David Blake Clinic

To straighten the horse in walk, ride the quarterlines in shoulder fore position.  Guard against the horse swinging his haunches right by almost always riding a bit shoulder fore.

In canter work, reward the horse by coming out of collected work into medium canter.  The horse begins to look forward to cantering medium out of collected work so you build up a pattern of always having more horse in collected work, rather than having to struggle to maintain the collected work.  Then during a test you can say (for example in a canter pirouette) "Now we will go medium canter" and then "No just kidding stay collected" and you still have a lot of horse there to access.

For engaged flying changes, supple the horse in the collected canter then let go of him just prior to the change.  Use your seat by your strong position and even swinging into him (think shake out your shoulders) to supple the horse with the saddle.

An exercise to supple the canter: from shoulder fore position in canter, think of riding even a slight renvers fore on the quarterline, but with small amount of angle.  Amazingly Rijkens can maintain this exercise with a huge amount of angle!  But less angle is sufficient and easier for the horse.

In the extended trot, David asked Andrea to let the reins go, even flop, a bit.  This had a freeing effect on Rijkens' shoulders while the rider continues the engagement with her strong position.

  
Rijkens saddling for his clinic lesson with David Blake.

Jan Ebeling Clinic

Notes from Rijkens' clinic lessons December 14-15 2013 with Jan Ebeling:

To improve suppleness, obedience, and strength, and to be able to access more or less giddyup or collection at a moment's notice, school every day accordion horse excercises: in regular working canter really collect for four strides (count them!) then let the horse go forward eight strides (count them!).  As Rijkens gains strength eventually increase the exercise to four collected strides, four extended strides.

During the warm up, indeed much of the time, in trot and canter ride slight shoulder fore with very little, almost none, bend in the neck.

During walk breaks and always in free walk, Rijkens should be marching briskly.  If he's not, remind him with the whip, then pat him when he marches.

To improve collection in the canter, spiral in from a large 20 meter circle to a 15 meter circle with several strides of very collected canter, then get out.  Then spiral in from a large 20 meter circle to a 10 meter volte of very collected canter, then get out.  Eventually this becomes a canter pirouette as the horse gains strength. 

Initially while schooling the pirouette canter, have very little bend and keep the horse's neck a little bit lower and rounder-- it is easier for the horse to school the exercise this way until he gains more strength to squat and carry the extreme collection and bend around the entire pirouette.  The rider's inside leg keeps the canter active in the pirouette, and there should be very little weight on the inside rein.  The rider's inside leg should be able to leg yield the horse out of the pirouette.

Tips concerning canter pirouettes: prepare getting more bend in the short side corner, then come onto the diagonal line almost to x.  When the horse's nose starts to cross the quarterline well before x, collect the horse with a lot of collection, so that the maximum amount of collection is achieved before the pirouette begins.  Once in pirouette with the horse's maximum collection point attained, even one ounce of pressure on the rein feels like 500 pounds to the horse so be very easy especially on the inside rein during the pirouette.  Again, the rider's inside leg keeps the canter active and should have the feel of being able to leg yield out at a moment's notice.

Counting tempi changes: all about the outside rein and rider's inside leg.  For example in the fours count strides: One, Two, Three then the fourth stride is the aid for the the change.  As in Outside Rein (that's One), Outside Rein (that's Two), Outside Rein (that's Three), then rider's new inside leg and new outside rein and the aid for the change (that's the Fourth stride and the change).  Then new Outside Rein (that's the new One), new Outside Rein (that's the new Two), new Outside Rein (that's the new Three) then back to the opposite outside rein and the rider's opposite inside leg and the aid for the change (that's the new Fourth stride and the change).

In the fours the count is "One, Two, Three, And.... One, Two, Three, And.... One, Two, Three, And...." with the "And" being the cue for the change.

In the threes the count is "One, Two, And.... One, Two, And.... One, Two, And...." again the "And" is the cue for the change.

So easy right!

Further schooling/training pearls:

Jan said he rides the test at least twice per week in the weeks leading up to a show, and that all test riders should ride the test at least that often.

Jan completely knows the entire test and counts the whole test stride for stride: for example in the Prix St Georges he knows that to get to X down centerline it takes exactly how many canter strides for that particular horse and he counts "One, Two, Three...." etc then the last two strides he counts "Collect, Collect, Halt."  Same for the pirouettes; he knows exactly how many canter strides out from the corner to get to his mark between H and X, and then how many canter strides in the 1/2 pirouette itself (3 or 4), and how many strides of counter canter back to H and how many more strides to the flying change at C, etceteras.

Jan said to school the accordion horse go-then-collect-go-then-collect exercise every day.  That way the horse is accustomed to the exercise and if you need more or less go or more or less collection (for example in a canter pirouette) you and the horse know exactly how to access it and are already doing this every day.

 Rijkens with two of his favorite trainers Andrea Attard and Jan Ebeling.

USEF fourth level test 1

FEI Prix St Georges test

Dressage Saddle For Sale

For sale: Albion SLK Ultima 18" seat wide tree dressage saddle in excellent used condition.  The gullet and channel are wide, with a cutback pommel that allows freedom of the shoulder and ample room for the withers.  Large thigh blocks and deep seat provide security.

Asking $2,500.  Located in Houston, Texas.  Email for more info.

*

* horse not included

Happy Trails

And I do mean happy!  After our arena schooling today we headed out for a hack, followed by hill work under the trees.  On this beautifully cloudless blue sky day, what could be better?  It was bliss.

Here's a short clip of the racetrack, which gives a glimpse of just how huge Twinwood really is:

Life at Twinwood

Rijkens and I are quickly becoming accustom to life at Twinwood.  The shredded reeboks footing has added percentage points to Rijkens' gait score! 

The level of care at Twinwood is really amazing: all three tackrooms are air conditioned, the multiple washracks are scrubbed with bleach, and a nice woman named Maria wipes down and dusts both the outside and inside of my individual tack closet.  Maria also broom sweeps the stalls for cobwebs every day.  No wonder the barn looks brand new.  Stalls, including both water buckets, are cleaned meticulously daily.  Rijkens has constant access to hay in his stall, which he is only in for 10 out of every 24 hours.

Rijkens goes out each night in a 3/4 acre grass paddock with a lovely oak tree and his own run-in shelter (with clay tile shingle roofing no less!) and buddies on all sides.  The farm has enough paddocks and acreage for seemingly thousands of horses so the few dozen horses that actually do live at Twinwood make the place seem huge, which indeed it is:

On our second day a new barn buddy and I went for a trail ride.  We left the barn and headed south on the race track, and at the end of the track we just kept going.  After 30 minutes of brisk walk she asked if I wanted to turn back or keep going.  "How much farther does it go?" I asked.  She replied that the path keeps on going south for several more furlongs.  Rijkens can't believe how big Texas really is.  But you should see the swinging, elastic freewalk we have!

Near the front of the property there is a large open paddock with rolling topography perfect for hill work.  Yes, it's a real hill, especially for east Texas.  Next to that is the outdoor dressage court, the stadium jump course, and a large section set up with logs, rolltops, coops etc for cross country schooling. 

Our first week of training with FEI trainer Andrea Seaman Attard has gone smoothly. 

 Andrea and Addie, a five year old Holsteiner pupil, showing at training level this year.  Andrea's personal horse is a beautiful bay four year old, also a Holsteiner.  As you can imagine Rijkens and she are getting along famously.

Our lesson with olympian Jan Ebeling was impactful.  We're looking forward to riding with him again in December when he's back at Twinwood, and all through next year.  

 Jan Ebeling, Rijkens and me after our first lesson

Rijkens thinks he's in bootcamp.  But with his can-do work ethic and biddable attitude, I have a feeling Rijkens will respond well to the increased expectations here at Twinwood.  

Rijkens is moving to Twinwood Equestrian Center

September 27, 2013 Rijkens will be moving to Twinwood Equestrian Center in Simonton, Texas where he will be in training with USDF silver medalist and British Horse Society graduate Andrea Seaman Attard, and Rijkens and I will begin clinics at Twinwwod this month with olympian Jan Ebeling.

Twinwood has a beautiful indoor dressage arena with premium shredded rubber footing, full length mirrors and a complete sound system for freestyles.  Rijkens will enjoy being turned out all night with a quiet buddy in a large grassy paddock.  There is a groomed outdoor dressage court as well as dozens of acres of mature pecan and live oak trees for trail riding.

Opportunities to learn abound at Twinwood, including clinics with Jan Ebeling, Janet Foy, David Blake and Lendon Gray, and Freestyle seminars with Karen Robinson.  There is an active show team that maintains a vigorous USEF/USDF show schedule.  Of course Rijkens and I will maintain our friendship with our remarkable trainer Karen Brown, and continue with Lurena Bell and Jeff Moore. 

 Outdoor dressage court:

 Lots of space for turnout and trail rides:

 Rijkens' stall:

 Rijkens' barn exterior:

 
Twinwood is a pretty spiffy place, and Rijkens and I are looking forward to continuing our journey toward balance and harmony together here.

Rijkens' Prix St Georges and Third Level Highlights

Karen Brown riding Prix St Georges at the HDS Labor Day show.  Note the lowered croup:

 Rijkens and me at third level in extended trot:

 The moment I won my USDF bronze medal.  A tear actually squeezed out.  Of me.  Rijkens was wondering when lunch is.

Goals

When looking forward toward developing a goal, we obviously believe it is do-able or we may not have set the goal to begin with.  Looking back at a goal once it has been accomplished, it seems relatively simple in the rear-view mirror.  But during a goal, while in the trenches actually churning out the work, the goal can feel so difficult and at times even un-attainable.

Reaching my bronze medal has been such a journey, but looking back on the cold hard stats puts it in perspective:

• Total of five weekend shows with Delphi
• Total of three weekend shows with Rijkens
• Total of thirty-two months from start to finish

I've always considered the adage "a level per year" and thought that I was falling so short.  However when viewed from show-ring-ready as the endpoint of interest, the actual data support that oft quoted time frame: to learn to compete at a satisfactory level in first, second and third level it took me a little over two and a half years.

If it takes the great masters decades to learn to ride, what makes me think I can do it in any less time?  I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn real dressage, no shortcuts.  Regardless of how many years (or decades!) it takes, I'm committed for the long haul.

 He doesn't stay up nights calculating goals and worrying about shows!  Rijkens playing with a buddy in the rain earlier this week:

To commemorate my USDF bronze medal, I've ordered these high waist Pikeur breeches from London.  In color "bronze" of course!

Bronze Medal!

Rijkens completed our final score requirement at third level at this weekend's HDS labor day show.

Accolades also go to Delphinia, my Trakehner mare (who has a wonderful new mom in Dallas).  Delphi and I went to our first USEF recognized show in October 2010 where judge General Burton gave us our initial qualifying score at first level.  From there Delphi earned three of the six legs required in first and second level.  Delphi and I went to a total of five weekend shows together.

Rijkens took over in the spring of 2013 to finish the final three scores at second and third level, and did it within the three weekend shows we've been to as a team.  So after two and a half years of hard work and striving, I've earned my USDF bronze medal!

Importantly, my trainer Karen Brown has been with me in the trenches schooling my horses, teaching me to train and ride; being mentor, coach and guide.  Karen has been my trainer for eight years, and these last two years I've been at her side almost daily.  I owe a debt of gratitude to Karen, and always will.

Medal threesome: Rijkens, Delphi and me in July 2012
Here's the photo I want to use for the USDF Yearbook; not another froufrou dressage pose, rather just a girl on a farm having fun with her horses!

Karen, Rijkens and me at Windy Knoll Spring 2013

Karen showing Rijkens at Prix St Georges Summer 2013

Grateful

Karen Brown and I had a wonderful experience with Rijkens and Juno at this weekend's Belle Terre Farm show.  Winning both his tests handily with a 61.4 in Prix St Georges and 67.69 in third level test three, Rijkens still had plenty of energy to spare for my third level ride after Karen started him in Prix St Georges.

Juno too was well into the sixties in first level and training level, winning his first level test and coming in a close reserve in training level against another fancy horse that scored in the 70's.

So thankful to Karen for piloting Rijkens to FEI success and supporting me as I rode Rijkens in our best test yet!  So proud of our boys Juno and Rijkens!

The breed differences of these two best friends, a Holsteiner and an Andalusian, are readily apparent side by side in the trailer!

First trick out of the hat, Juno wins first level in the deep sixties.

To the victors go the spoils; loafing in the shade with your best buddy that is.

Rijkens and Juno posing with their well-earned swag.

Juno says "Yeah, I'm a champion.  What else did you expect!"

Taking names and kicking ass; Karen dominated everything from FEI to training level all in the same day!