Boring Basics

6/24/2015

I am thrilled to report that I have nothing of interest to share ...

Speedy is sound. We have a lesson with the always fabulous Chemaine in Moorpark tomorrow. We're going to a CDS-rated show on Sunday. See? Nothing to report.

And what of Izzy? In my last post I shared how well he is doing. He got that day off that I mentioned, but then it was back to work. While it's boring to write about, I couldn't be happier slogging through the basics.

Turn out after a ride on Sunday.

I've ridden my whole life. For more than thirty years my rides were about covering distance over a trail. Sometimes the way was marked with pink ribbon to guide me, other times I took whichever fork in the road looked good. I started lots of green horses, and all of them were happy and well broke to their job.

Starting Izzy has been different. I am not saying I know a lot (or even a little for that matter), but it sure has been fun applying the dressage that I have learned. Someone said that starting Izzy would be a whole lot easier than it was with Sydney. Whoever you are, you were right!

He's turning out to be pretty handsome.

As we've worked on those 20-meter circles this week, everything that I've learned with Speedy has been at my fingertips to help me. When Izzy starts to get unbalanced and falls forward, I know how to help him. When he starts to drift to the outside or fall to the inside, I know how to straighten him back up. We are following the pyramid carefully - right now, we're maintaining a rhythm, encouraging relaxation, and establishing a good connection. Impulsion and straightness are right around the corner!

He's got the shiny gene!

A Work in Progress shared a really funny post the other day that made me laugh. It also encouraged me to stick with those basics and get them right since we'll be working on them forever.

From the warm up we moved into collected work. I wish I could say that this involved half passes and tempis and Very Fancy Dressage Things, but the reality of training the upper levels is that you're basically doing the same circles you were doing at the lower levels, but with shorter reins and more sweating and cursing.

- A Work in Progress

I am happy to be schooling those boring basics. The better we get them now, the less sweating and cursing there will be later. At least I hope so!

Jan link

6/24/2015 01:23:22 am

Slogging through the boring basics isn't overrated and it can be fun too! I spent two months slogging through them after my 3rd level horse was cleared to be ridden again after his hock surgery. I was thrilled to walk and trot in long and low on 20m circles and around the arena. It was great for his training and he's in a much better place as we add more complicated work to our rides.

Bakersfield Dressage link

6/24/2015 07:04:48 am

I don't mind this kind of work ... as long as it's not forever. Right now, it's a fun way to get to know Izzy and how he feels about work. And from experience, I know that once he really gets this down pat, it's always a safe place to go when things are tense or scary (like at a show :0)

SprinklerBandits

6/24/2015 02:59:40 am

I've never made it to the upper levels, but the description sounds about right. ;-) Glad you're having fun!

6/24/2015 07:10:41 am

It's fun because HE'S fun. It is such a relief to ride a horse who enjoys the work and can cope when he doesn't get it. During our lesson today, he started to feel a little stressed because he was having a bit of trouble. Instead of bolting for the next country, rearing, and checking out mentally (like an OTTB that I used to own), he shook his head and giraffed it into the air and just trot straight off.

I brought him back to a walk, pat his neck, and started up again. He NEVER checks out or acts in any way that could be considered scary. I look forward to riding him and know that he looks forward to coming out to play. It's all good. :0)

emma link

6/24/2015 04:38:41 am

love that quote lol

6/24/2015 07:14:40 am

It's true! While at a USDF show a few years ago, I was watching some FEI classes and I had the sudden realization that it's all still walk, trot, canter. The degree of difficulty had changed, but it's not like the horses were pooping rainbows. That really helped me to see that we're all doing the same thing, it just might be at a different level. :0)

Tracy link

6/25/2015 04:24:39 am

I've found that the basics can be really challenging to do correctly and that you really never stop learning them. I like that about riding :-)

6/30/2015 04:51:14 am

I agree. They certainly never go away as they are the foundation for everything else, so it only makes sense to be as good at them as possible. :0)

Shannon link

7/2/2015 05:17:39 am

I'm finally catching up on the blogosphere (yeesh, I'm behind!). Thanks for the shout out!

The boring basics keep coming up at every level, but they are also the gateway that allows you to do the fun things!

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