Very Sad

(Percy) Clare died on the weekend after being hit head on by a drunk driver.

What a senseless way for anyone to die, much less someone who gave so much back to the community in working for the Sexual Assault hotline and through her chosen career as a psychologist.

Her brother called to inform me this afternoon. It feels surreal and so unfair. She had so much to look forward to in her near future, with her upcoming move to Montreal and her recent completion of her Masters Degree. So many moments unlived. So many memories unbuilt.

My heart goes out to her family and her boyfriend, as well as to everyone at Hillside that will miss her.

If anyone is able to attend, her funeral is this Saturday (the 6th) at 2pm, at Hainstocks Funeral Home, 9810-34 ave. Instead of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Sexual Assult Centre of Edmonton. https://www.sace.ab.ca/index.php/support-sace

I have a prior commitment that weekend, but Rob and I do plan on making a donation in Clare's honour.

Of course I would normally turn TO Clare for help in dealing with grief and emotions, and somehow that is just making it extra hard for me right now.

I will miss you Clare.

Karen

This week in lessons

This week is looking to be HOT.

I would kind of like to teach out there, but we will see. It was definitely cooler inside today!

Bring water bottles or something to drink, and dress sensibly just in case we do head outside.

Not sure what the lesson plan will be as my brain melted today.

Also, now that summer is here, lessons can be taught during the day, so let me know if you are available day times for July and August!

Karen

The catnip may have been a mistake...

Rob and I decided to take advantage of the still somewhat cool morning to take Ginger for a walk at Greenlands Garden Center. Because a farm dog with 37 acres totally needs to go places to go for walks. The real reason we go though, is to visit their cats. Bob and the smaller one whose name I always forget (her fault, she mumbles). And to see the carp. The carp/giant gold fish are highly entertaining. On one hand I would love to have a giant fish pond, but on the other hand, I wonder if I would ever be too lazy to go to the store to buy fresh sea food and would start to see them as edible.

Ginger loves going to Greenlands as everyone there loves her, because she is awesome. And there are so many smells. And water features she can drink from. Not that I would let her drink from their display water features...that would be wrong. The staff sometimes have milk bones in their pockets, which seems odd to me, but maybe Milk Bones are some kind of magic plant food the greenhouses don't want you to know about.

When Rob worked nearby we would sometimes meet there for coffee because they have the only restaurant I know of where you can take your dog. It is what every dog person wants. (If the Health department is reading this, I am totally making this part up, of course dogs aren't allowed in the café, that would be bad). Ginger also approved of the café, and showed her approval by cleaning up crumbs from the floor, which seems like something that the health department would approve of, so I am not sure why they are so anti dog in restaurant.

Some other people apparently didn't know dogs were allowed in, so went to the trouble of dressing their dog up like a Service dog just to sneak it in...because neurotic dog owners (like Rob) totally want to take their dogs everywhere, and see no reason why small children should be allowed places dogs are not allowed. We do not have children.

If I was in charge of marketing for Greenlands, my marketing would be: "Here at Greenlands we have awesome cats that don't run away from strangers and you can totally bring your dog in the store and to the café! Oh, and we have plants and stuff you can buy."

So while we were looking for the cats (and by we, I mean me...and maybe Ginger, although I think she was more looking for café related crumbs...but the cat search really could be another marketing direction...find a cat and get 10% off! I found both cats), we decided to buy some plants. Part of me feels sorry for the plants I select as they aren't likely to fair nearly as well as they would in the store, but I try to console myself with the idea they can't feel pain, even though I really think they can. Sorry plants. Along the way I saw catnip plants. This seemed like a fun purchase. Rob even agreed to the catnip plant. Do you know what likes catnip plants? Cats. Apparently not mosquitos though.

Along with a smattering of flowers and such,  we bought the catnip plant home...and I introduced to Rolo. Who wanted to lick and lay down in it (sorry plant). So now my thought is, where to I plant this thing so it will a) survive and b) not attract the neglected cats of the Hunter Hill subdivision? I foresee we are soon to be overrun with cats, and it will be all Rob's fault as anyone who knows me knows I have NO judgement when it comes to cats and cat related items.

So I planted it in a pot on a pedestal, hopefully out of cat reach...and have no idea where to put it. Rolo meanwhile is complaining bitterly that he can't find the plant, and that he is now hungry. If too many cats show up in our yard, my back up plan is to turn it into a really belated housewarming gift for our neighbours....I will tell them it is Sage or something...

Karen

New horse!

This weekend was Steph's last show on Wolfgang, as her new horse arrived on Thursday! His name is Storm, and he is a very brightly colour chestnut pinto/paint. He has enough mane and tail for three horses!

On that note, Wolfgang will be looking for a new lease rider if anyone is interested!

Karen

MLM Rookie Show!

The weather was lovely and we had a great time at the Maple Leaf Meadows Rookie show. I hope even more people can attend their August show.

We ended up taking Izzy, Wolfgang, Missy and Java.

Izzy was a last minute decision to bring, but I thought it would be good to get her out to more shows so she learns to relax. I think it worked as she went from high strung and nervous, to being moderately curious. I took her in the Senior poles class. Now, before you judge me, I entered "not to be judged" and restated that when I checked in, but they said "that's ok, you may as well be judged", so she was second and first. I thought she might spook at the trees on the standards, so I send her into a good canter, and away we went. It was pretty fun.

Wolfgang, Missy and Java all did great in the under saddle classes, and I think they all placed in the top 3 of their respective classes. Then they had a LONG wait, while the 20 peewee horses went in the their poles class...seriously, small children and ponies EVERYWHERE.

The 2 foot division didn't end up going until about 2 o'clock, but the three horses also  did well in that...however if is hard for big horses to win against cute little ponies! I think Wolf got a third and two fourths, and Java a second and a fifth, but don't quote me on that.

I was very happy with the show, and with how Hillside represented itself. I also appreciated Margie and Michelle coming out to help and to cheer us on!

Karen

Thoroughbred heart...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Xl0nXkJzGE&feature=youtu.be

This is a video worth watching. The horse is ten. It is like a movie finish.

This week in lessons

Not sure if we will be able to ride outside this week, but fingers crossed! It was so nice being outside this weekend at the show!

This week in lessons we will work on keeping an even rhythm. This will involve counting...and lots of poles! Most distance issues come from rider's speeding up their rhythm coming out of the corners, but by then the horse has its eye on the jump, and is trying to gauge their take off. In dressage, allowing the horse to speed up during say, a lengthened  trot, will push the horse onto its forehand which will destroy the quality of the gaits, and the horse's use of its back.

We are also going to work on some body awareness: knowing when you are ahead of the motion, behind the motion, and with the motion...yes, this may become another three bears exercise!

Karen

MapleLeaf Meadows!

The show on the weekend was fun! The weather held, and although there were some wet spots, the footing was reasonably good. I appreciated the relaxed atmosphere, and it was overall a well run show that I hope we can include in your schedule from now on!

I am posting about hunters today, because I am too lazy to edit the jumper photos...

Riley/Amelia were Champion of the 14+ cross poles, Gody/Miranda were reserve, and Missy and Lindsay had a 100% survival/completion rate, which is perhaps the most impressive considering it was her horse's first time being jumped outside...ever!

Michelle and Wolf did the 2'9" hunters, and were 4rth in their classes. Wolf struggled a little with the footing, but had some good jumps!

The week in lessons

mud mud mud mud mud!

So again we will be inside for the week! But we will be preparing horses to show at MLM on the weekend. To do this, on Wednesday at 6:30, and possible Tuesday at 6:30 we will be working on a combination as we might see in the jumpers.

For all the lessons we will be working on some spooky jumps as I have been warned that MLM has some spooky jumps in their jumpers, and it is just good practice for the rest of you. Jumping spooky jumps requires the rider to approach correctly with a contained horse that is square to the fence, and has time to look at assess. You DO NOT want them to feel chased to the fence, but nor do you want them to have the chance to slow down and chicken out. What can help is counting your rhythm to the fence...so yes, some public counting may be required!

And just so Joan doesn't chicken out...I bought Rocket a NEW saddle pad! It is awesome. You will like it Joan.

Meanwhile the neighbour has unleashed a swarm of angry bees. She claims it was an accident, but I think it is retaliation for stealing her kitten.

Karen

This week

I finally came up with a lesson plan for this week. Being indoors again sucks, but at least it is an option and mosquito free!

So...this week, we are going to continue to work on longer canter session to build fitness in the horses. We are also going to work on forward energy/being ahead of the leg. Whether jumping or dressage, the horse should always have a willingness to go forward, and should be ready to go at a reasonable request.

To this end, we are going to be doing something I usually don't like rider's doing: we are going to be picking up the canter close to a jump and getting FORWARD established so that the horse can make the right number of strides in a line.

This is to combat an ongoing issue with rider's crawling to the first fence and relying on it too much to establish the pace needed for the course. This makes the horse have to take over to an extent and then riders wonder why the horse gets strong by the end...if you have the horse forward, so you can hold from the start, and not need the horse to take over, the horse is less likely to lose the trust in the rider and take over the speed control.

As an aside, I had electro-acupuncture today. It wasn't too bad, and I may do it again, but am waiting to see results. The needles kind of felt like wasp stings, but the pulses didn't feel as weird as I thought...although the pull of the leads on the needles was a little ouchy. Tomorrow a horse is getting done, so I will have a better idea of what he is actually feeling.

Karen

update from the weekend

Show went great.

Kitten is all better.

Weather is frickin' cold outside.

Lessons will be inside, but not yet sure what we will do.

BRRRRRR

Barn update

No lessons tomorrow (Saturday) as we are off to Maple Leaf Meadows international for their dressage show.

Kokanee made it safely to Abbotsford BC and was reunited with Roxy.

Kitten is under the weather. Kelsey (MillsHaven vet) was kind enough to fit her in first thing, but kitten was not co-operative about getting her blood tested, so we just gave her fluids and have some probiotics, special food and dewormer for her. You may notice she is a little less friendly, so please leave her be if she seems dopey.

Karen

This week in lessons

Last week's lesson of having riders turn too early, too late, and just right to trot poles was very illuminating. Some riders seemed to struggle a lot with taking a risk and turning a little too late, which may explain why turning too early is such an issue.

I think I am going to keep this "Goldilocks" lesson in mind, and continue to try to have students exaggerate skills to find the happy medium.

My other note from last week is that we need to work on canter and jumping fitness, both for horses and riders, in order to be ready for show season.

So...this week we will hopefully be outside as much as possible, and we will be working on canter fitness, and jump fitness. This will combine with exercises to help rider's keep their eyes up and thinking while jumping...darn thinking!

Alongside this, we will do a new Goldilocks exercise: instead of working on turning, we will be doing a Goldilocks exercise working on finding the right canter to the first jump of a course, but first going too slow...then too fast...then hopefully just right!

 Too often rider's start with not enough canter, and then have to let the horse increase as the course continues along...but this encourages the horse to be quick/rushy despite the rider, when it is better that the horse feels it has enough canter to do the entire course, and can listen/trust its rider to put at the jumps with enough power to clear them. You will still need to rebalance as the course goes along, but by starting off with the right canter, you start off on the right hoof!

Please remember your own bug spray: the bugs aren't too bad, but do start to come out by about 7pm.

Karen

Reminders

Board is DUE!

Horse & Rider Tack shop has their Grand Opening on Saturday: details in the barn. They are located behind Earls on Wye in Sherwood Park.

There are some shows we will be going to in June towards the end of the month. Please talk to me if you are interested in attending these shows.  Details in barn.

Please bring your own (human) bug spray if you think we will be riding outside. I do have some in the barn in case you forget, but prefer you bring your own. Hillside has spray for the Hillside Owned horses, but owners must provide their own fly spray for their own horses. We spend WAY too much on bug spray last year!

Karen

lessons this week

I spent some of Sunday scribing at the Amberlea Meadows Dressage show. Scribing is a good way to learn from someone who gets to see so many dressage tests ridden and so gains to much insight. Getting to see a variety of horses, and all quite well ridden, was motivational and inspirational.

A key element that was mentioned, and that I know certain Hillside horses need to work on, is IMPULSION. The desire to move forward and push from behind. This increase in push, doesn't mean an increase in speed, but it does mean an increase in power. It means the rider can't be LAZY, and must push the horse into a waiting outside rein, while maintaining suppleness with the inside rein and active inside leg. The rider should feel (and the horse should appear) as if going slightly up hill.

We will likely be jumping indoors again this week, as copious rain is forecast, but we will be working on a basic hunter course again, and I am hoping that riders will show me correct approaches to the diagonal singles and lines.

We will also working a bit on hand position.

Hands should hold the reins as if holding a baby bird: with purpose but without tension. Reins should be held as though valuable, and as if not wanting to be dropped. The thumb should hold the reins from slipping, but the fingers should be folded such that only the back of the hand, and not the knuckles of the fingers are visible.

The wrist should be held straight, with the thumb flat along the forearm. If your hand is in the correct position, the little hand bones should not be visible along the back of your hand! If you can see the bones poking out the back of your hand, your hand has tension that the horse will be able to feel, and you will have issue getting the horse to relax and give to your hand!

Karen

This week in lessons

This week in lessons we will be focused on avoiding mosquitos!

I really want to be able to jump outside, but making the horses stand around between rounds seems unfair given the insane amount of insects.

We CAN warm-up outside for the lessons that want to, but we will again come in to jump.

Lessons will include some spookier jumps and some inside turns. We will work on seeing how short we can make the turn, while still keeping the turn wide enough so that the horse has time to see and adjust for the fence.

We are also going to work on using our eyes in the AIR, not just on the land. This seems to be an issue for a few riders, and looking while in the air can really aid with landing the leads and making turns.

Karen

This week in lessons...

This week in jumping lessons:

If it is nice out, we will try jumping outside! I think what we will do is hack and do some warm up jumps outside, and then come in to do a course. The course will be a timed "make your own course" jumper challenge! People that were able to do last week's challenge successfully will get a second taken off their time....and there will be a prize for the top three.

For the hack portion (if outside) we will be doing trot and canter poles to help keep the horses in a steady rhythm, and to maintain that stead rhythm through turns and such.

For the dressage we will also be working on this. If outside, we will be doing leg yield - trot poles - leg yield, to keep the horses thinking forward even through the laterals, and may also incorporate some shoulder fore to get the horses really using their hind ends.

it is important as we start to ride outside again, that you remember that in a bigger space your horse can be going much more forward without feeling like it is, so you have to be able to monitor and moderate your horse. Transitions, circles and serpentines are good for this!

I can't wait to be outside again!

Karen

The geldings have gone crazy..

The East pen dried up enough, so I felt it made sense to move the geldings around: Magnus, Shawn and Percy are now in that pen, and Wiley is now in the West pen. I didn't think this would be that exciting as the horses all know each other, but holy cow! There was much running and calling and nuttiness and Zander seems determined to keep the strange coloured horse away from the "normals". Rocky is back out with Rocket and friends, and they are all bravely heading out back for grass throughout the day, so I will have to start shutting the gate at night so students don't have to go searching for their horse at night.

We are still lessoning inside, but hopefully the outdoor arena will be suitable for hacking in by this weekend, and jumping in as soon as the sun is a little higher at night...and we are no longer in a wind tunnel!

On the weekend

On the weekend I judged a fun little open show at the Fultonvale arena, put on by the folks at Colchester stables. It was great weather, and very suitable for my big floppy hat!

The show was well run, but the warm up rings were somewhat chaotic...this is something we need to work on at Hillside as our horses are used to having only a few horses in the ring at once. They need to get used to horses beside, in front, and behind them. I am thinking a soccer match later this month? Say a Saturday afternoon?

I wouldn't mind taking some students to one of the smaller fun shows, say the one at Hastings, if anyone is interested later in the year. If you think you may want to try this type of show, I recommend going to watch one first...there is another one at Fultonvale this Saturday.

Anyway, the key things that messed people up were trying to do more than their horse was capable of. For example: doing the 3 foot course rather than the 2 foot one, and having their horse refuse the first jump 3 times. Or trying too hard to do a lengthened trot and breaking to canter. Or showing in a curb when your horse isn't ready and should be in a snaffle.

The other major mistakes were in the jumping: horses would start out great, but the rider's would fail to rebalance during the course, and would FLY at the last jump (which was in a line going to the out-gate). This went hand in hand with not using the corner adequately. Coincidence? I think not.

Highlight of the show was the last class: walk-trot equitation. A little girl on a lovely bay horse was second place in a very large class. She rode well on a suitable mount and very much deserved it. When her name and number was called in second her face lit up like she has won Olympic gold. Good for her, and I hope she keeps that joy for a long, long time.

And that is another secret to showing...if you are nice to your horse, look like you are having fun and are overall a nice competitor, the judge will want you to do well. If you act/look like a spoiled princess, well...not so much.

I hope everyone else had a great weekend!

Karen

This week in lessons

This week in lessons I am bringing back the Hillside Challenge!

This week's challenge is a flat work challenge. I am going to attempt it on Izzy today and will try to video to give you an idea of what we are doing and how. The challenge will incorporate the ideas of pushing your horse around rather than pulling it, and also rating speed to make steering easier.

For jumping, we are going to continue to work on finding the straight line to diagonal jumps, and also to finding the straight line while doing inside turns. This means keeping control of your horse's outside shoulder through the turns so that your horse feels in balance coming out of the turn, and so can jump the fence with its hips behind its shoulders, and able to see the jump from both eyes.

The keys to being straight are:

 - USING OUTSIDE AIDS TO PUSH THE HORSE AROUND THE TURN RATHER THAN INSIDE TO PULL IT INTO THE TURN.

- RATING THE HORSE'S SPEED SO THAT IT IS IN BALANCE, AND ABLE TO BE ADJUSTED TO BE MORE FORWARD, OR MORE BACK.

- BEING STRAIGHT IN YOUR OWN BODY.

- And perhaps the hardest of all.... PATIENCE

It is important when turning that your horse should turn in around your inside leg, and not push out from your inside leg. I need to figure out how to illustrate this as it is key to so many things for jumping and dressage.

Also note:

Geldings MAY be moving pens this week. The east pen is dry so I will be putting 3 geldings out there, and taking Wiley and Rocky out of the isolation pen. (Rocky will be thrilled to see the last of Wiley!). I have not yet decided who will go where, but will likely be making the moves on Wednesday. Talk to me before then if you have any requests.

Karen

Oh good

I thought this type of ad was limited to American Craigs list...

"
2yr old broke to ride,very quiet and good with children can ride him single or double on him,He has been started on barrels,good with his feet,easy to catch and good with other horses,can ride him bareback or with the saddle,has been treated for lice and dewormed,Around 12.3 H.H."

So the text is bad enough...a two year old that is being ridden on barrels and doubled on? That is a lot of weight bearing/wear and tear on a baby.

But you have to see the pictures.

 

I think there are a total  of three laying down with children photos, three of helmetless kids standing on pony, and two of sad baby pony being ridden in a CURB bit by helmetless child whose feet don't even reach the stirrups.

Yes, you too can buy a pony that will lay down while you ride! And you can use it to pick apples from the  tall branches!

Poor pony. At least it looks healthy.

Karen

This is weird

Don't say I didn't warn you....

Yoga with horses?

Silly people

As many of you know, I have Gody advertised for sale. In some ads I also mention a willingness to take a lesson suitable horse in part trade, because really, that would be ideal for me as I wouldn't be without a horse, and it could really work for someone who wants a more athletic horse, as I don't need a horse as athletic as Gody for lessons, and would be more than happy with a 2'6" horse, with sporadic lead changes.

For some reason though, people seem to think it makes sense to offer me their teenaged, needing to step down to little jumps horse, for straight trade...no cash on top. Why on earth would I want to trade my younger, sound, very athletic and very simple horse for their older and less athletic equine?

Really, if I was interested in such a trade, shouldn't that raise a whole pile of red flags?

Silly people.

If he doesn't sell soon Lindsay is going to add Western Pleasure shown to his resume...that would be an interesting mix of skills for a warmblood!

Karen

Roxy

Roxy went "home" to Abbotsfort BC today. Well, should make Kelowna by tonight, then the rest of the journey tomorrow.

As I look outside at the blizzard I have to ask myself...why on earth didn't I go with her!

(and of course her owners were kind enough to send me a photo out their door...all green and flowery...)

I will miss Roxy. She was pretty easy to take care of! Glad she is reunited with her owners though, and I hope they have fun with her.

Karen

this week in lessons...

This week in lessons we will be continuing to work on rider fitness by doing work/transitions while in the two point, and some work without stirrups as well. It will be fun. Riders without belts or with bad grammar may find themselves doing the two point and no stirrup work concurrently.

Walk to canter transitions, and canter transitions on the 1/4 line (so you can't use the wall to help balance your horse) will  also be part of our warm up.

For jumping, we are going to be working on getting perpendicular to the jumps regardless of the location and approach needed to the jump.  I have a few ideas to help with this, and it will help lead to next week when we will be working on a simple jumper type course.

The reason I want to work on getting perpendicular to the jumps, is that it is very important for the horse to be able to see the jump equally out of both eyes, and to approach with a straight body, so that the horse can time its take off properly.

This last week I watched rider after rider turning to the oxer on the diagonal right after they passed the jump on the side, rather than going down the track to find the correct approach. Interestingly this wasn't so much an issue with the diagonal jumps that were approached directly from the end of the ring. This makes me think that it is in part a mental block...the rider's feel the jump on the side is blocking their approach or line of sight, and so panic and want to turn ASAP. I think the key to resolving this issue is to work on rider's keeping a larger frame of view and using the ring despite the obstacles in the way.

This leads me to something else we need to work on: being able to adapt and continue doing an exercise despite riders or jumps being somewhat in the way. We did that a little last week with the 4 loop serpentines and trying to keep trotting and avoiding oncoming traffic by adjusting the loops. This is something we need to continue to work on, as well as to work on communicating intent so we can better share the arena with things get busy...and for when we go to shows and there might be more than 4 or 5 riders in the arena! So passing skills, and taking in what is going on in the entire arena while riding will be another skill I will try to work on over the next little while.

Karen

This week in lessons

This week in jumping lessons will be similar to last week as it appears we need to practice learning and riding a course a little more! This week I will post the courses in the arena as well as in the barn for those of you who need more time to figure it out.

The course will again be of a hunter type, but slightly different, and we will again school it tiny to practice the pattern before making them actual jumps.

The key is to look for logical patterns in the course, so you can think through which is the next jump even if you go blank part way through! Good hints as to if you are going the right way is if the jump is set to be jumped that way (ground line on the approach side) and if the turn makes sense  for a hunter course (such as not a hair pin turn!).

I also want to continue with the circle to start and finish so that the course has a nice start and finish to frame it.

For dressage lessons, we will continue to work on counter bend, with it moving on to the next progression of working on counter canter.

Karen

Lessons this week

In lessons this week we are going to do an actual course. It will be a hunter type course and we will do a working hunter pattern and a handy hunter pattern. Handy hunter is different as the course is meant to show the horse's obedience and to be more challenging so will contain a trot jump and an inside turn.

The course's will be posted at the in-gate so that you can learn them as you would at a show. We will then practice the pattern as poles/little jumps, before making it a "real" course.

The key to hunters is to keep an even rhythm, get straight to the jumps, use the corners to give yourself time to get your lead change, rebalance, and ensure you have the right canter. You want to give your horse the opportunity to show how well it jumps by getting a good, or slightly long distance and leaving it alone as much as possible at the base. For this reason hunter jumps tend to be encouraging to the horse, with generous (well set back) ground lines and fill to help the horse find a good arc.

For flat work we will be working on adjusting the stride: long trot to short trot, long canter to short canter. The key with bringing the gaits back is to remember the LEG. The leg has to push the hind quarters under to shorten the horse, while the hand contains the front. The longer gaits should come from allowing the horse to move out...not by kicking...as you want to have the horse ALWAYS thinking forward, so the desire to go forward should always be there.

For Dressage lessons, we will be working a bit on counter bend vs true bend, and on counter canter vs true canter. This requires the understanding that the horse should bend in (or out) from where the rider is sitting...so the part of the horse where the rider sits (barrel) should be the furthest point out on the arc, with the head/neck/shoulder, and the haunches bending in (or out) from that point. Too often riders want to pop the shoulder out to create the illusion of bend, resulting in an off kilter and unbalanced horse. This requires LEG. Inside leg at the girth to keep the barrel stable as the point the horse bends in from, outside leg to hold the haunch IN, and inside rein active to bring the nose in (Outside rein against neck to hold shoulder from popping out, but not crossing the withers!)

It will be fun, so see you all soon!

Karen

Stupid last few days.

I am seriously tempted to load up Izzy and Ginger and drive south until I find somewhere warm and dry and just ride off into the sun. I am so tired of wet and mud and SNOW!

Before you ask how the show went on the weekend...I didn't go. I did go on Friday to school her and that went MUCH better than last time, so progress is being made with my silly spooky mare. I really wanted to show Saturday as the schedule was ideal: I was the second rider of the day meaning I would be able to warm her up, then review the test, then show without much waiting. Alas we got as far as the highway when the trailer started to slip so we turned around and came right home. No show is worth driving on slippery roads. Izzy seemed confused to be right back where we started, and not that thrilled to be put back out in a blizzard!

I could have shown on Sunday, but the schedule was far from ideal: last arena time to warm up was well over an hour before I showed, and I just didn't see that being the ideal situation to get her better in the ring...plus I just felt unmotivated for some reason. I blame the never ending winter, but there was also a lot going on towards the end of the week:

On Friday I also took Dexter in to the vet to get his neck x-rayed. Turns out he does in fact have a broken neck: C2 looks like it was broken, and C2 and C3 both have some arthritis at the top. The break in C2 is long healed, but the new bone that developed from the break is putting pressure on his spinal cord, and causing progressive damage. Fortunately it is unlikely to be painful for him, and he likely has no idea his hind legs aren't fully listening to him. Also fortunately there should be some warning signs before he progresses to the point he is no longer safe. Unfortunately this puts an end to the hope I will one day be able to ride him again. I know it seemed unlikely given he has been off for so long, but the hope was still there, and I am mourning that loss of hope. Dexter was a great horse to ride, and I don't know if I will ever again have a horse as nice as he could have been (and was on good days!).

Thursday I went to the Dr. and he feels we are getting closer to a diagnoses (apparently there are 250 connective tissue disorders which is why it has been so hard to narrow it down), but now that I have Dexter's diagnoses I am not as sure I want to know. Maybe it is better to have false hope than to know? I am not sure. Of course it will likely be months before I get to see a specialist, so lots of time to think about it.

What else...

Oh, I wrote up new barn rules that will be posted in the barn. It is a shorter list now that I no longer deal so much with beginners/kids. I was tempted to add: "Belts must be worn on pants with belt loops" and "improper use of the phrase 'did good' will be punished by loss of stirrups", but I refrained.

Also the barn is closed Friday morning until 1:30ish. If you need to be there during that time, come talk to me and I will explain, and you can decide if you still want to come out.

Karen

Clinic Update

Clinic update in short:

- went well I think!
- I am exhausted
- Many of the horses are exhausted
- I do not work you guys nearly hard enough

Izzy jumped a course on Sunday, and I am going to try to jump her once and a while as she seemed to like it and I think it will improve her canter and her bravery.

The main thing I learnt was to keep her neck much straighter to keep her more balanced and focused. This required a much shorter rein and lots of leg! Interested how this concept is almost the opposite of how the Centered Riding Clinician wanted me to ride her, yet I got similar results with her wanting to use her back more.

For the jumping riders, he really wanted to see those horses "dressaged" in the corners and between jumps, and put jumps very close to both ends of the ring for some exercises, forcing riders to use the space. He also had riders go through the patterns with a very short canter to start with, to ensure control, before opening up to a jumping pace. Riding to jumps on a short canter means lots of work so they keep cantering, and means riders have to sit UP, and just follow the horse in the air, not give.

For riders who took the clinic, we will spend this week filtering through what you took away from the clinic. For riders who did not participate, we will work on some of the skills he worked on with the clinic.

Clinic Schedule Sunday

Sunday
8:30	Amelia	Stephanie	Jennifer
10:00	Jasmine	Lindsay	Karen/Izzy
11:15	Clare	Katelin	Brittany	Katlyn/Boones
12:45	Lunch
1:15	Tracey/Koolio	Karen/Coregel
2:15	Jessie	Joan/Fox
3:30	Michelle	Carolyn	Amber
5:00	End

Clinic Schedule update Friday& Saturday

Let me know if more changes would make your life easier!

Friday:

8:30	Michelle/Warrior	Karen/Izzy
9:30	Amelia/Riley	Stephanie/Wolfgang
10:30	Lindsay/Missy
11:15	Joan/Fox	Carolyn/Beckham
12:15	Lunch
12:45	Jessie/Rocket	Tracey/Koolio
1:45	Emma/Java	Karen/Coregel
2:45	Clare/Percy	Katlyn/Boones
3:45	Brittany/Leragon	Jennifer
	Finished

Saturday:
 

9:00	Clare/Percy	Katelin/Justice	Brittany/Leragon
10:30	Karen/Izzy
11:30	Tracey/Koolio	Jasmine?
12:30	Lunch
1:00	Carolyn/Beckham	Katlyn/Boones	Jennifer
2:30	Emma/Java	Amelia/Riley	Stephanie/Wolfgang	Joan/Fox
4:00	Katelin/Perris	Michelle/Warrior	Amber/Kokanee

Apparently coming up with a clinic schedule is challenging...

Not sure why it is so hard, but I seem to be struggling with a clinic schedule!

I do have Friday sorted out, but let me know if you have an issue with the time allotted.

8:30	Michelle/Warrior	Karen/Izzy
9:30	Amelia/Riley	Stephanie/Wolfgang
10:30	Lindsay/Missy
11:15	Jessie/Rocket	Tracey/Koolio
12:15	Lunch
12:45	Clare/Percy	Joan
1:45	Carolyn/Beckham	Emma/Java
2:45	Karen/Coregel	Katlyn/Boones
3:45	Brittany/Leragon	Jennifer

Yikes is it ever windy out! The wind is coming from the perfect direction to make the door fart and be very howly. Perfect opportunity to see if my "head down" conditioning with Izzy is working to make her more brave, and it seems to be helping...her hind end only gave out once :) Yesterday I jumped her for the first time: just a little cross pole on a circle at canter...she was great! Now I just need to find a jumping saddle for her super wide shoulders...

Clinic is approaching quickly: I hope to post at least Friday rides times by this weekend, so let me know if you have any additional time requests. There are still spots on the weekend, and possibly one or two on Friday if you know anyone else who may be interested!

Also, will likely be using the blanket stall for stabling for the clinic, so will be spending time next week to clean it out. If you want me to take any of your blankets in to Horse & Rider (Sherwood Park) for cleaning and/or repairs let me know as I will be taking a load in next week! Remaining "in use" blankets will be hung at the barn entrance, with "out of season" blankets put upstairs for the weekend.

Karen

This week in lessons

This week in lessons we will be working on hands/arm position.

To help with arm strength and dexterity, you will all have to start by shoveling snow for at least 5 minutes...or raking the edge of the arena. Let's call it the Hillside Fitness program!

Kidding.

Sort of.

Rob actually did a good job of clearing snow from the driveway and parking lot.

But I am serious about working on arm and hand position, both on the flat and over fences.

I will have an "off horse" exercise for those who tend to straighten their arms,  to show how doing this blocks the energy and ability to give to the horse, and creates resistance in the horse.

We are then going to work on the horse to create awareness and muscle memory for the range of movement we should allow our hands/arms to have (maintaining straight line elbow/wrist/bit). We are also going to work on developing consistent contact in the gaits that you have an independent seat (meaning your hands can act independently of your body so you aren't going to be unfairly poking your horse in the mouth by having contact).

Once you are able to have a consistent contact, your horse will take more comfort in the bit, as the bit will be steadier, and the horse will have a more consistent line of communication. The losey goosey reins are more jabby/bumpy to the horse, and sensitive horses will react to that type of contact by getting nervous.

To help get this consistent contact for jumping, we will be doing jumps on an arc, as well as a skinny jump. For both jumping and flat there will be a bit of a stearing exercise to help instill the need for contact and proper hand/arm usage.

Karen

Horse show on the weekend...

It was an exciting start to the show season at Amberlea!

Missy played rodeo horse on Saturday, but then was quite good on Sunday for her classes, and Lindsay came home with their first ribbon (3rd)! Missy was talkative in the barn, but pretty good one in the ring.

Magnus was not pleased to be at a show, and tried his very best to let Clare know, but was tired/settled enough for their classes that they both survived, although perhaps a little slow to get good scores.

Izzy saw danger everywhere and it is clear I have a lot of work to do before our next show! Our only good scores where for our leg yields...for everything else she was way too tight and jumpy. In our last class she felt like she was starting to relax...but then someone coughed and she almost fell over.

On a definate plus side though, all three horses loaded reasonibly well, the weather was decent, and lots was learned!

Lessons this week

In lessons this week we will be working on the flying lead changes again...as long as the horses aren't too peppy to handle it!

We will start by reviewing the basic aids we used two weeks ago (refer to blog from two weeks ago if you need to!), and then we will be using that same premise to ask for the lead changes after a jump.

On the flat, we will be asking for our canter depart on the quarter line rather than along the wall or in a corner, to ensure that we are properly setting our horses up for the correct lead. To set your horse up correctly, you want to make sure you have them slightly bent/positioned around an active inside leg at the girth, you want them lighter off the inside rein (give and take with fingers NOT arms to create this lightness in conjunction with active leg), while reaching into a following outside rein. Then outside leg comes back as the horse is about to step down with its outside hind leg so that it strikes off on the correct lead.

It can help to time the aids if you post on the correct diagonal if trotting. If sitting (trot or walk), you want to ask for the canter as you feel your outside hip dropping.

Karen

Funny and interesting...and a little scary!

The 2012 Supreme Extreme Mustang Make Over, youth edition.

Apprently we need to dress more appropriately to train...

So it's for a writing class I am taking...

For my writing class I had to write an essay and then publish it online somewhere. Something about childhood, but since my head injury and medication I can only remember snippits from my childhood, and I am not sure how much of it is real memory vs thinking I remember...does that make sense? I do however remember the feeling of sitting staring at the presents under the Christmas tree and trying to guess what they contained.

So here it is:

Bright & Shiny

Children are often told that they can achieve anything they put their mind to, and be anything they want to be. They are set up to believe that life is a clean slate full of promise and reward, so they should set their sights high and dream big! Parents don’t want to be the ones to explain to their child that they are too tall to be a jockey, too sensitive to be a surgeon, or too near sighted to be a helicopter pilot. Parents want their kids to be protected from reality as long as possible...putting off the inevitable collision with the real world.  

Like many, I can remember sitting around the Christmas tree as a child, imagining what dreams the gifts contained. Brightly wrapped parcels with hidden name tags, containing anything the imagination could conjure. My wish list stuck in my head as I tried to consider which items could fit in which parcels. The lights from the tree would shine and blink and make everything seems magical. Sitting beside that tree, looking down at the gifts would fill me with hope and elation.

I wasn’t silly enough to actually think that the item that topped my Christmas list could actually fit in one of those parcels, as ponies can be hard to wrap, but there was the hope that one year a box might contain a halter or brush that belonged to a pony waiting for me at the barn. If not a real pony for Christmas, than perhaps one of the plastic Breyer ponies that eventually lined my bedroom shelves and taunted my imagination. Christmas was set up as magical time, and even now as an adult, thinking about the excitement of looking under the Christmas tree brings back those feels of hope and expectation.

By the time Christmas would come, I would have assigned dreams to those boxes of mystery such that my expectations would be high! Of course year after year, those boxes were found to contain sweaters, games and books. All sensible gifts, that under normal circumstances would have been much appreciated, but as Christmas was a time of magical wishes, those normal, sensible gifts were little more than a let-down. They were a reminder of the reality that a family with four kids that lives in the city, just isn’t that likely to have a pony.

So eventually the pony slid down my wish list to become only a line at the bottom. Left there perhaps as a selfish reminder to my parents of the let down of not having been able to give me a pony. The top of the list was filled my more sensible and practical gifts: things that my parents may actually be able to procure.

Working within the parameters of reality didn’t lessen my enjoyment of Christmas or the magic of wondering what was in the parcels, rather it increased it, as the gifts could meet my expectations, and I was more likely to be right about what was within the magically boxes. I imagine it also made Christmas easier for my parents who no longer had to guess what I wanted other than the pony!

Even though I learned the lesson of realistic expectations as a child at Christmas, it didn’t stop me from taking courses in University that would lead me to a job that I would not have wanted to do, nor did it stop me from trying to play with the wealthy in the world of horses, spending money that likely could have been better spent elsewhere. Despite lessons showing otherwise, the concept of “anything is possible” is so ingrained at a young age, that it is hard to shake and move beyond. Life has to keep correcting and reminding us of reality, often with emotionally trying consequences.

I blame parents, teachers and TV specials for the encouragement of this lie. I don’t think they do so because they want to see children fall flat or be crushed when reality sets in, but rather because they want to believe that anything is possible for the child for as long as they possibly can maintain that charade. The problem is that children grow up feeling let down or like failures along the way, as they realize that there are some things that just aren’t possible. Perhaps even worse: the child that reaches adulthood with no understanding of the reality of limitations, and meets the world overwhelmed by possibilities and pressure, along with the fear of failure. Is it really any wonder that some kids end up being career students and live at home for years into adulthood?

I still get excited by bright shiny packages with my name on them; I just no longer expect for a pony to be inside, and I am happier for it.

Vaccination time again!

I have posted a chart in the barn for owners to check off which vaccinations they would like their horse to receive this year. If you don't remember, and just want to repeat last year, there is a check box for that too!

Please remember that E/W/T is required. I would also strongly recommend flu/rhino as well this year, as it does provide some protection against the Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1), which has mutated to create a neurological form that can cause severe issues including death.

Horses usually contract EHV as young horses, but can carry the virus in their system to become ill again when under stress (such as long trips or shows). The virus can mutate to form the neurological form which is extremely contagious and easily transmitted. This means that show horses, and horses that travel are at higher risk, but that in theory, even a closed herd can be affected by EHV-1.

Strangles vaccine is also recommended, but Westnile is up to individual owners.

Vaccinations will be done beginning of April, and mid April (depending on our vet's recommendation we will vaccinate for some things one day, then the rest a separate day to limit the risks of reactions). Any boosters needed will be booked as required.

Owners are welcome to vaccinate their own horse, but please keep in mind that should your horse have a reaction to the vaccine, or get sick despite the vaccine, the maker of the vaccine will take some liability for treating your horse ONLY if the vaccine was administered by a vet.

Karen

Ah, pre-spring at the barn

Things are starting to melt, lending to a lovely odour of melting horse poop and a stream across the parking lot that you really don't want to walk in.

The horses are shedding and apparently nutty. Such fun!

For lessons this week we will be working a little on counter canter. It is important to work on counter canter along side flying changes, as we want the horse to listen to our aids, and not try to guess which lead we want. This is important for a few reasons: counter counter may be asked for in an equitation test or a dressage test, counter canter builds fitness, and also because being able to control which lead your horse is on can really help in bending lines so your horse isn't flopping around from one lead to the other.

For this week we will just keep it simple and ask the horse to do a gentle shallow serpentine at canter without changing leads. Next week we will up the challenge and ask them to pick up the counter canter on the long side and carry it through the corner! We will test the control in a bending line by not allowing the horse to change leads.

Obviously this will be easier on the horses that failed last week, but most horses did show a willingness to do flying changes when set up for them!

It is important to note that counter canter does not equal cantering on the wrong lead. You need the horse slightly bend towards their leading side, but with a fairly straight neck. This means a stronger than usual canter aid needs to be maintained so the hip stays OUT. The biggest mistake is if you lose control of the shoulder and the horse gets crooked through the neck/wither. It is very important to maintain the outside rein to keep the neck pretty straight, with just slight bend in.

For jumping we will do a straight forward course, with poles place to help with the lead changes after the jumps to see if last week's exercise can carry forward to a full course.

No challenge this week.

Karen

Slight change of plans...

So it seems many people are otherwise engaged tomorrow, so it won't be much of a barn party...but, this gave me another idea: we will still discuss goals and showing this year, and still chat, give out the challenge awards and get together, but we will do it while cleaning tack! Yippy!

This might become a monthly thing for the spring/summer, with different activities. This month tack cleaning, next month perhaps braiding? Trailer loading? Bandaging? Maybe a horse soccer game once we can get outside?

We will also continue with a once a month barn challenge: This month's winners were:
Ball challenge: 1st Emma/Java, 2nd Stephanie/Wolfgang , 3rd Shawn/Roberta. For the obstacle course challenge we had two successful horse/rider combinations: Amber and Kokanee, and Laureen and Percy. Can't say those are the two horses I would have guessed to be the most successful, but there you have it!

Hope to see at least a few of you tomorrow!

Karen

Spring Fever!

Spring has come early and a few of the horses are showing by being a little nutty...geldings in particular! I think it is in part that it is getting icy, but also because their is no Warrior to get them playing :) Boarders should consider free longing their horses if possible so they have non-ridden time to stretch their legs. I will be doing the same for any peppy lesson horses.

It also seems that working on lead changes and dealing with peppy ponies is  taking up enough of the lesson that we aren't doing the challenge this week and instead doing the lead change exercise and then incorporating that into a simple jumping course.

I may move some of the horses around over the next week as well, so please be sure to check the white board to find your horse if it isn't where it normally is!

Dale Irwin coming to Hillside!

Keep Easter long weekend open, as I have confirmed that Dale Irwin will be coming to teach a three day clinic the last weekend in March. Dale is a top level eventing and dressage coach. Two years ago I rode Brie in a clinic with him and really appreciated his teaching style and ideas. I feel that his international level experience gives him the depth needed to be able to quickly assess issues, and give us the tools to progress.

(don't confuse Dale Irwin with Chris Irwin the "Natural Horsemanship" trainer)

The clinic will be available for riders to ride in two or three days of the clinic. Single days will only be available if time allows. Friday will be flat work/dressage, and Saturday/Sunday can be either flat or jumping.

This clinic is open to anyone, and even if you don't want to ride in it, you will likely learn a fair bit by watching. I am planning to jump Izzy in the clinic, so could be entertaining!

He is good at teaching all levels of riders and riders.

Rates still to be determined. If anyone is interested in subsidizing the clinic by helping with morning barn chores during the clinic OR by offering to host Dale for the weekend, please let me know!

Karen

This week in lessons: flying changes & a new challenge

This week in lessons we will be working on lead changes. Advanced horses/riders will work on flying changes, while the less able horses and/or more novice riders will do simple changes. We actually worked on lead changes over the skinny pole two weeks ago when we were jumping the figure of eight, but this type we will do it with intent!

What is a lead change? A lead change is the horse changing from one canter lead to the other. There are two types of lead changes: Flying and Simple changes. In a flying change the horse maintains a canter and changes from one lead to the other without breaking the canter gait. In a simple change the horse is brought back to a trot or walk (or in Rocket's case a pace...), rebalanced, and then the other lead is picked up. Dressage uses the transition to walk as it requires balance and collection and will help with developing a dressage suitable flying change, whereas when jumping, a simple change will be through trot as it is less likely to take away the forward momentum.

Why is it important? In dressage, flying changes are required starting at 3rd level as a test of training and ability. For jumping, being on the correct lead around the horse will help the horse be better balanced through the turns. In hunters this is judged, and a horse going around on the wrong lead, or even worse, disunited, will be heavily penalized (although the ideal in jumpers is to have the horse land the correct leads as it looks smoother). In jumpers this is not judged, so some riders may allow the horse to be on the "wrong" lead if that is the lead it is stronger on.

(disunited is when the horse is on two different leads on the front end vs the back end)

Dressage vs Jumping lead changes:

A dressage flying lead change is born out of collection with the horse able to "skip" from one lead to the other through increases suspension. The foot falls going from left lead to right lead would be:
RH/LH+RF/LF, (moment of increased suspension), LH/RH+LF/RF, so the horse sort of skips on the LH. This requires the horse to have good strength in its haunches as well as enough time in the air (suspension) to be able to swap the hind legs around.

A hunter flying change is different as the horse needs to maintain a forward flow, and the same amount of precision is not needed. Although some horses will still do their flying change with the same footfalls as for a dressage change, it is also possible for them to take a stride or two to complete the change without  penalty by a judge. A typical flying change for a hunter will involve the front end changing first, and the hind end changing the very next stride. This is the kind of lead change we will be working on this week.

Here are some examples of horses schooling flying changes using the methods we will be using. Both these horses are new to flying changes.

Izzy Flying changes with a ground pole to assist
Coregel flying changes without poles to help.

With both horses I am trying to get the lead change before the corner, but still using the approaching wall/corner to help set them up. I am also trying to be light on their backs to encourage the increased suspension, and not worrying too much if they get quick, as this will also help them achieve the lead change.

Please note, there are many ways to school flying changes and this is just one of them!

Aids I am using for the left to right lead change:

Turning across the diagonal with as straight a horse as possible (through the neck), I am light in my seat, but have a fair bit of right leg back and on, similar to how I would ask for a leg yield to the left. If I do get a bit of sideways motion that is fine. As I get to the pole (or second quarterline if not using a pole), I swap and put my right leg on/back and may give take with my new inside hand/rein, but again, the aids are similar to a leg yield, only this time to the right. Important the neck stays mostly straight!

I make sure to focus on the goal (flying change) and if my horse gets a little quick I am ok with that. If using a pole I WANT the long if there is an option as they are more likely to stretch into the change this way.

Now...the test...can anyone tell me why using a pole is unlikely to get you a "true" lead change?

Answer: If you watch the videos, you can see that for other that Coregel's last try, both horses are getting the change in the front first, and then catching up with the hind end. The pole encourages this as the suspension created is first created in the front as the horse goes over the pole, then the hind end. (Coregel is doing this despite the pole as it is easier and requires less hind end strength) This would be completely acceptable in the hunters, but a low score for dressage. Still, it gives the horse an idea of what is expected and useful for teaching either discipline.


Now for simple changes through trot:

When trying for a simple change through trot, make sure your horse comes back to a clear two beat trot, rebalance, change the bend, and ask for the new lead. Do not let the horse rush or anticipate, and if they start to, then just keep trotting. Simple changes through trot are acceptable in low level hunter competitions, although the equal round with flying changes or landed leads will usually win. What you want to avoid though, is the horse that is thinking simple change in every corner, as if the horse is thinking "Trot" it would be creating the suspension and forward needed for a flying change (think of Rocket or Spencer)

For the new challenge this week we will be doing a "make your own course challenge". This will be timed using poles and jumps, with rider's needing to come up with the best/quickest way for their horse to complete the horse. Trying to help rider's think logically and assess their horse's weaknesses and strengths as well as their own.

(last week's challenge was only achieved by two horse/rider combinations; Laureen with Percy and Amber with Kokanee!)

Karen

For the dressage riders...

Dressage judges are encouraged to always put something positive in their comments at the end of the test. While scribing last year I realized that this is usually not hard as there is usually some redeaming qualities, but for certain tests it can be quite a stretch to come out  with something nice to say, so I found this article very funny and apt!

http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/nice-braids

This week in lessons & new challenge!

This week in lessons we are continuing to work on perfecting the leg yield with the horse facing away from the wall (as per previous youtube videos!). This is going to flow into next week's lesson which will use these skills to work on flying lead changes.

For jumping, we are going to work on jumping a skinny with no standards. This will use similar skills that riding the horses at the ball used: keeping the horse between hand and leg and controlling their body and in particular, their shoulders.

We also have a new challenge this week: it will be an obstacle course. This won't be timed, but rather scored based on success negotiating the horse with minimal pylon tragedies and hooves outside the course. This course will include:
 - The above mentioned skinny jump
 - bending line with set number of strides
 - trot after a jump (before pylon markers)
 - Turn on the forehand inside a pole "box"
 - Horse and rider touching the ball.
 - precise corner through pylon markers.

Also planning a barn party for Saturday the 3rd of March at 12:30. A simple get together so riders/boarders can meet each other, and also so we can discuss what shows we want to go to and such. Details to be determined but thinking potluck lunch type food? Would a March gift exchange be weird? Oh, and an awards ceremony for the winners of the lesson challenges! Let me know if you can attend asap so I know if I need to switch days.

The leg yield exercise

Last week we worked on leg yield with the horse angled away from the wall. A few of you progressed from that to asking for shoulder in. Alternatively a few of you found this mind boggling requiring me to demonstrate by getting down on all fours...

It occurred to me that a video demonstration might assist as we are going to try this again next week.

Why the focus on leg yield? Leg yielding is required in first level dressage as it shows the horse's ability and willingness to move laterally off of leg, and maintain a semblance of straightness and forwardness. For jumping, have a horse that moves laterally off of leg can help with issues of straightness, to push a horse into the corners better, and will also progress to flying lead changes.

By doing the leg yield at an angle away from the wall, the rider must focus on fine control of how much sideways, and how much forward the horse is able to do. The achievement is measurable as you can see the angle achieved, and measure how far off the wall you ended up coming!

For Izzy, this exercise will help her shoulder in; she tends to want to pop her shoulder to the wall rather than maintain a true bend; by going from this leg yield to the shoulder in, and back to this leg yield, I am forced to maintain control of the shoulder.

Here is the video of Izzy

Try to see where I switch from leg yield to shoulder in and back again. In Leg Yield, front and back legs cross, and the horse should be straight in the body, with just a slight flex in at the jaw. In Shoulder in, her hind legs should not cross as her hind quarters should be parallel to the wall, and she should have bend through her body. Note how she resists by bringing her head up, and how I respond by kicking, and asking her to give with her jaw by give and take with that inside rein.

I am trying to get a clear four track leg yield from her (inside legs travel on a track inside the hinds) but she is not wanting to do this, and I can only get a few good steps as she really wants to pop out with her shoulder!

Now here is Coregel
Note how I am able to get Coregel on four clear tracks. This is easier on her vs. Izzy because she is a stiffer horse front to back, and popping her shoulder out isn't something she wants to do! I have done a slow motion take and hopefully you can see where I go from leg yield to a step or two of shoulder in, and back to leg yield a couple times. I only do a step or two of shoulder in on Coregel as she is just getting back into work, and more than a couple steps of shoulder in would be unfair to an unfit and slightly fat equine, and would only encourage her to evade.

What I am not sure you can see with either horse, is that although the inside leg is the one asking for the leg yield, the outside leg is also back and ready to tap tap tap to regain the forward. Note too, that I am restricting with my hands so that the energy I am creating goes up and across, and not scrambling and forward.

Hopefully this increases some understanding of the exercise so we have more success next week!

Karen

Not at all horse related

Somehow I am on the Conservative Party emailing list. I am fine with that, because I think for democracy to work, we actually do have to participate and get our opinions to the decision makes, and what easier way than through surveys?

If you want to participate in the govermental surveys, this is the link:
http://www.conservative.ca/yourvoice

(they wanted me to email 5 friends, but I thought this might be a better format)

Yes, I wish the questions could be worded less leadingly, but democracy isn't perfect.

My last survey ended in a rant about the education system.

Karen

This week's Challenge!

I have a challenge for all lesson students and boarders who wish to participate. There may be a prize for the top three challengers!

Time to beat is Izzy at 11 seconds.

The challenge? Push the soccer ball through the "goal". The horse will start from three meters away, and have to push the ball three meters through the pylons that will be set three meters apart.

Video of Izzy's attempt

Of course it won't always go that relatively smoothly, so to show the other extreme:

Video of Coregel's attempt

Now Coregel was nervous from the get go today, so had I wanted this to go easier I should have let her trot/canter around a bit to get some of her energy out, but I wanted to show how it COULD go, and how to recover.

Ideally I wouldn't have let her go past the ball, and had her stand in front of it until she relaxed (like when a horse tries to run out at a jump), but she was too agitated so instead I allowed the small circles, but did not let her leave the general area.

Her little rears are the same avoidance behaviours she exhibited when I tried to show her at an arena with cows way off in the distance, so it is good to be able to work her through the same type of pressure situation. Rearing happens when a horse feels trapped...in this case she feels like I am sending her into an immovable object (in the video the ball, at the show it was being within half a km of a cow...)...so we need to work on trust. As you can see once she figures out the ball moves, she relaxes considerably.

Aside from building trust and being entertaining, this exercise, and the follow up exercises will help riders think about how to control the horse's body, hopefully without over thinking it!

Some hints:
- Try to keep the horse's nose pointed at the ball, but hold the opposite rein enough that you don't loose the other shoulder.
- To be able to aim the ball, the horse's hips have to be lined up behind the shoulders and pointed at the ball...it isn't enough just to aim the nose. Use the same skills you would to do a turn on the forehand (leg back) to control the angle/aim.
- If you feel the horse getting agitated, either allow them to stop, or allow them to do a smaller circle. Do not praise them to try to relax, but just sit passively to give them time to relax. Only praise when you make gains...which may be just halted facing the ball, or (hopefully) when the horse pushes the ball.

And no cheating...the horse has to push the ball!

Karen

Conan's Alternate Endings for the Budweiser Superbowl commercial

This week

This week is going to be nice weather wise, so hopefully the roads stay clear and we can have a good week of lessons!

Although yesterday afternoon was filled with the whining drone of snowmobiles, and had me wishing for 20 below again....

Dressage lessons will work on Shoulder fore and lengthenings (shoulder for for a few strides, then lengthening to ensure the horse is still active in the trot!)

Dressage and jumping will work on true bend and counter bend exercises.

Jumping will be doing a course again, and really focusing on using the ends of the arena to hit the "reset" button to rebalance the horse and get back the needed course pace (either increase or decrease).

We will also be trying to get the horse's to push the soccer ball while riding...just make sure you don't push it at another horse until they get used to seeing it move!

Karen