This week in lessons who knows what the weather will allow us to do!
In the indoor I have a grid set up, so we will work on some jumping faults (horse) and position faults (rider).
Common jumping faults that can be corrected by a grid are things like a horse that lands too close or too far away, a horse that wants to only take off long or too deep, or a horse that likes to get crooked.
Common riding faults that can be corrected in a grid are things like keeping the weight DOWN through the leg, proper releases, keeping the eye up, and having a soft hip that absorbs the jump without jumping ahead.
If some miracle of nature happens and the outdoor ring dries after last nights flood, then I will build a zig zag line of jumps through the middle to work on looking and turning, as well as landing leads.
In case your area missed it, we had some very nasty weather out here last night with large amounts of hail, and a crazy downpour of rain in a small amount of time...so things are pretty darn wet, and the mosquitoes have even more places to hatch! Yep, the mosquitoes are now out in full force. Fun.
I am still recovering from the long day on Sunday at the dressage show; the show went great, and Coregel managed to hold it together (although the look on her face when she first saw herself being ridden in the mirror was priceless!) and we scored in the 60s for both our tests. Wolfgang, Gode and Shawn were also very good and also scored in the 60s, and I believe Tamara won both her tests! Poor Shawn had the added difficulty of a stray dog causing a ruckus during her test, but Laureen was much improved from last year and was able to regain his attention quickly. Looking forward to their August show...where I WILL expect people to ride a test without me reading! I am such a pushover...maybe I should charge for reading....
Karen
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
Scribing
I was once again a scribe at the Amberlea Dressage Show.
Once again I was scribing for a judge that cannot write much more than her name (stroke), so lots of writing for me, and my right index finger is still complaining. Very nice lady with lots of wisdome and insight to pass on though, so very valuable for me to be able to learn from her. In fact, she is going to be the live commentator for the Olympic Dressage for CBC! The other judge who was there was off to coach the Olympic riders before the competition! You have to give Amberlea Kudos for not skimping on quality judges!
The weather played some havoc, so we had to be inside on Friday, but then outside on Saturday...the outside booths are much nicer to scribe in! Large, bright and so much quieter!
The main comments from this judge that are applicable to our level of riders:
1) Not enough "Cadence"
2) Not "through" the back
3) Stretch circles not 20 meters (must go past P-V line), and not stretching through the back.
4) Saddles too far forward
5) Riders holding too much with too long a rein
6) Post in first level if your horse isn't using its back or is getting crooked.
7) Use your corners, but don't run your horse into them. Do not go into corners on a circle though!
8) Horse's nose needs to be more forward and/or pole needs to be higher.
9) For lengthens: Rushing, neck should be longer.
Cadence is a word that comes up often in describing the ideal gaits of a horse for dressage and is the rhythm and flow of the gait. It requires some suspension (at trot and canter), regularity, and be uphill (push from behind).
Through the back means that the horse's energy is starting in the hind end, flowing forward through the back, and lifting/pushing the horse along. The withers should appear raised, and the hocks coming deep and flexing. The horse has to be supple through the pole to be "through" and cannot be resisting.
Not as many mouth open comments this time.
I also learnt what happens if your horse trips, falls, and comes up limping during a test; the judge stops you, lets you walk, and then if the horse is walking ok, can have you trot on a loose rein to assess soundness. If the horse appears sound you can continue on with your test. You are not marked down for the stoppage.
The other thing was that judges like if you listen to them about a tack change or posting instead of sitting, but they don't expect you to make major changes from one day to the next based on their comments. One poor young rider went off test 3 times day one, and was eliminated, so the judge suggested she have a reader. Next day she comes in the ring without a reader, so the judge leans out to ask the mom if she is planning to read: "No", "Are you sure", "Yes". So of course the poor kid goes off test again...just got confused about how long she should circle!
Karen
Once again I was scribing for a judge that cannot write much more than her name (stroke), so lots of writing for me, and my right index finger is still complaining. Very nice lady with lots of wisdome and insight to pass on though, so very valuable for me to be able to learn from her. In fact, she is going to be the live commentator for the Olympic Dressage for CBC! The other judge who was there was off to coach the Olympic riders before the competition! You have to give Amberlea Kudos for not skimping on quality judges!
The weather played some havoc, so we had to be inside on Friday, but then outside on Saturday...the outside booths are much nicer to scribe in! Large, bright and so much quieter!
The main comments from this judge that are applicable to our level of riders:
1) Not enough "Cadence"
2) Not "through" the back
3) Stretch circles not 20 meters (must go past P-V line), and not stretching through the back.
4) Saddles too far forward
5) Riders holding too much with too long a rein
6) Post in first level if your horse isn't using its back or is getting crooked.
7) Use your corners, but don't run your horse into them. Do not go into corners on a circle though!
8) Horse's nose needs to be more forward and/or pole needs to be higher.
9) For lengthens: Rushing, neck should be longer.
Cadence is a word that comes up often in describing the ideal gaits of a horse for dressage and is the rhythm and flow of the gait. It requires some suspension (at trot and canter), regularity, and be uphill (push from behind).
Through the back means that the horse's energy is starting in the hind end, flowing forward through the back, and lifting/pushing the horse along. The withers should appear raised, and the hocks coming deep and flexing. The horse has to be supple through the pole to be "through" and cannot be resisting.
Not as many mouth open comments this time.
I also learnt what happens if your horse trips, falls, and comes up limping during a test; the judge stops you, lets you walk, and then if the horse is walking ok, can have you trot on a loose rein to assess soundness. If the horse appears sound you can continue on with your test. You are not marked down for the stoppage.
The other thing was that judges like if you listen to them about a tack change or posting instead of sitting, but they don't expect you to make major changes from one day to the next based on their comments. One poor young rider went off test 3 times day one, and was eliminated, so the judge suggested she have a reader. Next day she comes in the ring without a reader, so the judge leans out to ask the mom if she is planning to read: "No", "Are you sure", "Yes". So of course the poor kid goes off test again...just got confused about how long she should circle!
Karen
The week in Lessons
Not sure how much we will be in vs out. Hoping the weather holds and I can build a jumper course outside and we can have some fun after all this hunter stuff!
Dressage riders planning to show this weekend will run through their tests once more; either inside or out. We are also going to work on suppleness and stretching and will use raised poles on an arc to help with this. We need our horses to be more willing to arc through their body, carry more weight on their inside hand, and use their backs. Rider's HAVE to be ready to give with their hands so the horses stretch into contact rather than contract.
Jumping riders are going to work on THINKING about how to improve times in a jump off/timed round, and how to ride a course in the best interest for their horse. We will also work on getting the horse straight and balanced coming out of a tight turn.
Karen
Dressage riders planning to show this weekend will run through their tests once more; either inside or out. We are also going to work on suppleness and stretching and will use raised poles on an arc to help with this. We need our horses to be more willing to arc through their body, carry more weight on their inside hand, and use their backs. Rider's HAVE to be ready to give with their hands so the horses stretch into contact rather than contract.
Jumping riders are going to work on THINKING about how to improve times in a jump off/timed round, and how to ride a course in the best interest for their horse. We will also work on getting the horse straight and balanced coming out of a tight turn.
Karen
Thursday, July 19, 2012
River Valley
Lindsay and Java are participating in the River Valley show down at Whitemud if anyone wants to go watch! Might be a good show to attend with more rider's next year.
That said, it is definitely weather challenged this year!
Lindsay hauled in for schooling rounds yesterday. It was rather wet. They seem to be doing their best, and set up warm up jumps in sectioned off areas of the warm up ring, as the one sand ring was soup, and the elevated sand ring was being completely redone. Many jumpers were hacking along the side of the road!
Hunter schooling rounds were in the hunter ring, over a full course of hunter jumps, set at 2'9" - 3'0". Java was pretty good, although not sure about landing in soup.
Today Lindsay braided and bathed Java, headed over to show...and got there to find out they postponed hunters until noon. So Lindsay signed up for her class near the middle and corked so she was ready to go...only to hear them announce hunters cancelled for the day.
Now I get why they did it...rings were soupy/muddy, but couldn't they have set up an email alert or twitter thinger to inform people?
And, why did they set up a full 12 jump schooling course, at 2'9" - 3'0" heights? Wouldn't it have been better to set up a few jumps to showcase the various types of fill, set most of them lower so the horses wouldn't land so hard, and save the ring for the actual showing? And maybe have someone keeping a better eye on how many jumps people schooled?
Hoping they don't charge Lindsay the haul in fee for a wasted day.
Karen
That said, it is definitely weather challenged this year!
Lindsay hauled in for schooling rounds yesterday. It was rather wet. They seem to be doing their best, and set up warm up jumps in sectioned off areas of the warm up ring, as the one sand ring was soup, and the elevated sand ring was being completely redone. Many jumpers were hacking along the side of the road!
Hunter schooling rounds were in the hunter ring, over a full course of hunter jumps, set at 2'9" - 3'0". Java was pretty good, although not sure about landing in soup.
Today Lindsay braided and bathed Java, headed over to show...and got there to find out they postponed hunters until noon. So Lindsay signed up for her class near the middle and corked so she was ready to go...only to hear them announce hunters cancelled for the day.
Now I get why they did it...rings were soupy/muddy, but couldn't they have set up an email alert or twitter thinger to inform people?
And, why did they set up a full 12 jump schooling course, at 2'9" - 3'0" heights? Wouldn't it have been better to set up a few jumps to showcase the various types of fill, set most of them lower so the horses wouldn't land so hard, and save the ring for the actual showing? And maybe have someone keeping a better eye on how many jumps people schooled?
Hoping they don't charge Lindsay the haul in fee for a wasted day.
Karen
Monday, July 16, 2012
Lessons this week...
For lessons this week I may be bitchy. We are getting our kitchen and bathrooms renovated and it is chaos in the house! The cats are traumatized, although likely not as traumatized as Kitton who got spayed today. I like having a cat that someone else pays for...
Aside from being bitchy, what we do will depend in part on if the weather allows for teaching outside or not! I wanted to try doing a jumper course, but that is more fun in the larger indoor arena...and the outdoor is currently rather wet! We may play a bit with landing leads and planning good turns if we are inside vs doing a full course.
Dressage riders who may want to show at Westwood will work on elements of their tests, and will also work on lengthen/shorten transitions to get the horses longitudinally supple.
Reminder that there are no lessons this Saturday.
Karen
Aside from being bitchy, what we do will depend in part on if the weather allows for teaching outside or not! I wanted to try doing a jumper course, but that is more fun in the larger indoor arena...and the outdoor is currently rather wet! We may play a bit with landing leads and planning good turns if we are inside vs doing a full course.
Dressage riders who may want to show at Westwood will work on elements of their tests, and will also work on lengthen/shorten transitions to get the horses longitudinally supple.
Reminder that there are no lessons this Saturday.
Karen
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Yes, it is wet out.
No, I didn't build a jumping course inside.
Yes, we may flat/warm up inside if you want.
No, I will not teach entire lessons inside.
Yes, it is a good idea to bring a bottle of water to the lesson.
No, it is not a good idea to put it on the top of a tall standard where I will fail to see it, and knock it into wet sand (or horse poop) when I move the standard.
Yes, you can feel free to bring me a cold beverage.
Karen
No, I didn't build a jumping course inside.
Yes, we may flat/warm up inside if you want.
No, I will not teach entire lessons inside.
Yes, it is a good idea to bring a bottle of water to the lesson.
No, it is not a good idea to put it on the top of a tall standard where I will fail to see it, and knock it into wet sand (or horse poop) when I move the standard.
Yes, you can feel free to bring me a cold beverage.
Karen
Monday, July 9, 2012
Yep, its hot out.
I want to throw something at the TV every time the weather person says 'beautiful weather forecast" or some such drivel. There is NOTHING nice about over 30 degree weather when you neither work, nor live in air conditioning. Add to that, the mosquitoes have finally made their appearance and the horses are looking rather lumpy.
During this stupid hot spell, I will be alternating who gets turned out on grass; the mares were out today, and the geldings will go out tomorrow. Just too hot to be doing that much walking! I am also ok if riders want to warm up or have dressage lessons inside, although jumping lessons will be outside. I am again going to attempt to have a nice hunter course built.
Speaking of hunter courses, we are planning to go for the hunters only at Heads-Up this weekend, so let me know if you want to attend. In theory entries are due today, but hoping Lara will let me drop entries off on Wednesday.
It is still going to be hot by the weekend, but hopefully the hunter classes will go early enough to beat the worst of it.
Speaking of hot, I should warn up...I may teach in shorts this week....my legs are blindingly white, so hopefully will not spook horses!
I have already gotten a ripping good farmer's tan, so now working on a professor's tan (sock tan line). Rob is such a lucky man!
karen
During this stupid hot spell, I will be alternating who gets turned out on grass; the mares were out today, and the geldings will go out tomorrow. Just too hot to be doing that much walking! I am also ok if riders want to warm up or have dressage lessons inside, although jumping lessons will be outside. I am again going to attempt to have a nice hunter course built.
Speaking of hunter courses, we are planning to go for the hunters only at Heads-Up this weekend, so let me know if you want to attend. In theory entries are due today, but hoping Lara will let me drop entries off on Wednesday.
It is still going to be hot by the weekend, but hopefully the hunter classes will go early enough to beat the worst of it.
Speaking of hot, I should warn up...I may teach in shorts this week....my legs are blindingly white, so hopefully will not spook horses!
I have already gotten a ripping good farmer's tan, so now working on a professor's tan (sock tan line). Rob is such a lucky man!
karen
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Yep, it's wet out.
So glad I built a nice little hunter course in the outdoor arena yesterday...for one person to be able to jump it. I knew it was supposed to rain yesterday and was happy it waited until lessons were done, but apparently I missed the crazy winds and the amount of rain! I guess I am building another course inside for tonight...
The horses are still too chilly to bother rolling, but I am sure tomorrow will be another story...
Karen
The horses are still too chilly to bother rolling, but I am sure tomorrow will be another story...
Karen
Monday, July 2, 2012
This week in lessons
This week in dressage lessons we will be assessing leg yields to see if horses (and riders) are ready to compete at first level test 2 or higher, and to get a better feel of just how much angle is needed to compete at that level. We may also run through some of the training and first level test 1 tests, and work on lengthening (longer, not quicker).
Riders who want to go to the Westwood Warmbloods show should decide soon. Keep in mind I am planning to take Coregel so may not be able to read for riders.
In jumping lessons we will be doing more of a hunter type course (single, side, diagonal, side, single on the diagonal or variations thereof!). Brace yourself for the new jumps...they are...different ;)
Hunter courses require a nice forward canter, with a soft seat, good release, nice corners, and straight lines. The horse should look quiet yet focused, and get to the jumps slightly long to give them the best chance to jump nicely (this is why hunter jumps often have very generous fill and groundlines). Riders should be giving with their arms, soft with their seats, and allow the horse to jump up and round, but be ready to get them deep into their corners and set up for the lead change; either flying or simple.
In other news:
Michelle (the bringer of the new jumps) is back, and with her she brings Spooky and Warrior. Both horses have been here before, so don't be suprised if you recognize either of them. Spooky is hard to forget being a Clydesdale and all!
On sad news, Stinky Paige took her last lesson on Wednesday. She is off to school in BC in the fall, and has a busy summer ahead, so is moving on. I am sad to see her go, and also sad she didn't warn me it was her last lesson...I missed an excuse for cupcakes! Many fond memories of Paige....riding Bugsy, playing soccer with Ginger, and really getting Rocket going to the jumps. Good times. I wish Paige good luck and hope she is able to ride again one day!
Karen
Riders who want to go to the Westwood Warmbloods show should decide soon. Keep in mind I am planning to take Coregel so may not be able to read for riders.
In jumping lessons we will be doing more of a hunter type course (single, side, diagonal, side, single on the diagonal or variations thereof!). Brace yourself for the new jumps...they are...different ;)
Hunter courses require a nice forward canter, with a soft seat, good release, nice corners, and straight lines. The horse should look quiet yet focused, and get to the jumps slightly long to give them the best chance to jump nicely (this is why hunter jumps often have very generous fill and groundlines). Riders should be giving with their arms, soft with their seats, and allow the horse to jump up and round, but be ready to get them deep into their corners and set up for the lead change; either flying or simple.
In other news:
Michelle (the bringer of the new jumps) is back, and with her she brings Spooky and Warrior. Both horses have been here before, so don't be suprised if you recognize either of them. Spooky is hard to forget being a Clydesdale and all!
On sad news, Stinky Paige took her last lesson on Wednesday. She is off to school in BC in the fall, and has a busy summer ahead, so is moving on. I am sad to see her go, and also sad she didn't warn me it was her last lesson...I missed an excuse for cupcakes! Many fond memories of Paige....riding Bugsy, playing soccer with Ginger, and really getting Rocket going to the jumps. Good times. I wish Paige good luck and hope she is able to ride again one day!
Karen
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