DefinitelyDressage.com

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Blob, we have touched on changes a little, but it's still at the stage of trying it when she has some extra zazz to work with. Saturday she was trying to change after a jump but it was more just kicking legs in all directions.

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One was shipped over a few days ago. It's a mare so has to go into CEM quarantine for 2 weeks. Unfortunately, a horse on the flight over died (!!!) and so all the horses on the flight have to be quarantined until the PM is done (about 2 weeks, apoarently) and THEN the poor mare has to go into CEM q...

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Moutaineer, glad you are making progress and at least getting to go out to the barn a bit. Can't wait to see you back up in the irons! Khall, exciting to have a prospect to go check out! Weather has been so nice here for December. Yesterday the frost was just burning off when my lesson started at 9....

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I got these last winter and they are quite warm. https://www.tackoftheday.com/b-vertigo-onyx-waterproof-winter-gloves-titan-navy-312bf33-tnb/p The warmest riding gloves I have are Horze brand with down filling, but I am not seeing them now in a search. I have a pair of rechargeable hand warmers. The...

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Aleu, I always love your snow videos! Here we tend to have chopped up frozen footing under the snow, so the opportunities to ride in snow are limited. I do love it though! I set up some jumps today with the idea of doing a figure 8 with a lead change over the hogsback in the middle. Well T got obses...

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Absolutely! I was thinking the same since my brother has a 3D printer, but I would have no idea how to create the file for it. I just looked for heat deformable plastic, but it looks like it would be at least 50% of the price of the actual product, so I'll probably just order it. It's about the pric...

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Thanks Exvet! The instructor said it was great that T was thinking of changing behind first, but then she's always been one to swap behind if she feels out of balance. Getting those big shoulders up and out of the way will be key. I think we have a 50/50 shot at third level next year. I am not payin...

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The sun was out and it was surprisingly warm this morning. We had a good lesson working on simple changes and then a couple attempts at FCs. One she changed chaotically. The other she stole a trot step and changed, but hey, it was a reaction and attempt! We have a few days of rain, and then it is lo...

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Blob, that should be an interesting experiment! T is also super sensitive in the mouth, and currently in a Baucher (Winderen). I have not even started thinking about trying a double, but Imagine it might not be TOO far into the future. LSP, it sounds like Lynx is growing up. Glad he was a good boy! ...

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Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We rode in the bareback pad yesterday, and now that I think of it, I'm not as sore as I was expecting, lol. Today we had a nice jump school. One thing I'm working on with T is that when I pick up the reins after a break, she is asking "what now boss?" not "...

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Horses read our energy, and OUR horses can really learn to read OUR energy. It always takes me awhile to get T sufficiently hot off my leg, so if I just want to amble around down the road, it's no problem. She would not be reactive about a branch touching her butt because of her dressage training. B...

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We are getting our momentum back over here. Two good dressage rides this weekend, then a bit of jumping tonight. My current thing is focusing on my own self carriage so I don't give anything up in the transitions or when the lateral work isn't going perfectly. Working more adjustability in the cante...

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Welcome back, Flight and Mari!

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Khalil, so sorry about Rip. Clearly it was his time but of course it's still so hard. Also sorry to hear that Joplin isn't paying attention to the prescribed healing schedule. I hope she gets with the program and progressing like the vet wants to see. T seems to be 99% better. Tuesday I went out to ...

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Came home to a lame horse today. Womp, womp! I think it's just a stone bruise on her left front, but I'm disappointed to miss my lesson tomorrow. Packed it with some Magic Cushion and maybe I'll slap some front shoes on her tomorrow night. I really need to get some of those new 3D pads that can just...

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Aleuronx, fun to see you progressing farther into the FEI stuff. It looks like the two of you are figuring it out! Also glad your pup is doing better! Ponichiwa, there is an older episode of Roseanne where they get stoned and start saying D.J.'s name in funny ways like Deeeejjaaaayy... You should ch...

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I had a good lesson this morning with my trainer friend who brings Carrie in for clinics. I told her my main focus right now is freeing her right shoulder and getting the forward into canter without hesitancy. Most of the lesson was working on a square, first in walk with pushing the shoulder out on...

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I'll be out of town for about half of November, and then of course weather starts getting challenging in December, so I don't have too many goals. Me: Get back in the gym Eat more protein and veggies Tesla: Jump when possible, focusing on adjustability and forward-thinking responsiveness. Trot and c...

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Tesla has earned tomorrow off, so I guess it's time to close out! OK- *checks calendar* it really is time for a new thread. :lol: Show season is done here, so I am now free to embrace the suck and work on improving Tesla's canter. I've gotten some good ideas for that, especially from Lilo, but have ...

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Cool to get the tempis, Exvet! It is so great when the stodgier ones start becoming self-propelled. I am with you on loving the quirky horses. Today I was out at the barn thinking "I have a damn' good horse!" I've had really good rides on Tesla this week. All the leg yielding is paying off...

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Moutaineer, good to hear from you, and I hope you're more comfortable very soon. Looking forward to what you and Potters will get up to next year with your back all fixed up! LSP, maybe simple obstacles? Sometimes having something to focus on like riding between cones can help with focus and reducin...

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LSP, crossing my fingers that the hock injections work out well for Lynx! T has had hers done twice, but this year she's been fine without them, so it's not always a sentence of doing them all the time forever. Glad your daughter had a successful show on her catch ride horse. That should be a good c...

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Khalil, towards the end of Annabelle's very long stall rest, I put her on DePaulo Tranquility and it was a lifesaver: https://www.depaoloequineconcepts.com/collections/products/products/tranquility I've had friends who tried it and said it didn't work (geldings, and I don't think they did the full l...

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LSP, sorry your daughter joined the unplanned dismounts club. Hopefully she won't be nervous for too long. I took a fairly dramatic fall chin-first dive into gravel off a fresh horse when I was her age (still have the scar to prove it), and honestly don't remember being scared to get back on for my ...

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LSP, sorry you came off. Hopefully it was just one of those strings of events, and not a significant physical cause. It's good that you have the vet coming out to take a look anyway. As it happens, I took a little dive off of Tesla on Wednesday too, when she stopped at a fence and I went over her sh...

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Reading with interest, but I have't really formulated anything useful to contribute just yet. Maintaining impulsion in the trot HP is my biggest challenge. I was told I just need to believe in it more. Something I find interesting, is that our canter HP is easier to the left, and trot HP easier to t...

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Jingles for Joplin! I hope she recovers fully and quickly!

+1 for a half pass thread. I was thinking the same thing recently.

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Aleuronx, congratulations on the freestyle! Fzybt, glad your boy is coming around to the show environment. It sounds like he will be a solid citizen in short order! LSP, this is the time of year when they all get a little spicy isn't it!? We had a blast bombing around the XC field yesterday. No one ...

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SF- sounds like a really good outing for you and T. Did you get any photos of you guys in your posh outfits? Yep, I tried to post one yesterday but it was too big as an attachment. A friend from my old barn took a few. I was hoping there might be pro photos posted, but haven't seen any yet. Friend ...

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Sorry you had such a tough lesson, Exvet. Hopefully Junior gets his head on straight and back with the program. Maybe he just woke up on the wrong side of the stall that day. Troy is looking handsome, glad he is turning out to be a good egg! LSP, glad Lynx is seeming unbothered, and hopefully the sw...

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Last day of the clinic went great. We decided to focus on half pass, which we did progressively through W/T/C. First was just riding up CL and then turning towards the target letter, then developing HI. Next step was riding some SI, then turning up CL, riding SI, then stair step HP and SL. The last ...

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Thanks! I will go with that unless I receive further instructions. Maybe I'll get some use out of the fancy show shirt that really isn't cool enough to wear when coats are waived.

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Good to hear from you Chisamba! I'll be hanging on everything you have to say about the changes. If we don't have them next summer we're going to go off and show hunters and eq. I had a good lesson with Carrie this morning. She said T had put on muscle since she saw us three months ago, and clearly ...

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Glad you had a good outing Fzy, onward and upward! Tanga, you are already a champion for breeding and training your own horses to that level, and being out there competing in the heat. It's funny, showing under Stewart and Darnell back to back, I thought they were really consistent with each other, ...

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Thanks, ya'll for the input. I am going to trailer over today to where the last show of the season will be and tootle around. It's so frustrating to have a talented horse who just doesn't really want to do the work...any work! But is otherwise an absolute sweet- heart! Not ready to give up yet! Wel...

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Tesla goes through phases of warming up really slow where it's like she's moving through quicksand. About two years ago she would start out looking lame, so I would lunge until she moved sound. I remember a rider I was sharing the arena with giving me the hairy eyeball like she was trying to decide ...

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Yes, it's been a rough few days out here. My work has been getting the DOGE steamroller treatment this week too. Overall this year has just been relentless. So glad we have our horses to help us through some dark times. Exvet, you're definitely not a bitch for serving up some truth. Everything is ge...

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Are the equisk bands the one that go diagonally from one shoulder to the opposite leg? I've seen videos of those. Yes, those. It makes you really conscious of staying straight and keeping length through the body. I don't use them for a full ride, but maybe 10-15 minutes. I could even sit the trot b...

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Well fun with saddles. The tree points on the Erreplus are not even. The left one sweeps out a bit and the right one comes in a little more. That corresponds with where T is smaller on the right side. I got in touch with the Erreplus rep in Portland and he said it was not something he can fix, and t...

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SF really nice 2nd 3 test! T is showing such good cadence in her trot these days. What exercises did Lilo suggest to help her canter? I asked someone else recently how they would address the lateral canter on the TB she was riding. Never really said. It’s something I’ve never sat on or dealt with b...

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Alright SF we're ready to play with ya in this sandbox now. Bathroom renovation work complete? Haha, I've decided to take on painting the outside of our house. It's a pretty large house, and about 2.5 stories on one side. I might regret my choices. Yesterday I took my saddle over to my regular pers...

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Thank you, it's always great to read clinic notes. I would certainly ride with her if I got the chance!

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Looking forward to your clinic notes, LSP. Blob, I hope RP's ear issue is easily solved. Exvet, who wouldn't want to admire such a lovely little studmuffin, LOL! I was glad not to be riding two tests with almost three hours between them today. T was much more civilized coming off the trailer today, ...

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Exvet, I can commiserate with the hissy fits, and then just getting on with it, leather, rinse, repeat. The union should be expecting lots of calls from Tesla this fall, lol. At least it is encouraging that your pony has longevity and maybe he'll grow into a more mature mindset and sign up for the j...

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Jingles for a not too difficult solution to a happier back, Mountaineer. I hope it also doesn't take away too much from your vacation. It is great that you can hand the reins over and Potters can stay fit and be even better when you're back in the tack. LSP, very cute photo. It speaks volumes that y...

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Moutaineer, my Facebook algorithm fed me a post that Justin was sitting in second and I knew you must be smiling ear-to-ear for him! Exvet, very glad your daughter is going to be OK, but it sounds like quite a traumatic ordeal. LSP, I hope fall right around the corner will give some relief from heat...

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Heddy, congrats on getting past the muscle spasms! That sounds really painful and frustrating. And congrats on the weight loss as a bonus to getting your energy back, Tanga! I hope you can figure out something for your arm function. That also sounds painful and frustrating. I'm glad this thread got ...

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Glad Troy is being a good little boi for his first rides. Can't wait to see him progress! I got home Saturday night and did an easy stretchy ride on Sunday after a bit of lunging where T reminded me that there is an impressive passage in there if I can just learn to coax it out. This morning I did a...

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Really nice tests, Chisamba. I've pretty much mined YT for good examples of 2nd level rides, so always nice to see a few more. I had a really good ride tonight. The last two days I've stretched her shoulders pre-ride. I notice her really responding to the right shoulder stretch in terms of that &quo...

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Chisamba, the burgundy looks smashing! I'll have to watch your tests when I get to a bigger screen. Yes, I've been thinking that really polishing the simples is the key to many things. Also, Lilo said Ts w/c is correct, so doing more will keep improving the canter. I've been feeling crappy this week...

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