Tell me what you see

Okay, I clearly have some things I need to work out judging by the way I've been obsessing over pictures of Theo all morning.  And if I'm going to do it, let's do it for real.

Theo, before and during.  Can't call it after since I feel like we're just getting started.  The first picture is from before I met him when in heavy school work trying to keep his brain between his ears.  Lots of sweaty saddle pads, not a lot of technical training.  Mostly trying to convince him to not buck people off and run home, doing at least some work in a German martingale/draw reins to keep him from unloading people (I found this of his dark past).  The second picture is from this weekend before our show.  There's about 2 years in between them.  He's been in serious business training for about 10 months (from the end of the abscess wars last year when I decided he was going to be my long term horse and not a place holder).

It's not the best pair of pictures to compare, opposite sides and mi papi is on a slope for the second one, but it's what I've got.  I kept them as big as possible so there is no detail hidden.

So.  What do people see?  Since I appear to be having a fit of anxiety over whether or not I'm moving in the right direction.  I keep being told he looks like a different horse, but right now, I'm really struggling with seeing it when faced with two pictures like this.  Aside from the coloring, of course.  Being a show pony has some lovely perks such as fly sheets and supps to help with that dark, glossy coat.

I'll do another post later with what I see, but I'm genuinely curious.  Tell me what you see.

Problem

There's a problem with Theo's training.  I've been working away at it, trying to not let it bother me, but it's starting to become a critical issue.

What the hell is up with that neck?!?!

Not sure what I'm talking about?  Remember this picture?

Just look at it.

That is not okay.  And it gets worse when he's being less than cooperative for pictures.

Honestly.  That's not cool.  That is the broken topline that everyone screams bloody murder about in dressage articles.  I have that horse.  Uneven neck development is expected when taking a horse from being completely upside down to something approaching correct, but it's still embarrassing as hell.  We've only in the last couple months gotten to the point where I can work him consistently in a way that will add muscle where we need it and I know it's 6 months to reshape a neck, but it's really starting to drive me crazy.

I swear I'm not sawing at his mouth or jamming him into a false frame.  He naturally pops into a false frame and it's taken many months to break him of his habit of curling behind and evading my hands.  He still does it when he decides what I'm asking for is too hard.  We've been working so hard to get him to stretch into his neck and travel with a long frame and his nose poking just ahead of vertical.

That neck is okay!  I'm quite proud of that neck!  And with any luck, one day, his neck will look like that all the time.  In the meantime, there's some pictures I think I'll keep off of Facebook.  At least until I don't have that horse anymore.  I can only pray we have that in better shape before we head to New York.

Times are a changin'

Blogging is useful for keeping track of how things have changed over time.  With mi papi's successful debut, I went back to see where we were a year ago.  I'm just a bit goal oriented and I like to know that we're making progress.

Lo and behold, this is where we were a year ago (followed by a bunch of posts with me spending copious amounts of money).

Today we had a bit of a tough lesson.  We went through the Intro C dressage test in the small dressage ring.  We would have been disqualified for leaving the ring, since he blew out through the left shoulder and zipped between the cones marking the ring edges.  It took several tries and some tough corrections to get the 20 meter canter circle to the right.

Man, I'd forgotten about that fiasco.  And this hot mess.

Oh dear.  At least his hocks are in the same area code as the rest of him now.

Somehow we've managed to go from not being able to complete an Intro C test to going around at First.  At the last show, someone cut me off and Theo did a 10m circle at the canter to dodge traffic.  On his right lead.  It's not something he's strong enough to do regularly, but it was cool to have that option when there was suddenly a horse on the rail practicing a rein back and another horse heading right at us.  Dressage rings are completely nuts.  People go sideways or backwards with very little warning.  I think brake lights and turn signals need to be added.

Now we're on vacation for two weeks.  No prep, no lessons, no pressure.  I'm already climbing the walls.  I'll bet $20 that I'll be back in lessons by next week.  I don't take time off very well.

Tack review: Revisiting the past

Time to update on a couple of previous purchases!

First up:  Frank Baines Evolution jumping saddle

 
This saddle is now a well loved, well used one year old saddle.  I've done jumping clinics, hunter paces, beach rides, and many jumping lessons up to 3' in this saddle.  It's been seen by the saddle fitter twice and used by a couple of other riders with Theo and with the Bambino. 

Everyone agrees, it's butt candy.  It's just insanely comfortable.  It's darkened up to a nice mahogany red.  The leather is all intact and looks good.  That calfskin covering makes a big difference when Theo does things like decide to squeeze a stride in.  It's flat as a pancake and will do nothing to keep you on through bucking, but the knee rolls are perfect and have been a great emergency seat belt.  Theo still goes better in this saddle than anything we've tried, including his custom fit dressage saddle.  It's still a calfskin covered saddle and I have to care for it like it's made of glass.  While my dressage saddle with buffalo can handle a nuclear blast, this thing lives with a cover on it.  It's worked, the saddle looks great and has improved with age.  Great investment and I don't regret buying it one bit.

Second:  PS of Sweden Flying Change Revolution bridle

I've had this bridle for about a year now.  It's used for all of my dressage rides and some trail rides when I'm too lazy to bust out the jumping tack.  It's gone to several shows this season, sometimes sporting the big bling and sometimes going plain.

You know your bridle is pretty when multiple stewards mention it while doing your tack check.  The leather is wearing well and the slipping browband problem seems to be limited to just the one browband.  It's not butter soft leather but it's wearing like iron and has a lovely shine when I clean it.  Our new bling stays put, no problem.  Theo finds this bridle comfortable and it fits better around his rather substantial ears than the other bridles I've tried on him.  The quick change browbands are fantastic when you want to change the look at a show. I decided to break out the big bling for my last day at GMHA and it took about a minute to put it on.  No bridle disassembly needed!  I like this bridle so much that I'm planning on buying a High Jump for him to replace his current jumping bridle (an HDR monocrown that just isn't the right fit and isn't wearing well).  Still a highly recommended bridle due to generous padding and an attractive look that will get you comments from those that handle your bridle.

Finally:  RJ Classics Soft Shell Hunt Coat

 

This poor thing has been through a war.  I got it last year in August I believe.  Since then it's been through rain, heat, dust, and thrown in the back of the trailer.  Then the back of my car.  I'm not good at taking care of my coats and this has been my only coat for about a year. 

If you need a basic coat that can take abuse, buy one of these.  Water beads and runs off rather than soaking you and making you hate your life in warm up.  It's stretchy enough that it doesn't gap over my rather substantial chest while still fitting my shoulders.  It's not a summer weight jacket, but it's a lot lighter than a traditional coat.  Three buttons, two vents, and functional pockets to finish it off.  It's not fancy, it's really pretty non-descript, but after a show I can throw it in my wash machine on cold, hang it to dry, and it's ready to go again.  I've washed it something like five times before that picture.  Solid purchase and will remain a feature in my show wardrobe even when I add fancier coats.  It's perfect for damp, rainy, muddy days and comfortable to wear.

Prepared

I've spent a lot of time in the past couple months watching dressage.  I watch videos at home, I watch tests at shows, I watch clinics and lessons with other people.  I also talk a lot of dressage with Trainer A.  Not so much the rest of the populace, but definitely with Trainer A.  And my poor hubby, but he doesn't really have an emergency exit to get out of it.

Trying to not hear more about my 8 for a half 10m circle

While spectating at GMHA, I saw a very stark difference between two types of rides, particularly in the first test for any level.  We watched Fourth 1 when we were too lazy to move after the FEI tests.  The first ride was lovely (Theo's doppleganger) and the rider was a very competent amateur adult.  She dealt with the mistakes tactfully, rewarded the good movements, and also had a drool worthy seat.  Someone has clearly spent thousands of hours in the saddle, learning to be one with their rather average but cute, extremely well trained, willing mount.  They got a good score and she left the ring smiling.

The next rider entered the ring and I immediately poked my copilot so she'd look up from her book.  Was that gorgeous horse . . . inverted?  As soon as the salute was done and the trot began, I understood why the horse was coming above the bit.  Good heavens, I could see daylight between this rider and the saddle as she tried to sit!  The extended made me gasp, I thought she was going to come off.  The horse's back was dropped down, his neck braced in a false frame behind his double bridle.  He was clearly well trained, able to do all of the movements despite what was going on in the saddle, but he wasn't happy about it.  Wasn't this Fourth Level?

I talked to Trainer A later and she nodded.  She'd seen several like that and talked to some other trainers that were disturbed by the upswing of this situation.  Adult ammies that want to move up the levels but don't want/can't put the time in the saddle (career, children, whatever).  So they get put on a fully trained horse.  It's too much horse, so the double goes on even though the rider is balancing off of their hands.  Then send them in the ring to be Fourth Level riders.  She even commented that she could see some of it at the lower levels, with riders buying gorgeous, talented horses that are too much for them and moving up before they're really ready.  Nervous riders, false frames, and tight holds.

It's a good time for me to think about this, since on the drive home yesterday Trainer A and I were excitedly talking about our winter plans.  Write my First Level freestyle, lock down Second Level movements to get them ready to go out in public late next season, polish First 3 with an eye toward doing First Level next year for the regionals, so many plans.

Theo votes for carrots, trail rides, and naps for next year

I can't move up to Second until I'm so comfortable at the sitting trot that I don't even have to think about it anymore.  When I'm nervous, I tense up.  In the past, it messed with my ability to sit the canter at shows.  I've pretty much got that under control now, I can sit the canter in the show ring, but I'll be fighting the same fight to sit the trot.  Until I can do First 3 in competition all sitting and not destroy my position score, I don't get to move up.  Which sucks when we're schooling almost all of Second 1 now and I want to make all of these plans!  But I have to have the ground rules to keep myself from rushing.  I refuse to be the rider that makes people gasp when they go across the diagonal because they're getting air time. 

Guess who is going to be spending half of the winter on a lunge line with no reins or stirrups? 

Move up

I've written before on what moving up means.  It's usually a lot of nerves and anxiety, particularly in the jumping disciplines.  I've discovered that there's a certain level of anxiety that goes with moving up in dressage, but there's a lot of panache that goes with the title.  So and So is a Third Level Horse.  Note all of the capital letters.  But in order to get that title, you have to go show and get that score.

Today I officially moved Theo up to First.  This was not a move up for me, the Princess and I put in a lot of miles at this level and the Hellbeast introduced me to this level many years ago.  For Theo, it was a milestone.  The last time he was at UNH, he was eliminated for using the rail as a warm up fence.  After our busy spring campaign, I felt it was time to move him up to the level we're actually working on at home.

His leg looked fantastic this morning after a night out in turnout with a poultice wrap.  No worries at all there!  

Our first test was Training 3.  I had it as a back up in case we didn't qualify at GMHA.  UNH is usually a very compact show, but they decided to run three sand rings and not use their grass ring.  That had us hauling across the campus to ring 3 for our first test.  Mi papi was quite sure the high tunnel and silo the students use were going to eat him.  He turned himself inside out trying to get away from that thing.  He was being a bit of a stud all morning so I showed up to warm up with an hour to work.  It also gave Miss Thang company for the walk down.  After about fifteen minutes and a game of Touch It with a tarp, he decided being a stud was dumb and we stood in the shade and watched the other horses warm up.

Our test couldn't have worked out any more perfectly.  Something happened in the test before mine and the TD needed to talk to the judge.  That left me circling the ring for about three minutes.  That gave Theo time to stick his head in the judge's booth and say hi to the scribe, spook badly at the tent full of judges in training and then go stick his head in to visit them, get cookies for his bravery, completely circle the ring at the trot in both directions, and then canter on his right lead around the outside.  The judge was great about communicating with us what was going on so I didn't wear Theo out while they sorted something out (I heard the word 'eliminated' so it was serious).  When she rang the bell, mi papi marched down center line like he owned it.

Trainer A said it was the best canter work she's seen us do in a test.  65% and third place.  Whoop whoop!

We got an hour to let Theo graze and chill with his saddle off before my First 1.  The saddle went back on and we went to an all new warm up before marching across a grass field, behind another judge's booth, and on to our ring.  For my agoraphobic horse, it was a nightmare.  I was more proud of his trot to the ring than anything else he did all day.  He trotted from warm up, across that field, behind the judge's booth, and right up to his own ring.  We had more judges in training, so he had to give them a hard look.  He saw a blue cooler peeping out from behind the judge's booth and that was the only thing that made him fully stop.  I think he was ready for lunch.

He laid down a very nice trip.  I got yet another error due to mixing up tests in the middle, and we both started to circle at B in the right lead canter out of habit which totally nixed our lengthening, but the test was confident and calm.  The canter transitions were accurate, the lengthenings were a little sad but we tried.  We got an 8 for one of our 10m half circles.  I got a 7 for rider's aids and accuracy.  Overall, we got a 63% and second place for Theo's grand debut at First Level!

Trainer A was proud as punch of us.  I was ecstatic with my pony.  This was our first show in a while where I couldn't school the rings before the show.  I was worried he wouldn't go in and work, but he's figured this game out.  Centerline means it's time to go to work and cookies are a thing even when in competition.  There's no rule against handing a horse a cookie before the bell rings and I've done it three times now to convince him that trotting boldly past the judge is a wonderful thing. 

Now we have a month and a half off from showing and I'm so ready for it.  Time for jumping and trail riding July!

Judgement call

This is never a look you want to sport before a show.

Yes, someone is clearly ready for his promised July break.  On Tuesday I had a fantastic jumping lesson.  He was just wonderful and not showing any sourness due to his long trip to GMHA.  I noticed a small scrape on the inside of his hock.  I slapped some ointment on it, used a file on the sharp edge of the opposite hoof that caused the scrape, and called it a day.  Wednesday didn't work out due to work so papi got the day off.  On Thursday he had a massage.  I got a call saying that his hind leg was all swollen and I needed to come out.

Low and behold, the leg with the scrape looked like a stovepipe.  I trotted him off and he was sound as a bell, but that little scrape now had swelling around it.  Damn it!  So I clipped and cleaned the scrape, followed by a short work out in polos and some cold hosing.  It went down and he was moving great, so I threw a standing wrap on him and kept him in a stall.  I don't put horses in turn out when they're in wraps.

Next day, repeat.  Worked beautifully, but leg was still big.  I had my lesson and ran through my First Level test.  It looked good, so he spent the day in turn out then came in for his wrap.

This morning, it still looked sucky.  His lower leg looked good, especially after work and cold hosing.  He had tendons again!  But it still makes me nervous that he's having fill problems with that stupid little scrape.  And the bugs got him in turnout so his sheath blew up and that affected part of his upper leg!

Since he was still working beautifully, I'm all braided and prepped for the show. 

He's klutzy but attractive.  I, on the other hand, need to keep my pale legs out of sight.  His leg looked much better after spending the day in turn out, so I decided to take the risk and let him stay out tonight with a poultice on his booboo.  He's in a new field with established grass, so he's grazing and moving constantly.  With any luck, his leg will look good in the morning between a long night of moving and a poultice pad.  There's no heat anymore, his immune system is just being as delicate as the rest of him.  He's one of those horses that blows up when he gets scrapes.

Wake up call is 4:15am.  Fingers crossed that my horse is fit to show in the morning.  After that, he gets his promised mid-summer break.  I think we're both looking forward to it.