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!