"He is very energy efficient" - and it's tough being Remy and Chambord

 Remy (still) surprises me in our lessons. He has turned into the 'Energizer Bunny' - you switch him on and he goes. This is how it should be - no constant prodding, pleading, asking ... me working harder than he does. For a long time, this was the case. Now we turned the corner, but he still wants to be asked (nicely) to go strut his stuff. As Vanessa put it yesterday "he is just very energy efficient". "No use expending all that energy when it's not called for", says Remy. 

Remy's ancestors were bred to be sturdy, hard-working, easy to maintain horses*. Remy does fit the profile to a T (with the added energy-conservation streak he shares with Chambord, see below).

Next step: Sit on the sofa, have a beer, and watch TV 😅

 *Horses were an essential component in the transport of cavalry troops, supplies, and artillery weapons throughout the war. Morgan horses are known to have been used in both the Union and Confederate armies. Due to the quality of the Morgan horses and their physical attributes, they were in high demand.

Morgan Horses in the Civil War | Morgan Horse Guide

morganhorseguide.com/2016/03/10/morgan-horses-in-the-civil-war/

We have our own "in-barn" horse-whisperer - and decision making help

With the warmer weather the boys love to snooze in the sun. Especially Chambord can be found daily taking his nap. He scares the unsuspecting people walking or driving by - he has the "dead horse" look down pat. 

Remy watches over "Mr. Sleepyhead" Chambord

JP loves to join the boys (I bet if the ground would be nicer he'd snooze right next to Chambord). As it is, he has very deep conversations with Chambord. One day it will be over a glass of Bourbon, I'm sure!

Profound conversations going on here!

Our lessons with Vanessa have been going really well. Every time we get to Ferris' Remy is ready to rock right from the beginning, and he puts an excellent effort in (which wasn't at all the case in the past). I feel we do have a shot at correct upper level work. Vanessa is encouraging, and tough when needed; and both Remy and I always finish with a sense of accomplishment. If you wonder how I know what Remy feels - I only have to look at his expression to know that he is proud of himself. We have been working on sharpening up our flying changes. Canter/walk/counter canter/walk/canter in quick succession has been very helpful. The lateral work (shoulder in and half-passes) is getting sharper, as are the more collected gaits. 

With being on such a good trajectory I struggled with the decision of signing up for a clinic with a well-known judge. Our past experience left me quite frustrated, even though we did learn some things. Right in time I came across this post from Paulo Coelho:

And then of course, there are a few people I would NEVER walk away from - one of them Stephanie, source of unwavering friendship and purveyor of the most incredible care packages that always show up when I need some TLC the most. 

😍

We not only "got through" the Michigan winter - we actually thrived

With the daylight savings time fast approaching (this Sunday), I think it's safe say winter is over - at least the worst of it. Still a long way to Memorial Day, and the official begin of summer, but hey, the sun is shining and the weather -mostly- cooperates. The horses seem to be convinced it's Spring already, based on the amount of hair everyone is freely shedding. 

I had been concerned how Remy and I would do this winter, last season in Wellington being an almost distant memory. In the end, it was a blessing in disguise being at home. We got to hunker down with our best buddies (JP for me, Chambord for Remy), and enjoy being home. Let's not forget there is still a pandemic going on! We were also very lucky to have 'found' Vanessa (www.hollanddressage.com), and that she took us on this winter, despite her super busy schedule. Remy's school bus sure was put to good use, and aside from a few times when it was too iffy to drive on ice and snow, or too cold, it worked out well. In fact, it was a very lucky break for us as both Remy and I have been thriving in our lessons.

I received a few good natured jabs from friends, as there is a long standing rivalry between the German and Dutch dressage riders, and they joked that I went to the dark side. Fear not: Good training is good training (goes for the opposite, too, of course) - and  we are getting excellent training.

Not just that, we both are way more chill. Just one example, yesterday was one of the extreme windy days, that seem to trigger the horses' flight instinct. Put them in an indoor arena, with the winds howling outside, walls and roofs creaking, and you can get some rather 'interesting' rides. Remy didn't bat an eye, stepped off the trailer relaxed, was focused and eager to work during the entire lesson, and we had fun! 

 

Gespitzte Pferdeohren 😊

When an article hits home - "No impulsion - no horse"

 Today was one of those few times when I felt like "I can do this". Sounds strange, I know, but as riders (especially dressage riders) we always search for that perfect harmony and "one-ness". Today things just clicked, and Remy felt amazing. I was not only "riding the wave", to quote Vanessa, Remy and I were together. So when things go south (which they invariably will) I can draw on those moments and know: Yes, we can do do this! 

I follow Col. Christian Carde (former chief rider at the Cadre Noir in Saumur, and former national dressage coach in France) on FB. Today I read a post that really hit home as Remy and I recently have come close to Col. Carde's definition of impulsion:

"No Impulsion, No Horse Impulsion starts with the inner attitude of the horse to listen to the rider. In this early phase of retraining the feeling of the rider is of exceptional importance: He has to listen to his horse and only focus on the quality of the reaction and the forward going.

In equitation the development and cultivation of impulsion is the most important thing which a rider has to achieve. „No impulsion, no horse“, recognized one of my most famous predecessors at the Cadre Noir, General Alexis L’Hotte, in his legendary opus „Questions Equestres“ which had first been published in 1906 and is part of the French doctrine .

I want to define this term which many riders correlate only with the physical procedure of the forwards-upwards stepping hindquarters more precisely. In the equestrian tradition of my country impulsion begins with the inner attitude of the horse to listen to his rider and to react promptly and willingly to his rider's requests. This intrinsic motivation to provide his forces to the rider then leads to this energy which the hind-legs generate. For that reason I prefer speaking of „activity“ instead of „impulsion“ because this term includes the mental as well as the physical procedure within the horse." 

The entire article was first published in KAVALLO magazine, Switzerland, issue 10/2017, page 48-52.

                                            

Careful what you wish for - the "unloved relative" to winter lurking around the corner

 Well, we got what we wished for: Warmer temps. Today we were in the 40sF, which seemed like a heat wave. The snow and ice are melting, and the "unloved' relative" to winter is just lurking around the corner: Mud and Shedding Season. Ugh. I've curried about 1/2 a muck bucket full of hair off Saumur yesterday, and that's just the beginning. And don't me get started about the mud... but hey, in the big scheme of things, it's an improvement. We don't have to lug hot water to the barn several times a day anymore, or break ice, shovel snow, etc. etc. And I can work without turning into an icicle. 

A scene from our daily life

Speaking of work, I truly enjoy my volunteer time at TRI (Therapeutic Riding Inc) in Ann Arbor. It is also a center for Para-Dressage. The horses and people are amazing, and I always leave after the sessions feeling very happy. Win-Win all around.

Spin Doctor is a former Arabian race horse, trained to 4th level dressage, and now preparing for a new career in para-dressage. 
The yawning is a sign that he is relaxed and releases tension. (I am working on some tight spots in his scapula area.)

I also did my first KT (Kinesiology Taping) on JP's knee. He swears it feels better - so let's just hope he doesn't scream when it comes time to pull the tape off. (It won't hurt, of course, but you'll never know..😉).

A study in contrasts - and using the 'off time' well

 And the deep freeze continues... at least until this afternoon, where the forecast predicts temps in the 20s F. Yay! Of course, a far cry from the 18C in Germany. 

Outside
versus
Inside

It was too cold for equine bodywork in the last couple of weeks, but a good occasion for studying. I started a certification course in Equine Kinesiology Taping, which I find very interesting. An added bonus is that a section on Equestrian Taping is included.

Yesterday I was able to see three clients, which made me realize how much I missed it, even though the 'off time' wasn't too long. Liz very thoughtfully surprised me with  the most delicious pastry from a French bakery (Chez Pierre et Genevieve), and that about made my day. I always carry tea with me and the combination hit the spot. Recently I discovered Fraser Tea, a family owned company in Michigan. I'm definitely addicted to the Pur-erh Organic Chocolate Chai.  

I have also signed up to "Yoga for Riders", and now one of the bedrooms sports a yoga mat and all the accoutrements (blocks, blanket, etc.) needed for the practice. Four sessions a week plus meditation and horse home work. A bit ambitious for me, but the yoga sessions are only 30 minutes - perfect for my short attention span - stilling my mind is not one of my strong suits😊. 

The boys are on an on-again / off-again work schedule. JP and Chambord had a great lesson with Lisa on Friday (I missed out because my phone died and of course the only appointment available at the store was that time). Remy and I will have a lesson with Vanessa this afternoon, and I am very much looking forward to it. Let's hope the forecast is right and we won't resemble the icicles in the photo above. 

Nightly Betthupferls - and "Action beats Anxiety"

Some things just don't translate well - so what is a Betthupferl? It is a night time treat, literally something to "jump into bed" for. Often children were offered a special snack at bedtime as an incentive to go to bed. 

The boys don't have an issue with jumping into bed but Saumur, Remy, Chambord, and Teddy still whinny for their Betthupferls.  So, like clockwork, every night at 9 p.m. JP and I trudge to the barn through the snow, carrying warm, soaked alfalfa pellets, carrots, and also hot water. We pick out stalls, top water buckets with hot water, replenish hay bags, and dole out the Betthupferls. Not a bad gig, being a horse at our barn!

Betthupferls for the four boys

Due to the cold the boys had quite a bit of time off, I did longe Remy in the snow a couple of times, but nothing remotely strenuous. On Friday we tagged along to JPs and Chambord's lesson, and clearly, it was not Remy's idea of a good time. He felt tight as a tick, and sure enough, he threw in some -minor- bucks. We both like to be on the move, and waiting for our turn is not always beneficial for our respective -overactive- brains. 

I happened to come across some posts from Karl Greenwood (a British trainer), and he nailed it with this phrase: "Action beats Anxiety". I love it, it's so true. If you are focused and have a job to do there is no time to wonder "ob in China ein Sack Reis umfaellt" ("if a bag of rice falls over in China" - German metaphor for something unimportant happening).

Case in point: Today with Vanessa Remy was concentrated, listening to his rider, not bothered by the shenanigans of another horse in the arena. Not a whiff of anxiety in the air. And now it is clear to me why I have to move so much - it alleviates my anxieties, too. My mind usually goes 100 miles an hour (at least), so the body has to follow which is not always easy. It's slippery ground out there...