Horses for courses

So apparently I am intending to do Penninsula Horse Trials with Crownie. Why Crownie, and not Princess?

Good question.

Because of the challenge. Crownie and Princess are two very different horses. And a good trainer can train all types of horses. So, lets not stuff around. By taking on the challenge of trainnig Crownie, I am proving to myself that it's my methods that work, and not the horse's talent.

Because the horse needs a rest. Truth be told, on our last three outings (including the event) Princess did not want to get on the float. Physically she was fine, but mentally she wasn't coping. Now, she's had four weeks of holidays, but this may not be enough. She may need two or three outings before being taken to another event. And there just isn't enough time to do that.

Because I am sick of the racing game. Let's face it. Holding Princess under control in open countryside is REALLY HARD WORK! And I am sick of it. And I need a rest. Phew! Glad I got that out of my system. And what if competing on Crownie is much much easier? And she enjoys it more? And I get a better placing simply because the horse is coping mentally? Isn't it worth a try?

If Crownie ends up not coping mentally, then I'll know there's a problem with my method. And I won't blame the horse. Because at the moment, when I read the judges comment on my dressage test "Rider should relax more", I feel like soothingly saying to the judge "You get on and show me how!!!".

The drive

I am training Crownie over jumps. Cross rails actually. And it's not going well. Approaching each jump I aim straight for the middle, with my legs around the horse, as opposed to on the horse. And the horse is looking to run out.

I know that Crownie is a brave horse, so why is she looking to run out?

I put my legs on, sit stronger, straighter and further back in the saddle, and come around again. No hesitation, no running out. Pop.

The penny drops. If you just amble towards the jump, the horse is not engaged enough, and they will have trouble jumping. And so they will not want to jump. If you are strong in your seat and leg, but in a "half-halt" position, then your horse will also have trouble jumping. But if you're using a driving seat, and truly engaging the hindquarters then you will get a nice forward jump.

If the horse is looking at the jump and feeling worried about it, you will need a stronger driving seat, to generate more energy, to conquer the fear and get a jump.

Life's lessons

I always thought that being a horse trainer would make me a better mother.

Yet, it is being a mother, that is making me into a better horse trainer.

Fitness work

After yesterday's intesive session with Anna, I expect Crownie to be reluctant to do any work. Yet she comes to me and puts her own nose in the halter.

We go for some fitness work in the state forest. Doing the same loop that we did last week, just in reverse.

This allows us to do a really long canter. At least 2km. Maybe more.

Crownie powers along in the canter, enjoying the fast pace and the freedom to run. I build on yesterday's lesson. A couple of times I have to come back to the trot for a short rest. Strength - need to keep working on it. But I feel a lot more stable in the saddle. I imagine jumping over cross country jumps at this pace, and my legs tighten around the horse even more.

Engaging the hindquarters

I bring Crownie for a lesson with Anna. Anna studies the horse intently as I saddle up. Finally she hands me a pair of scissors "Here, if you're going to make her that pretty, then you may as well trim her tail. If it's too long it actually does get in the way."

Crownie works well in walk and trot. Anna gets me to do these tiny circles on her, for ever engaging the hind quarters more and more.

Then in the canter it all falls apart. On the left canter she just falls out and the circles become huge oblongs. I work really hard at trying to contain it all. In the end both the horse and I come back to walk in a puffing mess.

On the right canter she's stiff. She can hold the circle, but it's a battle to keep her going, and there's no softness. Once she comes back to trot, I can't seem to get another canter.

"You're still trying to get the horse collected from your hand, not from your leg", says Anna with impatience. "You need to be like the horse. You need to use your legs to engage the horse's legs."

Spot on. Plus physical intelligence and strength.

I think about the way I push a wheelbarrow, the way I carry a backpack while hiking, and the way I run down a steep hill with my daughter. A year ago I used to do these tasks relying purely on the strength of my shoulders. (Correction. A year ago I didn't run down the hill.) The bones provided the supportive structure, like one wooden block piled on top of another. But the muscles did relatively little. They stopped the structure from falling apart. That's all.

Now, thanks to a year of training with Anna, and three months of pilates (once per week) the muscles do a lot more. When I push the wheelbarrow I actually feel the strength coming from my torso. From my legs. I can actually run down the hill with my daughter. It's a great feeling to be able to run down the hill, feeling every muscle in your leg providing support, while your joints bend and flex without pressure.

But. It's not enough. Not yet. It's a long road. Enjoy the journey.

Training for fitness

There are two types of fitness that one must work on with the horse - the aerobic fitness, and fitness of joints and ligaments. Aerobic fitness is developed by cantering and galloping. Fitness of joints and ligaments develops through lots and lots of walking. Virginia Leng (an eventing guru, and my hero) used to walk her horses for three weeks, every single day, before doing any other training.

I take Crownie into the state forest where we walk down to the valley. Then we do a fast canter up the road - about 1km. Then we walk down into another valley, and do another canter up the other side - about 700m. Then a very very long walk - around 4km I think. Then I let her gallop. Walk over the rocks, then gallop again up to dead cow. We mainly walk the rest of the way home.

The aim of the exercise is to work primarily on the ligament fitness, but to also start making some headway into aerobic fitness. So all the fast work is done uphill on nice smooth tracks.

Introduction to Showjumping

I have done some showjumping with Crownie in the winter of 2007. In fact we did a quite tight indoor freshmans course at grade 4 level. She was totally calm and went clear. So I know she can jump. It's just a question of getting her fit enough again.

Oddly enough, it is precisely today that I stumble across an article (based on a lesson taught by Will) which talks about how a horse's balance must develop, first over trot poles, then over increasingly bigger jumps. I had never thought about this before, but it makes absolute sense.

We all know that a horse must develop balance in walk, trot and canter when carrying a rider. Jumping is no different. So when you're going over trot poles your horse must retain rhythm and straightness. If they rush before, during or after the trot poles, the they are not really ready to go onto jumping.

I apply this principle when schooling Crownie. We go over the trot poles, and I look for balance. Once I am happy that she can maintain her rhythm, we progress onto cross rails. These are so low that she chooses to trot over them. This is fine. I find that she hesitates just before the cross rail. It's only half a microsecond, and it's basically a balancing problem. So we continue the exercise until it gets smoother, then call it a day.

Canter right; head left

I mount up on Crownie, and preparations for my second one day event are under way.

The amazing thing about this horse is her trainability. She's not very fit, and not necessarily willing to listen to me right now, but within minutes of starting a new exercise she is listening and doing what I ask. And all the training principles apply. It's such a relief!

For example. We're trotting on a 25 metre circle (Crownie is a long horse, and initially needs a bit more space.) I ask her to do a volte. The whole idea of the volte is for her to become more collected. Her first reaction is to rush forwards. But I limit that through the use of my reins and legs. Then she collects. Then we're at the end of the volte, and I allow her to go back on the large circle again. So, when she does the right thing, I release as if to say "that's all I wanted. Good girl".

So then of course, the next volte goes better, because she knowns that last time she collected herself a bit she was rewarded. Awesome.

Later to get more collection I do two or three voltes in a row. So I ask for a bit more. Then I release. It works beautifully.

We go into canter. Canter right to be precise. Something weird starts happening here. She's on the right lead. But she's heading left. Head is bent to the right, but she's definitely following her shoulder to the left, neighing madly to her mates as she goes. Argh! This is not how it's supposed to be. How in the world am I going to do cross country?

Well, in horse riding, the horse is actually our greatest teacher. I listen. The neighing sounds a bit like laughing. "What are you laughing at Crownie?". What's supposed to stop her heading left? Well, my left leg of course! I come back to walk and retrain my left leg until it's stiff, sore and exhausted.

Wandin - Photos

The photos from the event are up on the Morrie Matthews web page. I am as excited as a four year old at Christmas!

Wandin - the Post Mortem

Those horse trials were so much easier than I had ever imagined. It's the first thing that strikes me about the event.

I was really worried about the cross country. In training we had some refusals, a horse that was very difficult to control, and a fall. Yet, when it came to competition day, the adrenaline kicked in, the horse new her job and we just flew around and had a really good time.

And that's the second thing that strikes me. I had a really good time. Previous competitions (showjumping, showing, dressage, combined training) I had been to have been somewhat of a chore sometimes. But here I can honestly say I had a lovely time. Perhaps the support of my girlfriend and my dad contributed. But the eventing crowd really was very friendly and accepting as well. It really felt like a bit of a hoot on the weekend. Something to do when you're not working.

The last thing I notice is that I have lost my immediate urge to become a horse riding coach. I don't want to spend time teaching other people how to have this much fun. I just want to get out there and do this again, and again, and again!

(The longer term plan to become a riding coach is still there. Of course. But before this event I was on the verge of enrolling in a coaching course. Well that plan has definitely been put on the back burner for now.)

So, where are all the eventers heading to next?

Wandin - the Results

Greedily I download the results from the official TTT web page. I find my section. This is how it looks for Princess and I, as the dust settles over the jumps.

We were in a group of 32 riders. One never started. After the dressage, with a total of 53.60, we were 31st. Last.

In the cross country we went clear, but added 46.4 time penalties to our score.

And in the show jumping, we had a single rail down, costing us 5 points, and clear on time.

A total of 105.00. Placing 16th, out of 23 riders who managed to stay in the competition.

Can't complain. I think we proved a point, and left room for improvement.

Wandin - Day 2

It's almost 7am and foggy. Very foggy. I get ready and have breakfast and start saddling up my horse. We're the first cross country combination to present for gear check. That's because all the other people own sane horses.

It's still really foggy, and I'm careful not to wander too far away from the showjumpers. Safety in numbers. And the visibility factor. If I wander too far away no one will see me if I fall off.

Princess is uptight. Better than in the dressage, but not as calm as before the showjumping. I try various ways to settle her, but in the end I realise. She knows she's here to do cross country. And she is ready to give me 110%. She will do every single jump. I just have to set her up.

"Five, four, three, two, ONE! Go! Good Luck", calls the starter as I trot out of the gates. I can barely make out the first jump in the fog. Oh, there it is. Good old Thomas the tank engine. Princess tugs. I let her go and we are clear over the first.

Picket fence. I slow her down the hill. She glances, then jumps. I gaze into the fog. Fence three, where are you?

The little brush fence. Piece of cake.

The ditch. Coming into it, I'm telling Princess "it's the ditch, you're scared of ditches, slow down". "I'm good. I know this ditch. I'll cruise over it", she answers. She's right.

Another rider passes. Amazingly I stay in control.

The back of the tractor. Coming towards this jump I feel Princess' eyes shifting from one jump to another not sure what's next. Finally, I focus on it. "Just let me go", she screams at me. I am scared. She leaps over it.

The big brush. I'm scared again, but I let her go. She flies.

The chute. "I want you to do the chute", I say to her. "That thing? No way", she says 6 strides out. "Yes way". "Ok" and she jumps it.

The dog. Cruising.

The seat. "Watch out", I say. "I see it", she responds. Clear.

The cavalletti. "Ok, we're going to angle this one", she nods. Easy peasy.

The eyes. "Just think it's a showjump and aim for the middle". Done.

The water. "Now slow down, just trot". She hesitates for a microsecond, then she trots through the water. The crowd cheers.

The drop. "Ok, ok, just walk". The crowd is trying to help with their soothing words. She slinks down the bank, then pops over the log, then takes off. "Whoa!"

The zig zag. Done. And to my most great surprise she doesn't take off for the float. I turn her around.

The photo jump. Excellent. And now I let her fly through the finish flags.

My eyes well up with tears as I jump off. My horse. My little horse. You did it. Not just did it, but did it like a pro. You little beauty. I give her a little hug and many many pats.

In the vetting enclosure it's a real battle to slow her down to a walk. The vet comes over and checks her heartbeat. Too fast. 5 minutes. He comes over again. Still too fast. The sequence repeats itself two or three times. Finally, "She's right on the limit", he says. "I can see that she's fit enough, but she just seems to be very excited. If you went to Werribee you may have problems with the vet check. I recommend you give her more exposure to this." I gaze at him, then whisper. "She's 18". He shakes his head and walks off.

I settle my horse in her yard and return to watch some more cross country. And I feel even more proud of my little horse.

The competition is far from finished, but I must start heading home. There are other responsibilities to attend to. Like dinner with the in-laws.

When we get home, I put Princess in the haying paddock with Crownie. She goes for a good roll, then puts her down to eat the grass. Crownie gazes at her "you look like you haven't seen any grass for a week", she seems to say. Then she nods knowingly at me. I get their food ready.

The sun ebbs towards the horizon, and the mares have finished their food, when I walk in with a rug for Princess. I expect her to be impossible to catch, but instead she trots over and stands still as I fasten the buckles. We understand each other. The job is done. Time for a holiday.