tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613779888332217242024-03-12T16:28:28.621-07:00Ange BeanAngehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-52118178971923074882020-02-17T09:15:00.000-08:002020-02-17T09:15:37.161-08:00Support Systems<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Ange Bean</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wednesday I woke up unmotivated and feeling ‘heavy.’ I just wanted to curl up on the couch and play games on my phone. Luckily, Wednesday is my non-barn day (I'd love to call it a day off, but Wednesdays I generally attend the ever-growing office work pile), so I did. After about an hour of petting my cat, Gavin, crushing candy, and having my feet occasionally licked by Fritz, my dog, I was feeling recharged enough to do some correspondence and start on the office work. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since my last blog, there's been a lot of discussion around depression, burnout, and mental health. I'm very humbled my words have reached so many. Even those with less-positive responses, you are thinking about these things or you wouldn't take the time to reply. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To those who know me in the real world and have reached out, I'm doing well these days. I couldn't have written my last blog when I was in my darkest time. I just didn't have enough perspective. Here's where my perspective has brought me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Everyone who is bitten by the horse passion understands that horses are a high-emotion conduit. The joy of a great ride, or a soft nuzzle is truly wonderful. The heartache when your horse is injured is brutal. With our emotions this exposed, of course we are going to experience periods of emotional unrest. Generally this shows up as some form of depression. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Depression is an intimidating topic, especially as there are several types of depression, depression doesn’t always look the same, nor is it always of the same intensity. Plus, since periodic mood oscillations are normal, often it's hard to know if the 'heavy' is actually depression.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For some people, their emotional oscillations run on the low side, or they get stuck in the bottom of the mood oscillation. The doctors title this ‘major depression’ or ‘persistent depressive disorder,’ depending on the exact symptoms. Causes can be genetics, emotional, or physical trauma. Regardless of the cause, for people with these types of depression, finding the right medications, therapies, and lifestyle adjustments makes all the difference, and monitoring their emotional state is part of their life. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then there is what WebMD calls ‘situational depression.’ The brain experiences some trauma, either an ugly event, repetitive stress, or a hormone shift and the brain’s normal mood oscillations get affected. Sometimes, if the stressors go away, the brain goes back to normal. Sometimes, even if the stressors go away, the brain stays stuck in ‘injury’ mode. So the brain needs some help for a while, whether that be counseling, meds, herbs, lifestyle changes, or some combination. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then there's an occasional case of the blues. Because of stress build up, or emotional trauma, or hormones, we feel a bit ‘not ourselves.’ Our emotional oscillation runs a little lower, or stays low a little longer than normal. Time and self care often bring things back on line. I jokingly call these small bouts of ‘heavy’ a ‘brain cold.’</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The tricky part is knowing which you are experiencing. They all feel ‘heavy’ from the inside. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My personal method for assessing is to ask myself a few questions:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did some event happen to trigger this?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">How long have I felt this way?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">How well am I taking care of myself?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If something has happened or I've felt ‘heavy’ for only a few days, I will treat it like any illness -- get enough rest, eat well, do things that recharge me. Sometimes that ‘something’ is as simple as the end of a crazy show season and I'm run down. Sometimes it's losing Reine, my best dog, or Silhouette, my favorite horse. Sometimes it's the ups-and-downs of this industry getting to me. More important than the ‘something’ is my ability to heal. If the ‘brain cold’ lasts too long, or gets worse, or I start having trouble functioning, then it's time to get help. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first place I go for help is my support system. I have a few close friends I can count on when I need to talk, or just sit with me in my ‘brain cold.’ Sticking to my routines and maintaining good sleeping and eating habits goes a long way, but connection to people I trust has been the real key for me. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I didn't have this a few years ago when things got really ugly. Sure, I had friends, but I was too guarded to have solid, trauma-surviving emotional connections. In my mind, I could best meet the needs of my clients and staff by staying strong. Strong with lots of walls.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breaking down those walls has not been easy, nor is it a finished job, but it is worth it. My circle of close friends is small. I appreciate every one of them. Without them, I could easily have spiraled into situational depression last year when I rearranged my business, or when I lost my mare and my dog. Thanks to my support system, a ‘heavy’ period didn’t become paralyzingly black and ulgy. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thankfully, Wednesday's ‘heavy’ start was not the beginning of a ‘brain cold,’ but most likely fatigue from Tuesday's long day. But if it was, I now have a plan for treating it.</span></div>
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Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-31223254548114335022020-01-15T08:33:00.000-08:002020-01-15T08:33:45.283-08:00Professional costs<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love my job. I really do. I get to spend my career following my passion. But like most things, it comes at a cost. So many professionals have died lately, and more are opening up about their battles with depression, I feel the need to pull back the rug a little and try to show that cost.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most recently, Teresa Butta died on New Year’s Eve. We were acquaintances--we moved in the same circles, rode with the same instructor, attended the same clinics and shows, and were about the same age. We had big dreams. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can’t look at her death, and look at my health breakdown two years ago, followed by necessary business and life changes, and not think “there, but for the grace of god, go I.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The horse business is tough - everyone says that. But those words don’t even touch the surface.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Working in any highly competitive performance-based industry, be it athletics, the arts, academia, some corporate settings, is tough, because you are always, always trying to be the best. Not your best, but THE best, in order to survive. Any performance-based industry has a “what have you done lately?” mentality. Recent show results are much more important than awards won 20 years ago. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dressage riders are hard-wired with a type-A, perfectionistic, it’s-never-good-enough mindset--professionals even more so. Even when we win, our score sheets detail areas to improve. The impossible standard of a “10” leaves every single one of us with a healthy dose of imposter syndrome. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the horse industry, we get the double-whammy of working in the service industry. Unless a trainer is quite fortunate with sponsors or family money, the lights are paid by other people’s horses, other people’s dreams, other people’s goals. Supporting client’s dreams and goals, often while we watch ours be sidelined by time, injury, or finances, is emotionally quite heavy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So heavy in fact that in the CBS article dated June 2016, entitled “These Jobs have the Highest Suicide Rate,” agriculture/farming workers (which all of us who manage a farm are part of) ranked #1, and service industry workers ranked #19.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The finances in this job add to the pressure--this industry runs on insanely small profit margins. The overhead is crazy high. Board generally breaks even, and owning a competition horse isn’t cheap. Even when the long-term goal is sales, the carrying costs, promotion costs, and training time aren’t paid until the horse sells. Most horse trainers are one colic surgery, one expensive truck repair, one lost training client away from sleepless nights and robbing Peter to pay Paul. When clients drive up in late-model expensive cars and complain about the cost of a lesson, not getting bitter is an active choice, one that’s really hard to make at the end of a cold, wet, physically-tiring 12-hour day. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all walked into this career knowing we weren’t going to get rich, but we expected it to be fun. Being close to burnout all the time isn’t fun, not even a little. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most often we are head trainers, or work alone, and the saying “it’s lonely at the top” is real. When trainers do get the rare luxury of gathering with other pros, our competitive, perfectionistic nature makes it hard to let our guard down. Talking about how many horses are in your program, how long your days are, how many days you’ve worked without a day off is a status symbol. Rarely do we ask each other if we are having fun, or what we do outside of the barn. We are so used to keeping up the veneer of success for our clients, that we can’t even let it down in front of our peers. It’s really a wonder that more of us don’t crack.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In our late 20’s and early 30’s, these stressors are much easier to swallow. Big-tour horses still fill our dreams. But as trainers near middle age, and you look at your meager 401k, and see USDF and USEF gearing so much funding and programs to the “young professional,” dreams of CDI gallops no longer have enough shine to pull you through the hard times. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As trainers approach midlife, our priorities are often forced to shift. The sacrifices we made in our 20’s and 30’s to make ends meet no longer seem worth it. Because at the end of the day, no one asks how much we sacrificed or how hard we worked, only if we achieved our goal.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have watched so many of my peers change their goals, and find other lines of work to have a more stable income source. They shift to part-time, or leave the industry all together. All to achieve some form of stability, and hopefully a work-life balance. But when we’ve been our own boss most of our working career, in a field that most of the world doesn’t even know about, this transition time is really, really hard. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am saying all of this because knowledge builds empathy, and empathy builds connection. And connection is a big key to handling stress.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right now, with Teresa’s passing on our minds, my peers are discussing how to help each other. But I think this discussion needs to be opened to the dressage community and friends of the dressage community. We are all looking for concrete ways, big and small, to prevent the stresses of the job from creating stress fractures. All ideas are welcome here, please comment below or on the Straight Forward Dressage Facebook page.</span></span></div>
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Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-75206523643783398552018-12-13T19:02:00.002-08:002018-12-13T19:02:40.505-08:00Boundaries<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QV4tvgRb3WJg603I_Rt0-hNyg0c7LbHMeGG4dsmHyp7uR1-K4ilxoY1ySmosIsV4rZx_7mBk7G8o7xuIJwiS2HeCyvqYH3gEjGtyksXUeunqT3nIP9HH1lfOLSJ-DWAJHIqjAFYuf70/s1600/NEDA17-5795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="800" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QV4tvgRb3WJg603I_Rt0-hNyg0c7LbHMeGG4dsmHyp7uR1-K4ilxoY1ySmosIsV4rZx_7mBk7G8o7xuIJwiS2HeCyvqYH3gEjGtyksXUeunqT3nIP9HH1lfOLSJ-DWAJHIqjAFYuf70/s320/NEDA17-5795.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week I had a training session on Capi that I really wasn’t happy with--I did achieve my throughness goal, but it wasn’t how I wanted it to feel. I noted the tension and pressure, and decided to try a new plan the next day. I finished the rest of my day, taught my lessons, rode my other horses, chatted with staff and clients, then turned my phone on silent and had dinner with a friend. The next day I got on with my new plan at the ready, but I didn't need it. Apparently Capi had gone back to his stall, thought about it, and he decided yesterday’s work was just fine. He happily agreed with me on this whole throughness idea. We had a much more relaxed, productive ride.</span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-6c82e981-7fff-b5b5-abbc-9442d8696cc7" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">A year ago, I wouldn’t have been able to write that paragraph. I would have spent the rest of the day, the entire evening, and the night riding and re-riding the training session, beating myself up for every part that I could have done differently. I would be sure it was entirely my fault, and not that Capi just needed a night to process. My self-criticizing would have so </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">embedded</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> itself in my thoughts that it would add a sharp snap to my conversations, because how dare you interrupt my self-flagellation? By the time I got on the next day, I’d be convinced I should give up this dressage thing and go get an office job.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last December was a turning point for me. I spent the better part of 2017 in emotional turmoil. By December, my body had enough. I had an autoimmune reaction to a common antibiotic, one I've taken many times before, that nearly killed me. While I was literally tied in bed in the hospital, waiting to see if the drugs were going to work in time, I had time to think. I came to a decision. I decided it was time to start living a full life. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which was going to be a big shift. Horses are a performance industry, steeped in the “what have you done for me lately” idea. An industry where being busy is a status symbol. Dressage trainer’s coffee talk at shows is about how many horses are in your barn, how many students do you have at a show, how many clinics are you teaching, how many horses in training, etc. Trainers brag about not having a day off for weeks on end. Then we wonder why we are burned out and impatient.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a job where I willingly pay to be judged, it’s no surprise I was always judging myself and always coming up short. So I’d work more. Which made me tired and </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">judgmental</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and hard on myself. So I’d put in more hours. And so the cycle continued, until I felt like I was nothing more than my job. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I needed to learn to see myself as more than my professional identity. Sure, I have spent many years building and running a training business, but that is only part of who I am as a person. I needed to embrace the non-horse parts of myself as beautiful and worthy of my attention as well. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They say “turn your passion into your job and you’ll never work a day in your life.” They say “work harder and you’ll achieve more.” I think that’s bunk. If you work hard in a job you love, giving pieces of yourself every day with no time to refill, you’ll get burned out and bitter.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had to do what I thought was impossible. I let go of the guilt of taking time for myself.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once that was acknowledged (but not fully conquered, that will take a lifetime), I started tracking my work hours, including the time spent at my desk. The number was a bit staggering. I took a deep breath, and decided that some marketing and office work would just have to wait. This was, and still is, very difficult for me, leaving work for another day. But I’m learning to do it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I simplified some of my office work and delegated more. I looked at all of SFD’s tasks, decided what was important to me and embraced those things. Those things centered most around training, competition, and education. Then I looked at my staff, and handed them the other parts of my job, parts I thought they’d be good at. Then I took another deep breath and trusted the people I had entrusted. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I decided it was time to learn to manage instead of just work harder. I started having regular meetings with Carly, my stable manager, where we talked about things like how to do scheduling and how best to manage the day-to-day horse care. When we needed to do some hiring, I passed that along to her as well, and she hired and trained a team of people that work really well together. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course there were, and still are, growing pains. Times when I learned that I needed to be more clear on expectations, times when the new responsibility didn’t work out, times when the ball was dropped. But because I’m not so overworked and anxious, I can deal with most of them more calmly and with less self judgement. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As part of my focus shift, when Kelsey, my assistant trainer, enrolled in part 2 of the L this summer, I gave her as much support as I could. In past years, I would have kept the SFD calendar cranking along. But instead, I let go of SFD’s schooling shows and educational seminars for 2018 and went with Kelsey to give her moral support as her scribe for her L exam. Which ended up being quite helpful when I got an invite to fill a last-minute spot in an ‘r’ program in August. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoziIrajBPfPdQllxY6xCoVYT7LN8RIK7IHumhQQpq34PE8gq2JYAe34oa_bjFlw02TMOeXCxWXeRb2xgGQknEyLKt9LNxFy5BAcJB7DamVabH6wuUSMy18eMnznvXZo7lKHdcU0lIgt8/s1600/20180410_104709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoziIrajBPfPdQllxY6xCoVYT7LN8RIK7IHumhQQpq34PE8gq2JYAe34oa_bjFlw02TMOeXCxWXeRb2xgGQknEyLKt9LNxFy5BAcJB7DamVabH6wuUSMy18eMnznvXZo7lKHdcU0lIgt8/s200/20180410_104709.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Chicago's Cloud Gate, picture taken from inside looking up<br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdx2FeZrVKLJoxhq07qB9DBjRHheVcboDE4uhWH2CXR43T5oNxTHNp5oBZenMufKnpL7ZLoUuCPxisI-KiWQFC7SaRyFukclmIEmTKxM7xHH6EgHBg0bt3JKocbWuUI32ir6G6pXeYCM/s1600/20181111_081028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"></span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">These </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">fledgling</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> boundaries created time for other things I love, things that make me feel like a more complete person. I went home to see family, then spent a day exploring in Chicago. I ran in a few 5ks. I went to Austin City Limits music festival. I stole away to NYC for an overnight to eat, walk the Brooklyn bridge, and see a show. I went hiking. I took a lot of pictures of things at funny angles. I learned some cooking basics and had regular dinners with friends. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdx2FeZrVKLJoxhq07qB9DBjRHheVcboDE4uhWH2CXR43T5oNxTHNp5oBZenMufKnpL7ZLoUuCPxisI-KiWQFC7SaRyFukclmIEmTKxM7xHH6EgHBg0bt3JKocbWuUI32ir6G6pXeYCM/s1600/20181111_081028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdx2FeZrVKLJoxhq07qB9DBjRHheVcboDE4uhWH2CXR43T5oNxTHNp5oBZenMufKnpL7ZLoUuCPxisI-KiWQFC7SaRyFukclmIEmTKxM7xHH6EgHBg0bt3JKocbWuUI32ir6G6pXeYCM/s320/20181111_081028.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Guess what? No one left my barn because I took a weekend off. Even my highly-judgy-brain has to admit that my changes didn’t ruin SFD. My business is solvent. I ended up with just as many All-Breeds Champion and Reserve slots as previous years. I was high up in Horse of the Year in Freestyle and brought home ribbons from Kentucky again this year. Timecenter says SFD is giving just as many lessons as last year. I’m still riding multiple horses daily. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The best part is I'm enjoying it more. </span></span></div>
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<br />Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-1177310665817837252018-11-16T06:08:00.001-08:002018-11-16T06:08:22.947-08:00Dreams and Purpose<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGhNaYf7yfmSInTxUpMXfOZH1uuHCFSwhYgGFyu_4_1AaiFRLb0IPaaAyYaL6qCFUwPz25WgTz10SEBAdSnWtPLXtWwz8sjYcemDSV9zYScFlwtfQbCJWfQRgFkMUCvBggSyceBIemZ4/s1600/venus+in+stall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="364" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGhNaYf7yfmSInTxUpMXfOZH1uuHCFSwhYgGFyu_4_1AaiFRLb0IPaaAyYaL6qCFUwPz25WgTz10SEBAdSnWtPLXtWwz8sjYcemDSV9zYScFlwtfQbCJWfQRgFkMUCvBggSyceBIemZ4/s320/venus+in+stall.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I talk to students about dressage progress, I always
ask them a multiple-choice question. What is your goal -- is it (A) to see how
far you can go, (B) to see how far this horse can go, or (C) to see how far you
and this horse together can go?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
answer to this question helps me guide the rider to an appropriate plan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For riders who want to see how far they can go, that often
means a different mount at different stages of the journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those who want to see how far the horse
can go, that often means I spend more time in the saddle, and sometimes
includes me showing the horse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the goal
is to see how far the partnership can go, I often spend less time on their
horse, but they may need to accept that their lovely, wonderful 15.3 ottb isn’t
bound for the Pan Am games, and they may not earn their silver or gold medals,
which is 100% ok, especially in the case of a “heart horse,” the horse that we
love more than we love our goals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am a professional, which means I answer “A” in this
question. But deep inside every professional rider is the kid who fell in love
with ponies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are all looking for the
“heart horse,” that one that gets under our skin, the one that breaks through
our professional demeanor. The one that we keep on the books, even though a dressage
trainer’s income does not really allow enough wiggle room for a sentimental
horse. The one that gives wings to our goals and lets them fly to fulfill our
dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because every dressage rider I know
is a dreamer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bring this up because I’m going to tell the story of
Venus, my mare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is not my “heart
horse.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she is the horse I
have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have written a lot about Venus over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bought her as a 2-year-old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that point in my life, I had finished my
working student time and was still freelance teaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a breeder I was talking with about
starting and selling her young stock, so I had nice youngsters to ride, but I
needed a horse to develop a bit further.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wanted to show her in the at-that-point burgeoning Young Horse
division to market my skills as a young horse trainer, and then eventually sell
her. She was a good business decision—I did not expect to make a ton of profit
on her, but she would give me the exposure I needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I knew Venus wasn’t going to be the easiest youngster when I
met her. She had, and still has, a very powerful, athletic hind end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had, and thankfully no longer has, a
nervous, untrusting look in her eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
I am a professional, and I wasn’t on a short time limit with her, so I thought
I would be fine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She took a lot of time to start, but in the long run, she
became a trusting, reliable, rock-solid mare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I did show her in the Young Horse divisions as a 4-and-5-year-old, where
she did well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not horse-of-my-dreams
well, but respectable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Late in her 6-year-old
year, she kicked a stone wall, bruising her left hind coffin joint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bone bruises take forever to heal, but she
did fully recover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once she was sound
and had a flying change, she had served her purpose in my program and was not
the horse of my dreams, so I put her on the market.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She didn’t sell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHbJqDkvE0AhZc6bEMykEzBO1lGI6MPFNjW6Tt3EtUI0_ZMfBtmD4tarUDC2Tfs0SJJGsdv5AGW-9-dcpf5ll5aCmYMVbQqE3YeV9BpAyldhScd1ODtTqw-QQD5NDSKVEb_nf4TPj8w0/s1600/With+Melissa+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHbJqDkvE0AhZc6bEMykEzBO1lGI6MPFNjW6Tt3EtUI0_ZMfBtmD4tarUDC2Tfs0SJJGsdv5AGW-9-dcpf5ll5aCmYMVbQqE3YeV9BpAyldhScd1ODtTqw-QQD5NDSKVEb_nf4TPj8w0/s320/With+Melissa+AM.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I took her off the market and developed her some
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While she got stronger, I played
quadrille and pas de deux with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
winter, I taught her to jump just for fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her trot developed more cadence and her canter more jump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was getting fancy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, my business had changed. I was teaching
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sales and young horses had become
a much smaller part of my business. I had students earning their bronze and
silver medals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To support this business
growth path, a horse that could get me more attention at the upper levels would
be nice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began to think Venus could fill
that purpose. Ok, I admit it, I began to dream a little, of neck sashes and
shows that require invitations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So the next summer, I campaigned her at 3<sup>rd</sup> and 4<sup>th</sup>
levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She did her first PSG at a
schooling show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave me some lovely,
soft, high-scoring tests, usually in smaller, quieter venues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the big venues, she would get a little nervous,
and tension would creep in and affect her scores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I signed her up for 4<sup>th</sup> level at Dressage at
Devon. I knew the venue would be hard for her, so it was my litmus test of
could she, with enough time, handle the bigger venues. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weather was horrible.We had blowing rain and a
cold, blustery wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These were definitely
the hardest conditions Venus had shown under all season. She warmed up tight,
but manageable. As we went in, the wind kicked up and the flags blew
horizontal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plastic protecting the
judge’s booths rattled. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She performed
all of the movements, but was quite tense. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we halted at x, I could feel her heart pounding
she was so afraid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The score was underwhelming – not disastrous, but not her
potential at all. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My emotional reaction was much stronger – I was
overcome by guilt for putting my sweet mare through this. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew I could not ask her to fulfill the purpose
of a horse to get me noticed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just
wasn’t fair to her. I gave up on my dream and put her on the market again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And again she didn’t sell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I frankly, have no idea why she didn’t sell. I’ve sold
tricky horses, I’ve sold green horses, I’ve sold hot, quick, small horses, I
even sold a horse with a 2-beat walk and a tendency to rear (all fully
disclosed, of course). Venus is quiet, has a great resume, is super consistent
in her reactions, and is tolerant of riders sorting things out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s probably the most solid horse I’ve ever
had for sale, and the market just didn’t seem to want her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I now had a horse on my grocery bill that wasn’t furthering
my career and wasn’t my “heart horse.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
enjoyed riding her, but as I answered “A” above, and she clearly wasn’t the
horse for my dreams. I wasn’t sure exactly what I should do with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her sale was to fund my next horse, so I was
a bit stuck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then disaster struck. For no reason any vet can figure out
(and believe me, multiple vets ran every test imaginable to try to figure it
out), she developed laminitis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nothing rips a horse lover’s heart out faster than watching
a horse in pain. Dreams and purpose be damned, I just wanted her to not
hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The x-rays showed a very, very minor rotation, but Venus’
laminitis was compounded by a series of abscesses that undermined her
already-stressed lamina.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Resulting in a
quarter crack and the heel area falling off. Literally. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My vet and my shoer assured me that she would, in time, be fine. </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gradually, she became sound.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She had some creative, expensive shoes that she could not risk losing
or her recovery would be set back months.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As turnout wasn’t an option, I moved her to the
stall with a half door that overlooks the grooming area. Always a very friendly
horse, she took to calling to everyone as they came to the barn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my students fell in love with the pretty red mare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She would bring Venus raisins and strawberry starburst jelly beans, and
hand graze her whenever she was at the barn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Venus would nicker when my student got out of her car. </span>As Venus’ feet became more comfortable, my student started to ride her a
little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My student was, at that time, a first level
rider. The power and sensitivity of a competing-4<sup>th</sup> level mare would
have been a bit too much for her, but after being sick for so long, Venus was
nicely tuned down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As Venus became stronger and more comfortable, my student
became more confident and skilled. She began half-leasing Venus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was worried at first, as my student had a
bit of canter anxiety, and Venus has a large canter stride, but the trust she
had in Venus helped her over her nervousness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the months, I watched my student slowly develop a
stronger, more independent seat. I’ve watched her learn to half halt and half pass with
authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve watched Venus thrive
under the loving care of her own AA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
watched my student begin to dream, and her dreams are ones that Venus can make
come true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On her non-leased days, Venus sometimes helps me teach or I
hop on her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ironically, when I ride her
now, without the pressure of my goals, we find each other more enjoyable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am more creative with her, and experiment
with training ideas, ideas I wouldn’t have tried if she was headed for a
centerline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I have no goals of
taking her in front of a judge, so I’m willing to play more, and when she gets
tense, instead of feeling the need to have her work through it, I’m more
inclined to leave that challenge for another day and go for a stroll the
hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has become my mental-unwind
horse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My mare again has a purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-90008412212440016542018-10-19T06:07:00.001-07:002018-10-19T06:07:14.977-07:00Catching Up<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My blog has been silent for a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Other than some recycled work, I haven't posted in over a year. </span>I went through a rough year, probably the
hardest of my life, in 2017.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Writing has
always been an outlet for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I
wrote prolifically in my journal, my journey was personal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus telling a story while you are in the
midst of it, well, that just isn’t the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Perspective is important in all narrative. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But some parts I’m ready to share, if just to
bring things up-to-speed for some future blog ideas I have cooking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blogging as a performance- based business owner puts me a
bit at odds. My writing mentors have always rewarded honest, real, gritty
prose. Business marketing tells me to fill the internet with fun, fluffy,
positive things. As a culture, we tend to gloss over emotionally
uncomfortable topics, pretending the rains never happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But life isn't always nice and pretty, and
growth is often uncomfortable, messy, and painful. Change rarely
comes from comfort, and growth often has a price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beautiful thing about life is often when
the struggles are mounting, there’s a bright spot somewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure this comes as no surprise, but
horses are my bright spot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you follow Straight Forward Dressage or know me on
Facebook, you’ll know the 2017 show season was a good one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Secret had a solid PSG/I-1 season, earning a
handful of the scores I need to advance in my judge’s training and competed in her
first CDI. Capi ended up winning Region 8, BLMS, and stood 5<sup>th</sup> at
Nationals with his second level Peter Pan freestyle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sling was 3<sup>rd</sup> level champion at the
DVCTA championship show. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the barn, my
students earned a large handful of All-breeds awards, a regional reserve
champion, a 10<sup>th</sup> place finish in Kentucky, and a freshly minted
bronze medal. My para-equestrian student was 2<sup>nd</sup> at the Para
national championship in Tryon (more on that in a later blog, I have GREAT
photos) and won USDF Grade III Para Rider of the year. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last year, this consistency was really
reassuring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even with the hurricane
whirling around me, these horses were the calm eye of the storm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year the horses continue to shine brightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Secret gave me the rest of my PSG/I-1 scores plus
a few to spare, collecting many blue ribbons along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Capi had an amazing year with many 3<sup>rd</sup>
level and freestyle scores in the 70’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He had some very-normal-horse moments this last weekend at Regionals (I
just don’t understand why they have gatekeepers in championship classes and no
other national classes, but I digress...) that put him mid pack in most of his
classes, with the exception of his 2<sup>nd</sup> level freestyle, which he
placed <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>well enough to earn him another trip to KY
this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sling went home to his young
rider to teach her FEI dressage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a
trainer, seeing a long-term training horse go home and do what you trained it
to do is really rewarding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My personal horses were not so comforting—I’ll spare you all
the details. In 2017 and even into this year, I have been reminded that it isn’t the long hours, the work, or
the low pay that exhausts professionals. It’s the heartbreak. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With all the goings-on in the second half of last year, in addition
to my blog, my riding education was put on hold. I hit an occasional lesson
here or there, but wasn’t able to keep my education in the forefront like I
usually do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year I have been able
to amend this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of my education
budget and time have gone to judge education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the spring I audited Part 1 A and B of the L program, and I’m really
glad I did, as I received a last-minute invite to a small r program in
August.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also played scribe for the L
Part 2 while my assistant trainer, Kelsey, prepared for, took, and then passed
her exam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition to educating my judge’s eye, I’ve been back in
lessons regularly again. Secret has stayed home from the show circuit since
June, and with Scott Hassler’s help, she is making huge strides on the big jump
to Grand Prix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every day she reminds me
that, in this dressage game, heart is more important than breeding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeanne McDonald has seen Capi and I as
regularly as our messy schedules allow, contributing hugely to his show ring
consistency this year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m super excited for the upcoming winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of freezing up here in PA, I’m headed
to Fl for 3 months of training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
sharing a facility with Sara Schmitt, where I’ll get her eyes on my riding
daily, as well as access to all of the other wonderful instructors who winter
with the Palm trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t had this
long of an intensive since I was a working student.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve gone to FL to warm up and get inspired
for bits of time each winter, and last year even took a student down for 2
weeks to compete. But this will be the first time I will be able to be fully immersed
in my own education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With Secret
schooling the GP and Capi knocking on the door of PSG, it’s time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll keep you all well apprised of my
progress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although I’ve had the opportunity to go to FL in the past,
I’ve resisted, because FL can be an amazing, inspiring dressage immersion, or
it can be a sunny place to feel poor and inadequate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus
as I’m not taking my entire barn south, I’ve needed the right people in the right
places at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a solid stable manager in Carly, who I
trust completely with the care of not only the horses but their humans. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have newly-minted L grad Kelsey who has
matured into a lovely instructor and my eyes-on-the-ground at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cheryle, who has helped keep my office stuff
organized for years, has taken on additional responsibilities as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These women, just by being who they are and
doing their jobs well, are providing the springboard to my dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This blog started out as an update-my-readers bit, so I
could jump into my dressage story line where it is today, but as writing often
does, it took its<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> own path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more I write, the more my emotions turn
to gratitude to my support system that has stayed with me to the other side of
my rough year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shelley, Linda, and Wendy
are amazing owners who have trusted me with their horses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My trainers have been amazing to help me get
as much education as possible around my nutty happenings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My barn family, both staff and clients, have
been there for me every step of the way, even when the steps were messy and
confusing to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of all of
you, my heart is full, and my future looks bright.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-18739208451340351022017-11-19T07:42:00.001-08:002017-11-19T12:51:22.034-08:00Frustration<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">In the winter, SFD runs unmounted and mounted theory education.
While I was working on this year's theory plan, I ran across this, which was a
class we ran several winters ago. I brushed it up a bit, added a few
transitions (forgive some of the abruptness, remember, this was originally a
class, so some of those rough transitions were actually discussion moments),
and voile, a blog post. It's a bit technical, so my geekiness comes out loud
and clear. Feel free to skip to the end if you just want a plan. But if
understanding WHY is important to you, get a fresh cup of Joe and enjoy. </span></i></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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Frustration, in my opinion, is the rider’s
Elephant-in-the-room. It is the cause of
unhappy training rides, tears, and over-correcting. I hold to the idea that no one rides badly on
purpose. I also know that ambition’s ugly shadow will always be frustration,
and only Peter Pan has been able to escape his shadow. Show me an ambitious
dressage rider, and I’ll show you a rider who deals with frustration. To quote
Antonio Banderas, “Expectation is the mother of all frustration. “<o:p></o:p></div>
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Since frustration is clearly a downside of performance-based
activities, and with so much research available when I researched about
performance anxiety, I was a bit surprised that when I started researching for
this class I didn’t find a lot. I found
lots of definitions, lots of examples, so it’s clearly a problem – enough of a
problem that Amazon advertises “frustration-free packaging.” But not much about what is going on in our
brains, and on a few plans to combat frustration. So I asked Kelsey for help,
and between her, my experiences, and some careful internet digging, this is
what I came up with.<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<br />
So here’s the official definition: Frustration is a feeling of annoyance that occurs when something doesn't go as you expect. Frustration comes from the Latin frustrationem, "a deception or a disappointment." (http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/frustration).<br />
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Ironically, I found information about frustration was on the internet Pokemon encyclopedia. I never knew Pokemon had such an organized following, but then I doubt gamers know we spend hours making circles in the sand and get excited about a score that wouldn’t be passing in grade school. But I digress (again).<br />
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Turns out in Pokeomn, “frustration” is the name of a fight move. I love this line under “Effects” on the web page == “Frustration inflicts damage and has no secondary effect.”<br />
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It goes on to describe this complicated mathematical formula that quantifies the power of frustration based on one factor – friendship. In that game, the higher the friendship score, the lower the power generated by the frustration fight move. So even in the video world, emotions, specifically friend-trust in this case, have an effect on the power of frustration.<span style="font-family: inherit;">the lower the power generated by the frustration fight move. So even in the video world, emotions, specifically friend-trust in this case, have an effect on the power of frustration.</span></div>
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Leaving the land of video games and entering neuroscience, let’s
look at what happens to our brains when we are frustrated. For starters,
emotions in general are hard-wired into the subcortical nuclei, which brain
researchers call the “animal brain” as it is so similar to that of lower
mammals. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In <i>Animals in Translation</i>, Grandin and Johnson write:
"We humans tend to think of emotions as dangerous forces that need to be
strictly controlled by reason and logic. But that's not how the brain works. In
the brain logic and reason are never separate from emotion. Even nonsense syllables
have an emotional charge, either positive or negative. Nothing is
neutral."<o:p></o:p></div>
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In Pankseep's <i>Affective Neuroscience</i>, he explains that
there "is good biological evidence for at least seven innate emotional
systems…." The list, slightly modified for clarity of definitions to
non-brain-science nerds, is as follows:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Seeking
(anticipation, desire)<br />
Rage (frustration, body surface irritation, restraint, indignation)<br />
Fear (pain, threat, foreboding)<br />
Panic/loss (separation distress, social loss, grief, loneliness) <br />
Play (rough-and tumble carefree play, joy)<br />
Mating (copulation—who and when)<br />
Care (maternal nurturance)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Just to make things harder, these emotional systems kick in BEFORE neuro impulses hit the logic centers of
our brain. In other words, we can’t change the fact that we become frustrated. It’s part of our wiring. So quit feeling guilty about being frustrated.
It’s as much a part of our dna as your height and hair color. But we can control what we do about
frustration, so that is where we have to focus.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But there is one really scary thing in that list – that
frustration is listed as a component of rage.
Also quite interesting is that when neuroscientists study rage, they
find the paths in the brain parallel the trajectory of the fear system.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Certain stimuli trigger frustration/rage in the “animal brain” –
things that restrict freedom of movement or access to resources. Easiest way to trigger frustration and rage
in a baby is to hold the arms down. Even
our horses feel frustration when we limit their freedom of movement. But since we are human, we get the added
advantage of our “logical brain” creating even more triggers than we
instinctually have. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So here’s the technical list of how the brain is impacted by
rage/frustration:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Areas of the frontal cortex containing
reward-relevance neurons influence RAGE circuitry.<br />
<br />
Frontal eye fields are impacted, drawn to especially prominent objects in the
environment. (doesn’t this remind you of the tense horse looking for something
to spook at?)<br />
<br />
The orbitoinsular cortex—where a multitude of senses converge including pain
and perhaps hearing—may provide specific sounds direct access to RAGE
circuitry. In humans, these sounds may include, for example, an angry
voice.<br />
<br />
The nucleus of the solitary tract, which collects information via the vagus
nerve that is probably related to processes such as heart rate and blood
pressure, inputs to RAGE circuitry.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If I lost you with that list, here’ the Cliff Notes -- once the
brain has started down the frustration path, the neurons fire in such a way to
look for other frustrating things. No
real shocker there. Once the path is started, the brain has 3 options – follow
the path to rage, jump to the parallel ‘fear’ path, or interrupt the path. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As trainers, of course we want to get off the frustration path, so
we have to be interrupt the path. Since
frustration triggers increase heart rate, blood pressure and muscular blood
flow, it will impact our ability to control our aids, significantly reducing
our effectiveness as riders. So we need
to get off the path, and we’ll discuss how in a minute. But first let me
convince you that you need to get off the path, even though, as trainers, that
seems like the opposite of what we have come to believe is “good training.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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This, of course, go against common horsemanship. We have all heard
that stopping when things aren’t going well is a bad training decision (letting
the horse get away with it). But letting
things build is a worse training decision.
Horses learn by repetition, so if you take a walk break when it isn’t
working, then go back with a better neuro-brain path firing and do GOOD
repetitions 10 times, that is going to do more good in long-term training than
one time pushing through the frustration and risking a really, really negative
experience that you then have to fix. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Plus, since I showed earlier that frustration comes from the
animal center of your brain, the logic center of your brain can start the
cascade, but once it gets going, the neuropathway stays pretty much in the
animal brain. It doesn’t check in with the logic centers of your brain. So your
logical brain is saying “this isn’t working, we should do something else” but
your animal center of your brain keeps hitting repeat, and it’s like an ink
line that your brain keeps going over and over, making the line thicker and
deeper. Breaking that line is easy when
it is one ink line thick. When it is wide and dark as if it were made with a
paintbrush, it’s much harder to break. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I also want to point out again that this brain cascade bypasses
logical thought. Think of the rider who
is clearly frustrated, and then hits her horse. Would that person hit a horse
under normal situations? Of course not. Did she plan to hit a horse? Nope. But
her brain’s wiring, in frustration/rage cycle, made that hit without checking
with the logic sensors of the brain.
Often, ironically, with the logic center of her brain going “yea, that’s
not going to work.” So then she gets to
feel guilt and shame as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Why does the brain do this? Because thinking is slow, and a
million years ago, when a human was physically
trapped by something trying to eat him, quick, strong, frustrated and rage-induced
reactions kept him, and therefore our species, alive. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A simplified way to look at neuropathways is my ink line analogy from earlier. If you
draw a line in ink, it’s a line. But if you keep drawing that same line, over
and over again, the line gets thicker and darker. Brain paths work that way too. If one fires
once in a while, it’s just a thinly-followed pathway. But if the brain goes over the same
neuro-path pattern over and over again, it becomes a well-worn path. This is how we develop habits. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Like a habit, breaking the path when the path is still a thin line
is much easier than breaking the cycle once your has rigidly gone over it and
over it and over it in the last 10 minutes. But in order to break that pattern
while it is still a thin line and before frustration has become a habit, we
have to recognize the signs of the line being drawn in the first place. Which isn’t as easy as it sounds.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Common signs:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tone of your
self-talk<o:p></o:p></div>
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Emotional build
up<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sudden change
in heart rate/body temp<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Just to make this even more difficult, remember that the
neuropathway for frustration/rage are in the animal brain. So your horse is
wired to feel frustration, and make that jump from frustration to fear (flight
behavior) or frustration to rage (fight behavior). <o:p></o:p></div>
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Then there’s an added phenomenon that happens in the natural word –
synchronization. It makes fireflies
blink in the same pattern, and in herds, when one herd member goes on alert,
they all do. They do it because the heart rates sync. This happens with humans
too – In Spain, they did a study using heart rate monitors on fire walkers. The
heart rate of the fire walker and their friends/relatives who were observing
synched. Onlookers who didn’t know the walker, their heart rate didn’t line
up. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Same thing happens to horses and humans. According to a 2009 study at the Swedish
University of Agricultural Sciences, again using heart rate monitors, showed
synchronization. When riders were told
that an umbrella would open at a particular part of their path, their heart
rates went up in anticipation. And so
did the horse’s heart rates, despite the fact that the umbrella didn’t
open. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As horsemen we know this, we talk about horses ‘sensing our fear.’
Turns out it is real. Think about a fearful student getting on a steady
schoolmaster, and the schoolmaster soothing the rider. So it works both ways.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now remember that raised heart rate is one of the physical signs
of both fear and frustration. So once we
get on that cycle, not only is our brain wanting to stay on that cycle, our
mount’s brains do too, and they are encouraging us to stay there as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So our best tool to prevent frustration buildup becomes technique
called “prepared but flexible.” To be
prepared but flexible, we need to not only recognize frustration, we need to
know what triggers frustration in us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Getting back to Pokeman for just a moment, another interesting
component of “frustration” as a fight move, characters don’t come with
“frustration”—it is a learned move.
Think back to your competition career. First season, everyone is just
happy to be there, and wow, I even got a ribbon!. Second year, yea, not so
much. Your expectations, based on your education, have raised the bar, and
increased your tendency to be frustrated.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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As the old adage goes, forewarned is forearmed, so let’s look at
common frustration triggers:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Restricted
motion<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lack of access
to resources <o:p></o:p></div>
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Deadlines<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fatigue<o:p></o:p></div>
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Outside
stressors<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Expectations<o:p></o:p></div>
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Performance
anxiety<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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When I look at the internet for tools to help frustration, it
gives me lots and lots of sorta-but-not-really-helpful advice, from “take a
deep breath” to “change your expectations.”
I don’t want to change my expectations, since that may lower my results,
and let’s face it, I want a productive training session and a high score. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So my personal, keep-the-red-hair-in-check method for staying out
of the frustration neuro cycle is to first look at my goals and decide how easily
those goals could lead to frustration. Then I plan 2-4 different paths to reach that
goal. I set up several check-points to
see if I’m on the best path – in a training session, that will be a walk break.
In a show plan, I’ll re-think the plan mid season to see if unforeseen elements
have derailed my plan. But having a plan to flex my plans helps me feel less
restricted, literally or proverbially.
In other words, plan the work, plan to adjust the plan, work the plan,
adjust the plan, lather, rinse repeat. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So, like any skill, we have to practice it. Pick some goals, make
a list of plans, routinely check for physical signs that the brain is getting frustrated,
and adjust often. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Bibliography<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Frustration_(move)"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Frustration_(move)</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Cope-With-Frustration"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.wikihow.com/Cope-With-Frustration</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/happiness-in-world/201202/how-manage-frustration"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/happiness-in-world/201202/how-manage-frustration</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/05/110504-fire-walking-hearts-beat-science-health-heartbeats/"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/05/110504-fire-walking-hearts-beat-science-health-heartbeats/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.enlightenedhorsemanship.net/2009/08/science-friday-horses-react-to-human-heart-rates-study-finds/"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.enlightenedhorsemanship.net/2009/08/science-friday-horses-react-to-human-heart-rates-study-finds/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-7817578521526307502017-06-14T08:22:00.000-07:002017-06-14T13:26:13.466-07:00Feelings, oh oh oh feelings,<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rolling Stone Magazine lists the song "Feelings," written by Morris Albert, as the #9 worst song of the 70's. I tend to agree. It's a cheesy, redundant, vague song about losing a feeling and not being able to get it back. Kinda like trying to 'feel' a dressage movement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As you may have already guessed, I am not a fan of “feel” when riding a horse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know, admitting this may get me banned from the “in”
dressage instructors club, but hear me out.
My issue with ‘feel’ is multi-faceted.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First, what riders feel is not necessarily correct or
incorrect, what they feel is change. That
change may or may not be for the better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Second, a rider’s ‘feel’ vocabulary is limited to the range
of her experiences. Unless a rider has
trained several different conformation types up the levels, chances are their ‘feel
reference’ will be incorrect. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Third, how a horse feels and how a horse looks may or may
not match, particularly when a horse is learning a new balance point or a new
movement. As a horse gets stronger, the same “look” may feel dramatically
different. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fourth, feel changes from day-to-day, depending on the
weather, the footing, if the saddle has shifted back, the horse and rider’s
fatigue level, the list goes on and on.
Feel just has too many variables to be reliable as a training
evaluation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fifth, riders tend to get emotionally committed to what they
think something should feel like, which gets in the way of an instructor
helping them change the horse to become more correct. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So if I don’t teach feel, how do I help students become
independent trainers? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First, I ask students to ride by landmarks and tests. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An example of using both landmarks and tests in leg yield:
when leg yielding, using accuracy as a landmark, ride the movement from D to B.
If the rider can accurately ride from D to B, instead of D-ish to
somewhere-near-B, while keeping the horse parallel to the long side, the horse’s
alignment will create crossing. Additionally,
a great test of balance in the leg yield is asking the horse to do a small flexion
in the direction of the leg yield. If
the horse can do a small flexion change, without tension or tempo change, then
the horse has proved his balance as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In shoulder in, there are two landmarks. First, if starting
the shoulder in at M, can the rider see E through the horse’s ears, with both
ears level, while keeping the hind legs on the track? If yes, then the angle is
most likely correct. Second, can the rider push her inside hip forward, and
line it up with her outside fist, without having 10,000 lbs in the outside
rein? If yes, the bend is most likely correct.
If the horse maintains the tempo and increases his back swing when the
rider swings her hips more, then that shoulder in is probably pretty darned fancy.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The second way I help students become independent trainers,
and admittedly this is a bit contrary to my earlier-stated anti-feel stance, I
ask students to let me label their “feels” for them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I rode in a clinic with a big-name trainer last November on
Capi, and after a series of exercises, she asked me, “What do you think of that
feeling?” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“It doesn’t matter what I think, I’m memorizing it,” was my
reply. In that moment, I was noting
where I felt the most pressure from the saddle on by seat, how much movement I
felt in my hips, how much the muscles in my thighs were firing, and humming a
song in my head (that’s my personal method for maintaining tempo – background
music in my head). I was creating a
‘feel reference’ for the trot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I’m teaching, if a movement looks correct, I’ll tell my
student to memorize that feel. Nine times out of 10, they’ll say, “But that’s
not what I thought it should feel like.”
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To which I reply, “’Should’ doesn’t matter, go with look,
that’s what judges see.” Then I let them
hang in that movement for a few minutes, doing my best to give minimal
corrections, so they have time to create a ‘feel reference.’ </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And thanks to the wonderful cell phone cameras, I don’t have
to ask them to believe in me, I can shoot a few minutes and they can see it for
themselves. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once a student accepts the disconnect between ‘look’ and ‘feel,’
she is able to consistently focus on using landmarks, tests, and muscle memory
instead of the nebulous notion of ‘feel.’
Which means, even when her ‘feel’ seems off, she has tools she can
apply, tools that will let her confidently trust her training techniques. And correct techniques consistently applied creates consistently trained horses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In dressage, techniques are much better than Mr. Alber's "Feelings," which in his words, "never come again." </span></div>
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Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-47372739677307213692017-04-15T04:49:00.001-07:002017-04-16T04:33:19.154-07:00Clinic quirks<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTWK8DoXcOF3wxB7WoD0yiTOxLiq_F4C5rH9AZygtmHidMNDqwYSJaSHmuLrcebWg_V5WisR0ML6EDpmiWBzJBI6aOrd1rnDgzA22pqrHbEW4_onRrRegf1omOheG_HiDdEJfDQi2ZCQ/s1600/Substanda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTWK8DoXcOF3wxB7WoD0yiTOxLiq_F4C5rH9AZygtmHidMNDqwYSJaSHmuLrcebWg_V5WisR0ML6EDpmiWBzJBI6aOrd1rnDgzA22pqrHbEW4_onRrRegf1omOheG_HiDdEJfDQi2ZCQ/s320/Substanda.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Riding in public is always an experience. I know,
intellectually, that getting a bit nervous is a sign that the event is
important to me. I know that I have to practice being nervous, so I see how my
brain sabotages my riding. Then I can think ahead of my brain’s nervous quirks
– forwarded is forearmed and all that. So
when Hassler’s announced Susanne von Dietze, a position guru, was coming, I
figured who better to help me find my riding quirks? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A short aside for the dressage rail-birds that seem to enjoy
finding fault with more accomplished riders and horses—I promise you, no horse
or rider is perfect. Every accomplished
rider knows what her and her horse’s weaknesses are. They are actively working
to improve those weaknesses every day.
For those who enjoy searching for those faults like they are buried
treasure, knock yourself out, but know you are not making divine revelations
here. Accomplished riders want to ride better, even more than rail birds want to
find holes in other people’s riding. This sport is hard, and riding in public, with
all the perfectionism and pressure we idealistic, type-A dressage riders put on
ourselves, is even harder. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYp6G0nr6M9fKNivtg_3KvTrb2Stx67U1jG4P_GX7TmCg7T8vIl7ONKWzPmapR3oOPTUv76uufFSR4o_QXTNA8Sow_9tVV3dlhxI2mEmJbTqcbzYoe-fdzhMnORdsXU6KVZdz2n_h5TQ/s1600/20170408_120524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYp6G0nr6M9fKNivtg_3KvTrb2Stx67U1jG4P_GX7TmCg7T8vIl7ONKWzPmapR3oOPTUv76uufFSR4o_QXTNA8Sow_9tVV3dlhxI2mEmJbTqcbzYoe-fdzhMnORdsXU6KVZdz2n_h5TQ/s320/20170408_120524.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><o:p><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Back to the clinic - after last weekend’s clinic I’m proud
to say two of my quirks are better. I was able to process what she was asking
me to do AND remember to half halt most of the time. My hips didn’t become stiffer than the white
man shuffle. Two of my quirks still need work, though. My hands stopped
following, particularly in the canter, and my right seat bone disappeared to
some foreign land. As I hoped when I
threw my name in the clinic-rider sorting hat, Susanne had exercises to help me
with both of those things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Other than the riding nerves, there’s a whole slew of other
performance-anxiety quirks that I tested last weekend. The time table I created for
arrival/braiding/tack/warm up was busy enough to prevent me from fidgeting, but not
so crammed I felt rushed. That worked. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I remembered to order video (thank you Carol at Volte
Productions!), as I am usually good about my lesson notes the first day, but the
second day when I’m not running on adrenaline, I usually forget to get my notes
down. That quirk I gave up on fixing, and just remember to order video. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are, of course, other quirks:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For some reason, despite over 20 years of working in horses,
and 12 years after opening my own business, my ability to feel confident in a
clinic comes down to one thing – mascara. I’d really like lip gloss too, but no
mascara, that will turn me into a completely incompetent rider, I’m sure of
it. Do I wear mascara every day? Of
course not, for Pete’s sake, I work in a barn. But on clinic days, it’s
essential.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then there’s my phone. Why, oh why, does the part of my
brain that is in charge of keeping track of my cell phone decide to play hide-and-seek
when I’m nervous? This used to happen to my keys as well (I was really bad—at one
show I had a locksmith come open my truck, only to find my keys were hiding in
my jacket pocket. At least I wasn't wearing the jacket while the locksmith was there.), but our new truck has a keypad on the door, so I can just
lock the keys in the truck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now on to the part you really want to know – what exercises
did Ms. von Dietze have that were so helpful for Sling and I?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For my stiff, wall-flower canter hands, she had me ride with
both reins in my outside hand. She had me hold my inside arm in front of me as
if I were hugging a giant beach ball, then turn my palm away from me, and push
forward in the same rhythm of the canter.
This worked like a charm. Suddenly my hands joined the party. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For my roaming right seat bone, she had me
canter left while holding on to the back of the saddle with my right hand. Again, it worked great. Both exercises gave
me a “feel reference” that I could check in with throughout the ride.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She had a couple other exercises that I really liked. I’ve played with them in lessons and training
sessions since then, and found them to be helpful enough to include in my
arsenal. Here are the two I’ve used the
most in lessons since the clinic:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7e1AboPiFoniKvWyI7YXZA2Ie8-i_VgMF-ePWWOYw4eIBpuicwYkP5OrPcxejLieL2qmfXUqM7X2M8R03ZUMQzGDp337zK5Vl_EuxDIzOw-z6_YAnXGVnxlew3-droimvPLTDLz-yISE/s1600/20170408_161652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7e1AboPiFoniKvWyI7YXZA2Ie8-i_VgMF-ePWWOYw4eIBpuicwYkP5OrPcxejLieL2qmfXUqM7X2M8R03ZUMQzGDp337zK5Vl_EuxDIzOw-z6_YAnXGVnxlew3-droimvPLTDLz-yISE/s320/20170408_161652.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Diagonal/straight – in this exercise, I rode Sling out of
the corner on a diagonal line. Once all four legs were on the diagonal, I
turned him parallel with the long side. Once all four feet were straight on
that line, I turned him back on the diagonal, and repeated this cycle until I
ran out of room. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This exercise did a great job of putting the responsibility
of self-carriage on Sling’s plate, instead of letting me help too much. As he had to keep changing direction, he
figured out quite quickly that he needed to “stay ready” and not let his weight
fall on his shoulders. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">5/5/5 – in this exercise, I asked Sling to take 5 steps of
walk, 5 steps of trot, and 5 strides of canter.
Note that those were steps, not strides, so things come up really
quick. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This exercise did a fantastic job of getting Sling quicker
with his hind legs. It also got him much more
focused on my seat, as I had to use my seat as the primary aid to change the
gait. If I used too much leg, it created too much energy, and I couldn’t make the
next downward transition happen in time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today I head out to ride in public again, taking horses
to a local schooling show to make sure I have their warm-up routines ironed out
before we head to our first recognized show in two weeks. Hopefully I’ll be
able to keep track of my phone. </span></div>
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Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-58161957070515470952017-04-05T05:10:00.001-07:002017-04-05T09:52:17.329-07:00Sling into Spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8MMkMuI1yl8HwFeIu5QoyNBVzOWdeSfk0ztDfF_3JZ57MFW3KOjdlkP_um_NaXMXSi3-Svslz5IrCn3DJbfdwogzTedlc7y4oJRw_T9SOaLM1Xq7K0AH78q-h4GkiZm3tU1yDl5ckcw/s1600/SCrowers-20121020+USDF+Dressage+Show+-+BCHP03940-fbk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8MMkMuI1yl8HwFeIu5QoyNBVzOWdeSfk0ztDfF_3JZ57MFW3KOjdlkP_um_NaXMXSi3-Svslz5IrCn3DJbfdwogzTedlc7y4oJRw_T9SOaLM1Xq7K0AH78q-h4GkiZm3tU1yDl5ckcw/s320/SCrowers-20121020+USDF+Dressage+Show+-+BCHP03940-fbk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This weekend I break the long winter's training by riding in a public clinic. I usually don't stay home all winter, but this year I had new staff to train, several short-term horses in training, and a couple of Fl trips, so time got crunched, and here we are, with our first shows weeks away and most of my horses haven't gone off farm since October. So when Hasslers advertised a clinic, I threw my name in the hat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m riding Wendy Adam’s horse, Slingshot, with
all of his enthusiasm and antics, in </span><a href="https://hasslerdressage.com/susanne-von-dietze/" style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Hassler Dressage’s clinic with Susanne vonDietze</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">. Which means I’m taking my most goofy,
playful, over-reactive mount in front of auditors. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sling has been with me since he learned to carry a rider. I,
as is my bad habit, fell in love with someone else’s horse, so we worked out an
arrangement for him to stay with me long-term.
I rode him in a handful of young horse classes and taught him the basics
of showing, or at least I tried to. In
the last few years, for the most part I’ve handed the competition reins over to Paige, Wendy’s
daughter, who has earned a wall of ribbons on him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sling is a tricky ride.
He always has been, which is in part what I enjoy about him. I would not
have been able to develop Sling without <a href="http://equichic.blogspot.com/2016/03/training-breakfast-club.html" target="_blank">taking his personality intoconsideration</a>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygsxeTnMe0HV7EjGxi2DaTKhBdvtmAWJ61jYVW3YsUFc3qgTG5ysUimLAYTZ-wvjGAk80rOOwJNd0YY9cw_geOftk6Gc6HojcxSfLJg8MlV969jwq_kdHkewWQwUDqJC2j-BW_7thsq8/s1600/Looking+at+audience.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygsxeTnMe0HV7EjGxi2DaTKhBdvtmAWJ61jYVW3YsUFc3qgTG5ysUimLAYTZ-wvjGAk80rOOwJNd0YY9cw_geOftk6Gc6HojcxSfLJg8MlV969jwq_kdHkewWQwUDqJC2j-BW_7thsq8/s320/Looking+at+audience.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He’s a very emotional horse,
and we all know what he’s thinking, both in the barn and under tack. He can go
from exuberantly happy to insecure in a matter of strides. His work ethic has
always been tied to his fitness level, and he has always learned at his own
pace. Often I feel like I don’t really
train Sling. Rather I discuss dressage,
and hope he comes to the right conclusion.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0pMQ7T3reb1h6RPhEG8APdhZiSkPUcasye_f0W4aYgI0XiPVtx20ZkFlCBwqe14EZhscxTpZjYMPQrPkwktBRVLb2Ey078t93bs0BUPBRWILggqwcRqgApQDAM8uHFoFllyknX4NOME/s1600/Sling+at+ESDCTA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0pMQ7T3reb1h6RPhEG8APdhZiSkPUcasye_f0W4aYgI0XiPVtx20ZkFlCBwqe14EZhscxTpZjYMPQrPkwktBRVLb2Ey078t93bs0BUPBRWILggqwcRqgApQDAM8uHFoFllyknX4NOME/s320/Sling+at+ESDCTA.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So why did I put this horse in public with a clinician who
emphasizes biomechanics and position? Well, although Sling is quite emotional,
at this point in his life, he is fairly honest. He has no problem telling me
when my timing is off, but as he has matured, his enthusiasm for “the fancy
stuff” feels like he’s cheering me on to ride better.
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here’s hoping he’s not scared of the auditors, and that Ms. Von
Dietze finds him as charming as I do.</span></div>
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Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-2037776979961676812017-03-06T09:41:00.000-08:002017-12-29T15:22:01.167-08:00Why do We Spend so Much Time and Money on This Crazy Obsession?<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>This is my attempt to turn a speech into an essay, so please forgive me my loose interpretation of many rules of grammar. I gave this speech Feb 25th at the French Creek Equestrian Association's Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet. Fay Seltzer asked me to write it up for the blog, so here it is.</i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why do We Spend so Much Time and Money on This
Crazy Obsession?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When French Creek Equestrian
Association’s president Fay Seltzer asked me to speak at this year’s annual
meeting and awards banquet, she asked for a “husband friendly topic.” After mulling this over for a bit, observing
husbands at our recent schooling show, and batting the topic around with my
husband, I came to the conclusion that the question every husband ponders is
“what is it about horses that make my wife so happy?” The “happy wife, happy life” thing only
scratches the surface. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As a professional horseperson, I often
wonder what motivates my students. I see
their over-booked lives. I see the sacrifices they make, both financially and
time-wise, to be at the barn. I see how they struggle with fear and frustration
to achieve their goals. I gear my business to helping them get satisfaction
from the horses they love. And I (well,
my husband, actually) wonder why. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From a psychology standpoint, the
horse-human relationship has not been studied much. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy utilizes horses
as mimics of human emotions to help with anxiety, PTSD, depression, anger
management, and the list goes on. EAP has been a breakthrough for people who
don’t respond to traditional “talk therapies.”
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">According to Dr Gardner, in an interview for <i>The Guardian</i>, “One of the reasons I
think equine-assisted therapies work so well is that everyone has a reaction to
horses; nobody is indifferent. People either love them or fear them, so that's
two big emotions that immediately reflect what most of life's issues revolve
around.”</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although EAP is a far cry from the way
most of us enjoy our horses, Dr Garner may be on to part of the “addiction” to
horses. Later in the article, he goes on
to say, </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"It has been clinically documented that just being
around horses changes human brainwave patterns. We calm down and become more
centered and focused when we are with horses," he says. "Horses are
naturally empathetic. The members of the herd feel what is going on for the
other members of the herd."</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In our often over-scheduled life, a
place of calm is often worth the price.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Taking this a bit further, I find many
horse people are what I’ll call “friendly introverts.” They meet the introvert
checklist, as Dr. Susan Whitbourne wrote for <i>Psychology Today</i>, a few of which are:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<strong><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> 1.
You enjoy having time to yourself<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"> 2.
Your best thinking occurs when you’re by yourself</span></strong><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"> 3.
You don’t initiate small talk with salespeople or others with whom you have
casual contact.</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"> 4.
You often wear headphones when you’re in a public situation.</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<strong><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> 5. You prefer not to engage with
people who seem angry or upset. <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think most of these apply to horse people,
especially dressage riders, particularly the last one. <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">The article goes on to describe studies
documenting introverts “re-directing” from high-emotion situations—redirecting
their eyes in mild cases and physically leaving extreme emotional settings. <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This ties in so easily to a common
horse training technique – when a horse becomes tense or afraid, trainers often
change the topic, wait for the horse’s emotions to settle, and then return to
the scary/tense thing. As introverts, this behavior is hard-wired into us, and
we get rewarded for being who we naturally are. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A student of mine takes it a bit
further, and describes how her horse helps her bridge the gap between her
strong introvert personality and casual interaction. She said:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> “When I talk about my pony to non-horse
people, I talk about his personality. I tell stories where I interpret his
attitude as if he were speaking to me. I like to tell stories about how patient
and stoic he is. I talk about how fun it is when he runs around with the
youngsters in the pasture. I tell stories about the times when all the other
horses are running around and he looks up, decides it’s crazy to expend so much
energy, and then goes back to eating. I talk about how fuzzy he is in winter.
And then I show them pictures like he’s my baby.My friends notice that I tend
to get more animated when I’m talking about Karison.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Talking about Karison helps Cheryle
bridge the gap of uncomfortable small talk so common in introverts, thereby
making her more at ease. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Getting back to the barn aisle, stable
life helps us horse people keep connections with friends and family that share our
interest. Just as a Star Wars buff finds
his “herd” at Comic Con, we find our herd at the barn, at the show, at the
paper chase, or at the hunt. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the English language, the word
loneliness doesn’t have an opposite. Light has its opposite in dark; anger has its
opposite in joy. But loneliness doesn’t
have a word that describes it’s opposite.
Maybe belonging is that opposite.
The barn creates that for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I overhear conversations in my barn,
and they so closely resemble what Stanford Assistant professor Gregory Walton
calls “belonging intervention.” The three principles of “belonging intervention”
are:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.2pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You
are not alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.2pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You
belong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.2pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And
it gets better<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Walton
studied “belonging intervention” in minority groups of college freshman. In his
work, the “test groups” were counseled in the above three key ideas. That counseling
impacted their academic performance and, surprisingly to Walton, their health. The impact lasted through not only college,
but until the end of the study, three years college. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I overhear conversation that lines up with
“belonging intervention” in my barn aisle regularly. Every time a rider is
going through a difficult training stage, or a nagging lameness, or struggling
to balance barn life and “real life,” I hear other boarders telling them they
are not alone, listening to them, helping them, and reminding them that it gets
better. That shared empathy, that
community, that belonging—churches offer it, social clubs offer it, and barns offer it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And when it’s going well, does it get
any better than a great ride? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We often talk about a great ride as
being “in the zone,” which psychologists refer to as “flow state.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 38.05pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Flow state - also known as “the zone,” is
the mental state of
operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a
feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of
the activity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 38.05pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Situations that can have flow often
have these two characteristics:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> High
interest<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> High
but achievable technical skill<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Flow is an actual brain-chemistry state,
when the norepinephrine (brain chemical of alertness) and dopamine (brain
chemical of interest) balance to make that magic mental cocktail, where we are
totally in the moment. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.55pt; mso-line-height-alt: 7.6pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pulling from Mikaly Csikszentmihalyi’s
web site (he is, incidentally the author of the book entitled, <u>Flow</u>), several
elements are involved in achieving flow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.55pt; mso-line-height-alt: 7.6pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 2.55pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-line-height-alt: 7.6pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->There
are clear goals every step of the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.55pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 7.6pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 2.0in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->There
is immediate feedback to one’s actions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.55pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 7.6pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 2.0in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->There
is a balance between challenges and skills.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.55pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 7.6pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 2.0in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Action
and awareness are merged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.55pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 7.6pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 2.0in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Distractions
are excluded from consciousness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.55pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 7.6pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 2.0in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->There
is no worry of failure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.55pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 7.6pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 2.0in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Self-consciousness
disappears.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.55pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 7.6pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 2.0in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The
sense of time becomes distorted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.55pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 7.6pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 2.0in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The
activity becomes an end in itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The best part is that this wonderful
state can be created so easily in the barn. A quick Google search will find a
“cookbook” of how to create flow, and a few of those steps are pretty much
built into horseback riding:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. Rituals to begin event. In our
world, those rituals include grooming and tacking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. Be mindful (aware, but non-judgmental)
about your thoughts. This state is easily created in the early stages of the
ride as you plan the workout. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. Being aware of your emotional state
and modulating it as needed. Every horse person does this – it’s windy, my
youngster looks frisky, am I ok with that or should we lunge first? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. Cadence training (focusing on a
sound or song) or targeting to help narrow focus. Just listen to a horse trot, and you can’t
miss the cadence. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So whether it’s the sense of calm, the
sense of connection, or just the mental “high” of a good ride, we all have the
addiction. Sorry husbands. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-4199914561953963042017-02-15T10:13:00.000-08:002017-02-15T10:13:15.188-08:00Add-a-Bead Dressage Education<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes I feel like my dressage education is an add-a-bead
necklace. I take lessons, I ride and audit clinics, and I observe riders, and
each educational opportunity gives me a new pearl to add to my chain. In the
weeks since the Judge’s Forum and FEI Trainer’s conference in West Palm Beach
and Loxahachee FL, I’ve found my teaching and riding sprinkled with the pearls
I gleaned from my trip.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first pearl was for me. The major reason I make the trek
down each year is to re-set my standard. Winter in PA creates a challenge—how
do I keep my standard high throughout the long months of riding alone? During
the summer, I can sit ringside at shows, observing the JJ Tates of the world,
and let my cognitive learning skills do their magic. I watch skilled rider’s
body alignment, quietly effective aids, and the volume of their corrections. This information worms itself into my brain,
and my mounts respond. But the magic doesn’t last forever, so by mid January,
12 weeks after our last show, my training was feeling a bit stale.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After two days of watching 7 CDI Level riders, including
such names as Canada’s WEG rider Karen Pavicic on her up-and-coming mare
Beaujolais, and Beatrice Marienau aboard her Nation’s Cup mount Stefano 8,
develop their horses, my internal dressage eye is reset, my brain is working
out new training ideas, and my arena time now feels much more inspired. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Venus was the recipient of the next pearl. She often comes
into the arena a touch on the unresponsive side. For her, the pearl came from
Alexandra du Celliee Muller’s lesson on her mount, Rumba. I watched as
Alexandra tried to subtly, tactfully bring Rumba more in front of her aids, and
how that made her seat more and more crooked, just like happens to me on Venus.
Then, as the clinicians Lilo Fore and Hans Christan Matthiesen encouraged her
to get a better reaction, Alexandra gave him a strong (but not ugly)
correction, to which Rumba splattered forward, dropped his poll, and lost the
collection. Ah, Venus and I know this pattern well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lilo gave cooking advice that clearly resonated with
Alexandra. She described cooking soup, and how when the soup needs salt, you
don’t come in with the entire bag, because if you get the soup too salty, it’s
tough to fix it. Instead you add salt, you taste it, and then you add more if
needed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Was the result magical? I’d be lying if I said Lilo’s words
made a 100% turnaround, but it did make a difference, in not only Rumbas
balance, but Alexandra’s straightness. Lilo made clear to all of us, riders,
judges, and auditors, that this is not a quick-fix problem. And, of course, as
horses are apt to do, Rumba set out to prove Lilo wrong – he came in on day two
more uphill and more prompt in his responses.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Slingshot also received a pearl, this time from Dana Fiore’s
lesson on So Special. So Special wanted to come short and deep in the neck,
putting too much weight on his shoulders, which affected his suspension. Dana
applied the clinician’s corrections to “show him the way up” through variations
in shoulder in– the two that made the biggest difference were trot-walk in
shoulder in, and varying the angle of shoulder in while maintaining the same
bend. Throughout the ride, So Special’s trot gained more and more airtime.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My students and I all received a pearl from Karen Pavicic’s
lesson on Beaujolais and Debbie Hill’s lesson on Cartier, a 9-year-old Dutch
Harness Horse (who, incidentally, at one point in his career came through New
Holland horse auction). Both horses were big, powerful moving horses, with a
ton of bounce in their gait, and a tendency to carry their heads high. The
corrections – focusing on hands going with seat bones in the canter, connecting
calves to the bouncy horse, and making collection changes in small increments
to help the horse understand to use their hips instead of their neck, keep
getting repeated in my home sandbox, both to myself and my students. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-82086221553880280952016-11-12T05:01:00.000-08:002016-11-12T05:01:26.028-08:00The Seat Toy BoxOf course, it's No Stirrup November, and SFD just began a no-stirrup challenge on the Straight Forward Dressage Facebook page, so a blog post about the seat seemed fitting.<br />
<br />
One student very frankly told me why she booked her first lesson with me. She said she was tired of being beat by my students at shows, and that all of my students had nice seats. I took that as high praise. Another SFD student is a two-time blue ribbon holder from Dressage Seat Equitation at Dressage at Devon - heck, every SFD student who competed in DSE ribboned in that division in 2015 and 2016. Go Team SFD!<br />
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So how exactly do I build that seat? Jokingly, I tell people I take stirrups away, tie them to the saddle, and chase them with whips. Which is actually pretty close to the truth. SFD students spend time on the lunge lunge line, they work without stirrups, and from time to time, they ride with various "toys."<br />
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The SFD seat method is based on two ideas.<br />
1) The dressage seat takes fitness, and fitness comes from work, both on the horse and off of the horse.<br />
2) In order to recreate the correct feel on a horse, you need to first feel it. Which is where the "toys" come in. <br />
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So here's my build-a-seat "toy" box. Each of the "toys" is selected to help the rider get a certain feeling, with hopes that the rider can re-create a tiny bit of that feeling without the "toy." None of these "toys" are perfect, each has quirks and limitations, but point of the "toys" is to create a feeling, not perfection. (fwiw, none of the affiliated "toy" companies have approached me about this blog.)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCuzG-DApJseF6CrQLF0TONRXan8ses6W7M-AiUdL2whKAQqmLj-dDPZ33-KLxiGoFGBeeU-fYErwKy0WqLCkI1o19_9Q7HRuhBAx8pDZQLPitELKW5rHYHIMIScCzrHAisiYwEn-PAI/s1600/20161111_172622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCuzG-DApJseF6CrQLF0TONRXan8ses6W7M-AiUdL2whKAQqmLj-dDPZ33-KLxiGoFGBeeU-fYErwKy0WqLCkI1o19_9Q7HRuhBAx8pDZQLPitELKW5rHYHIMIScCzrHAisiYwEn-PAI/s320/20161111_172622.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course, we start with the lunge line. Lots and lots of time on the lunge line. With stirrups, without stirrups, with one stirrup, doing funky exercises with arms. doing funky exercises with legs, etc. This builds fitness, balance, and confidence.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfOFuO9f1n4G9ceJ9ZeX_4aIHP_AKg2mN2uIRDtlS1aMgeZSPofcKHKwyVoKTHoHUhWPzXJgCrmozjI2HRyKJnBXFNIhzXa5yWrBpSh9BSBC96aE94X_2TTdOcQ4YVW9yszF_axwYKsU/s1600/20161111_172202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfOFuO9f1n4G9ceJ9ZeX_4aIHP_AKg2mN2uIRDtlS1aMgeZSPofcKHKwyVoKTHoHUhWPzXJgCrmozjI2HRyKJnBXFNIhzXa5yWrBpSh9BSBC96aE94X_2TTdOcQ4YVW9yszF_axwYKsU/s320/20161111_172202.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the Unisit. It really is a seat belt that holds the rider's thighs in the saddle. It does a good job showing students how to lengthen the thigh and reach down with the knees, engaging the abdominal muscles and the inner thigh muscles. <br /><br />The Unisit does have it's limitations though -- it pulls riders a bit too much on the front of the seat (making it uncomfortable in delicate places), it can make thighs a bit grippy, and it keeps rider's seats very straight in the saddle -- some horses are reluctant to canter in it. Also, if the saddle doesn't fit the horse, horses will get resistant in it.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXppvHdY08h35Gg7oO-DP-IMvSdzDCOnaiv0xVPqv-Loe4-V4VhnyujZus6hWZDMrS4d3HZtLNLFHXg8gM6MOIALOoRz7cRLzDTqiJf9FHDnnTBoErEbJDudjRRwQ34uT0nfomk2GrmyY/s1600/20161111_172414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXppvHdY08h35Gg7oO-DP-IMvSdzDCOnaiv0xVPqv-Loe4-V4VhnyujZus6hWZDMrS4d3HZtLNLFHXg8gM6MOIALOoRz7cRLzDTqiJf9FHDnnTBoErEbJDudjRRwQ34uT0nfomk2GrmyY/s320/20161111_172414.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the Unisit on a rider. You can see how it encourages a long thigh. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTUxchlNUpny7TFRwJHJ6DRfrVheLKUwoBugGihuS1dEfDsswYjpOymLpUuP_ape-NoeX9Y5d_m1JY-KxWLQ3dS7dvETDsUxc46oVgRC48gFcrBVxjh7Mcpm4z9pE2HxskiUFdxjZfJU/s1600/20161111_172053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTUxchlNUpny7TFRwJHJ6DRfrVheLKUwoBugGihuS1dEfDsswYjpOymLpUuP_ape-NoeX9Y5d_m1JY-KxWLQ3dS7dvETDsUxc46oVgRC48gFcrBVxjh7Mcpm4z9pE2HxskiUFdxjZfJU/s320/20161111_172053.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the Equicube. It is a 3.2 lb weight that riders hold with their reins. It is held in front of the saddle, just above the withers. I often use it right after the Unisit, as holding a weight out in front of the body encourages riders to lean back to counterbalance the weight, resulting in students sitting more on their seat bones--which corrects the Unisit's problem of putting riders a bit on the front of their seats. In addition, the Equicube helps riders tap into steering with both reins and their seat. Most riders feel the Equicube in their abdominal muscles and in their upper back. <br /><br />The problem with the Equicube is two-fold -- 1) holding a whip along with a weight and reins is tough, so lazy horses will take advantage. 2) the weight is a bit much for younger riders and riders with shoulder injuries. I wish they made an Equicube-light.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzJC5GgHP6zI7GA0BBNS-r-vxYoBuKiFTBNEsZXTcKJfqGHDLihBrxVD0TzHNP53IXdP3if2P8iz8GS9wpy_fhK6URfq9QNpCYxr_kPiio9vAl8Tf_mx_SJiG98TjfcMdpBMgnvtMyr8/s1600/20161111_172121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzJC5GgHP6zI7GA0BBNS-r-vxYoBuKiFTBNEsZXTcKJfqGHDLihBrxVD0TzHNP53IXdP3if2P8iz8GS9wpy_fhK6URfq9QNpCYxr_kPiio9vAl8Tf_mx_SJiG98TjfcMdpBMgnvtMyr8/s320/20161111_172121.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a metronome. The base of the training scale is rhythm with correct tempo and energy. Most horses change tempos depending on the figure and where they are in the workout, and riders politely adjust their seats to the horse's tempo. Giving riders a set "tick" in their ear encourages riders to set the tempo instead of following the horse's tempo.<br /><br />The trick to getting the most benefit from the metronome is insisting that riders RIDE the tempo, instead of correcting the horse to the tempo. If the rider keeps correcting the tempo, the horse will overshoot it - first slower, then faster, then slower -- instead of the horse locking into following the rider. Most riders are a bit sore everywhere when they first start using a metronome, as controlling 1,000 lb horse takes clarity of movement.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJN8-9U53gPD-f21CZk80_0R9_RgjTh3-smNTuMZZWxjU8Q13FS_kAGnWD12fA_Se-t-En10e6IGVPHwGpKAJjJ-JBVlz9sgKwaB1CivDgQgd9DSNt4OJbKQA3X4_qKebMOxkXuA0aCpw/s1600/20161111_172138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJN8-9U53gPD-f21CZk80_0R9_RgjTh3-smNTuMZZWxjU8Q13FS_kAGnWD12fA_Se-t-En10e6IGVPHwGpKAJjJ-JBVlz9sgKwaB1CivDgQgd9DSNt4OJbKQA3X4_qKebMOxkXuA0aCpw/s320/20161111_172138.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are my low-tech bits of baling twine. The orange one is a loop, that I use to help wandering hands. Often, as riders concentrate on seat, leg, balance, steering, the hands go wandering off a bit. By slipping this loop in the velcro of gloves, it gives a gentle reminder to keep hands up. <br /><br />The two blue ones are used to tie elbows to belt loops, again to give riders a feeling of when their elbows are drifting away.<br /><br />Hands and elbows often wander when the horse is just a little behind the leg -- not backed off enough to appear slow, but backed off enough to not be stepping fully into the contact. Rider's widen their hands and arms to maintain the lighter contact.. These two tools help riders notice that wandering created by the backing off, and correct the horse with their leg -- hopefully before I notice it. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBpNI4nSeS3L_khNRUBh22cJxcHc7rPBkO59VKK6N1TEaCSTP3BXEDa436P6BoPbD1gpWDE4oaP43FJRNlSkrHN7zNKSEP94bdM_1xUKFp17mLQ_LQHakA-9IOVOBkk86pzmyB7v9LQo/s1600/20161111_172030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBpNI4nSeS3L_khNRUBh22cJxcHc7rPBkO59VKK6N1TEaCSTP3BXEDa436P6BoPbD1gpWDE4oaP43FJRNlSkrHN7zNKSEP94bdM_1xUKFp17mLQ_LQHakA-9IOVOBkk86pzmyB7v9LQo/s320/20161111_172030.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are the newest addition to my toy box -- the Perfect Heel from PS of Sweden. Tucked in side of these Velcro-on heels are two weights. I use them for two scenarios. <br /><br />First, if a student has worked hard with out stirrups to create a nice, long thigh and deep seat, but once we add the stirrups back the seat begins to bounce, these heels are quite helpful. That bounce is coming from ankles that tighten when they feel the steady surface of the stirrup. Add the Perfect Heel helps the rider re-create the "draped" feeling of no stirrup work, while keeping the stirrup platform under their foot.<br /><br />Second, for students who tend to use their heel to do all of their leg aids, the Perfect Heel will encourage a stretched calf from which to aid. Once that feeling is established. riders are more easily able to tap into individual parts of their leg as aids -- the inner thigh, the knee, the calf, and the heel. I see this a lot in riders on smaller horses, where the horse's belly falls away from the lower leg. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSk2qHOxD8ICnAxmieWNdxdLdNHyc8yIdHgHTv_SY1ai69Ogf39Z9lPCfDHOygGum1Px-C7Q_0TQ9Wr6enDb3Hbsp7AUXm6xD1xF2tQWWT57opm0UMWdSU9KmPSt8nh2HMH_XrqQi7sRw/s1600/20161111_172021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSk2qHOxD8ICnAxmieWNdxdLdNHyc8yIdHgHTv_SY1ai69Ogf39Z9lPCfDHOygGum1Px-C7Q_0TQ9Wr6enDb3Hbsp7AUXm6xD1xF2tQWWT57opm0UMWdSU9KmPSt8nh2HMH_XrqQi7sRw/s320/20161111_172021.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is another shot of the Perfect Heel where you can see the weights. They are removable. Most riders feel the difference with two weight plates in the heel, but I take one plate out for my younger students.</td></tr>
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<br />Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-82291330957829502212016-11-04T05:17:00.000-07:002016-11-08T03:32:45.119-08:00KHDTS Symposium Report<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7nQeAazZXraqYE0OwATVoMDWkAaaUhVyISwljxXf3C01TGFfjjUy4z7fNpxiF6CqxjQQhEUE-l8XEYWzDCVTY0DU7HS3ZStmtsdaTZzZ920tYcHVq6ahKfvZMZmvkHoJtvYxBvBAiTA/s1600/FB_IMG_1477878942439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7nQeAazZXraqYE0OwATVoMDWkAaaUhVyISwljxXf3C01TGFfjjUy4z7fNpxiF6CqxjQQhEUE-l8XEYWzDCVTY0DU7HS3ZStmtsdaTZzZ920tYcHVq6ahKfvZMZmvkHoJtvYxBvBAiTA/s320/FB_IMG_1477878942439.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were unloading at the BLMs when I received the e-mail
from Jann, the secretary at Hassler Dressage, that Secret and I had been
selected in the upcoming KHDTS (Klimke Hassler
Dressage Training Symposium) Oct 28-30 2016. Which is awesome, and a bit terrifying, all
at the same time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next e-mail asked for permission to use video from the
clinic as part of an online video library.
I agreed, as it seems like the right thing to do. Then noted my
nervous-meter creeping up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My Facebook feed and inbox started filling with more and
more ads for the clinic, then the Saturday reception was advertised as full. From attending previous clinics at Hasslers,
I know that means close to 200 auditors – nervous-meter cranked up another
click.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Linda was right with me.
She checked out the rider list, and realized that not only was Secret
the only non-warmblood, she was the only mare.
I was pretty sure we would also be at least 5 inches shorter than any
other horse there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The week before, my groom was on vacation. She returned to
work on Thursday, and my working student, who had been trying to muscle through
work with a stomach bug, gave up and called out sick. Which pushed packing for
the clinic to Friday morning, with us leaving early afternoon--nothing like a
little frantic activity on top of nerves. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am a chronic over-packer.
With the temperature doing it’s normal PA fall fluctuations, and nerves
telling me I need to look tidy no matter what, I just kept throwing in more and
more clothes. Then, in last-minute panic,
I tossed in yet another outfit. If
nerves completely sabotaged my riding, at least I’d look tidy.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LYHKCIgGWVQ/WCG3THNub7I/AAAAAAAAFic/x71QpuijcsM3UwY0bNO96b3BcG-CkGctgCPcB/s1600/20161030_111505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LYHKCIgGWVQ/WCG3THNub7I/AAAAAAAAFic/x71QpuijcsM3UwY0bNO96b3BcG-CkGctgCPcB/s320/20161030_111505.jpg" width="171" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out that boot polish - the square is a reflection of the window pane, and my boots are not patent leather. This is a bright, shiny example of nerves.</td></tr>
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<a aria-label="Photo - Portrait - Oct 30, 2016, 11:15:05 AM" class="p137Zd" href="https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNE7pd00W8m5gJAcoqyNBxFc6cjC_by1AwUL6mJ" jsaction="click:eQuaEb;focus:AHmuwe; blur:O22p3e;" tabindex="0"><div class="RY3tic" data-latest-bg="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/oEJrIwbFV8-cxQ8MnGtmE97q2gKOuV_9-k2YsGY26jxUPjqFxDE3pwn1I0ZDj2VloggAg5rP0udh8y22dtybN78H1Kv46x8LkVshm1yH-mPY_YmZBLhUFtOqnJJ_suhJCNc9MWGla5UrLWF15pXrW6Rj4W4UwwadRK7I-Fuyf9HgaYx5XBQhJNyRz_sKYTIrnWuPuk5-tFvyNycVfBKobyGtR3ZX9hIOPvKX73RQDEaUq04Dp-L1X6M8u8tgllNAU-IUe32k3HBgx_-nv6j0MjV2bQvSF0jVdJfsX9N3qdzuQ7bRdYSpWKAAa_mT9swHT1i8Y-pnfJ4bCeOJhsKLENNnRoE_BsUjk8vd5PiSmLjmytchX_fTmUKJsCdZhvmK9XMjzMO0pM8jDl7mRdLEWNUKQsfdGSA6-G-hcM5Uif6TAid2oXG0W1lxP17T67sw7gZSoFtSxnvoLwc2khs3_zrTdbk2dfYFVmIKnPbD4a7gsnLNWa2bbGlsDYkRK2b2rsBHBk7cn767GefW0IcOrRdXvsaqcbG_k38meyiL5OxePWcX4GFvSRPdGzUCjaygg_YZUjP54U8ou2RBhBbTQfcuBktdywnB43MhEgDQCbyia5tI=w119-h222-no" style="background-image: url("https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/oEJrIwbFV8-cxQ8MnGtmE97q2gKOuV_9-k2YsGY26jxUPjqFxDE3pwn1I0ZDj2VloggAg5rP0udh8y22dtybN78H1Kv46x8LkVshm1yH-mPY_YmZBLhUFtOqnJJ_suhJCNc9MWGla5UrLWF15pXrW6Rj4W4UwwadRK7I-Fuyf9HgaYx5XBQhJNyRz_sKYTIrnWuPuk5-tFvyNycVfBKobyGtR3ZX9hIOPvKX73RQDEaUq04Dp-L1X6M8u8tgllNAU-IUe32k3HBgx_-nv6j0MjV2bQvSF0jVdJfsX9N3qdzuQ7bRdYSpWKAAa_mT9swHT1i8Y-pnfJ4bCeOJhsKLENNnRoE_BsUjk8vd5PiSmLjmytchX_fTmUKJsCdZhvmK9XMjzMO0pM8jDl7mRdLEWNUKQsfdGSA6-G-hcM5Uif6TAid2oXG0W1lxP17T67sw7gZSoFtSxnvoLwc2khs3_zrTdbk2dfYFVmIKnPbD4a7gsnLNWa2bbGlsDYkRK2b2rsBHBk7cn767GefW0IcOrRdXvsaqcbG_k38meyiL5OxePWcX4GFvSRPdGzUCjaygg_YZUjP54U8ou2RBhBbTQfcuBktdywnB43MhEgDQCbyia5tI=w119-h222-no"); opacity: 1;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the spirit of getting the most out of the weekend, I
signed up for an additional lesson with Michael on Friday. I tend to ride like
a robot when I’m getting used to a new instructor, so I thought it best to get that out of my system before the
auditors showed up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I made my hellos to Michael, told him a bit about Secret –
age, show experience, her highlights (canter pirouettes), what I’d like
improved (more cadence in the trot, help with her hard flying change), and
Scott added that he thought Secret would be a good horse to show the auditors
about early piaffe/passage training. I purposely didn’t mention her breeding. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael watched me warm up, then stopped to discuss the
training plan. I realized (and he commented) that I was out of breath – yep, I
was in total nervous mode, complete with holding my breath. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> We went to work, in a
format that he held to in all of the lessons – first transitions within the
gait, go a bit from the leg, come back with the upper body to test the half
halt. Once he was happy with that, then trot canter transitions until they were
fluid. Then into the work phase.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First we spent time in the working pirouettes. He had me ride her a bit more up in the shoulders,
and had me use my upper body more firmly to help with the collection. He asked me to ride the first step of the
pirouette small, then make them bigger as we went, and stressed that I needed
to know how many strides I wanted to put in my pirouette before I began it. Then he sent me across the diagonal, with
instructions to ride a full pirouette at X.
My mind got a bit racy – I have ridden full working pirouettes on
Secret, and technical, show-pretty half pirouettes, but I had not asked her to
give me a show-quality, at-a-specific-spot-in-the-arena full pirouette. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I headed out, collected, rode the first half of the pirouette
well, then, like a nit whit, started pumping with my upper body in the second
half. Secret politely covered for my messy riding. The good news is Michael let us do it again,
and I rode like I actually have sat on a horse before in my life.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsEfOxMg0amcOxwxvk7mGIDYkTRx6dDuDJY7uhPyY3RYIOz831kiLYaD3xnjR-95t6jGyb2G9I97kDTyg082IhRKLObaM4vWYsUVz8xPHlR_HrHTt5fat4BF2Hbrm4-DMiJilY89ee6s/s1600/20161030_104757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsEfOxMg0amcOxwxvk7mGIDYkTRx6dDuDJY7uhPyY3RYIOz831kiLYaD3xnjR-95t6jGyb2G9I97kDTyg082IhRKLObaM4vWYsUVz8xPHlR_HrHTt5fat4BF2Hbrm4-DMiJilY89ee6s/s320/20161030_104757.jpg" width="304" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then Michael gave us a break and asked me about her
breeding. When I told him, he said, “when you came in, I wondered what pony is this?
But then she goes to work, and she can do the job.” I admit, I enjoyed that Secret surprised him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next Michael came in with the in-hand whip. I had done a
little bit with Secret between the BLMs and this clinic, just teaching her to
walk and halt from my body language and voice on the ground, and teaching her
lift each leg when it is touched with the whip.
Secret is half Arab, so she picks up on “tricks” quickly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We made a good start on the piaffe, so we moved on to the
changes. Secret has had trouble with her
right-to-left change. Recently I made some equipment changes, and as a result
she was keeping her back more lifted and the changes were coming clean at
home. But I had been getting them clean
by letting her go in a lower frame for the changes, and doing them early in the
ride while her back strength was fresh.
Now we were late in the workout, and I was no-way going to lower her frame
in front of the German. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So the changes were messy.
Michael took my stirrups and whip away, to get me sitting back more in the
changes. We played with several
different patterns, to find the one where she could keep her frame up AND do a
clean change. Then we rewarded her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He watched a few half passes in trot and canter, which he
announced were “fine,” and we wrapped up the first lesson. I was starting to
think I’d be ok in front of all of the auditors. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the rider’s meeting shortly after my lesson, Jann
announced that the riders needed to meet with the videographer for a short
interview. Interview? On camera? The
nerves jumped right back up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had a bit of time between my lesson and dinner, so I went
for a short run to burn off the rest of my stupid nervous energy, then grabbed a
shower and headed out to the rider’s dinner.
Food, wine, and laughing at funny stories dissipated the rest of my
nerves, so I figured I had a chance at sleeping. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SuMVburxS9e5rljSZrZB8N63YF163Bv1xjLmE0skbxFPxSKA1fbeXsvdt2m9LBVquaEtnIirBor0UV7HtvXqKFPV9rm5_TEf76FkeLUMHO0pyU06Kyb21B91303aaGcGWh3BhZ5hwog/s1600/20161029_101126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SuMVburxS9e5rljSZrZB8N63YF163Bv1xjLmE0skbxFPxSKA1fbeXsvdt2m9LBVquaEtnIirBor0UV7HtvXqKFPV9rm5_TEf76FkeLUMHO0pyU06Kyb21B91303aaGcGWh3BhZ5hwog/s200/20161029_101126.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVgL7FKnJmwoh4-2No3CatGbjrHGrblYlzNOFpxrEiatCMIkPDF2LdrgtXcYADKXkgQDawnDPYGJn7pn6DOMPyddd5Ji7ibcIgrZzZaeEY1qLewqddZTOIZVZ0MsUR5c6Z3mY0gZ67sc/s1600/20161029_101236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVgL7FKnJmwoh4-2No3CatGbjrHGrblYlzNOFpxrEiatCMIkPDF2LdrgtXcYADKXkgQDawnDPYGJn7pn6DOMPyddd5Ji7ibcIgrZzZaeEY1qLewqddZTOIZVZ0MsUR5c6Z3mY0gZ67sc/s200/20161029_101236.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was a mid-morning ride, so to keep me from fretting, I
braided Secret and Eiren Crawford’s mount, Godot SSF. Both turned out pretty nicely, if I do say so
myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In our Saturday lesson, Secret proved she understood how to
lift her hind legs, by picking them up the minute Michael came near her, before
he even cued, which generated chuckles from the audience. She tried a bit too
hard in the in hand work, resulting in a bit of rushed, quick steps. She redeemed herself in the pirouette work,
making even better quality pirouettes than the day before.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That night was the lecture, and here’s some cut-and-pastes
from my notes: </span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Riders are responsible to be theoretically fit. Not
just rely on the trainer on the ground. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Replace 'why won't he' with looking at it from the
horse's perspective.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Teach a horse a movement - 'get it done.' Once you
can get it done, then time to polish.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->For every time you have to ride a transition, it's
reacting. Every time you ride a transition because you want to, that's
training. Same with half halt. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->If the gaits change when go into lateral work, it
is a problem. Fix it before the movement.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Balance control with quality of gait/beauty. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Ideally should be able to dial the positive
tension up or down.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zZ9PWvdqHRZl6JEfC1FQkjTifNGqdU8VsIDsWC0e2AY178Bj5vvs3PNG19SkQqXnDaXaQLW-seYRBvOMYexCXfKVUMwF5xNyuBwHrhFgu7Ew6aEAf0FHp5ezVPrFR31tMDY8QgEj3MI/s1600/20161030_094111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zZ9PWvdqHRZl6JEfC1FQkjTifNGqdU8VsIDsWC0e2AY178Bj5vvs3PNG19SkQqXnDaXaQLW-seYRBvOMYexCXfKVUMwF5xNyuBwHrhFgu7Ew6aEAf0FHp5ezVPrFR31tMDY8QgEj3MI/s320/20161030_094111.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After the lecture, Carol Havelka,
the videographer, cornered the riders for our interviews. Cue the nerves—instantly I was at full blown
to panic. I had crazy helmet-hair that was hidden under a ball cap and my chin
was peeling from windburn the weekend before. I borrowed a lipstick from Linda,
and as I used my reflection in a window to put it on, I didn’t realize until
afterwards that my eyeliner had melted when I rode, giving me two nice raccoon eyes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then, to make it even better, I
stuttered in the interview, mispronounced Linda’s last name, and got mentally
flustered. I was trying to describe Secret’s work ethic, and between the
thoughts of “10 on try” and “100% effort every day,” I managed to make her a
10% try horse. I hope Carol is an
editing wizard, as I didn’t give her much to work with. The video will be
online in January, and I don’t intend to ever watch my interview. Ever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On Sunday, after the warm up, we
began with patterns to help her changes, and tons of rewards when she got her
harder change clean and right with my aids.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the half steps, Michael wanted to do the in hand work without
a rider. Secret proved she had been thinking about it in her stall, and by the
end gave some lovely, recognizable piaffe steps. He announced she had “ability for piaffe,”
which is high praise from a German. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then with me up, we did a ton of transitions
between half steps in sitting trot, then forward rising trot to help create
more swing in her trot. We didn’t turn her into a warmblood by any means, but I
could feel her starting to use her back in a more swinging way in the trot.
When we played with the medium trot, she was more able to lengthen he strides
without defaulting to her usual quicker strides. This is an area we will continue to work on,
but I felt true progress in the quality of her trot this weekend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We ended the lesson with some half
pass work. During one half pass, he had me move my inside hand more away from
her neck. Then he asked me to keep my hands closer together, so I moved my
outside hand over, and felt Secret wrap her body more around my leg with no
shifting in her balance. That was really cool. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am now home, and with videos of
my lessons as well as notes from my and the other rider’s lessons, I’m inspired
for the fall training season. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank you to Scott and Suzanne
Hassler for including me in this event, to the staff of Hassler Dressage for
keeping all of it running smoothly, and
to all of the event sponsors that helped make this happen. Thank you to Linda, for being Secret and my biggest cheerleader up the levels. Special thanks for Secret, for covering most of my nervous-nitwit moments. And a special thanks to Michael
Klimke, for giving so much of his knowledge to all of us. </span></div>
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Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-12270821175534244732016-10-15T19:19:00.001-07:002016-10-17T05:35:05.032-07:00The Hard Part of Showing<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love showing horses, truly I do. I enjoy the training and strength-building process, then taking that training and polishing it up until it is performance ready. I enjoy figuring out how to ride each movement so that it earns the most possible points, every time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I enjoy writing the pre-show training schedule, timing the hacks and variety days so that the horses are mentally ready as well as physically ready. I like writing the show schedule (yea, I’m weird like that), playing trailer-packing Tetras so things easily come out in the most efficient order for set-up – load riding stuff first, then tack stall hardware, then stable management, so they come out of the trailer in reverse order.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The night-before anticipation, that’s the best. When the actual class is still far enough away that nerves haven’t taken over, and hope runs high. In those moments, we all see Valegro in our mounts, and it is wonderful. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I enjoy walking my tests in the barn aisle, reviewing the parts that are important to each horse. I enjoy going over and practicing warm up plans for both my rides and my students. I like clarifying goals for each trip down the centerline, so everyone knows what a “good show” will look like for them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes it all works out, I have a ride I’m happy with, and I earn the score I want, we get a pretty ribbon, and everyone is happy. Those days aren’t hard at all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes it goes well, but I don’t place in the class. Sometimes good riders, mounted on better quality horses than I have, take home the ribbons. Of course I get a twinge of “I wish I had the ride on that fancy horse,” but those twinges don’t last long. I tend to be a “love what you have” kind of person, so that isn’t the hardest part for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes it doesn’t work out, and I’m stuck dealing with the emotions that come with disappointment. Sometimes my test falls apart for whatever reason, be it environment, weather, or distractions, and my horse’s trust in my aids evaporates. Sometimes judge thinks less of the ride than I did. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These days are tough, but they aren’t the hardest part of showing for me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After the tough rides, I wouldn’t be a good trainer if I didn’t spend the next weeks dissecting my training, looking for weaknesses in my system. I wonder if show stress affected my riding, and made the I-thought-we-had-this-solid movement somehow fall apart in the exact moment I needed it to work. I wonder what I can do to better prepare my horses for the crazy, completely unnatural conditions we call a horse show. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But even this isn’t the hardest part for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The hardest part for me is after the show. That’s when the ugly inner-demon of self doubt shows up. And that demon isn’t picky, he’ll rear his nasty head whether the show went well or not. If the show went well, the demon tells me I got lucky, and “the big boys” weren’t there, or the score could have been higher. If things have gone poorly, the demon starts in with “A more skilled trainer would do a better job with this horse.” The demon feeds on after-show fatigue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No matter how solid my track record has been, either with a particular horse or in this sport in general, when I’m show weary, the demon speaks loudly, and ignoring him, and the emotions he dredges up, that’s the hard part for me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I suspect anyone who works in a performance industry is plagued by this demon. Our “what have you done for me lately” society seems to value current success over historical track record. But horses don’t have the same values. They prosper with long-term consistency, or, in short, good history. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I battle the demon with rest, a hack, a long groom session to remind me why I love these wonderful animals. If that isn’t enough, I go with facts – I look at my strengths on each horse, and the trends of their scores. When all else fails, I whine to my support system, who either look at me like I’m nutty for listening to the silly voices in my head, or get me off the farm for a few hours or more, to remind me that the pseudo-reality called horse shows, that I care so much about, is only a part of who I am as a person. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But the bitter truth is the demon could be right. My mounts might progress faster, or show better with different trainer. Then again, the demon may be wrong. But even if the demon is correct, I know that I have done my best for each and every one of my mounts. I know that I will continue to hone my skills, every day, so that tomorrow, my best will be better than it is today. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hopefully that is enough to banish the demon. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-73656600776941290862016-10-09T05:17:00.001-07:002016-10-09T05:17:04.247-07:00Where ya been?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve been a bit busy since my last blog post, which, for any
self-employed person, is a good thing. But it means that this, my beloved blog
and hobby, gets put on the back burner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s been a good summer, with lots of shows, lots of ribbons
(check out our Facebook page for stats and such), lots of laughs, lots of delicious
meals away from home, a very wet go-kart race, and lots of goals met. We are
packing for our last overnighter of the year, and have 2 schooling show
championships left on the calendar, and then 2016 show season is a thing of the
past. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing that has kept me busy is staffing issues. We’ve
had a bit of turnover, and right now have a “help wanted” ad out for weekend
help. I have a super working student
right now, but only temporary as she has a semester off from her masters
program. So if anyone would like to check out the inside view of a dressage
program geared towards helping people achieve their goals, now’s the chance. Shoot me an e-mail ange@straightforwarddressage.com if you are interested.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a few half-written blogs, that hopefully I’ll get
polished in the next few weeks. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until then,</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ange</span></div>
Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-85275403784939700082016-04-20T12:29:00.001-07:002016-04-20T12:29:39.295-07:00Continuing Education in Freestyle Judging, hosted by DVCTA<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCQsaS9jgsYR9ojyeaK-BeIjMUhakE0LZcTnK5JDVx13se_91UppdV5N3pYrIDN40IsUZqsy-7FI5Nc7Hwtu8S80XSd0w7hU49QtHUphcELVW8d5HinHuV6t48j09bbr43gapiQoCtKg/s1600/Lois+Yukins+judge.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCQsaS9jgsYR9ojyeaK-BeIjMUhakE0LZcTnK5JDVx13se_91UppdV5N3pYrIDN40IsUZqsy-7FI5Nc7Hwtu8S80XSd0w7hU49QtHUphcELVW8d5HinHuV6t48j09bbr43gapiQoCtKg/s320/Lois+Yukins+judge.bmp" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lois Yukins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On March 19
and 20<sup>th</sup>, 2016, the Delaware Valley Combined Training Association
(DVCTA) hosted the USDF Continuing Education in Freestyle Judging Program.
Saturday was filled with a classroom discussion held at New Bolton Center, and
Sunday was comprised of live freestyle rides at Ardara Sporthorses. Presenters
were Klassic Kur Freestyle Designer Terry Ciotti Gallo and FEI 4* and USEF
"S" Judge Lois Yukins. The audience consisted of 12 Participants,
made up of L-graduates and USEF-licensed Dressage Judges, approximately 25
auditors and 11 demonstration riders. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</tr>
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</span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yukins began
the day by describing the path to creating the USDF Continuing Education in
Freestyle Judging Program. Her
description began with “a box of stuff” that was handed around the L faculty,
but no one could sort out how best add the information into the
already-densely-packed L Program itself.
Yukins approached Gallo about the problem, who utilized her enthusiasm
for freestyles and background in gymnastics judging to turn the “box of stuff”
into this well-thought-out program. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; mso-themecolor: background1;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lois
Yukins<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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</tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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</span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With that introduction, Gallo began Saturday’s lecture. She started by defining the purpose of the
event—to eliminate the “touchy-feely” element of filling in the “artistic
impression” side of a freestyle score sheet, which often intimidates judges. The silence coming from the participants
illustrated her point. Terry solved that problem by tossing Easter eggs filled
with candy to everyone who contributed to the discussion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8N5jR1Hp4DHVukwryKA54xL3ja5ECo6xEBAVKCybW7bbf_eeO0uY0b2C7jhkoIBxr8DsVRqY7uegGNSGB9mjKAkYbPga3oxwoHvq8rrkCooNujPleuuAC09tixL3NGal-Zq_ifAdxzWw/s1600/Terry+Gallo.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8N5jR1Hp4DHVukwryKA54xL3ja5ECo6xEBAVKCybW7bbf_eeO0uY0b2C7jhkoIBxr8DsVRqY7uegGNSGB9mjKAkYbPga3oxwoHvq8rrkCooNujPleuuAC09tixL3NGal-Zq_ifAdxzWw/s200/Terry+Gallo.bmp" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terry Ciotti Gallo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Participation
came more easily as Gallo outlined the specific criteria judges are to use to
evaluate each category of the freestyle performance, augmented by video of good
examples and poor examples. By putting
the evaluation into familiar judging methodology of “Basics + Criteria +/-
Modifiers = Score,” she created a comfortable format for judges to begin their
evaluations. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gallo began with an example of how
music can enhance or detract from the horse’s gaits. She played a short video clip of Steffen
Peters riding Ravel in a trot half pass, and played several music clips with
it. The video clip never changed, but
different music made him look lighter and more elegant, while other clips made
him look slightly hurried. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
11.0pt;line-height:115%'>Terry Ciotti Gallo<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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<![endif]></v:textbox>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Using this
as her segue into explaining methodology for evaluating the “Music” line on the
score sheet, Gallo stressed that suitability of the music to the horse is the
primary factor in evaluating the “Music” score.
According to Gallo, the criterion for this mark is the suitability of
the music for all three gaits. If the
music is suitable, the score starts at a 7.
If the music enhances all three gaits, then the score is higher. Modifiers that can push the “Music” score higher
are cohesiveness, or is there a common thread in the walk, trot, canter music,
and seamlessness of the editing. If music is suitable, music works together,
and editing is good, it can earn an 8.0 or higher. In summary, the “Music”
score is about the music selection and preparation, and is the score least affected
by the technical performance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After that, Gallo tackled the topic
of “Interpretation.” The primary
criterion for “Interpretation” is what Gallo called “six-point phrasing.” She defined “points of phrasing” as times
when the horse’s movements changed with a musical phrase or dynamic change. A
ride that shows six key “points of phrasing” should earn a 7.0 in the
“Interpretation” category.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The six key
“points of phrasing” are as follows: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu0t5hRL85oTdA_fOx16k9p4OdRhgtgq6yNXRnR92OPVt9fSfKwJmZaIGa8sEYRmgjflxV7uIfH5HKpvAwLzW7ATCThlrrwelIzHcUD2AXJyS9uLVy4cNxH5VDYGn63Oezl0m7-DMNXo/s1600/Tracy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu0t5hRL85oTdA_fOx16k9p4OdRhgtgq6yNXRnR92OPVt9fSfKwJmZaIGa8sEYRmgjflxV7uIfH5HKpvAwLzW7ATCThlrrwelIzHcUD2AXJyS9uLVy4cNxH5VDYGn63Oezl0m7-DMNXo/s320/Tracy.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tracy Basler adn Bondurant awaiting instruction from Terry Gallo</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Initial
halt and salute</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">First
movement changes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Lengthening
or extension in trot</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Lengthening
or extension in canter</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">5.<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Gait change</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">6.<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Final
halt/salute</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">If the ride shows more than these
six “points of phrasing,” the score can go higher than a 7.0.</span><span style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">Gallo showed her personal shorthand system
for counting points of phrasing, where she made tally marks for each point of
music phrasing or dynamic change highlighted by the choreography.</span><span style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The modifier that can push the
“Interpretation” higher is if the music expresses the gait. To illustrate this,
Gallo played several music clips, and asked the participants decide if it was
walk music, trot music, or canter music.
She stressed that the horse does not need to be “in step” with the
music, but if the horse is in step, as this is a very hard thing to do in a
show setting, it should be rewarded. In
summary, if a ride expresses more than six points of phrasing, has music that
suggests the gait, and the horse’s gaits match the footfalls most of the time, the
score should be an 8.0 or higher.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The third element Gallo explained
was “Degree of Difficulty.” Evaluating this criteria is pretty clear-cut—if the
requirements of the freestyle match the highest test of the level in all three
gaits, then the score is a 7.0. If the
freestyle pattern is harder than the highest test of the level, and is
performed well, then the score should go above a 7.0. However, if the choreography includes a
difficult movement, but it is not performed well, then the “Degree of Difficulty”
score will be reduced. This score, and the “Harmony” score, are the
two scores where the strength of the horse’s basics will impact the number
earned. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next Gallo explained the
requirements for the “Choreography” score. “Design Cohesiveness” is listed as
the criterion for this category on the score sheet. According to Gallo, choreography that shows a
clear and logical pattern that is easy to follow meets the criteria for a
7.0. If the pattern uses the entire arena
well, shows equal use of right and left rein work, and has some elements used
in interesting or uncommon ways, the score should be higher. This score is mostly independent of technical
execution, except when the technical execution makes the choreography hard to
see. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The final element Gallo covered in
the lecture is “Harmony,” which relies largely on the technical execution of
the freestyle. Gallo said she put this
discussion last because it is comprehensive of the entire freestyle
performance. To earn a high “Harmony”
score, the horse needs to be calm and attentive, and the freestyle should look
easy and fluid. If the horse shows some
tension issues during the ride, the harmony score should be below a 7.0. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gallo and Yukins also discussed
that the FEI Freestyle sheet differs a little from the USDF Freestyle score
sheet, placing “Rhythm, energy and elasticity” on the artistic side of the
score sheet, whereas USDF places the equivalent score, worded as “Gaits,
Impulsion and Submission,” on the technical side of the sheet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day two involved using live horses
to allow the participants to practice their new methodology. After Gallo used a live horse to demonstrate
how she selects suitable music, Yukins took the lead in discussing scores for
each of the 10 demo rides. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The demo rides ranged from a
training level teenager on a pinto pony to a Pas de Deux to a CDI rider’s
Intermediate freestyle. Yukins began by giving a tactful evaluation of the
first ride. Her comments helped each
participant understand how she arrived at her numbers, and helped each demo
rider understand the strengths and weaknesses of their performance. As the day
progressed, she changed tactics and started asking the participant judges to do
the evaluating before she revealed her score.
Yukins' gifted teaching skills created a comfortable environment for the
candidates to begin to use their new skills, by teasing the high-scorers that
“they’d get hired a lot” and accusing the low-scorers of “Sunday grumpies.” By
the last few rides, participant’s scores were very similar to Yukins and Gallo’s
marks. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After two days of education,
participants came away with a clear methodology for evaluating freestyle rides.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lois Yukins discusses scores with the participating judges</td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">DVCTA would
like to thank Lois Yukins and Terry Gallo for sharing their knowledge of
judging freestyles with all who attended.
Your style and your wit create such a positive learning environment for
all involved. Many thanks to all our
volunteers and to our demonstration riders without whom this weekend would not
have been so productive:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Karen Anderson / Fhinland - Third Level<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Lauren Annett / Savannahh - Intermediate<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Tracey Basler / Bondurant - First Level<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Anecia Delduco / Captain Morgan - Fourth Level<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Melanie Delduco / Flacon - Fourth Level and Pas de Deux<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Lauren Kramer / Mazur - First Level and Pas de Deux<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Rebecca Langwost-Barlow / Chesapeake - Intermediate<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Silva Martin / Aesthete - Intermediate<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jordan Osborne / Domino - Training Level<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jamie
Reilley / Feinest Proof - Second Level</span></i></div>
<i><br /></i>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SX5Xz6ROJw-nH-1BrYORU83MPI9HokWX94VFw-x_oefe1HnWvM7bSeqwzyUV-khJigsaGq-rNmfFcv05CE_ngvufrQ18NVPQmGTpfkGplvhlhJoks8K4vGKstQtjJyxI-SEiZ-Z2Rnw/s1600/Melanie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SX5Xz6ROJw-nH-1BrYORU83MPI9HokWX94VFw-x_oefe1HnWvM7bSeqwzyUV-khJigsaGq-rNmfFcv05CE_ngvufrQ18NVPQmGTpfkGplvhlhJoks8K4vGKstQtjJyxI-SEiZ-Z2Rnw/s320/Melanie.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melanie Delduco and Flacon</td></tr>
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Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-8174091549894069982016-04-11T06:19:00.000-07:002016-04-11T06:19:52.602-07:00Un-Grounded<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In response to my last post, I’d like to answer several
questions that keep coming up:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, the splints are out of my nose now. Those things were
much bigger than I thought they were. Like truly huge. And I don’t mean “the
fish that got away” huge, but in reality huge. Honest.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, I’m riding again (silly humans, of course I am). As
happens this time of year, my ride list is a little shorter. Horses that came
for a winter boost-our-training-up-a-notch have transitioned from me in the
saddle to the owners in the tack, learning where all of their nifty new buttons
are before they head home for the summer.
Plus I have a quite effective working student right now. So I’m only sitting on 4 to 7 a day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, I was sore on Friday. Of course I was, but TOTALLY worth it.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, I’m wearing a mask. It is horribly uncomfortable,
steams up my glasses, and has caused my chin to break out like a teenager. The
upside is, according to one of my closest friends, it makes me look like a
Marvel Super Villain. Can I get any cooler than that?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhC9HaZA7txValGGFi2cJwSC_ffA5despGXKeHwG6_jh1tOFJx8XSz635sDrClzGuS-fARDRc-krgmM-ewT8Mz5eHcSmmNMJQepkKarFlZ84Nd46JBJMN47xCHzPq64DklmSD9P5WJL9g/s1600/20160409_094915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhC9HaZA7txValGGFi2cJwSC_ffA5despGXKeHwG6_jh1tOFJx8XSz635sDrClzGuS-fARDRc-krgmM-ewT8Mz5eHcSmmNMJQepkKarFlZ84Nd46JBJMN47xCHzPq64DklmSD9P5WJL9g/s200/20160409_094915.jpg" width="150" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I did some research. Turns out there are tons of ways to
stop dust from coming into your nose – everything from gas masks to foam
pompoms stuffed up your nostrils. These two caught my attention: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdosQLBJQyZR8ukW5G11YWXyN1BwjjsqX19Uo9NUAM8pl2cSQYd1acnahMhr0p_IYNvA2NNd-6KxVKdCOO51ZXCkYdZpuVG4S9iTJpowuXCZDBDr3dnpU-vDmXwARsBbgq3oiyf__lJQ/s1600/41ec91D5r3L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdosQLBJQyZR8ukW5G11YWXyN1BwjjsqX19Uo9NUAM8pl2cSQYd1acnahMhr0p_IYNvA2NNd-6KxVKdCOO51ZXCkYdZpuVG4S9iTJpowuXCZDBDr3dnpU-vDmXwARsBbgq3oiyf__lJQ/s200/41ec91D5r3L.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How can that be comfortable? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagWTQqiLpXHTz7H9GXIPVcx08Pf3vPCSx9RllkIaeeregvj7qIguDjQU6M55z3VRPf2Y14IJG6ViPZh_gmvcLBT54XLFs3LEiSVjEft_tfTOJ4K0406RLeRxGacP_QcRvoIXB-CdQrvI/s1600/617cLD9JX7L._SL1000_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagWTQqiLpXHTz7H9GXIPVcx08Pf3vPCSx9RllkIaeeregvj7qIguDjQU6M55z3VRPf2Y14IJG6ViPZh_gmvcLBT54XLFs3LEiSVjEft_tfTOJ4K0406RLeRxGacP_QcRvoIXB-CdQrvI/s200/617cLD9JX7L._SL1000_.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now this look is total super-villain, and even comes in green.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I'm a bit over having things stuffed up my nose at the moment, I ordered what looks like a band aid with a filter in it.
Hopefully it will be more suitable than my mask, but somehow I don’t think it’ll
be any more classy.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No, I won’t have to dust-filter my nose forever, just until
everything heals inside. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, my hair is much better. My hairdresser is a miracle
worker. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No, the cookies did not turn out well. They are the worst
chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever made. The dough was a bit on the dry side to
start, then while it was “resting” in the fridge, somehow about a fourth of it
mysteriously disappeared. When I actually got around to baking them, they came
out hard as rocks. I gave up after the 3<sup>rd</sup> tray and left the rest as
dough. The dough is better than the cookies anyway. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which means yes, my sense of smell and taste are returning. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, my headaches are MUCH improved. I can even blow my nose
now. No one appreciates being able to
blow their nose enough. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, I’ll post the DVCTA article here, but I thought I’d let
DVCTA, who asked for it, run it first. That seemed polite.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, my teeth are still being brushed, but not as
frequently. Breathing from my nose is a really, really nice thing. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now off to ride the ponies. </span></div>
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Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-42432539353224510402016-04-05T06:53:00.003-07:002016-04-07T04:20:51.713-07:00Grounded<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am grounded off of horseback for a week. It’s been a long week.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last Wed I had sinus surgery, to correct some structural
issues in my nose that the doc thinks contributes to my frequent sinus and ear
infections. I’m a lifelong veteran of
ENT offices and the assorted surgical things they can do. I’ve put this particular procedure off for
about 8 years now, mostly because I truly hate general anesthetic’s side
effects, but this year the sinus infections and earaches have been almost
constant, so it was time.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Normal people usually return to work a couple of days after
this particular surgery, but as dust, getting bonked in the nose, and breathing
heavy are parts of my daily life with horses, the doc advised me to take a week
off. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For those who have not had sinus surgery, essentially, while
you are taking a nap, the doctors do their thing. Before you wake up, they fill your nose with what
they call “packing” and “splints.” Then they use a giant rubber band between your
ears to hold a hunk of gauze under your nose.
In essence, giant plastic discs and tampons go up the nose and a maxi pad goes underneath. Over the course of the next week, these
things are gradually removed. No, I did not take a selfie of my swollen,
black-eyed self with all this stuff on and inside my face. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All that aside, I felt like crap for about 2 days. Then I got restless.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My friends know I’m not exactly the lay-around type, and
keep asking me what I’m doing to stay busy.
In order to entertain myself, I did typical geeky-dressage stuff, and
other day-off stuff:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Organized a fix-a-test for my students to keep
them busy while I am trapped in the house. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">-</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Played with freestyle choreography and music for
Capi.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Mapped out and laminated some dressage tests and
organized my judging bag.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Scanned in everyone’s USEF Vaccination report
and sent them to my students electronically.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- Brush my teeth. Breathing through my mouth makes my mouth feel gross.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Printed Coggins/Vaccine report/Membership
verification for the horses I’m competing this season.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Wrote an article for DVCTA.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Did SFD’s beginning of the month paperwork.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Colored my hair. This didn’t go so well. My
bathroom looks like a homicide scene, and my hair looks like Ariel. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Cleaned out my inbox. That took a while….</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Took the time to figure out how to make my phone
quit doing the series of annoying things it does. That didn’t take nearly as long as I expected.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Followed up on judging requests. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Brush my teeth again. It just feels nasty.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Finished reading a book about the end of WWII –
way too heavy of a read for being trapped inside.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Got off my plateau in Candy Crush. That took FOREVER. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Spent an afternoon shopping. I hate shopping. I
was that bored.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Tortured my husband with my cooking. This really didn’t make sense, as I can’t
taste much. But it did remind him why he does the cooking. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Touched base with several friends who were
checking up on me – first to see how I felt after surgery, and later to make
sure I was following doctor’s orders and not doing too much.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Brush my teeth again. I have the best dental hygiene ever.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Got caught up on House of Cards and Agent Carter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Played with my dogs. The puppy is becoming a pro
at fetch. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Wrote this nonsensical, fairly pointless blog
about trying to entertain myself. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
have resorted to standing outside of the barn and asking people to bring me
horses. I did sneak in one afternoon,
after all the dust-rousing sweeping and chores were done, to visit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today I plan to make cookies and run some broken tack to the
repair shop—hardly a full day’s worth of activities. Wednesday I’m going to go visit Harry, our
young horse who is off being backed, visit the hair salon to correct my Little
Mermaid look, then get the toothpicks, er splints, out of my nose. If that’s not enough to fill my last two days
left of my confinement, I may need to sneak into the barn to pet horses again. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can’t wait to sit on a horse Thursday. I suspect Friday
morning I’ll be feeling the effects of a week with no exercise, but it will be
completely worth it. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-91546203010755126322016-03-14T06:07:00.000-07:002016-03-14T06:18:31.861-07:00Training "The Breakfast Club"<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My mind loves patterns. As I go about my job of training
dressage horses, I noticed that the patterns of a few of my mount’s
personalities seems pretty similar to high school, which got me thinking of the
movie, “The Breakfast Club.”</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before I dive into this slightly-stretched metaphor, I need
to comment a bit about all the factors that go into developing a training plan for a specific dressage
horse: </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">steps of the technical knowledge they are trying
to impart in their horse</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">horse’s natural physical </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">natural strengths and weaknesses,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">horse’s mental and physical sensitivity level</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">horse’s age and training history</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">horse’s ability to accept pressure</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">horse’s attention span</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">horse’s intensity of their innate fight or
flight and herd instinct.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But
for this blog, I’m just going to babble about the horse’s personality, because frankly,
figuring out how to get a horse to try is one of the things I love about training
hoses. And figuring out a horse’s personality is key to figuring out what makes
them want to try. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The only way to
develop that stand-out-in-a-crowd expression, along with the obedience to
perform a tidy test, is to train with the horse’s personality in mind. Every horse is different, and three horses
I’m preparing for the showring for their
owners this season so clearly fall into separate categories that I thought I’d
share a bit of it with you. All three
are wonderful horses, and are each “A” students, but three very different kinds
of A’s. In order to bring out their
best, I need to figure out the best way to motivate them. In describing their personalities, I find
that, much like the characters from “The Breakfast Club,” high school
stereotypes seem to work best.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Slingshot - The Millennial<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWinR4CGigWbsvbi63aiNQFeUcX4q5FzOOrayh-mcbh-5c7tFaW4cYK2UMJxEKLmDelah-0XtCK6nPPk6KrFWa93OSTz-6UjDCvAOos83LxZI95s5Al5shQD1pJmNqP12TPhbh2mIWF0/s1600/IMG_2735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWinR4CGigWbsvbi63aiNQFeUcX4q5FzOOrayh-mcbh-5c7tFaW4cYK2UMJxEKLmDelah-0XtCK6nPPk6KrFWa93OSTz-6UjDCvAOos83LxZI95s5Al5shQD1pJmNqP12TPhbh2mIWF0/s320/IMG_2735.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sling's big ego shows clearly in this shot of him as a 5-year-old.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Slingshot is a millennial by nature. Typical millennial-types are
nicely-put-together, talented horses, who try to get by on good looks. If he
were a high-school kid, he’d spend afternoons in mom’s basement, enjoying his
video games, or goofing off on the basketball court. Academically, he’d be the 90% A—the one who
put in just enough effort to make the grade, and not a bit more. This is not
the horse that digs deep and tries 100%, it’s the one who figures out how much
you want, and that’s what you get. If he
were in the cast of “The Breakfast Club,” he’d be the jock. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For this horse, training has to be a game, and he has to
feel like he’s winning the game. If I pick at him too much, he’ll get sulky. If
I praise try, even sloppy try, he’ll try harder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ve trained many, many millennials. Most of my re-train sales horses have fallen
into this category, as millennials often come with tempers (especially as
youngsters), and angry horses are not fun to ride. So I’m able to get them inexpensive, help
them get over their anger, figure out how to get them to try, then find them an
owner who understands their minds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A millennial re-train horse (which thankfully Sling is not) often
has a defensive side, so I have to be careful not react to that. My mental self talk has to be
motivational. I often think “play with
me,” instead of focusing on my technique. I am over-the-top gushy with the
praise with these guys, and they love it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every horse has their “issue,” that thing that keeps
creeping up time and time again in the training. For the millennials, often
that issue is keeping them in front of the leg.
This, if the horse has a temper, can make him tricky to train. In order to get a millennial in front of the
leg, he has to be pain free, uphill, and straight, and then held to a
consistent standard of obedience. If I
change my standard for a day, because I’m not feeling 100%, or I think he’s
feeling tired, or whatever, I’ll pay for it the next day. If there’s an escape route, either in the
balance or the standard, the millennial will take it. But when the balance, straightness,
and obedience are there, they often give a clear, wonderful feeling of “locking
in.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I said, millennials like to play games, and happily do
things that are easy for them, so fitness is very important. But repetition does not work with these guys.
To help them get strong enough to climb to the next level, I figure out an
exercise that they like, and pair it with an exercise that they view as work,
and go between the two. If the game is
fun and easy for my millennial, he’ll get tons of gushy praise, which will
bring out his playful, expressive side. Once he’s in playful mode, his ego
kicks in, and the sky’s the limit.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Capitano -The Overachiever</span></u></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhRhXOvgSRMP_Qh62dXO49HF4CWsVKxix8-8M04rBwZZ8u0HM0G3hOUc0MIWHLS9ESoewglapbW7krcr_YBhFBgtX8dxiH9y6GsLAdeCOxIcvSs1K4S4SPofEcvRaacQetNpnjg6o18g/s1600/DSC_0522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhRhXOvgSRMP_Qh62dXO49HF4CWsVKxix8-8M04rBwZZ8u0HM0G3hOUc0MIWHLS9ESoewglapbW7krcr_YBhFBgtX8dxiH9y6GsLAdeCOxIcvSs1K4S4SPofEcvRaacQetNpnjg6o18g/s1600/DSC_0522.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Capi looks a bit surprised that I'm thrilled with is performance, doesn't he?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Capi, a typical overachiever-type, has a very intense, slightly
insecure, very obedient nature. He’s the
high-school student who lived in the library or the lab, was on the chess team,
and not only got the A, he did all of the extra credit, and ended the year with
a 110%. He’s the kind of horse that will
give you a movement for a “10,” and apologizing because it’s not an “11.” If this were “The Breakfast Club,” he’d be the
brain. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For this type, he has to feel like he’s pleasing me. He’ll
work hard, and do things exactly the way he thinks I want them done. So I support “try,” and reward when he gets
it 100% correct. When I praise my
accountants, it’s more of a humming under my breath for “try”, and a halt and
stroke when he understands something. If I did the elaborate, gushy millennial
-volume praise on one of my accountants, it would scare him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because the overachiever types never think they are good enough,
they often feel tense at the start of a ride.
Riding around with not much structure, waiting for them to relax, will
make them more tense, not less. These guys crave routine. They don’t like strong, quick aids, they like
supportive, encouraging aids. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These guys are fun to show because they will let me focus on
my technique and truly influence every step in the arena. If things fall apart in the ring, he’ll be
focused enough on me to put it back together.
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unlike the millennial, the overachievers thrive on
repetition. They will happily let you go over each detail of the set up of each
movement. They will memorize your
pattern to set up each movement, then, if you are consistent, offer that
movement at just the right time. When
I’ve done freestyle with my accountants, they always learn the music cues. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The problem with this personality type is, because they try too
hard, the tension often affects the swing in their back. This creates all kinds of funky gait
abnormalities, like tempo variations, unlevel knees, etc, that may look lame,
but the lameness is not coming from their bodies at all. The funky footwork is
coming from their mind. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because the overachiever is so locked into doing what the
rider wants, he often won’t “lock in” to his ideal balance point like the
millennial will. I use my video camera
more with this type than any others. Because
the accountants are more committed to doing what I want than what is easy or
correct, it’s up to me to learn which feel brings out his best gaits. </span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">BR Danny’s Secret -The Student Council President<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vN1HE84kr6nN6UYhrFT32O4iKoi6Ax1GNaabA7NKNIN565OwtQSPrRTxyPMyj3IVrhwRur2c4etylHE5n-dU7QmccFertg2i7waEpSofBSxcXjOs7iYvcSG-yqJHt8687OsNyXO0X7c/s1600/Secret+DAD+2015+halt+psg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vN1HE84kr6nN6UYhrFT32O4iKoi6Ax1GNaabA7NKNIN565OwtQSPrRTxyPMyj3IVrhwRur2c4etylHE5n-dU7QmccFertg2i7waEpSofBSxcXjOs7iYvcSG-yqJHt8687OsNyXO0X7c/s320/Secret+DAD+2015+halt+psg.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Secret's confidence was right at home at Dressage at Devon</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Secret completely fits this description. She has an intense personality, but little
insecurity. True to her type, she always
knows what’s best. She would be the high
school student who, in addition to being student council president, sings in
the choir, runs track, makes honor roll with a mid-range A, and always has her
things in order. In addition, she not
only knows what is best for her, she knows what is best for everyone else. If this were “The Breakfast Club,” she would absolutely
be the princess. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For this type, they need to feel right. These guys have the
work ethic of the overachiever, but have the ego, and sometimes a touch of the
temper, of the millennial. Fair is the
name of the game when developing Madam President. When I praise her, the emotion coming from her
is more of “yes, that was lovely, wasn’t it?” This type I can give a quick scratch on the
withers in the corner and keep going, and she will be very happy to continue to
be perfect.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As schoolmasters, Madam President is wonderful. She’s patient enough
to let her student sort it out, and confident enough in her skills to lock into
the movement when the rider gets it right.
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When learning new skills, though, Madam President can be
tricky. Because of her confidence, she
will often take over in the ring if allowed. She knows best, so I have to make
sure my direction is clear, logical and fair. Because if she thinks I’m wrong, she’s
going to do it her way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I show Madam President very differently than I do my
accountants. I set up movements for her,
then throw in a helpful half halt every now and then, and accept what she
offers. I never show a president at a
level they aren’t 100% comfortable with, as helping her out when there’s show
pressure doesn’t always work out well. I
always teach the presidents their tests, as when they know best, they show
best. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just as described in the synopsis of “The Breakfast Club,”
all horses tend to have a bit of each personality in them, and sometimes change
shift a bit as they become more mature and confident in their training. But for now, we’ll see what the judges think
of the performances of these three very different personalities. </span></div>
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Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-80530199057307489012016-02-18T04:01:00.000-08:002016-02-18T04:07:25.177-08:00How Attending the L Program Changed How I Show<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmZXWsGuTRTtuzC_DgzJD19-JN-dr1Jz8no4qx4U1AjrSnDxaPp5hQsj_BtQ3js_3eJetkOPUNi86xq7EhfuiTJFYbRUkFuXJ-jKK1V5lKHHhiKWBRXAwsGTgCodOSGdxq7B85WxvYrk/s1600/lprog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmZXWsGuTRTtuzC_DgzJD19-JN-dr1Jz8no4qx4U1AjrSnDxaPp5hQsj_BtQ3js_3eJetkOPUNi86xq7EhfuiTJFYbRUkFuXJ-jKK1V5lKHHhiKWBRXAwsGTgCodOSGdxq7B85WxvYrk/s320/lprog.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I enrolled in the L program because, the way I saw it, no
matter how much money I spent on lessons, the judge ultimately determined my
score. The more I saw things from their
perspective, the higher my potential score.
During the program, I learned that the judges are much more objective
than most riders think. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After going through the L program, I realized if I’m going
to earn the scores I want, I needed to become as objective as my evaluators. As a rider and trainer,
changes in my horses’ balance and gaits are exciting, and feeling a horse begin
to offer a movement is goose-bump worthy. But as a competitor, I had to be
objective about what that offering looked like.
Let’s face it, the worst place to see what a horse looks like is on top
of the horse. So I had to pull out my
video camera.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I videoed my tests, and once I got over picking apart my
faults (which took a while), a funny thing started to happen. Previously, as
soon as I left the arena, I was surrounded by either the euphoria of
performance high, or crushing negativity because something didn’t work. I was sure I had either hit it out of the
park, or hadn’t broke 50. Then I’d get my
results back and be confused, because usually I was somewhere in the middle.
I’d grumble and complain about the score, sure certain movements were better or
worse than the judge’s scores. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After I started taping my rides, I’d sit down with my score
sheet while I watched the video.
Watching my performance with the evaluation in front of me showed me three
things<b>. </b>First, the look and the feel
of a dressage movement are not always the same.
Second, the judge is trying to tell me some specific things about my
performance. Third, sometimes I disagree
with the judge’s evaluation.<b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>First, “feel” versus look.</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Feel is such a tricky thing, because what we feel is not
necessarily correct or incorrect—what we usually feel is a change. Sometimes
that change is for the better, sometimes it is not. Sometimes the horse gives us a bigger change
in the feel than can be seen from the ground.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For example, say I’ve been working hard to improve the
shoulder in. My work may have created a better angled,
steadier, more cadenced shoulder in than last week, but is it fairly good? In the judge’s number-based vocabulary,
“fairly good” earns a 7. If that
shoulder in isn’t a 7 at home, or is a 7 sometimes at home, I can’t get angry
when the judge doesn’t give it a 7 at a show. The catch, of course, is if I
haven’t taken a look at the shoulder in, I’ll only know that it has changed,
but not necessarily how much it has changed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Which brings me to another point -- judges are evaluating
what is “trained” to a level, not what is “training” at a level. From a rider’s perspective, a horse is “trained”
in a movement when he can successfully complete that movement 75% of the time
in a relaxed, confident manner – hence he’s capable of a fairly good score, or
a 7. So in my shoulder in example above,
my horse is “training” the shoulder in at home, not “trained” to shoulder in,
so expecting 7 from every show performance isn’t really fair. Expecting a
“trained” score from a movement that is still being developed will set up
unnecessary frustration.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once I started thinking of things this way, it changed how I
read my test sheets. My reaction to the judge’s comments became much less
emotional. If I did a shoulder in that
started well, then half way through the steps got short and my horse’s neck got
tight, then he started falling over his outside shoulder, and the judge gave me
a 5.5 and commented on those things, my thoughts became “good eye, judge.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Which neatly segues into my second topic—what judges are
trying to tell us with the comments.</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The judge has two jobs – first, evaluate each movement as it looks that day, using a number-based vocabulary. That vocabulary is the 1-10 scale, which is defined in the USEF Rulebook. Second, in a few words, explain what I need to show them in order to earn a higher number.
Judges are required to give a comment if they thought the movement was
sufficiently, marginally, or badly meeting the standard, or, in judge’s
number-vocabulary, a 6 or below. They
aren’t obligated to comment on 7, 8, or 9s, but if I got a 7 with a comment, I
knew the judge thought I was capable of an 8, 9, or 10 on that movement. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A movement that earns a 7 is, by definition, fairly
good. Often, the difference between a 7
and 8 comes down to one of two things. Sometimes the difference can be the
elasticity of the horse’s topline during the movement. Sometimes the difference is the clarity of
the movement, particularly the beginning and end of the movement. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Elastic, swinging toplines are a product of suppleness,
impulsion, and engagement. Some horses begin
with a more soft, swinging topline than others. Some horses come with more
power. Some come with a more naturally
obedient personality. Through training,
all of these areas can be improved. But
if my horse starts with a 6 in natural topline swing and a 10 in try, the horse
who starts with a 7 in topline swing and an 8 in try will probably pin ahead of
me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This can be disheartening, but it is part of the objectivity
of judging. A judge can’t be harder or
easier on one horse than another, even if they recognize how much effort the
horse is putting in. Often the final
comments will reflect that the horse is “trying her heart out,” but the numbers
still need to objectively compare my horse to the idealistic “10.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But remember the clarity of the movement can bump the score
up a number. A judge can only evaluate
what they see, and the more clearly they see it, the better they can evaluate
it. Elastic, swinging horses that present
sloppy, wavering shoulder ins will score behind less-swingy horses with tidy
performances. On the less-swingy horse, the rider needs to present a well-
prepared test. Which to me is encouraging, because of all of the variables that
horse shows create, test preparation is the one thing I can control. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I started watching my videos, I quickly saw ways I
could improve my performance, and therefore pick up more points. I started holding my accuracy to a much
higher standard in my every-day riding, as well as my test riding. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Watching the videos revealed that, most of the time, I agreed
with the judge. But sometimes I
disagreed, which is my third point. </u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I started to attend judge’s forums, I found out that
not only do I sometimes disagree with the judge, judges sometimes disagree with
each other. In the L program, the examiners
aren’t overly concerned as long as candidates are within 1 point of the
evaluator on a given movement. Their
bigger concern is that the best, most well-presented horse wins the class and
the weakest performance places last. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But as a rider, the difference between a 5 and 6 on a
specific movement feels large--much larger than its impact on the final score. Often, when in forums where judges disagree,
it’ll be resolved with “we are only talking about one point here.” In terms of the overall score for the ride, 1
point is only about .01 or .02 percent, rarely enough to effect the order of
placings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That being said, it’s okay to disagree with a judge.
Expecting a judge to sit there and give up to 36 evaluations plus a synopsis
every 7 minutes, for 8 hours a day, and get every single evaluation correct, is
optimistic. That judges get it right as often as they do amazes me. But if I find myself disagreeing with every
judge every time I head down the center line, it may be time to re-evaluate my standard. The judges may be holding me to a higher
standard than I am setting for myself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My time in the L program clearly clarified to me what I am
trying to present to the judges, resulting in much less confusion about my
marks, better prepared performances, and higher marks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank you to the DVCTA Marilyn O. Heath Scholarship fund for helping support my
trip to the judge’s box. </span></div>
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Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-54142238012943667012016-02-08T19:02:00.001-08:002016-02-08T19:15:42.867-08:00The Voices in my Head<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When
training, my thoughts tend to be rather free-form and musical, but sometimes
words creep in. Usually, those words came
from the amazing instructors who have shaped my skills. I never seem to ride as well alone as I do
when I’m under their careful eye, but I do carry their words with me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From
Maryal Barnett, whose monthly trips to Illinois started my dressage education,
to my working student years with Claudia Garner, Gina Krueger and Lorinda
Lende, to all of the clinics I’ve taken with Gerhard Politz, Debbie McDonald,
Catherine Haddad, and Lendon Gray, and to Jeanne McDonald and Scott Hassler who
supervise my education these days, I am shaped as a trainer by their quality guidance.
I cannot say thank you enough to these people who shared, and continue to
share, their craft with me. Below is a list of just a bit of their wisdom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“You
can view dressage as an art or a craft. If you view it as an art, then you are
relying on some elusive thing called talent.
If you view it as a craft, then you are relying on technique, and
technique can be learned and taught. I choose to view it as technique.” Claudia Garner.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Wow.
That was ugly. Want to do it again?” Maryal Barnett’s cheerfully-spoken words
have kept me from overreacting to mistakes since my early dressage days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“What
was the purpose of that?” Scott Hassler, whenever I’m not being organized with
my training workout.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“What
have you tried, and what did and didn’t work?” Jeanne McDonald, whenever I’ve
brought her a horse that I’m struggling with.
Her brainstorming questions help me break down my thinking process and
get to the bottom of the training issue. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Roll
the wrist, straighten the wrist, roll the wrist, straighten the wrist, and
repeat.” Gerhard Politz. His technique has helped unlock many horse who isn’t feeling
particularly very obedient to the flexion. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“A
circle should be round, like a soccer ball, not flat, like a football.” Gerhard
again, whenever I’m teaching accuracy on circles, or struggling with it myself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“In
walk or canter pirouette, the inside hind should always step straight forward
to support the bend.” Catherine Haddad.
The lesson was about Eclipse’s canter pirouettes, but that one statement
changed the way I approach bending all the way down to the youngsters I ride. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Entertain with
your hands, train with your seat and leg.” This simple statement from Scott
Hassler cured my bad habit of using my hands to do what my leg and seat should do. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Every horse as
their ‘thing’ and will show up over and over throughout their training.” Again
Scott, and this is so true. I applied
these words recently to a tough training horse.
Instead of thinking, “What, that again?” to “Oh, yea, this again. Guess I’m pushing your comfort zone. We must
be making progress.” </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Trot is still
trot, even in lateral work. You can’t have a shoulder-in trot, a half-pass
trot, a straight side trot. It is all one trot.” Debbie McDonald. Boy, this is
hard.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Left,
right, left, right.” Jeanne McDonald’s
voice rolls through my mind whenever I’m struggling with timing of the aids.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“A horse must
first yield to the unilateral aids before coming onto the diagonal aids.” Maryal Barnett. This concept clarified putting my little Arab on the bit for me
years ago, and every young horse and retrain I’ve worked with since.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The horse’s
topline is like a glass hose. Line it up, then turn on the water to keep it
full.” Lorinda Lende. I love this mental
picture for straightness. I use it often in my teaching.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Horses go as they
are ridden.” Lendon Gray. Keep the standard the same. Every Day.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It is only trained
if it is repeatable" Not sure, probably Maryal Barnett, and completely true.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The teacher is
responsible for the student’s learning.” Claudia Garner’s words lead to many,
many lesson plans and conversations about learning style. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“All seat
corrections begin in the middle of the rider. The ends won’t stay put until the
seat is straight.” Gina Krueger, whose words have shaped my approach to a
rider’s seat.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“When shortening
or lengthening a horse’s stride, you can only influence one stride at a time.” Lendon Gray. This statement really changed my
concept of timing of the aids, and quickness of my half halt. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I identify with the sentiment Dan Fogelberg sings
about in "Leader of The Band." <u1:p></u1:p> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> My
life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m
just a living legacy to the leader of the band.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
hope to one day, for a brief, shining moment, ride worthy of all of quality
instruction I have received. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-4971689127723196252016-02-02T03:17:00.000-08:002016-02-02T03:17:11.381-08:00January Blues<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am writing this on the last day of January, and am fighting
the January blues. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">January blues seems to be an annual event. Every year,</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgB_F0_8cw7pYUaTgznG-hKUcDtmw_Q6ZsFWAOZcDB1SuYopzQ0qJBK-n_QYzvHGDf3xNkO13OvfGT8-4zTwJpi4Kls21RqljB_DvvputIxEXZGx2bCVL-WYQ-Epqm35wI8Fc_mpBsC0/s1600/20150318_104745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgB_F0_8cw7pYUaTgznG-hKUcDtmw_Q6ZsFWAOZcDB1SuYopzQ0qJBK-n_QYzvHGDf3xNkO13OvfGT8-4zTwJpi4Kls21RqljB_DvvputIxEXZGx2bCVL-WYQ-Epqm35wI8Fc_mpBsC0/s320/20150318_104745.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the air conditioner in the tack room window. In January.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To help inspire my winter training, I went to the FEI Conference
in Wellington. The conference goes a long way towards keeping my training fresh.
But it also creates another problem -- I'm not Florida. Seeing how the other
half lives is fun, but coming home to look at my snow covered pastures, cold
arena, and ice covered roof is decidedly underwhelming. Somehow, every year, I
need to keep my chin up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This year, the January blues hit fast. We had beautiful weather,
and then we have 30 inches of snow. My ride list currently includes many
inexperienced horses. And the snow is falling off the roof.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIa-LHsX2K5y-vNH0lm-ZSbT285iLlbTQ7nblV1ww_kDpe-ZMIFzo0El76LMurS-BIUX3TLNAFtND6KPtsvwFMcE-8rnW5MCDtta0ev860krR_anvaVICeC96j8qNugogkP8hnExE2WR8/s1600/20160124_125610+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIa-LHsX2K5y-vNH0lm-ZSbT285iLlbTQ7nblV1ww_kDpe-ZMIFzo0El76LMurS-BIUX3TLNAFtND6KPtsvwFMcE-8rnW5MCDtta0ev860krR_anvaVICeC96j8qNugogkP8hnExE2WR8/s200/20160124_125610+%25281%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That small red dot in the distance is the <br />stop sign at the end of our road.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">About the time I started to get comfortable on what my mom
refers to as “the pity pot,” I wrapped myself in my electric blanket, turned on
my little space heater, and huddled l in the corner of the arena to teach
lessons.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnePxGtZxYxJ3qVNR1ANiCwSKaNo_KsUtg1ZsJClqrYkbK8i8_WWuzImgcnad6ZrgcFGx_yMl-6Sq2rp-Zvyb3R0ksWDyOIs658rdgNFkKBRpHDr8eDedPioJrQrkYRh5-SNHTAiljUC4/s1600/20160126_204424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnePxGtZxYxJ3qVNR1ANiCwSKaNo_KsUtg1ZsJClqrYkbK8i8_WWuzImgcnad6ZrgcFGx_yMl-6Sq2rp-Zvyb3R0ksWDyOIs658rdgNFkKBRpHDr8eDedPioJrQrkYRh5-SNHTAiljUC4/s320/20160126_204424.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow on the roof is, well, terrifying. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I sat there, talking about the different components of
dressage, I watched my students ride. I
watched one student, after struggling with canter confidence for years, learn
to put her horse on the bit in all three gaits. Then I watched another student
have a lightbulb moment over the feel of correct flexion, and bring her young
horse from first level to a solidly uphill balance. Then I watched another
student begin to understand how frequent, small half halts translate to riding the
hind leg on her schoolmaster.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After I finished teaching, I wandered out to the field to check
on the young horses. As the young men are fighting for my attention, I am
finding it very, very hard to be blue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Plus, we added this to our lives. That should dispel the January
blues. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jmqstnH4jIbsmqjYNEIHrb8GQvVHmGxYTfaCrt8V-dq7d_d0gVQa4Ec8VfJThskJFRShs-oTs3AS-HVs5mfGRbiVy4nCkxpN8wwmMHup8ELIX6-Vz_DEPP68hZPVhTUbNP_x4mOP5Sk/s1600/FB_IMG_1454237711558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jmqstnH4jIbsmqjYNEIHrb8GQvVHmGxYTfaCrt8V-dq7d_d0gVQa4Ec8VfJThskJFRShs-oTs3AS-HVs5mfGRbiVy4nCkxpN8wwmMHup8ELIX6-Vz_DEPP68hZPVhTUbNP_x4mOP5Sk/s320/FB_IMG_1454237711558.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'as yet unnamed' puppy<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-70750797749543833112016-01-27T05:30:00.000-08:002016-01-27T12:19:33.834-08:00Good Fit<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I started keeping this blog years ago, my goal to tell
the stories behind the blurbs that show up on SFD’s Facebook Page. I still think this is a great platform to do
that, but I find a lot of my writing these days has more of a musing manner. Sometimes these musings are related to the
day-to-day events, and sometimes they are related to more general events in the
dressage world. As I’ve been unsure if these musings apply to the original
goal, I’ve been a bit reluctant to share them. But heck, it’s my blog, so I
think it’s going to evolve a bit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of my recent musings has been about how different
dressage professionals gear their business, and how that affects the type of
clients they attract. Some horse
professionals build their business around their personal competition goals. Others, me included, built their business
around client support. Neither plan is
inherently wrong, and both business models need to incorperate elements of both
in order to be sustainable. I have been
extremely fortunate that my client-support business model has, thanks to some
amazing clients, allowed me to continue to achieve my personal competition goals. But not all client-support-based trainers
have been so lucky.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What I find interesting is the dressage community’s
assumptions. For some reason, many
dressage students believe a business built around the trainer’s competition goals
to be superior to a business built around client support. Which I find ironic, as students are coming
in as clients. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From where I sit, it seems most goal-based businesses
started with a springboard – a nice
horse or two, a family farm, an investor.
Often, that is the main difference. Because I promise you, every one of
us who have dediated our careers to developing dressage horses, deep in their
hearts, wants to be in that CDI victory gallop and in the latest issue of Dressage
Today. Every one of us works hard to
hone our craft, improve our seats, and polish our skills.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Which comes to the topic of which model is better for
clients. I know many pros with goal-based businesses that do a great job
supporting clients, equal to or even better than some client-based business
models. I also know many client-centered-business pros that are overlooked
because they are so dedicated to supporting their students that their own show
goals go by the wayside. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So which model is better for the AA student? I think,
at the end of the day, it comes down to good fit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The hard part is figuring out what comprises a "good
fit." Sometimes the right fit is about instruction, or showing, or
training. Sometimes the right fit is more about the barn itself – location,
society in the barn, accessibility to hacking <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>–
than the trainer. When looking for a barn, determining what is "good
fit" takes a bit of honest evaluation. A rider who knows not only
their goals, but also their limitations will have the best chances of finding
"good fit." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A big part of determining "good fit" is the goals.
If your goal is to earn your bronze or silver medal, boarding at a barn with a
relaxed atmosphere, full of AAs who enjoy a paper chase one weekend, a dressage
schooling show the next, and a hunter show the third, may be a great barn, but
will, in the end, leave you dissatisfied with your goals. Often, an all-around rider, who would thrive
in the more relaxed barn, will feel pressured in a more competitive program,
even if that program is right around the corner from their house. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The hard part is when in your heart, you want those medals,
but your comfort zone is with the more recreational program. That’s when some
serious soul-searching needs to happen. Are you willing to push your comfort
zone for your goals, or sacrifice your goals for your comfort zone? That is a personal
decision each rider makes at some point in their riding, and neither decision
is inherently wrong, and therefore shouldn’t be criticized.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The second part of determining “good fit” is
limitations. If a rider has a goal of
competing GP, but has a 20-year-old 2<sup>nd</sup> level horse they won’t
part with and budget for just one horse, the horse becomes a limitation on
their goals, not their trainer. Switching to a trainer who has developed several
GP horses won’t change that. If a
limitation is 2 kids and a full-time job, the limitation becomes time, so a
trainer willing to school your horse a couple times a week becomes a key
component to “fit.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Regardless of what creates fit, I think all students should
not settle until they find a fit that fulfills them as riders, trainers, and
people. Regardless of if the head trainer dons a magazine cover. </span></div>
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Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-31686520695831209192016-01-21T04:38:00.000-08:002016-01-21T04:38:00.429-08:00Recharged<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am currently on a plane headed from sunny FL, returning
home from a couple days watching Johann Hinnemann teach at the FEI Trainer’s
Conference. I debated attending this
year, but in the end I decided to buy my ticket. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My debate was a bit based on the nature of my business.
SFD’s business model is helping adult amatures achieve their dressage goals.
This means a majority of the horses I train are “shared rides,” meaning I ride
a few times a week, and I help the horse’s owner from the ground a few times a
week. Which means my training goals are about consistency over brilliance. I want the horses I develop to have such a
clear understanding of what I want that they are able to help their owners out
a bit. How do you make a horse
consistent, you ask? Well, consistency in the training. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Normally, I have a few horses that are not “shared rides,”
temporarily or permanently. These horses I don’t have to be as careful with.
Yes, I want them consistent, but I also have more freedom to develop the expressison
in their gaits. In order to do that, I
often need to push the boundary of what they are currently willing and able to
offer, which means I risk tension. I
think it’s most fair to the horses to help them get to the other side of that
tension before I ask the horse to teach that new skill to their rider. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The FEI Conference is generally all about creating the best balance
and gaits that a horse is capable of, so I debated whether it was worth the
time and money for information that, in theory, only applies to some of my
horses, some of the time. Plus right now, for various reasons, I have fewer
non-shared rides than normal, so I wondered how much of what I saw I would be
able to use every day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But even as SFD is about helping riders develop their horses,
Ange-the-trainer, wants to see the best my mounts can offer. As I watched the
horses and riders in the conference, I realized that routine has been winning
over expression lately. Which is not bad
for business, but it isn’t everything. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p>I took Johann Hinnemann's words to heart -- </o:p><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.32px;">"That’s really our job as trainers, to always think about something, every day how to make something better, better ideas to school the horses and teach our students.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I am now recharged, refueled, and ready to see how many
of the techniques that develop the best gaits in horses can be applied to my
“shared rides,” and how I can help coach my students to when tension is
acceptable and when consistency is better. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let the winter training begin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are interested in details about the FEI Conference itself, here are a few blogs about the rides themselves:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/transitioning-top-adequanusdf-trainers-conference">http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/transitioning-top-adequanusdf-trainers-conference</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.chronofhorse.com/photos_videos?page=0&nid=64330">http://www.chronofhorse.com/photos_videos?page=0&nid=64330</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/exercises-dressage-horserider-adequanusdf-trainers-conference">http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/exercises-dressage-horserider-adequanusdf-trainers-conference</a></span></div>
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Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61377988833221724.post-39922856247111627002015-11-03T14:15:00.004-08:002015-11-03T14:15:35.813-08:00Pas de Deux<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I was planning to write about the Pas de Deux, but Chronicle of the Horse beat me to it. My 15 seconds of fame, and they picked the photo where I look like my head is falling off. Oh well</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyn6j3no0giReW1WHMCoylJPw1Y5KZbqAqRMkDONhsPviDYNSlkrp06LAdI870PRo8DeKUKt-te2TUfsXUXCeHuZBcrXLvCT_skSbv0q2OFhxviYVb2ZqMDCTYc5fJN4l32XQou1Clp4w/s1600/Pas+de+Deux+article.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyn6j3no0giReW1WHMCoylJPw1Y5KZbqAqRMkDONhsPviDYNSlkrp06LAdI870PRo8DeKUKt-te2TUfsXUXCeHuZBcrXLvCT_skSbv0q2OFhxviYVb2ZqMDCTYc5fJN4l32XQou1Clp4w/s640/Pas+de+Deux+article.jpg" width="488" /></a></div>
<br />Angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940100765413581438noreply@blogger.com0