Dressage Day by Day

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...