Of Self Carriage and Collection

The major pearl of wisdom from the Bushager award: if I had to choose only one facet of the entire immersion period, it would be Delphi's weekly schooling by a professional. Having Karen Brown ride Delphi on a regular basis was the single most important aspect of both Delphi's and my own learning and improvement. The consistent guidance of a qualified expert is the best, and probably only, way for a horse to move up the levels. My thanks to Karen! (Que the Jefferson's theme music.)

Click here to read my Bushager grant immersion program article, also published in the HDS "Collective Remarks" (see page 27).
The following photos from the immersion program relate to the article:

Giving the rein to allow self carriage:

Karen Brown schooling Delphi. Note the supple poll, which is the highest point:

Active hindquarters jumping under in canter, displaying relative elevation. My hands could be raised to allow Delphi to be more supple through the poll:

For the related entry, click here.

Shoulder In, Finally!

Today I finally "got it" for shoulder in, with the following exercise:
Begin on a large circle in normal trot. Do shoulder out around the circle with the horse flexed to the outside. Rhythmically step down into the "inside" (of the bend) stirrup, with your leg at or in front of the girth, to "hook" your leg into and around the horse. Then go on a short straight line from the circle, where you will be in shoulder in to the outside of the circle. Then continue around the circle in shoulder out, interspersed with period of straight line of shoulder in to the "outside." Voila, we finally got a "very good" shoulder in! Thank goodness for great trainers who give us just the exercises we need to learn!

"WOW" Medium Trot, and Beware the Heat

During our lesson we had a couple very nice medium trot lengthenings. Our shoulder in continues to improve; keeping my eyes focused on my endpoint, sitting rhythmically to keep a lively tempo, activating the inside hind (with leg and whip) to move the hindquarters away and keep Delphi into the outside rein, and insisting Delphi stay engaged and on the bit are all key.
A side note to Southerners and Houstonians in particular: remember to hydrate before, during, and after exertion in this above 100 degree heat (yesterday we had actual temperature of 105). We all know this but the morning of my lesson I popped out of bed and had my normal granola bar and cup of coffee; no water, little protein. Then I proceed to the barn where I chose NOT to ride in the indoor arena (my excuse was I like the 20 x 60 grid and the forwardness of the outdoor) and after 45 minutes of intenese schooling (neglecting to hydrate), like a Southern Belle I nearly fainted clean away after the dismount. After Karen and Patricia gave my face and neck an ice bath, removed my boots and socks, and re-hydrated me I was fine. The moral of the story is hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, and EAT SOMETHING! Karen's secret weapon: electrolyte packets you can stash in your tack trunk and easily mix with water for an electrolyte and B-12 boost just when you're getting ready to pass out from the heat (available at most drugstores). Be careful out there!

Keep the Connection

In order to keep Delphi connected and on the bit, I must keep my elbows firmly by my side with my hands in the "box" and use my torso to half halt. (Almost as though I'm holding a dumbell rod and using my core to keep my hands "up" in the correct position.) The half halt can and should be firm and strong, and after Delphi softens I should allow her to stretch to the bit but remember that at this stage I should immediately repeat the process to keep her connected. Keeping my knees soft with my legs back and knees pointing downward helps maintain impulsion. Keep a forward tempo by bending Delphi in then activating the inside hind.

Shoulder In Again

Delphi and I are trying to master the shoulder in, a seemingly simple yet for us hard to attain maneuver. In keeping the horse in the outside rein, the outside rein must not move forward, yet should remain elastic and giving to allow the correct amount of inside bend from the inside rein. Once the angle and bend are established, you can easily give the inside rein in uberstreichen. Yet when initially establishing the bend, the outside rein must allow enough freedom to bend around the inside. I should not allow Delphi to leave the track or circle in an attempt to evade the shoulder in; rather, I should keep her on the track or even halt and start again. To keep a lively tempo, spring with your seat and step down into the inside stirrup. Remember to always look up at a target point where you're going.

Happy Dance!

Tempi Changes on Fee