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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Ooh La La

2/4/2013

 
The Christian Schacht clinic just keeps giving and giving ...

This has been a long week. Yes, I know it's only Monday; last week and this week are just running into one another making it a VERY long week. Being at the CS clinic last weekend meant that I didn't get my weekend chores finished (laundry, grocery shopping, etc). That meant that I crammed those things into a week that was already jammed to the rafters. I followed that clinic with another weekend out of town. An all day jaunt to Horse Expo and a Sunday afternoon filled with pigging out with friends in front of the TV meant minimal chores done this weekend either. Oh, and I have a show out of town next weekend, too.

All of that is to say that I only rode Speedy at his Monday lesson which wasn't really a problem since I thought he deserved a few days off anyway. Unfortunately, with Expo on Saturday and me just plain needing a morning off from EVERYTHING, he won't be ridden again until tonight. Yikes.

That doesn't mean Sydney got all the riding time either. I took last Tuesday "off" from the barn in order to set things right here at home, at least partially, and to smooth over any rough edges with Hubby that might have been created from so little at home time. I mean really ... three weekends in a row horsing around is asking a lot of even the most tolerant husband. I did ride on Wednesday and Thursday, which is the real reason for this post, but a required trip to the feed store put the kibosh on any saddle time for Friday.

Yeah, yeah, we're all busy. Get ON with it!

Okay. So you've read over and over and over about Sydney's tension and my fear (haven't seen the elephant in a LONG time). Even though I only rode twice this past week, they were GREAT rides! If you haven't been to a clinic, I strongly suggest you search one out. I learned far more than I thought I did, and more importantly, I was able to apply what I learned right away.

When Sydney first starts out at the walk, I try to squeeze him forward into a long and low frame. I am usually pretty successful at it. If he's having a bad day because it's too late for his taste or there's too much after work traffic whizzing by, I can't spend as much time long and low as it's simply better to just go forward at the trot rather to mess with any attempt at bolting.

My mid-week rides were like any other; Sydney was relatively relaxed, but he was looking for a way to be "naughty." Rather than give in to the let's hurry up into the trot, I planted my knuckles near my knees as Dr. Schacht had instructed me to do with Speedy G. At the time, I didn't quite understand the purpose. JL later explained that by planting my hands, I was forced to use only my seat and legs (eliminating that whole over-use of the inside rein thing). There was an added benefit, however. Planting my hands also created a sort of low side reins. Sydney responded so well to the exercise that I almost laughed out loud. 

As we warm up, he almost always goes through a head bouncing routine which is very difficult to resist. It makes it very hard to establish steady contact because I just can't keep my hands quiet enough as he's bouncing against them. Eventually, I just shorten the reins and push him forward which usually results in a very heavy horse.

Planting my knuckles into my thighs changed all of that. As Sydney "bounced" his head and neck, all he found was an ungiving bit. It took him all of about 2 minutes to find the release. Once he figured it out, he was long and low and clearly happier. JL has had me focus on keeping my hands low and very quiet. Sydney perceives everything as yelling so I am working very hard to make everything be a whisper. Instead of visibly rocking the rein to get him off my hands or to soften his neck, I am just squeezing my fingers to make a request or a correction. Sometimes this takes longer, but there's less drama involved. Planting my knuckles lowered the volume and forced my hands to remain low. Win, win.

Once Sydney was long and low at the walk, I shortened my reins just a bit but kept my knuckles firmly planted into my thighs. We started on a 20-meter circle, but after just a few times around, I took another page from CS's playbook and asked him to lengthen down the long side and then did a change of direction across the diagonal. We repeated this circle, circle, go big routine for a few minutes with my knuckles still pressed into my thighs.

Once I could really feel some activity from behind, I quietly picked up the reins and shortened them as I asked for a canter. Oh my! It was really nice. We did some spiral in and I was shocked at how small of a circle he was able to do. We spiraled back out and returned to the trot work and again went down the long side. I asked for a small half halt at the corner and laughed out loud when I felt him shift his weight back and collect ever so slightly.

Both days that I rode with these exercises, I was able to get him light in my hand while still moving forward in less than 10 minutes. After a total of 20 minutes, I hopped off and praised him as though we had just won at Aachen. I can't wait to get back on him this week!
Angela
2/3/2013 11:35:41 pm

Awesome! It's so cool to read about how far both you and Sydney have come! I sounds like the CS clinic is paying off tenfold, and I hear you loud and clear- I have set a goal to get to my first clinic in the next 6 months. Do you (or any one else) have any suggestions?

Just 10 minutes to softness and a quick 20 minutes to train, shoot you have all the time in the world now...LOL

Congrats on all your success! It's very inspiring.

Karen
2/4/2013 10:54:59 am

Thanks, Angela. To the casual observer, our rides might not look like much, but I know we are making great growth. The best way to find out about clinics is to peruse CDS's activities calendar, and to get on different email lists. I know Ventura CDS is bringing Christian back in June. As soon as I know the dates, I'll pass them on to you. I hope to be able to go, but June is a pretty busy month for me so I'll have to wait until I hear exactly when he'll be here.

Karen
2/6/2013 09:44:18 am

Jill Duxbury is returning to Lori Van Sickel’s Flying V Farms on Sunday, February 17th for another clinic. Anyone who would like to ride in the clinic, or who has questions, should call Jane Curtis at 661-333-2370.

Everyone is welcome. No audit fees. Fee to ride is $ 65.

Also, Jill is bringing a few copies of her book, THE DRESSAGE ARENA, THE MEASUREMENTS AND GEOMETRY. This book is 11” by 6” and nicely laminated. Price is $24.95. It is a very handy, useful guide for accuracy and precision.

She also has a Schumacher saddle for sale. It is brown, size 16 ½ or 17” seat, Wide tree (which may be changeable), in good condition. $1,000 OBO. She will bring it with her.

Just an FYI

Kelly link
2/4/2013 02:01:06 am

So exciting that you were able not only to take away tips for riding Speedy from the clinic, but also Sydney!

Karen
2/4/2013 10:55:23 am

I thought so! Money well spent ... :0)

Lauren link
2/4/2013 02:22:47 am

Go Sydney! That's great, and sounds like you definitely got the most possible out of this clinic. Makes me want to get to one asap :)

Karen
2/4/2013 10:56:46 am

Thanks. :0) And I KNOW! I want to go to another one too! I am hopeful that I'll get picked for the Adult Amateur Clinic that CDS puts on, but I have to wait a bit longer to see if my name is drawn. My fingers are crossed.

Val
2/4/2013 04:29:09 am

That's great! I think that a fixed hand is really a very gentle hand, because it's location is predictable to the horse and this gives him comfort and security. I like to do this sometimes with both reins in one hand. It is really fun and Harley loves it.

Karen
2/4/2013 10:59:17 am

Val - we just did another fixed hand exercise tonight at my lesson. Speedy was being really resistant to the right at the canter, so JL had me plant my inside hand on my thigh so that I was free to work the outside rein and inside leg. It didn't take too long for him to give to the inside leg. I LOVE those exercises.


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    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.
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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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