tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post6502613706127267383..comments2024-03-26T08:18:42.915-04:00Comments on Cob Jockey: Dressage RollercoasterJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04292565760924146966noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-71731322279695856672016-01-15T11:49:16.094-05:002016-01-15T11:49:16.094-05:00I can entirely empathize - those eyes on the groun...I can entirely empathize - those eyes on the ground are so important at this stage. Connor looks fantastic!Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10313417800020012776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-32408640017803913892016-01-14T12:24:20.765-05:002016-01-14T12:24:20.765-05:00I understand how you feel. Right now I can't e...I understand how you feel. Right now I can't even get my horse to stretch into the trot and I feel like a moronMicaylahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09799043647759779897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-967491998053189032016-01-14T11:25:30.638-05:002016-01-14T11:25:30.638-05:00Damn, that booty.Damn, that booty.Cathrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15652933884652697666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-18190012327604512242016-01-13T23:05:31.078-05:002016-01-13T23:05:31.078-05:00I am RIGHT HERE with you right now. Seriously. My...I am RIGHT HERE with you right now. Seriously. My lessons (dressage at least) all go great, and everything is great, and then I ride on my own and am like "how do I get to great again?" I am also majorly into trying to fix too much. If I can just remember to go back to (quiet) basics, then sometimes it comes right. SUCH a hard line to walk.Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13834098473974912416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-2849186127536526202016-01-13T16:16:29.669-05:002016-01-13T16:16:29.669-05:00One thing that might help in your rides on your ow...One thing that might help in your rides on your own is to focus on yourself, your position reminders, your straightness, breathing and etc.. THEN start thinking about correcting him and/or changing up the exercises. Sometimes we get so focussed on improving the horse we forget to think about our own position and when that position is more correct there is less to "fix" in the horse. Just my own personal experience...Exploring Dressage Biomechanicshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14859580820686218207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-45126257827877095862016-01-13T15:21:53.526-05:002016-01-13T15:21:53.526-05:00I've definitely been through this, especially ...I've definitely been through this, especially with trainers who give a constant stream of information. I LOVE those kinds of trainers, but I struggle more to ride on my own when I ride with them on a regular basis. I'm so used to that information and everything goes so well, that I get on my own and I'm a bit crippled. <br /><br /><br />A few things that helped me, maybe you're already doing these:<br /><br />Constantly repeat what she says in your own words during breaks. It's hard to keep someone else's words in your head, it's easier to keep your own. By repeating it back to her, she also might realize that you don't quite get a concept the way she wants you to, and rephrase it to you. Do this both for theory and for what you need to do physically with your body.<br /><br />Ask her to sit and watch you for a second without commentary every now and then. Like let's say you were doing a transition on your own and you struggled. Go to the lesson and say "can I show you my walk to canter transition?" and set it up and do it on your own the first time with no help. Because what might be happening is that she is preventing you from making mistakes when she coaches you. Then you get on your own, you make one mistake and a whole bunch of others follow in response- if she kept you from doing that one mistake, she may never see the others that you are making after the fact. Essentially, you both need to know how to ride him when he's being so good, but also how to dig yourself out of a hole you may have accidentally ventured down on your own.<br /><br />Ask for specific homework. I'm sure you do this already. If the exercise she gives you is too tough or you think you won't succeed, maybe ask for exercises that lead up to that. If you're getting enough lessons, you could also do other sorts of things outside of lessons for now. Hill work, work without stirrups, etc. But I'm of the belief that there's no way for you to really truly undo anything by experimentation. <br /><br /><br />It's a tough place to be, and like you said, it just takes a lot of patience. With a horse who requires a lot of patience like he does, it's hard to know when you just need to hold your aid for x number of seconds longer and then it will be good OR if you're just sitting there waiting for nothing. I'd ask her how she can tell or what you can look for to differentiate- but sometimes it's just feel. But for now, err on the side of waiting too long. Either way, he's looking REALLY great :) Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04255900012774193536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-44084307981154069572016-01-13T14:29:50.567-05:002016-01-13T14:29:50.567-05:00Totally understand, it is THE hardest thing. It&#...Totally understand, it is THE hardest thing. It's fun to be going farther in Dressage, but it's anything but easy.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04292565760924146966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-68625011373549749532016-01-13T14:29:17.948-05:002016-01-13T14:29:17.948-05:00Glad it helped, thanks!Glad it helped, thanks!Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04292565760924146966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-53650509871536848862016-01-13T14:29:06.978-05:002016-01-13T14:29:06.978-05:00Thanks, Erin, that's really helpful. I don...Thanks, Erin, that's really helpful. I don't expect it to be easy, it's just the swing between the two is hard. Definitely time to get more independent.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04292565760924146966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-28032818777757561552016-01-13T14:21:07.865-05:002016-01-13T14:21:07.865-05:00ugh i relate so hard to this - esp as i'm fina...ugh i relate so hard to this - esp as i'm finally feeling for the first time ever that we could actually be moderately competent in the dressage ring. that is, while my trainer is treating me like a puppet and riding vicariously through me. on my own? ehhhhhhh it's really not the same feeling at all. <br /><br />my trainer says the same thing tho - just ride the horse where i want her to be, and wait for her to get there. so hard... emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-20842721835520813272016-01-13T14:12:27.382-05:002016-01-13T14:12:27.382-05:00Thanks for this - I think I've needed just thi...Thanks for this - I think I've needed just this talk for my last couple rides on Gav.<br />You guys are doing awesome!Erikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04862898176284766826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-61624460845927766972016-01-13T14:06:28.262-05:002016-01-13T14:06:28.262-05:00As others said, totally normal and patience is key...As others said, totally normal and patience is key. But I think this is why a lot of riders give up on dressage, or at least get stuck at the lower levels. There comes a point where you have to do it on your own, without your trainer co-piloting. It takes just as much mental fortitude as it does physical ability! A lot of riders I've run into just want riding to be fun and easy all the time. Fine, but then don't complain to me about how your horse won't do this or that! Whoa, sorry for the diatribe. I've been thinking about this topic a lot recently. :)Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15038734209475168888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-17275204001675356042016-01-13T13:10:04.014-05:002016-01-13T13:10:04.014-05:00Whew, I figured you were somewhere close to where ...Whew, I figured you were somewhere close to where I am. It's hard.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04292565760924146966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-13787278811171287362016-01-13T13:07:00.741-05:002016-01-13T13:07:00.741-05:00Thanks. Just trying to tell it like it is, since ...Thanks. Just trying to tell it like it is, since my last few blog poss have all been about good lessons, and that's only half the enchilada lately.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04292565760924146966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-66404685080984028692016-01-13T13:06:34.835-05:002016-01-13T13:06:34.835-05:00How cool that your mom is your trainer! My dad was...How cool that your mom is your trainer! My dad was my XC coach in middle school, and it was a really fun thing to share with him (and he definitely improved my running). Thanks for the commiseration, much appreciated!Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04292565760924146966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-48687156441779953042016-01-13T13:03:48.867-05:002016-01-13T13:03:48.867-05:00Waiting/Patience is one of the hardest things ever...Waiting/Patience is one of the hardest things ever, but man your guys' progress sounds amazing, even with the pitfalls. L.Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05052638724440787772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-46340727055950872522016-01-13T12:47:06.268-05:002016-01-13T12:47:06.268-05:00I'm in a similar situation. I have issues with...I'm in a similar situation. I have issues with it not being perfect and my trainer (also my mother) tells me to stop being a pessimist and just ride! Hang in there!Kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06748679550207078870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-4604077016050869082016-01-13T11:34:53.517-05:002016-01-13T11:34:53.517-05:00Oh yes. It's fun, but it's also incredibl...Oh yes. It's fun, but it's also incredibly maddening and really hard. But mostly fun.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04292565760924146966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-18719197186933273212016-01-13T11:34:30.099-05:002016-01-13T11:34:30.099-05:00Haha, thanks for the vote of confidence! Yeah, I ...Haha, thanks for the vote of confidence! Yeah, I do get the feeling that this just keeps happening with different pieces on the way up the levels.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04292565760924146966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-18368928178449666412016-01-13T11:33:32.275-05:002016-01-13T11:33:32.275-05:00Thank you! I appreciate it.Thank you! I appreciate it.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04292565760924146966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-55471686795993283742016-01-13T11:31:13.234-05:002016-01-13T11:31:13.234-05:00Oh boy. Now I know what to look forward to. :-p Oh boy. Now I know what to look forward to. :-p SprinklerBandithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-79702053699200321082016-01-13T11:23:48.686-05:002016-01-13T11:23:48.686-05:00Totally a normal, and reoccurring, stage. Welcome!...Totally a normal, and reoccurring, stage. Welcome! It sucks ;) But once you get to the other side of it you will be so happy. Then right when you get to the other side of this one you will start all over again with even harder stuff!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16697668284253060576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-17750891890970805362016-01-13T11:03:22.637-05:002016-01-13T11:03:22.637-05:00I have been through this stage multiple ... MULTIP...I have been through this stage multiple ... MULTIPLE times. In general I have found it means you are the verge of a breakthrough. It's going to click. Don't be afraid to experiment when riding on your own. You won't undo a lesson, or ruin your awesome pony. Keep at girl!Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11609268980526224486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-38281295583654611322016-01-13T10:07:57.351-05:002016-01-13T10:07:57.351-05:00Being patient, still, and adding more inside leg i...Being patient, still, and adding more inside leg is basically the hardest thing ever. I'm there with you!jenjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01737679332792618499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846330497859393721.post-39834575879839702012016-01-13T07:52:15.640-05:002016-01-13T07:52:15.640-05:00Yep. That stage will happen. You're developing...Yep. That stage will happen. You're developing a toolbox and feel for your particular horse. I won't say those rides won't happen again (all the time. ha!), but they will become less emotionally draining and awful. You'll start to realize when things go off the rails that you know how to fix them and will become confident enough in yourself to pull out multiple tools to see what works. Just keep at it.Austenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13004088333430762406noreply@blogger.com