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Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Why Winter is the Best Season

looking up
Our last dressage test of the year was Sunday. I'd like to never do another walk/trot test again, so this winter is all about getting to first level.

And it's going to get ugly before it gets pretty.

I've been holding off on pushing Courage to do too much in the sandbox because I didn't want to freak him out and then spend our last derby galloping sideways out of the ring and getting disqualified. That would be dumb. Also, it would not be the first time something like that happened to me.

First level (eek!) means I need to ride better. Courage needs to go in a more uphill balance. We need to develop a comfort level with lengthenings and going sideways, both of which require a loose, moving back, which neither of us are good at. I need to start thinking about sitting trot again, though I don't think I have to be good at it until 2nd level.

We're starting to push my comfort zone, so I need to be consistent about lessons (which also means I need to buy less tack to afford said lessons).

long lonely nights in the indoor
I know a lot of people are down on winter because it's dark and cold and there are no shows, but to me, the whole thing is a golden opportunity. I probably won't do another proper dressage test until what, like April, which means I have MONTHS to get better at this whole thing.

I suspect I'll need every minute. 2016, here we come!
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17 comments:

  1. AnonymousOctober 7, 2015 at 7:25 AM

    I don't know if winter is the "best season" but I do agree that it's the best time to really dig in and improve your dressage!

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  2. Alli + DinoOctober 7, 2015 at 7:26 AM

    I'm not looking forward to the cold and dark at ALL, but I will say that I'm excited to be able to take my time with things I've been struggling with without the pressure of competition looming in the background!

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  3. jenjOctober 7, 2015 at 7:32 AM

    Woohoo first level!

    And yeah, "winter" is the best season here too. Aside from the rain. It's just too dang hot to ride in the summer, plus there are no shows from basically Memorial Day to Labor Day. Yay "winter"!

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  4. JenOctober 7, 2015 at 7:37 AM

    I strongly hate winter, but I also could have written this blog post. I'm looking forward to an entire winter of Dressage and coming out firing in April.

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  5. AustenOctober 7, 2015 at 7:38 AM

    I looooove winter. Both for the weather and for the training opportunities. BRING IT!

    Also, sitting trot will be super helpful in the lateral work and 10m circles. It's so much easier to balance the horse while sitting. Just start slow and after Courage's back is warm and swinging. You'll get there. Lunge line work helps lots.

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  6. The $900 fb ponyOctober 7, 2015 at 8:04 AM

    We're still a couple months away from winter, but I'd late it less if we had a covered. I was hardly able to ride for the first few months of this year because it wouldn't stop raining.

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  7. Codex DressageOctober 7, 2015 at 8:11 AM

    I'd be right on board with you about winter if I had an indoor to work in. Without one, I get my training done by building muscle in the walk on hacks through the snow... but there's several around here that I can probably haul to on the weekends when the snow isn't stopping me from getting the horse off our small mountain.

    I vote for sitting the trot in first level. It's how it was up until 4-5 years ago. I stand by the idea is first level work is meant to be sat, and you're doing yourself a disservice by posting. JMO.

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  8. MeganOctober 7, 2015 at 9:32 AM

    I was looking forward to working this winter until I discovered that I might get myself murdered with low rafters in the covered arena! Still hoping to get work done though. It's nice to have the pressure of showing taken off of our shoulders each winter.

    Yay First level! I always recommend posting the movements that go better posting and sitting the ones that go better sitting. You can switch throughout the tests with no penalty. Hopefully by the time you get to 1-3, you're sitting most of it, maybe not lengthenings, but most of it. That way Second isn't a shocker.

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  9. emmaOctober 7, 2015 at 9:44 AM

    i like the way you think - and also plan to use winter as an opportunity to get more comfortable with the things i've been avoiding as possible ways to derail our current show-ready vibe. but once we finish off the season, it's no holds barred time!!!

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  10. NicoleOctober 7, 2015 at 9:46 AM

    This is because Winter is the best!! I love Winter for the same reasons. Much awesome. Such progress.

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  11. Lauren @ She Moved to TexasOctober 7, 2015 at 10:14 AM

    Do it to it! :)

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  12. AnonymousOctober 7, 2015 at 10:16 AM

    Agree with this. Except the part about winter being the best season. It's far to cold! It is a good time for improving your ride though.

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  13. HolyBullyOctober 7, 2015 at 10:35 AM

    BUT IT IS SO DAMN COLD. But you have an indoor. Jealous.

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  14. Olivia @ DIY Horse OwnershipOctober 7, 2015 at 10:47 AM

    I just hate winter because I have to get up early in the morning if I want to ride. But I am looking forward to progress. We will progress.

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  15. JessOctober 7, 2015 at 11:03 AM

    Winter is excellent for honing dressage skills if you have an indoor. The rest of us will be over here looking at our tack and wishing we could get it dirty so we could clean it.

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  16. CarlyOctober 7, 2015 at 3:39 PM

    I have the opposite problem. I lose all focus and ambition in winter when I don't have any shows on the immediate horizon to work towards. Winter is boooring.

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