tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post6456971271312145563..comments2024-03-26T05:15:39.663-07:00Comments on Equestrian Ink: Trajectory and FocusJami Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259390150273030284noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-37282843567024176182011-09-11T07:57:37.669-07:002011-09-11T07:57:37.669-07:00Jackie: how cool that it helped you! I'm very ...Jackie: how cool that it helped you! I'm very excited about that and will definitely tell Greg when I see him tomorrow :)Francesca Prescotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18201599087106798500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-44054906197437990622011-09-11T07:56:50.789-07:002011-09-11T07:56:50.789-07:00Laura, you are SO not a slacker! I mean, seriously...Laura, you are SO not a slacker! I mean, seriously, with everything you do, a slacker is the last thing anyone could call you. You've just been in the arena, done that, and moved on to other things. <br /><br />I thought of your post about giving a horse a job to do when I wrote this post; it definitely overlaps.Francesca Prescotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18201599087106798500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-1460600913709904322011-09-11T04:45:50.762-07:002011-09-11T04:45:50.762-07:00After reading this I set up poles (and used some b...After reading this I set up poles (and used some barrels) and rode my greenie gelding Friday in circles (he is learning leads) and it really helped me...I didn't have to watch to keep hin in a circle *and* focus on him giving me the correct lead - I'm using it just the opposite right now, and it's great!<br /><br />Tell your trainer-guy thanks!<br /><br />JackieHorsesAndTurboshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03607758320356759231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-30318290130317053862011-09-09T07:16:52.666-07:002011-09-09T07:16:52.666-07:00Francesca--Your post makes me feel like such a sla...Francesca--Your post makes me feel like such a slacker (!) I enjoy trail riding and gathering cattle, so that's what I do these days. I don't enjoy arena work so don't do it. But I have done a lot of it in my life and know the value of it. I think your concept of keeping your focus OFF the horse is very like my concept of "giving the horse a job", which I wrote about in my previous post about training a confident horse. Its interesting how these things overlap. Glad to hear Qrac is doing so wonderfully well. Sounds like you are having fun!Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-16247363850734463992011-09-08T12:05:39.805-07:002011-09-08T12:05:39.805-07:00Dreaming: you soooo need poles!!! I'll have to...Dreaming: you soooo need poles!!! I'll have to take a photo of the pattern Greg lays out on the ground and send it to you so you can just copy it. I'll give you the measurements, too. Don't think I can send Greg over though!!!<br /><br />I was in Colorado for a week. Just outside Crawford, at the Smith Fork Ranch. I LOVED it! We all did :). Where are you?Francesca Prescotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18201599087106798500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-87918204408676542912011-09-08T12:02:38.960-07:002011-09-08T12:02:38.960-07:00Kel, thanks for bringing up Ranch Versatility, I&#...Kel, thanks for bringing up Ranch Versatility, I'll go and take a look. Yes, riding "patterns" is very hard, but I guess you don't know until you try it.<br />But even working on, say, simply improving the canter can be so rewarding. The amazing feeling you get when things come together, if only for a few strides, well it's just...!!! The best thing ever!Francesca Prescotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18201599087106798500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-48826021466957743912011-09-08T11:35:01.531-07:002011-09-08T11:35:01.531-07:00I'm thinking I need to get some poles! I'v...I'm thinking I need to get some poles! I've been doing circles... and I laugh because today I kept reprimanding my self to look up and look ahead! Doc has a terrible time with circles (or is it me that has a terrible time and messes him up?)! He begins his circle, and then drops into it, making a sharp oval. We need poles!! I've worked with a few cones, and when he drops in, he just runs over the cone. Maybe a pole would be a bit more of a reminder and a bit more of a barrier!<br />Thanks for the great post!<br />Uh... you came to Colorado and I didn't even know about it?!Dreaminghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02113432418609414054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-79066656968891479832011-09-08T09:16:50.768-07:002011-09-08T09:16:50.768-07:00I don't think it matters what discipline you c...I don't think it matters what discipline you chose - the same principles apply. My trainer is constantly telling me to look up, don't watch my horse, feel my horse. I recently did a Ranch Horse Versatility Clinic and Show. In this competition they used a semi-quasi dressage pattern (I think you could call it that as I have never ridden a dressage pattern in my life!) and called it Ranch Riding. It was a pattern with a bunch of transitions and stops at markers, etc. Wow... it was hard! Really hard. I have always thought dressage was kind of like watching cement dry, but now I can see how you can get hooked on dressage because of the absolute finesse and perfection that you need to complete the patterns. <br />The Ranch Versatility has always fascinated me. This was my first experience and I loved it. What fascinates me about this particular discipline is the broad range of ability that the rider and horse need to have. Watching the horses go from one class to the next and perform was truly amazing. <br />For those of you not familiar with it you can check it out at www.nvrha.org - it would be interesing to hear what dressage riders think of the pattern.horsegeneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08614136458074519322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-69867630120746541892011-09-08T09:15:51.298-07:002011-09-08T09:15:51.298-07:00Jen: it's the working in relaxation that's...Jen: it's the working in relaxation that's the hard part for us, which is pretty crazy when you think about it, as that's just what we're asking our horses to do!<br /><br />Promise: I'm thrilled you enjoy reading about Qrac!<br /><br />I often wonder why more people in other disciplines don't work more on the basics of dressage. At shows (jumping shows) I see so many riders careering around, yank yank yank, flap, flap, flap, and it just seems to unfair and crazy, not to mention dangerous, since many of them are always on the brink of no control. Why don't their teachers teach them the basics? I don't get it!<br /><br />Thanks for reading :)Francesca Prescotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18201599087106798500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-78085460680696481962011-09-08T08:49:53.782-07:002011-09-08T08:49:53.782-07:00I just love reading about Qrac!
I was always taug...I just love reading about Qrac!<br /><br />I was always taught that without a dressage base, every discipline becomes harder. To jump, you must be able to control your horse's feet - whether you like flat work or not, you must do it before you start jumping.<br /><br />Sounds like both of your trainers know this and it is great to work with someone outside your discipline!Promisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12338935046262804307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-15488448332855139312011-09-08T08:34:22.260-07:002011-09-08T08:34:22.260-07:00It's SO true about not focusing your horse. Wh...It's SO true about not focusing your horse. What I've found that is that not focusing on him actually equates to me not "messing" with him. If I'm not making those minute corrections with every stride and instead RELAX, things go amazingly well!jenjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01737679332792618499noreply@blogger.com