Bakersfield Dressage
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home

Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Forcing vs. Enforcing

3/9/2022

 
As always, my Saturday morning lesson with Sean Cunningham, owner and trainer at STC Dressage, was as enlightening as ever. As I was walking Izzy, allowing him to warm up, I was telling Sean how over the past week I had been paying close attention to my timing. It's not miraculously on time, but I am at least getting a better sense of when Izzy is about to spook or pop his head up. Just as those words left my mouth, Izzy gave one of his fantastically dramatic leaps sideways that very nearly caused me to become a lawn dart.

The spook was so fast and deep that I saw the ground rushing up to meet me. Every grain of sand was suddenly the size of a boulder. Thanks in large part to Sean's teaching, my body stayed supple which allowed me to remain in the saddle. Once all of Izzy's feet were back on the ground, and I was more or less vertical, I burst out laughing, What was I saying about my timing? Touché Izzy, touché.
Picture
Nothing to see here. (all photos from the next day's video)
Most of the next 45 minutes were about me. Izzy can be complicated and difficult, but we're never going to change who he is. Instead, it's up to me to develop the skills needed in order to keep him together and headed in the right direction. Sean is teaching me how to recognize and better respond to Izzy's lapses in judgement. By listening and focusing on what is happening beneath me, Izzy's tells are slowly becoming more obvious to me. I simply can't be a passenger for even one moment with this horse. He needs me to pilot him step by step.
Picture
Last week, Izzy gave me a terrible ride. It was so sucky that I took three or four seconds to have a little pity party for one. As I was about to jerk Izzy's face off, I suddenly heard Sean in my ear, That isn't going to fix anything. Be patient. Use your tools. Do what you need to do to improve the situation. Don't engage in the fight. As much as I wanted to feel sorry for myself and throw in the damn towel, I sucked it up buttercup and put on my big girl panties.

I told Izzy that I was done playing around, and I meant it. We all know that Izzy makes terrible life choices, so I took control and told him that I was in charge. When Sean and I discussed it on Saturday, he framed the situation in a whole new way for me. He explained that there is a difference between forcing a horse to do something and enforcing your training.
Picture
Force is defined as achieving by strength in struggle or violence. When you force a horse to do something, he no longer has a choice. Enforcing has many definitions, but the one that helps clarify the distinction between forcing and enforcing is this: enforce can mean to compel obedience to. When we enforce the training, we allow the horse the opportunity to make a choice. There is an out. If he makes the right choice, the pressure is off and his choice becomes the reward.

By taking control and being patient, I was able to turn that ride around. It wasn't easy, but I kept at it. I put my inside leg on and used my outside rein to control the spooks. I began enforcing my aids. I also tightened my grip on the outside left rein and vowed that Izzy would not jerk it from me again. He tried, but after hitting the end of it when I didn't release it, he got a very big oh, shit look on his face. He made a choice and decided that he didn't like the outcome. I didn't force him; I simply enforced the rules. No angels started singing, but by the end of the ride, Izzy's attitude had been seriously adjusted; he chose obedience. The next day, I had a fantastic ride with no arguments. Enforcing rather than forcing.
Picture
On Saturday, Izzy tried a few different things to get out of working, but I kept control while giving him an out. It took a few minutes, but eventually, he settled down and we got to work. He was so good that we were able to work on him instead of just me. Sean even remarked that he could really see that Izzy was getting better and better balanced. Not so long ago, when Izzy spooked, his legs went every which way which destroyed any rhythm we might have had. Now, Izzy can spook or jump and keep cantering. I hadn't paid attention to that, but Sean is right. Izzy's balance is improving.
Picture
To help Izzy begin to carry more weight on the inside hind, Sean had me do a new exercise. It goes like this.
  • Pick up a canter lead.
  • In the corner leg yield to the quarter line (not half pass, the horse's head needs to be counter flexed slightly).
  • At the quarter line, do a 15-meter circle in the direction of the canter lead (right lead, track right/left lead, track left) still slightly counter flexed. This is important.
  • Proceed straight ahead and repeat.
This exercise repositions the shoulders to the inside so that the horse doesn't fall out which means the hind leg has to come under and carry more weight. This exercise is not easy for the horse or rider as you have to think about left and right at the same time. After the leg yield, the inclination is to circle toward the direction of the counter flexion, but this is wrong. Ask me how I know. Here's a short video clip of me trying it the next day.
Last year, if you had told me I'd be riding Izzy with this much confidence and control, I'd have thought you were crazy. This makes me hope that next year I'll be riding with even more confidence and control. It's not easy riding such a complicated horse, but it is helping me to become a much better rider. 

​While I love awards, helping Izzy to become a happy and healthy citizen is even more rewarding. Good thing since we're not exactly earning any recognition.

Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
    ​Welcome to my dressage journey.
    Picture
    Photo by Lori Ovanessian

    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
    Picture
    July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)

    About Izzy

    Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
    Picture
    March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)

    Picture
    Bakersfield Dressage approved!
    Picture
    My favorite breeches!
    Picture
    FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE
    Picture
    I love her stuff!
    Picture
    Watercolor Artist and Friend

    National Rider Awards

    Picture
    USDF Bronze Medal - 2020
    Picture
    USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
    Picture
    USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
    Picture
    USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

    State Rider Awards
    Picture
    CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018

    State Horse Awards
    Picture
    Speedy G - 3rd Level Horse Performance Award - 2020
    Picture
    Speedy G - 2nd Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

    Working Towards:

    CDS Sapphire Rider Award
    Third Level: 63.514%
    Third Level: 62.105%
    Fourth Level:
    Fourth Level:

    2023 Show Season

    Show Rating
    (***) CDS/USDF/USEF 
    (*) CDS
    (s) Schooling
    (c) Clinic
    (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic
    2023 Show Schedule
    TBD

    ​2023 Completed …
    Pending

    2023 Qualifying Scores 

    Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC)  
    Qualifying Training Level
    3 Scores/2 Judges/60%:
    Score 1:
    Score 2:
    Score 3:

    Archives
    ​By Topic

    All
    Abscess
    Art
    Arthritis
    Awards
    Books
    Cabin
    California Barn Life
    Captain Awesome
    CDL Class A License
    Centerlinescores
    Championships
    Chiropractor
    Clinics
    Clothing
    Cushing's Disease
    Defeating The Demon
    DIY
    Dogs
    Double Bridle
    Dressage On The Trail
    EHV-1
    Endurance Photos
    Farrier
    Find Your Joy
    First Level
    Fluphenazine
    Flying Changes
    Fourth Level
    Fox Hunting
    Freedom Feeder
    Frustration
    Gizmos
    Grooming
    Half Pass
    Headshaking
    Horse Maintenance
    Horses Are Expensive
    Horses Are Expensive 3.0
    Horses Are Expensive II
    Hunter/jumper Stuff
    Imperioso
    Introductory Level
    Izzys Leg
    Just For Fun
    Lessons With Chemaine
    Lessons With Lois
    Lessons With STC Dressage
    Local Stuff
    M.A.R.E.
    Memberships
    Micklem Bridle
    Mt. Self Doubt
    Musings
    My 5 Things
    My Horses
    Nesting
    On The Levels
    Photos
    Pivo Pod
    Platinum Performance
    Poles
    Polls
    Pulley Rein
    Raac
    Retirement?
    Rider Fitness
    Riding Figures
    Right Lead Canter
    Road ID
    Saddle Fitting
    Schooling
    Score Sheets
    Second Level
    Shopping
    Show Costs
    Showing
    Sitting Trot
    Sliding Side Reins
    Soldier
    Speedy's Leg
    Tack
    The Elephants
    The Jar
    The Warm Up Ring
    Third
    Third Level
    Tips From A Pro
    Toys
    Trailering
    Training
    Travel
    Ulcers
    Vet Care
    Video
    Videos
    Weird But True
    Year In Review


    Archives
    ​By Date

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011


Site Designed and Managed by: Karen Sweaney

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
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home