One of the great things about FVN is that she provides riders with alternatives to "the argument" -- you know, those moments when you feel you need to have a confrontation. It's great to have some guidance on what to do when you think your horse is being naughty, or willful, or dangerous, or some combination of badness. In this footage you see how my trainer was guided through a bad moment. This wasn't a fluke, there were several horses throughout the day that got "timeouts" instead of sustained conflict. FVNC said more than once, "don't let him change the subject." She is a very thoughtful and kind horseman. I've also noticed that she does not like to see riders run their horses into forward movement but to "grow it" from a quieter gait. I'm a little worried about this, because my main strategy for stabilizing riley's head/contct is to drive him forward in a big way. When you do that, you can sacrifice softness/relaxation, and this clinic showed me that (among other things) Take a look at this footage...
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Clinic report: Riley and Felicitas Von Neumann-Cosell
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
.jpg)
Very nice! Good riding, and apropos of your comment: sounds like you already know that running a horse into the contact will not work; why? because doing so compromises the rhythm and relaxation - and in the end that will only aggravate contact issues and may even cause unsoundness by working in tension. I know this all too well from seeing it in my own horses. It's so complex how all the levels of the pyramid effect each other, but if you lose the relaxation a lot of problems arise. You did a great job, lovely horse and lovely rider position. Felicitas is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI love her! Thanks for posting this lesson. Really appreciate it. I wonder if she would ever consider doing a clinic in Nova Scotia...
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, the delicate balance between "forward" and "fast." Rushing the horse off his feet does not do the job. Relaxation so he can step forward will...but it's not the easiest concept to master.
ReplyDeleteFelicitas is an encouraging, positive trainer. What a nice change from that last outing.
I've found that I also tend to try to get the horse too forward to fix contact/impulsion issues. Just like FVN, my trainer(s) point out that I need more softness/straightness/suppleness to get power, not leg, leg leg from me. Often, when my horse is moving correctly (to my trainer's eyes)he feels sloooow to me. "He's tracking up, even overtracking," they point out. Power and lightness comes from a soft, even tempo, not from running a horse to it. So, agreed!
ReplyDeleteGood teacher! Very nice footage. You can watch his gait becoming more regular and powerful with less playing around with his head even in this short segment.
ReplyDeleteGreat video audit! And a great comparison between this and the clinic at the Hassler farm. Riley is really growing up!
ReplyDeleteI just learned this lesson (again) with my trainer and Cos, It's amazing how much sensitivity we both gain when taking time for the Forward, Thank you for sharing!
great video, great riding, great instructor.
ReplyDeleteShe has to pedal Riley, eh? Her calves are really having to work on his sides.
My guy can be similar - I have to work on FORWARD WHEN I MEAN IT first thing during the warm up, otherwise, I end up pedalling and he ends up getting behind my seat.
And then I lose the value of the leg aide. :(
Riley is really lovely! (And somewhat opinionated,it would seem? That's cool - that means he has a brain, even if he's using it to object)
Loved the correction the instructor gave - we do that too. "If you won't listen we reboot and come back to here and breathe and relax and good boy. Now start again...")
Very instructive video - love the clinician. So encouraging and great timing with her comments.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see your trainer wearing her helmet! ;)
Very very nice! Riley is coming along so nice!
ReplyDeleteAll of your videos with her were really interesting, she's quite a good clinician.
ReplyDelete