Blog Hop: A Close Call

The majority of non-riders don't get it.

It is no easy feat to climb on top of a +900lbs beast and then proceed to tell it what to do; you can't out-muscle these animals. Climbing on top is a risk we take and I'm sure there has been more than one occasion where one either does something dumb, didn't know any better or just let your guard down for a second and gotten your butt served to you. I'm participating in the Chronicles of a Moody Mare's blog hop: what is one close call that you have lived to tell the tale about?

I've previously written about the closest call I've had: my epic fall in the middle of a corn field with Ariel going full tilt. Strangely enough, hacks aren't really my friend. The times that I have gone out (with J), usually result in something ridiculous happening. I manage to laugh it off because it's generally pretty funny. The first time, Ariel tripped (at the walk...) and fell forward and I slid off over her head and landed on my feet. The second time was the epic fall and the third was the bugs.

The epic fall hack started out wonderfully. It was nice weather and everyone was out having a good time. We were nearing the stables through the brush at a trot/canter and one of the ponies did a deek at the fork and his rider slid off and landed in the bush (she ended up fracturing something in her wrist) he continued running which only freaked out the other horses because they all probably figured he was running from a big baddie. The lead horse took off too and then Ariel got it in her head (I probably should have gotten off, in hindsight) that she needed to chase after the others. For what reason? I'm not too sure. Trying to keep her back was challenging because of the mare in her and she just wanted to turn around and lead the others out of there. It was becoming increasing difficult to keep her still or even turn back while J went to help the fallen rider. Like I said, no way to out-muscle a +900lb animal mare. I let her trot in a very uncomfortable manner to get some of the jitters out and I thought that might help but once she reached open space (i.e. corn field), she just took off. I have never galloped in my life and was both terrified and trying to remain calm to go through what I should do to recollect her--both brain and body. Then, I lost my left stirrup: the straw that finally broke the camel's back. Off I slid too.

I don't even remember much of what happened except hearing +ADW calling at me to stop and turn around. Once I hit the ground, I knew I couldn't stay down long because I needed to be sure she didn't trample me. I got up quickly (I'm surprised at how fast I got up) and looked around and saw a large rock a few centimetres away from my head and Ariel... standing a few feet away munching the grass/corn stalks. She was suddenly calm and collected... looking at me as if to say, with a mouthful of grass, "Oh hey. So I told you to hang on but you didn't. I hope you're okay. You really should just let me take the lead next time."

Typical Ariel.

Lesson #122: Dressage App

The primary purpose during Sunday's lesson was to continue to work on the dressage test we started. For me, I needed to work on collection for downward transitions and collection for the turns down centre line. Otherwise it felt like I was driving an 18-wheeler. It's funny how Bons really doesn't enjoy dressage because he's such a big guy that he has difficulty getting collected and I'm riding him for just that. hahaha! During warm up, we were puttering around the harrowed arena and approached a very slight indentation in the footing where the big lug had a panic at what it possibly was and did a bunny hop over.

Artist David R. Dudley

I slowed him down and took him back over at a walk, to assure him that it wasn't anything to be scared of. He absolutely refused to step over it and would continually walk around it. It took Molson to nonchalantly walk over it, to finally convince him that it wasn't going to jump out and eat him.

We moved on, from there, to the dressage test. Sheri couldn't locate her binder with the tests but earlier in the week, I had downloaded a new app (Android) called Dressage Lite and input the entire test onto it; there is a full version but at this point, I think I can make do. I'm a visual learner and reciting the call sheet didn't help because I still don't know where the letters of the arena are anyway. App to the rescue! I was trying to memorize the test through the app because it was a visual learning aid that played the steps over and over again and was even colour coded to help: red for canters, green for trot and blue for walk. For a free app, it was decent and I was able to input the test with a few modifications since they didn't have the type of move, listed.

Dressage Lite Android app

Despite the few adjustments to those steps, it did the job and we had the call sheet and a visual interpretation of what the entire test should look like! It is definitely a good tool to have and I would recommend it to anyone who's just starting out with dressage and trying to memorize their tests or get a visual of where they should be. Depending on how things go, I may eventually pay for the full/pro version but until then, this is a really great app for my purposes!

The lesson itself had some short comings that I'll need to continue to work on...

1. Collection before the turn, up the center line--though the test actually asks for entry from A and not a what we were doing where we trot from E and turn up at A. Except the end where I am required to turn up the centre line...
2. The canter transition (into) on the right rein needs work because I can't seem to get him into it when I want him to. The left is no problem at all though.
3. Preparation for transitions (down, specifically) with plenty of half halts to prepare Bons.

In addition to the actual lesson specific items, I should continue to improve my personal fitness and schedule the week ahead with various activities like running and yoga. Also, my back and neck issues from the epic fall are still bothering me so I really need to be diligent about the daily physio exercises I've been prescribed. And how can any of this be bad? I might just have a looser dress come September, for the wedding!

Lesson #121: Round and Round

Yesterday's lesson felt like one of those lessons where everything just... requires so much more effort. It's been like that a lot lately. It appears that Ariel might have done more damage than originally thought; Ariel is one of those type of mares... she's bossy and opinionated and loves nothing more than bossing others (riders included!) around. Sheri was telling me she's caught that mare kicking about and just making a fuss in her paddock before so it's no surprise she's gone and hurt herself. So, this might mean a lot more time with Bons. heh.

Last night's lesson was all flat work. I've resolved to become more active and started running (how I loathe running...) and my legs have been like jello for the better part of the week. I just need to find time to soak in an epsom salt bath to draw out the sore. The trot warm-up was tolerable but I could feel my legs wanting to give out after a few rounds along the rail. My legs were definitely not as still as they could be.

The lesson was focused on pace, rhythm and knowing how to maintain that as well as bringing the horse back, to the right pace and rhythm (be it slower or faster) should they get off it. Bons was slow and pokey at the start of the lesson, but I've started to figure out how to tell him I want him to go and then to get the immediate reaction I'm looking for. For example, the walk transition up: if I sort of just nudge a bit, he ignores me like a fly on his back; but, when I use both legs with conviction and real omph, he 'hears me' loud and clear. There aren't any quick walk steps or any funny business and I know it's successful because I don't need to use any verbal clicks or even the crop. This is great! I've figured out how to get him into the trot as needed.

But, with every positive thing, there's bound to be a negative. My loopy right leg is doing its own thing and it creeps up and this usually happens while Bons is slowly pulling me onto the forehand. Resolution? I need to resort to half-halts or I need to sit up even MORE--but, whatever I take with my hands, I need to add with leg. Are you tired yet? I am. Sheri has me interject sitting trot and reminds me that my upper body remains still and engaged (shoulders) and open (chest) and it's the lower half that has to move with Bons--relax the hips, lower back but maintain the weight in your heels so that your legs are still too. There is a heck of a lot going on simultaneously.

Sheri lays down ground poles along the short end of the ring around C and Bons decides that going faster is better. My half halts aren't as effective when my hands become "nags" and I'm no longer pulsing but holding with them because he's "running through my aids". Sheri has me progress to lots and lots of transitions: walk, trot, walk, trot... And I need to get the transition right on the letter. After a few tries, I realize that I need to start the slow down well before the actual point and that it's much more effective when I am sitting up and in the seat.

The lesson of flat work was pretty dull--I easily admit, but I know that strong flat work is the foundation to jumping well and at this point, that's what I need so that if any horse I'm riding is zooming around the course or out of control, I'll be able to regain control and set them up with the right distance for a jump.

Lesson #120: First Foray into "Training Level Test A"

Happy Civic long weekend, to my Canadian friends! It is a nice temperate summer weekend and most of the city is away at their cottages or otherwise. I'm sticking around and had a lesson Sunday morning. I'm riding Bons again and we're working on training level dressage tests today.

Our warm-up consists of the usual trot and today, I didn't have any issues getting into the posting (hooray!). For the remainder of the lesson, we worked on this dressage training level test. We are told that Cadora Inc. makes tests for a provincial level of dressage. Everyone gets the same list of tests and when you show/compete, you will have the same selection of test as everyone else. The expectation also includes the rider to memorize the test but they may request to have a caller.

A standard dressage ring looks like this:

We start entering from A at working trot and then halt, immobile and salute at X. The immobile part is a requirements of 3 full seconds of immobility. Then we continue forward in a working trot towards C. From there, we track left in trot to K and continue A to F and then make a change of rein through X to H. And here's where things start to fall apart for me: between H and C, I am to initiate a working canter into a 20m circle. I've always had difficulty with initiating canter and it's probably because when I'm so focused with doing everything else, I think it but I don't get my legs to translate my thoughts. But, good thing Bons is obedient and just does as he's asked to when I try it again. It isn't completely miserable but it isn't great either. The rest of it isn't too bad but the canter departs continued to be something I struggled with. +ADW on the other hand, did wonderfully with his buddy Molson and the pair looked like real pros.

It's the first try at the test so we weren't working on anything other than just getting the transitions in. Right now, everything is coming at me pretty fast. Next week we'll add in the bending and other fine-tuning like getting Bons collected when we're making tighter turns because riding this boy is like driving an 18-wheeler. All our turns were over but if I didn't, then they were not enough turned in and we ended up stomping over the pylon.

This week's homework is to memorize the test before Thursday's lesson. I think it's very possible because I've downloaded an app for that! I'll input the test and then play it over and over again. For me, learning visually is the best way for me so it should work out just fine.

Lesson #119: The Bonspiel 800

Ariel's down for the count because the crazy mare somehow hurt herself while she was out in her paddock and it's to the point where she was refusing to turn left. The vet'll come see her and they'll know what's up, soon enough. With that being the case, I was assigned to ride Bonspiel--a 17.2hh Trakehener. I've ridden him only one other time and I don't remember having an enjoyable lesson in terms of feeling confident. Today felt different though.

Ostpreußische Elchschaufel
branding

Grooming and tacking up this beast of a boy was a reminder that I'm short. And that I really don't need a horse who's huge-mongous. 15-16hh is more than enough horse for me. He's fussing while I'm grooming him... probably sensing my uncertainty and seemed to be complaining about this audacious rider assignment for him. My first attempt at getting the saddle and breast plate on resulted in a miserable attempt--hello first lesson all over again. The saddle was way too far back and nothing was where it was supposed to be. I even had to ask J to help me put things together because I couldn't do it on my own. Bons also has double reins that I have already forgotten how to use but somehow I manage. J even went as far as to ask if I thought I needed help with the bridle too. Yea thanks a bunch, J. I'm never going to live that one down....

We start the lesson walking around so I can get the feel for how he moves and how I need to "talk" with him. I already know that he is a beautiful mover... graceful and flowing. And I know he likes to know what's going on with his riders. So lots of leg and reminders about where we're going/what we're doing. The trot starts with me bouncing around because I couldn't figure out how to ride it! Bons' trot is hugely bouncy and floaty. Ugh, it felt like I was starting all over again. But, in about a lap, I figured out that my lower leg needs to be quite still and he likes to know what's going on, through leg aids. This change steadied my posting but my upper body was still leaning forward. When he lost pace, I tipped forward. With this one, I realized that he likes way more pressure/contact through his mouth and I wasn't giving him enough. I'm used to riding Ariel with virtually no pressure through the reins and everything is about using my body directions to tell her what I wanted. Not that I'm not using my body with Bons but it isn't as effective as legs. In addition to this, I have to remind myself to sit back even more and the weight needs to translate through my heels more so.

The trotting around was very helpful for me to adapt to riding another horse, after riding Ariel for the better part of the year now. We move onto the sitting trot. LOL. I gave a look of "are you for real?!" and Sheri chuckled and said, "just do whatever you can". Guess what guys. I did it! It was tiring as heck but I rode that seated trot like a boss. Hooyeah! Lots of rests though... I titled this post "The Bonspiel 800" because riding this boy is an intense workout!! My legs are like jelly today. My upper back and shoulders are sore too. It took a lot of focus to ride that seated trot because I had to remind myself about loosening my hips and back and keeping my arms where they needed to be without jossling the reins and weight in heels. And adding in those regular half halts to keep him in steady pace.

One thing that was confirmed, while riding Bons is that there is something not quite right with my right side because Bons also drifts in, on the right rein. So it's not Ariel just being Ariel but she's reacting to an unbalanced part of me that is causing the drift.

The last thing... Sheri suggested I try a canter. I've rarely said no to trying something new during a lesson because I trust Sheri's judgement about what I am able to handle. He didn't lurch forward or whip his tail around but just went onwards and it was a smooth and wonderful canter. The transition down was bumpy but I stayed on and was in control! OH YEAH! Overall, a good change up and if I won't be riding Ariel for a while, I am excited to work on something 'different'.