Headed home...

My dad and I are on our way home.... Leaving Steiner dressage is very bitter sweet. I am already planning when I can go back, and I'm wishing we weren't so far apart! But the important thing is that I had an amazing experience. I can't believe the whole summer has gone by already.

I was supposed to show Webby this weekend, but unfortunately I was in the hospital this past week with a nasty staph infection :/ it is what it is now, but I am definitely bummed that I'm not going to get a quantitative reflection of the progress he and I made this summer. We worked really hard and then didn't even get to show off!

Fortunately, this doesn't change the fact that I learned so much and made tons of progress this summer. Training with Betsy has started to set the stage for my career. I am getting the foundation I need to become a professional. We were very intense all summer because I am driven to do well and be the best that I can be and Betsy was more than happy to push me and teach me. It's been a bit of a whirl wind, but I learned so much. It's a little daunting to know that I've come so far but still have a really long way to go. I am so ready to get this staph situation all healed up so I can get back in the saddle! You would think that a summer of barn labor 6 days a week would scare me away, but it has only fueled my fire. Full time training has only made me want to ride more...

So I guess Betsy turned me into a Dressage rider after all ;)

**ANNOUNCEMENT**

I got a new horse!!! His name is Rubato, he is an Oldenburg gelding, he is a dark bay, and he is 8 years old. He has shown through Prix St. Georges, but schooling a little above that. We are calling him "Otto" for short. Betsy and I are totally in love with him. He has the best attitude. He knows he is good at his job and all he wants to do is show everyone how special he is. I am very excited to start a partnership with this horse! I think we are going to do well together :)

Betsy has been riding both the boys the past few days because I'm a little under the weather, and they both look outstanding! Otto struts around like he owns the place, and Webby has developed a GORGEOUS topline. He is big, beautiful, and so round!! He fits right in the the rest of the dressage horses here ;) (my mom didnt even recognize him when she saw him last week) I cannot get over the complete transformation that Webby has made in the past year! He does not look like the same horse, and he is absolutely beautiful. He and I have both grown a lot together so I am sorry that I have to say good bye to him soon. He will stay here with Betsy to be sold, but I know he will be happy to teach someone else everything he has taught me :) Web turned out to be so much more than what we expected when we bought him 5 years ago. He and I have had our ups and downs as many of your know, but he has been a more than gracious partner to me and I wouldn't trade my time with him for anything. He is a lovely horse and a wonderful teacher. I am excited to see what he will do for his next person.

Equilates

As y'all may or may not know Betsy Steiner started equilates- a type of exercise based in Pilates but targets muscles used in riding and specifically addresses balance and core strength.
Last week a lady named Cyndi (played role in development of equilates) came to the barn to do a clinic with several of the clients here and some other people as well. There were 3 sessions for each rider: the neuro muscular warm up, work out using Bio Coreds, and a ball work out. The warm was done before riding to obviously warm up muscles and also to create body awareness and tune in to the core and balance. We did things like standing on a mini Bosu ball with both feet, one foot, and then with eyes closed. Taking away vision really challenges your balance. I could stay pretty balanced with my eyes open, but as soon as I closed my eyes I was wobbling all over the place!  We also did some stretches to loosen us up before we rode. After riding we worked with Bio Coreds (bungi chords designed for low impact resistance training. The chords provide both support and resistance to work with. We mostly did exercises that targeted the core muscles because core strength is very important for riding. Stability, balance, and cues all come from the riders core. Finally we did a group ball work out which was a lot of fun! Sitting on a yoga ball makes you very awar of your body position. You can easily feel whether you are straight, slumped over, leaving to one side, or have your back arched. This awareness is important for while in the saddle. The horse feels everything the rider does. So if the rider is crooked the horse will be too! Many of the ball exercises also worked on coordination between arms and legs, alternating sides, and isolation all while maintaining balance.
I was also able to take a Pilates class! I had no idea how much it related to riding. Betsy has been wanting me to get into Pilates for a while but I didn't listen! Well now I believe her ;) Pilates also focuses on core strength. Using a reformer allows you to isolate muscles while also being fluid through the movements an exercises. This coincides with riding really well. After al horse and rider are dancin together, and dancing only looks beautiful and effortless if it is fluid and seem less.
These experiences have been very insightful for me! This type of exercise not only makes the rider stronger, but it also makes you realize how much your body influences the horse. The more control and strength I have within myself, the more effectively I can ride. I hope this doesn't sound like a bunch of nonsense! If you're reading this and you are a rider then try it! Think about how much you use your abs to lift the horse up and over their back, and how your balance and straightness effects the horse. If you're not a rider well then I hope it makes sense! If not ask me!

Ready to be inspired!

If you don't know the Olympics start tonight!!! Everyone should Watch and support our country's athletes who have worked so hard to represent us. I am so excited to watch and be inspired by them! Webby and I are doing really well! But I think we are about to up the ante ;) my core and seat are getting stronger and so is Webby. We are truly making some great progress!

GERMAN!

Over the past couple days we have taken a few videos of Webby an I. I am ver happy with his progress (hopefully I can post it soon. It's on Betsy's video camera), but after watching them I saw things that I really want to fix! So yesterday I told Betsy that I want to go into hard core training- no more loosey goosey in my core and no more too tight curb reign! Also I wanted to work on getting Webby more forward with more jump at the canter. Well she gave me what I asked for and went totally German on me! She told me I need to respond more quickly and not take so long to prepare for each movement, transition, adjustment, etc. "boom. Halt now. Canter now. Small zig zags on and off the rail in canter with flying changes. Off the rail now. Quicker. And change. Back to the rail quicker. Stay strong in your core. Engage your abs, now come with power from your flutes and hamstrings and bring him up to your hands. Watch your curb reign. Don't let his shoulder fall out. Make him quicker behind. Come bump bump with your lower legs. Come on! More. Watch your curb. Bring your right shoulder back and down. Lift him up to your hands. Soften him in front. Flex flex to the inside, support his outside shoulder, a little kick with the inside leg, tap with the whip. Give with your hands but come immediately with more power from your seat." This was Betsy's commentary durin my lesson! Very intense! I did get a compliment out of her though ;) "nice position here." Haha it was a lot to take it, but I liked being pushed! And Webby was even more fabulous today than yesterday! So it's working! Webby's hairs have really improved- he is lovely, up, round, through, and has a nice bounce and swing. I am very very happy with him :)

Update

Betsy has been out of town at a clinic so I have just been riding on my own for the past couple days. Webby has been a rock star though :) so I'm very pleased with him! Just thought if give y'all an update so no one thinks I've fallen off the face of the earth :P

Double bridle

I have been struggling the past couple of days with Webby being to heavy in my hands. I had not asked Betsy to get on him because she had knee surgery a few weeks ago. But when I told Betsy a couple days a go that Webby was really heavy she offered to hop on him to feel what was going on. She was able to get him lighter, but suggested that I put Webby back in a double bridle. Sometimes it's just not worth fighting over some things with a horse :P also Betsy felt that I have been driving Webby too much with my legs, and thy I need to lighten up and relax more. Let him do the work! A double bridle is exactly what it sounds like. It is a bridle with two bits and two sets of reigns. It is only allowed to be used in 3rd level and above. Webby has been much better in the double bridle the last couple days :) but I would like to note that a few weeks ago he could not have gone in it. It has been important to get him to stretch his neck down and bring his back up before putting him in the double which gives the rider more leverage. If I had put Webby in the double too soon it would not serve the correct purpose. With that being said, we practiced 4th level movements on Saturday and Sunday and Webby was a champ! He has developed the muscling and habits of being properly through his back so now with the double bridle he is very light and lifted through his shoulders. We are going to a schooling show tomorrow evening to do our first 4th level test! Although things did not go perfectly while practicing, I am feeling very confident that Webby and I are ready! I am also interested to get a judge's point of view on where we are and what we need to improve on before we go to the recognized shows in August :)