Wowzer. I actually have a lot to say about Rainbow and how things have been developing. It's been a bit of breakthrough of late and finally it's starting to feel things are coming together.
First of all, I have now been given tools by Essi (our coach) to ride Rainbow so that it is easier for her to follow my cues and also to relax. I have learned to 'create a frame' and make Rainbow stay within it. Now, when I say these things I am of course very aware I'm still not a pro but do stick with me.
Basically I finally feel that when I ask Rainbow to collect she can do it authentically and I have the tools to make her movement 'upward' rather than merely adding speed and staying hollow – something she's been 'allowed' to stay way too long (well, I am not a pro...). Some hard work with Essi has gone into it and of course we're not ready, nowhere near, but this is a definite milestone for me. I now am able to ride Rainbow and ask her to work in collection throughout the session I ride her. We are now raising trot in collection and she is finding the muscles to do so. I am now able to feel the nuances in her body to know how to ask and how to persist (if not successful) at first and get her to do it and also give the reward for the correct action. I think working for her is nicer when she is using herself properly.
The video below has been filmed about 2 weeks ago now, so while it looks good, I would say it's gotten even better ;)
Video (c) Essi Antila
To top it off we moved yesterday. We only moved to a yard which nearby to the old one, but the facilities are fantastic. I never would have thought I would hop on and ride her the same day in the new indoor school as we had only arrived at the yard, but this – I realised – was a valuable real-life lesson in something I have never really been 100% sure of – as I had never tried it yet – that my horse is the most level-headed horse one could wish for. She loaded fine (a little hesitation but I had Essi helping – I had never loaded a horse, so a first for me too!) and travelled to her new home. Our friend moved her horse as well, so admittedly the two mares moved together. But nevertheless... Rainbow walked into the new stable without further ado, buried her face in hay and looked like she had always been there. We carried all the paraphernalia in and put it all in their new places... Then Essi and Hilja said, right, let's go ride. I hadn't planned to do so (I don't know why) but I could not not go when 'others' went, so we tacked up and walked into the new manege. It's the poshest indoor school I've ever been to and I don't quite feel worthy of it. The base is to die for, just perfect. Sand, but hard enough to give nice bounce to the horse and make movement, oh so, easy...
Rainbow was a bit alert because of the new place, of course, but we walked around the school from the ground for about 10 mins and only once could feel her neck muscles relax, I hopped on. She listened to me well and didn't do anything stupid. In fact, she was moving well and I managed to ride her a nice long session without much further thought to being in a new place. The weather yesterday was awful, so we could even hear the wind howl outside and the rain pounding on the roof, but Rainbow didn't as much as occasionally move her ears around a bit.
So, this basically gave me good insight into how she is in a new place, truly – because when she moved to Finland, she'd been on a lorry for a week, so she was probably quite used to it by the time I greeted her in Finland – and what it is to ride her in a new arena straightaway. This has given me confidence to consider competitions outside our yard, as I now really know she is so easy-going. Also, of course, I must point out that perhaps, by now, also we know each other well and Rainbow considers me 'hers' too, so she trusts me. She let's me lead her around a new place and trusts that I don't put her in harm's way.
Recently, I have to tell this; she has started neighing/whinnying whenever I arrive to see her. That's nice to notice. Melts my heart.
Those of you who understand Finnish, please have a look at this blog by Essi Antila:
http://essiantila.blogspot.fi
Essi has a lovely way of instructing and writing :)
We had a little Tuesday afternoon jumping lesson with instructor Marja "Tytteli" Tetri-Rantanen. I like her way of teaching and she managed to get us going even though have had over a month since jumping thanks to winter holidays etc. We are going to be attending Tytteli's lessons every other week now until end of May. Hopefully more.
We entered a dressage competition after a long break – the last one was in July last year. This time my aim was to make sure the routes were accurate, as on this level that is probably what counts the most.
I have made some nice progress with Rainbow of late, as we've been training with Essi Antila quite intently and I have really grown to love her lessons. As an instructor, I think she is best aligned with my ideologies and wants to always develop the rider and the horse with the view in the horse's physiological and psychological needs; not going against or fighting (or forcing!) the horse, but aiming for a relaxed harmonised pairing where work becomes effortless. I'm sure most instructors, of course, aim for this, but sometimes the way they go about teaching it can be a bit different.
I have also become really aware of how falsely riders try to gain collection in their horses by forcing them into an outline, where the head is forced behind the vertical and the contact is to used to pull the horse backwards to achieve this. I have been faulty of this. I haven't known better (Sorry Rainbow!). I know I have been taught to keep the horse in a certain shape, almost no matter what … And that makes riding rather hard work, when one tries to fight the horse forcing it into something it doesn't inherently want to do, and especially if it's tense. The aim would be to have a forward going horse who is relaxed enough wanting to reach for the contact, which needs to be there for the horse = solid contact, using the whole arm – elbows – as the 'elastic-band contact', but remaining soft in the hands (which doesn't mean an open palm, btw!) and by little 'persuasion' from the leg and keeping the outside contact and creating a frame for the horse where it works, guiding the horse's movement softly but constantly, but remembering to release (e.g. don't pound with the leg like I tend to do...) but reward the horse by not doing anything when it goes correctly. ... Well, at least that's how I would describe it – clear as mud?! ;)
Going into a competition situation of course is another matter, when the nerves take over and the horse is also tenser. At this level (Helppo C - stands for the 'Easy C', which is the beginner/novice level in Finnish dressage), the aim is to have accurate routes and transitions. Collection is not required but of course it's a nice bonus.
We entered the Class 1, Harrasteluokan Kouluohjelma Helppo C, 2009. The test to me, coming from the UK, where most beginner tests are walk and trot, this actually included cantering, extended trot and medium walk, but also all trotting was in working trot (so no rising), which I thought was a bit much at this level...No? The competition was an unaffiliated competition at our yard, so practice competition in a way. Unusual tack, such as bitless and whips, were allowed in this class. I, however, decided to go 'old school' with a bit (french link). As long as bits are not allowed in higher level dressage competitions, I have to use one when entering a dressage arena, so I reluctantly use it.
Anyway, our test was Ok, I am actually pleased, as got 55,00% and even though the Class 1 didn't have placings as such, between the five competitors, looking at the percentages we were on a joint second place, only one pony rider got about 66% but she looked great. Very accurate. Hats off, as she was about 12 years old!
We achieved our goals: accurate routes. Only one comment from the judge was that canter circle was a bit small. I agree.
Transitions, I need to prepare them better. But now, we can actually work on those and I am already setting my sights to entering another competition. I have come to realise that competing you can only practise by competing, and it's a whole different kettle of fish than practising/training in private.
