Dressage Day by Day

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 ...

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...

I finally feel like I am getting back into the swing of things. Last week Gadget was acting sluggish and generally unenthused about any of his work - even his changes, which always perks him up. This week, we are both working so much better. I put him back in the double and decided to really work on getting him more uphill. I, unfortunately, can't really tell whether we look like a saddlebred or a dressage horse, but it feels better. I figure I can always make him a bit rounder once he learns to carry his own head. He still likes a lot of contact in the snaffle, but about halfway through the rides, he becomes softer and more through. I've been able to work him outside the last couple days, which makes all the difference in the world for both of us. Yesterday, he was full of himself and he basically blew through my aids. I was sharing the ring with a hunter rider, two ladies picking stones from the ring, and about 15 jumps. I decided it wasn't the day to pick a fight. So ...