I rode Milo last week on the trail with one of my friends on Middy, and threw a couple of lead changes in when we were loping along. Milo didnt change so well...and I could tell it was from me not being able to switch with seat bone I was on. I could shift my weight to one side or another but not actually the seat bone.

So today I hopped on bareback, since that is my go-to to get to the root of a problem. My what a good ride it was. For the first time in a long time he really lifted his back up and worked. Ive been pretty open about how slack I have been with training this last winter, so its not really either of our fault that we need a little work. So there we were loping along nicely and I came across the diagonal for a lead change. Beautiful lead change each direction - I was able to shift my seatbones.

So what in the heck is the problem when Im in the saddle?! This happens to me a lot - being able to have great rides bareback but I lose my riding finesse when in the saddle. I guess I still have some of those holding patterns from yester-years that I just cant shake. Cant I just compete and do everything bareback and skip this whole dissection of everything that I always end up having to do? Sigh.

Great Trail Ride

It was crisp yet beautiful out, and perfect for a trail ride. I loaded up Angie with me and got Milo ready. We headed out. 

I have said time and again how useful the trail can be for training, and it's psychological effects on both Milo and I. I have been trying to get out as often as I can because it really just keeps things fresh. There is nothing in particular I am "working on" with Milo when I've been riding. Simply just maintaining what we have until I decide what road(s) I want to go down to further training. That's not so say I dont believe we have anything to work on - we do - its just I havent decided who or where I am going to go to work on those things. So in the meantime, I'm doing what I can and having a quiet winter. 

Anyway, we headed out and I figured I would just use the ride for exercising purposes and to of course, have a little air and quiet. 

We started out with a nice trot down the "entrance trail" (where the goat followed us, if you remember) and warm him up before getting to my favorite spot for a long lope. When we did get into the lope there, I focused on keeping my body quiet and in position, and worked on my "hum" cue to slow down Milo's lope. He really does well on the trail just the two of us; I can lope him on a loose rein and have no worry of him speeding up or running through the bit - like he  does when we are out with another horse. So I took this time to emphasize going at my pace whatever gait I like. He was listening well and we loped along a while simply enjoying the peace of loping quietly outside together. 

Things felt so well I decided to throw in a few lead changes. Oh. My. Goodness!!! I am not even joking these were the best lead changes we have ever had to date. It's hard to say why, but simply they were just do effortless and so simple and it was easy to feel how correct they were coming from the hind end first. I was blown away. It was so cool - Milo was round and loping quietly and I just shifted my weight and legs and without skipping a beat, ears still alert and happily loping along, Milo just swapped his legs easy peasy just like you see horses do out in the field playing. It was incredible. 

Needless to say, the rest of the ride was awesome too, but that was the real sparkle of the day. Sure made me happy we went out and although we didnt "work on" anything, it was very, very rewarding. 

Finally broke that 70 barrier!!

I was really looking forward to this upcoming show. Three reining classes were being offered at the Olympic Peninsula Zone show, at a location I really enjoy showing at and in classes that are my favorite. This show would could towards PAC points for Milo as well.

The show grounds is about an hour and forty minutes away, and with reining the first classes at 9 am, that meant an early start, considering I wanted to get there with time to spare. I quickly got Milo ready Saturday afternoon, as that evening I would be selling my jewelry at the local rodeo and would be there until late. I took Milo on the trail with a friend earlier in the afternoon and was able to secure four nice lead changes and a speed change, enough to still feel good about leaving for the show.

We woke up bright and early at 5am with about five hours of sleep before. Milo had been locked in his stall due to the weather and mud outside and when I arrived at the barn in the early morning I saw that the adjacent horse's automatic water had again leaked all over the floor and into Milo's stall. I was happy I had decided to dump a little extra bedding into his stall. Despite the conditions, he had some dried shavings stuck to his sheet on both sides so I felt confident that at least he had slept well, unlike myself.

From the activities the night before, I hadnt had the opportunity to pre-load my trailer which meant I had to remember everything the morning of. I almost forgot my hat box at the house with not only my two hats, but my show shirt, my numbers, safety pins and Milo's registration papers all inside, but did actually forget all of my brushes back at the barn. Thank goodness for having a back up brush that lives in my trailer so at least I had something.

I mildly slept on the haul up north, and we arrived just as scheduled at 8 am. I checked in with the show office to make sure they had received my pre-entry, and to show my registration papers. I was groggy and barely awake (also hadnt had coffee) but already the atmosphere was cheerful and friendly. The arena had been scheduled to close at 8:30 to offer the last half hour to exclusive use from the reiners, so I figured to avoid over schooling, I would get on by 8:30 and spend the next half hour slowly getting things ready and giving Milo and I both a chance to breathe.

After I realized the brushes were missing, I unpacked my white polos and realized I had never washed them since last summer's shows at this same location. The ones that had been used on the rear had been defecated on and I knew none would be better then dirty. However, the fronts were still nice and clean so Milo sported polos on the front. I took my time wrapping them perfectly, then got the saddle positioned just right and my show numbers pinned to my saddle blanket. I touched up the quick bands from the day before and put the bridle on, getting in the saddle right at 8:30.

We walked the perimeter of the arena a few laps, letting Milo check out the arena he hasnt been to since last September. But he didnt mind anything and eventually we moved into the jog. I felt pretty good in my body once we started moving, and I tested our buttons for shaping. Everything I needed was there. I moved him into the lope and he was slow and a little sluggish, even breaking to the jog and needed coaxing to get going again. But the lope quality was really nice and I figured slow and correct would be our pace for the day.

They wanted to drag the arena because most of the reiners had been practicing for nearly an hour and the show management figured they had enough time. I had only been in the arena for about five minutes, and when they announces us to clear the arena I really quickly cut the diagonal to ask for a lead change. We got an ok one to the hard direction, and although it was delayed I seemed to be able to get my right seatbone out of the saddle. I figured even if thats all the warm up I got, at least I had a general idea of what horse I had today. I wondered if the long haul and gloomy day put him in his pokey mood. He cared most about his hay bag.

I had written down the three patterns I needed to memorize a couple days prior to the show. Although I never practiced them with Milo, I made it a point to remember them ahead of the show (but still brought my patterns to the show with me). Although I can remember patterns pretty well, my strategy is to only focus on the one at hand until that class is over - fortunately (or...unfortunately maybe) reining patterns are all pretty similar of course, with only the sequence of the elements changed. My first class in I was last draw, but didnt need to watch the others to ensure I knew the pattern - it was the same one I ran for this same class last year (twice) and was a fairly easy pattern anyway. 


I jogged Milo back and forth across the grass alongside the arena, noticing Milo was kind of everywhere with his shoulders. I opted to go in two-handed for the class thinking the novice class would be the best to treat as a "schooling run", especially with no speed change in our circles and no lead change to get Milo excited. I was finally called in after the other four riders (which I was so happy there was actually a good turnout), nerves not taking over like I had expected. The slow pace of the morning and the quiet atmosphere, combined with a pretty low-key warm up really kept me feeling calm about the classes.

He sure jumped into that first set of circles! And I thought, wait a minute!! Where was the super pokey quiet horse from warm up? But I was happy with the run and felt that we got out of the way what we needed. After the second set of circles we came to center and Milo prepared himself to change leads. Unfortunately for him, we were stopping at center, fortunately for me because it was an excellent opportunity to school him on waiting for lead changes. Although all of the spins in the day were lackluster, I felt the rest of the pattern went smoothly. We actually scored a 68 1/2 (pending 69 1/2 as they added the score wrong...) and a 71 1/2!! Can you believe it?? We actually scored not only a perfect 70, but gained plus halves as well! Combined score: 140 (pending 141). Heres the breakdown:

We are #17 - you can see on the left that the score was added wrong, I am working with show management to correct my points for OPZ and PAC

We were draw four for the next class, and I briefly went over the pattern in my head, but was reconfirmed of it by watching the other goes. I was really excited for this class for a couple reasons - it asked for lead changes and I really hoped we would get them but seeing as he had been so consistent at home I was hoping it would work out well, and we also had never ran this pattern before (pattern #5). 

My hear was still pounding when I was done with the pattern - it was so much fun!! Milo clearly got some energy in this run and overall I was happy. We just started working on clean speed changes this last week, which I think helped some, but its definitely an area to improve on and help get some pluses in circles. He has been a real tricker on his turnarounds and clearly is on the outside leg...its so hard to correct at home when I cant see that hes doing that!! Our lead changes were spot on and he didnt rush out of them I was so happy with that. And our second stop wasnt half bad but I didnt smooch to him out of it so there were a few trot steps. Again, overall I was really happy and got some compliments as we headed out of the arena. I had no time to lose though as I was draw #2 for my last class, Open Reining. I quickly looked at the pattern again and walked Milo to keep him ready for the last class. I was unanimously 4th of 6 from both judges, but was happy with our scores of 68 1/2 and 67 1/2, combined for 136.

I knew Open Reining would be really difficult to place in because there was actually a good turnout of real reiners there, but I wanted to make the most of the reining classes offered, gain some points, and support reining wherever I could. I enjoyed watched the really nice runs too. 

Things were going pretty well, I could tell in our large fast circles that Milo was losing steam and for the first time that day he changed front to back on our second lead change. Our first stop was horrible. For whatever reason I cued at completely the wrong time and flew backward in the saddle as a result of it and my weak back. But we recovered ok was we rolled back and made up for it in the second stop, until the rollback. I not only didnt smooch but worse, I sat on the left seatbone which made him pick up the right lead. By that point I was losing my balance I had maintained in my seatbones and when I asked for the lead change back, just could not get on the right one. Eventually he changed, but that greatly effected our score. Before that we were at 69 and 69, but after the two poor rollbacks it gave us final scores of 63 1/2 and 62. Interesting to see because it appears one judge gave us a penalty of -2 while the other penaltied a -5...anyways combined score of 125.5.

Overall, I was really really happy with the show. My horse worked well even after a nearly two hour trailer ride, a longer night locked in the stall, a trail ride the day before, and gloomy weather. Everything came together really smoothly even though I forgot a couple things and nearly forgot a few essential things. I managed to keep myself together for the majority of the time and honestly didnt have any nerves once I was in the saddle. I had the horse I knew I had and even though he wasnt as round or cadenced as he can be at home, he was responsive and wasn't pissy. Most of all, we finally got a couple clean runs with lead changes under our belt and we marked a personal milestone of not only that but finally breaking that 70 milestone - and exceeding it with +1 1/2 over. I couldnt have been happier with the show and my horse. Not to mention we earned a few PAC points along the way (which I have yet to actually break down and calculate). Thanks hugely to Boyfriend who hauled the pony and I up there on an early morning when he could have slept in, taking video and being supportive. All in all, super great day!!! :D

The Secret

I think I have finally discovered the secret to good lead changes. Of course, its something Sarah has been telling me all along, but I finally found the key in my body. Ready for it?

Seatbones.

You guys hear me talk about seatbones all the freaking time. I suppose I dont "obsess" about it, but I do consciously think about it a lot, and am always frustrated by it was well (as you also know). Remember last summer when Sarah added a shim to my saddle under the left seat bone? I still have that shim on my saddle. And I have noticed especially when I ride bareback that the shim helps tremendously to level seat bones. But, one of the benefits with working on my seatbones, and lead changes, when bareback, is how greatly I can feel how proper setting of them really effect Milo.

I think about our lead changes all the time. I break it down into the three-beat stride, that perfect moment at the end of the three beats when three legs are on the ground, that moment when I am deepest in my saddle during the gait, and achieving lift, straightness, and correct sequence of aids. In this last week though (finally!) it is starting to come together in a fluid and more "natural" manner - without my having to think about each part to much (much like the automatic positioning of two point when going into a jump). This is only something Sarah had been telling me for well over a year now, but it finally is sinking into just coming naturally.

So what is my epiphany? The secret I have discovered? Might sound simple, but its just utilizing those seat bones. I realized last week sometime (and I believe I posted it on here) that I have been trying to force the lead change without lifting the seat bone of the desired new side. I figured I needed to change the direction of my hips, but didnt take into consideration the weight of each seatbone. When Milo subsequently wouldnt change, I could spur him resulting in sometimes an ugly change, but mostly a kick out, pinned ears, hollowed back, and certainly no change. I realized (bareback, I think) I needed to be much more aware of the heavier right side and needed to really lift it up and sit down on the left to get a lead change to the right. Not a really dramatic off-centering of the seatbones (not sitting off to one side), but enough.

Once I figured this out, we have had consistently one good change after another. And I do a lot of changes on the rail, to the counter canter, to a circle, on the diagonal, whatever. Sometimes they are a little elevated or poor-timed, but with more practice I will probably find that perfect moment to ask for the change when Milo is best set up for it.

I read this great article in Horse & Rider in the June 2012 edition on lead changes. Actually, Ive read it about four times - I find more useful things from it each time. This time, I got most from it that the position of the lead change, on a pattern for example, is not as important as the timing in the horse's stride. The article used a western riding pattern as their example, where the pattern might depict a lead change exactly between two cones, but what's more important is that the lead change is asked for when the horse is prepared, be that  a foot away from the "exact spot" if needed. This, obviously, works for a reining pattern too and something important for me to remember when coming across the center between two circles. Just because I am "right at center" doesnt mean I need to change right there. Granted, I shouldt go another stride or two, but to use the time and space to get a clean lead change when Milo is ready.

I also watched a video of a reining lesson given on youtube (I know, great resource, but it really was quite helpful) that suggested that there is a huge line in the center of the pen that you need to latch on to each time you come through your circles. Keep this line firmly etched in your mind, and you have an entire length of pen to prepare and get the lead change from! This has been a great thing for me to wrap my mind around that I not only have the small slow (or whatever circle is before the lead change) to prepare with, but I have a  whole straight line to get my horse straight and lifted. This same video also mentioned that the circles should be a little more rectangular than perfect circular, which is more of a mental thing to remember than really circles being rectangles, but it allows you to mentally break it into a few parts and get the needed straight lines out of the circles. Pretty cool.

The Left Seat Bone Rears its Ugly...?

I have been thinking and thinking about the horse show this last weekend. I felt bad about my post too because I felt like I was coming across as upset, which I wasnt. I really had a good show and was really happy with my horse. Only up until just going into reining did I feel stressed or pressured at all.

And yet, I keep thinking about what happened and why we didnt do as well as I know we can. We can get lead changes at home at any time: arena or trail, center of arena or wall, counter canter or not. So why couldnt we get them at the show?

I had mentioned to Sarah that I was having a hard time rotating my hips. I had said that rotating to the left in particular was most difficult and getting that lead must be the wrong one too. But here thinking about it again, I really was having more problems picking up the left to right lead. And it showed on pattern - we got the opposite lead (the one I thought was harder) and didnt do what I thought was the easier change (easier in that my hips rotate that direction more fluidly). Why was this?

I realized after two more rides at home on my horse now that I was approaching the lead change wrong in my body. On the trail Milo and I were loping along and I still had problems getting the lead to the right. When I schooled this morning in the arena too, although he changed both ways, to the right was harder...but thats the easier way for my hips to sit! Then I broke it down and thought about it... I sit deeper on the right seat bone when my hips are to the left (the less fluid direction). When I rotate my hips to the right, the right seatbone should lift and I should get heavier in the left one. But, it doesnt. Instead, my right seatbone continues to sit deep, but my hips rotate.

I realized this when riding today. I got on bareback so I could really focus on my hips and Milo's responsiveness. What I really need to be doing in the lead change is making sure that the correct seatbone has just a little more weight in it, and that not just changing the direction of my hips is what is influencing the lead. So...although its easier to sit towards the right, its harder to get the lead because the right seatbone is still heavier.

Sigh.

Stupid left seat bone is still absent...even a year later now after adding the left seat bone shim. There must be something else I can do to find that seat bone.

It really isnt Milo's fault, and I wasnt trying to blame him. I just knew that there was something else involved that was effecting our ability to get the leads better. And at the show? Well, driving and working harder wasnt the answer and simply trying to force my hips into rotation with no emphasis on the seat bone wasnt helping either. Just another thing to be aware of and work on.

Good Ponies

Things still hectic here, but good. Cayenne did really well this afternoon when I rode her, as did Milo. I am preparing for the WSQHA Rookie Show in All Breed classes and after working in the wall reins on Saturday, today I wanted to go back into the lifter bit and give him a bit of a break. I noticed his back was a touch sore which I attributed to all the hip in, elevated shoulder work, and really working over his back (as well as counter canter work). So today I opted to work on a loose rein and just make sure we had good guiding from the seat and leg. We did, I was so happy.

Milo felt like he could lope for days going to the left. We linked onto our line in the circle every single time and his rhythm never changed. I could direct him with my seat and leg, (touch of the rein to his neck if needed) and hold his body together with my seat position too - he was really keeping his shoulder lifting and driving off the rear and it was so rewarding especially on a draped rein. I could direct him anywhere including the quarter line, the diagonal, and an easy and clean lead change.

Working to the right was a little harder - he was more stiff and didnt hold ground with his driving hock this direction. I have a tendency to feel less balanced this way too (probably from still sitting hard on the right seat bone). When I became aware of it I tried to maintain balance between each, and was then finding that my outside leg wanted to stay forward instead of back at the rear cinch, asking for the bend. Just another thing to be aware of, but Milo did well, considering. He was starting to get a little tired (we did a LOT of loping - I couldnt help myself!) and got a lead change on the third try (the first two were feeling rushed and unprepared for so I took him back to some hip in control, but didnt want to over do it with his back being tired of it). I got a nice change and loped only a few more strides before stopping.

All was well, I was really happy with the amount of control I had over my horse's direction, when I am actually in tune with where my own body is positioned. I was really happy with Milo, and really appreciative of how well behaved (and well trained if I do say so myself) that he is.

A Miracle on the Trail

I wasnt expecting anything remarkably special to happen as I set out on the trail Tuesday afternoon with my friend riding Middy. Until we snaked our way around the blue trail gate onto a new trail we hadnt yet explored. A single car wide rode, it was nicely groomed with minimal foliage overhang and wide enough for us to potentially ride side by side.

I shot my friend a mischievous look over my shoulder, which only meant one thing: eat my dust! My leg set back on Milo's side and my hips cued him to take off at a standstill. Dust creation was minimal, surprisingly, and happily, as my horse loped down the trail in a calm and balanced manner. I was so surprised and pleased with the quality of the lope as we cascaded down the trail. His ears are pricked forward in eager anticipation, but nervousness or tightness were absent. The trail began to bend to the right, and we were on the left lead. A few strides before the bend, and I cued for a lead change. I half expected it wouldnt happen - the other day was a fluke right? And being on the trail meant that we couldnt possibly get a nice change...?

My horse surprised me with an effortless lead change; all I had to do was change the direction of my legs and hips into the new arc and he changed with no fuss. I loped him for a couple more strides then slowed to the walk, but friend coming up behind us. I turned around in my saddle to see her and exclaimed, "Did you see that?! Did you see?!" A goofy broad smile was across my face and I patted and loved on my horse. She hadnt seen the miracle that happened, and mentioned she only noticed that he did something. But I knew what we did. And on the way back down the trail, we did it the other direction as well.

Two Sorrels Make Big Strides

Today could not have gotten much better.

After school I headed north to work Cayenne. Her owner had recently underwent a somewhat minor surgery, who, while still able to be outside with us, would not be able to assist. Which was fine, just on Saturday she was fresh out of surgery and couldnt even be outside with us so I had worked Cayenne entirely on my own. It was a good thing for her to stand quietly as I groomed, saddled, and booted her up. It was eventful as well with the footing in the roundpen being soggy so I headed to the arena - her first time out of the roundpen. This would also test her steering skills without having someone in the center of the roundpen to help direct her as needed as we had been doing. She did very well on Saturday.

Today, she did even better - completely retaining everything we worked on the ride before, and going beyond. Where previously she was nervous of the treeline next to the arena and the noisy hidden goats on the other side, today she only needed to pass by a few times before just keeping a watchful ear on the area. On Saturday, we stayed on a circle most of the time with some direction changes and figure eights, since the circular roundpen was a familiar pattern. Today, we worked everywhere in the arena, some straight lines, on the rail, circles, and even down to the far end of the arena where previously she had absolutely no interest in heading towards.

But further, her steering skills greatly improved from the ride before and I had stopped on Saturday with introducing her to the outside leg and moving away from single leg pressure, instead of speeding up with both leg pressures. Today, we further expanded on this and she began to nicely step her shoulder away from the outside leg pressure, following her nose in the direction pointed. Her rate of speed is progressing as well, I can slow down the pace of her trot, and even her canter! I was so excited when we loped along and not only could I slow her down, but I for the first time felt I had control over her direction - not only was she not freight training and gaining speed with every stride, but as I expanded the size of the arena there were a few moments were I felt we could have just continued down the length of the arena. She really impressed me and I could not have been happy with the quality of the ride - and it only being the seventh one!

I arrived in Seabeck at Milo's barn a while later, eager to spend time with my own horse. I sang praises about Cayenne to a fellow semi-self-care boarder (who owns the Fjords) as I cleaned Milo's stall. She reminded me that Milo can still do things that Cayenne cant, which I couldnt deny. I still love Milo beyond measure.  I groomed him and saddled aboard, then headed to the arena.

I had no real "game plan" in mind as I walked him around. I focused on my seatbones for our direction, going from circle to rail, rail to diagonal, and keeping his shoulders and hips in line. If I felt his hip drift to the inside instead of moving his shoulders away, I used my seat bones to redirect his hips back into line. I focused on using my hands to lift Milo's front end, but remembered Sarah's warning to not hold him up. Pick him up, then let him go - test to see how long he can stay there. When he deviates, bring him back up, then let him go again. I focused on this in the walk and trot and tried to make a mental note distinguishing the feel between when he was lifted on the front, or falling forward. Then we moved into the lope.

He was a little quick, but I still focused on picking him up, then letting him go and testing where he was. When he sped up, I brought him back. When he drifted his hip in, I (attempted to) put him back in line. I got unbalanced and when trying to push the hip back to straight, turned my hips out. What did Milo do? Change his lead! But only the front changed and we cross fired for a half circle or so. I asked him to change his hind, which he did. Then I wondered, as we counter cantered a couple circles, if I could change him back to the correct lead?

I loped him down the long side (haha! long side...) and tried to focus on my hip placement as I redirected the direction of my hips, and changed my legs to the wanted new arc. Milo changed his lead! Hmm...I wondered. Could we change leads now .... when I asked? I loped him a couple circles, then sent him across the diagonal, then asked for the change. I tried to not lean forward, remembering Sarah reminding me to not fall forward and ask with me hands. I sat on my pockets, but stayed square in the saddle, and redirected my hips and legs. Squoosh! Milo changed his lead! We loped the perimeter of the arena, and I wondered if we could do it again. Without ever breaking down to the trot, we loped a couple circles on this new lead, and I sent him down the diagonal once more. I asked for the change, and he changed once more! A few strides later I stopped him lightly, and patted his neck eagerly, singing praises, a smile spread broad across my face. After only a few strides at the walk, I dismounted and lead him back to the barn, slapping his neck with nearly every stride.

Good sorrel horses. :)

Observations...

Milo consistently wanted to swap from the counter canter on the right track to a lead change over to the left track, be it a small serpentine exercise or large circles (although on the large circle I was better able to keep a counter arc in his body and retain the counter canter lead). I noticed this the previous ride as well where the first attempt to serpentine on that counter canter lead, Milo executed a flying lead change. Beautiful Milo, I thought, but I needed a counter canter from you. Bonus though: every time he swapped his lead from the counter canter, he changed from back to front. At least his lead changes are solid and correct, just not when wanted.

Or is it?

Am I asking him to change leads without knowing it? I'm trying to stay firm with my outside leg back to hold the hip to the counter lead, but, am I staying secure in my body? Today I was bareback, maybe that had something to do with it.

Or

There is something different in the way Milo travels on the right lead then there is on the left (left is easier, possibly?). I've noticed time and time again that Milo would much rather dump his right shoulder into the lead and tip on the forehand, and I need to remind him to hold the correct arc repeatedly. Much more on the right lead then the left, where he pretty consistently (and easily) holds the slight arc and doesnt try and swap leads on the lope serpentines.

Maybe its a combination of a few things. Maybe I am inadvertently shifting my seat (or not having the correct subtle arc in my hips too) as well as Milo having more difficulty holding the right arc.

Ah, lookie there; a connection, a mirror between the two. If I am not positioned in the direction of the lead properly, how can Milo be?

I have caught myself (on more than one occasion) where we change lead to the right track, and I find my legs are still in position for the left track (outside leg at C, inside at B). This would thereby directly affect the position of my hips, not to mention through off Milo on my leg cues.

So instead of scrutinizing Milo for the unwanted change in lead, maybe, scratch that, certainly I should be re-assessing the position of my body. For Milo isn't going to change leads unless 1. I ask him to (even inadvertently), and 2. it's easier for him to be on the left lead (most likely caused from prolonged periods of my body remaining in the left lead position, thereby making it the normality and easier route for Milo).

Sigh, and they say riding isnt difficult. These are the things I am thinking about as I pack your groceries into boxes at work! At least through all the questioning, I have seemed to find an answer...or at least something to consider.

New Development

An interesting development occurred during my ride on Wednesday. Milo just about refused to hold a counter canter. As I would come across the center to change direction for the counter canter, he would bunch up, get tight, and try and perform a lead change. I would attempt to kick his hip out laterally in the counter canter, but the touch of my spur would result in Milo either a) trying to change leads, or b) kick at my spur with the corresponding hind leg.

Attempt after attempt was made for Milo to go into and hold a counter canter. I was being incredibly fair about this - not asking for more than say a circle of counter canter and only a step or two out laterally from the hind. We had done much more difficult counter canter work in the past. But Milo must've thought he was too good for counter canter work and believed he could skip some extra work and just go into a lead change.

It took quite a few attempts before I decided to just counter canter on the rail, and hopefully get Milo to hold it and go back onto a circle. This method worked, and finally I was able to get a lope to counter canter circle, back to a regular lope. I praised him of course and that was all I finished working on for the day.

Thursday, for whatever reason (I was wearing shorts in preparation for my cart pushing shift at work to follow), I decided it would just be a bareback kind of day. I didnt want to have to bring a second change of clothes so I arrived at the barn in shorts and a reflective shirt. Not wanting to stick to the leather saddle, I opted for the bareback pad (In other news, I think it will soon be time to replace the faithful pink bareback pad - the cinch buckle barely works now, it is getting rusty and difficult probably from a lot of sweat).

I worked Milo on the line for about twenty minutes. Working mostly on the off-side has been my approach the last week or so, and transitions have tended to be the focal point. Keeping connection as well as softness through the body has been the goal (no tension, bracing, or hollowing) primarily in the walk to trot, trot to lope, and lope to trot transitions. But through repetition, combing the line, and staying soft in my body, we did achieve some nice work on the ground.

Then I got on, and we had a beautiful warm up. I focused on using m seat bones primarily for direction and cuing. We worked on the butterfly exercise Sarah gave me, the snake exercise, circles, and nose in hip out. All with a light seat and direction from my seat bones. I was very pleased with the ride so far. We moved into the lope and Milo surprised me with an even cadence and a lifted back. I even surprised myself in that I wasnt falling from one side to the other and found it was much easier to stay centered and relaxed than at my last bareback ride. I had noticed that Milo seemed irritated by my new attempts to keep my legs in "lope position" and seemed much more comfortable with the both of them in center. But he surprised me this day by not paying them any attention, and in fact, pushing the haunches in on an arc when asked. The lope work was going splendidly.

I pondered moving into the counter canter work that we had had difficulties in just the day before. Milo had been throwing some small bucks and kicks in the last ride during this work - could I stay on if he tried that today? I cowgirl-ed up and decided to work on it anyways. If I got a little dirty I was only pushing carts later on, who would care?

I came across the center of the circle and kept my leg firmly back to encourage him to hold a counter canter and step his hip out laterally. Although with less attitude this day, Milo still tried to avoid the difficult work and instead just change leads. Again we played this dance a few more times and then I finally wised up and decided to go into the counter canter from across the diagonal, catching him off guard from the typical change in the center. The first try seemed to work until we hit the next corner and he changed leads again. I tried a few more times and again had to resort to getting the counter canter on the rail, then, when it felt good, going into the center for a circle, back to lope circle, and back to counter canter circle. This time Milo obliged to the counter canter circle and didnt try and change leads. Good boy!

I'm curious to what his thought process is behind this, and if in any way my body is not allowing him to hold a counter canter. I have been trying to focus on my seat and make sure I dont change the direction of my hips to unintentionally cue for a lead change. But either way, Milo needs to wait for me to ask for a change and not just try and do it to get out of difficult work. Nonetheless, it did put a goofy grin on my face considering getting a lead change had been the directive lately, and now, without an agenda, it seems thats all my horse wants to do!

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

I trudged out into the brisk cold morning, and headed to the barn to feed Milo. To my surprise and pleasure, I found he was already fed by Melissa. I went onto alert and asked her how he acted towards her. The night before he had been perfectly pleasant when I fed him his hay and grain, but I wasnt sure yet how he might respond to someone else. Melissa actually responded saying she hadnt even thought about his aggressive history until just now when I asked her about it. She said he was perfectly fine and waited at the feeder without a pinned ear or curled nose. I was very happy to hear that good news.

I cleaned his stall, ate breakfast, and checked in at the show office. The reining patterns werent yet posted, but I knew my first class was the same pattern as the last show, pattern 12, and Melissa had described the Novice pattern briefly the day before, being pattern 7. I got dressed and then looked at the now posted patterns. Pattern 7 made me a little nervous as it is a run in pattern and a bit complicated, plus I knew I would be trying for lead changes in this pattern. But I tried not to let myself get worked up.

My horse, however, had runny manure, was calling to just about every horse that was now coming into the fairgrounds, and generally was quite stressed. Sarah had some wet clay so he got a half syringe of that. After about a half hour, I realized my horse was quiet. Phew, I thought, maybe he was calming down. But wet poo and more calling came back. I tried not to think about it.

Time to tack up and warm up, and my horse was mouthy and dancing in the cross ties. Boyfriend and a couple we are friends with had made it up to the fairgrounds, and he was acting ornery and rude to them. Again, I just tried not to think about it. I climbed aboard and headed to the warm up pen. No calling, but he still felt quick, and some more wet manure slipped out from his rear. I tried not to think about it. But today Milo was much more fluid in his hocks and could step his hip out and nose in easily. He snake trailed pretty easily too, but I wanted to not go into the lope too quickly. I kept schooling and suppling at the walk and trot, then finally moved into a lope after a few more people left the small arena. He felt good, after I realized that tension in my ankles was causing him to run away from my leg. Once discovering this, I took a deep breath and stayed strong in my core, letting my legs go and not picking up my hand. It took a few strides, and then Milo came up underneath me and loped nicely.

I commented to Sarah about this realization, and she was happy to hear I was in a better mind set than at my ride the night before. She also helped me re-wrap his polos with a better method than I had been using. The big arena was now open for schooling, and we had about a half hour before reining was supposed to begin. I made my way into the show pen and schooled again at the walk and trot, hip out, snake exercises. The pen was busy with not only reiners but pleasure riders too, and Milo seemed somewhat distracted by the heavier traffic. There were also volunteers outside of the arena spraying hoses into it to try and keep the dust down. Fortunately, Milo didnt give much mind to the water cascading in on the rails, and didnt pay much attention to the traffic either.

We went into the lope, and he still felt a little rushed. I tried to remember to stay strong in my core and relax my ankles. When I would, the lope was great, but it wasnt consistent. However, we did school some nice stops, rollbacks, and some excellent spins. I was feeling more prepared, but still lacking confidence. They called the order of go for the first class, the Dave Reaume Memorial Green Reiner. This was pattern 12. I remembered the pattern after looking it over once more, and we headed into the arena.

Although this class allows for two hands, I went in one-handed not feeling like I needed both hands. The pattern didnt call for a lead change either, so I felt more relaxed already. We stepped into our first lope circles to the left. I was surprised by the clean lope departure, and we found a rhythm in the first two circles. We stopped pretty clean in the center. Our first two spins felt fairly good, but I knew I held some tension in my body. We raced into the right lope departure, which wasnt clean, and I had to work a few strides to get Milo back to me. He did, and we loped a couple of nice circles to the right. Although the circles were good, they didnt feel as wonderful as those we had in this same class back in July. I tried not to think about it and we stopped in the center for the next set of spins. Again, I held some tension and after the two spins were over, I was a bit disappointed knowing our spins were much better at home and schooling than we delivered in the pen. Oh well, they were now over, and we loped off for our rollback. We came around the top of the arena and I tried not to over think the stop that was coming. My horse stayed straight and I relaxed my ankles a bit. I even remembered to say Woah as I softened my lower back. For the first time in the show pen, I felt our stop was good. We rolled back up the arena and I was happy with that maneuver as well.  I tried not to think about stopping in front of the judges, but as we came down the wall in front of them, I thought too much about the stop coming up, and I lost Milo a bit only a few strides before the cone. The stop wasnt bad, but it wasnt as good as the rollback. We backed and we were done. I turned Milo and he tried to trot off, still feeling fresh, huh?

They moved the classes around a bit, and instead of my novice class to follow, they ran Open Reining next, then Novice. So now I at least had a class in between to look at the next pattern and give Milo a break in the shade. I knew the pattern now, and waited with a somewhat twisted stomach for the open reiners to finish. I watched their runs and heard scores like 78 and 75. I felt a little discouraged by that, but tried not to focus on it. It was time to get back on now, and as I walked Milo a bit, he felt fresh still and raring to go. I opted to enter the ring two handed. I am happy that I did.

The pattern called for a run in (although where the arena gate is held, you really cant), with a left rollback, followed by a right rollback, than a stop and back. Four spins to the right, four and a quarter to the left, begin with three right circles, lead change, three left circles, lead change, one final run down, no back. I knew the pattern. I just needed to do it now.

Just before the judges nodded, I remembered to push my hat down, but I didnt gather my reins. I pushed Milo into a left lead and he felt straight and good. We stopped and rolled back, with some cheers from the crowd. It felt good. I didnt ask correctly for the next lead and Milo cross fired. I tried to get a lead change, but didnt really ask, and for some reason I was obsessing about how he was on the wrong lead. In hindsight, I should have focused on a good run down before the next rollback, but I changed his leads with a simple change, and ended up getting a terrible stop. Rolled back for the next run down, and gathered my reins a bit. The stop wasnt too bad, and we backed, but I didnt line him up to center properly. I had been thinking too much about how disappointed I was in our lines.

Four spins to the right, and instead of sitting deep on my inside seat bone, I hammered him around with too much leg. I was again disappointed in our spins. The left spins didnt make me feel any better, especially when we finished them and I saw I was way off center from the judges. Oh well, and we loped off into the right lead. Two large fast, and I pushed Milo for a little more speed. As we came into the small slow, I felt the downward transition was good, although looking on tape now it doesnt look like much. I got halfway around the small slow before I realized I had a lead change in only a matter of a few strides. We came to center, and I asked for straight, then a change. He changed, although front to back. I whispered good boy, happy for the effort anyways and we loped two fast. After the change it took a circle at least to get him to somewhat lift up and lope properly, and the slow circle transition didnt feel as good. I thought about the approaching lead change throughout the three circles, and ended up not getting it. I broke him down and got a simple change. We were almost done. I loped him up the back side for our last run down, and was too afraid to push on the gas. I felt my horse had been flipping me off during the ride and I didnt want to lose all control. We stopped hard and he tried to go into a back. I kicked him out of it.

We left the arena with people telling us what a good job we did and how nice we looked. I heard a score of 62.5 and felt defeated and frustrated. I told everyone how upset I was with my horse, and remembered the bad ride from the night before.

Thinking back now, I really wasnt upset with my horse. I was frustrated with myself. I let a bad ride from the night before haunt my performance the rest of the day. I wanted Milo to perform when I wasnt in the moment with him, and instead got mad at him for it. Instead of thinking about all the bad things I felt we did in the show pen, I should be emphasizing the good parts of it instead:

We scored just as well in the Dave Reaume class as we had at the last show: a 68.5 from both judges. This placed us second under both judges out of four entries.

We accomplished the best rollbacks and stops in the show pen to date. I didnt over think our rundowns (not every one at least) and got stops I knew we had. My horse is reaching up under himself with his hind end much better. As Sarah says, he no longer looks like two guys in a horse suit - he looks like the makings of a reiner.

Looking at the videos, he is much more over his hocks in his spins. Although not well cadenced like we have schooled, he is picking up speed and holding a plant foot better (at least in the show pen, much better at home).

We got one lead change. Although it wasnt a correct one, we got one. This is a first in the show pen too. The secret behind it seemed to be that I was in my body for that moment, and not in my head. I let it happen, and although it wasnt super pretty, now we have a building block to start on in the show pen. Edit to add: I have watched the video over and over, and looking where we lost the second change, it looks like Milo actually changed in the back but before he could change in the front, I blocked him and slowed him down. I wonder, had I just been patient would he have balanced himself and changed? I really must give him more credit than I had been - he really was working for me, everything was just a little more rushed than I expected. 

We accomplished a harder reining pattern than we ever had before. The Novice pattern certainly wasnt novice friendly, but we stayed on course and actually didnt do as bad as I had given us credit for. Come to think of it, just being on pattern for both classes was another accomplishment. :)

Our scores for the Novice class were actually 62.5 and 65 from the second. This gave us second and third out of three. Although one judge threw away his score cards before I got to see them, I did get to see the scores from the 65 judge.

I really should not have been as down as I was after those classes. Milo really did give me an effort, even if it wasnt what I was anticipating for that day.

P.S. What do you think of my "chinks" outfit? I got a lot of compliments on it! And it sure saved me from being hot under my heavier black equitation chaps (and black hat that would have followed!).

Slap that Diaper on me!

A few rasps and clips from the farrier's knowledgeable hands, and Milo had newly balanced pretty footsies - just in time for the horse show on Saturday. I wanted to have every manageable balance provided for Milo for optimum success. I tacked up the eager pony and we headed into the arena.

Not before I almost forgot to tape the diaper onto my rear. The joke, by the way, comes from Sarah reminding me after my lesson on Saturday, to "remove my diaper" after dismounting. I think the term has just stuck now because, well, its a felt shim  attached to my rear and it feels like a diaper when I walk with it on.

Huggie in place, I mounted Milo. We warmed up one handed at the walk and trot, working on the snake exercise allowing Milo to osculate at the poll and follow his nose, coming up over his back and relaxed from side to side. He was honest to both sides as well and not stiff to the left as he had been before. Two and three track work as well, and Milo and I were feeling synced together and things felt terrific.

I put Milo into the lope, working on our one-handed walk to lope departure - which was good. We loped along on an even but light contact on the rein, and my outside leg back behind at the rear girth, a practice I am trying to make a habit to help Milo understand the lead change cue more clearly. This also helps me keep my seat bones level as well.

Throughout the week I have further experimented on the new shift of weight to the inside seat bone through turnarounds, by using my weight on the inside for a typical turn as well. Wouldnt you know, turning, circling, and spins have all come much easier (as well as serpentines and the snake exercise) with this new way of weighting my seat bones. I dont feel like I am leaning at all to the inside, just slightly shifting my weight to the inside, to center, and to the outside where needed. It really has been fun to experiment with. I have been using the weight shift as a single cue as well (not holding in the same position throughout a circle), to not allow myself to "lock" into a position, but I felt it would also keep Milo more sensitive to my subtle seat change needed for lead changes.

We loped along on a steady and nice circle, and I learned the benefit of riding every stride.

As we came to the center of the arena on a circle to the right, Milo anticipated a lead change (I believe) and tried to duck out the other direction, and also started tail flinging and getting hollow. This happened because for that moment, I wasnt riding. I had pretty much taken a back seat and was just enjoying the ride. But this told me two things: one, I had to pay attention to the weight in my seat bones, the positioning of my legs, and staying strong in my core; two, it was a reminder to not work on lead changes in the center of the arena.

I corrected Milo and loped a few more circles, then decided on a whim, to lope him along the diagonal and attempt a lead change. I chose the diagonal because it offered the most space to attempt the change (as I had done at my last lesson as well), and also because we wouldnt be schooling in the center of two circles. I brought my legs to center, for a moment my horse straightened, and then I moved my new outside leg back and slightly shifted my weight. My horse cleaning changed leads, so well in fact, I had to look down at the new leading leg to confirm we had changed leads. It felt so effortless from Milo with no fuss or anticipation and from very subtle cues. I was floored. I praised Milo, but kept loping.

I loped a circle or two on the new lead, and had a crazy thought; why not try a lead change the new direction now - without working on a counter canter before? It seemed somewhat ludicrous, and that I would be pushing my luck after such a nice change. But the horse show would require this, lets see what we've got.

So I rounded the corner and came across the diagonal again, changed my legs, followed by seat and leg again, and voila! Milo changed right over to the other lead. How was it this easy? I was one handed to boot! Then it hit me: one handed or not, a lead change is through the body - the seat and the leg. I really dont need to be hauling on the outside rein, just lifting for a support if needed (which was not these first two changes). I was ecstatic. But could we keep going with this? Would I get three, and maybe even, four clean changes, consecutively? I thought I was pushing my luck too far, but the thrill of those clean changes just tantalized me.

I loped a few more circles, and came across the diagonal again - clean change. Third in a row.  It felt a little rushed and hollow, however, and I should have known to school a little more before trying the next change. The tape from my diaper had failed, and the shim slipped out from under my rear. I knew I should have used a fourth piece of masking tape. But we continued on, and the fourth change resulted in a buck and a dive thrown in. Oh boy, no way Milo can you do that. I schooled him a little more, and Milo started rushing on the diagonal. Remembering Melissa and Grace's extra lead changes, and the suggestion Sarah gave to them, I decided to work a little on the counter canter. To get Milo kicking the hip out again and not anticipating the change. I started wondering if my hip angle was out of wack again now without my trusty diaper (shim), but I was determined to get a change regardless of the support.

Back across the diagonal, and again he threw a buck into the change. Down to simple one step changes I decided to try, and after three or four of those, we got another absolutely beautiful change. I stopped Milo right then and jumped off, giving him a huge and happy pat on the neck, and kisses on his beautiful white face. I couldnt believe how well he had performed. I walked out of the arena with a huge smile across my face. It's coming I remembered the many texts received from Sarah reading. The effort is paying off. Good horse show or bad horse show this weekend, we just achieved the impossible, my Milo and I.

A Diaper on my Butt?

I warmed up Milo with the Connected Groundwork before getting on. Milo was distracted, looking around at the horses eating breakfast, and the cleaner mucking stalls. There was also a wedding being prepared for and some commotion from a four-wheeler. We found better connection at the trot (seems the trot is our strong gait lately) and just as I slipped the bridle on, Sarah came down from the house. We joked about her "Kenney Chesney" attire as she was sporting flip flops and shorts. After putting on her straw hat, I could now take her seriously as my trainer.

She had me ride straight away from her so she could watch my hips and seatbones. I commented how I found I could find my left seat bone by raising my left leg slightly, which brought my seat bone down. She agreed, and it didnt take but half a lap before she wanted to include a shim. A shim? For me? But we use shims for the horse's and saddle fitting issues. Out came a felt square and some gorilla tape, and Sarah slapped the shim to my left seat bone. I sat down onto the shim and walked around. My first comment was how much longer my legs felt, and how overall I felt very long from top to toe. "Interesting..." Sarah commented, and further explained what was happening with my hips.

She used her hands to help demonstrate, explaining that where one seat bone (the right) is at 0 degrees, the left is say eleven degrees tilted forward, which thereby means the seat bone is not making contact with the saddle. What the shim does, however, is raise that shorter side up and allows the seat bone to come to zero like the other one. I feel "longer" because with my seat bones level, my left leg could now freely extend from the hip joint and in essence, my whole left side lengthened to straight. Another interesting thing happened: my ankles automatically went relaxed and my core engaged. Not too long after this, however, and Sarah wanted to lengthen my stirrup holes by one on each side because she felt I was still holding tension there which flowed right up through my leg and into my seat and body. She wanted me to have to find my stirrups a bit, and stretch the muscle on top of my ankle to help loosen it up.

As we worked in the trot, she also encouraged me to just slightly press down onto my toe as my hip moved the opposite direction such as in our snake trails. This too helped relax my ankles and I found this, combined with the shim and therefore an entire change in my body, make Milo much more capable of moving away from my seat pressure. Sarah even asked if we felt more connected, and I agreed that we definitely did.

We worked on the snake trail, the two track and three track, circles, and through all of this, building strength in the topline as well as the hocks laterally (something that is needed for a good lead change). We found it was pretty easy for Milo to two track to the left, but the right side was much more stiff. This rang true in the snake trail exercises as well, where Milo came off the left easily, but coming back around from the right was stiff and difficult. Sarah encouraged me to continue working on these exercises at home and soon wanted to see our lope. I commented that the lope was ugly lately, and I had an inkling the last few rides that we needed wall reins. Interestingly, as Sarah watched us prepare for a lope departure, she said she felt the exact same feeling and went to retrieve her reins.

She attached the wall reins, and I let Milo get used to them again for a lap or so. Then we moved into the lope. Sarah wanted me to really kick his hip to the inside, and arc him to the inside as well. She then told me the best moment to ask for the hip, when it is just leaving the ground, for the greatest movement of the outside hock. This opportune moment was when the outside fore was just hitting the ground. "Now, now, now" Sarah would comment and she was right - cueing at these precise moments created the greatest lateral reach with the outside hock. I groaned, saying I had to pay attention to footfalls now, which from experience this last winter, rang to be very difficult for me to time properly. She simple laughed and said when I do it enough times, it will come automatic to knowing when to push the right button.

Sarah wanted me to take Milo onto a counter canter, and really push the left hock right again. I had been working on this at home in our counter canter, hearing the voice of Sarah tell me to push it out farther, and remembering the great lateral reach I have been able to feel on Wesley. "Good" Sarah said, and had me counter canter on the rail, then back to a circle. There were a couple moments where Milo broke and it was due to not only a lack in my driving, but he also really wanted to change leads. We came down the long side of the arena on the counter canter, and Sarah told me to change leads. She actually addressed the steps much clearer, but I honestly didnt really hear her as I had to tune into me and my horse. I barely felt that I even did anything (in all honesty, I think Milo changed before I truly told him to), but it was a beautiful change. I felt kind of cheated though because even thinking back now I cant say what I did to get the change. I had been pushing him back to the rail as his shoulder was drifting to the inside, so I think my inside leg coming to the girth, and probably a shift in my seat, cued Milo for the change.

Finally, Sarah shed some more wisdom for our turnarounds. She commented that I was sitting on my outside seat bone during the turn, and I needed to be sitting on the inside one, "holding the inside hock to the ground". I was really confused: all this time I thought I was supposed to be on the outside seat bone to "open the door" for the turnaround to the inside. I thought if my inside seat bone was down, that I was blocking movement. Incorrect, Sarah told me, and demonstrated on my back that if she pushed down into one side, my reaction was to hollow and bend away from it. So when I am sitting on the outside seat bone in a turnaround, I want my horse to arc to the inside, but am creating a response from him to hollow out the outside which in turn, bends him the wrong direction.

I tried to change my seat bone into the turn instead, which was a little confusing at first for Milo too, who had been taught by me to turn away from the seat bone. His confusion led to some stepping out of the turn, but with a half halt on the outside rein, he was directed back to the turnaround. Honestly, his spins were much better and he was able to hold his pivot foot solidly all the way around (so long as I could stay on the proper seat bone).

So many more lessons learned at this lesson with Sarah. Now I have to find a better way to keep my shim attached to me, without leaving gunk residue on my jeans and saddle.

Frustration in the Pasture, but Progress Under Saddle

Well, there's been a certain re-occuring trend happening the last couple of days....

And no, its not just a "cute" picture of the ponies running in the pasture. 

Witness more as I tried to catch him on Tuesday:

Yeah, ten minutes of this crap two days in a row was not ok by me. He already worked himself up into a sweat and huff, but his little booty got a serious session right there in the pasture as well. And too bad for him that he was tired, because he still got a regular riding session. Not my fault he decided to work himself twice. 

I was so frustrated that morning, I was literally in tears. Why has my horse decided that now, after four years of my ownership and always meeting me in the pasture, he has decided he should just blow me off and run amuck with Chica? I'm sure he has learned the behavior from seeing Chica do it to her owner, and I'm pretty positive that the bond they have now created makes him want to just spend his time with her. Either way, I am not at all happy about the situation and am truly at a loss for how I can correct it. 

On Wednesday, instead of running away, they trotted away. And on Thursday they walked away but I was able to grab ahold of Chica before she looked like she would escape again (thereby coaxing Milo to go along with her). But even with Chica in my holds, Milo walked away. He eventually got closer to Chica as I led her away, then I was able to snatch him by his fly mask and halter him up. 

What is the best way to correct this? I refuse to use food as a motivation to catch a horse, who, knows better. It is ridiculous and only a band-aid in my opinion. Do I work him after catching him as a disciplinary action,since normally if he would meet me there would be no extra working? Or might he associate then my catching him with additional work? I have no idea how he might interpret it. I guess the good news is that the antics were decreasing in magnitude as the week progressed. But I must say, I am nervous for Saturday when I need to catch him and load up for my early morning lesson. Will he make Boyfriend and I wait for god knows how long before I can catch him? Planning for ample time will have to be done, but I am so frustrated by this whole situation. It is wrong to have to plan around a stubborn and disrespectful horse. 

With that out of my system now (and please, if you have advice, give it), I have to say that our other work together has been going great. I have been working much more on the off side (but have been forgetting to lead from the off side when catching and putting him away...just off side work on the longe. But I will work on it more!), and have seen improvement on his way of going since then - much less diving to the right (even under saddle now, interesting how addressing something on the ground can help under saddle), and he is much more comfortable taking line and expanding the radius of the circle. 

With the ground work going well, the under saddle work has too. Great trot work, loping is coming back along one handed, and he felt so well on Thursday (and the arena was clear) I was tempted to work on lead changes. So I did. An interesting thing happened: instead of difficulty changing from left to right (finding the the left seat bone), this time that was the easy change (and easy it really was, much more smooth than we have ever had a lead change before) and changing from right to left (finding the right seat bone) was an extreme challenge and both times I only got a change on the front. What is going on there? I wasnt able to figure it out but I'm hoping Sarah can address it at the lesson this weekend. I even pushed the envelope a little and from one lead change I asked for another without counter canter work in between after only the length of one side of the arena. And Milo changed (this was from left to right, btw)! Maybe we will try lead changes at the horse show next weekend? Maybe it would be a good challenge for us....

The Tell Tale Sweat Marks

I enjoyed a couple of nice rides the last few days. Thursday, Milo worked wonderfully and I didnt feel so lost in my seat. Granted, I had to make an effort to find the left seat bone, I used lots of torso twists and stretches to help find it, but not lock place with it. We had a very nice ride and he was working so well, I decided to throw in a little lead change work. Which he took to very well. The counter canter needs some work again (same sort of issues I was having on Wesley on Monday) but he pretty easily changed leads to the left. Then we worked for the other direction, which was much more difficult. Changing to the right requires that I really get that left seat bone down and back a bit, and although he changed (a few strides after initially asking for it) I knew it was sloppy because I had a hard time finding the seat bone. 

When I untacked him, I was pleased to find a beautiful sweat mark on the left side, but a dry spot on the right. This indicated to me that he still wasnt lifting up on the right side, most likely due to a heavier seat bone on that side. I still need to find balance between the two. And although the bareback riding helped show me what needed working on, it was very difficult for me to work on centering my seat bones without any support from a saddle. I know, it probably just means I have to go back to bareback riding more and build the strength I had over the winter. Sigh. I was so proud of my bareback seat too! Then the ease of a saddle allowed it to slip away...

Yesterday Heather and her horse Missy joined Milo and I for a trail ride. We hadnt been out since our accident, but I was looking forward to it, not sure what Milo might have retained from the last time out, however. There was a balk and some backing at the scary unseen dog behind the fence, which required some coaxing to get past, but no huge terrible spook like we had experienced there before. 

Heather and I "played leapfrog" throughout the ride, allowing Milo to be in front for a while, then switching for Missy to be in the front, and changing again. It was good for both horses who both would like to be in the front. We got a lot of nice trotting work done over long lengths. Our first trot, while being in the back, I really got to focus on my seat and Milo was able to concentrate on working rather than looking ahead down the trail. I allowed my ankles to relax and still maintain a light seat, which instantly made my core engage. I even threw in a little snaking along the trail to get him to follow his nose and come up over his back. The trot work was good and I knew the somewhat uneven terrain was a bonus in the workout as well. 

We approached some bikers, which neither horse cared about, and after getting onto another side trail (not the logging roads) Milo got to be in the front again and we trotted for a while again. A little more distracted by looking ahead, but Milo still worked well with just a few more reminders to stay over his back. This trail naturally created some snake exercise and it was a good time again.

There was a short stretch uphill for a lope, so I put Milo into it but the left seat bone was lacking again and he broke to a quick trot, and picked up the other lead when I asked him again. I had to correct that, and halfway up the hill firmly remind him to pay attention to me and lift his back but at the end we got a few nice strides. A really bad transition to the trot so we had to work on that some more, but eventually I got good downward transitions as well. We walked for the majority of the way back home, and enjoyed chatting all throughout. Milo had no sweat on his neck or behind his ears, which was a good sign that he wasnt nervous or anxious. I had to comment saying this was probably the most consistently quiet and working Milo had been on the trail before. 

We got back and I stripped off the saddle. Even sweat marks on both sides! Now that is an accomplishment to have lift while on the trail. I mustve had a bit of a lighter right seat bone as well. I think the long stretches of trail allows me to get better in tune with my body than worrying about a turn coming up or avoiding another horse. Lets just find a way to translate those long nice trot stretches into the arena. 

Finally Making Some Sense

I finished cleaning Sarah's stalls, and the fact that it was noon and I had only consumed coffee for the day was starting to get to me. I had the spins and needed water. I decided to watch her ride Jackson, and decide afterwards if I felt up to taking a lesson on Wesley. I watched her do her thing, and the half hour sit in the shade with a cool breeze helped get the oxygen back to my brain, and I was excited and ready to ride Wesley. I remembered that this is the feeling I'm supposed to have when preparing to ride. Not what I had been experiencing lately, but I felt like my mojo was coming back. Yay!

I wasnt sure what was going to be in store for the lesson. I was sure Sarah would find some magical key to my problems, as usual, but I also felt there was going to be some harsh words about my riding. Things had been feeling so wrong lately I was a little unsure about what was to come.

I started out on Wesley just walking and torso twisting. Soon, Sarah recommended stretching my back by reaching from hand to opposite toe. After a few, she told me to allow a total stretch in my back, so my head could face down as well. Weazle wasnt going to go anywhere, so not seeing where we were going for a few moments was ok. I got a few well needed stretches, and as I came back up, I felt just a bit more centered in my seat. I commented that I felt like I was teetering off to the left side, as I had been feeling when riding Milo as well. She watched me straight on and said that no, I looked centered. I figured that was the deal and that all the crookedness in my body just made center feel different and weird. Sarah recommended that if I start really feeling "off" to go back to torso twisting and not allow myself to get "locked" or "stuck" in one position. A recommendation she has been saying to me for as long as I have been working with her. And yet, I always need to hear it.

Again with the torso twisting, and Sarah had me go into the trot. Again I was not focusing on my hands, as I had been trying to retrain myself on for the last week or so, and Wesley certainly wasnt collected, rounded, or engaged. Sarah told me to relax my ankles and stop "equitating". Huh?

It took a bit of concentration to "release my ankles". Then she said I needed to allow my ankles to "flop" in tune with stride. I simply just needed to not worry about having a pretty leg. But....thats what I've been told to do for thirteen years! But I obliged, and after a few moments I was riding from my seat. Suddenly, Wesley dropped his head and raised his back and I commented to Sarah that without balancing off my stirrups, I now had to rely on my core and I could instantly feel my abs engage. The engagement from my body and relaxation in my legs and back allowed Wesley to engage himself and move properly. It was a definite "aha" moment.

I let my body move with him, and we snake trailed for a little bit. There was a moment when I truly felt Wesley's hip engagement, just for a moment, and Sarah commented that that was great and what I was wanting to feel and work towards. I also noted that that was probably the first time ever that I had honestly felt engagement from the hip. Like, actually felt it in my seat. Sarah could only laugh and say that that was good, but I locked that feeling into my mind. I had never felt that engagement before.

We moved into the lope and Sarah reminded me that she wanted to see me really get into my seat and relax my ankles. Immediately I wanted to fall into my "equitation" ankles, but remembered to relax. My core engaged, and Wesley loped beautifully, head down, back up, hip engaged, and with little to no rein except for guidance where needed. It was really cool, and in fact, was so easy. Who knew that being soft and relaxed, but still engaged, was the golden ticket?

Sarah wanted me to counter canter Wesley a bit and really kick his hip out in the counter canter. Counter canter work on the left lead (traveling to the right, counter canter remember, so on my right (heavy) seat bone) felt great. Some reminders from Sarah to keep his nose to the inside and really get the hip out was warranted, and there were some nice moments of lateral reach from the hip and the shoulder, and even some nice straight back to the canter circle. We got a lead change in easily, and worked the other counter canter lead. We had some issues.

Wesley was very upset wanting to change leads and not at all reaching the hind end out. Sarah reminded me that this horse can counter canter all day long, the issue was coming in my body. I had too much inside rein pressure and she reminded me that I cannot force what Im looking for, I have to set him up properly and allow it to happen. As long as I am where I should be. She sort of left it at that for me to figure out. Still with too much hand and no lateral hip, I knew it was coming from my lack of left seat bone. I went down to the trot and tried to find it there. Aha, I had locked into a position again and tightened my ankles. I softened my back, softened my ankles, and allowed myself to find my seat bone, not force it. Suddenly, Wesley moved out laterally. He dropped his head, lifted his back, and moved out as I asked. Again, its just staying soft and engaged.

Back to the lope (we actually got a few strides of real western pleasure loping, which Sarah greatly complemented on) and onto the counter canter right lead. I found my left seat bone much better and we had some nice counter canter work.

Then, somewhere thrown in there, Sarah commented about my outside leg being at "neutral" when loping. It needed to be back in C when we were loping. Wait, what? She told me to put my leg back about two inches behind the rear cinch (but remember, that the rear cinches on the Dave saddles and the way she fits the saddles has the cinch much closer to the front - only like an inch away in fact) and I should have my outside leg back and my inside at neutral. I changed my leg position, and AHA again - suddenly it wasnt so hard to find my left seat bone. With my leg further back, it just naturally falls into place.

Sarah further explained this benefit for a lead change. The outside leg basically is always there to keep the horse in the lope. Then say we come into the center in a reining pattern, and for a moment, it comes to neutral like the inside leg asking for straight between the two circles. Then the new outside goes back and the new inside opens up for the new lead. This totally makes sense with the lead change "steps" she had been telling me before as well: arced, straight, new bend, hip change into new lead. But the legs are much more active that I previously gave credit for. This seems like some elementary knowledge I somehow have been missing out on.

With my legs where they should be, my ankles soft, my back soft, and an engaged core, I loped the rail for a few laps and everything was perfect. Wesley moved beautifully, and we were in sync. I stopped him square and round. Everything felt great. As I cooled him out, I tried for a few turnaround and suddenly they were far easier too. It seemed I finally had all the right basic buttons for this horse and it was by far the best ride I had ever had on him. We finally spoke the same language, and its as if da Weez sighed a relief that this lady could finally ride him correctly.

I love the feeling I get after a lesson with Sarah: confidence! And a sudden awareness and understanding. I couldnt wait to try this out with Milo.

Was it really that easy?

Milo finds it amusing to investigate the bed of my truck. Usually there are interesting things back there; soda bottles, hay fragments from the horse show weekend, and today, orange peels from my afternoon recharge after cleaning at Sarah's. Typically, there is something I need to grab from my cab before heading up to the barn with Milo in tow, and he always has to stuff his head into the truck bed to see what sort of interesting things Mom as left in there this time. He found the orange peels. And ate them!! I only noticed what the little sneaker was doing after I had retrieved what I needed and found my horse had orange breath. 

I pondered this situation as I led him to the barn, groomed, and tacked up. Orange peels won't hurt a horse, right? I guess he's feeling the vibe with the new orange halter? Beats me, but he seemed ok so down to the outdoor arena we headed. It's freshly graded footing was far too tempting for me to ignore, even with the high mid-day heat. 

There was a small patch of shade along one side of the fence, with a perfect location for my drink for easy access. Milo dropped his head to try and snatch some sprigs of grass growing at the arena edge - as if he doesnt have enough grass in his pasture! He is probably one of the luckiest horses at the barn with his forage access! So ungrateful...

I got on, from the ground as the mounting block was outside the arena and in my laziness I didnt want to drag it in. But I was pleased that the saddle didnt tilt off center too bad, but I always feel a bit guilty getting on from the ground knowing I'm torquing Milo's back a bit. Did I mention it was warm out? I had my black helmet on which doesnt allow for great airflow, and already I was feeling warm. (Oh right, I didnt tell you? After my little accident the other day, I am going to spend my birthday cash on a new helmet. What with the trainer at the barn being fallen on just two days before my accident, I think the universe is trying to warn me to wear my helmet, and so I shall. Even though I dont like it)

I warmed up Milo on a loose rein one-handed, letting him scope out the arena a lap or so since I hadnt done groundwork with him prior. He was a bit of a looky-loo, but not bad also considering I hadnt ridden him in two days. He needed a few reminders to stay light off my aids (bulging shoulder, ignoring neck rein) but soon he was on page with me. I trotted some straight lines and circles, and tried focusing in on the uneven sweat marks I have been consistently seeing from him. While I get a beautiful mark on the left side, I have been getting a dry spot on the right, indicating that his right side is hollowing out. I have known this for a few weeks now, but never seemed to know how to approach it. But today, it seemed to come to me. 

As I worked Milo, I was very aware of the fishtailing from the rear, and the dropping of the right shoulder. It might have been because I was able to watch part of a lesson at Sarah's that morning, with the horse loping crookedly. Maybe seeing this on the ground and hearing Sarah's suggestions to the rider helped me find it in myself and my horse? Who knows, but I do know that I was very aware of my horse's dropped right side and instead of the usual pick up on the right rein, I heard the voice of Sarah in my head telling me to support with the outside rein to not allow him to simply bulge his body out that way. Rather, it would make him stay straight and all he could do to respond to the inside rein was to lift on that side. And by golly, it worked. I had some of the best circle and straight work I have ever had and I could truly feel my horse was straight and lifted on both sides. 

After a brief walk break (the heat seemed to make my horse a bit sluggish), I prepared to go into the lope work. I didnt have a goal set in my mind like in the last few rides, and after our first few strides into the right lead, it seemed what I would mostly be working on would be getting straight and coming over his back. The outdoor arena doesnt allow for very consistent work with its dips and deep spots, and Milo was very inconsistent with our lope. Another reminder from Sarah told me to give him his head and I found when I went back to one handed (I had grabbed two to school) my horse relaxed and lifted much better.

I seemed to find straight and lifted again, and while not as well as at the trot, it was certainly an improvement from our usual drop on the right side. We loped and loped and I only counter cantered him a circle or two before moving onto the straight line. Something told me my horse was already pretty fatigued and as I came to our first straight on the quarter line, I found the new bend in Milo's body to the left, switched my hip and only slightly needed support from the new outside rein. Milo changed his lead, back to front. I was amazed. I really didnt think I would going to get it and thought I would need to go back and school the counter canter again. But Milo very pleasantly surprised me by changing his lead, and with such little effort as has been needed in the last few rides! 

Absolutely giddy, I texted Sarah, questioning if I should get off right then and there. I really wanted to do it again, but with such a clean change, she agreed that I should be done. I slipped off my horse and gave him a ton of praises, putting the halter on to cool him out from the ground. Sarah further suggested to not try changes again for three sessions and instead focus on arcing, counter arcing and lateral work. Things I havent been touching on as much with my head so focused on our lead changes. I agree, let that good change settle, and reinforce other body control exercises before coming to it again. Either was, I was ecstatic and could not stop smiling.