So today I did a bad thing. I didn't follow my initial instinct. Blue-pony Sam and I have been working mildly for the past few rides. Not super hard work, but also no real 'play' days. Just working on certain aspects he has issues with like his rather downhill canter, his bending issues and spots of stiffness.
Well today I was going to get him and his things ready for a clinic he'll be in this weekend, so I wanted to make sure I had the time. I thought "hm... we should have a fun day today." Some flat and forward work, but then maybe jump some little fences and tootle about. Well I talked myself out of it at some point... decided to work on response time and more uphill canter departs. To do actual work-work.
That wasn't a great idea.
He had moments of awesome, but even when I walked out there I could tell he really wasn't in a working mood. I tried to get him up in front of my leg with some hand gallop collected back to a canter after we'd properly warmed up and that was pretty good... but it wasn't too long after that it started to go back down hill... literally and figuratively. We had some good moments but I had to growl and swat him and really get on his case much of the time. He learned I was better giving a reprimanding tap on the right with consistent reins, but not on the left.... so he'd lean into my spur on that side when asking to bend.
Ultimately... it was frustrating and a mess. And I probably should have given up and tried to play a bit. Eventually I got some okay canter to halt to canter transitions and we called it a day.
So bottom line? Listen to that little voice.
I'm sure it wasn't just him. I was probably, in my frustration, loosing the softness in my body. I know I had to frequently check and stretch up with my torso and relax my legs when he was being a pill... and it would get better once I did so. Not where we'd been in the past, but better. I suppose bad days are normal.
Though, as I told one of the gals out there, it'll probably be that weird day where it feels like you both didn't get anywhere but next day it's like he learned over night. At least I can hope, since he goes to meet the lady riding him in the clinic tomorrow.
He was even a jerk out in the paddock when being caught to be fed. I wish I'd known... I wouldn't have put his blue butt back out prior.
I didn't get to the little paint mare, Suzette. There was still so much to do and I'd had to take my roommate to an appointment earlier that day. I thought I'd have time, but i suppose I didn't anticipate a disagreeable Sam. Well, after all, didn't I just recently tell my lesson girl that we have to be flexible around horses? I'll just have to fit her in on a Saturday or when I have a free Friday.
My lesson girl has been leasing the red-pony, Wheels. It's been going really well. She's been working on her lower leg and seat with two point and stirrup-less work. Really proud of her... and Wheels is behaving himself like a gentleman.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Saturday, January 12, 2013
The Wonderful World Of Horse Training
It's been a bit since I've posted.
Today was the first lesson/ride since I've been back in town.
Wheeler was a bit off today so instead we used Suzette for a lesson. Suzette is a green paint horse, very calm but also rather mare-ish. So it was to be a learning day on how to train a horse, versus riding a horse already trained. It was my first time really working with Suzette and the first time for my lesson girl and it ended a rather successful experience. I knew enough about her from the few times I did interact on the ground to know what to expect.
The biggest lessons today were 'flexibility', 'keep it simple' and 'ask loud'. We learned the cues used to ask Wheeler to do something simple are much more subtle than the cues used to ask Suzette. We learned an opening rein and when to use it, why it's 'loud' but not 'strong'. We even discussed the word 'loud' versus other terms we could use How it's more like enunciating and projecting to someone who has a hard time understanding a language than yelling at them because of it. Both are 'loud' but one is more helpful than the other.
Flexibility we discussed in changing our goals for the ride to meet what the horse gives us/is capable of. So in Suzette's case, she liked to stop any chance she could get. This started in the downward transition of trot to walk, but we found that even telling her 'good girl' at the trot could cause it. So we went from focussing on walking after the trot to continuing to trot despite being talked to. Once that was accomplished we tried a little trot to walk and we found she understood better. By the end the things we has started to work on were not really relevant as we found where the buttons that needed pushing were.
That said, we talked a bit about 'intent'. I asked her, as we discussed what we were going to ask Suzette to do at the trot, was she responding the same to every time we said "good girl"? This was emphasized by the mare continuing to go when I asked this question. No, she didn't. She only did it when we were actually talking to her. Horses know 'intent'. They read our tones and body language more than we realize and as such there is a lot we can expect them to understand, if we know how to ask it. And example being lunging and allowing a horse to play on the lunge, versus asking a horse to work. With proper training, the horse knows the difference between these scenarios. They know the difference between when we ask them to move over and mean it, versus when we'd just like them to but, oh, it's okay if they don't want to.
I reminded her as she worked with Suzette even on the ground that she was training her every moment. Was that also happening with Wheels? Yes, but because he's older, knows what he's supposed to do (and does it) and behaves himself on a regular basis, we allow him more leeway than a younger horse who still has to learn.
So that was fun! It was a mental work out for both and ended really well. By the end Suzette was willingly doing what was asked of her rather than testing the waters and she was happy to do what we wanted, rather than grumpy that she didn't get her way. A lot of it, I reminded the girl through the ride, was breaking things down, asking clearly and remaining flexible to the response we got.
Today was the first lesson/ride since I've been back in town.
Wheeler was a bit off today so instead we used Suzette for a lesson. Suzette is a green paint horse, very calm but also rather mare-ish. So it was to be a learning day on how to train a horse, versus riding a horse already trained. It was my first time really working with Suzette and the first time for my lesson girl and it ended a rather successful experience. I knew enough about her from the few times I did interact on the ground to know what to expect.
The biggest lessons today were 'flexibility', 'keep it simple' and 'ask loud'. We learned the cues used to ask Wheeler to do something simple are much more subtle than the cues used to ask Suzette. We learned an opening rein and when to use it, why it's 'loud' but not 'strong'. We even discussed the word 'loud' versus other terms we could use How it's more like enunciating and projecting to someone who has a hard time understanding a language than yelling at them because of it. Both are 'loud' but one is more helpful than the other.
Flexibility we discussed in changing our goals for the ride to meet what the horse gives us/is capable of. So in Suzette's case, she liked to stop any chance she could get. This started in the downward transition of trot to walk, but we found that even telling her 'good girl' at the trot could cause it. So we went from focussing on walking after the trot to continuing to trot despite being talked to. Once that was accomplished we tried a little trot to walk and we found she understood better. By the end the things we has started to work on were not really relevant as we found where the buttons that needed pushing were.
That said, we talked a bit about 'intent'. I asked her, as we discussed what we were going to ask Suzette to do at the trot, was she responding the same to every time we said "good girl"? This was emphasized by the mare continuing to go when I asked this question. No, she didn't. She only did it when we were actually talking to her. Horses know 'intent'. They read our tones and body language more than we realize and as such there is a lot we can expect them to understand, if we know how to ask it. And example being lunging and allowing a horse to play on the lunge, versus asking a horse to work. With proper training, the horse knows the difference between these scenarios. They know the difference between when we ask them to move over and mean it, versus when we'd just like them to but, oh, it's okay if they don't want to.
I reminded her as she worked with Suzette even on the ground that she was training her every moment. Was that also happening with Wheels? Yes, but because he's older, knows what he's supposed to do (and does it) and behaves himself on a regular basis, we allow him more leeway than a younger horse who still has to learn.
So that was fun! It was a mental work out for both and ended really well. By the end Suzette was willingly doing what was asked of her rather than testing the waters and she was happy to do what we wanted, rather than grumpy that she didn't get her way. A lot of it, I reminded the girl through the ride, was breaking things down, asking clearly and remaining flexible to the response we got.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Adventures In Cantering & New Riders
Today was certainly eventful.
My student and her mother and brother have been coming and helping out at the barn in the mornings before her lesson. So usually when I get there around 9:30 I find them mucking stalls, cleaning buckets, etc... It feels odd in a way not being the one doing that anymore. Though honestly I can't complain too much... or at least my wrists and shoulders can't! Hehe.... Still barn work is wonderful, even when it's sometimes unpleasant smelling or uncomfortable.
Today we were going to canter for the first time. My student has cantered before, but not on Wheels and not very much. We got the big red pony ready and brought him out to the ring. As she warmed him up I made an effort to make the old man some space for his circle. I brought out lunge equipment to help so she could really work on her seat and the feel of the gait.
After a good warm up full of two pointing and turns and extra speed regulation and balance exercises we got on the lunge line. This is where it got interesting...
After having her do some two point and posting with her hands on her hips we went to ask Wheels to canter. No dice. He seemed very nervous about the whip, which was a bit sad but he also wasn't really understanding what we wanted him to do. So we came back to a walk... and readied to try again. This time I snapped the whip once gently. He protested. Not too violently, just another hop and mad rushing... I had him on a small circle the first time (I try to keep the first couple strides on contact and then allow them to move out once they get the canter) so the second I tried to give him some more space for his old joints. Nope. Well... this wasn't working out. And of course we had an audience. My student's mother and brother had come out to watch along with the owner and a new gal who might start riding the horses, also a student at my college.
Hmmm... Well, we'd try one more time. The owner called over that she wasn't sure he'd done much canter on the lunge in a looong time. Okay... well if we gave him the outside rein to balance off of, maybe he'd feel more secure. So I had my girl hold the outside rein in a light contact while she held the saddle.
....Wheels said NO! This time he was much more adamant about it. It was as if he was trying hard to tell me that he could not do what I was asking. He hopped and did a tiny spin of his haunches, unseating my student who grabbed his neck and stuck like a champ to it. He'd raised his head and stood stalk still facing me. It wasn't like youngsters who don't know how to lunge... nor like an obstinate protest of a horse who knows better. He really looked worried about it. Obviously this was something we would work on alone.
I took my student off the lunge line. As I did Wheeler put his muzzle on my shoulder and rested it there as if to say "pleeease don't do that again.' I stroked his face and talked quietly to him. I know he's a good boy and he wouldn't make such a fuss if he didn't have a good reason, not like other younger and sillier horses (*cough* Sam *cough) After cuddling his big fuzzy red head I sent her out to walk the full arena and let him relax a little. Sometimes you have to pick your battles and we were only going to make Wheels more upset and possibly frighten my student to keep trying. In hindsight I probably should have lunged him instead of ridden him on thursday... but he lunged at a trot fine. I didn't think he would have had a problem at the canter (apart from maybe leaning in or out)
We did get to canter though! After this I had her try to pick it up. It was actually very interesting as a trainer. She ended up twice getting him into a fast rushing trot rather than a canter. Again, Wheels looked more confused than anything, so the third time I clapped at him and took two steps towards his haunches. He cantered. Wrong lead, but he got it. They went around a loop and then came back to the trot with lots of praise for both of them.
The second time I had to clap again. But this time it only took one clap and no other movement. The second Wheels heard it he picked up a canter. They went around again. We did a couple more loops before finishing. It wasn't pretty, often on the wrong lead, but it would do for now. My student needed to learn to sit the canter and roll with her lower back and seat... this was not going to be something she could learn as easily on her own going around the ring. But for now it would do. Each time she got more close to sitting and she certainly had the balance and skill, even when the old red pony was on the wrong lead through the corners. She's an awesome girl.
Well after that silliness I had Sam to ride. The other gal who had arrived also was going to give him a shot. She's a good rider, though Sam tried to trick her a bit with faking his frame at the canter... but he did that to me when I first rode him. He's not an easy horse... lots of pushing. But when you get him up in front of you he's a dream.
When I rode (which was first) he was a very good boy and we even got to put into practice some of our changes! We didn't get to work on the counter canter and all that... but when I asked him for a change he did the first one a bit sloppily (mostly my fault for not setting him up properly) but the second much better! On the second I made sure as we went across the outdoor jump field to set him up as if we were going to counter canter before asking, really taking hold of that bend. He still does a sort of sudden pause and hop in his changes... but as our canter gets stronger and he uses his butt more that should go away.
The owner is excited about having both of us ride him (the new gal from my school and I). She's done jumping 3'6"+ and showed heavily in the circuit whereas I'm the dressagey one with a dabble in the fences... so it should be a nice compliment for the Blue Pony. I also now am getting gas money for riding both ponies tuesdays and thursdays. So that'll be good and I can start getting the Wheels'N'Deals in shape, hehe.
The other gal and I hit if off well. She's also interested in Production design and is a Sequential Major... a year below me (ish). Sam seemed to like her. It's funny watching someone else ride him because I can see where I encounter the same problems... I know they'll do good together. It didn't help that I'd ridden first, got off and then she got on. Sam was like 'what? I'm not done?!' hehe
Looong post again. Unfortunately many will be. I like to tell all the details apparently, hehe...
My student and her mother and brother have been coming and helping out at the barn in the mornings before her lesson. So usually when I get there around 9:30 I find them mucking stalls, cleaning buckets, etc... It feels odd in a way not being the one doing that anymore. Though honestly I can't complain too much... or at least my wrists and shoulders can't! Hehe.... Still barn work is wonderful, even when it's sometimes unpleasant smelling or uncomfortable.
Today we were going to canter for the first time. My student has cantered before, but not on Wheels and not very much. We got the big red pony ready and brought him out to the ring. As she warmed him up I made an effort to make the old man some space for his circle. I brought out lunge equipment to help so she could really work on her seat and the feel of the gait.
After a good warm up full of two pointing and turns and extra speed regulation and balance exercises we got on the lunge line. This is where it got interesting...
After having her do some two point and posting with her hands on her hips we went to ask Wheels to canter. No dice. He seemed very nervous about the whip, which was a bit sad but he also wasn't really understanding what we wanted him to do. So we came back to a walk... and readied to try again. This time I snapped the whip once gently. He protested. Not too violently, just another hop and mad rushing... I had him on a small circle the first time (I try to keep the first couple strides on contact and then allow them to move out once they get the canter) so the second I tried to give him some more space for his old joints. Nope. Well... this wasn't working out. And of course we had an audience. My student's mother and brother had come out to watch along with the owner and a new gal who might start riding the horses, also a student at my college.
Hmmm... Well, we'd try one more time. The owner called over that she wasn't sure he'd done much canter on the lunge in a looong time. Okay... well if we gave him the outside rein to balance off of, maybe he'd feel more secure. So I had my girl hold the outside rein in a light contact while she held the saddle.
....Wheels said NO! This time he was much more adamant about it. It was as if he was trying hard to tell me that he could not do what I was asking. He hopped and did a tiny spin of his haunches, unseating my student who grabbed his neck and stuck like a champ to it. He'd raised his head and stood stalk still facing me. It wasn't like youngsters who don't know how to lunge... nor like an obstinate protest of a horse who knows better. He really looked worried about it. Obviously this was something we would work on alone.
I took my student off the lunge line. As I did Wheeler put his muzzle on my shoulder and rested it there as if to say "pleeease don't do that again.' I stroked his face and talked quietly to him. I know he's a good boy and he wouldn't make such a fuss if he didn't have a good reason, not like other younger and sillier horses (*cough* Sam *cough) After cuddling his big fuzzy red head I sent her out to walk the full arena and let him relax a little. Sometimes you have to pick your battles and we were only going to make Wheels more upset and possibly frighten my student to keep trying. In hindsight I probably should have lunged him instead of ridden him on thursday... but he lunged at a trot fine. I didn't think he would have had a problem at the canter (apart from maybe leaning in or out)
We did get to canter though! After this I had her try to pick it up. It was actually very interesting as a trainer. She ended up twice getting him into a fast rushing trot rather than a canter. Again, Wheels looked more confused than anything, so the third time I clapped at him and took two steps towards his haunches. He cantered. Wrong lead, but he got it. They went around a loop and then came back to the trot with lots of praise for both of them.
The second time I had to clap again. But this time it only took one clap and no other movement. The second Wheels heard it he picked up a canter. They went around again. We did a couple more loops before finishing. It wasn't pretty, often on the wrong lead, but it would do for now. My student needed to learn to sit the canter and roll with her lower back and seat... this was not going to be something she could learn as easily on her own going around the ring. But for now it would do. Each time she got more close to sitting and she certainly had the balance and skill, even when the old red pony was on the wrong lead through the corners. She's an awesome girl.
Well after that silliness I had Sam to ride. The other gal who had arrived also was going to give him a shot. She's a good rider, though Sam tried to trick her a bit with faking his frame at the canter... but he did that to me when I first rode him. He's not an easy horse... lots of pushing. But when you get him up in front of you he's a dream.
When I rode (which was first) he was a very good boy and we even got to put into practice some of our changes! We didn't get to work on the counter canter and all that... but when I asked him for a change he did the first one a bit sloppily (mostly my fault for not setting him up properly) but the second much better! On the second I made sure as we went across the outdoor jump field to set him up as if we were going to counter canter before asking, really taking hold of that bend. He still does a sort of sudden pause and hop in his changes... but as our canter gets stronger and he uses his butt more that should go away.
The owner is excited about having both of us ride him (the new gal from my school and I). She's done jumping 3'6"+ and showed heavily in the circuit whereas I'm the dressagey one with a dabble in the fences... so it should be a nice compliment for the Blue Pony. I also now am getting gas money for riding both ponies tuesdays and thursdays. So that'll be good and I can start getting the Wheels'N'Deals in shape, hehe.
The other gal and I hit if off well. She's also interested in Production design and is a Sequential Major... a year below me (ish). Sam seemed to like her. It's funny watching someone else ride him because I can see where I encounter the same problems... I know they'll do good together. It didn't help that I'd ridden first, got off and then she got on. Sam was like 'what? I'm not done?!' hehe
Looong post again. Unfortunately many will be. I like to tell all the details apparently, hehe...
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Red Pony Ride: Condition The Old Man & Reflections
So after riding Sam I was sort of on the fence about Wheeler. I'd ridden him before and his owner is always trying to get me to ride him because she loves having her horses in work. Wheels is my lesson horse loaned to me by his owner in exchange for my riding the Blue Pony, Sam. I teach one of my professor's daughters on him and he's a very good boy with her, but a typical old codger-y lesson horse.
My lesson girl is getting ready to canter. We won't be doing much of it till next year because we have only two lessons before I go home for the holidays, but I want to get her on him cantering a couple times before then. She's going to be coming out riding and working at the barn while I'm gone with the owner and her mother there to supervise. I figure she should have a couple canter rides just in case something happens she doesn't get too surprised or shaken.
So I tacked up the old pony man and went for a ride in the riding ring. Old man huffed and puffed along, rather stiff and out of shape. After all he's been mostly doing walk trot lessons. But this fellow has done quite a bit in his past. When I asked for some shoulder-in for flexibility and straightening he did it, though a bit stiff. There was no hesitation in his response whatsoever.
But after riding, I was thinking about how much riding of these guys and the new mare (a little paint they recently got) and working with my lesson student I would be missing going back home. It made me think how this was really one of the first major decisions where I was putting career first, horses second. The first was of course my change in majors.
I know I'll enjoy spending time at home and with horses there, but when school starts I get so caught up in classes I rarely make it out to the barn more than my weekend lesson.
My lesson girl is getting ready to canter. We won't be doing much of it till next year because we have only two lessons before I go home for the holidays, but I want to get her on him cantering a couple times before then. She's going to be coming out riding and working at the barn while I'm gone with the owner and her mother there to supervise. I figure she should have a couple canter rides just in case something happens she doesn't get too surprised or shaken.
So I tacked up the old pony man and went for a ride in the riding ring. Old man huffed and puffed along, rather stiff and out of shape. After all he's been mostly doing walk trot lessons. But this fellow has done quite a bit in his past. When I asked for some shoulder-in for flexibility and straightening he did it, though a bit stiff. There was no hesitation in his response whatsoever.
But after riding, I was thinking about how much riding of these guys and the new mare (a little paint they recently got) and working with my lesson student I would be missing going back home. It made me think how this was really one of the first major decisions where I was putting career first, horses second. The first was of course my change in majors.
I know I'll enjoy spending time at home and with horses there, but when school starts I get so caught up in classes I rarely make it out to the barn more than my weekend lesson.
Blue Pony Ride: Counter Canter & Changes
Today was a beautiful day to ride. Sunny and cool but not cold. I usually go out at midday because I tend to stay up late working, drawing or just being a lazy arse and gaming.
When I went to get Mr. Blue-Pony out (a.k.a. Sam) I adjusted some of the jumps in the jump field. He'd not jumped in several days so I figured we could plod over a few low fences, work on my confidence.
So I got Sam out, groomed him up and checked his legs. Last time I rode it was wet and I wanted to be sure he didn't get a tweak or injury. He did have a small swelling behind his left hind pastern, an area which my old horse, Dustin, ended up with chronic issues on both hind legs. Soooo no jumping for us today. That was okay, we could Dressage around just fine.
We started with plenty of leg yield at the trot to get him paying attention to my legs. This was a challenge at first. Sam is lazy. Forward is not his favorite direction and impulsion is only fun when he's had a few days off and it's cold out. So moving off my leg, even with borrowed large spurs, was not happening very promptly. The second I'd swap the whip to reinforce my leg he'd side step so fast he'd nearly plow out of the ring. After a few times of this with only a couple swats to remind him he was moving when my legs asked... rather than when I tapped him with the whip or spur. It gets awful having to do these things so often. Luckily after our chaotic clinic lesson he's been much better. I just have to stay on my guard so he doesn't suck me back into his laziness.
At the canter we started doing our exercises. He has learned his changes, but does them more like hunter/jumpers do when they skip the collection and balance part... just throwing them into it. So my goal was to maintain balance in his canter and subsequently in his changes. He needed to know the difference of when I want a change and when I'm simply asking for a counter bend, leg yield or similar. He, like many trained to be over sensitive to the cue to change, would try and do changes any time he'd loose his balance or feel a change in bend... such as anticipating when crossing the arena or coming onto a less than perfect loop.
Of course to start changes, you shouldn't even do them! I'd been working with him for a few days doing a series of shallow canter serpentines to 'untrain' the desire to lead change every time his bend changes and develop a more balanced canter. When I started riding him his canter was pretty weak. He'd either run flat or nearly four beat around, particularly on the right lead. We worked on circles and engaging his inside leg, working on placing it under his body more. I would tap him with the whip gently or bump with the spur on the inside as if to say "Hey... What about this leg? Remember it? Put it back under you, buddy." We moved on to serpentines. The use of the shallow bend for a counter canter puts his legs underneath him similarly and helps him build the muscles to carry himself.
Just last tuesday I rode him out in the back cross country field we found some perfect applications for counter canter: through trees! Often in tree covered areas and mountain trails it makes no sense to change leads for a slight bend in the trail. A balanced counter canter is a much better choice.
So as I have illustrated, we had plenty of counter canter practice. I just had to be careful to not restrict him too much. Today is when it all really seemed to click for us both. He tried once to change because I got stiff but after correcting that he was practically point and shoot for the counter canter, balanced and handy.
Well then, time to try those changes! I gave him a break right after a very lovely canter serpentine when I felt he really seemed to get it... and once he'd gotten his breath back(and lots of pets and "good boy"s) I collected him up and cantered again. We started with two serpentines to make sure he understood when I was asking him to counter canter and solidifying that he understood. After the second one it was time to try for a change. I directed him towards the center of the ring, which took a bit of effort as he though we were doing another serpentine. But with a nudge I was able to ask for the other lead. He hopped and produced a slightly confused but still correct change.
It wasn't perfect, as I said. He was unbalanced a bit, even if he did change both sets of legs accurately. He had to throw his head up and hollow out to maintain balance. No biggie... he did what I wanted and got the idea. I circled and brought him back to a walk, praising the snot out of him. Okay... now to try again, with more balance.
Again when I asked I did the serpentines first to make sure he understood the difference. If he swapped in the serpentine obviously he didn't really get what I'd asked for before with the change. Luckily he understood and counter cantered on without issue. So around the corner we went and prepared for our flying change. Again I had to exaggerate the change of bend. This time he was not so surprised. It was a choppy change, a bit awkward to sit but still correct... and this time we were balanced! I praised him greatly as I helped him keep his balance and bend through the new direction.
After a bit of counter canter on the serpentine the other direction we let it end there. Next time (saturday) we'll go ahead and work on the other side. He had been so good. Coupled with that little bit of squishy swelling I didn't want to push him too much. The change would be enough.
It was lovely to see the exercises work the way they're supposed to. So often at SCAD we would be working on exercises towards particular goals, but then the horses would change and the problems with one horse are separate from problems with others. I ended up on some of the greener fellows at times which made these things a challenge (though I love working with greenies, don't get me wrong!).
So that was Sam's ride. I'll post a second for my ride on Red Pony, Mr. Wheeler.
When I went to get Mr. Blue-Pony out (a.k.a. Sam) I adjusted some of the jumps in the jump field. He'd not jumped in several days so I figured we could plod over a few low fences, work on my confidence.
So I got Sam out, groomed him up and checked his legs. Last time I rode it was wet and I wanted to be sure he didn't get a tweak or injury. He did have a small swelling behind his left hind pastern, an area which my old horse, Dustin, ended up with chronic issues on both hind legs. Soooo no jumping for us today. That was okay, we could Dressage around just fine.
We started with plenty of leg yield at the trot to get him paying attention to my legs. This was a challenge at first. Sam is lazy. Forward is not his favorite direction and impulsion is only fun when he's had a few days off and it's cold out. So moving off my leg, even with borrowed large spurs, was not happening very promptly. The second I'd swap the whip to reinforce my leg he'd side step so fast he'd nearly plow out of the ring. After a few times of this with only a couple swats to remind him he was moving when my legs asked... rather than when I tapped him with the whip or spur. It gets awful having to do these things so often. Luckily after our chaotic clinic lesson he's been much better. I just have to stay on my guard so he doesn't suck me back into his laziness.
At the canter we started doing our exercises. He has learned his changes, but does them more like hunter/jumpers do when they skip the collection and balance part... just throwing them into it. So my goal was to maintain balance in his canter and subsequently in his changes. He needed to know the difference of when I want a change and when I'm simply asking for a counter bend, leg yield or similar. He, like many trained to be over sensitive to the cue to change, would try and do changes any time he'd loose his balance or feel a change in bend... such as anticipating when crossing the arena or coming onto a less than perfect loop.
Of course to start changes, you shouldn't even do them! I'd been working with him for a few days doing a series of shallow canter serpentines to 'untrain' the desire to lead change every time his bend changes and develop a more balanced canter. When I started riding him his canter was pretty weak. He'd either run flat or nearly four beat around, particularly on the right lead. We worked on circles and engaging his inside leg, working on placing it under his body more. I would tap him with the whip gently or bump with the spur on the inside as if to say "Hey... What about this leg? Remember it? Put it back under you, buddy." We moved on to serpentines. The use of the shallow bend for a counter canter puts his legs underneath him similarly and helps him build the muscles to carry himself.
Just last tuesday I rode him out in the back cross country field we found some perfect applications for counter canter: through trees! Often in tree covered areas and mountain trails it makes no sense to change leads for a slight bend in the trail. A balanced counter canter is a much better choice.
So as I have illustrated, we had plenty of counter canter practice. I just had to be careful to not restrict him too much. Today is when it all really seemed to click for us both. He tried once to change because I got stiff but after correcting that he was practically point and shoot for the counter canter, balanced and handy.
Well then, time to try those changes! I gave him a break right after a very lovely canter serpentine when I felt he really seemed to get it... and once he'd gotten his breath back(and lots of pets and "good boy"s) I collected him up and cantered again. We started with two serpentines to make sure he understood when I was asking him to counter canter and solidifying that he understood. After the second one it was time to try for a change. I directed him towards the center of the ring, which took a bit of effort as he though we were doing another serpentine. But with a nudge I was able to ask for the other lead. He hopped and produced a slightly confused but still correct change.
It wasn't perfect, as I said. He was unbalanced a bit, even if he did change both sets of legs accurately. He had to throw his head up and hollow out to maintain balance. No biggie... he did what I wanted and got the idea. I circled and brought him back to a walk, praising the snot out of him. Okay... now to try again, with more balance.
Again when I asked I did the serpentines first to make sure he understood the difference. If he swapped in the serpentine obviously he didn't really get what I'd asked for before with the change. Luckily he understood and counter cantered on without issue. So around the corner we went and prepared for our flying change. Again I had to exaggerate the change of bend. This time he was not so surprised. It was a choppy change, a bit awkward to sit but still correct... and this time we were balanced! I praised him greatly as I helped him keep his balance and bend through the new direction.
After a bit of counter canter on the serpentine the other direction we let it end there. Next time (saturday) we'll go ahead and work on the other side. He had been so good. Coupled with that little bit of squishy swelling I didn't want to push him too much. The change would be enough.
It was lovely to see the exercises work the way they're supposed to. So often at SCAD we would be working on exercises towards particular goals, but then the horses would change and the problems with one horse are separate from problems with others. I ended up on some of the greener fellows at times which made these things a challenge (though I love working with greenies, don't get me wrong!).
So that was Sam's ride. I'll post a second for my ride on Red Pony, Mr. Wheeler.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Welcome!
Well here it is! I've discussed doing a blog about my horsey revelations and similar things and at last I have one!
Soon to come will be a custom background for it reflecting the name a bit more... being a Sequential Art major and a horse trainer/instructor part time I figured it was fitting. There will definitely be lots of pictures and illustrations... maybe some little comics here and there to flesh out my posts.
Cheers and happy reading!
Sara
Soon to come will be a custom background for it reflecting the name a bit more... being a Sequential Art major and a horse trainer/instructor part time I figured it was fitting. There will definitely be lots of pictures and illustrations... maybe some little comics here and there to flesh out my posts.
Cheers and happy reading!
Sara
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)