A warm beautiful Saturday meant it was time to revisit our XC skills and work on some drops. Apparently, my signature zombie move when dropping off a bank is neither correct nor effective. Colour me shocked. *sarcasm font*
I had expected to mount a very tired pony after his attitude in the long lining pen yesterday, so I hopped on with the intention of doing just a little lateral yielding to get his hind legs moving. Instead, when I asked for trot, I discovered someone had slept well indeed and I was sitting on a rocket, ready for launch!
A little N table on the ridge
The exercises were basic -- a few simple warmup lines, small down-banks, some accuracy questions, and a drop into water. But the theme throughout was optimizing my position and eradicating the zombie.
Upon approaching a drop question, the horse needs to lower his head to examine the jump and then execute it, so my challenge was to make sure I let out the reins upon approach so when he needed to lower his head, the space was already there. As he jumped, I was to focus on keeping those hands down, shoulder back, and give him freedom to do his job.
Drop it like it's hot...with lower hands.
A few skinnies asked a similar question -- keeping Encore straight, as soft as possible, and keeping my hands on his withers the entire time. The drop into water carried it one step further, making sure I did not choke up on him, which would then have him approaching the drop with his head in the air instead of down and ready to stretch over the edge.
Although we often took about 1/2 a mile to stop after each jump, it was great fun to have another go at XC when he wasn't fearing wild beasts (I'm sure having a schooling buddy helped!) and he put on his best bold, clever hat for the day and worked through it all like a pro.
It was a nice way to spend the afternoon before chilling the beer and readying the food for the annual farm party -- yes, live band included! All I can say is that eventers of all ages have no issues with climbing up on those picnic tables and showing off their mad body control, shaking what their mommas gave 'em!
Our last lesson before his day off will revisit our dressage. I have no idea WHAT to expect from him at this point as far as energy level is concerned. It's very warm today and the wind has FINALLY taken a break, so hopefully I won't have quite the brick-mouthed machine of XC inside the little white fences!
It's hard to believe we only have three lessons left. I have no words to encompass what an amazing opportunity and what a good, hard-working, hilarious, and genuine group of people I've met. The real world doesn't seem to appealing; I'm in no rush to go back!
With each day of surreally amazing experience & knowledge streaming in front of me, my brain gets progressively more loopy (a terrifying thought, that it becomes more loopy than normal). It feels a bit like Cookie Monster with a funnel down his throat -- "me love cookies, but me can hold no moooorreee..."
Friday morning brought several not-to-be-missed items on the schedule, so I mashed real-world duties together quickly & scurried out to resume dutiful creeping.
Up first was a 5 year old mare, a lovely dapple grey named Greta who had come with severe contact avoidance issues, including backing & signature mare fits like mini-rears & insistence that such feats were simply not possible. She was assigned to long lines & then a short schooling ride, so I had particular interest in watching the process again, given that Encore & I would perform it later this afternoon.
Suffice it to say, Mme. Greta does not appear to have contact issues anymore! She did a lovely job & Becky was kind enough to talk me through as she worked. The long lines had helped her along to a real horse breakthrough; in the pen & the consequent ride, she looked steady, duly educated, & confident in her new abilities. Becky helped her figure out the right choices by many kind words & pats along the way. I got even more excited about our later lesson.
Up next, I volunteered to be "pole bitch" for two gymnastic rides. First was RJ, whom Becky described a rogue novice horse that she was beginning to consider keeping, as he reminded her of a young Comet! I'd met him in the barn a few days earlier -- an adorable chestnut gelding with a white blaze & a huge, goofy personality. I am sure that whoever grooms for her would be THRILLED if she finally brought along a brown horse...
I don't think he's a rogue anymore...
Then came Teddy (Can't Fire Me). He is such a neat horse to watch, with a very professional attitude & a "what would you like from me?" demeanor. Oh, and he can jump a little too.
Standing a foot & a half from the line, I really got a feel of how much power & pace you have to bring to a 5' jump. Watching, it often appears as if the horses are just rocking nicely along. When you are close enough to feel the breeze as they pass, it becomes clear that a massive amount of energy has been created, compacted, & channeled to fuel these big jumping efforts...and make them look easy.
Much to a tired Encore's dismay, his moment had arrived. Becky watched me longe him briefly to get a feel for how he responded to my body language & how he worked on the line (thanks, buddy, for throwing in that belligerent kick; your opinion has been noted...and ignored). Then I turned him over.
She started him on a straight line setup to get him use to the line contact. Her system is not dissimilar to vienna reins, but allowed you to push them up into a steady contact & "ride" them with a live connection from the ground.
The warmup setup.
He quickly figured out what was being asked (although not without some comments of his own) & it was time to move on to the real work by adding a bit of leverage to help him find his shoulders & open his topline. Junior was trying very very hard the whole time; I was really quite proud of his efforts!
Working setup.
After Becky worked him a bit, she handed the lines over to me, at which point I proved that I can even hang on the left rein while on the ground -- hey, we all have to have skillz. It was surprisingly difficult (look, uncoordinated people can own it) but I was amazed at how much softer & "rounder" he felt in the contact. No more brick mouth! Becky felt confident that this would really help him understand the contact & how to relax & really swing through his back & body, so we will DEFINITELY be taking this one home (and practicing where no one can see me trip & fall).
It took a lot of focus to balance the feel on both reins & not crowd him too much in the bridle all while pushing his hind legs ever forward. As we finished, he gave both Becky & I quite the look as he stood immobile, praying that if he just didn't move, it would be over: THIS is my easy day??? Bless his golden heart, he got many pats & snacks & went home early to nap.
Next we'll have another XC school, only this time, we'll be riding with a lovely friend of Teddy's part-owners who I've had a blast talking to the past few days. She has a gorgeous, catty little firecracker of a mare & I look forward to the fun! It will also give Encore a buddy out in the tiger field, which will help him immensely, & give him plenty of breaks so he only has to work in short spurts. Monday will be his day off; hang in there, buddy, we are almost to sleep day!
It was Pi Day! But I forgot to get pie to celebrate, sigh.
The days seem too short, even as they technically get longer! Although I am determined to catch more morning schools now, to heck with real world duties!
Today was a mini XC school -- we've gone through the three disciplines I think so Becky can get a feel for Encore and where he is and how he ticks. Simple exercises to establish and focus on the basics.
It all began well enough, with Encore cruising in a lovely, round rhythm through yesterday's cavaletti bounce. I could feel he had definitely used some energy in the past two days (haven't we both!?) but I'd stretched him in warmup and he still felt solid.
It was a short loveliness.
I felt his body stiffen as we paused to listen to Becky and his head whipped towards the barn up the hill. It was the "OMG WARNING DANGER CONCERN!" body language and his ears (and brain) trained like a laser away from me to whatever silent menace he perceived.
I moved on to a simple jump series of BN bench/cabin-types, then added a N table. He jumped but his focus remained elsewhere. We were a hot mess the first time through and required some putting back together.
Two mares at the same time! Lesson in leg yield.
Normally, it is not difficult to keep him up and in front of my leg as long as I concentrate, but now, I was riding Solo -- pushing him up into the contact and having to work for it. No fair spoiling me then taking it away, horse!
We moved down to a wide ditch, but at this point, his brain had hit rolling boil and it appeared we were being stalked by a saber-toothed tiger. He probably did not appreciate us laughing at him, but sorry buddy, work trumps invisible tigers.
So it took some coaxing to cross the ditch, but cross he did, although by braille a few times. We continued to walk across it until he jumped it with some semblence of order. Since he remained intent on his perceived predator, I had to compete hard for his attention to bring him back to walk each time. It was extremely helpful when Becky had me lower my "whoa" hands from my shoulders (I know I'm not the only one whose hands come up when trying to stop the mildly desperate horse) to Encore's withers. It helped lower his energy as well and bring him down more quietly as I kept my hands low and quiet and he finally began to relax a little.
A few exercises through the water and surrounding mounds and cavaletti followed, all very easy for Encore, but my job was to keep my position solid and still and my hands low over the rolling mounds and jumps.
We've all enjoyed this streak of Carolina blue skies!
Whatever it was he saw, he remained certain of its need for attention the entire time, so the lesson itself did not involve as much complexity as I might have thought. However, it was a VERY valuable opportunity to have Becky there on a rare occassion when he does mentally vacate (I can probably count the times he has done this on my hands), as she was able to tweak my body language through my hands and core to help quiet him instead of ending up in a fight with him. Because he is not trying to avoid work and he is a very honest tryer in all things; he simply got sucked into the horse parallel mental universe where invisible monsters live.
And now I am laughing because I bet to any horse owner, that insane-sounding place description elicits a completely blase, "Oh yeah, I totally know that universe."
Next on the syllabus: long lining - the magical Holder way.
The porch view of the Windhaven dressage and gynmastic work area.
I did not get to do much creeping watching today; since I had to fetch Encore late morning and he had become so disgusting I decided to bathe him following our lesson, it was more of a day for peeks here and there.
Since it was another gorgeous, sunny morning, I ambled to the front porch to watch Teddy (Can't Fire Me) execute his gallop sets, which Becky mixed with cavaletti and ground pole work. He really is a fantastic horse with a powerful gallop and Becky makes him look super rideable. Watching him surge up the hills and then settle back into tiny rollback turns to the rails made me feel like I had a very privileged box seat indeed!
As I packed up to head to So8ths, I was also able to catch a few minutes of Comet's dressage school as he practiced his tempi changes, moving from fours to threes to twos. He still has his signature aura of something very special and it's easy to see why he is Becky's Solo.
Junior horse in his hotel room.
Encore and I were the first lesson after the daily break, so we were alone warming up at the top of the hill, leaving Encore convinced that all the world's horses had deserted him to an uncertain fate. I hadn't gotten much sleep the night before due to a loudly snoring temporary roommate, so I struggled to be patient and breathe and decided to stop and work on the turns-on-forehand from yesterday.
Becky and Scrappy arrived, the latter to supervise all parties, and our turns were pronounced much improved from the day before (it must have been all the practice I'm sure Encore did overnight). Then we revisited the trot and canter work from the day before, alternating large circles with ~15m circles.
So8ths hovel of a barn. Poor horses.
It was as if I had brought a different horse. More likely, my horse was relieved that I was finally starting to use the aids properly. But Encore was so much softer and willing in the bridle, trying hard to keep his withers up and push from behind and, miracle of miracles, staying focused on the work at hand!
Key points: Stay even on both reins (I was caught multiple times with my trademark hang on the left rein, dangit). When he is moving in a good rhythm and wants to stretch down, let him have the rein as long as he is not falling down the hill and then push him a little bit forward over that newly stretched topline. Really focus on keeping the rhythm of trot and canter very pure (Encore can sneak a disconnected tranter in to try and avoid pushing at the canter). Alternating very small circles at the canter, swing your hips to push his hind legs forward forward forward through the tight turns you make with your outside aids (this felt amazing).
They have a tiny dressage arena over there too.
Exercise 1: Jumping a single cavaletti, alternate the approach on a small circle from the left and right. Key points: Use an opening rein and new outside leg over the jump to show him where we are going. The primary focus is holding the rhythm and my position consistent the whole time (woohoo, something I am successful at!), not letting him fall apart or get strung out.
Exercise 2: Jump single cavaletti to bounce cavaletti series to single to low gymnastic line. I've drawn you a masterpiece of a diagram. The low line is not pictured. Because I was too lazy to redo it when I realized I'd run out of room. Deal with it. Key points:Rhythm, hold position over jumps, use outside aids and really push him forward through the tight turns. All of these are on the side of an incline, so you MUST stay balanced and not let him just fall on his face.
Nope, always got lost after 3rd jump.
Exercise 3: Jump larger gymnastic line of vertical-two strides-wide oxer, then do 10 rollback turns over cavaletti (ok, it may have been slightly less than 10, all I know is I got lost every time). If you get lost, just turn and jump something. And yes, all of the turns were as tight as they look. Key points: Keep his hind legs swinging in the turns. REALLY stay solid with your position over the jumps; be still and let him jump beneath you while you stay in the center. Hold him together with your core and thigh between jumps so he doesn't get so strung out.
The last green arrow leads back to the low gymnastic line. The goal was to alternate direction with each turn, which my confused self didn't do, but I did turn and jump SOMETHING each time and I started and ended in the right place, so was given the ok on execution, ha.
One of four beautiful wood sculptures at So8ths.
We did several variations on this exercise, but the goals and design were the same. The turns continued to improve; I was quite excited to discover the Encore was much stronger than I thought and as he figured out how to sit down and pivot, it became easier and easier for him.
He retains his tendency to slow down when he is thinking about the question in front of him or if he needs to sort out his feet, so he would fade a bit in front of both gymnastics. I heard David in my head upon approach saying, "go forward now!" but still could not get enough impulsion through the first line. Becky recognized the effort and reminded me which piece I was missing: since the line is built for a forward, powerful canter, build that in front of it by not just applying more leg, but keeping him balanced in front with your core so his rhythm does not get faster, but that power keeps building beneath the saddle. Aha, got it!
So now I just need to build cavaletti when I get home. Oh, and a place to put them. Next up for us: XC!
Also, you might as well start calling me Wrong Turn Reba; all these tiny SC roads around Encore's hotel look the same and as I'm driving along, lost in thought about all I saw in one day, apparently I decide to just randomly turn down one. It doesn't help that you have to go by SR numbers...which are tiny on dark brown signs. I think Encore is getting dizzy.
But you wanted to hear about horsey things. As everyone else here seems to think this is a normal, day-to-day activity, I am the solitary creeper, following Becky around like a stray dog gathering scraps. I should have brought all black clothing so I would be a ninja and no one would see me. But she hasn't run me off with the longe whip yet. I think Scrappy is rooting for me, I keep his ears well-scratched!
After finishing some work duties (it sucks being an adult sometimes -- an ancient old lady by comparison to the rest of the girls in the house, ha!), I spent the late morning filling the wide open creeper niche, stalking and watching.
One owner brought her gorgeous bay mare (when I asked Becky what type of horse she was, I was told "Eh, some warmblood thing or another"), who would throw enormous rearing mare tantrums when asked to connect, reportedly. Becky got on and immediately began engaging her hind end at the walk, keeping her moving sideways, crossing her hind legs beneath her and pushing her neck forward and down. Exaggerated turns on the forehand led to big leg yields, constantly pushing the inside leg over into the outside rein. Yeah yeah yeah, I need to do that, I thought. She did similar work in a stunning trot, which fancy mare tried to evade...by using passage. Encore tries that evasion too, it's so annoying. I mean, doesn't yours? A similar evasion presented in the canter, where the horse would just bounce up and down in a teeny four-beat canter to avoid moving forward into the contact with the outside rein. But no one beats Becky, so she was soon rocking along, being a very impressive little workhorse.
The staple diet of the horsewoman. Creeping takes energy!
Next was a long-lining session with a younger gelding, a big, strong-looking WB/TB ("some warmblood thing crossed with a TB" -- there seems to be a trend in broad categories, much to my amusement) who was quite the tryer and had just come back from SoPines I at Novice. Now I have long-lined Solo, but never like this. I drew a picture of the line setup to try as soon as I get home -- it was certainly much more effective than mine! In short, the inside line ran from high on the ribcage, through the bit, and back to the top ring on the surcingle. A side rein was connected on the outside to block his outside shoulder and teach him to accept the outside rein. With his brain whirling a mile a minute, he put the pieces together and then Becky showed his young owner how to work the lines (Becky used an outside long-line but simplified it with the side rein for owner).
I already had to run back to the house to write things down and then a quick calculation showed I still had time to watch a few lessons before I had to go fetch Encore. Students were working on some fun (ok, probably fun for me to watch, less fun for them to ride) canter/counter-canter/10-m circle diagrams for the Prelim dressage test. I confess I was happy to see the rider before me was a woman on a (mohawked!) stocky bay appropriately named Sofa who was working on outside rein connection and stretching over the topline -- woohoo, my level!
Has anyone picked up today's theme yet?
This afternoon, 5:00 pm was not beer-thirty, instead it was go-time. I'd warmed up Encore on top of the hill and thought I had him fairly supple and ready. I was instructed to put Encore through his paces quickly, at which point he did his best prancy, carriage-horse trot on the side of the hill.
The Becky Assessment: He has a huge step behind and comes very far up under himself, really using his hind end and back, but then it gets to the front and nothing is going on there. Correct again. I will never cease to be amazed at people like she and David and Jimmy who can assess everything in five minutes and one sentence! Actually, I think she got Solo in about three minutes.
Exercise 1: Execute turns on the forehand (oh, I knew I needed more of those!) at the walk. Key points: Don't worry about keeping the front feet immobile. Focus on the hind legs crossing over beneath him. Keep the outside hand in a steady contact with the pinky almost touching the saddle. The inside hand is an OPENING REIN ONLY, no direct rein, no pulling back with it, EVER (this was very difficult for me, I was scolded many times). Then push ribcage over into the solid outside rein, softening when he crosses over and gives in the bridle. Every time he gives, it's "money in the bank," each step a training investment in your future performance.
Exercise 2: Turn these into half circles at the walk and trot. Key points: Ride them the same way. Don't move that outside hand. STOP PULLING HIS HEAD AROUND WITH THE INSIDE REIN (this is where I have been going wrong!); simply use your inside leg on his ribcage, keep asking, and wait for him to find the right answer.
Exercise 3: Graduate to full circles at the trot and canter. Key points. Ride them the same way, hahahaha. Outside hand, STAY! Opening rein, NO PULL. Be patient and let him find the right place to be. At the canter, you can make the circle smaller by pushing him in with the outside leg and feel him shift up and over under you. Try not to pass out and fall off in front of Becky.
Encore tried very very hard and was excellent; he had "read the book" but his rider had missed some important parts! Her explanation of HOW to establish the outside rein first, then apply inside leg, then open inside rein was the one that finally made breakthrough sense to me and my little lightbulb nearly blinded me. But after years of hearing that to supple the jaw, we must "give and take" or "vibrate the rein," it was extremely hard for me to just open that rein as a guide and then do nothing with it.
As the hamster wheel in my head spun like mad on the way back to Chateau So8ths, I realized that the circle exercise was the same as the one David has us do and the aid requests are the same. Becky just nitpicked the details of my aids in a new way that allowed me to finally bridge the two. Which is why clinics are valuable -- a fresh pair of eyes and a different vocabulary works as a complement to the trainers that know you well, giving your overthinking brain a new angle to gnaw on, because in this game, sometimes you have to throw a lot of noodles at the wall before one sticks!
So, a month's worth of homework from my 30 minutes on Day 1. This afternoon, we are to show up for cavaletti and gymnastic work after lunch and I will NOT forget my protein bar today (idiot) and I will NOT throw myself up my horse's neck/hold my breath/clench the reins/all the other things I do when I am out of practice and get nervous.
For now...I have some important creeping to do: Comet gets schooled at 11:15!
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