September 01, 2009

A little bit of this...

...and a little bit of that.
First of all, I would like to say

THANK YOU
to all of you that follow my blog, and to those who leave comments.
I feel honoured by your kind interest, and I am so happy to have found new friends in other corners of the world.
You make my horse world more divers; I get new impulses and can evaluate my "truths" and believes in a different light.
Very, very interesting.
I might even get wiser.

Now, I know that I have promised a post about the Christoph Hess seminar.
It is coming, I have just been very busy lately, and I need some more time to try and sort out my unreadable notes from two full days.

In the meantime, I have been training hard.
We have had a Swedish trainer here during the weekend. She has been educated as "Bereiterin" in Germany, a four year long extensive education in dressage and jumping, handling of horses, education of the young horse, etc, etc. You name it.
C did her practice period in one of the top German dressage stables.
She arrived on Friday evening, and stayed at our house.
We were lucky to be able to lease the indoor arena for the training. Our outside arenas are very wet after much rain.
It was quite a logistic puzzle to bring the trainer back and forth, arrange lunch and squeeze in my own training in between.
On Saturday evening the whole bunch (excluding horses) went to a Thai restaurant where we had a super evening with much talk, laughs, beer and good food.
Everyone was very happy with the training, so I hope we can get C to come another time too.

Yesterday Fame and I trained late at the indoor arena with trainer A.
She is Norwegian but educated in Denmark, also as a "berider".
She wants me to work Fame in a more forward tempo.
I have noted that this seems like a trend in Denmark, and I am a bit ambiguous about it – ref. earlier post.
On the other hand, I want to improve the trot work.
Fame has a good walk and canter.
The trot however is a bit boring, with less activity than I believe my little pony actually can show.
Yesterday, A really had us working.
Fame was like a steam locomotive, and me like a rag–doll on top.
(memo to self: remember to order some more abdominal muscles)
Yes, we got those hind legs into action, but I must say that the breaks did not work equally well.
I feel out of what’s "normal” and had I been riding for myself I know I would have used more half halts to balance her and also to reduce the tempo.
But you know, to get somewhere you must also be able to push yourself out of what is comfy and normal, and accept to feel ”lost” until you again feel “at home”.
At the Hess seminar he spoke about that the horse at all times should be in front of the leg.
I am the first to confess that Fame not always is.
So I am willing to see where this leads us.
Fame is stronger now, and more balanced – maybe the time has come to get some more action into the work?
We were both sweat all through before the session was over, and I can still feel it in my body today. I don’t mind, but maybe my vacation fat does.
I compensated with a burger to lunch though.

And....
Happy Birthday Daddy!
Hope you have a wonderful birthday, with some nice things to eat too!
(but please save the mushrooms until I get home...)


11 comments:

Grey Horse Matters said...

Sounds like you had a busy but productive weekend. How wonderful to have the ability to train with two well-educated trainers.

When you order your new abdominal muscles throw in an order for me too, I could sure use them after this summer.

Nuzzling Muzzles said...

Laughing out loud... you have to remember to order more abdominal muscles. I can relate to that... and the sweat too. When I take lessons, it's like someone poured a bucket of water over my head. I remove my helmet and look like I just stepped out of a pool.

trudi said...

sounds like you've been working very hard , I make it a rule never to work so hard (me or the horse, lol) but i guess such experienced trainers must know their stuff. Maybe that would help shift my soft bits!!

HorseOfCourse said...

GHM - I have tried to locate a supplier, but there seems to be some problems. Maybe they are out of business due to the financial crises? Maybe people use the ones they have for now? (Do you think we can get hold of second hand ones? Hrmpfff.)

NuzzMuzz - you not only have to work yourself and your horse. You have to work in WARM temperatures. I sweat just by thinking of it!

Trudi - I am very suspiscious when it comes to new trainers, whatever qualifications they have. I kind of put them on hold for a while before they get the stamp of approval...
But I did burn some fat for sure!

Irene said...

Låter underbart med träning först o sen mysigt på krogen. Sånt som gör livet värt att leva!

RuckusButt said...

You are so cute! You know, I think you have followers because you are honest, down to earth, always willing to help, never judgmental, and talented. Oh, and a great sense of humor. So thanks YOU for sharing!

Too bad you are having a hard time locating a supplier for abdominal muscles...I was hoping we could get a group discount ;)

Your comments regarding being suspicious of a new trainer made me realize I am doing the same in considering which horse to lease. I am reluctant to change my instructor but also the barn where I ride. I'm comfortable there and the others I ride with are so supportive and encouraging, it's nice. After thinking about it I think I've realized that I need to go out of my comfort zone a little. Not with respect to horse care or philosophy of training, but generally expand my horizons to move beyond where I am. If I don't change something, nothing changes, right? Thanks for spurring some introspection.

Oh, and I always ride in lessons! Clearly I'm working too hard, lol!

RuckusButt said...

ugh. that would be "thank you" not "thanks you"

allhorsestuff said...

Well thank YOU too! I am being encouraged by coming here and reading about inspirational riding!

What a cool thing to host such learned trainers! Someday..I will be back in that circle..a nicer circle than the last, I pray.
OH-OH OH! can I get in on the abdominal order...we should be able to get a break in price..unless they are all sold out..then will have to rehabilitate the old ones!

PS
what is a "berider"? Is it the traing you ere mentioned(4yr dressage,jumping,handling?)

HorseOfCourse said...

Thanks for your comments!

Irene - yes, some training and a laugh with good friends over a beer makes life worth living!

RuckusButt - I am blushing. Thank you! I wish you were living closer, then you could share Fame with me instead!
I can understand your reluctance to leave the barn where you have good friends and instructors though. The social part around horses means a lot to me. A friendly atmosphere and a helping hand when you need it makes up for many other things. Your strategy of not leaving that even if you try out some other places sounds good to me!

allhorsestuff - thank you!
"Berider" is the Danish equivalent to the German "Bereiterin". High quality education, but very, very hard work (many times 12-14 hrs/day for 6-7 days/week), 4 years in Germany, 6 years in Denmark. I don't know if there is an English/American equivalent?

mugwump said...

You are fun to read. I can't imagine going down the fence on my cowhorse bareback. It would be tragic.

HorseOfCourse said...

Thanks Mugs! You know, I don't believe that would be tragic at all!