Where's the Bute?

As expected, our lessons today were pretty 'ouchy'. Everything between my neck and tailbone is sore. Hmm, maybe some Bute would help? Instead, both JP and I opted for Motrin instead and carried on.

The theme today: PRECISION AND PREPARATION. The concept was familiar: transitions, transitions, and some more transitions. Sandy really had me use the corners, which yes, I like to cut (sometimes not just riding - housecleaning comes to mind..). So downward transitions before the the corners, bend around the inside leg, then upward transitions in the corners. It created some of the nicest collected canter we have had down the long side.

PRECISION in the test: Sounds really easy but it's also easy to get sloppy. At the last show for some reason I didn't make it all the way to X for the halt - salute. So today we practised using the peripheral vision to stop when my boot is at X.

PREPARATION for the movements:. Sandy reminded me that it's not the flying change that matters, it's how I set Saumur up, how I prepare for it. If he is nice, soft and on the aids - no problem. Charging through half-halts OTOH will not produce clean changes (duh!).

Today I got treated to a reaction to 'overprepared'. Yes, there is such a thing. Saumur was already nice and soft, but I still gave him another strong half halt in preparation for the change, so he threw his head up and hopped to let me know in no uncertain terms that THAT was uncalled for. Thanks, bud, for letting me know when I am wrong! Now, where did I put that old jar of Bute??

"Couples that fall off together stay together"

A perfect day for a trailride, cool, light breeze, almost no bugs. What a relief after all the rain and dreariness we had in the last days. I had  been working very long hours this week, so I couldn't wait for today's trailride.

The boys seemed happy to be out, ears perked, attentive, and yes, well, also trying to catch a snack along the way. The first part of the ride was wonderful, Saumur had some really nice extended trot following Chambord who was cantering. But then Chambord got startled, put a stop in, and JP tumbled off. Luckily, JP was fine and got right back on.

Not much later we were at a walk when all of a sudden noise and movement in the tall weeds next to a chain link fence surprised both of the boys (and us). It was a small fawn trying to get through the fence. The  boys almost simultaneously executed 180's with canter departs thrown in for good measure, and this time both JP and I came off. Chambord stopped immediately and looked down at JP, Saumur cantered off, "I'm outta here, you deal with this". It was funny, because the fawn ran after him. Saumur didn't go far, though, he stopped and waited for me to 'rescue' him. We got back on and continued the trip home without further incident.

All in all it was a good experience, because a) nobody got hurt, b) the boys stayed with us, c) it reminded us that we are able to fall of without getting hurt, and d) well... how many couples share even falling off their horses at the same time??

Preventive Maintenance: Equine, Equipment.. and Rider

The boys had their appointment with Dr. Weaver, who specializes in Equine Chiropractic and Acupuncture. Yes, I am sure a lot of people think it’s a bit over the top, but I have seen the benefits first hand. Especially Saumur has benefited from the treatments after his accident last fall when he injured his hip trying to race through an open gate at the same time as Chambord. Saumur’s hip bone took the hinge and gate right out. Luckily Saumur’s hip was ‘only’ severely bruised, no bone chips, but he was off for a month and needed rehab work.

Dr. Weaver found Saumur to be stiff and locked on his left side, usually is the right shoulder/hip. Saumur noticeably relaxed after the adjustment. Chambord's check up revealed that “he is perfect, doesn’t need a thing”, which of course made JP gush about his wonderful horse for the rest of the evening.

So, check mark on the physical part. Next on the list: fix the saddle. It never fails, show season rolls around and something happens. A couple of years ago the tree points of my saddle broke, and all of a sudden I was splashed across Saumur’s back while warming him up at the show. This time the air is out – literally. My Schleese saddle has air panels, and the right one is like a deflated balloon. A call to Luanne, the Schleese fitter, revealed that she is on her way to Iowa, of all places. If all goes well she’ll be back Sunday, and hopefully will be able to fix it. No pressure here (short of begging her to PLEASE fix it before we leave for Traverse City)!

Somehow I need to find the time to get myself ‘fixed’ – ha, I can already hear people say “good luck with that” … Actually, I meant getting myself to the Chiropractor.

"Naughty horse - but you ride really well"

Three and a half days at Waterloo… and I am happy to report that we didn’t share Napoleon’s plight.

By yesterday afternoon I was pretty exhausted, but it was a good experience. We had a great schooling session with Sandy on Thursday evening, and then good rides on Friday. The changes were still iffy, but the rest was fine. Saturday we had some issues, and couldn’t get the flying change from the centerline to left lead canter. The judge rang the bell and let us do that line again, which was actually really nice. Perhaps she felt bad because due to a computer glitch we were waiting around the arena for what seemed a very long time before going in. All that in the “FEI” arena, with plenty of spectators looking on. Second time we still didn’t nail the movement, hence the comment on the score sheet I quoted in the headline.

Yesterday Saumur had one huge spook right in front of the judge at C, all I could do is get him on a canter circle and go on. From there we had to go straight to the extended canter, and I was concentrating on “you will NOT run away with me”, which he didn’t – and we got good scores, even an ‘8’ on the last trot down the centerline.

What I am most happy about is that I kept my cool. Saumur’s little quirks didn’t rattle me, and I could laugh about it, and even joke with the judge and tell her to “stop scaring my horse”.

We were pretty much in the low 60s due to the mistakes, which -even though I would have liked higher scores- is encouraging, because we can build on this. All in all it was very good for the first time out, and we also ended up with the 3rd level AA championship.

Of course, once again, I couldn't have done it without our support team! Between jobs as groom, reader, and loading the equipment in record time, JP made sure I ate (not always a given for me). Sandy was my 'voice in the ear', keeping Saumur and me on the straight and narrow during the warm ups. I love the wireless for schooling, and some of the comments are definitely better kept between us. Especially a very unique suggestion on how/where to breathe through..

Waterloo - Schooling Day

Saumur loaded like a pro in the unfamiliar slant trailer. Sandy said he looked, figured out where his body needed to be, and was fine.

I drove my truck to work today, loaded with all the equipment plus hay. I bet I am the only VP in the automotive industry that shows up to work in a pickup loaded with hay!

As soon as I got to the stabling area I heard Saumur whinnying for me. He really seems to enjoy being there, he was alert but not nervous at all. I was putting my stuff away while Sandy was schooling Daughtry. What a good boy, the first show and he's handling it like a pro. Now wonder George called him "AARP Approved". He is one of these horses that are just so good natured and take everything in stride.

I walked Saumur on a long rein to the arenas and he was checking things out, not even spooking at the flower decorations (we had some interesting times with decorations before). Our schooling session went really well, mainly we worked on parts of the patterns, not a complete test, because once Saumur thinks he has it figured out he takes over. It was nice when some fellow competitors complimented me on how good Saumur looks and how well he works. One interesting question was: "Are you still going on trailrides with your upper level horse?" Well, this person obviously doesn't read my blog :-)

Key points to remember for tomorrow:
- SLOW down
- Saumur has enough 'go', now we have to make it light
- Finish the half passes, get him straight before the changes
- Relax my back (OK, how often does Sandy have to repeat this??)
- RELAX overall (ha!)

My goal for tomorrow is to do the best I can and not get rattled when things are not going as well as expected. I look at it as schooling for the 'big gig' in Traverse City two weeks from now.

Charging towards Waterloo

Waterloo just doesn’t sound like a good omen for somebody with a French name. I will have to rely heavily on my German heritage to get through this weekend. (The show is named "Dressage at Waterloo").

Quick history brush up:
*The Battle of Waterloo takes place near the Waterloo, Belgium on June 18, 1815. In this battle, the forces of the French Empire under the leadership of Michael Ney and Napoleon Bonaparte were defeated by the Seventh Coalition and a Prussian Army, which was commanded by Gebhard Von Blucher. The forces were also defeated by an Anglo-Allied Army commanded by the Duke of Wellington.


Last night Sandy changed our usual program a bit. She wanted Saumur from the beginning in a more advanced frame, not 20 min. in a training level frame. Makes sense and it saves both of us, quality over quantity in ride time! We moved quickly to a new exercise, canter, then short diagonal, staying in the counter canter. Amazing – I could actually keep Mr. Smarty Pants in the counter canter. That was our problem spot at Second Level.

For the first time this year we also worked on the medium and extended canter, with the key being smooth transitions back to collected canter. That’s where my tight back and seat is usually throwing a monkey wrench in a good transition. So Sandy was bringing up all these analogies, that I should imagine my behind (seat) being “flabby”, and “saggy” – great, that’s how every woman wants to picture herself! It could have backfired and made me even tighter, but actually, it worked, she got the point through, in my mind’s eye I had this really relaxed and “soft” image.

We had very good trot shoulder ins and canter half-passes, and some nice flying changes (after only one minor hissy fit of “can’t do this”). The strategy for the extended walk is to “fake it”. Saumur really does not have an extended walk, so I will have to remember to stretch his frame out and slow him down to create some semblance of extension.

Tomorrow Saumur will hitch a ride with Sandy, Francis, Daughtry and Galeon to Waterloo. It’s the first time in years that I am not the one loading him, and it is a different trailer (slant load). I am confident that it won’t be a problem, though. I’ll join the Southview Team tomorrow night.

JP also had a very good lesson on Chambord, and was really happy. It is funny, I warmed Chambord up and he was like “you again – what about him???”. He saw JP and wanted to stop every time we went by him. Good thing that my self confidence does not get easily rattled by the opinionated Blondie (I leave that to Saumur).

What does the Toyota manufacturing process have to do with riding?

A lot - actually! Just replace 'yellow' and 'red' with 'half-halt', 'halt' and/or transitions:

[Toyota calls] stop and fix the problem "jidoka". It's a process where people are asked to identify every instance where the situation doesn't match the expectation. They do that by "pulling the cord" to activate an "andon" -- a signal. There are three signals: green (all fine), yellow (come look at this), and red (I need help). Operators in the Georgetown, KY plant pull the cord up to 1000 times/day.

Well, that just shows again how you can apply expertise gained from other areas to riding (For those of us that always have riding somewhere on the mind!).