Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
I had a very good lesson with my trainer yesterday, the last one before Sunday's schooling show. Our entire purpose was to finesse the aids I need to use to help Sydney pick up a right lead canter when he's stiff, braced, and anxious.
As boring as it is to read (I apologize), I needed to break it down so that the process is easier for me to apply. It now looks so simple. If you have a horse who is crooked, drops the inside shoulder and "rolls" his body, these steps might work for you.
jenj
8/6/2014 11:46:42 pm
I would also have to write down "DO NOT THROW UPPER BODY AT HORSE!!!" in the canter transition instructions. I am soooo good at doing that, and it doesn't help one bit! 8/7/2014 04:48:08 am
Yeah … I like to lean forward in an effort to "help" him, but my trainer has pretty me reformed me. I don't do that very often now, and surprisingly, the departures have improved dramatically. Go figure! :0)
Yup, yup, yup. This all looks super familiar! :) 8/7/2014 04:52:39 am
While we working on the canter loop, JL had me do an exercise similar to your number one. WHile on the left lead canter, I spiraled in as small as he could go and flexed him to the right so that I could push with my inside leg. When we cantered right lead and and came off the rail, I was able to push him back on the rail using the same feel from the counter bent left lead spiral.
lytha
8/7/2014 09:40:13 pm
In my lesson today I cantered both directions for the first time in slow, collected circles. It was wonderful. At one point I tried to life my horse's head up cuz she carries it so low, and my trainer said, "Let her canter with her head as low as she likes until she learns how to balance. First rhythm and relaxation, then contact, impulsion and collection." 8/7/2014 10:21:01 pm
Yah for the canter, Lytha! My trainer reminds me all the time that it's not ABOUT the canter. It's about straightness with bend, softness with connection, and energy with relaxation. Once you have all of those, you can get it at any gait. When I just can't get those at the canter, we school more at the trot to show what feeling we;re looking for. Then i can ask for the canter again. :0) Comments are closed.
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About the Writer and RiderI 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. About Speedy GSpeedy 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.
About IzzyIzzy 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.
National Rider AwardsState Rider Awards
State Horse Awards
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
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