Ground Work Ahead!

I ordered three new books from Amazon today.  Wish I had them for my trip home on Wednesday, LOL. That’s probably my one chance to really read them for a block of time.  I have been thinking of doing some more advanced ground work with Bella, my Morgan.  I bought “Horse Training In-Hand: A Modern Guide to Working from the Ground: Long Lines, Long and Short Reins, Work on the Longe.

This is the description of the book: Bringing new life to time-tested techniques, this gorgeously illustrated book shows how "in-hand" methods can be used by the modern equestrian to better a horse's performance in any discipline. Thorough, step-by-step instructions for promoting subtle communication via the handler's voice, body, and reins will improve the horse's straightness, suppleness, balance, collection, and understanding of the aids. With its ability to improve communication between participants and instill in the horse lightness and obedience, these methods are the perfect way to start an immature or green horse, safely begin remedial training with a problem animal, confirm movements taught first under saddle, maintain an older horse's flexibility and balance, and allow those unable to ride a method to continue training and conditioning their horse at the highest level. Specific exercises cover the longe and double-longe lines, long lines, and long and short reins. Featuring patterns that put all the lessons together, the book confirms that in-hand training is the very best way to teach and condition a horse for both serious schooling and recreational pursuit.

My miniature mare, Nadia, is much more ‘ground schooled’ than the Morgan.  It’s the nature of Miniature horses to be worked on the ground a lot, there are mini in hand trail classes, obstacle classes, and more.  Mini horses that show have a lot of ground work.  I wonder if people sometimes might just ride all of the time and not work so much from the ground.  As a horse driver as well I like ground work, but with limited time and the need to practice riding our ground work between Bella and I has been limited to longing, mostly to work out the extra energy before starting a riding session and to warm up muscles. 

"This book shows how schooling in-hand can improve not only the horse's movement, but also communication between horse and human . . . A great book for learning the importance of groundwork!"  —Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar

This year I’m going to do a lot more ground work.  I think it’s something that will benefit us both.  I don’t always have the energy to dress up and mount up after a long work day, but I think tacking her up for some ground work only might be just as rewarding and will help us along toward our ultimate goal – teamwork and being good communicators.

Bella Longing Summer 2010

Why Dressaging Up?

Dressaging Up,  what made me choose that name for my blog?  It’s essentially a play on “dressing up” which all girls like to do and in which the sport of dressage excels, though other equestrian sports have equally elegant attire.

For me, it’s more of a moving up, or forward in training, both for myself and my horse.  I look at the many facets of both riding and training when I say that.  The USDF web site has this to say, “Dressage is a French term meaning “training” and its purpose is to develop the horse’s natural athletic ability and willingness to work making him calm, supple and attentive to his rider.”  (What is Dressage)

One thing I have learned this go round in relearning riding is that the horse will not develop properly in training if the rider is not developed, or developing, also.  This was an essential lesson to me in learning to ride Bella.  She was relatively young, 5, when I bought her.  Her training was basic at that time.  During the two years we worked and trained together she learned to walk, trot and canter with a rider, on a longe, and many other nice manners such as standing still for a rider to mount.  (I continue to appreciate that!)  She was still maturing and is still learning.

I, however have been a bit delayed in getting solid in the canter.  I am still working in the walk trot level.   I am learning to be more than a passenger.  I am learning to be Bella’s trainer, she my partner.  This month I am working hard to get my winter lazy body ready to ride again.  I will be ‘training’ for a couple more weeks – exercising and preparing to ride soon.  I’m going to investigate an exercise routine, maybe I’ll see about Pilates.  I’ll let you know how that goes.

Bella and I have found a new place to train, Pine Meadow Farm, with Celeste Brown. Celeste is a Morgan Sport horse breeder and dressage rider. Her stallion has some impressive wins. I love that she takes the Morgan as a sport horse seriously. It is a lot longer drive than my one mile drive to the former trainers but 'art' is worth the effort.

Before I started lessons I sent Celeste a video of me riding Bella last summer just before we showed. It was some of my best riding so I thought she might be able to see where I was and consider what she wanted me to start on. I was expecting something different than getting my entire seat, legs and balance together (OK, I knew about the hands!) She thought I showed too much "derrieres" in my video. I see what she means, you can see it too on my video.

I got to ride Aikane (Hawaiian meaning ‘Friend”). He is an older boy and a lot less ‘forward’ (I love that term) than our Bella. Riding in a dressage saddle is very much different than my ‘all purpose’ saddle. I broke down and purchased my dressage saddle, though I really wanted a different once, I got a Wintec. Wow, I barely feel secure on the horse! Bella loved it immediately, put her head down and rounded up, wow! Celeste hasn’t seen me on it yet. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have an indoor just yet and I’m not hardy enough to brave the NY winter riding outside.

Bella and I haven’t worked together all winter. On December 21 I had rotator cuff surgery and it was the beginning of a very snowy and icy winter. As I write now, its mid March, we are looking at the end of this season and the beginning of a new one, riding season!

Bella and I will move ourselves to Pine Meadows the first week of April so start the training process for 2011. Hopefully, this will be a year of more togetherness for our team. I hope to post weekly how I am doing, what I am learning and some interesting photos, videos and links for other dressage fans.

"Success will only come to the dressage rider who wins the friendship of his/her four-legged partner and turns him into a ally"~Alois Podhajsky

Dressage. I love the very sound of the name. To me it means more than training, but realizing a complete connection with my horse. Bodies and minds focused on our movements together.

Bella, my beautiful Morgan mare and I have been training for two years. For the last two summers we have been riding hunt seat while I try to get my 50+ year old body to respond anything like I remember long years ago when I first started riding.

We had the privilege of training at Trinity Farm in Broadalbin, NY. Suzanne Haberek and her team are amazing and wonderful to work with. Suzanne introduced me to Bella and arranged for me to make her my own, long dreamed of, Morgan friend. Then Sue and her team trained Bella and I, first separately, then together. For two years I rode nearly every week, sometimes twice per week lessons, especially in show season.

The first summer Bella and I went with the Trinity team to two local shows. We competed in the Walk-trot 18 and over. We were shaky but came home with blues one time and reds another. The classes that year had one other competitor! Even so it was good experience for us both. Last summer we went only once. Our first class, WT equitation, Bella would not trot, no matter what. In the second class, WT pleasure, I rode with a crop but used it only lightly as a guide. She trotted smartly, we were in Sync and we rode away with the blue. I was ecstatic and so proud of us.

During that last year with Trinity, Suzanne pulled me in to her office and told me I had achieved my dream, Bella and I were communicating, we are a team! We went home to our new paddock to ride all fall and keep working together.

For now Bella and I have moved on. Trinity is not focused on Morgans as Sport horses or dressage so we part sadly to see what more we can accomplish.