This may be my favorite video yet. Forward, forward forward! And correctly round for the most part. If this video doesn't work or is not displaying well, try the Youtube video.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Riley has a great day under saddle -- Video
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Every video you show us just gets better and better! He looks great. Lovely downward transitions.
ReplyDeleteHis canter looks so nice to ride! I'm jealous.
ReplyDeleteWow, he looks really good! I especially liked the closeup of the nice canter to trot transition. He's getting so strong and his back behind the saddle looks really full. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteRiley does look great. He is nicely forward without rushing, and stays in a good frame.
ReplyDeleteI still shiver that your trainer is not wearing that helmet. Frankly, it is very distracting to me. Riley is a honey, that's for sure, but he still is a horse.
Have you discussed diagonals with your trainer? I know in dressage you only have to be consistent, don't have to have the inside or outside. I know one of the clinic videos you posted she was told to switch. I assume there's a reason she uses the diagonal she does - I'm just curious why? (Ooh... a chance for me to learn from someone else's trainer, too! :) )
ReplyDeleteSo wonderful to see this progress! He looks great!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering the same thing Net said: what is the story behind your trainer's diagonals? I, too, have heard it doesn't matter which you do (which surprised me since I have ridden the outside diagonal my whole, long life) but I have never met or seen anyone who does not ride the outside diagonal. What is her rationality? I also remember your clinic trainer asking her to change. Any insights here that we can learn from? thanks much!
Every time I post something with my trainer people ask about diagonals -- mostly anonymous, which is interesting. In the last clinic with FVN, Felicitas talked about diagonals, and how at one point she advocated for riding the inside diagonal on a young horse. I'm not sure it was captured on video as it was during a break. I asked my trainer about it later and she gave me the rationale, and also noted that FVN seems to have moved away from it.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it seems curious to viewers, but I don't give her choice of posting diagonals much thought beyond folks asking. This trainer is straight from my dreams -- she rides Riley beautifully, she's agreeable, pleasant, communicative, and when I have a question or issue she is never defensive. In 2009 i took some criticism/nastiness about how I handled Riley's health issues. I troubled me but I was right, they were wrong, and if I hadn't pursued treatment as I did he would not be where he is now.
I promised myself I'd never let someone else pressure or influence me about what's best for my horse. That's why it's such a blessing to work with this trainer. She gets Riley, and it's all about Riley, not about her. She pushes him without being cavalier or harsh, and I have confidence in her.
Stacey - I didn't mean it as a criticism at all! I think your trainer is doing a wonderful job with Riley and that he looks fabulous. I really wondered if there's a reason behind it. I think most people post on the diagonal they do simply because that's what they do. For example, the inside diagonal feels "wrong" to me after years spent showing in equitation classes. My bodyworker I use recommended I switch back and forth because my horse is building up strength in back, and she felt it would help him develop more evenly. She's the *only* person I've had give me a reason for any diagonal at all recently, besides my trainer saying that some people use one diagonal or the other, and dressage allows for either as long as you're consistent in a test. Therefore, I was just curious, because with the job your trainer does I'm guessing she does have a reason beyond habit, which is the only reason I use the outside diagonal.
ReplyDeleteThe proof is in the pudding. Riley looks fantastic. I am happy for you that you have been blessed with such a wonderful trainer.
ReplyDeleteNet, was referring more to anon posters :-) and jean, i'm with ya on the helmet issue. I speakmy mind but generally leave it up to her. Like u I don't get it. Ironically I think ri's steadiness makes it seem safe.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to make sure you didn't think I was trying to be nasty! I'm on the chronicle boards, too, so I'm used to many people just being gratuitously nasty and don't get THAT at all. :)
ReplyDeleteMy trainer doesn't always wear a helmet on my horse either, and I don't like that. She knows how I feel, but she's an insured adult, so ultimately I feel like it's her choice.
When I watched your trainer in the FVN clinic , FVN said to be quick with rising trot in the downward transtion..so I figured the point was to go rising as quickly as posible and not to worry about correct diagonal. Seems to work..as he stays forward in the transition...gorgeous horse.
ReplyDeleteHi Net,
ReplyDeleteNo offense taken! I like having people say what they think. However, if you're gonna say something controversial I don't think it's good form to post anonymously. It ain't that hard to get a handle :-)
For the curious...
ReplyDeleteI had the privilege of riding in a Susan Harris clinic a couple years ago. She offered a little trick for teaching the horse to leg yield away from the inside leg while in rising trot: post on the inside diagonal and give a little nudge with your inside calf as you sit. This also makes for nicely balanced turns and circles. Posting on the inside diagonal helps coordinate the aid and the horse's inside leg placement. Perhaps your trainer is privy to this nifty riding strategy, especially for a young horse who is not really for lots of sitting trot.
*Sigh* Beautiful! I keep thinking, this is the Riley who had the severe hoof issue! Thanks to your eagle eye, and care, look at him! You must be so proud.
ReplyDeleteHe looks steadier and steadier, and most definitely building up strength.
Happy for you both!
I love love LOVE Riley. He looks awesome! Such an adorable boy and gorgeous mover.
ReplyDeleteFor the diagonal question, many German riders post on the inside diagonal, their reasoning being that when the horse is trotting a circle the inside hind leg is coming forward so the rider is down when that hind leg is forward and there is less stress on the bend so that their back can come up more. That may not make sense as it is midnight:) but I wanted to chime in. When it was explained to me it actually made much more sense that if we post on the inside diagonal.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Riley is lovely!
I, too had wondered about the diagonal thing, having noticed it in a couple videos. I figured there was a reason as Stacey's trainer so clearly knows what she is doing. :-) I've had "outside diagonal" beaten into my head by hunter trainers for, oh, about 40 years now, so I'm really glad to learn why that's not always necessary. Riley looks magnifique - I am not a dressage rider but even I can see his increased musculature and ability to carry himself. Hard to believe that just a year ago, you were wondering IF he'd ever be under saddle...:-) - Tracie (Sorry for my Anon posts, I have a terrible time with Blogger losing my ID information for some reason!)
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