Chiropractic Adjustment

Frankly I am still getting adjusted to the idea of taking a perfectly sound horse to a veterinarian. However that's just what I did this Friday: Delphi had her very first chiropractic consultation and adjustment with Robin Robinette,DVM at Veterinary Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Clinic. Jeff Moore has commented upon Delphi's "stilted-ness" at canter and her need to more fully articulate her lumbo-sacral joint; the clinician Michael Vermaas also commented that Delphi could benefit from a chiropractic adjustment; and our trainer Karen Brown not only has suggested having Delphi evaluated but uses Dr. Robinette for her own horses as well.

Turns out that Delphi was out in her pelvis (confirming the lumbo-sacral joint needed attention) as well as at the poll and bilateral jaw. While we were there I also had Dr. Robinette do a saddle fit evaluation that confirmed Delphi's Albion saddle fits her well with no pinching of the spine, back or withers and ample spine clearance in the gullet, over the back, and under the cantle-- though it was suggested the saddle could eventually be re-flocked as it seemed I sit heavier to the right side based on the flocking distribution. After she performed the adjustment Dr. Robinette suggested two days off work but with ample turn out, which Delphi got. Today I worked Delphi.

Did I notice a difference? Well, there is no magic bullet, so if I expected chiropractic to be enchantment, it isn't. However I did notice slightly more fluidity in Delphi's lateral work today, particularly in canter half pass. She gave me two excellent flying changes- one in each direction. Most importantly: first we did no harm. Delphi was not stiff or sore, and even seemed slightly more supple in the neck. In canter she felt through and balanced.

Dr. Robinette suggested that after Delphi's return visit scheduled for one month there is no particular set schedule for follow-up adjustments, but that one allows the horse to tell us when they are needed. All in all I am pleased with the result and will definitely return to Dr. Robinette in future.

Delphi arriving at the beautiful Veterinary Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Clinic:

Dr. Robinette begins her evaluation by having Delphi stand squarely:

During the adjustment Delphi looks almost as skeptical as I felt:

Dr. Robinette performing a saddle fit evaluation:

A nice moment at the last Jeff Moore clinic:

Music Sound Check

Busy Bees

Since we have a longish break between our next show that is not until March of 2012, Delphi and I are taking this time to focus our efforts on continued, intentional training. Four rides at the Jeff Moore clinic helped us learn to "approach collection."

(When I asked Jeff to help me learn about collection, he gave me this anecdote: at the 1984 Olympics Jeff was there to watch Reiner Klimke and Ahlerich win all the medals, etceteras that they won that year. As he was coming out of the arena after his gold medal grand prix ride on Ahlerich, Dr. Klimke commented "Wow, I think I just approached collection." Jeff's point was that I shouldn't worry too much about judge's remarks on collection, for now.)

Delphi and I have the upcoming Michael Vermaas clinic here at our home base, and will be taking supplemental lessons at Belle Terre Farm with Lurena Bell as well as continuing our lessons with our trainer Karen Brown.

With the idea of "approaching collection" Karen has had me doing exercises to engage Delphi's hindquarter while keeping the forehand light: you put x amount of pressure into the reins (and x becomes less and less as the horse becomes more and more responsive) then use leg reinforced with whip where needed to activate the hindquarters. When the horse gives and the balance changes, the rider gives. Karen pointed out that if you get the horse to commit to it right off the bat at walk, then the other gaits will come easier.

During the warm up for our last lesson yesterday we were working on just that, at the walk. As Delphi became more and more engaged from behind and lighter and lighter in the forehand, I gave with the reins and continued to ask for engagement with my legs and springy seat. Out of the blue and from her own volition Delphi offered piaffe! After just a few steps I let her free walk out of it and made "big fuss." I was happy but wondered if it were repeatable: after a few minutes I asked again and voila, there it was: piaffe! When Karen arrived for the lesson I told her what happened so we schooled it a time or two more formally with the trainer walking alongside with the whip and me asking for the steps from my up-springing seat and our "collection" exercise. It is so fun when your horse offers you such a gift!

Delphi and I "approaching collection" at the trot:

Lagniappe. Reiner Klimke's and Ahlerich's gold medal winning ride at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, Burbank:

Changes

Of course the best flying changes occur when there is no videographer, but here are a few of the changes we've managed to catch while the camera was rolling:

Cupcake

Delphi was an absolute pumpkin at the Jeff Moore clinic this week at Belle Terre. With Jeff's help we were able to improve the canter by adding more engagement via improving the the way the canter is ridden- with active reach back on my part and passive, NOT driving, coming forward of my seat. We schooled clean, straight flying change where the priority list is line of travel and don't make me work (I can kick Delphi and make her work), but cross canter is not important just keep riding her through 'til she changes. We worked on improving the renvers and travers by keeping Delphi's forehead perpendicular to the line of travel. Our biggest breakthrough was in the extended gaits back to an "uphill climb" to collection. I came away being able to say we "approached collection" through keeping her tall with "palsy" action of the rein.

We started out with Jeff Moore giving commentary and scores while Delphi and I performed second level test three:

Back at home I calculated the score and got 60.0%. The good news is this was the first few minutes of the first lesson of the entire clinic so I'm positive the scores will improve now on the other side of the clinic.

Canter Work

Delphi's canter continues to develop. The counter-canter work definitely improves her true canter:

With special cameo appearance by Prissy the Border Collie.

Centerline Sweep

The Centerline Training group was a hit at this weekend's All Heart Horse Farm Houston Dressage Society show. We took champion, first, and second places in all levels entered: third, first and training; with Rajah and Tiffany champion training level (and overall show highpoint training level and above) and Allie and Lisa champion first level.
Amazing what solid coaching, supportive atmosphere, and excellent training at home produces! With thanks to our wonderful trainer Karen Brown who empowers us- horses and riders alike- with solid principles of classical dressage, plus that extra something that is empathy, respect, and love for our equine partners and each other.

Long time buddies Allie and Wizard arriving:

The Centerline group from left to right Marlene, Tiffany, Lisa, Karen, Rachel and Carrie, with a Wizard nostril in the foreground (with thanks to helper/photographer Amy, Rajah's owner!):

Having a blast; Wizard/Rachel, Rajah/Tiffany, Allie/Lisa and Delphi/Carrie:

Perspective

Having chosen the slow, intentional path to learning the art of dressage, one expects good days and poor but with an overall progression toward harmony and influence over one's horses.

At least that's how I'm trying to keep perspective after two unsatisfactory scores at our most recent one day show. At 59.4 I was just shy of getting my final second level bronze qualifying score, and when I received a 47 from a different judge at the same show I couldn't help but feel disappointment.

To gain further perspective I began thinking about disappointment versus perseverance. While it's true my goals include an element of prize riding, that is not the ultimate objective. I contemplated my personal dressage odyssey that has serendipitously overlapped with some pretty awesome and amazing people and horses, and realized that a couple of bad scores shall not deter.

My trainer Karen Brown, to whom I owe a debt of gratitude and whose experience and knowledge I benefit from on an almost daily basis, just celebrated her tenth year anniversary of being cancer free. Beautiful Windy Knoll Farm, where Delphi and I spent this past Saturday in idyllic surroundings, was 1/4 mile from being burned to the ground by the recent Texas wildfires but by the efforts of local and volunteer firefighters was spared. My gentle and trustworthy mare obediently travels with me to shows, clinics and trail rides and is my daily partner, teacher, and co-scholar.

Yes, 47% on a second level test sheet with not receiving my qualifying score stings. Yet with so much to be thankful for I decided this weekend to graciously accept the red and blue ribbons on behalf of my "white horse" and march ever gratefully forward toward harmony and understanding.

Far from perfect but enjoying the journey.
Delphi and me at our first show in 2005:

Delphi and me on a trail ride earlier this year:

Delphi Beginning to Learn Half Pass

Our lesson this week focused on trot half pass and counter canter with steps of canter half pass. In counter canter along the wall I worked on bringing her haunches over toward the direction of the canter lead (as I would for canter half pass) which stood her up for a more balanced, more collected counter canter. To do this I kept stepping my weight into the leading stirrup, brought my outside (of the canter lead) leg back to ask her haunches to come in, thus standing her up. The counter canter work helped to improve Delphi's natural canter.

Here are some stills of Karen Brown schooling Delphi the previous day:

Delphi shows good relative elevation with good use of her shoulders in right canter half pass:

Delphi is still developing the required strength to maintain the bend:

"Sufficient" for third level, this reach of shoulder shows promise for improved half pass as Delphi gains strength and training:

You can see the balance still comes and goes; here she is in right canter half pass slightly on her forehand but still showing good energy and bend:

Good again with the shoulders and reach, however we expect improved collection and lower haunches as her training continues and her strength increases:

Here she is in right trot half pass; again "sufficient." Good crossing and bend but will work toward developing more impulsion:

I'd say this is "fairly good" to "good" for a third level initiate's left trot half pass. Like the energy and it has good crossing, reach, and bend.

Good crossing and from this angle we can really see the lightness of the forehand:

Again we see moments of Delphi struggling as if trying to balance with her neck. Though we wish we had more impulsion I like the crossing and bend, and we anticipate better use of the shoulder as her strength develops:

Again good crossing and lightness of the forehand. And from this angle-wowza that is one looooong body Delphi has to collect and carry:

(And no, she's NOT currently carrying a foal, just a rather large hay belly!)

Better use of the neck, and as her strength increases we will see more consistent collection; at this point the uphill tendency is consistent but there are still varying degrees of relative elevation as we see here:

And here, though with good crossing and shoulders leading the half pass: