Glenshee Equestrian Centre

Holiday Ponies

2011-12-17T19:21:00.003-05:00

I know I’ve been pretty lax in my posting lately. I have plenty of excuses, but none of them are especially convincing, so I won’t insult anyone by listing them here. The truth is I’ve probably just had too many other things on my mind to put much thought into posts anyone might remotely want to read. I’ve got limited time and space in my brain these days, which is a really bad combination.

I’ve also been feeling a little grinchy in general. I got my Christmas shopping out of the way pretty early (for me) and did a minimum of decorating. I didn’t even bother with a tree this year. Instead I got a dumpster and decided to tear apart my house, garage, barn, loft, feed shed and equipment shed and finally get organized—kind my gift to myself this year—so it seemed counterproductive to drag a tree and decorations out into the middle of the chaos.

I wouldn’t call myself a hoarder or anything, but I have a definite knack for hanging onto semi-useful stuff that’s past its prime with the well-intentioned rationalization that: I’ll find a use for it in the barn somewhere! And I seldom do. So ripping through closets, tack trunks and every other nook-and-cranny for unused junk and tossing it has been kind of liberating. On the flip-side, it’s also been great rediscovering stuff I’d put away and sort of forgotten about a long time ago, like the awesome blanket with the horse head on it my grandma knitted for me when I was about seven; that deserves a special place somewhere.

But aside from a few fond memories, I found I was able to be pretty ruthless about ditching stuff to get rid of the clutter. Which is why one incident from this last dumpster day kind of surprised me. Up in the loft I had our little blanket room piled with bags full of old linens and things. While sorting through them I came across one of those plastic zipper storage bags full of little stuffed ponies and other critters from who-knows-when. Now, I’m a long way off from being a kid, and I’m not the kind of adult who still plays with stuffed animals. So I thought, “what on earth am I doing with these things?” I thought for a minute my little nieces might want them, but they have tons of their own stuffed toys, so I decided to toss them. Into the back of the pickup they went, I drove over to the dumpster and I started chucking stuff in.

But when I was done throwing everything into the dumpster, I looked over and something about those little stuffed ponies sitting on top of the trash heap just looked so wrong to me. I couldn’t stand it. Sure, I had no real use for them. But I couldn’t throw them in the dumpster, either. So, I admit it: I went dumpster-diving after them. I fished them out and put them on the seat next to me in the pickup. And I sat there and just looked at them, the big goofy chestnut horse looking up at me, reminding me half of Nate and half of one of my favorite Christmas-time characters, the Skin Horse in The Velveteen Rabbit. I can never remember what the entire story is about with all the scarlet fever and the fires and woodland bunnies and nursery magic; I mainly just remember this quote:

"It doesn't happen all at once, said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

-The Velveteen Rabbit

For me, in an odd way, they're words to live by. And, as I look around my stable, it’s largely a herd made up of other people’s throwaways—by “people who don’t understand.” Horses others had given up on. Horses they told themselves they’d “outgrown.” Horses they believed had no purpose or reason to exist. I struggle every day to make sure each of those horses knows how much they are loved and wanted, and I can’t imagine not loving each of them enough to keep and care for them no matter what.

So, yes, I’m a sap, but I’m keeping my ponies. All of them.

I’m sorry I don’t get to visit and chat with all of you more often, but it makes me happy to know there are so many Real people out there! Happy holidays to all of you and your critters!

"On the Bit" - Getting Started

2011-10-21T23:03:00.002-04:00

Long, Low Frame

The basic theory behind using the leading rein to get the horse stretching and relaxed in his topline is based on a technique advocated by Boucher. He understood that, in order to raise the head and invert the topline, the horse has to brace the muscles on both sides of the neck. Bringing the head to one side with a gentle leading rein (he employed a lifting hand for this) disengages those braced muscles and allows the head to lower, which in turn allows the rest of the topline to begin to relax.

So what I play with when relaxing a stiff/inverted horse, or teaching a horse to accept contact or carry himself in a low frame, is this leading rein.

“Long and low” means a lot of different things to different people. I define it, not as a horse with his head between his knees (stretching,) but one who is relaxed and round in his topline while maintaining a “long” frame, i.e., no collection. Typically, in this frame the horse’s nose does not drop much below his elbow at the lowest point, and there is no loss of balance, rhythm or impulsion.

Contrary to popular belief, I don’t think one starts with a horse in a high, round carriage and then works on gradually lowering the frame to get “long and low.” For me, I start with the long, low, relaxed frame offered naturally by the horse once this relaxing work begins, and build up very gradually to greater collection and weight-bearing by the hind end, which will eventually raise the frame…. This lower, longer frame becomes “home base,” and we go to it at the beginning and end of rides, between more advanced exercises, and anytime something isn’t going well as a kind of relax-and-reset button. So it’s well worth it to take the time developing the horse’s comfort with this way of going early on.

Begin at the halt. With hands light on the reins, take the inside hand to the side out away from the neck, lifting the bit into the corner of the horse’s mouth (this will work also in a bitless bridle, cavesson or halter as well.) Give with the outside hand to allow the head and neck to bend.
The horse will bend in front of the wither only. Do not try to “create” lateral bend in the body with legs or by any other means.
As the horse flexes his neck to the inside, the bracing muscles relax, and the horse will tend to lower his head, even if only a little. Bend the horse only as much as is necessary to achieve this response.
It is important to release the rein aid as soon as the horse responds and reward him.

Once that has been practiced and established at the halt, try it at the walk. It may be easiest to start on large circles. It’s important to remember that the “Direct (Leading) Rein” aid has the effect of pulling the horse a little onto his inside shoulder; so this aid, when used alone, can cause the horse to gradually spiral in. This is nothing to worry about at this early stage, and it’s best not to confuse the horse yet with corrective rein aids or opposing leg aids. A brief bit of inside leg just as you ask for the inside neck flexion, however, can be a good reinforcer during the exercise, but 90% of the aid should come from the hand. Direction changes can help avoid complicating the issue of staying out on the circle if you find the horse falling in too much.

When riding on straight lines, keep the contact even until you want to relax the topline or lower/lengthen the outline—then flex the head and neck inward briefly until the horse responds; release; and continue riding as before. Now you will begin to use the leading rein flexion only as a means to an end or a correction, not a sustained position. This is also how this aid will be applied as the training advances; a more subtle version of this exercise will serve you throughout your horse’s future training.

Once established at the walk, try at an easy trot, etc..

At this early stage, don’t worry about the horse being round from nose to tail. This is initially just about correcting inversion and teaching the horse to relax, lower and lengthen the frame with basic lateral flexion in front of the wither. As I said before, from there the rest is built, moving on to true lateral flexion in the body and then various degrees of longitudinal flexion (roundness, collection.) But this is where it all begins.

I’ll try to post more on the next steps if anyone is interested. Let me know if I can clarify any of this. And if anyone tries this at home, let us know what you think.

Also…

In Hand:

A nice introduction to this kind of work, or a good complement to it, is work on the longe or in long lines. A subtle version of this lateral flexion of the neck can be done with just an ordinary halter/cavesson and longe line, simply asking for a brief inward bend every few strides, keeping the pace forward.

One of my favorite ways to help the horse learn the long, low position is in the chambon. Used properly, this is one of the mildest, clearest and most humane tools of training, imho. It is the only auxiliary or training rein I use; I don’ even use side reins, but I love the chambon and the horses seem to like it too.

If using long reins, have the inside long rein run from the hand, through the cavesson/bit, to the surcingle—this creates a “direct (leading) rein” effect. This is different than the more common attachment, which runs from the hand, through the surcingle, to the cavesson/bit, giving a “direct rein of opposition,” which is incompatible with both the long frame and any kind of inside flexion. Attachment of the outside rein should pass from the hand, through the surcingle, to the cavesson/bit. This rein will give a “direct rein of opposition” aid, so use sparingly and be sure to give generously when bending with the inside rein.

Following Release Follow-Up Questions

2011-04-29T12:06:00.021-04:00

AoifeTheRambler asked some great follow-up questions in a comment on my previous post, so I thought I’d take a few minutes to answer them because I think they are important issues we all deal with when using the following/automatic release.  While I don’t claim this is the definitive ruling on any of these issues, in my opinion and based on my experience, this is how I’d address them:

Q:  “I used to keep my shoulders back (along with most of my torso) no matter what back in the age of the crest release, but now I curl up slightly when I go forward. Is this due to the release, and if so, do you have any tips to fix it without interfering with my release?”

A:  Most of us are taught to ride with an arched back and square shoulders to go along with the crest release.  And with the crest release, this kind of position is possible because the elbows are bent and the support of the upper body rests in the hands, not the hips and back.  Pressing into the hands will actually tend to push the shoulders back.

But when you remove the hands from your upper body support, all that changes.  Now it’s mostly up to your hip, back and abs to hold and balance your upper body.  Arching your back and squaring your shoulders is only going to lock your upper body position in place, preventing you opening and closing your angles naturally with the motion of the jump.   And it’s also going to restrict the following motion you need in your shoulder and arm to give the release properly.  (Try it now while sitting in your chair – it doesn’t work! ;-)

I would say you should still aim to maintain a straight (not arched) back by folding at the hip rather than the waist, but don’t get too upset if your shoulders round forward a bit as your whole arm reaches forward and down to follow the mouth.  I think this is perfectly natural and any attempt to keep the shoulder square while releasing and stretching the arms forward is going to cause unnatural bracing and have weird consequences elsewhere in your position.

Q: “I'm not fully sure about how much contact I'm meant to feel over the fence. I sometimes feel like I'm giving away too much rein, though longer reins suit my horse. How should the contact feel?”

A:  One of the most important advantages of the following release is consistency.  It doesn’t catch the horse in the mouth suddenly in mid-air or completely drop the contact in front of the fence the way a crest release does.

I would say the best guide for how much contact to have in the release is dictated most by the amount of contact you have in the strides leading up to the fence.  If you are steadying to the jump with a stronger feel, then that is probably the best level of contact to maintain over the jump; that won’t upset the horse’s balance in front of the fence and has the added advantage that you’ll have the same steadying contact on the landing that you did on take-off, so you’ll be in a better position to manage the pace and collection to your next fence.  You still have to follow, but it’s ok to keep that feel as you do.  And, of course, if your horse is light and soft, a light soft contact in mid-air and on landing will work beautifully.

The biggest goal is to make as few sudden changes as possible; treat the jump just like another canter stride as much as possible.  But when in doubt, always err on the side of giving away too much rein than holding too much.  Between grabbing the horse in the mouth/restricting with the hand and having too loose a rein, the loose rein is always the lesser of two evils.

Q:  ”Is it a sin for my leg to be further forward than my hip? I try to "crouch" like the cross country riders in your original post on the automatic release, but it's hard to close my angles while maintaining the line between hip and heel. How do they work in unison?”

A:  From a technical standpoint, it is the most balanced "ideal," and if it’s something you’re worried about, there are a few things you can check first.  Does your saddle have a forward enough flap for your stirrup length?  Sometimes if stirrups are too short or the flap isn’t forward enough (or both) it will be tempting to keep the knee anchored in a secure place and orient the rest of the body around it. Keep an eye on stirrup length and practice the habit of riding with your knees forward and down, allowing your heel to come back under your hip as your knee angle closes.  And, yes, your lower leg will move back behind the girth where many riders are taught the leg should never go; this is normal, so don’t panic if, as you shorten your stirrups and close your angles your leg moves back a little.  It may end up a hand or two behind the girth when you’re in position.

But not everyone has the same conformation, and it’s possible your angles just aren’t going to close that way.  That’s perfectly normal.  It’s also the case that, the shorter the stirrups, the farther you’ll get from the “ideal.” Our bodies are designed to balance themselves by keeping the foot more or less under our center of gravity.  Your position will be strongest when that center lines up with your hip and your heel.  But everyone's is different depending on how they're built, and neither position is static – your center of balance will shift slightly depending on the rest of your position.  The more you shorten and crouch, the more out of line it wants to be; think of a jockey’s position.  It’s more important to keep your ankle under your center of balance than in line with some theoretical ideal.

So no, it’s not a huge sin so long as your balance is secure.  My rule of thumb for position is based on function.  The best question you can ask yourself about your jumping position is:

“If I were picked up off my horse and placed on solid ground in this exact position, would I still be able to stand comfortably on my own in good balance?”  Be brutally honest.

If the answer is:  Yes, this is easy… then you’re fine.

If the answer is:  Well, maybe if I put my arms like this or flail around a little, etc…. then you may be asking for trouble.

And if the answer is:  Ouch!  I think I just fell on my ass!... then you’ll need to work on getting your heel under your hip a bit more.

That’s also one you can test out now off your horse – first, make sure no one is watching ;-) Then, stand up and crouch down into a jumping position, closing all the necessary angles (don’t forget your ankles!)  Test how it feels with your hips in front of your heels, in back of your heels; open and close your hip angle, etc..  Anything you can maintain comfortably, keeping your eyes up, your back flat and your shoulders loose while moving your hands forward and back in a following motion is where you want to be on your horse.  Anything that makes you feel like you might fall on your face or your ass is going to need adjustment…

This rule, for me, applies to your riding position at all times, on the flat or while jumping.  If it doesn’t work on the ground, it’s not going to work in the stirrups.  Not everyone will agree, but it makes the most sense to me.

Anyway, hope that answered your questions.  Let me know if there’s anything I can make clearer or if you have any other questions!

Learning the Following Release Over Fences

2011-04-18T18:54:00.001-04:00

Many of us agree that the ideal way to help our horses jump their best is to use the following--or automatic--release. But this is obviously easier said than done. So, what are some ways to practice and perfect this method? Here are a few I’ve found helpful in my own riding and when helping students to wean themselves off the crest release:

1) Flat work: Probably most important is to practice a secure and balanced half-seat and two-point/jumping position at all gaits for at least some portion of your ride every day.

Once your legs, hips, abs and back are strong enough, practice this while concentrating on keeping a fluid, mobile arm; shoulders, elbows, wrists and fingers should all remain relaxed, independent and capable of following the horse's head at all times.
Once you're able to maintain a secure position while keeping a soft following hand in jumping position, practice this without stirrups.

2) Hill work: Chances are there is someplace on your farm or a nearby trail where you can find hills or inclines that you can ride in and out of, even if it's just at a walk. Practice holding a half-seat or a full jumping position without relying on your hands (neither resting on the neck nor balancing on the mouth) while riding up and down inclines at all gaits. They can be low hills and shallow depressions in a field, paddock or trail, or they can be steeper hills and banks. Start small and work your way up.

Know your horse - walking a low hill should be fine for everyone, but cantering down a steep hill may be out of your safety zone for now. That’s okay; do what's comfortable, balanced and safe for you and your horse. The last thing you want is for your horse to get strong, unbalanced or out of control during practice like this, so use your best judgment.
Once you're comfortable with whatever level of hill work you've chosen, you can try it without stirrups.
Hill work will force you to hold the necessary position for longer than the space of a jump as your horse ascends and descends in an extended arc similar to his changes of position over a jump. this will help strengthen your position (think yoga, pilates, etc.) while following more complex movement of the horse.
It will give you time to slowly adjust your seat and arm/hand positions back and forth as the horse both climbs and descends the hill, sort of like jumping in slow motion. Here you can work on your coordination and adaptability to those movements and position changes in the horse, which are like a long, slow-motion jump.
This will be a huge help in building even more strength, as well as improving your control over your position and balance for longer periods. it also means you can practice "jumping" without the jumps!

3) The "low release": This is a great intermediary step in progressing from the crest release to the following release. With this method, rather than perching and resting your hands on top of the neck as in a crest release, you approach the jump (or pole, flower box, etc., if you prefer to start small) as you would one of the hills in the previous exercise; as the horse prepares to leave the ground*, slide our hands DOWN the neck a bit, following the slope of the shoulder, and press your hands into the sides of the neck.

Doing this repeatedly helps to secure the correct low and balanced position over the fence, and gradually you'll find you need the neck less and less for support.
When you feel secure enough, make the same motion forward and down with the hand, but don't press into the neck. It will still be there if you lose your balance and need to catch yourself, but getting in the habit of lowering your hand in the direction of the horse's head and neck movement will help this new position become more natural.
At this stage it isn't necessary to maintain contact with the mouth - a loose rein in mid-air is okay, and probably even a good thing in the early stages in case you accidentally lose your position a little and so you're not tempted to balance on your hand.

*remember, a secure, balanced jumping position means allowing the horse to jump UP TO YOU, absorbing the upward thrust of the jump by CLOSING ALL ANGLES from ankle (a deep heel,) to knee (make sure stirrups are short enough,) to hip (folding the upper body down toward the wither while sliding the seat back toward the cantle.)

Following these progressive steps will give a good foundation for finally taking that last step of not only maintaining a balanced, independent seat and hand over the jump, but actually being able to maintain a soft, following contact with the horse's mouth from take-off to landing, which is the ultimate goal. It won't happen all at once, but knowing how the get there and which steps to prioritize along the way will help in establishing a strong foundation to build on and will eventually make the following release second nature. Like anything else worthwhile in riding, it will take some work, but I think you'll find it's well worth the effort.

Other posts on the subject can be found here:

The Crest Release... and how it Ruined American Jumping

Glenshee's First Online Riding Clinic, Part I

Hope that helps!

Happy B-Day Nate!

2011-04-09T08:02:00.000-04:00

Just a quick post to say Happy Birthday to my "Tater." He's 16 today, which means he's been with us for 12 years now! Above is a picture from the first day I ever saw him. He was 4 year old DWB fresh from Holland sent to me for training by a breeder I worked with. For those who don't know how he got his name, his reg. name is "Napoli," but I worried that his inevitable nickname "Nappy" could also mean either a diaper or a recalcitrant horse - neither particularly flattering. But we also had a running joke that he had the attention span of a gnat... and 'gnat' turned into the slightly more flattering "Nate." But of course that has since degenerated into "Nate-o-potato" or just "Tater."

I can't get over how little he's changed since then - just as big and goofy as ever ;-) Once he arrived and I started working with him, I just fell in love with him and ended up buying him for myself. There have been plenty of ups and downs due to his various health issues these last few years, but he was also my companion while traveling across and training in Europe, he's the horse I've jumped the biggest and done the most advanced dressage with, he showed me that it IS possible for a big, powerful warmblood to be featherlight on the aids, and he's taught me the most of any horse about the best feeding and management practices. He's been a great horse and I can't imagine our herd without him. We often call him "the Mayor" as he's everyone's best friend and seems to be the glue that holds the whole thing together. He's the only one who can get away with taking a sample bite from everyone else's bucket when they're fed together outside, and his endless curiosity means he's the one you can always expect to be looking over your shoulder when you're working out in the paddock for any reason ;-)

And since it's a nice day, I think I might head out to the barn, groom him up and maybe take him for a nice hack. And lots of carrots!

Open Letter to “Practical Horseman”

2011-02-25T11:26:00.001-05:00

“If I didn’t have the pulley rein…” - Stephanie Simmonds, Practical Horseman, March 2011

…uh, you’d have to learn to ride?

Doh.

These days I seem to read your publication mainly as an exercise in voluntary frustration. Until now, I have never felt the overwhelming need to respond to any of the many asinine articles I find there for two simple reasons:

1. Who has that kind of time? Nearly every article in your magazine contains something ridiculous or just plain offensive, and people need to sleep and eat; and

2. It would be a futile effort, as I know my voice is one among a minority of riders out there who genuinely care about good horsemanship, not just ribbons.

Honestly, I don’t know why I continue to subscribe. I suppose it’s more akin to rubbernecking a car wreck on the highway. I read your magazine much in the same way some people read the “National Enquirer”—for the shock value and a few laughs.

I’ve monthly combated the urge to write a strongly worded letter to the Editor. But now I reluctantly write this letter, knowing in advance it is an exercise in futility, and that next month’s edition will be filled with the same sort of crap that fills all of them.

Case in point: “The Pulley Rein: Not just for Emergency Stops.”

Excuse my language but, are you fucking kidding me?

I couldn't even read the rest of the edition, it looked so scary. This article alone is just so shocking I can’t bring myself to fathom what other horrors it might contain.

I mean, I’ve come to expect your sycophantic ass-kissing of celebrity trainers like George Morris over the years. I may not agree with all of it, but at least I can brace myself when I open to the “Jumping Clinic” section because I already expect I’ll find him fawning over some ass-in-the-air, draped-over-the-neck rider catching her inverted horse in the mouth with a beginner’s crest release, while obsessing over her degree of fashion-savvy. Sure, the advice he should be giving is that she should be at home jumping cross-rails or on a longe learning to ride properly. But, I guess when you create the rules and actively set the standards for the rest of the H/J world, you also get to be the final judge, even if the finished product is a disgrace. By now I’m well accustomed to the stupid articles these “riding elite” produce and the blatant idol-worship your magazine flogs.

But then, suddenly, a person called Stephanie Simmonds* gets a glossy six-page spread wherein she can expound her questionable practices and wreak havoc among those who are apt to take anything they find in print as gospel. While I should applaud you for finding a less well-known trainer to offer advice to riders for a change, this latest article may have been the most absurd thing I have ever read there. I’m left wondering if “Practical Horseman” has recently held a contest where, by some kind of lottery, a trainer is selected at random to peddle any pet theory or technique regardless of actual merit? What’s next, a reality show?

The “pulley rein,” as it has been known at least since Gordon Wright and George Morris** so carelessly included it in their manuals on equitation, has been a mainstay of inept riding for so long it seems no one has thought twice about its effects or the implications of its use as a means of basic control. Sure, if you’re headed for a cliff or into the path of an oncoming semi, by all means, go for the pulley rein. If you’re in mortal danger, you can spare the formality of correct riding and give your out-of-control horse a good sock in the chops; you get a pass for that one.

But I’m disturbed by the fact that any riders think that they can and should use this for general riding and even suggest ways to hide it from a hunter judge. Really kids, should things be getting that out of control in the hunter ring? (Not to mention, isn't the fact that it needs to be hidden kind of an admission that it's wrong?)

I'm wondering, just how commonplace has this kind of substitute for actual training become? And just how incompetent are so many of our judges that they can’t see this a mile away, no matter how “subtle” (a relative term in this instance.) I’ll chalk it up as further proof that our selection criteria for judges are seriously flawed, for one thing (but that’s a rant for a whole other time.) The point is, when the standards are so low, how can we expect the riding to be any better? And when I say low, I mean this method is trawling the bottom of the training toilet; it’s right down there with medieval bits, restrictive draw reins and rollkur.

Here’s an idea!: Don’t drag your poor horse to shows or jump him around courses until you’ve trained him (and yourself) so you can make it around without resorting to emergency measures in front of every fence and around every turn. Unless death or major injury is imminent, the pulley rein is out of bounds. And if disaster is that close at hand around every turn or at every jump, you might want to have a think about finding a better trainer before you get yourself killed.

Both the Wright and Morris books demonstrate a tenuous-at-best grasp on the effects and usage of the Five Rein Aids. The “pulley rein” is not—and will never be—among those proper five. It’s nothing but a bastardized form of a rein effect known as “the direct rein of opposition,” only much, much stronger and more damaging. The author of this sad article is clearly ignorant of the effects this rein has on the horse’s positioning, movement, balance and the parts of the mouth it rather brutally affects. All of these factors have consequences that need to be taken into account any time an aid is used.

As an example of such a consequence, the pulley rein produces an unbalancing “handbrake turn” effect on the horse which causes a rotation in the horse’s hindquarters in the opposite direction of the rein aid, which must then be countered with stronger opposing leg and hand aids. It is never an appropriate aid for turning at speed. Neither should it ever be used for “slowing” a horse, as any necessary pace reduction (or if we want to get fancy, how about some collection?) can be accomplished with any combination of seat, weight and voice aids, and finally, should those prove inadequate, a correct use of “the direct rein of opposition,” which, let me reiterate, is NEVER a forward turning rein—the only turning it is appropriate for is a turn on the forehand.

If, after applying all of those aids, you still can’t adjust the horse’s speed or degree of collection, guess what? You have no business calling yourself a trainer and certainly no business jumping courses yet. Go back to the beginning and learn how to use and coordinate the aids correctly and then ride and train your horses properly for the job at hand. You don’t get to just grab a fistful of mouth and start pulling when things go horribly wrong. You certainly don’t get to do that and then call yourself a trainer and hand out advice to others.

If you want to do your readers a favor, try doing a series on the correct use of the traditional Five Rein Aids, not misinterpreted as they appear in the Wright/Morris manuals, but as they are described and applied in the classical literature. But then, I may be overestimating your readership; such academic treatment of the arts of riding might be a bit above the pay grade of an audience generally more interested in celebrity trainers, quick fixes and the fastest route to the ribbons.

So much about this article has exasperated me with its mind-numbing ignorance that I won’t bother to go on and refute each offensive point, or I’d end up writing this from the padded cell of a mental institution. To put it bluntly, this article is complete crap and it should be considered criminal to waste six whole pages of a magazine (I mean, think of the trees!) on passing this off as an appropriate riding and training method, especially as your readers presumably subscribe because they wish to learn good horsemanship. But I could be missing something here: Maybe there’s a difference between being a “good” horseman, and being a “practical” one?

*apparently, she's not the only misguided one out there--a quick google search coughs up these dubious advocates.

**in fairness, their books DO say the pulley rein is just for emergency stops--i don't think they intended for people to take it to this extreme, but maybe it's time to take a little responsibility for what we put out there and try to correct any misunderstandings, hmm mr. morris...?

Molly

2011-02-13T21:00:00.001-05:00

A lot of horse blogs are doing a valentines’s day tribute to their horses with stories about how they came to fall in love with their equines. Normally I’m kind of anti-valentine’s day on principle, but this year I feel like I have to take a moment to remember the day I met my best friend of 18+ years, a dog named Molly.

All those years ago, I went to visit my aunt who worked with an aussie rescue and was keeping a young dog at her home until she could be placed. I had no intention of getting a dog of my own at the time, but the moment I walked into her living room, this little black and tan dog with white paws and a freckled nose leapt over the side of her pen, ran over to my side and rested her head on my knee. She was adorable and sweet and she wouldn’t leave my side the entire visit.

I was convinced she must have been trained to do that or something, but my aunt swore to me the dog had never done anything like that with anyone else before. So what choice did I have? I adopted her then and there and took her home. And she spent the next 18 years by my side.

As some who visit here may know, I posted three months ago (I’ve since removed the post so as not to upset any of the parties involved) about how Molly was run over by an SUV here in my driveway and had her leg shattered. Miraculously, she survived. We spent the last months trying to help her heal and recover. And it seemed to be going well. But the process was hard on her aged body, with all the medications and heavy sedation during weekly splint changes, and during the last two weeks she began to decline. She was sick, not interested in eating, and generally depressed. Her vets and I did everything we could think to try to bring her back around, but nothing seemed to be working.

On Saturday I took her to the vet to see if there was anything else that could be done for her. Unfortunately, I had to return home without Molly. The night before, she had begun chewing at her bandage for the first time in three months, and I knew something had to be wrong. I had no idea how bad it was. Apparently her leg had swelled beneath the bandage and a piece of tape securing a dressing over one of her pressure sores cut into her leg and cut off all circulation to the skin below. A large portion of skin over her wrist had been completely destroyed, and large sections of tendon were exposed. There was no way to close the wound with the remaining skin on either side and the doctor thought the odds of this healing were not in her favor. So, horrible as it was, I made the difficult decision to end her suffering rather than put her through more painful--and possibly unsuccessful--healing. It was probably the hardest decision I have ever had to make.

I always knew she was tough, but I had no idea just how brave she was. Her perseverance through it all, and her enthusiasm for life--even under such awful circumstances--were extraordinary. She lived a full life, loved all those around her, and fought to the very end, all while remaining her sweet, positive, upbeat self. It may sound strange to say it, but she was my hero.

When I think about all the other relationships, friends, acquaintances, etc. that have come and gone over the years, apart from family, none of them were ever a part of my life for so long. And none of them have been missed the way I already miss my Molly. She was my friend, my sidekick, my guardian and my constant companion for 18 of her nearly 19 extraordinary years. She was truly a special dog, and she’ll never be forgotten. This valentine’s day, my heart goes out to my best friend, Molly.

Hay Net Helpers

2011-01-24T14:30:00.002-05:00

I'm a big fan of slow feed nets for my horses. Not only do they slow down my hungry hippos, keep them busy and their bellies full until morning, they also help reduce waste. I used to simply hang a net or two in each stall, but filling them got to be a chore, so I fixed half the net to the bars to make them easier to fill and then tied the pull-rope off to close them. That worked well for a while until I saw a neat idea on another site and decided to give it a try.

Someone had woven two poles through either side of the top of the net so it could be opened and closed like a sandwich bag. I bought a few Freedom Feeder nets because of their size and square shape, got some dowels from the hardware store and made some up. I used the big sturdy snaps I normally hung my hay nets with, which have a 1" ring at one end, to slide over the ends of the dowels. They were secured to the wall with some screw eyes. Then all I had to do to fill a net was unsnap two snaps, drop in the hay, and snap them back up.

This worked great for months, and the Freedom Feeders held up pretty well, but our biggest, hungriest hippos eventually ate through the nets. While researching new materials, I came across these hockey nets which are sold in bulk and cut to the desired length at Arizona Sports Equipment. They are super-sturdy nets available in a variety of sizes and lengths, they are fairly chew and paw-proof, and the cording is wide enough that it's unlikely a shoe will get caught in it, so they can be hung low to the ground. Another nice bonus is that they are woven rather than knotted, so I think the smoother texture must be easier on the horses.

Since this system has worked so well in our stalls, first with Freedom Feeders, and now with the "hockey hay nets," I decided to try an experiment for making outside hay feeding easier using these sturdy hockey nets.

Up until now, I have been stuffing upwards of 10 slow feed nets per day to allow the seven horses enough to eat while also playing their little game of musical hay nets. But stuffing those nets, even when you've got it down to a science, is a pain in the butt, especially in these cold temps where the nets and ropes are frozen stiff, the snaps are ice-cold and often stuck shut, and your fingers don't work anymore. Necessity (or maybe in this case, laziness) is the mother of invention. To make morning chores easier and quicker so I can maybe get to work on time one of these days, I came up with this net:

I bought the 90" net and had it cut to 8', the length of fence board between two posts. Here I wrapped the top fence board with one end of the net. A length of clothesline was woven through the net and tied to the posts on either side to hold it closed and secure the net.

Then I did the same, wrapping the bottom of the net around the middle fence board, weaving a line through and tying it off on the posts.

Then I laced up the open sides of the net, leaving a nice pouch hanging inside the fence line to hold hay. From the outside of the fence line, I can now just drop hay in between the fence boards and it falls into the net. No more tying ropes or messing with snaps. Each nets fits an entire 50-80lb bale of hay, and is big enough for at least two horses to share.

Nate supervised the entire operation to make sure it was to his specifications. Can't tell if he's happy with the progress or maybe this is just him smirking at the involuntary snow angel I made while attempting to climb over the snow bank next to the fence - and yes, there are pictures of that too (thanks a lot mom! ;-) but I won't be posting them here!

The nets may not be beautiful, but they are handy. The small holes still slow feeding and prevent a lot of waste, but now without the hassle of stuffing, tying and hanging individual nets. I put up a total of five of these nets, so even if a few don't want to share or they want to play musical hay nets, there's still enough to go around.

Here's Nate testing one out for himself. Hope it's up to his high standards!

It looks like so far the herd approves!

More about "On the Bit": Calm, Forward and Straight

2010-11-17T22:25:00.004-05:00

I’ve been thinking about the role and responsibility of the seat and leg aids in “on the bit” and whether “on the bit” is dependent on those aids from the rider or simply influenced and/or refined by them at a later stage of training. I got to wondering about all of this because all of the horses I start are given considerable training from the ground long before they are ever backed, and that ground work continues in addition to ridden work as a part of their training for the rest of their careers. An important part of that ground work for me is introducing the horse to contact with the bit and the rein effects before riding in hopes of developing the best possible relationship between horse and hand, while also developing the correct form and balance needed for their later ridden work.

Contrary to popular belief, longeing is not just a way to give horses a little exercise when you’re too busy to ride (though that’s not a bad thing) and it shouldn’t be the way to burn off excess energy when they are too nervous or excited to ride. Longeing can (and imo should :-) be used as part of a complete training program. In most classically influenced training methods, horses spend a great deal of time training in hand, on the longe and/or in long reins, usually working from a cavesson or bit with some form of rein connected to (or through) a longeing surcingle well before their work under saddle even begins. And while I also think it is good to longe a horse without tack once in a while, those reins can be an important part of developing a dressage and/or jumping horse.

Why We Start Horses on the Longe
In a way, “dressage” can be summed up as the art of riding a horse straight on a curved line. A horse's natural balance on a curved line versus what we need from him for dressage and jumping are two very different things. At liberty, the horse’s natural inclination when turning is to shift the shoulder into the direction of movement while swinging the head and neck to the outside as a counterbalance; in other words, the horse naturally counter-bends through the turn, usually with the topline inverted. The only time one ever really sees a horse look and bend into the direction of his turn is when he’s circling around an object he’d like to keep his eye on. While western riding often allows a position closer to the horse’s natural movement through neck reining, the inward-facing posture is the one we try to create in our riding horses for dressage and most jumping. But it doesn’t happen on its own. It must be taught and developed carefully and gradually over time.

Correct longeing with some kind of a rein - on either a type of a cavesson or a bit connected to a surcingle or saddle - is a great way to teach and develop this without adding the complications of other aids (which the horse may not even know yet) and the rider's weight for the horse to contend with. In this way it is easier to adhere to the horseman’s mantra of “calm, forward, and straight.” Sometimes removing unnecessary stress and simplifying the equation to just the basics of positioning and impulsion is enough to teach the horse to carry himself as we’d like and learn to go “on the bit” without over-complicating things with too many aids or overtaxing the horse physically before he’s ready.

When he can be encouraged to adopt a gentle inside flexion, as with properly used long reins*, he relaxes the muscles bracing his neck and topline in their inverted posture, stretches forward and down, and seeks a light contact, which I would consider the basis of being “on the bit.” Here he releases and begins rounding up in his back, realigns his shoulders and begins to use them more freely, loosening his whole frame and engaging/tracking up behind. The same effect is achieved with correct use of the chambon, which opposes only bracing and inversion, and rewards any effort at relaxation, stretching and release through the topline. This resulting positioning and movement is the foundation upon which all the other movements, including collection and good jumping form, are gradually built. And, imho, it begins with the horse placing himself willingly “on the bit,” not the other way around; driving into the hand or forcing the position and then expecting the horse to somehow relax and voluntarily accept the contact seems counterintuitive, to say the least.

But is it Good Enough?

Some may wonder whether the horse can still be properly “on the bit” without the support of all the aids, i.e. the legs, seat and hands. Is this work equally effective, or can the horse only be properly worked with a rider seated on its back employing all of the aids in concert? Some claim the seat and legs are more important to the horse’s balance, movement and engagement than the hand. It’s really appealing to think that could be true. But in a light seat or two-point, the seat is removed from that equation. When longed, both seat and legs are out of the picture. Where does that leave us?

As a hunter/jumper rider primarily, I think I’d take offense to anyone suggesting that, whenever I ride in a light seat or two-point, I lose all connection with my horse and it would be impossible to balance, engage, collect or do much of anything else with my horse properly - much less have him “on the bit” - just because I didn’t have my seat deep in the saddle. I’ve always felt like I could do those things just fine, but maybe I’m a bit biased. ;-) What about longeing?

A lot of people probably don’t realize how much can actually be achieved on the longe. Riding of course has certain advantages over work on the longe, but when it’s done properly, longeing can have some advantages over riding as well, particularly when starting or retraining a horse. Even quite advanced work is possible, as shown in Philippe Karl’s excellent book on long reining. With this kind of method, the horse is essentially “ridden” through to an advanced level from the ground, all while maintaining a soft connection with the rein - and only the rein. Instead of the legs, all impulsion is created from a distance through body language, voice and the whip, but nearly all positioning and balance is influenced through the rein aids. Whether coming from a training aid like side/running reins, an aid like the chambon, or directly from the hand as in long reins - or even the longe line itself to a degree, seat aids never come into play. While I can see the limitations and how it may eventually be preferable to sit on the horse and use all the aids to really refine this work, I think it shows what can be accomplished without those aids.

At the other end of that spectrum is the Spanish Riding School which also does a great deal of its training from the ground, including in (imho restrictive) side reins, and even going so far as to aggressively drive the horse into the bit between the pillars, which represents a very different relationship between horse and bit that some might consider excessive. And yet this school is held up as the paragon of classical horsemanship and dressage, and there is no doubt they have impressive results in their own style.

I can see how either system could be abused, and could be a disaster if executed incorrectly, and the latter may actually be fundamentally flawed if one considers relaxation and sensitivity to the mouth important. But, to my mind, the fact that correct form and movement can be achieved from the ground proves that a driving seat and leg aren't necessary for the horse to carry himself correctly, as some dressage trainers insist. Of course, ridden work can be more refined than longe work because a following seat, the turning seat and weight aids as well as proper use of legs for impulsion, positioning and support can work wonders; once the horse is conditioned to respond to these aids in unison, the rein can often be lessened or even, at times, dispensed with completely. But these aids aren’t mandatory for connection via the rein or balanced positioning and movement – for that one only needs the basics: calm, forward and straight (which I have always interpreted as “relaxed, attentive and balanced.”) And that can be achieved in a number of ways that don’t necessarily involve all the aids, including the rein at times.

My feeling is that, if the horse can’t do it without a rider on him, there’s not much hope he’ll be able to do it better with a rider, and it may not be fair to ask. If it can be done without a rider, then that just means that our aids when we ride can be that much lighter once we do put our butts in the saddle – and the responsibility to use those aids fairly and correctly is even greater! The rider’s role when mounted is to initiate, guide and shape the movement already present in the horse without interference, not to get on and create it from scratch or try to wrestle it out of the horse every time.

I think we can all agree that NO horse of any discipline should ever be trained solely from the hand/rein. While the hand is clearly important in the communication between horse and rider, some riders speak of it as inherently evil, others seem to imply it is simply unnecessary – all the communication with the horse happens through the seat or legs or perhaps even some kind of mutual intuition. On the opposite end of the spectrum are those who act as if their hands on the reins were some kind of a crane that could lift and pull the horse into whatever position they’d like.

As usual, I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Contact and rein aids are neither inherently good or bad – it depends on the quality and sensitivity of that contact and the correct use of the rein aids that determines their virtue or lack thereof. I guess I wonder how interdependent the aids really are, or if they are actually all independent and their best use is a matter of understanding their individual effects and learning to balance and coordinate them all so they complement rather than oppose one another.

*I like to see the inside rein run from the hand, through the inside bit or cavesson ring to the surcingle which gives a gentle “direct” or “opening/leading” rein effect. It is frequently seen running the rein from the hand through the surcingle to the bit/cavesson ring, which creates a “direct rein of opposition” effect which is not conducive to good lateral flexion or lengthening of the topline; this effect, however, is suited for the outside rein which is run over the back or behind the quarters, from the hand through the surcingle to the outside bit/cavesson ring or when ground driving from behind where both reins should be set up this way.

What it Means to be "On the Bit"

2010-11-12T13:53:00.004-05:00

I love getting my www.thehorse.com e-mails, as they are usually filled with interesting news and information for concerned horse owners/trainers like me. So I was a bit dumbfounded by this recent article title:

Study: Horses Prefer Less Rein Tension

It stated:

“According to a new study by European equitation scientists, horses might prefer to avoid rein tension rather than just get used to it. And beyond a certain force threshold, rein tension can cause conflict behavior. To make the most of training and to keep the horse's mouth sensitive, riders need to know when to apply less rein tension, generally when the horse displays conflict behavior.”

When I read the title of this study I thought to myself, “uh, no shit, Sherlock.” Like a previous study stating, “Study: Shelter-Seeking Behavior Most Common in Poor Weather Conditions” this was not a major newsflash. But it was a topic near and dear to my training, so I read on and, to my great unsurprise, the study confirmed what I already knew logically and intuitively for years.

But sometimes the obvious needs to be stated and restated before it really sinks in for some people. And sometimes scientific proof can persuade where common sense fails (though in the case of climate change and evolution, even science doesn’t always satisfy them all, but that’s a rant for another forum ;-) This may be one of those cases.

The more I think about it, the more I realize this isn’t such common knowledge after all. There are plenty of people out there, including some very accomplished and respected riders and trainers, who genuinely believe strong contact and pulling on the bit either doesn’t bother the horse or is actually good for him. There is much talk of “taking” contact and “driving the horse onto the bit” which clearly implies he would otherwise not be there without force. So many trainers and schools of riding advocate fixing a rigid hand and, when the horse tries to evade the strong pressure of this, to drive him forward with the legs, spurs, whip, etc. which will only increase the pressure, until he eventually succumbs and either accepts the pressure or drops behind it but maintains a pretty bend in his neck to fool uneducated onlookers. So it is apparently not obvious, or at least not important, to some that horses are averse to strong pressure on their mouths.

I can just hear the German vs French school crowds complaining that this study was conducted in France and so was designed to vindicate French riding philosophy which is opposed to such forceful riding. After all, the rest of the world seems to defer to a more heavy-handed style of dressage and the sort of riders who employ rollkur or methods like it, so why should some silly French study change their minds?

It’s sad to me we need an entire study to come to this conclusion. To me it seems self-evident.

But there was also some information gained by the researchers which they hadn’t expected and I’d like to delve into a little further, as it relates directly to what, imho, constitutes being “on the bit.”

“On the Bit”
In this recent study on horses’ tolerance for bit pressure, the results were pretty predictable. But there was one conclusion found in the study that may not be as obvious, though it is one I’ve also noted for years and led to my refining my definition of what it means for a horse to be “on the bit.” The article said:

“While they expected the fillies to refuse the rein tension the first day of the study and then gradually increase their tolerance over the following days, they were surprised to find that the opposite was true. 'The horses applied a surprisingly high level of tension on the first day and apparently learned how to avoid the tension, rather than habituate to it,' Christensen said"

I have observed in every single horse I have started in the chambon on the longe the very behavior noted in the study: namely that the horse will begin with too much pressure and gradually learn to lighten that pressure when he is faced with a predictable boundary, i.e. a rein of a consistent length and position or, later, a sensitive, sympathetic hand.

I don’t use the typical training aids when longing such as running reins or side reins because I have seen them encourage evasive behaviors and postures in the horses I’ve worked with (and I won’t touch that Pessoa contraption which is a nightmare of forced, incorrect positioning and conflicting aids!) The horse will generally contort himself in any way possible to avoid or lessen pressure from the bit, and this tends to lead to a horse who is habitually behind the bit, something which too often is remedied by stronger driving aids rather than more yielding rein aids. For many horses it becomes a lesser of two evils kind of struggle where the horse will choose the least painful option – depending on which is more difficult to bear, he will choose either an avoidance posture or accept strong pressure from the bit.

Of course, the horse can’t be blamed for this because he’s been presented with an immovable object in his mouth which prevents the natural movement of his head and neck and punishes rather than rewards any attempt at relaxation (which sets off a chain reaction down the shoulder, back, etc….) I’m not saying all use of side reins is evil; they have been used by great horsemen for ages and at least they do offer a release when the horse gives to their pressure, unlike a restrictive hand which a horse cannot escape no matter how far he contorts himself in order to yield to it (rollkur being an extreme example.) Under special circumstances I might even use side reins if attached to a cavesson rather than a bit. But I think there are better ways to influence a horse’s positioning when longeing and encourage correct development without restriction or force. My aid of choice is the chambon/de gogue.

How this relates to the study:
When I first attach the chambon I teach each horse repeatedly at the halt and leading at the walk how to release the pressure of the device by holding a treat below its point of contact. Each time the horse reaches down and out for the treat, pressure is released (and he is rewarded with a treat!) And yet I find the first time I longe the horse with the chambon attached, he will put significant pressure on the bit and poll-piece, even though the rein is fitted very loosely and he knows perfectly well how to relieve the pressure.

The next time I will leave the rein the same length as the first time, and yet the horse will put considerably less pressure on the rein. This release of pressure continues to a certain point until, no matter where the rein is adjusted, the horse will seek that level of pressure.

The interesting thing is that, when done correctly, this release of pressure goes only so far and no further.

What I have not seen is a horse who seeks to relieve the pressure completely and make the rein slack. Whether it is adjusted loosely or shortened for a more advanced frame (after progressive conditioning, of course,) the horses all seem to seek a basic equilibrium with the rein where there is a particular level of contact specific to that individual horse. It is always a light pressure, but it is a pressure nonetheless. And it is the horse who seeks it. Even when the horse has been physically conditioned to go easily in a more advanced carriage, when the rein is lengthened, he will adjust his positioning accordingly in order to maintain a certain amount of pressure.

It is this pressure, I would argue, that is the essence of being “on the bit.” To be truly “on the bit,” the horse seeks the gentle, reliable, predictable guidance of the rein through the bit.

In other words, no matter where the hand goes, the horse will follow and seek a soft contact with it when truly “on the bit.”

Unless, of course, the rider abuses this connection and increases the pressure without release; then the horse will begin to resist, setting in motion a vicious cycle of increased pressure and increased resistance. This is the reason for the existence of strong bits and abusive methods like rollkur – it is a failure on the part of the rider to find and maintain that equilibrium.

When one goes in search of definitions for the term “on the bit,” one encounters vague descriptions of a position of the head and neck, or talk of “putting” a horse on the bit through aggressive rein and leg aids, all of which are either a misunderstanding of this fact or a nice way to cover up this failure of the rider.

Such definitions and methods make “on the bit” about externals rather than what it truly is: the unspoken contract between horse and rider about fairness and respect from the rider and trust and willingness from the horse. To be truly “on the bit,” horse and rider must meet each other halfway.

When the horse has placed himself “on the bit” he has signaled to the rider that he is open for communication, and light contact from both parties means the communication is two-way. The contact between the hand and mouth is like the string stretched between two cups to make a crude telephone line, with the reins being the string. The string must not be completely slack, but too much pressure will cause that line of communication to break. It is up to the rider not only to issue requests over this line, but to receive feedback from the horse along them as well.

Rather than the rider demanding the horse both yield to pressure while paradoxically accepting a strong contact, the rider offers a gentle contact and the horse, once he knows he can trust the consistency and fairness of the hand, will seek that gentle contact wherever the hand may lead, and allow the hand to shape his entire carriage and movement (the action of the rein through the body) with that same light feel. This, to me, is what it means to be “on the bit.”

My Favorite WEG Moment

2010-10-12T21:17:00.000-04:00

Well, the World Equestrian Games have finally ended and I've had a chance to watch all the tv coverage and catch up on a few un-televised performances online. There were some bad moments and good, some shocking rides and some inspiring. But more than anything, there were some amazing horses (who are the real athletes here but are too often were overlooked in favor of their "celebrity" riders and trainers.)

So my favorite moment of the entire event had to be this one:

Upon becoming the winner of the showjumping gold through a challenging format in which the top four riders had to ride each of the top four horses with little preparation, Philippe Le Jeune (Belgium) put in an impressive series of rides on all four horses. But even more impressive, to me, was his reaction afterward when he joyfully hugged and kissed the horses who won him the gold.

It's not often you see a rider at that level show any affection or even gratitude toward their horses. Usually they simply hand them off to a groom and walk away. And after the disqualifications for bloody mouths and other shameful displays, there was something about this reaction that just made my day. I don't know anything else about this rider, but he won a bit of respect from me and my congratulations go out to him and all the horses, especially Hickstead for his "Best Horse" award, which he clearly deserved - what an awesome horse!

I'd love to hear about your favorite moments :-)

The Long and Short of Reins

2010-10-01T22:45:00.000-04:00

Have you ever tried to ride a long-necked horse with short reins? I’ve been thinking about what effect this can have on riding since getting Grady.

For those who don’t know Grady’s story, He's and 18hh Irish Sport Horse I took in last year after he had begun refusing to jump for his previous owners and was left to rot in a paddock. He was an eventer, trained to second level in the “new” dressage method and competed regularly until something went wrong and he refused to jump anymore. So, they got rid of him. And I took him on in hopes of rehabbing him.

He’s got an enormously long neck and, when I went to try him, I rode him in a bridle that had a standard set of reins on it. I found this incredibly difficult to deal with because I wanted to start my ride on him in a long, loose frame which required a long rein. But this was impossible.

When I first get on any horse, I always let them walk around on a long rein. I like them to be able to stretch their noses down to the ground if they want, at least at halt and walk. And on an unfamiliar, young or “re-train” horse especially, I like to do most of my early riding on a loose rein and slowly work up to contact by introducing a lateral flexion with a light Direct (Leading) Rein. With these short reins, I was unable to give him a loose rein to walk on and, as my hands were near the buckle, I was also prevented from separating my hands to properly give wide rein aids like the Direct Rein.

It made me wonder how this horse was ridden on a daily basis, and I realized he was probably never given his head at any point. For many this is a deliberate training philosophy, and Grady bears all the marks of a horse trained this way. But even if they had wanted to ride him differently it would have been impossible simply because the length of rein would not allow it! Normal length reins would not allow anything but reins of opposition (unless he was neck-reined nearly one-handed like a western horse, which I find unlikely.) So the options are to practically lay on the neck to reach toward the bit to release the rein, or else ride with a very short, restrictive rein at all times.

Suddenly, a lot of things were falling into place. For one, why he was ridden in a pelham/kimberwick. Or why he has a slight hollow in front of his wither from an underdeveloped trapezius muscle, common in horses accustomed to bracing and “faking” being “on the bit.” Or why his shoulders – the left in particular - are limited in their movement. And so on... To this day this horse still holds his breath when he comes to the end of the rein because he’s waiting to be muscled into position somewhere behind the vertical.

He’s such a big, sweet goof-ball that I don’t know how anyone could have done this him. Of course, the sweet horses like him seem to be taken advantage of most easily because it just isn’t in their nature to fight back no matter how horribly they are treated.

So what to do?

Most of my horses are pretty big, and I’ve gone out of my way to buy extra long reins whenever I can, but even this wasn’t enough. I knew I’d have to find some long reins if I was going to ride him properly. Surprisingly, this was harder than it seems. Few reins I looked at were offered in longer than standard size, which is about 54”. Long reins, when available, generally come in 60” length. An extra 6” is better than nothing and usually work for my big beasties, but hardly ideal in this case. Then I found this pair of reins at Dover, and they are a whopping 72” long!!! And being plaited, they’ll stretch too! Despite the odd description on the site about these reins being for “stock breeds,” these are perfectly normal English reins, of good quality, and just enough length for Grady. Now he can stretch his nose all the way to the ground if he wants without my having to lie on his neck.

Now he’s gotten to the point that he will tentatively test the rein and, when he realizes he’s no longer being held will stretch all the way to the ground, relax his entire body and let out a big sigh. Even after a year off he’s still tense and unsure. It just goes to show the damage improper riding can do, and the time and patience it takes to undo. He’s slowly coming around, learning to trust the hand and use himself properly, but he sort of doesn’t know what to do if you’re not yanking and pulling on him… yet.

I feel confident that he’s on the right track now. And I’ll never underestimate the importance of long-enough reins again!

the dressage world's uneasy relationship with helmets

2010-09-29T19:21:00.002-04:00

My father sent me an interesting article from the New York Times today.

While some riders are catching on, some dressage riders still succumb to their immature fear of looking like "dorks," for wearing a helmet. High school peer pressure is alive and well, even at the highest levels of the sport. And these people are heroes and role models to some...

Has no one clued them in to the fact that they look no less dorky riding around on prancing carousel-like horses wearing top hats of all things? No one is going to look cool in one of those things. "Dorkiness" kinda comes with the territory, and we've all signed up knowing that. Get over it. As my dad said, in his own special way: "Anyone who doesn't wear a helmet is a helmet."

Write a post, help a dog

2010-09-18T22:59:00.000-04:00

I came across this wonderful drive here at the 7MSN Ranch (I know, I haven't been posting or commenting much these days, but I do still read your blogs!), and decided I would have to participate in honor of my best friend Molly, an Australian Shepherd I found through a rescue program 17 years ago. And she’s still going strong – Go Molly!!!

From the website:

For each blog that posts about the PEDIGREE® Adoption Drive through September 19^th, PEDIGREE® will donate a bag of their new Healthy Longevity Food for Dogs to shelters nationwide. It’s simple: Write a post, help a dog.

Thursday, September 16 through Sunday, September 19, the Pedigree BlogPaws bloggers will host a Blog Hop, to help raise awareness for the “Write a post, help a dog” effort.

That’s it. No fine print. Unprepared? Go back to your blog and invest five minutes in adding yourself to the list. You’ll feed dogs in need and feel great about doing it.

For all of you out there who are friends to animals (and if you're even bothering to read here, I know you are ;-) I encourage everyone to participate and pass the message along.

http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2010/09/blog-hop-special-edition-pedigrees-write-a-post-help-a-dog/

The Turning Seat… Reconsidered?

2010-05-26T12:41:00.000-04:00

I have posted before on the position known as the “turning seat” and its necessity for balance and positioning through bends and in turns.

The theory, in a nutshell, is that the rider’s hips and shoulders should be parallel to the horse’s hips and shoulders respectively. Prevailing wisdom tells us that, while bending, the horse’s inside hip comes forward and inside shoulder comes back. Therefore, the rider’s inside hip should be positioned slightly forward and inside shoulder should come slightly back (and outside shoulder slightly forward) to match those of the horse.

It sounds like a perfectly reasonable theory, and in practice it seems to work. But it may be based on a false assumption.

Jean-Claude Racinet (among others, I am sure) makes the point that, when flexed laterally, the horse’s inside shoulder does not come back, but forward!

Most assume the horse’s shoulders and hips remain perpendicular to the spine no matter which way it bends. Apparently, this is not necessarily the case.

He explains:

“…[T]he horse has no collarbone. This allows the horse a freedom of movement in the shoulders that humans do not have. Bending brings a constraint on the inside shoulder. The horse’s natural reaction is to move the shoulder on this side forward in order to alleviate it, all the more as the shape of the ribcage, reminiscent of the bow of a canoe, is an invitation to this movement.” (Falling for Fallacies, Jean-Claude Racinet, pg 142)

He suggests experimenting by standing on a mounting block or stool with a hand on each shoulder while someone on the ground bends the horse’s head to the side. The shoulder on the inside of the bend should move forward.

Because of this positioning, Racinet proposes the rider bring the outside shoulder back rather than forward, to match this actual positioning of the horse. In addition, this necessitates a lengthening of the outside rein to maintain proper contact.

This is where I would disagree. Is it really necessary for the rider’s shoulder, far above the horse’s shoulders and connected only through the seat, to parallel the horse’s? I have always thought in terms of the upper body “riding” the head and neck and the lower body riding everything from the girth back. The shoulder falls in a grey area in that it can be controlled by both leg and rein aids, though they are predominantly controlled with the reins. There are exceptions of course, such as in a forward use of the leg, inclination of the upper body, weight aids, etc.. But for the most part, everything from the shoulders on up is managed by the upper body of the rider through the reins.

If the rider is going to be doing more than simply riding on a continuous circle, it makes sense to me that one would want to keep the reins at an even length and simply rotate the shoulder forward or back to add or subtract rein length as necessary. In this way, the outside shoulder would still come forward in the bend to accommodate the increased distance to the outside corner of the horse’s mouth (or whatever the rein happens to attach to in the case of bitless riding) created by the bend. Regardless of where the shoulders of the horse end up, the outside of the horse’s body will still have to lengthen and the outer neck muscles in particular must lengthen as the inner ones contract. I still believe the best position for the rider is to allow the inside shoulder to come back and take the slack out of the inside rein as the inner neck shortens, and the outside shoulder should come forward to allow the outside hand to give and follow the stretch without restriction or loss of the reins. This allows the rider to make more fluid adjustments between changes of direction, bends, straightening, etc, without continually adjusting the reins.

Perhaps it is more useful to think of the shoulders of the rider paralleling the poll or the mouth of the horse rather than its shoulders. After all, our shoulders never directly contact the horse the way our hips do (hopefully!) – they don’t influence the horse directly at all. Their main influence is through the hands. Perhaps their best position is wherever they best serve the needs of the hand at the moment?

In other words, the theory behind why we use the turning seat may be flawed, but the practice is probably still good.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and experience with this.

How NOT to Get Noticed at a Horse Show

2010-04-30T21:40:00.000-04:00

Have you ever been in a schooling ring at a show, preparing for your jumping round, when you realized those plain white poles just weren't preparing horse and rider for those bright, scary fences in the ring? Most trainers bring a cooler to drape over a schooling fence to give it a more solid or even 'spooky' look. But as a trainer, what do you do if your rider is on deck and you don't have a cooler? Go without? Borrow one? Nah... you improvise! And if the closest thing you have to a cooler is the shirt on your very back, you simply strip to the waist and hang your own t-shirt over the jump! If the shirt doesn't spook the horse, the sight of a glaringly white, flabby, forty-something, farmer-tanned physique should do the trick!

That was precisely what one of my early trainers did to me in the schooling ring at none other than the Hampton Classic (for those who don't know, one of the snobbiest hunter/jumper shows in the country, imo!) I was probably still in my teens at the time and needless to say I was mortified (these days I might actually be able to see the humor in it ;-) but we did manage to get a few good schooling jumps in right away (just to speed up getting the shirt back on the half-naked trainer) and through the in-gate in record time! And as I recall, we had a pretty good round!

And, lucky for me, that moment was immortalized forever in a photograph published in a major Long Island newspaper. It seems there was a reporter there covering this grand social event (ladies in ridiculous designer dresses and big stupid hats and whatnot) and apparently I was what caught this reporter’s attention (or possibly my, ahem, colorful trainer.)

The shirt had the desired effect of making the jump spookier to my already flighty jumper, Mellon, and upon landing he erupted in a series of spectacular twisting handstands as he galloped away. After I managed to stop him, the reporter approached me and asked if I could do that again! All I could blurt out was, “I hope not!!!” But apparently he got one good picture of us landing over the jump which was published in the newspaper. And, if you looked closely, you could see the t-shirt hanging over the top rail of the schooling fence....

I’m just glad it was a single fence and not an in-and-out, as he was running out of articles of clothing and I’d hate to see what came off next... That would have made for an entirely different kind of article in the newspaper :-\

If you're anything like me, you've had lots of embarrassing horse show memories. I’d love to hear your stories!

Equines and Volcanic Eruptions

2010-04-19T20:28:00.003-04:00

i just had to share these amazing photos.

Icelandic horses against backdrop of erupting volcano... need i say more?

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/04/more_from_eyjafjallajokull.html?camp=localsearch:on:twit:bigpic

Help! My Dilemma...

2010-04-15T13:28:00.001-04:00

So, a while back I posted about a new horse we took into our barn, Grady, a 12-14 yr old Irish Sport Horse gelding. With most of my own horses either retired or not up to any kind of regular riding, I though having a nice big, well-schooled horse to play with might be fun. His previous owner was frustrated with him and had basically given up on him – he was bought as a jumper and wouldn’t jump anymore, and his feet were costing a fortune in bar shoes and pads, and time with abscesses and soaking, so she wanted to be rid of him. I knew he came with some issues, namely his horrific feet, but my vet and I thought we could improve them with some proper care. And anyone who knows me knows that horsey-makeovers/rehabs are one of the things I like best about what I do, and I’m a sucker for a horse with a sad story that needs help. So he seemed like a fun project.

He’s been with us now through the winter and his feet are a million times better than when we started. In fact, he’s now out of the bar shoes and pads and going comfortably BAREFOOT! Not to mention, his low heels and overlong toes have been rebalanced to provide a much more natural angle to his more upright forelimb conformation. There is still a slight break at the pastern, and it will probably take another good year of hoof growth to really transform his foot and get his heels completely back under him where they should be. But the improvement is like night and day.

We have also managed to improve the quality of his foot, decrease his shivers symptoms, and help his muscles to be less stiff with some good nutrition.

And, as an ex-show horse, he was probably never really turned out or allowed to be with a herd, and now he’s got the run of the farm and a bunch of buddies to hang out and play with, which he really seems to enjoy....

The trouble is he seems to enjoy it a little too much.

Now that he’s feeling better, he’s playing pretty rough out there. Some of the horses like to play with him, and some of them are annoyed by him and like to kick him. I had to muzzle Sami after I came home one night and almost had a heart-attack: Grady had a huge gaping wound millimeters from his jugular and a swollen windpipe I had to check all night to make sure he could breathe and swallow normally. His neck is covered in bites and his legs are covered in bumps and scrapes from kicks. Most of the kicks happen above the knee and hock, so boots are little help. I was waiting all winter to see if things settled down when the grass finally came back, but it hasn’t.

So, while I’m happy to see him having fun, I’m worried he might be seriously hurt (or that he might hurt someone else.) He’s not aggressive, it’s seems more like he just doesn’t know when to stop or can’t tell when the other horses stop playing and are actually trying to hurt him. He just keeps it up.

Here at the farm, we are not set up for private turnout, and I don’t believe in isolating horses from one another (unless sick or injured.) We try to keep their living conditions and social interactions as healthy and natural as possible. All of our horses go out together – mares, geldings, young and old. I was feeling like my options are limited to: cutting him off from the herd in his own paddock vs. taking the chance he might be seriously injured. So I started to wonder if Grady might not be better off going to a home with a less rowdy herd where he might fit in better.

After a good amount of deliberation, I decided this was the best way to go. The vet was scheduled to do spring vaccinations and health checks, so I thought I’d have him look Grady over and, once he was cleared for work, I’d put the word out that he was looking for a good home.

The vet was very happy with the progress we had made with his feet but, when we went to do a lameness exam, blocks, etc. he turned up positive for something vague in his lower limb. We decided to inject his coffin joint and see if that didn’t make him more comfortable, and I’ll have the vet’s take on that in 2 weeks when he comes out to do a second round of vaccinations. But now I have this doubt in my mind about sending him elsewhere.

The vet wasn’t sure if his issue is something to do with permanent damage or simply inflammation due to years of poor hoof care or the recent change to barefoot and the new stresses that might be placing on his feet. On his last visit, our farrier was also pleased with his progress, but did note that he thought it would be a good year plus before his feet could completely return to normal. He described it in terms of all those sensitive structures in his feet being “pinched” for so long that there would naturally be some residual effects, even though his overall balance and hoof health is improved. What no one knows is if, even when his foot is returned to normal after another year, he will ever be 100% sound.

This is the part that worries me. I decided a long time ago that I could never be in the sales business because I worry too much about what will happen to horses once they leave my care. I get to know their issues and their needs and I worry someone will not take care of them properly. I worry about what happens to most horses when they can no longer do their jobs, as most people board their horses and few people have the ability/desire to keep an unsound horse for life, much less pay to maintain him. So, if Grady isn’t 100%, what kind of future can he look forward to when he has outlived his usefulness? And is it a future better or worse than any potential injury he might sustain remaining a part of our herd?

This is the debate I am having with myself, and I have no idea what to do. When I take on a horse, I assume responsibility for that horse’s wellbeing for the rest of its life. Grady needs to be out and interacting with other horses, but he could get seriously hurt being out with the group he’s in. He might be better off somewhere else, in a safer environment, but he may not receive the care his issues require and, should he no longer be serviceable sound, well, I hate to think where horses like that end up....

What would you do in my situation? Anyone have any advice, thoughts or suggestions that might help me make a decision? I’d really appreciate any input you can give me! :-)

Le Tixerant Girth Update

2010-04-09T11:48:00.001-04:00

I recently heard a rumor that this girth might be discontinued, so I called Mikmar, the company that puts it out, and they informed me they have no plans to discontinue it. If you're interested in more information of this amazing piece of tack, or if you'd like to purchase one direct from the company, you can follow this link:

http://www.mikmar.com/products-tixerant.html

I do question having the likes of Amy Tryon (not known for her humane treatment of horses) as a spokesperson, but I suppose they were going for any familiar faces they could get. It certainly doesn't diminish the effectiveness of this design - I highly recommend it, not just for girthy horses, but for difficult-to-fit horses, especially those with broad backs who usually have their girths cranked up in a attempt to keep the saddle in place. But I think it could benefit just about any horse. From what I've seen from experimenting with our own horses, they all seem freer and looser in their backs and shoulders, something I think we all strive for in our training, and are much more willing to stretch forward and down when allowed. I am looking forward to trying it over fences some day...

Even more miraculous, Donnie, who has not been able to tolerate any form of girth or surcingle without erupting in a panic attack/bucking fit for the last 4 years, is now able to be saddled normally and will trot relaxed on the longe, stretching long and low and licking and chewing the whole time. If that's not an endorsement, I don't know what is!

The “Trollop”

2010-03-20T22:55:00.003-04:00

When is a canter not a canter?

When it’s a trollop.

That’s the name I’ve jokingly given to the sad, four-beat excuse for a canter so many people seem to think is the same as collection. Most people think of canter as the gait that comes between trot and gallop. When you add a fourth beat to the normally three beat gait, it’s something of a trot-gallop; in other words, a trollop. Slow like a trot, four beat like a gallop, but definitely doesn’t qualify as a proper canter.

You see, by definition, canter has three beats and three beats only. When what you are seeing no longer has three beats, it can no longer be a canter. So what else is it, besides very, very wrong?

And yet you see many riders, especially in hunter/jumpers and disturbing disciplines like western pleasure, where people seem to strive for this monstrous hybrid on purpose. I know! Why would anyone do such a thing? I have to think (and this may be giving them too much credit) that they honestly believe this is some form of collection.

Of course, what makes true collection difficult -- and therefore suitable only for more advanced riders and properly prepared horses -- is that, by definition, it is supposed to preserve the purity and integrity of the gait in question. That certainly isn’t happening here. For one thing, the moment of suspension is obliterated by the fourth beat. For another, when the footfalls of canter normally require that the inside hind and outside fore strike the ground simultaneously, that can’t happen. But perhaps more disturbingly, no sound horse does this at liberty because it is unnatural and inefficient movement. This is a man-made gait, if it can even be called a gait.

If I looked out in the field and saw my horse moving like this, I’d call the vet:

But it’s not only western pleasure morons who think this is a good thing. (And no, I don’t think all western pleasure people are morons; there is good and bad in all disciplines – but like dressage morons who use rollkur, a lot of them are disgusting and should take up a sport that doesn’t involve direct interaction with other living beings.) Hunter riders think this is the same thing as a "long and low" canter (I even had one "top" hunter trainer tell me that my large warmblood's natural canter stride was too long to appeal to a hunter judge, so I should do a "slow four beat canter" in my under saddle classes,) while jumper and equitation morons in particular seem to think this passes for some bastardized form of collection. They’re wrong. I give you Exhibit B, a clip audaciously (optimistically? ironically?) entitled “Canter:”

It seems to imply that some people believe a lack of impulsion is the road to collection. Aided of course by some tight draw reins and a generally restrictive hand. This effect, similar to the one achieved by rollkur, is often the only possible result of confining the horse’s head and neck with the reins, which in turn inverts and stiffens his back and breaks his stride down to such a weak and disjointed state that it must lose its natural rhythm. Here’s a tip: you can’t first break the canter and then expect to later add impulsion and somehow magically get real collection. And you’re not developing anything useful in your horse by sustaining the trollop, unless you consider back lameness, a goose rump and a total lack of suspension useful for something….

Is this really a desirable effect? Is it ethical to completely dismantle the natural gait of a horse and force it to sustain something artificial, inefficient and possibly damaging to its health out of ignorance or some twisted personal preference? What end could it possibly serve? These are the questions I want answered by the trainers, the judges and riders who promote, condone and practice this embarrassment to horsemanship.

For those who need a refresher course on what actually constitutes a real canter, visit here.

Horse Friends

2010-03-17T12:30:00.000-04:00

People always look at me a bit strangely when I tell them my best friends are horses. Here's an interesting article about horse-human bonds and why it's maybe not such a bad idea to have a few equine friends in your life.

For those of us who live and work closely with horses, this comes as no surprise, but it's always nice to hear science confirm what we already know and see every day. And, it's another confirmation that good treatment of our horses goes a long way. Enjoy!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35911274/ns/technology_and_science-science/from/ET

NO ROLLKUR

2010-02-08T15:34:00.001-05:00

Billie over at camera-obscura has been a great resource in following the rollkur issue, and prior to the next FEI meeting on the subject, she has posted this logo and text, and invited us to do the same in solidarity with Dr. Heuschmann and his message at that meeting. I hope you'll visit there and consider adding your voice to this important debate:

----

The FEI is holding a closed-door round table meeting on Feb. 9th to discuss the training method known as rollkur, or hyperflexion, which involves pulling and holding the horse's muzzle to his chest. This practice is known to have many negative effects on the horse, both physically and psychologically. Gerd Heuschmann, the lone voice for the horse at this meeting, has my support and appreciation as he presents his case "for the good of the horse" along with petitions and letters saying NO TO ROLLKUR.

You can see a taste of this method in the Epona TV's footage in the previous post.

Please take a moment today and again tomorrow to think positively about the outcome of this meeting. It will make a difference.

----

It is hard not to be cynical after all the previous failed attempts, but I don't want my negativity and cynicism to influence events there, and in a effort to stay positive, I'm choosing to concentrate on supporting Dr. Heuschmann and his mission, rather than dwelling on the negative. I hope you'll join us by not only posting the message on your own blog, if you have one, but also in sending some positive thoughts for the right outcome to this meeting.

Glenshee's First Online Riding Clinic, Part I

2010-02-06T16:33:00.002-05:00

One of our readers has very generously agreed to participate in a virtual clinic here on the blog. Reesie found GEC through a previous post on releases over fences. She was good enough to submit some of her own photos for review. In this post, I will critique some of them, which I hope will be helpful. Please feel free to comment on the critiques or let me know if you think there is anything I've missed or I haven't explained well.

While this pic is blurry, it's easy to see a positive effort here. I really like to see the low/following release and well balanced, centered position. Her lower leg has slid back a bit, but her angles are well closed and her weight is in her heel, giving the impression of confidence and security. That her horse looks positive over a solid xc fence is further proof.

As anyone who has ridden xc knows, a crest release just doesn't cut it in the field over solid jumps. This is a good example of correct basics in conjunction with what appears to be a good low release in which the hand is in line with the mouth but rests gently in front of the shoulder on the neck. It is a compromise between the support of a crest release and the balance and give of a full following release. There is slight tension on the left rein, but I am assuming that is for straightening or steering purposes. If a rein aid needs to be given in mid air, tI would prefer to see an opening or direct rein used, rather than the direct rein of opposition, but in this case it does not appear to be having a negative effect. There is some slack in the right rein, but this actually makes sense when giving directional aids in mid air, so as to make them very clear to the horse without having to be overly strong.

I like her closed angles and weight in her heels, though her lower leg appears to have slipped back a little more than is ideal, which leads me to believe there is either too much weight on the stirrup or too much grip in the knee. In a 2-point, the base of support should be divided between some grip with the knee - allowed first to come forward and down - and a firm placement of the lower leg against the barrel just behind the girth, with only a small percentage of weight on the actual stirrup. More specifically, the part of the leg involved in this base is the back inside portion just below the bulge of the calf muscle and above the ankle. I have found this is most effective when it takes advantage of the natural curve of the horse's barrel for support, which also helps to keep the base close to the horse's own center of gravity, making it easier to stay with the motion, especially over jumps.

The same is true of this photo. Another nice effort, with good low/following release, seat shifted back toward the cantle and angles closed for balance. I am a fan of short stirrups for jumping, and this length might work well, but again her lower leg has slipped back a little further than I'd like to see. It may be partly due to the short leathers, though there are probably other forces at work as well. I should make clear that, in this case, it is not a major fault because she remains well positioned and balanced otherwise. I still feel confident in her security, but as the jumps get bigger, recovering on the landing side will become more of a challenge with the lower leg moving back so far in mid air. I would recommend working on maintaining the same basic form while keeping the lower leg more to the front of the bulge of the barrel. On a separate note, how often do you see a horse, even off of a short distance like this, jumping in such confident, relaxed form and allowed to use its head and neck forward and down normally? I wish more horses in all disciplines looked like this. And the secret? Good, balanced riding and a correct release. Well done :-)

Here is a great example of the correct position of a following or "automatic" release. Note the perfect straight line from bit, through hand to elbow, as well as the consistent contact on both reins. Her basic position looks correct and secure. Her slightly roached lower back will not likely win any equitation prizes, but in this case is more about function than form, as it is very difficult to give a proper following release and arch the back at the same time. In fact, doing so is very artificial and risks the rider getting overly stiff and posed. A straight back would be ideal, but I don't actually mind the slight rounding in this case because the rider has remained secure, her eyes are up and, more importantly, she has given her horse a good release. My only suggestion for improvement in this photo is possibly shortening the stirrup leathers a hole or two.

It is very common to see riders who, in conformity with the fashion of the day, ride with longer leathers over fences and begin to stand in their stirrups and often become unbalanced over fences (which is also one of the reasons for the popularity of the crest release....) That has not happened here, but I worry about the tendency in riders who have habitually long stirrups to stand up over fences. Just something to watch for.

Over a small fence like this, a longer stirrup is not a big deal, but I'd like to see her knee angle closed a tiny bit more, which would allow her knee to come more forward and down, strengthening the support possible between ankle and calf. But this position is sufficient for this height; her weight is in her heels, her seat has remained over the back of her saddle, and she has closed her hip angle rather than standing in her stirrups and laying on the neck as is the fashion today. Very refreshing to see!

What can I say? Jumping bareback, heels down, angles closed, eyes up and a nice, CORRECT crest release! It looks as if this cute horse may have gotten deep to the fence and jumped it a little big, but she's stayed balanced and secure. I'm impressed :-)

Although the standard is blocking most of her leg, what can be seen of her position presents a very correct picture. This is a good demonstration of the correct way to use a crest release. Although there is still some tension in the rein, the amount is not significant and the horse is jumping in good form (he's a cute little horse, too!) But, more critically, the rider has not sacrificed her position to serve the crest release or used it as an excuse to use the neck for support of her upper body. Instead she has, correctly, shifted her seat back in the saddle toward the cantle and closed all of her angles (knee and hip,) which allows her to balance her center of gravity over the strongest part of her base of support - her leg - eliminating the need to balance on the hand. My only small concern is that, without being able to see her lower leg position, and no toe visible near the girth, I wonder if her foot may have slid too far back... But either way, I'd call this effort a success. If you must use a crest release, this is the way to do it. Nice job!

Nate's Excellent Adventure

2010-02-04T14:55:00.001-05:00

GHM recently posted some amusing horsie stories and encouraged the rest of us to do likewise. Since so many of my own embarrassing or funny moments have already been described there, I thought maybe I’d share one of my personal favorites that you probably haven’t heard. It involves my horse Nate while we were training with the British Horse Society in Scotland.

As regular readers here may know, our Scotland adventure may not have been all we dreamed it would be, but it did have its moments....

One of my favorites involved trail riding. It’s not a particularly funny or exciting story, but it is just so classically “Nate” that I have to love it. It’s probably my favorite story from that trip. You see, the facility we were at was not just a top equestrian center in the area; it was also an exclusive resort. And many of the hotel’s clients would pay a good deal of money for the privilege of getting on one of the centre’s trusty school horses and hacking out through the beautiful Scottish countryside. They needed to have some riding proficiency and experience with horses, but these were not necessarily expert riders. Our job as guides was not only to lead the ride, but also to take charge of any potentially dangerous situation, including wrangling misbehaving horses, keeping riders off the farmers’ land, heading off run-aways and helping riders with emergency instruction, etc.. Sounds simple enough, right?

Well, one fine fall day a ride was scheduled and I was to bring up the rear in case anyone fell off or their horse made a break for home. But on this day, there were no free school horses available, so the manager insisted I ride Nate. I wasn’t sure if this was a vote of confidence on her part, ignorance of Nate in general, or the fact that she wasn’t going to give up and hour’s lesson money to free up a school horse for me. It was probably all three.

Now, because the center was such a nightmare, Nate and I spent every free minute hacking out around the countryside by ourselves, not only because it was a spectacular place to ride but because we needed to get the hell out of there as often as possible. I knew I could handle him and he could handle the terrain. I just wasn’t sure he could handle a group ride – and in a position of responsibility, no less.

Nevertheless, we set off anyway, and the ride was going amazingly well. The weather was fine, the scenery lovely, and the horses all well behaved, even during a group canter. Nate was doing me proud and I began to think maybe my doubts about him had been unfounded and unfair. He handled himself with confidence and ease, and remained steady at the back of the pack without getting strong or trying to catch up.

About midway through the ride, we entered onto a sunken lane separating a barley field (freshly harvested) on the left and a cattle pasture on the right. The rest of the ride had almost cleared the end of the pasture, but we were still trailing behind at the end, which had given the cattle enough time to take notice of us and get curious. As the entire herd approached the wire fence as one, Nate’s eyes grew wide and his head got higher until it was nearly on my chest. He was a coiled spring, but so far, no reaction. I spoke to him and stroked his neck, and it seemed we would just make it out of there without an incident. Until, in unison, the cattle all said “moo.”

This is when Nate lost it. He began to run in place with a sort of spastic tap-dance, kind of like the one you do when you walk through a spider web. As he did this, he began to run backwards at 50 MPH, as only a horse can do, in order to keep the fearsome mooing things within sight.

By this time, the rest of the ride had stopped to see what all the commotion was about. Nate, as he ran backward, seemed to have forgotten that we were riding along a sunken lane. Behind him was the barley field, but about three foot above ground level. So as he backed up, he hit the bank with his hocks and sat on it. I thought that would be enough to deter his flight from the moo-monsters, but in his mind i guess he was running for his life at this point. He reared up and back, flipping over on his side (and my leg) and flopped around like a fish out of water for what seemed like a half an hour until he had spun himself in a semicircle. With his front feet now on top of the field, he lurched awkwardly to his feet (I have no idea how I managed to stay on for all that flailing) and bolted across the barely field for about 20 strides of mad galloping until I could rein him in, leaving foot-deep giant hoof prints in the freshly harvested soil.

Of course, there was no getting Nate anywhere near the edge of that pasture again, so we rode out the rest of the way across the farmer’s field, jumped down off the bank and met the ride further up the road past the cattle. When I turned to survey the damage, we had torn a sizeable swath across the field, and Nate was covered in mud as if he had just had a good roll in the pasture. There was even grass stuck in his bridle and girth buckles, down the top of my field boots, and in my coat pockets. He had managed to skin himself from the pasterns all the way up over his Achilles tendons on both hind legs.

For this fiasco, we had an audience of resort clients who were there to have a relaxing ride in the country, with us as their responsible leader. They may not have had that, exactly, but at least they got a good show for their money! For his part, Nate was an angel for the rest of the ride but, alas, we were never asked to lead another group... I suppose it reflects badly on a facility when their guide horses get so scared when they see a cow they pee their pants and fall over.

Poor Nate. He is a spaz, but he’s my spaz and I love him. :-)

Another Chance to Speak Out Against Rollkur

2010-02-02T10:50:00.006-05:00

I received this e-mail today and thought I'd post it here for anyone who may be interested. Phillipe Karl is urging concerned horsemen to sign a petition asking the FEI to officially condemn the horrific practice of rollkur:

Dear Madam, dear Sir,

On 9 February 2010, more than 20 experts will attend an FEI meeting in Switzerland to discuss once again whether the so-called hyperflexion (“Rollkur”) is an adequate method of training a horse. In order to support the opponents of this method and offer them further arguments, a petition has been initiated at www.no-rollkur.com. We’d like to invite you to support this action against hyperflexion – time is short!

You were so kind as to sign our own petition calling for reforms of the FN rules, which was initiated in May 2009. This obviously bore fruit: The German FN eventually invited Philippe Karl for a meeting in Warendorf, Germany. They now have to find an appropriate date. We will of course keep you informed about the outcome of this meeting.

Thank you very much again for your support!

Cordially,

Philippe Karl & his team

The petition reads:

"The signatories to this petition ask the FEI to oppose the training method of the“Rollkur”/Hyperflexion clearly and resolutely. The FEI rules are to be adapted correspondingly to ensure that in future the use of the method of the “Rollkur”/Hyperflexion will be regarded as a violation of these rules."

to add your name, please visit:

www.no-rollkur.com

Put Down that Bleach!!!

2009-12-17T15:12:00.000-05:00

Scrubbing feed and water tubs

(I know I haven't been posting much lately, so here's a quick post while I start working on some new stuff...)

I’ve been experimenting with a good old-fashioned natural household cleaner/disinfectant that works better, is cheaper and is safe even if you leave some behind in the buckets.

It’s vinegar. Plain old distilled white vinegar that I buy in the giant size at the supermarket. I figured that, since it works so well for bathrooms and kitchens, is recommended for cleaning fruits and veggies, and can actually be ingested on purpose, this might be the way to go.

I normally mix up individual feeds for the horses in 8 qt pails in the feed room and then dump those into the feed buckets in their stalls. After a few days, these can get pretty nasty with feed residue, supplements and, in particular oil (I feed a liquid vitamin E supplement as well as pure wheat germ oil for some of the horses.) Even when it was warm out and I was rinsing them daily, I could never seem to get the gunge out of them. So, once a week I’d get out the antibacterial dish soap and scrub them.

They still never got very clean, it took forever to rinse and I worried about leaving soap residue that might get mixed with feed. Plus, the stuff is expensive!

So a few days ago I tried the vinegar. Just a splash in the bottom of each bucket (I didn’t measure, but probably 1/4 to 1/2 cup) and then I filled each to the top with water and let them stand a few minutes. Within seconds I could already see the gross stuff lifting away from the sides of the buckets and with a quick swish of the bucket brush, they were clean. I dumped them, rinsed them quick and they’re good as new. And the vinegar not only cuts through all kinds of residue to get surfaces clean, it also disinfects and inhibits bacteria and mold growth safely.

We’ve also got hard water at the farm and nothing seems to get rid of the stains in the automatic waterer bowls. But since vinegar is recommended for cleaning coffee makers and sinks, etc. with mineral build-up, I thought I’d give this a try too. I’m happy to say it works great! In this case, I used the vinegar undiluted in a spray bottle and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping out and rinsing. Much easier than getting out the steel wool and working up a sweat! If you need extra help, adding salt and/or baking soda is usually all you need.

The same also works on the slimy algae that builds up in troughs over time. Usually people recommend using chlorine bleach not only to scrub the troughs, but actually recommend deliberately dumping some into the drinking water to keep it clean. I can’t help it, but this just sounds like a bad idea to me. We’ve got automatic waterers in the paddocks as well, so I haven’t tried it, but I’m guessing a little vinegar in the water will help slow the growth of slimy stuff and not be as offensive (or toxic) to the horses. I have found that horses love the smell and even the taste of cider vinegar, so if you are worried about the horses not drinking with white vinegar, cider vinegar works the same and might be a good choice. If anyone has tried this, let me know how it works and how much you need....

What You Should Know About the Rollkur Issue

2009-11-05T10:32:00.001-05:00

Billie at Camera-Obscura has written a great primer on the practice of rollkur, the controversy, and what you as an individual can do about it. I can't recommend it enough!

This disgusting practice has gone on too long. Sadly, many feel unqualified to question it and most of us have felt powerless to stop it, but we are not alone; there is now a growing outrage at the practice and a community of concerned horsemen denouncing this horror and offering humane, classical alternatives. Together we can make out voices count.

I hope you'll check out this excellent post here.

or cut and paste:

http://camera-obscura-billie.blogspot.com/2009/11/rollkur-101-what-you-need-to-know-to.html

also, more here on GEC: Rollkur

Meet O'Grady!

2009-08-19T10:23:00.011-04:00

O'Grady is the latest addition to our little herd here at Glenshee!

I received and e-mail from a friend who recently hooked us up with our arabian rescues saying that there was a very nice ex-showjumper looking for a nice home as a dressage horse.

Well, I've never been one to pass up the chance to give a nice horse a good home, so I agreed to go look at him...

And it was love at first sight!

Grady, a 18hh, 14-15(ish) yr old grey sport horse gelding, was bred in Ireland and worked there for a while as an eventer. He was then imported to Florida where he was intended to be a showjumper, but apparently he developed an intense dislike for jumping while there. He's a very willing, enthusiastic horse, but something about jumping just didn't sit well with him. His last owner bought him for a jumper and had him shipped up to NYS without knowing this history and, though she did her best with him and took very good care of him, it seems his mind has been made up and he doesn't ever want to jump again. The details are foggy, but I am told he panics at the sight of a jump and also cannot be ridden with a whip... so, putting 2 + 2 together, I'm guessing there were some traumatic experiences along the way and jumping just isn't his thing anymore.... I've heard this story before; so many horses are ruined by bad training and/or management and eventually lose their confidence for jumping.

But this is fine with me because he's also trained to 2nd level in dressage and is very happy and willing to hack out and do pretty much anything that doesn't involve jumping. And I'm happy to take it slow with him. His last owner loved him but realized it would be unfair to expect to make him a jumper after whatever he had been through; but she was not interested in doing dressage and so did the best thing she could for him - she found him a home where someone would love him just as he is! Too few people in the horse world would have made that kind of decision in the best interests of the horse, and Grady was very lucky to have such a considerate, caring owner.

He does come with some minor issues. For one, he has terrible feet. His hooves are weak, they crack and bruise easily and he has white line disease. But this, I am confident, we can help with nutrition and proactive hoof care. And we have a great farrier, so I'm actually excited to see what we can do to help improve his feet. I also wonder whether his jumping issues may have stemmed from being constantly footsore when landing over fences....

Like so many big horses, he also has shivers, though it seems it only affects him when he's nervous. He also has what appears to be some muscle wasting and weakness, which makes me suspect something like mild PSSM/EPSM, a condition that often goes along with shivers in big horses, or possibly mild EMND, so I think, again, with the right feed/supplement program and a nice, relaxed environment, we will be able to help that as well.

And, of course, he has been more or less retired for the last year and a half at least, so he's not very fit. But I'm actually thankful for that, as I now have a chance to bring him up slowly and develop him correctly. To ride he has the feeling of a horse who is used to being forced into an artificial frame and held together by the rider, which is very typical of both eventers and jumpers. He's not a strong horse in the bridle, but he has a habit of bracing, and is used to being ridden in a broken pelham or kimberwicke, more to attempt to contain his large frame than to finesse his mouth and poll for proper flexion. So we have out work cut out for us. At the moment I'm just riding him in a hollow mouth eggbutt on a long rein and asking for a gentle lateral flexion. I know the rest will fall into place over time with a little patience. And for his part, Grady is being a perfect gentleman to ride, even though he probably has no idea what I'm trying to do!

As for his personality, well, he's incredibly sweet and a big goof :-) He's got big squishy lips and long ears and he loves attention! He also is the sort of character who likes to sneak a bite of hay out of the feed cart while you're not looking.... And when you're riding him, if you stand talking to someone for too long he'll turn around to look at you as if to say, "Um, this is boring... can we get back to work?"

He's also sort of passive in the paddock and all doesn't seem to know what to do with our gregarious herd! Donnie and Sami in particular love to play with him and Dusty, our palomino mare, is IN LOVE with him! So he's got quite the fan club here to make him feel welcome and we know he'll fit in just fine around here.

Anyway, I just thought I'd introduce our new guy because I'll probably be posting more in the future as our training (hopefully) progresses ;-)

_____

Philippe Karl vs. the German Equestrian Federation Update

2009-08-07T09:03:00.002-04:00

The German Equestrian Federation has finally responded to Philippe Karl's Letter and Petition; a translation of their letter may be found here.

Mr. Karl's answer can be found here.

________

Dominance Doesn't Work

2009-07-28T11:38:00.001-04:00

enlightened horsemanship through touch has posted another great discussion on dominance-oriented training. while reading the post i recalled several horses i have met over the years who were trained this way and rebelled. it didn’t work for them, and this post has effectively put into words just why this approach didn’t work. it also got me thinking about what did work, and a possible explanation of why it worked when the standard approach didn’t. in a nutshell, i think it comes down to this:

"these dominant-submissive relationships are constantly renegotiated in the wild. they are not static. jostling for rank never ends.. in contrast, a calm, secure state of loving cooperation can be maintained indefinitely, so long as the human does nothing to destroy it."

i have seen the effects of this first hand. this approach leaves the horse only two routes forward; the first is as above, to continue jostling for rank, and the other is to create such an atmosphere of perpetual terror that the horse gives up trying (i.e., the literal meaning of breaking.)

few of us have subscribed to the latter, though many trainers, often unwittingly, have opted for the former. but there is another way that removes the question of rank almost entirely from the equation. it's nice to know there is scientific thinking to back the same conclusion it seems we all arrived at on our own in one way or another.

this post, and particularly the bit about dominance hierarchies being about resources (i.e., food, etc.) made me think of an odd comment someone once made to me about my barn. she remarked how none of my horses threatened me for food and were perfectly relaxed while being fed. i had never thought about it, but when i did, i realized they never 'demand' their feed or treats (though they are terrible beggars ;-) nor do they retreat when i go to feed them; they neither pin their ears nor run to the back of the stall when i approach them while eating, and i can work around them, groom them, walk behind them, etc. as they eat, in their stalls or out in the field, without any fear for my safety.

that this seemed odd to other horse people seemed odd to me. but i recall barns where this was not the case, and i recall one horse in particular that was considered a real menace, especially where his stall and food were concerned.

this horse was an 18hh black gelding who had a reputation for being 'dangerous' because he had killed a groom. i later learned that it had been an accident - when the horse was young he was being loaded on a trailer, he turned his big head to look at something in the distance, knocked the groom off balance, who then fell off the ramp and hit his head on the pavement. it was an unfortunate accident, but since that day the horse was treated as a monster, and so a monster he became.

attempts to deal with him were a mix of aggressive dominance and fear. as a consequence, the horse learned to keep his abusers at a distance with threatening looks, bites, kicks and other negative behavior. and in turn his handlers escalated their attempts at dominance through fear to control him.

when i began working at this barn, i was given all kinds of warnings about this horse and told not to go into his stall with him inside, not to take him from the stall without a stud chain and a whip in hand, and to wave my arms or chase him to the back of his stall with a whip in order to put his feed in his bucket or i’d be mauled.

needless to say, i wasn't about to do any of that. i was determined to see if i could work with him fairly. so i started by simply standing in front of his stall, just out of his reach, and not doing anything. he would threaten and lunge at me, but i didn't react. i just stood there quietly, non-threateningly. when he got tired of threatening me without getting a reaction and went back inside, i'd walk away. soon he gave up the threats and became curious. his ears would come forward. then he'd stretch his nose toward me. again, i just let him.

next came feedings, and i'd do the same. whenever his ears came forward, i'd walk up and put in his grain. he never once threatened or tried to lunge at me. after a just two days of little things like this, he started to let me stroke his face and neck, ate treats gently out of my hand, and would come to the front of his stall with his ears up when he saw me. i could lead him with just a halter and lead snapped to the bottom ring, and, much to the horror of everyone around, i could go into his stall with him loose inside to groom him, muck out, etc, without trouble.

people thought it was magic. it wasn't. i'm no ‘horse whisperer’ or some kind of natural horsemanship guru, and i don't have some scientific-sounding method that requires a manual, videos, props and clinics. i just approached the horse with compassion and treated him with respect. it hardly makes me an expert. but it seemed to work for us.

i met another horse just like him in scotland. this horse was kept in an isolation stall with warning signs plastered all over the front of it, and all the same rules applied when working around him – he was constantly tied, smacked, chained or threatened and no one trusted him enough to venture near his stall unless they had to. and again the same approach worked with him where others had failed. i remember being in his stall mucking out while he was loose and happily eating his hay when one of the staff ran and got the manager and asked right in front of me, ‘is she ok to be in there?’ the manager just shrugged and walked away. i wasn’t their favorite employee, probably because i successfully challenged so many of their theories and practices...

i was happy to work with these horses because they deserved to be cared for properly even if no one else thought they were worth the trouble. i had hoped the horses would come around and other people would see they were not the monsters they previously thought. the problem was, they only behaved well with me. these horses were still a danger to everyone else, because they hadn't modified their own behavior around the horses. but the horses certainly seemed to know the difference and treated the humans around them each accordingly.

after reading this post, i’m wondering if the issue was that these horses found themselves in a constant state of competition for rank with these aggressive handlers. maybe they thought by bullying humans and making them submissive, they would win and the abuse would stop. or maybe they'd simply had enough rough treatment and were trying to protect themselves by staking out a personal domain (stall/paddock) and defending their resources (food.) either way, it was clear that they responded to the alternative approach, which was simply to not make it about who's boss, not give them a reason to fear or compete with me, and reward them with kindness any time they gave up threatening. and it turned out they could both be very sweet and kind horses when given half a chance.

my own horses feel no such competition because they've lived long enough in an environment without dominance and aggression that they trust me (most of the time - they're still pretty suspicious when i have a syringe in my hand ;-) not a single one of my horses - including rescues, abuse cases and 'un-trainable' beasts has ever tried to bite, kick or otherwise dominate me (unless you count trying to grab the occasional mouthful of grass while being led or searching my pockets for treats - which, contrary to the average nh guru, i consider pretty innocent.) sure they compete with each other and have their own hierarchy in the herd; our “alpha” horse, mellon, has been dominant in every herd he’s been a member of since he was 4 years old, including with stallions. he is the most aggressive and unrelenting horse i have ever seen, and the rest of the herd lives in a state of respectful wariness of him (though, interestingly, after he disciplines a herd member he also makes a point of grooming all the herd members in turn, i think as a way to bond with them and make up after he has had to be tough.)

the remarkable thing is that he is completely gentle, sweet and trusting with his humans. when we had water troughs, i always knew when one was getting low because mellon would stand guard over it all day and not let anyone else drink until it was replenished, so his instinct for defending resources is perfectly intact, and yet his ears are up when i come in with his grain, and i can go into his stall while he happily munches and treat a wound or pick a foot without him even raising an eyebrow. he definitely demands a certain respect, but he has never once challenged me (our early riding was a different story because he had a history of abuse and learned to be defensive about anyone sitting on his back, but that’s another story...) and is one of the easier horses to work around. his manners are impeccable and my 4 year old niece pets him and feeds him carrots, which he takes ever-so-gently from her hand.

according to dominance theory, he should be the most difficult horse to handle and train, and i have no doubt that he could easily become the most violent and dangerous horse if mishandled. yet i trust him implicitly, and i know he trusts me. how can that be?

Your Thoughts on an Interesting Post...?

2009-07-20T19:24:00.006-04:00

i'd like to recommend the following blog post:

Do You Demand Your Horse’s Complete Attention?

I came across this great post over at Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch, a blog I happen to love! This is a subject that is near and dear to me and my personal training style, but it was never something I thought about in any formal way, so it was really cool to have someone put it all out there in words where I could wrap my brain around it a bit. The result was a comment too long to post that I thought I’d post here in hopes that some of the readers here might visit the original post and share some of their thoughts on the subject too. Anyway, for what it’s worth, here’s my two cents:

This is a post I instinctively agree with but have never put into coherent thoughts, so I’m grateful someone has so succinctly put it into words for me! This gets right to the heart of much that I dislike about natural horsemanship and all its talk about “being the alpha” and “respect.” There is such a fine - but critical - line, especially with a prey animal, between “respect” and fear, and yet some people, inexplicably, seem to think they are one and the same. I believe a horse is only capable of giving its full focus, as described in the post, to something it fears on some level. The sense I get from the horses whose owners demand complete focus is of a deer in the headlights - of an animal so absorbed by his own hyper-alertness that his ability to function normally is impaired. This is hardly where I want my horses to be, above all during training – I want quite the opposite! And yet I see this with so many NH and dressage horses in particular who become mere machines, acting out their programming in a state of constant, vigilant caution rather than interacting with their human partners in a state of composed trust.

Without ever really thinking about the connection, one of the things I try to do when I feel myself getting tense in the saddle or becoming too focused on particulars is overcome that kind of focus in myself. Our level of focus is way too intense for the horse to understand, much less respond to positively. Dressage in particular often brings this kind of focus out in people, who start to obsess over outward appearances, mechanical perfection and formulaic manipulation of the horse, piece by piece (all the while focused on gaining and maintaining the unfortunately termed “submission”) rather than feeling a way forward with the horse in a way that relates to and takes in the entire horse, mind and body.

Because I study horsemanship and think so much about the mechanics and philosophy of riding, I have a tendency to want to think too hard while training. I can get hung up in details pretty easily. But it has occurred to me how different I feel and ride when speeding around a jumper course or galloping in the field, when there is little time to obsess over details; all of that is let go and I’m just riding in the moment, unconsciously absorbing all the information my horse is sending me and responding instinctively. And I realize that's where I want to be as a rider. And that’s where my horses are at their absolute best. This is probably because I’m not constantly interrupting them with a thousand nagging demands and disrupting their amazing ability to take in the entire environment, handle their own balance and movement, receive subtle input from a rider, and probably a million other things, all at once. Distracting them from all that with an obsessive need for single-minded focus on ME becomes absurd. And I can’t help but think the need for that kind of control over another being is unhealthy, to say the least. It goes along with the view that horses need to be broken rather than trained. While NH gurus vocally condemn and renounce the abusive ways of the past that “broke” horses, all their talk of “being the alpha” and “respect” at all cost seems like a rebranded version of breaking to me.

I realized in reading this post that my riding actually improves when I make the effort to avoid focus. When I feel myself getting into that hyper-focused mindset, I try to soften my awareness to take in everything (which, it seems, mirrors that of the horse) to relax and clear my mind of... well, everything, so that I can absorb everything without concentrating on anything in particular. Riding isn’t about seeing the forest OR the trees, but being aware of both, individually and part of a unified whole. To do this one needs all their faculties, including empathy.... I see so many riders focused, for example, on getting and ideal head position that it's as if all that exists of the horse is the head. They forget to feel whether the back is loose and swinging or coming up under the saddle, whether the hind legs are engaging, whether the gait has a pure rhythm, if the jaw and poll are soft and mobile, if the horse is receptive or resistant, relaxed or tense, etc. – all things that can all be felt easily, but only when one’s concentration is not directly on any of them! It's easy to lose track of the whole picture when we have such a narrow focus. That's just as true in riding as it is in life.

I don’t know if anyone else has experienced this but, whenever I’m riding relaxed on a loose rein and my horse spooks, somehow I just react instinctively and manage to not only stay on the horse with balanced ease, but actually calm him in the process. On the other hand, when I’m waiting for a spook, getting my legs tight, my seat secure, my reins ready, etc., that’s when I have the hardest time staying on and I end up making my horse even more tense. For me, riding with that kind of focus and readiness is always counterproductive. Which I suppose is why riding is a kind of meditation for me. To do it well, I have to let go of all of that intellectual focus on the surface and just be with the horse. In that state, I can feel, almost unconsciously, everything the horse is doing without having to process it intellectually, formulate a response and then react. I’m just there. I trust that all of that knowledge is in there somewhere, unconsciously influencing my actions and awareness, and over years of practice I have developed the muscle memory to carry it out. The moment I start to focus too much, it all falls apart. In a way it comes down to trusting; even if I can’t yet fully trust my horse, I try to trust myself enough to let go – to accept that I can’t control everything and to be alright with letting my horse just be a horse. And maybe in the end the way to gaining the horse’s respect without fear is to be without fear. After all, how can I ask the horse to trust and respect me if I don’t yet trust myself?

Dressage Detox

2009-06-17T11:44:00.003-04:00

It's about time. Riders and trainers have long complained about the decline of horsemanship in general and dressage in particular, especially as concerns competition. In recent years, only the most spectacular, showy performances have been rewarded at the expense of correct dressage and, more importantly, at the expense of the well-being of the horses. The situation is becoming toxic - for horses and riders. It's time to clean house.

Granted things are unlikely to change when these riders are backed by serious money and corporate sponsorships, but we have to try something to bring the standards back up to some meaningful level.

Grey Horse Matters sent me this link from Philippe Karl's website and I thought I'd pass it along to those who might be interested. Philippe Karl is one of the too few truly classical voices out there, and someone I have great respect for as a horseman. Of course, the Petition only addresses the German Equestrian Federation, however, this organization sets the standards to which we are all eventually subject due to its powerful influence on the FEI. A change in the German system might just positively influence the FEI and other national federations, including the USEF and USDF. I have signed the Petition, and I hope you will consider signing too and possibly forwarding to horsey friends or post on your own blog...

Petition: Reforms of the FN rules

To read the Petition and sign, click here.

Rein Aids Series

2009-06-10T07:35:00.001-04:00

I've been so busy now that spring is here that I haven’t had a chance to post in a while, but I’m hoping to post a few more installments related to rein aids next, so I thought I’d post these links all in one place before I continue. If there are any topics you’d like to see discussed, please leave a message below and I’ll try to post something soon… I've missed being here and I'm looking forward to catching up with all of your blogs :-) see ya soon!

- jacquie

Rein Aids Series:

Holding the Reins

The Turning Seat

Inside vs. Outside: The Weight Debate

*****

The Five Rein Aids: Introduction

The Direct Rein

The Indirect Rein

The Direct Rein of Opposition

The Indirect Rein of Opposition in Front of the Wither

The Indirect Rein of Opposition Behind the Wither

*****

Going Bitless

Sooo... what's your story?

2009-03-13T10:49:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine sent me this little horsey questionnaire on Facebook, and I thought I’d post my answers here. I won’t officially tag anyone, but it might be fun if readers passed it on by filling it out and posting it to your blogs with your own experiences, and encourage your readers to do the same. Hope you decide to play along! And if you do, leave a comment here letting us know :-)

1. How old were you when you first started riding? I think I officially started when I was 7, but I was one of those kids who was obsessed with horses since the first time I saw one, so I’m sure I managed to get on a horse before then...

2. First horse ridden: Don’t remember... my mom said I rode a pony when I was 5 – I went with my sister who was in girl scouts/brownies or something...

3. First horse trotted on: ???

4. First horse cantered on: ???

5. First Horse fallen off of: Probably “Jet” (our first horse)

6. Most recent horse fallen off of: Dusty, 3+ years ago – although I wasn’t on all the way when I fell off! Dusty came with some serious mounting issues; I used to get on her from the mounting block without using the stirrup or she would rear and flip over. I was swinging my leg over the saddle when she took off! The top of my half chap got hung up on the saddle so I clung there for a bit, hanging off the side and then I gave up and let myself fall. But, I didn’t let go of the reins and she got pissed that she didn’t get away, so she reared and stomped my foot as I sat on the ground! (My friend was nearly falling off her horse she was laughing so hard – she said it looked like Dusty thought if she stepped on my foot hard enough I’d stand upright like a rake!) Probably shouldn’t mention that after she reared and stomped on me (while i was still sitting on the ground, mind you) I instinctively took a swing at her and caught her upside the head with a good right hook, which stopped her in her tracks. I am hardly a horse abuser but, contrary to the NH gurus, I believe in swift justice for something like that. Dusty and I have had a sort of love-hate relationship, but luckily she’s over her mounting issues now and my mother really loves her :-\

7. Most terrifying fall: Lifegaurd vs 3’wall in indoor at Majestic Farms probably 15 years ago – we (ok, I) missed the distance, he caught his knee on the wall and flipped (a rotational fall.) I flew across the indoor and landed on my head (ripping a huge chunk of velvet off my helmet.) Everyone was shouting “stay down, stay down!” but I jumped up and turned around in time to see my poor horse lying on his back with his legs in the air. I thought I had killed him. He quickly got up, we jogged him for soundness, and I had to get back on and jump again so he didn’t lose confidence... that was the first time a horse had ever fallen with me, and it terrified me. I was freaked out but not badly hurt. Mostly I was worried about my horse, but not scared to jump again. We jumped a few jumps and I took care of Lifeguard, rubbing him down and setting him up for the night. Everything seemed fine but, when I got home that night, I just started shaking uncontrollably - my teeth chattered for hours! Guess it freaked me out more than I originally thought :-\

8. First horse jumped with: I think it was Justin, “Just in Time” (best school horse ever!)

9. First horse who ran away with you: Lifeguard – the first time I rode him, I think. He galloped around the top arena at Oakwood Farm like a maniac about 20 times before I finally jumped off. He kept galloping... I was about 10 years old. Who would have thought from those beginnings that he’d end up being the best horse I ever rode?

10. First horse that scared the crap out of you: Not too many horses have scared me, though I did have a horse mow me down in the field once – My mother’s horse Erik, the sweetest, most gentle horse in the world was spooked by something and came galloping toward me (probably looking for help.) When it looked like he wasn’t stopping in time, I turned around to run out of his way but I was too late – he slammed right into the back of me, knocking me flat on my face. I got the wind knocked out of me and I sprained my elbow. Luckily, he didn’t step on me – he jumped over me!

11. First horse shown: Justin (I was champion!)

12. First horse to win a class with: Justin, short stirrup (I was 7 or 8)

13. Do you/have you taken lessons: I took lessons in the past. Even now that I’m a professional I’d still like to take some lessons, but I just haven’t found the right trainer yet....

14. First horse you ever rode bareback: Lifeguard. Not recommended – he had high withers and a bouncy trot :-\

15. First horse trail ridden with: probably Lifeguard. He loved trail riding, and whenever he’d get loose (which was often – he was a crafty one) he’d go out on the trails by himself for hours. No idea what he was doing out there.... He also loved the beach and swimming!

16. Current Barn name: Glenshee Equestrian Centre (yes, we have a home base!)

17. Do you ride English or western?: English (I suck at western)

18. First Horse to place at a show with: Justin – it was my first horse show and I ended up champion despite the fact that my crash helmet fell down over my eyes halfway through my course. Luckily, Justin was one of those amazing horses who knew his job and he finished it for me even though I couldn’t see anything! Guess the judge didn’t notice ;-) The first and last push-button horse I ever rode. I loved him :-)

19. Ever been to horse camp?: I don’t remember, but I don’t think so...

20. Ever been to a riding clinic? Yes. But I always seem to get more out of auditing than riding.

21. Ridden sidesaddle? Well, not on an actual sidesaddle, but we used to goof around and pretend on our regular astride saddles (it’s also the fastest way to fall off face-first when you lose your balance!)

22. First horse leased: Not sure if we ever did lease a horse before we bought one... Maybe Mikey?

23. Last Horse Leased: Mellon

24. Highest ribbon in a show: 1st, or champion.

25. Ever been to an 'A' rated show?: Lots

26. Ever competed in pony games/relay races?: Yes, in the Junior Olympics

27. Ever fallen off at a show: Oh sure! Enough times for it to cease being embarrassing ;-) In fact, before I actually learned how to ride him, I fell off Lifeguard at every show I went to until I was about 14!

28. Do you ride Hunter/Jumpers?: Both; I prefer jumpers, but in addition to dressage, I’m thinking about inflicting myself on the hunter world a little this year ;-)

29. Have you ever barrel raced? Yes, once on my uncle’s horse. But not well :-\

30. Ever done pole bending?: Nope (unless dodging trees in the woods on a galloping horse counts!)

31. Favorite gait: I love a good canter – Lifeguard had a great canter, and so does Nate - I could sit them all day....

32. Ever cantered bareback?: Of course! Jumped too...

33. Have you ever done dressage?: Yes

34. Have you ever evented?: Not formally – I’m not a fan. Any sport where people find it necessary to grease up their horses in anticipation of slamming them into solid objects is just not for me... if you’re worried about your horse not being able to slide off of the fence you just crashed into at ramming speed, you probably shouldn’t be jumping in the first place, imo.

35. Have you ever mucked a stall?: more than I can count. I can do 50 in a day!

36. Ever been bucked off?: plenty of times. My favorite incident was while jumping Mellon in the indoor. We cantered up to a 4’6 oxer and he jumped so big I lost my balance on landing. Well, losing your balance on Mellon is like pushing the “eject” button; he cut the turn on the landing side and, before I could get my balance back, threw a huge, walloping handstand of a buck and catapulted me into the next corner of the arena. I’m not sure how far I flew, but I got up laughing. It was a pretty amazing buck!

37. Ever been on a horse that reared?: Yes, lots of them (it’s kind of my specialty ;-) My favorite rearing incident was in this hilly field we used to use for jumping and hill work. I was on Mellon at the top of the hill and I wanted him to collect before I let him canter down it. He was apparently insulted – he jammed on the brakes at the top and reared. Only trouble was, the footing was damp grass and he started to slide... I think he was so stunned that his plan backfired, that he just froze in that position - he slid down the entire hill in rearing position on his hocks. A friend of mine was there riding her horse and she said it was the most hilarious thing to watch!

38. Horses or ponies?: horses – I was always too tall for ponies, even as a kid. I think I rode one or two briefly and went right to horses.

39. Do you wear a helmet?: Always. I’ve landed on my head and trashed helmets enough times to be careful. I get annoyed when people say, “If you know how to ride, you don’t need a helmet.” I have ridden some hairy horses, I can sit just about any buck or rear a horse can dish out, and I’ve jumped some huge fences in my life, in and out of the arena. I’m pretty confident in my security on a horse. But I don’t care who you are, how well you ride, or what you’ve won, no one is infallible. And more importantly, horses fall down sometimes, or they run into things, and then it doesn’t matter how good you are at staying on. I always wear a helmet. It’s not an admission of defeat, it’s just good sense!

40. What's the highest you've jumped: 5’ was the biggest jump I ever measured, but there may have been bigger. I’d jumped that big a few times on purpose with Mellon, Erik and Nate and once by accident with Erik; I was riding on the flat, cantering Erik between two jumps when something on the left spooked him. He dove right, but there was a 5’ wing standard right in front of him and, much to my surprise, he jumped it! I didn’t fall off, but it was pretty wild! He was an amazing jumper...

41. Have you ever ridden at night?: All the time. I’ve even shown at night. There’s nothing like jumping a course by the light of car headlights parked around the arena! Or riding in the summer when there is a full moon....

42. Do you watch horsey television shows?: Once in a while...

43. Have you ever been seriously hurt/injured from a fall?: I once crushed my nose landing on my face (one side of it caved in and I needed surgery.) I think I may have mangled my neck in the process – whenever I go for x-rays of my now arthritic/ crooked neck (it curves the wrong way) they always ask me “oh my! were you in a horrible car accident?” Do horse accidents count?

44. Most falls in one lesson: can’t remember, but probably 1 or 2 (most falls at the same horse show, however... ;-)

45. Do you ride in an arena/ring?: when I have to – I prefer to hack out or ride in the field

46. Have you ever been trampled by a horse?: see #10

47. Have you ever been bitten?: Yup

48. Ever had your foot stepped on by a horse?: Yup, lots. Lost a few toenails, too :-\ See also #6

49: Favorite riding moment: For a single moment, probably the jump where Mellon saved my ass... there were so many great – or just funny – moments with so many horses, it would be hard to choose the best. Winning multiple year-end awards and finals with Lifeguard would be up there, or our perfect round at the Hampton Classic in the Jr. equitation that even the non-horsey spectators in the grandstand all cheered after - we only got 10th out of about 80 horses, probably because paints were unfashionable then, but I had total strangers and even other trainers come up to me after and tell me I should have won, which was better than ribbons. And I was so proud of Mellon on his first hunter pace. And swimming at the beach was amazing. Or hacking Nate out through the Scottish countryside... a life with horses has too many great moments to count!

50. Most fun horse you've ridden: All the horses I have ridden have been fun in their own way but Lifeguard was by far the coolest horse I’ve ever ridden (I miss him so much!) and Mellon was probably the most exciting (I miss riding him too...) Nate is also a blast, so I hope he makes a full recovery this year and we can get in some good riding!

Mission: Impossible - Happy Ending...?

2009-03-08T12:37:00.000-04:00

We had started in the winter and I worked with him like this for months. Having put all of this time into Mellon, gaining his trust, making him a respectable riding horse, I then had to leave for college in the fall, and had no idea what would become of Mellon. Now that he had become somewhat rideable, people started to come out of the woodwork wanting to ride him again. I suppose they figured if I could do it, they could surely do it better. When I returned home, I discovered that the old yahoos were back riding him, and he was slowly regressing to his former self again. One of the new riders was a so-called “professional” who had only recently snapped her own horse’s spine jumping him in draw reins and was happy to tell me, “why should I put the wear and tear on one of my horses when I can practice on someone else’s?” I had been riding him in a hollow mouth eggbutt. She bitted him with a Jimmy Williams. Needless to say, he started refusing fences and acting out again.

He wasn’t my horse, so there was nothing I could do about it, but it broke my heart to see him used this way, and the stress it was clearly causing him was ruining all of the hard work we had done. I felt responsible. After all, I had been the one who convinced him it was okay to trust a human. I had taught him how to respond to a rider’s requests. And he had made a huge leap and trusted me. Now I felt like I had betrayed him. Here he was, struggling to do what was asked of him while these morons brought bigger bits and spurs and chased him over huge jumps again. It made me sick.

At the time, my mother was riding and showing my old equitation horse Lifeguard, so when I came home for the summer I had no horse to ride. They offered to help me out with leasing Mellon for the summer. I was ecstatic! Mellon would be all mine!

I realized I missed being away from the horses while I was at school, so I transferred to a school closer to home and got a job mucking stalls at another stable so I could still be with the horses. And my parents (the greatest parents a horsey-girl could have - thanks guys! you're the best! :-) took pity on me -and on Mellon- and bought him for me so I’d never have to watch him be abused or betray his trust again. I was able to keep my promise to him that I wouldn’t let anyone else abuse him.

The first thing I did once he was mine, though small, was to change the spelling of his name. He had been called “Melon.” Like the fruit. Or like that ridiculous “head battle” name he had been given. That just wouldn’t do. I am a bit of a Tolkien geek, and I remembered how, in The Lord of the Rings, the inscription on the stone West-Gate of Moria read, “Speak, friend, and enter.” The magical password that opened the gate was the Elvish word for “friend”- Mellon.

Happy Ending:

Now, mind you, it wasn’t all unicorns and rainbows either. I don’t want to give the impression that everything was perfectly fine from then on. I made my share of mistakes, tried some training methods I regret, and did a lot of stupid things along the way. And, Mellon never transformed into a docile, bombproof school horse from the feisty, emotional and complex Trakehner he was in the beginning; that’s his personality and I never expected it to change or go away. I had to learn to ride through the rough patches and stay on for all of his acrobatics, which I can tell you was no small feat. He was definitely not your typical amateur horse.... As a result, showing was more for our entertainment than for real competition – he was so unpredictable from day-to-day, ride-to-ride and course-to-course that I never went into it expecting to win or chasing prize money. We competed against ourselves, and I lived happily with the fact that some days we were just lucky to get around, and other days we would be dead-on and no one could touch us.

He never became a truly safe horse, and he’s never been easy to ride. My old trainer would get on him when I asked him to, but he would usually get off gasping for air and clutching his chest. He was a tough rider, famous (or infamous) for riding anything, and he said the horse gave him palpitations. And I have had several highly respected trainers refuse to train me on him, calling him “hopeless,” “dangerous” and a “waste of time.” Later, another trainer of mine – and international open jumper rider – insulted him and complained about him being too difficult; I suppose we embarrassed him at the horse shows because we never presented the “perfect” picture all those $100,000+ “made” horses did; but we still had fun, kicked a little ass and won some decent money. When I did ask him to ride Mellon he told me he’d never ride him because he couldn’t “afford to get hurt.” He was used to riding tried and true “made” horses, and I suspect he was more worried about his ego being hurt than anything else. I think Mellon was just the kind of horse that gave him nightmares, and he would have been terrified if he ever had to ride something so challenging, especially in front of his students and his fan club. At one barn where we boarded, he earned the nickname "the Terminator," and I think that's how everyone viewed him - except me....

Of course I would have loved one of those fancy jumpers that I could take out to the shows and win with every time. I would have loved a predictable outcome. But sometimes we have to work around the horses we have. There were plenty of trainers who tried to talk me into selling him (like anyone would buy him ;-) and getting an upgrade. They would tell me, “you’re too good a rider to waste your time with a horse you’ll never get anywhere with.” But I never felt my time was wasted. I suppose in their dollars and cents world, it was a waste in their eyes. For me, it was the time of my life, and I learned more from riding that horse than I ever could have from years of lessons on easy horses, even with the best trainers in the world. Not only that, but I felt I had a responsibility to him to make sure he never ended up in the wrong hands. No, he was staying with me, and I was sticking by him. If it meant changing my priorities and my goals a little, so be it.

Sure, we had our showing successes, but it wasn’t about that. It was the challenge that made our little, successes count so much more. For example, there was the time I took Mellon on a hunter pace, and my trainer was riding an experienced foxhunter who kept refusing the cross-country style jumps in the woods; it was Mellon who took the point position and led the spooky horses over every fence in the course!

And there was our 15 minutes of fame; once we were showing the horses at the Hampton Classic and we realized after entering our Working Hunter in a division that he wasn’t actually eligible for it. Rather than waste an entry (we would not have gotten our fees back anyway) I decided to use the class as a schooling opportunity for Mellon. Mellon, as you may have gathered, is not a typical show hunter type. He was braided for the first time in his life and jumped around as quietly as he knew how. It may not have been the prettiest round, but at least we had the fastest time in the hunters (probably in history ;-) I remember there was a newspaper photographer taking photos in the schooling ring beforehand, and Mellon’s antics had apparently caught his eye. After cantering sideways and bucking his way to a particularly exciting jump and some bronco-like stunts afterward, I pulled up at the rail and tried to quiet Mellon. The photographer approached us and asked, “Can you do that again?” All I could think to respond was, “I hope not!” He didn’t get his bronco shot, but that jump ended up in the paper anyway.

Or, there was this one time when we were turning to our last fence in the jump off – a 3’9 square oxer off a short turn – and I made a huge mistake: I knew our time was the fastest so far and I got greedy - I cut the turn too short, letting the impulsion fade out; we got to the base of the jump at a short distance and with nothing; Mellon had every right to refuse. I threw the reins up his neck as if to say “whatever you decide is fine” and braced for the stop I knew would be coming; but, to my great surprise, he jumped it. Clean. From a standstill. And then cleared the timers. At that moment, do you think it could have mattered to me if we won a ribbon or not? My horse, the so-called unrideable “dirty stopper” – the “waste” – had just bailed me out when he should have stopped – something he had never done before for anyone. I didn’t even stick around to hear where we placed; as far as I was concerned, we won that day. I jumped off, gave him a huge hug, and walked him back to the stables for a cool bath, some grazing and a ton of treats. (My trainer later told me that, even though we lost valuable seconds because of that last jump, we finished 10^th out of 150+ horses, including professionals...)

Here’s one caught on film! Garden State Horse Show. The “X” marks the ideal takeoff point for this little 3’6 oxer, but as you can see, Mellon’s hind feet are already well over 2’ off the ground here, which means we left the ground somewhere outside the frame of this picture... it was a timed first round and we were flying – so he just left out that stride like it was nothing (our motto was "when in doubt, leave it out!") And you can see that, even though the long distance made his jump a little flat, he’s still well clear of the rails. He probably should have dumped me in the middle of the oxer, but he didn’t. It takes a brave, generous, talented horse to go long like that, especially in the mud - Go Mellon!

p.s. ignore my bad position :-\

The changes in Mellon took everyone by surprise, not least of all, me – after all, I was no trainer but I could do things with him no professional had been able to. It didn’t make sense. But I didn’t care; I think it is important to remember that horses are who they are, and we shouldn’t try to train their personalities out of them. Mellon is who he is, tough as that might be to cope with sometimes, and I love him for it. Yeah, he’s still a tough horse to manage and to ride. He’s not the right sort of horse for everyone, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t the right horse for someone like me. He deserved a chance, and I’m glad I could give him one. He gave me so much in return.

I guess the point I’m making is that I never gave up on him even when just about everyone else had. I accepted the things I couldn’t change about him, and worked with him as best I could. All of our hard work, all of the trial and error, mistakes and moments of brilliance, happiness and pain paid off. We competed successfully for years in the jumpers at all different levels, traveling all over the Northeast. We also hunter-paced, rode to the beach and went swimming, hacked in the field.... I took Mellon everywhere. And he made me the rider and trainer I am today, for better or worse. Apart from teaching me how to sit any kind of buck or what to do when a horse rears, refuses, panics or throws himself on the ground, among other things, he also taught me how to listen closely, think critically, experiment with different – sometimes unorthodox - techniques, to ride by instinct and appreciate the horse I have at that moment, not the one I had yesterday - or even five strides ago.

He’ll never be an ordinary calm, quiet horse. Even now, in his 20’s, he’s still feisty as ever, and he’s still a sensitive, emotional horse who can get himself into trouble if you’re not careful. But I love him, and he’s got a home with me forever. Everyone else called him a waste; I call him my friend - Mellon.