Avandarre in Dressage

I'm horribly dissatisfied with Blogger's blog software. I mean seriously... I can't even post a comment on my own blog! So, I'm moving my blog to WordPress. Come follow me on my new blog! http://avandarre.wordpress.com/

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.