Thursday, January 29, 2009
What I'm up to....
Well we are getting ready for the Equine Affaire!! Erin Vallarino and I are getting the horses and trailer ready to go. We are going to be demo riders for our good friend James Shaw. We can bee seen at the outdoor arena on Friday at 6:00pm and Saturday at 4:30pm. I am hoping that everyone can come and watch us ride.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
SPURS Thought for the day 8
SPURS Thought for the day 8
Rhythm and regularity
Each of the horse’s gaits has a particular number of beats to the footfalls. This is the horse’s rhythm. The walk has 4 beats, Trot- 2, canter-3 and the gallop has 4. The beats are counted when the feet hit the ground.
Let’s just think of the paces of the horse are different songs. The walk is Mary had a little lamb, the trot is Row, row, row your boat and the canter is Itsy bitsy spider. I chose those songs only because most people know them and I’m not a musical genius! How fast you sing the song is the tempo.
The gaits are considered irregular when the footfalls are not consistent or the tempo is not steady. The relaxation of the horse can directly affect the rhythm and regularity of the horse’s gaits. (Read SPURS- Thought of the day 7)
For today we are riding the 20-15-10 circles. Place 4 cones as circle points on the circle. Count your horse’s steps on each of the ¼ers of the circle. The number of steps should be the same. If the tempo is irregular or the horse lacks the balance to maintain a round circle, the number of steps will vary. Document the average number of steps your horse takes on each size circle at each gait. Keep track of this as you develop the horse’s gaits over the years. It will be interesting!
Next exercise is to count your breaths on the circles. Breath through your belly like a singer or like in yoga class. Your horse can’t be expected to have more regularity than you do!
Rhythm and regularity
Each of the horse’s gaits has a particular number of beats to the footfalls. This is the horse’s rhythm. The walk has 4 beats, Trot- 2, canter-3 and the gallop has 4. The beats are counted when the feet hit the ground.
Let’s just think of the paces of the horse are different songs. The walk is Mary had a little lamb, the trot is Row, row, row your boat and the canter is Itsy bitsy spider. I chose those songs only because most people know them and I’m not a musical genius! How fast you sing the song is the tempo.
The gaits are considered irregular when the footfalls are not consistent or the tempo is not steady. The relaxation of the horse can directly affect the rhythm and regularity of the horse’s gaits. (Read SPURS- Thought of the day 7)
For today we are riding the 20-15-10 circles. Place 4 cones as circle points on the circle. Count your horse’s steps on each of the ¼ers of the circle. The number of steps should be the same. If the tempo is irregular or the horse lacks the balance to maintain a round circle, the number of steps will vary. Document the average number of steps your horse takes on each size circle at each gait. Keep track of this as you develop the horse’s gaits over the years. It will be interesting!
Next exercise is to count your breaths on the circles. Breath through your belly like a singer or like in yoga class. Your horse can’t be expected to have more regularity than you do!
SPURS thought of the day 7
SPURS
Thought of the day 7
Relaxation
The thought of riding a relaxed horse is appealing to most of us. In fact, anyone who has ridden a horse that is both relaxed and energetic will understand the point of good dressage.
Let’s concentrate on encouraging our horses to develop relaxation while we work. We can do this by designing our lesson for today around a few simple principals.
1. We all like to do things that we are good at.
Start your ride with simple exercise that your horse can perform easily. Execute this exercise 5 times each direction.
2. When we are bored with our work we do not perform to our best ability.
Introduce a more difficult version of your exercise and execute it 4 times each direction. Take a short break and let the horse walk. Repeat the exercise one time each direction and expand the exercise a little bit more and repeat 3 times each direction. You should finish your work with a simple cool down that includes walking on a loose rein.
3. We all get anxious when we are required to do something that we are unclear about.
If your horse gets anxious at any time during the work, go back to a simpler version of the exercise until they are relaxed about the work.
Your homework is to write back to me about your lesson plans including the figures or exercises used. Tell me how things went and what you will change in the future.
Feel free to e-mail me directly at dressagepeacock@gmail.com.
Thought of the day 7
Relaxation
The thought of riding a relaxed horse is appealing to most of us. In fact, anyone who has ridden a horse that is both relaxed and energetic will understand the point of good dressage.
Let’s concentrate on encouraging our horses to develop relaxation while we work. We can do this by designing our lesson for today around a few simple principals.
1. We all like to do things that we are good at.
Start your ride with simple exercise that your horse can perform easily. Execute this exercise 5 times each direction.
2. When we are bored with our work we do not perform to our best ability.
Introduce a more difficult version of your exercise and execute it 4 times each direction. Take a short break and let the horse walk. Repeat the exercise one time each direction and expand the exercise a little bit more and repeat 3 times each direction. You should finish your work with a simple cool down that includes walking on a loose rein.
3. We all get anxious when we are required to do something that we are unclear about.
If your horse gets anxious at any time during the work, go back to a simpler version of the exercise until they are relaxed about the work.
Your homework is to write back to me about your lesson plans including the figures or exercises used. Tell me how things went and what you will change in the future.
Feel free to e-mail me directly at dressagepeacock@gmail.com.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
SPURS Thought for the Day 6
SPURS 6-Thought for the day
We have been doing a lot of suppling work so we should be ready for engagement. Shoulder-in is the first lateral movement that engages the inside hind leg. Look in the book Advanced Techniques of Riding; the German hand book on page 46 for the aids for the movement.
Your warm up needs to include straight lines, the bend of a 10 meter circle and moving the horse away from the inside leg. These are the prerequisites or the components for the shoulder-in. I like to warm up first by doing the usual 20 meter circles and straight lines and then becoming more specific. I execute 10m voltes at A or C. Then I proceed on quarter line. I leg yield to the track. I do this in both directions.
For the work out phase I execute the 10 meter volte in the corner and proceed down the track in shoulder in. I only do the shoulder-in ½ way down the long side and then I ride across the short diagonal ending with a 10 meter volte in the corner. This volte should be used to rebalance the horse. The first few times that I ride the exercise I ride the diagonal in collected trot. Then I ride the exercise and proceed across the diagonal in medium trot. If you ride the diagonal in medium trot on the diagonal every time, the horse will learn to run or quicken the trot across the diagonal.
You can add asset of canter after you have done the exercise 3 times each direction. The canter work should be simple as it is not the difficult part of the work out. I would suggest riding one 20 meter circle at B or E. Then immediately ride a 15 meter circle. Then ride a 10 meter volte. I end it by making a transition on the 10meter volte before coming back to the track.
You can do this exercise on young horses by making it a bit more simple. The circles can be bigger. The shoulder-in can be done as shoulder-fore or position in. The medium trot can be simplified to lengthening in the trot. The canter can be executed only on the 20 meter circle.
If you are training a really young horse you should omit the shoulder-in and simply ride on the track flexing the youngster to the inside a little more than usual while maintaining the contact on the outside rein.
We have been doing a lot of suppling work so we should be ready for engagement. Shoulder-in is the first lateral movement that engages the inside hind leg. Look in the book Advanced Techniques of Riding; the German hand book on page 46 for the aids for the movement.
Your warm up needs to include straight lines, the bend of a 10 meter circle and moving the horse away from the inside leg. These are the prerequisites or the components for the shoulder-in. I like to warm up first by doing the usual 20 meter circles and straight lines and then becoming more specific. I execute 10m voltes at A or C. Then I proceed on quarter line. I leg yield to the track. I do this in both directions.
For the work out phase I execute the 10 meter volte in the corner and proceed down the track in shoulder in. I only do the shoulder-in ½ way down the long side and then I ride across the short diagonal ending with a 10 meter volte in the corner. This volte should be used to rebalance the horse. The first few times that I ride the exercise I ride the diagonal in collected trot. Then I ride the exercise and proceed across the diagonal in medium trot. If you ride the diagonal in medium trot on the diagonal every time, the horse will learn to run or quicken the trot across the diagonal.
You can add asset of canter after you have done the exercise 3 times each direction. The canter work should be simple as it is not the difficult part of the work out. I would suggest riding one 20 meter circle at B or E. Then immediately ride a 15 meter circle. Then ride a 10 meter volte. I end it by making a transition on the 10meter volte before coming back to the track.
You can do this exercise on young horses by making it a bit more simple. The circles can be bigger. The shoulder-in can be done as shoulder-fore or position in. The medium trot can be simplified to lengthening in the trot. The canter can be executed only on the 20 meter circle.
If you are training a really young horse you should omit the shoulder-in and simply ride on the track flexing the youngster to the inside a little more than usual while maintaining the contact on the outside rein.
SPURS 5-Thought of the day
SPURS-Thought of the day-5
Today we are focusing on the contact with the outside rein.
The out side rein is known as the controlling rein. I t gives the horse help with balance and gives them support. The contact with the outside rein is established by pressing the horse at the girth with the inside leg in a diagonal push towards the steady outside rein. The inside rein is used to lightly massages the inside corner of the mouth to encourage softness.
Let’s ride on a 20 meter circle to start and progress to a figure of 8 then a 3 loop serpentine then a 4 loop serpentine and finally a 5 loop serpentine.
On the 20 meter circle establish the contact on the outside rein by alternating between true flexion and counter flexion. When you counter flex the horse be sure to only flex one inch to the outside so that you don’t encourage the horse to collapse on the inside shoulder.
Once you can maintain the even contact on the outside rein one direction, change direction and establish the new outside rein. Now you can start alternating between the figures from above. It is very important to maintain even contact on both reins during the change of bend then establishing the outside rein contact a little stronger while on the bent lines.
While on the serpentines, ride transitions between the gaits. Always maintain the outside rein during the transition.
Today we are focusing on the contact with the outside rein.
The out side rein is known as the controlling rein. I t gives the horse help with balance and gives them support. The contact with the outside rein is established by pressing the horse at the girth with the inside leg in a diagonal push towards the steady outside rein. The inside rein is used to lightly massages the inside corner of the mouth to encourage softness.
Let’s ride on a 20 meter circle to start and progress to a figure of 8 then a 3 loop serpentine then a 4 loop serpentine and finally a 5 loop serpentine.
On the 20 meter circle establish the contact on the outside rein by alternating between true flexion and counter flexion. When you counter flex the horse be sure to only flex one inch to the outside so that you don’t encourage the horse to collapse on the inside shoulder.
Once you can maintain the even contact on the outside rein one direction, change direction and establish the new outside rein. Now you can start alternating between the figures from above. It is very important to maintain even contact on both reins during the change of bend then establishing the outside rein contact a little stronger while on the bent lines.
While on the serpentines, ride transitions between the gaits. Always maintain the outside rein during the transition.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Spurs 4-Thought for the Day
SPURS-Thought for the day- 4
We have had some bad weather so our horses need to get back in the swing of things. That means we are going to do a suppling day.
Suppling exercises are bending lines, straight lines and leg yields. Shoulder-in, Ranvers, Travers and Half pass are NOT suppling exercises they are engagement exercises. Transitions can be both type of exercises because you can do them before, during and after movements.
I don’t feel very creative today… Let’s do decreasing and increasing circles also called the Target. The old stand by. One of the best exercises ever.
Do this both directions the same number of times.
Start on a 20 meter circle Let the horse establish the balance of that circle before you make the circle smaller. Once you have the best balance that your horse can do on a 20m. circle then make it smaller by turning the horse towards the middle of the circle and riding to a 15m. circle. Repeat and make the circle a 10m. circle. Be careful not to stay on the 10 meter circle too long as it is difficult for the horse to do many rotations at that size.
Now you need to leg yield out to the 20 meter circle. The best way is to pause on the 15m. circle for a full rotation of the circle then continue to the 20m. circle.
After you do this exercise 4 times at the trot; add a canter transition after you leg yield out to the 20m. circle. Lower level horses just canter around the 20m. circle a few times.
The first part of this exercise can be your warm up to supple the horse when you are going to have an engagement day the higher schooled horses. You can spiral in at the half pass and out in leg yield. You can also do this at the canter. Horses that are 3rd level and above can spiral down to an 8m. Volte/ small circle. Horses that are schooled to PSG and above can canter the 8m volte in haunches in as a working pirouette.
Make sure that you let the horse stretch on the 20m.circle both directions at the trot ( Like in the first level tests) and if your horse is capable at the canter. You do this to release the lactic acid build up in the muscles. It’s very important!
We have had some bad weather so our horses need to get back in the swing of things. That means we are going to do a suppling day.
Suppling exercises are bending lines, straight lines and leg yields. Shoulder-in, Ranvers, Travers and Half pass are NOT suppling exercises they are engagement exercises. Transitions can be both type of exercises because you can do them before, during and after movements.
I don’t feel very creative today… Let’s do decreasing and increasing circles also called the Target. The old stand by. One of the best exercises ever.
Do this both directions the same number of times.
Start on a 20 meter circle Let the horse establish the balance of that circle before you make the circle smaller. Once you have the best balance that your horse can do on a 20m. circle then make it smaller by turning the horse towards the middle of the circle and riding to a 15m. circle. Repeat and make the circle a 10m. circle. Be careful not to stay on the 10 meter circle too long as it is difficult for the horse to do many rotations at that size.
Now you need to leg yield out to the 20 meter circle. The best way is to pause on the 15m. circle for a full rotation of the circle then continue to the 20m. circle.
After you do this exercise 4 times at the trot; add a canter transition after you leg yield out to the 20m. circle. Lower level horses just canter around the 20m. circle a few times.
The first part of this exercise can be your warm up to supple the horse when you are going to have an engagement day the higher schooled horses. You can spiral in at the half pass and out in leg yield. You can also do this at the canter. Horses that are 3rd level and above can spiral down to an 8m. Volte/ small circle. Horses that are schooled to PSG and above can canter the 8m volte in haunches in as a working pirouette.
Make sure that you let the horse stretch on the 20m.circle both directions at the trot ( Like in the first level tests) and if your horse is capable at the canter. You do this to release the lactic acid build up in the muscles. It’s very important!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
SPURS3
Thought for the day-SPURS 3
Today we should focus on the lateral work because we focused on the contact yesterday.
The turn on the forehand is the most simple exercise to start with. Use your reference material for the aids for the movement. Make sure that you are very clear about the aids before you start.
The figure for the day is the 20 circle with the turn on the forehand at centerline and away from the rail (not near the track).
1. Walk the 20m circle
2. when you get to the centerline away from the track halt then make a ½ turn on the forehand away from the inside leg. Ending the turn in a halt.
3. Proceed at the walk.
4. Repeat
Do this same exercise from the trot, to halt, to turn then halt/trot transition.
Make sure that you are suppling the horse at the halt before you make the upward transition.
If your horse is news to the turn on the forehand or is tense about this work then do a walking turn on the forehand. Just slow the horse to a shortened stride in the walk instead of halting before the turn. This will help them understand that you are not trying to trap them. An extreme reaction when feeling trapped in the turn on the forehand is to rear. We don’t want that ever!
The walking turn is good for all horses. It can be used whenever you want. Once your horse is good at the turn on the forehand from the halt and the walking turn you can try the turn at the trot! You have to trot, shorten the stride at the trot, slow the forehand and push the haunches around the forehand then trot out. Let the turn become larger in diameter when trotting!
Don’t repeat these exercises too much. Quality NOT Quantity is the name of this game!!!!
Today we should focus on the lateral work because we focused on the contact yesterday.
The turn on the forehand is the most simple exercise to start with. Use your reference material for the aids for the movement. Make sure that you are very clear about the aids before you start.
The figure for the day is the 20 circle with the turn on the forehand at centerline and away from the rail (not near the track).
1. Walk the 20m circle
2. when you get to the centerline away from the track halt then make a ½ turn on the forehand away from the inside leg. Ending the turn in a halt.
3. Proceed at the walk.
4. Repeat
Do this same exercise from the trot, to halt, to turn then halt/trot transition.
Make sure that you are suppling the horse at the halt before you make the upward transition.
If your horse is news to the turn on the forehand or is tense about this work then do a walking turn on the forehand. Just slow the horse to a shortened stride in the walk instead of halting before the turn. This will help them understand that you are not trying to trap them. An extreme reaction when feeling trapped in the turn on the forehand is to rear. We don’t want that ever!
The walking turn is good for all horses. It can be used whenever you want. Once your horse is good at the turn on the forehand from the halt and the walking turn you can try the turn at the trot! You have to trot, shorten the stride at the trot, slow the forehand and push the haunches around the forehand then trot out. Let the turn become larger in diameter when trotting!
Don’t repeat these exercises too much. Quality NOT Quantity is the name of this game!!!!
SPURS 2
SPURS Thought for the day 2
Let’s focus on the contact today!
Establish the contact by picking up the reins to a working length while your horse is standing. Ask them to yield to light vibrating pressure to the left and to the right approx. 1 inch. One rein must always be still or you are sea sawing the bit in the mouth and that is wrong! Once you achieve this you may walk on.
Now the focus work of the day is to work on this concept of yielding to the inside rein and holding the outside rein steady before every change of direction and every transition upward or downward.
Work on figures that are appropriate for your horses’ level of training or below. This way you can work on increasing the quality of the work with out putting too much pressure on the horse.
Let me know what level you are working and which figures worked well ad which ones where challenging!!
Let’s focus on the contact today!
Establish the contact by picking up the reins to a working length while your horse is standing. Ask them to yield to light vibrating pressure to the left and to the right approx. 1 inch. One rein must always be still or you are sea sawing the bit in the mouth and that is wrong! Once you achieve this you may walk on.
Now the focus work of the day is to work on this concept of yielding to the inside rein and holding the outside rein steady before every change of direction and every transition upward or downward.
Work on figures that are appropriate for your horses’ level of training or below. This way you can work on increasing the quality of the work with out putting too much pressure on the horse.
Let me know what level you are working and which figures worked well ad which ones where challenging!!
SPURS1
A daily goal should be both specific tasks layered onto a general topic.
RIDE WITH SPURS- Susan Peacock Ultimate Riding System
Today let's focus on riding with rythem and regularity.
Count your tempo on straight and bent lines.
Stretch tall through your crown and breathe.
Let me know how it's going with your riding.
It takes at least 2 lifetimes to learn dreaage if we combine ours won't we get farther?
RIDE WITH SPURS- Susan Peacock Ultimate Riding System
Today let's focus on riding with rythem and regularity.
Count your tempo on straight and bent lines.
Stretch tall through your crown and breathe.
Let me know how it's going with your riding.
It takes at least 2 lifetimes to learn dreaage if we combine ours won't we get farther?
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Small spaces
Winter weather brings its fair share of compromises. One of them is riding in small spaces.Often we are limited to small indoor arenas or the only dry corner of the outdoor ring.
Riding on the grid is the only way to continue on with your goals.
The grid is when you divide the dressage court into a grid pattern by establishing the rail, quarterline, centerline, 2nd quarterline and the far track. You also mark the arena where the 20 meter circles at A,B/E and C touch the track and where they cross centerline. Riding on the grid is for the dressage rider what practicing on the balance beam is to the gymnast.This is where the horse and learn the balance and develop the strength for more advanced work.
One of the most useful tools will be the small road cone. In a small space the larger cones just take up too much room. I place one cone at each circle point of the 20meter circle.I also place a cone on the track 6 meters from the corners and if I have enough room I place cones 12 meters from the corner cones. This way I can practice transitions at the cones in the same spacing that the dressage court has letters. I also can practice my corners by using the cone , 6 meters from the end of the long side, and know how much space I have for the dressage corner.
When I practice like this in a small space I can carry over the lessons into the larger dressage court with no interruption.
If you practice like this all the time you will learn to ride accurately and make dressage easier for you and your horse(s).
As an aside;In 1991 Major Anders Lindren told me that I could charge my students $5.00 for each cone that they run over! I always charge, NEVER collect!!
I purchased my cones at Linda's Feed in Norco, CA. 951-371-3330 reference Susan Peacock at Hidden River Ranch They will be happy to order some for you!!!
Riding on the grid is the only way to continue on with your goals.
The grid is when you divide the dressage court into a grid pattern by establishing the rail, quarterline, centerline, 2nd quarterline and the far track. You also mark the arena where the 20 meter circles at A,B/E and C touch the track and where they cross centerline. Riding on the grid is for the dressage rider what practicing on the balance beam is to the gymnast.This is where the horse and learn the balance and develop the strength for more advanced work.
One of the most useful tools will be the small road cone. In a small space the larger cones just take up too much room. I place one cone at each circle point of the 20meter circle.I also place a cone on the track 6 meters from the corners and if I have enough room I place cones 12 meters from the corner cones. This way I can practice transitions at the cones in the same spacing that the dressage court has letters. I also can practice my corners by using the cone , 6 meters from the end of the long side, and know how much space I have for the dressage corner.
When I practice like this in a small space I can carry over the lessons into the larger dressage court with no interruption.
If you practice like this all the time you will learn to ride accurately and make dressage easier for you and your horse(s).
As an aside;In 1991 Major Anders Lindren told me that I could charge my students $5.00 for each cone that they run over! I always charge, NEVER collect!!
I purchased my cones at Linda's Feed in Norco, CA. 951-371-3330 reference Susan Peacock at Hidden River Ranch They will be happy to order some for you!!!
Goals
It starts with having a plan. A goal is a destination where you want to go or get to. What is it that you really want to do?
This is similar to using mapquest. You start out with where you are and you add in where you want to go. Mapquest sets out your goals and you follow them until you get there. Your directions are a series of small goals that must be followed in order or your destination won't be achieved. Simple? right!
Where are you starting from?
What are your assets?
(Mapquest assumes you are in a car that is in good running order or they would include auto garages along the way!)
Horse, trainer, clinicians, tack, transportation, books, mag., DVD, symposiums.....Money...Time.....Detication
Small goal
Small goal
Small goal
Small goal
Small goal
Small goal
Where are you going/Achieving?
Fill in the first line then the last line. Go back and fill in your assets. Then fill in what small goals you need to achieve and the skills that you need to master.
NOW DRIVE!!!
This is similar to using mapquest. You start out with where you are and you add in where you want to go. Mapquest sets out your goals and you follow them until you get there. Your directions are a series of small goals that must be followed in order or your destination won't be achieved. Simple? right!
Where are you starting from?
What are your assets?
(Mapquest assumes you are in a car that is in good running order or they would include auto garages along the way!)
Horse, trainer, clinicians, tack, transportation, books, mag., DVD, symposiums.....Money...Time.....Detication
Small goal
Small goal
Small goal
Small goal
Small goal
Small goal
Where are you going/Achieving?
Fill in the first line then the last line. Go back and fill in your assets. Then fill in what small goals you need to achieve and the skills that you need to master.
NOW DRIVE!!!
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