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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Solving Some Problems

9/7/2016

 
I know I come across a bit like a Pollyanna, but I can't help it. I ALWAYS look for the silver lining, and if one isn't readily visible, I keep working the problem until I see a solution or benefit.

I've had a rough last couple of weeks with Izzy. I know I've stretched his comfort level by doing so much traveling, and moving barns added to that stress, but he's also had plenty of down time and a lot of space to stretch out. I also had the saddle fitter and chiropractor look at him and he got his hocks injected. 

Even so, we had hit a road block. Our rides were spiraling down into a hot mess. He was getting more tense and short in his back instead of better. He was getting sassy, heavy in the bridle, and he was starting to bolt again, something we had worked through months ago. I wrote about that just the other day. I figured it had to be something I was doing wrong, so I got off him and put Izzy back in the sliding side reins. 

How is it that when we fix a problem, we completely forget about it the next time that problem comes up? The sliding side reins have once again proved miraculous.
Picture
And there's our stride!
When I used the sliding side reins in the spring, Izzy had very little balance. I used them to help him figure out how to adjust to the contact and keep his balance at the same time. I kept things pretty slow and did lots of walk to trot transitions.

This time, I used them to help him go FORWARD while keeping his balance. The trouble (to my uneducated seat and eye) is that he has so much power behind, that he propels himself forward but can't keep up in front so he dives onto the forehand and then panics.
Picture
Isn't that lovely?!?!
Since I am not the world's best rider, I have been using my hands A LOT to get him to soften but I wasn't letting him go forward because he would race out of control. We were stuck in a nasty cycle.

Chemaine suggested I do two things: first, let him work it out in the sliding side reins. The second thing she suggested was to allow him to go much more forward. I am not afraid of a galloping horse, but his balance is still so sketchy at that bigger stride that I've been a bit worried about getting tossed.

So, I put him on the lunge line and let him figure it out without a rider on board. The first few days we spent 20 - 30 minutes just doing lots of trot to canter to trot transitions without me interfering too much. It was almost painful to watch. His whole topline was inverted and his butt was clamped tight. I didn't ride him for the first two days, just lunged him with the sliding side reins.

​When he galloped so tight across his back that he was doing the motorcycle lean, I spiraled him down to a trot and tried again. It only took a few minutes each day for him to realize that it was okay to go big. By the fifth day, he was so relaxed that I could hardly get him to move forward.
I am terrible at lunging and videoing at the same time, so you only get a snippet, but rest assured, this is pretty much how he went by the fourth and fifth day. There was some racing around on the first two days, but for the most part, he very quickly figured out that he could open up his stride and really stretch. This video was from the fifth day, so all of the big, expressive trot is gone. What's left is a very relaxed and workmanlike gait.
By the third day, I felt ready to get back on him. My goal was to ride the bigger trot without holding him back. I lunged him first with the sliding side reins. When I asked for the trot, there was a sassy moment or two, but I just sat quietly and held the reins steady. Instead of asking him to soften, I asked him to move forward with a bigger stride. I kept my hands steady without sponging the reins. I wanted to see if he could balance himself. Of course he did!

For third and fourth days, I lunged first and kept my rides less than 15 minutes. By the fifth day, I lunged for only 10 minutes and rode for another 10. He was amazing. I was able to ride that huge trot and we even cantered. He picked up the correct lead both directions and his ears swiveled happily.
Picture
The walk is getting better and better.
One thing that I am most surprised about seeing is that he is finally starting to over-stride with his hind legs at the walk. It's not much, just a few inches, but he hasn't been able to do that before now. I noticed it on the lunge line, but I really felt it once I got on. For the first time I felt his back really swing at the walk.

I am going to continue lunging before riding for the next week or so. After that, I'll decide wether to lunge based on how he feels. No matter what he looks like, I have COMMITTED to at least one day of lunge work from here on out. No matter how good I think he is, I am going to keep on using those sliding side reins - he clearly needs them for a while.

​I am pretty happy to have my big brown horse back on my team. It was looking kind of iffy there for a few days.
Leah link
9/7/2016 06:14:16 am

Very neat to hear about your progress overcoming this setback! I've used side reins before, but never sliding side reins. Looks like something I might have to try!

Bakersfield Dressage link
9/12/2016 05:36:26 am

They are miracle workers for sure. :0)

Teresa link
9/8/2016 02:53:37 am

If you're like me, when you get on a track it's hard to think of going back! But with this green, sensitive ones I've realized it has to be part of the plan.

Izzy looks good and I'm amazed at your being able to video and lunge. I cannot manage it at all.

Bakersfield Dressage link
9/12/2016 05:39:42 am

I can't video and lunge very well either which is why you only get about 10 seconds of video. As soon as I take my attention off of him, he slows down and stops or wobbles around aimlessly LOL

Mary Debono link
9/8/2016 07:43:15 pm

Hi Karen, I'm enjoying reading about your dressage adventures! I'm glad that you found a solution for Izzy getting tense and short in the back, but I thought I'd mention another element you might want to look at. Many horses get restricted in the sternum and ribs and it makes having a long, rounded and lifted back difficult, if not impossible. I've written a blog post about this little-known, but common, issue. Let me know if you'd like to learn more. Thanks again for your well-written and educational blog!

Bakersfield Dressage link
9/12/2016 05:41:07 am

Thanks, Mary. They can hold tension in so many ways can't they?

lytha
9/12/2016 02:10:20 am

He sure changes colors a lot! I wish I had a level, safe place to lunge. For a short window of time now I have a piece of pasture that is uneven enough, and slanted enough, to not be fair to ask for much from a horse. The lady I helped at the horse show has not responded to my requests to come by and use her arena: (

Bakersfield Dressage link
9/12/2016 05:43:31 am

I do miss his chocolatey dapples, but the sun just burned out his coat. Hopefully he'll stay in the shade next summer.

There are definitely advantages to boarding a horse - a flat ring being one of them. :0)


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.
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    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.
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    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.
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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
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