tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post5824260338267383940..comments2024-03-26T17:31:58.290-07:00Comments on 'Fraidy Cat Eventing: in which isabel is adorable (and therefore gets away with murder)emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-77452115302248783972015-09-28T06:10:33.933-07:002015-09-28T06:10:33.933-07:00yep we are working on it every ride every day!yep we are working on it every ride every day!emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-19212598348611089682015-09-26T14:08:54.705-07:002015-09-26T14:08:54.705-07:00One thing D does that a lot of trainers don't ...One thing D does that a lot of trainers don't do is she makes you tell her what you feel. Then it is followed up with what correction do you need to give. This process gave me confidence in the fact that I do understand the problem and the correction. From reading your blog I think you know what needs to happen and how to fix it but you question yourself. Have faith and ask questions. You've got it and you have pictures to prove that you are improving.EventingSaddlebredStylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07610596082916022402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-85094325423331691882015-07-30T11:09:40.343-07:002015-07-30T11:09:40.343-07:00lol if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck....lol if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck... well, it probably rides like a duck too :Demmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-13723604718553554772015-07-30T11:09:11.500-07:002015-07-30T11:09:11.500-07:00see it's so funny bc i think isabel will be mu...see it's so funny bc i think isabel will be much happier when i STOP kicking her... but right now she's so conditioned to rely on my leg... bad habits on my part, oopsemmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-35382183906760478882015-07-30T11:08:37.221-07:002015-07-30T11:08:37.221-07:00thanks! we've got our work cut out for us, tha...thanks! we've got our work cut out for us, that's for sure!emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-34093716462001466812015-07-30T11:08:20.176-07:002015-07-30T11:08:20.176-07:00lol i think he can stay in the 'easy' plac...lol i think he can stay in the 'easy' places just fine - tho the 'easy' place for him (meaning not really the full capacity you ask for) is still kind of what i need to work my ass off to even get for a few minutes with isabel lol. emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-89816564341762959372015-07-30T11:07:18.305-07:002015-07-30T11:07:18.305-07:00that's exactly what i'm working on. still ...that's exactly what i'm working on. still pushing myself, but being self aware and ultimately patient/forgiving with both isabel and myself. not likely to reach nirvana or anything like that lol, but i can try to just be a little better every time :)emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-80815445680547810762015-07-30T10:46:34.181-07:002015-07-30T10:46:34.181-07:00THIS! Yes lol, we are actually definitely the same...THIS! Yes lol, we are actually definitely the same person/ riderAbbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17784724437450397444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-32476516222071563942015-07-28T22:04:57.565-07:002015-07-28T22:04:57.565-07:00I have a pet peeve for horses that need constant l...I have a pet peeve for horses that need constant leg! I think it's just because I have 8-10 horses to ride in a day, so they can all use their own legs to keep going, thank you very much. That said, Arwen was exactly the same for MONTHS. Kick, kick, kick was required simply to keep going at the same pace. Now we both have finally installed the idea that kick = go until I say stop.Firnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07805076661186739474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-35973415050918521022015-07-28T20:48:00.041-07:002015-07-28T20:48:00.041-07:00I hope it goes well for you!I hope it goes well for you!Paolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13169356458758529349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-1309511106165279302015-07-28T17:46:58.329-07:002015-07-28T17:46:58.329-07:00Bahaha! Emma! I had to laugh out loud about my hor...Bahaha! Emma! I had to laugh out loud about my horse staying where you put him. I'm sure he does feel like that to someone new, but I just remember constantly kicking to keep him going in collection. Ha!<br /><br />We went through a period (a year ago?) where my trainer put me in the position for collection and had me stop gripping with my legs (not take them off, persay, but stop trying to squeeze the life out of him). He stopped. Every time. It was a serious flaw in our training. I wouldn't say now that he stays where you put him as much as he depends on your seat to tell him where to be, not so much your legs. Stop moving your seat? He stops. Loosen your back and ask for bigger strides? More animated gait. <br /><br />All that said, if the bigger isn't properly through all you get is some fugly herky jerky gait. Boo. Austenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13004088333430762406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-52703609499804011452015-07-28T17:43:01.615-07:002015-07-28T17:43:01.615-07:00Ahahahahahahahaha... Sorry. Just remembering all t...Ahahahahahahahaha... Sorry. Just remembering all the times I've lost my temper in the last month. Bahahaha!!<br /><br />In all seriousness, exactly this. Pushing for more is going to create stress for both of you and some temper tantrums, from both of you. Learn to be aware of when you're losing your cool and be prepared to forgive yourself for doing so (cause, you will). Austenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13004088333430762406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-30022587863586962612015-07-28T12:48:34.767-07:002015-07-28T12:48:34.767-07:00yep pretty much. not only do i desensitize my hors...yep pretty much. not only do i desensitize my horse, but i actually rub the hair off her sides in the winter!! it's like getting caught red-handed lol. le sigh!emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-82334615110849828912015-07-28T12:47:33.118-07:002015-07-28T12:47:33.118-07:00thanks - you are so right! i've been working e...thanks - you are so right! i've been working explicitly on this (temper) for the better part of a year now and am getting pretty good at recognizing when i need to step back and change tactics/focus/energy/whatever. usually the realization still comes a little too late - like after too strong or rough of a correction - but i am identifying it and letting it go and moving on. and yes finding those positive places to go is a huge priority!<br /><br />tho your first point still holds true: i can't let just the fear of losing my temper keep me from trying and pushing and seeing just how far we can go. gotta find the balance somehow, right? emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-39709686067026075082015-07-28T11:46:10.693-07:002015-07-28T11:46:10.693-07:00I hear you on temper- if you find yourself losing ...I hear you on temper- if you find yourself losing your temper, go to something simple that you guys can do when you're angry. It can be anything, trot some poles, ride some walk halts or walk trot walk transitions (halfway land is ok at this point), something she likes, anything to put a positive spin on the ride for your horse, then go for a walk. Come back to it the next day, or even later on in the same day if your schedule allows. It's hard to walk away when it's really not going right. I find myself supremely frustrated and on the verge of losing my temper a couple times a summer, and it's hard to walk away when it's just not working. But think about it this way, you want it to be fun for both of you, so if you find yourself not having fun and getting angry, stop and do something else as soon as you realize it. You won't be accomplishing anything by continuing, so peace out and go gallop through the fields. Hell, that might be the key to getting whatever task you were working on done!Codex Dressagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04736021620789376995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-67293841311941112372015-07-28T11:22:43.916-07:002015-07-28T11:22:43.916-07:00don't have to nudge at the canter.... usually.... don't have to nudge at the canter.... usually. but at the trot and walk it's all nudge. when i watched silke's clinic this weekend she was telling another girl that when we do that we desensitize our horse to our leg so that when we want to use it for more delicate movement, we can't make it happen because they can't feel us. but seriously. i feel your pain. i don't know how else to ride so that we are actually moving. Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03543984663767954777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-54741018594760558792015-07-28T11:02:46.721-07:002015-07-28T11:02:46.721-07:00it certainly is! esp since my mare is so much more...it certainly is! esp since my mare is so much more sensitive than i am quiet, i frequently do weird things with my balance and position that makes her think i *want* to stop, when really i don't... but yea we're working on it!emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-63621722532887150092015-07-28T11:01:55.873-07:002015-07-28T11:01:55.873-07:00hahaha yea - some 'gaits' are easier to le...hahaha yea - some 'gaits' are easier to let them be than others ;)emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-407994764123369582015-07-28T11:01:31.929-07:002015-07-28T11:01:31.929-07:00that's actually really good advice - thank you...that's actually really good advice - thank you. part of the problem is that i don't trust myself to not lose my temper if things aren't going well - i want this stuff to be fun for both of us, but i also want to keep improving. so i can't let all my weird mental stuff hogtie us - and i definitely don't want to create extra work for future me either!emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-41463778636227812342015-07-28T10:59:02.584-07:002015-07-28T10:59:02.584-07:00My trainer is a big fan of this same concept- as s...My trainer is a big fan of this same concept- as soon as the horse gives you what you want, you soften and stay still. Make corrections as necessary, but they have to learn to carry themselves in a certain way until they're told otherwise. It's hard to retrain ourselves!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-4936696603692620182015-07-28T10:57:50.731-07:002015-07-28T10:57:50.731-07:00If the gait is a slow meander? Nailed. If the ga...If the gait is a slow meander? Nailed. If the gait is a slow, laboring trot? Nailed. Anything else and we're screwed.<br /><br />Also, I completely, 100% let Archie scratch his face all over me like that all the time.Beka Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11510058677533021975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-79813367312687891572015-07-28T10:11:52.704-07:002015-07-28T10:11:52.704-07:00I rode my trainer's 4* horse and worked some b...I rode my trainer's 4* horse and worked some basic dressage with him (he scares me a bit, I've watched him haul her around! Haha). After I decided, "you will listen to me", the learning started. If I got handsy with my left hand trying to find better connection, he'd simply ignore me. As soon as I'd give it/relax it and add some leg, I had a happy horse who very willingly tried harder. Plus since he's schooled by my trainer, and she's installed in my brain and I hear her saying things, I'd apply them to him and get an immediate answer. I wasn't in a lesson, but I ended up with one anyway!<br /><br />Don't be afraid to expect more from Isabel when you're by yourself! You take lessons, bring your issues to lesson and ask for a check that you're on the right path. It's why we lesson :-) A week of doing something wrong won't hurt that much if you're really off base in what you're asking, plus you'll be ready to fix it at lesson time. Plus, all that time in halfway land is going to bite you in the butt later. It did to me!<br />Codex Dressagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04736021620789376995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-52244891784054578992015-07-28T10:10:34.941-07:002015-07-28T10:10:34.941-07:00haha yea it's tricky business!!! and i love th...haha yea it's tricky business!!! and i love the itching photos too... tho always feel moderately guilty that most ppl wouldn't allow it - and of course that feeling is only amplified when isabel nearly knocks down an unsuspecting bystander by trying to rub on them... oops!emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-2790834287592732792015-07-28T09:07:01.030-07:002015-07-28T09:07:01.030-07:00Apollo and I will forever be working on this hahah...Apollo and I will forever be working on this hahah<br />I love the itching photos :)KateRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12870548960430847612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-17679403296629817472015-07-28T06:06:27.736-07:002015-07-28T06:06:27.736-07:00that is lucky! isabel certainly loves all her supp...that is lucky! isabel certainly loves all her support from me... but at least it's not actually a ton of work given how sensitive she is. maybe that's why i've been so willing to keep on doing it lolemmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.com