A Dressage Rider’s Challenge and Discovery Process

This is an unusual post but I think you’ll enjoy it – and I know that all sport horse competitors can relate! It’s the story of a young woman’s journey with her horse through their dressage competitions.

You may know that I help people struggling with all kinds of training, behavior and health problems, but this is the type of situation I love working with the most because it’s so much fun (and easy) to help riders break through so they can advance to the next level!

Your Assignment: Read her story. Can you spot at least 10 things she’s doing wrong? What would you tell her? Be sure and leave your comments below!

If I worked with her, I would help her better understand her horse and what is going wrong, and what to do to get back on track quickly and easily. And, once we get to the root of the problem, they’ll get their confidence and joy back.

Riding Dressage is a true joy, for you and your horse – when it’s done right. And it’s a frustrating nightmare when it’s not.

Horses are sensitive, intuitive beings who communicate honestly from their hearts, doing the best they can with what you give them to work with.

Did you know they can see what’s in your mind’s eye and feel what you’re feeling? It has been proven many times that they respond very well to telepathic cues from their riders, and that the mental and energetic information is what makes the verbal, seat, leg and hand cues make sense.

I teach my clients how to fine tune their riding skills and open the channels of communication.

It’s amazing what we can learn when we know how to ask our Master Equine Teachers directly for their feedback and assistance.

Her Story:

“This year, I knew I was going to do well at the New England Dressage Association (NEDA) regional championships. But then again, I have known it before. A couple of years ago, my horse, Giovanni, was 6, and we were going First Level. We had won most of our classes with some good scores in the high 60s, so I thought I’d continue that trend at the championships. When we got to NEDA, the horse felt great and we won a few classes before the big day. But when I got into the ring for The Championship, I got tense and tight and, well, need I say more? We ended up just out of the ribbons.

But, that wasn’t the part that haunted me. Why, when it mattered the most, would I clamp up like that? What was the trick to staying calm and relaxed when under stress, when the ante is upped, when there’s a lot at stake?

The next year at Second Level I actually didn’t think we were winning material for the championships. In fact, I debated whether we should go at all. The season itself had been fine. We had won some classes, and we had gotten some good scores in the high 60s, but never in the qualifying class, Second Level-4. We had just barely qualified, and I knew we weren’t solidly Second Level. Together with my trainer, we decided that if we qualified we should go. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

The championship class went OK, not great, and we were seventh out of 14. A little lackluster, but that was no surprise. I went home, licked my wounds, and told myself that next year would be better.

My horse needed to get stronger, so that he could really engage and carry himself, and I needed to learn how to ride him that way. We had a good winter working on building muscle and confidence. We varied his work to keep him interested. In addition to his usual work, we did ground work. He learned how to longe, using two longe lines–one leading from the bridle on the off side and the other around his rump. I hacked him around the perimeter of fields, we worked over cavallettis and sometimes we jumped. He was going better and better. When my trainer would ride him, I would marvel at how wonderful he looked, carrying himself like an FEI horse in the making.

Then spring and summer came. We only went to a couple of shows but we did well. We won some classes with respectable scores in Second Level-4. He was feeling smooth, soft, round, powerful. People told me he looked great. Everything was lining up. Best of all, I could stay relaxed in the show ring.

Preparing for the championship test, there was only one movement that kept me awake at night. I had to be really careful of the medium canter left. If I wasn’t, if I didn’t keep him really honest on the outside rein and keep him coming with my inside leg, he could throw in a flying change. And the turn on the haunches could be a little dicey, too. Sometimes my trainer was amazed at how good they were, and other times she would yell about half halts and activity and just get beside herself with what was or wasn’t happening.

My favorite part of the test is the shoulder in to renvers. I used to think it was impossibly hard, but it began to feel easy and even graceful. The canter serpentine with the simple changes every time we crossed the centerline were “in the bag,” we nailed those. He floated down to the walk like a snowflake. My centerlines are good too, usually 8s. If only I could do the whole test in straight lines.

Well, there was one other tiny problem I was worried about: My medium trot needed to be better. It needed to cover more ground, and without a whip I was going to be at a real disadvantage. I’ve already told you about the medium canter left that I had to ride conservatively or else I’d get the change for sure, but the one to the right wasn’t bad because I can actually half halt on the left rein.

With all these problems, you may be saying it’s amazing she thought she could do well. But schooling at home and at the shows we went to, there were times when everything came together. If I could get him active and swinging up into my hand in the warm-up and then stay calm myself, we could put in a decent test.

The big day came, and somehow, in spite of all my promises to myself, tension crept into my ride, into my body, down my arms and into the horse. David Collins, who sees these things, told me later that the horse looked tense and as if he didn’t understand what was being asked of him.

You’ve probably guessed that the test went pretty much the way I’d feared, but with a few unforeseen things thrown in. I had wound my horse up so much in the warm-up that even though he still felt behind my leg, he threw in a few trot steps in the downward transition from canter to walk. Because I locked up in various parts of my body, I made him come behind the vertical in the shoulder in and renvers, and he lost tempo, so even my “in the bag” moves weren’t their normal selves. There was no flying change in the medium canter left, but no real medium canter either. Right was better.

Basically, when I dropped the whip at A, that was the beginning of the end. I managed to trot energetically down the centerline, halted square and grew roots, which I tried to shake for the rest of the test. We ended up with a 60 percent from all three judges and solidly in the middle of the pack. Disappointing doesn’t even begin to cover it. We can do so much better than that.

So we certainly did not come home covered in glory, as my British friend used to say. Now what? What am I to think? Have we really made no progress this last year? This sent me into a tailspin. Not about the horse–he’s fine, it’s all me. He only goes the way he’s ridden. He’s an extremely honest horse who responds to the aids the way they are given. I wondered if I was the right rider for him. I wanted to be realistic with myself. So it was time to pull the boat out of the water and take a good look at the bottom in broad daylight.

Dressage is a thinking sport to some degree, and I keep trying to analyze what went wrong. I know we made progress last year, and just because things weren’t at their best at one show, it doesn’t cancel out all the good. For instance, he still has all that good muscle we put on. I still have our blue ribbons and tests to prove it.

I’ve decided that, for better or worse, I’m his rider. I love to ride him, and I want to learn how to ride him better. Even though dressage can be frustrating, I’m pretty much addicted. I feel lucky to have such a passion for something. This is the process. Do I enjoy it? Yes, I do.”

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One thing this dressage competitor has going for her is her love of the game and her horse. She has faith in her horse and is on the right track by understanding that the issue lies in her, and that her horse is simply mirroring her. She’s got some work to do on herself.

I’m confident that if she chose to work with me, that they’d be in the ribbons next year! And have a blast doing it.

If you’re having trouble with your horse, can’t seem to advance in your sport, or have lost the joy of riding and competing, contact me. I can help.

Study Explores How Horses View the World

On the trail, in the dressage arena, at the racetrack, on the cross-country train–wherever horses may be, we’ve all seen it: the “Spook”–that sudden, bolting reaction of shock so particular to our equine friends. It might be because some animal runs up, or some object is blown in by the wind, taking the horse by surprise. But sometimes it’s just something you’re sure they’ve seen many times before–so why spook about it now? New research at the Aptos, California-based Equine Research Foundation (ERF) now has answers to that question.

According to Evelyn B. Hanggi, MS, PhD, co-director of the ERF, one theory about spooking is that objects appear different to horses when viewed from various angles. Hence, a mailbox, a sign, or a pile of bars could take on new characteristics when viewed from another side. “What we wanted to know was whether the horses could understand that the parts equal the whole,” she said.

Hanggi believed they could. “If not, they would spend much of their time spooking and running away from everything,” she said.

To test her theory, she established an experiment in which horses were trained through positive reinforcement to select one of two toys: a lizard rather than a dinosaur; a mower instead of a wheelbarrow; and a tractor instead of a truck. Initially these objects were always placed in the same position. But once the horses were well-trained, Hanggi started rotating the objects to see if they could still identify the “correct” choice. Positions included backward, sideways, and upside-down.

The results indicated that, overall, the horses immediately recognized the objects from many novel viewpoints, although results varied from one horse to another, and some rotations were more difficult to recognize than others, Hanggi said. Specifically, they performed best when the objects were upright instead of upside down.

“This suggests that the horses were using specific, familiar features that they learned initially in the training, when making their decisions,” said Hanggi. “Their ability to perform correctly appears to be crucially linked to being allowed to observe and learn about the objects first.”

The results suggest that horses that are allowed to look around and discover, whether under saddle or at rest, will be more apt to recognize objects from different angles later and might be less likely to react adversely to them, she said.

Prior ERF research has already disproved another possible explanation for spooking: the theory that horses do not recognize objects with one eye that they had previously seen earlier with the other eye only, Hanggi said.

Brought to you by several contributing authors associated with http://www.thehorse.com

Safe Loading Practices for Horses

When loading a horse in a trailer, it is important to recognize and carry out safe loading practices. It is your job to make the loading experience pleasant for the horse and safe for the handler.

Visualize in your mind what you would like your horse to do.  This is especially important as this is how horses communicate.  They understand images and emotions.  If you want to make the experience infinitely easier I suggest you use this technique every time.

Before loading, make sure the horse is wearing a halter that fits properly and will not slip off or break during the loading process.

Always lead your horse onto the trailer using a lead rope rather than leading it by the halter. By using a lead rope, the handler will have more control of the horse if it shies or backs away from the trailer. It is also important that the handler not wrap the lead rope tightly around his or her hands. Instead, the handler should lead the horse with the lead rope held in the left hand in a loose coil and in the right hand near the halter.

Before approaching the trailer to load the horse, remove any obstacles that might scare or prevent it from loading. Make sure the trailer partitions are securely fastened so they don’t swing in the horse’s way during loading. Open all vents and windows needed, hang any hay nets, and spread shavings or straw prior to loading.

It is also important to park the trailer in a safe location, away from any obstacles that might injure a horse if it runs back, refusing to load. You should also make sure you have first loaded all other supplies, tack, health papers, etc.

Once the trailer is prepared and these safety precautions taken, you may load your horse.

Ideally, you will tie your horse in the trailer using a quick release snap tie. These trailer ties are long enough to allow the horse to move its head and be comfortable but short enough to prevent it from getting its head under or over any partitions. If you do not have a quick release snap, then tieing your horse with a lead strap and a quick release knot will help serve the same function in case of emergency.

Once the horse is loaded and properly tied, secure all partitions, including the butt bar that may be located behind the horse in the last section of the trailer. If the back door of the trailer were to open during travel, the butt bar would be the only thing to help prevent the horse from backing off the moving trailer. The butt bar also helps prevent horses from prematurely backing off the trailer when the trailer door is opened prior to unloading.

Once horses are loaded, it is best to get on the road. Some horses may become anxious and will quickly get hot in an immobile trailer.

Brought to you by Ashley Griffin, http://www.extension.org/

Horse That Overcame Adversity Attempts Guinness World Record

Lukas, a 17-year-old Thoroughbred gelding who stands 16.2 hands, may well be the smartest horse in the country–maybe the world, and owner-trainer Karen Murdock is trying to get him into the Guinness World Records for “Most numbers identified by a horse in one minute.”

On June 16, Lukas was able to identify a correct number at least 18 times.

“The counter said 20, but I think he skimmed two of them,” said Murdock of Southern California. “I don’t know how stringent the Guinness World Records will be. He got between 18-20 correct, which is about average for him.”

Lukas’ journey from broken-down rescue to smartest horse was a long, hard road and can be an inspiration for anyone, Murdock said. “Lukas overcame adversity and that can help our character. It is never too late for any of us.”

He ran three races as a 2-year-old and bowed both front tendons, ending his career. He was found years later filthy and emaciated in a back yard by a woman who took pity on him.

She tried to rehabilitate him for her jumping program-but he was obstinate and dangerous. She sold him to Murdock eight years ago.

“He was a handful,” Murdock said, “but I fell in love with him. Basically, I had to un-train him and use tricks and play to change his attitude and to build a bond with him.”

Lukas has been listed on Yahoo, Google and the World Records Academy as “The World’s Smartest Horse.” He counts, spells, identifies shapes, discriminates colors and grasps the concepts of same/different, proportion and absentness, she said.

To be considered for the Guinness record, he had to point with his nose the correct number from 1 to 5 when Murdock called it out; the call-outs were random and non-sequential.

She was not allowed to praise him, pet him, encourage him or touch him. “The guidelines were specific in that there could be no pointing or touching, no extra words,” she said.

Murdock doesn’t know when Guinness will make its decision, but she is happy that the record-keepers are even considering Lukas. Until now, animal records have had to do with the physical attributes – tallest, shortest, longest tail, etc.

Considering an animal’s cognitive abilities is new.

“This is the first time that Guinness has ever allowed such an activity,” she said. “I’m just glad that people are willing to look at animals in a different light.”

We thank Marie Rosenthal for brining us this incredible insight into one amazing horse!

Relationship Between Autistic Boy and Horse is One of Healing

How far would you travel to heal someone you love? An intensely personal yet epic spiritual journey, THE HORSE BOY follows one Texas couple and their autistic son as they trek on horseback through Outer Mongolia, in a desperate attempt to treat his condition with shamanic healing.

A complex condition that can dramatically affect social interaction and communication skills, autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability today. After two-year-old Rowan Isaacson was diagnosed with autism, he ceased speaking, retreated into himself for hours at a time, and often screamed inconsolably for no apparent reason. Rupert Isaacson, a writer and former horse trainer, and his wife Kristin Neff, a psychologist.

Then they discovered that Rowan has a profound affinity for animals, particularly horses. When Rupert began to ride with Rowan every day, Rowan began to talk again and engage with the outside world. Was there a place on the planet that combined horses and healing? There was — Mongolia, the country where the horse was first domesticated, and where shamanism is the state religion. What if we were to take Rowan there, thought Rupert, and ride on horseback from shaman to shaman? What would happen?

THE HORSE BOY is a magical expedition from the wild open steppe to the sacred Lake Sharga. As the family sets off on a quest for a possible cure, Rupert and Kristin find their son is accepted — even treasured — for his differences. By telling one family’s extraordinary story, the film gives a voice to the thousands of families who are living with autism every day. As Rupert and Kristin struggle to make sense of their child’s autism, and find healing for him and themselves in this unlikeliest of places, Rowan makes dramatic leaps forward, astonishing both his parents.

I hope you get as much hope and inspiration from this film as I did.   Enjoy!

target=”_blank”>http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/horse-boy/film.html

Equine Stomach Ulcers Still at 60%

Some horses do tend to suffer in silence.  I thought this article said it quite well how many horses are suffering with hidden illnesses and may be acting out not from misbehavior, but from pain.  This is a shining example of why it’s so important to talk directly with your horse often!

For the second year, a nationwide series of more than 160 gastroscopy events showed 60% of horses were identified with stomach ulcers, according to a press release from Merial.

“This is the second year that these scopings were able to show horse owners the type of potentially painful stomach ulcers that their horses have been dealing with,” said April Knudson, DVM, manager of Merial Veterinary Services. “Many times, horses are suffering in silence from stomach ulcers due to their natural tendencies as a prey animal to mask pain.”

Veterinarians evaluated the horses’ stomachs using gastroscopy. Throughout the year, 1,532 horses across the country participated. Overall, 922 horses from 37 states had some ulceration as identified by gastroscopy.

There are many triggers for stomach ulcer development, and stress is an important factor, Knudson said. Horses may experience stress when exposed to such situations as competition, training, travel, lay-up due to sickness or injury, shows or events, limited turnout or grazing, and trailering.

Ulcers can develop quickly, too. One study showed that horses can develop stomach ulcers in as little as five days.

Deworming Young Horses: When to Start?

The thought of your new foal becoming infected with worms is a bit too much to bear for many horse owners. All it takes is one face-to-face meeting with a squirmy white roundworm, the type of parasite most common in horses under two years of age, and you’ll never again complain about deworming.

Although most equine dewormers are, by law, supposed to be prescribed by a veterinarian, everyone knows that these equine dewormers can be easily purchased in your local agricultural supply store for a relatively small price. The increased availability to horse owners might sound like a good thing, but using these drugs without a veterinarian’s guidance may be asking for trouble. For example, their overuse and inappropriate use may lead to the development of a resistant population of worms, causing bigger problems for your animal.

Dennis French, DVM, MS, Dipl. ABVP, is an equine veterinarian at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana who has studied various equine parasites extensively. He explains that, “most owners are aware of the importance of deworming and start doing so at 30 days of age, but this is not the best approach.”

For one, it takes approximately six weeks for any parasite the foal would pick up at birth to mature into a stage that can be effectively killed with a dewormer. So if you deworm the animal before the worms are “mature” they probably will not be susceptible to the worm-killing drugs in the deworming paste.

“We try to get out to two months of age before we start deworming foals,” French explained. As for what type of dewormer to use, most owners might be in for a surprise. One of the most commonly used dewormers, ivermectin, might not be a wise decision.

“The population of ascarids (roundworms) that are resistant to ivermectin is high,” French noted. So a better approach to deworming the foal at 30 days, like is commonly practiced by many equine owners, might be to deworm the mare.

If the mare is greater than 30 days away from foaling, French recommends deworming her. If you miss that chance, deworming the mare on the day of foaling is also a good opportunity to prevent transmission to the foal.

The recommendation to put off deworming the foal until it is two months old should not be misconstrued to say that roundworms cause relatively little harm to young horses. Quite the contrary. The eggs that break open in the intestines of the foal can migrate through the body into the liver and lungs, causing serious damage. Everything from a rough hair coat and a potbelly to pneumonia, colic, and diarrhea can be linked to roundworms.

With such a harmful parasite, throwing a syringe full of a random dewormer (or whatever’s on sale at your local agricultural store that month) at a foal each month is not a good idea. “The reason why veterinarians should be invited to develop a program for deworming is because with both ascarids and small strongyles (another type of intestinal parasite), there are over 43 different species that can infect foals,” French said.

For more information on deworming, contact your local equine veterinarian. Special thanks to Ashley Mitek for her contribution to this article, as well as www.infohorse.com.