Comments for Training Indeed

Comment on Quick update by Dorinda

Dorinda — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:13:15 +0000

Hi Mike

I have just discovered your site through Dr Deb’s site. I have loved watching Indeed’s progress and it is such a bonus to be able to watch as see how you achieve what you do . If you ever are able to make it to New Zealand don’t forget that Australia is not that far away. What would be involved in getting a clinic together to make it worth your while?

Had trouble posting under the other posts.

Cheers
Dorinda

Comment on Quick update by mike

mike — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 03:24:25 +0000

just a test

Comment on Training Indeed – 9/8/08 by Jay

Jay — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:30:05 +0000

Hi Mike

This is the first time Iread the blog. I just spent two months working on preventing my horse from being behind the vertical. I know she was more relaxed riding this way. Can’t wait to let her be herself again. This kind of info is huge. Its funny I was just going through Dover looking to buy a bridle when I read your View on nose bands. The first thing my instructor does is tighen the bands up. When are you mowing to Wis. Thanks for posting all this info.

Thanks

Jay

Comment on Training Indeed – 9/8/08 by chris hiller

chris hiller — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:56:52 +0000

mike
chris hiller here. as usual you are so spot on it hurts. i am so glad to see you and indeed back on. you are truly the HORSES’ champion. c

Comment on Training Indeed – 9/8/08 by Pam

Pam — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:39:04 +0000

In response to Stephani’s comment about not letting the horse have his head: From what I know, if the reins are long and the horse needs to be behind the verticle when riding long and low, sobeit. Sometimes my horse just puts his head way low and behind the verticle and I have to give him more rein – if he is moving foward and I am not holding his head in a frame there it is ok with me – it is part of the training process. The base of the neck has to be lowered before it can be raised.

Pam

Comment on Training Indeed – 9/8/08 by Hyperventilating Over Hyperflexion « The Dressage Process

Hyperventilating Over Hyperflexion « The Dressage Process — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:49:30 +0000

[...] September 11, 2008 I recently made some comments about “hyperventilating over hyperflexion” in my Training Indeed blog: [...]

Comment on Training Indeed – 9/8/08 by mike

mike — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:48:13 +0000

Hi Stephanie,

Thank you so much for your comments – these are exactly the kinds of questions and observations that will make this an interesting and informative website! In fact, you brought up so many good points that by the time I addressed them all I had enough for a separate post. So, I put it up in my other blog, The Dressage Process – it seems the link to it has magically appeared just below this….

Mike

Comment on Training Indeed – 9/8/08 by stephani cessario

stephani cessario — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:32:34 +0000

Hello Mike,I enjoyed your Indeed videos. I am confused about your statement referring to “hyperflexion”. Why do you keep Indeed’s head behind vertical? I have watched many classical trainers and they all keep their horse’s heads in front of the vertical even when long and low..In all the videos, you never let his walk or trot or canter out and let him have his head, wondering why you do this? I watched your dressage performance to music and your horse is given full use of his neck and poll is highest point. why do you not train this way too?thank you for your time,stephani

Comment on July 29, 2006 by mike

mike — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:21:14 +0000

Hi Peggy,

It took me a while to figure out that your comment is attached to this tape – made 2 years ago- and not the tape I put up just yesterday.

I understand the problem you describe – it is hard to figure out what the hell is going on when watching this. The issue is, I keep asking him to soften and when he does, he only does for a moment. So, the generic order of things is, I ask him to give, he does and I respond by giving to him. However, he doesn’t know what to do with the freedom so he brings his head up or pulls again almost immediately. So, the overall impression is of horse and rider just fighting with one another.

Fortunately, we have the new tape of Indeed from 9-8-08 (there’s a link to it just to the right side of this post). Because we’re so much further along, you can see that now, Indeed has learned that it is easier and more comfortable for him to stay out, down, and reaching than to do all the nonsense he was doing 2 years ago. So, in terms of training your eye (a laudable goal for all the reasons you mention!) it might help to work backwards from the more recent tapes to these older ones.

Mike

Comment on July 29, 2006 by Peggy

Peggy — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:33:33 +0000

Mike, I was watching this tape yesterday evening after work, while waiting for my ride. I really appreciate all the tapes—they add such a useful dimension to your writing. In this one, though, I seem to be unable to catch exactly what it is that you are doing when you ask Indeed to give, and I seem also to mostly be missing what he is doing when he does give. I’ve tried pausing the tape at various points, and that did help at one point, a little, but I’m hoping you may be able to give me another hint or two (on the order of your voiceover in one of the other tapes (not sure right this minute whether it’s a Cameo tape or an Indeed one) where you say something like, “I want softness at all times” and then you define “softness” in the neck as the “upward arch” of the underside of the neck.

I am trying to train my eye as well as my ability to feel what my horse is doing (I don’t know whether I will *ever* know enough, but I’d love someday to be able to teach and train competently). These tapes give me one of the best “shots” at learning to see . . .

Thanks very much.