Something happier today.
This little fella. I tell you what.
I wrote that blog post about how he was hard for me to ride, and suddenly (after I shelved my Dressage saddle and started riding full time in my jump saddle) he's...easy.
 |
| Look at his abs! |
Riding bareback for a bit made me realize a couple of positional puzzle pieces that were holding him back and making him crooked. And then I started to focus on straightness, and transitions, and keeping him on his toes. And when I went back to a saddle, I had a whole different horse.
And all the while - I'm not pulling! Well I do still pull sometimes, but I catch myself, and immediately when I start moving with him, he stretches into the contact as if to say "Ok you got it right just then, good job." While we do have both of the bits GP trainer recommended I switch between (the very thin Myler comfort snaffle bradoon and the HS single jointed Nathe), the Nathe continues to be a godsend and I see no reason to switch off of it. I think it provides him just enough cushion when I start pulling that he doesn't lose his shit on me and get his tongue over.
Since I *gulp* entered a show, I've started playing around with movements again, and I seem to have forgotten that movements like SI, HI and counter canter actually improve his way of going. Incorporating those back into our rides for the first time in months while focusing on my body has really improved his self-carriage.
I'm still not really asking him for anything more than a First level frame, but that's about to change later today when I have my first lesson with CGP since December. This one is virtual, but she comes home from Florida next week (🙏) so pretty soon we'll be back to our routine of hauling to Cincy. With him going THIS well, I can't wait!
It also begs the question, since he's always gone SO MUCH BETTER in this saddle than any other saddle we've ever tried...does this horse just hate the long tree points of Dressage saddles in general? Does he just like all jump saddles better than all Dressage saddles? Can I show GP Dressage in a jump saddle? Too many questions for today, but it's worth rolling around in my mind.
<3 Your post really gives me the itch for finding a way to do some dressage lessons. The way you describe things just makes it sound so fun. I know the right person could really help me with some of my flatwork issues too. I either need a trailer or to find someone who would do a virtual lesson though. For some reason I find it very overwhelming trying to find someone to do virtual. Maybe just the sheer amount of options of people I have no idea exist yet?
ReplyDeleteIt would be so interesting to find out more on the jump saddle versus dressage saddle situation with Connor. If only they could talk!
Haha omg, I have never been more flattered than by someone saying I make Dressage sound "fun". It is fun though, there's so much nuance to it that I think most people miss out on by thinking it's just endless 20m circles.
DeleteThe pandemic really rocketed virtual lessons into the spotlight and they've never been easier to do. I would say treat it just like you treat getting to know a trainer in person, ask to do trial lessons with several and pick the one you click with. And I would strongly recommend you lesson with someone who's very solid in biomechanics. Not every Dressage trainer is, some of them are more 'get it done' type trainers, and that wouldn't be as helpful or as interesting to you I don't think.
You absolutely can do dressage in a jump saddle! One of my students competed at junior championships in a jump saddle at first level the other year, and I know a friend who earned her bronze medal in her jump saddle. if the horse loves it and it doesn't compromise your position, I would go for it.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, the last time I showed up to a dressage lesson in my jump saddle, Tracey's eyes twitched quite a bit. Do what that what you will.
Good to know, actually! And yeah, now that I'm "in a program" and am placing orders for things like matching vinyl stall banners (lol) I have definitely considered that GP trainer might not like this idea, but oh well. I'm always going to be some percentage black sheep in any program.
DeleteIn South Africa, you're allowed a jump saddle up to a certain level - the equivalent of your 3rd level, I think. I competed and won in a jump saddle at the bottom level years ago!
DeleteWow! That is absolutely wild to win a jump saddle. I think here it's up to the FEI levels, so PSG+. At any rate, since I posted this I had a lesson with my GP trainer and she loved the way he went in it and said it was perfectly fine to show in with her, so that takes the pressure off the search for sure.
DeleteVinyl stall banners–I had to look that up!
ReplyDeleteYou always seem to come up with just what you need when you need it most. So I like your attitude of continuing with your jump saddle. The right dressage saddle just might fall into your lap if you keep an eye out for it.
It's great that you're figuring out your position and that Connor is encouraging you when you do things just right. You're definitely on the right track!
Love it when things feel easy after a bit of a reset. Y'all are both looking so good together!
ReplyDeleteI'm going for fit of the saddle, or your position in said saddle. Are you better balanced in the shorter stirrups and more forward seat? Do you get off his back more in it? Can you find a dressage saddle with the same short tree points?
ReplyDeleteOh it's definitely the saddle. I ride the same in both, my GP trainer has made sure my biomechanics are the same in both (to the point that I have to be a little more active in the jump saddle). Definitely not getting off his back doing Dressage work either. The short tree points is the question, I've never seen a Dressage saddle with truly short points.
DeleteA guy rolled into the dressage ring at the Carolina 4* yesterday in a racing saddle, so... a jump saddle at least seems more traditional than that? lol
ReplyDeleteInteresting about the saddle! I don't have anything to add about using it at shows, but glad he's going well for you again!
ReplyDeleteSooo... I wonder if CWD could just put dressage flaps on a jump saddle? (I think your jump saddle is a CWD, correct me if I'm wrong.) Then you'd mostly have the look and longer flap for the ring, but your pony would have the jump tree. Not sure if the balance would be all weird though?
ReplyDeleteLiterally did that and wrote a blog post about it, lol. They made it to my exact specifications, because they do have a Dressage saddle built on the same seat/tree as my jump saddle, and it was awful. The balance was super jacked up. Part of that may have been the fitter who was absolutely green to fitting Dressage saddles (CWD doesn't sell many) and part of it was this was the saddle that kicked off my "try all the things" Dressage saddle search, so I didn't know what I wanted, I only knew what I thought I wanted.
Deletehttps://www.cobjockey.com/2019/10/the-state-of-my-dressage-saddle-search.html
Oh geeze, sorry! I knew you had tried a dressage saddle from them, but didn't realize/forgot it was supposed to be the same as your jump saddle. What a bummer. Seems like it should be an easy solution!
DeleteI am so excited for you this show season. :D
ReplyDeleteI have no experience with either saddle makers, but check out https://horobin.com.au/saddles/equestrian/dressage/stridefree-elite as the saddle tree points are rounded, and not "pointy" for better words.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, would a GP pony saddle like this one from Kent & Masters possibly work for you & Conner? https://www.kentandmasters.co.uk/pony/26-pony-club-long-leg
The StrideFree is interesting, I'd definitely try it if they had a US rep. The pony saddles usually don't work for him, they're made for very flat backs and he's got a pretty decent curve to his spine.
DeleteStride free appears to have a US Rep. https://horobin.com.au/phs-global-representatives
Delete