Work at home

So here I am. Schooling at home, trying to find another way when Princess locks up. Easy? No. Very frustrating, in fact. I am not used to finding another way. I am just used to getting my way. I suddenly realise just how often I have been using excessive force on my horse. It's hard to accept and very humbling.

I continue. I don't use force, I find another way. I fight my mind and try to stay soft. I get the results I am looking for. This is a much better way to get results, and horses are so forgiving.

Concentric Circles

My second dressage lesson with Anna. Princess is considerably more relaxed, and Anna notices that I've been working on my position. She gets me doing some concentric circles - start off on a 20m circle then wind down to a 5m circle, then back out to a 20m circle. Do a volte if necessary. We use the exercise to correct Princess' falling in and falling out. We correct it every quarter of a circle, then every eight. In the process, we establish how much strength is really required from each of my limbs. It's a lot more outside rein and outside leg than I thought. And a lot less rein overall. The horse travels correctly.

Every now and then, Princess locks up in the jaw and neck. "When she locks up like that, you must try something else", comments Anna. It includes sit forwards/back, lighter/heavier, move your hands up/down/out. I don't realise it at the time, but in many ways this is the statement I have been waiting for. When a horse locks up, listen to it. It's uncomfortable, and it doesn't understand what you're saying. It's not "naughty". You'll never get anywhere with sheer force. Find another way, a better way. Find your own way. One that works for both you and the horse.

After the lesson Anna suggest that I try a thicker bit. A thicker bit will make my hands more forgiving. When a bit is thin, each movement is magnified, so it's not a good idea if you're hands are a bit unsteady. So simple - why didn't anyone tell me this before?

Dressage Lesson

I am invited to a dressage lesson with Anna Auer - an equestrienne from Austria who has enjoyed dressage success in Australia, and has taught dressage and trained dressage horses for many years. My entourage of daughter, husband and accountant (yes accountant) makes the whole outing feel over the top.

At my request we focus on position. Back straight, relax left shoulder, don't jerk left hand, left toe in, less heel down. Then we focus on the horse. When head goes up, hands come down, but gently, gently. Ask her to look into the circle, gently though, don't jerk. When she runs, lean forward a bit, catch up to her motion. It's only when you're travelling with her that she will slow down. Snap out of the seat in rising trot. Faster! Retain the contact through transitions, yes, gentle contact. When she dives into the bridle, retain the contact, be gentle, go with her, then ask her to come up a bit.

I follow every instruction to the letter. The back of my mind is screaming at me though - "What?! Heel up? Hands down? Lean forward??? Every rule is being broken!" Yet within half an hour Princess is travelling better than ever before, and by the end of the lesson we're onto some lovely canter work and shoulder in.

And the emphasis is on "gentle". Gentle, kind, but disciplined at the same time. I get good vibes from Princess. We will be back for another lesson soon. Just perhaps less entourage! Although my accountant threatens to come to the next lesson as well. Maybe he'll invest in a dressag horse rather than a race horse next year?

The Slow Ride

A friend arrives and we go riding together. She's on Bess (thanks Lisa!) and I am on Crownie. This is as much a girlie catchup as a ride and we're happy walking along and chatting about children, health and money. But the riveting conversations stop as we go into trot, then canter, then gallop. Three minutes later we're on top of the hill, smiling, cheeks beaming a rosy colour. Still, it all feels amazing slow to me these days, and even at the gallop I'm playing around with the reins, encouraging the horse to stretch and lower her neck, and use her back more. In fact, I wouldn't mind jumping a couple of logs along the way. Does that sound like cross country?