The Valkenborg Clinic

So I dragged myself out of bed this morning, when the weather was nasty cold, the snow had fallen yet again and the sun was just cresting. And felt like I was off to my first dressage show, rather just heading out to a strange barn to watch my first clinic.

The clinician was Grand Prix rider Armand Valkenborg (http://www.valkenhofdressage.ca/en/about-us/armand-valkenborg) who owns and runs Valkenhof Dressage with his wife. Team Valkenhof trains some of Canada's best young riders, and a morning (even an early morning) spent watching him was testament to his skill.

The first rider was...really talented. I could only stare and watch them move as Armand directed and praised and corrected. I was beyond impressed by the way he was fair in both his correction as well as his praise. If one is that way with their students, they are surely the same with their horse. And of course, it's probably the best way to get the most out of young riders. The clinic however, had riders of all ages and skill levels.

After the first rider (level 3?) finished, next on was a very talented girl (16?) who rode like heaven. Just the way she seemed to flow and mesh with her saddle and horse made me stare. And no surprise, she'd be heading to Armand's this summer to persue her own spot with Canada's young riders.

Armand made a quick comment about all horses from Europe having thrush and the lady who arranged the clinic explained to me that in Europe, they do something called "hot bedding". Which is where they put a thin layer of shavings down in the stall and do not clean it daily. Instead, they add a bit more fresh bedding each day, until at the end of the month, they moved the horses to the aisle-ways, and run a tractor through to scrape out all the old bedding. Then start again. Hence, thrush.

She assured me that this technique doesn't work well here because of the long winters, and it's a good thing because the levels of ammonia in some of those hot bedded barns is just awful.

The second rider was reprimanded a few times about not riding deep enough into her corners and I LOVED watching the clinician. In order to train her to get deep, he used her FATHER as a human pylon and forced her to ride into the corner around him...and if she didn't ride deep and use her outside rein and half-halts...she'd run him over. A few close calls, but she was a quick learner! I think her dad was pleased for a few reasons!

He also spoke about how we don't ride "on-the-wall" and often on a track too far off the wall. This causes our horse to not move truly straight. He worked and worked and worked her, until she had stunning deep corners, leading to a shoulder-in where her horse was NEARLY grazing the arena wall! And then swap over to travers, all beautifully!

Now, second last rider. Everyone seemed to be mounted on imported warmbloods by this point...the barn was packed full of them. One woman even had three or four and some of these crazy talented kids riding them. I sometimes wonder where these people find their riches?! Most adult ammies struggle to keep one horse in training, and these folks have a small arsenal of imported designer ponies (by pony, I mean 16+ hh...it was terrifying sitting on a bench IN THE RING as these giants whipped by!). Okay, I'll contain my envy!

Thankfully, while rider #3 was on yet another warmblood, this one was not your "classic" import. Rather, her sister's jumper, redesigned for the dressage ring when her sister headed off to university. Unlike the first two, this fellow was leggy and not as compact. They worked hard together, and I felt kinda bad for the girl who looked less then pleased by the end of her ride. Honestly, she did awesome, but I'm certain she's one of those girls that pushes herself VERY hard.

Last rider felt like she could've been me. Thoroughbred horse, middle age (11?) and they'd been together for two and a half years. She herself had only been doing dressage for that same amount of time and she was a typical adult amateur. Prior to that, she happily rode the trails and hacked out. She was currently showing training level. Yippee, someone to learn from!

I learned about straightness. She had a back problem and rode with one shoulder raised and in turn, her body twisted and her hips disaligned. Armand went into a great visual demonstration on how being uneven through the body effects your seat and your legs. He showed how if you tilt and hunch one side of you, you can't lift the foot on the scrunched side. Until you unscrunch it. Hmmmm...being even matters.

He spent awhile showing the girl where she needed to be to be straight, which she said felt so WRONG. But what was amazing, was what his correction to her position did to her HORSE. He was originally very audible in his breathing (she said it's normal) and his head was carried fairly high. Suddenly by straightening her out, her horse's breathing quieted (no joke!) and his head just dropped. I was FLOORED.

By this point it was lunch time and everyone headed off. I was pleased I'd attended and pretty excited to get out to the barn tomorrow to work with Moon on what we saw. Think about us, me and position. I have to say, I'm beyond interested in taking a clinic with him at some point. I wonder how many things I'm doing wrong that he could identify that would only help Moon??

In the end, I was beginning to reevaluate these "dressage riders" that people describe. The lady arranging the clinic was super friendly and the woman with all the warmbloods even rambled on for awhile about some great quarter horses she'd seen doing dressage (I hadn't even mentioned I had a QH at this point). I'm sure things change when you head to competition mode, but it's not like I'm competition to anyone there! I'm just someone who's truly interested in riding well, and the art of dressage.

Today, inspired me that our slogging around the arena is leading somewhere. Dressage is pretty darn cool, and we just need to keep ourselves challenged and working on new things. Back to the canter strides, right??

So everyone, go out and audit a good clinic. It often costs nothing and there's a wealth of knowledge to be gained!

Getting Visual.

So it appears that my camera cord is at work, hence no pictures. I know, I know.

But, I did finally download a video from 2 weeks ago of Tuesday morning when I went for an AM practice ride on Moon.

I watched it a few times over, and it was good since last night I rode him after we changed our approach to getting him on the bit. I could REALLY see in the video just how resistive he was, AND I could really see that I struggled to get his head down. Even then, it didn't last long, and it wasn't particularly low. I'm hoping that I can clean up my camera and take some new video tomorrow morning to compare our progress. Hopefully!

Pardon the quality of these images as well, since they're screen shots of the video. It's all I've got, and I PROMISE, I'll look for that cord tomorrow!

You'll notice that I've changed the header on the blog too. The old image (a video capture as well) was from last summer, when I tossed Moon over his first jump. I guess, a part of me feels like that was us before we started focusing on the quality of our riding. I admit, I'm still chomping at the bit to get to the 'exciting' stuff, but I know that as long as I am, so will Moon. And I REALLY don't need him chomping at the bit anymore!

This new picture, is from the very end of our Tuesday ride, and I don't know. I just think it's cute. And check out my little crop! That was a gift from H, and I just love it. So cute.

So, our first picture, is of the "standard" Moon head carriage. I shouldn't say standard. We're changing this, and I'll now call it, our 'old' head carriage. Mouth a gap, head high...


Then we have, what we managed to achieve two weeks ago. I think we might even be doing better now, but I don't want to be too optimistic...


I'll admit, that I find a lot of my own errors in looking at these. Many Coach W has already pointed out, but sometimes I'm soooo focused on Moon that I forget about correcting myself! My right leg is AWFUL for toeing out. Just horrible. Overall, I think I really bad for having my toes pointing outwards, which makes it look really awkward. I've also got 'chair legs', and in trying to 'grasp the bit on either side of his mouth', I think I have chicken arms, they're REALLY far apart, my hands are turned, my fingers are open, and I tend to ride falling on his neck. But we'll fix me later, right ; )

Here's Mr. Wide Nostrils...


This last one I find interesting, as when I look at it, even though we're at a trot, it kinda looks like he doesn't have any feet on the ground...I'm sure it's an illusion thanks to the quality, but still...


So that's our current image. I'm HOPING the weather continues to surprise, and I get our morning practice in. That'll be two between last class and this one, and hopefully I can get the camera out to that one as well.

One of these days, I need to get around to finally transfering his ownership...

No Reason to Doubt

After driving half-cocked around the city buying supplies for the camper repair, I managed to get out to the barn around 5 pm, and find that when I got out of my car, Moon was standing in front of the gate, staring at me. Hmmm...does he ACTUALLY know it's me when I pull up??

Brought Mr. Muddy over to be groomed, and in no time he was back to being shiny. T hadn't arrived yet, so I filled all the water troughs and buckets for the other ponies, and prepped everything in the trailer and truck. Finally, needing SOMETHING to pass the time, I grabbed my 'roper' reins (the type that clip on) and attached them to Moon's halter. He actually stood reasonably nicely to mount (maybe last week's tantrum had an affect), and I climbed aboard bareback.

At first he just wanted to GO, but before long he had settled down nicely, and much to my chagrin...or pleasure...he was lowering his head and stretching out. WHY can't he do that in a bridle!

We did some nice turn-on-the-fores and some very sloppy trot work (MUST learn to relax!), and I decided it was well enough. He was moving and listening well, including giving me nice stops.

When T showed up, we headed out to Coach W's, and I always enjoy the conversation along the way. Coach W was her usual spunky self, and complimented Mr. Moon in his new saddle pad, claiming that white and black looked very sharp on him. Why was he in a new saddle pad? Because SOMEONE forgot to wash his purple one (yes, my boy horse wears pale purple), and it was the only other one kicking around the tack room. Okay, the old blue "Griffin" one is there, but I HATE that pad. It's not shaped, and I've found with his prominent wither and dropped back, it tends to pull down at the wither which to me looks rather painful. So I've decided it just won't be used anymore. I wonder if someone would be interested in it?

Anyway, Moon looked fabulous, and we got tacked and headed into the arena to start working. I told Coach W all about my frustrations and Mr. Head-in-the-Sky, and how I felt like our practice sessions were WORSE then anything before. As she is wonderful, she decided we'd take a different approach...

She started by working with the bit in her hands, encouraging him to lower. As she worked him into it, she slowed moved back to using the reins and finally, told me to mimic what she had done to get him to lower his head into the bit. At first I couldn't figure it out. She pointed out one big issue, was that I was narrowing my hands, and Moon really needed them further apart. It really did seem like when I took this wider approach (felt awkward to keep my hands so far apart), he was more willing to lower.

I worked and worked and worked on it, trying to get the right feeling to get him to drop his head. Coach W suggested doing it at a stand still where I was a lot more able, and then moving out into a walk, getting him to keep that head position. And if he didn't, trying for a lap to get him to regain it. Should we fail, bring him back down to a walk, and get it there.

At first it was difficult. W sometimes would come over when we were stopped and work his head down herself. Sometimes he'd resist, throwing his head up or opening his mouth. Sometimes he'd try to back-up, or throw his haunches over. Sometimes, he'd stick his nose in the ground.

Slowly, bit by little bit, he would drop his head sooner. And with less rein pressure. Eventually, he would move from stand still to walk without raising his head, and keep it there as we went around. We did it in both directions, and I was a little taken aback by how quickly he seemed to be grasping what I wanted of him. Yes, he still would open his mouth at times, but he was quicker to close it and chew.

After awhile, W suggested I try moving out to a trot, and still maintaining the lowered head carriage.

Our first go, by some miracle, he kept his head low, and for once, I wasn't popped forward in the saddle. It was awesome! Of course, it didn't last long, and I couldn't get him to come back to me. We stopped, fixed it, walked on, kept it, and then trotted. Once or twice he'd throw his head up, or shoot me forward, but after awhile, I could get him to lower in the trot too. That was super special to me. W said you could see him really start to round, and he looked so much better. Not only that, but he was moving better, and some day, despite being the stocky, thick necked horse that he is, he'll achieve some beautiful movements. Which is the whole purpose of this.

We worked in both directions, ironically, going to the right was actually BETTER for him. Sometimes he'd lose his balance, or fall on his face, or stick his nose in the dirt, but it REALLY felt like we were actually starting to achieve what we wanted. And he felt a lot less resistant!

W called the class to an end, and Moon got some sugar lumps (which he spit out) and some peppermint treats. Mmm, he loves those peppermint treats. She gave us some ground work to do, such as from the ground while he is bitted, to work on getting him to lower and move out. It was great, as he was now standing with his head lowered, and really did seem a lot more relaxed.

I told W about how some people were suggesting we try a different bit, or dropped noseband, etc. The thing that hit home to me, was that we're working towards acceptance of the bit. She assured me that we could get him to lower in any number of harsh bits or clamping their mouth shut, and achieve something that looks very similar to what we want. You can 'fake' acceptance. But you're not going to have a relaxed, calm and willing horse in your hands. You're not going to develop that bond that we so desperately desire. My choice is either to focus on achieving a certain "look" as quickly as possible, or to focus on creating a certain "feel", which might take two, three or twelve months. Some people want to go fast. That's okay. But you have to decide what you want.

Moon and I, we want to do it right. I want him to trust me wholeheartedly on the bit. She said, someday, we'll be so in-tune, that on days when I'm off, he'll cover for me. And I for him. THAT is equine partnership. That's what we're going for. Yes, this is new and awkward for us both. Yes, it's tough, and we'll have struggles. But my Moon'er is ALWAYS trying, and always wanting to give me his best. Sometimes, yes, he has a tantrum. So do I. It's hard to change, and he's been moving in that way for so long, developed those muscles and behaviours for so long, that this is difficult. And I need to give him the time to redevelop. I'm changing how he moves. That takes time.

So I think, despite my "new year's resolutions", that we'll forgo the competitions for this year. This year, will be all about movement. We'll spend the time developing a relationship and a way of going that is relaxed, flexible and balanced. For both of us.

I actually think, that I'm going to love dressage more then jumping in the end. It seems you have to work a billion times harder to make the slightest change. You could probably whip a horse into popping over a jump, but let's see you whip a horse into a piaffe!

Now to find some practice time. : ) Mr. Moon and I are re-focused!

Days like today...

Days like today...make me so happy to have a pony to visit. After hectic, crazy, couldn't go worse days at work, there's nothing better then the sweet smell of horse, on a warm winter's evening.I'm just counting down the hours until the meeting I'm hosting comes to a close, and I can header out of the city. Horses just make the days better.

On a positive note, I finally got a hit on my tack for sale, thanks to Kijiji. Ironically, I think it's my handmade english saddle pads that caught the person's attention, though I'm glad someone is interested. It looks like we might be able to work something out for a dressage saddle or hunt bridle, which would be awesome. I offered saddle covers and/or stall plaques as well, as I enjoy both of those projects and they are fairly easy. I really would love to get a dressage saddle for Moon, and then my AP can be jump and trail specific, but I'm sure she'll want a lot of $$ for it. Funny, to have three saddles for someone who's just gotten their first horse...

But I've run out of space to store it! I'll need another customs saddle rack made.

My thought though, is that a dressage saddle would be excellent for some entry level dressage shows. If, you know, we can actually make it to one.

I'm a little down that no one else (even from the horse forum) has shown any interest in them. Suppose there's a lot more people making them, and shipping from out of country always makes some people balk.

On a good note from work, it seems I'll be headed to Mexico at month's end; every day I get a few more confirmations, and things appear to be progressing well. Tomorrow the lead is back in the office, and I'm looking forward to getting a better idea of what I'll be doing out there. I'm hoping this is the first step, in many steps, towards new challenges at work. I know there's lots when I'm riding, but the workday just hasn't competed!

...2.5 hours till I can bugger out of here and visit my pony!