Monday, April 19, 2021

Round, Rounder, Roundest - USDF Clinic with Bill McMullin

Last I left off (oh you know, 4 months ago) - I was working 2nd/3rd level movements getting ready for the George Williams clinic in April.  Alas, George Williams was unable to make it (dressage emergency?), but Bill McMullin was scheduled in his stead.  Bill trains half the year out of Wellington and half the year out of Boston.  He's an 'R' judge, gold medalist, and USDF certified instructor who instructs through Grand Prix.  I had never met Bill before and went into the weekend away clinic feeling queasy and impostery.

Bill wound up being a wonderful trainer and teacher.  He was soft spoken and kind, but also very firm in his direction.  I won't lie - I basically begged him to come back to Colorado whenever he could!

So, let's get down to what we worked on:

Improving the halt/walk

  • Walk four strides, halt, walk 4 strides, halt
    • When asking for the halt sit up and STRETCH up
    • Hug him (light squeeze) with lower legs to bring his back legs forward into the halt
    • Supple before and after transition (round, rounder, roundest the three strides before the halt)
    • Hold contact once he's halted to allow him to *really* give to the bit without fussing with my hands
    • Do this in front of a mirror to check his back legs (I had no idea he was parking out so much in the halt)
    • What did this exercise accomplish:
      • It totally freed up his walk, which is Gavin's weakest gait.  Still probably his weakest gait, but it went from a 5 to maybe a 7.
      • We ended with consistently good halts with Bill called a "10 halt"
Walk to canter

  • Start with walk/halt exercise described above
  • Throw in some reinbacks
  • 10 meter walk circle with a medium walk first half of circle, collected walk second half of circle
    • to the right - almost shoulder-in
    • to the left - haunches in first half of circle, switching to shoulder-in second half
  •  Before getting back to the wall/track ask for canter (whisper the aids or risk an extravagant take-off)
  • Supple before and after transition, the tension during the transition wasn't addressed, but I think the idea is that the suppleness during the transition will come on it's own with these bookends 
  • What did this exercise accomplish:
Canter to walk

  • 10 meter circle (don't make it too small)
  • Think rein back in the canter to collect, collect, collect
  • Sit up, sit back, stretch up, breathe
  • Ask for walk as approaching wall
  • Directly into shoulder-in 
  • What did this exercise accomplish:
    • Well... we really struggled with this one, but Bill seemed to think 2 weeks of consistent work would tighten these up
    • We were able to get a few transitions that were relatively clean
    • This is a movement that we struggle with and I can't say I totally understand why - Gav just kinda blows me off and trots through the transition.  This pony can collect, so I don't think that's the issue.
Shoulder-in
  • To the right I need to think of slight counterflexion - I really think this is just helping me get actual contact on the left (outside rein)
  • To the left, he seemed happy with them
  • What did this exercise accomplish:
    • the counterflexion really helped him let go of the tension in the base of his neck, which in turn freed up his shoulder
Haunches-in/Turn on the haunches
  • No comments - I consider that a win
Half-pass
  • Do shoulder-in, haunches-in on the rail as prep
  • Go down centerline and then shoulder-in
  • Pick a diagonal and ride haunches in on the diagonal
  • Give on the outside rein
  • Think of wrapping him around inside hip
  • What did this exercise accomplish:

Overall - I'm so happy with how it all went.  Gav warmed up great and was game for all of the exercises.  It was a heartening experience and I hope to ride with him again! :)

Here's a video of some trot work for no other reason than I like it.
And I'll end the post with a picture of Gavin giving me the middle finger after I cued the walk to canter a bit too hard. Pony has an opinion and isn't afraid to show it. :)

Friday, January 1, 2021

2020 Recap

I'm not positive I'll stick to this whole chronicling my riding thing, but Jen at Cob Jockey suggested I get back into it and I thought I'd give it a go, it being a new year and all. :)

I figured the best way to start my re-entry into blogging was to recap the last year, the dreaded 2020.


January

Started off the year by traveling (remember traveling?) to Puerto Vallarta.  Successfully went whale watching. 10/10 would recommend.


Started running through the 2-1 test.  Was trying to get footage to submit an application for a clinic with George Williams.


February

Actually submitted my video for the George Williams clinic and bought myself a Peloton to get in better shape (specifically for riding).  Looking back, I feel like the Peloton was some serious foreshadowing for the future months where all gyms were shut down.


Still LOVE the Peloton.  Use it 5x a week.  Excellent investment in health.

March

Found out we were accepted into the ill-fated George Williams clinic as the second level rider (they were trying to get riders from each level).  Was also sent home from work to telecommute.  I laugh now, because at the time I thought it'd only be for two weeks.  Ha.  Hahahaha.



April

Was informed that the George Morris clinic had been canceled.  The barn was shut down except to trainers and other barn employees.  I was VERY sad.  Bought more sweatpants and put him into training for the month.


May

There was a bit of a mass exodus at the barn after it shut down (most barns in the area remained open).  This led to it reopening in May with restrictions (limits to # of riders, etc).  Gav developed a really bad skin infection on his ears in late April.  He had about three weeks off as it healed and he regrew hair.


June

Participated in a ride-a-test at (you guessed it!) 2-1 and scored mid-60s.  It was a great lesson and confidence builder.  The judge said he and I were absolutely ready for second.



July

Worked on getting stronger and sharper in transitions.  Was also so bored I learned a new way to fold my laundry and have continued to use the method throughout the year.



August

Went to our one and only rated show of the year in beautiful Estes Park  We showed 2-1 both days.  Scored mid/low 60s the first day and mid/high 60s the second day.  My second ride was definitely my better ride with 7s for his medium trot and 10m canter circles. I left the ring feeling a like a million bucks and just so, so proud of Gav.

Beefcake



September

Took a conformation shot of Gav and compared it to a few years back.  I laugh at how differently he's muscled now.  Very proud of how this pony has developed.

October

I had ordered a Custom Saddlery Icon Star in about June after I realized that my old saddle's knee blocks weren't doing me any favors.  It finally arrived late October.  It is a dream and I LOVE IT.  Gavin loves it.  Trainer loves it.  It's a great saddle for him.  Also bought a Pivo.  The picture you see is my first non-successful attempt at getting video.  I've worked out most of the issues since then.



November

Found out that the George Williams clinic was back on for April 2021!  Reregistered as 2nd/3rd level.  Put Gav and myself in 1/2 training, which = 2 lessons a week (1 lunge lesson, 1 regular) and one training ride for him (that I try to watch).  

Participated in a clinic with a very no-nonsense judge and trainer.  She worked my ass off at collecting Gav's canter.  It was then that I realized he didn't actually have a collected canter.  She said I needed to focus on that before ever asking for changes.

Also got this adorable baby yoda, because duh...




December

1/2 training AGAIN!  Gavin plateaued about halfway through the month and we switched over to working on "fun" exercises with cones and poles.  It helped me as well as I was starting to feel burnt out.  His canter is getting stronger and straighter.  Trot half pass is there and canter half pass is becoming part of the conversation (he was pretty sure canter half pass initially meant climb into the sky with his front legs).


Wrap-up

In summary, this year has wrung me out emotionally (being a very social person it's been hard), but I'm proud of how Gav and I progressed.  I feel "confirmed" second level and ready to dip my toe into the third-level pool while continuing to refine second.

What is hard right now?

Canter half pass (lack of understanding)
Half pass to the right (he likes to drop his right shoulder).  
True collected canter (strength issue)
Walk to canter left lead (got to get him hot, hot, hot and sitting down)

What is getting easier?

Turn on the haunches 
Medium/extended gaits (I've focused a lot on canter recently, need to remind he and I both about the trot extensions)
Trot half pass (3-1 level half pass - so not that steep)
Canter to walk