Behind the Bit

Who knew it was so easy?

2012-05-26T12:35:00.000-04:00

To quote Charlie Sheen: Winning. Apparently, that's what it's about, and now you can buy it!

Dressage: Fitness for Travellers

2012-05-25T12:38:00.000-04:00

You know, I don't think this is a serious video -- but it could be...

Fancy whips for serious whoopass

2012-05-24T11:51:00.000-04:00

My grandmother used to carry a cane and she had some really gorgeous canes -- including one that had a horsehead at the top. These whips take me back to that era of elegance. I'd love to own one of these but I'm not sure I'd ever use it. Somethings must be preserved for the upper level rider, like the shadbelly, because they're truly special...

Sandra B Designs

Elite canes and Browbands

When your horse is an overachiever...

2012-05-23T11:24:00.000-04:00

One thing I always marvel at when I go to Rolex is that horses jump without knowing what they're getting into -- what's on the other side. They trust the rider as this horse did, and he showed incredible athleticism in a sticky situation. I'm equally impressed at how quickly he recovered, taking the second obstacle without hestitation. Big pats for this one!

Oh, and the rider did a pretty credible job too ;-).

Bred to piaffe, not to do THIS

2012-05-22T11:19:00.000-04:00

I love the rider's advice to the horse -- "Have a wee look at it." He certainly does! I'm impressed with the rider (and the horse!). This outing probably did him a world of good -- I would love to see his gaits in an open field versus in the ring.

Dressage training: Is loyalty overrated?

2012-05-21T05:30:00.000-04:00

One of the most frustrating aspects of the horse industry is the practice of exclusivity in trainer/training relationships. I think this is the norm in the hunter/jumper world, but it exists in the dressage world as well. To get exposure to other perspectives, many riders go to clinics. But in NJ and PA, where the air is thick with BNTs, it's an unspoken rule or expectation that clients will use, and be loyal to, one trainer. As clients, why don't we call the shots on how we work with our trainers? Why is it more like a marriage than a true business partnership?

Where did it all begin, and why?
I suppose there are some plausible reasons for this...

trainers often have "a system" that they feel needs 100% commitment;
a client going to multiple trainers might be confused by too many opinions and divergent approaches;
Assuming a systematic training program is in place, there would be loss of continuity.

However... I'm not sure that the average dressage trainer follows a system, or even a systematic approach. They walk in, they tell you what they see, they help you, then it's over. That's whole 'nuther blog post. But as far as exclusivity, I think it's practiced because it suits the trainer financially -- the old economic motive. They need a steady income and the security of having a client who invests in them and doesn't vary their investment.

I'm not advocating dressage "free love" either
I'm not recommending that riders flit from trainer to trainer -- but must we pinky-swear that we'll never train with another? Do we need permission to go to another trainer? Do we worry that a trainer will lose interest in training us if our eye wanders?

Is it a two-way street?
Do trainers show us the same loyalty they expect from us? Or do they take advantage of the system we're in? I've heard many stories of trainers playing favorites, bad-mouthing or trashing their best clients, talking on their cellphones through a lesson, blah, blah, blah. I know you've all heard this kind of stuff.

Middle ground?
I firmly believe that if we're paying for a service, at the end of the day it's a business transaction--albeit one with an emotional element. That's true of a lot of business relationships, especially ones that are longstanding.

What would an alternate system look like? Have any of you designed your own training program independent of any one trainer? How does it work?

In my next post I'll throw out some advantages to working with multiple trainers...

"String of poloponies" -- that great line from The Honeymooners

2012-05-20T12:45:00.000-04:00

This is one of my dad's favorite shows. When I was little he worked second shift for a building manufacturer, National Homes, during the summer. He was a science teacher the rest of the year. At about 11pm, mom would go to pick him up, with us in tow, and when we got home we'd all watch The Honeymooners before bed. I remember this episode as one we all especially enjoyed.

At another level, polo is an intriguing sport that not many people have direct experience with -- including me. I'd never want to try it (too dangerous!) but I'd love to know more about how it works, and how these amazing horses are trained. Here is a brief intro from Equestrian Life...

Horses -- not so dumb

2012-05-19T12:25:00.000-04:00

I think it's true that horses by nature are more reactors than actors in their environment. Here's a horse that figures stuff out and manipulates his surroundings. Harv and Ri are generally reactive, but they have their moments. Once I threw a flake of hay through Harv's dutch door. I knew was poor quality -- matted, stemmy, dry, but clean and safe. I threw it in his stall, and saw his head go down. Seconds later, the flake came flyng out of the stall. Reject!

Happy Birthday Ri Ri!

2012-05-18T11:07:00.000-04:00

Riley at three months

Riley is now SIX years old. SIX! Actually he turned six yesterday, without much fanfare. I meant to take an up to date picture of him but forgot, but here are some then and now pix. What I learned about horses from babyhood to adulthood is this: if you like a delicate face on a horse, get a baby that looks like he's part arab and has a tiny head, and CERTAINLY get a perfectly formed head. Riley had a normal head (nice, well-shaped, a great expression, but not small) -- and now his head is enormous! It's well proportioned, it "fits" his body, but oh-my-it is big.Oh, and he is officially 17 hands high.

The Ri-Ri update
I'll mention, by way of a Riley update, that he has lost weight, and the weight loss is unexplained. While he doesn't look awful I see ribs -- ribs! -- on my horse. We had changed his diet from Progressive Proadd Ultimate to another ration balancer, to save money (the barn offers the cheaper stuff, Proadd costs me about $40/month). Whether by coincidence or because of the feed change, he has dropped quite a bit of weight. Unfortunately he lost topline as well, which is the larger concern. Riley has been an easy keeper for five years, and while I think the Progressive feeds are good, I'm not sure they're THAT good, esp. feed in the amounts Ri was getting (a handful three times a day). He is back on Proadd and I've thrown in some fat supps for good measure.

The weight loss itself, for Riley at least, is at least partly, in theory, a good thing, as it is less stress on his legs. But his topline looks perfectly awful -- it's like it looked when he was just off stall rest, lots of exposed spine. The saddle I got for him was wide to begin with, and now... Dammit.

Riley last year

What to do?
When my vet comes back to finish up spring and fall shots, she is going to do a Lyme test and (if I can convince her) an EPM test. Now, for those of you who might assume I'm overreacting, or suffering from Von Munchausens (sp?) syndrome, note that my vet noticed the weight and muscle loss right away. She is not an alarmist, and she showed some concern. It isn't just me, I swear!

Romney and Dressage in the Press

2012-05-17T12:17:00.000-04:00

It's just so... Infantile. Superficial. Divisive. And November seems so far away...