Skip to main content

On Plodding On, Squeezing with the Thighs, and Turning 30!

Image
By
So I am back to plodding along in the snaffle bridle trying to figure things out again. I feel like I want to get Gadget a little softer in the bridle and just more honest in the connection.

I've been warming up by really separating my aids -- legs mean go, then half-halt means balance. I am really focusing on keeping my head back "in the headrest," maintaining pointy elbows, carrying my hands, legs at the girth, and giving the squeezing half halt and the release. The basics take so much thought to do well. 

This week I really could feel how important it is for me to have the squeeze in the thighs in the collected canter. After he is warmed up, I can put pressure in my thighs (like squeezing toothpaste out of the tube) and get him actually powering from behind in the smaller canter. When I ride from the thighs, he is quieter and happier in the contact. If I try to kick him up to it, be bounces all over the place in the contact. I think this is because my seat is bouncing all over the place when I try to get that feel from the lower leg. 

In other good news, Gadget's back is staying so nice and solid. I've been waiting for the flinch when I brush him with the stiff brush, but nada! I have learned so much over the last year about the correct connection and encouraging Gadget to be responsible for his own balance that has made a huge difference in both of us.

Unrelated to dressage, but I turn 30 tomorrow! Although some girls hate to say goodbye to their 20s, there is no love lost here. I think my 30s will be full of great things. First, it will be full of great times with friends and great shopping at Dressage at Devon!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

When old becomes new - update to my old Pikeur Diana!

By
Here is the finished product! It was a plain black jacket so I added white and light blue trim with RHINESTONES! It's very sparkly! Here's a closeup of the collar, which looks better than the pocket. Now I am going to try to add coordinating trim (minus the rhinestones) to the saddle pad.
Post a Comment
Read more

May 1-2, 2015 Lessons with Kristin

By
Had another weekend of very insightful lessons. I rode Isaac Friday night briefly and he showed me how hard it is for me to keep my body aligned, because he quickly went crooked when I did. Big takeaways from lessons on Gadget: 1. "Keep your basket to the outside." Kristin tells me to pretend I am pushing or holding a basket on my hands. In my mind, my basket is squarish. She will often tell me to take my basket to the outside and it helps me take both hands one direction. I really ride with too much bend to the inside and I need to learn this new feeling of straightness that feels almost counter bent. 2. "Look at the outside ear." This keeps me from twisting my chest to the inside. It's actually shocking how well it worked. 3. "Go and whoa." This is how I have to ride the canter. Quiet seat. Left hand up, not holding. This keeps him off his left shoulder. Right hand maintains connection. I have to go from leg and quickly put him togeth...
Post a Comment
Read more

PRE-SHOW NOTES

By
I leave for Mid Ohio Dressage Classic in less than a week, and today Hani vidoed my ride. I had so many break- throughs!! For right trot halfpass, do not put outside leg too far back ! This results in breaking to the canter! Keep leg at girth and move haunches. Left trot halfpass -- start in shoulder-fore, then keep shoulders to right , and add haunches. For left canter halfpass , ride canter with very following hands . Gadget will bend around inside leg and flow sideways. If you hold too much in reins, the canter falls apart. Turn on the haunches -- soft hands , strongly hold haunches to inside , then ride shoulders around like cow pony , only half-halting between steps to keep rhythm. Stay soft/following in the hands to keep Gadget soft in the neck/back.
Post a Comment
Read more