Dressage with Judy…

Dressage has, for some reason, caught my attention.  I’ve always been amazed at the beauty and precision required by the horse and rider, and the incredible subtlety of the art.  When I watch some one like Ashley Holzer and her beautiful horse, Pop Art, or any number of other successful horses and riders, it really inspires me.

Ashley Holzer and Pop Art

And of course, you can’t do dressage without a dressage saddle.  I almost bought a Keiffer saddle on Ebay, but I was luckily outbid (I think it was lucky).  As it was pointed out to me, it’s kinda silly to drop a wad of cash on something like that without at least trying one out.  And it is much easier to buy a saddle (or a horse for that matter), than it is to sell one.  I’ve been spending a lot of time pricing them out, and just seeing what is available.  I am also hoping that riding in a dressage saddle, at least some of the time, will help me improve my seat, my position and my posture.

Judy, one of the boarders at the barn, very kindly lent me her Anky saddle today, and gave me an impromptu dressage lesson.  (Remember, those impromptu lessons are always the best!)  It was pretty amazing!  We spent most of it walking, but getting a good, forward swinging walk and me feeling his hips with my seat bones.  We were getting the connection.  I could really ‘feel’ and understand what we were doing.  Judy was a great coach, anytime she wants to help me, I will jump at the chance!  There is so much about riding that I understand logically, that I know I should ‘feel’, but that I don’t.  I’m just not a natural rider.  I have to work hard to get it!  She really helped me get it today.

Riding in that saddle was very different than my close contact.  But different in a good way.  It forced me to sit down, and it was much easier to sit up (sounds like a contradiction but it’s not.)  I still have to work hard remembering to work on correcting all these little bad habits that I have, but it felt easier.  Judy very kindly offered to let me borrow her saddle whenever I like, so for now, I may take advantage of that.

I’m hoping to do a few low level dressage shows with Bailey this summer.  Who knows, maybe it’s the beginning of a new chapter in my riding story.

I can halt my horse with my butt…

Seriously, he listens and pays attention (when he wants) so well, that he will halt with my body half-halt to halt.  That’s all I wanted to tell you tonight.  But that’s pretty frackin’ good!  (Just sounds funnier when I say I can halt him with my butt.  Which is pretty close to what it is!)

The Brave and the Surefooted…

That’s my boy!  Had a great ride in the arena yesterday, should have seen our trot.  We were strong, and forward!  Our canter maybe left a bit to be desired, but we got both leads.  He was so good!  We left the arena to walk around out in the yard and cool down, and the trail to the back beckoned.  Before I could think too hard about it, we were heading down the trail.  We’ve been back there before with Youpi and Steph, and with Brian and his horse, so it wasn’t new.  But we’ve never hacked on our own before.  We followed the trails, splashed through some pretty big puddles, stopped a few times to ponder life, but we did it!  No spooks, no problems, just a straightforward Bailey-and-me hack in the back.  I didn’t stop to think if it was stupid or careless on my part, I just decided to trust that he would be my sensible boy.  And he was.

Today, we had another ride in the ‘hunter’ ring, and then we went on another hack with Brian and the horse he now rides, Humphrey.  (Unfortunately, Tommy is retired due to a medical condition.)  Humphrey tends to be a little spooky at times, so when he jumped, so did Bailey.  Lucky for me, Bailey never seemed to ask how high, more like WTF?  And then he’d realize Humphrey was being a goose, and he’d settle right back down.  I see a lot more hacking in our future.  We will be out there all winter, keeping those trails packed down, and enjoying the ride!