After what seems like forever (in reality maybe 6 weeks) I had my first lesson. I was a little excited and scared. First, I thought we have been doing really well, I feel like his canter is calmer and better and he is holding his head more consistently. But I had this ultimate fear that since I had been un-checked for so long that it was all in my head and that we weren't as fabulous as I was imagining.
Unfortunately the latter was more correct. We weren't awful and she did comment on on my frame being better. But we didn't get off the 20 meter circle the entire time!! Bummer, I was hoping to run through at least one test since I have a show this weekend.
What I had been feeling as forward with his head in place was him running around on his forehand. So we worked the entire lesson on half halting, getting him under me and getting his tempo to a manageable speed. I also thought he was finally bending nicely to the right, nope... just popping his shoulder out. And the great thing about a lesson is once she points something out it's so obvious, but I slowly forget it over time. Shucks.
Still we did some good work that I think will help me in the show. Getting him to listen and rock back with half halts will help me keep him focused during the tests. She didn't use the words (she never comes right out and says what we are working on) but I know we were working on self carriage. No more fiddling with my hands, he needs to drive into them. I know, I sound like a broken record I talk about this every lesson.
We even worked on a lot of walk work, which I'm glad because we usually blow through it and it's obvious when he walks around with his head in the air during the tests. Our canter work was, to be honest .... scary. Not scary bad, just scary. He was still popping his shoulder out to the right, and to fix it Trainer had me counter flex him on the circle. Problem was, Dexter didn't understand and would start to head straight towards the wall. Eeep! But we never ran into it so all is good. And all of a sudden my nice calm canter was out the window, we were barreling around the arena again trying to push him into the contact and get his hind end under him. I'm thinking it will be a while before we get the nice collected lope I so enjoy.
Positives from the lesson - by the end Dexter was listening to my half halts and I felt a nice slow rhythm. I feel I kept my position and body relaxed 90% of the time, which is much better than before. Dexter is starting to get really nice walk-trot transitions without throwing his head.
Things to work on - Keeping him underneath me, if I feel like I need to lean forward he is pulling and falling on his forehand. No more easy fixes, when he isn't paying attention or his head isn't where it should be start with my seat and work forward.
Showing posts with label self-carriage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label self-carriage. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Monday, December 6, 2010
Dec 5th - Relax Your Hips - Don't Work So Hard!
Indoors again.... a brisk 35 outside, unfortunately for Dexter he is ready for winter so the indoor makes him sweat quite a bit.... even if it is only slightly above 40F.
So it was back to the basics this lesson. No cadence, no shoulder-fore, no sitting trot. Just re-training Dexter to go when I say go, and keep going until I say stop. I say re-training because when I got Dexter he was very sensitive to the leg, and now, due to my bad habits of thinking I have to push him, he has let me take the lead. Meaning, the minute I stop asking for the canter means its time to trot. Which results in me getting very very tired and him finding every excuse to break or not go forward. Like I said its my fault, but fixable.
So we spent the fist part of the lesson going around in circles at the trot, asking him to bend without me holding (in my hands). And Trainer reminding me to relax my legs, hips and thighs every 5th stride or so. I think its every time I half halt I forget to release all the way. Plus I was trained a long time ago to use my hips and butt to maintain my seat so learning to relax those muscles is a subconscious battle. I have a new mantra - (being that trainer said it 50 times) "Relax your hips!".
The second part of the lesson was working at the canter, again... no fancy stuff, just keeping him going without me pushing him every stride. It wasn't the prettiest canter, but it was forward without being out of control. He even went down the long side a few times without picking up speed. I really concentrated on loosening my hips and legs and flowing with him. It made it much more comfortable for me and it seemed like he was able to swing up and under better. But, he thinks no leg means stop, so it was a fine balance of taking my leg off for as many strides as I could, but catching him before he broke into the trot. I think the max was 4 strides, but its better than it was last lesson.
And finally we worked on serpentines, like I said the basics. Keeping him forward and bending without me holding him. I also noticed during our walk to trot transitions after each break that I really have been getting soft with Dexter. I try to bring him back to work easy after a short break, but this has translated into having to convince him to trot. It was very apparent in this last lesson when I'd have to squeeze really hard and still no trot. I had to wake him up with the whip before he believed me that it was time to go back to work. So I'm going to have to remember to be more deliberate with my aides. Not, beat him if he doesn't respond in an instant, but if we are going to get anywhere he needs to understand that every time I move my hands or legs I am asking and expecting a very specific response.
I seem to have let him trap me into working too hard. Being a perfectionist I keep trying to fix every little thing at once and end up holding him in position, with my seat, legs, hands, everything. Its exhausting :) and not the purpose of dressage. So we are going back a few steps. I will get Dexter to understand self carriage, I will not position him every stride, I will be consistent and deliberate with my aides, and I will remember to keep my seat fluid. These are my goals, Dexter has no homework this week. He is a smart hard-working horse. His only fault has been to follow my lead, at this point if I can fix my tendencies, I have no doubt Dexter will respond well and follow suit.
So it was back to the basics this lesson. No cadence, no shoulder-fore, no sitting trot. Just re-training Dexter to go when I say go, and keep going until I say stop. I say re-training because when I got Dexter he was very sensitive to the leg, and now, due to my bad habits of thinking I have to push him, he has let me take the lead. Meaning, the minute I stop asking for the canter means its time to trot. Which results in me getting very very tired and him finding every excuse to break or not go forward. Like I said its my fault, but fixable.
So we spent the fist part of the lesson going around in circles at the trot, asking him to bend without me holding (in my hands). And Trainer reminding me to relax my legs, hips and thighs every 5th stride or so. I think its every time I half halt I forget to release all the way. Plus I was trained a long time ago to use my hips and butt to maintain my seat so learning to relax those muscles is a subconscious battle. I have a new mantra - (being that trainer said it 50 times) "Relax your hips!".
The second part of the lesson was working at the canter, again... no fancy stuff, just keeping him going without me pushing him every stride. It wasn't the prettiest canter, but it was forward without being out of control. He even went down the long side a few times without picking up speed. I really concentrated on loosening my hips and legs and flowing with him. It made it much more comfortable for me and it seemed like he was able to swing up and under better. But, he thinks no leg means stop, so it was a fine balance of taking my leg off for as many strides as I could, but catching him before he broke into the trot. I think the max was 4 strides, but its better than it was last lesson.
And finally we worked on serpentines, like I said the basics. Keeping him forward and bending without me holding him. I also noticed during our walk to trot transitions after each break that I really have been getting soft with Dexter. I try to bring him back to work easy after a short break, but this has translated into having to convince him to trot. It was very apparent in this last lesson when I'd have to squeeze really hard and still no trot. I had to wake him up with the whip before he believed me that it was time to go back to work. So I'm going to have to remember to be more deliberate with my aides. Not, beat him if he doesn't respond in an instant, but if we are going to get anywhere he needs to understand that every time I move my hands or legs I am asking and expecting a very specific response.
I seem to have let him trap me into working too hard. Being a perfectionist I keep trying to fix every little thing at once and end up holding him in position, with my seat, legs, hands, everything. Its exhausting :) and not the purpose of dressage. So we are going back a few steps. I will get Dexter to understand self carriage, I will not position him every stride, I will be consistent and deliberate with my aides, and I will remember to keep my seat fluid. These are my goals, Dexter has no homework this week. He is a smart hard-working horse. His only fault has been to follow my lead, at this point if I can fix my tendencies, I have no doubt Dexter will respond well and follow suit.
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