You've Heard the Term Good Hands...

But What does it mean? 

I’ve found that dressage is full of A-Ha moments that may last only a few seconds but take hours to learn. Once executed these moves can fall apart in an instance and sometimes you can spend the rest of your ride trying to put it back together. One part of this that I have struggled with imparticular is that I think I can rush through the movements. Not the case! If the horse is not calm and supple and relaxed at the walk, he will not be at the trot, or canter. His back will ultimately hollow leaving both horse and rider with an uncomfortable, choppy ride. Dressage training requires the horse to seek out the bridle, the foundation is for the horse to be reaching into the bridle to feel your aids.  If the horse is not truly supple and relaxed and balanced, the horse will not respond to rein aids.  It’s very unproductive to constantly be fidgety with your reins. This only works to dull the horse to the aid, causing him to ignore it over time.

 

So…how to achieve good hands? Here it is, I suggest everyone out here reading this go out and purchase a stress reliever ball. The kind that fits in the palm of your hand that you can squeeze when you are very angry or upset… yep that’s the one. After you get one, your new job is walk around with it everywhere and constantly massage it with your fingers while holding it in your hand. I cannot stress how important it is to exercise your finger muscles. You need to work both hands out equally and do it while your bored, while you’re on a conference call at work, while you’re watching tv, every spare second you have you should work with it. Hold the ball like you would hold reins in your hand thumb on top and closed fingers.  Massage you fingers on the ball to build up strength. This may seem tedious and even pointless but your hands will become very strong and also, very sensitive. You will be surprised how keen your hands will become to the horse, you will feel his mouth in the reins overtime. You will learn the difference between pulling and guiding the horse. You will learn how to not wrestle with the reins and you will learn to give short clear rein aids. Dressage rein aids are about flexion, extension, and elasticity. There is an immense give and take that occurs while riding and it is your job as the rider and leader of the partnership between you and your horse to control the handshake that occurs between your hands and the horses mouth. As a rider you can never throw your reins away, but you also can’t always be fidgeting in the horses mouth every step of the way, elasticity and quiet hands are two of the biggest lessons in dressage and perhaps hardest.

 

I think Erik Herbermann put it best in his book ” Dressage Formula” “…In’ its function as regulator of the pace, the hand can be compared to the nozzle on the end of the garden hose. When the rider does not take up the contact ( loose, given rein), it would be the same as completely removing the nozzle from the hose; the water, not being restricted, just falls out. When the contact is taken up, the nozzle now starts to play the role of accurately controlling the amount of water ( Forward energy) leaving the hose.  When the nozzle is shut the water ( horse)  stops.  When the nozzle opens more or less, and depending on the amount of pressure generated by the pump ( driving aids), the result is either a fine, powerful mist ( collected trot) , or a strong, forceful jet of water ( extended trot). If there is no pressure control on the pump ( ruthless, insensitive use of driving aids), and should the nozzle be shut ( hard, resisting hands), the hose would rupture somewhere along its length. ( The horse first becomes excited, then if pressure isn’t released, the horse would explode by rearing, bucking, or kicking out behind….in order to relieve the overload of pressure in his body.)” Now go buy some stress reliever  balls!

Do you want to learn Dressage?

Interested in learning the sport of dressage? Watch this video from world equestrian Steffen Peters. A few words on why the sport is unique and invigorating.  I think it’s important when you are considering a new sport  such as dressage, you do not rush into it, but rather take sometime for a few lessons to see if you might like it. Dressage requires patience and attachment to the horse, again, I will emphasize the word patience. I have been a rider for many years, but had not been exposed to the sport of Dressage. I learned very early on it was one step forward with my training and two steps back the next ride. Dressage is a conversation with the horse, it is necessary for you as a rider, to abandon all fears and preconceived notions about horses and dressage while schooling in the arena.  As a beginner, the most important thing is if you enjoy and are excited about the lesson? Do you want to go back for another lesson? Do you want to learn more? Only until you answer these questions for yourself can you determine if dressage is right for you. Dressage does not offer a quick pay back or instant gratification but rather a long term relationship with your horse that must be developed overtime.

Watch this video below about one man’s love of the sport. A world renound rider, Steffen Peters explores his origins in dressage and why he loves it so.

 

 A Rider’s Story – Steffen Peters

Pilates For YOU!!!

Pilates For YOU

 

                BECOME A BETTER RIDER 

Are you one of the millions of riders who have difficulty sitting the sit trot , bounce at the canter, can't maintain an upright posture and just can't get the feel of the horse? 

I guarantee once you follow this New unique way of exercising. You will Identify your own muscle imbalances and then FIX them.

Click here to Learn More

 

 

 

Dressage Freestyle WEG 2010

Dressage is about razor sharp precision. And it's about the kind of precision that an untrained eye could never pick up.  

Having watched this part of the competition all I can say is.... I'm officially speechless. The margin for error in all of these programs is so small, 

it really comes down to a matter of inches. And if you aren't looking closely, you can't even see the mistakes. What an absolutely amazing round of competition 

and riders together. I truly feel as though they all gave it everything they had. These equestrians truly reached deep down within themselves and their horses 

to ask for the most.  And the horses? Well, the horses are as devoted to the sport as their respective riders. Never, in one competition have I seen so much heart! 

A personal standing ovation for  Steffen Peters and Ravel from the USA, who won bronze in the Freestyle. What and inspiration! 

See the great article below for some highlights on the event from Brian O'Connor.

Perspectives of the World Games with Brian O'Connor - Freestyle!

What's Going On - World Equestrian Games

Written by Brian O'Connor

Sunday, 03 October 2010 07:00

What a night....the stands were Totalis-ly packed...the fans were full of energy....and the freestyle night was just incredible! And that was just the impression about the workers up in the tower!!!!!!! NO, really,....the night was indeed incredible.....the freestyle is always the tour de force of any show, and this night truly lived up to that calling. As we progressed thru the night, the rides got better and better, the scores got higher and higher (even though it took some of the judges EONS to get them into the computer....I mean, it took a few of them (no name here) more than 4 minutes to finalize their marks....unacceptable at this type of show. We waited for at least 1/3 of the rider's scores over the normal time it takes). Moving on....  The rides were lovely and the different choices of music was really cool......we had classical, we had Sting singing vocals...we had a lot of Fiddler on the Roof (song and vocal) on our first ride of the night....different, but very effective for Peter Gmoser from Austria. Isabell Werth had a very powerful performance with Warum Nicht and she got the first 80.00 of the night...then we started getting closer to the top 5. Laura Bechtolsheimer and this terrific gelding Mistral Hojris continued their mastery of the arena here at the Games.....bold and energetic and great music...she just came in and owned the ring....what a week for the Brits.....she ended up 2nd and earned her 3rd silver medal, all in 1 week...The medal belonged to Totilas, but the crowd favorite was the Spaniard Juan Munoz Diaz on the PRE stallion Fuego XII...this little stallion, who turned in a lovely Grand Prix test on Monday, came in and just exploded into a terrific and very entertaining ride.....they started with a long piaffe and passage tour, and after settling, they just tore it up. The crowd went wild when he came down the centerline with a one handed series of flying changes, and then repeated it at the end...this little horse has a huge heart and shows it in his efforts to do well. He does not cover ground very far...but he is fairly correct, flashy, and does the job....Fun to watch, and Juan is very much a showman....when he finished he had a HUGE flourish taking off his hat, and doing so, spooked his horse, who leaped forward and almost dumped him at X! The audience just ate him up and when his scores were announced (by yours truly) of 81.4, the crowd booed...very loudly. One of the judges marked him considerably lower than the others and the fans did not like it...too bad, because he put in a very dramatic and fun test. The Master and Commander, as I am now calling them came in and did not disappoint. Totilas was on form, was very strong in his performance, and Edward had him in a great position to maybe exceed his best score (London, 92.3) until a slight bobble after one of the extended trots across the ring....slight mistake, but then they turned it up and with the piaffe and passage movements being so strong, and very much used in the choreography, well, let me tell you...it was a thing of beauty. When they finished...the place erupted with a standing ovation and he got a 91.8. WEG  history....the highest score ever in championship competition. Poor Steffen got the draw position next....how can you follow Totilas....if I got that draw, well I would have to just fall over and claim being hit by lightning or something! Steffen and Ravel are such a different pair.....the two are so different in height, presence, movement, and to see them back to back must be very hard to judge. Steffan has very difficult choreography and such wonderful music......the home crowd showed their anchor rider another standing ovation and when it was over, the score of 84.85 (I think a career high) put them on the medal podium for the second night...go USA once again. Very emotional and patriotic....first individual medals in many years and Steffen now has two....good for all his support team, and of course his steadfast and loyal owner, Akiko. Well done. I got a great thought last night about 2 in the AM -sleep does not come easy here at WEG 2010.....and after getting it approved....I brought Edward into the ring with me and via a wireless mic, I did a quick interview (at the end of the class, before the awards) and mostly thanked him for what he has done for the Dressage sporting scene...he  has taken dressage to such new levels of greatness, and has brought his fellow Grand Prix riders along too. He has established a new higher bar for our sport, and we are so proud and excited to have been along with him and Totilas during this journey. I hope our Master and Commander can continue to take us to new highs and allow us to continue to join him (and others) on this incredible trip...climb on board,,,,,,next stop.........????

Post

Seat Lessons Galore!!!

” The seat is  both the alpha and omega of riding.” 

~ Egon von Neindorff 

 

So, to step up my current training schedule for dressage, I have added two seat lessons a week to my routine. WOW is all I can say! #1 What a work out and #2 what a way to find your seat again. If ever you are doubting your positioning, I cannot tell you how important seat lessons are in teaching you balance and the actual natural rhythm of the horse. 

I’ve been riding for twenty years, and even I still need them. My situation is a little different as I am retraining my seat from saddleseat to dressage, which are two quite different ways of sitting. 

Longeing can help you develop a longer leg and a deeper seat, which helps you sit better, enabling your body to comfortably follow the horse’s movement. 

One of the biggest challenges I have had to overcome in my dressage seat is riding without squeezing and gripping with my thighs, which SaddleSeat groomed my body for.

A couple notes to guide you in a seat lesson - 

Tuck your seat bones into the deepest part of the saddle.

Stretch your thigh back from your hip and point your knee toward the ground.

Let your calf fall below your knee and push toward the ground as though you were going to stand over the horse. 

Do windmills ( with your arms)  and bicycle pedals ( with your feet)  together at the walk and trot. 

Practice the helicopter and the walk, trot, and canter. Make sure to stay focused so you don’t get dizzy. 

Practice part of your lesson with stirrups and part without. 

Make sure that you have the appropriate supervision while having a lounge lesson. 

Most importantly stay relaxed and loose! And enjoy the ride!!!!

USA places in FEI Reining World Championship

Congratulations to the USA!!!! 

These riders did an absolutely phenomenal job! What an accomplishment!!! It's breathtaking to see the bond that these horses share with their riders. Great execution~ Check  out this article! 

McCutcheon and Schmersal Take Individual Gold and Silver in FEI Reining World Championship presented by John Deere

Release: September 30 2010

Author: by Jennifer Wood for USEF

---

Tom McCutcheon and Gunners Special Nite. 
Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF.

Lexington, KY - The United States upped its medal count by two today in the FEI Reining World Championship presented by John Deere at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. In the Individual Final, the U.S. took gold and silver when Tom McCutcheon on Gunners Special Nite, owned by Turnabout Ranch, and Craig Schmersal with Mister Montana Nic, owned by the Mister Montana Nic Syndicate, had the two best patterns of the day.

Tom McCutcheon of Aubrey, TX, and Gunners Special Nite, a six-year-old AQHA stallion by Colonels Smoking Gun x Mifillena, were the third of four qualified U.S. Reiners to compete. They were chasing a score of 223, set by teammate Craig Schmersal and Mister Montana Nic. They completed an electric pattern and to the screaming of the full capacity arena, they heard their winning score of 228.

McCutcheon said of his pattern, "For me, to start a pattern on that, to run in and get that first stop, it starts everything off right. He stopped really strong, and I knew he felt hooked up, so I let him drop the hammer and go. Everything that I wanted him to do, he was there. He felt like he got stronger and stronger. I was really happy with him today."

While McCutcheon is now a double gold medalist, what meant more to him than the accolades was the ability to show everyone how special Gunners Special Nite is. "I knew he was pretty special today," he said with a smile. "Today, aside from the fact that our flag was raised the highest, it was about my horse. I was glad that I could do that for that horse. He's been a superstar horse who has had a lot of second places, so I was really glad for him that he could win one because he deserves it. I really wanted to do him justice."

Schmersal, of Overbrook, OK, and Mister Montana Nic, a 12-year-old AQHA stallion by Reminic x Montana Doc, took an early lead with 223 and ended up with the silver medal. Duane Latimer of Canada and Dun Playin Tag won the bronze medal.

"I'm pretty thrilled with my horse today," Schmersal said. "He was so good out there, to go out and show as pure as he did. That's what it's about. I don't think he had a weak point. He stopped, he turned, he circled true. I asked for 110% and he delivered. He's been a part of my family for 10 years. It was special to have a horse that old come to this arena and have him come through for me like he did."

For Schmersal, the experience of the Alltech Arena was memorable. "The highlight was walking in that arena with all of those people cheering. To have that big of a crowd out there and have people behind you like that is what we do it for," he related.

As another American double medalist, Schmersal said that first and foremost was the team competition, and an individual medal was something extra. "I knew it was going to take a lot to win, and I was just hoping to make the podium," he admitted. "A silver medal is a big deal. It's pretty special to ride on both days and we feel very fortunate."

Tim McQuay of Tioga, TX, and Hollywoodstinseltown, a six-year-old AQHA stallion by Hollywood Dun It x Hollywood Jac 86 owned by David and Bonnie Silva, received a score of 222 and finished in fourth place, just a half point out of the medals. 

"I tried to be aggressive as I could without getting in trouble. His first stop was pretty good, could have been a little bit better," he said after his ride. "He was on the money for running in there and stopping cold turkey. I shut him off too hard on his first turn and he just threw his head up a little. The second turn around felt awesome. The biggest trick was getting here. Once you're here, we felt that for our team, we had enough horse and if we didn't screw up, we'd make it to the Individual Final. We made it here and then what happens, happens."

As the last reiner in the competition, Shawn Flarida of Springfield, OH, and RC Fancy Step, a six-year-old AQHA stallion by Wimpys Little Step x Doc Wilson owned by Buffalo Ranch, had a disappointing finish. Flarida's stirrup leather broke during his first sliding stop, and he had to complete the rest of his test with one stirrup. Flarida was penalized five points for touching the saddle horn with his free hand. The judges reviewed his pattern and ended up scoring him with a 207.5.

"My stirrup broke, and I got off balance," Flarida explained. "I had to go through three-quarters of the pattern on one stirrup, which is kind of hard to do. Tom was awesome today and my hat's off to him."

U.S. Reining Chef d'Equipe Jeff Petska remarked, "It was an equipment malfunction, and unfortunately that's part of showing. It's just one of those things that happens. It's hard enough to ride with two stirrups, let alone one, and Shawn did a good job and completed the pattern, so that's a big credit to him."

Flarida added, "It was fun to be here. It's great to have the WEG here and have a gold medal. I'd love for it to come back to the States some day."

Petska said at the press conference, "Without sponsor support, we wouldn't be able to do things on this kind of stage. We really appreciate everything they do for us."

McCutcheon summed up the week, "It's been amazing. This has been a lot of fun with the crowd support and everything. I was in Spain in 2002 and that was our first one so it was special, but this WEG was even more electric than that. What it means for me here is to compete for the USA."