Alright,
So this week started off REALLY WELL.
We did three rides where all we did was flexion right and flexion left at walk, followed by counter-flexed circles with exact sizes (i.e. no loopy, egg-shaped ovals). We also finally completed our first successful counter-bend in high neck position circle at trot. With these figure of 8s (whereby the first half of the figure is counter bent and the second half of the figure is in correct bend with lengthened neck and stride), his trot improved greatly and had much more suspension, rhythm and elasticity. His stride has gotten much longer, clearer, and he is carrying himself in a much lighter frame (demi-arrets on a regular basis at the beginning of work and in counter-bend is still present). He is responding much better to the whip (a short crop used on his shoulder) and this light poking action of the whip at his shoulder seems to be more than enough for corrective purposes.
The end of my week hasn't gone so well. Mr. Horse tripped, fell, and flipped himself over during turn-out and pulled quite a few of his poor back muscles, so it may be a few days before we get under to under saddle work again. (poo). On a positive, the work in-hand presented by PK is relatively non-streneous and I will be continuing with flexions, action-reaction, bend and suppleness of the jaw and poll daily until he is ready to return to work.
Until next time!
-Dressage Person
Monday, 12 December 2011
Friday, 2 December 2011
The 6-month Independent Philippe Karl Experiment
That's right!
He has arrived in his new home and settled in very nicely (day 2 in his new home).
Day 3:
Back to flexions at walk/trot, some action-reaction at trot, shoulder-in at walk, short shoulder-in on circle to encourage stretching of the neck. At trot, flexions, work on 20m circle, changes of direction to aid in balance.
Impressions: Still very happy with this one. He is keen to learn, his trot has lengthened itself ten-fold since his first ride and he is accepting the bit much more. His walk is more rhythmical and uphill.
Day 4: First Spook
Well! We got over that hurdle now didn't we =). Good news is, even though it was completely exaggerated and mostly ridiculous, I didn't feel as though I was going to come off. We spooked at the "clunk" of the arena lights turning on and did an odd shuffle/hop/canter/gallop? down the rail.
We worked on flexions at the walk/trot again, lots of bending, lots of action reaction and began to demand more lightness in the bridle especially when in the lengthened neck position by using demi-arrets.
Day 5: Turn-out
I've now decided to write for the next 6 months on a "Philippe Karl Experiment." This means I'm going to follow Mr. Karl's methodology to the book with a horse who has some schooling but was trained using german methodologies. I'm not starting from scratch, but the horse is unaware of all things Philippe :) As I've mentioned before I am an amateur rider so my execution of these methods will be far from perfect. I am not attached to the "ecole de legerite" in any way, and any conclusions that I draw from this experiment are to be taken as my interpretations of the experiment :)
A little information on the horse, his breeding indicates that he should be an upper-level mount however he is around 1st level dressage with some beginnings of shoulder-in and haunches-in. He has no jumping training. He is 13 years old and built ever-so-slightly downhill.
I will be working with this horse 4-6 times a week. His diet will remain similar to what he has had in the past when in intensive work with the same supplements etc. Also his tack will remain the same (minus the removal of a flash nosepiece and noseband - PK wouldn't approve of these things).
Here is a short summary of our first 5 days together. =) I am hoping to post about our daily happenings with a week-long summary at the end of it.
I will be working with this horse 4-6 times a week. His diet will remain similar to what he has had in the past when in intensive work with the same supplements etc. Also his tack will remain the same (minus the removal of a flash nosepiece and noseband - PK wouldn't approve of these things).
Here is a short summary of our first 5 days together. =) I am hoping to post about our daily happenings with a week-long summary at the end of it.
I will begin with DAY 1:
He has arrived in his new home and settled in very nicely (day 2 in his new home).
Flexions on the ground & Under Saddle at Walk and Trot.
Impressions: Boy does this guy learn quickly. He was very unsure of the work at the walk (as are most horses trained in the German pyramid because the walk is supposed to be easily ruined and difficult to improve), but once I did some work at trot I went back down to walk and he REALLY understood the idea of flexing while moving straight, reaching down through a bend on a small volte. In trot we worked a bit on flexions to either direction and then worked on reaching over the back in trot via stretching through the bend. What surprised me here was how light he got! He began to really soften the jaw and even started to give at the poll. I'm very excited to see where this could be going. This is a HUGE improvement from ride one at his old place.
Day 2:
More flexions on the ground than yesterday, some in halt and then I moved on to flexions in walk. I introduced the counter-bend in a high neck position with an open poll. Also did some flexions at walk on the rail that we then moved to a shoulder-in on the rail. He is much better on the left rein and thus will need extra work on the right rein in order to even himself out. At trot, we continued to work on the lengthening of the frame through a bend and asked for a slightly larger trot.
Impressions: Though still keen to learn, the horse seemed a bit concerned about the high neck position in the counter-bend. More work will need to be done on this. His shoulder-in at walk was lovely but he could slow down his tempo in order to step-under himself more. His difficulties on the right rein at walk need to be evened out.
Impressions: Boy does this guy learn quickly. He was very unsure of the work at the walk (as are most horses trained in the German pyramid because the walk is supposed to be easily ruined and difficult to improve), but once I did some work at trot I went back down to walk and he REALLY understood the idea of flexing while moving straight, reaching down through a bend on a small volte. In trot we worked a bit on flexions to either direction and then worked on reaching over the back in trot via stretching through the bend. What surprised me here was how light he got! He began to really soften the jaw and even started to give at the poll. I'm very excited to see where this could be going. This is a HUGE improvement from ride one at his old place.
Day 2:
More flexions on the ground than yesterday, some in halt and then I moved on to flexions in walk. I introduced the counter-bend in a high neck position with an open poll. Also did some flexions at walk on the rail that we then moved to a shoulder-in on the rail. He is much better on the left rein and thus will need extra work on the right rein in order to even himself out. At trot, we continued to work on the lengthening of the frame through a bend and asked for a slightly larger trot.
Impressions: Though still keen to learn, the horse seemed a bit concerned about the high neck position in the counter-bend. More work will need to be done on this. His shoulder-in at walk was lovely but he could slow down his tempo in order to step-under himself more. His difficulties on the right rein at walk need to be evened out.
Day 3:
Back to flexions at walk/trot, some action-reaction at trot, shoulder-in at walk, short shoulder-in on circle to encourage stretching of the neck. At trot, flexions, work on 20m circle, changes of direction to aid in balance.
Impressions: Still very happy with this one. He is keen to learn, his trot has lengthened itself ten-fold since his first ride and he is accepting the bit much more. His walk is more rhythmical and uphill.
Day 4: First Spook
Well! We got over that hurdle now didn't we =). Good news is, even though it was completely exaggerated and mostly ridiculous, I didn't feel as though I was going to come off. We spooked at the "clunk" of the arena lights turning on and did an odd shuffle/hop/canter/gallop? down the rail.
We worked on flexions at the walk/trot again, lots of bending, lots of action reaction and began to demand more lightness in the bridle especially when in the lengthened neck position by using demi-arrets.
Day 5: Turn-out
Free-lunging in the sand lunge-pen. Walk/Trot/Canter. Worked on paying attention to body language, moving around the circle on the correct bend (rather than counter-bent) and changing direction with a hand cue.
5-Day Summary
5-Day Summary
- Very happy with his temperament - he's super willing and very keen
- He's a sensitive little guy and needs quite a lot of reassuring (though he's not by my definition spooky)
- Action-Reaction and stretching through the bend seem to be a simple exercise for him.
Goals for Next Week:
- Have him flexing down the entire rail with a large bend in either direction
- Have counter-bend with open poll position introduced and going well.
- Work on changes of direction through seat aids
- Introduce more work at trot - especially that which will build up his current 'pencil' neck (open-poll position, bending, counter-bending in high neck position)
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Counter-Bend to pick up Correct Canter Leads
After reading a few blogposts today, I felt inspired to talk a bit about the counter-bend and it's usefulness in loading the correct shoulder for canter departs. I find this exercise to be beneficial for the horse as it learns not to always go where his nose is pointing, it helps him correct his own balance and teaches him to canter off the aids rather than off a marker (like a corner). It also has the distinct advantage of teaching canter departs without anticipation and off the rail.
First, I'd like to review the aids for canter:
1. Inside Leg @ The Girth and ON at the girth (not necessarily hard, but the leg must distinctly come onto the horse's inside.
2. Outside Leg slightly back and gently on - Swinging your outside leg back by 2 feet and squeezing should not be the aid.
And now the aids for Counter-Bend:
With an inside bend on the first half of a figure eight followed by the second half of the figure 8 while maintaining the bend (and thus counter-bending through the second half of the figure 8).
- Both hands should move in unison and as if you are moving a book over on the shelf. An opening outside rein to encourag the horse to move in counter-bend around the circle and a light inside neck-rein will assist the horse in maintaining the appropriate bend through the counter half of the figure 8.
- Your seat should be weighted in the direction of movement and not in the direction of the bend. This is to ensure that your horse's weight moves underneath of you in the later half of the fig. 8.
Alright, so now that you have your counter-walk and counter-walk circles, your horse is light in his mouth using demi-arrets as necessary and your horse is off your leg, you can begin teaching the canter departs using the counter bend.
Say you start on the right rein with a left inside bend and trot. Go across the short diagonal and DO NOT change your bend. Simply maintain the same bend so that you are in counter bend. Once around the short side go across the diagonal again, maintaining the same bend and asking your horse ever so slightly for counter shoulder-in here. Between X and the rail, ask your horse to canter using the correct aids. Your horse will always pick up the correct canter-lead in this fashion.
Why?
Because a canter stride functions in the following way: Outside hind, inside hind-outside fore, inside fore. If you weight the outside fore in a counter shoulder-in, you have achieved freedom of the inside shoulder AND because of the counter shoulder in and the trailing of the haunch, you have achieved freedom of the outside hind, you have perfectly set-up your horse to pick up the correct canter lead diagonal. As an added bonus, you've also taught your horse the correct aids for canter.
There are many variations of this exercise and you can ask for the canter just about anywhere out of the counter-bending exercise. This exercise works on young horses as well as older horses and stops bucking in transitions as well as anticipation.
Happy Riding!
Smiles,
K
First, I'd like to review the aids for canter:
1. Inside Leg @ The Girth and ON at the girth (not necessarily hard, but the leg must distinctly come onto the horse's inside.
2. Outside Leg slightly back and gently on - Swinging your outside leg back by 2 feet and squeezing should not be the aid.
And now the aids for Counter-Bend:
With an inside bend on the first half of a figure eight followed by the second half of the figure 8 while maintaining the bend (and thus counter-bending through the second half of the figure 8).
- Both hands should move in unison and as if you are moving a book over on the shelf. An opening outside rein to encourag the horse to move in counter-bend around the circle and a light inside neck-rein will assist the horse in maintaining the appropriate bend through the counter half of the figure 8.
- Your seat should be weighted in the direction of movement and not in the direction of the bend. This is to ensure that your horse's weight moves underneath of you in the later half of the fig. 8.
Alright, so now that you have your counter-walk and counter-walk circles, your horse is light in his mouth using demi-arrets as necessary and your horse is off your leg, you can begin teaching the canter departs using the counter bend.
Say you start on the right rein with a left inside bend and trot. Go across the short diagonal and DO NOT change your bend. Simply maintain the same bend so that you are in counter bend. Once around the short side go across the diagonal again, maintaining the same bend and asking your horse ever so slightly for counter shoulder-in here. Between X and the rail, ask your horse to canter using the correct aids. Your horse will always pick up the correct canter-lead in this fashion.
Why?
Because a canter stride functions in the following way: Outside hind, inside hind-outside fore, inside fore. If you weight the outside fore in a counter shoulder-in, you have achieved freedom of the inside shoulder AND because of the counter shoulder in and the trailing of the haunch, you have achieved freedom of the outside hind, you have perfectly set-up your horse to pick up the correct canter lead diagonal. As an added bonus, you've also taught your horse the correct aids for canter.
There are many variations of this exercise and you can ask for the canter just about anywhere out of the counter-bending exercise. This exercise works on young horses as well as older horses and stops bucking in transitions as well as anticipation.
Happy Riding!
Smiles,
K
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
"First the mouth..." Part 2
Thank you for the e-mails and responses! Keep them coming, I absolutely LOVE hearing from you. =)
So, now that we have the theory behind mobilizing the jaw, how do we actually do this gently and so that our horse understands what we want??
This first set of three flexion is done at halt from the ground. You can then proceed to flexions 2 and 3 at the walk on the ground and then proceed to under-saddle work (more on this under-saddle stuff later).
So, now that we have the theory behind mobilizing the jaw, how do we actually do this gently and so that our horse understands what we want??
This first set of three flexion is done at halt from the ground. You can then proceed to flexions 2 and 3 at the walk on the ground and then proceed to under-saddle work (more on this under-saddle stuff later).
Flexion 1: Yielding the Jaw
Stand directly in front of your horse. place your thumbs in the rings of the bit. Gently put pressure on the bit towards his ears until he lifts his head quite high up in the air and you do not feel any weight on your hands. Your horse should be softly mouthing the bit and slobering all over (don't wear nice clothes :P). Keep your fingers in the rings with very light pressure in the high neck position until your horse starts to settle and soften. Take your fingers out, walk away, take a deep breath, and flexion 1 is done. Sometimes horses will simply throw their head up in the air and completely avoid the bit. If this happens, don't frett, just do a mini version of the lift and only lift your horse's head a few inches at a time until they settle.
This 2nd flexion is taught at halt, and will eventually be translated to under-saddle work where it becomes an incredibly useful tool for bringing horses necks level with their bodies (instead of 14 feet in the air). It's also an excellent softening tool as it creates a position for the horse that is comfortable.
Flexion 2: Action-Reaction (this one's probably especially important for your horse)
Stand beside your horse (for the purposes of this description let's do it from the left side of the horse). Put your left index finger in the bit ring and put the right rein over the horse's neck and on top of the headstall so the your right hand and left hand can be one on top of the other and you're holding both sides of the bit (one directly, and one indirectly). Gently pull the bit up with your left hand and down with your right hand (a light squeeze if you will) until the horse yields his jaw as in exercise one and offers to lower his head (whereby you release the pressure but still have a very light connection with his mouth). The horse's neck should end up in a horizontal position with the jaw relaxed and the horse softly mouthing the bit. Your horse doesn't need poll flexion at this point and if his nose pokes out a bit it's ok. This is the key to stretching and releasing the back under saddle...
Flexion 3: The Neck Bend in stretch position
So stand next to your horse in the same position as flexion 2. But instead of having one rein on top of the poll, move the rein to about 3/4 of the way down his neck. Lift the bit with your finger (remember to always move it towards his ear and never back) until he yields his jaw and then ask him to bend away from you by pushing his head over with your hand (and walking that way) and keeping a contact with the rein on his neck by gently holding downwards. This should be a very gentle movement and at first your horse may not be able to bend very far without moving his feet. That's ok - go as far as you think is comfortable for him wait for his jaw to yield and his mouth to soften in the neck bend position and allow him to stretch downward if he so wishes and then let go and step back. Eventually you can do this exercise so that your horse is bent at almost 90 degrees with a relaxed jaw and neck, softly mouthing the bit and lowering his head to the horizontal position in both directions.
Practice these before you ride for the next few days, and I'll post the action-reaction and neck-bend exercises for under-saddle work to promote stretching. Next 'training' post will be about how to perform the french version of a half-halt to lighten your horse's mouth and get off of the forehand =)
Happy riding everyone! Hope you're enjoying the rain as much as I am (ugh).
K
Practice these before you ride for the next few days, and I'll post the action-reaction and neck-bend exercises for under-saddle work to promote stretching. Next 'training' post will be about how to perform the french version of a half-halt to lighten your horse's mouth and get off of the forehand =)
Happy riding everyone! Hope you're enjoying the rain as much as I am (ugh).
K
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