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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Thinking Out Loud

1/2/2015

 
You'll probably be bored, but I really need to write this out ...

I had a long talk with Chemaine, my dressage trainer over on the coast, about how best to approach riding Izzy. No matter how much I suck at something, she has a knack for pointing it out without making it sound like a fatal flaw. The issue this time was how Izzy was freezing up due to my tenseness.

Chemaine explained that many horses, especially the green beans, really need the rider's seat/pelvis/hips to move so their own backs and pelvis can move. She delicately pointed out that I tend to hold a certain amount of tension in my seat which can restrict that movement. Speedy is such a rock start that he zooms right along despite my shortcomings.

She had me think about walking on my own two feet, which I did as we talked. When we walk, our hips sway from side to side. The bigger our stride, the bigger the sway, and conversely, the smaller our stride, well you get the idea.

The second thing she asked me to think about was releasing my leg. I ride Speedy with a lot of leg because he leans on my leg. But then, maybe he leans on my leg because I use a lot of leg. Ooooohhhhh. Chemaine pointed out that a young horse like Izzy, who is already quite sensitive to the leg, will freak out if the rider's seat won't move while the rider's legs are screaming GO! He'll have nowhere to go but up.

She suggested I try to ride Speedy with these ideas in mind so that I can memorize the feeling so that I'll be more relaxed when I ride Izzy. So, keeping all of this in mind, I saddled Speedy up and head out for some hip swaying, loose leg riding. And you know what, it was one of the best rides I've ever had. I could hear Speedy slurping on his bit, something he never does, and he didn't lean on my inside leg.

We started out just walking. I quickly realized that I do brace my lower body which locks my pelvis and doesn't allow any movement. As soon as I let it go, I could feel my hips rocking up and down, side to side. I started calling out the movement of my hips in time to Speedy's stride ... up, up, up.

I played around with loosening my pelvis and then imagined that I was taking a shorter stride, but I wasn't able to influence Speedy's stride length. Either he has learned to turn out my bumblings, or I didn't have it quite right. At least he did have a freer walking stride, and even if I didn't think I was influencing it, I probably was.

I also got my leg off. Instead of constantly squeezing, I gave him several taps when I felt his belly lean into my leg: bump, bump ... leg off. If he hadn't moved away, I bumped harder: BUMP, BUMP ... leg off. And when that didn't work: I used the spur: BUMP, BUMP ... leg off. For most of our ride, he was quick to get off my leg once I quit squeezing him.

I also got very assertive with head down, FOCUS on me. Speedy's really good, but there are days when he wants to keep popping his nose up to giraffe around at everything that seems of interest. Izzy finds EVERYTHING distracting. To help myself practice keeping Izzy's attention, I rode Speedy like he was a baby: head down, long rein.

It helped that the neighbor was firing up his motorcycles and quads and warming them up around the yard. That doesn't scare Speedy, but it was very distracting for him. I simply relaxed my pelvis, kept my leg off, and gave gentle (sometimes not so gentle) right/left tugs on the bit. As soon as he dropped his head, I quieted my hands. My goal was to sponge the reins before he could pop his head back up.

I discovered that with a longer rein, I tend to use even more leg to guide him. I resisted that feeling and instead gave small flutters, or bumps, when he fell into the circle, or I tapped him with my outside leg when he drifted too far out. Eventually, I did shorten my reins for more serious work, but I kept my legs freer and focused on adjusting his tempo with my posting rather than my legs. 

Speedy wears his heart on his sleeve so it's easy to see when he's thinking. He had quite the funny expression when we finished. He looked a little shellshocked, sort of like he wasn't sure what had just hit him. I definitely learned some things about my own riding that I am going to be working hard to change. Let's hope it helps both of my boys!
martina peterson
1/2/2015 12:26:46 am

I didn't think your article was boring at all. Actually it's pretty neat when we get those aha moments. It sounds like Speedy enjoyed himself.

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/3/2015 11:42:48 pm

Thanks, Mom. :0)

Lauren link
1/2/2015 01:37:44 am

If you were closer, I'd offer to let you come ride Simon. He is a lot like Izzy with the sensitivity, but he responds in ways that are very telling but also super safe (not that Izzy isn't safe!). I'm having to work on similar things right now, because sometimes I ride with way too much leg and it makes him anxious.

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/3/2015 11:45:30 pm

That's a great compliment, Lauren - offering your horse for me to ride. :0)

Actually, I just got a great opportunity (a post will come soon) to ride the neighbor's 17 hand gelding for the next few weeks. He's older and very safe, but it's great getting to ride such a HUGE boy. He actually tried to be naughty yesterday, which gave me a moment of oh crap, but then I school him through it. He's going to help my confidence a lot as he is SO BIG! :0)

Calm, Forward, Straight link
1/2/2015 02:40:24 am

In a nutshell, the history of my struggles with Val. He came to me very sensitive. I dulled him to my leg with tight hips and not sharp enough aiding.

The aiding can be corrected by focusing and consistency. The hips are much harder. I'm arranging some lunge lessons because that is how I think I can most effectively open and improve my seat.

Looking forward to following your journey with Izzy :D

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/3/2015 11:48:15 pm

Speedy is great to work with because he tolerates almost everything. i love being able to experiment with my body on him because he has become so willing - he didn't start out that way.

Thinking about swaying side to side has really helped me, but I find that if I am focusing on something else, I lose the sway. Now I need to learn to two two things at a time. :0)

jenj
1/2/2015 03:01:08 am

The "leg off" thing is a tough one for me because of my background in eventing. I'm working on it though - using it only when needed and trying not to nag. It's so hard though!

Love the idea of walking with your pelvis. I'll have to try that next time I ride... I think I tend to scoot my seat more in the saddle that "walking" - definitely a good mental image. Thanks!

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/3/2015 11:49:34 pm

Riding with less leg has actually becoming freeing! I am loving the sensation, and I think Speedy appreciates the sharper aids as opposed to the constant squeezing.

Katharine Marie link
1/2/2015 03:32:46 am

Totally not boring at all! You're always giving me new things to think about and work on with my horses. My girl is 17 years old and but a definite green bean to the English style and especially dressage. :)

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/3/2015 11:51:35 pm

When I first started dressage, I did a lot of stuff with my senior mare too. Most of the time she gave me a WTF ear pin, but she always went along with it (she was my main endurance horse for a lot of years). :0)

Jan link
1/2/2015 09:36:04 am

Definitely not boring! Interesting to think about. Mikey has been over-reactive to my seat and leg, except when I'm trying to get his bend correct or stop bulging against my inside leg when he's distracted or finds a task had. Something I will consider and pay attention to when I warm up tomorrow, especially in trot and canter when I get the worst of the bulging. Thanks :)

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/3/2015 11:53:22 pm

Yeah ... I HATE the bulge! Speedy is the king of that, but we are definitely working it, and I actually think it's getting better. I didn't realize I was holding him up with my leg. Since I am riding with a looser leg, I can feel when he falls into it. A sharp bump, bump seems to be helping.

Val
1/2/2015 10:36:03 am

That was my favorite kind of post.

Harley will stop if I put my legs too far back. They block his forward motion. Pumping with the seat irritates him and trends to make him slow down, too. There is a fine line, when riding a sensitive horse but it is so much fun. You will learn how to follow and allow Izzy's motion and then it will be surprising how easy riding can be. Seriously. I think most of us work way too hard.

The hips walking idea can also be applied to the sitting trot. That one blew my mind when I figure it out.

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/3/2015 11:55:12 pm

For the sitting trot, I have heard to ride it like pedaling a bicycle backwards. That helps, but Christian's instructions to make the buttons on the back of your coat go up and down gave me "permission" to move my hips far more than just the idea of pedaling.

Austen link
1/3/2015 12:21:34 am

I am working on this too! Guinness is so lazy, I find I tend to clamp my legs on. It's a hard habit to break.

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/3/2015 11:57:17 pm

Yep. BUT ... the less I clamp my legs, the less I seem to need to. Hmmm ... this has definitely been one of those big ideas that help you get to the next one. I've had a lot of fun over my Christmas break working on my own position. It's always good when you can actually see it making a difference in how your horse moves. :0)

emma link
1/5/2015 10:58:44 am

excellent food for thought - glad it was so productive!!! i am definitely very locked and restricted through my seat, so perhaps i'll try 'walking' when i'm riding too!


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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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    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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    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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