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.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
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.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Finally a post
I know its been a while but I started my senior year of high school so I homework, horses, work and sleep have been my top priorities! I did have lessons on August 24th and August 20th but they are so long ago that I can't remember the details well enough to write anything worth reading. As I posted already in my show season blog Carino and I competed in our first sanctioned and also his first BN. The results were great and we had a blast. A few days later I went for my D3 rating for Pony Club and passed with flying colors...on to C1 when the next rating is held!
However, after the show Carino and I kinda went into a rut...the fancy dressage seemed to disappear the jumping was great and easy but I couldn't get over the fact that I no longer had that fancy dressage work we had just a week ago. We had a lesson on Sept. 8th and Carino came out pretty stocked up which hasn't happened since I bought him but oh well. Since I was there a little early I decided to go for a nice hack before our lesson...We went for a good 10-15 walk all through the trails and water. So by the time the lesson started he should be ready to trot and get to work. It was a group lesson and we began flat work outside. He was very relaxed but I still didn't feel like I had any spring or engine. We did a lot of shoulder in on the circle at the trot and canter. Canter has been most difficult for him the past weeks for some reason but even the trot was not to our usual standards. It started to thunder and lightning but didn't start to rain so we decided it was time to take cover and finish in the indoor. However, when we got to the indoor we didn't finish the flat where we left off but began jumping...So I was kinda disappointed that I couldn't work through it. Erin set up a jump with the plastic blocks that was even weird looking to me. Carino turned the corner and said no way. He hasn't refused anything in a month so I was shocked but then kinda understood since we haven't jumped in the indoor since spring. We reproached and leaped over it throwing me onto his neck, he did this a few times. Erin then made it into a bounce with the blocks making a low wall and then to a 2'6 vertical. He didn't like the look of it the first few times but after a few times was going threw perfectly. I worked on closing my hip angle over the fence which helped me follow the rhythm more. Erin then made the block wall higher and skinner which of course made me a little tense. However, I thought about the turn, the approach and each step instead of the jump and he did it perfectly on the first try. So, an awful ride ended up quite nice...I still need to work on my frustration and to not always expect that horse to be perfect. Did I mention I was doing this in my dressage saddle?
The next day I jumped Carino outside over a x-rail, vertical and oxer..just white poles and then went in the indoor to jump the dreaded blocks. The block wall he barley picked his feet up over. However, I am realizing I need a stronger lower leg that needs to be there more consistently because he can die around corners and on the landing of fences. I have been doing a lot of 'experimenting' rides... really focusing on what is causing the problems or what I could do better or where he is falling out or where he is weak. I have been riding him bareback a lot which I realize I am actually a lot more relaxed and confident. We have a training ride this Thursday and a lesson on Friday and then Stoneliegh HT on Saturday. I am confident about the dressage and stadium at Stoneliegh but a little worried..or a lot worried about the xc since they usually have 2 of either water, ditch and a down bank. Carino hasn't done down banks much at all. Also their water is about a 5 foot by 5 foot black puddle with two fences on the side of it...we might take the jumper approach I saw yesterday at the Fidelity Hampton Jumper Classic and just jump the whole thing... we will see. No matter what it will be great mileage for the little man.
However, after the show Carino and I kinda went into a rut...the fancy dressage seemed to disappear the jumping was great and easy but I couldn't get over the fact that I no longer had that fancy dressage work we had just a week ago. We had a lesson on Sept. 8th and Carino came out pretty stocked up which hasn't happened since I bought him but oh well. Since I was there a little early I decided to go for a nice hack before our lesson...We went for a good 10-15 walk all through the trails and water. So by the time the lesson started he should be ready to trot and get to work. It was a group lesson and we began flat work outside. He was very relaxed but I still didn't feel like I had any spring or engine. We did a lot of shoulder in on the circle at the trot and canter. Canter has been most difficult for him the past weeks for some reason but even the trot was not to our usual standards. It started to thunder and lightning but didn't start to rain so we decided it was time to take cover and finish in the indoor. However, when we got to the indoor we didn't finish the flat where we left off but began jumping...So I was kinda disappointed that I couldn't work through it. Erin set up a jump with the plastic blocks that was even weird looking to me. Carino turned the corner and said no way. He hasn't refused anything in a month so I was shocked but then kinda understood since we haven't jumped in the indoor since spring. We reproached and leaped over it throwing me onto his neck, he did this a few times. Erin then made it into a bounce with the blocks making a low wall and then to a 2'6 vertical. He didn't like the look of it the first few times but after a few times was going threw perfectly. I worked on closing my hip angle over the fence which helped me follow the rhythm more. Erin then made the block wall higher and skinner which of course made me a little tense. However, I thought about the turn, the approach and each step instead of the jump and he did it perfectly on the first try. So, an awful ride ended up quite nice...I still need to work on my frustration and to not always expect that horse to be perfect. Did I mention I was doing this in my dressage saddle?
The next day I jumped Carino outside over a x-rail, vertical and oxer..just white poles and then went in the indoor to jump the dreaded blocks. The block wall he barley picked his feet up over. However, I am realizing I need a stronger lower leg that needs to be there more consistently because he can die around corners and on the landing of fences. I have been doing a lot of 'experimenting' rides... really focusing on what is causing the problems or what I could do better or where he is falling out or where he is weak. I have been riding him bareback a lot which I realize I am actually a lot more relaxed and confident. We have a training ride this Thursday and a lesson on Friday and then Stoneliegh HT on Saturday. I am confident about the dressage and stadium at Stoneliegh but a little worried..or a lot worried about the xc since they usually have 2 of either water, ditch and a down bank. Carino hasn't done down banks much at all. Also their water is about a 5 foot by 5 foot black puddle with two fences on the side of it...we might take the jumper approach I saw yesterday at the Fidelity Hampton Jumper Classic and just jump the whole thing... we will see. No matter what it will be great mileage for the little man.
Friday, August 20, 2010
August Lessons Part 1
Wednesday. august 4th.
This was the day after I got home from being in Canada for four days. Carino had a much needed jump training ride with Erin one of the days I was gone and a good half hour walk by Annie just so he can get out and about. However, this didn't change the fact that I didn't ride for four days. I went into the lesson not knowing if I would be a little rusty, sore, weak, unfocused..who knows..but to my surprise every time there wasn't an issue and I had another one of the best lessons. I guess sometimes a good little break or time out for both horse and rider is needed. It keeps you both from getting bored, keeps things fresh, interesting and fun.
This was another lesson with Jenn and we started off in the indoor due to the dust bowl of the ring again. (this lack of rain is killing us!) We worked on the flat and Carino started to develop that wonderful flowing, swinging, powerful trot that I love so much. We then wanted to do some pole and cavaletti work and Erin wanted Jenn to jump again so we went to the top sand arena. We trotted and cantered a line of poles and Erin would add a pole every few time we went down the line. We then set them up as small cavalleti's and then even small jumps to make a small grid/bounce exercise. This was great for Carino so we could work on keeping a consistent canter and try to prevent rushing or changing the canter. Lesson was great, both Carino and I learned and made another huge improvement.
Friday.august 13th
This was an half hour lesson at 8:30 in the morning the morning we were going to head off for GMHA. I got out to the ring before Erin was there to warm up and It just wasn't clicking...
His trot was short choppy and quick but he felt lazy and unresponsive. He just didn't feel like he was listening at all. He wouldn't use his hind end and push into the bridle, the shoulders were everywhere..and no matter my correction he would go right back and continue to do it. Erin came out and we made some progress but I still felt like a mess. We then started to jump... Erin had us come to a jump that was set in a line so we had to go in between the line. He came to it all wigly and just wasn't listening and I was still frustrated and he refused it. And so this is when my already built up frustration is on the verge of boiling over. So I come to it again and give him a good squeeze kick and he goes over it..but not pretty. He continues to jump it weird for the majority of the time over that fence...
But then we go to a bending line from a vertical to an oxer and he dose it pretty spot on. We play around with it a little so I can play around with keeping the canter consistent and with what canter I have where to come to the oxer. We then do a line and a one stride and he does those perfect too. Super relaxed, most consistent canter he has ever had and listening very well. I work on keeping my leg around the corner to the one stride so he doesn't lose the canter over the first fence and then have to make a bigger effort over the second.(never thought of things like this) Erin and I really talked about the jumps and why I should do this or why things were a little sticky and was it my mistake or his and so on..and it really made me more confident and I really started to be able to think about what I was doing instead of "okay, jump this and then turn jump this" or "one jump, second jump" I could now think the corner will do this. the oxer in the beginning of the line will effect the canter this way...If the canter is 'this' way on my bending line alter the line slightly to fit the canter. Good ride, made me think and no more of Carino flying around like a mad man.
This was the day after I got home from being in Canada for four days. Carino had a much needed jump training ride with Erin one of the days I was gone and a good half hour walk by Annie just so he can get out and about. However, this didn't change the fact that I didn't ride for four days. I went into the lesson not knowing if I would be a little rusty, sore, weak, unfocused..who knows..but to my surprise every time there wasn't an issue and I had another one of the best lessons. I guess sometimes a good little break or time out for both horse and rider is needed. It keeps you both from getting bored, keeps things fresh, interesting and fun.
This was another lesson with Jenn and we started off in the indoor due to the dust bowl of the ring again. (this lack of rain is killing us!) We worked on the flat and Carino started to develop that wonderful flowing, swinging, powerful trot that I love so much. We then wanted to do some pole and cavaletti work and Erin wanted Jenn to jump again so we went to the top sand arena. We trotted and cantered a line of poles and Erin would add a pole every few time we went down the line. We then set them up as small cavalleti's and then even small jumps to make a small grid/bounce exercise. This was great for Carino so we could work on keeping a consistent canter and try to prevent rushing or changing the canter. Lesson was great, both Carino and I learned and made another huge improvement.
Friday.august 13th
This was an half hour lesson at 8:30 in the morning the morning we were going to head off for GMHA. I got out to the ring before Erin was there to warm up and It just wasn't clicking...
His trot was short choppy and quick but he felt lazy and unresponsive. He just didn't feel like he was listening at all. He wouldn't use his hind end and push into the bridle, the shoulders were everywhere..and no matter my correction he would go right back and continue to do it. Erin came out and we made some progress but I still felt like a mess. We then started to jump... Erin had us come to a jump that was set in a line so we had to go in between the line. He came to it all wigly and just wasn't listening and I was still frustrated and he refused it. And so this is when my already built up frustration is on the verge of boiling over. So I come to it again and give him a good squeeze kick and he goes over it..but not pretty. He continues to jump it weird for the majority of the time over that fence...
But then we go to a bending line from a vertical to an oxer and he dose it pretty spot on. We play around with it a little so I can play around with keeping the canter consistent and with what canter I have where to come to the oxer. We then do a line and a one stride and he does those perfect too. Super relaxed, most consistent canter he has ever had and listening very well. I work on keeping my leg around the corner to the one stride so he doesn't lose the canter over the first fence and then have to make a bigger effort over the second.(never thought of things like this) Erin and I really talked about the jumps and why I should do this or why things were a little sticky and was it my mistake or his and so on..and it really made me more confident and I really started to be able to think about what I was doing instead of "okay, jump this and then turn jump this" or "one jump, second jump" I could now think the corner will do this. the oxer in the beginning of the line will effect the canter this way...If the canter is 'this' way on my bending line alter the line slightly to fit the canter. Good ride, made me think and no more of Carino flying around like a mad man.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Moore July Lessons
July 13th.
I had a group flat lesson with Brooke and her horse Boo. We started off in the outdoor sand arena that is fenced in and that we usually ride in. In here Carino was very relaxed and quite lazy. When Erin came out to teach she had us ride in the grass field that had dressage letters set up for a large arena since Erin had to practice her test for her one star. This arena had no fence or chain and was in the middle of the xc field. This got Carino a little tense and spooky. Te beginning of the lesson was a struggle. The true connection just wasn't there. However, after we did some leg yield work like leg yield to the center line then back, then leg yield across the whole diagonal and then leg yield three strides one way straighten leg yield three strides the other way.. I finally had a horse underneath me. We then went to the canter work and Carino was very up hill because of the leg yields. But when we began to leg yield in on the circle at the canter it showed how difficult muscle wise it was for him and also how tired he was. Despite the rocky start the lesson ended great and was productive.
July 22nd.
I had a group lesson with Jenn. We did a little warm up on the flat in the big sand outdoor ring but all the stadium jumps were set up in a way where you couldn't even do a 20 meter circle..so it was very difficult to get a nice dressage canter out of him when all Carino thought about was the jumps. When we did start jumping Carino was real jazzed up. We trotted the first fence a few times at 2' and 2'6 just to try to get him relaxed. He became more relaxed but once we started courses he became jazzed again. He was very bold and game but way to energetic. I had to really get him back not just with my body but with a good deal of rein since he would jump a fence and then drop his front end and try to buck out of pure excitement. He was just a little to quick and revved up ..which is good since he now has the confidence but our next step is relaxation. Towards the end he was pulling rails which is VERY unlike him because but shows he got too confident with the jumping. But it was a good lesson because Erin and I saw his confidence and I learned to handle this energy and we now know our plan of action=relaxation.
July 27th
I had a flat group lesson with Sam. We rode in the indoor because it was so hot and we haven't had rain so all the sand arenas are dust bowls. We warmed up outside and Carino was perfect and when we went inside he was still great. This lesson was really one of our best dressage lessons. The true connection stayed consistent with him really pushing from behind and relaxing his top line. We worked on leg yields which he was great at. We did lengthening and collecting and a lot of sitting trot. All this the best we have ever done. We then worked on our canter down transitions since the hind end falls out and Carino slams on the brakes instead of bringing the hind end underneath him. We had some very nice transitions but it still needs to become more consistent. It was such a great lesson and I think this will began to raise the bar for him and I
I had a group flat lesson with Brooke and her horse Boo. We started off in the outdoor sand arena that is fenced in and that we usually ride in. In here Carino was very relaxed and quite lazy. When Erin came out to teach she had us ride in the grass field that had dressage letters set up for a large arena since Erin had to practice her test for her one star. This arena had no fence or chain and was in the middle of the xc field. This got Carino a little tense and spooky. Te beginning of the lesson was a struggle. The true connection just wasn't there. However, after we did some leg yield work like leg yield to the center line then back, then leg yield across the whole diagonal and then leg yield three strides one way straighten leg yield three strides the other way.. I finally had a horse underneath me. We then went to the canter work and Carino was very up hill because of the leg yields. But when we began to leg yield in on the circle at the canter it showed how difficult muscle wise it was for him and also how tired he was. Despite the rocky start the lesson ended great and was productive.
July 22nd.
I had a group lesson with Jenn. We did a little warm up on the flat in the big sand outdoor ring but all the stadium jumps were set up in a way where you couldn't even do a 20 meter circle..so it was very difficult to get a nice dressage canter out of him when all Carino thought about was the jumps. When we did start jumping Carino was real jazzed up. We trotted the first fence a few times at 2' and 2'6 just to try to get him relaxed. He became more relaxed but once we started courses he became jazzed again. He was very bold and game but way to energetic. I had to really get him back not just with my body but with a good deal of rein since he would jump a fence and then drop his front end and try to buck out of pure excitement. He was just a little to quick and revved up ..which is good since he now has the confidence but our next step is relaxation. Towards the end he was pulling rails which is VERY unlike him because but shows he got too confident with the jumping. But it was a good lesson because Erin and I saw his confidence and I learned to handle this energy and we now know our plan of action=relaxation.
July 27th
I had a flat group lesson with Sam. We rode in the indoor because it was so hot and we haven't had rain so all the sand arenas are dust bowls. We warmed up outside and Carino was perfect and when we went inside he was still great. This lesson was really one of our best dressage lessons. The true connection stayed consistent with him really pushing from behind and relaxing his top line. We worked on leg yields which he was great at. We did lengthening and collecting and a lot of sitting trot. All this the best we have ever done. We then worked on our canter down transitions since the hind end falls out and Carino slams on the brakes instead of bringing the hind end underneath him. We had some very nice transitions but it still needs to become more consistent. It was such a great lesson and I think this will began to raise the bar for him and I
Sunday, July 4, 2010
June/July Lesson
Finally had lessons with Erin again after probably 5 weeks! We had one June 29th, we were going to jump but when we got into our flat we really started to get somewhere with the connection and making it more consistent. We used shoulder in on the circle constantly when I rode to get him to use his inside hind and really stretch and use his top line to get true connection. We both worked hard physically and mentally. Overall a good progress and can't wait for our next dressage lesson to go farther with it.
I then had a short (1/2 hour) jumping lesson Friday July 2nd the day before Carino's first three phase. We worked on straightness and getting a great canter. It was probably the best jumping I had with that horse. He was always right there with me and when he did get a little messy or away from me, my position stayed back and could get him back and listen to me so there was never a scary or truly sticky moment. We did tight turns, skinny jumps and some big scary stuff and he was perfect. Boost of confidence for the show the next day.
I then had a short (1/2 hour) jumping lesson Friday July 2nd the day before Carino's first three phase. We worked on straightness and getting a great canter. It was probably the best jumping I had with that horse. He was always right there with me and when he did get a little messy or away from me, my position stayed back and could get him back and listen to me so there was never a scary or truly sticky moment. We did tight turns, skinny jumps and some big scary stuff and he was perfect. Boost of confidence for the show the next day.
Monday, May 31, 2010
May.28.10 xc lesson
Had a group xc lesson on Friday, there was about 4 or 5 in the group. Carino came out jazzed. Did not want to walk he just wanted to canter and bolt. We had good moments and bad. I was really frustrated because of the bolting and refusing. But he did eventually do everything. I just think his mind was a little all over the place which made mine do the same. Once he did the scary stuff he became VERY bold. Once we got him over it he was like oh okay, got it! The ditch is still the scariest for him. Takes him MANY tries, but he eventually was galloping and pulling me over it and then galloping up the hill to the bank. I think he just had some energy because the next day I went through my dressage test and he was dead quite, not a spook, super relaxed, did everything I told him too and rode the test perfect. Just needed to get that energy out before the show I guess.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wed.May.26.10
Thought it would be a good idea to start writing about my lessons.
I hopped in a group lesson with Emily on Wednesday. It was very hot out, Carino and I were sweating before we were even tacked up. We rode in the indoor because both Emily and I needed the letters to practice our test. Erin let us do our own warm up which was good practice for the rally on Sunday where It will be left to me. I worked on lose trot at first like always, picked him up a little, did some transitions then did shoulder in and leg yield off the wall at the walk to get him straighter and listening more. I then worked on the trot and cantered a little. However, just couldn't get the push and search for the bridle. I tried everything and still nothing, so i began to get frustrated. Erin stepped in and helped a little and we did transitions and trying to get that extra umhp and push. Emily did her test and then I did my first test, Training 1. It was pretty decent. Then Emily did her test again and then I did Training 3, this time was better. I need to work on center lines in warm up to get a feel of his haunches since he tends to throw them to the right. I also need to work on TRANSITIONS since they are a little abrupt. Also, not focus on him so much that I forget the correctness of my circles. One of the problems I'm having with him especially in a test is that you have to ride him differently depending on what direction he is traveling. To the left we have to think shoulder forward especially after canter and down the long side because it helps straighten him out. To the right I have to keep him very straight in the neck which helps his body stay straight since he automatically wants to bend to the right and ends up over bending.
XC schooling tomorrow and dressage rally on Sunday!
I hopped in a group lesson with Emily on Wednesday. It was very hot out, Carino and I were sweating before we were even tacked up. We rode in the indoor because both Emily and I needed the letters to practice our test. Erin let us do our own warm up which was good practice for the rally on Sunday where It will be left to me. I worked on lose trot at first like always, picked him up a little, did some transitions then did shoulder in and leg yield off the wall at the walk to get him straighter and listening more. I then worked on the trot and cantered a little. However, just couldn't get the push and search for the bridle. I tried everything and still nothing, so i began to get frustrated. Erin stepped in and helped a little and we did transitions and trying to get that extra umhp and push. Emily did her test and then I did my first test, Training 1. It was pretty decent. Then Emily did her test again and then I did Training 3, this time was better. I need to work on center lines in warm up to get a feel of his haunches since he tends to throw them to the right. I also need to work on TRANSITIONS since they are a little abrupt. Also, not focus on him so much that I forget the correctness of my circles. One of the problems I'm having with him especially in a test is that you have to ride him differently depending on what direction he is traveling. To the left we have to think shoulder forward especially after canter and down the long side because it helps straighten him out. To the right I have to keep him very straight in the neck which helps his body stay straight since he automatically wants to bend to the right and ends up over bending.
XC schooling tomorrow and dressage rally on Sunday!
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