Clinic with David Marcus

I was lucky to snag a last minute spot in a clinic with Grand Prix rider and olympian David Marcus!  Even though I was worried about being outclassed I wanted to go and learn as much as I can, and get a fresh (and very knowledgeable!) perspective.

To start, I told David a bit about our background and goals, and he told me his first horse he took to grand prix and used for YR was a thoroughbred!  He said it thought him a lot riding a more sensitive type horse.  He watched us a few minutes.  His first order of business was to bring out a leather puncher and raise my bit (which was already on the last hole).  I felt kind of stupid, when I switched from the loose ring to the D-ring Myler on my black bridle I didn't really look closely but of course the Myler does have bigger rings so I should have thought of that.

Then he had me take my feet out of the stirrups, and really stretch down even pointing my toes down.  He quickly honed in on our trouble areas, and suggested basically going back to the basics. 

Relax!
David said both Cupid and I can get a bit tense and tight.  He said it's good that Cupid is so willing to stretch - if he starts getting quick let my reins get long and encourage him to stretch down and relax, then gradually shorten the reins again.

Teach the Horse to Do His Job
I shouldn't have my lower leg on as much; I'm not teaching Cupid to do his job.  I need to ask him for the stride I want, then leave him alone.  If he starts slowing down then ask him again.

Be a Little Greedy
If it feels good, don't be afraid to push for a little more!  I hesitate with this because if Cupid is being pretty good I don't want to "upset the apple cart" or not reward him - but when I do ask for more he never resents it and generally rises to the challenge so I need to be more confident with that!

Pressure and Release
If I pull Cupid will just latch on and resist.  Ask, then give.  Or if I don't get the response I want ask again, more firmly, but don't hang on him.  Work towards getting the reaction from the smallest aid possible.
We worked a lot on small circles, and David encouraged me to start with a leading rein.  The first step is Cupid needs to be following the rein, and we need to get a better reaction there before moving on to more subtlety. 

Less Muscle
You can't use the reins to pull the horse into a frame; it comes from the horse lifting its back and using its hind end.  In a funny moment David said just look at me, I have no arm muscle (not really true but he is a very lean guy!)  Don't try to force it just because David or a group of people are watching.  Don't worry if we're not there yet; it takes time but it will come. 

Biomechanics
Soft elbows was the big one.  He also noticed my tendency to collapse on my left side.  Also knees pointing forward - going back to how he had me take my feet out of the stirrups.  Reminder that leg position begins at the hips, and the importance of stretching and maintaining flexibility in that area. 
David also said if it feels like I'm leaning too far back, lean back a little more, lol.

We ended up not doing any cantering, but given the heat I was ok with that.  I was quite happy with how Cupid did.  He did whinny once when horses were led by, but was not very distracted by the new surroundings.  He was a little fussy standing initially for the bridle adjustment, but at the end he kept wanting to stand close to David for pats.  David was very positive and encouraging - both making corrections and also telling me what I was doing right.  Although these are all things I've heard before and have been working on (no "magic bullet" to suddenly make me an awesome rider) I ended the ride feeling motivated to continue our progress.  Plus I got to ride in a super beautiful place, with an olympian - a very cool experience! 

The clinic was at Iron Rock in Fairfield, which is a truly beautiful facility.  The arena overlooks a valley and vineyards, and has a little waterfall alongside which luckily Cupid didn't really take notice of. The solid stone mounting block was so fancy I wasn't sure it wasn't just decorative.  I had to get on quick because Cupid was pawing in the sand around it, and it would have been pretty embarrassing to have him roll by the arena with all his tack on!

Unfortunately though it was hot!!  Like mid 90s.  I didn't really feel it while I was riding, but felt a little woozy when I got off, but felt better after downing a bottle of gatorade.  Cupid wasn't as visibly affected by the heat as he seemed at the show last weekend.  I bought him a new electrolyte  (Buckeye Prosper n Win) since he didn't seem to like the apple dex I had before, but he refused to drink water with this in it.  I tried putting an apple in the water, so he's be forced to swallow some trying to get the apple but he divided it wasn't worth it and just ate his hay instead!  I tried offering him plain water after and he didn't want that either (same bucket and water tank in the trailer he drank readily from at the show last weekend), I was a little concerned but he seemed okay otherwise and was still interested in his hay and his demeanor was normal.

I'm waiting to see the official photos, I only took a few quick snaps after we rode.

Sweaty after our ride in the heat

Admiring the view

Very scenic!!

New fans in trailer to keep Cupid cool, especially if we're stuck in traffic!

Riding While Pregnant

Yes it's true, I'm pregnant and just entered the second trimester!  So far I've been feeling pretty good.  My stomach does get a little queasy, usually in the afternoon, but nothing too bad.  I also haven't had any of the fatigue a lot of women experience.  I get pretty hungry sometimes but no particular cravings, or a lot of times no food sounds particularly good but I can eat something anyways. 

I found just just before the Greenville show end of March.  The decision to keep riding is a personal one.  A couple of my non-riding friends commented that I "have to stop riding now, right?"  Well, no.  Riding itself is not inherently bad; it's just the risk of something happening to the fetus in a fall.  I've been riding for over 25 years, and have been riding Cupid for nearly 4 and he's become quite trustworthy.  I know things can happen, even with well-behaved horses they don't even need to spook but can just trip or something, but I accept that risk.  If he's ever really strung out I may call it a day, but he's been perfect so far.

 

Gained a few pounds but not very obvious yet

So far it's just been business as usual.  I've also been able to continue my workout regiment.  I don't run quite as much, but still do regular cardio in addition to core conditioning, yoga, and pilates.

I'm probably tempting fate saying this, but my plan is to keep riding as long as I'm comfortable.  Hopefully we can do a few more shows, and we are still going on a long-planned ranch and camping adventure soon.  I'll taper off to light hacks and ground work if and when that feels right.  By the end of my pregnancy we'll hopefully have had a good season, and Cupid can take a little time off to relax before ramping up for next year.

Ps. It's a boy, due late November

Seven Oaks Schooling Show

Even though I was planning on going to this show for a while, I didn't have much opportunity to prepare.  This is the busiest time of year at my work, and though I've still been riding I've had to keep my rides pretty short (often just 20-30 minutes).  Plus I haven't had a lesson in over a week since my coach has also been busy.  I've done Training 1 several times now, but this was my first time doing Training 3 so I was really hoping my mind wouldn't go blank midway through!

My ride time wasn't until the afternoon, and it was hot!  In the 80s, compared to barely 60 most of the last few weeks.  Cupid was struggling a bit, he started breathing pretty hard after only about 10-15 minutes.  The warm up ring is surrounded by a tall hedge, and in the past Cupid was a little spooky in the corner but this time he was great.  We kept our warm up pretty easy: several minutes of walking, trot work with 20 meter circles and a few smaller circles to the outside the other direction.  We did a little canter to the left.  Again not getting the left lead first try, but felt good once we got it.  Then we just walked and were able to go a bit early, since Cupid was starting to get tired.

Training 1 felt good.  We had a few mistakes: not getting the left lead on first try and then breaking early, and I was a little late asking for the walk to trot transition.  Our lowest score was a 4 for the left lead canter, and our best score was an 8 for the final halt  We also got a 7.5 for our first halt and the free walk.  The collective comments said we need a rounder outline and more overall suppleness and bend.

I took Cupid back to the trailer to get water, then just walked until our second round which we also were able to do early.  It was good to go through this test at a low key schooling show, since the loops are new.  We got some feedback that we need more bend through them, which was helpful.  We again had trouble with the left lead - getting it eventually but not on first ask, and got a 3 there.  At least we were able to maintain it around the arena, even though our down transition was a bit shy of X.  Cupid spontaneously broke into a canter when we were trotting, and we messed up the first halt (got a 4 - but did much better with a 7 for the final one).  Our best score was the trot-walk transition and medium walk, which was an 8, then a 7.5 for the free walk.  We got a few 7s near the end, so managed to stay just above 60.  The collectives said more suppleness and relaxation needed - "better balance, not so much speed".  I agree with the first part, but aside from the spontaneous canter I'm not quite sure what the judge meant about less speed.  Cupid can get quick sometimes, but he didn't feel that way to me. 

Overall I thought it was a great experience and felt very good about the show.  I'm still struggling with the whole dressage thing - I'm still not quite sure how I'm supposed to achieve the proper "frame" without feeling like I'm hauling on my horse's face, but hopefully we will get there.

Bit Change

Cupid does not seem very sensitive to tack changes - which overall is good but does cause some challenges for me because it keeps me guessing.  I tried several bits when I first got him, but he was equally green with bad steering but amenable personality no matter what so I settled on a nice Myler Comfort Snaffle.  I've kept that as his "jumping" bit, and for trails.  But I think about 2 years ago I started riding him in a Herm Sprenger loose ring w/ lozenge for dressage.  Mainly just because it is a more typical "dressage-y" bit and he doesn't seem to care.  But lately he's been a little more nose in the air and just a bit busier in his mouth.  His teeth got done a few weeks ago - I will have the vet take a quick look next time he's out just in case, but he is eating fine.  But Cupid has seemed a little happier with the Comfort Snaffle so I'm primarily using that for now.

Myler Comfort Snaffle

Herm Sprenger KK Ultra (?)

Work has been very busy so I've been keeping my rides a bit shorter, but trying to focus on quality.  And manners a bit, since I've gotten a bit lax and let Cupid get into the habit of walking off while I'm mounting, or letting him nose everything around him instead of standing still while I'm tightening his girth.  Also making sure he is responding promptly when I ask him to move out, which he's actually been good about.  I've been trying to start rides with my whip behind my back and elbows, to stretch out the front of my chest and hopefully create some muscle memory that my elbows should in fact be bent.  Aside from that we've mainly been doing a lot of bending and leg yields, and moving between a stretching and working frame.  We've been doing about 15 minute trot sets, which go by so quick I don't even realize it.  We are going to a very low-key schooling show this weekend.

Waiting for Summer

Despite being well into May, after the one warm day a week ago the weather has been pretty cold.  Cupid's barn is near the coast, and it can get very foggy and windy.  Luckily though Cupid has been behaving perfectly, and is even getting a lot more steady in the outdoor arena.

We had a fun, varied week.  Continuing to work on connection in our lessons and practicing our loops for Training test 3, and we also did some ground driving and in hand work, popped over some jumps (including a 2' oxer with flowers underneath - not big but the biggest I've done lately), and went on another trail ride at Huddart park.  Nothing really specific to report, Cupid's been pretty perfect.

Daisies

Grabbing a snack on the trail

Residential area before going into the park

Sharing

Jumps

Fog

Uneventful

Cupid and I have had steady but unremarkable rides since I got back.  Not surprisingly, he was fine after 5 days off - his usual slightly lazy self.  Our lessons have mainly been continuing to focus on steadying my contact through the reins (especially the outside rein).

One exercise we've started is doing a lot of transitions between a stretchy trot and more working frame, especially near the beginning of our ride.  Cupid likes stretching down, and it is good practice for me to ask him to come back up a little, while trying to make sure we don't tip onto the forehand.

We've also been doing a lot of serpentines, and our last lesson my trainer had us add a 10 meter circle in each loop so we get more bend.

The left lead canter is improving.  We still don't get it 100% of the time but it's gotten a lot more consistent.  I'm looking ahead at Training test 3, which has a longer canter to the left.  Cupid still has a tendency to drop to a trot, especially if he hits a slightly deeper spot in the arena so we're working on that.

On Saturday there were some small jumps set up in the arena so I trotted a few.  It was much warmer than it has been and Cupid was pretty low energy.  The first time over he didn't even canter out.  Then he would, but was pretty much ready to walk again a few strides out, lol.

Today we did some ground driving and in hand work.  I can back him up straight if I stand at his right shoulder, but if I'm on his left then he always swings to the right so we need to work on that.  (If I ask him to back up when I'm on him it's usually not straight either.)  The side passing went well.

Break

Cupid is currently getting a few days off, as I'm writing this from DC where I am for a conference.  We did have a few good rides though before I left.

Monday, the day after the show, I gave Cupid off.

Tuesday I did some ground driving.  I'm still working on not letting him drift off the rail, but overall he was pretty good.  When I asked him to step over a jump filler with pink flowers he did avoid it the first few times, so I moved to his head and led him over.  He was better after that, but I did have to make sure to keep him straight.  Going over the cavaletti was much smoother.

On Wednesday we had a very productive lesson in the outdoor ring, the kind of ride I wish I had at the show!  Once again we got the left lead, like it was no big deal.

Thursday we did a little jumping.  We started with trot poles, and ended up with a little course that involved trotting over the poles, picking up the canter to the left and circling around to a caveletti, switching to the right lead and going over another cavaletti, and then a little cross rail.  Cupid got the left lead correct each time, and after the first time through he even changed leads over the first cavaletti by himself!  Although we haven't been doing much jumping lately I think it's good for Cupid to mix it up, and when he is being this good and relaxed I enjoy it too.

I'll be gone Friday through Tuesday, and am looking forward to riding again on Wednesday.