"Summertime and the living is easy." - Porgy and Bess
What a lie! Summertime means soaring temperatures, constant re-scheduling and summer camps. There's nothing easy about it. Enter the micro-ride: My new term for squeezing in 15-40 minutes with Matilda whenever I can. She actually seems to enjoy them. They consist of 5-10 minute warm up and cool down periods with 10-20 minutes of walk, trot, canter and/or jumping depending on the day and how we feel.
There's been a lot going on for us since my last post two months ago. For a while it seemed that the whole falling apart into a rushy canter (what I considered running away with me) was becoming a semi-regular happening. It happened just enough to become, happily, a non-event rather than some kind of epic life altering moment.
I discovered, however, that there is a fine line between confidence and stupidity the day that I had a beautiful ride on Matilda; one I wanted to end with a few steps of canter. As soon as I asked, she fell apart and raced down the side of the arena. I brought her down to a trot but let it make me mad- I really wanted those steps of canter. So I asked again, more racing, brought her down and then asked again to be met with more racing. Somewhere in the back of my head I knew this was not working but I was really proud of myself for not freaking out and panicking. It was when I saw that Kim had left her young student to help me that I came to my senses and realized that for all intents and purposes I was continually asking Matilda to be slightly out of control. She just wasn't with me on this one. I was riding through it fine (confidence) but she wasn't learning what it was I actually wanted and I was positioning us for an accident (stupidity). I stopped what I was doing at that point and decided to take a moment to think through what was going on and strategize my next move.
In stepping back and mentally reviewing what had been happening over the course of several weeks, I saw that, when I asked for a canter transition, Matilda was giving me a nice canter or a rushy run off depending on her frame of mind but not necessarily distinguishing the two. My sense was that I was not effectively communicating to her which was right, which was what I wanted, so I was getting whatever she was in the mood to throw at me. The question I had to ask myself was how to tell her very clearly which one I actually wanted?
I had to go back to the beginning of course: the click. I had been hesitant to use the click for the canter because I envisioned her picking up a canter, me clicking, followed by an abrupt stop (to get her reward) as I flew not so gracefully over her head. The prospect made me nervous to say the least. I was also concerned that I would create a habit for her of taking a step of canter then immediately stopping. This didn't happen with the trot so I'm not really sure why I thought it would happen here. Just nerves. Higher stakes.
The day came to try and she felt good. We did a lot of walk/trot work, a lot of listening exercises and she was with me. I finally asked for the canter and got the one I wanted. After about 5 smooth steps, I clicked and watched her ears flip back as I squeezed the reins and she slowed gently. We did the same thing going in the other direction. That day I think we repeated the exercise one more time in each direction before beginning our cool down.
I don't ask for a lot of canter. Only when I feel like we are really in sync, like she is really listening and we are moving together... simpatico. Since that day, the first day I clicked for the canter, every time I have asked for it, I have gotten it. Beautifully.
These days when we canter, I can add leg to keep her going through a corner, or half halts, to slow her down, without the canter breaking down into a trot or rushing forward. We are getting a little more control, a little better balance, each time we try. Sometimes I click and reward, sometimes I don't, just to keep things interesting.
It's hard work and my little drama queen let's me know how she would prefer to spend her time. This is after a "grueling" 30 minute ride. She just couldn't hold herself up any longer I suppose.
In addition, Matilda and I have been working on our jumping together. I took a loooong hiatus from working on jumping and am slowly easing my way back into it one small step at a time. Matilda is a natural and a good teacher, carrying me easily and allowing me to make my mistakes as my body tries to remember how to hold itself and when to release. All in all, we are just having a blast together... when we have time together.
And now, I would like to introduce you to Plum. She is an adorable pony that I am trying to take on. She has been ridden and trained for years by a brilliant teenager who is going away this fall to an equestrian school. Plum is still too quick to enter the schooling program. She needs to be ridden and worked and have her education continued as she learns to listen and slows herself down. Kim has agreed to let me work with her and I am thrilled at the prospect. If I can do anything like what I have been able to do with my sweet Matilda, this experience, my philosophies and entire life up to this point will be affirmed. HA! That's a little too much weight for this little one to carry but you get my drift.
I was more excited the week before last however. Between camp and storms I only rode each horse about 20 minutes all week. Kind of takes the excitement out of a new job when there is no time to do the work for 2-3 weeks. It'll happen and I think I am really going to be able to help Plum make the transition to a school horse. I can't wait to try, that's for sure!!
During my few times on Plum, I've discovered that she is super quick and not so good at listening to me. Then she reminded me I have to breathe and helped me to understand that I need to focus on her and what we are doing - not allow myself to get so introspective and over-analyze while I am riding. She's got so much to teach me. I know that already.
Last week, while I wasn't riding, I spent some time relaxing in the paddock watching Matilda and giving her good scratches or simply trying to gain Plum's trust. That one needs some work. I enjoyed sitting back and watching Matilda's creativity and suppleness as she reached under the fence for that grass.
This week should provide more opportunities for riding and maybe there will be more stories to share! Until next time~ Shorter rides, smaller horses: Big opportunities!
What a lie! Summertime means soaring temperatures, constant re-scheduling and summer camps. There's nothing easy about it. Enter the micro-ride: My new term for squeezing in 15-40 minutes with Matilda whenever I can. She actually seems to enjoy them. They consist of 5-10 minute warm up and cool down periods with 10-20 minutes of walk, trot, canter and/or jumping depending on the day and how we feel.
There's been a lot going on for us since my last post two months ago. For a while it seemed that the whole falling apart into a rushy canter (what I considered running away with me) was becoming a semi-regular happening. It happened just enough to become, happily, a non-event rather than some kind of epic life altering moment.
I discovered, however, that there is a fine line between confidence and stupidity the day that I had a beautiful ride on Matilda; one I wanted to end with a few steps of canter. As soon as I asked, she fell apart and raced down the side of the arena. I brought her down to a trot but let it make me mad- I really wanted those steps of canter. So I asked again, more racing, brought her down and then asked again to be met with more racing. Somewhere in the back of my head I knew this was not working but I was really proud of myself for not freaking out and panicking. It was when I saw that Kim had left her young student to help me that I came to my senses and realized that for all intents and purposes I was continually asking Matilda to be slightly out of control. She just wasn't with me on this one. I was riding through it fine (confidence) but she wasn't learning what it was I actually wanted and I was positioning us for an accident (stupidity). I stopped what I was doing at that point and decided to take a moment to think through what was going on and strategize my next move.
In stepping back and mentally reviewing what had been happening over the course of several weeks, I saw that, when I asked for a canter transition, Matilda was giving me a nice canter or a rushy run off depending on her frame of mind but not necessarily distinguishing the two. My sense was that I was not effectively communicating to her which was right, which was what I wanted, so I was getting whatever she was in the mood to throw at me. The question I had to ask myself was how to tell her very clearly which one I actually wanted?
I had to go back to the beginning of course: the click. I had been hesitant to use the click for the canter because I envisioned her picking up a canter, me clicking, followed by an abrupt stop (to get her reward) as I flew not so gracefully over her head. The prospect made me nervous to say the least. I was also concerned that I would create a habit for her of taking a step of canter then immediately stopping. This didn't happen with the trot so I'm not really sure why I thought it would happen here. Just nerves. Higher stakes.
The day came to try and she felt good. We did a lot of walk/trot work, a lot of listening exercises and she was with me. I finally asked for the canter and got the one I wanted. After about 5 smooth steps, I clicked and watched her ears flip back as I squeezed the reins and she slowed gently. We did the same thing going in the other direction. That day I think we repeated the exercise one more time in each direction before beginning our cool down.
I don't ask for a lot of canter. Only when I feel like we are really in sync, like she is really listening and we are moving together... simpatico. Since that day, the first day I clicked for the canter, every time I have asked for it, I have gotten it. Beautifully.
These days when we canter, I can add leg to keep her going through a corner, or half halts, to slow her down, without the canter breaking down into a trot or rushing forward. We are getting a little more control, a little better balance, each time we try. Sometimes I click and reward, sometimes I don't, just to keep things interesting.
 |
| Poor Baby |
In addition, Matilda and I have been working on our jumping together. I took a loooong hiatus from working on jumping and am slowly easing my way back into it one small step at a time. Matilda is a natural and a good teacher, carrying me easily and allowing me to make my mistakes as my body tries to remember how to hold itself and when to release. All in all, we are just having a blast together... when we have time together.
And now, I would like to introduce you to Plum. She is an adorable pony that I am trying to take on. She has been ridden and trained for years by a brilliant teenager who is going away this fall to an equestrian school. Plum is still too quick to enter the schooling program. She needs to be ridden and worked and have her education continued as she learns to listen and slows herself down. Kim has agreed to let me work with her and I am thrilled at the prospect. If I can do anything like what I have been able to do with my sweet Matilda, this experience, my philosophies and entire life up to this point will be affirmed. HA! That's a little too much weight for this little one to carry but you get my drift. I was more excited the week before last however. Between camp and storms I only rode each horse about 20 minutes all week. Kind of takes the excitement out of a new job when there is no time to do the work for 2-3 weeks. It'll happen and I think I am really going to be able to help Plum make the transition to a school horse. I can't wait to try, that's for sure!!
During my few times on Plum, I've discovered that she is super quick and not so good at listening to me. Then she reminded me I have to breathe and helped me to understand that I need to focus on her and what we are doing - not allow myself to get so introspective and over-analyze while I am riding. She's got so much to teach me. I know that already.
Last week, while I wasn't riding, I spent some time relaxing in the paddock watching Matilda and giving her good scratches or simply trying to gain Plum's trust. That one needs some work. I enjoyed sitting back and watching Matilda's creativity and suppleness as she reached under the fence for that grass.
This week should provide more opportunities for riding and maybe there will be more stories to share! Until next time~ Shorter rides, smaller horses: Big opportunities!
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