I entered Lil in a Preliminary and a Novice dressage test at an unofficial competition at the local riding school. This would be Lil's and mine first crack at Novice. Universal Guidance made me do it.
Well the day was an absolute disaster, with Lil coming an absolute last in everything. So why in the world did the Universe make me do Novice? I mean, the day was so bad, that I should really see myself and my horse as a total failure, and give up. But, you see, the Universe knows me better than I know myself. So the effect of this experience has been total focus and determination to succeed. The experience made me in tune with every minute detail of my horse, my gear, my competition arena, and my fellow competitors. I have learnt so much!
So, what exactly happened, and what have I learnt.
1. Magnesium. For a long time Lil has been exhibiting some symptoms of a magnesium deficiency. When the Chiropractor came out, he suggested magnesium oxide. We got it, and I started supplementing her with it. Immediately I noticed an improvement. The day before the competition I doubled her dose thinking that it might help her cope better with the stress the next day. The problem with magnesium is that a deficiency presents the same signs as an overdose. On competition day Lil was showing signs of a magnesium overdose - I think I gave her too much. Her symptoms on the day were slightly sloppy poo (which can also be stress), and a sensitivity to sounds. The latter is the worry. When we were warming up, every time someone coughed, or banged a door, she would leap like a cat.
2. New saddle blanket. I had just bought a new saddle blanket. I had never ever tried it on Lil before. It was one of those beautiful white dressage saddle blankets, with a sheepskin lining. Well, it's hard to determine if the saddle blanket was an issue or not, but, because it was a new, untried piece of equipment, it worried me. And there is no time for worry on a horse that's leaping around. Period.
3. Overfeeding. It had recently turned from total winter, to total summer. In a matter of about 4 weeks. The horses cannot shed their fur fast enough, and the grass is galloping with growth. I fed Lil her normal feed. But during brushing I noticed a slight soreness in her back. So, after I worked her, I thought "if I feed her a bit of extra protein, that stiffness should recover faster". Well, my thinking is correct, but on this particular occasion I think I overfed her. When I hopped on her at the competition, it really felt like a horse ready to gallop cross country. Not one that is ready to relax in a dressage ring. It would have been better to leave the soreness as it is - after all, she was working just fine with it when I rode her on the day before competition.
4. Back soreness. It begs the question "why was Lil sore in the back a mere ten days after the chiro had been?". The soreness was right where the saddle ends. In fact, perhaps a little bit further - where the saddle blanket ends. Now Lil has a short back, and large hind quarters. And the hind quarters are probably a bit higher than perfect conformation would allow. For a long time now I have been thinking that Lil would be better off in a 16.5 inch saddle, rather than the 17 inch I currently ride in. Plus, I ride her in an all purpose and it really puts me too far back in the saddle. I should get a dressage saddle for her. I recently rode in my instructor's Equipe saddle - I loved that saddle and where it put my seat. But ... oh the expense of a new saddle. But, what if that saddle made a difference between me getting a placing in the dressage comp, and me coming last? What's that worth?
5. Mindset. On the day before the competition I was brushing my horse and looking at this sore spot and thinking "oh poor horse". So I fed her extra. Then I put her in a paddock with her best mate, because I was thinking "oh poor horse". So, of course, when I hopped on her in the warm-up arena and she started leaping around like a cat, I was still thinking "oh poor horse" and looking for something to blame, like the other horses, the saddle blanket, the sore spot. When you have decided that your horse is fit enough to ride, there is no room for thinking "oh poor horse". After sufficient leaping around, and thinking the situation through, I finally realised that most of this is just bad behaviour that I am allowing the horse to get away with. So then I actually started riding properly, and asking her to work for me, and it all improved.
6. The sand arena. You've heard this all before with Dingo. The indoor is great for a warm-up, and then you're out in the sand arena for the test. The sand flicks up against the arena edges, and the horses feel like there's someone with a machine gun on their heels. Due to the magnesium thing Lil was more sensitive to this on the day. But nevertheless I must invest the time to get out there between competitions and practice in the dressage arena until she is desensitised. I've got to put in the work!
7. Dressage is slow. My bad results really made me take a second look at what the other riders are doing differently to me. I was lucky enough to be watching the lady who ended up winning my Novice test. She also happens to be an instructor I learn from occasionally. Her horse was slow. There was no rush. She wasn't in a hurry to go anywhere. That test could have lasted all day for all she cared. I am not good at being slow. This is probably why I'm an eventer. This is probably why I choose to zoom around on a trail ride, wind in my hair, joy in my heart. Going slow is really difficult for me. Not just in horse riding. In everything. I want to do everything in a hurry, then sit back for half an hour and have a coffee. Then zoom again. That is not what dressage is about and if I am to become any good at it then I must take up this challenge. I must learn to go slow. Slow doesn't mean lazy. There can be a lot of power in "slow". There must be impulsion. But it must be slow. It might not feel slow to everyone. But it will feel slow to me - if it feels slow, then I'm probably doing a pretty good job.
8. Forward. While dressage is slow, there must be forward. In the warm-up before the second test I felt Lil hanging on the bit. I flicked the whip and she didn't go faster, she went more forward - I felt her hold her head higher, and step under more. So while Lil can be a hot horse, she can also be rather lazy - because she does this hanging on the bit a lot. She is not super heavy on the bit so it's easy to just ignore it. But ultimately, I must ask her to be more forward.
In summary, the overfeeding brought out the flighty horse in Lil, which in turn highlighted training issues: not coping in the sand arena, problems with transitions, going too fast and not enough forward. What I am still wondering is whether I actually overfed her? Perhaps I don't feed her enough normally, and she actually doesn't have enough energy?
On a parting note - this is probably my favourite dressage competition to date because I have walked away with so many strong and clear lessons. I feel so inspired now that I want to put it all into practice ... right now!!! Oh wait ... I have to learn to be slow ...
Cancer Survivor
9 years ago
