Tuesday, May 26, 2020

It’s the Small Things


I haven’t been posting much but I’ve been riding a lot.  I guess I’ve been waiting for some big riding breakthrough to blog about, but life in general and my riding seem to be a series of small good moments right now.  No complaints given the current world situation, but not exactly stunning blog material.  After thinking about it though, the following riding “small” moments are making a big impact.  

~When I sit on the back of my seat triangle AND draw my chin back, my balance (and Jet’s!) is SO much better.  Walk to canter to walk is easier.  Lateral work is easier.  The list goes on and on.  I’ve been fighting the hunter hunch for ages and this seems to be the most effective tool.  I just need to remember to emphasize it EVERY SINGLE RIDE.

~When I take up the contact I need to be cognizant of the Level of energy immediately AND feel it a little side to side not letting it leak out or deflate.  The further I get in this dressage thing the more I realize the naturally talented riders have such a feel for energy(and tempo and balance!).

~When I start any lateral movement I need to “get ready-come to attention” AND look in the direction of travel before positioning into the movement.  This helps tremendously with having a clear lateral movement that doesn’t wobble off the line of travel and is much more crisp and adjustable for more bend, angle, or engagement of a hind foot.

~Speaking of engaging the hind foot, I have realized that I took advice to grow the horse taller in the shoulder and feel the hind feet as more of a loading the springs of the hind feet with my seat.  I was watching a Dressage Naturally video on this subject and the lightbulb (finally!) went off that maybe Karen actually meant feel the hind feet come more under the body.  It is a different swinging feel with my seat and low and behold I can now get a better working trot.  Better engagement of the inside hind during lateral work.  Better working canters.  Just goes to show how you can understand something one way when the instructor actually means something completely different.  This is why I really like repeatedly watching the DN videos with practice rides in between viewings.  I can be a little slow on the uptake.

~Also, did you know that balance, speed, energy, and relaxation are all vital components to getting good transitions?  Who knew?  And that they are all different things?  And if you are missing any one of the above the effort will be suboptimal?  I especially struggle with the fact that speed and energy are two different things and that sometimes you need a slow speed with higher energy(I’m looking at you walk canter transitions).  I’ve started check-listing these components when doing harder transitions and amazingly the transition are much better.  

So, looking at these, we have been making some big breakthroughs just in a pretty low key way.  We have been having fun with liberty work, doing a lot of poles and working gaits, but also doing more sustained collectibility work and Jet has been quite happy.  As I said, no complaints and really quite a bit of growth.

What about you?  Breakthroughs big or small?

6 comments:

  1. The one about engaging the hind foot and having the lightbulb moment- it's funny how we can hear the same thing coming from different people and nothing sticks until finally someone changes up the wording just a little and suddenly it all makes sense.

    I also used to struggle with the hunter hunch until I felt the difference on a big school horse gelding. Game changer! Little things can make big differences in the total picture.

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    1. Agree-all it takes is one lightbulb moment to make a big difference!

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  2. Ooof, I am terrible about jutting my chin forward like some gangly, pale vulture, complete with my shoulders in my ears. It's primarily due to innate tension -- whenever a doctor or bodyworker has told me to "relax" I have to sigh & tell them "this IS my relaxed." Telling myself to push my chin back is not all that effective at re-directing years of muscle memory, so if you have any tips or reminders of alternate mantras, I'm all ears.

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    1. Ok, I've got a few for you:
      -draw your chin straight back
      -shoulder blades down towards hips
      -draw your rib cage over your hips
      -stand back to a wall and do all of the above

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    2. -practice sitting, driving your car, and standing and then try it riding. It will feel really weird...

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  3. Low key breakthroughs are wonderful. I think of them of as the small stones- without them a wall will not be strong. I love the idea of thinking of raising the shoulder.

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