The Art of Academic Riding

Dec 302010
 

Hugin, custom glazed by Paige Patty Easley on a Lipizzan sculpture by Donna Chaney.

I’ve known about Bent Branderup for years. In fact, I had a bone china model horse custom glazed after his stallion Hugin. He did well at model shows too. You had to see him in person for the detail. The spots have hairline halos and he has pink and mottling in all the right places. And this was the size of a Breyer Stablemate! Paige Patty Easley, who did the glazing, is a wonderful finish artist.

 

Back to the point … I was impressed with how all the horses that Bent rides move so willingly and well. I was impressed straight off. Recently, I found Marijke de Jong on FaceBook. She is a student of Bent’s and has published these training methods in English. Her eBook, Academic Art of Riding is clear and concise at 44 pages long. She methodically takes you though the steps of training, why some things need to come first, why and how to build your horse’s strength and ability before moving to the next exercise, what the aids are and how to train the horse. She also gives the historical context for the movement, which is quite fascinating. It’s a lot of information in a small package, with excellent photos and diagrams to illustrate the concepts.

I’ve done some of these things already, but I will be going back with Lily and starting fresh with Sasha to fill the holes. I am especially wanting to work with Lily to build her up from her lameness. I am and have been treating her riding and working as physical therapy. This program fits very well with this, as it’s goals are the health and well being of the horse, along with developing him or her to their best abilities.

Sasha is coming down from Tired Dog Ranch tomorrow to start her work with me. Watch this blog for updates on her progress, as we progress through these logical steps. I am excited to have her to work with.

Edited to add a link to videos on youtube.

Gentleness & Discipline

Dec 152010
 

Pretty Shield (now SMR 3977) and I earlier this month


“There is a fine line between leadership and tyranny, between gentleness and cowardice, between strength and harshness, between kindness and weakness. Always finding just the right “tone” in the conversation with the horse is an art that takes a lifetime to learn and to refine. This is yet another level on which the rider constantly has to seek the optimal Balance between two extremes.”


This quote is from an article by Dr. Thomas Ritter that appeared in Flying Changes magazine. It is worth reading the entire article.

This sort of balance is something that useful in all areas of life. It’s just another reason I am glad I work with horses. They continue to push me to learn more about myself. in a couple of months, Sasha will move from her rehab time at Tired Dog Ranch to my boarding barn. I look forward to having the opportunity to learn from her.

Power of Positive

Jan 262010
 

And I mean true heartfelt positivity, not just acting it.

I love this blog post.

You horse (or dog or child or husband, friend, co-worker, etc.) can tell on some level whether you are authentic or not. Animals, especially horses, I find, pick up on this much more easily than us humans. They have less layers of societal stuff to get in the way. And they pay far more attention to our real intentions that we sometimes do ourselves. That’s what I find so wonderful about working with them.

A few more “firsts”

Dec 132009
 

I took advantage of the sun this afternoon and put a bit more work on Vinnie’s driving. I dug out the PVC shafts I had made years ago for Paisano and took them to out to the barn. Vinnie got groomed and harnessed up. I put on the cavesson that I’ve been riding and long lining him with. Then I put the full bridle on over that. I don’t have a driving bit for him yet, but I wanted something that wouldn’t pull through his mouth. I had taken the full cheek home, so all I had was a low port Kimberwicke. Since I was mostly going just ask him to carry it, that’s what he wore today. He mouthed it at first, but once we were headed out, there was plenty to take his attention away from playing with the bit.

I got this. What's next?

I got this. What's next?

I took him right out on the roads, ground driving off the cavesson. We went one way down the gravel road, past some people riding a four wheeler ATV, a barking dog and other horses. When we got around the other side of the property we board at, the expression on one horse’s face was priceless! I wish that I had had my camera and another hand to hold it in. It was just like he could NOT believe what Vinnie was wearing. They snorted and ran around. Vinnie’s head went up and his energy built, but he stayed with me quite well. We went a bit further, then turned and headed back.

When we came to the gate, we passed it and went down the other way a bit. All told, we probably walked a bit less than a mile. I practiced halting and standing, as well as asking him to move side to side on the road from whip and rein cues. He did well to the left and a bit stickier to the right. That’s likely because it’s harder for me to reach his left side with my whip. I had my ground whip with a short lash. Next time, I’ll have to remember the one with a longer drop. I really need a proper driving whip.

Doing well.

Doing well.

On our return, I removed the breastplate, traces and driving lines. I walked him into the shafts as they lay on the ground. We practiced standing there without fussing. That is really something that he will need work on to be a good driving pony. After a few time of that, I lifted the shafts and put them in the tugs. They weren’t secured at all, but the end caps kept them in. They would have come loose easily, if there had been any problems. I led him around in the paddock. It’s not too large, so we were circling and doing figure eights. He got a lot of Good Boy praise and pats.


Since he had taken all this so well, I decided to try driving him off the bit. I took off the shafts first. Then we did a few rounds of the barn yard, turning and halting before calling it a day. He wasn’t too keen on this bit and pushed his shoulder through a few turns. We ended on a nice halt that only took a couple of half halts to get. Now I just have to figure out the best driving bit for him. And do more sessions like today. Vinnie is quite willing to what I ask, once he understands what that is. Repetition and practice are what we need now.

The wheels that I ordered for my cart are in. I have all the supplies to paint it. I’ve decided that it will be black. Then I will need to make the seat and back, measure for foam and upholstery material and purchase those. I am not sure what color the seat will be yet. I do hope that the cart will end up being large enough for him. I wonder if it will all be ready by April for the parade in Oakridge. Stay tuned!

The sun was shining today

Oct 302009
 

Last week, saying hi to Hargobind

Last week, saying hi to Hargobind

The sun was shining, so I saddled Vinnie up, hopped on and went. No lunging or ground work today! I had to catch all the daylight possible, since soon that will be lost to daylight savings. So out explored the local roads it was. We met other horses, squirrels on fences, serious barking dogs, a deer, horses galloping up to the fence, cars, trucks, puddles, mailboxes, pavement, gravel and more.

He did jump a few times and the loose horses running up the fence by the road made him puff up a lot and dance a little, but he never lost it. He was most spooked by a huge rock someone had put by their mailbox. It didn’t even move! But it elicited snorts, backing up and wanting to scoot down the road. I asked him to face it at a comfortable distance. As soon as he was willing to take one step toward it, we moved on.

He was light in the bridle and listened to my seat to steady him. When we rode up to the arena at Three Cedars, someone was washing the mirrors at the far end. More snorting! We had a really nice big trot along the back side of the turnouts that turned into our first short canter. And later he gaited on the pavement home. We got to the gate to his barn and he wanted to explore further, so we took another turn down the side road.

And he hasn’t even had ten rides yet. What a joy…

It had been POURING all day, so the poor boy was wet.

It had been POURING all day, so the poor boy was wet.

I guess the work we did last night in the Three Cedars arena paid off. I’ve been trying different bits on him this week. He seems to like a single jointed better than a French link. I’ve been having him carry it and working him off the cavason still. Last night I put side reins to the bit for the first time. They were very loose and he did well, stretching down into the feeling.


It had been raining steadily all day and continued through the evening. I had stripped his muddy sheet and then walked him down through the rain to Three Cedars to work. I wanted to try my Wintec AP saddle on him. It seems to fit alright, though I’ll be switching out the gullet for a slightly narrower one after Paisano leaves next week. I rode him a some after lunging. The sheepskin that Pam put on my saddle is really nice! I quit after he did a full round of the arena at the trot. Prior to that, we had to spend some time looking in the mirrors, sniffing the mounting stand and otherwise exploring.

Working away

Working away

Going home was an adventure, as it was quite dark by then. I have flashers that I hung around my neck, a yellow one to the front and a red one behind. Then I trotted Vinnie in hand down the road home in the rain. Thankfully, we only met one vehicle. I am continually happy with what he puts up with!


One more week and Paisano leaves. Then another week and Lily comes home. There are so many transitions going on that sometimes, I don’t quite know what to think. Still, I keep going to the barn and doing what needs to be done each day. And it’s usually something interesting.

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