I had a very relaxing ride on Deedles today – no video, no training schedule,
just got a ride in before the rain. So, there we were, up to the ring plopping
around for a while when it hit me – we were just plopping around.
I realize that sounds so ordinary – what’s the big deal? Well, with Indeed,
getting to the point where we could just plop around is a milestone. He didn’t
come with a “plop around” gear. He didn’t come with a “relaxed ride” mind set.
He came with a “life is a continuous struggle” outlook.
However, in looking back at the more recent videos I just put up (making
excellent use of new camera, software, and computer upgrade to produce them
primarily as a mirror for me and training aid for any who wish to look in) I
realized that at some point Indeed stopped arguing and trying to figure a way
out, and now he’s just trying to figure me out. About bloody time! Usually it
takes days or weeks, he took years!
All the same, I think it’s obvious that although much of the work is still far
from perfect, it has all become fun and easy for him and me. So, in a head
slapping isn’t it obvious moment it has occurred to me that a primary goal and
test of training is that the horse becomes easier to ride. Well, duh!
Here’s the latest from a couple of days ago – in this tape I’m just checking out
his new “up” frame – he doesn’t look too bad if I say so myself. I’m also
looking at his change from left to right which is improved from the last video.
AAAAA
You see, the work isn’t perfect by any means but it’s all fairly easy.
In this tape from a few days before that, I just look at the changes in a
variety of different ways. I used the software to zoom in on the action and put
everything in slow motion (ya know, sometimes being geek IS cool!) See if you
can see what I learned by watching this tape and put to use in the video from
the 18′th above.
So Indeed had the weekend off as I was away doing a clinic. Today was really cold! But I got on him and we were continuing with the lateral suppling, etc I mentioned in the last post. Basically, I’m doing the lateral engaging step in the trot on the circle with him. I do it with him in a “normal” way, over bent to the inside of the circle, and in the counter bend – overbent to the outside. I didn’t bother with changes at all today, but what I did notice is that he was much more “through” as a result of this work. So my thoughts to pass on to all today are, “improving anything improves everything.” This is just another example of it. I was looking for a blockage that was messing with his flying change, I got him more through than I’ve ever felt him before. At one point I gently touched him with the stick to ask for a little more, and it felt like 2 more cylinder in his engine kicked in. Very nice, very soft, just a whole lot more there, there!
The other thought is that, within reason, you’re always better off to just press on and move on to the next training level rather than trying to make the lowest level stuff perfect. This is a typical example of what I mean. I thought I did have Indeed supple and through, and had I not pushed on to the changes I wouldn’t have known what I was missing.
Years ago I tried videoing my rides by setting up the camera (VHS “camcorder” the size of a shoe box!) and trying to ride in front of it. In all honesty the square, fuzzy analogue picture that was the technology then was more aggravating than useful. There wasn’t much to see but a fuzzy dot off in the distance or two to three strides of clarity that came into the picture and immediately went off screen again.
A few weeks ago I decided to try using my little JVC mini-dv wide screen digital camera. Turns out, because of the wider screen and digital clarity, you can set it up so about 2/3′rds of a standard dressage arena is visible and very useful. It’s also easy to play back by just plugging it into the TV. If I want a closer look at something I can capture that section of the tape to my computer, and then use my video editing software to zoom in and see it in slow motion.
So now I’ve been taping my rides several times a week. It is a very cool thing to do – I get to be teacher and student. I get to see my horse objectively and to see patterns that weren’t obvious from in the saddle.
For instance, the first thing I noticed was that I was taking too long to get Indeed through the wall and into the program everyday. My impression when looking at it on screen was that I was teaching him TO argue with me at the start of the ride rather than ending the argument immediately in way that was clear, effective, and over with.
The next thing I noticed was that he would stop and pick a fight based on where we were in the ring. It wasn’t about what I was asking, it was about where I was asking. So I would ask him to change on a particular diagonal and he would get to a point, stop and block. I would get him past that, circle back and he would stop and block again, but it would take considerably less effort and time on my part to get him going again. By the third time he would only be thinking about stopping, but I could usually ride him through it – until the next day when the same 3 phase battles at the same spots would reoccur.
So, I changed strategy and started picking and winning the fight with him before he could pick one with me. That sounds terrible and isn’t the way we want it to be, but it’s working way better and we’re doing a lot less fighting and a lot more rewarding. Now I look at the tapes of my rides and see him warming up and getting through the BS easier and sooner every day. Having eyes on the ground is a big help.
For those of you just wandering in, please be sure to check out my new E-book, “Riding in the Moment -The Hidden Language of Dressage.” This book explains how you and your horse can have some fun doing dressage today – not years from now when something mysterious is supposed to happen. For more information click Here
Just wanted to let you know that there is now a forum available to discuss ideas, questions, and successes related to posts on this blog, and the content from my books and DVD. Membership in the forum will also allow you to stay updated on the latest news and events related to clinics and get together. In fact, it’s quite possible that this blog will be moved or joined with that forum, so joining that will be the most certain way to keep up with Indeed’s progress.
Amazing – I actually managed to get two tapes up exactly the way I wanted to at the outset – one month apart! Not only that, but I’m pleased with the one month change in Indeed. He’s really starting to feel like one of “my” horses.
In this months tape, I not only didn’t bother with ongoing commentary as I taped, but I haven’t even put in any visual remarks either. I think if you’ve been following from the earlier tapes you’ll be able to see what I’m doing just from watching. If I’m wrong you can ask using the Blog format that I’ve switched to.
Regarding the blog, several people (only a very small percent of those who watched the tapes) made comments and I hope more do this time. Since last month I learned that I can answer comments directly by fiddling with the date and time that I post my answers – in other words, I can cheat and make it look like I answer your remarks almost as soon as you’ve posted them. I’ll probably do that just because I think it’s easier to follow the conversation if it’s one after another.
Getting back to the tape, you might notice that the better he goes, the quieter my hands are. However, when I think it’s necessary to move my hands, I don’t hesitate to do so. I’m perfectly happy with that – in fact, I think it’s an absolute prerequisite to know how and when to use your hands appropriately if you’re going to train a horse. This idea that you’re never supposed to move your hands is just nonsense – every capable trainer I’ve ever known has always used his hands to make a point whenever he felt the need.
Sure, I could have edited out every occurrence of me lifting the reins or bracing strongly but than what’s the point of these tapes? To make it appear that I’m all knowing and perfect and I can and you can’t? What a waste! I’m much happier with a student that knows how to use the aids and make corrections in a way that is appropriate for the horse they are on “at the moment” than with a rider that’s so inhibited about moving or doing anything they end up just sitting there stiffly. Yes, it may take a couple of weeks to quiet down a rider that’s too busy, but it can take years to loosen up a stiff rider.
Another cool thing to notice – as Deedle’s poll comes up, he begins to approach the vertical. Yet, when his poll is out and down, he’s behind the vertical. Further, about 99.9% of the time his mouth is closed and the contact is very steady and pleasant. Yet on the (now) very rare occasions that he stiffens into the bridle his mouth opens.
Well, for those who have been hyper-ventilating over “hyper-flexion” it’s time to find yourselves a brown paper bag and breathe deeply into it. It is obvious now that a horse stretching out into long, low frame is behind for a very different reason and in a very different way than a horse that is being pulled behind the vertical.
I finally put up a new Indeed tape. I know, it’s been quite a while. He and I had some rough sledding for a bit, but we’re back on track. I’m very pleased because he seems to have figured out he doesn’t have to stiffen against the bit. In fact “most” of the time he’s being very good. Actually, I’m having more fun riding him now than any other horse I’ve been on in quite a while.
This tape was shot on August 8, 2008. There’s no talking in this tape. I didn’t expect it to be on the web when we did it, I just wanted to see him for myself. This was just me riding my horse on a regular day. I did add some text in places editing the hour long session down to a few minutes and I will say I think I prefer to shoot video this way – it lets me concentrate on what I’m doing and gives a more realistic picture of the process. Let me know how you like the format.
We just moved to the facility in this video and I really enjoy riding in this ring. It’s flat, the footing isn’t too deep, there are almost no distractions and it has a wonderful view. It’s an ideal training environment.
I like that Indeed is staying soft and round most of the time, and that he’s much lighter to the leg as well. I’d rather he was not as curled up as he is, but I think he’ll start to “un-furl” as we go on. I just wrote about why I have him in the double in my last post (I’d give the link to that here but I haven’t figured that out yet – just go read my last post).
Speaking of posts, this is a blog. I’ve gone with this format so that viewers could comment, ask questions, whatever else it is that people do on blogs. So, blog away.
Ok – enough talk. Here’s the link to the8-8-08 tape.
Last night I was speaking to a friend and fellow trainer from California. He had called to talk about the clinic I’m scheduled to do out there soon and of course the conversation worked it’s way around to Indeed.
I told him I was finally getting happy with the way he is going. For the first time he starting to feel the way I want a horse to feel – no tension or stiffness in his body as he reaches out to my hand and just follows the bit. Not perfect yet, but getting there. I mentioned I was sort of amazed it had taken me so long to get this far and he very wisely told me, “Hey Mike, it takes what it takes.”
Well, you can’t argue with that.
So, the fact is it has taken me just a little over 2 years to get Indeed to the point where I feel we can start to move on. That’s about 18 months longer than I’m used to taking to get a horse to this point, but, it takes what it takes.
While I’m on the subject, I’m riding him almost exclusively in the double bridle. Yes, back in December of 06 I tried him in it, but then I went back to the snaffle for another year before going back to the double. Now I ride him in the double because with it my corrections are “clear, effective, and over with”. In just the snaffle, they are simply not as effective and tend to become more arguments. In the double I can ride him very lightly and spend most of my time encouraging him to reach more into my hand. In the snaffle, he spends most of his time trying to run through my hand. For me there is no question – I’ll ride him in the double, press on with the training, and from time to time try him again in the snaffle and see what of he thinks of it.
Interestingly, the bridoon I use in his double is the exact same bit as his regular snaffle. Well, whoever invented the curb bit was probably a lot more of a horseman than I’ll ever get to be, and he figured out that device a long time before I arrived.
Oh well, enough about me. Here’s something you may find useful in your work with your horse.
Today, almost near the end of a wonderful ride, we came cantering across the diagonal about to do a simple change when he noticed there was something in his favorite spook corner that was not just right. In fact someone had left a manure fork leaning on the rail.
I immediately decided it wasn’t important that he had been going past it without incident for the previous 40 or so minutes. My recollection was that we were just starting simple changes back in the late fall of 06 when his great “melt down” began. When that happened something went off in his mind and he started tossing his head straight up and bolting. (He was so fast and practiced at that maneuver it that took me months to figure out a way to deal with it!) So, my intuition was the simple change had more to do with what he was upset about than the silly fork.
The above is specific to him, but here’s the single issue that’s generic to every one of us when dealing with these issues regardless of whether they’re spooking at the corner, stopping at a jump, or refusing to walk through a puddle. Each of us has to decide whether we want our horse to go into that corner, over that fence, or through that silly puddle because he’s more afraid of us than the corner, fence or puddle, or, because he’s learned to trust us completely when we tell him he’s safe doing what we ask.
I made my decision many years ago – I want my horse to perform because he trusts me.
I’ll talk about how to accomplish this goal in another post – “Attitude trumps technique” soon. I’ll also be putting up some clips of Indeed schooling at home very soon.
Here are excerpts from the December 15′th video. Indeed (Deedles) is really getting the hang of this
dressage stuff and is working off my seat a lot better than the last tape.
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