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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Monday's Lesson: Change up the Conversation!

11/8/2013

 
I try to write about my lessons right away so that the whole lesson sticks. If I wait, like I've done, I usually forget the critical points. So here is what I remember ...

I am now putting more pressure on Sydney during our non-lesson rides which means I am skipping all of the long stretchy warm up stuff. Not that he doesn't need a warm up, but in the interest of time (less daylight) and because I am trying to "test" him a little bit I am not doing such a long warm up. Instead, we do some quick trot work where we do some changes of direction across the diagonal which are mostly for my benefit as I am firming up my leg position by doing the up, up, down exercise.

After the changes across the diagonals and a 20-meter trot circle here and there, I pretty much send him into a right lead canter, which we are now getting evey time. This is a great thing as a month ago I was lucky to maybe get something that resembled a canter but which was more like a duck, twirl, and spin.

The problem is that after I get one or two canter departures, Sydney starts to realize that we're actually schooling the right lead canter and he gets tense. He's fine with doing a couple of departures until he realizes what we're doing. Weird, but true!

Anyway, JL's suggestion was to work the right lead like I have been doing, but then I need to change the conversation and start working to the left before he gets tense about it. We don't want him to worry about cantering to the right; we want him to feel successful about it. I wish I had thought of that!

The second big take away was how to (more effectively) deal with the tension to the right when it does appear. When he simply won't or can't track right, I already put him in a very small circle where I ask his inside hind to step deeply without losing the outside shoulder. As he gives even a little, I begin to spiral out. I have this part of the correction down. 

What I've been missing is that I nag him to finish letting go of the inside rein but either holding him up myself or then asking too softly. Instead, JL had me really work that inside rein at every step so that he absolutely can't hang on it. If he's trying to let go, I bump it softly, but if he's really hanging, I need to really bump it to say, LET GO!

We worked on this for what seemed like forever, but finally, I felt a HUGE release in his neck that went from poll to tail. His whole body just turned to Jello. With that particular release, the lesson was over.

So now I have some new strategies: right lead canter to left lead canter to change the topic of conversation, and then be hyper vigilant about NOT allowing him to hang on my inside right rein for even an instant. I love having homework!
Lauren link
11/7/2013 11:05:24 pm

I have similar struggles with Simon. When he knows we're doing something, he gets tense/up about it. I think it's because he really wants to be an over achiever. Spiraling and circles helps us a lot and I'm sure it will improve Sydney too!

Bakersfield Dressage link
11/8/2013 10:40:38 pm

That's Sydney for sure, an over-achiever. I suspect that pairing over-achievers is not the best plan. That's probably why I get so irritated with Speedy; he never feels like he's trying as hard as I am. :0)

Austen link
11/8/2013 08:45:54 pm

I love that you guys are making so much progress with this! Sydney's confidence sounds like it is increasing every ride.

Don't forget to take Sydney's tiredness into consideration when working. Since you guys are just starting to build consistency on the right lead, he might be resisting at the point when he starts to get tired. I totally agree that he needs to keep working with you even when he starts to tire, but some days you might want to not push the issue to keep him fresh. That's something I struggle with on Pig, and it's often the cause of our arguments.

Great job!

Bakersfield Dressage link
11/8/2013 10:36:36 pm

Thanks, Austen, always good to keep in mind. I rarely work either boy more than half an hour, and especially now that the light fades so fast in the afternoon, it's more like 20 minutes, and half of that is at the walk. :0)

I wish I could get him tired!

Austen link
11/11/2013 12:50:03 am

Haha! After some of our gallops this weekend, I totally feel you! Sometimes, though, it's not physical tiredness, but mental. As my instructor put it, "let's give him a minute to think about what we've just done." :) I think you guys are on the right track!

Val
11/9/2013 02:46:12 am

Will it help if you add something between warming up the right lead and working the right lead?

Bakersfield Dressage link
11/10/2013 02:28:08 am

That's how I was doing it, Val, but he seemed to get more and more anxious the longer I took to get to "it." So now, just getting started and moving way format the topic seems to be working.

Sarah link
11/9/2013 08:05:23 am

Words of gold right there. My trainer just reminded me the other day not to "drill him" in my practice rides - that 5 steps out of a 20m circle of what I want is success, and to move on to something else right away.

Bakersfield Dressage link
11/10/2013 02:30:04 am

I don't tend to drill, but it can be hard to know when to move on to something else. By asking for only one or two transitions, he's happy, but then we never get to work on doing it when he's tense or anxious. So now, I need to work on it, change the conversation, and then come back to it.


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    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
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    ​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.
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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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