Training Indeed

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.

Mike

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.

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AS he begins to elevate...

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.

OK – here’s the tape: Indeed 9-8-2008.

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.

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.

Here’s the link to it.