I had been looking forward to the clinic with Jan this weekend, especially as it is the last one for the next six months or so. Jan doesn't do winter in Michigan :-)
As Remy had been going so well lately I was all keyed up, only to hit bottom with a loud thump - or better- a loud wheeze. I sounded like I had been on four packs a day for fifty years. It was one of these days where my lungs just closed up in the arena. Remy was tough to start out with, and then when he heard me wheezing and shaking on top of him,.. well, that was about it. I was pretty devastated and embarrassed. I HATE it when I'm not doing my best, and in this case I just couldn't do it.
It took about all I had to go back today and give it another try. This time JP drove the truck and I was able to double on the meds. Also, I warmed Remy up in the outdoor arena and we opened the large door in the indoor for my lesson. Luckily, today was 'die another day', and we had a very good lesson, including good changes with enough forward momentum and oomph. Jan reminded me that I need to set Remy on the straight and narrow from the beginning, and not wait half an hour before reminding him he has a job to do. We worked on lots on bending lines in the beginning, head to the wall leg yields, shoulder ins, travers, in order to get Remy more through. We had very nice work in all three gaits. Life was good again!
But of course this does not solve my problem: What to do this winter?? I can't ruin my lungs just because I want to ride. To be clear, it's not the riding, it's riding in the only arena I am super allergic to the footing (my doctor is obviously not a fan of this, she thinks I'm nuts because I'm not moving somewhere else), but at this time I'm not coming up with any viable options. JP, pass the wine, that might help - not to find a solution but definitely to make me feel better.
Perhaps Remy and I should just run off into the sunshine: Anyone in SC, AZ, FL, CA... willing to take us in?? :-)
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Thursday, October 26, 2017
"Out with the nose" - and "All you had to do was quit your job"
OK, today was one of these days when things just clicked. We had the best canter EVER! Soft, easy in the hand, through, supple, collected. Judy reminded me several times to "leave the front door open" and "out with the nose". I think I FINALLY am trusting Remy, and he reciprocates with trusting me.
It's the best feeling in the world if the horse is truly with you and you feel as one. Easy, soft, and you could go on forever like this.
When I gushed to Judy afterwards on how happy I was and how long it took to get there she deadpanned "See, all you had to do was quit your job." And yes, Jude, you are right (as usual!). It is like someone flipped a switch. It's not that I don't want to work. (Actually, I am meeting with a company tomorrow that seems eager for my services.) It was just that my last position was very stressful and no longer satisfying. Without that stress and tension my riding improved tremendously (duh! - and Remy says "It was about time!").
It was a bold decision, but hey, as Robert Frost so aptly put it:
It's the best feeling in the world if the horse is truly with you and you feel as one. Easy, soft, and you could go on forever like this.
When I gushed to Judy afterwards on how happy I was and how long it took to get there she deadpanned "See, all you had to do was quit your job." And yes, Jude, you are right (as usual!). It is like someone flipped a switch. It's not that I don't want to work. (Actually, I am meeting with a company tomorrow that seems eager for my services.) It was just that my last position was very stressful and no longer satisfying. Without that stress and tension my riding improved tremendously (duh! - and Remy says "It was about time!").
It was a bold decision, but hey, as Robert Frost so aptly put it:
"Freedom lies in being bold"
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
"Open the front door, but don't let him run through it" - and who to please??
The beautiful fall weather seems to be leaving us - storms, rain, cold weather are here. Yesterday the high winds were knocking down trees and rattling the arena quite seriously. Not my kind of riding weather - it spells "spook central", and it's not even Halloween yet.
Remy got to wear his 'headset' (sound protective fly mask) and I shoved Judy's voice in my ears (my headset) and off we went. We kept the work easy, as experience has told us that the more demanding the work the more Remy is looking for excuses to spook. This way we didn't give him any additional reason for his beloved spins and scoots. Remy didn't even bat an eye or ear, even when it sounded like a tree would come through the walls.
Today I was rather rattled myself by the time I made it to the barn. On the way a truck veered over the median and in order to get out of the way I pulled my GTI to the shoulder. In the process I managed to damage the entire left side of the car on the guard rail. Merde!
At least the wind didn't add more rattling and we had a very good lesson. Judy reminded me several times that I have to "open the front door", especially in the canter, so Remy's energy can come up and he doesn't feel trapped. The key is to not let him run through "the door", though: Up in front with energy from behind. He needs to seek the contact with the bit, not me pulling him onto it.
We had an amazing canter half-pass that made me laugh with glee - and then I stopped to give Remy a cookie. Uh, uh, the voice in my ear wasn't pleased: "That's what you guys always do: Something is good and then you quit!". Yes, Ma'am, you are right! I do have an excuse, though: In German we say "Man soll aufhoeren, wenn es am schoensten ist". (You should leave on a high note). Remy says: "Yes, let's quit and eat cookies every time we do something well!". Judy says: "You need to up the ante and not quit at the first good movement!". Ah, who to please, who to please??
Remy got to wear his 'headset' (sound protective fly mask) and I shoved Judy's voice in my ears (my headset) and off we went. We kept the work easy, as experience has told us that the more demanding the work the more Remy is looking for excuses to spook. This way we didn't give him any additional reason for his beloved spins and scoots. Remy didn't even bat an eye or ear, even when it sounded like a tree would come through the walls.
Today I was rather rattled myself by the time I made it to the barn. On the way a truck veered over the median and in order to get out of the way I pulled my GTI to the shoulder. In the process I managed to damage the entire left side of the car on the guard rail. Merde!
At least the wind didn't add more rattling and we had a very good lesson. Judy reminded me several times that I have to "open the front door", especially in the canter, so Remy's energy can come up and he doesn't feel trapped. The key is to not let him run through "the door", though: Up in front with energy from behind. He needs to seek the contact with the bit, not me pulling him onto it.
We had an amazing canter half-pass that made me laugh with glee - and then I stopped to give Remy a cookie. Uh, uh, the voice in my ear wasn't pleased: "That's what you guys always do: Something is good and then you quit!". Yes, Ma'am, you are right! I do have an excuse, though: In German we say "Man soll aufhoeren, wenn es am schoensten ist". (You should leave on a high note). Remy says: "Yes, let's quit and eat cookies every time we do something well!". Judy says: "You need to up the ante and not quit at the first good movement!". Ah, who to please, who to please??
Friday, October 20, 2017
Chats about their riders? - and "Look, these are the Dressage Riders"
Chambord and Remy are truly Besties. They always hang out together, even sharing the same hay bag in the run in shed. When we are out on the trails it seems they have some "intimate" chats about their riders. Hmm??
With the glorious October weather we run into other riders from time to time. Quite a few are of the 'rough and ready' variety, "Hop on and Go": No helmets, sneakers, on occasion sporting a beer can and/or a cigarette (!). So when we crossed a group the other day one rider remarked to the other "Look, these are the Dressage Riders I told you about. How cool." Apparently Dressage Riders don't venture on the trails?
Seems that JP and I are now officially known on the trails as "The Dressage Riders", easily identified by our saddles, riding pants, half-chaps, and most importantly: Helmets!
Now the tricky part is to look like "Dressage Riders" in an actual dressage arena...
With the glorious October weather we run into other riders from time to time. Quite a few are of the 'rough and ready' variety, "Hop on and Go": No helmets, sneakers, on occasion sporting a beer can and/or a cigarette (!). So when we crossed a group the other day one rider remarked to the other "Look, these are the Dressage Riders I told you about. How cool." Apparently Dressage Riders don't venture on the trails?
Seems that JP and I are now officially known on the trails as "The Dressage Riders", easily identified by our saddles, riding pants, half-chaps, and most importantly: Helmets!
Now the tricky part is to look like "Dressage Riders" in an actual dressage arena...
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Fun with a different set of exercises - and my heart skips a beat
While Judy is in Germany her friend and fellow trainer Roz gave lessons yesterday. I trailered Remy for his lesson, it's just a 45 minute trip on nice and quiet roads country roads, so easy to do.
While Roz' and Judy's systems are very much alike, Roz has a bit of a different set of exercises. Roz had us do shoulder in from one letter to the next, then straighten to the following letter, and then shoulder in again. It made Remy more supple and responsive. In the trot and canter work we did leg yield to the quarter line, then half-pass, then leg yield. That was fun! We also worked on half-pass - straight - half-pass the other direction. Roz wanted me to take my leg off for some strides during the half-pass to see if Remy kept working on his own. If Remy were human he would be one of those students that sit back and let the others answer the teacher's questions first. Remy was on his best behavior (I told him he wouldn't get to go home otherwise), and we finished happy and relaxed.
When I came home from my run with the dogs today 'happy and relaxed' didn't come to mind. In fact, my heart skipped a beat:
While Roz' and Judy's systems are very much alike, Roz has a bit of a different set of exercises. Roz had us do shoulder in from one letter to the next, then straighten to the following letter, and then shoulder in again. It made Remy more supple and responsive. In the trot and canter work we did leg yield to the quarter line, then half-pass, then leg yield. That was fun! We also worked on half-pass - straight - half-pass the other direction. Roz wanted me to take my leg off for some strides during the half-pass to see if Remy kept working on his own. If Remy were human he would be one of those students that sit back and let the others answer the teacher's questions first. Remy was on his best behavior (I told him he wouldn't get to go home otherwise), and we finished happy and relaxed.
When I came home from my run with the dogs today 'happy and relaxed' didn't come to mind. In fact, my heart skipped a beat:
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| JP at work... Note to self: LIFE INSURANCE?! |
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Slowly coming off the adrenaline - and an exciting new prospect
There is no doubt, I am 'detoxing' - finally coming off the constantly high adrenaline that had been with me during most of my career, and was especially off the charts in the last years. I was more often than not at the end of my rope, and in hindsight Saumur and I just fed of each others nervousness, stress, and racing minds. Almost a surprise that we both lived to tell the tale and we are now in a much better mental state. And not to forget long-suffering JP: I think he enjoys my new-found "state of chill" the most!
It is also very noticeable in my daily dealings with Remy. Our relationship has changed, we have way more harmony because he no longer gets rattled due to my mind racing at 1000 mph. So, note to Remy: You sure can't blame that bucking thing you did today on me!
I've been intrigued for a while by Equine Bodywork, and the equine massage therapist that comes to Topline recommended I check into the Masterson Method (www.mastersonmethod.com). So last Friday I made the -not so scenic- drive to the Indiana farmlands. Note: If you use US 24 from Ohio to Indiana be aware that there are NO Starbucks or anything else for that matter for very long stretches of the road. Which is probably a good thing, because there are not restrooms either!
I truly enjoyed the weekend workshop held at a nice dressage barn. The advanced instructor was excellent, and also happened to be the translator for Dr. Gerd Heuschmann's books. Very cool. My fellow eight students were a great group of people from all walks of life, one young woman drove 17 hours from Nebraska to attend the workshop. She and her husband have a huge cattle ranch and her goal is to find ways to help the hardworking ranch horses.
The first day was a breeze, and I thought "I can do this", as all the horses we got to work on were solid citizens. The challenge came on the second day, when Vickie and I got assigned a second level dressage horse that was definitely a tough nut. Between trying to nip at us and coming up with rather creative ways to evade us it was a stretch. But hey, we like challenges. And the good thing was that in addition to Coralie, the advanced instructor, we had Cheryl and Annie (two certified instructors) always there to help the students. It was a really good feeling when we were able to do decent work on the horse (with their help) and at the end the horse was all mellow and chill.
So, I've decided to go 'all the way' to certification. It is a long and very demanding process. Next step: Advanced Training in Tucson, Arizona, if I pass the entrance test, that it. It will be at the end of January. What better excuse to leave in the midst of a Michigan winter? It's all for education!
It is also very noticeable in my daily dealings with Remy. Our relationship has changed, we have way more harmony because he no longer gets rattled due to my mind racing at 1000 mph. So, note to Remy: You sure can't blame that bucking thing you did today on me!
I've been intrigued for a while by Equine Bodywork, and the equine massage therapist that comes to Topline recommended I check into the Masterson Method (www.mastersonmethod.com). So last Friday I made the -not so scenic- drive to the Indiana farmlands. Note: If you use US 24 from Ohio to Indiana be aware that there are NO Starbucks or anything else for that matter for very long stretches of the road. Which is probably a good thing, because there are not restrooms either!
I truly enjoyed the weekend workshop held at a nice dressage barn. The advanced instructor was excellent, and also happened to be the translator for Dr. Gerd Heuschmann's books. Very cool. My fellow eight students were a great group of people from all walks of life, one young woman drove 17 hours from Nebraska to attend the workshop. She and her husband have a huge cattle ranch and her goal is to find ways to help the hardworking ranch horses.
The first day was a breeze, and I thought "I can do this", as all the horses we got to work on were solid citizens. The challenge came on the second day, when Vickie and I got assigned a second level dressage horse that was definitely a tough nut. Between trying to nip at us and coming up with rather creative ways to evade us it was a stretch. But hey, we like challenges. And the good thing was that in addition to Coralie, the advanced instructor, we had Cheryl and Annie (two certified instructors) always there to help the students. It was a really good feeling when we were able to do decent work on the horse (with their help) and at the end the horse was all mellow and chill.
So, I've decided to go 'all the way' to certification. It is a long and very demanding process. Next step: Advanced Training in Tucson, Arizona, if I pass the entrance test, that it. It will be at the end of January. What better excuse to leave in the midst of a Michigan winter? It's all for education!
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