tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191908757122382923.post5688976880299046922..comments2013-12-02T12:49:03.595-08:00Comments on Sofie Learns Dressage: Some Lessons Are HardMeghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295839865379604318noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191908757122382923.post-408034851577350152010-03-14T11:04:53.637-07:002010-03-14T11:04:53.637-07:00Hehe, long tangents are fine! I think the main iss...Hehe, long tangents are fine! I think the main issue was that all the factors set us up for failure, not success. Sofie was "off" from her fall. I wasn't confident. I hadn't asked her for the canter in many months. We were in the indoor, where she has no desire to canter because she's just going to run into the corner way too soon anyway. AND I asked for the canter near the end of an hour + ride. All of this set us up to FAIL, not succeed.<br /><br />Before we try to do any canter work, I'm going to need to get Sofie to wait for and be obedient to my leg aids, as well as my seat/rein aids. When I put her back to work after her time off to grow sole, I would let her decide if she wanted to canter, since her fitness was still developing, and I got into the habit of just allowing her to pick up the canter on her own, which worked fine until she stopped listening to me, like, at all. Like I said, training fail on my part, but our last session on the driveway was promising. My first goal is to be able to walk her around the yard without having her break into a trot. Then we'll incorporate some trot work, and once the trot is solid, we'll think about cantering. My mom will also work her on the longeline, which should help with obedience and get her to automatically pick up the canter from a voice command.<br /><br />I appreciate any input, since as of right now I don't have a trainer. I'm just not happy with any of the local trainers I have access to. I liked some things about the trainer I just tried out, but I did NOT like how she disregarded what I told her about my horse, and her attitude toward my horse wasn't the best. I know Sofie wasn't exactly a perfect angel, but she automatically assumed it was just a mare problem/bad attitude, and didn't seem to think I should consider a physical issue as the potential cause. And some of the things she told me about her own horse (like, that he tries to buck her off during EVERY ride) were kind of disturbing to me.Meghanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01295839865379604318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191908757122382923.post-65363670160893703862010-03-13T15:18:25.261-08:002010-03-13T15:18:25.261-08:00Sorry, this is going to be dreadfully long!
I was...Sorry, this is going to be dreadfully long!<br /><br />I was - and still kind of am - in your position. Greta loved to go fast, so I was afraid to canter her because her polo-instincts kicked in and it was hard to even slow her down, much less steer her! She would get anxious to go at the trot as well. I would get really frustrated and angry. Finally my instructor and later my parents had a "come to Jesus" talk with me, telling me that I needed to <i>calm</i> down! The horse can definitely sense your frustration or, in your case, anxiety and they will definitely act on it. Greta noticed that I was angry, my heart rate up, and she was simply acting on my anger by getting anxious.<br /><br />I am <i>not</i> an expert, but it sounds like Sofie is taking advantage of you because she realize she can intimidate you, as I'm quite sure you've noticed! That's what horses do to each other in the pasture! I did a lot of ground-work with Greta and worked on relaxing, and it definitely reflected in the saddle. Don't let Sofie intimidate you! Be confident! Think about the good parts of the ride when you want to give up. Sofie will definitely noticed that happy, confident attitude and will hopefully reflect positively on it!<br /><br />Back to the canter haha! I found with Greta I just did a lot of trot work during our work-outs, and once she had a good trot going (it didn't have to be a beautiful, perfect 10 tot, just relaxed trot with a low poll and an focused demeanor) then I asked for a canter. It definitely wasn't amazing, but we just did large circles at one end of the arena until she felt a bit more relaxed and not so rushed, then immediately I let her trot then walk on a loose rein as a reward. We just did this every ride, and gradually she has begun to relax and be easier to control with my seat and less with my hands. We've been doing this routine for about three months now, and we're just now getting to a more relaxed canter. We'll keep up this routine. It'll take some time!<br /><br />Do what you are comfortable with, most importantly. Perhaps once you get some more confidence at the trot, then that will be the time to canter. While it is true that trot work reflects into the canter, don't put off the canter until you get a <i>perfect</i> trot. Do get a more responsive, relaxed trot, but it you'll never get the canter improved until you give it a try. Just a few large circles here and there at the end of a ride until you can build your confidence in that area as well. That's just an idea. If you do go along with it, you'll likely end up modifying it to your needs like I had to when I was told to that routine.<br /><br />But once again, do what you are comfortable with, what your trainer's comfortable with, and because you said Sofie seems "off" you definitely want to make sure it's what's Miss Sofie is comfortable with. I hope it's nothing physically wrong, just a mare-ish streak, and I hope you guys continue to progress and be buddies. Horses in general can be frustrating, but with enough patience and work, the end result will be an awesome bond in and out of the saddle.<br /><br />Hope that long tangent gave you some ideas!Dressagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04849960430806754249noreply@blogger.com