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which_chick) wrote2023-02-19 08:43 am
which_chick) wrote2023-02-19 08:43 am
Another Winter Clinic Outing!
I'm doing another Winter Clinic with DLC (not downloadable content, Dressage Lady C as opposed to our normal clinician DLB.) today at around noon. This is a placeholder so that I can remember to discuss it when I get back.
In the two prior efforts I've ridden for DLC, the focus was on having a bolder, more-forward step for Bird, like, he's OK but also needs more forward. I've been working on that with mixed results at home, so we'll see how it goes today.
In the two prior efforts I've ridden for DLC, the focus was on having a bolder, more-forward step for Bird, like, he's OK but also needs more forward. I've been working on that with mixed results at home, so we'll see how it goes today.
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So, this time, DLC wanted to see more forward steps from da Birb. What is a "more-forward" step? Well, it's one with a bit more oomph. We've been working on this, which is kind of a struggle bus due to WINTER and LONG FUR and so very very much MUD plus also now fucking timbering right next to our work area (seriously, loggers, chainsaws, log skidders, big claw thing loading logs, the whole nine yards). Struggle bus. But we've been trying anyway. There is no Platonic Ideal of the time to work on your shit. Either you work on it or you make excuses. I'm trying to do more work and fewer excuses.
Anyway, the difference between everyday trot and more-forward trot is maybe visible in this clip from a previous clinic effort with DLC? Basically we have "everyday trot" and then at 32 seconds in to the video clip, horse is heading down the long side and clinician DLC is "A little freer forward and a little extra push" or whatever and despite flailingly useless rider aboard, you can SEE HIM DO THE THING and the trot visibly improves. It's... a little more oomph into the trot, a little more spring, a slightly bigger step, just... a brighter and more committed effort? That trot there, that's the trot we should be bringing to the table out of the box. (I expect that eventually,better trot WILL BECOME everyday trot and we will go looking for a new "better trot". Dressage Ladies have not disclosed this as the endgame, but I feel sure that's the direction we are heading here.)
Now, this stuff is VERY MUCH just matters of degree. There's not going to be a big, huge major change in the trot because it has to stay balanced and rhythmic and engaged and stable and blah blah blah. Breaking out the biggest, flattest, speediest trot Bird has in his trot box is MISSING THE POINT OF THE EXERCISE. The improved trot effort needs to have ALL THE GOOD THINGS of the everyday trot effort BUT ALSO be bigger and prettier AND SUSTAINABLE.
Our other clinician, DLB, is very focused on straightness and balance. And that's very important stuff, the which we work on with DLB. But DLC (who hails from an eventing background) comes at many of the same issues from a position of boldly forward. You 100% need straightness and balance, DLB is not at all wrong, but ALSO you need bold forwardness. (You can have straightness and balance and then aim for Boldly Forward or you can have Boldly Forward and channel that for straightness and balance. Either approach can work.) Now, Bird does not tend toward bold forwardness in his day to day, largely because as a useless middle-aged horse petter, I don't generally demand that he bring his a game to the table. :) I probably need some coaching on my end to ask for a better effort, to learn what a better effort looks-n-feels like, to become accustomed to RIDING the better effort, to become more consistent in my expectations for him, etc.
Anyway, so today was pretty good. DLC was "Wow, I can tell you've been working on the forward. This is quite nice." The rider before me... did not get wow, I can tell you've been working on the directive compliments, so maybe she could see we'd been working on it. Dunno. We did as much work as we could (it was 45F and Birb has winter fur yet, so he got chest-sweaty and huffing even with several walk breaks) with some fairly solid canter efforts and a (trot) three loop serpentine in which she sounded quite pleased with our ability to... change direction without a shitshow? More 20M circles in trot with leg yields to the rail, which is a very nice exercise that rides well. I don't mind leg yield on Bird and focusing on him maintaining his buffed, nicer trot in lateral work has been a thing we've been working on at home, so it's not like a surprise to him.
After my ride, I toweled his chest and armpits (legpits? Behind the front legs where the girth goes, it's the second point of sweaty on a winter-coated horse. Chest is the first.) then threw his bright red fleece cooler on him and tied him at the trailer to work on de-sweating while I watched horse friend N. ride. (I have for-the-horse towels that are used to fluff him up when he's shaggy-n-sweaty to help him dry faster. They're also used for other horse-related towel jobs and are DIFFERENT from my house towels for humans.) While he was working on that project, he occupied himself by chewing a hole in the haynet. *sigh* It's not the world's greatest haynet, but it's also not one of those tiny mesh slow-feed jobbies that he hates. He could totally have eaten from the haynet without gnawing a freaking hole in it. Thanks, buddy.
I don't know if we'll get DLC any in the warmer months but I'd like to ride for her once when my horse is (a) FIT and (b) not covered in hair. I expect we'd get a lot more done if he was not rocking his wintertime dad-bod and shaggy self.