Barb's 2009 Winter Show Schedule Florida
February 26-March 1
Palm Beach Dressage Derby
CDI-W/Y/J/P
March 11-15
WEF Dressage Classic
CDI-W/Y/J/P
March 21-22
Welcome Back to White Fences II and III
March 27-29
Dressage at Equestrian Estate


Photo by Pics of You

I am NOT going to Florida this winter and I couldn't be more excited! The reason? For one, Barbara is. She has been working hard and is ready to show her stuff on the winter circuit. I am jealous that she will be enjoying warmer weather, but this trip is well deserved! Second, I am staying behind. That means more horses to ride and more students to teach, but that also means 2x the opportunities to improve a horse or rider.

When Barb comes back, the horses will be so fit and loose she won't even recognize them ;)

Here is to a lot of lovely, long days in the saddle... and being able to engage my core in my sleep.

Pass the Icy Hot.

I couldn't resist the PURPLE woof boots for my gelding. They match his purple Rambo... and the whole outfit makes him look a little like a grape (especially standing next to his green Rambo wearing, 18h+ turnout buddy).

Purple is the color of royalty and I think it looks very sharp on a man! I am sure he will rip them off by next week.

Photos representing the outfit (below) were "borrowed" from a website...

I am trying to make it a habit of renewing my memberships on January 1 (if not sooner) for the upcoming show season.

1. USDF - rider, horse, owner

2. USEF - rider, horse, owner

3. Local GMOs - rider, owner

It is better to get this all taken care of before you are busy packing for the show and running through your test. Trust me, it is not fun when you find out your qualifying score didn't count.

I have become a huge fan of the websites that sell DRESSAGE horses and make it easy for buyers to search by discipline.

1. dressagestar.com
2. USDF now has a classifieds section.
3. www.dressagedaily.com has their very popular horsemarket

I have never found winter gloves that keep my hands warm and are thin enough to ride in. Right now, I either double up my summer Roeckls or wear thinner glove liners under a pair. I am about 1 week away from ordering a pair of those battery-powered, heated glove liners. Hopefully, they won't electrocute me!

Teaching dressage has many advantages. One of the most helpful to my riding is the process of having to explain the aids necessary for a movement.

It is essential to our riding that we know the aids for a movement, why we are using those aids and how they differ from similar movements.

Here is a wonderful exercise to work on when you can't get out to the barn:

Write down the aids you use for EVERY test movement at your level, for example:  trot/halt, halt/trot, leg yield, shoulder in, haunches in, circle, trot/canter, walk/canter, ca 
1. Confirm that you know what each calf/knee/seat bone, hand should be doing in each of those movements.

2. Something to think about: How do the aids differ? What makes your canter/trot transition different than the canter/walk? halt/walk vs. halt/trot? Leg yield vs. shoulder in vs. trot/canter? And so on.

I am not naming names, but I might ride a horse or two that some would call "spooky". You know the horse... they trot by the same shadow 4 times and on the 5th time, they won't go by. The birds are scary when they are flying or sitting or chirping. When riding a spooky horse, we suddenly become aware of the coat someone left in the ring or the loud sweeping of the aisle.

It is easy to become frustrated when our horses spook. It always seems to be just before they come through and give, or right as you have relaxed and become one with your horse.

Just when you are tempted to give your horse a kick with the inside leg, after he jumps away from the scary door, or yell at him for stopping in front of a shadow, realize that this is the moment that your focus is most important.

Do not let his distractions distract you from riding. Every moment that we focus on what is going wrong leaves us open to getting thrown forward as our horse slams on the breaks, thrown sideways as our horse jumps sideways, etc. Focus, instead, on sitting deeply and driving your horse forward between both legs, into your steady hands.

Think of the spook as no different than any other moment when we become disconnected from our horse. Just as we prepare for a transition by checking that our core is engaged and our horse is balanced underneath us, we can (as quickly as possible) prepare for the spook by sitting deeply and keeping our horse forward and focused as soon as we feel their tension... or as we approach the bird/shadow/door/scary corner in the ring.

Many people have asked me what "look" I like at shows, from saddle pad color to when to start wearing a top hat. Below is a list of suggestions:

Helmet - I ride in a certified helmet (black velvet with a simple, leather harness) until Third Level Championship classes and Fourth Level/above classes. Then I wear a top hat. I do not own or ride in a derby.

Boots - Petrie Anky Elegance, since they fit better than my custom Vogels and have lasted a long time (I bought them 2 years ago and ride in them 4+ times a day, 6 days a week... and I often teach in them). If the weather is bad, I wear Mountain Horse Boots or half chaps. I SHOULD have a pair of show boots, but I am still just buffing my Petries.

Coat - Pikeur Diana. Still sporting the one with the red liner. I am going to be buying a new Pikeur coat this year that is washable, since the rainy August days have left my wool coat a little worse for wear (perhaps making a rainy day coat forever?). It has to be VERY hot for me to remove my coat, even if coats are waived. I think I have ridden 2 tests in my life without a coat.

Breeches - Full seat, high waisted, white breeches all the time at shows. Prefer the Pikeurs or Eurostars. I like the real leather for the Eurostars when it is colder out, Pikeurs with fake leather when it is humid/hot.

Gloves - Always Roekl white Chester gloves.

Stock Tie - Pique tie yourself with a simple silver or gold pin.

Show Shirt - Whatever that old school techy shirt is that has the small, black horse head on the front. Need to buy more. I always wear short sleeved, with a white cotton turtleneck underneath if it is cold. It has to be VERY hot for me to remove my coat, even if coats are waived. I think I have ridden 2 tests in my life without a coat.

Makeup - I don't wear any. I probably should, since I think that people who don't can look like a cabbage patch kid in a riding outfit. Although, too much and you can look like a crazed beauty queen by the end of your ride. Maybe a little lipstick and eyeliner? I am still undecided. I think more is better for evening FEI classes.

Saddle Pads - Plain White

Tack - Plain Black, self padding. Sometimes a beaded or crystal browband.

Braids - Button braids with hair-colored yarn.

Monday if my day off. It gives me time to catch up on emails, scheduling and paperwork. However, with the cold weather this past weekend, I am feeling a little bit of cabin fever! I need to resist the temptation to work the horses, since they did work through the weekend (though it was very light work) and take my day off!

On a good note, tomorrow I will just as ready to get to work AND rested.

Instead of heading to the barn, I am going to pop in a yoga video later or go to the gym. Since adding both to my routine, my riding has improved even more than expected. Riding so many horses a day, it is easy to think that you are doing enough for all of your muscles. Go to the gym once, to prove yourself wrong!