As mentioned yesterday, some other exciting plans came up for this week. First on the docket: a lesson with Dan! He's apparently worked out an agreement with our farm wherein he'll come teach a bunch of lessons on a semi-regular basis, perhaps bi-weekly?
Anyway, like our last lesson he had us warm ourselves up with minimal guidance (and quickly bc we were losing daylight fast and the damn arena lights STILL DON'T WORK OMG WTF).
barrels from the bending line |
His instruction in the canter: he wants my reins shorter (ugh c'mon emma... the canter in the video is prior to his remarks, so you'll see exactly what he meant) and getting Isabel soft and round using nothing but leg. Like, literally squeezing from hip to heel - but not heels digging into her side, toes must point forward.
It really made a difference in Isabel - but he kept saying that I was still using too much hand so I ended up just planting my hands (with short reins) on her neck and squeeeeezing with my legs, keeping her on a circle. And whadya know - she had a lovely canter.
trot like you mean it!!! (also - shorten your damn reins so you stop doing that weird wrist thing!) |
Our approaches and jumps seemed to go smoothly - but he wanted me really focusing on the back side of the fence. My tendency is to perch forward and get all handsy while Isabel charges into the corner (likely on the wrong lead, natch). He wanted me sitting up and bringing my shoulders back sooner. And again - the difference in Isabel is pretty obvious when I get it right.
more barrels! (a theme lol) |
looking for the line |
And then we missed our turn up the oxer (changed now to a two-way swedish oxer) that he wanted us jumping on an angle. That left turn after the barrels came up FAST and I was pretty grateful for Isabel's nimbleness in making it work lol.
swedish oxer on an angle |
The bending line in this direction was MUCH more of a struggle... and while there's only one attempt on the video we actually spent a bit of time on this. My first try (on the video) I seriously cut the turn to make it a straighter bend - but he wanted us to ride that corner just like we were actually going to the two stride line. We got the 4... but probably only bc we landed on the right lead (Izzy's favorite) making the left turn more awkward.
'i got this' - isabel (sorry for the extreme graininess but it was getting pretty dark by this point) |
Next try I got a better turn, tho still not what he wanted. And we got three strides... oops! I finally got the turn he wanted - which was actually pretty technically challenging bc you're lined right up for the two strides to the swedish oxer straight ahead, but have to really help your horse stay with you and not lock on to the wrong fence... We made the striding work (but took down the hogs back once in doing so). But the distance to the barrels wasn't quite there for us.
'whoa where is we goin!?!' - isabel |
I asked Dan if he thinks we're ready for beginner novice and he pretty casually said yea - and said the jumps got up to novice height in the lesson. I'm not quiiiite sure I believe that lol (esp bc in the past he's admitted he doesn't really notice the difference in heights in the lower levels, whereas I'm a zealot about measuring fences bc... wussiness haha). But still - confidence inspiring none the less :)
Argh!! Wtf arena lights! We're also having issues with lighting over our riding area and it is tres merde!
ReplyDeleteBut, you guys look so good! You're doing so much lately it's so exciting!
Whoops comment froze, I also am a stickler for measuring fences! Just in case I surprise myself one day lol!!
Deletethanks! it's been super exciting to get back into action after the quarantine--induced lull last month... and isabel has come back raring to go!! and yea, measuring fences is kinda a funny thing bc i do it by counting holes rather than using a stick, and i definitely lie to myself (like saying 5 inches is only 3 inches...) lol
Delete#1 OMG I AM IN LOVE WITH YOUR POSITION OVER FENCES YOU LOOK AWESOME!!!
ReplyDelete#2 Great lesson recap
#3 I think I need to stamp "SHORTEN YOUR DAMN REINS" on some gloves and you and I can wear them every ride...
#4 You are totally running BN this year yay!!!
lol thank you!! and YES - perhaps writing it on my gloves would work.... or maybe some colorful tape on the reins?? haha really anything would be better than my current state of affairs
DeleteSecret: I had the same problem with dressage and found that web reins with stops were SO helpful! Granted then I was looking down and occasionally counting stops to make sure I was keeping my hands in the same place... Lol
DeleteAnd dude, you guys look FANTASTIC!!
Thanks! And actually, a confession: I've been riding w web reins w stops for the past year at my first dressage trainer's urging... And I still have a problem w it lol
DeleteYou guys look so fantastic!!!! Your position, Iz's zest, your eye, it all rocks! The whole "leg on shoulders back" thing is the best.
ReplyDeleteizzy's zest really makes all the rest easy. so long as i just do my job, she's guaranteed to put a little polish on it :)
DeleteYou guys look amazing! Totally rocking it! Go team IZ! BN here you come :)
ReplyDeletethanks! fingers crossed :)
DeleteThat "sit up" thing after a jump is my nemesis! You and Izzy look amazing and make it look easy! Measuring jumps is something I never did (who has time to find a tape measure?) but I did last week because I am preparing for possibly doing up to 2'3" in my next show. All along in my head I was thinking 2'3" is tiny - no problem! Then I measured what I was practicing currently...not. even. 2 feet. oh poo. :P
ReplyDeletemy method for measuring actually has to do with counting the holes (and assuming a 3" gap between each) - and is therefore pretty non-technical and prone to error. but i find this to be a good thing bc i can trick myself into believing 2'6" is actually only 2'3".... sometimes haha
DeleteYou guys look fantastic! Well done.
ReplyDeletethank you :)
Deletei also have to sit up more and not be so on her forehand. my landings are becoming better but i still have those moments i end up on her neck and ariel is NOT a fan of that at all.... you two look great though!
ReplyDeletethanks! it's tricky for me bc in my head, i think i'm being light in the saddle by staying forward like that... but in reality it's just hindering my ability to re-balance the horse going into the corner...
DeleteYou guys look totally ready and killin in!
ReplyDeletethanks! isabel's definitely pretty enthusiastic about being allowed to jump bigger stuff haha
DeleteDan sounds like a great instructor!! Plus BN! :) :) So exciting! You guys are looking so relaxed and confident over these fences. You've got this!
ReplyDeletethanks! i'm def enjoying riding with dan - he's more of a horse trainer than rider trainer, but he's very practical and consistent in what he wants to see
DeleteYou look great! These minor position changes are so simple but make such a huge difference. I like Dan's approach, keeping things simple, concentrating on your position and the canter. Great recap! And can't wait to read all about you guys killing it in BN :)
ReplyDeletethanks! it's crazy how much a little tweak in our own balance can change the overall picture... just more motivation to keep working at it!
DeleteGreat exercise! I will have to try this one.
ReplyDeleteI am just jelly you all have arena lights OUTSIDE! Cool!
the lights outside are AWESOME... when they work lol. and they haven't worked properly since sept of last year.... sometimes they're ok, sometimes they're not, and you never really know until you try. it's kinda a bummer lol
DeleteExcellent lesson! So ready for BN!!!
ReplyDeleteoh man i hope so!!
DeleteYou guys look great! Izzy always looks like she's having such a good time while jumping :)
ReplyDeletethanks! i think she really enjoys it - esp when the sticks go up. now i just have to keep up w her haha
DeleteSounds like it was a fun lesson!
ReplyDeletedefinitely lots of fun :)
DeleteAwesome lesson. Sounds challenging and fun. Pushes you just enough to feel good that you can do it. Sweet. Nice job!
ReplyDeletei definitely like the challenge - esp since it was the type of challenge that isabel can handle easily when i do my job, rather than the kind that crushes both of our confidence lol... those are NOT my fave
DeleteThat sounds like a great lesson and he sounds like a good coach - exciting that he'll be able to be there more often!
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty excited about more regular lessons!
Deletesounds fun :)
ReplyDeleteVery fun :)
DeleteI struggle with having short enough reins too. Also, I agree with Alli–you look great over fences.
ReplyDeleteThanks! The reins problem is really haha - and I think a lot of ppl struggle w it... One day we will figure it out haha
DeleteWow!! You guys look great!!! She can really go! I saw that pic of that big x jump and thought oh my..then I saw the video and she just floated over it like it was no big deal! Looks like a super fun lesson too. Glad to see you guys back at it!!!
ReplyDeletethanks! i'm so happy to be back at it too - and isabel feels like she could float over pretty much anything right now!
Delete