DefinitelyDressage.com

piedmontfields

Glad to read about the Piglet's condition! Well done, you two.

piedmontfields

In my modest experience, specific breathing does not replace the leg or hand---but it is a great complement and easy to do in both quiet and louder ways.

piedmontfields

Nice article! Thank you for sharing.

piedmontfields

Greetings! I am jumping in despite a long absence because I am very into using breath as a tool/cue. FWIW, I learned some of this from Suzanne von Dietz. I find a hissing ssss ssss ssss exhale great for building length of stride. I purse my lips for a sshhh sshh sound to give a heads up that we are ...

piedmontfields

Exvet, while I am aware of your professional history, that was a powerful read. What incredible service you gave and continue to give! Lots of lucky people and animals have intersected with your gifts.

p.s. The behavior of small animal private vets vs. large animal vets is a whole other thing....

piedmontfields

I like the Ovation Slim Secrets. Very comfortable, with a moderate waist.

For pull on breeches without excessive stickiness, I'm a big fan of Kingsland and LeMieux. But they would be too sticky for people who hate silicon!

For the clarino fabric-type full seat, Pikeur and Romfh are good.

piedmontfields

Paula, usually with a trained horse this is pretty quick to resolve by insisting on perfection and repetition. Also, set them up for success with your positioning and theirs. I mount similarly to Chiasamba, with a tall block. I expect my horse not to move during mounting. Most of the eventers around...

piedmontfields

I so appreciate this thread! Although I am earnest about workouts, I always need to improve them and work on strength. More strength training is important for me (beyond core work) because I have issues with my limbs (fun autoimmune disease). M., I find guided bike work outs (pseudo peloton) excelle...

piedmontfields

Whoa, I am really glad you are okay Paula! It's these kinds of "simple" accidents that can catch up to us sometimes.

Your risk management plan sounds good (and keep up with the helmet wearing!).

piedmontfields

There is a *lot* going on in our various worlds! I was thinking of you in Idaho----did not know that was so close to home, Sue. I have to fan-person at Queso. What a solid, special beautiful fellow. Well done! Kyra's mom, I love mixing in TOF with different exercises that require "that leg"...

piedmontfields

(Sue, I wish you well in your return to riding! I was thinking of you as on January 1st, as I chose to go fly fishing in a new to me stream in the Smokies vs. riding. It was over 60F where I am---a shocking return of good fishing and a great treat after our "deep freeze" which was nothing ...

piedmontfields

SF, you tempt me! But I have a black numnah wool lined one, too. For some reason, the color of this shape rubs off on my grey. horse (yes, I've washed it multiple times in hopes of changing that). The big dressage pads are fine. ??

piedmontfields

I am a recovering Le Mieux saddle pad addict. I'm now mostly using my favorites in black, grey and navy. I especially like the merino wool lined ones. If brighter blues/teals might be of interest, Paula, contact me. I think the mink and brown colors look especially nice on a chestnut. I have fed my ...

piedmontfields

Wow, that is an awesome recap Ponichiwa! I so enjoyed your earlier photo of the not so big cheese. He is wonderful. I also agree that while I love fabulous training and show shots, what is special about this group is the deep affection and commitment folks express to all stages of their horse's live...

piedmontfields

I wish you all well during the season, through holidays, cold/freezing temps or heat! It has been quite a period of winter in E Tennessee US. Nothing like elsewhere in the US, of course, but we are grateful to be through several days of very low temps. Yesterday, we got a little snow--which is unusu...

piedmontfields

I appreciate the updates and photos! Ding looks great. Joplin is such a lovely mare. Go go Chiasamba! I laughed at the spray paint door. I have a horse who doesn't react to a specific place, she reacts to everything that is different from the last time she saw it (which can be a lot at an eventing b...

piedmontfields

I have a grey (white grey) horse. And I do try to keep her skin happy and her body looking nice. But I live in the mid-south. I'm on the verge of no baths for awhile due to weather, but if it's above 50 F it is fair game--with coolers and time to dry before weather exposure or blanketing. Without th...

piedmontfields

Flight, your lessons and insights sound awesome! I think it really is a big deal to learn how to train with that "openness" and then also eventually bring it to the competition ring. I think it is easy to forget that training is not just practicing for competition (not saying that you were...

piedmontfields

blob wrote:Be careful with the Red Cell, most equine nutritionists and vets will say that most horses have too much iron in their diets, not the opposite.

Blob, that is a good point. To be honest, I've only used it after blood work indicating lower iron (and just for a limited period of time).

piedmontfields

HL: I have not fed Purina Super Sport, but several folks in my barn have and found it useful. It was also palatable to the horses. In these cases, it was chosen for horses that had lost condition during time off or rehab, so I'm not sure it matches your mare's needs. I wonder if a higher fat additio...

piedmontfields

Jingles for all who need them and gratitude for the continued updates from all! My goals are pretty simple: Keep building Emi's strength without breaking her :-) In good footing, we can now do a few minutes of canter. Her trot is feeling more normal and she is able to do small amounts of trot latera...

piedmontfields

Glad you are having fun with your spicy mare, X! Tons of great ideas in this thread. In general, it sounds like you are asking for too many lengthened strides at this point. Agree with the points to seek 2-3 strides, then gather/"collect" again and re-balance. You can using the arena fence...

piedmontfields

A really good halt (hind legs under) is related to the walk to canter. Worth touching on. To clarify what I want to my (trained) horse, I might do a step or two of shoulder in at the walk, then straighten (maintaining riding "in position) and canter off. When a horse is strong enough/trained en...

piedmontfields

Good to hear the plans and updates! I am continuing very simple versions of both: Keep doing gentle rehab (for groin muscle tear on mare) and take our time! Emi had a set back in healing in July (after about a month of adding trot work). So August was walk only in the arena and we are now transition...

piedmontfields

Thanks for the update, Paula. I've been thinking of you and hope you will call on any help you need in the coming days.

piedmontfields

LSP, I post this only because it is hard to learn: Follow your vet's advice and try to make the change---but hopefully just *1* main thing, not 5 things. This is hard for us over-achievers, but it helps us and vets see what is going on. One change at a time...

piedmontfields

The fire situations you all are describing are terrifying. I'm glad things are okay at this point. Thanks for the kind words on Emi's rehab/transition. She is 20--which is not particularly old. But, in the last couple of years we've had some serious injuries (front suspensory tear, this gracilis tea...

piedmontfields

Thinking of you, Paula! How are you?

piedmontfields

SF, that is an awesome update! Love when we get those step up moments. Everyone, I am truly appreciating your updates. Honestly, I am now at the point that I realize Emi needs to step down, even as we rehab. She re-injured that groin muscle she hurt in spring about 3 weeks ago. Not terrible, but we ...

piedmontfields

Again, I'm a fan of Ponichiwa's approach. Test the aids, systematically. As humans, we have to accept that we test the horse's training and understanding every ride. It can be very quick, but we still need to do it. BTW, George Williams wrote an article in DT on this topic once (kindergarten and the...

piedmontfields

I have held my tongue, in part because "putting a video out in public" is something available for trainers or so-called trainers of all types and persuasions to do. There isn't some grand review board approving public release! :D That said, this is a short clip from a longer video that JJ ...

piedmontfields

Would copra (Coolstance) be an option as a carrier? Many horses find that pretty delicious.

piedmontfields

I'm so sorry to hear about Resi, exvet. Godspeed, and yes may he and Calvin enjoy each other once more.

piedmontfields

Lots of jingles to Mr. Demi and to you, Demi! What a week.

piedmontfields

The description I learned is that even with a trained horse, you "warm up through the levels" of training. Your warm-up might start with your horse looking like a training level horse and end with the horse working at the level you are currently schooling. You have all of the the tools of ...

piedmontfields

Glad you are being encouraged to see how it goes, Chiasamba! Thanks for everyone for sharing expense updates. Demi, I think you have a deal with ~2000/month board and training of that calibre. Quality full board in my area is 900-1100. Love to hear the Kyra update on adventures outside the arena. Em...

piedmontfields

Phew for the horses and people with challenges! Thinking of you all. Blob, glad you are improving and feeling stronger. Those photos are awesome---you both look so composed and focused in a big setting. Fingers crossed that Laddie's choke was a 1x affair. Demi, I am so impressed by your commitment t...

piedmontfields

Self: Keep tracking the damned calories; keep exercising. Update: I have maintained weight loss, but not lost more (that will require suffering and denial). Exercise is good. I did finalize my new (single)job! Mare: Keep up our pursuit of tack-walking queen title. Maintain good position and clear qu...

piedmontfields

Re: Flymasks I've become a real fan of the stretchy pull on masks like this: https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/smartpak-comfort-fly-mask--extended-nose-w-smartcore-technology--clearance-25335 They do not rub! My mare cannot take it off! The horses don't seem to mind them being put on or off at all. ...

piedmontfields

We have a supreme court that would like to remove rights which have been in place for many decades. Try that on, people, and vote for your real freedoms!

piedmontfields

Wow, Susan, that must have been scary! I'm so glad she is doing better and it seems to be a fairly straightforward matter. Thank you for sharing, as Emi too has some melanomas under her tail. It's always something to learn with horses. Healing jingles to all who need it! I had a staff member come do...

piedmontfields

Very impressive debut for this lovely young fellow. Well done, exvet.

piedmontfields

Safe travels to you and Maia, Heddy!

The ice on shavings trick is widely used here in the mid-south, too.

piedmontfields

I'm enjoying the updates! Demi, your descriptions remind me of how we learn these things. It's often great to start with a recipe on a specific horse and get great at it, then add variations as needed. I don't know if this image is useful, but I often think of feeling connection and thoroughness req...

piedmontfields

I love their elegant little noses! What a beautiful pile of kitties.

piedmontfields

I'm so happy for you and your new kittens, M. The prior situation was just so awful.

Love and good adventure to you and the kittenz! I think we all need photos as often as you can bear to post. Please.

piedmontfields

I love this. The marketers know how often I send auto replies to the hire-ups!!! LOL

piedmontfields

Glad you and Maia survived and you have a lease, Heddy! Change is hard, but can be rewarding once we get through a bit of it. Wishing you all the best.

piedmontfields

Breathing is key! Because I learned to ride as an adult (starting at age 30), I do remember having to count out loud when I was learning to canter for longer periods of time. Doing it out loud helped me breath regularly and not die after cantering 2 20 m circles :-D I have also used a metronome to h...

piedmontfields

Love the photos and updates. And Kyra is beautiful! I don't think Emi has run around that much in turnout in about 9 years

Look forward to the clinic reports from everyone. Hope you really enjoy your rides with Jeremy, Blob! Remember that he is not a snob at all.

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