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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Ah, Sydney

10/30/2012

 
What to do, what to do? 

This is not a complaint; it's more of a think-out-loud.

I rode Sydney last Wednesday night and was disappointed by how anxious he was. I had hoped that by riding him this weekend he would be more relaxed. He wasn't. Here is what I see: He is certain that with an even slightly shorter rein, something bad is going to happen. I wish I could tell him with words that this is not so. But since I can't tell him with words, I am trying to tell him with my aids that it is okay.

My plan on Saturday was to walk, walk, walk and then trot, trot, trot with a big loopy rein. Right away things fell apart. He was so tense at the walk that he couldn't even go straight. He zig-zagged down the long side and and weaved in the circle. When he was as relaxed as I could get him, I let loose the reins and asked for a trot.

Things went okay for a moment or two, but then he started to pick up speed. I used the corners to ask him to slow down and did lots of changes of directions to slow his momentum. He just got faster and faster. Rather than let the tension build, I decided to convince Sydney that nothing uncomfortable was going to happen. I brought him back to the walk.

The walk has been Sydney's strongest gait. He relaxes long and low and seems happy to walk forever. Not now. Now, I am forced to plant my inside hand and bend him around my leg, first one way then the next. This eventually relaxed him and he was finally able to spiral out into his normal, relaxed walk.

I asked again for the trot. Again the tension built. I kept my rein at a slightly longer length and just continued to ride: when needed, I rocked the rein, squeezed him forward, and stretched up tall and tightened my core. Eventually he gave me a lovely, stretchy trot.

We changed directions and had to start all over. Even when he was finished, and he always gets a long, low walk as a reward, it took me quite a few circles to get him to relax at the walk.

I was disheartened. But rather then just throw in the towel, I decided that we will continue to go back to what he knows. All summer he did great at the low and stretchy trot. If that's still where his comfort level is, then I'll go back to there. 

I am trying to figure out what triggered his anxiety after so many months of relaxation. Was it simply shortening the reins just those few inches? Was it going off property twice in the last two months? Was it the combination of both those things? I just don't know. 
Val
10/30/2012 09:29:08 pm

Just thinking along with you here. Rather than shorten the rein, what if you gave him exercises that would require that he collect and package himself? You could keep the reins long until he created more loop, then gently pick up the slack, millimeter by millimeter.

Exercises that should encourage a more compact "body set":
20 m to 10 m circle to 20 m circle again
straight line to corner to straight line
long trot to short trot to long trot
long side to 10 m half circle "U-turn" to the corner (tear drop)

Transitions between gaits will do this too, but I suspect they will make him too tense and that will defeat the purpose. :)

Karen
11/2/2012 11:57:18 am

I do a lot of these things already, Val. The thing that seems to help him most is to just go slow. He also responds really well to bending around my inside leg at the walk, or the trot if he's really feeling the need to blow.

We may never get there, or we may just need more time. Thanks for the suggestions! :0)


Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
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Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
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