Exceeding expectations

Since entering the April 16 show, I've been trying to schedule a lesson with Suzan. I always gain tons from her expertise, but knew that her instruction would greatly enhance our chances for success at the show. Please note that by 'success,' I mean being able to do our two Training Level tests without going off course and staying in the correct gaits while looking like we kinda-sorta belong in a dressage court – ha!

It's been a greater challenge than usual to schedule a lesson. Suzan got some unexpected news which has put even more on her normally-loaded plate. So when she texted me last Tuesday that she could squeeze me in at 8:30 Wednesday morning, I jumped at the chance in spite of the early hour (it got moved to a bit later). We were blessed with beautiful weather, as we have been for all of this winter's lessons. Stella met her first miniature horse on the way to the outdoor arena:

I told Suzan I'd entered a show, so she put us to work. Mind you, the groundwork has been laid; Suzan would never cut corners in training. But she does know when to increase the challenge and raise the bar, and that's what we experienced Wednesday. It was pretty exciting to feel, and to see the images Suzan captured of us!

Suzan called this Stella's 'park horse trot'

— notes to self —

At the trot: shorten reins, keep inside bend, both legs on for impulsion. Do a 10m circle if she's tense or braced, but don't let her spin; bring shoulders around. Same at the canter, which Stella offered when really forward and connected at the trot, and then fell out of when really forward and connected at the canter – too much work! (It was the first time we worked on canter in a lesson.)

Fussiness is a hissy fit over having to work; just wait it out with more inside bend, both legs on; do a small circle.

If she gets jiggy at the walk, trot. If she breaks to canter, work on canter.

Don't throw away the contact; "push the shopping cart" only as she seeks contact.

Continue working on the buckle a LOT. Do NOT let her rush at the walk, though, or 'pacey' gets reinforced.

— — —

The blue riding tights I wore in the lesson were part of a big lot I purchased recently. The same acquaintance from whom I bought the 'Princess Bride' bridle and saddle pad posted on Facebook that she had riding pants and tops for sale. Most everything was my size and very reasonable, so . . . .

I may not need to buy any more riding clothes for the rest of my life!

We have another lesson scheduled for this coming Wednesday, but the weather hasn't allowed for any schooling since our last lesson. Crossing fingers and toes that that changes!

We're not dead!!!

Oh.My.Goodness. Time keeps doing what it does and I keep saying, "I've got to update my dressage blog" but the update needed has grown so big and cumbersome that the block of time needed seems exorbitant given all the other stuff I need and want to do and and....     Well.     Deep breath.     Here we are.

Since this is, in effect, my training journal, I want to document what we've been doing (as best I can remember at my advancing age), so fair warning: A lot has happened since the 2022 State Fair!

Even though we made it through that State Fair Battle of the Breeds class together vs. parting company, Stella and I were representatives for dressage in dress and tack only. She is by nature quick, tense, and reactive, and nothing I tried was making much of a difference in helping her become calm, relaxed, and forward – in other words, a dressage partner. In the fall of 2021 Suzan had suggested putting Stella on a calming supplement; I finally quit using it after of year of seeing no clear benefit. Of course I kept riding, in the arena and out of it, trying different bridles to see if she had a preference:

Speaking of Suzan, for a variety of reasons on both sides, I hadn't able to schedule a lesson with her since February of 2022. So when I got a promotional email in early September about an online "30 Days To Round" Challenge with Amelia Newcomb, I decided to sign up. A Shetland sheep acquaintance (who rides, obviously) also signed up, giving me someone to bounce experiences off of. 

The day after I committed myself, Suzan texted me to finally set up a lesson. Of course. If I'd known I would be able to resume taking lessons from Suzan I probably wouldn't have paid to join the online challenge, because almost 30 years of experience has taught me that nothing and no one is as effective as Suzan. But I am nothing if not goal-oriented, so I went full steam ahead into the 30DTR Challenge to see what we could gain from it, getting in almost a week of that program before our lesson with Suzan.

I do think it helped; look at the photos Suzan took of us at our lesson!

Round!

Relaxed!

We discussed bits at that lesson; Suzan felt the loose-ring double-jointed snaffle I was using had too much 'play' for a horse like Stella. So I embarked on a short research project, ordering and sending back bits until we finally settled on a Herm Sprenger KK Ultra Eggbutt Sensogan Bradoon as the best option.

I continued working through the 30DTR Challenge with uneven results. It motivated me to ride nearly every day and use my Pivo to record video of our rides for review and feedback. There's nothing like 'eyes on the ground' to spot problems, and in lieu of that, seeing yourself on video is a close second, and my position improved. But it was clear to me that I still wasn't addressing Stella's core issue(s); for that, my best hope was Suzan. After more roadblocks, I was able to schedule another lesson with Suzan on October 12, just before 30DTR ended on October 17, and on October 26, and on Nov. 9!

Those four lessons in two months were transformative. My hot, tense, quick mare learned she could RELAX, slow down, and walk and trot ON.THE.BUCKLE. These are photos Suzan took during our Nov. 9 lesson:

At the one lesson we've gotten in this year so far (January 11), it was clear the improvement is sticking. Suzan gave me two huge compliments. The first was when I commented that she was taking us up to the next 'level;' she said, "That's because you've done your homework." The second was when I expressed how happy I was with Stella's progress, progress I wasn't sure she would ever make. Suzan said, "Stella is lucky she ended up with you; almost anyone else would have ruined her."

Stella, not ruined

I cannot adequately convey the relief, joy, and anticipation that have blossomed with having keys to 'unlock' Stella.  Don't misunderstand me; she is not a different horse and there are no quick fixes. But I now have tools to encourage Stella to relax and use her body in ways that are both more expressive and less likely to cause strain and injury so we can dance together for many years to come. 

"Every ride" reminders for me:

Widen collarbones (that's actually from my sheep friend)

Don't sit back on pockets

Look up

'Push the shopping cart'

Weight my right stirrup, and her right hind

Swing her back with my inside seat bone

Widen inside hand

If she braces, widen hands but don't play with the reins;

wait her out then reward with forward hands

In the midst of our progress, at the end of October, an acquaintance mentioned on FB that she was getting out of horses and selling her (mostly cob-sized) tack. Since her place is very close to where I was to attend a women's retreat with a friend, I made arrangements to stop by on my way to the retreat to see what she had. My acquisitions: a rolled leather halter, a basic saddle pad, an Engel Lammfell saddle pad, and, because they looked so good together even though I didn't need them, what I call the Princess Bride set:

rolled leather halter

The Princess Bride wore pale blue

For Christmas a knowing and generous friend sent me a sterling silver stock pin, so I went on Etsy and found the perfect stock tie to complete our show ensemble:

Yes, we were making enough progress that I was actually thinking of showing Stella in open dressage shows this year! So I looked at the Oregon Dressage Society website calendar. Cue the Kingston Trio: "Where have all the options gone? Long time passing...." 🎶 I found NO schooling shows, very few League shows, and the nearest venue requires stabling + bedding purchased from them, which triples my cost. My, how things have changed since I last frequented the area dressage shows! Well, maybe we'd just enter a couple dressage classes at the Oregon Morgan Classic like we did two years ago and be done with it.

A week or so later, one of the first venues at which I showed my Morgan gelding more than 20 years ago came to mind. It has always had an annual recognized show, but it wasn't listed on the calendar. Hmmm; I looked the facility up online – and found a schooling show scheduled for April 16, no stabling required, all other fees reasonable. Score! Stella and I are entered in Training Level Tests 1 and 2.

It's been more than three years of feeling my way with this mare. It's been an incredible journey so far. Here's to the future! 😊

When It's Cold She's Hot; When It's Hot She's Not

Forget for now the two and a half months I've been absent from this blog; I'm jumping in at the present. Here in NW Oregon, apparently, warm, dry, sunny weather was waiting for an invitation, which it got with the summer equinox. And just like that, summer arrived and my mare mellowed a little. So as much as I dislike hot weather, I'm going to do my best to both enjoy and capitalize on this mellowness to move our partnership forward.

Between my four trips to Texas and the extended rainy season, this year has been a wash so far when it comes to Stella's training – so forget about showing. But now that I can ride regularly again, exciting things are happening. In the 'sandbox,' we've been playing with walk/canter, canter/walk transitions (we're Intro Level going on Second; ha), and out of the sandbox she is doing so well. In spite of her nervous energy, she is more dependable with the things we encounter than solid and stolid Lance, which always amazes me. We've even gotten in a few sunset rides!

Last night we headed down through the woods and onto the logging track. It seems just last week it was too muddy to try; now it is firm and solid. Land has changed hands in recent years and there's been lots of logging, clearing and burning; I may not be welcome to ride on my old stomping grounds anymore. But there was no one to question or challenge us at dusk on a Friday night, and Stella handled the unfamiliar environment with cautious willingness. We even came back home via the vineyards (where I do have permission to ride), Stella's first experience there. It was a beautiful evening to ride my beautiful mare and doing so fed my soul richly.

I am ready to start taking lessons from Suzan again just as soon as I can get on her schedule. I also want to get in some trail rides and at least one beach ride with friends. Lance hates it when I take Stella off-property, hollering from the barn the whole time we're gone. They've become good friends, Lance and Stella, although she doesn't mind leaving him at all.

Back to the future

Last week a friend mentioned that a former student of mine who bought my Swedish Warmblood mare many years ago would be riding in a show at DevonWood last weekend. I looked up her ride times online, and decided to run up Friday to watch her ride her current warmblood mare.

It felt good to be at DevonWood again; it is such a beautiful facility. My header photo was taken there; I've danced with three horses in all four of their 'ballrooms' (competition arenas). The first horse I showed there was my Morgan gelding; I can hardly wait to compete there again someday with my little Morgan mare!

But back to my former student. It took me awhile to figure out which one was her in the busy warm-up arena; I knew I was looking for a mare being ridden by a petite female, but it has probably been a decade since I'd last seen B. As her ride time approached and she headed up the hill to the Sylvan Arena, I followed her train of family and friend to watch.

Their Third Level test was lovely. The mare is built uphill with expressive gaits, and B rode her very well. I walked over to where she came out of the ring to say hi and be the first to congratulate her; she seemed surprised and pleased that I'd come.

Before I left the grounds I looked up her score; wow – 72.5%!

Sunday morning B texted me the following photo – they won their USDF Region 6 Third Level Championship class Saturday. Woot!

B has come a long way from when I first met her, a teenager riding a half-Arab pony....

And that burgundy jacket (and, I suspect, the gray one in the photo she sent me)? It is MESH. How perfect is that for the summer show season??? I didn't know such things existed; obviously I've been out of the loop awhile riding compromised horses, training for others, and 'bringing up baby Black Beauty.' But someday, when Stella and I are dancing in the big leagues, I plan on getting one. And since the attire rules for dressage are loosening up significantly this December, maybe I'll be able to find one in Stella's color – "first place blue"!!!