Doozy had what we hoped would be her final vet check last week to flex all the things, jog hard soft straight round etc etc etc, dot all the i’s, cross all the t’s, etc… And the vet was very pleased to declare Doozy completely cleared for full and unlimited work, including jompies omg!!
all screenshots and video today are actually courtesy of a real human riding buddy, not pivo!
Somewhat hilariously, it actually made it into the vet’s notes about how we needed to be really really certain the mare was ready bc she is an “all or nothing” sort of horse — there couldn’t be any qualifiers like, ‘well just take it easy!’ or ‘stick to trotting cross rails for a little while,’ ya know? Like, we needed either a green light or red, no in between.
“is that jomp… for me?????” — doozy, the *most* excited
Doozy is who she is, right? And… Well. Doozy is full of surprises.
The day came for our first proper jump school — the ring had been completely cleared, dragged and watered* (with *rain, but still) and I had permission to set up whatever I wanted. AND we had a friend to ride with, Doozy’s best bebe morgan friend.
eeeeee crossrail!!
And Doozy was, not to put too fine a point on it, literally perfect. Not like we didn’t make mistakes or whatever, bc we did lol. Obvi. It’s been four months, ya know?
eeeeeeeeeeeee crossrail the other way!!!!!
But ahhhh it was just so fun! Doozy was in such an amazing mood, the feeling was there, actually I probably could have pushed her more in front of the leg, she was so relaxed.
She was still forward and excited to the jumps, but not rude rushy or insecure — no going inside out or getting frantic or anything like that.
literally what more could i want???
Honestly, I thought setting up the full grid from Peter Wyde’s show jumping sessions at the Windurra Camp might be a little aggressive… And therefore opted to keep the heights low for both trips, and only two trips obvi bc I’m not trying to jump the horse’s legs off the very first chance I get, right?
heights were appropriately conservative given, ya know, everything haha, but lookie how engaged she was!!
But Doozy was so ho-hum about it! She stayed straight as an arrow, actually respected the placing poles (spaced 8.5’ from each element) and never batted an eye!
like she hasn’t missed a day
Obvi I can’t predict the future. It’s horses, anything can happen at any time, right? Like, that’s how we kinda got into this whole summer-interrupted situation in the first place.
so proud of her footwork her first time through!
But I’m already kinda wondering if I won’t look back on this rehab-mandated reset period as a bit of a blessing in disguise.
almost amazing that i actually ended up getting ahead of her by the end
Doozy feels and looks so good in her body right now. More important than that, tho, is the progress we’ve made together just in the last month in reproducing more consistently relaxed and pleasant rides.
lolz boxes #TooBoring after all that
That’s not to say that Doozy’s wild child days are behind her, winter IS coming, after all! It just seems like something is sorta clicking for her right now.
ooooh but this was exciting <3 <3 <3
She’s a happy sort of horse who likes doing activities and solving puzzles and answering questions — especially when she already knows the answer. But it’s been a bit of a trick trying to get her to modulate that over-achiever nature to keep her from getting anxious or ‘locked out.’
she was proud of herself too <3
And who knows, all the same old problems could (and probably WILL) reappear when we’re finally back into the big electric horse show atmospheres. It just feels like we have more tools right now.
last trip through the grid was less perfect than the first, but still honestly fucking fantastic <3
Regardless, it felt really good to shake some of the rust off and get airborne again. Basically all of our combined skills, strengths, weaknesses, etc, were right where we left them. We didn’t ’forget how to do it,’ nor did either of us magically like… tune up in the time off haha.
grateful for this mare who is so full of surprises
Maybe in an ideal world I should have gone back down the grid one last time to fix our pace after knocking a couple of the rails in the last trip. But… Meh haha. We can save that for another day.
On this day, it was enough to just be out enjoying ourselves, having a great time jumping around!
This week we had “take your pivo to school” day for our dressage lesson with Trainer C!! Much excitement!
ready for a bunch more pivo pics????
It’s especially exciting bc it means I don’t have to try to remember all the stuff we did in the lesson, or any of the coaching tips and feedback trainer C provided, bc it’s all here in video form!!
video from basically the whole lesson, including our run thru novice A at the end
if you just want to see the test, it’s broken into its own video below
Tho obvi I still gotta write something, right? Even if it’s just to help me remember and internalize the details (and not just spam you with a zillion nearly-identical pics of my mare being a perfect princess LOL).
doozy was the happiest clam in this lesson <3 <3
So for starters, there’s the stuff not captured in the video — the catch-up and context I shared with trainer C before we got started, since it’s been a month since our last lesson (I was in Minnesota two weeks ago instead), and obvi before that Doozy was still too early in the rehab for lessons.
pretty sure the footing has magic fairy dust in it or something, vibes were so good!
Basically, tho, if you’ve already been following along, you already know the gist of where things currently are in our work: My big focus lately is prioritizing riding forward in front of the leg first and foremost, even if that means we’re occasionally a little over pace or slightly running.
good vibes == no shortage of nice moments to screenshot!
The most interesting thing to me, tho, watching the video, is that we don’t look over pace at all. Like, not even a little bit. No signs of running either.
for real tho, sorry not sorry but there are a zillion shots exactly like this
Now, in the interest of honesty, Doozy just sorta happened to be in a fantastic mood. Serene, sweet, happy. She was already in a good mood before we even left home for the lesson. And trainer C’s barn has always had the most amazing vibes, horses are always so comfortable and confident there. Who knows why, but it was certainly very enjoyable!
still planning to upgrade my phone sooner rather than later tho bc we need this in higher resolution pls!
And Doozy likewise seemed to just settle in and enjoy the work herself. Trainer C was on board with my “riding forward” approach, and if you watch the video you’ll hear her contextualizing some of her coaching within that framework — specifically relating to continuing to work on bringing the contact and frame together without sacrificing that forward feel.
legit the goodest biscuit <3
Working on the lateral suppleness is always a feature with trainer C, and played a big role in creating that organized and ‘together’ feel in this lesson too. Particularly to the right, our tougher side by far.
she’s an expert at halt transitions now!
You can see the difference as the video goes on tho, from us starting out nicely forward but a bit braced and above the bit… To working the lateral bending and suppleness persistently and consistently enough (still with a forward v backward feel tho!) that Doozy was able to really soften into a nicer balance.
~~princess mode activated~~
Especially after transitions, or shifting between figures like three loop serpentines or leg yields, trainer C wanted to see me be quicker to actually ask Doozy for the bend and contact. She made the point that if I don’t ask, and Doozy therefore doesn’t do it, Doozy ain’t exactly wrong.
holy crap i can almost kinda sorta sit the canter when she’s this soft!
Which is kinda a “duh” statement, but also something I need to hear fairly often! Especially when Doozy is this soft and responsive and pleasant, it becomes really REALLY obvious how accustomed I’ve become to that more reactive style of ride, vs more proactive preparation.
the other way too!
If you’re only every used to the horse kinda just whipping around turns, falling in or out or whatever, then yea maybe you might get caught flat footed or unprepared for actually riding a neat and tidy center line turn.
an expert at trotting after cantering now too
Like, seriously, no joke, twice in a row, trainer C had us practicing center line turns and each time as I was literally halfway thru the turn thinking to myself, “wow ya know I *should* have half halted like six strides ago bc now we’re just kinda drifting along!”
she’s always been a free walk super star tho
At which point, like clockwork, she was like, “Uhh yea go do that again but maybe actually set Doozy up this time?” Which I then did, and Doozy went forth and nailed some perfectly crisp 10m half turns like a seasoned veteran, natch.
here’s just our run thru novice A
It was also super apparent why the bending and softening is so important for Doozy, bc when she’s more relaxed and soft through her back the difference is literally insane — especially in canter.
geometry was a little whack bc i was just guestimating my boundaries for riding a short court test in a big ring. nbd tho!
So it was a lot of good work in establishing that feeling of pushing the mare up into a contact, but not sacrificing the forward feeling and not getting stuck into trying to micromanage her pace or slow her down. And also a lot of good moments of me needing to be reminded to be more proactive about all that.
pivo missed our canter transitions in the close corners, but this test suited us!
We finished the lesson with a run through the Novice A test, which I’m hoping to ride at an upcoming schooling show mostly for shits and giggles. The current eventing tests are a little tricky for us — they seem to be designed to be completed as quickly as possible, presumably so event organizers can squeeze as many tests as possible into each ring.
free walk is best walk <3
But it means some of the tests end up riding a bit choppy and hectic, with a lot of transitions stacked on top of each other. The Novice A test, however, seems like it might actually suit Doozy reasonably well — with actually quite a bit of soft changes in bend at trot, up and down the full court in both directions to start.
you’d be forgiven for thinking this was another walking pic but it’s actually my red hot firecracker looking like a soft little lamb in her stretchy trot <3 <3 <3
The canters seem well placed for us too, tho the pivo had the most trouble with the corners closest to it so it missed the transitions, sigh, and the test does all the trotting and cantering etc up front before finishing with a free walk then stretchy trot circle. And guys, Doozy loves her stretchy trot apparently! I’m so sad the first half of the circle was missed on the video but the whole thing was so nice!
she knows she’s a champ
Overall, tho, the test rode pretty well for us — and would have been even better if I had been even more proactive and consistent in asking Doozy for bend and connection.
Realistically it’s unlikely we’ll get anything even anywhere close to that level of execution at an actual show at this point, but it’s just so exciting to me to Doozy really start to shine in the work. She’s a mercurial critter and the relaxation puzzle has proved tough to solve but it’s clear that her confidence IS increasing, as is her overall level of schooling. Baby steps, y’all!
I listened in on a webinar last week with a Q&A session hosted by an FEI dressage judge who had some, hm, strong perspectives on the future of the sport. Granted, a lot of horse people have strong opinions, and judges are quite literally tasked with, ya know, judgement.
welcome to another episode of two dozen pivo screenshots!
So it’s not surprising when they take advantage of a presentation platform to get up on their soapbox and expound upon the issues they see as most critical. All that to say — as with anything, we listen with open ears and open minds and also a grain of salt at the ready.
here’s the video if you’d rather see it in motion.
only about ~8min this time
It was timely for me, tho, bc I’d actually just recently scribed the dressage at a USEA event for a judge whom I’ve known for years. Lovely lady — witty, clever, and realistic about horses and riders presenting at all the various levels of skills and experience.
not sure what it’s going to take to make me shorten my reins LOL
Naturally she and I chatted throughout the day about all sorts of topics. Our impressions of the 2026 tests, the various local pros and their up and coming horses. Her past experiences, my experiences with Doozy and our dressage struggles etc. All the things. And the change in scoring formats for the test collectives came up too.
happier about my posture in a lot of these moments tho
I may or may not have even whined about how Doozy and I consistently get nailed in the “Harmony” collective. That instead of the score reflecting more or less our test average, judges often use it to make a point about their overall impression of how we go. Which this particular judge (having, ya know, not seen us go but just chatting with me) agreed seemed harsh and maybe unfair.
lots of halt transitions throughout the video
So fast forward a couple days to this webinar with the FEI dressage judge who… Honestly kinda blasted my whinge right out of the water. She got up on her soapbox and practically shouted at us that “the harmony collective isn’t going anywhere!” And that even in the FEI classes (she was particularly preoccupied with pure dressage in the Olympics) the general impression scores are shifting to prioritizing harmony.
then right back into forward again, really pleased with basically all of our canter transitions
She predicted that judges at all levels and in all aspects of dressage will be increasingly using that collective score to “make a point,” and that the “wow factor would not win over harmony in the future.” Short necks, open mouths, BTV frames, a lot of tension… The more prevalent any of that is in a test, the lower the score will go.
we’re still mostly bracing and above the bit, but she was decently relaxed anyway
Which. Ya know. It’s so funny how the world works sometimes, right? To go literally from one day complaining about how the scoring seems unfair or impossible for our sensitive reactive hot house flowers… To just days later sitting in on a webinar where the message is a loud and clear, “Buck up, buttercup, and do better!”
emma. shorter reins WILL help you communicate better, i swear!
And so. As one does, I updated our “vocabulary word of the daymonthyearlifetime” exercise with Doozy. Now we have two vocabulary words: Composure. Forever, obvi. And the newest addition: Harmony.
trying to ride forward into organization, not backward!
And a new measurable goal to go with that: I’d like to ride our dressage tests such that the Harmony collective actually DOES represent a more positive reflection of our scores. So like, if we ride a wild ‘n woolly test that nets us a 45% penalty score (55% in pure dressage), then yea a Harmony collective of 5.5 is expected.
i’m actually happy with some of our canter moments for once!
But historically, a lot of judges have rounded that down to a 5.0 for us, based on their general impression of how we go. Looking forward, I’d like to prioritize a style of riding that makes it more likely for a judge to round up to a 6.0, with some sort of sympathetic comment like, “Unfortunate tension today!” lol. A girl can dream, right?
doozy thinks the halt transitions are stupid, but she squared up anyway!
Right lol. To go hand in hand with my new goal, I’m bringing a fresh newfound zeal to my persistently terrible upper body posture. Bc damn, it just seems CRAZY to me that despite literally a decade of bitching about it here on ye olde blogge, zillions of lessons, and now doing yoga basically every damn day… I STILL sit like a friggin potato on the horse.
and forward again, good girl
And it turns out… Most dressage judges are all too eager to blame the rider’s poor position and use of aids for a messy test or horse who isn’t going well.
don’t look now, but somebody is developing a little elasticity!
Now it IS true that part of the problem is just my own personal conformation. I have a short torso, short arms, and the sort of bust line that, when taken all together, really amplifies any impression of slouching. But… It’s also true that even when I really am trying so god damn hard to sit up straight with shoulders back… I’m just like, not. My body is lying to me, I swear!
lol @ her face…. “halt is my least favorite speed” — doozy, 1,000%
Recently, tho, one of the yoga teachers at my studio did a multi-week class focused on “grounding,” emphasizing a strong energetic connection and downward flow through whatever body part was in contact with the ground in each pose — feet, hands, spine, sit bones, etc.
we hit the block, whoops
And it brought a different awareness and feeling for me. Most often, I’ve thought of stretching ‘up,’ sitting ‘up,’ feeling lifted and tall. But this yoga flow was all about the energetic push down to find the full expression of the posture. Ymmv, but for me, this is a really helpful new way to think about finding that strong open and tall core — pushing down into the sit bones to find the strength and stability to lengthen into a taller frame.
“false alarm, everything is fine!” — doozy, composed just one step later <3 <3
It’s not a silver bullet, obvi. At this rate, so many of my muscular postural habits are very very deeply ingrained. But maybe it’s helping?
proud of the pivo for coping despite not being alone in the ring!
Idk. All that to say, this most recent Pivo-recorded ride had a few fundamental areas of focus:
- Lateral suppleness with lots of inside leg even when Doozy tries to convince me I should take my leg off lol…
- HARMONY
- And, lastly, sitting tall (but-i-fucking-mean-it-this-time) for the camera
determined to work on my canter lol
Oh. And not shying away from working on the canter haha. And transitions too. Bc apparently none of it gets better if we don’t practice. Go figure!
pretty much satisfied with our how we finished the ride
And guys, Doozy is loving my newfound embrace of riding forward. There’s a lot more smoothness in all of our transitions — particularly trot to canter, but also the downwards too. Especially if I remember to keep my leg on, she really seems better able to get her legs up under her and hold a more comfortable balance — vs spurting off onto the forehand or snowballing into an avalanche of a pulling match.
one last halt with lots of pets, obvi
We still see a fair amount of bracing especially through the underneck, but I’m inclined to think that’s mostly a strength thing in the downward transitions, and maybe a lack of good preparation + reins too long for the upwards.
still lookin pretty relaxed after all that! <3 <3
Again, tho, that’s also kinda the beauty of the Pivo LOL. Like, to spend as much time studying / editing / screen shooting that video as I do, and be thinking ‘ugh Emma shorten your reins!’ the whole time? Perhaps that’ll be the lesson that sticks lol.
We’ll see, I guess! Anybody else working on any positional breakthroughs, or general feelings on the future of judging in the sport?
