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

Still Talking About the Canter

2/3/2012

 
My lesson with JL went really, really well on Wednesday night.  And it was partly due to all of your suggestions about how to improve the canter.  I was able to think about what you suggested, and by the time my lesson rolled around, I had a clearer idea of how to discuss Sydney's stiffness.  

Oh, and did you just ask how well it went?  It went so well that I laughed and giggled about how much fun Sydney was to ride!

WHAT?!?!?!?

Yep.  You heard me.  He was FUN!  When we finished, JL couldn't get over what a different horse he was from two weeks ago when she last saw him.  He was friendly to her, eager to be scratched and pet, his ears were floppy, he got right to work, and there was none of the tension in his body that's been present since day one.

I wish I could pinpoint the exact reason for his more relaxed attitude, but I know it started with the Acepromazine.  The Fluphenazine has certainly had its effect as well.  I suspect the pharmaceutical help created an atmosphere that allowed me to lose my fear, which in turn helped Sydney relax.  Smartpak's daily calmer pellets might also be having an effect other than creating expensive poop.  And to top it all off, feeding him while tacking up in the afternoons seems to have removed any of the last of his anxiety.  Whatever the reason,  we can now really get some work done! 

Before we started the lesson, I explained to JL what I was seeing in the canter and what you all suggested.  She nodded thoughtfully and had me try an exercise designed to get Sydney off my leg.  She had me trot in the smallest circle that I could manage (to the left), so small that she could touch my boot the entire rotation. The point was to keep Sydney's nose to the inside with my inside rein while still allowing him to bend on the outside which meant my outside hand had to move forward - think bicycle handle bars.  I also had to bump, bump, bump with my inside leg while keeping my outside leg ready to keep his hindquarters from popping out.

Once I had this under control, we went to the right.  OHHHHH!  I had to use LOTS of leg to keep him moving forward and then to keep his butt from swinging out.

We moved to the left lead canter where JL had me try a second exercise.  For every two strides I was to rock, rock the same rein.  Think about rowing: two strokes on the left, two strokes on the right.  Rocking the rein on the inside was easy, but when I tried to rock the outside rein, he turned right.  This revealed that I wasn't using my outside leg or seat.  Repeat.  I rocked left side, left side, right side (add leg!) right side (add leg!). This is when the lesson got fun.  Feeling the rhythm of the canter and asking him to swing his neck helped us both immensely.  We both got more and more balanced and Sydney got pretty darn quiet.

When we moved to the right, it only took several starts to pick up the canter without him falling completly into the circle.  The third "exercise" wasn't really an exercise as it was more about my body position.  I have a tendency to "help" my guys pick up the canter by leaning forward.  Big no-no.  JL had me focus on staying tall in the saddle as I cue for the canter.  That helped a lot.

Not only is Sydney stiff, but he also tilts his head to the outside which allows him to escape the bend.  To help with this, JL had me lift with the inside rein to keep him from twisting his head to the outside.  AHA! 
That helped almost more than anything.  

The final piece of the canter lesson had to do with NOT over bending.  As Sydney leans on my inside leg, I have a tendency to increase the bend in an effort to get him off the leg.  Nope.  This just causes him to fall in even more.  That's where the rocking motion comes in.  JL gave me two choices: rock the inside rein, or give him a big upward pull to say, HEY! LET GO!!!!!  And if that still doesn't work?  Stop him hard with the inside rein and regroup.  I had just been pulling harder and harder to the inside which wasn't getting us anywhere.

I had the most fun riding this horse.  He has a really nice uphill canter that feels powerful with lots of lift and impulsion.  Now that we've fixed a bunch of tension/anxiety issues, we're going to be having a lot of fun!
Sarah Schulman link
2/3/2012 01:22:49 am

God bless trainers! Aren't they amazing?! So glad you not only were productive in dealing with the canter, but that you got so much enjoyment out of it to boot!

Karen
2/3/2012 11:24:44 am

She's great, it was great, and I felt great! Great way to spend 35 bucks. :0)

kendal
2/3/2012 05:42:42 am

So glad you had a fun ride! I love breakthroughs, until the next roadblock occurs, you feel like superwoman!

Karen
2/3/2012 11:25:57 am

It WAS fun! I am going to hold on to that fun feeling as long as possible because I KNOW the next roadblock is just around the corner. :0)

Val
2/4/2012 12:20:29 am

I am a big fan of lifting the inside rein. I think that it is really easy to drop the inside hand, especially if the horse if dropping his shoulder. It can be a chicken and the egg scenario. Interesting stuff!


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