I am apparently the only one holding out on cantering Stinker. And yes I did just say cantering. I know this may not sound like a big deal (and it usually isn't), but last summer I honestly didn't know if Stinker was ever going to be rideable again. Sure part of that was just in my head, but not all of it. I am still in a bit of shock that we are nearly there.
I love this brow band and fly bonnet combo!
My favorite dressage judge was in town this weekend (actual lesson write ups to follow I am just too excited to make sense) and she casually mentioned that we weren't far from cantering (insert happy dance followed by a bunch of mental oh shits). I didn't say anything at the time because I was too busy trying to wrap my head around it. She is the one that put us on the walk only program back in January and said we would need to do that for about a year. I knew that Stinker and I had been making progress I just didn't realize how much.
I was trying to get a picture of Stinker and the sunset and failed.
I asked her some questions about it on Sunday and she said we could start any time we wanted. I am supposed to do some canter transitions, canter a few strides bring him back to the trot, then let him stretch and end the ride. It is all supposed to work as part of game where nothing is a big deal and we can just slide in and out of the trot and walk and toss in a canter. I am really excited and also really notice. I haven't cantered anyone since I stopped riding Pongo back in April.
I really want to steal this dog (he is a barn dog). So cute.
My plan is to wait until I have either the dressage judge or D to talk me through it. I don't trust myself to not get stuck in my head and screw things up. I really want to keep everything positive for him, since we are working so well. So I am the only one that is nervous about cantering, which is really funny for me considering I have no problem hopping on a horse bareback and galloping.
First don't forget about the Olympic Contest! There are still more prizes than entries, so enter away!
Secondly, I have been struggling to find breeches that I like. I have several fit problems. One I am super tall, but I also have hips and a butt. Apparently most companies assume if you are tall you are also super skinny (ok maybe not super skinny but they stop making longs before they hit my size). I have a few that I like and a few that failed, so if you have any suggestions fire away.
I have some Kerrits tights that I love and wear all the time, but they only come in black and tan. I am ok with wearing them in the black, but a girl can only have so many pairs of black tights. I tried a pair of their full seats and while I liked them they didn't last.
Stinker thinks that I shouldn't be allowed to dress anyone.
I tried the Aztech Diamond breeches, but they aren't wide enough in the hips for me. I also tried Smartpak Pipers and those were terrible. I had to size up to a 36 to even get them on and then the waist was so large I can easily fit a fist in them. I also tried some Goode Rider and they were big fat nopes.
The FITS Free Flex Full Seats are good, but they are a little snugger and leave things more visible than I would prefer. They are typically the ones that I wear for the video lessons and clinics because they are my only light grey pair.
FITS. Look fine in the saddle, but a touch snug for my taste.
I recently tried ROMF St. Tropez Full Seats and they are nice, but a little heavy for summer season. They are also a little snugger in the hips that I like. I have to do some squats when I first put them on so they stretch and aren't weird when I get in the saddle. They are also too short for me, but I mostly ignore that.
ROMF St. Tropez. A bit to heavy for the humidity.
If you are hippier, what are your favorite breeches (full seats or knee patch)? If you aren't what breeches didn't you like because they were too big in the hips?
Unfortunately Stinker does not have one, but I have been working really hard to give Stinker a big butt. I feel like something is missing from my routine. As a review, he has poor hind end conformation, EPM basically removed all muscle from his hind (that might be a smidge dramatic but that is what it felt like), and I am still figuring out how to ride him correctly.
This year is on top and last year is on the bottom
As you can see from the picture, I have made progress not only with his weight, but also with his muscling. He looked like shit last year after he lost weight and muscle from the EPM. I am concerned about how he has a dip in his butt. I have read that this goes along with a weak stifle (which also goes along with what my vet has said).
I don't have an old butt shot to compare it too, but you can see how flat his bum is on the sides. The right is worse than the left, which correlates with his right hind being weaker than his left hind. I have been doing all the things I know to strengthen them, but I am not making the progress that I want. I could just be being impatient (no surprise there...I want muscle NOW!)
Who doesn't want a horse that stands like a ballerina?
Right now, we walk on hills, play with poles, some backing exercises, leg yields on a circle, turns on the forehand. That basically covers the majority of exercises that I have found. I really wish that I could do trot on the hill, but he made that very apparent he isn't ready for it yet. I am questioning if I could just do one or two and then stop, because he was ok with that. But I am also terrified I will push too hard and have a huge set back. The backing is slowly improving, but we have two problems with it. One, he doesn't back straight (I can't use a whip to keep him straight because he loses his mind at sight of a whip), so I have to use a fence or something to keep him straight. Also, he doesn't take the clear step necessary to really engage things. He does more of the only if I have to shuffle. I am really not sure how to get this crisp.
So are there any other exercises I am missing? General thoughts?
Go spinning off... Not really I am being a bit dramatic, but I have gotten greedy with the fantastic rides that Stinker has been giving me. Apparently, we forgot how to walk again this weekend. And it wasn't the tense anxiousness that freaked me out the last time. It was I am being an asshole and don't feel like playing ball today.
Not an asshole face...but can be an asshole
After fighting about walking for the majority of the way back to the barn, I got to a hill and had the thought "If you want to trot you can trot up the hill on the bit." He did quite lovely and was sulky when I turned and walked him back down the hill. He decided to trot up it again (I was asking for the walk and not being neutral/encouraging the trot) and this was repeated a couple more times. Right as I was starting to think that maybe he is strong enough to add in some hill trot work his right hind went from fine to super gimpy. Like feels very lame gimpy.
I got my tack locker organized
Luckily, he is smart and finally decided that walking was good, so I was able to get him to stretch a bit and get off without feeling like I ended on a bad note. I gave him a bath (much to his dismay) and hosed his legs for longer than I usually do. He didn't seem any worse for the wear and was quite happy to kick his stall with that leg, so I decided I wasn't allowed to worry (until after I rode on Sunday).
I love this picture, post rain and the sun setting.
Sunday I gave him an extra long warm up and I had a really hard time getting him to slow his walk and soften. I could feel that he was a little quick with his right hind which was part of the struggle with asking for the slow walk. He was really tight in his poll (which D had previously said relates to his hind leg) and it took a solid 20 min or more of walk to get him feeling supple. I did some trot work and while it was pretty mediocre, he did give me some good moments.
It has been super hot. This is from 35 min of calm walking (aka not this weekend).
Overall, I am calling things a win. I kept my crazy in check for once (if I keep this up I might be mistaken for a sane horse owner). Stinker isn't any worse for the wear. And I know that he isn't ready for that much push yet. I am trying to figure out the best way to keep getting him stronger, but that is a post in itself.
I almost didn't post this considering it is nearly two months over due. But I really like these posts to keep track of our progress, so enjoy (or skip over it). It is also funny writing this up when we have progressed so much since then, but it is a good reminder.
05.09.16 Video Lesson
My Thoughts:
The trot work felt better than it looks. He felt like he was actually reaching for the contact instead of tucking into the false contact. At the end I did some turns on the forehand/haunches and leg yields. This is the first video where I really felt like I was struggling with my balance at the trot.
D's Thoughts:
I need to relax and ride my horse. I am locking in my lower back and regressing back to when I was first figuring out how to ride him and was super defensive. I need to remember to breathe and let go (true on so many levels).
The walk is looking really good and I am doing a good job of managing him in the walk, which is funny because D thought the walk is what we would struggle the most with. Now I just need to transfer that mindset to the trot because the walk is our happy place right now.
I am doing a better job with the trot (above). D thinks that the majority of our problems are because I am too tense and he is now in the neutral, so I need to meet him there. I need to get out of my head and stop worrying so much.
Our lateral work is improving, but I need to stop once I get the correct response and not push for more. I need to go for baby steps instead of trying to go for everything (29:07).
05.15.16 Video Lesson
My Thoughts:
I was fairly happy with this video. I felt like most of the issues were due to me. I was waiting for some new stirrup leathers to come in, so I could shorten them a hole. We had done a fair amount of walk before the video starts and I really think that helps him to loosen up and relax.
D's Thoughts:
Our first trot transition is one of the best we have done and the trot work is the best it has been since we removed the side reins. I was looking much more relaxed in the trot. We had a nice diagonal until I flubbed the corner (I remembered that there is a dip in that corner at the last minute and turned him abruptly). In general, I need to use my aids better in the corners.
I need to get him a touch lower in the trot work for now. He was working well and it was excellent work for us, but in general I need to work him a little lower. Overall, D thought this was one of our best rides since losing the draw reins.
05.24.16 Video Lesson
My Thoughts:
I was pretty happy with this video. It was after I had a couple lessons with my favorite dressage judge, so I was a bit disappointed that the leg yields weren't as good as they had been. I was having some trouble to the right, and I think it was because he was locking up in the poll and I couldn't quite get him to give and I think that is why he was twisting his nose.
D's Thoughts:
Right from the beginning, I took his neck away. I did have a bobble and ask for too much when I did the turn on the forehand. I shouldn't be afraid to let him trot when he starts to get worked up (I don't totally agree with this, because I have a system that is working for us, but it is good to keep in mind).
In the second trot set, he is rushing a bit and I need to slow him down and rebalance, but I am catching him when he comes above the bit. On the plus side, the leg yields were good. At one point I even got him to drop his right hip and led with his hind end.
One interesting thing that D said was when I feel that tightness in the poll is it is actually his hind that is the problem. I need to really push the hind leg up under him and really emphasize the bend to get the release I want. She also feels that he tends to jam himself up in his shoulder, because he has really figured out how to bring the energy up from his hind.
Overall, D was really happy with how things are progressing.
05.29.16 Video Lesson
My Thoughts:
I kept this one short, because it was hot (little did I know that it was just getting started). I wasn't super happy with the trot work, because it felt like he was pulling with his front instead of pushing from behind. Also, he was blowing through my half halt attempts. I also played with the shoulder in (baby ones) and leg yields (they made him anxious, so I didn't do much). Overall, I was happy with the ride and he felt balanced and didn't take as long of a walk warm up to start stretching.
D's Thoughts:
D was happy with the shoulder in. The one to the right wasn't as good, but it was a good starting place. The trot work at 7:00 looked really good. When I am doing the turn on the forehand, I was trying to hold him in it too long and now I need to make sure his feet are planted. He is wiggling too much and I need to get him planted and then ask. I also figured out that I was cueing for the turn on the haunches incorrectly.
Overall, she thought this was one of the best rides we have had. Our trot work was inconsistent, but he would respond promptly when I asked him to stretch down again. The lateral work was some of our best.
Because I am obsessed with the olympics and can't wait for them to start I thought it would be fun to do a contest where people pick the winners (there will be prizes involved). In order to make things easier, I am limiting it to the team competitions. But to make it more difficult (and other discipline friendly) you have to pick for dressage, eventing, and show jumping. Let the games begin.
The official judge, but don't worry I will still do the math.
How it works
You pick what country you think will win the gold, silver, and bronze medal for each discipline. As a potential tie breaker, you have to guess what the score will be for the eventing individual gold medalist. Entries are due Friday August 5th by midnight pacific time (email them to eventing.saddlebred.style (at) gmail or comment on this post).
Example:
Dressage
Gold=Cuba
Silver=Mexico
Bronze=Peru
Eventing
Gold=South Africa
Silver=Swaziland
Bronze=Botswana
Show Jumping
Gold=Nepal
Silver=Thailand
Bronze=Cambodia
Tiebreaker=19.3 (remember lower is better in eventing)
Scoring
For every medal you get correct, you get 20 points.
If you get all three correct in the same category you get 30 bonus points.
If you get two correct (ex. gold and bronze are correct) in the same category you get 20 bonus points.
If you pick a team in the incorrect medal spot (ex. your gold team wins bronze) you get 5 points.
In the event that there is a tie, the score that is closest for the eventing gold medalist will win the tie.
Prizes (the fun part)
1st place will get their choice of a gift card
Dark Jewel Design
If the Bonnet Fits
Riding Warehouse
2nd place will get their choice of a gift card after (1st place)
3rd place will get the remaining card
In addition to the winning prizes, I am putting together some small ones (these will be humorous and not set in stone yet) for the non-winners.
Lowest total score (aka please enter my contest because even if you are terrible you can still win something)
If you share the contest on your blog, your name will be entered into a random drawing.
Most eliminations (aka if you have terrible luck and your riders are falling off left and right you can still win something).
This past weekend I told myself I would be a responsible adult and take care of the adult things I needed to do. The following was my to do list:
Sums up my feelings about adulting.
1) Laundry. I am running very low of work appropriate clothes that are clean.
2) Pick up my house.
3) Yard work.
4) Go to the grocery store.
5) Prep some food for this week.
The following is what I did.
1) Horse laundry. I am struggling to keep up with clean(ish) saddle pads in the heat we have been having. I managed to resist my obvious solution of buying more saddle pads.
2) Give Stinker a bath. He was dirtier than my horse was anyway.
3) Help out a bit at the barn. Who needs a yard that looks nice anyway.
4) Did make it to the grocery store. Then promptly ate all food in sight...
5) Did not get anything that I could prep and make last for the week.
I find clean white socks so satisfying.
Yep I suck as an adult. I am pretty sure I will regret my decisions by the time this is published, but I had fun doing it.
