Dr. Schacht Clinic Recap

Some posts take forever to post, don't they? Without further ado, the Dr. Christian Schacht clinic recap.

Dr. Christian Schacht is a clinician who lives in Germany, and travels quite frequently all over the world to give clinics both on the flat and jumping. He is a vet, a judge, and has written books and produced videos about breeding, conformation, and of course riding and training.

I've had the pleasure to audit his clinics in the past: you can find the January 2013 recap here and the December 2013 recap here. I learned so much from auditing that I decided he was worth the significant fee (higher than I'd ever paid for a lesson before).

The night before the clinic, I was a bit nervous. Hemie's never been to this barn and I thought it was quite possible that we might have some wigging-out antics. However, what really worried me was getting to the facility. In a trailer. This would be our first time loading up since the incident.

I got Hemie a trailer ride with the fabulous Chemaine Hurtado, who had a GIANT rig and Hemie got the double-wide, box-stall area in the back. Happily, he stepped right on, no problem.

Symphony Dressage's nice trailer!

At the facility, I got Hemie settled in a day stall and I caught the last half of Karen's lesson (of Not So Speedy Dressage). She and Sydney have come A LONG WAY since I saw them in December. It's quite inspiring. Check out her blog for fabulous recap posts of the clinic.

Karen on Sydney

I watched several other rides too, including one where Christian himself hopped on, to help teach an 18-year old horse how to do a lead change.

Finally it was time for my lesson. Hemie was alert but overall fairly calm. Karen kindly ponied us around for a few minutes after I mounted, which certainly made Hemie feel more at ease. We entered the arena and Hemie went right to work.

He was such a good boy! No wigging out, no dancing around, no issues at all. It was by far the best dressage we've done at an outside facility. In fact, I'd say we got the level of work that we typically get at home, and we got it within just a few minutes. 

Of course, that "level of work" needed some help, which was the point of being there. Here are my main takeaways:

Rider Position & Aids

• Lean back with shoulders. 
• Sit deep in saddle.
• Shorter reins.
• Don't look inside the turn - keep eyes over outside ear.
• "Soften" means loosen the pinky finger only - just a very small release, do not lose contact.

Exercises

• On a circle, place outside hand at the wither and inside hand on the knee. Flex to the inside, very dramatic flex.
• Inside bend leg yield around the circle.
• Figure 8s - counterflex then true bend.

Reminders/General Notes

• "Deep" means more arch in the neck, not a lower nose.
• Be sure he bends his whole neck, not just at the poll.
• Turn with the outside aids.
• Use inside leg to shorten the canter stride.

Tack

• Use a flash, unless you have a strong reason not to.
• Be sure to have tight noseband - this makes the bit more stable and reduces nutcracker action on the tongue and bottom of the mouth.

Fabulous Quotes

• "Think show jumping canter."
• "You are dancing together, not fighting."
• "Lovely horse."
• "If I were 20 years younger, I would take this horse eventing."   <<Squee!>>

Overall I took away a feeling that I am too subtle with my aids and with the amount that I'm asking from Hemie - I need to be more dramatic overall, and expect faster, stronger results. I also need to focus more on correct positioning in order to be most effective.

Thank you so much to Karen for taking great photos - happily I thought we looked much better towards then end than at the beginning: the sign of an effective lesson.

Focus on the Positive

1st world problems

First of all, I'm alive and kicking, even though I haven't been great with blogging over the last week and a half.

To be honest I've been struggling with some anxiety and depression, possibly from a recent medication change, possibly from major work drama, possibly from some family drama, most likely everything combined. Intellectually I acknowledge that my life is pretty amazing, but emotionally I've been very up and down. Actually, just down. Its frustrating. But I'm looking into solutions.


But back to what makes me happy: horses!

This past Sunday I participated in a Dr. Christian Schacht clinic, where I met up with fellow blogger Karen of Not So Speedy Dressage who also participated. Even with all her traveling lately she's been great with keeping up blog posts and has even started a recap of the clinic. I'm still digesting my experience but will recap soon.

Love this face!

Meanwhile we've been having good lessons in both dressage and jumping these last 2 weeks. Hemie came away from the horse trials with a little more attitude when jumping, and a little more interest in going faster rather than slower when figuring out a jumping question.

George (my barn-mate's horse who had the trailer incident) is doing much better. The swelling in his knee went down then came back a few times so they had radiographs taken: verdict was no bone issues whatsoever and to go ahead and start back into work while addressing the swelling. Thank you to everyone who sent positive vibes!

Our event schedule is a little up in the air right now, but I'm looking into local dressage shows.  I've also been researching a local hunt club and might give that a shot in the next month or so.

TK on Hemie. Note the "winter" sky.

A major rain storm is expected this week, so I'm glad I haven't body-clipped yet. But as soon as we get a fair-weather weekend I'll be buzzing away since Hemie HATES shedding with a passion.

Training Update

Happy V-Day everyone!

Firstly, a sincere Happy Valentines Day to all my blog readers. May your day and weekend be filled with love and goodies.

I realize I haven't given a training update in quite some time.

My trainer Laurie is all healed up from her shoulder replacement surgery so we are finally back to our 2-lesson-per-week schedule: dressage on a weekday evening and jumping on Saturday morning/mid-day. She isn't quite back to riding yet, but that will be soon.

Unfortunately my fall at the show has turned out out to be a major pain-in-the-ass injury. Literally. My right hip and upper buttock/lower back have really hurt for almost 2 full weeks. It took 6 days for a bruise to show up, and let me tell ya - its a doozy. It's giant and black and now migrating from my side to my back, which is interesting in an alarming sort of way. Riding was painful so I had TK ride Hemie last weekend. I finally rode last night with minimal pain, though based on my strange leg soreness today I must have been compensating somehow.

My lesson last night was the first dressage lesson since the show, and it was very positive. We are working on improved and *consistent* connection and throughness throughout the ride, and most especially when he wants to be a little looky-loo at shadows or whatnot. Without riding a more experienced dressage horse in quite some time, it's hard to know what I'm really asking for in terms of the contact and feel in the reins. Hemie has such a light mouth in general, that Laurie articulated the idea of having him feel slightly like he's pulling on the reins at all times. That was an aha! moment for sure.

In looking over our videos again (links here: dressage, stadium jumping, cross country) I am feeling very good about our jumping overall. While I am very proud of our improvement in dressage (no shenanigans! woot!), our performance is still far below the level of work we get at home. I'm thinking about entering some dressage-only shows to get more dressage show mileage and really see if we can get better work done.

For this V-day weekend I leave you with my horse and his boyfriend:

Phoenix and Hemie sitting in a tree...K.I.S.S.I.N.G.

Blog Hop: Share Your Barn

Blogger confession: I ADORE blog hops!  They are a great way to discover blogs and learn something new about the blogs you already follow. The Process of Learning and The Sprinkler Bandit teamed up to create the Show Me Your Barn blog hop, which I have really enjoyed exploring!

1. A View of the Barn

My facility is quite large, and there are several different "barns" around the property. I board in this pipe barn. I love that there is a covered aisle, and we have our own cross-ties and tie-rail, bathing area, grain room, and lounge. We are the most conveniently located to the trailer parking (great when packing for outings) and have easy access to a large round pen and the 2 main jumping arenas.

2. Your Horse's Living Space

View from the front, under covered aisle.

View from the back.

Hemie lives in a 12'x24' pipe corral paddock that is half-covered. He gets turned out 3 times per week, 4 hours at a time, in larger pipe corral paddocks that you can see in the view-of-the-barn photo. He gets fed 3x per day (plus a 4th meal when I see him several days per week), and he gets shavings once per week.


3. The Tack Room

Our tack rooms are large shipping containers, with generously sized cubbies built inside. They are locked, have lights, and are weatherproof and rodent-proof.


4. View of Where You Ride

We have several arenas at our facility, and I ride mostly in the cross-country arena. It is closest to my barn, and typically its jumps are set at my height. It has excellent lights for evening rides.


5. Your Favorite Feature of Your Facility

There's lots to love about my facility, but my favorite is the personnel. The barn owner, managers, and stablehands are professional, approachable, and take excellent care of all the horses.  I wasn't brave enough to get all paparazzi on them so here's a view of the cute office bungalow. Even though I live and work 40+ minutes away, I don't worry about Hemie - he's in good, trusted hands.

~ ~ ~

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14 Photo Challenge Roundup

Earlier this year I created the 14 Photo Challenge, and wanted to give a nod to all the bloggers who have participated so far!  If I haven't included you, please comment and I'll be sure to add you. If you haven't done the challenge yet - don't worry, you have 11 months left of 2014.

Thank you so much to everyone who has participated so far!

• Not So Speedy Dressage 
• She Moved To Texas 
• 2 Left Socks
• Poor Woman Showing
• Equestrian at Hart
• Viva Carlos
• Keeping It Low Key

The challenge was meant as light-hearted inspiration to get out those cameras and add more photos to our blogs, simply because I love pictures and I know I should post more pics myself.

I have really enjoyed seeing everyone's photos. The barn animals have been surprising and darling, and it is really nifty to see so many different styles of barns/boarding facilities across the country!

So here are mine:

1. Your horse's stall.

A 12'x24' half-covered pipe corral.

2. Favorite saddle pad.

Black Tuffrider A/P pad.

3. Barn cat? Barn dog? Barn ______?

Barn bunnies. Fat from hay.

We have barn coyotes too. Also fat. More difficult to take photos of though.

4. Favorite area to ride at your facility.

The cross-country arena.

5. Between-the-ears shot, out on a trail ride.

Hacking up one of the hills at our facility. Not technically a trail ride, but close enough.

6. The bottom of your horse's hoof.

Left front. Halfway between trims.

7. The hay stack at your barn.

Covered in tarps. Because it's winter. 

One stack for each of the 3 types they serve: alfalfa, oat, and grass.

They sweep the ground and put the hay bits into trash cans.

8. Favorite grooming thing.

Healthy HairCare "Hair Moisturizer."

9. Your horse's best friend or significant other.

Phoenix, another OTTB. They have quite the bromance going on!

10. A snapshot from your commute to the barn (be careful).

23 Freeway North, looking at the mountains that separate Moorpark from Fillmore.

11. Between-the-ears shot, at a random location at your facility.

The trail class obstacles corner.

12. The cutest or most attractive part of your barn.

The Heavenly Ponies boarding area.

13. Favorite piece of tack.

Stubben Roxane saddle.

14. Selfie with your horse.

Thanks again to everyone who has participated. It's not too late if you haven't already! =)

Galway XC Video!!

I'm so blessed to have Ride On Video at the shows we attend! They do a great job of videoing and they keep a massive online archive of videos which is great for watching & learning from experienced riders, learning courses at local facilities, figuring out which jumps are what level, and other random research.

Paola's Painting

I've been on an emotional roller coaster this week, following a roller coaster weekend at the show (especially from how it ended). I'm still in pain from the fall and there's been some family drama and work stress. Overall it's been a challenge to maintain my normally cheery attitude.

But there has been a major bright spot - being featured on Paola's Horse Blog in her Stories from Off the Track series. She is a very bright, articulate young woman, whom I had the pleasure of meeting in person a few months ago at FCHP. Her plan is to adopt an OTTB of her own one day. Go check out her blog - she has lots of informational posts in addition to tracking her own journey in learning to ride and become a horsewoman.

And it turns out she's an artist too - she made this beautiful painting of Hemie and I:

Thank you so much Paola!   It really cheered me up. =)