The 3 Types of Trainers: a TSB Guide

We look good

Riding, teaching, and training are three completely unrelated and highly precise skill sets. Being one does make necessarily make you another and rarely is someone a master of all three. Hell, SOME OF US like to point out that even George Morris, that esteemed rider and teacher and god of US show jumping didn't make his own horses. Someone else did all the training for him.

And there's nothing wrong with that. We need people in all three capacities and they certainly don't all have to be the same person. Besides, it's not like you can master "training" and then automatically fail at "teaching" and "riding". Everyone is a mix of the three, but some are stronger in one area or another.

Not the face of a broke horse

What it means for amateurs like me is that when we are being advocates for our horses, we need to realize just what sort of help it is that they need. With Cuna (very broke), I had a huge range of options available because he was a made horse. I could work on me and screw things up wily nilly and it wouldn't bother him. Moreover, I didn't have to worry too much about who I rode with, because Cuna already knew what he was doing. It wasn't like one bad lesson would set him back months.

Enter Courage. Not only does Courage face wholly different challenges in his life, he's bright, flaming, neon green (like if a gas station caught on fire. Bear with me.). That definitely changes the game in what we need for an instructor.

Just because I'm happy doesn't mean I'm good

In general, I'm perfectly happy to do almost all the riding on him because we get along well and I'm fairly confident in my skills at this point. Because of that, I'm not worried about finding a really competitive rider. If they can ride, great, if not, no worries. I'll ride him through most things. I really like having a great teacher for my own sake, but the #1 MOST IMPORTANT CAN NOT COMPROMISE issue right now is that I need a trainer.

This needed to happen

Not in the generic "random person yelling instructions from the middle of the arena", but in the very specific "someone who truly understands my horse and how to help him progress" sense of the word. Don't get me wrong--I'm not knocking the people we have worked with. Redheadlins was invaluable getting us from the track to here (and you bet your britches I'll snag her any time she can come out) and our beloved S was beyond helpful and hopefully will continue to work with us when our schedules mesh again.

Also this

Which brings us to now. Yes, I moved to the new facility for the indoor, but the truth is, I've been wanting to ride with this trainer for months now. She's a great rider, but not a big competitor. Her focus is on calm, happy horses and her program is full of adult ammies enjoying their quiet, well-adjusted, diversely-bred horses.

She's a trainer of horses, through and through.

This is where we need to be.

Wherein Courage Takes a Dressage Lesson

Slower and softer

Pardon my delay on the wrap up here--I didn't get pictures back until the weekend, and no one wants a post without pictures. Plus I don't really look at a computer on the weekend (sshhhhh), so wheeeeee speed writing a post on Monday morning.

Anyways. It was our first lesson at the new barn, with a new trainer who we'll call C. Yeah, I'm really original. C has never even seen Courage in person before, but she's my facebook friend, and I venture most of you know how I am about pony pictures.

That's more like it

It took her almost no time at all to zero in on his issues. He has FINALLY given it up in terms of giraffing constantly, but he just drops his neck at the wither and pokes his nose out front like a western pleasure horse. It's better than what he was doing, but he still isn't building a topline.

Into the contact

Also, because I'm used to Courage sticking his head straight up and dropping behind my leg, I've adopted the really cool habit of running him off his feet in all three gaits to make us feel "forward" when really, he's taking short, quick steps and not using his back end and topline.

OMG neck muscles!

At this point, Alyssa was probably regretting her decision to come take pictures of us. It was literally a lesson of doing w/t/c transitions in a very slow rhythm. We focused on the quality of every single transition rather than promptness, which meant that some transitions took a lap or more of the arena to get done.

It wasn't the most exciting hour I've ever spent (and I can only imagine watching, lol), but Courage came out for the lesson on the buckle and ended it more relaxed than he started.

check out that engagement!

I'm working on a post about it, but I'm really glad to have the chance to work with C this winter. I think she's exactly what Courage and I are needing.

If you need us, we'll be doing hundreds of walk/trot transitions for the next eternity.

So Far, So Good

you know how sometimes blogger hates pictures? that is today.

It's been a little more than a week now that Courage has been at the new barn. I'll be really honest here and admit that I was petrified to move him. We LOVED our old barn and I was 100% confident that he was absolutely perfectly taken care of at all times. There were only a few horses, so I always knew the BO had time to keep an eye on him and treat him like her own (ie crazy spoiled) and we shared very similar horsekeeping ideas. 

So much space

And it's not that the new place is weird or scary or bad. It's just different, and different takes some getting used to. For example, at our lovely old place, Courage had a large stall, PLUS a big, bedded, covered run. It was awesome. He was never, ever wet or dirty. All winter long, I could just spritz his tail with showsheen from time to time and it was perfect.

Enter outdoor run.

Courage thinks it's AWESOME. He's always liked standing in the rain, he thinks rolling in the mud is TEH SHIZ, and he likes his afternoon sunshine naps.

I'm happy he's happy, but my inner show groom dies a little bit every time I see that thick, full, muddy tail of his that I won't really be able to wash until spring.

I mean, yeah, I could clean it, but he's just going to roll in the mud again.

Courage has a turnout buddy now. He LOOOOOVES him. Apparently, they play like idiots and the only harm is a couple of bite marks that I'm sure he deserved. It's good for Courage to have to learn to be a horse without me micromanaging him and I know that. 

overlooking the turnouts on a sunny day

I'm having to let go a little bit, and that really is good for both of us. Besides, every single ride, Courage is reminding me of why I wanted him in the first place. He has this incredible brain and he takes changes in stride. So far, he hasn't batted an eye at things like these:

-first time in an indoor

-first time with a buddy in the indoor

-first time having a buddy leave him in the indoor

-first outdoor ride on new property

-mules

-changes to indoor scenery

-ice breaking up on the roof of the indoor

-epic rainstorm while in the indoor with three girls and a puppy

-lunging in a small space

-cantering in a small space
-watching another horse zoom around on the lunge
-standing on the buckle while another horse spooks

In fact, the only thing that has bothered him was his good old fashion nemesis: dark spots in the sand. 

I'll take it. 

First lesson is set for this afternoon. Can't wait!

Flatwork, A Green Horse, A Tiny Indoor: Recipe for a Thinking Ride

A good moment

In addition to the puppy adventure and my non-dressaging on Saturday, I finally got a look at what Courage and I have been working on, ie going forward in a longer frame and getting comfortable there.

Parts of it were good. It really wasn't my best ride lately, mostly because it was our first time in an indoor in the rain and I was a little distracted. But still. It wasn't great.

Alyssa hops on. She also took all these pictures except this one.

Courage is getting so much more consistent in the contact and happier in that longer/lower frame, but the added challenge of an indoor is that he has to do all those things on smaller figures, and he wasn't quite getting it. It probably didn't help that I would get frustrated with him because I wanted him to understand it already.It's the same thing we were already doing, JUST LOTS HARDER OK?

It was really fun to watch Alyssa tool around on Courage though. She has this way of riding nicely forward and never pulling or getting off balance, and he loves it.

exciting walking pic

Hm.

I made a new plan on Monday. Courage and I started out on a loose rein and did some basic lateral exercises at the walk. Turn on the haunches both ways, turn on the forehand both ways, and leg yield down the wall.

I wanted him responsive to my leg, so we kept at it until he understood.

Then we went forward.

Just like this pic

I literally had one hand on the buckle (and occasionally the neck strap, as the situation warranted) and I let Courage trot forward. We went both directions and the longer we went, the more he relaxed his topline and dropped his poll.

Now I had him responsive and forward.

Once he was comfortable there, making big laps around the arena, I added contact. I focused on maintaining his lower frame and the quality of his gait as I added in 20 meter circles.

we actually didn't canter

Then figure eights.

Then walk/trot/walk transitions.

Instead of being frustrated with Courage for not being responsive enough to do a three loop serpentine in a small space, I focused on letting him be successful at something he CAN do.

Right now, I want him relaxed, forward, and straight. The stronger he gets in that default, the more buttons I'll be able to add. Things like cantering and simple changes and cooler lateral moves.

So yeah, it's not perfect. But you know what? When Courage really engages his hind end and softens his topline in a big forward trot, it is SO MUCH FUN.

We'll get there.

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Teach Me Tuesday: Winter Riding

look at all that dry foot. be still my heart.

Here's another fun topic for Tuesday.

Winter. Riding.

Do you do it? What does it look like? I know some people like to just turn their horses out for the winter and wait for better weather, and there is certainly merit to that. Courage took about 10 weeks off last winter and it did wonders for letting go of those racing muscles.

On the other hand, the very idea of doing that again made me insane this winter, so I up and moved my horse to a barn with an indoor. I'm lucky that I have the option to do that. I know not everyone can.

So what does winter look like in the blogosphere? Are you tough enough to ride outside? Rich enough to get to an indoor? Smart enough to board at one?

Teensy Puppy Meets the Ponies

And I think I have a long body. Dachshund problems.

Nothing like the Monday after a holiday. I don't have anything overly deep or brilliant to add to the greater equine conversation today, BUT I DO HAVE TEENSY PUPPY PICTURES.

Omg hang on to your hats.

Alyssa (she of the mighty camera) and I went to have a pony day with new local blogger Micaylah and her fun pony Riesling.

Chek thinks horses are really big

First off, Ries is a super cool horse. He's a 12 year old OTTB that Micaylah's had long enough to be quite proud of all the solid work she's done with him. He's learning to be a dressage horse right now and he's lots of fun.

Also flea bitten grey. Pretty fancy.

Hm check out those muscles he has

Micaylah showed us all his fun moves and because I have the maturity level of roughly a preschool child I was all "OMG I WANT A TURN GRABBY HANDS".

Apparently I can not haz dressage. Oh well. 

She was nice enough to let me ride Riesling and play with my puppy whilst I flopped around like some sort of gelatinous invertebrate on her fancy dressage saddle.

Ries was lovely and fun and someday I hope I can ride him better (if M still thinks giving out turns is a good idea, ha!). I may have cured her of that.

Dat face doh

Chek was not impressed.

He was also not afraid.











So obviously this had to happen:

It was a fun day and I ended up with this shot too:

He didn't end up getting to ride Courage because when I rode, it was Courage's first time in the indoor while it was pouring rain. He was very, very good, but I was a little on edge and Chekov didn't want to get out from under Micaylah's hoodie.

Much warm. Very snuggle.

TBT: Cuna-style, Thanksgiving-style

such a fun weekend

I'm taking a deep breath this fall and emotionally processing all the things that have happened this year. Part of that is just talking about Cuna again--remembering who he was and what he meant to me. So here's a quick look back to fall of 2012. Cuna was still in work and doing great at the show barn.

In September, Cuna and I road tripped it up to the mountains for some specialized instruction and (my favorite!) trail riding under the trees. I'm still sad that we only took pictures on the day with little jumps, but Cuna and I did some of our best work ever. I should have been a little more dorky and measured one vertical. I think it was 3'3", but it might have been 3'6". It was bar none, the most fun road trip I've ever done with a horse.

great outfits for both

November got cold fast. I didn't know it at the time, but we were in for one of the hardest winters we've had around here. I guess the snowflake polos were quite fitting.

Instead of worrying about that, Cuna and I were focused on developing really quality connection. I had to figure out how to ride effectively and he gave me some incredible work. It was just a taste of what a well schooled horse can do.

Cuna was really the first time I ever got to spend time on a schoolmaster and learn from the horse instead of constantly teaching. If you haven't done that, I highly recommend it.

Ever the gentleman

December was cold and miserable, but a friend of mine who hadn't ridden in years came out and hopped on Cuna on a horrible, windy day.

He was a fireball for me, but he was sweet for her and even put his little nose down like a proper dressage horse.

I know Courage is wildly more talented at dressage now than Cuna was ever going to be, but that's not really the point. Cuna certainly had evasions and definitely threw fits and always expressed his personality, but day to day, I just loved being around him.

He wasn't a horse to me. He wasn't even "the horse". Cuna was one of the strongest personalities I've ever encountered and we just clicked. Call it BFFs, call it bosom buddies, call it love: it doesn't matter. It was a meeting of the minds and melding of lifestyles.

He's why I can't stand to see ammy owners trapped with horses they're scared of and unhappy with. I lived and breathed that horse and thought about him all the time. I was never, ever afraid of him and we attacked new challenges because we knew we'd come through them together.

He gave courage to me.

Ride the Brain

That, and his stunning good looks.

One of the things that first drew me to Courage was his totally awesome mind. I mean, yeah, he's kind of an asshole, but he's a smart, laid back asshole. He doesn't get rattled about stupid things and even if he does get upset by something, he can usually keep it together.

All that said, I wasn't sure what he'd do with the indoor at the new barn. To my knowledge, he's never seen one before, much less worked in it. He's not used to the sound of sand hitting the boards or the feeling of completely restricted vision or even having to make turns in a much tighter area.

Not uphill, but helloooo stretchy giraffe.

We had our first indoor experience on Monday night. It was dark and I was alone at the barn, so it seemed like a pretty good time for our first excursion inside.

Because Courage hadn't even seen a saddle in over two weeks and I don't have a deathwish, I did spin him around on the lunge line first. He did a little giraffing and was a bit fidgety when I asked him to stand still, but otherwise surprisingly settled.

I was blown away when I got on (yes by myself oh well) and he retained everything we'd worked on in our last lesson with S. Damn horse. You bad.

Not quite this low

Our next ride was even more remarkable--Courage got to see another horse in the arena with us for the first time. Then the other horse left us for the first time. The rider asked if that would be ok, and I very honestly told her we'd find out.

Well.

Yeah, he didn't even blink.

I was then in the middle of a very productive ride when there was this horrendous commotion in the stalls attached to the indoor. We stopped and had a look, then just carried on working on stretching low and low through upward and downward transitions.

First ride. Looking so fine.

I was going to just keep going, but after a few minutes I realized that one horse had taken part of the panel fencing down and now was actively trying to get himself hung up in the cockeyed panel. That seemed a bit dangerous, so I called it a day.

We're still adjusting to the new barn and the new schedule and the new people and all that, but I am just so thrilled with Courage right now. It was a big step for me to move him away from our comfort zone and be responsible for his training without the watchful eyes of Redheadlins every single day.

What happens when the sun comes out. No shame.

Courage and I are in a really good place right now. He's accepting me as alpha and we're making great progress together. That brain I loved is doing exactly what I need it to.

I'm looking forward to getting on the schedule for some dressage lessons and seeing what the on-site trainer (C) has to say about Courage. Hint: she thinks he's just the sweetest thing.

Happy early American Thanksgiving to everyone!!

Teach Me Tuesday: My Love Affair

THEY LET ME DRIVE THE TRACTOR

It's a holiday week (WOO WOO DAYS OFF), so it's time for a twist on Teach Me Tuesday. Here's something not exactly horsey that I absolutely love. I'm guessing I'm not the only one who has something to fess up to.

Last week, part of my barn duties entailed driving the tractor.

I love tractors.

It's something I don't talk about a lot, because it doesn't seem to be as much part of the common horse girl experience, but it's true.

It's maybe partially because I also have a real world job in the construction industry. I do all kinds of things, but when the heavy equipment comes out, things change.

also I love this picture

Not even kidding, there is this whole music video that runs through my head. It's like

BAM
YEAH
IT'S A MOTHER-****ING FORLIFT BITCHES
FORKLIFT
UH HUH

Complete with crazy graphics and hip hop and gang signs and all that.

girl power on a horse show morning

Just when a job looks too big and heavy and insurmountable, BAM BITCHES FORKLIFT.

I come from a handy family and I take pride in knowing how to do things. I will judge you if you can't drive a standard. I used to be able to disassemble and reassemble the greater part of my engine in my old junker car. I can have an intelligent conversation with my mechanic, and I love playing with power tools.

Maybe it makes me weird. Maybe it's my western heritage. Maybe it's my job. I have seriously considered working to become a heavy equipment mechanic because OMG BIG TOYS ALL DAY. We'll see where that goes.

And don't even get me started on nail guns. They need a music video too.

So maybe not everyone is in to heavy equipment (get your mind out of the gutter). What's your non-horsey indulgence?

All Moved In

housework is better with a bonus dog

Despite my well-intentioned panic on Friday, the weather man was wrong (as per the usual, huzzah for being back to that!) and the weekend was downright liveable.

Or at least, it would have been if we didn't start it with 8 inches of snow. And ice.

But three days of almost 50f temps later, the roads are safe!

I ditched the housework and with the help of my wonderful BOs (miss them already, not even kidding), Courage got all moved in to the new barn on Sunday afternoon.

freaking enormous stall

I'm petty excited about the facility. There are maintained grass turnouts (didn't take a pic), a large outdoor arena (also no pic), a nice shedrow with a covered aisle (sensing a theme?), two horse barns (see pic!), and get this: AN INDOOR ARENA.

Courage lives in this huge stall. I should measure it. It's like... 15x15? Maybe 20? I don't even know. Massively huge. The attached run is pretty tiny, but it's enough to let him out in the sunshine on nice days.

He does have a very rambunctious neighbor who already tore a cooler of mine (bastard!), but there is now hot tape around the top of the fencing, so hopefully that's contained.

very impressed

After making sure he understood the stall essentials, I took him off for his first-ever indoor arena experience.

As you can see, he was wild.

We did a little groundwork. Somehow I have misplaced my fancy custom lunge line and since I don't know anyone, I didn't want to start out by borrowing, so nothing too exciting.

Not gonna lie, I really wanted to hop on and ride. I guess there is a limit to how many real life responsibilities I can blow off on any given day though.

this is me going minimalist

I put Courage back in his stall and got my stuff organized in the tack room. I'm trying the whole "less stuff" thing to see if that works for me. Plus I don't want to be the jerk that moves my fancy horse in with all my toys and then stages a hostile takeover in the tackroom. You know that person. Everyone hates them.

I tried to fit all my stuff (not including winter blankets currently in use) in one trunk, one saddle rack, and a couple of hooks. As you can see, I've already sprawled onto a second saddle rack for my cooler and quarter sheet, but I'm telling myself it's seasonal.

plus Courage got a girlfriend

There are a lot of great features at the new place and everyone I've met seems really nice. I'm looking forward to the shorter drive and extra free time to allow me to start running again. Or maybe clean the house. Or something.

I'm a little apprehensive about fitting in to a new barn group and there's a part of me that wants to go running back to our old barn, but I know this is where we need to be right now.

So. Here goes winter 2014. It should be interesting for sure.
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