Not just M&S Food.
I wonder if having a full size carboard cutout of Sonia in the middle of my arena would help Jazz? He seems to love her place so much, or find her presence so comforting!
He did a great session again today. He warmed up low and relaxed, for him VERY relaxed. And he worked very hard at producing the bigger paces that we want for Medium work. Sonia says Advanced Medium in competition next year - wouldn't that be fun?
His work is difficult to describe. It's like M&S adverts for food "This is not just any food, it's M&S food" or Star Trek "It's life Jim, but not as we know it!". Let me try to explain. He is doing shoulder in, but the shoulder in he is doing now compares with no other shoulder in I have ever done. The angle is the same, the basic cross of the front legs is the same, but it feels totally different. Today we practiced "test standard" shoulder in - all the way down a 60m long side with the same cadence, bend, submission and huge power. It put a smile on my face.
We continued our work towards medium trot, and he got closer today than he has ever done. And we worked on my rocking at the canter, which Sonia said was actually happening because I was leaning back, and the forward lean is the reaction to that. I would never have thought of that, but when I did what she said, Jazz found an absolutely amazing collected canter. He was initially confused about my change of balance and came back to trot, but when I asked him to go on, he understood and did this canter that was different from anything he's done before.
This work is SO addictive!
C
posted by cptrayes @ 3:21 PM
12 comments
12 Comments:
The joy in your post sounds as though there should be a fanfare, at least.
Sounds fab, I've been looking forwards to your lesson and hearing how it went. Sounds great fun. I can't wait to be back in the saddle, I miss the satisfaction of getting things right and seeing things develop. Just have to live it through you this year if that's OK?!!
Can't wait for your next lesson / test! I'm really excited for you. Can't wait until next year for the Pas de Deux and Advanced Medium, what a smart horse he is, you were just the person he was looking for!
What an interesting fellow Jazz is. Perhaps just trying to make your mindset as if you were in a lesson with Sonia while you were at home would help. Kind of pretend, if you know what I mean. Think about what goes on in the general progression of a lesson with her and try to simulate it? I'm sure her presence is soothing to him since she is a good trainer who exudes confidence in what she is asking of the horse.
Such fun to start all the advanced work and find it so successful. When shoulder in works well, it feels so good. I can only imagine what it must feel like on a truly talented horse like Jazz.
Dressage seems to have won you over...though not quite yet from the urge to jump. *lol* Luckily, you have Radar in the fold to offer you your jumping "high" whenever the urge so strikes. Still, the "highs" of dressage, despite what some people think...("...dressage is like watching cement set" from the movie, "Sylvester")...is really an engaging and truly exciting adventure. The challenges never end and each step forward is so rewarding.
Hey, could you dress up one of those blow up dolls like Sonia? Then again, maybe you'd end up spooking all the way down your hill...not good. *G*
Ooops, meant to ask, what did Sonia tell you to do with the canter seat? I have a feeling it had to do with sitting deeper and more vertical? Just curious. I'm glad it worked. Whatever it was, once you master it, it will help you keep Jazz on the proper lead to control those "voluntary changes." ....now if only I could get Tucker to volunteer...without the bucks. *sigh*
Jean she said to lean forward when I felt like leaning back. Of course my body image was that I was upright when I was leaning back, so the instruction to lean forward simply sat me upright - she's a real psychologist of a trainer, that's what I love about her. Then my legs felt like they were going backward from my hip to my knee, but of course all they had done was drop down the saddle. So - as you say - sit up tall and sit deeper in the saddle - only not in those words!
ER do you think I should hire a band to play while we ride maybe :-) ??? Sounds like fun!
Tam why aren't you riding Murphy????? You AREN'T are you??????????????? Do you want to come and watch my next lesson? 3pm Monday 27th, in Bakewell.
C
never thought i'd see you write this:
"Sonia says Advanced Medium in competition next year - wouldn't that be fun?"
:-)
Fantastic reading! We can all feel your excitement!
mmm. Kind of didn't realise what I'd said there Claire :-))) oops.
I just love being our age and still learning new stuff ML. It IS exciting, isn't it? It's what makes it worth getting out of bed every day - the thought that you will learn or experience something you haven't experienced before. Well that's what does it for me, anyway!
C
he he he he.....liking dressage eh! careful.
Really its much more fun doing the more interesting stuff.
Has Sonia ridden him, it would be interesting for you to see how he's working as well as feeling it.
I'd love to watch, but will have to see if I can get cover in the office. And yes... I am - again! Sick as a dog again. Oh the joys. Really want to get competing again next year and cannot wait until Donny is ready - he is awesome and so straight forward. It has only just really opened my eyes up to what a strange horse Murphy is! I'll let you know if I can escape and come out to play...
I don't think Sonia really wants to get on him Mandeigh - she's seen what he can do ! And I'm not talking half pass :-)
Blimey Tam you're a glutton for punishment! I agree, Murphy has some character traits that, if possible, are even odder than Jazz's. I've never forgotten feeling as if he was going to kill me just because it started raining on the roof of his barn! But how on earth are you going to compete with two tinies in tow????
C
Trust me, all concerned will be happier if I'm happy! The kids will learn to enjoy it and Simon is a 'modern man'! He is more than capable as he brought his last two up by himself.It may sound selfish, but I'm not putting my life on hold- it is one sure way to resent your children and make yourself miserable. :-))
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