Fail Better Today

I read an article in the National Geographic about Failure.

The gist of the reading was how much is learned through Failure.

There were numerous examples of explorers going off into the world to perform their missions only to fail in it's execution and come  home with their tails between their legs...and in some cases, pay the ultimate price and not come home at all.

Of course, the famous journey of the explorer,  Shackleton,  was a feature. Despite getting his ship hopelessly lodged in the ice and failing to reach the South Pole, Shackleton and all his men survived. Deemed a "successful failure"....a bit of an oxymoron.

I have to say, this article had a profound effect on me. Although I am not a world explorer, I am an explorer in the equine world. Smaller journeys that still, however, involve what many may think is, considerable Failure. 

Not winning the class.  Having a "bad" ride. The project horse who has other ideas of who is in charge.

It is my view that Failure is just that - Somebody else's view.  What somebody sees as non-productive (failure), I see as successful. I took what wasn't working well and adapted.

One of the first things I learned as a young equestrian was humility.  At my first show, my horse,  Maarana, had other ideas.  She was not happy with being at the show, let alone being ridden. I was about 12 years old and I was mad! I remember at the time that I wanted to go home. Thankfully, the gal I was riding with gave me a choice: Go home (whine) Or buck-up and deal with it and Problem Solve the situation (aroo!).

So what started as a Failure in my young life, turned into an opportunity to learn and grow. I do believe the folks call it "Building Character." I chose to buck-up (aroo!) and we kept showing.  We didn't win any classes, but I learned to deal with a situation that was less than perfect.

It was my first lesson in humility.  Humility is a key component in seeing a difficult situation as an opportunity. A situation to examine and modify (The Marines would say: Adapt. Adopt. Improve (they also say boo'ya!)), instead of letting that difficult situation ruin the day because it wasn't Perfect. Humility allows for original thinking and creativity....the catalysts of success.

The drowning force of original thinking and success is Egoism and looking good to others. When Ego and the desire to "Look Good" shadow the numerous successes hidden in a situation, that is the ultimate Failure.

The original solutions are ignored because the mind is looking outward, worrying about what others may be thinking. The outward mindset closes the door on original thinking and closes the mind to creative solutions because what They think becomes the mantra. This, in turn, becomes a cycle in which anytime the work is not Ideal, failure occurs....

Just imagine how many men would have survived if Shackleton had just sat stuck in the ice and worried about looking good. He looked at the situation and adapted to insure the survival of his men.

When a Shackleton moment arises, look inward.  Remember that even though you and your horse may be a little stuck, taking a moment to step back, looking inward to what you know, and ignoring Them, can create a completely new solution that will serve the situation well and create a fantastic success.

"The Rotteness of Dressage"

So....I read a post on FB. It was about a new book by a German trainer in regards to the "The Rotteness of Dressage."  (My apologies...I'll be finding the name of the author, the Actual name of the book, and reading the book...)

I, do, however, have to agree...

I know I am not a Grand Prix Dressage rider...but I DO know movement.

Before I was lucky enough to go to a Gerd Heuschmann clinic, I was not impressed with the "professional" level of Dressage. I saw (and see) horses' tails swishing,  gnawing on the bit, and flipping their front legs out in front of them with dropped backs and high hineys...

The Gerd Heuschmann information confirmed what I already thought... the professional level Dressage has moved away from the Classical form toward showing off and impressing the "dumb" public. So sad.

Collection has been modified from a complex dance between two sentient beings to Faster! Bigger! Sooner!!  The judges are a lot to blame because they score the modified collection as what will win.

Sigh.

I used to think I wanted to be in the upper echelon of Grand Prix Dressage...but my path has not taken me in that direction. And thanks to Trevor, he taught me a happy horse is more important than prestige and a ribbon. I am still on the path to move up through the levels with Trev, but on our time, with quality and purpose.

As riders, we all have to pick our own path...

What is yours...?

Equine Flexion

In my last post, I talked about that overused word:

Collection.

I gave the United States Dressage Federation's (USDF) definition of:

Collection

Working (trot/canter)

Uphill

Then I began thinking about Flexion.

Flexion (also called Bending) in a horse is when a body part "flexes" due to some form of pressure.

Pressure to create Flexion is generally direct by using a hand, leg, heel,  spur, bit, or whip directly on the body of the horse.  For example:  I put pressure on the bit from the left rein and the horse's mouth and nose bend in to the left and the jaw, poll and neck Flex to the right.

The amount of pressure needed to create the flexion should depend certain factors, such as, rider skill and the horse's level of training. Technically, the more skill the rider has, the lighter the pressure. And technically, the higher level of training the horse has, the lighter the response.

Lateral as defined by the USDF is:

To the side,  as in flexion, bend, suppleness, or direction of movement. Impurity in the walk (ambling or pacing) or canter; rarely in trot.

Examples of Lateral Flexion are:  bending at the poll, bending in the ribcage, side pass, leg yield, half pass.

When a horse flexes correctly,  it creates a softness in the equine that is efficient and functional. This then creates movements that look effortless and easy for both horse and rider. It's beautiful.

However, there is an aspect on Flexion that is rarely discussed:

Vertical Flexion/Lift.

I looked again in the USDF definitions and did not find Vertical Flexion.

In the previously blog about Collection, I mentioned the concept "Uphill." Uphill was the closest definition I could find to Vertical Flexion...

My definition of Vertical Flexion is:

The creation of Lift or Elevation in the horse's body where there is contraction of the horse's stomach muscles, which lifts the back, and at the same time, lowering the hindquarters. These actions elevate and lighten the front end, giving the horse the appearance of being "Uphill."

To have CORRECT Collection, both Lateral Flexion and Vertical Flexion is required...

Which is why true Collection takes years to develop. It begins with Lateral Flexion. Teaching horse & rider to find the softness in each other through the practice of movements. Overtime, the softness becomes strong and supple, like a ballarina and her partner.

As the training continues, the movements toward true Collection become lighter and more contained as the element of Vertical Flexion is added to the established Lateral Flexion.

These two aspects of true Collection create a dance between horse & rider that is unsurpassed in it's refinement and beauty.

What is COLLECTION???

I am always curious about what people think Collection is...

I hear people saying that they have or ride their horses "in collection" or "collected up."  But what are they really saying and thinking they are doing?

I am a staunch purest in HOW the horse should be "Collected." For me, True Collection is a long road that takes years to obtain where the horse takes more weight on the hindquarters, engages the stomach muscles to help lift and engage the topline, creating lightness in the front end. It is a process over time, the rider being the influencing force for the horse to slowly shift his/her weight backwards through strength building exercises and the understanding of  equine bio-mechanics. I have heard it said that the Piaffe is the highest form of Collection.

So. I looked up the United States Dressage Federation's (USDF) definition of Collection in the USDF 2011 Glossary of Judging Terms. Their official definition is:

Collection/Collected (Walk, Trot, or Canter)
           At trot and canter, a pace with shorter steps and a more uphill balance than in the working pace, without sacraficing implusion. The horse's frame is shorter, with the neck stretched and arched upward. The tempo remains nearly the same in the medium or extended pace.

Then as a comparison,  I looked up "Working." Their official definition is:

Working (Trot/Canter)
             A pace in which the horse goes forward energetically but calmly, with a length of stride between that of collected and medium paces. The degree of uphill balance required is less than in the collected pace.

So. Then I looked up "Uphill" since it was mentioned in both definitions.

Their offical definition is:

Uphill
            Longitudinally well balanced as a consequence of engagement of the hindquarters (which allows the back to assist in elevating the forehand) and engagement of the thoracic sling muscles to lift the forehand. The pushing forces the hindlimbs are balanced with the elevating  forces from the forelimb.

I realized that I could keep looking up aspects of these definitions at not be satisfied.  

And THIS WHY PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT COLLECTION IS. To no fault of anyone, if the definitions don't calirfy, then confusion abounds.

How many people know what the Thoracic Sling is??

I do. Do you??

What about Longitudinal Balance??

Do you know what a Medium Pace is??

Where are the stomach muscles in all these definitions??

As everyone see things from their own personal perspective, each person will have  slightly different view on Collection.

But. Physics is physics...one force has an opposite and equal reaction. Horse's bodies respond to the forces of the bridle, saddle, and rider. But unlike inanimate objects,  a horse's body is dynamic, and in the opposite and equal reactions, we can get a lot of variations in those reactions.

Sometimes what we think is a correct respones for collection is actually a lock down, rather than a engagement, of muscle. To get to a true collected state, the horse and rider first must have a base of fitness and basic self-carriage where the horse and rider understand how to move through the gaits in a forward motion with the energy rolling through the horse's body from back to front.

Ultimately, it doesn't matter what kind of riding you choose. Knowing the whys and hows of what you do and how you influence your horse through your riding is most important.

If you want True Collection, learn what it is through quality riding and understanding how the equine body works.

Feeling Good....

So. I posted earlier about feeling better after gettin' my head on straight.

Everyone said I needed my head examined....   :)

But...Oh glorious day!!

It has been almost 2 years since the infamous concussion. I do not recommend one, btw...

As my body became increasingly stuck, my horse obviously did not improve in his willingness.  Not! That Trevor doesn't have his opinion....! He is a Thoroughbred and pays attention to everything.  And, in my opinion, he is one of the smartest horses I've ever known.  He knows what I want before I've even asked...His "feel" is oober refined...and it has been an interesting road for me to be clear and calm in my request. He's a mind & body reader, as a lot of horses are...but as I have heard before, Thoroughbreds are like Ferraris....and I still am figuring out his gas pedal.

YA KNOW HOW HARD THAT IS WHEN YOUR BODY IS STUCK.

However....my last ride before the lovely snow storm was just that... Lovely. 

My body was relaxed in way it hasn't been in a long while.  Trev was soft and THROUGH...IT. WAS. AWESOME.

Take heed....think about how your body is working. Know the places you are stuck...And Do Something About it.

Basic Movement

This is a no brainer post.

Walk: 4 beat gait.

Trot: 2 beat gait.

Canter: 3 beat gait.

Duh, right?

Each gait can be lengthened and shortened.

A lot of people say the trot is the most important gait. Maybe. A quality trot will strengthen your horse's body overall if ridden well.

"Quality" being a walk, trot, or canter ridden back to front, with the horse swinging through and over his/her topline.

I say, it takes all three.  One quality part of a three part system will not make the other gaits necessarily better, but it will be a good indicator.

I believe the quality of the walk is an indicator of overall relaxation in the horse's body.  When the walk becomes forward with quality, it indicates the willingness in the other gaits.

As for the canter, it is a good indicator of relaxation in the lumbar region because of the "uneveness" of the hind legs. The inside hind leg is more forward under the horse as it travels on the correct lead, stretching the back, lumbar, and hindquarter muscles, all the while engaging the belly. A canter that can engage all these areas will create a softer, more comfortable gait.

So work to create quality gaits with the three basic gaits all horses come equipped with.

Movement

What is movement?

What is a Quality movement??

Where does your eye "go" when you watch a horse move...that is telling in itself.

How do you interpret what you see??

What are equine bio-mechanics??

How does knowing quality movement help your riding??

What horses inspire you when you see them move??

And Now...

This is what came to pass.....

Being unimpressed with the Traxene and not really thrilled with taking a man-made medication....I ended up taking my sister's advice (the sister with whom I ran the Spartan Race....KickAss!!!!!) and met with Jeff, a Master Herbalist.

After a session with his Bio-Feedback machine (totally crazy, btw), he showed me the findings...

Here's a Sum-Up:

Lower Back

Esophagus

Lower Back

Inflamed Nervous System

Lower Back

Swollen Joints

I was floored. We did talk about my concussion and all that trouble...but we didn't talk about my back. Which. Was. Sore. Stuck. Non-Functional. 

Jeff recommended natural anti-inflammatories for my g.i. system and my nervous system. And...Ta-Da!!!!  EVERYTHING is working. Lower back stickiness...gone. Sore neck...gone. Headaches...gone. The right side of my sinuses, which haven't worked properly since my concussion, cleared and continued to drain for 4 days!!!  I am tired, but in a good way...my system has been on high alert since my concussion and I was super sensitive and STUCK. No wonder Trevor was so annoyed with me.

I have been on the anti-inflammatories for about a week and a half.  On Sunday, I had the best run I've had in about 2 years...

Today, I had a lesson with Jackie Browning and the relaxation that has been missing from my riding was back.  Trevor was a rock star.

It's so nice to have my body and brain back.   :)

Looking Back...

5/11/2012 was my last post after my end of March concussion...

I did feel pretty good at that post... About two weeks later...the proverbial fan was pooped on!!

I was out on a run, and, as usual, I did a "farmer's blow" to clear my nose. During the "blow", my right ear popped. Great! I thought, that should help with whatever has been going on in my head and my concussion may be getting better!

It wasn't.

It. Was. Worse.

I got home and realized with the shift of fluid in my ear that I was REALLY dizzy. Dizzy enough to cancel my riding lesson.  And for the next 18 months, I was subject to dizziness, my right ear plugging & unplugging, fatigue, heavy eyelids, insomnia, periods of crazy hunger, annnnnnnnnnnnd, irritability.   Sigh... The only perk was that when I was riding I was not dizzy AT ALL. Something about the helmet created the right pressure in my pea brain and created a happy place...at least I was able to ride!!!

But still...The issues were particualrly bad with the ups & downs in the Pacific Northwest weather...sunny for 15 minutes, then raining, then sunny, then raining. There were times I was On. My. Ass. 

Sigh again....

However. When summer was in full swing, I felt just fine. The high pressure seemed to sit well with my head.  But as you all know, that didn't last. 

Throughout the winter, I struggled with the inconsistencies in my head and didn't know quite what to do... things really didn't get much better in spring...So after several suggestions to see an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist, I did.  After some tests to determine what the hell was going on, the ear, nose & throat doctor recommended thay I try a medication called Traxene...a sedative! to settle the nervous system. Ya ya...I can hear the comments already...

After reading all the ridiculous side effects, I decided to take a 1/2 of pill.  Well...it did help. For a while...One of the downside of this  medication was tolerance.

Sigh...So HELP for only a while...I did try upping my dose, but that just made my head fuzzy and my ears to ring.

What. To. Do.

Oh The Irony....

So. Look at my last Blog from March... It's about Listening. Hmmmmmmmmmm...as most of you know, I suffered a concussion. I suffered this concussion because I wasn't listening to Trevor. There are a lot of emotions that run through the mind when one is injured in a rather serious fashion, especially by a fall from one's own horse. Here is the rundown...Trevor was IN A MOOD. It was a side of him I hadn't seen in a long while. He was fussy, pogo-sticking around not wanting to do anything. He had some minor rearing moments and I just sent him forward. I chose to work on the walk & trot since he kept having "moments." Had it been anybody else, i would have had him/her get off and work through the issue in-hand. I broke my own rule. He did settle a bit and I was just about done. There was another horse that just started working in the arena and she had a woo-hoo! moment behind Trevor. Well, I've experienced those woo-hoos before and just hunkered in for the ride. Well. I HUNKERED. Then Trevor turned right and turned right again, only this time straight up. I was sure we were going ass-over-teakettle...but...only I did. And landed on my head. I was in the air and then on the ground. I remember thinking, "there's my saddle." My left foot was stuck in the stirrup and I was being dragged as Trevor looked at me like "WHAT! are you doing down there!" That was REALLY scary. Luckily, my stirrup leather slipped out and I was free. THAT was when he decided to run around like a nut. He finally looked at me, recognized me, and let me catch him. I adjusted my saddle and helmet (the crank blew open in impact) and got back on. We rode for another few minutes and then I was dizzy, so I got off. We stood there for another 10-15 minutes and he (we) processed, or "cooked," over the situation. Then he cooked some more on the standing on the wall. It has taken me about 5 weeks to recover from the concussion. I can't imagine what would have happened without the helmet. I have a soft spot on my head where the actual impact. It used to make me sick when I touched it. Not so much anymore. The effects of concussion were i n t e r e s t i n g. I wanted to close myself off from the world. Stimulation of any kind was difficult to deal with. I moved like I was walking though molasses. I was nausated. I was dizzy. I was carsick. I had to step back and let my self heal. That was a something new for me to learn. I had a hard time making decisions. I was REALLY tired. No appetite. Doctor's orders (I had a CT to make sure I wasn't bleeding in my brain) were that I couldn't ride for 10 days...I waited almost three weeks. That's how long the dizziness lasted. I figured if I was dizzy, getting on a horse was pretty damn d.u.m.b. As far as Trevor...He was cautious around me for a couple days. He was subdued, yet fussy. We went back to relaxation and lunge work since I couldn't ride anyway. As he was worked, our sessions were productive. I had his teeth floated before I chose to ride him. Our first ride was quiet and FUN! I thought I was going to be really nervous with those memories, but I was really glad to be back in the saddle. The rides we have had have been VERY GOOD. We went to a show at the end of April. I was able to work through his anxiety by allowing him to process his stress while I was on him and create a quiet space for both of us. Our first test was ok (before we relaxed), our second test was wonderful (after we relaxed). Mishaps with our ponies can be VERY HUMBLING. However, each time we have "moments" with them, it is an opportunity to learn and create another way of being with them. I now feel that if I get on Trevor and he is IN A MOOD...I will choose another way of going with him and work the issue from a different angle. I still like to change up our working sessions and not do the same thing over and over. I do know that I don't ever want to have another concussion. I will continue to create new ways of being with Trevor so I can be aware when he (or I) is (am) not up for what I have in mind.

Listen & Learn

What do you want to know about horses?

What do you want to know about your horse?

When does the learning end...?

For me, I don't ever want to stop learning.

I want to be a Dresage student until the day I die.

I want to be a sponge that takes in all views from all different areas around the horse world.

I want to question.

I want to see.

I want to teach.

I want to LISTEN.

Listening is one of those skills that few people posess. Everyone says they listen, but only a mind quieted can really hear what is really being said.

Those who are called "Whisperers" are called that not because they talk quietly, but because they LISTEN.

And to listen, your MIND must be still. Your MIND must be present.

When you learn to be still, your learn to be "in the moment" or present and THAT is when you know you can LISTEN and really hear what is being spoken.

Re-Defining Your Horse on the Lunge Line

When did it become acceptable to use the lunge line as way to let your horse be a moron because they have "get their energy out?" ??????

IT doesn't make sense to allow your horse do to WHATEVER it wants in circles around you, then expect him/her to BEHAVE when you handle or ride him/her. ?????????

The things I see people do with their horses on the lunge line is

One. Of. My. Pet. Peeves.

Does it show??

Any time you are with your horse, your are TRAINING your horse how to respond to you. Whether it is feeding time, blanket time, turn-out time...the list goes on, it is YOUR JOB to be the Alpha of the herd - no Ifs, Ands, or Butts! about it.

Yet, there is still this idea that the paces people put their horses through on the lunge line somehow do not apply.

IT IS ALL TRAINING.

With that in mind - Re-Think your expectations on the lunge line. It is YOUR time with your horse, Sooooooooooooooooo...turn that session on the lunge line towards YOUR benefit, and eventually the horse's.

When Trevor was towards the end of his official recovery time from colic surgey (three months), I did not want to hop on an expect him to be rideable. So, I lunged him. Since he was still in a muscle-building recovery mode, he did not have the options to be a moron on the lunge line. With weak belly muscles, no topline, no hindquarters, the last thing I wanted him to do was compromise his already delicate muscle structure. Granted - I used the lunge line from a "working" point-of-view before, I just re-defined the expectations.

My re-defined expectation was that the lunge line was a) the horse's job for that session b) RELAXATION.

Yes - I was able to teach my horse to RELAX while lunging.

You can, too!

Began your lunge session with the horse at a walk. Re-direct any behavior that isn't consistent with a walk (that! is usually pretty obvious...). Then, the horse's job is to walk until he/she chews. Now - this could take a while with an uptight horse still learning the art of relaxation, so give you and your horse that time. When you do get the "chew," change directions AT THE WALK! and do the same thing the other way. It may be that your first few sessions are at the walk only, but don't fret! The expectation of something, anything!, new to a horse takes sometime to learn.

When you get the chew in both directions, then do the SAME THING at the trot. Wait for the chew on the lunge line, ask for the walk, and then change direction.

A note for the TROT - to help your horse fine the relax and chew, ask him/her to SLOW the Trot down. A horse trotting a million miles an hour will have great difficulty finding a space to relax. Not only does slowing the trot down help your horse relax, it helps your horse find a RHYTHM. Rhythm is a key element in any successful horse and rider combination. Have the expectation of relax and rhythm.

When you get the chew in both directions, then do the SAME THING at the canter.

As the canter can be a difficult gait for the green and/or unbalanced horse, be a bit more forgiving (only in the gait, not in attitude!). I look for other signs of relaxation in the canter due to it's three beat nature. Trevor tends to "blow" when he is relaxing in the canter and then chew after the down transition to the trot. Help the horse to find the rhythm, give the horse trot breaks and get the chew in the trot before asking for the canter again.

Another kudo that happens when you lunge for the chew and relaxation is the

S T R E T C H Over the topline.

Some horses naturally do this, others need help. Encourage your horse ANYTIME he/she offers to lower his/her head. It can start small, but soon they learn that it is nice to stretch down and move those back muscles. It then becomes a good indicator of how relaxed horse is that day.

So! RE-THINK! the lunge line and create a new way to play with your horse.

Leg Mover?? Back Mover??

Read Dr. Gerd Heuschmann's book about Classic vs. "Modern" Dressage and you will read about Leg and Back Movers.

Watch horses that are compressed into a frame and you will see a Leg Mover...

Watch horses allowed to stretch through their frame and you will see a Back Mover...

The labels imply exactly what happens when a horse is ridden in a "compressed" frame as opposed to a "through" frame.

COMPRESSION is created when a horse is ridden from front-to-back and the major focal point of WHERE the horse is ridden from is the rider's reins.

In a compression frame, the horse is ridden with short reins, the legs and seat are used to drive the horse forward, and "into" the bridle. This is what has become to be understood as "Collection"....However, when the reins are shortened and the horse is driven, the opposite happens...

As the legs push the horse forward, the seat tends to be heavy and pushes down on the horse's back, causing tension over the topline, driving the horse's back away from the rider's seat in a concave arch.

The reins are then short and restrictive through the overuse of the halfhalt, creating lack of movement throughout the neck and poll, therefore allowing the horse to drop his/her shoulders (incorrect).

This style of riding creates a horse who is locked in his/her poll, stiff in his/her neck, dropped in his/her back, locked in his/her ribcage, and! not using his/her hindend correctly, therefore heavy on the frontend.

It would SEEM that this would work to ride a horse this way...but what this style of riding creates is a sore and grumpy horse who lacks muscle tone in all the right places. Tense Back. Tense Horse. Only the legs move...

It creates a LEG MOVER.

THROUGH is created when a horse is ridden from back-to-front and the
major focal point of WHERE the horse is ridden from is the rider's body.

In a through frame, the horse is ridden from the body where the legs and seat allow the horse to find the bridle, therefore, be ridden "into" the bridle. "Collection" can also be achieved in this frame, but it takes time as the horse is slowly brought into a state of collection...

As the legs push the horse forward, the seat is soft and allows a "place" for the back. When the seat needs to "drive," it is in an upward, forward motion. The back follows this motion, creating flexion in the belly muscles and the topline.

The rein length can vary with a horse that is "through" depending on where the horse is in his/her training. The halfhalt is still incorporated, except it initiates from the body, before the hand. The "hand" halfhalt reinforces the "body" halfhalt. The reins are like "sticks" and pushed towards the front, giving the horse incentive to find the bit and, eventually, "into the bridle." Given the opportunity, the horse will lower his/her head into a "headset" without much work on your part.

The more green the horse, the longer the frame. The more schooled the horse, the shorter the frame.

HOWEVER, A SCHOOLED HORSE THAT IS THROUGH WILL BE ABLE TO FIND THE LONG AND LOW FRAME NO MATTER WHEN IT IS ASKED.

When a horse is ridden over its topline and allowed to raise the back, the neck naturally balances by stretching down, creating a horse with SPACE. Space creates fluidity in movement.

Space in the connections between the poll and neck.

Space in the connections between the shoulders and ribcage.

Space in the belly and back.

Space in the hindquarters.

When a horse can swing his/her back you have relaxation.

Relaxed Back. Relaxed Horse. The whole body moves...

It creates a Back Mover.

The Fulcrums

The Fulcrums

The Fulcrums are "hinge " point on your horse that create different angles in the joints. They are where the energy is stored and released, the body in flexed and relaxed, and the "correctness" of the gaits are found.

HOW you use your horse's Fulcrums creates the ride. When the Fulcrums are used in balance - meaning equal flexion and relaxation at each hinge point - then you and your horse have maximum flexibility in each gait and within each gait.

This image above is an example of the Fulcrum angles (generally) when your horse is in a standing position.

Fulcrum #1 - this is the hinge area of the Poll and the Atlas.

Fulcrum #2 - this is the hinge area of the Shoulder Balde and the Ribcage (the area just below the withers).

Fuclrum #3 - this is the area of the Sacroiliac joint and Pelvis.

Note the angles of these areas...Fulcrum #1 is at a slightly smaller angle then Fulcrum #s 2 & 3. Since the horse is not in motion...not really a problem...

This second image is when the head is "tucked high" while being ridden.

When the horse raises his head and tucks his/her nose in the angle of Fulcrum #1 changes most drastically. With the closed angle in the poll, the area becomes less accessible to the horse and the rider. The back of the skull and the vertebrae tend to "lock" together and create lack of flexion. This then drops Fulcrum #2, creating another "lock," in the shoulder blade/wither area, essentially putting the horse on its forehand, leaving Fulcrum #3 hanging out behind at larger, yet ineffective, angle. It becomes a Front-to-Back motion with low withers and a high hindquarters.

The third image is when the head is "nosed-out" while being ridden.

This would be considered a "GREEN" way-of-going, where the horse is allowed to go forward without any restrictions on his/her bridle.
Note the angles of all three of the Fulcrums...all of them are relatively EQUAL. Fulcrum #1, #2, #3 have similar angles. When a horse is in this position...there is a free-flow of forward energy, allowing the horse to be soft and supple in all his/her movements: the poll can be flexed left and right, the belly can lift and raise the back softly, and the hindquarters can swing freely creating movement from the backend, over the topline, and out the front. THIS IS THE GOAL!!! No matter what stage of training your horse is in...THE FULCRUMS SHOULD BE EQUAL!!!! Then you can get the free forward, get the same angles, get the maximum energy, flexibility, and correct Back-to-Front movement that makes our horses so fun to ride!

This last image shows what is, unfortunately, a HUGE MISPERCEPTION of what is "correct" collection.

This is what people think "collection" is suppose to be. What this is, is "over-flexion." The head is unnaturally put down so the ears fall below the withers AND the nose is tucked into the chest. This, therefore, over-flexes the shoulder blade/wither area and hyper-extends the vertebrae of the back (Note the excessive angle at Fulcrum #2) leaving the horse unable to flex it's belly muscles. In turn, with a hyper-extended back, the hindquarters are, again, left out behind and the horse is on it's forehand. This is an ugle way to train and abusive to the horse.

More talk of the Hindquarters...

So. We have the Semi brothers...(hamstrings)
We have the Quads...(quadriceps)

Now we have the Gluteals...
And the Adductors...

The Gluteals, like ours, are butt muscles.

The Adductors, like ours, are groin muscles.

Now. As I have talked about in my previous post, muscles that are used correctly, work correctly....And these muscles are no different.

Even though horses have a lot of muscles (700ish), I chose to concentrate on these muscles of the hindquarters because they are the most familiar and since we have them, too, they make the most sense.

The Gluteals (Gluteas medius)sit above the pelvis and attach into the lumbar spine area with the gluteal tongue.
The Adductors (Pectineus, adductor, gracilis, satorius) sit inside the pelvis and attach in places along the femur, tibia, and patella.
Then there is the Bicep Femoris which is like a "go between." It starts on the sacrum and attaches on various places along the femur and the achilles tendon.

So with ALL THESE MUSCLES, we want them to work as a UNIT. The Hamstrings, the Quadriceps, the Gluteals, and the Adductors, and the lonely Biceps Femoris...AKA: The Hindquarters.

When a unit works well:

There is balance

There is Range of Motion

Balanced Hindquarters mean that the muscles are of the same strength, and, rather importantly, size. Each muscle group has the same "fitness level" because no one muscle is used more then the others. They, in turn, are proportional to all the other muscles.

Range of Motion in the Hindquarters follows the same line: Each muscle group has the same level of flexibility to extend and flex when the horse is in motion....

The higher the Range of Motion, the better the Balance and, the better the movement! The further a horse can flex and extend CORRECTLY, the more bounce and suppleness in the gait.

If you want to achieve Balance and Range of Motion...can ya guess??? GO FORWARD!!!
Work on your "collection..." but always give the muscles time to stretch out.

The Quadriceps - Tensor Fascia Lata/Quadriceps Femoris

Well naturally - the Quadriceps compliment the Hamstrings.

The "Quads" originate at the Point-of-Hip (Tuber Coaxe) and then attach in the the stifle area through fascia.

When the Hamstrings flex (hindlegs go backwards and/or up), the Quads extend. When the hamstrings extend (hindlegs come forward and/or up), the quads flex. And like the hamstrings, if the quads have a good range of motion, then you will have a better ride.

Also like the hamstrings, the quadriceps absorb the energy, coil it up, and send forward into the lovely, "bouncing-ball" we all love to ride. When the quads are unable to flex to compliment the hamstrings, the "pogo-sticking" begans again. However, it is a slightly different feel when the quads are not flexible.

With lack of flexibility in the quadriceps, the horse may be able to bring the leg forward, but not extend in back OR sink into the stride. In turn, the stride is "shortened backwards." Instead of getting a full swing of the leg forward and through, you get a stride that is longer on the front swing and shorter on the back swing. It may appear like the horse is "tippy-ing" on his/her hindlegs so the stride is short and choppy OR the stride looks wide and the hips can roll (there is usually more going on here, but that's another day). Again, there is no absorption of the horse's energy.

So! Without too much redundancy from the previous post - Here are some exercises to help strengthen the Quadriceps:
1) Pole work. Working your horse over raised poles can create flexion and extension in the quads. I like to use "half poles." I call them "half poles" because you raise the pole on alternating sides (try starting with 2 poles). This way, the horse lifts one leg a little higher every time he/she walks over a pole. An eight-to-ten inch lift is a good place to start. Many horses with flexibilty problems will hit the poles until they are able to raise their legs. That will come with better flexion. Be sure have the correct striding in between your poles. Not to mention - start at the walk BEFORE you try the trot.

2) Half steps. Half steps can be the beginning of "collection" work for many riders, but it is also a great exercise for the quads. With half steps, you ask for a shortened stride for 3-4 steps of whatever gait you are in. Of course, walk is easiest, canter, most difficult. So, be forgiving and give your horse a chance to learn this. When you get your 3-4 half steps, be sure and GO FORWARD! to give the horse a break and keep that range of motion. Also, VERY IMPORTANTLY, make the half steps come form YOUR BODY, NOT the REINS!! Otherwise you will create front-to-back movement instead of a BACK-TO-FRONT movement. We want to strengthen his butt, not his neck.

3) Same as Hamstrings - Baby Walk Pirouette and "Western Pleasure" jog. See previous post!

Wait there is more! What other muscles compliment the Hamstrings & Quadriceps???

The Hamstrings - SemiTendonosis & SemiMembrinosis

(I may have to double check my spelling...)

The Hamstrings are, of course, the muscles of the hindquarters that run down the back side of the horse's legs and attach into the achilles tendon and to the calcaneus (the bony protrusion of the hock).

The Hamstrings are known as: "The Semi Brothers."

They are the muscles used when you get KICKED.

Ouch.

These are VERY STRONG MUSCLES.

Why are these muscles important to riding????

The Hamstrings help create the SWING (freedom) and the SUSPENSION (push) in your horse's stride. Therefore, they need the ability to FLEX. The range of motion in these muscles should be similar to the range of motion in your Long Back muscle (remember the name??).

When the hamstrings flex correctly and push the stride forward, it is similar to doing squats.

Go. Do some squats. (When horses do squats, they're called piaffes!!)

Now do squats and move forward. Focus on HOW your hamstrings feel. Are they flexible? How deep can you sit on one leg before you have to release it and push yourself onto the other leg. How much SUSPENSION can you create with your own hamstrings? Do ya feel the burn!?!?!?

Transfer this movment to your horse's backside. What do you want to feel????

When your horse is using his/her hamstrings well, there is freedom in the gait and the hindlegs can "track-up." The gait is loose and swinging (because his/her back is moving, too!) and, most importantly, the gait is comfortable. Hamstrings that are inflexible create a very bouncy trot - one that throws you out of the saddle, but does not allow you sit back down into the gait - more "pogo-sticking" - because the horse cannot sit back down into his/her OWN gait.

With the give and take in the hamstrings, your horse can absorb the movement and then send it forward to the next stride creating a "bouncing ball" rhythm that you can ride and ride...and ride...and...ride.....

Here are some things to do when you horse is having sticky issues in his/her hamstrings:
1) Transitions. Get the answer and worry about PRETTY later. Get your transition when YOU want them and your horse's self-carriage will improve, therefore, his/her overall position.

2) Backing. After a warm-up of FORWARD! Halt your horse momentarily and ask for the back WITHOUT USING YOUR REINS. Give the cue from your body and don't let your horse talk you into using the reins. This gives him/her an out if he/she gets tense. Be wise, however, if your horse is offering to rear - be safe instead of sorry - move forward out of the back and try again.

3) Baby Walk Pirouette. I call them "baby" because they are BIG. Make sure as you turn into your pirouette, that your horse continues to move forward AND his/her hindlegs keep moving. If your horse happens to get "stuck," GO FORWARD. Try your baby walk pirouette on the next turn.

4)"Western Pleasure" jog. I'm not trying to piss anybody off here. A correct & true "jog" is one off the horse's butt and topline. Asking for a slow, deep flexing jog does just that - flexes the hamstrings deeper and slower then a forward, swinging trot. It is a great lunge line exercise to help free up the hinquarter and the back.

Next Blog: The complimentary muscles that help the hamstring.

The Long Back muscle - Longissimus Dorsi

The Longissiumus Dorsi is called the "Long Back" muscle for a good reason...It extends from the Pelvis to the Cervical vertebrae (neck bones). That is a looooooonnnnnggggg way.

It is the muscle that the saddle, and essentially, YOU sit on. (The other back muscles that accompany it are: the Spinalis and the Illiocostal, respectively)

It may be the most important muscle in the Equine body when it comes to riding. It is important for TWO reasons:

1) Since the saddle sits on this muscle, the Longissimus is influenced greatly by HOW and WHERE the saddle fits. A poorly fitting saddle is like a poorly fitting shoe. Painful. Restrictive. Just plain uncomfortable. It may sit too far forward, to far back, be too tight, be too loose, be too small, be too big. These saddle issues create problems for not only the horse and his muscles, but the rider and his/her balance, as well.
A well fitting saddle is, of course, the opposite - Comfortable. The well fitting saddle sits in balance to the shape of the horse's back. It allows for movement through the shoulder, back, ribcage, loin and hindquarters. The rider is able to stay in balance while in the saddle. Saddle fit is one of the first things that should be checked before riding your horse. There are professional saddle-fitters that will make house calls and get you a great saddle.

2) How the muscle is used. In the walk & trot- the Longissimus Dorsi moves back and forth on either side of the back. When the left side goes "forward", the right side goes "back", and vice versa. In the canter - the muscle moves ALMOST together, with the "inside" muscle coming forward with the stride and bit sooner then the "outside."

Now - try to visualize this muscle movement. Can you see the back swing in the trot? What about in the canter?? Can you see the "long back" muscle moving? Great.

Now - visualize it with a poorly fitting saddle...AND the rider. Try first with a saddle that is too tight. Then with a saddle that is too big. How about that is too far forward. What can you see in the horse's movements?

Too Tight - This pinches the back and shoulder area like a shoe that is laced too tight. In turn, the back drops to avoid the pinch, the horse's head comes up, and the stride becomes short and choppy. There is no swing over the back.

Too Big - There are a few problems here: the saddle may slide up onto the shoulders, restricting the forward and backward movement of the scapula. Essentially, the shoulder is blocked much like the saddle that is too tight. Another problem may be that the saddle drops back and downward behind the shoulders. This causes a pinch behind the withers and the saddle may actually sit on top of the withers. This can also cause the back to drop, the head to raise up, and again, no swing over the back. Then there is the saddle that just moves all over the place. Without a good fit, it moves forwards, backwards, sideways...imagaine trying to keep your balance with not knowing where the saddle will be next. That goes for horse AND rider!

Obviously, a well fitting saddle will sit correctly and give the horse and the rider a good fit and a good ride.
With a well fitting saddle, there are no pressure points. The weight of the rider is evenly distributed throughout the saddle. This is seen by an even sweat mark left by the saddle.
There is plenty of room for the shoulder to move. You can test this by putting the saddle on and moving the front leg up, forward, and back to see where it moves adjacent to the saddle.
Also, the channel of the saddle is W I D E enough to allow room for the spinous processes of the vertebrae. The channel should sit on either side of the vertebrae using a hands width as measurement.
Finally, there should be ample room in the pommel area for the withers. Your hand should easily fit inside and down into the saddle's channel.

Now these are the BASICS about saddle fit. And I know it seems like common sense. Even so, the next time you head out to ride your horse, check these basic points on your saddle.

If your saddle is a great fit, you will be on the road to keeping your horse's long back muscles healthy. With healthy muscles your horse's back will swing, his head will naturally relax and lower, and he will push correctly with his hindend. Creating a overall healthy horse will lead to his longevity and years of great riding.

Learn your Bio-Mehcanics!!!

I guess one of the things I find fascinating, and a little frustrating, is the lack of knowledge about HOW a horse's body moves.

Most folks know that horse have the three basic gaits: Walk - four beat rhythm. Trot - two beat rhythm. Canter - three beat rhythm. There are variations on all these gaits in their speed and suspension depending on the breed.

Breed aside - The faster you move in a gait - the less suspension you have. Think about this. Don't confuse FAST with BIG. When a horse motors along at, say, a fast trot, the legs move, the back gets stiff and the head comes up (picture an Icelandic Pony). The stride is not long and flowing, but short and choppy. I call it "pogo-sticking" because the horse stabs at the ground instead of pushes off the ground.

On the other hand, when a horse motors along at a slower trot, the legs move, the back begans to swing, and the head relaxes and lowers (picture a (good) Training level Dressage horse). Don't confuse SLOW with SMALL. The stride is longer, but not lazy, and the horse has moments of being off the ground in SUSPENSION. That's the push.

Now ask yourself, which would you rather ride? Short, fast and choppy? Or long and flowing?

This flowing gait can be created in any horse where the goal is freedom in the movement. Freedom in movement allows for relaxed and stretching muscles, which allows for contraction and relaxation over a greater range of motion.

For example...You want you horse to be "collected." (A mis-used concept, but out there none-the-less) You pick up the reins and put your leg on and press your horse "into" the bridle. His head is tucked and he can carry you very slowly at any gait. And this is your daily routine.

Now ask yourself - What are the Muscles doing????

When you ask for small muslces movements over and over, that's exactly what you get. Small. However, in the constant CONTRACTION (small), your horse's muscles do not get a chance to STRETCH and move in a relaxed way (big). By riding your horse with small muslce movement and not allowing your horse to go forward with BIG muscle movement, you end-up lowering his range motion further, and in-turn create a horse that eventually can't do the small muscle movement because his muscle have ratcheted down so much, he has NO range of motion.

There is a remedy for this. Let your horse GO FORWARD. Go! Go! Go! Pretend you are riding out with the hounds! Let your horse put his head DOWNWARD. When he learns to stretch downward, he will open up his topline and strengthen his neck, back, and hindquarters. Ride your body into BIGGER movement with more suspension to encourage him to do the same. Think Big. Think Suspension. Think Air Time. Let your horse take the reins. Work up to feeding reins out to the buckle (be aware of how your horse make react to the freedom and ride accordingly as he may feel like woo-hooing! with all the freedom). When/if he gets "sticky," send him forward.

His ability to be able to balance and stretch will improve as his "full range of motion" strength gets bigger and longer. Give yourself a good three months of "stretch" time. This may seem like FOREVER! but it is winter and the perfect time before the show season kicks back into high gear.

Next blog - the muscles you are stretching.

If you have any questions - call or post them on my Facebook page!

More Observations...

Continuing on my "A" show observations...I, naturally, look at movement while the horses are going through their tests. Not only do I watch the horses, I watch the riders.

Out of the twelve or so Dressage tests I watched, more then half of the horses were "off." This "offness" ranged from very subtle to pretty blatant.

"Very subtle" was a minor uneveness in the gait, which was generally most noticeable at the walk.
"Pretty blatant" was marked -what I would call- lameness where the horse was highly irregular at ALL gaits.
Another observation of "offness" was tail-swishing. If nothing else, tail-swishing is indicative of tension, which usually masks some form of pain.

I saw several SchoolMasters packing around less experienced riders. These horse are WONDERFUL for teaching a learning rider the correct "feel" of movement when cued in a correct manner. However, there is a time when these horses just need to be retired. Of the three I watched, only one looked comfortable. He had no irregularities in his gait and his expression was very pleasant. He was packing his rider a bit, but she was doing well. Of the others, it was clearly unpleasant for the horse. These good old boys still packed their riders, but barely. How much can a rider learn from a painful horse?? The answers the horse gives the rider are pain-based, so they are not "correct" movements, leaving the learning rider with a wrong interpretation of the correct movement. They were clearly in pain...an observation that should be made by the trainer/owner. An observation that should lead to the decision to retire these faithful horses.

I guess my point is...PAY ATTENTION!! Note the physical movments your horse makes when you ask for different moves or gaits. Then try to analyze what you feel or see. Maybe you don't feel anything...If you don't, you should. That something to think about. Maybe you don't feel anything wrong. Great! But think about having someone watch you ride and point out things they see. Experienced eyes on the ground are always good. Then you can ask...Was that a head twist? Or did it come from the hindend?? Why did my horse pop-up when I asked for the canter transisiton? Is it me? Is it him/her? Does he/she understand exactly what I want?? Learn the BIO-MECHANICS of CORRECT MOVEMENT.

It's not just for Dressage horses anymore!

Correct Bio-Mechanics applies to every discipline of riding...Because when your horse moves correctly, he/she is comfortable. Comfort encourages relaxation. Relaxation encourages learning. And learning is our goal.