I drug my feet about writing this blog. In my mind I had valid reason but in reality, I was exercising my right to procrastinate after a not-so-fun writing class my first semester. However, with the onset of spring, finally no more snow, and the show season fast approaching, I thought it would be fitting to talk about my eye-opening winter.
After a busy fall transitioning to college, winter break was much needed. Traditionally, I give my horses off between thanksgiving and my birthday in early January, but Mother Nature had different plans this year. Endless snow storms prolonged their vacation time. Thus, I decided to move Livingston to Stony Run Fields, a therapeutic riding facility with exceptional care about 7 minutes from my house. Why didn't Mi Alma go with you may ask? Excitingly enough my not-so-little youngen sold in February! I couldn't be happier with his new family and the care they will take of him.
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| Last ride I had on Mi Alma before he sold... Also the last time I hopefully will need to jump haha |
The eye-opening part of my winter? I was blessed to go to Florida for the FEI Trainer's symposium with Steffen Peters and Scott Hassler thanks to one of the best birthday presents from my parents. Lendon Gray and the 2014 WITees were so generous in letting me volunteer with them and being back in the Welly World routine for a few days re-inspired my riding. Steffen has a way about riding hotter horses who tend to get strong on one side and curl behind the vertical and this year there were quite a few horses who exemplified these characteristics. And to my shock, what bridles were they ridden in? SNAFFLES! Now for the ah-ha moment... I ride an energetic red head (Livingston) who tends to get heavy on one side (the left) and takes over when he drops his poll and comes behind the vertical. When he does this, I would loose control and pray that I would have even a fifth of a half halt. Well that all changed. Thanks to Steffen's confidence riding these horses in snaffles, and his constant insistence that the horses stay soft in the bridle by subtle flexions left and right, and a half halt that works 100% of the time, I thought, "OK Alexa, quit being a baby and demand respect." So when I returned home from Florida, that's what I did. I demanded respect by keeping Liv supple in the snaffle and responsive to my half-halts. The picture was so pretty... for about 3 weeks... and then things started going d o w n h i l l.
When Mi Alma sold, I thought, I wonder if I could get Mi Alma's dressage saddle to fit Livingston since that saddle fits me perfectly and is honestly my favorite saddle EVER. I called my saddle fitter and turns out, Liv muscled up so much he grew a half a tree size which was enough of a difference for this saddle to fit him with a little re-flocking. Yay happy rider status! Now pause the happy rider status for some background info on my goofy chestnut.
Liv has always had a "sore" back because he is quite good at not using himself properly or tricking the rider into thinking he is when he really isn't. Add the increase of work from easy lower level movements to 4th and PSG level movements and there comes an increase of power and an increase in tension. Also add my over-riding into the equation.
Ok press play.
It was about a week later when my happy rider stage ended and I felt something wasn't right. The suppleness and respect I had been getting was lost and I couldn't do a flying change to save my life. Then we ran into some scary problems where I didn't know what was wrong but there was clearly an issue with Liv. He was grouchy, tight, and disrespectful to the point I didn't want to ride him. As my brain was going crazy with every possible scenario of what could be wrong, the last thing I suspected was that there was an issue with the saddle.... I mean, it was fitted to him how could he NOT be happy?!
Needless to say, I loaded him up and took him to his Mom for another opinion. Oh yes, there certainly was a problem. His back was very sore so he didn't want to use his back... which obviously meant it dropped, he went on his forehand, his butt went up and we were a spiraling down-hill mess.
Turns out, while the saddle may have been fitted to him, it magnified the problem because it now sat differently and caused me to sit differently. How did we solve the problem? It was back into the old saddle, which fits Liv better than it does me, a few rounds of acupuncture, as well as a mini boot camp with Gert!
Ahh.... a happy rider again :) I went from not having one flying change to a line of controlled ONE-tempi's and a half halt that gets a response 99% of the time. I am very thankful to have Gert working with Liv and I because she's bred, owned, and trained Livingston from the ground up and knows all of his secrets. Most importantly, she gives me the tools to use to not let him cheat!
For instance: counter canter. For some horses, it is detrimental to their quality of gaits because they lack the balance and respect for the half halt to rebalance them. For Livingston the counter canter is an underrated exercise that works wonders. Here's how it works. I start off in the left lead. Then I use my right rein to be sure he's responding to the half halt and "give" on my left rein so he absolutely cannot hold himself up on that rein. By being clear and "heavy" in my seat, I am able to keep the left lead and not let him change leads or quicken. I can then add counter flexions and true flexions which increase the suppleness and the evenness in both reins. This has turned into my favorite exercise because it allows me access to both sides of his neck and jaw and let's me learn the feel of controlling his tempo more with my seat and forces him to respect my right rein half halt.
On top of that exercise, I also began riding without stirrups. I remember a time where I loved seat lessons and no stirrup work... oh wait, that was back when I was riding my super smooth pony, not a 17h big-strided dressage horse lol. So for the first time, I braved no stirrups on Livingston and let me tell you, it was quite the laughable ride. I just wanted the ride to be over, but when I could feel Livingston solely responding to my seat, I decided to make no stirrup work part of my training. Heck, I should have started that sooner... maybe a year ago haha
So as our winter training came to a close and I now am preparing for the first recognized show of the year, I can't help but think about all that I have learned these past few months and how much has improved since Festival of Champions last fall. I feel like I have a new and improved horse under me and I am looking forward to our first outing down the centerline this weekend. Feel free to send some prayers our way!
For instance: counter canter. For some horses, it is detrimental to their quality of gaits because they lack the balance and respect for the half halt to rebalance them. For Livingston the counter canter is an underrated exercise that works wonders. Here's how it works. I start off in the left lead. Then I use my right rein to be sure he's responding to the half halt and "give" on my left rein so he absolutely cannot hold himself up on that rein. By being clear and "heavy" in my seat, I am able to keep the left lead and not let him change leads or quicken. I can then add counter flexions and true flexions which increase the suppleness and the evenness in both reins. This has turned into my favorite exercise because it allows me access to both sides of his neck and jaw and let's me learn the feel of controlling his tempo more with my seat and forces him to respect my right rein half halt.
On top of that exercise, I also began riding without stirrups. I remember a time where I loved seat lessons and no stirrup work... oh wait, that was back when I was riding my super smooth pony, not a 17h big-strided dressage horse lol. So for the first time, I braved no stirrups on Livingston and let me tell you, it was quite the laughable ride. I just wanted the ride to be over, but when I could feel Livingston solely responding to my seat, I decided to make no stirrup work part of my training. Heck, I should have started that sooner... maybe a year ago haha
So as our winter training came to a close and I now am preparing for the first recognized show of the year, I can't help but think about all that I have learned these past few months and how much has improved since Festival of Champions last fall. I feel like I have a new and improved horse under me and I am looking forward to our first outing down the centerline this weekend. Feel free to send some prayers our way!
Other exciting news:
Anne Miller, from Mane Stream Music, Gert, and myself, have a surprise in regards to my freestyle which has been revamped! I had a blast riding it at the EPA Dressage Rally!
There are 16, yes SIXTEEN, Young Riders declared for Region 1 for the North American Young Rider Championships held in Kentucky mid-July. I never even thought that would be possible, but I am doing my best not to get overwhelmed by the competition and trust that we will be where we are meant to be. As long as I am fully present and focus on the details, I know that I will finish my test with confidence.
There's always something in life that stops you and brings you to remember what is most important. I hope everyone can keep Steffen and Shannon Peters and all of their students and horses in your prayers. They have evacuated all 65 of their horses due to the forest fires that are surrounding their Del Mar farm in California. They have given so much to boost American dressage, sending them prayers for their safety is a simple act of kindness we can do to show our gratitude.
