You know how in many puzzle images there are sections that are similar in color and it’s hard to know where pieces fit until you try them or compare their shape to your “holes”? Well, that’s how it’s been for me lately as I continue on my dressage learning path. But, today, I think I’ve seen the shape I need and I can now keep my eyes open for it as I keep puzzling, er, riding.
Since taking a couple weeks off in September to regroup, we are working on strengthening our training weaknesses, in particular, getting our flying lead changes correct before we do any more showing. When I signed us up for the show in September, I knew our changes weren’t ready for showing but I figured we needed to get out there and give it a shot and that was the best opportunity for us so I took it. (Glad I did – it worked out better than I could have hoped for.)
Last lesson, my instructor Chris Erbskorn helped me nail down where things were falling apart in the change. As part of his assessment, he rode to feel what exactly was happening. In addition to Roo’s desire to “help” by changing at the hint that we might want to change, he pointed out that I didn’t have Roo supple enough through the hips. So, he tackled that and then was able to get several clean, correct changes. I, however, was unable to get the change without that darned extra step. That left me with much suppling homework. I’m happy to report that in today’s lesson, with the aid of ground markers, I was able to get a clean change with jump and more power than I expected or could handle! Yippee! It can be done!
The suppling homework included walking turn on the forehand, leg yield, renvers/travers, shoulder in and “should in” in counter canter. The aim is to continue to build strength and improve flexibility so any exercises that cross the hind legs well under the body work. We did much of the renvers/traver as warm up in walk and walking turn on the forehand is also in walk.
For my part of this equation, I have been doing hip-opening yoga asanas. It only seems fair that I improve my strength and flexibility to keep up with Roo.
In addition, I had to start by breaking done my canter aid into a very clear communication with Roo. He wasn’t really trusting that I wanted to counter canter and was “helping” by changing at the suggestion that we might straighten a bit. All week we practiced the canter depart aid, first confirming straight through his body, then scooping with the inside seat bone while lifting/squeezing with the outside thigh for uphill departs. My description might not be easy to follow but Roo appreciates that we cleared that up. He’s now happy to give me counter canter in either direction and he is willing to hold it even when I make changes in his body’s bend.
We were well warmed up when Chris arrived today so we got right to work with counter canter and switching the body bend. That was easy enough on the circle but when I asked for the change, I couldn’t get enough oomph resulting in the dreaded trot step. Chris wanted me to dig deeper and really demand that Roo change which required me to give a fairly strong aid and get more forward before asking. Using a couple of the arena letters, he set up a narrow “L” for us to canter through (around?) to make a sharper than usual turn and that, along with the strong aid and forward thinking, did the trick. We struggled through a few attempts but then – success – one strong, clean change with jump and that power I couldn’t handle. I didn’t know Roo had that much engine! I will have to learn to sit through that power and allow him to use it without thinking he’s running away…
It’ll be a couple of weeks before I can get my next lesson, but I have “seen the shape” I need and will be looking for it at every opportunity between now and then. Fortunately, I really enjoy working this infinite-piece puzzle called dressage.
Horse Prints in Time 