Okay so this is two rides merged into one post (lazy me...but at least it's lazy posting, not lazy riding!). I have to share some VERY exciting news...
PRO HAD REAL FOAM IN HIS MOUTH TONIGHT!!!!!
I was walking him out at the end of tonight's ride and saw some white stuff dripping from his mouth. At first I thought, "Omg, he ate a toxic weed!!!!" and then realized...he had REAL dressage horse foam! The REAL kind of foam that comes from a soft, TRUE acceptance of the bit! I think that says a lot about Pro - that my first thought was a bad weed. ;) I only wish I'd had my camera!!!! (the picture is EXACTLY what it looked like...obviously not Pro since it's a gray, haha).
Erik's classic line when I called him excitedly to tell him the good news - "You never get this excited when *I* drool."
Anyway, so I forgot to write about another revelation in the lesson that I've been using for the past two rides - the "not letting him lean on Mom" concept. We tried walk-halt and trot-walk transitions on a circle. I would half-halt for the transition, and then RELEASE toward him so he couldn't lean on me. Gayle said he manipulates me into holding the reins during a downward transition so he can lean (rather than hold himself up). So as we were trying the release-y transitions, she was imitating him - "Come on Kate, one more pull - it's like crack!!!"
So I tried this out and he was so much quicker to catch on. I half halt, and he has a balanced downward transition. I've also spent pretty much ALL of the last two rides repeating, "Inside hand forward, inside hand forward..." and holy s#!& it WORKS! Now, I still have to use the inside rein to get his attention. But the difference is, I consciously put it back to "normal" once I've made my request. It's like my mom saying, "You use it, you put it back where it came from!" ;) The inside rein...I've realized...is just a tool in your rider's toolkit. Not heroin, like I'd been treating it!
Pro wasn't perfect today - he still tried to wiggle his little butt around, and his bend to the left wasn't always there. But we had *discussions*, not arguments. I would make a request, GIVE back the inside rein, and he would consider my request. I'd ask again, and then he'd usually comply. He was just so much cheerier with the inside rein. And even if he wasn't 100% round, I kept giving the inside rein and with kicks for impulsion, he rounded up nicely. He was a little reluctant to let me plug in my seatbones at the canter but whatever, he had such a great attitude today that I wasn't worried.
He also was doing a lot of neck stretching, which Gayle said was fine, since it means he's opening up his vertebrae and it's a weird, new feeling for him. I think that was probably accompanying the bit foam. Which means...REAL DRESSAGE PONY!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3
And here's the video of the poles from last week:
8 comments:
I don't believe you :-p. Pro? Pro the arab... Pro the "omg, those poles moved 4" six months ago and they are so going to eat me", that Pro? Glad he's being so great.
It seemed like all the clinicians today were talking about balance and proper posture/position in the saddle and how everything else comes from that. I thought it was very appropriate and now I'm extra eager for Sunday to get here. :)
I totally thought that pic was Pro. I thought it was a black and white pic. That horse's noseband is too big, like Pro's, so I really did think it was him.
The video is funny. Dont step on the poles, Pro. haha.
I cant believe he was foaming. I dont think Ive ever seen him foam. yay Pro!!
Congrats on the foam! And the poles!
If I get off and find both foam at the bit AND between Keil Bay's hind legs, I know we've worked hard and well. Next goal is for ME to get off with NO sweat. (or minimal sweat, anyway!)
I really love what you're writing about the inside rein. Daughter had a dressage lesson yesterday in which she was using the inside rein too much and the horse (a school horse) kept falling through the outside shoulder. Trainer told her exactly what you're saying - give back that inside rein and keep more contact on the outside - even though it seems counter-intuitive. She also had her step deeper in the inside stirrup. By the end of the lesson, daughter was doing nice relaxed trot circles, changing through the center, with near-perfect bend and no falling out. It was pretty amazing, especially since it was a first ride on this particular horse.
And since Keil Bay and I have a similar issue, I'm excited to try this.
Well, a lot of this went over my head since I don't know so much about dressage or advanced riding, but it sounds like your rides well so a big congrats to you and Pro!
rides went well*
Sorry. :)
I think Pro and Pepsi must be twins separated at birth...they cause us SO much stress and then they BOTH start to get better at the same time!
Either that, or they've just playing us for WAY too long!
PS- *I* thought that was a B&W picture of Pro too!! And I loved the pole video! Toooo funny!!!
LOL, I thought that pic was Pro, too! You could definitely have passed it off as him!
It sounds like you really had a huge revelation! YAY! I'm glad things are going so well!
Oh, and I love the jumble pole video!
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