Young Horses

This past month, I have had the opportunity to start training with Angela Jackson. Angela trains out of Rhine River Farm in Henderson, KY, which is only two hours away from Paducah. Since she is so much closer, I am able to train with her weekly, which is really going to help me as I continue up the levels. However, instead of trailering Cody to Henderson once a week, she has allowed me to start working with her young horses- which is incredible. I have never ridden a horse younger than the age of 9, so being able to work with these talented, young animals will boost my education to the next level as I plan to bring up a young horse in several years. I have learned so much in just five lessons of working with young/green horses. 

To begin with, young horses work so much more differently than an educated eight year old. Everything you do with them is different: they way you ride them, the way you warm them up. Both their bodies and minds are not fully developed so training them must be approached in a welcoming manner. Not only must you keep them working and moving forward in their career, but you HAVE to keep them interested. You have to break things down to the most simple way possible so that they can understand and achieve new things without feeling confused or over faced, as confidence is the main part of training any horse. You have to handle things in a quiet manner while regaining their attention and keeping them focused. So, while remembering all of this, you must continue to train the horse in the most pleasant and enjoyable way possible. 

Especially with these young horses, you have to be patient, which includes a lot of- what some might call- "boring" work. Despite the fact that you may be just trotting around the arena, working on getting the four year old to follow the bit, is so much more beneficial to them than jerking their heads down and drilling the halfpass. It is necessary that with these young horses, that we teach them willingly. Jerking and forcing them into a "frame" does nothing but create a horse that must always be ridden with force. It is all about giving, with these youngsters. Yesterday, I rode Figaro- a four year old- completely above the bit, yet he still carried himself correctly, using his back and sitting through the haunches. Forcing any horse, for that matter, is not necessary, nor is it correct in any way. 

Quote from the British Horse Society:

 In order to properly develop a FEI horse, you must take into consideration the time and patience that goes into these horses. Just like Angela has said: "We have all of these FEI quality young horses, but no riders". This is because not just anyone can develop and train a young horse, it takes a certain amount of experience and patience- that not very many people have. It takes, easily, two years to train a young horse to eagerly follow and reach for the bit- many people want to cut corners and make it one year. The US needs young riders to show an interest in bringing up these quality young horses, for the future of US Dressage. 

Fortunately, there has been a growing awareness of the necessity of well educated Young Horse trainers/riders. I have recently seen a great article in the USDF Connection about the works of a Young Horse. These youngsters are blank canvases and must be treated with the utmost care and focus in order to create a beautiful piece of art. Take the German Young Horse program for example- the reason why they do so well and the scores keep getting higher, is because of the abundance of well educated Young Horse riders. In order for the future of US Dressage to be secure- and it has been improving tremendously in the past ten years- the young horse stock must not only have movement and quality, but talent under saddle, which can only come from a well educated rider. 

Do What Makes You Happy

Two whole months, am I crazy? Two whole months and I haven't even thought about a blog post! Fortunately enough, I did have one already written out, so I just had to tweak it and post it. However, a lot has happened this month, we moved Cody back home for the winter and I started working with a trainer much closer to home- so I will be able to lesson weekly and continue riding everyday. But, this time I promise to write at least twice a month, no excuses. Now that Cody is home, I can start writing about his training and plans for the future, as well as any other horse that joins the journey.

These past few months I have been plagued with the question of what makes me happy. For some people, plagued may not be the right word, but it is all in how you look at it. I've wanted to write about this for quite sometime, but I just haven't had the courage to post it. This is a very controversial topic for some people, but I feel that this is something that many need to realize. I know that I'm not the only one faced with this problem, which is why I chose to write about this. Many young riders go through these same phases of questions almost everywhere they go. So, I hope I can shine some light for those that are having the same problems.

It seems like everywhere I go and everyone I meet, people are asking me the same question: what do I want to do when I grow up. Well, that's easy. I want to go Professional with this sport. I want to represent my country at the Olympics and WEG, I want to give clinics around the globe, I want to train Dressage horses for a living, and I want to do this everyday for the rest of my life. But, for most people, that's not the answer they are looking for. They want to hear "Doctor, Veterinary, Lawyer, ect.". This has been something that I have had to deal with for quite some time, and I don't understand how people are telling you to "do what makes you happy in life", yet making it unacceptable to do so. 

Ever since I was four and I started riding horses, I wanted to go to the Olympics. Which, all adults thought was pretty cute- thinking that I would grow out of it in a few years. No, unfortunately for them- and eleven years later- I still want to do exactly the same. Why? Because it has always made me happy, I love what I do. Reading, riding, studying, everything is Dressage. So why not continue doing what makes me happy while taking it to the next level. I still am faced with the "oh that's cute" or the "rethink that in a few years" response when they hear my plans. But, it's never going to change. 

Some have even offered up the idea of continuing on to get a job while competing as an AA. But, sitting in a cubicle or work office all day is not at all what I associate with happiness. There is not a job in the world that would make me happier than training and bringing up horses. Happiness, to me, is waking up at 5 a.m. to feed, clean stalls and tack, then continue to ride and train horses until it is time to feed again. On the occasions that I have groomed for trainers, I was up to feed at 5:30 and I stayed until 10 at night untacking and hand walking horses- and I could not have been happier. There are so many people in the job world who do not enjoy their job or just hate what they do; life is too short to be counting the hours until you can go home. I don't want to become one of those people, I want to move mountains and make things happen, not calculate numbers and wait until it's time to leave. 

With that being said, everyone should pursue what they love, even if it is deemed unacceptable. The world would be so much happier if everyone was excited to go to work. At the end of the day, it is our happiness at stake and our life ahead of us. If you have a passion for something, nothing is more exciting than to wake up just to do what you love. 

I Feel Pretty, Oh So Pretty!

After ten days of training, riding, showing, and grooming in Lexington, it does feel good to finally have a full eight hours of sleep. However, I am missing the four a.m. mornings of cleaning stalls and feeding horses. I am very fortunate to be surrounded by such amazing people to take care of me and raise me along my journey. So, without further ado, I will try to wrap up the week in a blog post.

I was lucky enough to be able to stay on the farm this past week, therefore I was able to get a hands on look of normal morning for a working student- which is something I was so excited to be able to do. I started at five a.m., feeding and cleaning stalls, and cleaning tack during my spare time. It was so peaceful to be able to get up and walk down to the barn in the dark (however bundling up was not something I enjoyed). In afternoon, my mom and I went to the Kentucky Horse Park to help set up arenas and prepare everything for the show, which, despite the rain, was quite fun. I can't wait to finally be able to put all of my working student and grooming practice into effect within the next couple years. 

On Wednesday, we shipped the horses to the Horse Park and set up for the weekend ahead. We schooled the horses in the early afternoon, and Cody schooled around beautifully. We ran through transitions and decided that I would sit the whole test so I could keep Cody under me and I could prepare more effectively for all of my movements. It is such a huge improvement to go from not being able to sit any trot just last year to sitting my whole test this year without any problem.  This weekend had the theme of 'feeling pretty', as Kristin put it. So, both Susan and I were singing "I feel pretty, oh so pretty" as we went around our rides. I will agree, it did help, and yes, I did feel pretty although the silly song is still stuck in my head.

Thursday and Friday went by quickly as I kept busy by running scores and taking care of Cody. Friday morning, I had the wonderful opportunity to watch Caroline Roffman school Susan before her Freestyle Championship. I learned so much that I could put towards and apply to my rides, too.  All of my scores on both of those days were in the high sixties- which, considering it was a regional championship and the judges score harder, made me very proud. On Friday evening, I had my equitation warm up... in the pouring rain. Everyone looked like they were wearing tights as you could see pink skin beneath the soaking, white breeches. Water was dripping through the ventilator holes in my helmet and down the back of my jacket. However, the rain didn't phase Cody and he put in a more than stellar ride, leading me to a win out of 14 other older riders. 

On Saturday, I had my Equitation Semi-Finals. In a huge class of twenty riders, Cody put in another incredible ride which put us sixth with an 81% behind previous Medal Final champions. Being in the top ten cut was an honor in itself. I could not be more proud of our improvement in the past year- I was even told by one of the judges that I had the best toes in the class! 

Sunday was my Training Level Championship and I couldn't be more happy with how it turned out. No, the ribbon wasn't why I was so happy, but because Cody didn't do anything other than be perfect.

He went into the test knowing his job and let me focus on just having a good time. After my final salute, I couldn't help but burst into tears knowing that my 25 year old Quarter Horse put in the best ride of our life. We placed 7th behind Young Rider's who were bringing horses up the levels. I believe that Cody knew that he had done incredibly well and had the time of his life in the victory gallop. I just barely had to touch him with my calf and he bounced up into a rather lovely canter.  I couldn't be more thankful for such an amazing partner. 

All in all, it was an amazing show- KDA did an incredible job despite the 800+ horses and all of the rain. I can't wait for the 2016 Regional Championship that will be held at the Horse Park, again. I think I am speaking for everyone when I say that KDA puts on one of the best regional championships in the country. I am very fortunate to be able to show at the Kentucky Horse Park regularly.

A huge thank you to everyone who has gotten me here, I couldn't have done it without you all! I can't wait for the journey ahead and many years to come with such amazing people. 

Such a spoiled pony!

A very happy moment for all of us!

"I feel pretty, oh so pretty!"

Being Thankful

This year has been so incredibly amazing. I am such a different rider than I was last year, and Cody a different horse. My scores have improved so much and so has my knowledge for Dressage. I can't thank everyone in my corner enough for helping me along this journey, I couldn't do anything with you all. I like to believe that it is all about the journey, so here is to my journey and the many years of hard work ahead. 

With that being said and with Regionals being this weekend, I am looking at how amazing this year has been. I have come to realize this year that the color of the ribbon does not matter. I am looking at this weekend with the thought that whatever happens, this year has been completely stellar in both improvement and learning. I do not need a ribbon to tell me that I have the best horse I could ever ask for. I am so grateful for all of the opportunities I have had and every learning experience this year. My victory, this year, was realizing how lucky I am to be doing what I love and our improvement from just last year. Dressage is all about learning and improvement, and I feel like I have learned that in the best way. 

So, whatever the score and whatever happens, I realize that I am incredibly lucky to have such an amazing partner to journey with and I wouldn't trade that for anything. Cody has taught me so much just this year that I would have never learned in a hundred years without him. There is nothing better than ending the year with this in mind and with my best friend beside me every step of the way. I plan to make this Regional's the best experience possible no matter what happens. 

 

Thank you, Cody, for this wonderful experience❤️

 

Good hacks like this make everything better.

He has trucked me around since I was tiny. 

The Barefoot Horse

Over the years, it has become almost usual to see the FEI horses scratch shows and classes for injury. The injuries range anywhere from a bowed tendon to something so preventable as a stone bruise. Unfortunately, I have had many friends have this problem and spend months trying to solve the same hoof issues, and- oddly enough- they all wear shoes. However, some brave owners and trainers have ventured into the world of the barefoot horse and found that their time with the traditional, metal shoe has come to a close. 

Cody, who turned 25 this year, has never worn shoes in his life. Yet, I am proud to say that he has never (knock on wood) had a hoof-related injury. I have had many people ask how he could stay so sound without shoes, even when he was eventing. The secret to keeping him sound is correct trimming and- surprisingly- no shoes. Correct natural trimming has made his hooves bigger and stronger than that of a horse with shoes, even to the point where he can go on gravel without missing a step! 

It starts with knowing the basic knowledge of the hoof. First, the horse should always walk heel to toe, this allows the horse to wear their hooves down naturally and builds a callus around the hoof wall (which will prevent quarter cracks). Secondly, the frog acts as shock absorber and spreads the weight out evenly along the hoof. This leads to the fact that the hoof expands as it hits the ground, shoes do not allow the hoof to respond naturally and can actually lead to more hoof injuries. So, as the hoof expands, the frog hits the ground and absorbs the weight and pressure from the tendons. This allows the horse to move more freely because there is no strain or pressure on the back of the tendons. 

With shoes, the hoof is placed just barely high enough where the sole and frog do not touch the ground. This makes the sole- which does not have a callus at this point- very sensitive and the frog cannot absorb the shock- putting most of the weight on the outside hoof wall and shoe. It also pulls on the back tendon. As you can imagine, this takes away the natural action of the hoof. 

Over time, a natural cared for hoof will become much stronger than a hoof with shoes. As the calluses build up, the wall will begin to grow to the point of doubling in size. This is the reason why horses in the wild stay so sound while spending months in rocky and mountainous terrain. 

A great alternative to shoes (if your horse does not wear their hooves from heel to toe or has sensitive soles) is using a boot. These boots are made of rubber, so they expand with the hoof and provide protection if they are just coming out of shoes. You can also get them custom to your horse's hoof size so it can comfortably fit around the hoof. 

Research on natural hoof care has been backed by many top trainers, such as Shannon Peters. Hopefully, more owners and trainers will take a look into barefoot dressage and see the drastic change in both movement and soundness of the horse. 

        When pressure is not on the hoof

Once pressure is applied, the hoof expands, the frog absorbs the shock.

For more information, check out www.hoofrehab.com

MSEDA

To start off, I will say that I do feel bad having not written in almost a month. I have several ideas ready for a post, however I have had a severe case of writer's block. Fortunately, this past weekend was Pony Cup and MSEDA, so I am going to cram this super exciting weekend into one, big post. 

The show itself was very well put on, MSEDA did an awesome job of planning everything and making sure  the riders were pleased with the show. I still felt that it was laid back considering the hundreds of ponies (and horses, too) that were still getting used to the new environment. The judges were very helpful in their comments and always gave me something to work towards for my next ride. Overall, it was a very nice show, I hope to see more ponies next year!

This weekend was a weekend of improvement, I was a little nervous, however, as this was the last weekend to bump up my average for year-end awards. In spite of my nervousness, I was able to push that aside to focus on my actual test and improving my ride (improvement in itself). Friday, Cody and I had a very nice Training Three test. I felt that I had ridden him very well and he had given me his all. That being said, I had come out of the arena saying that "whatever the score, it was a fantastic test". Which, I believe is something so many people should start focusing on: how the test felt vs. their score (but that is a topic for another day). Fortunately, the judge saw what I felt and scored us a 75%, being the highest score I had ever received by far. 

For my Training Two ride on Saturday, Cody was a little too low in the bridle. For the first time ever, I actually had to ride his poll up, which was something I needed to learn to work with. Despite his poll being low during the test, it still felt very nice and steady, while keeping everything smooth. Are comments from the judge were very positive and gave me a good idea of what to fix in my Training Three, as I had her, again, for my second test. I fixed the poll issue and rode as accurately as I could. Coming out of the ride, I was very pleased, Cody was steady and his transitions were smooth. I was mainly proud of our ability to apply our comments so quickly, hopefully the judge saw that, as well. We came out scoring a 70.2%.

Overall, it was a more than fantastic weekend. His improvement has been so tremendous these past few months, and even from last year. It just makes me so proud when I think about how far Cody has come. To be honest, last year I was positive he would never score above a 68%, which was our highest score at the time. He just didn't seem like a 70's type of horse, and even though it was disappointing to think that, I had come to terms with it. He was so far from scoring in the 70's, he threw his head up in his transitions (rider error), he didn't use his back, he wasn't steady in the bridle. There qwere so many things that needed to be fixed. My biggest victory, to me, is finally seeing those big issues being fixed: his transitions are smooth, he stays steady in the bridle, and he reaches over his back. I couldn't be more proud of Cody. It still amazing me how wrong I was to think that this horse would never score above a 68%. I owe it all to Susan and Kristin, they've changed the both of us to be who we are. 

       We scored a '9' on our halt!

To think this horse didn't use his back just last year! 

Straightness and Straightening

This weekend, I participated in a Jeremy Steinberg clinic. I am so happy to be able to experience such a wonderful training session with Cody. Jeremy has a way of communicating with the rider in outside-of-the-box ways and makes it a fun experience. His interaction keeps you on your toes while really learning a wealth of information. However, he will always make up step up your game and take your riding to the next level.

 Jeremy really challenged me to ride effectively and to get the best possible gaits out of Cody. This required me to take the initiative, which was a shock to poor Cody. He was quite confused to see his mom in control and challenging him to do new things. It was no longer a "joy ride" for Cody, but a work, challenge, and training ride. By the end of my second lesson, Cody was on my aids and listening for what was next. It was a great feeling to know that I used every ounce of Cody's ability during every minute of my ride. 

I really enjoyed Jeremy's "pop quizzes" during my rides, which only left me to go back to the hotel and read the USDF judges handbook cover to cover for the next day's lesson. During my reading, I noticed that Jeremy's version of the training scale and USDF's version differed in many ways. However, Jeremy's version made more since in the process of training a horse. His training method had been pasted down to him by the classical master,  Egon von Neindorff. His scale went (from bottom to top): rhythm, suppleness, contact, straightenING, impulsion, and collection. The USDF scale went: rhythm, relaxation, connection, impulsion, straightness, and collection.  Stressing the difference between straightness and straightening. 

Straightness is the act of being straight, whether it's on the rail or on the centerline. But, horses can not be perfectly straight. Like humans, they are stronger to one side than the other. Even from the start, they will be one sided. This means that no matter how hard you work at it, perfect straightness will never be achieved. This is when straightening comes into play. Even though horses can not have straightness or be straight, we, as riders, can work on straightenING the horse. Even though complete straightness can not be achieved, you can work on straightening your horse to the best of their ability.  

As well as the change from straightness to straightening, there are many other differences between the scales. USDF has "relaxation" for the second element. However, a horse can never be truly relaxed. Relaxed, by definition, is to be "free from tension and anxiety". Yes, horses can be free from both when in a stall or field, but not during work. Are the horses muscles at all relaxed during a piaffe or passage? Absolutely not! But, their mind can be in a calm-or "relaxed"- state. There are many other differences between the two, but relaxation and straightening being the biggest. 

I cannot wait for Jeremy to return next year for another clinic. I cannot wait to hear what he has to say and what I will learn. 

Loving the Sport

I promise I have disappeared off the face of the earth! I just just haven't had much time to sit down and get my thoughts together for a blog post. Fortunately, I have read some interesting articles to write about. 

To start off, I have had a very busy week. I have been fortunate enough to attend NAJYRC this year, so I have spent all of my time volunteering. It has been an absolutely phenomenal experience, even though I have been a score runner. I have learned so much between listening to the Volunteer Coordinator, Bill Solyntjes, and hearing what the judges have said about the horses and riders. However, I do have to say that Saturday (freestyle day) was my favorite. I enjoyed watching how each rider interpreted the music to their choreography. What I love about the freestyles is that each and every one is unique and special to each horse/rider team.

Last week, I came across a video of Hilda Gurney at the USDF Year End Awards Gala from a few years ago. She started off speaking about harmony between horse and rider, and that it comes from the eagerness to learn every day. Many people had asked her how she is still excited to go to train horses every day after doing it for so many years. Hilda responded by stating that she loves the sport and the horses, it is a part of her and how could you not be excited to do what you love all the time. I feel that everyone can relate to this, if you absolutely adore what you do, it shouldn't ever get old or boring. Every horse is different, therefore, every ride should be different and it shouldn't become boring. 

I see so many trainers schooling and training their horses the same way. Same teaching approach, same riding approach, same everything. Unfortunately, this just does not work. Especially with young horses, trainers need to be keeping things fun and different. This will benefit the horse in many ways. From keeping the horse eager to learn and excel, to keeping them sound and healthy, and making things enjoyable for the rider, too. Too many horses are getting burned out at such a young age because of the same schedule day in and day out. 

Although it has been a busy week, I have loved every second of what I do. Being around horses and dressage is just my happiness in itself. I can't wait to volunteer at Dressage Finals in November and learn even more! Volunteering had not only furthered myself as a person, but as a rider by seeing how the judges approach each movement. I am also very happy to be giving back to the Dressage community. A lot goes into running these shows, from score runners, to judges, to Technical Delegates. Everyone is doing it because they love this sport! And that is what it is all about.

    Beautiful morning at the Rolex Arena

Training, Grooming, and Showing

This past week has been rather busy for me. With lessoning, grooming, and showing all in one week, I'm happy to be able to sleep soundly tonight. However, this won't last long before I'll eagerly be up and running at 5 a.m. for the next show. 

My mom and I left Paducah on Wednesday to embark on our journey to Lexington to yet another exciting week of lessons and showing. I lessoned with Kristin that night, after I watched her ride him and she showed me the improvement from just two weeks ago. I must say that Cody's stamina has improved from being ridden twice a day in preparation for the show. Thursday and Friday, I lessoned with Susan. We worked on our First Two requirements and how to ride them efficiently. Cody, as usual, gave me every ounce of him to work with. 

Saturday was a big day, it kicked off the start of the Meadowlake Dressage Summer Classic. It was a wonderful learning experience to be a groom for Kristin as she debuted Cody's first First Level Two and Three. Cody handled the tests very nicely and scored a 64% on First Two and 67% on First Three. I am totally and completely proud of Cody's accomplishments and can't thank Kristin enough for showing him. Though I wasn't in the saddle Saturday, I still loved seeing the groom's side of braiding and prepping before each ride. 

Sunday was another great day! I went in with several goals, one of which was to make it a good experience and to really prepare for each movement. I achieved both goals with a 70.816% in First One and a 65% in First Two- not to mention the Junior Highpoint award that we recived today. Once again, I was blown away at my little, 25 year old, Quarter Horse. He makes everything such a great experience, whether it is learning, improving, or just applying corrections. 

Everything that happened this week just added to the journey. I learned and improved so much in these short, few weeks. I set my goals and achieved them while applying the corrections given by both the judges, Susan and Kristin. It's such a journey and I can't wait to see what's in store. 

The Real Purpose of Competing

With today's modern dressage, it is hard to not get caught up in the ribbons and winning mindset. It is sad that I see so many riders just competing for the ribbons. I'm not going to lie, getting a Highscore Champion does feel good after a hard day's showing, but the real purpose of showing is tracking your progress and improvement. We are training horses in dressage. The overall concept of dressage is to teach the horse to develope a natural athleticism,   not to be machines and win ribbons.

I see so many riders competing back-to-back, weekend after weekend. What I don't understand is how someone can improve their horse in just a week's worth of rides between shows. For example, if I score a 5.5 on my lengthenings, I would want some time between shows to improve them so I can have a fair chance at scoring higher next time. The outcome, however, of showing back-to-back is that the scores will remain the same because there has been little to no training to improve them. Especially at the lower levels, improvement is key to a successful horse. 

I compete once a month, and the shows are 2-4 days. Everyday, my trainer and I set a goal before each ride and I work to achieve it. This allows me to improve a little bit each day, so that at the end of the show, I can look back and see a huge improvement from my first ride. Then, inbetween competitions, I can take the next step towards perfecting those goals. I can take the 6 on the downward transition and make it a 7 by incorporating extra transitions in my next rides when I'm training. 

When you start looking at showing in the right mindset, you start to see the improvement that can be done to train your horse the correct way. For example, I have a large poster in my room that tracks every show I have gone to since last summer. The graph tracks my scores at Training Level (I'll have to make a new chart for First Level soon). From last summer I can see a difference from getting mid-sixties to, now, high-sixties. I have a similar poster for Training Three, specifically, and the movement scores. This makes it easier for me to break down the test and see what needs to improve the most. 

I'm going to admit, I can find myself being pretty competitive sometimes, but I have to remember why I do this. It all comes back to the fact that I love my sport and I love training horses in the art of Dressage. Once I remember that, I feel more successful as a rider because I'm looking at training and not just winning. This is a very competitive sport, and 100% agree with wanting to do well, but you have to go about it the right way. 

            Before Meadowlake

                    After KDA

Weeks between these shows have given us room and time for improvement to alter his weight, topline muscles, and rideability as well as my mental and physical strength. 

Killing Birds

Today started the beginning of my Lexington training trip. I'll be here until Thursday so I'll be able to work with Cody before our shows so we both can improve and keep in check with each other.

As I started warming up, Susan was telling me about her weekend were she got to ride with the incredible Caroline Roffman. She started off by saying that she "Killed birds" this past weekend. Fortunately, she and Caroline did not actually kill birds, but used it as a metaphor to help remember that holding the reins are like holding birds, careful to not squeeze them too hard without allowing them to get loose. However, when your horse gets strong or heavy in the bridle, it is necessary to kill those birds by firmly squeezing the reins until your horse softens in the jaw and gives. 

So, Susan passed this training tool onto me to use with Cody. Might I say that "Killing Birds" is a fantastic thought to use when training any horse! It really helped me visualize and rethink how I am holding and using the reins.

Aside from "Killing Birds", I also worked on feeling the weight from the reins in my elbow. I have a habit of letting my wrists absorb the shock from the reins when, really, it should be traveling up my forearm and into my elbow. This is where I should back it up by having heavy elbows. I think I have almost conquered my arm problems, now onto my Tourette's leg. 

I am super pleased with both Cody and I's progress from not only the past couple months, but from the years I've been riding him. I never thought I would be at the point where I am now with Cody still strong by my side.

          

KDA

I guess you could say KDA was a success! I could see the improvement throughout the weekend as Kristin and I set goals for each ride and achieved them. However, there are still many things I need to improve on, I am amazed at how Cody and I are taking huge strides towards our long term goals.

Thursday started out with a great ride in my First 1. Cody's lengthenings have improved so much as he is now reaching for longer and sitting more to reach over his topline. Even though my score did not show our improvement, I felt great about my ride and I feel like that is the most important part. 

Friday, Kristin and I set goals for both my First 1 and my EQ ride. The improvement kept showing when Cody put in a fantastic ride and came out with a 67%! I was super pleased coming from Thursday's ride and the score improvent. Our goal for the EQ ride was to work on my right leg, which Kristin has named my Tourettes Leg. However, Cody was very tense and I didn't ride him as well as I would have liked. But, we did score a 79% and I recived some very helpful comments from the judge. 

Saturday was the best day, in my opinion. We kicked off the morning with an awesome ride to show all of the improvement throughout the weekend. I applied what the judges had said and focused on the goal of accuracy to put in a wonderful 72.6%! This being Cody and I's highest score ever received, I was ecstatic. 

Sunday was a relaxed day as I just had one ride and Cody was super tired. He had put in a great weekend so I took it easy. It was a decent ride with a 65%, but I was proud of the overall improvement. 

 

On Sunday, Cody and I received the JR/YR Highpoint of the show with our 72.6%. We also received Reserve Highpoint for Training Level on Saturday. I can't wait for whatever else is in our future. I am so pleased with our improvement throughout the weekend!
 

            He was too tired to smile

Stressing the Basics

With Cody up in Lexington, I have been riding very beginner/ low level horses. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to be able to ride other people's horses while Cody is away but sometimes it can be discouraging to only be able to do very basic things. We take for granted how lucky we are to even be riding First level! I've never realized how great of a horse Cody is and how far he has come. It has really opened my eyes to see that Cody is so much more advanced than I thought. Not only so, but how far I have come. 

Although it is not as exciting as riding a half pass or shoulder-in, the basics are very important to our riding structure. The more we ride the lower level horses, the stronger our seat becomes and the more understanding we have for training horses up the levels. 

Tori, for example, is not a very advanced horse. She only been ridden a hand full of times, so I take things very slow with her. I make sure she completely understands something before I move on. However, I can't drill her or else she'll get bored and not focus. She's also very soft to my leg, so that forces me to ride with a quiet leg and seat. 

The basics aren't just focused on the horse, riders have basics, too, that we must master before venturing on up the levels. Basics, for example, of having a quiet leg leads to soft, quiet flying lead change aids. Too many riders ask for their lead changes with big, loud aids because the horse has become dead to the leg that they must make a big deal to get a response. This leads to so many other problems because the rider never learned to have a quiet leg. There are many other examples of this and, unfortunately, it happens more often than we think. 

A great way to work on improving your basics is jus signing up for a Dressage Seat Equitation class. They only ask for basic First Level movements and it's a great way to get feedback from the judge on how your seat is coming along. I've learned so much from just the several tips and suggestions they've given me from doing the DSE classes.

I can't stress enough how important the basics are. Judges see when a rider has a correct seat and an understanding of riding- even at Training Level. And it's not just a comment on the back of your test, it's an important factor in riding and training horses. Next time you ride, pull your stirrups off and just go back to the basics and focus on your seat. You will be amazed at how big of a difference a correct, basic seat will have on your horse- and your scores, too!

Mother's Day

Ever since I said the word "ponies", my mom was always taking me to riding lessons. I remember her running beside my first pony, Merrylegs, to make her trot, and I would always be there chanting "faster, mommy, faster". Even then, I think she saw something in me that kept her out at the barn from 5-8, every night, seven days a week.

I remember when I used to jump, she would haul out the big, heavy standards and poles, just to drag them back an hour later. I remember her putting up with my "No, not there," constantly moving them until the jumps were placed perfectly. She would stand out in the pouring rain just to get videos of me riding. In a way, in sure she's glad I'm not jumping anymore, I think the long cross country walks several times a day were getting old, but she always wore a smile. 

 She has always been there for 4 a.m. drives to Lexington. Where we chat about everything from show nerves, how we hope the classes would go, even about what food we hope would be catering the show. She always has something encouraging to say about any of the subjects. She's put up with my almost-constant sleeping on the drive, forcing her to call her friends- even at the earliest hours- just to stay awake. But, no matter how frustrating getting lost on the road could be, there was the hilarious moments of "Mom, your going to have to back up". (She hated backing up with a horse trailer). But, she always does.

It's like being a show mom is instinct. That polishing boots and wiping runny horse noses was just the easy part of the job. She's gone to the ends of the earth to make sure I have the right opportunities to get me where I need to be. Her dedication has made me the rider I am today. She's never limited me to just local shows or once-a-week rides. She's always gone the extra mile to help me go the farthest possible in my riding career, just so she can have to chance to watch me compete from her Olympic seats. 

Happy Mother's Day! 

New Opportunities!

Since Cody is in Lexington, and will be for a while, I have been on the hunt for a horse to ride in the meantime so I can continue to move forward. Finally, my prayers were answered when an opportunity to train a horse for someone came up. The owner has been wanting to start riding more often, but can only ride on the weekends and her horse needs to be ridden and brought up through the levels. So, I immediately took the offer and finally got on her today.

The mare is a 16.2 hand Friesian/Paint cross named Tori. Tori hadn't been ridden in a year so it will be an awesome opportunity for the both of us to learn. Today, being the first time I have ridden her, we did a lot of long and low, getting her to engage her back, reach over her topline and stretch into the contact. It took several transitions within the gait before she started stepping under herself. She is super soft off the leg, so I had to be careful not to give her too much. Once we figured out the "go" and "come back" buttons, I started playing around with getting a bigger trot, almost a lengthening. Her "go" button only came from the seat, once I posted bigger or smaller, she immediately responded. She started opening her stride, sitting and pushing herself forward. She is also super responsive off the leg, so she will have really nice lateral work in the future. I ended on a good note, today, with the stretch lengthening's. The plan is to start gradually picking her up throughout the next two weeks. 

 

However, her canter transitions are far from rideable, so, I pan to work on them Wednesday. I tried to do some today, but she would get very worked up and tense, running away from the contact and throwing her haunches to the inside. So, with today being the first day, I wasn't going to ask too much and just have a good ride. However, with this being her first ride back in a year, I am extremely pleased.

 

I can't wait to see how she goes. Since she is very steady, I can work on me and my seat. I have a problem of leaning too far forward and not sinking down into my back. Tori will be super helpful to not only improve my knowledge for bringing a horse up, but also strengthen my seat. Her trot is super soft and smooth, so my sitting trot will really benefit. I can also work on keeping my hands down, and keeping a straight line from the bit to my hand, as I have a habit of lifting my hands too far up. She also surprised me with lips covered in white foam from the ride! 

However, I do miss my Cody and I can't wait to see him and compete with him at KDA. Kristin said that he's picked up very quickly and is doing great! I hope that my improvement will show when I ride him.

     Tori just hanging out after her ride! 

Rolex Recap

 I was lucky enough to spend my past weekend at the ever famous Rolex Kentucky CCI****. We arrived Wednesday night to make sure we could watch both days of Dressage. I enjoyed watching my friend Meghan O' Donoghue and her wonder horse, Pirate. They rocked around Cross Country with a clean ride, not touching anything, moving them from 39th to 19th. I'm super proud of the both of them as it is only their second time competing at Rolex. I can't wait to see the future for the two of them.

What's not to like about Rolex? The shopping and sights of the Kentucky Horse Park just add to the incredible atmosphere of being around international horses and riders. I didn't get very much shopping done, mainly because I spent most of my time trying not to get lost in the crowds. However, I did pick up a pair of Tredstep Donatello's for schooling. I can't wait to start riding in them, they are super comfortable and flexible. So, now, my show boots can be polished and put away in my show bag for KDA. They also gave away Tredstep saddle pads with every boot purchase, so that went home with Kristin to be used as a schooling pad for Cody. 

Friday, we went out to see Cody at the barn. He's such a show-off. As I went to bring him in, he spent thirty minutes trotting and cantering around the field. He put in a nice, big trot and was throwing clean changes left and right- maybe he could go Third Level. Once I finally caught him, I enjoyed spending some quality time with my partner-in-crime, it definitely made my day despite all of the rain. 

Saturday morning, we walked Cross Country, and, man, is that a long walk. We took several breaks to stop and rest during the walk. We didn't quite make it to the Head of the Lake, but we journeyed through the treacherous hills and fields. I didn't realize how conditioned the horses have to be. 

I wish the best of luck to Meghan today in Stadium. If Pirate jumps anything like he did yesterday, it will be a fantastic finish to a great weekend. They are an incredible pair to watch for the future. 

Training the Rider

I read an article by Jeremy Steinberg a couple days ago. The article itself has gotten a lot of attention, but if you haven't read it, you should really check out on the Chronicle of the Horse. 

In the article, Jeremy hit several points about the dressage in the U.S. I agree 100% with Jeremy, too many people are talking about how the U.S. needs a stronger Young Rider team or more future Olympians but they aren't doing anything about it. Yes, there are many programs to promote junior riders in dressage, such as the EDAP programs, but many parents and trainers resort to blaming to horse. That their horse "doesn't move well enough" or "isn't fancy enough". That obviously isn't training the student to be confident or believe in their horse, all it is doing is allowing the rider to make excuses. And it certainly does not do the student justice knowing that the trainer does not believe in the capabilities of the rider to take the horse to the best of his/her abilities. The big problem is that there needs to be more trainers who believe in the ride'rs abilities as well as the horse's. Trainers need to take pride in their rider's, even if they aren't on incredible horses. Trainers should see the potential in the rider's and believe that they can go far. 

My situation is a prime example of not having the best horse money can buy, but still getting good scores through hard work. Cody and I are just starting to venture into First Level. We are doing pretty well, but our big problem are our lengthenings. But that is totally understandable. Heck, Cody's a 24 year old Quarter Horse. No, he's not an 8 mover, nor will he ever score above a 6.5 on his lengthenings. But, that's not his fault or mine. I've come to terms with the fact, I just have to work twice as hard to make everything else even better. We may never score in the 70's, but I can work towards it and set goals that are reasonable for us at the moment. Cody can only be as good as the pride I put into him. That being said, I can't just ride him and pray for good scores. I have to believe in both of our abilities. 

With some parents throwing their kids on GP horses it makes me ask myself what I would be doing if I had that opportunity. The answer to that question is obvious, I would be no farther than I am with Cody. Would I love to have a new horse that I could do the upper levels with? Yes! But, I know that I still have a lot to learn with Cody before I can remotely think about a new horse. Until I fix my problems how can I expect Cody to fix his? Or any horse for that matter. Nobody can just jump on a GP horse and do well, they have to have a certain depth of understanding of how to correctly ride that horse. I don't mean how to "push the buttons", but how to sit their trot or ride their changes without falling behind the motion. The horse is only as good as the rider. 

This article really hit home with me because I- like a lot of Young Riders- do not have extravagant amounts of money to flaunt on custom saddles or $100,000 horses. I do, however, have two trainers who won't give up on me. To me, I believe that is more important than unlimited funds or an imported horse. They have been with me through every little problem or victory. But, the biggest thing that is so important to me is that they believe in me. They are creating me to be the best rider I can be with the opportunities I have. They are teaching me to sit well and have a good seat, because that is what will allow me to excel on any horse I am on. Whether it is a Quarter Horse, Dutch Warmblood, or a pony, having a correct seat and riding well is what makes a good rider noticeable. Judges see my abilities because I am developing a correct, solid seat and they begin to see that. They look past Cody's flaws and see what we are capable of because of how I am riding him.

It all boils down to the rider and I can't thank Kristin and Susan enough for making me the rider I am today. 

Show Season Kick Off!

It seems like forever since I have posted anything. This past week, Cody has been in Lexington with Kristin so I haven't had anything to write about. Cody with continue to stay until June- or longer, depending on how things work out- while I plan on making several trips up there between now and KDA (May) and Meadow Lake (June).

Between last week, when I left after spring break, and now, Cody had made HUGE steps. He's lighter and softer in the bridle and I can also move the bit in his mouth, which was a huge problem before. I can't thank Kristin enough for helping me get Cody show-ready and practically transforming him into a different horse in just four days! He still has a long way to go, but he is taking steps towards improvement. I can't wait to see the difference at KDA. 

We started Saturday off with a bang! I had my First Level Test One first, and my Training Three Qualifier later. Having not ridden him since last Sunday, I was a little nervous to see how he would react. Well, he totally surprised me and just gave me everything. Although, we had a bobble in one of the transitions, we pulled off a 68% at his first test of the season! Not to mention that we hadn't ridden that test since September. I was stoked considering just last week we were having arguments over canter transitions. I was a super proud momma and headed into my Training Three with the confidence that I really needed to get through. We received a 67% on that test with some very nice comments from the judge. 

Sunday was an eventful day. We started off with First One, again. I fixed a lot of my issues from yesterday and it paid off when Cody actually picked up the correct transition. We scored several 8's on our 15 meter canter circles and our stretching trot. 

I headed into my Training Three unsure of how things were going to turn out. He was already pretty tired from yesterday and this morning. But I hoped for the best, although it didn't work in my favor. The first half was great and we scores more 8's on our canter circles and another on our trot transition from the canter. However, when it came time for the walk transition, I didn't prepare him as well as I should and he slammed into the walk. Then, he continued in the slowest walk I have ever seen a horse walk. Half of it was that he was super tired, and the other half was that he started to get an "I'm done for the day" attitude. So, I squeezed and squeezed with my calf to no avail, and I nudged him With the spur, but still no response. Erg. Until, I picked up my reins, then he decided to jig, and then I got him back to the walk, and he stuck his neck in the air. So, I quietly put my hands done and pushed him forward into the trot, which was better. He started anticipating the canter transitions, but at least I wasn't having to make a big deal of it to get him into it. But, I made sure we ended on a good note and gave him some treats (because I always feel bad when I don't) and Kristin said that his canter transitions were the best that she has seen them. We managed a 68%, which I will take any day. 

Even though we had our bobbles, I am super-duper proud of my little guy, his improvement was huge. But, shows aren't always going to be perfect. We had our shining moments and our little fights, but at the end of the day, I have to give him credit for all he's put up with and how well he has done for the first show. I can't wait for KDA and everything else that awaits us this year! 

The Importance of Biomechanics

Since Saturday, my trainers (Susan and Kristin) and I have been working to fix a bad habit of mine that I have picked up over the winter. Every day I've had to overcome the habit of letting my reins get longer and longer, allowing him to get strung out. I realize now, that I wasn't doing Cody any justice riding with long(er) reins, as this made him harder to ride uphill because he would get down on his forehand and fall on his nose in down transitions. Once we fixed it, although I still have moments where I need to keep reminding myself to shorten them, Cody was up in the bridle and super easy to ride.

 I read an article on Charlotte Dujardin's and Judy Harvey's symposium in the U.S. a couple weeks ago. Many great FEI riders and trainers took part in the riding side of the seminar, such as Hilda Gurney, Leslie Reid, and several others. They rode horses anywhere from 2nd Level to Grand Prix. But, with every rider, Charlotte stressed the importance of riding with short reins as she told the them her secret to success at London, saying that "Short reins win gold medals". 

Monday, Susan told me to re-read the articles, really paying attention to how the horses came up into the bridle after Charlotte asked them to shorten the reins. After re-reading the articles and re-watching videos, something clicked and I truly understood not just to shorten the reins but why I should and how it would influence Cody to be uphill. The next day my lesson was so much better because I understood why I was doing it. Therefore, I could envision the difference between the effects of long and short reins and how I was influencing Cody's body. Understanding the reasons behind exercises helps me grow as a rider and improves my ability to see how Cody might react. The key to riding is not what what you are doing, it's understanding why you are doing it. I feel that so many riders need to realize that and take a step back to see how their riding is affecting their horse. Just seeing Cody's difference between just doing it and understanding why I am doing it has opened my eyes. I can now see why short reins make such a difference. When you look at the biomechanics of the horse, you see that when you shorten your reins, the contact to the bit becomes more elastic as the reins are just extensions of your arm. This also places your hands in front of the saddle, keeping them in a place where they can continue following the bit without having to move them back in your lap when you need to use a certain rein. This creates as steady contact with the horse's mouth and allows the rider to give the rein aids to the horse without jeopardizing the connection. Short reins keep the horse in front of your hand because it is easier for them fill up the reins as it is like you are "holding hands" with them. This steady contact should work as a comfort zone, where the horse can go without feeling like they will be pushed around as it must have an elastic, guiding feel to it. 

    This shows how the horse's muscular  

    system is acting in accordance to the 

    rider and movement. When the correct

    muscles are being used and the horse 

    is filling up the contact, the throat latch 

    should be open. 

    This shows how the rider affects the 

    horse and shows correct influencing 

    of energy, demonstrating how the 

    energy is created into impulsion.

Where's My Wall?

Yesterday morning I had my last lesson with Susan before she leaves for a judge's conference. It really couldn't have gone any better and I am happy that we finished on such a good note. His improvement since Saturday is unbelievable. I am sitting most of his trot now and keeping is forward and light- like he is carrying me- which was my goal for this week. 

I really love the exercise we did yesterday and I'll be definitely using it a lot. It really does so much by just doing one little thing- staying only on the inside track. Even on the short sides, you must stay on the inside track.  But it really gets the point across for balance and help when you're not on the wall and going across the diagonal or down the centerline. 

 

At first, it was really tough- and it was throughout the lesson- because I didn't realize how much Cody leans in the wall. My left arm was really getting a work out, holding him up and keeping him from drifting to the wall. The first time we went down the second track, Cody thought we were leg yielding him and automatically started leg yielding side ways. After a few times of just straight down the inside track, he started to understand I could work on my sitting trot. I really liked going into the corners because he didn't have a wall to lean on so it was really me who was giving him a mental wall to turn on. I got to a point where I sat the whole way around the second track and he didn't fall sideways or get fussy because he didn't have a wall to lean on. Once he understood that it would be easier to use both sides of his body to move forward, he was so much easier to ride. 

The canter, however, was my favorite part because it required so much sit in the corner, you almost had to think a little bit of pirouette. Might I mention that his canter transitions were great because he wasn't falling out of his shoulder or leaning on the wall. When I would ride down the long side, I prepared him for the corner by keeping my outside leg steady and wrapped around his side to keep him straight and balanced, so he wouldn't fall out. When we reached the corner, I sat deep on my seat bones and rode him into the outside rein to show him where my wall was. I had several really good corners where he supported himself and didn't fall out. However, when he would fall sideways, I would do a 10 meter circle so he could stretch over his shoulder and regain the balance. I finished with four really good corners and two nice down transitions from canter to trot and trot to walk. His transitions are so much better, but that was in me because I wasn't riding the transitions enough, I would just throw it on him. Even though his walk transitions are somewhat trot-stop-walk, he is getting better because he has he support from my legs telling him to "Keep walking". Like Susan said, Cody just kept thinking "Where's my wall?".

 Once we finally got the forward sitting trot