It looks like we are back to more normal winter temperatures for most of the week. Unfortunately it cooled off before the sun could finish melting the snow, so now we are left with a winter wonderland of ice. I find myself wishing for more snow just to have some traction outside! It must be frustrating for the horses too, to have to think so carefully about their footing, so be prepared for some peppy ponies.
This week in lessons we are again going to work on a course, starting again with a low course or trot poles to get the pattern down, and then progressing to a normal sized course. The focus is going to be challenging turns to diagonal singles or lines.
Last week, the turn across the diagonal that required rider's to go down the quarter line to make the turn caused more than its share of difficulties, so I need to continue to work on helping rider's find the perpendicular turn regardless of what other obstacles are in the way. Being perpendicular, or even a little past that turn is the only way to allow the horse to get a clear view of the jump, and to allow them to find a good take off spot.
We are also going to revisit the turn down centerline, and then leg yield to the quarterline to see if last week's exercise helped riders at all.
Karen
Monday, January 27, 2014
Monday, January 20, 2014
This week in lessons
It seems that the biggest difficulty people had with the leg yield exercise last week was the turn down centerline. Unless you are walking, or on a really well collected horse, it is easiest to think of it as a 10 meter half circle. For most horses, if you wait and try to do a tight 90 degree turn, they end up either falling out through their shoulder and go past center, or fall in on their shoulder...either way, you end up with a crooked horse. This made it take longer to prepare for the leg yield, although the leg yields themselves were quite good.
So this week we are going to turn down centerline, and then loop back to the track, like a sideways figure eight. This will give riders more practice for the turn down centerline, and the turn back to the track will help riders feel the balance and turn needed with the wall for help. Preparing and looking sooner for the turn, and remembering that the turn should start from the long side and flow to the center line should help.
For jumping we are going to do a course similar to last week, but add some more jumps to work not only on horse and rider jumping fitness, but also to work on rider's ability to ride more jumps in a row while still paying attention to the details (aka corners).
Karen
So this week we are going to turn down centerline, and then loop back to the track, like a sideways figure eight. This will give riders more practice for the turn down centerline, and the turn back to the track will help riders feel the balance and turn needed with the wall for help. Preparing and looking sooner for the turn, and remembering that the turn should start from the long side and flow to the center line should help.
For jumping we are going to do a course similar to last week, but add some more jumps to work not only on horse and rider jumping fitness, but also to work on rider's ability to ride more jumps in a row while still paying attention to the details (aka corners).
Karen
Monday, January 13, 2014
Herd Health
I will be booking dental appointments for February, and vaccination appointments for March. I would also like to encourage all horses getting a Fecal Egg Test to see if who needs deworming this spring and to make sure our current deworming protocol is working. Owners just need to leave me a poo sample (their horse's, not their own) in a ziplock bag, labeled with their horse's name.
I will be posting a sign up sheet for dental and vaccinations on the bulletin board: please fill out for your horse as soon as possible so I can book appropriate appointment times. If you don't remember what your horse was vaccinated for last year, and want the same thing, just right "same as last year".
Karen
I will be posting a sign up sheet for dental and vaccinations on the bulletin board: please fill out for your horse as soon as possible so I can book appropriate appointment times. If you don't remember what your horse was vaccinated for last year, and want the same thing, just right "same as last year".
Karen
This week in lessons
This week in lessons we are going to work on corners, where you, the rider, control the corner. Who else would control the corner you ask? Well, for most of you, I think it is the wall. The horse either sees the wall and decided to drop its shoulder and turn early, OR the rider holds the horse into the wall to get a deep corner, but the wall is definitely what is keeping the horse from falling out. Basically the wall is acting as the outside leg/rein!
To practice this on the flat, we will be turning down the centerline, and leg yielding to the 1/4 line, then keeping the horse straight using our outside leg solid on their barrel to send them forward and straight, and the outside rein, solid against their neck. These outside aids act like a wall, balance the horse, and control the shoulder from dropping.
We will then ride the end of the ring like it is a 1/4 circle, straight line, and 1/4 circle, rather than a funky loop with maybe a straight step at "A" or "C". Think of good corners like the brown line on the left, and the typical end of the arena ridden line the red line on the right. The red line is just someone letting the wall steer the horse, the other end is a 1/4 circle then a straight line. (I drew a full circle so you get the idea that the 1/4 circle is a 1/4 of a 10 meter circle...all horses should be able to do a 1/4 of a 10 meter circle, and better trained ones should be able to go smaller!)
To practice this on the flat, we will be turning down the centerline, and leg yielding to the 1/4 line, then keeping the horse straight using our outside leg solid on their barrel to send them forward and straight, and the outside rein, solid against their neck. These outside aids act like a wall, balance the horse, and control the shoulder from dropping.
We will then ride the end of the ring like it is a 1/4 circle, straight line, and 1/4 circle, rather than a funky loop with maybe a straight step at "A" or "C". Think of good corners like the brown line on the left, and the typical end of the arena ridden line the red line on the right. The red line is just someone letting the wall steer the horse, the other end is a 1/4 circle then a straight line. (I drew a full circle so you get the idea that the 1/4 circle is a 1/4 of a 10 meter circle...all horses should be able to do a 1/4 of a 10 meter circle, and better trained ones should be able to go smaller!)
In jumping lessons, we are going to be doing a full course, seeing if you can carry forward the skills we have been working on to do a smooth and pleasant hunter course. We will carry forward the flat work exercise, and we will be paying special attention to the corners, and to making sure it is the rider not the wall balancing the horse in the ends! This will also help with lead changes.
Karen
Friday, January 10, 2014
Clinic anyone?
Considering organizing a clinic for March or April, and wanted to put feelers out for interest. I am considering getting Jane Stone who is an Eventer and Dressage rider in BC. She comes with high recommendation as a patient and effective coach for all levels of jumping and for dressage.
I am hoping to have a clinic format similar to last year, where riders can ride either dressage or jumping, and where levels will suite from beginner to advanced. This is geared to being a good kick start to the show season, and a start to spring!
Not sure prices yet, as that will depend on interest and formatting, but likely will be similar to last year's prices for Dale Irwin. Also will be offering a discount to anyone who can offer to host Jane for the clinic.
Karen
I am hoping to have a clinic format similar to last year, where riders can ride either dressage or jumping, and where levels will suite from beginner to advanced. This is geared to being a good kick start to the show season, and a start to spring!
Not sure prices yet, as that will depend on interest and formatting, but likely will be similar to last year's prices for Dale Irwin. Also will be offering a discount to anyone who can offer to host Jane for the clinic.
Karen
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
This week in jumping lessons
To follow up to last week's work on an arc/circle, we are working this week on changes of direction.
The key is to set the horse up for the change of direction before you think you need to, by getting control of their shoulder before the turn. If you don't do this, the horse will feel pulled off balance, and will typically get quicker to find their balance, and go past the turn with their shoulder. I think rider's take it for granted that a horse can change direction as quickly as they can, but as horses are horizontal four legged creature, they have a lot of body to control, and it is easier to throw them off balance...like a truck pulling a trailer on ice!
To introduce the concept of balancing the horse correctly and preparing for the change in direction, I have a walk pole exercise that will require riders to really keep control of the horse's speed and their shoulder. The idea is to look up and focus on getting to the center of the poles, and to maintain a slow rhythm. When you come in on a right circle, you should have your head turned right, your right leg at the girth to bend the horse's body, the left leg back to hold the hind quarters from swinging wide. The right leg is off the neck to get the bend through the neck, and the left rein is against the neck to keep that shoulder from popping out.
As you approach the point where you change direction, you should look in the new direction, straighten the horse with the outside rein, switch which of your legs is forward vs back, and make sure your horse doesn't speed up. It is important to start this BEFORE you actually need to turn, so your horse is ready to turn.
Then we will do a more generous figure-8 over trot poles, and more experienced riders will continue to doing the figure-8 over jumps. The jumps come up quickly, but the basic preparation work that will get you over all 6 jumps are the same as for the walk exercise. The main keys will be not letting the horse get quick, looking ahead to where you are going, and keeping control of the horse's outside shoulder!
Karen
The key is to set the horse up for the change of direction before you think you need to, by getting control of their shoulder before the turn. If you don't do this, the horse will feel pulled off balance, and will typically get quicker to find their balance, and go past the turn with their shoulder. I think rider's take it for granted that a horse can change direction as quickly as they can, but as horses are horizontal four legged creature, they have a lot of body to control, and it is easier to throw them off balance...like a truck pulling a trailer on ice!
To introduce the concept of balancing the horse correctly and preparing for the change in direction, I have a walk pole exercise that will require riders to really keep control of the horse's speed and their shoulder. The idea is to look up and focus on getting to the center of the poles, and to maintain a slow rhythm. When you come in on a right circle, you should have your head turned right, your right leg at the girth to bend the horse's body, the left leg back to hold the hind quarters from swinging wide. The right leg is off the neck to get the bend through the neck, and the left rein is against the neck to keep that shoulder from popping out.
As you approach the point where you change direction, you should look in the new direction, straighten the horse with the outside rein, switch which of your legs is forward vs back, and make sure your horse doesn't speed up. It is important to start this BEFORE you actually need to turn, so your horse is ready to turn.
Then we will do a more generous figure-8 over trot poles, and more experienced riders will continue to doing the figure-8 over jumps. The jumps come up quickly, but the basic preparation work that will get you over all 6 jumps are the same as for the walk exercise. The main keys will be not letting the horse get quick, looking ahead to where you are going, and keeping control of the horse's outside shoulder!
Karen
Monday, January 6, 2014
2014!
A new year is upon us, with more crappy weather. I enjoyed a brief break from the computer, and lots of naps curled up with a cat, but the holidays are now over, with everyone back at work or school.
Something new for 2014 will be our Best Unplanned Dismount of the Month award. Blame Emma. She got me a fancy ribbon to award. I figure there will be a reward for anyone who manages to keep the title for 3 months...of course I now feel pressure to create the first "winner"... :)
Laureen printed off the show schedules for Amberlea and Maple Leaf Meadows, so it is also a good time to set goals and plans for the year. As part of this, I am looking to get a clinician in for this spring, but still looking for someone suitable.
I also need to get back into writing lesson plans, but my brain is still in vacation mode, so look for the weekly lesson plan tomorrow!
Karen
Something new for 2014 will be our Best Unplanned Dismount of the Month award. Blame Emma. She got me a fancy ribbon to award. I figure there will be a reward for anyone who manages to keep the title for 3 months...of course I now feel pressure to create the first "winner"... :)
Laureen printed off the show schedules for Amberlea and Maple Leaf Meadows, so it is also a good time to set goals and plans for the year. As part of this, I am looking to get a clinician in for this spring, but still looking for someone suitable.
I also need to get back into writing lesson plans, but my brain is still in vacation mode, so look for the weekly lesson plan tomorrow!
Karen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
