A couple weeks ago, I competed in the Oregon Dressage Society League Championships. A "league" show is one step down from a "recognized" show and a great place to start a young/green horse. Trevor is my rising star and was a gentlemen in the show ring. However, being a new arena, he was not as relaxed as he usual.
He was not, however, as good in the warm-up (I guess that is the best deal at a horse show!!). His new evasion technique is to rear. Luckily, he is very balanced and honest is his silliness. So, as a massage therapist, I say, "that horse needs a massage!!" There are all kinds of massage: in-hand, pasture etiquette, ground manners, riding manners, trailer manners, etc. You name it, it can be massaged. With behavior like that, it becomes a MENTAL Massage.
Trevor came to me as a freebie and in need of a lot of direction. His level of respect has improved greatly from the ground up. Remember, if a horse can't do it on the ground, he can't do it while you are on him! I am thrilled at his potential in the Dressage arena and where we will go.
My point being is that the whole process of training, whether it is in-hand or Grand Prix, is all connected and every aspect influences the others. How your horse walks beside you tells you something about his mental and physical state. What is his affect? Is he walking fast? slow? Look at his eye. It is calm?? Even more important, it tells you about your own mental and physical state. Horses read humans like open books. Since I know that Trevor can be a bully, I am not surprised to see the bully behavior arise (no pun intended) when I am riding him. And, how I am feeling that day also influences him. Regardless, he needs to learn to be a gentlemen more often then not.
So instead of turning his ridiculousness into a fight or discipline (i.e. spurring, tight circles, raised voice, whatever), I turn it into a strong mental massage where by I redirect his disruptive energy into a difficult exercise. Jackie Browning, my riding instructor or 20+ years was the creator/inspirator for this great idea! While Trevor is trying to change the subject from working trot to rearing right, I engage my legs and seat, pick him up and create a canter pirouette. Mind you, they are not always that good, sometimes they're great!, but either way, I've created a new movement that makes him think the next time that wild rearing hair shows itself. Not only do I massage him mentally, I give myself a direction instead of flailing around trying to figure out what I am suppose to do with this rear. I stay calm and focused, therefore he is calm and focused. I don't have to redirect myself because I already have a direction. Occasionally, we go left. Sometimes we go left, right, left.
Why canter pirouette?? When Trevor rears, he is engaging his hindend. Why not utilize it?? At some point he will be learning this move, so, let us have it in the arsenal sooner then later. Ultimaely, we want him to engage that lovely hindend. He is just engaging it through rearing that is not productive. Now, through canter pirouette, it is. He gets stronger physically - thumbs-up. He gets a mental massage through re-direction and focus - another thumbs-up. I get a mental massage by staying directed and focused - triple thumbs-up.
Now think to yourself...Where do I have difficulty with my horse?? It may not be as extreme as Trevor, or it may be much worse. Be sure and check you saddle & bridle fit, and your bit to rule out any painful physical cause. Know your ability as a rider to make sure you are asking for what you want in a way the horse understands. Are you being clear? Keep in mind the exercises you are asking your horse to do. Are they in your horse's range of ability (re-direction being the exception). Finally, ask for someone to watch you ride and tell you what is happening when you are having difficulty with your horse. Feel the movement and channel the energy into an exercise that will create a direction for you and your horse, mentally massaging you both.
He was not, however, as good in the warm-up (I guess that is the best deal at a horse show!!). His new evasion technique is to rear. Luckily, he is very balanced and honest is his silliness. So, as a massage therapist, I say, "that horse needs a massage!!" There are all kinds of massage: in-hand, pasture etiquette, ground manners, riding manners, trailer manners, etc. You name it, it can be massaged. With behavior like that, it becomes a MENTAL Massage.
Trevor came to me as a freebie and in need of a lot of direction. His level of respect has improved greatly from the ground up. Remember, if a horse can't do it on the ground, he can't do it while you are on him! I am thrilled at his potential in the Dressage arena and where we will go.
My point being is that the whole process of training, whether it is in-hand or Grand Prix, is all connected and every aspect influences the others. How your horse walks beside you tells you something about his mental and physical state. What is his affect? Is he walking fast? slow? Look at his eye. It is calm?? Even more important, it tells you about your own mental and physical state. Horses read humans like open books. Since I know that Trevor can be a bully, I am not surprised to see the bully behavior arise (no pun intended) when I am riding him. And, how I am feeling that day also influences him. Regardless, he needs to learn to be a gentlemen more often then not.
So instead of turning his ridiculousness into a fight or discipline (i.e. spurring, tight circles, raised voice, whatever), I turn it into a strong mental massage where by I redirect his disruptive energy into a difficult exercise. Jackie Browning, my riding instructor or 20+ years was the creator/inspirator for this great idea! While Trevor is trying to change the subject from working trot to rearing right, I engage my legs and seat, pick him up and create a canter pirouette. Mind you, they are not always that good, sometimes they're great!, but either way, I've created a new movement that makes him think the next time that wild rearing hair shows itself. Not only do I massage him mentally, I give myself a direction instead of flailing around trying to figure out what I am suppose to do with this rear. I stay calm and focused, therefore he is calm and focused. I don't have to redirect myself because I already have a direction. Occasionally, we go left. Sometimes we go left, right, left.
Why canter pirouette?? When Trevor rears, he is engaging his hindend. Why not utilize it?? At some point he will be learning this move, so, let us have it in the arsenal sooner then later. Ultimaely, we want him to engage that lovely hindend. He is just engaging it through rearing that is not productive. Now, through canter pirouette, it is. He gets stronger physically - thumbs-up. He gets a mental massage through re-direction and focus - another thumbs-up. I get a mental massage by staying directed and focused - triple thumbs-up.
Now think to yourself...Where do I have difficulty with my horse?? It may not be as extreme as Trevor, or it may be much worse. Be sure and check you saddle & bridle fit, and your bit to rule out any painful physical cause. Know your ability as a rider to make sure you are asking for what you want in a way the horse understands. Are you being clear? Keep in mind the exercises you are asking your horse to do. Are they in your horse's range of ability (re-direction being the exception). Finally, ask for someone to watch you ride and tell you what is happening when you are having difficulty with your horse. Feel the movement and channel the energy into an exercise that will create a direction for you and your horse, mentally massaging you both.
