Avandarre in Dressage

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Just for fun, I was checking out Ava's siblings. I'll include some info on her Sire here as well. We might not have any relatives in the Olympics, but looks like some of them are doing well for themselves. Vanyel (Ava's Sire) A purebred son of the Dutch qualified stallion, Laes. Stood 16.3hh. 2002 USDF Region 4 Champion Mature Stallion Website: http://www.legendwoods.com/HorsePages/van/index.html Below are Ava's half siblings (same Sire). Monteto Monteto is competing at Intermediare 1, and in May 2012 recieved a 62.632. I found some very impressive pictures online, but they're copyright protected so you'll have to visit the link to see them. http://www.cindyewingphotography.com/2010-Shows-Clinics/Gavilan-Chapter-June/Paula-Langan-Monteto/12729872_fv7W4W#!i=916647476&k=Ue8ER CenterlineScores for Monteto: http://centerlinescores.com/Horse/Details/1033247#filterBy=horse AAA Vanity AAA Vanity is competing at Third Level. Maybe not knocking it...

Here is what a First Level Test 3 test should look like: 2011 USEF First Level Test 3 with Scores Here is what my First Level Test 3 test looked like: My First Level Test 3 with Scores General Information: Relaxing the Horse:  http://youtu.be/Mf-OLvpdfd8 Exercises that progress toward first level balance and acceptance: http://youtu.be/mlYfnztt3Rs Article on connection: http://www.usdf.org/EduDocs/Training/FirstLevelLesson_2006_Feb.pdf Leg Yielding Information: Leg yield video with scores and directives: http://youtu.be/b3ZYNzTcGiM Leg yielding with Jan Brink: http://youtu.be/sXEh96FR9xM Stretchy Trot Information: Stretchy Trot video with scores and directives: http://youtu.be/FLBPFl4JAsY Stretchy trot, aids and purpose: http://youtu.be/0_4ms6sDn8w Using proper rhythm to improve the stretching of the frame: http://youtu.be/MkrSzsSor20 Canter Lengthening Information: Canter Lengthening with Directives and Scores: http://youtu.be/R7dd_bY-haY Trot Len...

I've been considering moving Ava, again. I enjoy the fact that my current barn is so close and the other boarders are friendly, supportive people, but there are drawbacks to where I'm boarding at. My problem is that there aren't that many barns close to me that will allow my trainer to come in to give lessons. Which, as a business person, I find.... odd. I get that trainers don't want competition on their home turf, but that means some barns are completely inaccessible to me since I'm not willing to trailer my horse every week 45 minutes away. The point is... I need to find a new barn. There is one about 20 minutes north of my house, but the indoor is TINY . A cute little postage stamp of an arena. Very nicely cared for, but it'd be five steps, turn, two steps turn, five steps turn.... We're getting to the point in our training where we need a bit more space to be able to help Ava. I've learned some really good exercises that would be fantastic to u...

I thought if I looked up the riders selected for the clinic, that I'd feel better about not being selected. Some of them are obviously much better riders (half are PSG Level or above). I knew half of the riders selected would be professional trainers. That's been the mix for the previous clinics in this series. I knew the horse's would be to die for, and the videos of the one's I could find prove this. I knew my chances were slim to none to start with.... So why am I so heart broken by this? I kind of just want to give up. I mean, if my best is still not good enough, then why am I exhausting myself every day? 14 hours of non-stop GO. I have a high stress, manic paced job anyway, but i have to be the over achiever and also be über dedicated to dressage. Oh, and let's fit in exercise time too! Dumbass. Why am I exhausting myself for something that doesn't return on investment? I guess what irritates me is that I feel like I've come such a long way. That I'...

Selected Riders: Heather Soones-Booher - Bordeaux (Oldenburg) Centerlinescores for Bordeaux: http://www.centerlinescores.com/Horse/Details/1089663#filterBy=tests Heather has shown through Fourth Level. Liz Ritz - Natasha B (Friesian) Centerlinescores for Liz Ritz: http://www.centerlinescores.com/Rider/Details/24565 Liz has shown Prix St. Georges. Deanna Hertrich - True Colors (PHR) Third Level rider. Deanna rode with Lilo Fore back in February 2012 at another clinic. Emily Dutton Craig - Audi (KWPN) Blog/video: http://emilyduttoncraig.blogspot.com/2012_06_01_archive.html Emily is a trainer and has shown through Prix St. Georges. Autumn Harvey - Hamilton (Trakehner) Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nJAttsyAOA Second Level rider. Believe she's an adult amateur. Suzy Coleman - Brazen Beauty (Hanoverian) Third Level rider. Betsy Juliano - Big Tyme (BWP) Video of Big Tyme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW5WuJs7o9I Article about the pair: http://chron...

Today I spent some time on the counter canter again. Here's a list of everything I've tried so far: Walking Ava on the pattern and moving her hips away from the wall to turn her shoulders toward it. This took several tries before she understood what I was getting at. We then cantered it and completely bombed it. Hips were NoT going to move at all. I went back to the walk, repeated it several times. Back to canter with marginal improvement. I then decided that X to the wall was too steep an angle, so we tried straight down the quarter line then to the wall. Again, no success. I decreased the angle again by getting closer to the wall. No success. I then determined it was my weight placement that was screwing Ava up. So I took my stirrups off to force me to sit correctly. Things improved, but Ava still flipped leads in front. I tried cantering down the quarter line, walking and then turning her toward the wall before cantering toward the wall. She flipped the front lead again. Etc...

Our second show is June 9th. I am already a ball of nerves. We will be doing First level. I signed up for all three tests, but figured I'd play it by ear on how much energy Ava has. My big fear is Test 3, where the counter canter is introduced. It's a shallow serpentine figure from the wall, to X, and back to the wall. I've ridden counter canter before (in the long ago time). I've also made Bern explain the aids, dynamics, and concepts at LEAST 20 times now (that lady is a saint!). I STILL can't get a counter canter (even briefly) when going to the right. I am beyond frustrated! On a good note: Ava is now loading like a champ again. I also clipped all four legs and she acted like an old pro at it. This is in comparison to the crazed horse I tried to clip in April. And her trot/canter transitions are awesome.

I have been utterly depressed the past month. All winter I dreamed of spring and the beginning of show season. I dreamt of competing in numerous local shows, and making our mark on a couple of rated shows. I was GEEKED! After taxes, health insurance, monthly repairs to vehicles, monthly repairs to my dilapidated house, lessons every week, vet care, etc, etc.... I really don't have the money for showing. :( You know what keeps popping in my head... How the heck did my parents afford my show habits when I was a kid?!? That $&@% is Expensive! And for what? A ribbon? A little, cheap, plastic/rayon piece of cloth? I'm serious... We have NO money and I'm pissed I can't show at Waterloo. Why? I don't know... I wanted to show everyone how great Ava is. To show them how much heart and talent she has. I wanted to strike fear in the hearts of my competitors whenever they saw my name on the class list. I didn't want to be the anonymous spectator that fetches bridles an...

It's the middle of May and I haven't even entered a show, let alone participate in one, this year. I've been riding for almost 2 years now and I've only gone to one show! This must be rectified, and soon! :) The problem is money (isn't it always). My meager savings are going to go to a vet in order to get Ava's hocks and stifles checked for arthritis (and start preventative maintenance, or do whatever I need to do to ensure she has a long and happy life). I need a trailer and truck that are reliable and safe. I need my 20 year old saddle reflocked. I need new riding pants (the holes are growing and I'm beginning to fear a split in the seat soon). Ava needs her teeth done, chiropractor appointment, etc, etc. It never ends. And to top it off... The insurance company decided to stop paying for any service because the form asking if we use any other insurance wasn't in their money stealing dirty paws. So now we owe $800 for a stupid yearly physical. Apparent...

I participated in the Roz Kinstler clinic today.  My brain is overloaded! Next time I'm bringing a note book and writing this stuff down. Just listening to Roz teach the other riders was fantastic. The back story on Ava and my start to the day: Ava refused to load. Tried everything. Last November Ava was walking onto the trailer without batting an eyelash. Not today. Today, she didn't want to. My ride time was at 9:00 am, and I'm almost an hour away from where the clinic was at. At 8:39, Ava finally loaded. I was very lucky that my trainer offered to switch ride times with me so that I could still participate in the clinic today (Thank you so much, Bern!). The Ride: It started off getting Ava convinced that I could hold the right rein and move her shoulders over when going right. Roz had a great tip/tool of raising the inside hand about 2-3 inches higher than the left hand and then basically holding it in place. Kind of a "I am here, you deal with it" hold. ...

Quick update... Today was the deadline to apply for the Lilo Fore Clinic. After many, many obstacles, I shot off an email (application attached) to the organizer with a link to a crappy video. And let me tell ya, it is CRAPPY. I have jeans on. In my defense, I swear, I tried a half dozen times to capture us on video in our best attire and neatly braided with utterly no luck. So screw it. This is what I've got with the resources I have available. About an hour after emailing the organizer, she emailed back saying that the app looked good and she'll be sending it to the selection committee for review (next week since it's Friday today). Frankly, I didnt expect to hear anything back. Or if I did, it'd just be the word's "hahaha, you hick!" Anyway, application is in, no more getting angry about failed video attempts, and the best part... If I don't get selected I can blame it on the jeans and tank top and not my piss poor riding skills. I love s...

I just love when people say stupid things. It makes for a good chuckle. Well, after I stop steaming, and can cool off, THEN it's funny. Yesterday, a new dressage rider brought her horse to the barn. I'm not very good with general chit chat, so at an awkward pause I filled it with a "So, who do you train with?". We'd been getting along fine up 'til this point, with me making the obligatory 'oooohhh's' and 'aaaaahhh's' over her horse (he was very cute). Her response... "I ride with Blah Blah in Omgville." She stared at me for what seemed like an awful long time while I did the "I'm thinking" look (when in actuality I had no clue who she was talking about). I finally shrug and admit I know nothing about the trainer. I can tell she's offended by this. As though the mention of the name should've caused me to wet myself with envy and fear. I insisted it was my fault, since I really haven't been out in the d...

This should be so easy, and I'm totally not getting it. We went from perfectly (for us) balanced, soft, and engaged to... to... Yuck . Just Yuck. I'm seriously thinking about throwing in my helmet. It's so discouraging when you just can't fix the problem. I know there's a problem, I'm pretty sure I know what the problem is, but nothing I try fixes the problem. So then Ava hangs on that right rein, and twists her body so that it's impossible for her to work correctly. Then I get frustrated, and upset, and for some reason I think if I just try harder that that will magically fix it. HA (that was a sarcastic Ha). I feel like I'll never get this.  *sigh*

It's not really day two, but I've been busy, so I'll just mark these in chronological order. What I've learned in a week of working on a straighter horse that's using her back better, is this... it's all incremental levels of straightness, connection, and engagement. I think for some reason I've always had the idea that connection was either there, or not there. I mean, I get that connection can be better, or worse, depending on the day and other factors, but I think I was holding onto a believe that for the most part connection was just there. But it's more complicated than that. And my belief about connection was hampered by the idea that connection has to do with the bit and the horse's mouth. From what I'm learning, it has very little to do with the mouth, and so much more to do with having the horse directly between the knee's and powering off both sides evenly. This is my tentative theory on the whole thing (take it for what it...

If the horse doesn't meet the hand consistently, then I have a tendency to pull back. How do I not pull back? I'm supposed to drive the horse forward into contact, but the horse doesn't always agree with that. I shorten the reins to get back to a point where there is consistent contact and drive forward. But now the horse's neck is an inch long. And at this point I'm screwed. Return to forward hands.... I place my hands back in the box and press the horse forward with my calves. Horse meets the contact so I give a little with my fingers and release the leg pressure. Horse then leans solidly on the bit. I press horse forward again, head and neck come up and back, I shorten my reins (since there is now a big loop in them). Horse's neck is an inch long... Again. What I learned today is that it's all in the release. And, I'm not doing it right. I'm like 2 seconds too slow every time. I also learned that screwing it up is easy, fixing it is not.

I know you're all dying to hear how video taping went. Well... It didn't. I get to the barn and apparently every one, and half their family, decided that tonight was the night to ride. I haven't seen most of these people in over a week. I tell myself it's okay. Maybe they'll clear out before the lesson. The lesson I put on the board. The one in big block letters. So I pull out all of Ava's gear, and have to use the bathroom. Run up to the house, come back and every cross tie is full. I stand there a minute, but no one seems to be in much of a hurry to move. I grab Ava's stuff again and haul it all down to her stall to start getting Ava tacked up. Then the text message comes through. Our second vehicle, my hubby's truck, is spewing gas like a fire hose on full volume. Husband apologizes, saying he can't make it to video tape tonight. I finally get Ava tacked up and braided, and lead her out to the arena. At this point I notice the horse hand galloping...

My application for the Lilo Fore clinic has to be in the mail this week and I don't have a video yet. That isn't for lack of trying, but every time I plan on video taping, it down pours the night before. So these are my choices: take video in the dust bowl, postage stamp, arena and hope for the pity vote; or slog through knee high footing and pray I don't seriously damage my horses tendons (not a risk I'm willing to take). Tonight, my trainer is coming to help me finesse a great ride out of my horse, and my husband is coming to man the video camera. And..... it's snowing. In April. Why does this matter, you ask? Well, I don't have much in the way of asthetically pleasing riding attire that isn't designated as show wear. So, I figured I'd wear a polo shirt for my video. The, uh, "it's 70 degree's in the office and I'm freezing" short-sleeve polo shirt.  In my infinite wisedom, I decided to ask my sweet hubby to bring along a ther...

I was in the Marines for 4 years. While I was in, I achieved "Guide" in bootcamp (like platoon leader, except you have no power and you suffer the wraith of the Drill Instructors if anyone else screwed up).  I was Guide for nearly the entire last half of bootcamp. If you graduate as Guide, you get a promotion and all kinds of accolades for being the best of the best. I was || <- this close. You know what happened? I turned left, instead of right, when change of direction was called. I blew it. Months of being quarter decked for every single perceived infraction another Marine did, fire watch every other night for a straight month, AND I gave away every reward offered to me to the Marines in my platoon. That phone call home I earned half way through, where I could've heard my parents voices again? I gave it to the girl who missed her daughter so much that she cried herself to sleep every night. I had to be tougher, stronger, and faster then every other Marine there to...

March is over, so I thought I would do a recap of our improvements and stumbling blocks. Canter Transitions: We're still having issues with our canter departs and Ava throwing her head around.The walk/canter departs still create an immense amount of stress, and anxiety, for Ava. I've been trying everything I can think of to get her to relax, but nothing has worked. She had this same issue with the trot/canter departs last June, and the only thing that really helped was repetition. Repetition until she was so bored with it that she didn't care anymore. Until now, I haven't felt that Ava was really strong enough to do a lot of walk/canter departs so I've been fairly judicious about asking her for them. Weeeeeee! Yesterday I weighed out the pro's and con's and decided she's at the point where she can step up the engagement. I spent a majority of yesterday's lesson drilling walk/canter departs until she could do a few without making a big deal out...

The weather outside was still bitter cold and snowy a few weeks ago, and had no end in site. I needed to have a solid counter canter on Ava before the middle of April and we were nowhere close to "getting" it. In jogs the Western Rider. WR: "What's your horse's deal?" Me: "She's frustrated". WR: "Why's she keep taking the wrong lead?" Me: ... "I, uhm, I want her to." WR: looks at me, then spurs horse to trot faster. Why is it that dressage is the only (horse) sport where the "wrong lead" can be the right one? And I'll tell you a secret, okay? I've always felt like counter canter was borderline OCD on the 'controlling your horse' spectrum. I mean, seriously, my horse will flip leads just to have that inside leg leading, and my response is to say, " Ha Ha, screw you pony! Do it the hard way!" I almost feel evil about it. I understand the long term benefits of it, so we...

Me and my big mouth! A fellow boarder was having life issues and finding it difficult to make time to ride her horse (aka: Ned). The first words out of my mouth? "I'll ride him for you!". <-- with stupid grin plastered on my face. Up until this point, I had heard stories of how Ned walks on his hind two legs all the way to the barn, how he bowled over his owner when she tried to fetch him from the pasture, and that he not only bucks hard when ridden, but tosses in a twist to throw riders off balance. Oh, and he may rear under saddle too. And yet, there I was... tacking up Ned to ride. In my head I'm hearing, over and over again, every nasty habit Ned has. And I'm wondering: how good am I? Can I stay on? Can I do this? Am I being retarded? All this Is going through my head while I'm trying to figure out how to get a saddle on a back I can't reach.  T he first ride went like this...   Me: "Ned, please halt".  Ned: ..... I wonder if I c...

Just some pictures from earlier this month.

When I was a kid I rode dressage for a few years (very intensely). Anyway, starting again as an adult has really opened my eyes to a lot of things I didn't grasp back then. Like the seat aids. I knew it was vital, I got the concept for the most part, but I completely failed with the subtleties of it. I thought the "seat" was the thighs and seat bones. To turn -> thighs and one seat bone; To stop -> thighs; To collect -> thighs and calves and reins; I had thighs of steel. At my last lesson I was struggling with controlling Ava's forward momentum at the canter. I tried bouncing the reins, and it half-heartedly worked, but I had to really bounce to get a response (which I'm not a fan of doing). So I whined to my trainer, who gave me a "you should know this" look, then set about explaining how to influence Ava's momentum with my hips, abs, shoulder's, and calves (I'm sure she's explained this all before, but I frequently forge...

Just curious, but how many of you out there are training Friesian's, or Friesian crosses? This is my first experience with the Friesian breed. I never expected to own a Friesian.  I'd always assumed they were for people who had too much money and time on their hands. The type of people who can afford to buy designer clothes, go to spa's, have two closets full of shoes they've never worn, etc. I'm not that kind of person. In fact, my sister-in-law keeps threatening to put me on that show where they buy you clothes to wear because your tastes in clothes suck so bad that no one wants to be seen in public with you.  This from the lady that claims to like me. Back to Friesian's...Is it wrong of me to feel kinship with the breed because of our mutual furriness? Disregard that. What I wanted to ask is, why are they so difficult to get in, and keep in, shape? What do you do with your Friesian if you take a vacation, or have to take time off from riding for a wh...

It's lesson night! Yay! I love lesson night. I'm not sure Ava is as convinced it's all that fun. She doesn't get away with falling on her inside shoulder, or flinging her head around, or the spooking at the door at the end of the arena. I'm excited! I'll try to get some pic's and post them this weekend.

Well... I have been informed today that dressage is memorizing patterns. I did not know that. hmm. Learn something new every day I guess. Apparently, by memorizing these patterns I will achieve Grand Prix with my mare. Who knew it was this easy?! Crap... I've been doing this all wrong for so long now.  All this time wasted with straightness and engagement.  I should've just memorized the Grand Prix test.... I could've been showing at the Olympics already. Why didn't people tell me this sooner!!! Robert Dover ... memorizing test now....... Enter A collected canter. Halt - Immobility - salute. Proceed in collected trot. ........................................... Here are the tests... I'll see all of you at GP this summer! http://www.fei.org/disciplines/officials-organisers/organisers/dressage/dressage-tests Again, I'm caught with my jaw hanging, and no suitable response. After being told that this is why she doesn't do dressage (she jumps),...

At my barn, we have three trainers. The first is pure western/huntseat pleasure. The second gives lessons in jumping and low level dressage. The third trainer (mine), is a Grand Prix level dressage trainer. Recently, a new boarder was out riding while I tacked up. While shooting the breeze, I asked her what disciplines she rides. She mentioned that she wants to learn dressage. Immediately, my ears perked up and that little thrum of excitement whirrled in my head. Yay! Another convert to the dark side! (You have to be a masochist to enjoy the challenges of dressage.) So while I'm mentally preparing my speech for why she needs to set up a lesson with my trainer, the girl states that she's going to take lessons from the jumper/dressage lady (trainer number 2).  I was a bit confused about her choice and, in shock, I dropped the ball on the conversation. But the situation nagged at me.... And set off an internal debate about the moral/ethical implications of bullying a person t...

While surfing the web last weekend, I found a clinic with Lilo Fore that is relatively close to where I live ( only 4 hours away).  In order to ride in this clinic, you have to be selected by a committee who will judge whether you and your horse are skilled enough to allow Lilo Fore to demonstrate her teaching/training methods on.  You have to fill out a 3 page application, and submit a "statement of reference" from your current trainer, plus send in a video of you riding the horse. If you'd like more information on the Lilo Fore Adult Clinics, here's the link to it: http://www.usdf.org/education/clinics/adult/index.asp I thought, "How cool would that be?". I've watched YouTube videos with Lilo Fore instructing top Olympians. That could be me!! I immediately start scheming up ways to get the money to enter, and how the heck do I get my horse there, and of course I'm dreaming of how fantastic Ava (the super star) will be. This got me to wonderin...

It's common knowledge that most managers are stingy with their praise, but as the managing partner of your equine team, do you praise often enough? Lately, I've been stumbling on numerous forum posts and articles related to "lazy" horses. In my experience, most so called "lazy" horses are created by riders teaching the horse to ignore the aids. However, a rider with more refined aids (on the less than energetic horse) needs to be conscientious in praising the horse's effort to give us what we want (even if the horse has no clue why we care about some of this stuff). Using positive reinforcement to solidify the horse's desire to work goes much farther than negatively reinforcing the "lazy" horse. To illustrate this point I'll give a totally hypothetical, entirely made up situation. Let's say "my friend" (Okay, fine.. it's me.) feels her horse's canter departs need improvement and sets out to work on them during a...

What a fantastic year! This year has been a bit rough, but overall it's been fun. I started out the year petrified of riding, and horses in general, and can honestly say I'm now only slightly petrified. hahaha. I even walked out into a herd of mammoth horses (every one of them over 16 hands) and stood there while they sniffed me. This, if you know me, was a HUGE accomplishment (Hi Jane!). Considering that for the longest time I couldn't even walk into the pasture to get Ava out if another horse was in there, regardless of how well behaved all the horses were... I think I've come a long way. Also, I'm no longer scared to ride Ava outside (and by ourselves)! We even took a walk around the back field a few weeks ago, just Ava and me.  We intend to explore a great deal more... as soon as the weather gets better. So long story short, I'm dang proud of myself for not allowing fear to stop me from doing something I love.  Even on those day's where fear got th...