moving him outside. He said we can do an outside lesson with him in the future.
I feel like there were a few big lessons here, even though there was no grinning, beaming breakthrough like in my prior lessons. First, I was in a bad mood, tired from work, and frustrated with Willig, and definitely not looking forward to working on the least fun part of riding him. So I had a bad attitude. Second, aside from figuring out the sitting trot, most of what Mike has done so far is (very very quickly) reposition me to the proper way of riding - something that in theory I already knew (or should have known). Third, so today we moved beyond what I already, on some level, knew - into tools I have never learned before. I think that's why today's lesson was very hard and slippery for me to grasp. Although some of what we've done has felt really great (and different), it isn't entirely strange to me. This - how to react - was. And I feel like this is the missing piece. I've been riding horses as a passenger, not a boss, and Willig is just willful enough to not respect that. And that's my fault. I'm "teaching" him to do the wrong thing because I don't know how to teach him to do the right thing, and my communication skills aren't good enough to fix it once I've taught him wrong. I know something is wrong, but I don't know how to fix it, and the tools I have are not the right ones.
Willig may have a limited repetoire of tricks, but it's more than I know how to respond to, and my tools haven't been very effective, while my "un"training has been extremely effective. This is nice because he's pretty smart, and he gets it pretty quickly when I ask him correctly. So I just need to learn how to ask for everything correctly. Oh, just the universe of how to ride a horse.
So I don't think he needs more training. I think **I** do. I don't think it would do any good to send him to someone else to ride him. It would fix him temporarily, and then I would undo it and teach him the wrong thing again. I think I need more lessons. On him.
There were more little details (don't collapse my upper body; keep those &*&#*(&# heels down), but this was the interesting piece - this slowly dawning realization for me (not very intelligent me) on how to approach riding differently.
Also, from now on, I'm considering tears emotional sweat.
P.S. The poodle ran at another horse too. I was beginning to think it was an imaginary poodle that only me and Willig could see.
The same can't be said for me. All I had to do was stay out of his way and point him at the jump, slowing his canter down on the way in. Yet that was too much for me, with dropping my reins, forgetting to look where I was going, steering all crazy, letting him go in sideways ... honestly - I'm not even sure why I ride sometimes.
After Shannon managed to wrestle me into some semblance of control (sit up! look where you're going! legs forward!), she set up two more of the cross rails with 6' poles on either side, so we had a serpentine AND the "condensed body" practice.
Willig did it all like an angel.
I need to work on thinking about pushing my legs forward (to make a steady base) and getting myself together faster in the event of a slip up (or just in the event that I fall apart). When we made the turns in the serpentine, it would take me half the turn to sit up and get ready for the next one.
Shannon and I discussed some of the options given poodle-hysteria. (By the by - although Willig started on the lunge line as a total ding bat giraffe, by the time Shannon got out he was mellowing out because the poodle hadn't come out, and since it was mid-day, much to my relief the poodle never came out.)
I can take some lessons with the trainer who works on desensitizing, and she will travel to Shannon's (and I think is there already for someone, sometimes).
I can have Mike ride him.
He can go to training; Shannon recommends her jump trainer, John Camlin at Caber Farms.
Given my level of frustration, Shannon thought it would be appropriate to try some training, see if that naughty streak can be corrected, and then see if it is me who can't ride him (I'm overmounted) or if I just need some help figuring out how to respond. She said the down the whole arena bucking is not acceptable.
Then today I had a lesson with Mike and once again feel like I know nothing, and the world is limitless as to how much I can learn. (In short, a very bad and a very good feeling.)
I explained, again, about the poodle, and what I've been doing to try to correct it, and how we basically have giraffe neck or snaky neck. Mike got treats, went to the scary side of the arena, I rode down there, and Willig proceeded to - once - do a very small snaky neck. In 40 minutes.
What he did do - interestingly - was take it up a notch. By "take it up" I mean, "fool me" and make me look like an ass in front of Mike.
Instead of doing giraffe neck or snaky neck, he started going very, very slowly. Like we were in slow motion. And I'm squeezing and grunting, and finally we go back to super beginner level 0 basics - how to apply your leg. A kick like to a soccer ball, not a squeeze up with the heel. Followed by a harder kick, and a sharp smack with the whip, and praise praise praise when he accelerates. Within, I don't know, 30 seconds, Willig is just prancing around in this gorgeous trot that he just keeps doing. With his head down.
(Oh yeah, and for snaky neck/giraffe neck, my job is to make waterfall neck.)
Ok. So this is frustrating because he NEVER rides like this when I'm alone.
It's also very positive because it feels great, it's consistent with my lesson with Shannon (if he has impulsion and is working, he can't act up), and I feel like, ok, maybe we can get this and be a good team, and maybe, just maybe, I'll learn something about how to ride a horse.
So Mike gave me a set of tools for the poodle problem: big, huge praise for not reacting - praise him ahead, talk to him, pat him, tell him he's the bravest chestnut in the universe; ask for this new level of WORK; no tolerating acting up or him being the boss - I'm the boss - if he rears (which he only did that one time, out of surprise, ages ago, when I bopped him in the mouth too hard), hang on to his neck, then ride the heck out of him, if he bucks, pull his head in a circle to the inside so his back legs have to cross each other and then ride the heck out of him, if he goes in slow motion, ask him and then smack him and praise him for moving forward. Willig did none of those things. Even when we changed direction, there was hardly an ear flick towards poodle-town.
So for now, Mike thinks taking him outside is setting him up for failure. Let him build confidence and learn I'm the boss and learn what I want inside - then start moving him outside. He said we can do an outside lesson with him in the future.
I feel like there were a few big lessons here, even though there was no grinning, beaming breakthrough like in my prior lessons. First, I was in a bad mood, tired from work, and frustrated with Willig, and definitely not looking forward to working on the least fun part of riding him. So I had a bad attitude. Second, aside from figuring out the sitting trot, most of what Mike has done so far is (very very quickly) reposition me to the proper way of riding - something that in theory I already knew (or should have known). Third, so today we moved beyond what I already, on some level, knew - into tools I have never learned before. I think that's why today's lesson was very hard and slippery for me to grasp. Although some of what we've done has felt really great (and different), it isn't entirely strange to me. This - how to react - was. And I feel like this is the missing piece. I've been riding horses as a passenger, not a boss, and Willig is just willful enough to not respect that. And that's my fault. I'm "teaching" him to do the wrong thing because I don't know how to teach him to do the right thing, and my communication skills aren't good enough to fix it once I've taught him wrong. I know something is wrong, but I don't know how to fix it, and the tools I have are not the right ones.
Willig may have a limited repetoire of tricks, but it's more than I know how to respond to, and my tools haven't been very effective, while my "un"training has been extremely effective. This is nice because he's pretty smart, and he gets it pretty quickly when I ask him correctly. So I just need to learn how to ask for everything correctly. Oh, just the universe of how to ride a horse.
So I don't think he needs more training. I think **I** do. I don't think it would do any good to send him to someone else to ride him. It would fix him temporarily, and then I would undo it and teach him the wrong thing again. I think I need more lessons. On him.
There were more little details (don't collapse my upper body; keep those &*&#*(&# heels down), but this was the interesting piece - this slowly dawning realization for me (not very intelligent me) on how to approach riding differently.
Also, from now on, I'm considering tears emotional sweat.
P.S. The poodle ran at another horse too. I was beginning to think it was an imaginary poodle that only me and Willig could see.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Artistic Light Willig
Sadly, not Martha riding the sitting trot on a misbehaving Willig, due to camera malfunction.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Silly Willig
Willig has developed a cute habit (other than the not-so-cute downward dog he does after a hard/stressful ride). He likes to drink out of the hose when he's getting hosed off after a sweaty ride.
Slight jumping improvement
Although my back is rounded and my heels are up, this is a considerable improvement over giraffe-neck Willig.
Monday, July 20, 2009
2nd jump lesson with Shannon
Willig and I had a much more ... show-and-tell jump lesson last week.
Shannon started us with a gymnastic, which was really cool.
There was a ground pole 9' away from the plastic blocks (that I think make a 2' vertical) as a cross-rail. You head into it from a trot.
Then it's 18' to a low vertical (probably 2' - I haven't measured, but it's small).
Then 9' plus a roll to another ground pole.
That's how you start: pole, cross rail, vertical, pole.
Then you add from the vertical, 21' to an oxer, but start it as a vertical, and then add the second pole for the oxer after you've done it a few times.
So it's: pole, cross rail, vertical, pole, oxer.
Willig did it just gorgeous over and over. What we worked on was me not jumping ahead, steering him through with my legs, planting my hands about 5 strides out on his neck and pushing against them, and keeping him moving forward and through. This was all much harder than it sounds.
After we did this several times and he was just great (he did one little half-assed head shaking buck at the end of one line), Shannon set up a course for him.
And this is where he gave her a full-on example of how he is naughty.
We came off the gymnastic, had a big wide left hand turn, and had plenty of space to approach the fence and see it coming.
And even though he's jumped that particular fence at least 20 times, he decided to run out to the left, buck, and do the little "whee!" with his front legs.
My reaction time was too slow, so he got away with all that, I didn't yell at him, AND I was getting ready to stop him, but Shannon had us canter on a smallish circle several laps, then move the canter circle out, then jump a little cross rail a few times each direction.
And then Willig panted and was tired.
Then we did the gymnastic line again, and then the course.
Willig gets a bit - headstrong - it feels like rushing to me, but Shannon says it's not, but he is kind of strung out.
So our homework before the next lesson is to work the course, a figure 8, whatever, over and over and over again until he is bored with it, and to work in between fences on control, and to work on the flat on me speeding him up and slowing him down at will.
And to continue using the super fun and fabulous gymnastic to work on my position.
It was kind of frustrating - he had been doing so well on the gymnastic that I did not see or feel the naughtiness coming at all, and then I spent the rest of the lesson not trusting him and having to really work at sitting up and riding into him instead of curling up into a scared little ball.
Shannon's other tips were to growl and, if possible, smack, at the first sign of naughtiness, to make it harder work to be naughty than to just jump the fence already, and to not lose contact with my outside rein on circles.
Of course, I probably threw all this to the wind with our poodle follow up the next time I tried to ride him. We'll see how he does next time, I guess.
Shannon says our next lesson will be on condensing his body - instead of the 9' to the fence, make it 7' or so, and he'll have to learn to squish his body up instead of spread it out. She said it helped a lot with one of her horses.
Shannon started us with a gymnastic, which was really cool.
There was a ground pole 9' away from the plastic blocks (that I think make a 2' vertical) as a cross-rail. You head into it from a trot.
Then it's 18' to a low vertical (probably 2' - I haven't measured, but it's small).
Then 9' plus a roll to another ground pole.
That's how you start: pole, cross rail, vertical, pole.
Then you add from the vertical, 21' to an oxer, but start it as a vertical, and then add the second pole for the oxer after you've done it a few times.
So it's: pole, cross rail, vertical, pole, oxer.
Willig did it just gorgeous over and over. What we worked on was me not jumping ahead, steering him through with my legs, planting my hands about 5 strides out on his neck and pushing against them, and keeping him moving forward and through. This was all much harder than it sounds.
After we did this several times and he was just great (he did one little half-assed head shaking buck at the end of one line), Shannon set up a course for him.
And this is where he gave her a full-on example of how he is naughty.
We came off the gymnastic, had a big wide left hand turn, and had plenty of space to approach the fence and see it coming.
And even though he's jumped that particular fence at least 20 times, he decided to run out to the left, buck, and do the little "whee!" with his front legs.
My reaction time was too slow, so he got away with all that, I didn't yell at him, AND I was getting ready to stop him, but Shannon had us canter on a smallish circle several laps, then move the canter circle out, then jump a little cross rail a few times each direction.
And then Willig panted and was tired.
Then we did the gymnastic line again, and then the course.
Willig gets a bit - headstrong - it feels like rushing to me, but Shannon says it's not, but he is kind of strung out.
So our homework before the next lesson is to work the course, a figure 8, whatever, over and over and over again until he is bored with it, and to work in between fences on control, and to work on the flat on me speeding him up and slowing him down at will.
And to continue using the super fun and fabulous gymnastic to work on my position.
It was kind of frustrating - he had been doing so well on the gymnastic that I did not see or feel the naughtiness coming at all, and then I spent the rest of the lesson not trusting him and having to really work at sitting up and riding into him instead of curling up into a scared little ball.
Shannon's other tips were to growl and, if possible, smack, at the first sign of naughtiness, to make it harder work to be naughty than to just jump the fence already, and to not lose contact with my outside rein on circles.
Of course, I probably threw all this to the wind with our poodle follow up the next time I tried to ride him. We'll see how he does next time, I guess.
Shannon says our next lesson will be on condensing his body - instead of the 9' to the fence, make it 7' or so, and he'll have to learn to squish his body up instead of spread it out. She said it helped a lot with one of her horses.
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