6/8/11
We had an awful flat lesson that was originaly planned to be a half hour but turned into an hour. Carino was quite tense and not pushing into the bridle. I was very frustrated and we spent the whole hour just getting him to somewhat decent quality work. Our dressage hasnt felt like it has completly got back to where it was before that lesson. We have a flat lesson coming up and I might sign him up for a training ride to try to get these random new kinks gone.
6/15/11
We had a xc school with Erin on Kai, Sarah on Riff and Jenn on Coz. Carino was very good through out the whole school and totatly enjoying himself and in xc mode. We only had two refusals at jumps and they were novice fences, but when I re-presented him to them they were no issue. That day was the first day he didn't refuse a bank up or down with me, however the down bank is still a big question for him and he makes a big effort and lunges off. So we walked down a billion times until it was boring and he just stepped off. We galloped through and up out of the water over a bank with no problem at all but jumping into the water off a bank became a problem. Eventually Erin got on him and got him in the bank, I got on Riff and got the feel of dropping into the bank on a horse who just steps down. And then I got back on Carino and he had no issues going off the bank into the water. Jumping off banks into water is just something I am going to have to do over and over until he becomes comfortable with it like all the other questions. However, jumping off a bank into water really isnt a beginner novice question...
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
May Lessons
May 6th
I had a 1/2 hour jump lesson with Erin the day after the jumper show which went not how I thought. He jumped clear with no refusals or rails at the show but the quality and rhythm just wasn't how it usually is. Luckily all the jumps were still up. Our warm up was okay but didn't feel perfect. We began with a small course just of cross rails so we could just work on the canter and rhythm. He was pretty good but we werefocusing of details so we kept doing it over and over until it was perfect. We then did many different courses at around 2'6. I was told to push him for the closer distance which was difficult for me since in my head I would collect for the close distance. I was frustrated because the tempo seemed fast and Carino took me asking for a bigger more ground covering stride as me asking for the long distance. There was good and bad moments. Not our best but just a lot of changes and details to figure out.
May 13th
I had an hour flat group lesson. Warm up was great and so was our warm up in front of Erin where it was great to hear her say our canter improved and was much better. So I knew my week of just dressage paid off. We worked on the walk and we spent the majority of the rest of the ride on shoulder in. Jenn the other rider was just learning shoulder in but Carino and I have been doing it for some time but it can become a difficulty for us at times. The shoulder in work resulted in me finally coming to the realization that I try and ask to much. I focus and ask for too much angle which lowers the quality of my shoulder in or just turns it into not shoulder in at all. So I finally after maybe a year began to focus less on the angle and more on the bend and him staying forward and not becoming tight or losing the rhythm. Still a concept that I will have to work on mentally though.
I had a 1/2 hour jump lesson with Erin the day after the jumper show which went not how I thought. He jumped clear with no refusals or rails at the show but the quality and rhythm just wasn't how it usually is. Luckily all the jumps were still up. Our warm up was okay but didn't feel perfect. We began with a small course just of cross rails so we could just work on the canter and rhythm. He was pretty good but we werefocusing of details so we kept doing it over and over until it was perfect. We then did many different courses at around 2'6. I was told to push him for the closer distance which was difficult for me since in my head I would collect for the close distance. I was frustrated because the tempo seemed fast and Carino took me asking for a bigger more ground covering stride as me asking for the long distance. There was good and bad moments. Not our best but just a lot of changes and details to figure out.
May 13th
I had an hour flat group lesson. Warm up was great and so was our warm up in front of Erin where it was great to hear her say our canter improved and was much better. So I knew my week of just dressage paid off. We worked on the walk and we spent the majority of the rest of the ride on shoulder in. Jenn the other rider was just learning shoulder in but Carino and I have been doing it for some time but it can become a difficulty for us at times. The shoulder in work resulted in me finally coming to the realization that I try and ask to much. I focus and ask for too much angle which lowers the quality of my shoulder in or just turns it into not shoulder in at all. So I finally after maybe a year began to focus less on the angle and more on the bend and him staying forward and not becoming tight or losing the rhythm. Still a concept that I will have to work on mentally though.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
April Lessons
April.19th
This lesson was a group xc school with about 4 other horse and rider pairs. It was cold bitter day but luckily the rain held off. Carino came became quite tense when we all had to begin to trot around the fields. He spooked, bolted and hopped especially when other were behind him. So for a good 10 min. I just worked on trying to get him to move forward and relax. He eventually let out a few big snorts and all was good. We began jumping and he was great. Even when he was unsure about a fence he was still forward and willing and jumped everything I asked him to in the front field. We then moved on to the banks and rock cradle that are on the trail on the way to the big field. We were all asked to go up the small bank in a line. It was a very small bank and as we approached he didn't look at it and seemed confident, however the pony in front of us took a look and few weird steps which then caused Carino to think maybe I should do the same. That was a bummer but now was for going down, similar thing happened down but he wasn't as willing. I just waited him out and kept asking and it just took him a min. we did it a few more times and no problem. We jumped the rock cradle and that was no issue. We then went into the big field. He was great over the ditch, tires, barns, barrels and logs. Had some difficulty with the up bank on the first attempt and a small log set on a peak of a hill making appear as a drop. But it only took him one little look or stop and then it wasn't an issue. The best part however was the one thing I was worried about was jumping into water but he did that with no stops! Right over the novice log into the water. It was a little bit of over jump, height and width wise and i got left behind just a tad since I leaned a little to far back in fear he was going to stop. But the fact that he did it made the whole lesson!
April.28th
I had a 1/2 hour private with Erin. It was pretty gross weather out that day so we rode in the indoor. We used counter bend at the trot and canter in order to try to encourage Carino to reach and push for the contact. It really helped us and It was the first time I really got a real and understood the canter Erin was trying to have us achieve. Even if we only got it for a circle at a time those moments were great! The following week I was unable to jump due to bad weather and no jumps being out so I worked and worked on dressage and of course mostly on that canter. I began to use counter bend whenever I felt he wasn't into the contact and it has proven itself to be the best tool for us. Our canter improved dramatically in just a week and I couldn't wait until our next flat lesson to show Erin.
This lesson was a group xc school with about 4 other horse and rider pairs. It was cold bitter day but luckily the rain held off. Carino came became quite tense when we all had to begin to trot around the fields. He spooked, bolted and hopped especially when other were behind him. So for a good 10 min. I just worked on trying to get him to move forward and relax. He eventually let out a few big snorts and all was good. We began jumping and he was great. Even when he was unsure about a fence he was still forward and willing and jumped everything I asked him to in the front field. We then moved on to the banks and rock cradle that are on the trail on the way to the big field. We were all asked to go up the small bank in a line. It was a very small bank and as we approached he didn't look at it and seemed confident, however the pony in front of us took a look and few weird steps which then caused Carino to think maybe I should do the same. That was a bummer but now was for going down, similar thing happened down but he wasn't as willing. I just waited him out and kept asking and it just took him a min. we did it a few more times and no problem. We jumped the rock cradle and that was no issue. We then went into the big field. He was great over the ditch, tires, barns, barrels and logs. Had some difficulty with the up bank on the first attempt and a small log set on a peak of a hill making appear as a drop. But it only took him one little look or stop and then it wasn't an issue. The best part however was the one thing I was worried about was jumping into water but he did that with no stops! Right over the novice log into the water. It was a little bit of over jump, height and width wise and i got left behind just a tad since I leaned a little to far back in fear he was going to stop. But the fact that he did it made the whole lesson!
April.28th
I had a 1/2 hour private with Erin. It was pretty gross weather out that day so we rode in the indoor. We used counter bend at the trot and canter in order to try to encourage Carino to reach and push for the contact. It really helped us and It was the first time I really got a real and understood the canter Erin was trying to have us achieve. Even if we only got it for a circle at a time those moments were great! The following week I was unable to jump due to bad weather and no jumps being out so I worked and worked on dressage and of course mostly on that canter. I began to use counter bend whenever I felt he wasn't into the contact and it has proven itself to be the best tool for us. Our canter improved dramatically in just a week and I couldn't wait until our next flat lesson to show Erin.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
March 14th lesson
Erin was home from Aiken for four days so I made sure to squeeze in a lesson with her. Allison was super nice and let me join in with her lesson. Since she was so nice in letting me join her I made sure she had the choice whether we flat or jump. She decided to flat which was fine by me. I was excited for Erin to see Carino and of course Carino was excited to see her! We focused on straightness and did shoulder in, haunches in and out on a circle keeping the correct bend. This helping us have more control over our horses bodies. We then went and did shoulder in on the long sides which I have been trying to really get down, I find it is much harder for Carino and I to the left. Also, I still need to sit the trot and use my seat so I can really set him up. I have been trying to not use my seat as much and more of my leg like I have been told too. Turning my shoulders more to the inside then I even do helped a lot, but I still feel as if Im twisted and so is he..I think part if it is Im still trying to figure out what a true shoulder in feels like. We then worked on his canter and straightness. I have been told to have him up and in front of me, straight and then to get him to cover more ground. I can get him quite up but we get a shorter more collected canter. When I ask for a larger canter we lose the straightness and the "up". It was difficult for me since I have a harder time feeling him get wiggly and loose the straightness in the canter. Also, the canter feels fast but when it really isn't...maybe just bigger? Im still confused with the idea of what exactly is wanted from him and I in the canter...I mean I get it but maybe just need more explanation of what I should be doing in order to achieve it. Hard to explain but I came out of the lesson quite confused..partially also since I had a lesson with Beth Buekema a few days earlier and she told me to do many things I was told not to do...the techniques worked very well but I was confused then and iffy about the differing ideas. So then when I rode with Erin and was told not to do the things I was told to do by Beth I was confused all over again. Even with how many years of different trainers and clinicians...contradicting tecniqes still shake me up.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Jan. 30th and Feb. 12th
I had a group lesson on Jan.30th. There were two others in the lesson and we all were ready to jump. We worked a good portion of the lesson on the flat as a warm up and preparing them to jump. Erin then had us canter down a line of 3 poles. I did the same exercise yesterday and it wasn't perfect but when I put the three up to jumps he was spot on, so I wasn't worried. However, the canter would change through the corner and over the first pole and then again before the last. This showed the inconsistency of his canter but it was due to his incredible ease to adjust and his sensitivity. I realized that I didn't need to use my seat as much as I thought for the poles and that I could stay way out of the tack, this keeping the canter consistent since he wouldn't feel the change of my body and think he had to adjust so drastically. Erin then raised the middle up to a 2'3-2'6 vertical. I expected him to be great since he was spot on with his stride the day before..but he changed the canter on me again resulting in long spots. He also was over jumping write drastically which is typical of him but this was quite a big powerful jump for a little 2 something vertical. I became frustrated a little because we are now expected more from him. He is now expected to jump on a consistent contact. This he is not use to since when I was teaching him to jump I was just trying to get over the jumps so I would give him his head and the reins so I wouldn't interfere with anything. We are now quite beyond this a year later from his first ever jump and it is time to make his jumping a little more proper, pretty, graceful, tasteful and stylish with contact and correct leads. This is difficult for both of us but we are working on it and it will come soon.
Since Erin left the day after my last lesson we are having guest instructors. Red(Michelle Lacasse) came to teach. I rode with her my first year at Valinor during the eventing clinic week but this is when I leased Ollie and first started eventing. It was her first time seeing Carino in motion; and she of course thought him to be a very nice horse. This was a group lesson with Allison and we both wanted to jump. Red let us warm up ourselves mostly, Carino was behaving but wasn't really pushing into the contact which he will do when he knows he is going to jump. We warmed up over a small xc and the trot and canter a few times and Carino was very good. We then raised it to a 2'0-2'3 vertical and he jumped that just the same. We then did a figure of eight exercise over a 2'3 vertical in the middle of the ring at x facing towards B/E. He did this very well and got his leads 95% of the time, we only had difficulty with our turn tracking right and then a bad turn would result in the wrong lead. But most of the time during that exercise he was spot on with striding, aids, contact and leads..so it ended very well.
Since Erin left the day after my last lesson we are having guest instructors. Red(Michelle Lacasse) came to teach. I rode with her my first year at Valinor during the eventing clinic week but this is when I leased Ollie and first started eventing. It was her first time seeing Carino in motion; and she of course thought him to be a very nice horse. This was a group lesson with Allison and we both wanted to jump. Red let us warm up ourselves mostly, Carino was behaving but wasn't really pushing into the contact which he will do when he knows he is going to jump. We warmed up over a small xc and the trot and canter a few times and Carino was very good. We then raised it to a 2'0-2'3 vertical and he jumped that just the same. We then did a figure of eight exercise over a 2'3 vertical in the middle of the ring at x facing towards B/E. He did this very well and got his leads 95% of the time, we only had difficulty with our turn tracking right and then a bad turn would result in the wrong lead. But most of the time during that exercise he was spot on with striding, aids, contact and leads..so it ended very well.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Update...
I haven't posted in a while but truth is I haven't had many lessons. I have had two 1/2 hour lessons and he has had two training rides since my last post. Other than that I have pretty much been training him and figuring things out on my own. This is mostly due to cost; holidays, college and just the cost of a horse. Of course I would love to still be able to have my weekly lessons but its just not realistic right now.
On Oct.19th he had a training ride since my back was pretty sore and I decided to rest and to give him a tune up before Beland. Erin rode him just flat and worked on transitions, connection and a little on his lengthening. He was good, very very tired at the end.
On Nov. 4th I had a 1/2 hour lesson. This was the day after my clinic with Eric so I was still figuring out my new leg position. We went threw my test. Wasn't the best we have done so I was frustrated but it ended better than it started.
On Nov. 12th he had a training ride since I was gone for three days at Equine Affaire. It was flat and Erin said he ended very nicely. If I remember correctly they worked on connection and keeping it threw the up and down transitions. I noticed a great difference when I came home.
On Nov.27th I had a 1/2 hour jumping lesson. This was my first jumping lesson in who knows how long! We worked on the basics. Erin changed my stirrup length(made it two holes longer and one side longer than the other) We worked on my position mostly and his canter over a simple 4-5 stride line, making it relaxed and smooth. He got pretty excited when the jumps went up and we lost our relaxation and smoothness the first time around with the bigger jumps but regained it quickly. It was some of the easiest and flowing jumping we have ever had.
I haven't had a lesson since, maybe one after the holidays or maybe a clinic? We will see.
On Oct.19th he had a training ride since my back was pretty sore and I decided to rest and to give him a tune up before Beland. Erin rode him just flat and worked on transitions, connection and a little on his lengthening. He was good, very very tired at the end.
On Nov. 4th I had a 1/2 hour lesson. This was the day after my clinic with Eric so I was still figuring out my new leg position. We went threw my test. Wasn't the best we have done so I was frustrated but it ended better than it started.
On Nov. 12th he had a training ride since I was gone for three days at Equine Affaire. It was flat and Erin said he ended very nicely. If I remember correctly they worked on connection and keeping it threw the up and down transitions. I noticed a great difference when I came home.
On Nov.27th I had a 1/2 hour jumping lesson. This was my first jumping lesson in who knows how long! We worked on the basics. Erin changed my stirrup length(made it two holes longer and one side longer than the other) We worked on my position mostly and his canter over a simple 4-5 stride line, making it relaxed and smooth. He got pretty excited when the jumps went up and we lost our relaxation and smoothness the first time around with the bigger jumps but regained it quickly. It was some of the easiest and flowing jumping we have ever had.
I haven't had a lesson since, maybe one after the holidays or maybe a clinic? We will see.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Oct.1
Today's lesson might just be the best dressage lesson I have had. The quality trot and canter that I got today was like no other before. So much bounce, spring and power from behind. It felt lose, light and with true contact and connection.
Conclusions: 1.My seat is still stronger than my leg and I know how to use it more than my leg
2. Carino scoots away when I put my inside leg on to ask for bend
3. He continues to lean and fall out the outside shoulder consistently.
4.Opening and closing the gait continue to be the best thing to get the best out of the both of us.
5.Continue to work on our shoulder in and lengthening trot. Hopefully we can get it down at least to a somewhat presentable status for Beland schooling dressage show Nov.7.
6. Learned to use more of my back to ask for lengthening, for up canter trans.
7.Think leg yield then switch seat bone while swinging outside leg back and then ask and hold slightly to prevent loss of connection through up canter transition..will need to consistently ask the same way to get Carino to understand.
8.Be more aware of my leg and his scooting and his outside shoulder and his nose that likes to tip inwards.
9.Keep in front of my leg but maintain the TEMPO. Tempo...something that sounds so simple yet is so difficult.
Conclusions: 1.My seat is still stronger than my leg and I know how to use it more than my leg
2. Carino scoots away when I put my inside leg on to ask for bend
3. He continues to lean and fall out the outside shoulder consistently.
4.Opening and closing the gait continue to be the best thing to get the best out of the both of us.
5.Continue to work on our shoulder in and lengthening trot. Hopefully we can get it down at least to a somewhat presentable status for Beland schooling dressage show Nov.7.
6. Learned to use more of my back to ask for lengthening, for up canter trans.
7.Think leg yield then switch seat bone while swinging outside leg back and then ask and hold slightly to prevent loss of connection through up canter transition..will need to consistently ask the same way to get Carino to understand.
8.Be more aware of my leg and his scooting and his outside shoulder and his nose that likes to tip inwards.
9.Keep in front of my leg but maintain the TEMPO. Tempo...something that sounds so simple yet is so difficult.
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