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| Seriously, not the most huntery fence for a hunter course but #peebsdontcare |
The tales of an adult ammy hunter/jumper rider and her ponies
Showing posts with label to the left. Show all posts
Showing posts with label to the left. Show all posts
Monday, April 15, 2019
What I Learned
In the week since the show I've tried to reflect on what I've learned from it, rather than dwell on the negatives.
I didn't realize till I saw the pro pics, but the brown jump behind us in the above photo, we jumped on a long approach of the left lead. Aka, the exact fence we've been having issues with all winter. And it never crossed my mind at the show that it was supposed to be our "bogey" fence. And we had zero issues with it. I sat up, turned on our approach, left him alone till about four strides out then added leg when I saw the distance was going to be a little long. And it rode perfectly fine. You would have never know that a month ago we couldn't do that.
I also learned when to say no. Ending our second round one jump in, and saying no to a re-ride was not something I would have done a few years ago. My pride would have forced me to keep trying while I (and my horse) would get more and more frustrated. It was absolutely the right decision to call it quits before completely pissing off my horse and myself. This show wasn't our show, but there will be others. I'd rather save my horse and my sanity for another day than try to fix issues that weren't going to be fixed that day.
Friday, March 22, 2019
Fixing the Left Lead
We were finally able to conquer our issues with cantering fences on the left lead, especially single diagonal fences. I'm sure I'll screw it up again at some point, and I'm interested in seeing how Peebs does in six months to a year after his stifle injections, so I'm sure this will crop up again, but for now it feels really, really good.
We hauled over to A's again Saturday afternoon and rode with her and Scottie. Scottie has some going forward issues, and thanks to an unfortunate incident during a lesson with a dressage trainer, he's regressed a bit. We played follow the leader a little on Saturday to encourage Scottie to move forward, since following Peebs is one of his favorite hobbies. It reminded me of little kid lessons and it was fun to goof off a bit.
We warmed up over a few cross rails, then tackled a three stride line. My trainer took down one of the single fences across the diagonal that we had warmed up over and told me to add it after the line. It was the long approach single off the left lead. She told me to just point his nose in the middle of the standards and do nothing else. She didn't care if he went through it crooked, bulging sideways, or on the forehand. We just had to canter through the standards and I had to not do anything. Since I've been told to do nothing for a few lessons in a row now, it doesn't feel as terrifying as it first did and I was able to execute the plan. We manged to canter through the standards only slightly crooked on the first try.
We did a few more tries at cantering just through the empty standards with me slowly picking up on Peebs more. My trainer added ground poled to help keep him straight and I was told I could only pick up on him after the second pole. I was to turn off the rail, let him be, then 3-4 strides out half halt him. I figured after doing a few times through with nothing between the standards, she'd add a pole but she set up a cross rail and told me nothing changes. And what do you know, nothing did change! Our first time to the cross rail was crooked and we got there on a half stride but Peebs figured it out and landed without issue. Our second time through I was better about our turn and the distance was perfect. We ended the lesson there, but I was told to do it again the next day.
We hauled over to A's again Saturday afternoon and rode with her and Scottie. Scottie has some going forward issues, and thanks to an unfortunate incident during a lesson with a dressage trainer, he's regressed a bit. We played follow the leader a little on Saturday to encourage Scottie to move forward, since following Peebs is one of his favorite hobbies. It reminded me of little kid lessons and it was fun to goof off a bit.
I really wanted to focus on our left lead issues during my lesson on Sunday. I felt like Peebs just needed a good, solid ride over fences, and since his going sideways freaked me out I felt like I couldn't give that to him. I talked to my trainer about her doing a schooling ride and she was all for it, until I explained why. She gave me the look, and told me I was more than capable of giving Peebs a good ride, we just needed to start at the beginning. She did say that if things went south during the lesson she'd get on him.
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| Between the super weather and A's bright jumps it definitely felt like spring! |
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| The full chute |
It was 77 when I went to ride on Monday, which felt like a heat wave. Peebs was tired and lazy, I was tired and lazy so I didn't set up all the ground poles. In fact I set up no ground poles. We warmed up then went straight to cantering the single cross rail. I kept hearing my trainer's words from the day before in my head, and reminding myself to not do anything till 3-4 strides out and it worked. I know I've been told to not try and find a distance as soon as you make your turn to the long approach single, but this really seems to have made it stick. Hopefully I'll be able to remember once we enter the show ring!
Thursday, January 31, 2019
#BadBoyPeebers
Peebs' tag on IG is #goodboypeebers, because he's usually a good boy. But last night he got the #badboypeebers tag. We had a lesson that started out pretty well, if a bit energetic, but Peebs ended up losing his little mind.
I probably should have lunged before I got on, as Peebs had had Tuesday off. He was forward and a little strong during our flat warm up but I was able to hold him together and figured I'd just ride it out. We started jumping by trotting two single cross rails on the diagonals, and he was great. We landed on the correct leads, cantered away nicely and had good downwards transitions. Trainer put the fences up to verticals and said to canter them. I was to do the same thing as when we were trotting, focusing on getting him straight and set up to land on the correct lead. Peebs though cantering the fences was awesome, and as my trainer put it, "his inner jumper pony came out". But he was still listening to me and I wasn't getting unnerved by him being a strong little speed demon.
We took a walk break, then trainer said to do the left to right fence and around to the outside line. I trotted a circle then picked up the left lead to head to the diagonal. As soon as I turned on the approach and opened my left rein Peebs flung his shoulder to right, and went sideways. I had a moment of thinking I was going to come off before I got him stopped and we tried again. Same thing. As soon as I touched the left rein he turned into a drama queen and went out the right side. If I tried putting my right leg or rein on, he started hopping and tried to evade me more. We went back to a trot and I asked trainer to drop the fence back to a cross rail. The first couple of times trotting it again he felt like a keg of dynamite but we made it without any hysterics.
Trainer said to pick up a canter and do a circle, or five, before the fence to fake him out and see if he chilled. The first circle was a little wonky and he tried to go sideways as we approached the jump (he was only protesting my left rein and bulging out on the approach, the rest of the circle was fine) but by the third circle he came back to me pretty well. We then went to the fence and while I saw the incredibly long spot and tried to move up to it, Peebs made the right choice and chipped it. He kept his cool and so did I. We went back to try again, starting with a circle or two then going to the fence. As I went to turn past the fence Peebs realized we weren't jumping and had a major meltdown. He flung his shoulder to right, pulled my reins out of my hands, started crow hopping and ended up directly in front of the cross rail at a halt. Then he jumped it. Thank god I had asked that it be put down. I again thought I was about to eat dirt but somehow stayed on. I ended up jamming my right hand into his neck at some point and had a nice throbbing going on in my wrist and shoulder.
I really wish trainer had gotten it on video, as I'm sure it was hilarious to watch. My trainer was laughing once I pulled Peebs up and she apologized saying it was one of the funniest things to see. She said you could see it on Peebs face once he realized we were circling and not jumping, and that he was determined to go to the fence. Once I had my breath back I was able to laugh about it, while calling him an asshole. We trotted a few circles before trying a canter circle again. He was still pretty uppity but I was riding hard and determined to not let him have another fit. My shoulder was really starting to hurt so we ended with a couple nice canter circles and one final time trotting the fence.
As we walked around cooling out Trainer complemented me on my composure. This lesson had the potential to turn into our awful lesson from a few weeks ago, where Peebs tried to same thing but I got defensive and tried riding from the fetal position. Last night I was able to be much more zen and while I wanted to kill Peebs, I didn't take it out on him or shut down. Hopefully we can figure out his issue cantering fences to left and fix this problem. He had his teeth done in November, he got adjusted by the chiro last week and he only does this on the approach to fences of the left lead. I see lot of left turns in our future.
I probably should have lunged before I got on, as Peebs had had Tuesday off. He was forward and a little strong during our flat warm up but I was able to hold him together and figured I'd just ride it out. We started jumping by trotting two single cross rails on the diagonals, and he was great. We landed on the correct leads, cantered away nicely and had good downwards transitions. Trainer put the fences up to verticals and said to canter them. I was to do the same thing as when we were trotting, focusing on getting him straight and set up to land on the correct lead. Peebs though cantering the fences was awesome, and as my trainer put it, "his inner jumper pony came out". But he was still listening to me and I wasn't getting unnerved by him being a strong little speed demon.
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| This was one of the milder moments |
Trainer said to pick up a canter and do a circle, or five, before the fence to fake him out and see if he chilled. The first circle was a little wonky and he tried to go sideways as we approached the jump (he was only protesting my left rein and bulging out on the approach, the rest of the circle was fine) but by the third circle he came back to me pretty well. We then went to the fence and while I saw the incredibly long spot and tried to move up to it, Peebs made the right choice and chipped it. He kept his cool and so did I. We went back to try again, starting with a circle or two then going to the fence. As I went to turn past the fence Peebs realized we weren't jumping and had a major meltdown. He flung his shoulder to right, pulled my reins out of my hands, started crow hopping and ended up directly in front of the cross rail at a halt. Then he jumped it. Thank god I had asked that it be put down. I again thought I was about to eat dirt but somehow stayed on. I ended up jamming my right hand into his neck at some point and had a nice throbbing going on in my wrist and shoulder.
I really wish trainer had gotten it on video, as I'm sure it was hilarious to watch. My trainer was laughing once I pulled Peebs up and she apologized saying it was one of the funniest things to see. She said you could see it on Peebs face once he realized we were circling and not jumping, and that he was determined to go to the fence. Once I had my breath back I was able to laugh about it, while calling him an asshole. We trotted a few circles before trying a canter circle again. He was still pretty uppity but I was riding hard and determined to not let him have another fit. My shoulder was really starting to hurt so we ended with a couple nice canter circles and one final time trotting the fence.
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| Kinda looking like we have our shit together. |
As we walked around cooling out Trainer complemented me on my composure. This lesson had the potential to turn into our awful lesson from a few weeks ago, where Peebs tried to same thing but I got defensive and tried riding from the fetal position. Last night I was able to be much more zen and while I wanted to kill Peebs, I didn't take it out on him or shut down. Hopefully we can figure out his issue cantering fences to left and fix this problem. He had his teeth done in November, he got adjusted by the chiro last week and he only does this on the approach to fences of the left lead. I see lot of left turns in our future.
Monday, May 4, 2015
To the Left, to the Left
Sorry if that song is now stuck in your head but it's been stuck in mine all weekend so I thought I'd share the wealth! I had a last minute dressage lesson Friday night where we focused on all things left. Mainly getting McKenna off my left leg and moving more into my right rein.
I might have had an impulse eBay buy that came Friday morning. I found a good deal on a barely used Collegiate dressage saddle that I put a low ball offer in that won. TS checked the fit of it before my lesson and it actually fits McKenna pretty darn well. TS recommended some reflocking in the future, after the mare finishes growing/filling out but the Ogilvy helps for now. I did have to punch a couple holes in the stirrup leathers it came with, but being a shorty I'm used to it. I do have a black dressage bridle on the way because I hate mixing brown and black tack.
As for the lesson, we only did walk-trot but it was some of the best and hardest work we've had yet. TS was really getting after me about not getting after McKenna. I'm being too easy on the mare and it's time to up the ante. We really focused on our leg yields going left. The mare absolutely doesn't want to move off my left leg, or will move her shoulders but not her hind end. I was given a dressage whip and told to lightly tap her with it. McKenna had the predicted melt down, "OH MY GOD MOM IS BEATING ME!!!!!!!!" but after a couple half hearted hops up and down she gave it up and went back to work. I was really happy with the fact that she could come back to work after losing her little pony brain. That almost felt better than the leg yields we ended with!
She got the day off Saturday to think about what she learned, then we went right back to it on Sunday. I didn't drill the leg yields as much as we had in the lesson, and I didn't get the whip out, but we still had some good work. I also cantered in the dressage saddle for the first time and holy crap do I love it! I could actually SIT ON MY HORSE during our canter, wrap my legs around her, and not perch on her back. It felt like I was cantering bareback. I am so so so happy with my impulse buy!
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| Looks almost like a legit dressage pony |
As for the lesson, we only did walk-trot but it was some of the best and hardest work we've had yet. TS was really getting after me about not getting after McKenna. I'm being too easy on the mare and it's time to up the ante. We really focused on our leg yields going left. The mare absolutely doesn't want to move off my left leg, or will move her shoulders but not her hind end. I was given a dressage whip and told to lightly tap her with it. McKenna had the predicted melt down, "OH MY GOD MOM IS BEATING ME!!!!!!!!" but after a couple half hearted hops up and down she gave it up and went back to work. I was really happy with the fact that she could come back to work after losing her little pony brain. That almost felt better than the leg yields we ended with!
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| Nom nom time |
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