It really hasn't been too long since I took a step back from everything that seemed like it was moving too fast in ever decreasing circles. Not just horses, everything. Long enough to make me realise I really am the minority - and that where I was, things are moving even faster. In regards to the topic of this blog, it is now common to have a photo of a horse with it's mouth tied shut, foam everywhere, looking miserable, with a beaming rider and the accolades of all their peers. People really do not seem to see the problems with a forced frame. It is revered. It exhausts me. It exhausts me whether I try to argue against it, and it exhausts me holding my tongue.It would be easier to step away. But I am developing a stronger and stronger urge to prove something. Even though a champion ribbon won't make me happier than my day to day life - I hope that I can break through to SOMEONE. For too many people, winning is everything, and the tricks of the trade have become too easy and too fast. Relative novices can feed their ego in a sport/art that once took an age to achieve advancement. Having said that, I need to temper myself. If I want to be listened to, I can't make myself be unpleasant to listen to. I want people to be interested in the links and quotes and articles from learned people that I admire. For the horses sake, I want people who need shallow authority, to look to those teachings. These days - the shallow authority is in a Frame, with the Right Coloured Ribbon.

Well it has been a few months since I have posted. There has not been happening an awful lot in the saddle - I have not ridden much since march for a number of reasons. First of all, I was having some niggling fatigue issues from the head injury, and after being a mum and working full time and looking after all the horses, I had to drop a few daily activities. Riding was one of them. Which coincided with the autumn grass coming through = although Lou is still in the same paddock that she has been in for a year, and the sheep have kept it down, it was impossible to stop the effects of the super grass shoots bursting through. When I did ride she was a bit spooky, twitchy and not happy, so I decided that I wouldn't undo all the progress that we had made. I am busting to get back on again - just in time for the first day of winter! It is still not muddy but DARK. Hopefully will get back into the swing of something soon, though. Winter really does drag though in Auckland, and we haven't hit the wet muddy misery yet. I have to say though, my stoicism for the mud grows over the years! With the off season from showing that pretty much puts a halt to things after easter, through to October, there is way too much time for speculation, planning, evaluation. Not that this is BAD, but it has meant that I have seen and mulled over many things that have continued to discourage me from competing in the showring. The reality is the things I find most abhorrent are the things that seem to be rewarded directly and indirectly - short neck, behind the vertical... the use of draw reins to get a 'frame', tying the mouth shut to avoid addressing tension issues, even worse - draw reins and flash nosebands used with double bridles and spurs - I look at photos of horses and ponies being schooled and ridden and competed in this manner and it ruins the beauty of these gorgeous animals for me. Worried eyes, horses looking at the ground in front of them, tight curb chains... even harder for me is that I really am a minority in this way of thinking. I am seem to be a little bit wacko, I think. My personal task for the off season is to find that balance of using the drive and motivation to prove that you CAN produce a show horse in an ethical, 'classical' way... and the growing belief that what really matters is happiness and contentment and enjoyment. As well as Lou, I also have a rather nice pony of Kevin's to produce and am looking forward to that. I have had her sitting in my paddock for a couple of months now and have watched from a distance as she has relaxed and settled. The way she carries herself and reacts to her environment is so much calmer now, and has made me glad that I have the time and will allow the time for her to get used to being here before I expect her to work for me. Not rocket science, but not the Modern Way. I can't believe what a hippy I sound these days - but in every aspect of my life I am more aware of how other people - often other people who want my time and money - want to dictate to me what should make me content and happy. It really is great to win a champion ribbon.. but it is also great to have a happy, relaxed horse greet you when you arrive at the stables - to have your heart sing in gratitude that you can trust a half tonne animal with your life. And it wasn't until I got older and then had a baby that I really grasped the concept that you are trusting them with your life~~~

Setbacks

For me, the most disappointing setbacks are those not in training, but in circumstance. On the Saturday just passed, I was entered for a local show. I was really looking forward to it! Lou was doing really well, and I had been working SO hard to make the improvements that I saw needed making since Nationals.
Of course, just to further build my character, she had a fat leg when I pulled her out of the paddock on Friday to wash and plait! grrrrrr. Had obviously banged it in the paddock. Iced and warm poulticed alternately for a couple of hours, but it didn't get better enough for the morning ridden classes. So frustrating!

A couple of days off, it seemed better yesterday so I had a ride. Mainly at the walk but very productive, worked on shoulder in and counter shoulder in transitions, got a beautiful forward fluid walk, and some lovely trot transitions.

Back from the National Show Horse and Pony Show

Totally exhausting yet rewarding week away with horse, child and friends. It really was the show I had been building towards - the two previous recent outings were a warm up and as I had said, gave me confidence that Lou would rise to the occasion. Putting ourselves up for consideration at national level showing was a little nervewracking in that I knew that no matter how much we improved afterwards, I was never going to live it down if she blew up! I know I shouldn't care what people think but hey, I'm human.

The good news is that she was GREAT. Hot and fiery and eyes popping out but overall happy and obedient and FUN to ride. A couple of minor placings but in my world, we won the title! I was just so thrilled that we pulled it off and did it the way I wanted to.

It was inevitable that I was going to be down the line from horses displaying their tension in more 'acceptable' ways - hollow backs, dropping behind the bridle, broken at the crest, open mouths so I wasn't disappointed. If that is what that judge wants - yay them. I'm happy to wait for our time.

There was plenty to see that horrified me, of course. Horses being lunged in what can only be described as rollkur with a drop noseband in the heat (and it was HOT), lame horses being bullied in double bridles, draw reins of course...lots of miserable looking horses and to be honest, miserable looking riders! The only thing that seems to get most of them smiling is a red ribbon or championship sash. How depressing.

Thrills!!

My first outing with Lou was everything I had hoped for! She was quite worried and wired to start with so I did about 30 minutes of in hand work with her, while people rolled their eyes, haha! However it did the trick and on I hopped. She did a bit of spinning and running and gawking at things, but she tried hard to listen to me and all in all, I had a GREAT time with her. It was incredibly rewarding to find that we were able to work through resistances and objections out in public as well as at home in the arena.

I was so, so proud of us both!!!

It was icing on the cake that the judge liked her and awarded her champion. I think this photo says it all!!!

so much...

There seems to be so very much to take in, and I am very aware that I am still paddling in the shallows of the knowledge I seek. Sounds a little trite, but it's all about the concepts, the whys not the hows, as I search out directions. The reality is that I don't have a classical dressage instructor at my doorstep - nor do I have the funds to just throw myself at coaching full on right now. I do, however, trust my own ability to absorb information, and have the patience to try new things without barrelling forwards so fast I miss the details. That doesn't make sense, but I know what I mean, and so far, no one reads this!! So, the internet is a TREASURE CHEST. I search and I read, and I slowly compile a list of people who I can refer to as I go down this path.

This week, I have been SUPER inspired by Manolo Mendez. I first of all found some very practical, informative articles on a site called Ozhorse, and further investigation led me to his own website. He is a beautiful, beautiful rider and I love his message. This is the first thing he has to say, and as every sentence resonates, I have to share it in full.

My style of training places emphasis on a soft, swinging back and making sure all the joints in the hindquarters are moving freely and evenly, making sure we have even diagonals in all paces. I will ask for this before I ask the horse to seek the bit. It is a conscious decision rather than an error of riding on my part. I am encouraging my horse to distribute the weight evenly, to become a partner. I encourage him to be free with his head and neck carriage level with the hip in those early stages of training so his muscles build from strength to strength. The horse learns to relax through the poll and jaw and can carry himself and me with ease.

This early work I use to develop straightness, balance, rhythm, flexion and regularity in all paces -- crucial basic foundations. I encourage the horse in-hand to make use of its entire body.
Before I ask a horse to work, I want to know its history. Has it had problems or an incident that would leave it mistrustful of people and resistant or defensive? If the horse does not like me at the start, I spend time to be a friend. Only when the horse trusts will it work in a positive way being relaxed in body and mind.

I only take the next step when the previous one is well established and the horse is physically and mentally comfortable with the work. Then and only then I ask for more. If the horse becomes confused, the rider must not add to the confusion, instead he takes a full step or half step back and allows the horse to re-establish confidence and balance before progressing to the next step.
I adhere to the principles of traditional dressage and Article 401, which preserves the horse's body instead of wearing it down, and gently nurtures mental growth, so that the physical and mental aspects work in unity.

Many horses today have become so far separated from their essence, or the harmony that comes from the mind and body working in synchronicity, that they suffer needlessly each day of their lives. I witness this damage as part of my work.

I wish to pass on the understanding of the importance of the partnership, the joy of the dance that can be experienced by horse and rider when body and mind are working in a shared partnership. I want people to understand that the horse is an athlete, a partner in dance and as such, should be treated with the greatest respect.
The purpose of such training should be to allow the horse to reach his full potential with his full and willing cooperation and without pushing him beyond his mental and physical abilities.
-Manolo Mendez


His full site can be reached at http://www.manolomendezdressage.com/#!__home

Reading his words today, and a conversation with a young friend of mine (who is hugely suspicious of 'classical' dressage, in fact, any 'quack' idea that deviates from Winning Ribbons - sounds awful, but she is a lovely girl, just young, and I am sure she will one day see the light!!!) led me to watching some You Tube videos. What an amazing resource! I watched, in delight, Klimke's gold medal ride at the Los Angeles Olympics. I enjoyed comparing the jaunty Ahlerich (sp?) with the extravagent, accurate dressage Uber Horses of today. I LOVED that his performance was so different from modern horses. He looks out through his bridle, his eyes are bright. His paces slightly vary at times - his balance and suppleness does not. He appears to be having fun, and I will never tire of his extended canter in that test!!! I compare him to superstars such as Tortilas - who, to my constant amazement, doesn't track up. This boggles me. All the international grand prix horses behind the vertical, poll NOT at the highest point - it is not only insane that this is happening, but insane that the people are are like WHAT THE FUCK are considering the minority.

Improving

Things have been going well, we have trot and canter and despite the surface wound on the hock still healing, the swelling that remains seems to respond well to a workout and her ice boots. So, have been working her! Has been a bit on the quiet side the past few nights as I was unwell myself, but enough to continue feeling positive even though we missed our projected first show on Saturday! Plan B has become a pony club show next Sunday. (Hopefully it stops raining! Forecast to be gloomy for ten days, typical)

Last night had a great, great ride. Starting to get some really nice shoulder in, and working so straight! Lateral bend is getting WAY more automatic, and when I ask for more on her stiff rein, she really tries to give it to me, and there is no head tilting or shoulder bulging to avoid the bend like before. She literally bends into her stiff side as best as she can, which is obviously awesome! Now that we have straightness and bend, am starting to get a really engaged trot, much more toe pointing and elevated than before. Am resisting all desires to try to push more out of her!!! She willingly is going up and down within the pace, and really sits back on her hocks and gives me some turbo at times, so I can be patient for what will come.

While she continues to improve, I feel that although I am def sitting taller and straighter, and my hand and arm position is much better, I have lost the feeling of exactly where my lower leg is. I have been doing some standing trot to check if I am at least aligned which I seem to be... but do suspect that my heels are creeping up again.