It's been a long time since I have actually written any updates about Iggy. Partly, that is because it is difficult to write about things when you are still very much in the experimental stage. I think I have loved dressage since I was a teenager because of the constant experimenting, strategizing, and problem solving of every ride. I love the intellectual side of it. However, puzzles are more fun when you are making progress toward solving them. They are less fun when you spend a lot of time wondering if you have made progress, stayed the same, or actually screwed things up.
Iggy is my puzzle. He is a puzzle that makes my eyes light up and my heart sing when I see him. He has this sweet baby face and the personality of a labradoodle. When I look at him, he is everything I ever wanted. Yet, our journey has not been quite as straight forward as I thought it might be. When I sat on Iggy for the first time and I couldn't contain the smile from the first stride of his rolling canter, I could just see all of the fun that I could have with him. I thought of how much Gadget had struggled in the canter, and I imagined what fun it would be to train a horse with a built-in magical canter.
And, make no mistake, Iggy's canter is still the substance of my dreams. It's big and uphill and so powerful. BUT, baby Iggy has not yet mastered the balance and strength part of holding all of this magic together, so he changes leads behind whenever his balance is challenged in the canter. And herein lies the detour in my anticipated journey. I really thought I'd be horseshowing with Iggy and maybe making a big mess of things due to having a big young horse, but I did not expect that we would still be working to maintain one lead.
Admittedly, it has taken some time to adjust my expectations and plan the new route of our journey. I think my destination of eventual FEI is still firmly in place. However, rather than just systematically schooling, I have been majorly brainstorming for ways to 1) build buns of steel for Iggy and 2) use everything I have learned on Gadget to help Iggy find the balance in the canter.
Spoiler alert -- we still have not found it. I have some amazing rides that make me think we've got it. Then I promptly get 20 changes the next day. I have stopped seeing the changes as a problem, but just as a mistake like any other. I correct to the proper lead and continue on with the canter work.
Because he can feel so wonderful and like such a hot mess in the span of two seconds in the canter, it's a bit unnerving. And because his canter troubles are worse when he is tense and his back is tight, I have real and palpable worries about competing. But, I think I've decided we are going to go to some shows next year regardless of what the canter looks like. I love to show and Iggy needs the experience, so we'll be setting goals of positive outings and lots of smiles instead of ribbons and scores.
As with any puzzle, we'll take it one piece at a time and enjoy the company and the challenge along the way.
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| From Iggy's first show - trying to keep the big canter in one piece! |
Iggy is my puzzle. He is a puzzle that makes my eyes light up and my heart sing when I see him. He has this sweet baby face and the personality of a labradoodle. When I look at him, he is everything I ever wanted. Yet, our journey has not been quite as straight forward as I thought it might be. When I sat on Iggy for the first time and I couldn't contain the smile from the first stride of his rolling canter, I could just see all of the fun that I could have with him. I thought of how much Gadget had struggled in the canter, and I imagined what fun it would be to train a horse with a built-in magical canter.
And, make no mistake, Iggy's canter is still the substance of my dreams. It's big and uphill and so powerful. BUT, baby Iggy has not yet mastered the balance and strength part of holding all of this magic together, so he changes leads behind whenever his balance is challenged in the canter. And herein lies the detour in my anticipated journey. I really thought I'd be horseshowing with Iggy and maybe making a big mess of things due to having a big young horse, but I did not expect that we would still be working to maintain one lead.
Admittedly, it has taken some time to adjust my expectations and plan the new route of our journey. I think my destination of eventual FEI is still firmly in place. However, rather than just systematically schooling, I have been majorly brainstorming for ways to 1) build buns of steel for Iggy and 2) use everything I have learned on Gadget to help Iggy find the balance in the canter.
Spoiler alert -- we still have not found it. I have some amazing rides that make me think we've got it. Then I promptly get 20 changes the next day. I have stopped seeing the changes as a problem, but just as a mistake like any other. I correct to the proper lead and continue on with the canter work.
Because he can feel so wonderful and like such a hot mess in the span of two seconds in the canter, it's a bit unnerving. And because his canter troubles are worse when he is tense and his back is tight, I have real and palpable worries about competing. But, I think I've decided we are going to go to some shows next year regardless of what the canter looks like. I love to show and Iggy needs the experience, so we'll be setting goals of positive outings and lots of smiles instead of ribbons and scores.
As with any puzzle, we'll take it one piece at a time and enjoy the company and the challenge along the way.
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