Jeff Moore Clinic

Rijkens and I had three absolutely fabulous lessons with Jeff Moore this weekend at Belle Terre Farm.  We have some tools and tricks to improve half pass, canter pirouette, canter to walk or halt transitions, ten meter circles, and flying changes.

Video highlights from our second lesson:

The Beat Goes On

Rijkens, our trainer Karen Brown, and I have had excellent schoolings this week.  In-hand work where Rijkens simple-sidles (does shoulder-in) along the long side then quarter turns around the forehand have really improved both his lateral work and his response the the whip aid.  Karen has insisted I use a clearly recognizable (to Rijkens) "go" button: ask with the tiniest forward sweep of heel; if he jumps forward into impulsion that is a yes; if any other response of "no go" then immediately the whip already, in such a way as he remembers it for next time.  This has improved Rijkens certainly but more importantly has improved my understanding of the aiding system.

Some pearls from Karen after her two rides on Rijkens this week:

• The GO button (as above) must be installed and adhered to for canter as well as all other gaits
• To improve his response in canter, school a canter quarter turn the GO button out in canter; school canter, then GO canter, collect, extend until the GO button is automatic in canter
• To teach quality half pass in trot, first be sure to be well flexed (over-flexed for me) to the inside and half halt on the outside rein to "throw" his haunches over to the inside; teach him the half halt on the outside rein means get your haunches over to the inside (remember to be overflexed inside) then when he throws his haunches over let go

 My outside leg is too far back, the leg should only go back three inches or less; a half halt up should raise Rijkens' center of mass up and back:

 Better uphill balance but rather than leaning right I need to sit up quietly and keep my elbows down:

 Better quietness with my upper body and my leg should hang in a draped, relaxed way:

 Karen schooling half pass left; note good crossing of hindlegs and good bend in both photos:

 

Half pass right:

 

A short clip of Karen schooling Rijkens:

Camp Highlights

Belle Terre Winter Camp was the completion of Rijkens' recent six week session with Lurena Bell.

Here are some video highlights of us at camp:

Busy Boy

Rijkens is at Belle Terre Farm enjoying a six week boot camp with Lurena Bell.  With aspirations to show at fourth and Prix St Georges in the new year, we are spending this winter in focused training.

Included in the winter schooling are two clinics with Jeff Moore, weekly lessons with Lurena Bell, and our ongoing apprenticeship with Karen Brown.  Also Rijkens audited the Charles deKunffy clinic from his paddock and I got to audit five rides on the first day of the deKunffy clinic.

After just a few sessions with Lurena Rijkens has improved.  Side-ways jumping canter half passes, sweeping trot half passes in perfect alignment, improved collection in canter, and raised withers in medium gates  were the benefits of Lurena's guidance during my lesson this week.  Rijkens is THAT much fun to ride, and even that much more fun to ride when he is so responsive after being regularly schooled by an FEI trainer.

A couple of candids from today's session with Lurena:

The saga continues!

Homework

This week my homework assignment is to allow my knee and thigh to be relaxed (rather than pinching or gripping with my upper leg) so that I can make better use of my leg and seat aids.  To do this I must go as far as lifting my leg off Rijkens and then keep my knee softly hanging once I return my leg to normal position.

Also, I must continue to give the inside rein, especially in counter canter so that Rijkens' whole body can stay supple and through.


Had an AB FAB ride on Lola today.  What a horse.  What a girl.  What a mare!  It's been a couple months since I've ridden a Trakehner mare and my ride on Lola today reminded me how fun it is!

Lola using her shoulder:

 Rijkens:

Rijkens:

A Few of My Favorite Things

 Prissy pretending to be nonchalant:

 The boy can bend his hocks:

Crystal Ball

Looking toward the future, we are continuing Tiede's longlining work.  I've always maintained that there is no magic bullet in dressage.  But if there were, in hand longlining would be it.

Tiede is developing strength to maintain self carriage and is establishing instant obedience and better balance in canter. 

Uphill trot with good use of his Fresian neck:

There are many instants with Tiede where we can glimpse his future and see the grand prix horse in there.  Here is one such moment:

So Much Work

Rijkens and I are continuing to get a feel for each other.  During our lesson today at Belle Terre with Lurena Bell, we worked on suppling and throughness exercises that included shoulder in, renvers, and travers.  I must be quick to give especially in the left rein, and it is Rijkens' responsibility to accept the right rein as well as the left.

Lurena reminded us that particularly while schooling, Rijkens should say "How much angle would that be?" for the shoulder in, renvers and travers. 

Travers:

 "How much angle would you like?"

Renvers:

 Rijkens finding the right rein:

 

Video clip of Lurena schooling Rijkens:

Longlining

I took the reins today with Tiede between the longlines.  We schooled transitions, turns, walking leg yields, collected trot and collected canter.  The immediate control over Tiede and his balance in self carriage was extremely satisfying.  Tiede's owner, my barn buddy Judy, was able to audit our lesson with Karen Brown today.

Here's a favorite photo of  trainer Jeff Moore longlining.  Note the horse's uphill balance, bending joints, and self carriage:

With Bells On

We arrived with no time to spare for our lesson with Lurena Bell at Belle Terre Farm today.  I pulled in, let the dogs pee, got the big guy off the trailer, tied him to the side, whipped his tack on and marched to the arena to go right into our lesson.  He handled it like the experienced, laid back champ that he is in a workmanlike yet relaxed style.

Transitions-- within gaits and paces and between gaits-- were our focus to begin the lesson.  On a six loop serpentine width of the arena Lurena reminded me that I, not Rijkens, choose the trot I desire.  In shoulder in I am to keep my position to aid but my leg hangs down.  If I feel the need to urge or kick or ad spur, then Rijkens earns a tap with the whip.

"The littlest canter ever" was practiced by Rijkens, where I really sat him down into a very collected canter.  If he broke to a walk that was just an excuse to school walk to canter transitions.  If he tried to convince me to use more driving leg he earned a visit from the riding stick.  From "littlest canter" we would go to a few extra-forward steps (not really medium canter but thinking that way) back to a few littlest canter steps, and back-and-forth; up to six or more times on the long side or three times on the short side.  Muchas transitions.

Again in half pass I positioned my aids but allowed my legs to hang.  If I felt I had to push with my leg Lurena said I should actually take my leg completely off by hinging it away from Rijkens, then crack his rib, once.  Then he decided "Oh you mean really I need to be moving sideways? OK."

In canter half pass Lurena explained that unlike in trot half pass where the horse sweeps sideways, the horse rather makes a series of single jumps sideways in each canter stride.  In schooling I am allowed to make the half pass (in trot or canter) "messy" by asking for extra bend and being very quick in the gives.

It was especially obvious that I need to be vigilant in being quick to soften on the left rein, whether it is the inside or outside rein.  Also I must allow my right leg to hang down and even swing my leg away from Rijkens' body, or use the whip, rather than be tempted to nag with constant small driving leg aids.  As Lurena reminded me, I will reserve my leg aids for Grand Prix when I really need them for things like piaffe and passage.  Otherwise my legs should be quietly hanging; it is Rijkens job not only to carry me, but to travel in self carriage as well.

A hard day's work earns a relaxing grazing session back at home.

Obermeister is Back!

Three questions.  Three simple answers.  At THE BARN today with Karen Brown. *Cheers of joy!*

Q: Concerning canter pirouette, what should a correct pirouette feel like, and should one attempt to school it alone on a trained horse?

A: A canter pirouette feels like the horse, from a haunches in position, jumps in very collected canter strides around a very small circle described by the horse's hind legs.  The sensation of each canter stride is "canter in place" but the jump must be maintained in the gait.  Only when one has sufficient mastery of riding full canter pirouette (by understanding completely the process through having mastered it by repetition preferably over an acceptable amount of time on multiple horses in front of a knowledgeable trainer) should one attempt to school it alone.  In my case it is best for me to school quarter pirouettes in collected canter while riding a square, as previously learned with Delphi: canter a very straight line, then bring the outside leg back only slightly and and have the horse carry the shoulders around the haunches-- one stride, two strides-- of canter pirouette, then canter straight ahead again and repeat the process while describing, for example, a 20 meter diamond configured square. 

Q: What's an exercise that will help improve canter half pass?

A: Do NOT school endless lines of half pass and think this will somehow improve-- it won't and has the potential to make things worse.  Rather practice moving the shoulders and the haunches around a large circle (as described earlier).  For canter, school haunches in along the wall: in collected canter keep the horse's haunches bent around your inside leg with the haunches in.  If you were to nail an imaginary yardstick to the star on your horse's forehead, the yardstick would be directly perpendicular to the arena wall with the horse's body bent around your inside leg in a C shape.  Balance the exercise by returning to an absolutely straight canter (by allowing a return to straightness by softening the inside rein), then ride shoulder fore in canter, then straighten, then haunches in and so on.  Guard against whipping back and forth speedily from haunches in to shoulder fore; rather intentionally school a phase of straight canter between each. 

Q: Transitions!  Help me for the love of all that's holy! 

A: In canter, think of riding with a dot painted on the outside of your hip, just below your belt and straight up from your stirrup.  The dot will move in a circular motion in canter.  For a transition to collected canter, cause the dot to move more up and down in a vertical oval shape.  For a transition to trot/walk/halt spring up, up, up in the saddle drawing the horse's withers up to your seat into a soft transition to the gait (or halt) into which you ride forward.  Guard against stiffness by allowing elasticity and softening in your forearms and by being quick to give in the reins.

Victory

Our first off campus date together at Belle Terre Farm was a success.  Rijkens and I learned together at our two day mini clinic with Lurena Bell, then followed up by doing well at third level in the schooling show on the final day.  We now feel confident to go out and conquer at the bigger rated shows!

 Rijkens was relaxed and happy.

The take home message?  I must be "busy" at staying relaxed and supple in my own body.

Tough

Training horses is easy.

Learning to train horses is VERY hard.

The things I know that I know how to train a horse to do, such as trailer loading, in-hand work, or shoulder-in for example, come simply and seemingly effortlessly for horses I've worked with.  The struggle for me is learning to teach a horse the things that I haven't yet taught multiple horses to do.  Yes I could write a lecture on how to get a horse to do these things but I'm finding in the actual lab of the arena it is sometimes tough to create and maintain the alchemy of balance and harmony.

However I persist in my study of the art and science of training, and my horses continue to instruct me how to best educate them.  Of course the diligent and intentional instruction from competent horsemen/women who have multiple years on multiple horses of experience is indispensable.

Shoulders and Haunches

...are what we focused on in our lesson with Karen Brown today.  Specifically intended to sharpen Rijkens' half pass, the exercise of moving the shoulders over then activating the (in the case of half pass) outside hind to bring the haunches in.

It works like this: develop good impulsion and self-carriage in trot on a circle.  Then counter flex to the outside of the circle and carry the shoulders toward toward the inside of the circle ("in").  When that is crisp ask for steps of haunches in (toward the outside of, or away from, the circle); this is like half pass around a circle.  If/when Rijkens "falls" on his shoulder I again ask him to carry his shoulders in.

Key for me is absolutely insisting that Rijkens maintains energy and impulsion, thus maintaining through-ness and self-carriage on his part.

The gleam in my eye:

The Back as a Sensory Organ

Especially important in transitions, cultivating the back as a sensory organ is necessary for me to ride Rijkens, Tiede, and indeed all horses in harmony and with finesse.  Today during our lesson with Karen Brown we worked on "pushing into the glass wall" with my half halts-- that is using my back and pressing my elbows down.  For transitions I use my seat to spring up up up into the transition which allows me to fluidly go with the horse, and communicates to the horse through his back to make the transition (rather than using the reins).  A simple, and elegant lesson. 

Baby Boy

What a treat it was to get these precious baby photos in the mail from Rijkens' birth mom who still owns Rijkens' dam Ladybug.  Here they are together when Rijkens was about four months old.

Excellent conformation even as a baby: 

 Adorable face:

 Nice neck, even then; Rijkens still rocks the punk mane look:

 Cuteness defined:

Though these photos show he does look a lot like his mom Ladybug, there is no denying Rijkens is a true son of his sire Rantares.  Here is Rantares with Cheryl Kellerman, Rijkens' breeder and first trainer:

Peace

Mondays are becoming my favorite days of the week.  Typically the day off for horses and horse-folk, Monday 'round the barn is very peaceful.  No trainers, almost never any boarders, only Rijkens' quiet grooms are around and we have the whole place to ourselves and we can move at whatever pace we choose.  Today I rode Rijkens in the outdoor dressage court during an unexpected but luxurious overcast and breezy several minutes of cool-ish weather before it rained.  Among other things we schooled canter transitions, counter canter, and collected and extended canter.  Once we established maintaining the same canter lead, we progressed to changes of lead on straight lines.  I did not count strides as in the tempis, rather changed leads three times on each straight line when the canter was sufficiently balanced, uphill, and collected.  Rijkens and I really communicated today and were able to achieve harmony.

 

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  John 14:27

Allowing Lightness

Rijkens is definitely uphill, light and springy.  My job is to keep the engagement and and continue to lift and lighten with my aids.  Snapshots from our lesson today:

Video clip of Karen Brown schooling Rijkens:

Fiver

Each of the five horses I schooled today were absolute pumpkins.  Here's a one-word description of every pony today:

Rose: intelligent
Apashia: easy
Rijkens: advance
Juno: flying
Rocky: through

As my trainer Karen would say, it's been a red letter day.

Bonus: we had a good break in the rain and all the horses enjoyed their paddock time today.

Snapshots for the Scrapbook

Rijkens schooling in Florida:

Medium trot:

 Jump in canter?

 Collection:

 Piaffe:

Bending the hocks:

 Lest we begin to think he is a unicorn, yes he does have the occasional opinion:

 But oh how I love, love, love him!

Show Off

Today during our ride my barn buddy Racine was schooling her lovely Dutch warmblood mare at the same time I was working Rijkens.  While we were both at the free walk on the buckle she asked "So what can he do?"  Now I don't think she was baiting me but rather making polite conversation when this elegant German rider questioned "Can he do piaffe?"  My response was "Er, ah, um well yeah, but--- you know I only just got on him and it wouldn't really be fair to ask..." my voice trailed off as she raised her eyebrows.  I mean yeah my pony is trained but I'm no Grand Prix rider after all...

But then I thought let's just see here: so I shortened the reins to collected walk and with my body and aids said Energy! Tone! GET some energy.

Rijkens lifted into a bee-you-tee-ful piaffe and as I gave the rein lofted forward into passage.  It only lasted a few moments as I threw the buckle at him and made big fuss.  I had one of those superstitious moments where you look over your shoulder since you just can't believe it's happening.  Yeah, this is going to be fun.

Rijkens' earliest attempts schooling piaffe with his first trainer Cheryl Kellerman: 

Lead Up

My barn buddy Lisa recently made a comment about how she wished all horses could be brought along kindly and by generous owners, and I wholeheartedly share that wish.
When I was in the throes of searching for a suitable FEI horse, there were many spectacular moments on Rijkens' sales videos: canter pirouettes, sweeping trot and canter half pass, piaffe, passage that were fancy and flashy and made me want to see more.  But the following is an excerpt from his sales video that made me almost certain, even before I ever visited Rijkens in Michigan and rode him for three days, that I wanted to know him.  In this short clip witness Rijkens' first trainer (and breeder, and his first owner's best friend) school Rijkens' earliest attempts at the two tempis.  No, it isn't perfect and he struggles a bit.  What captured me is that Cheryl gives a big accolade for effort and "makes much" of her horse for really trying.  Oh-- and all in a plain snaffle.  Yes, that was the moment I realized this horse was for me.

Shopping

Had my first lesson today on Rijkens with Karen Brown, and Karen rode him the last few minutes of the session.  When the rider lifts, lightens, and gives and reminds him to keep his hindquarter active Rijkens is happy to remain supple and in self carriage with an uphill balance; if however the rider allows him to be heavy toward his forehand, he's equally happy to comply.  There will be much activating the inside hind, simple sidle, and turns around the haunches and forehand in Rijkens' near future.  WHAT FUN he was today-- and it was cool seeing Karen pilot him.

In the meantime I'm doing my part to uphold the economy by online and local shopping to the nth degree.  One would think I'd have all the essential equipment on hand but no, it turns our there are a myriad items that need to be acquired.  (Well okay maybe, as Clint Eastwood said "NEED's got nothin' to do with it.")

An oversize fly mask complete with his name embroidered had to be procured.  Of course the double bridle has been ordered and a new show/clinic pad with his name and Holsteiner brand.  A tack trunk nameplate including his breed logo is coming in the mail.  New salt licks-- both traditional and Himalayan.  A personalized supplement regime has been implemented including daily dewormer, Cosequin, and an electrolyte/mineral.  He's on Fast Track probiotic during his acclimation period as a safeguard in his new diet transition.  Zimectrin gold paste as a start-up for his daily dewormer and as a preventative against summer sores.  Two varieties of fly spray-- sweat proof and citronella scented.

Still to be decided upon are the sports medicine boots-- we know the size but what color?  White would look so fancy but black is more conservative and would blend better.  A nice new Baker halter for daily use to match his Baker cross-ties, or invest in a quality leather show halter and just keep using the good leather sale halter he arrived in?  These and more are the important decisions Rijkens and I have been contemplating.

Rijkens-- hopeful that his every need will be met.

A Moment in Time

Rode the big guy for the first time in his new home arena today.  He was spectacular.  All I can say is if one could bottle the feeling I got in that moment, heroin would be a thing of the past. 

We schooled collected trot and collected canter, simple sidle in walk and trot, collected shoulder in, and walk to canter transitions.  He was absolutely brilliant and was as sharp to the aids as though he'd been being schooled by a pro these last several weeks rather than standing in a paddock with his buddies-- which is what he's been doing in Michigan until a couple days ago.  We schooled in the snaffle today and Karen Brown has an array of bridoon and weymouth bits to try on him once his double bridle arrives in the mail.

Last night while I was hand grazing him the mares were being turned out and proceeded to gallop around.  Rijkens offered passage in hand-- and while I know he was just being exuberant (my new pony couldn't possibly be being naughty) it was still pretty cool.  And watching him overstride by several large hoofprints even in his lollygag-down-the-barn-aisle walk brings a whole new sense of satisfaction in a horse. 

*sigh*  The honeymoon begins!

Hand grazing this morning just before our first at-home ride.  What a dumpling!

Full Circle

Rijkens, Carrie and Delphi.  Delphi went to her new home on the same transport in which Rijkens arrived.

Rijkens (pronounced "RYE-kens") the new wonder-pony is here!  We've fitted him with an appropriate snaffle bridle and I lunged and did some in-hand work with him today.  He was completely relaxed and nonplussed in the new arena yet was very keen.  Suspension in trot and canter- what!  I plan on riding him tomorrow in the snaffle while we wait for his double bridle to arrive in the mail.  Tuesday I'll have my first lesson on him with Karen Brown.  As you can imagine I'm over the moon!

Delphi arriving later the same day at Lyndon Rife's farm near Dallas with her new mom Tammy.

We've Had a Great Run, Pumpkin

Is it possible to feel equally happy and sad in the same moment?  It must be because it is with equal parts delight and sorrow that I announce Delphinia has found a new home.  Congratulations to Tammy McGowen on the acquisition of her new dressage partner.  My heart is so grateful that Delphi is going to such a good home.  Delphi will be living at and under the tutelage of Lyndon Rife Dressage near Dallas, Texas.
I owe a debt of gratitude to Delphi for all that she's taught me; so much friendship; so many fun memories.  I know her new owner Tammy will love her, grow with her, and learn from her just as I have over these past seven years I have been fortunate enough to spend with Delphinia.

Some of my best and most memorable moments have been with Delphinia during these past seven years.  Here we are at our last show together in March 2012:

It's been a wonderful journey Delphinia!