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

The Outside Rein

6/28/2013

 
The outside rein is the one aide that I know the least. It hangs out whenever I ride, but I've never really gotten to know it. Until this past week, that is.

It started with Chemaine's lesson last Friday: open the outside rein, squeeze and release the inside rein, and add inside leg all while remembering to keep weight on my inside leg. That is useful information and quite helpful, but once on my own, the outside rein remained a bit elusive.

I had a lesson with my regular trainer the day after the Tehachapi show. I shared with her what I had learned from Chemaine and Christian and she encouraged me to use everything that I'd learned. Then she also had me working with the outside rein. This time though, it was to teach Sydney to lift and turn from my outside aides. 

We started at the walk to demonstrate that Sydney could do a turn on the haunches without just swiveling around my inside leg. When JL was satisfied that he was actually lifting his shoulders and bearing weight on the hind end, we tried the exercise at both the trot and canter. 

I gave up worrying about correct contact, and instead, focused on lifting his shoulders up and over with my outside leg, only using the rein to reinforce the no faster idea. It was really interesting to see how quickly he picked up on the idea. The exercise goes like this: slightly counter bend the horse to the outside. Set the outside hind with the outside rein. Open the inside rein to say, "Here, come over here!" Add outside leg.

We rode a square, making the turn with just the outside leg and a little rein for support. It felt a lot like riding a cow pony; the second my outside leg went on, Sydney lifted and turned. At one point, his turns got so quick, I had to use some inside leg to keep the circle a little bigger.

After we had it at the trot, we did it again at the canter. As we picked up the canter, the idea was to get just one lifted stride. By this time, I didn't even need a counter bend. All it took was a small half halt with the outside rein and my outside leg and he lifted and turned, lifted and turned, lifted and turned. I can see why reiners have so much fun.

The lesson went great, but I was a little unsure how this exercise was going to help me in a dressage test. After riding on Thursday, I totally get how useful that exercise is. And even better, I can see how Chemaine's exercise works perfectly together with JL's.

While I was riding Sydney on Thursday morning, I was finally able to use Chemaine's exercise to get Sydney on the outside rein. Like most horses, Sydney is stiff to the left and hollow to the right. He already leans on the outside rein while tracking left, so I used JL's exercise to lighten him off it. OMG. Can you hear the angels in Heaven singing Hallelujah?

As we cantered at A, I used JL's exercise to really make the turn in the open end of the circle - right where he blew through it at last Sunday's show. As I was schooling, a car shot by and Sydney tried to bolt just like he had at the show, but I was ready for him! I used the outside rein and my outside leg and caught him just in time. Not only did he make the turn, but I was soft enough in my aides that he never lost the canter. Oh, man I can't wait until Sunday!

To the right, his limp way, I used more of Chemaine's strategy to get him on the outside rein. This is a bit tough for me as I can be too heavy with the inside rein. Instead, I opened the outside rein, pulsed the inside rein and then let it go, all the while focusing on keeping weight in that inside stirrup. It took us a few minutes, but eventually, I felt Sydney's weight shift to the outside and I worked him honestly from the inside leg to the outside rein.

Tracking right has been very difficult for us. Before yesterday, I haven't had a reliable way to get him on the outside rein so he frequently falls in. It took a lot of work to get a right lead canter because he would just pivot into the canter instead of staying out. I "fixed" that with a strong outside rein, but I was missing the weight on my inside stirrup. Now, I know how to  move him over to the outside rein even at the canter.

I know we don't have all of our kinks worked out, but Thursday's ride gave me an enormous lightbulb moment. I finally felt how to help a horse get on the outside rein and keep him there. Good trainers are worth their weight in gold!
Lauren link
6/28/2013 03:34:04 am

Completely agree about good trainers! Glad you heard the angels sing :)

Karen
6/28/2013 06:14:21 am

Thanks! I love it when things start to really click. Today, my trainer had me do an exercise on Speedy over and over until I finally "felt" it. Whatever it takes. :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.
    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