tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post788406770539113962..comments2024-01-06T02:00:05.220-07:00Comments on SprinklerBandits: Major Dressage Clinic TakeawaysSprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-36205836531386066712015-11-20T05:36:12.409-07:002015-11-20T05:36:12.409-07:00I used to work and ride at a dressage barn. I'...I used to work and ride at a dressage barn. I'm currently horseless and haven't audited a clinic in forever. As a result, I find posts like this fantastic. It's like auditing secondhand. I love it.Sarah Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05810588784530212255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-11871183178387496812015-11-19T12:05:29.865-07:002015-11-19T12:05:29.865-07:00I'm in the Nerd Rolodex too! I always read!I'm in the Nerd Rolodex too! I always read!Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15902291220984883182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-81181695858622965812015-11-19T10:41:44.755-07:002015-11-19T10:41:44.755-07:00All the gold stars! I enjoy these posts and learni...All the gold stars! I enjoy these posts and learning new things I can apply to my riding. Micaylahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09799043647759779897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-23653261149860487352015-11-19T07:55:41.821-07:002015-11-19T07:55:41.821-07:00Great write-up! I've totally got the sit-on-my...Great write-up! I've totally got the sit-on-my-pillows thing down pat - until we trot. Then up come the knees and I tip forward. ugh. I'm so happy for you that Courage is clinicing like a big boy now!LandofWOZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11518323270325094244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-80358193118388945392015-11-19T06:45:08.044-07:002015-11-19T06:45:08.044-07:00Nice write up! One more thing you can add to your...Nice write up! One more thing you can add to your suppling routine is counter flexing and alternating the bend. While I was riding last night, Izzy locked his neck completely. As I was sitting there thinking, Holy Crap, I reminded myself that I do have a tool to fix that. I immediately changed the bend and pushed with my outside leg. We did half a circle or so and then I switched back to a regular bend, sat on my inside seat bone, and pushed him out to the outside rein. Presto, neck was a lot softer. Chemaine also has me working on tiny changes of bend as I ride which help to keep that softness. Think of them as a 2 or 3 on your bending scale.<br /><br />Ten-meter circles with your inside hand planted on your thigh also help. This will "force" the bend as you half halt with the outside rein. It's just a VERY CLEAR way to explain that you need his body to bend.<br /><br />Keep on keeping on! :0)Bakersfield Dressagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05571487914424695283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-6524724819652754812015-11-19T02:04:47.043-07:002015-11-19T02:04:47.043-07:00Being a little on the closed-hips side myself, I a...Being a little on the closed-hips side myself, I am interested in what your off-horse exercises are to open teh hip flexors? My horse is getting used to me swinging my legs backwards and forwards wildly to open the joints, but that is just not enough....Justinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-63691793546340865592015-11-18T17:31:22.637-07:002015-11-18T17:31:22.637-07:00Man, a lot of this is exactly Pig. Flexions and be...Man, a lot of this is exactly Pig. Flexions and bend (turn head to right and KICK ON) and more go, those are all things we work on daily. It was so good to read again exactly why I do those things. <br /><br />So excited for you guys!Austenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13004088333430762406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-38199755742590469722015-11-18T16:45:07.806-07:002015-11-18T16:45:07.806-07:00Oh, that's awesome. Benny is tight in the back...Oh, that's awesome. Benny is tight in the back also. Just last night we have a bit of a breakthrough in the walk. So fun!Alanna Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12891497900025873342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-56343942919502049882015-11-18T16:12:46.355-07:002015-11-18T16:12:46.355-07:00what a great feeling to have Courage staying with ...what a great feeling to have Courage staying with you ready and willing to go to work - little baby is growing up!! also, pretty much everything your wrote about position is highly relevant to my interests... ugh why is it so hard to transition from jumper to dressage rider?!? in a weird way i'm hoping that i can sorta start fresh after being laid up for a few weeks, but that seems unrealistic lol....emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-79550911942244968302015-11-18T16:08:17.937-07:002015-11-18T16:08:17.937-07:00I learn so much (mostly about how little I know) f...I learn so much (mostly about how little I know) from all of you dressage types.Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09066327510880156537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-77347706298597958922015-11-18T14:27:12.693-07:002015-11-18T14:27:12.693-07:00It's funny how we are all working on different...It's funny how we are all working on different things, on different levels, but so much of what you struggle with is the same things we each have issues with as well. THANK YOU for posting this. I love the line about sitting on pillows. Good one! <br /><br />I was watching a video online last night. The clinician mentioned releasing the horse. "Let go. It's not like his head is going to fall off. I haven't seen it happen yet." Cut-N-Jumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10355349642284506192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-82902231658990213342015-11-18T13:52:10.813-07:002015-11-18T13:52:10.813-07:00This is why I love dressage so much! So much learn...This is why I love dressage so much! So much learning, and when it's finally right, it's the best feeling ever. Bring on all the dressage clinic and lesson recaps!Carlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17308477892024999793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-30731452370989983662015-11-18T11:43:16.603-07:002015-11-18T11:43:16.603-07:00This sounds like a pretty intense clinic. I have s...This sounds like a pretty intense clinic. I have similar position issues. The pillows comment is pretty awesome. Olivia @ DIY Horse Ownershiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16138490796669110523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-12899032628658130502015-11-18T11:32:54.305-07:002015-11-18T11:32:54.305-07:00Sounds a LOT like the stuff I've been working ...Sounds a LOT like the stuff I've been working on with JM - using circles to work the horse against it's own tension and carrying suppleness FORWARD. Which i'm bad at. Oops. I like these posts quite a lot myself. Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01092098198949213494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-40142871425757649992015-11-18T11:21:44.918-07:002015-11-18T11:21:44.918-07:00These are definitely things that I need to keep in...These are definitely things that I need to keep in mind, so thanks for writing this! I can totally relate to the back thing, and the contact, and the upper leg position, and...okay, I can relate to everything, so thanks! :)Jodihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16560432669562291616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-37998723948961607362015-11-18T10:45:28.824-07:002015-11-18T10:45:28.824-07:00I read all of your posts, but don't always com...I read all of your posts, but don't always comment. In fact, I rarely comment outside of Facebook. What's up with that? But I devour stuff like this. Please can we have more? I like to wrap myself up in information like it's a security blanket.<br /><br />Even though Shuga and I have different areas to focus on right now than you and Courage (well, except the rider position thing), reading about what you're learning with him helps me to understand better what I'm learning with her. It also gives me hope that I will figure stuff out. Eventually.that.brenna.girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01060420909910477454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-85562076516288426952015-11-18T10:08:15.515-07:002015-11-18T10:08:15.515-07:00Oh I am SO GUILTY of "riding stiff" thin...Oh I am SO GUILTY of "riding stiff" thing. Because I always try to "look perfect," I tend to become rigid. Then my horse becomes rigid. UGH. I really have to concentrate on staying loose and playful. Courage looks fantastic by the way!Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11609268980526224486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-34536487468164688392015-11-18T09:57:46.535-07:002015-11-18T09:57:46.535-07:00Oh man, that whole do more thing is totally true. ...Oh man, that whole do more thing is totally true. Our horses sucker us into accepting less than perfect for all sorts of reasons. I get called out for that on the daily.jenjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01737679332792618499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-1159263171110319702015-11-18T09:55:50.800-07:002015-11-18T09:55:50.800-07:00Position is hard. And so is everything else. Position is hard. And so is everything else. The $900 fb ponyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04123067982715868323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-52474461432623941622015-11-18T09:46:48.050-07:002015-11-18T09:46:48.050-07:00I loved all of this! Things to learn for everyone...I loved all of this! Things to learn for everyone here. I am going to practice opening up and stretching out my hips in and out of the saddle before my lesson this morning.<br /><br />Regarding lateral and longitudinal suppleness, this is how my dressage trainer has approached things from the very beginning and it's usually what she prescribes to any new rider with her, as many horses come with that kind of baggage. I'm personally obsessed with this method (like, total devotee freak of nature obsessed with it) because I love how it works and really unlocks horses backs, and it's now how I understand dressage! Anyway, all that to say it's one of my favourite exercises and I use it with every horse ever.Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13834098473974912416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-46637344283421764642015-11-18T08:57:25.150-07:002015-11-18T08:57:25.150-07:00It's definitely a solid visual. I have good pi...It's definitely a solid visual. I have good pillows.SprinklerBandithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-26498704269087434292015-11-18T08:52:56.411-07:002015-11-18T08:52:56.411-07:00Glad you're still kicking! I miss you.Glad you're still kicking! I miss you.SprinklerBandithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-92103639971743189322015-11-18T08:52:26.289-07:002015-11-18T08:52:26.289-07:00And appreciated. ;-) And appreciated. ;-) SprinklerBandithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-45349339639264388502015-11-18T08:26:16.073-07:002015-11-18T08:26:16.073-07:00I relate so much to so many points here!! The '...I relate so much to so many points here!! The 'take the release and DO WORK WITH IT' omg welcome to my life. And the hands/ride him like he's trained. My trainer tells me, "Ride him like he's a 4* horse and see what happens." At some point we have to trust them to do the right thing instead of trying to prevent their mistakes, and it's SO HARD. Loved this post. :) Alli + Dinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06928482808436392040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-42838396331230967892015-11-18T08:07:17.619-07:002015-11-18T08:07:17.619-07:00Sounds like a great clinic! It's funny you men...Sounds like a great clinic! It's funny you mention the 'breaking to trot when you actually sit on the canter' phenomenon. Sheldon (my OTTB project pony) had a really hard time adapting to that. He was incredibly eager to please, and a very quick learner but it took probably 4 months for him to be willing to carry a quality canter with me sitting in the saddle. To put that into perspective, with only 45 days of post-track training, we could w/t/c & go over poles with just a neck rope.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01197789181776030907noreply@blogger.com