Is That Trainer/Horse REALLY THAT Good?....you can now FIND OUT!

So you are looking for that NEW horse…or NEW trainer?  You find a website – the trainer’s bio says he/she is an upper level rider, has many years experience, etc.  OR you are looking for a new horse and the ad states the horse is a 3^rd Level Schoolmaster.  How do you REALLY know??

You can go onto the USDF website and do a search on the horse or the rider…but the information is only available to people that have a membership.  The information is not readily available….UNTIL NOW!

Enter….

www.centerlinescores.com

I have to say – I had just way too much fun going through this site.  It’s very informative. 

Rider Search:

Punch in the rider’s name and WHAMO – this is what you can see.

That “Upper Level” Trainer that you spoke to turns out to not be an upper level trainer.  Based on the results of his/her past…the trainer is only “qualified” at 1^st Level. 

Horse Search:

Enter the horse’s name into the search (you will need to know the horse’s “show” name…or you can find the horse by the rider’s name, as well).

That “3^rd Level Schoolmaster” isn’t a schoolmaster after all; rather barely a 1^st Level horse.

All of the scores for horse and rider – from any recognized USDF show – the scores are going to pop up for the last 19 years.   Please note – there has been some talk on the forums that the information out there is not in its entirety.  However, what is out there is what was reported to the USDF – so it is true.

What I found really eye opening is entering in the “big name” riders and horses.  Talk about some SERIOUS time in the saddle.  YEARS upon YEARS of riding every single level – over and over again – perfecting each and every time. 

Have a gander at the site!  It’s a lot of fun and a wealth of informationJ

A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to put its pants on.  ~Winston Churchill

It's been a while....

...but I'm back!  Many things have happened since March.  Some good, some bad and some just downright nasty!  It's not even worth detailing the "crap" that has occurred in the past.  To sum it all up - it's the Golden Rule.  "Treat others as you wish to be treated".  Plain and simple...however, some just don't understand that concept...and for those select few, I say, Karma is a "you-know-what".  The even more comical of all of this - the dressage community is SMALL!  What you say - it comes right back around.  What you do - it comes right back around.  And most importantly...what you claim - can be proven.

Enough with the ICK...on to the GOOD stuff!  I have got some AMAZING friends in the "horsey" world.  A few, in particular, have been a wealth of knowledge to me these last few months.  Not only in horse related education...but showing and proving to me that there are genuine people out there and in the dressage community. 

I was out of riding for a couple of months due to a health issue.  All is taken care of in that department - thank GOD!  Now I am back to riding again.  Starting out at the bottom and working my way back up.  My trusty partner...a gorgeous TB mare named "Layla".  She has taught me so much already...and I can't wait to learn more. Many thanks to Layla's owner, Shantel, for such a wonderful opportunity to ride a fabulous horse:)

Hope everyone enjoys their holiday weekend.  Don't forget to support your local horse shows!  This weekend there are a few....

• Governor's Cup - Clay County Fairgrounds - Friday evening 9/2/11
• NFHJA "A" Show - Clay County Fairgrounds - Saturday 9/3/11
• Maclay Regional - Clay County Fairgrounds - Sunday Morning 9/4/11
• Florida Futurity & LAE Derby Fall Sizzler Bridle Spectacular and NRCHA Horse Show/AQHA Cutting Event - Jacksonville Equestrian Center - Friday through Sunday - 9/2/11 - 9/4/11 - 8am - 10pm and 8am - 8pm

“All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.” - Galileo

Awww - Anty...You Got Caught!

Anty and I participated in a clinic with Molly Tatham on Sunday.  Molly is a Grand Prix rider – showing PSG, I1 and I2 this year.  She is my trainer’s, Meridith, trainer.  With the issues Meridith and I have been having with Anty as of late…we were crossing our fingers that Molly might have some other avenue to try with him to get the collection more consistent, along with riding more through and having greater impulsion. 

Last Thursday Anty was being a butt-head.  Since Thursday, I have been lunging him for a good 20 minutes each day (side reins on), prior to getting on him.  It has really helped with the development of his neck and top line muscles…as well as introducing the fact that he NEEDS to use his rear end!  Saturday afternoon I lunged him – then got on him and asked for an extended trot through the diagonal and Meridith was out at the arena.  She was floored…saying we got a good 3-5 seconds of suspension.  I have to say – I used muscles that I have NEVER used before.  My shoulders and back were achy. 

Molly asked us what we were working on and wanted a bit of background on our riding.  I gave her the scoop and off we went.  We started at a walk – asking for more from the back legs.  She corrected the following:

·         My seat – I have been “following” Anty at the walk with my rear and hips.  Little did I know that doing that actually puts pressure on his spine – “breaking” the connection from front to back.  I am to keep my seat quiet…and “ask” with my legs.

·         Flash – I have never used a flash on a bridle…and Meridith never needed one for any of her horses – so when I bought my bridle – the flash was removed – never used.  I kept it in my tack trunk for a “just in case”.  Molly asked where it was.  One of the other girls ran to get it.  She attached it to Anty’s bridle – having had to tie a knot in it (to make it fit better….need more holes punched).  Anty has been evading the bit (went back to the French Link Snaffle on Friday) and Molly believed the Flash will help in him not opening his mouth anymore. 

·         Hands – outside rein stays taught.  It doesn’t go ANYWHERE.  It should be down and about 5 inches out from the withers – holding solid.  The inside rein – pull to the inside(toward knee/hip) and release – pull to the inside and release.  This shows Anty where I want his head position, along with asking for more ground cover at the same time.  The connection between his head being in the right position and his ability to use his backend flows when his head is where it needs to be.

·         Posting trot – going from the walk to the trot – the aids are quicker.  Instead of pull….release; it’s now sponge/pull – release; sponge/pull – release.  At the same time – my posting needs to be QUIET.  Molly actually gave me a compliment, stating that my upper body position was nice.  She mentioned that my rising up to post was very quiet…however, I needed to make sure that the descent was quiet as well – allowing Anty to move freely and not block his shoulders or spine.

Well – what do you know?!  All of that WORKS!  You will hear Meridith in the video saying “You’re HIRED, Molly”.  We haven’t gotten Anty this round, this fast – EVER.  Now – to keep it up!

You will see from the video that he is a lot quicker going to the left to be through than the right.  However, he did give me a few strides that felt good and round.

On another note – NEW BOOTS!  Those are my LaMundial custom dressage boots.  Comfortable (minus the break in)…stay true to form every ride.  I’ve ridden in them 3 times now and the ankles are already supple – which is lovely.  Worth the wait…however, I wouldn’t want to wait that long again (7 months).

Baucher….or not to Boucher? Is that really a question?

Let me give you some background here…Anty and I have been “partners” since the end of July, 2010.  I LOVE him.  He was the first horse I rode when I started taking lessons again…and has been my right hand man ever since.  He isn’t an “easy” ride…but once you learn how to ride him…I believe he sets you up for “ANTY-thing” that comes along…(yeah – that was my attempt at humor today…lol).

Anty is trained through 2^nd Level dressage with a bit of Piaffe and Passage thrown in for fun.  Getting him to DO the movements – well – that is the fun of riding him.  He decides on HOW you are going to have him do it.  One day it could be text book…the next – he will throw every single curve ball into the mix so that you have to go down your mental checklist to get him to do one simple thing. 

Another “quip” of dear ole’ Antarius….keeping him COLLECTED!  It’s not an easy accomplishment.  However, once you get him there….while you can’t necessarily keep him there constantly – he gets relaxed enough that you can get it back pretty quickly.  The unfortunate of this…he is very heavy in my hands.  Specifically the right hand.  We started with a basic snaffle and graduated to a French link loose ring in October of last year.  That is when I started to understand collection and actually trying to ride through.  The weight, however, has been getting worse.  I did a clinic with him and the clinician told me to NOT sponge the reins…to hold constant and only release when he came into the contact…then hold again.  Unfortunately – that doesn’t work with Anty.  So then my trainer thought that a running martingale might work.  We put it on him and could immediately see him bracing against it.  It worked.  He started using his rear-end and riding through instead of bracing so much against my hands.  At the same time, it gave me a break with the weight.

Well – you can’t show in a running martingale.  We took it off right before a show and he started the hanging and bracing again.  I did some research and talked to a sales lady at one of the local tack shops, along with my trainer…and decided to buy a Baucher (Boucher) bit.  The premise behind the Boucher bit is to inflict poll pressure upon pulling back on the reins.  This would then assist him in bringing his head down and stopping the bracing.  I found conflicting information, actually.  Some say it has poll pressure – others say it does not.  I put it out to some of the ladies of a forum I am part of, along with one of the ladies I ride with at the barn.  Since she knows Anty personally…her recommendation was to try a Pelham…then switch to the Boucher.

Why the Pelham – well – it isn’t just the bracing for Anty….he has NO TOP LINE!  Mr. Goober needs to build some muscle!  I live in Florida…there are no hills – unfortunately…so that counts those exercises out.  I switched out the French link snaffle for the Pelham last week.  I have a few words….

WOW!  I have a HORSE!

Literally 3 or 4 sponges with the curb rein and Anty was using himself and tucking his back end…his hocks were engaged and I felt a “jump” every stride of the canter.  Transitions were EFFORTLESS and felt like I was on a cloud!  I was able to drop the contact on the curb completely…just using the snaffle part during the rest of our lesson.  He was really engaged…using what God gave him…and looked really prettyJ  He was off of my hand…I could feel my fingers and we could ride!

BUT…yeah – there’s always a BUTT, isn’t there?  I can’t use the Pelham in competition.  It isn’t legal.  BUT – the Boucher is.  What am I thinking here?  I am going to continue to ride him in the Pelham – only using the curb rein at the beginning of our ride if it even warrants it.  We are going to work on a TON of transitions – walk to trot to walk to halt to canter to walk to halt….you get the idea.  We are going to BUILD his top line…make him strong.  I’m deducing that if he gains the muscle in the top – he will be able to carry himself easier…thus making it unnecessary to hang on my hands anymore and it won’t matter AT ALL what bit I put in his mouth.  I am hoping this works.  If it doesn’t…then it will be back to the drawing board again.  Next show is April 16^th – Schooling.  We will be doing Training Level 1 and 2.

WELCOME

Welcome to my Blog!  Follow me as I learn how to ride and show in dressage.  I'm not your "average" rider.  I'd like to consider myself "curvaciously challenged"...hehehe.  I hope to blog about the daily fun I have with my 17 year old Trakehner gelding, Antarius, as well as the good, bad and ugly that comes along with learning dressage such as clothing delimas (breeches, coats, show clothes, etc.), BOOTS, tack and the mechanics for riding the correct way.  So - tack up and hop on...let's Ride!