When one hole feels like one mile

April 17, 2012 Leave a comment

We tried a little something different in my lesson last night, and I’m feeling it today.

We started out doing a little sitting trot, which isn’t something I work on much, but as we warmed up walking, I had a really nice walk going from Derby, and I commented to Christy that his active walk (and following it with my seat) was just what my achy, crampy self needed.

She had me essentially “follow” with my seat into a trot, closing my legs and inviting the upward transition with my seat.  Then as we got going, Christy had me feel (and control) my seatbones, un-clamp my knees and relax my lower leg, draping my calves around the horse.   While I’ve sat the trot before, last night was the first time I feel like I really started to get an inkling of how to sit the trot effectively.   And by inkling I do mean fleeting glimpse, but it was still an “ah-ha” moment for me.  With Christy’s coaching,  I was able to follow with my seat and get Derby to round a bit.  And then the burn started.  I knew I was doing it right and engaging my core when suddenly my lower abs started to burn.  It felt like I was doing micro-crunches in time with Derby’s stride.  It was a cool feeling and I can’t wait to work on this a bit more and get to the point where I can actually sit effectively.  In reality, this is stuff I won’t need for, oh years (in terms of competition) but it was still cool to do, and importantly, the exercise got me in touch with my seatbones.  We did some walk-halts, with me just shifting the angle of my seatbones  (really, that was it)  and each time Derby halted nicely – on contact, square and balanced.

As promised, I did drop my stirrups while doing some of the sitting work.   I really need to learn not to do stuff that gives Christy ideas, because she liked the way my leg looked when I dropped the stirrups.

I’ve been riding with them a bit short, because I was having some issues with my hip locking up, which then stilled my seat and caused me to arch my back.  Christy has had me work with a bit shorter leather, and that has done the trick.  She dropped my stirrups a hole, and had me give it a try.

It’s amazing what a difference that hole made.  It may as well have been a mile.  Okay, I’m being a bit dramatic, I know ,but really it did effectively put my leg in a whole new position, moving my knee off my saddle’s knee block and changing my hip angle.  Posting felt very weird at first.  Christy had me focus on posting in a more upright posture, thinking of rising straight from my hips.   She also had me keep my calves wrapped softly around Derby’s sides.  It wasn’t pretty and didn’t feel good, but I’m going to stick with it.  Better now than never! I feel much better with the longer leather – it’s easier on my knees, and, as Christy noted, it puts me in the position the saddle was was designed for.   It’s never fun messing with your position but I know it will feel better soon.  In the meantime, I’m feeling the effects of last night’s ride in my legs today.  More Advil, please!

 

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Once again, like you mean it

April 12, 2012 1 Comment

This is a better trot.

I really appreciate Christy’s willingness to grab video for me in my lessons.  It’s so helpful to see what I’m doing and what we look like.  My reviews of the last couple nights’ work weren’t terribly encouraging.  On the up side, during the spooking episodes, I could see that my lower leg didn’t move and my position remained solid, enabling me to stay firmly in the tack – which is why I wasn’t bothered by Derby’s antics.

I was able to do a better job of capturing the forward energy tonight.

However, there was a lot not to love.  I am not holding the outside rein.  I’m letting him steal rein length from me. I’m collapsing in my core.  The result – we’re going around in a nose-pokey-outy hunter frame.  This won’t cut it. What energy I manage to generate behind I lose out the front end.

Tonight I told Christy what I had observed, and she nodded in agreement.  She also noted that she’s taking the gloves off because we showed her last night that we’re ready to work harder.  She started us off with an excercise that improved the trot right off the bat – having me do very brief walk transitions, at A and C, which we then turned into half-halts. As we proceeded, Derby became rounder, the contact got better and his responses improved.   This was a fantastic exercise for us. Christy continued to fine tune our work, reminding me to keep my inside leg busy (“Come on hind legs! Tap tap tap with your spur! Tuck that hind leg underneath!”)

Later in the lesson, we took aim at another issue I have – I need to soften the inside rein rather than pull it.  Christy had me make a point of giving the inside rein – and the second I did, Derby rounded.

It was a good ride – the quality of the work improved, and I’m going into the weekend with some tools to use to keep encouraging Derby to work over his back – we need to build those muscles.  Lessons start again on Monday!

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Change of plan.

April 11, 2012 Leave a comment

Aieee!

Both Derby and I overdid things early this week, and I ended up cancelling my lesson last night.  My entire body was sore from an ambitious workout, and Derby was sporting a fresh cut on his leg and a sore back, both most likely the result of playing too hard.

Tonight we reported for duty, and we were both feeling better, though as we warmed up, I could tell that my leg muscles were still going to pose a challenge. My legs felt really tired and the muscles were burning just a few minutes into the lesson.  After a few more minutes, I told Christy that I needed to get off the circle we were working on, because I just didn’t feel able to sustain the bend and all the corrections and adjustments necessary.

I'll remember this when he tells me he can't sit into collection in a couple years.

Nothing was going particularly well, and then things actually got a little worse when Derby spooked at some activity in the aisle. It was completely rideable, making for some funny video stills.  And I got a much better trot out of the deal.

It was also an opportunity for me to “sit up and ride” as I used to when Maddie lost her marbles.  And, as these situations are, it was a reminder that riding more purposefully and assertively yields results.

Well, at least he's round.

He was still a bit distracted, but responded nicely when I got busy with my inside leg, yielding out on a circle and giving me the nice quality trot I was after (and must re-establish as our norm.)

Until he pulled that crap again.

When he spooked again, I stuck my spur into his side and kept him cantering.  He actually picked up the wrong lead, so we went around and around and (*kick*) around counter-cantering.  I was just hell bent on keeping him going, because, as Christy says, if you have the energy to spook, you have the energy to work. On a positive note, I supposed, Christy said the counter-canter was nicely balanced and he held it for a while.  At this point, second level is light years away so I’m not too worried about this at the moment.  We transitioned into a trot, and I kept him going some more.

He's like a drama-queen tween, intent upon looking good while making a scene.

At this juncture, we finally got some nice work.  Derby was really on my aids, and was electric and forward. He felt fantastic. And despite the nonsense, I felt good and in control pretty much the whole time.  He came right back to me after each bout of the stupids, which is the outcome I prefer.

However, at this point, I was about to slither from the horse.  I was worn out – my leg muscles were completely shot.  Not sure how I’ll feel tomorrow – I’m taking some Advil and hitting the sack!

 

 

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One thing leads to another

April 9, 2012 Leave a comment

Pick 'em up, put 'em down, Derbs.

The theme of the next few weeks, Christy informed me tonight, will continue to be “Fix it – NOW.”   And the sub-theme needs to be “Ask nicely, then correct.”  I’ve been rewarded when I ride more assertively and responsively recently, and I need to continue to speed my deployment of fixes – and reduce my tolerance for a less than crisp response.

Tonight’s ride focused on getting the hind legs engaged. The trot work improved after we cantered (got both leads, nice transitions, yay) but not before I started to wear out, due to the effort I expended at the beginning of the lesson.  I was working harder than the horse was at the outset as we worked on developing a good quality trot circle.

Toward the end of the lesson, I needed to switch things up, as my legs were getting tired after the circle work. We decided to do big laps, focusing on getting Derby to really step out.  He was moving nicley but I can feel the difference in his fitness a few months ago, and his fitness now.  I know that as he gets fitter (and as I do too) the quality of our work will improve.  In this sport, one thing leads to another.

On my way home, I mused about all the work we need to do and the things we need to practice, an I admonished my self not to get impatient with the horse, or with myself, for that matter.  As Christy said, I need to focus on fixing issues as they arise, in the moment. And I can do that.

As I continued to muse, my subconscious fixed on the word “Fix” and connected that to a video I watched about eleventy-billion times back in the day.  For those doing the math, yes, I saw MTV’s first video, yes, I was a child of the 80’s.  Here is a very apropos selection for your enjoyment.

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Fix it — NOW

April 4, 2012 1 Comment

As you may imagine, I’m pretty happy that Derbs didn’t need surgery after all.  While I would never hesitate to put the horse first, nonetheless, I’m really glad that we’re not heading into weeks of stall rest – especially as others are prepping for a schooling show at Silverwood in early May!

I really dialed things back pre-surgery, figuring that if he was going to be stallbound for a while, it would be better to not ramp up his fitness levels immediately prior to the time off.  So we did easy rides.  Now, however, it’s officially go time.  We need to balance getting to work with not over-doing things.

Yesterday was a gorgeous day, and I took the afternoon off to deal with the logistics of returning Derby to Silver Fern, and to hang out and enjoy the day.  I watched Christy take Remy for a spin while Derby had some turn out time, then I brought him in and tacked up.   I decided to try using my Perfect Balance saddle pad with the new, thinner inserts I had purchased recently, but after about 15 minutes of really crappy work with no forward, I hopped off and put my old fleece pad on, and took Derby outside.

Things improved but by that time we were full on into feeding time – the other horses were being brought in, everyone was calling to everyone, and the parking lot was filling up.  It turned into a good test of my ability to deal with a distracted horse.

In my lessons, whenever Derby catches me out and pops his nose up, inverts or lets a shoulder bulge, Christy is on my case, insisting that I “Fix that! Fix it now!”  I practiced “fixing it” with Derby, getting busy with my inside leg, and really concentrating on not restricting him with unyielding hands.  It took some doing but eventually I had a much more pliant horse, and got some decent trot going both directions.

Tonight I had lesson, and things went pretty well as we warmed up.  As we got going. Christy started to ask me to “fix” certain things.  Get a decent trot. Make him rounder.  Add more bend in the corners.  Get those back legs going!   I knew I had to up the ante on the quality, so I went back to a key lesson from the Dover clinic last year.  Every corner is an opportunity to half halt and rebalance.

Going into the short side, I half-halted, applied inside leg, softening the inside rein while making sure not to throw the outside rein away.  “Better, that’s better…” the boss commented, as I held a smaller trot gait down the short side, half halting again before the corner, then adding bend.  “That looks good!” was the ensuing comment.

Derby started to run out of gas as we did some circles, so Christy asked for a canter to see if it would wake him up.  I sat, and asked, and happily, the canter quality was decent, my lower leg stayed still and when we transitioned downward, we had some nice trot.  A few minutes later, we did it again, then switched directions. I was really happy that we got the right lead correctly both times (that had been a little sticky for us) and that over all, my position was decent.  I’m glad that’s not fallen apart in the time off!

We’re doing another lesson tomorrow, and I’m going to try to get out to the barn early on Friday morning for a ride, before taking the next two days off.  I’m just so glad be riding, versus nursing a bored, ouchy, stall-bound pony!

 

 

 

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Surgery is scheduled

March 28, 2012 Leave a comment

Well, I have some news.  I’m going ahead with the surgery to free Derby’s entrapped epiglottis.  It’s scheduled for Monday. He’ll stay overnight at the clinic, and come home the following day.  After that we embark on a 2-3 week recovery period.  His airway has to stay very quiet during this time.

That obviously affects some of my plans, but still, I’m hoping to have him out at some schooling shows in May.  To that end, we rode through some Intro tests tonight.  I had forgotten them and the first pass through each was ugly.  However, we quickly got our act together and put in some respectable rides, which was encouraging.

We spent some time on downward transitions, maintaining energy and roundness in the walk when coming down from the trot. I rode a couple that I believe were the best I’ve ever ridden, and I had some ‘Ah ha, that’s what it’s supposed to feel like’ moments.  I had to start with good energy at the trot, and then ride very deliberately into the transition. Balancing forward and down is still hard for me.  However, it’s the very beginnings of collection, in which you add energy, not take it away.  So adding energy as you go into a downward transition is a crucial skill, and it’s one I really don’t have yet.  Add it to the list.

I have one more lesson and three more rides before the post-op hiatus.  Boo.  I really wish I could have had this done back in February!  Oh well.  This too shall pass!

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Carry on, and carry yourself

March 27, 2012 1 Comment

How you doin'?

We had an interesting weekend, and have resumed our lessons for the week.

We had a nice ride on Saturday, however, we had a mini mishap when I went to ask for the left lead canter.  As I asked and Derby stepped into stride, I felt my inside leg slip back, and I poked him in the belly with a spur.  Derby rightly took some offense, humping his back and and daring me to needlessly jab him again.  I transitioned to trot and got my butt up in two point.  I have to strengthen my leg, period.

Sunday was a gorgeous day, and all of the arena doors are open.  I’m not sure Derby’s ever seen the back door open, and he was bug-eyed at an open side door last week, outside which a variety of equipment is parked. I rode him through resistance and spooks, getting closer and closer to the lawn mower that was crouched, waiting to give a passing horse a haircut, but it wasn’t a great ride, and at no point did Derby really relax.

After that ride, I revisited getting control over the inside hind.  I practiced lateral work (shoulder-in and leg yield) and lots of work bending and flexing.  I got to put that work to the test on Sunday, and things went well. In short order I was able to get Derby to relax, and go around on the rail, walking and trotting easily.  Relaxation was the goal of the day.

Tonight we resumed lessons, and we’re stepping up to 45 minutes.  The first part of the lesson went pretty well, but then things got a little interesting when Derby started to resist, sucking his tongue over the bit and sucking back.  The answer wasn’t to mess with the reins, I learned.  Instead Christy had me get after Derby with my inside leg when he came above the bit and resisted.  “Tap tap tap! Use your leg! Use it!”  It worked, sending Derby forward into the contact, rather than trying to wrestle him with the reins.

Taking a break, Christy explained, theorizing that as I started to lose energy, I was losing a bit of balance and steadiness.  Derby was taking advantage.  Taking her words to heart, I changed direction, and made a real effort to balance myself. I found my seatbones, and got a nice walk. Moving into the trot, I posted out of a soft half-seat, keeping a quiet and balanced position.  Derby quieted, his back came up and the quality of the trot got better quickly.   “That’s better, that’s much better!” Christy affirmed.  I explained to her the adjustment I had made.

“Well, before you can expect the horse to carry himself, you have to carry yourself, ” she said. This was a lesson I’ll definitely remember.

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Not really sure how this is possible …

March 20, 2012 2 Comments

Tonight’s ride was a joy.  Derby just feels amazing.  From the first step away from the mounting block I had a really nice, rolling walk.  Derby was also eager to get going, and moved out beautifully at the trot.  We had a nice connection and really good adjustability – my half-halts went through without question, and I could feel Derby bring his back up and step under himself.  He was light and responsive and powerful and forward and, at moments, nicely through.

Christy was really happy with how he was going, too, and while she noticed a few weaknesses in my position (due to being out of shape and losing my riding muscles) so she wanted me to trot til I was pooped, which is what we did. Over all, I’m pretty happy with how decent I feel, despite being out of shape.

I’m not sure how it’s possible that we’re going this well despite all our time off, but I’m not complaining. Next up, another lesson tomorrow.

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We still have it

March 19, 2012 Leave a comment

I finally had a lesson tonight after this long hiatus, and it went really well.  Christy was pleased with my posture, and Derby clearly felt good and was moving very nicely.  We’re only going for 30 minute rides this week – Derby has been off for a while and his fitness has suffered.  We’ve got to get his top line back, so that will mean lots of trot work and transitions.

We had a nice, swingy walk to start, and all of my buttons were working, though I did have to work a bit to get his left hind under him.  Christy told me to “Tuck that leg underneath him, do a turn on the forehand if you have to,” and that totally did the trick.  Moving into the trot, I was pleased that I was staying balanced with my leg still.  With some coaching from Christy (half halts – must remember half halts) we got it put together and had some very respectable quality work with some good working trot and with a little bit of more collected work thrown in.

It was one of those nights it would have been very easy to over-do things.  The horse felt great, the evening was warm and breezy, but I kept an eye on the clock.  I know from past experience that the best way to get back into regular work is to focus on building fitness gradually.   I’m doing a series of these 30 minute lessons this week, and next week (hopefully) we’ll jump to 45 minutes, and hopefully start adding the canter back in once he gets a bit stronger.

The consensus from the boss was that we looked pretty much as we had when we left off, which was a real relief to me.  We were doing some nice work before the new year, and I hope we can get back to that point pretty quickly.

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Everything is a little better

January 21, 2012 3 Comments

Using leg yield to get better connection at the trot

Today’s ride was really solid, on a number of different levels.  I did a make up lesson with Christy, after temperatures near zero put a stop to lessons on Thursday, and we picked up where we left off – building my strength in my new position and starting to apply the aids.

Derby felt great today, but it took some coaching from Christy to get me to ride him more back to front, with a better connection.  I started the day by going in a nose-poking-out stretchy frame that looked like a baby green hunter.   To establish a better connection, I need to first and foremost get Derby’s back end activated and engaged.   Getting him through and working from behind is a real weakness of mine, and it’s something I must fix.

The good news is that my lower leg was steady throughout the ride.  I feel like I can crack coconuts with my new-found inner thigh strength! Okay,I exaggerate, but in just a week I’ve gained a lot of strength in this area, which is a big help.

So back to the issue du jour, working from behind.  Christy had us do an exercise at the trot which simply entailed talking the quarterlines, and then leg yielding toward the wall.  My first few attempts were totally ineffective.  Then Chrisy had me do a little shoulders-in to get Derbs into the outside rein, and reminded me that quality bend was also required.  Better prepared on our next try, we got a few little steps, and then a few more.  And as we schooled this exercise, the trot started to feel stronger and more powerful.  The quality improved tremendously.

The key take away for me today was pretty straightforward – I need to deliberately ride the movements, and if I don’t get the response I am asking for from the horse, I have to fix it, now.  I’ll be focusing on hind end engagement in the near term.  Life will be easier when Derby and I improve these skills.  Overall, though, I was happy with this ride.  Everything – our contact, our trot quality, my leg, quality of bend, the works – was a bit better today.

After I rode, I watched Christy ride Liam.   I swear, I learn as much watching her on the ground as I do in lessons.   Liam had been off for a few days, and Christy wasn’t happy with the quality of the trot she was getting.  She deliberately worked on isolating and moving his hind legs, and once she established that control, the gait quality significantly better.   Watching her ride, and seeing how she used leg yields and other movements to activate Liam’s hind legs – and then witnessing the subsequent improvement in the gaits – really solidified my lesson in my mind.

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