2 cool exercises

Image from JJ Tate Clinic, Thanks Magoo Photography!

I've mentioned Tilly's crooked tendencies to the left and I feel like we are so close to really making a difference and moving on from the issues.  If I let her, Tilly would just jut her neck to the left, avoid the right rein,  and fake roundness by over bending.  Of course, she is not to blame!  There are so many factors that contribute: ME, past injuries, weaknesses.


Here are some cool cues and exercises that are helping me develop Tilly's authentic frame when traveling to the left as well as improving the quality of the gaits.

**Keep the canter between the inside zipper and pocket and out side leg.**
I like this because then I'm not focusing about pressing my sit bone quite so much.  I certainly don't want to cause an inversion but I need to visualize a feel to stay with Tilly's back in canter transitions.  They happen so quickly!!

**Turn on haunches to turn on forehand**
This exercise is fun because it helps me balance Tilly evenly between my legs but it also reminds me to use my hips for lateral work.  Tilly has a tendency to bulge and park her outside hind leg out during the turn on the haunches.  This exercise keeps her softer an more honest in the connection. Really keeps her guessing!  When I applied the aid at first she just kept backing up... I let her know verbally that I was irritated about her response but then I shut my mouth and just kept letting my leg aid breathe on her side... the moment she thought about what she was doing and stopped backing (we went quite a ways!) and then responded correctly by turning instead i paused the aid and praised her:) 

It reminded me of something that JJ said - paraphrasing here - Tilly has to accept the leg submissively and you have to begin treating her like a different horse because she has drastically changed since you began training her.

I still growl at her sometimes when she is naughty because that worked when she was bucking and rearing... but honestly she hardly behaves that way unless its a completely new exercise.  Still, I need to work to move away from that behavior even more.

Staying with the Motion: JJ Tate Clinic

Results are fun aren't' they!?  Those "aha" moments become addictive especially when the horse responds instantaneously.  Though I must admit, in my experience, the horse always seems to be just waiting for me to "get it."   This simple truth keeps me enthralled with horses - what patient teachers!

Last weekend at the JJ Tate clinic, I located a feeling in Tilly's back that I will never forget.  The exercise began with a statement from JJ, "I'm going to change your life..."

Wow, did she!

JJ's advice was to move and swing my hips and shoulders to unlock the hesitation I sensed in my mare's back... just underneath the saddle.  The swing developed a connection that was part half halt and part "hooking" in with Tilly's movement.  We were getting by when tracking right but to the left, we experienced an inversion evasion and a feeling of being "left behind," I'm sure it has to do with my conformation and slightly stiffer and less coordinated left hip.  But I was actually quite stuck in my mid back and this rotation of hips and shoulders within the horse's movement is exactly what I needed!

At first the motion felt mechanical but once I got into "the swing" of things ;) the horse became unbelievably supple and round.  JJ gave me a mantra and I'm certain that this will improve every single movement that Tilly demonstrates.  In fact, the swing seems to correct every single problem we have!  

Our left shoulder-in often has a cumbersome feel... yesterday, I over exaggerated the rhythmic pivot in my left shoulder and left hip to keep supple-ness in the left side while maintaining the lateral motion.  At first, I felt like I was hauling my left shoulder back, while keeping the left hand in place and only moving within in the rhythm of the trot... 1-2, 1-2, left shoulder-2, LEFT!!!!-2.  Then I realized that the motion was also bringing my right leg better into position to support Tilly's problematic shoulder and I allowed myself to move even more.  After a few tries, Tilly melted underneath me and we accomplished (for the first time!!) trot canter transitions with in the shoulder in left!  

There were many exercises learned during the clinic and I look forward to applying them and blogging about our experiences within the coming weeks.  Thanks!!

Finding the floaty trot... it's a technical term.

Exercises at the canter always improve the quality of Tilly's trot and my goal during yesterday's ride was to rediscover the soft, lofty feel that we lost when the saddle started pinching Tilly's withers in July.

We accomplished that and much more!!  One of the characteristics that I love about this mare is that she really participates in the training.  Riding her is like having a conversation.  I'm not sure I can paraphrase, but it goes something like this:

Me:  "Sweetie, can we get a little more activity behind in the lateral movement?"
Tilly:  "Sure! but I feel a stuck with your thigh in my way."  (her hind leg swats at my leg)  "Ok, now soften the left rein... Not too much!  I kinda need you to hold me on the right... Hey!  don't tip forward!        Here i go!!!!  weeeee!"

She's pretty fun with a strong dose of bossy.  But she also enjoys the challenge of dressage and loves figuring out the exercises.  I love the creativity that she requires.  Doing any one thing for too long get boring for both of us.

Yesterday, I worked on transitions.  She was a little clumsy feeling in the trot/ walk transition and I'm sure it had to do with increasing the collection without stopping the forward movement.  Over the weekend I focused on rediscovering her big, pushing walk stride  while stretching and suppling the neck.  We set some poles out because that gives her a destination and well... she likes understanding the exercise before she will commit to it.   

Very simply, I asked her to walk in front of the pole and step over it without leaning in the connection to my hand.  She was expected to maintain an activity in the walk that was on the verge of trotting.  Once I found a supple horse here... we moved on to Canter/ Walk transitions.  Tilly was getting it so I decided to increase the difficulty by asking on a really, really straight line.  This might sound easy, but Tilly is a slinky and walking a slinky on a straight line is no simple task.  When I asked she gave me the simple change right away.

We moved on to canter half pass and I worked some of the exercises that we were doing pre- saddle debacle to really rock her back onto her haunches.   The working pirouette did the trick and I was on cloud nine as she flowed sideways and maintained the connection.  A flying change was just waiting on me and so I tried the aid as quietly as possible.  She was perfectly on my aid and changed immediately!!!  Did she buck you ask?  Uhh, well..... She didn't not buck :)

 After a short break I practiced a little trot half pass and finished with the medium trot I've missed so much!!  I love how floaty she has become - thank you dressage!

She's back!

Despair had begun to set in yesterday... or maybe I just missed my TNT this week :(  After my lesson last Monday I gave my back and Tilly's back a break, so she got some time off.  On Wednesday I made a trip to Atlanta to borrow my buddy's saddle.  When I returned, I was delighted to find that it fit great! buuuut, Tilly was WILD!! 

I'll admit I was worried.  Did she not like the saddle?  Were her ulcers acting up?  Was she just fresh after the time off?  I had to figure something out after she bolted across the arena from a "have a nice day" bag.  Oh, irony!

So today I went back to our old goldie exercise over poles. 

Tilly wanted to move out really big so I just focused on half halts and an authentic connection.  Since all the saddle problems began in July both Tilly and I have been just getting by in our training.  She started to set her neck against the discomfort of the saddle.  Interestingly, I feel exactly the same way.  My neck and back have been so achy that I've gotten stiff in an attempt to push through the pain.  Luckily I found some great living social deals for massages in Aiken :)  I'm closer to being pain free and after today's ride, I think Tilly is too!

Since she was in the habit of setting her neck I did a lot of exercises in change of bend.  Counter canter always loosens her up and improves the trot so we did little serpentines all over the field around the arena.  It worked great!  So I took to same idea and applied it to the trot.  We were basically weaving our way around... tiny 10 meter serpentines to keep the bend changing and softening.  By the end of the ride, we were back to simple changes on a 20 meter circle.   I was so excited to feel her on my aids, picking up the counter canter so easily and then switching back.

Tomorrow I'll work on getting her more collected and improving the quality of the trot.  She still felt a bit choppy today.  Wish us luck! 

The JJ Tate clinic is coming up next weekend and I want  to be ready to work on flying changes!!

When your equipment gets in the way...

Journaling has been so completely vital to progress in Tilly's training.  I'm able to connect the dots over longer periods of time and with a difficult horse this is essential.  There are just so many things to manage! Tilly was doing so well up to 2 weeks ago, i've been really puzzled by the latest issues.

We finally figured out why my back has been killing me... and why i'm feeling such a "jammed" feeling in Tilly's back.  She must have developed muscularly over the past few weeks and/or the saddle settled significantly (it was reflocked in February), because my Prestige no longer fits her withers!  It tilts forward and pinches her on the left... probably why her ribs are going out on the right.  The tilt puts a ton of pressure on my lower back - it all makes sense.

Laura and Nicole both came out bright and early (thanks ladies!!) to watch Tilly go and thankfully Laura let me switch to her Custom, to see the difference.  I felt immediate relief in my back!  The Custom is a bit large for her but at least Tilly knows we are on the right track.  With this horse that makes a difference!  She gets mad at me if I don't understand what she is trying to tell me :)  Tilly will be more receptive to my efforts now that we are closer to a solution.  Our saddle fitter isn't able to visit us until the 15th so I'm praying that the County Competitor that I'm borrowing from my lovely and wonderful friend Leslie, will work! 

In other news, Tilly looks fantastic!  Nicole hasn't seen her since I was away on vacation in June and she noticed a huge difference in Till's musculature and posture.  Tilly does seem very happy and she continues to gain weight.  Just need to get this saddle sorted out and we will be back on track to training for a seamless 3rd level test!

We have so much inspiration right now with the Olympics underway!  Go Team USA!  Here is one of my favorites to watch, Heather Blitz and Paragon:

Heather and I were roommates one season in Wellington and she taught me sooo much.  I love that she designed this horse from the very start.  Heather picked the dam and sire and proceeded to trained Paragon to the top.  Plus he's a red head!

Speed bumps

Tilly and I have been out of sorts this past week.  She had Tuesday off after my lesson with laura and then I long lined her on Wednesday.  I could see then that she felt a bit stuck but I figured the intense collected work from earlier in the week had her jammed up.

On Thursday I felt the same thing the moment I placed my seat in the saddle.  She was stuck and struggling to move forward with power.  After a nice long trail ride, we cantered softly in the grass on a loose rein until I felt her energy return.  I gathered my reins and let her choose the frame.  She wanted to bring her back up but could only do so in the more open stride.  This continued through the weekend... any time I asked for collection, Tilly would drop her withers and chest... Lateral work helped.   On top of that, my mid back was feeling very sore and I struggled to support Tilly. 

We needed a new set of eyes on the issue and Laura was very helpful in helping me formulate a plan today.  She could see irregularity in the right front and left hind, and Laura also noticed that when Tilly was in motion, my saddle was twisting off to the right.   I decided to call our integrative therapist, Nicole Barry - she knows Tilly inside and out. 

As usual, Nicole helped immediately, even long distance!  She gave me a couple exercises to help Tilly's ribs - a section of her body that seems to displace regularly.  I could feel her muscles spasm under my hands from the treatment and Tilly began licking and chewing - a horse's sign of release.  (http://www.kbrhorse.net/tra/lickchew01.html)  I'll keep up this work all week and I'm looking forward to seeing Nicole at my next lesson with Laura on Monday.

Monday Following the Launch

So after hearing about Catherine's unplanned dissociation from Tilly, I really got to thinking about the changes.  Tilly is green with them, and she is trying.  More often than not she changes from back to front - despite a good swift protest with her inside hind leg.

We have to always remember as we advance with training that the old demons always will return.  Anyone reading this has seen the picture that's at the top of this blog. Well, that demon came back.  LOL.  It is our responsibility as the ones capable of reasoning in the relationship, to ask the horse to push past where it gets hard in order to advance.

We started with a few exercises to improve the canter.  I put down 2 poles on a circle and had Catherine canter around the circle over the polls.  I wanted Tilly to focus on her HIND legs flexing and pushing over each poll.  Catherine got her quite a bit more collected and I could really see how Catherine was riding from her center to keep the mare obedient.

From there (Catherine will have to draw you a diagram, I am new at this LOL) on the same 20ish meter circle with the poles I had Catherine ride Tilly over the pole , after the pole she had to turn and cut the circle in half, bring Tilly back to the walk (SOFTLY - no jamming on the brakes) then a simple change to the other lead and back over the next pole.

Diagram for Laura :)

These two exercises allowed Catherine to feel the canter that she needed in order to get the change.  So, next, we started schooling the changes, and of course Tilly reverted back to a kick or no change at all.  Reminding Catherine of the canter she had, and then reminding her to keep riding Tilly through it until she got what she wanted, was just what it took to start knocking out clean changes.

After the first two I could tell Catherine wanted to stop on a good note, but I wanted her to know that she could get more, and also that Tilly had to keep going if she was asked.  We just got through the hard part, now it was time to PRACTICE correct flying changes.  And we had it:  2 more prompt, clean changes from Tilly, no TNT required.  I'd call Monday a pretty big success.  Good riding Catherine.

I'm glad it happened!

Apologizes for a rambling blog on Saturday.  I'd written it over a few days and my brain has been working overtime thinking about Tilly and another difficult horse that I may take on.

One of the points I may have glossed over was the idea, am I coddling Tilly?  Do I allow her to get away with being high maintenance and dramatic?  I try to have a sense of humor about the behavior but I certainly do not wish to have a  static perception.

Tilly has come a long way in her development.  Her ground manners are almost impeccable now and I recall how naughty she once was... I'm so grateful I can lead her into a stall... cross tie her and walk away... orally administer her supplements without her rearing... load into a trailer... etc.  She is also more obedient in her work, and I truly believe she does not intend to remove from her back when she bucks.   She's just expressive, but it is time I ask her to tone it down.

After she bucked me off, her demeanor was different.  Mine was too, ha!  I came to the session today with the same attitude:  "don't you dare."  TNT accepted the challenge by trying to figure out the exercises.  I worked to clearly explain that she was expected to Canter half pass one way and then fly the change to a canter half pass the other way. 

I began warming up with a simple change in between the zig zags.  I asked for the change of bend in the walk and simultaneously began traveling in the new direction.   Her legs started to get tangled when the bend changed and I asked her to half pass, so I decided to just continue walking in the half pass until she organized herself. 

I liked how the exercise suppled her laterally so I kept it up:

Tilly was so focused!  She really wanted to get her legs sorted and her canter was super collected and light - I loved it! 

Occasionally she will flex her under neck muscle and push through her chest but today she was buttery soft in her under neck and lifting in her chest - yeah!!  Our simple changes were also fantastic!  She was a bit too halted in the transition at our last show and the judges nailed us on that movement.  Since Tilly had to think about getting organized and half passing immediately in the walk, she flowed into the walk from the canter.
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Here is a training journal entry from last year:  July 12th, 2011:

"Need to long line again tomorrow, Canter left will improve!!  It's like she's getting stronger but the power is tangling her legs... or maybe she's having trouble figuring out how to lift her shoulders and the increased power is getting hung up in the middle somewhere. :)"

It's always good to see how far we've come, but I am going to toughen up mentally and forge ahead.  Tilly and I are committed to getting the changes clarified this summer!

Born Free... Now she's expensive.

Tilly personified:

 “I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.”
― Marilyn Monroe

There are some days that I have to read Tilly's mood and just long line her.  I do my best to not project on her - something I see occur frequently in others as part of human nature.

Back in my polo days, I really appreciated the low maintenance treatment of the horses.  The barn was full of happy, healthy horses that didn't need to be bubble wrapped.  I always said that if I ever got back into dressage - I wouldn't have a high maintenance horse!  My trainer in high school and after college taught me a lot but she also burned me out on horses that seemed to forget what it was to be a horse.

Don't get me wrong - I want Tilly in the field as much as possible - but I also really like having her in a facility with video surveillance in the stall and a top notch staff that gives her all the potions required to keep her happy.  Ok, yeah.  Tilly is really high maintenance.
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During our ride on Monday - Laura and I may have ticked Tilly off quite a bit.  There is such a fine line with a temperamental horse!  We need to push her but I also have to take time to explain the exercise.  Laura told me to "light a fire" and that is the perfect analogy when working to inspire this horse.  Sometimes the fire is beautiful and illuminates the way.  Sometimes we get burned.

Cut to my ride on Friday.  So, I'm cruising along.  Working to bring the hind feet more under and all.  Also, I'm schooling the changes.  And here I go lighting the fire.  Blamo,  I'm in the dirt.  TNT officially bucked me off for the first time.  My ego is the only thing bruised BUT I am so happy to report:  I jumped back on and resumed the exercise!  And I got a CHANGE with NO BUCK!  I think she was apologizing for dumping me :)

Now, major training decision.  Do I work the changes tomorrow or wait for my lesson with Laura on Monday?  I think i'm going to do canter half pass zig zags with a simple change.   My goal was to be ready to do  canter h/p with flying changes this week, but maybe I need to better explain to Tilly what I expect. Hmmm....

Bringing the hind feet closer to the front feet....

Laura put us to work again Monday with more canter half pass but this time we practiced flying changes!  I'm really getting a sense of the collection from the visualization that Laura provides of "bring the hind feet closer to the front feet."

As I may have mentioned previously, Tilly is such a light moving horse that I frequently rely on Laura to tell me if her haunches are in the right place or avoiding an increase in work load.  I'm now realizing that I also couldn't quite feel the placement of her haunches because they were pretty far out behind.  This week I actually felt the hind feet stepping right underneath my seat! 

Tilly also has a tendency of leaning into the forward motion with her chest, thereby dropping her withers.  So I attempt to conjure the image in my head of a line connected to Tilly's hind feet reaching up to the sky, through her chest.
 
My goal is to increase the slope of the line by lifting my spine and seat up and away no matter what exercise we are currently executing.  Hopefully, if I lift correctly, Tilly will lift her chest like the example horse.

 This helps sooo much and we are correctly positioned for much longer periods of time. 

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The exercise that helped me really feel the collection was similar to my simple change on a figure 8 (previous blog).   The size of the 8 decreased significantly and the walk portion was eliminated.



Exercise:

Begin schooling Canter half pass by turning down center line.

Gradually decrease size of the turn to introduce working pirouette and 1/4 pirouette. 

The horse shifts balance to haunches in 1/4 turn.

Use the balance to flow over into a short half pass.

Maintain collection (dont't buck!!) and ask for change when entering the red circle zone.

Immediately regroup and begin asking for working pirouette in new direction.  Proceed to half pass and flying change.

This is a work in progress for us because Tilly continues to BUCK really hard in the flying changes. 

Interestingly enough, she does fly the change behind first, so we aren't far off from correct.  I just have to keep doing the exercise and asking her to step under and not buck up.  Wish us luck and if anyone has some advice - I'm open to suggestions!!!!!

Simple Change on a Figure 8 with Working Walk Pirouettes

Great ride on Tilly today and I'm especially pleased that she came together so nicely after ending last week with such light work.  I always aim to do what is best for the horse and it feels great when I get it right.

My ride with Laura on Wednesday was a success.  Tilly was bit weak in the canter which felt strange since our canter work had been so powerful.  Our earnest travail of developing the authentic bend in the canter remains the culprit and the focus!

Working Pirouette to the Left

During the lesson, we worked towards riding a working pirouette at the walk on a small circle, stepping up into the canter while maintaining a feeling of haunches in - mostly to retain the bend around my inside leg.  Then we'd step back down to walk immediately resuming the working walk pirouette.  IT WAS HARD!  Tilly really tried to do the exercise, though I can't say we were buck free :)

I had to continuously remind myself to activate my inside leg and keep the shoulder coming around.  Visualizing the imaginary ball next to my inside leg helped me to keep her wrapped around and bending, as well as connected to the outside rein.

Funny how you may know the objective and you can hear the cues from your trainer but it doesn't quite click until a certain moment.  Thankfully, last Wednesday, I felt the moment when Tilly swings away from my inside leg instead of wrapping around it... as I always say, "if you can feel it, you can fix it."

Sometimes she swings away to avoid applying more weight to her hind legs in a canter/walk transition.  So I worked on a new exercise today (Sunday).  It was sort of a stretched out version of what Laura asked us to do on Wednesday... with the simple change incorporated.

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The diagram might not be clear as I indicated two directions of working walk pirouette on 1 circle at the center of the figure 8.  I'll do my best to explain.  This was a difficult diagram.

Exercise:
I began working simple changes on a figure 8 so that the change occurred when Tilly's body straightened onto the line.  The transition takes place right at the X in the middle.

Let's say we pick up the left lead first and we are traveling along the lower part of the 8 in the diagram.

While riding section of the X leading into the lower arch I begin developing the bend and wrapping Tilly around my left leg.

Through the arching section of the lower part of the 8, I ride Tilly in Haunches in, asking her to carry more weight behind and maintain a strong cadence and jump in the canter stride.

As we approach the line leading towards the center X,  I apply my right leg to straighten Tilly's body in preparation for the walk transition.

The moment we walk, Tilly's body is straight.

In the next moment, I ask Tilly to now wrap around my Right leg and perform a working walk pirouette all the way around until I rejoin the line headed towards the top part of the 8.  Pick up the right lead canter.

Foster the bend (bending right in the right lead canter) on the straight line and again haunches in on the arch of the circle, this time with the horse bending around the rider's right leg.  Begin straightening the body on the line nearing the X.  Walk transition at X.  Working Walk Pirouette to the left.  Pick up left lead canter as you rejoin the line.  Haunches In left on the lower arch of the figure 8..... repeat exercise :)



Clear as mud?  Great!  Go get dirty!

I loved the exercise as it helped me to feel a loftier stride in the canter.  Tilly accepted more weight behind thereby improving our simple change and strengthening the canter itself.

the good kind of sore

Monday:

After having the weekend off, I decided to long line Tilly to give her a "stretchy," low stress day.  It was in the 90's around noon and Tilly seemed sleepy.  She was practically snoozing in the wash stall and typically she doesn't like to be tacked there when no other horses are around.  She was snuggley and peaceful.

She worked well and was very active and balanced behind.  Her canter was gorgeous with a nice up-hill jump to each stride. 

When we got back to the barn I treated her to a massage in the stall.  Well actually I just rubbed her forehead at first and then she positioned herself so that I could scratch her right shoulder and then she made those "that's the spot" faces :)  I went and got my little massager thing and entered the stall. 

She's not always great about letting me do stuff when she can move around but today she was leaning into the massager!!  I even put the point of my elbow in a spot and she pushed back against me - she loved it!!  For the first time ever, without being in the cross ties, i was able to stretch her hind legs and back by holding her hind hoof and gently pulling it forward toward her elbow.

 

I looked up this image below because I was interested to see exactly which muscles she seemed to favor and possibly learn what exercises might be challenging her.  She really leaned into the massage right around the point where the Medial Gluteal and Lateral Vastus met, as well as the Semitendinosus.  Based on the reading that I've done, I believe that Tilly is feeling that "good hurt" that happens after working out.  She really made a great effort in her work last week and I'm pleased with how she is progressing!

Tuesday:
Today I gave Tilly quite a bit of freedom in her work.  I wanted to see what she would offer under saddle as I understand how it feels to be a bit sore from working out.

Last week, I was able to do a really great head stand for the first time.  I was completely upright and I had a solid feeling in my arms.  I attached a pic of a correct head stand and one way to set your self up (feet walk toward head until you find balance and lift straight up).

You will see how the arms create a triangular base - this alleviates pressure on the neck.

Shelley spotted me so that I could stay in the position and improve my posture.  I felt strength thrilling in my arms as i elongated my spine and carried my weight completely in my arms!  I think I gained a couple inches in length from the effort and whoa! the next day my latissimus dorsi and obliques reminded me what I'd been working on :)  It felt great!

Back to TNT, I directed her to the same circle with poles that we worked on last week.  She offered transitions within the exercise just as we did last week so I was able to aid with the very slightest shift, such a cool feeling to be so attuned to one another.  She seemed to relish in the exercise and gathered herself together from back to front after only a few circles.  I moved on to big open swinging lateral work.  Leg yield to half pass both directions.  Since she was so perfect in the connection and easy off the leg - I asked her if she could stretch the leg sideways even more.  She kicked out at my leg as if to sass back, "I was getting there!"  Haha, I know everyone thinks it's crazy to ride a horse that is as "opinionated" as Tilly, but she cracks me up!

I only wanted to let her stretch, so we practiced a bit with leg yield or half pass to a medium trot.  I let her go as big as she wanted at the end with some open canter.  She likes when I "ask" for her input on a ride.. it strengthens our partnership and bolsters her confidence.   With a Red Mare that can be even more important than the body building.

Lesson with Laura tomorrow!!