Even with the extra stimulus of being indoors due to weather, Delphi's stablemate Bailey still manages to squeeze time for a nap in to her busy schedule:
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
What Horse-Sick Teenaged Girls Do in Their Spare Time
Hey, wait a minute....
Anyway, this is a cute video that seems to capture some neat moments between a dressage rider and his mount. Plus Matine reminds me of Delphi and her stablemate Bailey.
Anyway, this is a cute video that seems to capture some neat moments between a dressage rider and his mount. Plus Matine reminds me of Delphi and her stablemate Bailey.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Quadrille is in the Air
Monday, November 23, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
If Delphi Had a Second Job
It would be as an anatomy model:
These are the artwork of Gillian Higgins, sent to me by my trainer Karen Brown. Cool.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Canter Work on Center Line and Renver
Cantering straight down the center line, circling 10 meters off of it, cantering straight down center line, simple change of lead at x on the center line, cantering straight ahead down center line in the new lead, circling 10 meters off center line in the new direction then cantering straight ahead down center line (did I mention it should be straight?) sounds a lot easier than it actually is! Karen (of Center Line Training-heh) had us schooling just that during our lesson today. Remember to keep the horse straight by using both legs at the girth. For the canter depart from the halt or walk, keep your outside leg at the girth (AVOID putting your outside leg back which instantly causes crookedness) and use your inside seat bone to ask for the canter depart. If the inside seat bone does not illicit a prompt, crisp canter depart, you can "stomp" into the inside stirrup, and remember to keep your outside leg neutral! The key for nice 10 meter circles from the center line is (of course) GIVE THE INSIDE REIN and use the outside rein to bring the horse around a round, geometrically correct circle. Then straighten on the center line, keeping your eyes up beyond C and both legs at the girth.
We also schooled shoulder in to renver transitions. Establish the shoulder in, then prepare for the transition to renver by putting your leg that is to the interior of the arena back (your new "outside" leg) and your leg that is to the outside of the arena (your new "inside" leg) forward, ask the horse to change it's bend with your new "inside" leg but the haunches remain on the track to the outside of the arena and the forehand stays to the inside of the arena. To help establish the bend, "raise" the (new) inside rein and support the horse with the outside rein to allow the change of bend. Be sure to straighten at the end of the renver by moving the shoulders back "out," but not in a shoulder in, just in a true straight line along the track.
Phew! Fun lesson today and ironically Delphi does renver better than shoulder in. And her center line canter work did improve in straightness.
We also schooled shoulder in to renver transitions. Establish the shoulder in, then prepare for the transition to renver by putting your leg that is to the interior of the arena back (your new "outside" leg) and your leg that is to the outside of the arena (your new "inside" leg) forward, ask the horse to change it's bend with your new "inside" leg but the haunches remain on the track to the outside of the arena and the forehand stays to the inside of the arena. To help establish the bend, "raise" the (new) inside rein and support the horse with the outside rein to allow the change of bend. Be sure to straighten at the end of the renver by moving the shoulders back "out," but not in a shoulder in, just in a true straight line along the track.
Phew! Fun lesson today and ironically Delphi does renver better than shoulder in. And her center line canter work did improve in straightness.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Top 10 Exercises to Become a Better Equestrian
10. Drop a heavy steel object on your foot. Don't pick it up right away. Shout "Get off, Stupid, GET OFF!"
9. Leap out of a moving vehicle and practice "relaxing into the fall." Roll lithely into a ball and spring to your feet.
8. Learn to grab your checkbook out of your purse and write out a $200 check without even looking down.
7. Jog long distances carrying a halter and a carrot. Go ahead and tell the neighbors what you are doing- they might as well know now.
6. Affix a pair of reins to a moving freight train and practice pulling to a halt. Smile as if you are having fun.
5. Hone your fibbing skills: "No, really, I'm glad your lucky performance and multimillion dollar horse won the blue ribbon. I'm just thankful that my hard work and actual ability won me second place."
4. Practice dialing your chiropractor's number with both arms paralyzed to the shoulder and one foot anchoring the lead rope of a frisky horse.
3. Borrow the US Army's slogan: Be All That You Can Be-- bitten, thrown, kicked, slimed, trampled, frozen...
2. Lie face down in a puddle of mud in your most expensive riding clothes and repeat to yourself "This is a learning experience, this is a learning experience, this is..."
1. AND THE NUMBER ONE EXERCISE TO BECOME A BETTER EQUESTRIAN: Marry money.
9. Leap out of a moving vehicle and practice "relaxing into the fall." Roll lithely into a ball and spring to your feet.
8. Learn to grab your checkbook out of your purse and write out a $200 check without even looking down.
7. Jog long distances carrying a halter and a carrot. Go ahead and tell the neighbors what you are doing- they might as well know now.
6. Affix a pair of reins to a moving freight train and practice pulling to a halt. Smile as if you are having fun.
5. Hone your fibbing skills: "No, really, I'm glad your lucky performance and multimillion dollar horse won the blue ribbon. I'm just thankful that my hard work and actual ability won me second place."
4. Practice dialing your chiropractor's number with both arms paralyzed to the shoulder and one foot anchoring the lead rope of a frisky horse.
3. Borrow the US Army's slogan: Be All That You Can Be-- bitten, thrown, kicked, slimed, trampled, frozen...
2. Lie face down in a puddle of mud in your most expensive riding clothes and repeat to yourself "This is a learning experience, this is a learning experience, this is..."
1. AND THE NUMBER ONE EXERCISE TO BECOME A BETTER EQUESTRIAN: Marry money.
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Sleep of the Innocent
Only truly domesticated horses could sleep this soundly with people and dogs milling about.
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