So... more good work with Fleck! Cindy even said "I'll make a dressage horse out of you yet Mr. Fleck!". hee hee... He's really really getting lovely. The big thing today was my seat. He's soooo responsive to my seat! It really is amazing. Like the canter to walk to canters. Or the walk to canter to walk. Ha! If I just focus on my seat's rhythm, then it works so much better. For instance.. to pick up the right lead, which is harder for Fleck, especially when I make him stay connected on the outside rein, I really have to focus on the right seat. I really have to think LIFTING into the canter with the right hip/femur. And then go right into the canter rhythm. Same with the downward. I have to really change the rhythm from canter to walk, without just stopping the rhythm. Cindy told me to do another flying change today. Hee hee... I'm going to have to tell her I have no idea how to do it! Not properly.
Anyways, I was also really focused on my chin. It's my giveaway. If it starts really turning in... it's because Fleck isn't. Which means I'm blocking him with my shoulders. But if I turn my shoulders... he bends around too. :)
We also worked on collecting the canter. It took me a bit but I finally found out how to do it without him having to break. I have to mimic what I want him to do. So... to collect his canter and get him cantering "in place", I have to keep my leg on and lift my hips up higher and at a slightly quicker pace. Pretty much the opposite of the canter lengthens.. where I slow the rhythm of my seat. I almost had to think of lifting his back up with my seat. I was a little afraid I was bouncing too much but Cindy said no. :) Yay!
And... I got a STRAIGHT canter lengthen!!! yay:)
So yep... good work :)
Team Awesome: Follow me and my goofy horse on our adventures in Awesomeness!
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Aha....
So... another good lesson with Cindy... I FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY got Fleck straight!!! It wasn't but a few strides, but... a few strides here... a few strides there... and eventually it'll be consistent! It really took managing me! If I did all the stuff I usually do to keep him straight, but also really focus on me... keeping my chin between my shoulders (not turning my chin but not my body), and... slightly turn my shoulders in... that works!!! I also need to be very cognizant of not over flexing Fleck.
Then we had another aha moment.. I was working on the walk to canter to walks...and Cindy said I was stopping the motion completely with my hips. I was thinking canter to halt instead of canter to walk. She said to make my hips go from the canter motion to the walk motion. And it works!!! It's tricky to make my hips do that instead of following Fleck or shutting them down completely but.. it does work! Yay! She also said that for the walk to the canter... rather than thinking of getting him all jazzed up... I just needed to change my hips from walk to canter. It wasn't as hard as I expected it to be. :) In the sense that Fleck did respond.. he didn't need me to jazz him up. It's just hard to... do so little. :)
So yay!! Fun ride.
Then Tuesday I went trail riding with Christina. Fleck and Sham are so cute!! They love each other. They were doing their trot races and really stretching through their backs and shoulders. Then we did a little canter and they were both so polite.. until Fleck gave Sham the "eye" and then they both took off a little. Hee hee. It was fun though!! We also splashed in the lake.
Then Wednesday we met Kelli and Arwyn and went trail riding. We had fun too and finished with a little gallop or two. It's funny because Fleck will canter on the left lead quite happily and even forward... but once he swaps to the right lead.... watch out!! He digs in deep and just rockets forward! We had fun. :)
Then we had another aha moment.. I was working on the walk to canter to walks...and Cindy said I was stopping the motion completely with my hips. I was thinking canter to halt instead of canter to walk. She said to make my hips go from the canter motion to the walk motion. And it works!!! It's tricky to make my hips do that instead of following Fleck or shutting them down completely but.. it does work! Yay! She also said that for the walk to the canter... rather than thinking of getting him all jazzed up... I just needed to change my hips from walk to canter. It wasn't as hard as I expected it to be. :) In the sense that Fleck did respond.. he didn't need me to jazz him up. It's just hard to... do so little. :)
So yay!! Fun ride.
Then Tuesday I went trail riding with Christina. Fleck and Sham are so cute!! They love each other. They were doing their trot races and really stretching through their backs and shoulders. Then we did a little canter and they were both so polite.. until Fleck gave Sham the "eye" and then they both took off a little. Hee hee. It was fun though!! We also splashed in the lake.
Then Wednesday we met Kelli and Arwyn and went trail riding. We had fun too and finished with a little gallop or two. It's funny because Fleck will canter on the left lead quite happily and even forward... but once he swaps to the right lead.... watch out!! He digs in deep and just rockets forward! We had fun. :)
Friday, December 14, 2012
Jumping Bean!
So... I forgot to post about my jumping lesson!!! It was... legend...wait for it... dary!
Beth wanted us to work on straightness so she set up a two stride and put some poles on either side of our track to help us. I had to focus on keeping him collected, revved up, and forward but straight!!! It was sorta hard. :) But we were getting it. Then she made it harder by shortening the distance. That meant Fleck had to really work and so did I! So we got it a few times and then Beth raised the fences. And then... I thought I needed more power and confused that power with speed. Which meant Fleck got flat and strung out and starting jumping over his shoulder. But THEN.... then Beth pointed that out and helped me get that bouncy bouncy canter... revved up and forward but not fast. She told me to think of speeding up the hind legs and slowing and raising the front legs. It worked... holy crap it worked!!!!
Fleck jumped like a fiend!!!! Like hang time in the air fiend!!!! It was awesome!!! And we got it more than just once :) YES!!! Now to just make sure I keep aiming for that :)
Beth wanted us to work on straightness so she set up a two stride and put some poles on either side of our track to help us. I had to focus on keeping him collected, revved up, and forward but straight!!! It was sorta hard. :) But we were getting it. Then she made it harder by shortening the distance. That meant Fleck had to really work and so did I! So we got it a few times and then Beth raised the fences. And then... I thought I needed more power and confused that power with speed. Which meant Fleck got flat and strung out and starting jumping over his shoulder. But THEN.... then Beth pointed that out and helped me get that bouncy bouncy canter... revved up and forward but not fast. She told me to think of speeding up the hind legs and slowing and raising the front legs. It worked... holy crap it worked!!!!
Fleck jumped like a fiend!!!! Like hang time in the air fiend!!!! It was awesome!!! And we got it more than just once :) YES!!! Now to just make sure I keep aiming for that :)
Nailing it!!!!
So tonight was a hectic day.... I drove to Aiken and back (without Fleck!! The horrors!!!) to deliver Midget and her pal to a new home. Then dropped stuff off at the clinic and then got feed. So when I got home, it was 4ish... Perfect... plenty of time to play with Dan and ride Fleck. ONLY.. not so much! I had left the door to the feed room open and someone (coughDanielcough) had snuck in and wreaked havoc. So I had to clean that up. Then I worked with Dan and then it was just hitting sunset. So I decided to ride at the house.
And Fleck was GREAT!!! We only rode about 20 minutes because he was so good. The sunset was pretty and Fleck was just .... Up in his shoulder and round!! It was great! We got a great trot up the hill and then some nice work. And then... we got our best canter to walk to canters yet!!!! They still aren't perfect, but sooooooo much better. Yay :)
We're so getting it!!!! :)
And Fleck was GREAT!!! We only rode about 20 minutes because he was so good. The sunset was pretty and Fleck was just .... Up in his shoulder and round!! It was great! We got a great trot up the hill and then some nice work. And then... we got our best canter to walk to canters yet!!!! They still aren't perfect, but sooooooo much better. Yay :)
We're so getting it!!!! :)
Another perspective
So.... today I got a lesson from the working student instead of Cindy because Cindy was sick. She said if I didn't "get my moneys worth" she would teach me a make up. Holy smokes... I think Stephanie worked me harder than Cindy does! Hee hee.. Fleck and I were both whooped. :) But it was good. Stephanie was pushing for a bit more forward in the gait. She had a neat way to help me think about it. She said she learned it from Scott Hassler (I think). She said to think of the rhythm and tempo of the gait as a number. So Fleck's trot was a five. She wanted me to adjust the tempo and forwardness within the gait.. So go from a five to a six.. then back to five.. then down to four.. then back up to five. Then occasionally.. go for seven!! It was fun. And we were pretty good at it too and Stephanie complimented us on it and said it was obvious we had been doing it at home. Yay! We also did a lot of the "baby" renvers to help straighten him up. She also pointed out how his tempo and rhythm and balance changed when we do the serpentine. So we really focused on keeping it the same.
It was a lot of work but a good ride!!
It was a lot of work but a good ride!!
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Lean Mean Prelim Machine....
So... Fleck and I headed to Aiken for the schooling three phase at Full Gallop this weekend. It was a one day...and I wasn't going to go.. except it sounded like fun. Plus, Julie was designing the XC course so I figured I wouldn't have to jump the huge trakenher and the huge ditch and wall. :) So we went.
Flecky was great. We had a good school the night before. We worked on my trot lengthen. Fleck was good at lengthening his stride but he was too much on the forehand. When he tried to sit and rock back, he ended up cantering instead, because it was hard. So, we practiced that some and I got the feel for it. I really had to keep the connection and REALLY sit up and almost behind the vertical.
Dressage was nice and early, but without adding in braiding, it wasn't too bad. We got to ride in the fog, which is nice because it makes for nice pictures. We had a good warm up. Beth said that he really needed to sit back and on his haunches and it was easier for him when I sat up and back. Then she noticed that when we cantered to the right, I really needed to sit on my right seat bone. It felt like I was crooked but it really helped Fleck balance. I think I was actually straight.. just not used to being straight so I felt crooked. Of course most of this went out the window when I got into the ring, but that's okay. It was a good test though. He was obediant and he didn't jig in the walk. It wasn't pretty, but he didn't jig. Our counter canters were maintained and our leg yields were pretty darn good. We scored a 30.9!!!!!!!! Holy smokes.. that's our best test ever!!!! Even at novice!!! Of course the judge was very nice and we were tied for fourth out of 8 with that score, but still. :) I"ll take it and claim it!
Stadium was great. He was awfully hot and excited in warm up but jumped well. Once in the ring, he jumped awesome and we were a good team. We jumped clean and I was feeling good about cross country. It was a good course... some big fences.. some technical stuff, but nothing horrible. There was one I was worried about and it turned out to bite me. Fleck was on fire and hopping in place! We ended up jumping the gun and exited the start box at 1 instead of go.. oops! Anyways, all was great until our bogey fence. It was the fourth fence and the first combination. It was along the fenceline, where Fleck was looking the opposite direction trying to find his buddies. Then we veered off and jumped small coop, did a bent line to the up bank, one stride on top and then a jump over a big roll top, then one stride, then down the bank. I always worry that Fleck lands dead on top so I knew it would be tough. Well.. we got the first four fences just fine but Fleck was awfully strung out and crooked and I couldn't get it together. He jumped up but couldn't safely jump the roll top, so he stopped. Completely my fault. I turned him down the ramp and we re-approached. This time we were straight and connected. It wasn't the prettiest, but he jumped up, over and down. Then he sorta took off with me and we went a little careening around the course. I managed to get him somewhat together and we made it through the rest of the course, but I was all over the place. I lost my stirrup about four times... and just couldn't find my groove. Luckily Fleck was locked on and I just had to point and he did the rest. He jumped the other two combinations in the water (Both very similar to the bank combo) just fine and the skinny great. I managed to get my act together for the last three or so fences, but it was frustrating. He was only a teeny bit more amped up than two weekends ago but suddenly I didn't know how to ride. I LOVE him amped up, but I've got to figure out my groove and learn to stay with him and out of his way.
All in all, we ended up 5th out of 8. Two others had a stop also. I'm glad we went and did it because it was a good learning experience. And I'm so glad that my bad piloting didn't mess with Fleck's confidence. Or mine.. we have all the pieces now.. we just need to put them all together properly. And it was very encouraging to hear quite a few people say that Fleck has never looked better!!! Yay!!! So I will gladly take the silly rider error at the schooling show... even if I know it also means my lovely dressage score will likely also happen at the schooling show instead of the recognized show. ;)
But we had fun and that's all that matters.
Flecky was great. We had a good school the night before. We worked on my trot lengthen. Fleck was good at lengthening his stride but he was too much on the forehand. When he tried to sit and rock back, he ended up cantering instead, because it was hard. So, we practiced that some and I got the feel for it. I really had to keep the connection and REALLY sit up and almost behind the vertical.
Dressage was nice and early, but without adding in braiding, it wasn't too bad. We got to ride in the fog, which is nice because it makes for nice pictures. We had a good warm up. Beth said that he really needed to sit back and on his haunches and it was easier for him when I sat up and back. Then she noticed that when we cantered to the right, I really needed to sit on my right seat bone. It felt like I was crooked but it really helped Fleck balance. I think I was actually straight.. just not used to being straight so I felt crooked. Of course most of this went out the window when I got into the ring, but that's okay. It was a good test though. He was obediant and he didn't jig in the walk. It wasn't pretty, but he didn't jig. Our counter canters were maintained and our leg yields were pretty darn good. We scored a 30.9!!!!!!!! Holy smokes.. that's our best test ever!!!! Even at novice!!! Of course the judge was very nice and we were tied for fourth out of 8 with that score, but still. :) I"ll take it and claim it!
Stadium was great. He was awfully hot and excited in warm up but jumped well. Once in the ring, he jumped awesome and we were a good team. We jumped clean and I was feeling good about cross country. It was a good course... some big fences.. some technical stuff, but nothing horrible. There was one I was worried about and it turned out to bite me. Fleck was on fire and hopping in place! We ended up jumping the gun and exited the start box at 1 instead of go.. oops! Anyways, all was great until our bogey fence. It was the fourth fence and the first combination. It was along the fenceline, where Fleck was looking the opposite direction trying to find his buddies. Then we veered off and jumped small coop, did a bent line to the up bank, one stride on top and then a jump over a big roll top, then one stride, then down the bank. I always worry that Fleck lands dead on top so I knew it would be tough. Well.. we got the first four fences just fine but Fleck was awfully strung out and crooked and I couldn't get it together. He jumped up but couldn't safely jump the roll top, so he stopped. Completely my fault. I turned him down the ramp and we re-approached. This time we were straight and connected. It wasn't the prettiest, but he jumped up, over and down. Then he sorta took off with me and we went a little careening around the course. I managed to get him somewhat together and we made it through the rest of the course, but I was all over the place. I lost my stirrup about four times... and just couldn't find my groove. Luckily Fleck was locked on and I just had to point and he did the rest. He jumped the other two combinations in the water (Both very similar to the bank combo) just fine and the skinny great. I managed to get my act together for the last three or so fences, but it was frustrating. He was only a teeny bit more amped up than two weekends ago but suddenly I didn't know how to ride. I LOVE him amped up, but I've got to figure out my groove and learn to stay with him and out of his way.
All in all, we ended up 5th out of 8. Two others had a stop also. I'm glad we went and did it because it was a good learning experience. And I'm so glad that my bad piloting didn't mess with Fleck's confidence. Or mine.. we have all the pieces now.. we just need to put them all together properly. And it was very encouraging to hear quite a few people say that Fleck has never looked better!!! Yay!!! So I will gladly take the silly rider error at the schooling show... even if I know it also means my lovely dressage score will likely also happen at the schooling show instead of the recognized show. ;)
But we had fun and that's all that matters.
I am so blessed
We left Saturday morning and Fleck and Zhar hauled like champs. They are BFFs after all their trail riding adventures. We got there in about 5 hours and settled them in their paddocks and unloaded our stuff. Then we decided it was time for a ride. Because we wanted to make the movie we decided to just go around St. Helena. The area is beautiful.... gorgeous oak trees with spanish moss... It was so pretty! And we also made our way to the beach. The boys were a little surprised and excited. :) But they are good ponies and we got them on the sand and almost touching the water that first time. We headed back and the boys settled in together in their paddock like they had been life long pasture buds. We went and watched the movie and met the actor, who was a real jockey too.
The next morning we got up early and took the ponies to the beach on Hunting Island to get them used to the surf. We were so glad we did because they were flabbergasted!!! Fleck's eyeballs bugged out of his head!!! He was snorting and just sooooo ..... flabbergasted! It was hilarious! We walked them out in our jeans and boots and got them used to it. Fleck would walk up to the wave line... snorting and bug eyed.. and then jump back with each wave. Hee hee... Then Missy finally got Zhar walked into the ocean. Fleck was like... "well if he can do it... I can do it!".. .and he did. They were both so brave!! So then we decided to just hop on and do some playing. It was so much fun! We were glad we got them used to it a bit because that afternoon we were meeting the photographer.
Our photographer and his friend got some amazing shots!!! I can't wait to see the rest of them. We had fun playing in the forest and in the sand. We had a great dinner out with Taylor and walked around downtown Beaufort a bit. What a gorgeous town. And so friendly...
Monday morning we went and got breakfast at an awesome restaurant and then were planning on some shopping before hitting the beach with the ponies. But it started to cloud up and the forecast said possible rain. So we hurried back to Hunting Island and played again. This time we found some jumps to jump! Can you believe how amazing this beach is??? Us and the ponies had an absolute blast just playing in the surf and sand. And it never did rain! We played for a few hours and that afternoon, we were all tired and we enjoyed the afternoon looking at photos.
Tuesday was our last day so we got up early and got the horses to the beach just at Sunset. It was breathtaking.... We managed a little bareback morning ride and then played a little. Then it was time to head home. On the way out, we stopped at a little shop and got some Christmas gifts and the yummiest to go lunch ever!!! Seafood gumbo and tomato pie!!! Oh my!!
It was a most wonderful trip.... one that I'm so glad I got to spend with Fleck. He is the most caring, funny, wonderful, brave, trusting, hilarious, best buddy ever! I am forever grateful for having him in my life and for the opportunities he has given me. And I thank God for providing such a beautiful place for me to enjoy my beautiful beast and friends. I have a feeling all four of us will be back again next year.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Back to real life
But real life is still fun!!!
It may not have been galloping on the beach or jumping driftwood... but our dressage lesson today was fun!!!!
Cindy wanted to work on getting a base for starting canter pirouettes. So, we worked on the turn on the haunches. Which, YAY, for me.. because I think Cindy fixed it!!! We started off and the right sided one was okay.. but the left sided one fell apart like it always does. Cindy figured out what I was doing wrong and sure enough.. it's ALL me... Doh... I'm attempting to bend him around my left leg, but that was causing me to shift my hips to the right, thus sending him to the right. Then I was getting mad and digging my right heel into him asking him to go to the left and... he couldn't. So. Cindy had me get off and hop on my left foot, hopping left. So... what I ended up doing was taking my left leg completely off. And Fleck went FINALLY.... idiot!!! And went left! ;) It wasn't perfect.. and it wasn't even really a true bend. But it was moving left!!!!!!! yay!!!!
So then we went to the canter. She wanted us to canter on a 20 meter circle and on one half of it... attempt to get him to canter in place. Or... fit as many strides as possible into that section. Hee hee.. He's such a goof. When I started on the right lead... he kept breaking to the trot. And when I didn't let him trot, he was swapping leads left and right! Mostly just in front, but sometimes all the way around. Hee hee. For whatever reason (probably a stronger right hind) he maintained it going to the left. But it was fun. He got the hang of it and started to sit! And that meant he could do the canter to walk easier. We ended with a beautiful canter to walk.
Oh, but I was giggling because Cindy was wanting me to canter and I started to prepare him for it. I didn't technically ask yet, but Fleck gave me a beautiful transition. I told Cindy I hadn't asked yet and she laughed and said she was going to quit teaching me and just teach Fleck. She told me to give him the ear buds. Hee hee.. I imagine he's a MUCH better student. ;)
So yep.. a good day! Even if it's not sunrise at the beach. But don't fret... we will go back there!!! And maybe even move there!
It may not have been galloping on the beach or jumping driftwood... but our dressage lesson today was fun!!!!
Cindy wanted to work on getting a base for starting canter pirouettes. So, we worked on the turn on the haunches. Which, YAY, for me.. because I think Cindy fixed it!!! We started off and the right sided one was okay.. but the left sided one fell apart like it always does. Cindy figured out what I was doing wrong and sure enough.. it's ALL me... Doh... I'm attempting to bend him around my left leg, but that was causing me to shift my hips to the right, thus sending him to the right. Then I was getting mad and digging my right heel into him asking him to go to the left and... he couldn't. So. Cindy had me get off and hop on my left foot, hopping left. So... what I ended up doing was taking my left leg completely off. And Fleck went FINALLY.... idiot!!! And went left! ;) It wasn't perfect.. and it wasn't even really a true bend. But it was moving left!!!!!!! yay!!!!
So then we went to the canter. She wanted us to canter on a 20 meter circle and on one half of it... attempt to get him to canter in place. Or... fit as many strides as possible into that section. Hee hee.. He's such a goof. When I started on the right lead... he kept breaking to the trot. And when I didn't let him trot, he was swapping leads left and right! Mostly just in front, but sometimes all the way around. Hee hee. For whatever reason (probably a stronger right hind) he maintained it going to the left. But it was fun. He got the hang of it and started to sit! And that meant he could do the canter to walk easier. We ended with a beautiful canter to walk.
Oh, but I was giggling because Cindy was wanting me to canter and I started to prepare him for it. I didn't technically ask yet, but Fleck gave me a beautiful transition. I told Cindy I hadn't asked yet and she laughed and said she was going to quit teaching me and just teach Fleck. She told me to give him the ear buds. Hee hee.. I imagine he's a MUCH better student. ;)
So yep.. a good day! Even if it's not sunrise at the beach. But don't fret... we will go back there!!! And maybe even move there!
Friday, November 30, 2012
Fleck and I went FLYING today!!
hee hee....
We had a great dressage school... well, not great... I'll be honest. It was still hard for me!!! But we did have some very nice canters and I was much better about not closing my outside leg. But now I'm having issues with my leg yield to the left off the rail. It's soooo good to the right, but going left he totally over bends and gets behind my leg. We used to be so good at it. :( So... I must figure it out.
So anyways... we ended with some REALLY decent canter to walk to canters!!!!!! The "new" canter makes it so much easier for Flecky to sit on his haunches and do the downward transition. :)
So we went for a hack to cool off and ended up just heading down to the lake. Wow... what a gorgeous day.....
Doesn't it look like we're flying upside down!!!??? Fleck's so awesome, we did flips!! :)
So anyways... we ended with some REALLY decent canter to walk to canters!!!!!! The "new" canter makes it so much easier for Flecky to sit on his haunches and do the downward transition. :)
So we went for a hack to cool off and ended up just heading down to the lake. Wow... what a gorgeous day.....
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Mind.... blown.... kapow!
Ha ha... That was quite the mind boggling dressage lesson today. I think my brain worked harder that it has in awhile. It was tough....
We started out with some fairly decent trot work and then when I went to canter Cindy noted that my outside leg came back. I told her that I could feel Fleck falling in and his shoulder flinging out, so my "instinct" was to "catch" him with my outside leg. In effect, I was attempting to counter bend him or even renver him to straighten him back up and get those shoulders underneath him. However, I wasn't accomplishing that and ended up just pushing him farther over. So Cindy reiterated that I needed to ride him shoulder in, which I knew/know... and feel like I'm always trying to ride shoulder in... She also reiterated that I need to ride inside leg to outside rein. I know that too... I also know that her and Beth have both been telling me to straighten him by maintaining a connection on that outside rein. Yes, he has to elongate that side of his body to be able to turn, but he also has to connect it and collect it some. So yes.. I know these things.... And I thought I was doing them... and maybe I was to some effect, but... by closing my outside leg I was throwing him back to the inside and helping him fall in. My closed leg asks his haunches to come in. Short of reaching forward with my leg and kicking him in the neck... (ha ha!) outside leg on isn't going to get him to straighten. Okay.. yes, I know this.... and was a little embarassed that I wasn't getting it. So... then I realized I was doing it at the walk too. Egads!!! So I thought about almost taking my outside leg off. Cindy pointed out that that wasn't the correct answer either... but to allow my leg to drape on him. So... With the outside connection and the inside leg... and not closing my outside leg... He was able to do a shoulder in and go straight!!! Mostly... because I was also grabbing that inside rein for all it was worth. I didn't realize it.. and I sorta felt like it was too long... but it was making Fleck over bend at the neck... So I had to let go. Cindy wanted to prove to me... so she had me take my inside hand off the reins and put the reins in my outside hand only. Then put my inside hand on my head. Simple enough right?! You'd think, but... It took me two laps to figure it out. Jeesh... Once I took my hand off that inside rein, Fleck flung out to the outside and counter bent. So my dumb self countered by bringing my outside hand do the inside... thus effectively turning him farther out. Argh.. Finally Cindy managed to get me to do it right.. If I took my outside hand farther outside, then I was effectively creating a slight inside bend with the reins. Add in my seat and leg.. and WOW!!!! I had a lovely, upright, straight pony!!! Holy smokes!! So then we went the other way and I got it a little easier. I think its easier for me to get a connection on that left rein. Who knows?! So then we went back to the left and... it still took some really hard conscious thinking on my part, but I managed to get it. And again.. what a lovely canter!! We got loft!!!
And then our trot was nice too! So yay.... brain boggling, but... the pay off was worth it.
It's just silly... I'm not sure why I'm so...... bad at dressage!! I mean... I know what to do... people keep telling me what to do.. but my subconscious just does the opposite!! But I love Cindy.. she's so good at explaining and demonstrating the theory and physics behind it... and then.. once my brain understands it and it REALLY sinks in... I get it. And then it's easier to fight my body on it.
anyways.... will practice more tomorrow!
We started out with some fairly decent trot work and then when I went to canter Cindy noted that my outside leg came back. I told her that I could feel Fleck falling in and his shoulder flinging out, so my "instinct" was to "catch" him with my outside leg. In effect, I was attempting to counter bend him or even renver him to straighten him back up and get those shoulders underneath him. However, I wasn't accomplishing that and ended up just pushing him farther over. So Cindy reiterated that I needed to ride him shoulder in, which I knew/know... and feel like I'm always trying to ride shoulder in... She also reiterated that I need to ride inside leg to outside rein. I know that too... I also know that her and Beth have both been telling me to straighten him by maintaining a connection on that outside rein. Yes, he has to elongate that side of his body to be able to turn, but he also has to connect it and collect it some. So yes.. I know these things.... And I thought I was doing them... and maybe I was to some effect, but... by closing my outside leg I was throwing him back to the inside and helping him fall in. My closed leg asks his haunches to come in. Short of reaching forward with my leg and kicking him in the neck... (ha ha!) outside leg on isn't going to get him to straighten. Okay.. yes, I know this.... and was a little embarassed that I wasn't getting it. So... then I realized I was doing it at the walk too. Egads!!! So I thought about almost taking my outside leg off. Cindy pointed out that that wasn't the correct answer either... but to allow my leg to drape on him. So... With the outside connection and the inside leg... and not closing my outside leg... He was able to do a shoulder in and go straight!!! Mostly... because I was also grabbing that inside rein for all it was worth. I didn't realize it.. and I sorta felt like it was too long... but it was making Fleck over bend at the neck... So I had to let go. Cindy wanted to prove to me... so she had me take my inside hand off the reins and put the reins in my outside hand only. Then put my inside hand on my head. Simple enough right?! You'd think, but... It took me two laps to figure it out. Jeesh... Once I took my hand off that inside rein, Fleck flung out to the outside and counter bent. So my dumb self countered by bringing my outside hand do the inside... thus effectively turning him farther out. Argh.. Finally Cindy managed to get me to do it right.. If I took my outside hand farther outside, then I was effectively creating a slight inside bend with the reins. Add in my seat and leg.. and WOW!!!! I had a lovely, upright, straight pony!!! Holy smokes!! So then we went the other way and I got it a little easier. I think its easier for me to get a connection on that left rein. Who knows?! So then we went back to the left and... it still took some really hard conscious thinking on my part, but I managed to get it. And again.. what a lovely canter!! We got loft!!!
And then our trot was nice too! So yay.... brain boggling, but... the pay off was worth it.
It's just silly... I'm not sure why I'm so...... bad at dressage!! I mean... I know what to do... people keep telling me what to do.. but my subconscious just does the opposite!! But I love Cindy.. she's so good at explaining and demonstrating the theory and physics behind it... and then.. once my brain understands it and it REALLY sinks in... I get it. And then it's easier to fight my body on it.
anyways.... will practice more tomorrow!
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Sunny Fall Day
So as his reward, I let him have a sand bath! He enjoyed it I think!
Friday, November 23, 2012
Another good lesson
I really like it when my dressage lessons get scheduled back to back. Because of my work schedule I can't do every Tuesday, so... I tend to do two one week, then none the next week... When my two get back to back... it's oh so helpful!
We started off so much better today than we used to. We got the big trot with long strides much quicker into the ride rather than me posting super fast and Fleck being quick and short. Yay for us! It was a good ride. We worked on keeping his hips underneath him by me keeping my hips and thighs going forward. Then with the trot lengthen... I could feel it building and just allowed it to happen. Much better than forcing it or chasing it :) I was able to just allow him to go bolder and bigger and... until he tripped... hee hee... it was lovely! We also had some great work in the canter. Cindy had me leg yield him away from the wall while cantering. Similar concept to counter flexing.... It sets him upright and makes him load that inside hind leg. Such a lovely canter we had after that :)
I also need to work on my canter to walk transitions. Cindy wants me to do it without using my hands.. and I get that, but still can't figure out how to make it happen. However, If I think about changing the bend just a little... it helps.
I also had an epiphany in the stretchy trot... He really tries to fling himself to the outside of the circle and.. without reins.. it's hard to keep him on the path I want. It's obvious that I hold him with the outside rein while we are much more connected, but... I was able to hold him with my outside leg and thigh while stretching.. it just took a LOT!! But... I can use that to my advantage while we aren't stretching and try to keep him in line with my leg and not just my hand.
So yep... a good ride. I just need to remember to keep asking for that... all the time... every time.... :)
We started off so much better today than we used to. We got the big trot with long strides much quicker into the ride rather than me posting super fast and Fleck being quick and short. Yay for us! It was a good ride. We worked on keeping his hips underneath him by me keeping my hips and thighs going forward. Then with the trot lengthen... I could feel it building and just allowed it to happen. Much better than forcing it or chasing it :) I was able to just allow him to go bolder and bigger and... until he tripped... hee hee... it was lovely! We also had some great work in the canter. Cindy had me leg yield him away from the wall while cantering. Similar concept to counter flexing.... It sets him upright and makes him load that inside hind leg. Such a lovely canter we had after that :)
I also need to work on my canter to walk transitions. Cindy wants me to do it without using my hands.. and I get that, but still can't figure out how to make it happen. However, If I think about changing the bend just a little... it helps.
I also had an epiphany in the stretchy trot... He really tries to fling himself to the outside of the circle and.. without reins.. it's hard to keep him on the path I want. It's obvious that I hold him with the outside rein while we are much more connected, but... I was able to hold him with my outside leg and thigh while stretching.. it just took a LOT!! But... I can use that to my advantage while we aren't stretching and try to keep him in line with my leg and not just my hand.
So yep... a good ride. I just need to remember to keep asking for that... all the time... every time.... :)
Monday, November 19, 2012
Back to work!
So... back to work today :) No more shenanigans! Hee hee....
We had a Cindy lesson today and it was a good day. We worked on getting Fleck straight and keeping him through and soft but big. The key thing from today is to remember my hips!!! I think I was locking them in the show ring which was part of the problem. But Cindy pointed out today that Fleck is a wide boy.. and he likes to travel wide behind...sorta swinging side to side. And that encourages me to swing my hips side to side too. But.. if I focus on keeping my belt buckle in front and my hips moving forward and not sideways... he gets his legs up underneath himself and it gets him pushing from behind better. It really did help. :)
We also worked on the half pass... I must keep my hips moving during that too! But I also can't let him lead with his shoulders too much. Half halting him gets him balanced back on his hiney :)
So.... now to just remember to swing my hips!!!
We had a Cindy lesson today and it was a good day. We worked on getting Fleck straight and keeping him through and soft but big. The key thing from today is to remember my hips!!! I think I was locking them in the show ring which was part of the problem. But Cindy pointed out today that Fleck is a wide boy.. and he likes to travel wide behind...sorta swinging side to side. And that encourages me to swing my hips side to side too. But.. if I focus on keeping my belt buckle in front and my hips moving forward and not sideways... he gets his legs up underneath himself and it gets him pushing from behind better. It really did help. :)
We also worked on the half pass... I must keep my hips moving during that too! But I also can't let him lead with his shoulders too much. Half halting him gets him balanced back on his hiney :)
So.... now to just remember to swing my hips!!!
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Getting our gallop on!
So today I had sort of a rotten morning.... just a bad fight with Mike. So... I felt the need for speed... I needed a good gallop for my heart and soul. And fleck said "SURE THING!!!". :) It was just what I needed!!
We went to Ashland and met Hannah and Grace Face. We started off with a nice trail ride and met up with Missy and Marty! It's so cute cause Fleck knows Zhar now and he's his little buddy. So we went on the trails and decided we would all canter up the hill. Fleck and I led and in the path was this little twig of a stick... but it was across our path. So I yelled back, JUMP, and... we jumped... And everyone followed suit. It was great. It was Marty's first jump and she did awesome. So then we took Marty and Missy home and Hannah and I continued on. We decided to do a little gallop in the field behind Halfshire and Fleck took off!!! He did not want Grace to win so he kicked it up a gear. He was flying!!!! So then we managed to slow them back down to a walk and walked/jigged back to the lake. Hee hee. They actually settled down quickly and we had a nice trail ride. Then Hannah wanted to jump XC so we went back in the field and had fun. They had a great school and Fleck was upset he was just standing around, so I let him have a few more gallops and then we hopped over the hanging log once or twice, then the ditch to trakenher once, and then we played on the "alle oop"!. It was the big rolltops on an arc with a bowl in the middle. So you jumped over the first roll top, went down the bowl, up out of the bowl to the second roll top. It was fun :)
Then we splashed through the water (for pictures!) and I guess it was cold on his belly cause as we came out, Fleck let out a little buck! Wheee!
Then we went to lake and soaked his knees for 20 minutes. Then we headed home. But it was a great day!!! Lots of fun and it made me happy that Fleck felt so good that I had to hold him back and reel him in!! We'll see how he feels tomorrow! But since we have two days of dressage, I figured a little rebellion today was justified :)
ahhhh.... ponies... so good for the soul!
We went to Ashland and met Hannah and Grace Face. We started off with a nice trail ride and met up with Missy and Marty! It's so cute cause Fleck knows Zhar now and he's his little buddy. So we went on the trails and decided we would all canter up the hill. Fleck and I led and in the path was this little twig of a stick... but it was across our path. So I yelled back, JUMP, and... we jumped... And everyone followed suit. It was great. It was Marty's first jump and she did awesome. So then we took Marty and Missy home and Hannah and I continued on. We decided to do a little gallop in the field behind Halfshire and Fleck took off!!! He did not want Grace to win so he kicked it up a gear. He was flying!!!! So then we managed to slow them back down to a walk and walked/jigged back to the lake. Hee hee. They actually settled down quickly and we had a nice trail ride. Then Hannah wanted to jump XC so we went back in the field and had fun. They had a great school and Fleck was upset he was just standing around, so I let him have a few more gallops and then we hopped over the hanging log once or twice, then the ditch to trakenher once, and then we played on the "alle oop"!. It was the big rolltops on an arc with a bowl in the middle. So you jumped over the first roll top, went down the bowl, up out of the bowl to the second roll top. It was fun :)
Then we splashed through the water (for pictures!) and I guess it was cold on his belly cause as we came out, Fleck let out a little buck! Wheee!
Then we went to lake and soaked his knees for 20 minutes. Then we headed home. But it was a great day!!! Lots of fun and it made me happy that Fleck felt so good that I had to hold him back and reel him in!! We'll see how he feels tomorrow! But since we have two days of dressage, I figured a little rebellion today was justified :)
ahhhh.... ponies... so good for the soul!
Two blues in a row!!!
We are on a roll!!
Today was the annual Hilltoppers Pony Club fundraiser show. I volunteered in the morning and then rode Fleck in the afternoon. He was great!
He warmed up nicely despite some antics. hee hee. I love frisky Fleck!! Beth had me do a canter pirouette to help sit him on his hiney and make him load that hind end, thus straightening and improving his canter. It wasn't a real "pirouette" but we were attempting it and by attempting it, we accomplished the goal of improving the canter. So then we went into the ring. I didn't ride very well. I'm not sure what happened but I just... didn't ride very well. He was sorta behind my leg at first.. then he got bolty... I'm not sure if I lost my connection, or just braced.. but it wasn't a very good test. We actually scored our second best score yet though. I think the judge was generous. Accurate, and all her comments were correct, but I think she was a point generous in most places. But for a schooling show, that's kinda nice. We ended up with a 34.8. I was pleased with him though as he did what I asked him to do and willingly. I just needed to ride better. BUT... we managed to not jig through the walk and upwards! We got inverted and resistant but at least we stayed at the walk. His haults were mostly square. Our downward transitions were a bit better. And one of his canter lengthens got us an 8!! with the comment "Bold!".
Then we got to jump. It was a fun course. He was awesome and went clean! Even when we were coming to the one stride and another horse came out of the woods.... Fleck spooked sideways but kept coming to his fence. He's such a good boy!
It was just Sarah Beth and I in our division and Mick wasn't cooperating very well in dressage, so we won. But it's all in fun. If Mick had behaved himself we probably would have been second as she had a beautiful stadium round also.
It was a good day :) I also scored a bareback pad for Fleck.. only I have to add some length to the strap for his big ol' barrel. hee hee..
Today was the annual Hilltoppers Pony Club fundraiser show. I volunteered in the morning and then rode Fleck in the afternoon. He was great!
He warmed up nicely despite some antics. hee hee. I love frisky Fleck!! Beth had me do a canter pirouette to help sit him on his hiney and make him load that hind end, thus straightening and improving his canter. It wasn't a real "pirouette" but we were attempting it and by attempting it, we accomplished the goal of improving the canter. So then we went into the ring. I didn't ride very well. I'm not sure what happened but I just... didn't ride very well. He was sorta behind my leg at first.. then he got bolty... I'm not sure if I lost my connection, or just braced.. but it wasn't a very good test. We actually scored our second best score yet though. I think the judge was generous. Accurate, and all her comments were correct, but I think she was a point generous in most places. But for a schooling show, that's kinda nice. We ended up with a 34.8. I was pleased with him though as he did what I asked him to do and willingly. I just needed to ride better. BUT... we managed to not jig through the walk and upwards! We got inverted and resistant but at least we stayed at the walk. His haults were mostly square. Our downward transitions were a bit better. And one of his canter lengthens got us an 8!! with the comment "Bold!".
Then we got to jump. It was a fun course. He was awesome and went clean! Even when we were coming to the one stride and another horse came out of the woods.... Fleck spooked sideways but kept coming to his fence. He's such a good boy!
It was just Sarah Beth and I in our division and Mick wasn't cooperating very well in dressage, so we won. But it's all in fun. If Mick had behaved himself we probably would have been second as she had a beautiful stadium round also.
It was a good day :) I also scored a bareback pad for Fleck.. only I have to add some length to the strap for his big ol' barrel. hee hee..
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