thedressageridingspot's posterous http://thedressageridingspot.posterous.com Most recent posts at thedressageridingspot's posterous posterous.com Mon, 11 Oct 2010 17:58:00 -0700 You've Heard the Term Good Hands... http://thedressageridingspot.posterous.com/youve-heard-the-term-good-hands http://thedressageridingspot.posterous.com/youve-heard-the-term-good-hands

But What does it mean? 

Read more at:Dressage Riding Blog 

I’ve found that dressage is full of A-Ha moments that may last only a few seconds but take hours to learn. Once executed these moves can fall apart in an instance and sometimes you can spend the rest of your ride trying to put it back together. One part of this that I have struggled with imparticular is that I think I can rush through the movements. Not the case! If the horse is not calm and supple and relaxed at the walk, he will not be at the trot, or canter. His back will ultimately hollow leaving both horse and rider with an uncomfortable, choppy ride. Dressage training requires the horse to seek out the bridle, the foundation is for the horse to be reaching into the bridle to feel your aids.  If the horse is not truly supple and relaxed and balanced, the horse will not respond to rein aids.  It’s very unproductive to constantly be fidgety with your reins. This only works to dull the horse to the aid, causing him to ignore it over time.

 

So…how to achieve good hands? Here it is, I suggest everyone out here reading this go out and purchase a stress reliever ball. The kind that fits in the palm of your hand that you can squeeze when you are very angry or upset… yep that’s the one. After you get one, your new job is walk around with it everywhere and constantly massage it with your fingers while holding it in your hand. I cannot stress how important it is to exercise your finger muscles. You need to work both hands out equally and do it while your bored, while you’re on a conference call at work, while you’re watching tv, every spare second you have you should work with it. Hold the ball like you would hold reins in your hand thumb on top and closed fingers.  Massage you fingers on the ball to build up strength. This may seem tedious and even pointless but your hands will become very strong and also, very sensitive. You will be surprised how keen your hands will become to the horse, you will feel his mouth in the reins overtime. You will learn the difference between pulling and guiding the horse. You will learn how to not wrestle with the reins and you will learn to give short clear rein aids. Dressage rein aids are about flexion, extension, and elasticity. There is an immense give and take that occurs while riding and it is your job as the rider and leader of the partnership between you and your horse to control the handshake that occurs between your hands and the horses mouth. As a rider you can never throw your reins away, but you also can’t always be fidgeting in the horses mouth every step of the way, elasticity and quiet hands are two of the biggest lessons in dressage and perhaps hardest.

 

c831bad8e350a6d Youve Heard the Expression Good Hands...

I think Erik Herbermann put it best in his book ” Dressage Formula” “…In’ its function as regulator of the pace, the hand can be compared to the nozzle on the end of the garden hose. When the rider does not take up the contact ( loose, given rein), it would be the same as completely removing the nozzle from the hose; the water, not being restricted, just falls out. When the contact is taken up, the nozzle now starts to play the role of accurately controlling the amount of water ( Forward energy) leaving the hose.  When the nozzle is shut the water ( horse)  stops.  When the nozzle opens more or less, and depending on the amount of pressure generated by the pump ( driving aids), the result is either a fine, powerful mist ( collected trot) , or a strong, forceful jet of water ( extended trot). If there is no pressure control on the pump ( ruthless, insensitive use of driving aids), and should the nozzle be shut ( hard, resisting hands), the hose would rupture somewhere along its length. ( The horse first becomes excited, then if pressure isn’t released, the horse would explode by rearing, bucking, or kicking out behind….in order to relieve the overload of pressure in his body.)” Now go buy some stress reliever  balls!

 

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Tue, 05 Oct 2010 20:12:00 -0700 Do you want to learn Dressage? http://thedressageridingspot.posterous.com/do-you-want-to-learn-dressage http://thedressageridingspot.posterous.com/do-you-want-to-learn-dressage

Interested in learning the sport of dressage? Watch this video from world equestrian Steffen Peters. A few words on why the sport is unique and invigorating.  I think it’s important when you are considering a new sport  such as dressage, you do not rush into it, but rather take sometime for a few lessons to see if you might like it. Dressage requires patience and attachment to the horse, again, I will emphasize the word patience. I have been a rider for many years, but had not been exposed to the sport of Dressage. I learned very early on it was one step forward with my training and two steps back the next ride. Dressage is a conversation with the horse, it is necessary for you as a rider, to abandon all fears and preconceived notions about horses and dressage while schooling in the arena.  As a beginner, the most important thing is if you enjoy and are excited about the lesson? Do you want to go back for another lesson? Do you want to learn more? Only until you answer these questions for yourself can you determine if dressage is right for you. Dressage does not offer a quick pay back or instant gratification but rather a long term relationship with your horse that must be developed overtime.

For more thoughts on riding visit:Dressage Riding Blog 

Watch this video below about one man’s love of the sport. A world renound rider, Steffen Peters explores his origins in dressage and why he loves it so.

 

 A Rider’s Story – Steffen Peters

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/770609/Harmony_in_motion_Tamara_Horak1280x1024.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4ScTrzydzpct Scottie Ash thedressageridingspot Scottie Ash
Mon, 04 Oct 2010 17:54:00 -0700 Dressage Freestyle WEG 2010 http://thedressageridingspot.posterous.com/dressage-freestyle-weg-2010 http://thedressageridingspot.posterous.com/dressage-freestyle-weg-2010

Dressage is about razor sharp precision. And it's about the kind of precision that an untrained eye could never pick up.  

Having watched this part of the competition all I can say is.... I'm officially speechless. The margin for error in all of these programs is so small, it really comes down to a matter of inches. And if you aren't looking closely, you can't even see the mistakes. What an absolutely amazing round of competition and riders together. I truly feel as though they all gave it everything they had. These equestrians truly reached deep down within themselves and their horses to ask for the most.  And the horses? Well, the horses are as devoted to the sport as their respective riders. Never, in one competition have I seen so much heart! 

A personal standing ovation for  Steffen Peters and Ravel from the USA who won bronze  and Gal and Totilas from the Netherlands who won gold in the Freestyle. What an inspiration! 

See the great article below for some highlights on the event from Brian O'Connor.

Perspectives of the World Games with Brian O'Connor - Freestyle!

What's Going On - World Equestrian Games
Written by Brian O'Connor   
Sunday, 03 October 2010 07:00
What a night....the stands were Totalis-ly packed...the fans were full of energy....and the freestyle night was just incredible! And that was just the impression about the workers up in the tower!!!!!!! NO, really,....the night was indeed incredible.....the freestyle is always the tour de force of any show, and this night truly lived up to that calling. As we progressed thru the night, the rides got better and better, the scores got higher and higher (even though it took some of the judges EONS to get them into the computer....I mean, it took a few of them (no name here) more than 4 minutes to finalize their marks....unacceptable at this type of show. We waited for at least 1/3 of the rider's scores over the normal time it takes). Moving on.... 
The rides were lovely and the different choices of music was really cool......we had classical, we had Sting singing vocals...we had a lot of Fiddler on the Roof (song and vocal) on our first ride of the night....different, but very effective for Peter Gmoser from Austria. Isabell Werth had a very powerful performance with Warum Nicht and she got the first 80.00 of the night...then we started getting closer to the top 5. Laura Bechtolsheimer and this terrific gelding Mistral Hojris continued their mastery of the arena here at the Games.....bold and energetic and great music...she just came in and owned the ring....what a week for the Brits.....she ended up 2nd and earned her 3rd silver medal, all in 1 week...The medal belonged to Totilas, but the crowd favorite was the Spaniard Juan Munoz Diaz on the PRE stallion Fuego XII...this little stallion, who turned in a lovely Grand Prix test on Monday, came in and just exploded into a terrific and very entertaining ride.....they started with a long piaffe and passage tour, and after settling, they just tore it up. The crowd went wild when he came down the centerline with a one handed series of flying changes, and then repeated it at the end...this little horse has a huge heart and shows it in his efforts to do well. He does not cover ground very far...but he is fairly correct, flashy, and does the job....Fun to watch, and Juan is very much a showman....when he finished he had a HUGE flourish taking off his hat, and doing so, spooked his horse, who leaped forward and almost dumped him at X! The audience just ate him up and when his scores were announced (by yours truly) of 81.4, the crowd booed...very loudly. One of the judges marked him considerably lower than the others and the fans did not like it...too bad, because he put in a very dramatic and fun test.

The Master and Commander, as I am now calling them came in and did not disappoint. Totilas was on form, was very strong in his performance, and Edward had him in a great position to maybe exceed his best score (London, 92.3) until a slight bobble after one of the extended trots across the ring....slight mistake, but then they turned it up and with the piaffe and passage movements being so strong, and very much used in the choreography, well, let me tell you...it was a thing of beauty. When they finished...the place erupted with a standing ovation and he got a 91.8. WEG  history....the highest score ever in championship competition. Poor Steffen got the draw position next....how can you follow Totilas....if I got that draw, well I would have to just fall over and claim being hit by lightning or something!

Steffen and Ravel are such a different pair.....the two are so different in height, presence, movement, and to see them back to back must be very hard to judge. Steffan has very difficult choreography and such wonderful music......the home crowd showed their anchor rider another standing ovation and when it was over, the score of 84.85 (I think a career high) put them on the medal podium for the second night...go USA once again. Very emotional and patriotic....first individual medals in many years and Steffen now has two....good for all his support team, and of course his steadfast and loyal owner, Akiko. Well done.

I got a great thought last night about 2 in the AM -sleep does not come easy here at WEG 2010.....and after getting it approved....I brought Edward into the ring with me and via a wireless mic, I did a quick interview (at the end of the class, before the awards) and mostly thanked him for what he has done for the Dressage sporting scene...he  has taken dressage to such new levels of greatness, and has brought his fellow Grand Prix riders along too. He has established a new higher bar for our sport, and we are so proud and excited to have been along with him and Totilas during this journey. I hope our Master and Commander can continue to take us to new highs and allow us to continue to join him (and others) on this incredible trip...climb on board,,,,,,next stop.........??

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Sat, 02 Oct 2010 18:47:00 -0700 Seat Lessons Galore!!! http://thedressageridingspot.posterous.com/seat-lessons-galore http://thedressageridingspot.posterous.com/seat-lessons-galore

” The seat is  both the alpha and omega of riding.” 

~ Egon von Neindorff 

 

7caf6790f260c2e Seat Lessons Galore!!!!!!

So, to step up my current training schedule for dressage, I have added two seat lessons a week to my routine. WOW is all I can say! #1 What a work out and #2 what a way to find your seat again. If ever you are doubting your positioning, I cannot tell you how important seat lessons are in teaching you balance and the actual natural rhythm of the horse. 

I’ve been riding for twenty years, and even I still need them. My situation is a little different as I am retraining my seat from saddleseat to dressage, which are two quite different ways of sitting. 

Longeing can help you develop a longer leg and a deeper seat, which helps you sit better, enabling your body to comfortably follow the horse’s movement. 

One of the biggest challenges I have had to overcome in my dressage seat is riding without squeezing and gripping with my thighs, which SaddleSeat groomed my body for.

A couple notes to guide you in a seat lesson - 

Tuck your seat bones into the deepest part of the saddle.

Stretch your thigh back from your hip and point your knee toward the ground.

Let your calf fall below your knee and push toward the ground as though you were going to stand over the horse. 

Do windmills ( with your arms)  and bicycle pedals ( with your feet)  together at the walk and trot. 

Practice the helicopter and the walk, trot, and canter. Make sure to stay focused so you don’t get dizzy. 

Practice part of your lesson with stirrups and part without. 

Make sure that you have the appropriate supervision while having a lounge lesson. 

Most importantly stay relaxed and loose! And enjoy the ride!!!!

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Thu, 30 Sep 2010 22:07:00 -0700 Rider Position http://thedressageridingspot.posterous.com/rider-position http://thedressageridingspot.posterous.com/rider-position

I've found through my training over the many years, more often than not, if I'm not communicating with the horse effectively, 9 times out of 10, it is due to my seat. 

Check this article about the importance of your seat as a driving aid. And remember.... always LOOK up!!!

 

http://forequestrians.com/Articles/Lynn-Palm/Rider-Position-Part-1/?C=6085

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Wed, 29 Sep 2010 21:31:00 -0700 USA Takes Bronze Medal in the Grand Prix Special Event http://thedressageridingspot.posterous.com/usa-takes-bronze-medal-in-the-grand-prix-spec http://thedressageridingspot.posterous.com/usa-takes-bronze-medal-in-the-grand-prix-spec

On October 29, 1941, U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill visited Harrow School to speak to the students. He stood before them and said,

-"Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, give up. Never give up. Never give up. Never give up."

This just goes to show, that every ounce of hard work you pour into a goal, never goes unnoticed! For anyone who has ever had a dream, here is living proof that you can still own it!!! A very warm congratulations to Steffen Peters and Ravel!!!! Outstanding Job! What an inspiration! 

 Check this article out!

http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsDisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=6227

 


 

Check out more here: My Dressage Riding Spot

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Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:56:00 -0700 Dressage Team USA WEG 2010 http://thedressageridingspot.posterous.com/dressage-team-usa-weg-2010 http://thedressageridingspot.posterous.com/dressage-team-usa-weg-2010

Check out this article! 

 

U.S. Dressage Team Looks Fit and Sound, Ready to Take on the World in Kentucky

SteffenPeters-Ravel
Steffen Peters and Ravel. (Photo by Sara Lieser)
Lexington, KY - All four of the U.S. Team dressage horses were presented during the official Veterinary Inspection (or jog) at the2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on Sunday. The U.S. Team is but one of the 24 countries with dressage athletes competing at the Games. A total of 11 four-member teams will be in the battle for a Team medal. There are a total of 66 dressage competitors with the hopes of earning an Individual medal. 

With the jog complete, the four horse-and-rider combinations that will compete for a Team medal for the U.S. are:

(Name / Age / Hometown / Horse / Age / Sex / Breed / Owner)
* Tina Konyot / 48 / Palm City, FL / Calecto V / 12 / Stallion / Danish Warmblood / Tina Konyot and John Byrialsen
* Todd Flettrich / 40 / Royal Palm Beach, FL / Otto / 14 / Gelding / Danish Warmblood / Cherry Knoll Farm
* Katherine Bateson-Chandler / 35 / Wellington, FL / Nartan / 15 / Gelding / KWPN / Jane Forbes Clark
* Steffen Peters / 45 / San Diego, CA / Ravel / 12 / Gelding / KWPN / Four Winds Farm

"The team looks really good," said Eva Salomon, USEF Dressage Team Chef d'Equipe. "The horses all look good, and we are really excited and ready to have a chance to compete."

Dressage competition begins on Monday, September 27, in the Kentucky Horse Park's Main Stadium at 8:30 a.m. The schedule for the various competitions is as follows:

Monday, September 27 - Team Grand Prix - 1st Half of Part 1 - 8:30 a.m.; 1st Half of Part 2 - 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, September 28 - Team Grand Prix - 2nd Half of Part 1 - 8:30 a.m.; 2nd Half of Part 2 - 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 29 - Grand Prix Special - 1st Half - 10:00 a.m.; 2nd Half - 2:30 p.m.
Friday, October 1 - Grand Prix Freestyle - 7:00 p.m.

WEG-USEF-TVFollow more than 65 hours of free, live coverage from the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games at USEFNetwork.com, along with video-on-demand, competition highlights, photos, blogs, the latest news and updates.

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/770609/Harmony_in_motion_Tamara_Horak1280x1024.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4ScTrzydzpct Scottie Ash thedressageridingspot Scottie Ash