Reflection. Reflection is something that I practice regardless of the season.  As a rider, reflection is key to advancing, learning and moving forward.  I don't know about you guys, but after a ride....good or bad...I think about it, a lot!! I think about what worked well, about how successful that shoulder-in was and exactly what I did to achieve it.  I think about how I could have communicated better with my horse to execute a haunches-in more accurately and I especially think about the tips and instruction my trainer gives me to progress in my riding and move along in the right direction.  Reflection. 

Sometimes I take 'reflection' to the next level and write down notes to help me remember everything.  Yep, I have a notebook.....don't judge. Ha Ha Ha
Trainers and coaches have so much insight, so much to say that I would forget half of it unless I wrote it all down...With Doc, I took the time to make notes about all of our lessons and progress. Now that I am working with Ferris, I can reflect on those notes and carry the concepts over to his training :) Therefore, when I am granted an exceptionally awesome training opportunity, I am thankful for my dorky-ness....because this gives me the chance to look back on the comments, exercises and tips I gained through that experience. I can learn from them many times over and not just the first time.

While I am dedicated to working consistently with my current coach, I have recently had the amazing opportunity to clinic with an incredible eventer, Leslie Law. My coach brought him in for a two day clinic a few weeks ago and I was lucky enough to secure a spot with Doc in the Novice/Training group! I was more excited for this opportunity than any Horse Trial this season.  I mean, come on....I was gonna get to ride with the British Eventing Individual GOLD Medalist and team SILVER member! excited much??

While Doc and I packed for the weekend, I was sure to include my little notebook to record all the wise words Leslie was sure to send my way.  I also made plans to stick around for the rest of the lessons that he would be teaching while here, cause watching my other horsey buds and playing the part of a 'rail bird' was sure to contribute to the educational experience as well.

The Novice/Training group

My riding experience was awesome! We had two separate hour and a half lessons over the course of the weekend.  
Leslie was really big on getting the horses to supple up during warm-up...lots of lateral work, leg yields, establishing a rhythm and rewarding the horses for correct execution of each exercise.  My horse tends to fall behind my leg and I have to constantly work to keep him going forward.  Leslie helped me to confirm a forward step without getting ahead of the rhythm...we also worked on keeping him put together on his own....so I didn't have to carry him all the time.  Squeeze, Squeeze with the inside rein and ride him up with my leg...Once we got there I was able to release with my hand, releasing the pressure and showing Doc that 'Yes, there is where you are supposed to be'.  That part was easy...it was the 'staying there' part that took some work.  With a young horse it is hard for them to carry themselves and when I release, the pony says "oh good....time to relax"...hahahaha, not yet Doc-a-roo....alas, he is and did learn to carry himself a little more that day and did even better on day 2! Patience is key and gently reminding him with my leg and hand drove the concepts home....
The jumping sections of the clinic were of course the most fun :) Leslie did a handful of jumping exercises with us to drive home the concept that - you don't need to run a course every single time you jump....you don't even need to own enough jumps to practice an entire course.  If you put together bits and pieces of a stadium course you can get in all the practice you'll ever need.  That way, when you arrive at a competition, you can simply put all the pieces together....smoothly and confidently. Because after all, you have already practiced each piece of the stadium course at home.
This approach was THE BEST!! I only have the option to build 5-6 jumps at a time in my arena at home....so this "break it up" concept spoke true to my situation. 

Day 1 jumping focused mainly on rhythm and steadiness....keeping the horse in a pace and fitting the jumps in appropriately.  PERFECT!! could this lesson have been created especially for me?? ha ha. Well, at least I know I am not the only one who tends to jumble up the rhythm while out in the stadium ring.  Canter poles and placing poles were everywhere....and we were working on keeping our horses in a rhythm that would allow them to step in the center of the spaces between the poles.  My horse has a surprisingly large step, for being rather small, and so I was able to really work on gathering him up...keeping him active and forward....and of course in rhythm.  Occasionally, he would step on one or two of the canter poles...usually the ones toward the end of the line...Leslie explained that this was because I was allowing the canter step to change, fall out of rhythm - to fix this I should keep Doc gathered together with leg and half-halts, focus on having him step in the exact center of each canter pole. 


Canter poles to the vertical exercise. stock photo.
courtesy of www.eventingnation.com
 

Once this concept was understood he then set a vertical at the end of the 5 canter poles. GREEEEEAAAAATTTT exercise...this one really established that necessary rhythm and let the horse work through it, while challenging me to help maintain him.  A wonderful warm up exercise, no matter who you are or what level you ride at.
The next exercise involved a placing pole before and after a single vertical...this is one I hadn't tried much of myself.  I was always nervous about setting up the placing poles..."what if I didn't set them up at the perfect distance?" Leslie assured me that I shouldn't be discouraged, as long as I set them 9-11ft from the vertical the exercise would be appropriate.  Even if I was a hair off on one of the poles, it would encourage my horse to think and react....always good for an eventer, right?? ;)


While this isn't an image from the clinic. It does show the concept of a placing
pole before and after a smaller fence. 
www.horseandhound.co.uk

This exercise was to encourage the horse to jump up and over the vertical, a skill required in stadium to keep the rails in the cups.  Too often, Leslie explained, we allow the horses to gallop across the stadium jumps....as they do in the XC phase....While in XC this is appropriate, the stadium phase demands a different type of execution.  Up and over will ensure the rails stay up themselves. 
After that, we put a few lines together to really reiterate rhythm....test out our accomplishments with the canter/placing poles.

Doc and I over the oxer on our way out of the more demanding bending line

Day 2 focused on some more advanced concepts....bending lines and landing on the "correct" lead.  Again, could this lesson have been created for me and my Doc-a-r-oo...hahaha. Landing on the correct lead is something we have been working on....thanks to the time penalties I got slapped with awhile back for the the simple changes I had to do through a few roll backs on a recent stadium course.  If landing on the correct lead became second nature, I would have that to worry about....and I could focus on the many other things facing me on the stadium course.
I am sure ya'll have done this exercise before....set a small jump at the 12'0clock spot on a circle and canter the fence while on that circle. Think about opening that inside rein and looking in the direction you are going.   This exercise really hit home the concept that horses, like people, can be one-sided....all the horses in my group had an easier time in one direction than the other.  Doc is a lefty :)
Bending lines were the way we completed our clinic experience....another very very common question out on course.  Lesile set a softer bending line followed by a more demanding one. 
This was a great exercise in the basics....establishing the correct pace, jumping the center of each jump, keeping the horse between your leg and hand.....

This clinic experience was really fantastic, a great way to reiterate a few things when it comes to my riding.  Having a new set of eyes evaluate me and my horse was invaluable....yes, there were a heck of a lot of common comments made.  Leslie and my coach agree on the things I need to work on...haha.  good!! At least we are all on the same page...right? The different perspective however, brought with it some new ideas, tips, and exercises to help Doc and I progress along.  Plus, I got to ride with Leslie Law....Mr. Olympics ;)
I enjoyed my lessons and wasn't at all nervous.  I know there are some clinicians out there that are known to make riders cry, talk down to them and even criticize their horses...Leslie did absolutely NONE of this.  He was positive and progressive. He took the time to learn my name and focused on me intently as I rode each exercise....I really felt like he cared about me and my horse.  I honestly don't know why people would pay the big bucks to ride with someone who is going to rip you up one side and down the other for the color of your polo shirt of the type of saddle pad you are using.  Clinics should be fun, positive and a good learning experience.....that is exactly what it was. 
Even now, as I sit here and reflect on my experience I am smiling....another chapter of my horse life, another positive experience, another entry for my little geeky notebook.

Getting to know you, getting to know all about you...

Horses really are incredible animals, they have such emotion....such personality and such a tie to us as thier riders.  When you start riding a new horse it takes some time to establish that relationship, get to know each other.  Of course it does! Why would this type of relationship be any different....after all, horse crazies like us prolly spend more time with our horses than our significant other...am I wrong?? hahaha. Like any good relationship....it takes time and progesses along in baby steps.

The equine love of my life, Doc, has been mine since he was 4 months old.  My wonderful husband bought him for me as a wedding present! At least he knew what he was getting himself into :) Doc, so named because while he was purchased by my husband while in the process of becoming a veterinarian, was a little scruffy....But Mike saw something in his eye and he knew he would be a keeper. The fuzzy colt couldn't even lead and so Mike basically 'football shoved' him onto the trailer and away we went...with big dreams in our hearts.  Doc's younger years were spent learning all the basics...leading, tying, trailering, clipping, bathing...ect.  For the most part, he accepted each of these new tasks with a level head and a curious attitude.  When it came time to start him under tack I was ecstatic...finally I could ride my pony, but this is where the real work began.  basic flat work went well....stop, start, steer.  Lots of Trial rides helped keep things interesting and before long we were cantering through the fields and turning when I wanted to!! Thanks to some fantastic friends, we utilized arena work to help Doc travel straight, decipher a 20m circle and turn a half-way decent corner.  Upon Mike's graduation from veterinary school, we relocated to Kentucky (twist my arm, right?!) and I was introduced to a incredible trainer.  NOW I was going to be able to really get things started with little Doc-a-roo!! By this time he was a fresh young 4 year old and barely able to pick up the correct lead at the canter.  I have been with my trainer consistently since then and we have both worked with Doc to help him progess into the fantastic young man that he is now. And the best part?? he is only SIX....I am so happy with how far we have come together, and can't wait to find what is out there in our future.  Currently we are competing at the Novice level and loving every minute of it! The challenges we face encourage me to be a better rider, they drive me to get out there and practice! Honestly, If I told you about every detail of our training so far, you would be asleep in a heartbeat....but don't worry, there is lots that we are working on and lots and lots to talk about. Having been in a "relationship" with Doc for the past 6 years, we know each other pretty well.  I understand his personality and can usually translate what he is trying to tell me. "Hey mom, how about those carrots you had earlier..." I am also able to predict his reactions to various situations, running and barking dogs don't bother him one bit...but a flapping ariat boot sign on the rail of the stadium ring? THAT is a problem...LOL!

My most recent "relationship" is only about a month old.  Ferris came into my life is a simmilar way as Doc. Mike picked him out....said he saw something sparkle in his eye....and when I look at how much fun Doc is and how well I get along with him...who I am to questions the ways of my horse habit enabling hubby?? ;) Ferris, however, is 3 years old and much more educated.  He is a gorgeous bay TB gelding we bought through New Vocations, and OTTB placement program.  To say our relationship is new would be an understatement.  Sure, I understand horses....I can communicate with them...I have been around them for ages, but getting to know a horse that is hopefully going to be a partner and friend is different.  I am pleased that the last few weeks have allow me plenty of time to spend with Ferris....He prefers sweet feed over pellets, LOVES carrots, doesn't like his feet messed with but will become putty in your hands if you rub his belly....it is start!! and I'll take it.  Under saddle work presents a whole new relationship to establish and I am pleased to say it is progressing along nicely.  I am starting to learn his quirks and he is begining to understand what on earth I am asking him to do. ha ha ha.
As we moved through our first month together, we are establishing the first level of basics...forward!! Now, for being an OTTB, he sure is a lug.  I actually have to kick to get him up into a trot! Who would have thought....once we get up into a trot, he pricks his ears as if to say "ooooh....forward, trot, ok! cool." The next request to move forward off my leg will usually come more freely...if not, a small tap with the dressage whip reminds him of our previous conversation.  Once he moves off my leg, he earns lots of verbal praise along with soft aids to say..."yep, you got it!".  This button took a few rides to really establish...and I would be lying if I said it was a sure thing.  But at least we have had some progess! yay.
Next up, straightness (which will lead to more accurate steering - kinda important).  For this challenge I utilized the Diamond Excercises....This is the BEST! Check out a previous blog entry of mine that explains this concept, you won't be sorry...I'm tellin' you guys, it is great!
http://www.thedirectrein.blogspot.com/2012/09/diamonds-really-are-girls-best-friend.html
We started with this at the walk and have progessed into the trot as well! so much to think about....outside leg, holding outside rein, low hands, following shoulder, opening inside rein...don't hold him up around the turns, balance with the inside leg....PHEW! But wow...what a result!!

This photo was taken just a week ago, we were really starting to establish the diamond concept. Ferris was still learning to bring his shoulders around the turns and stay straight along the sides.  He was going forward and staying between my leg, I was thrilled!! Good Boy :)

This photo was taken today!! We have now had the chance to establish the diamond and play around with the details...put all the pieces together! Keep straight in the shoulder and retain control of the hind feet as well...can't forget the importance of impulsion with that inside hind :) Once Ferris was using his body correctly coming round and streching was accomplished!
Yes, I did a little dance after our ride today :)




Every day that my amazing relationship with this two horses grows, so does our progess together. Hard work and dedication are key ingredients to this formula...but laughter, love and a bag of carrots are just as important! 

They Picked ME!!!!

Hey Everyone.... I am so flippin' exicted to have been choosen by My Virtual Eventing Coach as one of thier Adult Amature bloggers!! woot :)
So here it is, my very first official blog entry - ok, I am getting the 'first day of school' jitters right now (not gonna lie). Ha Ha Ha.  I am just really excited to share my life, horses and lessons learned with you guys and hear what is on your mind as well.  But wait...I am getting ahead of myself....
Hello, my name is Andi Davison I am 34 years old and a totally hopeless horse-aholic. My parents thought the horse thing was a "phase"...ha ha ha, yours probably did too, huh? I have been riding for ever and ever, since I was 10 years old. I started out in the hunter/jumper world and played the part of the equitation queen. After a riding hiatus, to attend college, I began learning more and more about the eventing world. The more I learned about it, the more I had to know!! Holy Moly this discipline was AWESOME! I had to try it....that was 4 years ago.  
Now, just because I am not a professional rider doesn't mean I am not dedicated, comitted or faithful to my horses and our progession towards awesomeness. The nametag I wear - "Adult Amateur" probably makes me even worse - LOL!! I ride, train and compete because I love it, pure and simple. I also love the constant learning that accompanies this great sport. Am I perfect? No. Am I invinsible? No. But that is the point right...  Sure, I have ridden for ever and ever, but it would be silly of me to even begin to think that I know everything. No one knows everything, yes ladies....even Boyd Martin takes lessons.
Every horse will teach you something and every situation will make you a more capeable horseman/woman - that I am sure of. The classic Winston Churchill quote rings true..."there is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of man".

I have had the priviledge of owning and riding many amazing horses...the ones I have now are no excpetion! My star pony and soulmate is my 6 year old TB gelding, Doc.  I have had him since he was a weanling and am pretty proud of where we are today.  He is curious, goofy, brave (most of the time) and does have a few fancy moments here and there.  The past six years have been incredible and I am so excited for the things that are still in our future.  I have great friends, an incredible trainer and amazing schooling opportunities...all whom have helped me bring Doc along to where we are today.  Currently we are competing at the Novice Level in the KY/TN area.

I also ride an outstanding Quarter Horse gelding named IHOP, yep....like the pancake place ;) He belongs to a very good friend of mine and does amazing things for my confidence.  He is 12 and much more seasoned of an event pony than Doc. IHOP helps me settle in and learn before I have to turn around and teach Doc.  Having started out in the the hunter/jumper ring there are a few concepts that were totally new to me when I made the great eventing switch. For example...you want my body to do what when my horse leaps off that bank into the water?!?!? IHOP has helped me in more ways than one....

Most recently I have purchased a 3 year old OTTB gelding, Ferris, who I plan to bring along as an eventer as well...This is already turning out to be an adventure. Just last week, we went for a stroll in the yard.  No Problems there....but leg pressure?? what is that?? LOL.

 

 

 

I am really looking forward to sharing my experiences with the rest

of the eventing world...let's all learn from each other!

We horse crazy eventers need to stick together.

Right?

"Red on the Right, White on the Left and INSANITY in the Middle"

Diamonds really ARE a girl's best friend

 

Sure the sparkley stones of stature are fun too, but I am talking about a totally different kind of "Diamond" here....one that will not only help your 3 year old TB learn what leg means, it will also help him understand the concept of straightness!!!
The concept is deceptivly simple...where you would usually travel on a circle pattern, instead create a diamond shape.

Nevermind the random letters, just use this image to appreciate how you are supposed to alter your track to accomplish the promised straightness. I always start everything at walk first....young horses need that slow, deliberate communication.  Set them up for success and move slowly.  OK, anyway....see how you will create "points" in your track??
Use these markers to allow your horse to move his shoulder around the "points", keep his body straight and DO NOT pull him around the point with your inside rein.  That is a no-no! Instead....use your outside aids (my favorite) to bring his shoulder around.  Your outside
leg will keep his outside shoulder in check and ask him to step over with it.  Your glorious outside rein will keep his body inline and help to avoid that overbending thing that I am sure some of you are tempted to do.  Ok, so yeah....it may feel odd at first...like your horse is a 2x4 pivoting on the "point"...but like I have said before, you can't bend correctly until your horse is straight!! Relish in the functionality of your outside aids...an opening inside rein is totally acceptable to lead your horse in the right direction.  Especially if he is noodle of a young one like mine is. ha ha ha! And of course, inside leg is good for forward motivation....but I am telling you people, this diamond thing is priceless!
Once you have set your horse 'straight' (no pun intended), then or course it is time to bring a little bend into the picture....but please, keep those outside aids and don't loose that shoulder.
I am gushing about this exercise today because it prooved so flippin' valuable with my young TB the other day. He is all over the place...his shoulder is going one direction and his head another....his hindquarters are in lala land. I just love the babies!! This exercise really put him together and helped him understand that if he uses his body as one functional unit life is MUCH easier. Of course success was ours only at the walk, but I will TOTALLY take it!!! I just kept thinking...."outside aids, move the shoulder, forward forward". I told you....I talk to myself while I ride. Go ahead and laugh...my pony walked straight and forward. ha ha ha!!

Training+dedication=Progess

Now, just because I am not a professional rider doesn't mean I am not dedicated, comitted or faithful to my horses and our progession towards awesomeness.  The nametag I wear - "Adult Amateur" probably makes me even worse - LOL!! I ride, train and compete because I love it, pure and simple. I also love the constant learning that accompanies this great sport.  Sure, I have ridden for ever and ever, but it would be silly of me to even begin to think that I know everything.  No one knows everything, yes ladies....even Boyd Martin takes lessons. he he he.
Every horse will teach you something and every situation will make you a more capeable horseman/woman - that I am sure of.  The classic Winston Churchill quote rings true..."there is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of man".

Training+Dedication=Progress
While this applies to many things in life, for me it screams horses! There are lots of different variables that can be intserted, and sure....it can apply to the rider or the horse or the environmnt...but still, it is pretty basic and pretty darn applicable.
I personally am a huge fan of amatures who work closely with a trainer, a trainer they respect and see eye to eye with.  Currently I am working with a fantastic trainer, one who i respect greatly and learn oodles and oodles from with every lesson.  My amazing eventing parter, Doc, is the first horse I have had the pleasure of bringing along and I KNOW I couldn't have done it without the help of my trainer - heck and we are just running Novice, there is still so much to learn.

Most recently, I have been working on straightness/bend with Doc....in the scheme of basic training it falls in after the horse is moving forward and required in order to accomplish the correct bend.

 

1.Forward

2. Straigtness

3. Bend

Should you get all excited and try to accomplish these tasks out of order, you might find it much more difficult and discover that you have not correctly learned and taught these concepts to your horse.  (But I know, there is more than one way to do things...this is just the way I have been taught and agree with - just sayin'). After tackling the 'forward' asspect of life for awhile...yes, I think I own the only 'lazy' TB..ha ha ha.  We are doing the big boy work known as straightness and bending....ooohhhhhh.  This is big deal, right?? at first I am thinking, 'sure, I can ride my horse in a straight line....just ride them between my leg and hand with even pressure, right?' ummmmmm, NO!! There are shoulders, hocks and necks to think about....not to mention me and my position.  Yikes! My particular horse has noodles for shoulders and needs lots of active awarness on my part to make sure these noodles stay in line. In short I have learned to love my outside leg and hand...such gems. My outside leg, which is often quite tired after a school with Doc-a-roo, keeps him going forward and helps keep those hips and shoulders in line.  My outside hand helps the leg by creating that wall, keeping the horse in line....in order to set Doc up for straightness I often will think about almost bending him to the outside! "What??" you say, "Isn't that the opposite of what you want to accomplish".....ahhhhhh, the beauty is that the answer is no. By thinking about bending your horse to the outside you are in fact regaining thier shoulder and aligning them appropriately with the hip - in turn, allowing the horse to travel as one straight beast.  All too often people split thier horse in half and wrap them excessivly around the inside leg. A straight horse is a more balanced horse and a more powerful horse. You will feel that once your beastie is traveling in a true straight line thier step will be springy and wayyyy more adjustable, and much easier to coax into a correct inside bend.

See how the hips and shoulders stay in line? Yes, the horse is bent correctly....but in order to get this far they must be going forward and moving as one straight beast.

My little buddy is still a baby and needs lots of help keeping his shoulders in-line with his hips...hence my growing love for my outside aids. Just yesterday, during our dressage school, I couldn't fight the grin that spread across my face when Doc and I were able to accomplish a STRAIGHT canter in....wait for it.....BOTH directions!! After spending lots of time at the beginning of the ride working on diamond patterns, turns on the forehand and counter canter work we were able to put in some solid canta' skillz! I just kept repeating to myself..."loooong leg, seat seat, shoulders up, outside aids"....Yes, I am geek and talk to myself while I ride -don't judge, you know you do it too.

As we took a well deserved walk break, I realized that not only did I have to learn the correct way to accomplish this task (straightness), I had to to teach it to my sweet pony....then we had to practice, practice, practice - Today we were rewarded with progress!! I'll take it anyday of the week.....

Cause really, who knows what will come up tommorrow, right??