Despite the lingering snow mounds, spring is in the air! Katchi is 30 days away from his first Horse Trial of the season - CDCTA. I've never been there, so I'm really looking forward to checking out a new place. One of my goals for this year is to get to as many new courses as possible. It's tempting to keep hitting the same venues over and over again - I know the terrain, the portable fences are like old friends in new spots, and even Katchi says "oh yes, it's this place again." Sticking with the familiar has its purpose - but this year, I want Katchi to see everything (at Training level!). I think that will make the move up to Prelim much easier. But, for the time being - I'm focused on 30 days left! With a day off a week, that's about 25 practice rides left. 25 chances to get everything sorted out. Only 25 rides left and there's still snow on the ground!
Meanwhile, it's 48 days till Rolex! And they've started posting entries (okay, well 6 entries doesn't exactly give us a lot to talk about, but somehow, I'm sure there will be more to come soon). http://www.rk3de.org/entry_list.php They've also posted a video to get everyone excited! I'm pretty sure this was the opener to NBC's coverage last year. But, it's worth the 2 minutes to watch, if you need a little motivation (check out Phillip riding in his blue saddle!).
And, finally, as I'm trying to focus my own training, it's been hard this week with what feels like an endless stream of terrible news for some top riders. We all know that bad things can happen while sitting on a horse, but we wouldn't trade the experience for anything in the world. Here are a few links to keep updated on the status of our injured heroes.
Robert Dover is reporting on the beautiful Dressage rider, Courtney King-Dye, who is currently in a coma, after falling from a horse: http://doversworld.com/
Dressage News is also carrying information on Courtney:
http://www.dressage-news.com/
In the eventing world, there were a number of falls at Pine Top on Sunday.
Karen O'Connor and Rebecca Lee suffered concussions, but both sound to be fine.
Sinead Halpin is posting information on Rebecca Howard, who despite multiple broken ribs, both clavicles fractured in several places, and a mild punctured lung, seems to be making great progress in her recovery.
http://sineadchalpin.blogspot.com/
Not much is being said about Jan Bynny, who suffered a head injury, but Eventing Nation has posted information as released by the family: http://eventingnation.com/home/
I'm so appreciative of the folks taking the time to keep the eventing and dressage fans updated on the status of our injured riders. Fingers and hooves crossed for speedy and full recoveries for all.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Game Tapes & Stretch Zones
When I think of game tapes, I think of a passionate football coach whose marriage nearly breaks up because he spends half the night (every night) in the basement watching old game films so he can beat the rival team the next week. I think I have the same addiction, but luckily, my cat isn't threatening to divorce me over it. Besides all the big boy games (Rolex, Badminton and Burghley), I must have thousands of hours of my own game tapes - and lesson tapes. When I was a young rider (quite a few years back), we probably owned the first portable VHS camcorder in the entire state of Texas - you should hear my parents' panting into the microphone while trying to lug that enormous piece of machinery across a cross country course to get the next jump on film! During "snowmageddon" I watched an old tape of my first Prelim horse, Decker - we'd been going prelim for a while and were just knocking at the door for a great 3 phases. My mom spent 5 minutes chasing me around the XC course (large piece of machinery in tow) telling everyone nearby how hard I had worked and how much I wanted this win (yea, I was in first heading out of the start box). At the second to last jump on XC, after a clear round up till then, we got eliminated at the water jump - that Decker hated the water jump. At a very innocent age of 15, after suffering my three refusals, I quietly asked the jump judge if I could walk Decker through the novice water crossing before dismounting for the long walk home. The sudden silence from my ever supportive mom was deafening. It was heartbreaking even so many many years later. But, watching that game tape reminded me that even way back then, I've had good sense as a trainer. Things didn't always go perfect - but I always looked for a positive experience out of it - despite the tears. And, oh, there were tears.
This week has been filled with new game tapes. My great friend Laura accompanied me on the trek to True Prospect Farm on Sunday for another lesson with Silva Martin (Laura is an architect and I've been dying for her to see Phillip's beautiful facility). As if working with that fabulous Australian, Phillip, last summer during his camp wasn't enough, being introduced to Silva was, without a doubt, worth the cost of the admission ticket! Katchi is rockin' and rollin' in his dressage! And, thanks to Laura, I have the video to prove it! I've watched it at least 100 times already. Silva really is amazing at knowing just the right balance between allowing strength to develop (in horse and rider!) while still pushing towards the next level of training and skill. I think that's a harder balance to strike than most people realize. In the most recent USDF magazine, there's a report on a clinic with Jan Brink (Swedish Olympian) who talks about a "comfort zone", "stretch zone" and "panic zone". I think as riders and trainers, we hear a lot about stepping outside your "comfort zone" (into the "stretch zone"), which is where the training and learning takes place, but I think, especially as eventers, we forget that dressage has a "panic zone" for horses. And, especially as eventers, that can be extremely detrimental to our horses' minds, trust and confidence. Silva has that all figured out, and Katchi loves her for it!
It was a double-whammy of Martins for Katchi and me this week! After our Silva day in PA on Sunday, we headed back out to Serra Valley in Mt. Airy, MD for a Monday jumping clinic with Boyd Martin. I've watched Boyd teach quite a bit, but this was my first time riding with him - as Silva left us on Sunday she said "don't fall off tomorrow, he always loses one!". Well, it wasn't me! :) But, as the competition season is quickly approaching, I was thrilled to have Boyd take us into the "stretch zone" with our jumping on Monday. Nothing was too big, but the lines were tough. And he wanted us to learn to adjust our strides in bending lines by getting very comfortable with moving the line in/out as needed. Katchi was a jerk in the beginning. No one wants to be embarrassed at a clinic. I was embarrassed. But as the fences got bigger, he got better. A rider mom came up to me afterwards and said, "I think he really likes the bigger jumps." Hum. You know, I think she was right. Phillip told me something along those lines last summer, but I'm still in "baby the little green horse" mode. Ugh, I can hear Jim Wofford now - stop riding the horse of last week! Maybe Katchi does need the rails to go up a bit. If I can just learn to stay with his enormous jump, we might have a hope! Below is a picture of Boyd telling us how our spectacular crashing through a bounce all started 3 jumps before; meanwhile his "squire" picked up the carnage of standards and poles that had been a bounce of 18" verticals a moment before. 18". jeeze.
The other great thing about Monday was that my wonderful student and friend, Adrianne, came along and rode in her first "big name trainer" clinic! What an amazing opportunity to learn what Boyd Martin has to say to help my student! I read an article a few months ago about how Lendon Grey makes aspiring instructors teach riders more experienced than themselves - wow! Now that's an amazing idea - why has no-one else ever thought about that before?! I felt a bit like that in watching Boyd work with my student, and I was especially thrilled to learn that we saw much of the same things. Adrianne definitely hit her "stretch zone", but she never hit the "panic zone" - although her horse, Tori, as Adrianne kept saying, was sure she'd gone to hell (partly because Boyd had the heated indoor arena temperature at about 120 degrees!).
One final note related to game tapes - The Rolex Kentucky website is posting "blogs" from 4 featured riders in the lead-up to the April 4-star. In Part 2 about Leslie Law (written by the wife part of the Leslie and Lesley Law pair), she has a great commentary about auditing (she's pretty pissed about the lack of it, actually!). Here are a few of the best lines:
This week has been filled with new game tapes. My great friend Laura accompanied me on the trek to True Prospect Farm on Sunday for another lesson with Silva Martin (Laura is an architect and I've been dying for her to see Phillip's beautiful facility). As if working with that fabulous Australian, Phillip, last summer during his camp wasn't enough, being introduced to Silva was, without a doubt, worth the cost of the admission ticket! Katchi is rockin' and rollin' in his dressage! And, thanks to Laura, I have the video to prove it! I've watched it at least 100 times already. Silva really is amazing at knowing just the right balance between allowing strength to develop (in horse and rider!) while still pushing towards the next level of training and skill. I think that's a harder balance to strike than most people realize. In the most recent USDF magazine, there's a report on a clinic with Jan Brink (Swedish Olympian) who talks about a "comfort zone", "stretch zone" and "panic zone". I think as riders and trainers, we hear a lot about stepping outside your "comfort zone" (into the "stretch zone"), which is where the training and learning takes place, but I think, especially as eventers, we forget that dressage has a "panic zone" for horses. And, especially as eventers, that can be extremely detrimental to our horses' minds, trust and confidence. Silva has that all figured out, and Katchi loves her for it!
It was a double-whammy of Martins for Katchi and me this week! After our Silva day in PA on Sunday, we headed back out to Serra Valley in Mt. Airy, MD for a Monday jumping clinic with Boyd Martin. I've watched Boyd teach quite a bit, but this was my first time riding with him - as Silva left us on Sunday she said "don't fall off tomorrow, he always loses one!". Well, it wasn't me! :) But, as the competition season is quickly approaching, I was thrilled to have Boyd take us into the "stretch zone" with our jumping on Monday. Nothing was too big, but the lines were tough. And he wanted us to learn to adjust our strides in bending lines by getting very comfortable with moving the line in/out as needed. Katchi was a jerk in the beginning. No one wants to be embarrassed at a clinic. I was embarrassed. But as the fences got bigger, he got better. A rider mom came up to me afterwards and said, "I think he really likes the bigger jumps." Hum. You know, I think she was right. Phillip told me something along those lines last summer, but I'm still in "baby the little green horse" mode. Ugh, I can hear Jim Wofford now - stop riding the horse of last week! Maybe Katchi does need the rails to go up a bit. If I can just learn to stay with his enormous jump, we might have a hope! Below is a picture of Boyd telling us how our spectacular crashing through a bounce all started 3 jumps before; meanwhile his "squire" picked up the carnage of standards and poles that had been a bounce of 18" verticals a moment before. 18". jeeze.
The other great thing about Monday was that my wonderful student and friend, Adrianne, came along and rode in her first "big name trainer" clinic! What an amazing opportunity to learn what Boyd Martin has to say to help my student! I read an article a few months ago about how Lendon Grey makes aspiring instructors teach riders more experienced than themselves - wow! Now that's an amazing idea - why has no-one else ever thought about that before?! I felt a bit like that in watching Boyd work with my student, and I was especially thrilled to learn that we saw much of the same things. Adrianne definitely hit her "stretch zone", but she never hit the "panic zone" - although her horse, Tori, as Adrianne kept saying, was sure she'd gone to hell (partly because Boyd had the heated indoor arena temperature at about 120 degrees!).
One final note related to game tapes - The Rolex Kentucky website is posting "blogs" from 4 featured riders in the lead-up to the April 4-star. In Part 2 about Leslie Law (written by the wife part of the Leslie and Lesley Law pair), she has a great commentary about auditing (she's pretty pissed about the lack of it, actually!). Here are a few of the best lines:
"Watching is something that has been lost on the majority of my generation of Riders and the ones behind me I think. They’d rather be at the food tent or looking up their photos then running out between their rides to watch how Karen or Buck show jumps even if its only at the training level.... I get constant calls for people wanting to take dressage lessons from Leslie and sometimes I have to turn people away as there just isn’t enough hours in the day, yet as he rode 5 dressage tests in the top two this past weekend not a sole was there to watch. If you are willing to spend $100 on a lesson why not spend 5 minutes of your time on a free one?"
Last fall, I got up at about 3 AM to drive up to Phillip Dutton's place to watch Mark Phillips work with our team riders (IN DRESSAGE!), just before they headed out to Burghley. Beck Holder started at 6 AM, and I arrived shortly after they started. When they say these sessions are "open to the public", it was amazing to me that I was THE PUBLIC. Just me; I was it. Nate Chambers came out for a few hours on his day off from working for Phillip. Becky finished her ride, took care of a few other horses and then spent the rest of the day sitting with me - watching. Jan Bynny, on crutches with a broken foot, watched for several hours, including watching Phillip ride both her horses with Mark. How often do we get a chance like that to watch such masters at work? Where was everyone? Yes, I realize, most of us have jobs - it took one of my precious few vacation days to get there myself. But, I am quite certain that one day of auditing earned me at least a few extra points on my next dressage test - and if nothing else, it sure as heck inspired me! Oh, and it was free!!
I generally try to keep these blog entries as short and interesting as possible - this one got a bit out of hand! The next one should be a report on our combined test this Sunday - going to try out the new dressage tests! Lets hope for starting off the season right with a pretty blue ribbon!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Silva Martin - Part II FINALLY!
My desperate pleas for another lesson with Silva paid off! The misfortune of another who had to give up her clinic spot, opened a place for me yesterday with Silva at Serra Valley. And it was fantastic! Katchi was so funny when we first walked into Serra Valley's beautiful (heated!) indoor arena - there were lots of interesting things he might have wanted to look at, but he was mezmorized by Silva teaching across the ring. He couldn't take his eyes off the pretty German lady! Little did he know what he was in for - much to my delight, Silva hopped up on Katchi for a bit! Since I bought Katchi 3 years ago, he's only been ridden by someone else a handful of times, so it was great fun for me to watch him go! And go he went! Wow, Silva had him working hard! Poor Katchi thought that should be the end of the lesson, and I was just itching to get started!
I've watched the video of my last lesson with Silva at least 100 times, and although there were some things I was happy about (and Katchi looked lovely), I was overall really frustrated with my position. That "slumped over a computer" look just isn't the one. I was determined to fix that. During "snowmageddon" I took some time to go through some videos from a few years ago when I had the opportunity to be a working student, riding several fantastically talented dressage warmbloods. I wasn't perfect, but I looked good - I was in a place in the saddle to allow the horses to work beautifully. I need to get back to that. I've watched the video of yesterday's lesson, not quite 100 times yet, and even I am impressed at the change in just a few weeks! Silva said I (and Katchi, of course!) should get the most improved medal. She might be right. Of course, there's always more to do, but I'm really pleased at what I've been able to fix over the past several weeks. It really makes me excited for the show season to start -a bit of motivation I really need while way too much snow still sits on the ground!
Monday, February 15, 2010
A Snowplowed Path to Spring
Good News and Bad News.
Bad news first.
The clinics with Silva Martin on the next two weekends have been cancelled, because there is zero expectation the snow will have melted enough to let us get to or park at the clinic location. Well, how's that for knocking the wind outta ya? And they've rescheduled the March 7 clinic to March 13 - good news is I can go, bad news is that's another week away. So much for all those dreams I had of "perfecting" my dressage with Silva over the winter.
I think this categorizes as bad news - CDCTA's entries open tomorrow, which I planned as my first HT of the season. Ugh. That means the event is just over 6 weeks away. 6 weeks to get ready and there is still over 2' of snow on the ground. I'm going to send in my entries anyhow. I can always scratch before the closing date.
Now, the good news.
There's a chance I might get into a Silva clinic THIS Friday!!! Oh I need that right now! I'm getting so bored and depressed going around in circles in the indoor - I need Silva!!
And the really good news of the week - I found a snowplowed path!!! In desperation to get out of the indoor, I went tromping around in the snow on Saturday looking for anyplace to ride outside. I found a lot of snow that went up past my knees, but not much else. Totally depressed. Then, as I was driving out of the barn, I saw it - like an oasis in the desert, or an island in the ocean... I found a plowed road! Perfectly plowed and dry - and long with big hills and almost no traffic! There is a long powerline path that runs along the new barn's property, with some sort of power station at the end. Apparently, they decided it was worthy of a good plowing! So, yesterday, Adrianne and I took the horses out in their halters and we went for a walk - a walk outside! And we did it again today! The horses were so good - I think they had resigned themselves to life in a box, and they couldn't have been more grateful (well, actually Katchi was grateful; Tori was really ticked off to have been drug away from all the hay in her stall!). During a break from our walk, Katchi practically leaned against the snowbank trying to reach a couple of long strings of icky dry grassy something - he was on his tippy toes trying to get it. Really, it was sad. And today, Tori found a couple bites of yucky frostbitten wet grass on the side of the road, but there was none on Katchi's side of the road - you've never seen a more heartbroken horse!
Anyhow, the snowplowed path to spring has given me hope - it's probably well over a mile round trip and has some BIG hills. That road may be my savior when it comes to CDCTA on April 4. At the USEA Convention in December, there was a session about conditioning, and folks kept asking a panel of top riders to tell them exactly how to condition their horses - they wouldn't answer. The moral of the session was - figure out what you've got to work with (access to a track, the ocean, hills...), and make it work for you. Right, I've got an indoor arena and a paved road with hills, and it's gonna work for me! Pictures below.
Bad news first.
The clinics with Silva Martin on the next two weekends have been cancelled, because there is zero expectation the snow will have melted enough to let us get to or park at the clinic location. Well, how's that for knocking the wind outta ya? And they've rescheduled the March 7 clinic to March 13 - good news is I can go, bad news is that's another week away. So much for all those dreams I had of "perfecting" my dressage with Silva over the winter.
I think this categorizes as bad news - CDCTA's entries open tomorrow, which I planned as my first HT of the season. Ugh. That means the event is just over 6 weeks away. 6 weeks to get ready and there is still over 2' of snow on the ground. I'm going to send in my entries anyhow. I can always scratch before the closing date.
Now, the good news.
There's a chance I might get into a Silva clinic THIS Friday!!! Oh I need that right now! I'm getting so bored and depressed going around in circles in the indoor - I need Silva!!
And the really good news of the week - I found a snowplowed path!!! In desperation to get out of the indoor, I went tromping around in the snow on Saturday looking for anyplace to ride outside. I found a lot of snow that went up past my knees, but not much else. Totally depressed. Then, as I was driving out of the barn, I saw it - like an oasis in the desert, or an island in the ocean... I found a plowed road! Perfectly plowed and dry - and long with big hills and almost no traffic! There is a long powerline path that runs along the new barn's property, with some sort of power station at the end. Apparently, they decided it was worthy of a good plowing! So, yesterday, Adrianne and I took the horses out in their halters and we went for a walk - a walk outside! And we did it again today! The horses were so good - I think they had resigned themselves to life in a box, and they couldn't have been more grateful (well, actually Katchi was grateful; Tori was really ticked off to have been drug away from all the hay in her stall!). During a break from our walk, Katchi practically leaned against the snowbank trying to reach a couple of long strings of icky dry grassy something - he was on his tippy toes trying to get it. Really, it was sad. And today, Tori found a couple bites of yucky frostbitten wet grass on the side of the road, but there was none on Katchi's side of the road - you've never seen a more heartbroken horse!
Anyhow, the snowplowed path to spring has given me hope - it's probably well over a mile round trip and has some BIG hills. That road may be my savior when it comes to CDCTA on April 4. At the USEA Convention in December, there was a session about conditioning, and folks kept asking a panel of top riders to tell them exactly how to condition their horses - they wouldn't answer. The moral of the session was - figure out what you've got to work with (access to a track, the ocean, hills...), and make it work for you. Right, I've got an indoor arena and a paved road with hills, and it's gonna work for me! Pictures below.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Snowmageddon
When the President of the United States calls a snow storm "Snowmageddon", you know it can't be good. I don't do sick very well. And I really don't do house arrest very well. But, even I have surrendered. The snow is that bad. I haven't seen Katchi since Friday morning, and I hate it! I thought about trying to make it out there today, but after a little walk around the neighborhood to check out the streets, I decided better of it. I guess it goes without saying that the Silva Martin clinic was cancelled today. My first planned horse trial is less than 2 months away, and I'm really starting to worry whether we'll be fit and schooled enough. I'm a perfectionist, and I never ever want to feel unprepared. This snow is not helping me. My work is closed tomorrow, so am hoping by the afternoon the roads will be passable enough to let me make a quick trip to the barn. I cannot imagine what my mental state will be if I've been stuck in this house for essentially 4 days! The better part of yesterday was spent without power too which started to get pretty cold - but, on the up side, it was a good motivator to catch up on a bunch of reading that I've been meaning to do.
Here are a couple of pictures of my little car. It's supposed to be silver - not white. I love that the only recognizable part of it are my horse silhouette stickers!
Hope everyone is surviving Snowmageddon & that all your horses are warm, fat & happy.
Here are a couple of pictures of my little car. It's supposed to be silver - not white. I love that the only recognizable part of it are my horse silhouette stickers!
Hope everyone is surviving Snowmageddon & that all your horses are warm, fat & happy.
Friday, February 5, 2010
More Snow - Pllliiitth!
It's snowing. Again. They're talking about up to 3 feet. It's just wrong, so so wrong. My clinic with Silva on Sunday so isn't going to happen. What a tragedy. I read in Silva's blog that she's starting to regret staying in PA this winter, because it has been so cold. I want to cry at the thought that she'll go to Florida next winter, and I won't have the good fortune of being able to work with her again next winter when I've hardly even been able to get started with her this winter!
On another note, I've just signed up for a jumping clinic with Boyd Martin on March 1st. So much for stalking Jim Wofford - I seem to have become a Martin groupie! I wonder how many clinics I have to sign up for with them before my financial contributions can classify me as a sponsor? I've done so many of Jim Wofford's gymnastics clinics, he teases me that I should take the program on the road for him! Really, these clinicians should offer some sort of recognition club - like frequent flier miles or grocery store club cards. After you ride in 150 of their clinics, you really should qualify for Platinum Club member benefits or something!
If you are also stuck in the house waiting out this unfortunate storm, I thought you might enjoy these "dressage" videos a horse friend sent me yesterday. They're quite short and gave me a much needed good laugh - I hope you enjoy them as well!
This video might be sorta like dressage in Texas (where I grew up!)...
Katchi's "street name" is K-Dog (it's a South Park thing, if you don't get it). I think I should let this rapper know about K-Dog, so he can star in the next music video.
On another note, I've just signed up for a jumping clinic with Boyd Martin on March 1st. So much for stalking Jim Wofford - I seem to have become a Martin groupie! I wonder how many clinics I have to sign up for with them before my financial contributions can classify me as a sponsor? I've done so many of Jim Wofford's gymnastics clinics, he teases me that I should take the program on the road for him! Really, these clinicians should offer some sort of recognition club - like frequent flier miles or grocery store club cards. After you ride in 150 of their clinics, you really should qualify for Platinum Club member benefits or something!
If you are also stuck in the house waiting out this unfortunate storm, I thought you might enjoy these "dressage" videos a horse friend sent me yesterday. They're quite short and gave me a much needed good laugh - I hope you enjoy them as well!
This video might be sorta like dressage in Texas (where I grew up!)...
Katchi's "street name" is K-Dog (it's a South Park thing, if you don't get it). I think I should let this rapper know about K-Dog, so he can star in the next music video.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Punxsutawney Phil - that overweight rodent
Okay, seriously, why is it snowing again? It's Phil's fault. Don't get me wrong, I happen to think he's pretty darn cute, but he's really messing with me this year. Last Sunday's clinic with Silva was cancelled due to snow. It's snowing again right now. And more snow is supposed to come in Friday-Saturday, just in time for Silva's next clinic this Sunday. AGH! I was all full of giggles with the first big snow - frolicking around in it with Katchi. But, no more, please!
One bit of good news among all this snow is that I moved Katchi to a new home after this weekend's snow thawed enough to brave the roads with the NEW trailer on only it's third road trip! Katchi is now in Harwood, Maryland and quite a bit closer to my house. He's still trying to figure out why he's there - looking around for Jimmy or Silva or a judge! But, he's settling right in and I cannot wait to start exploring the area. Harwood is horse country - I hear the hills are scattered with little coops and logs - all for horses! And, it even puts me just a few minutes from Dover Saddlery. Well, that might be a bad thing. How is it that a trip to Dover for "nothing" still adds up to hundreds of dollars?? Must be some sort of "fuzzy math." I'm thinking of some joke about an alcoholic walking into a bar...
Fingers (and hooves!) crossed for SILVA this weekend!
One bit of good news among all this snow is that I moved Katchi to a new home after this weekend's snow thawed enough to brave the roads with the NEW trailer on only it's third road trip! Katchi is now in Harwood, Maryland and quite a bit closer to my house. He's still trying to figure out why he's there - looking around for Jimmy or Silva or a judge! But, he's settling right in and I cannot wait to start exploring the area. Harwood is horse country - I hear the hills are scattered with little coops and logs - all for horses! And, it even puts me just a few minutes from Dover Saddlery. Well, that might be a bad thing. How is it that a trip to Dover for "nothing" still adds up to hundreds of dollars?? Must be some sort of "fuzzy math." I'm thinking of some joke about an alcoholic walking into a bar...
Fingers (and hooves!) crossed for SILVA this weekend!
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