Working Equitation / Obstacle Clinic

Working Equitation seems to be growing in popularity in this area, though so far most clinics and shows I've heard about were a few hours away.  When I heard about an Ease of Handling (the obstacle phase) clinic an hour away I jumped on on the opportunity to try something new with Cupid.  It was a lot of fun, and a new way for Cupid and I to play and work together. 

The trainer had a very patient approach, and taught us a lot about the rules of the sport as well as practice tips.  There are a lot of technical rules to keep track of!  Some of them don't make sense to me - not only do you lose points for talking to your horse (same as in dressage), but you also lose points for touching/patting the horse's neck!  That's going to be hard for me, to go through the entire course without being able to praise Cupid.  For the intro level you need to trot between obstacles, but most of the obstacles can be done at a walk.  You are not timed, but get points for how well you execute each obstacle. 

There were four other pairs in my group, all of us new to the sport.  We started out by showing the horses the obstacles in hand.  There is a lot going on in the arena - cones, poles, barrels, etc, but Cupid didn't seem worried about any of them.  Some horses snorted at the bull cut out, but Cupid didn't bat an eye.  The trainer suggested we walk with the garocha (long bamboo-type pole we use to spear rings) along the horse's right side, which Cupid was also fine with.

Busy arena

Then we mounted up and started going through the obstacles one by one.  The first one was easy; a figure-8 around two barrels.  Always starting to the right.  You want to show a nice bend, and make each half the same size.  We did it at the trot, but you can walk.

The second obstacle was two cones side by side about 3 feet apart with poles stuck in them, and a cup on the pole on the right.  You had to trot in, halt between the cones (can do a few walk steps), and with your right hand lift the cup off the pole and put it on the other pole.  This looked like it would be one of the easiest obstacles but surprisingly Cupid would not stop and stand still between the cones!  The trainer had me just walk through a few times until Cupid relaxed.  Then pause for a moment before the cones and walk through.  Then stop for a moment between the cones, but walk on right away without touching the cup.  Eventually we were able to halt and move the cup.  (I may have given Cupid a treat or two to help...)  We went back a few times while waiting for other obstacles just to make sure it was no big deal.

Cupid's least favorite obstacle

The next obstacle was a little wooden bridge.  We trotted up to it, and walked over no problem.  Next up was a line of poles that we weave through.  Again it's not about speed, just showing a steady pace, even size loops, and nice change of bend between each.  This is the only obstacle you have to do at the trot.

The next obstacle was a gate, which I thought would be one of the harder ones.  Luckily for me it was a rope between two standards, which I find easier than a solid gate.  You want to approach it straight before angling to the opening side, use your right hand to open, go through, swing the horse's haunches and back up, then close it behind you.  And Cupid executed it really well! 

Gate - went really well!

The next obstacle was very simple - a plastic pitcher (empty) on a barrel.  You had to trot up, halt next to it, and lift the pitcher over your head.  Our down transitions were a little sloppy, and Cupid sniffed the barrel and pitcher which I learned you also lose points for.  So again it was a seemingly easy obstacle we struggled with.

Up next was a donut shape created with poles and caveletti blocks, and ours had plastic flamingos in the middle.  You had to go through between the poles first going to the right side so with a left bend, come out and do a turn on the haunches and go back the other direction.  None of the horses had trouble with this, though most of us (myself included) could use some work on the turn on the haunches. 

Following was the quintessential working equitation obstacle, where you had to take a garocha out of a barrel, ride to the bull cut out and spear the ring on top, then ride to the second barrel and deposit the pole with the ring.  You hold the pole in your right hand, are are supposed to kind of toss it up a little so you're holding it higher, then tuck it under your arm to get the ring.  If you miss the ring you lose points but keep going.  If you drop the pole, at the intro level my understanding is you stay on the horse and someone will hand it back to you.  But if you put it in the barrel upside down then maybe that's an elimination?  Cupid was very good at this obstacle, we did it at the walk without halting.  Some of the horses didn't like the pole being dropped back in the barrel, but Cupid ignored it. 

#9 had you walk between two parallel poles on the ground, halt (again a nice square halt for maximum points) and ring a bell, then back straight out.  Cupid often tends to swing a little to the right backing up, but we managed to stay between the poles. 

The final obstacle was three barrels we trotted a cloverleaf-type pattern around: first a right turn around the barrel on the right; then change of bend around the furthest out barrel; then a right turn around the third barrel.  Then through the finish cones, halt and salute. 

Overall I was super happy with how Cupid did, though I was surprised at which obstacles we had the most trouble with.  Even the trainer said she'd never seen a horse not like just the cups, usually if they have trouble with that they have problems throughout.  But I guess I already knew Cupid was a little bit special :p 

We are signed up for the working equitation schooling show in a week and half.  It will be in the same arena, hopefully with mostly the same props so that will help.  I still need to learn the dressage test.  For the intro level it is walk/trot only, but unlike the straight dressage tests you need to halt from the trot, back up, and do a 5 meter half circle at the walk. 

3 out of 4

So in the past two weeks Cupid pulled his shoe on the right front, scratched his left hind to where it was swollen, and then today he clipped the back of his left front heel.  Oh Cupid!!  So very accident prone.  Luckily it's usually minor things, at least.  I cleaned his heel, applied ointment, and covered with gauze and vetwrap. 

The weather has gotten quite warm again, and with his fuzzy coat Cupid has been sweating a lot.  He normally gets clipped around the end of October.  I am still thinking about waiting until later this year since he'll be getting a few weeks off, but that's assuming the weather cools off. 

Our lessons last week were a bit mixed.  The trot work has felt good, and the right lead canter is also much improved.  However the last two rides Cupid was very balky about picking up the left lead, even kicking out when I ask.  It is unlike him to react like that; he doesn't always pick it up but usually instead he just picks up the counter canter with no resistance.  I don't know if it's related to the feet issues, but something is obviously bothering him since he is very specific about it.  He feels completely normal (even great) doing anything else.  So we're going to take it a bit easy, and I have a call in to the chiropractor to see if she can come take a look at him.

We did go for a little trail ride this weekend, about an hour and a half walking under the trees.  Cupid was perfect throughout.  I am very pleased with how solid he's gotten as a trail horse over the past year. 

Cupid stops to stare...

at this little deer family

Under the trees

Sharing a post-ride Oat & Honey bar

Quiet Week

I haven't quite managed to get back in the swing of things since returning from vacation.  Cupid got his shoe replaced on Friday after I already went out in the morning, so I didn't ride him until Saturday.  Just a basic ride in the covered arena to knock the dust off.  He started off with a bit of energy, but was a little sticky moving off my leg in leg yields.  We also needed a few tries to get the left lead canter. 

On Sunday I had family visiting so I didn't ride, but did take them out to see Cupid.  He was happy to meet people and get carrots. 

Winter coat coming in, he's dark!

On Monday morning Cupid's left hind leg was a little puffy above the fetlock.  No heat and he didn't seem sensitive, body temperature normal.  I found the likely culprit, a very small and benign scrape on his fetlock.  (Oh, Cupid!)  I cleaned it and applied ointment and we did a light ride, just walk and trot for about half an hour in the covered arena.  The puffiness was gone afterwards.  However Tuesday morning it was puffy again.  No heat.  Since the light work seemed to help the day before, I saddled him up and we just walked around the property for about 20 minutes.  Sometimes Cupid is a bit looky when it's foggy, but today he was very good. 

Foggy!

Extended Vacation

I was really excited to ride again when I got back from my trip.  Unfortunately I found Cupid with a loose, slightly twisted shoe!  :(  Big bummer.  Because of how the shoe was, I didn't really want to wrap it, and I don't have the tools to pull it off.  My old shoer showed me years ago, and I've done it a few times.  I considered keeping him in the stall, but he's much happier outside so I just hoped he wouldn't do too much damage.  I spent extra time grooming him.  He was very dusty, and is also shedding his summer coat.

The next day, as I expected, he had no shoe.  There was a bit of chipping but luckily not too bad.  I put a hoof boot on (currently experimenting with the Hoof Wraps Brand Bandage Kit, since the easy boot has been a bit hit or miss staying on) and we walked around the property for about 15 minutes.  It felt good to be back in the saddle, even briefly.  Afterwards I put Magic Cushion in his foot and wrapped it.  I left my shoer another message, hopefully he can come out ASAP!!

Practice Makes Perfect

The lunge line lessons were quite helpful in letting me work on my position, but they unfortunately don't address one of my biggest flaws: ineffective use of my legs.  The breakthrough I made with the leg yield helped, and my next objective was to work on canter transitions.  I realized when I was focusing so hard on trying to maintain my seat in the saddle, keep my shoulders above my hips, and not raise my hands I was pretty much forgetting to use my legs.  Now some horses may be able to pick up a canter through your seat alone, but Cupid and I are not there yet!  So we've been spending a good amount of time working on our transitions.  Part of it is just me making sure I am organized before asking for it.  Also having a good quality trot - also practicing a bit of sitting trot which I haven't really been doing a lot of. 

In my last lesson I was worried I was getting a little too perfectionist about it, waiting too long before asking because I wanted it to be correct.  But my trainer said right now that is fine.  If we had a show coming up we would focus more on promptness, but we have the luxury of taking our time and learning it correctly.  So sit up, outside leg back a touch and a light squeeze, and if no response add the whip.  And wouldn't you know we got some pretty nice canter transitions!  The right is unsurprisingly better than the left, especially the second day in a row.  I had lessons on both Saturday and Sunday, since I'm out of town this week.  I think Cupid was a little tired on Sunday.  He was also anticipating the canter a bit, so while I was focusing on getting that good quality trot he was trying to rush into it.  So we went back to transitions between the walk and trot a bit until he settled and paid attention. 

We also did a bit more work with the German martingale.  Again the purpose of this is to help me achieve a more steady and consistent contact, since after 25 years of riding primarily hunters and trails I'm still somewhat apprehensive about.  But I can see and feel the difference with the martingale, it does give us the rounder "training level frame" judges keep commenting we lack.  I don't want to have to rely on it, but using it sparingly will let me get a feel for what I'm looking for, and allow Cupid to develop the correct muscles.  Though on Sunday, when Cupid was a bit tired, he was lugging down into it a bit and I was having to work the keep his poll up. 

Cupid is getting the next week off while I'm gone.  He'll get turned out every day so I'm not worried about him acting up when I get back (though I will miss riding him!)  He's been working hard, and has had a few days where he seemed to struggle a bit so I'm hoping the time off will be good for him.