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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Straight in the Neck, But Light on the inside Rein

8/5/2014

 
Left lead canter, we have kicked your butt into submission! That thing is rock solid, consistent every time, and pretty to boot. Even when Captain Awesome is on holiday and Mr. Hyde is visiting, I can coax out a pretty good left lead and ride any sized shape that I want.  

JL didn't have much to say about it on Monday so we moved Sydney right into the right lead canter work. OH MY GOODNESS! The first few transitions were lovely. He was uphill, balanced and very manageable. Captain Awesome was wor-k-ing it!

So we decided to try out the one loop canter from First Level. JL's working end of the arena is too small to do it correctly, but we were able to at least come off the rail for a few strides and then go back. With just that little bit of counter canter, JL was able to offer some exercises to keep Sydney on the right lead without dropping back to trot. I'll share that exercise another day. Suffice it to say, we actually could do the counter canter part of the loop without too much effort.

About half way through the lesson, Sydney's balance went to hell. He got tense and anxious which gave me a chance to really school the right lead canter. When he's relaxed, the right lead is now dependable and quite nice. It's when his neck and jaw are tight that I have so much trouble. Each week, JL has helped me deconstruct the canter so that I can build it back up. The neck and poll are now the trouble spot.

When Sydney is tense, he really wants to look to the outside which makes picking up the right lead canter impossible. I can try over and over, but I get a left lead every time. So JL had me work Sydney's neck and poll from the trot to show him what I wanted.

I've already shared (many times) the crabbing thing where I send his hindquarters in so that they line up behind his shoulders. That's the first part. I also have to have a solid feel on the outside rein so that he doesn't drop his inside shoulder and roll over. I have those two elements down pat. 

The problem now is that I need to get Sydney's neck absolutely straight so that I can't see his outside eyeball; that's my reference point. When I can see his outside eye, it means he is pulling on the inside rein and tipping his nose to the outside.

To fix this, JL had me pulse that inside rein over and over to tell Sydney to let it go. I only managed to get one correct right lead canter, but now that I have a feeling for what needs to happen to get a right lead canter when he's that stiff and anxious, I am pretty sure I'll get better and better.

The trick is to get his neck very straight, pulse that inside rein, and then sit ABSOLUTELY still as we go through the canter departure. While he's trying to get his legs coordinated, if I lean forward even a hair, he picks up the left lead.

Sydney and I are going to a schooling show on Sunday. I have one more lesson with JL before that show. Firming up the right lead canter is my goal, but I am not going to be disappointed if we flub that part of the test. We'll just keep fine tuning until we get it fixed.
Austen link
8/5/2014 03:56:48 am

Ahhhh, the poll tension. That's where I struggle. For us, I exacerbate by tensing my arm against him when he pulls to the inside. Keeping "loose" and "manageable" flexion has been the name of our game, but it takes all my brain power to not tense up. Bah! So frustrated with myself!

I am so excited for you and Sydney to head off to a schooling show. What an experiment! I'll have my fingers crossed that he stays loose and relaxed enough to show off all the fabulous work you two have been doing!

Bakersfield Dressage link
8/5/2014 09:02:36 am

I am glad somebody is excited. I feel more … resigned. I don't think that Sydney has the personality to be a show horse. I think it's stressful enough for him to deal with non-regular days at the barn. I enjoy riding him though, so if he can't make it as a show horse, I am still learning a ton while riding him.

Fortunately, I don't think I add to his tension. JL has pounded it into my head that I am not permitted to let him hang on me, nor me on him! I am to be moving my arms at all times so that my connection is elastic. If anything, I move around too much. :0)

JL is a greta trainer (for me). Our lessons always focus on what I need to do when he is tense and anxious. So what if he is relaxed right now, we know that isn't going to last. So everything we do is about dealing with a tense horse. On the days when he shows up loose and relaxed, we're both happy, but we prefer something to rile him up so that we can work on the stuff that I need when we show. :0)

jenj
8/6/2014 12:33:52 am

I LOVE posts like this, where you break it all down. I can compare what I'm doing with my leg/hand/seat with what you're doing and go "AHAH! I need to fix X, Y, and Z!"

Suuuper helpful, thanks!

Bakersfield Dressage link
8/6/2014 03:24:17 am

I am glad these posts help someone besides just me, JenJ, as I am sure they are BORING for the rest of the world. It helps me tremendously to sit down and write out my thoughts from my lessons so that I can apply those same ideas the next day.

I had a great lesson today keeping all of the above in mind. It's kind of hard to do, but I think I even impressed my trainer with how quickly I was able to put it all together.

Look for that (boring) write up in the next day or so. :0)


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    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
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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
    • 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