DefinitelyDressage.com

piedmontfields

I appreciate this topic and all of the necks! I think neck conformation feeds quite a bit into how we must ride/train the horse we have. As for Emi, her neck is short and thick, and also has a dip (maybe not giant) in front of her withers. She tends to look on the bit even when she is not through, b...

piedmontfields

That's a great exercise, with so many "tells" built into it. Thanks!

piedmontfields

Poor Rudy!!!! He looks miserable.

piedmontfields

After an easier winter, my mare is finally getting pretty fit and my standards are rising again. My main focus is to take that improved fitness into higher demands of work. During this stressful time, I'm very grateful to have simple tasks like "improve throughness" to fixate on. Although ...

piedmontfields

Wow. FANCY! I hope she is a good girl as work seeps into her life.

piedmontfields

I certainly understand the desire to pursue deep study of specific subjects or questions. Chancellor, my short-hand to people considering graduate school is "If the graduate school isn't paying for you to get a degree, you should not pursue a degree." Although I should add "unless you...

piedmontfields

Ditto on Laddie! I did not realize he was 18...

Aleuronx, the time you've taken on training loading will pay off for years. So will the deliberate lungeing. I know it's hard not to want to do more, but it sounds like you *are* making solid progress in this challenging time.

piedmontfields

Looking back, it has actually been a pretty good period. Emi is getting fitter and fitter and we are both getting through the spring sillies (it usually just involves working harder and cantering longer). We've had a ton of rain, so footing has at times been an issue. Out in the fields, we're often ...

piedmontfields

Wow, very exciting updates :-0 The owl footage is a real treat--they are so beautiful. BTW, I would not have believed that I had bald eagles actually killing and eating my chickens (during migration) if I had not seen it myself. This was years ago in NC. Pretty awesome cat footage too! Is that in yo...

piedmontfields

Exvet, Ace is priceless! But I'm sure you know that. So awesome to have that kind of horse at hand.

piedmontfields

I'm big on praising my mare's good efforts, too. I'll say "Wow, that was really pretty. What a good mare you are!" or "Look at what you can do!" when she does a bigger half pass cross or extends her frame nicely. She seems to get it and it makes her snort and eager for the next t...

piedmontfields

Demi, that's interesting how you described Rocky. From her build and your work, I believe that her trot is quite good! I often look at the event-bred horses in my barn and admire their canters (and gallops). They are often longer-backed horses, but they are truly beautiful movers who cover ground at...

piedmontfields

One thing I've found that has helped tons is to count the beat of each gait. This is a great reminder. I find it hugely helpful for the walk (where we can be very tense), but it helps in all gaits. I have always described my mare to others as a bit of a Jekyll/Hyde situation. She can seem calm and ...

piedmontfields

This is really interesting, as my big horse always goes a bit BTV and in the earlier days people would say to me "oh he's just big and young and when he gets stronger it will fix itself". But it never did, and now I have to directly fix it. Very interesting! I heard more push early on for...

piedmontfields

Since some of us have a bit more time off horse than usual, I thought I'd start a reflection thread. Given what you know now about the horse(s) you are currently training, what have you realized is especially important for their physical/training development? (you could also answer: "What would...

piedmontfields

I agree, exvet. All of the canter work will play to his strength as you go up the levels. His trot continues to evolve nicely, too.

piedmontfields

I think there will be a lot of experimentation across settings as people figure out what is appropriate and then review those decisions + adjust as necessary. At least I hope people will be open to adjustment/improvement as more is known!

piedmontfields

Lots of great updates and inspiration. Thank you for continuing to share! Hope those who have boo boos heal well and thoroughly. I broke my foot a long time ago..it took some time but healed well. I still feel it ache on very cold days, though. I have been riding some. Our barn has a schedule to kee...

piedmontfields

Happy b-day Riot. Hope it's a great year.

piedmontfields

BTW, our local and state parks are closed, too. The national park (Great Smoky Mountains) is also closed.

piedmontfields

Something that is challenging for us all to realize is that when we "go back to normal", it will be utterly different. We will have to continue a lot of distancing + other public health behaviors and have a rapid response when there are new surges of infections. Even once a vaccine and rel...

piedmontfields

NZ is doing quite the amazing job at containing/stopping the virus.

I think the US has a long long way to go on that.

piedmontfields

I'm always amazed at how reasonable horse vet bills can be for these sorts of things. It is obscene what I spend on my dogs for so little (ex. vet does not come to my home!).

piedmontfields

I know what you mean. A lot of people are simply unable to say "no", whether to themselves or others. I have threatened people at the barn with bleach spray and with a water hose when they got too close to me (if they don't want that experience, please stay home!). --Note: It was in good h...

piedmontfields

Exvet, thanks for this great thread and for sharing your rides! Many of us are living through you now ;-) I'm riding a little...mainly because I have a quiet barn situation at the moment and a good horse. And I'm keeping this thread and others on public safety in mind! Another general thought---I ha...

piedmontfields

Thinking of you. Godspeed, Lucky. It is so hard to lose old friends.

piedmontfields

Ugh, Paula! Your vet is right---it will heal nicely. Glad you were able to get her cared for so quickly. My mare is also very touchy about being alone (inside or outside). If she's with me, she is fine, But if she doesn't have social support around her for being a horse, she flips out. Usually that ...

piedmontfields

To give you a bit of the flavor of different parts of the country, here is an announcement from our county commissioner: "After a number of conference calls today and debates back and forth of should we Declare a State of Emergency, I did. Not sure what that does for us but wanted to be on the ...

piedmontfields

Rooney, I've heard very mixed opinions of how great Ansurs are for different horses. I quite like the saddles myself, but I also know people whose horses have gotten quite sore from them. It might depend on the horse, the rider, the supplemental pads, etc.

piedmontfields

Wishing Ariel a great day, and you both many more happy years together!

piedmontfields

A few fleurs from our property. The star magnolia tree is one of my favorites.

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piedmontfields

Moutaineer wrote:I wonder if we are going to see issues with produce with CA shutting down?

This is an excellent (and worrying) point. For those of you with the option to plan a garden, go for it!

piedmontfields

True, there about 7 million people in the entire state of Tennessee. And there are 7 million+ people just on Long Island! And NYC (8+ million) right there. Glad you got what you needed, LeoApp. In the spirit of inequality (as in those who have more should pay more), I've been shopping at more expens...

piedmontfields

Wow on the mountain lion sighting! I have seen one once while hiking in CA (pretty scary, but not an immediate threat). Koolkat, seeing a lynx would be absolutely magical! FYI, after complaining about dryness, we are over a foot above "normal" rain levels so far this year...and today it is...

piedmontfields

I don't know what food delivery you're trying to use, LeoApp, but I have not had issues with mail order for groceries. However, I did "stage" my orders back in February, so if they were delayed it was not an issue. There is no take out food in normal times where I live, so it is not exactl...

piedmontfields

LeoApp, the point about reducing risk for hospital needs is very well taken. For me, that risk is mostly related to driving in my rural area, rather than riding my horse or close contact with others. By the way, my work (which has me working from home) has directed staff to not leave the region. Thi...

piedmontfields

Masks are not widely available and I am not using one. Of course, I am also not coughing or sneezing! I'm using the minimum 2 horse lengths away guide for any people I encounter at the barn. I'm tacking up away from the main areas, too. I do show up and wipe all of the major doors/handles that are p...

piedmontfields

Shoulder-in to renvers and repeat is my bread and butter go to for my mare's tight back (in part because her SI area is especially tricky with her conformation). I do this at all three gaits. If she were a human that I was teaching in a yoga class, I would always warm her up with side-bending/openin...

piedmontfields

Well, I suspect we haven't posted because we've been a bit busy ;-0 My work is finally embracing a reduction of on-site workers to reduce social spreading; those who can will work remotely full-time. Of my two closest friends, one is now getting over a Corona-like virus (she is in the bay area of CA...

piedmontfields

Thinking of you and yours, khall. I'm glad you were able to bring him home. He was lucky to have you as a daughter.

piedmontfields

Love reading your updates, Demi. Lots of good progress! And Rosie, you and Bliss look wonderful. Very happy for you! Edited to add that the Laddie update is a relief.

Yesterday, I was mud walking. Reference: https://eventingnation.com/tuesday-vide ... -fox-pitt/

piedmontfields

Wow, that is awful. :shock: I would suggest picking it up and putting it in the trash/landfill. Dealing with this in winter will be much more pleasant than in warmer temps. Typical dog diets do not tend to lend themselves to stools that fade away in 3-6 months (although very high protein/high fat di...

piedmontfields

Hey, that is very cool, Dresseur! I have to watch myself more at trot with what you describe than canter. In canter, if I'm not careful about nose in the middle of the chest, I have NO POWER. You and Manni wrote some things on the other thread that lead me to some mind-blowing rides this past week. ...

piedmontfields

Dresseur, I would be in a funk about this too (and job-hunting): "we have a new boss at my work and his philosophy is no work from home, no leaving early (Even if you pulled an all-nighter) and you're not really busy unless you're pulling 12, 14+ hour days." I've been in a different funk a...

piedmontfields

Oooh, horse search? I must have missed that (current) season. Good luck!

piedmontfields

Ow, that's quite a clocking, A...x! Weird video to have, but also instructional :-0 Very reasonable to me that you are using a tool (draw rein) to help get through this and stay safe. Glad you are okay. SF, glad the meeting with the earth was not bad and cantering proceeded without issue the next day!

piedmontfields

So glad your barn community is working together. Hope the barn owners are able to re-group and go on. That is very sad that a horse in quarantine was lost. I'm so glad the staff were able to get out and are okay. As our staff did tons of work today on the driveways, parking area, and then convenient...

piedmontfields

I usually have the saddle fitter out 1-2 times each year, but after getting a new to me saddle this summer (which was barely used and needed some break-in time), I finally got the fitter out and the flocking adjusted. Wow---my horse is super happy and a third level quality canter is right there. Don...

piedmontfields

That is so terrifying. I'm relieved that humans and horses are okay. Hope the barn crew gets the help they need to move on.

piedmontfields

Thinking of you and your family, and sending peace.

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