Dressage Day by Day

Obviously, I am very goal-oriented and I will work harder knowing that I set a certain goal. I also love mentally checking them off through the year. Last year, I set the following goals:   GOALS FOR 2015 Learn how to set up and ride the working canter pirouette.  We are now reliably getting the smaller pirouette canter, but I still don't have a feel for this movement. I need more instruction so that I can feel more confident schooling it at home. Check! Although I haven't been schooling actual half or quarter pirouettes much this year, in the last couple months, they have finally started coming together. I definitely still have a lot to learn in this movement, but we've made huge progress in the pirouettes. Get consistent 3 tempis.  These oddly feel easier than the 4 tempis. However, it still takes me several attempts before I get in the rhythm of the aids and it sure doesn't feel easy yet. I hope these become more flowing this year. Check! The threes are feeli...

A month after working with Michael, I had a clinic with Kenny -- my first since riding with him in May. As usual, Kenny has a way of getting the best out of me and Gadget. In a weekend crammed with holiday parties, I was determined to make this clinic. So Gadget and I loaded up in the early hours of the morning and hauled to Timber Ridge for a 9:30 lesson. It was 65 degrees at 9:30 -- absolutely gorgeous! We rode outside and Gadget started out lethargic. However, he revved up after doing some gear changes. This included working on extended trot, which turned out amazing. EXTENDED TROT On the longside and diagonal, I would ask for some lengthened steps, then leg yield either way a few steps, then lengthen again. The first few attempts looked fairly average. But once Gadget understood the exercise, he started really using his whole body and really getting some suspension in the trot. They were the best extended trots I've ever had!  Kenny also reminded me to keep my ...

So I have been having an amazing summer of lessons with Ryan Yap. He really helped me feel how to collect and energize the canter, which has been the biggest challenge. He also made huge improvements in my halfpasses and helped develop more suspension in Gadget's trot. Writing these things make it sound easy, but it has taken years to get to a point where Ryan could work on these things with us. As he said, we were finally ready. So when Ryan's clinic date changed to one that conflicted with the Michael Bragdell clinic, I was so disappointed. It would have been awesome to have back-to-back weekends of clinics with those two. But I will have to wait until the spring to work with Ryan again.  As for the Michael Bragdell clinic, it was really quite amazing. I typically don't have the highest hopes for lessons when someone is seeing me and Gadget for the first time. We have lots of little issues going on and it sometimes takes a little time figure out the right way to a...

So I have been neglecting to update this again, but I have so much good news! The biggest news is that I won the Carol Lavell Gifted Scholarship from the Dressage Foundation for Region 1!!! This means that I get $1000 to spend toward concentrated time spent with my horse away from work and other distractions to focus on training. I am beyond thrilled and can't wait to get to bootcamp with Kristin Stein! I'll also be writing about my experience for the dressage foundation, which will be a fun opportunity as well. Other big news:  Gadget and I were champions at Third Level and Fourth Level  for Adult Amateurs in the Western Pennsylvania Dressage Association year end awards. Our average at Third Level based on the scores submitted was over 70%!  Not only did we win those big, beautiful ribbons, but we also won the Joe Lane award for highest score achieved between 2nd and 4th level. It's a beautiful glass award, and I was so surprised and thrilled to win it! More big...

So Gadget and I attended our first regional championship and it was great. The atmosphere felt like that of a big horse show and the quality of the horses was incredible. Lexington, Virginia was cool and crisp, and Gadget was very on edge when we arrived on Wednesday. He didn't really quite settle, but Kristin coached me through the ride and we got some good work. On Thursday I rode 4-1 early in the morning and it felt like Gadget was still on edge. He was trying to be good, but he seemed to be waiting for a boogey man around the corner. I didn't feel like I had much rideability, but Gadget mostly held it together and his changes were really lovely. We won the class with a 64% I was perplexed as it didn't feel like a winning ride. In the afternoon, I rode 3-3, and felt like I had more rideability. I came out of the ring happier with the my ride, so I was perplexed when it only scored a 61% from the same judge that gave us the win in the morning. Gadget was having some un...

Gadget and I have been having a blast over the last month. I am consistently getting my series of three 4 tempies. When the stars align, we get 5 in a row of the four tempies. I have also been getting this really cool trot where Gadget has power, but also a some suspension. Each ride has been good. He has even felt a little hot to the leg, which is so fun!  Until this past Wednesday. On Wednesday, I rode in the jumping ring after the dressage ring was flooded.  It has a slight grade, so we work on the slightly upward side, which is fairly well drained. We begin to warm up and it feels like Gadget is moving well but is just wanting to go. I also put him in the snaffle instead of the double, thinking this would be a good ride to play with the contact a bit. I go along with this and we boogy through walk, trot, and canter in warm-up mode. After a walk break, I am ready to go to work and ask for a little more engagement, throughness, and general attention. Gadget wants to barre...

In mid August, we headed to Quentin, PA for the WPDA competition. This time even Wilson, my very energetic labradoodle, got to make the trip. We had a fabulous weekend! The weather was perfect and the footing in the competition rings was wonderful. Gadget warmed up so beautifully on Friday that I was afraid to do too much. On Saturday, I realized the warm-up ring has a fairly significant grade to it. Of course I am used to riding in the the jumping ring at my barn, which also has a grade, so I knew which movements are better schooled up the hill and what I can get away with schooling down the hill. Our first class was 3-3 in front of Judge Ida Norris, and we had a really solid test! In fact, we won the class with a 65% I was so pleased that we are finally able to put together a nice first test, as usually that is a throw away test for us. Our next test was 4-1 in front of Judge Vracko and we scored a 66% and high point at fourth level! To end day one with two blue ribbons and a high...

Mid Ohio Show Report I can't believe that I forgot to report on my most successful show to date! The beginning of this summer has been the rainiest I ever remember. It seems like it rained nearly every day for two months. Given all the rain, I wasn't able to school in the dressage ring before this show at home, so I have been trapped in the indoor arena to practice. When we arrived at the show on Thursday night, the footing was very deep and soupy. Gadget really struggled in the warm up even with Kristin Stein coaching me. Although I always sleep for before shows, I tossed and turned all night worrying about the footing. On Friday, the footing was still very wet, but Gadget felt good. He felt soft and active and really tried his heart out in the mud. We rode 4-1 first and he was a bit strong and not quite on my aids. We got a slightly generous 61% (and finished our scores needed for our silver at 4th level) and second place. Our next test of the day was third level tes...

 I know responsiveness is important. We work on it daily in different ways. Ryan showed me that Gadget basically blows off my right leg to avoid working so hard with his right hind. It was a breakthrough lesson! Exercise: when Gadget doesn't react by moving haunches and rib cage away from right leg, school him on 10M circle in walk. To the right, put right inside leg on, if he doesn't quickly bend through barrel and step his haunches over to the left, give him a quick kick with that leg. Make the point with a tap with the whip if necessary. He must respect the right leg. This is the corollary of how Kristin taught me to ride the left trot/canter thinking of keeping the haunches slightly to the inside around corners and when collecting to keep the right hind active and stepping. We talked about how to ride it under going right, but it didn't stick until this lesson. The difference in our halfpasses was amazing! It gave me access to the bend I've been lo...

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.

So I was able to share my good show news with Ryan at this clinic -- I got a 71%!!! He was very happy for me, but I told him that the judges hated my halfpasses. I rode them terribly and I need major help before the next show. With that goal in mind, we went to work. Gadget felt very balanced at this clinic and happy in the contact. The biggest thing to remember is to really make Gadget jump up in the canter without just running. I need to really hear the 3 beats and pause for suspension in the canter. Back to the halfpasses -- I had been letting the haunches trail in the left halfpasses. Ryan had me think of starting the halfpass in shoulder fore, but then keeping the shoulders to the right a bit and really asking the haunches to come left. Then, finish the halpasses in a little renver or haunches in. Essentially, at the end of the halfpass, let the halfpasses lead, then right straight in shoulder in. I rode the halfpasses like crap in the clinic (I'm not good at processing ho...

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.

As usually Kenny's keen eye helps me fine tune my work with Gadget. I rode Gadget a bit more forward than I do with Kristin, but I felt that I kept the activity in the canter an kept him true in my hand. On video, the canter looked great. As usual, I am still holding too much on my left rein, and softening solves nearly every problem. Things to work on: Left Halfpasses -- the quarters trail in both trot and canter halfpasses. Both Kristin and Kenny told me to ride Gadget with slight haunches in to the left. I especially need to do this (or think this) when going into halfpass. Otherwise, I lose the haunches through most of the movement. Very Collected Canter -- I rode 4-1 with Kenny and the circle with the very collected canter strides is tricky for me. I need to think of pushing his haunches in with my outside leg. If I try to get more bend from inside leg, I get a change. Left change - I need to soften leg reins and let him move that direction. (Changes in general need...

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...

After about 6 weeks out of the saddle due to a compression fracture and strained MCL to my right knee, I am finally back in the saddle! Gadget has been at Kristin's, so I drove up to Cleveland for a lesson. I rode Gadget on Saturday, watched Kristin ride Gadget on Sunday, and then took a lesson on Isaac on Sunday. Here are just the highlights to remember: Ride with square, straight shoulders I tend to put Gadget in shoulder-fore all the time and ride with my shoulders twisted to the inside, and I let him disengage his haunches. I need to almost think of turning my chest slightly to the outside. Through corners, I need to think of keeping my shoulders back and very square so as not to overturn. This is also crucial for the turn on to centerline. Do less, expect more. Isaac has a nice, strong collected canter. I was able to work on really holding my seat still while still maintaining the active canter. Need to do this with Gadget. Be softer on the left rein in the ri...

I haven't written for some time and, really, I  have had so many breakthroughs over the last couple months that I can't believe I haven't been writing about all of them! My last clinic with Kenny was good and bad. I got kicked in the knee as soon as we arrived, and I could not ride Friday evening. However, watching Kenny ride Gadget so lightly yet so round and uphill was a great education in itself. I sucked it up and rode the next two days and really tried to carry the softness into my rides. We worked on the 4s and I am finally getting good changes! Everything felt good, but the pain was not good. The doctor later confirmed that I have a lateral tibia plateau compression fracture and a strained MCL. Both are sore every day, and I am not allowed to ride for another month. Boo! Hiss! Before I was injured, I really felt huge improvement in the canter and trot halfpasses. My trot halfpasses require that I actually soften on the outside rein to allow the bend. This made an ...

Gadget and I are still plugging away at the basics and throwing in movements when he feels good. Working on the connection and making sure I don't drop the connection through transitions, corners, etc. has been a challenge and has really resulted in an improvement in his way of going.  We had a break in the weather last weekend with temperatures in the high 30s and low 40s, so I was able to ride outside on Saturday and Sunday. Gadget and I are kindred spirits in our love of riding outdoors. He has been working well in the indoor, but he hasn't had a real pep in his step. Riding him in the large outdoor jumping arena made a huge difference! I have been working nearly exclusively in the snaffle, and I'm really amazed that I have so much more feel in it than I used to have.  The first day outside, I was probably a little greedy wanting to work on everything that we could while I had Gadget's enthusiasm and the soft, moist footing. We warmed up focusing on connectio...