DefinitelyDressage.com

mari

We had a really good lesson yesterday. Still stuck in FC doldrums, but this is my life now :D Strong emphasis on getting his stomach and back engaged in the c/w transitions, and getting the hind legs to step UNDER. I don't think it was Odin's favourite lesson ever, it was a bit drill-sergeant. We tr...

mari

why would you quit kelo? Well....50s aren't fun, even if they are high 50s, even if they are at the Olympic level with a limited horse and with mistakes as I attempt to learn this stuff. I mean, it's kind of embarrassing, although I am trying really hard to be kind to myself and remember I *am* an ...

mari

Nagging/being annoying is about the only thing that gets through to my thug of an Appy x wb. It works shockingly well :D Big sharp aids make him shut down. If I go tap-tap-tap-tap with my whip or ankle he will continue his non-reaction for a few seconds, and then you can feel his brain and body go &...

mari

Blob - That will be great! He's always been a bit proppy and straight-legged behind in the canter, which is why we think he defaults to kicking up in the change. As soon as I get the hind swinging through under himself the changes get better too. But it takes repetition before he gets one or two goo...

mari

So today, while paddling around in the lukewarm shallows of FC mediocrity, I did something I was taught very strictly to never do, but it worked, so now I don't know.... Odie hops up/kicks out behind, changes first behind and late in front. Even when he doesn't kick out, it's usually late in front. ...

mari

Congrats Dresseur!

mari

I think that is a nonsense statement. What is the reasoning for thinking that quadrupeds will not have a dominant side? Dogs have 4 legs, and often have a haunch they prefer to sit on, which can lead to asymmetry. Even parrots have a preferred foot to sleep on or handle food/toys with.

mari

We are back in full work, it is a blast. Flying change purgatory continues. Today my jumping instructor had us attempting the change out of something closer to a medium canter, and we got one clean one both ways! (Although I have to say, this was after about 10 bad ones, late in front.) I don't have...

mari

Congrats Chisamba!

mari

Great to see all the pictures! Odin managed to injure himself quite badly on the outside of his one front leg, on the coronet band. We suspect wild paddock shenanigans. Cue more expensive vet visits, bandaging and anti-inflammatories. But he trotted out sound this morning, so back to work from Sunda...

mari

My right hand tends to drift higher than the left. So after literally YEARS of teaching myself not to look at my horse's neck or my hands, both instructors now regularly shout at me to "LOOK AT YOUR HANDS! ARE THEY EVEN?"

mari

We had a lesson this morning, tried some changes. I asked my instructor to take video, and it was a relief to see that it looks much safer than it sometimes feels to ride. Attempt 1: https://youtu.be/OFnOpFm610o Attempt 2: https://youtu.be/LRjZw-o03fc The more he kicks out, the more rigid and holdin...

mari

You guys are all looking great! Odie and I are working very hard on our changes. We had a lovely session on Wednesday (in the jumping saddle). Did loads of transitions, then some CC circles, asking for the change on the circle. He seems to do better that way than trying it in a straight line. We got...

mari

Well done Rye!

I have a dressage lesson scheduled for later in the week. Since Odin has been cleared for riding again, I've spent most of my time in the jumping saddle, just getting his fitness up. So hopefully my body remembers what to do with longer stirrups

mari

Chisamba wrote:
mari wrote:Happy news! Odin was cleared for riding yesterday after his reassessment

baie goed!

You make me smile

mari

Happy news! Odin was cleared for riding yesterday after his reassessment

mari

You guys all look amazing! Odin's mystery lameness is less mysterious. A team of vets came to the yard yesterday. He was nerve-blocked and assessed and nerve-blocked and assessed and nerve-blocked and assessed and then x-rayed and x-rayed and x-rayed (it was a long afternoon, and I have mega-anxiety...

mari

Chisamba I looooooooooooooooooooooove a spotty bum :D Odin's mystery lameness is still not properly identified, but it is now less mysterious. Nothing wrong with the hoof, no swelling, no heat anywhere. The vet did a nerve block in the left front fetlock today, and he was hugely improved. I don't ha...

mari

You guys all look great! Covid is doing a number on South Africa. We're allowed to ride, as it's a non-contact sport, and some venues are doing little training days. I won't be going anywhere though, rather stay a bit safer by not going to a show venue. I've started lessons again in June after 11 we...

mari

I'm going to dovetail onto Sue B's post. My half-wb gelding is not the exploding type, and halt is his favourite gait... For the first few years of our partnership, I faithfully tried the escalation method, where you ask first at a 1 (the softest aid you wish (dream?) you want a response to), and th...

mari

I rode yesterday afternoon and early this morning. After 11 weeks off, Odin is very unfit and stiff. He went out to his paddock, and on the walker every day, but no other work, and I can definitely feel it. It's also quite traumatic how blunted he's become to me :D Very neutral about seeing me, no p...

mari

Our lockdown has eased a level, today is the first day I will see my horse in 11 weeks. I am in two minds whether to lunge or hop on and hold on

mari

Will is the Art2Ride self professed Son of Nuno and Master Horseman. Lucky for me (not) he lives in my area and I know him well. When he isnt making lame soft porn movies or acting in his role as tampon sucking vampire he is making endless videos about himself and how he alone has The Answers to Dr...

mari

I have no idea who Will Faerber is, but I will be browsing that link during my next boring meeting

mari

I was a bit confused when he asked for "racing" trot, and then nearly immediately said it was a bit fast

Took me a minute to catch on that he meant "rising" trot.

I like it. The horse seemed adjustable even in the long frame, which is something not everyone can get right.

mari

Our yard is still closed because of lockdown. Haven't seen my horse in 6 weeks. So I will live vicariously through those of you who can ride. Don't spare the details...

mari

The horse I have is a very laid back guy. One of the things I've learnt (and after 10 years of owning him, I've only recently learnt this :roll: ) is that the ground rules need to be set in the first 10 minutes, every ride, every time. He is a joy, because he is very mellow and ridable, but if I hal...

mari

(((Chisamba))) I am very sorry to hear about your son's diagnosis.

mari

We had a show yesterday (2nd level). Was not amazing. My riding time was at midday, and it was blazing hot. Did a very insufficient warm-up because I was pretty sure I was close to a heatstroke incident. Odin, in comparison, was strong as an ox, and just as plank-like. Not a good combination. In tot...

mari

I have a pretty good feel for the subtleties of what is happening beneath me. I'm also very quiet in my body without being tense, and I have great control over all my bits. So if my instructor wants me to lower my right shoulder a bit to help with a lateral movement, for example, I can do that easil...

mari

Hardest general concept was timing of aids vs. release. And it was a lot of experimentation, and instructors willing to talk me through it stride by stride for HOURS until the feeling became ingrained. Hardest movement so far is flying changes. I can ride them pretty smoothly on other horse, but Odi...

mari

Rosie, whenever I see pictures of you riding I get serious leg-alignment jealousy

mari

I have a much better trot after a canter warm-up. He just feels looser and more ready to work. And it really helps with the forward. Odin's favourite part of any workout is the halt, and if I warm up in trot I often have to demand (or nag...) for forward, where if I canter first the trot is much rou...

mari

I agree with Tanga, that is a nice canter. And you rode a really accurate test. He certainly seems like a little powerhouse! I don't like the "horse with limitations" comment, he's completely lovely. His gait scores will get better as you train more, and the moments of resistance and trans...

mari

That sounds like an awesome lesson Exvet! Methinks I also need to refresh these concepts at least once a week. It's just so dang hard for me to remember to enforce that level of response with every aid, every ride.

mari

Mari looking good! What a lovely arena too. Are they houses so close to the side? I used to have terribly busy legs and I couldn't keep my lower leg still at all, way way way worse than yours!! It came from a riding a more lazy type horse and I had to concentrate so hard on keeping them still and m...

mari

Mari, you must be excited and proud of your progress. Since you asked for your leg to be more quiet you will have to train him to give a better response. Honestly even to get his front up, it's all about a quicker response to the leg. Your baby half pass will have more freedom for the shoulder to l...

mari

I had a clinic lesson today with an instructor I ride with every 2 months or so. Everything was about self-carriage and getting him less reliant on my hands for balance. And coaching me every stride to readjust, up-up, leg, give. It was hard work, but I think if I can practice my aids and timing to ...

mari

Flight - awesome pictures! So cool that they get to go out and do different things.

mari

Here is my test. It was the Elementary, which seems to be equivalent to US 2nd level. Is this sort of what you guys ride in the US? How do your second-level tests compare? We can always start a new thread on this if this is not the right one. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/NYM09iMBiOfNkWL_RDfXAPp...

mari

Our show yesterday went pretty well. I was actually riding properly and not just sitting there like a lump. We had some mistakes. There is one part where you have to transition to canter after a trot sequence, and in typical Odin fashion I gave the canter aid at C and he went "Whaaaaaaaaat?&quo...

mari

I am embracing the suck of second level and am torturing myself with yet another show on Sunday.

Those of you who posted photos, you are truly damn awesome and inspiring. I will post my own early next week. And then you can all go to town

mari

Sue B wrote:Doesn't anyone have a horse that sometimes changes behind but not in front????

Mine! If he is disunited after a change attempt, 99% of the time he has not changed in front.

mari

Flight do you mind if I ask, what do you do to let him know that is not particularly appreciated? I personally prefer to discourage bucking and or rearing. I'm usually just trying to get my bum back in the saddle! It is a leap more than a buck and when he's trying to do a change and I've hung onto ...

mari

I really like the photos! Can you give a bit more information about how you worked on the half-steps? We often attempt them as part of warm-up, to remind Odin that he has hocks. But I'm not an upper-level rider, so I like hearing what other people want to feel and what they are looking for.

mari

Aaaaaw Moutaineer, it happens. If he's fit and not tired after the show yesterday, I would give the troublesome movements another go at home today or tomorrow. If the same issues crop up, then start problem-solving for the physical issues you are worried about.

mari

Putting the medium canter first in the canter section of second level is a rather unkind bit of test writing IMHO... But that's probably why it's there... It is flat-out diabolical! :D So that bit of the test goes: (Tracking left), after P, turn on the haunches in walk. F: Working canter. KH: Mediu...

mari

Oh Mari, I am right with you! I did elementary with Norsey on the weekend too and we sucked. Really badly, in fact I feel my face going red thinking that people saw us. I have video and I don't even think I could fashion a nice still from it! We were opposite in that we had no collection, long and ...

mari

Easy for me. Which one am I pulling on like a numpty? That one would be the right rein.

mari

Having a wobbly moment. Had a show yesterday, rode Elementary 3 again (2nd level). It was not amazing. Odin was not amazing. And I was definitely not amazing. The warmup felt pretty good. But in the test, after the medium canter, he just tanked me around. Obedient transitions in the sense that they ...

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