Foundations Dressage Center

One of the strategies of what might be called "dressage based schooling" employs lateral work to activate the lifting strength of the horse's hind limbs, in the... same way that a human athlete uses stair climb, squat thrusts, to strengthen thighs, quads--- Someone who does trail riding or hunters might say, "What good does that do me?" Well, it does depend on the extent to which a trail rider might like more power climbing a hill, or the extent to which a hunter rider might appreciate easier compression and extension on approaching jumps. What IS lateral work, and what does it do? Leg yielding, half pass, shoulder in, haunches in (travers), haunches out (renvers) are all lateral movements. Depending upon which aids ask for which movement, the horse is requested to take a deeper step with one or another leg, and by placing that foot closer to the center of the mass, it makes that leg lift more weight. So, there is some suppling, from the way the horse is asked to curve its body, but the main deal is simple old, good old weight lifting, and if you have ever been an athlete in just about any human sport, you will know that when a stronger athlete is pitted against a weaker athlete, the stronger one has an edge. That is why riders in show jumping use flat work, and it is becoming more popular with endurance trainers, and of course it's another day at the office for dressage and event riders. It is not as intimidating as the terminology makes it sound. It may require some lessons---which hand does what in combination with which leg asks for what---but it can be learned, and it can be a powerful set of tools to add to your training methodology. Because it IS weight lifting based work, and weight lifting is a struggle, this work can easily turn into grinding, which can backfire by making the horse hate the work. You need to ask a little, back off, ask a little, get a glimmer, quit for the day. This way, gradual, incremental body building, over months, is less likely to take the horse beyond its anxiety threshold on a given day. And that is such a key difference between good trainers and not good trainers, the ability to float along just below (most of the time) that point where the work gets so hard that it too consistently creates tension and resistance. Hey, face reality. It WILL create some tension and resistance, because if YOU, yes you, were at a gym, and your personal trainer said, "OK, three more curls, " you would feel tension and resistance, too. Becoming a better athlete is not the same as sitting watching reruns, slurping a diet coke and snarfing Cheetos. For you or for your horse---

-Now that the ball has dropped and all the 'Happy' wishes have been expressed, it's time to get back to planning for our own happiness. -We started with dreams. Now we're defining specifics, identifying the concrete and measurable factors that distinguish a dream from a goal. Dreaming is picturing a white sandy beach with palm trees, a drink with a little umbrella in your hand. Goal setting is when you specify the date, the beach, and possibly even the type of drink. -The e...xtravagant dreams now begin to brush up against harsh reality. If you really want to go to Tahiti next year, are you prepared to get a second job to come up with the cash? Or will you forego a vacation this year & plan for Tahiti in 2? Or will a trip to Palm Beach be a better choice? -Shaping the goal of showing this season involves researching shows, the rules, the entry procedures, the memberships, the grounds, the management, hauling, stabling, Veterinary requirements, Covid protocols, training schedules, and, of course, cost. -This is the time to consider ALL THE THINGS, especially the uncomfortable things. Your goal must make your heart sing, it should make you a little nervous/ excited/ pumped/ scared. BUT..... it's time to temper that with a clear and realistic understanding of what's involved and what you can overcome. -Start pinning your dream down, figure out what's really involved in getting there. I have some shows to research. See more

Worth saying again.....

Does your New Year's resolution involve riding more this winter? Check out this podcast on dealing with the cold. There are several good tips. (They talk about what to eat, but I would add that in my experience, a snack is ok, but save any significant meal until you are back inside. Digestion pulls blood out of your limbs to the digestive tract and you'll feel colder) https://play.podtrac.com//20201219_lifekit_socializing_out

Goal setting - Brainstorming ALL the things - writing them down - expect to add more - expect to revise - ask yourself, "What needs to get done?" and, "What might get in the way?" Reality will try to derail you, start planning for that now to avoid some of the nasty surprises later.

Interested in some in hand work during the too cold to ride part of winter? Focused on teaching the horse to choose calmness and suppleness. Meshes beautifully with future dressage work. Short sessions where everyone can wear LOTS of layers. Get in touch to schedule yours.

I have an unopened 20# bag of Calf Manna that is free to a good home, any takers?I have an unopened 20# bag of Calf Manna that is free to a good home, any takers?

We have put forward our dreams, and spent some time exploring the details. Now it's time to start getting more specific and concrete. What, specifically, are you aiming to accomplish? When, specifically, will you accomplish it? It's important to strike a balance between being reasonably achievable and being awesome enough that your heart sings. I almost always have a general direction for my efforts, but sometimes fail at describing and committing to something specific. That lowers my stress level initially, but after a while my stress actually gets worse because of frustration from lack of tangible results. So, now I need to pick a specific show. What shape is your goal taking?

We're talking about your dreams for the next riding season. Once you have a dream, spend some quality time exploring it. Be curious about what your heart's desire is made of. How else will you recognize when you've achieved your dream? My dream is to show. Once or several times? Recognized or schooling? Is the level shown the most important, or the placing in the class, or the score? How will you recognize your dream from any or every angle?

Cold, snow and ice. 'Tis the season to dream big dreams for the coming year. Over the next few days and weeks, we can change those dreams into goals, and then use those goals to make plans. One of my aspirations is to get out showing. What are yours?

Ack! Day #6 (1/2 a day late) of Share your experience! It's a Gift! In the world of Cyber, what website, FB group, internet course, online event have you benefited from this year? For me: the TRT Method and the USDF Virtual Convention.

Day #5 of Share your experience! It's a Gift! Someone mentioned borrowing books yesterday. So today's question is what books did you read this year that you would recommend to other horse crazy people?

Day #4 of Share your experience! It's a gift! Yesterday was something new. Today we ask, what is something you borrowed for your Equestrian addiction? It could be an actual Equestrian item, like tack. It could be a product for some normal part of life that you repurposed, like old house towels that become barn towels. What have you borrowed?

Day #3 of share your experience, it's a gift! Yesterday was something old, today is something new. What new product, technique, philosophy or riding style worked well for you this year? FDC installed Mud Control Grids.

Christmas is coming. Let's share the gift of experience with each other. Each day between today and December the 25th we'll focus on a different topic. Today's question: What's some good advice you got from your first riding instructor or other 'old-timer' that you are still thankful for? Mine is either "They all bite and they all kick, so stay alert." Or "When the head goes down, the back goes up, and then you go down, so keep their head up!"

Christmas is coming. Let's share the gift of experience with each other. Each day between today and December the 25th we'll focus on a different topic. Today? What brand of winter breeches are your favorite right now? For me it's a pair of Horze tights with a silicone seat.

The horse's gait patterns are created before birth and organized unconsciously by the nervous system. No wonder developing the gaits takes years of intentional, quiet work.

Happy Christmas to anyone, horse or human, who walks from the shed to the wood paddock. Mud Control Grids by HAHN Plastics don't need any site prep, they install relatively easily(you're going to get muddy) right on top of the mud. Horses figured them out pretty quickly (with treat motivation). A more thorough review will be coming after everyone lives with them for a bit

Tiny vacation at Birchtown this weekend. With a lesson or 2 rescheduled, I have time to relax and clean tack.

Almost here! There are a couple spots left, get in touch if you want one!

Language warning, but too true not to be funny.

It’s Day 3 of the 2020 Adequan/USDF Virtual Convention. We have lots of interesting things on the agenda for today, from forums and roundtable discussions, to ...seeing USDF governance in action in the Board of Governors General Assembly. We will cap the day off by celebrating our competitors, volunteers, and other award winners at the Salute Gala! Here’s a look at what’s in store for today (all times EST) : 1:30 - 2:30 PM - Competition Open Forum with Q&A The Competition Open Forum will focus on Recognized Dressage Shows During the Pandemic of 2020. We will have a panel consisting of a Competition Manager/Secretary, a Judge, a TD, a Trainer/Competitor, and an AA Competitor talking about what worked at shows and what didn’t work, and what steps each of them made in order to feel safe and healthy to go to shows this past year. There will be a Q&A session at the end of the panel discussion so you can follow up on any topic that you feel wasn’t covered. 3:00 - 4:15 PM- Group Member Organizations Committee Roundtable Discussions Share ideas with industry experts and USDF Group Member Organizations on a variety of GMO interests and topics. 5:00 - 7:00 PM - Board of Governors (BOG) General Assembly The base of USDF governance, the BOG is where delegates exercise their right to vote on the important issues brought forth to the Board of Governors, guiding the future of USDF. 8:00 - 9:00 PM - Salute Gala & Hall of Fame, Volunteer of the Year & Rider Awards We will commemorate the dedication and support of our USDF volunteers, competitors, and award honorees. Want to join us for any (or all!) of today’s sessions? Registration is free to USDF members. Register here: https://web.cvent.com//b69badb7-1b1a-41bb-9ac1-a578f3c9d/

Another Virtual education opportunity.

My notes from the USDF Virtual Convention session - When the Hoof Meets the Ground with Hilary Clayton for L Program Faculty, Instructor Trainer Faculty, L Program Graduates, Certified Instructors, and Licensed Dressage Judges. Being an 'L' Grad is good. Contact me for interpretation of my squiggles....

Always wonderful to watch Carl Hester.

You don't normally get to see a fit this big from the front and in slow motion!

Day 2 Carl Hester notes: -We ride two days in the ring a hack day, two in the ring another hack day and Sundays just turned out. The upper level horses also us...e the water treadmill for fitness. -Stretch and supple the horses for a long and healthy career. Keep them moving to keep them sound. Leaving them in a box and only out an hour a day is not a good way to keep a horse sound. -Riders tend to bend left (as most horses are stiffer on the left) and not right. Most people also consistently have a higher mark on their left pirouette vs right. -The younger and weaker the horse the lighter the seat should be in the warm up. -The weaker the horse the more they take the neck up in the trot to canter depart. -Let the horse shorten the walk by carrying your hand don't shorten it for them. -If the contact goes too light the horse doesn't use the head and neck. -Keep the top "plat" (braid) of the neck up. -Knuckles together keeps the bit at the corner of the mouth. A light mouthed horse will drop the bit if the hands go wide as it puts the bit on the bars of the mouth. -Work through your fingers rather than a dead feeling in your hand. -Collecting is not slowing down. -The horse should "come back" thinking forward. -If you use our legs your horse should KEEP going forward until you tell them to stop. -When he comes from canter to walk he has to step forward to walk not step back to walk. -Bring the inside rein against the neck if the horse is holding in the shoulder in on the circle. -Break a circle into four pieces and give the hand in between. -Good hands are not hands that do nothing. They are forward hands that correct the horse without us seeing it. -Long horses need to be rounder, short horses need to be longer in the stretching. -When you do travers riding do it on the inside diagonal to keep your weight more to the inside. Imagine you have a flashlight on your right big toe pointed to A or C if you are doing shoulder in to the left. -On the strong side start your shoulder in in renvers. -In a good shoulder in the outside shoulder rises from the inside hind pushing and its what gives a score over 8. -A good collected trot has the expression of the medium in collection. -If your horse becomes too strong take your leg off get a reaction with your hand then put the leg back on. -The horse will only become sensitive when you give him nothing. -All movements have a start a middle and a finish. Show that. -Hold the horse out and curve it in. -Always direct the inside shoulder up the line. -More and more leg makes the horse go up and down. -Don't give the horses long straight lines to run away on use the sharks teeth. -Hot horses you have to be able to ride forward. -Ride forward with your upper body forward, ride back up through your helmet. -The biggest problem when you are learning the one time changes is that you can't wait to see if the horse has done them. The horse has to fit in with you not that you fit in with the horse. -Sit with your knee open and the back of the leg down. -Use the shoulder fore to close the horse up. -In the pirouette ride the front around not the hind leg. Think of turning on a clock face 10 past 20 past 40 past etc.... don't leave it to chance. If it is getting stuck ride forward on 3 and 6. -Rising passage helps them think trot behind. -You have to have a closed hand to have a contact with the bit. -To help the horse let you help him with the corners canter straight down the long side into the corner, halt, stand, turn to the outside and canter the other way the same. Can also do the on the diagonals into the corner. -Ride corrective don't accept them taking advantage. -When they rock with the neck in the canter you have given them too much contact. Give and retake the reins. -Don't just sit there holding having the same mistake again and again. -Because he is on your hand his hind legs lock. -Make the canter so short I could walk beside you. -It must be loose. -Head nodding is a sign of lack of impulsion. -Show the picture on the short side that your horse goes uphill. -Know how many steps your horse takes on the short side, on an 8m circle etc... -Get the feeling you can push into your inside stirrup in the half pass. -Half halt is collection of forward energy. If it lasts more than a stride it interrupts the hind legs. -If you can't let the neck go you are the one balancing he horse and the balance is incorrect. -Train a lot of leg yields. -The way to improve sevens to eights is impulsion. -Most horses find it easier to get into the piaffe than out. Ride 6 steps passage 6 piaffe in and out until it is easy. -In passage sit heavy. In piaffe sit light over the knee. See more

Day 1 Carl Hester notes: -to get the walk to cover more ground (bigger over track) use the arm forward out. Do lots of turns like sharks teeth turns on a long ...rein with the hand in front of the saddle to loosen the back. -use a lot of trot canter transitions to get horses to go more out to the contact. With horses who don't want to go to the contact start with the canter and keep the hands nearly touching. -lack of impulsion makes the neck come up. -horses have a swing speed. Play until you find it. -for downward transitions collect then ride forward to it don't "stop" it. -judges need to see preparation. -ride with your hips through your hands. -if you can't ride down the centerline in a straight line and stand in a square halt then you're no good to anyone. -accuracy? Focus on riding a really good shape. -in the French school you balance first and then add power. -many riders sit to the right. It's often that the horses middle stays too far to the right they need to be straighter. -if the frame gets sticky open the rein and show him the way in the stretch. -for hot horses keep the leg on for cold horses get the legs off. -The lower leg needs to breathe. -The bigger the walk the slower it is. You need quick for Grand Prix. -when you ride forward take the upper body a little forward. -in the half pass be able to see the letter between the horses ears. -you have to be able to add impulsion to the speed you are already in. -for the medium let them stay in it and alternate between sitting and Rising to help them build confidence. Keep going until they take you in it. You can slowly flex in or out so they don't block. -if you want to bend the neck use the leg yield instead. -don't ride forward when they're pulling down they will just run more on the forehand. -The ability to ride forward is what improves the flying changes. -The rider must take a risk for 8/9/10. -working with a sports psychologist can make a big difference for riders. -you have to be able to improve things at home. -A good pirouette requires canter on the spot first so you can start with the steps small. The golden rule is start small get bigger. Canter on the spot shoulder fore, make it small just by turning. -if you do something really difficult make it then easy and then go out. -when they want to think Spanish walk you think extended walk with the head up. -use the shoulder in developing to get the horse on the outside rein. -when you think of riding a lot of transitions think of riding at least 200. -Think of the inside shoulder up in the half pass. -working with someone else is inspiring. -if you want to ride well you have to also want to go to the gym. Ride on Christmas. Take lessons at six in the morning. Seize opportunities. -being a dressage rider is about being criticized. -you can take somebody with talent on a trained horse and teach them the Grand Prix quickly but you can't teach them to be a horseman. -A better connection comes from counter work. -ride a lot of shoulder in on the circle. -for better collection in the canter half steps to collected canter to half steps. -after break it can help to push the horse side to side in leg yield to wake him back up. -if they tilt their head they are not stretching the outside of the body. -all the problems that develop in the flying changes come from lack of straightness. -The most important thing above all is the will to work. -when you always do the same things you always get the same mistakes. See more

EMDCTA members, you are automatically USDF members. There are some great educational opportunities here that are free with your membership.

Counting down..... Mmmmwahahahaha!

Virtual Diva Schedule! Join us learning and riding and talking about riding and fun!

Check out the outside rein vibrations.

It's time to sign up for Virtual Diva!

When your toy plays back....

Sitting at the dealership, waiting on my car's oil change, flipping through the February 2017 issue of Dressage Today, I land on this article. It holds several good tips for finding time to ride. From 'a spit and a promise' grooming, to using the pressure of squeezing a ride in as practice dealing with the pressure of dressage show schedules, there are things you can do to meet your riding frequency goals. This is one of my biggest struggles, getting in rides on my own horse, at my own house. Anyone want to share their strategies for defeating 'time suck' and riding more frequently?

This event is what you wish social media could be, all horses, friends and fun, all the time. And don't forget the in real life lessons option. Check out all the details on the event page.

Virtual Diva With IRL Lesson Option coming soon! Register by October 20.

It's that time again! Join a really fun bunch of people for the most horsing around you can do online. Or, even better, add on an In Real Life lesson with Trish Brosious or Michelle Eccles.

Pay attention and see that even at this high level, some moments are better than others.

Always striving. All ways, striving.

Playing with some dressage tests in the sunshine. Adventures of Bug

***Sit Better September*** This video/ model clearly demonstrates how your 'seat' is so much more than the skin and bones you sit on. In fact, your seat is nothing less than the intersection of all the various parts of your body AND your primary connection to the horse's body.

***Sit Better September*** What does it mean to Sit Better? That all depends on what your purpose is for sitting. If your purpose is to enjoy picnic food and company, you will choose a different seat than you would when your purpose is to take a load off and watch TV. Our purpose of riding a horse means that we choose to sit, most often, astride on a saddle, which is on a moving horse. What are some of the differences you observe between sitting on a plastic lawn chair, a recliner, and a saddle?

So much like ridden dressage, so much different. A great day of learning.

Ummm..... I don't think that's what "Sit Better September" is about....

Get ready, it's coming...... "Sit Better September" Watch here for updates.

I'm teaching a clinic for the Endless Mountains Pony Club tomorrow at Meadowbrook stable. There is still room for auditors to attend.

THIS! This is what Virtual Diva and regular Diva and trips to horse shows (pre covid) are all about.

Extremely cool camera work of some excellent horsemanship.

Ready for a vacation from all the politics and covid news on Facebook? What if you use that time on your phone or computer to learn more about dressage, rider Biomechanics, nutrition & exercise, meditation, massage and maybe do a craft? Check out Virtual Diva- August Edition! Starts tomorrow, 8/13 and runs for a week. https://facebook.com/events/s/virtual-diva-august-edition/723303315189673/?ti=as

Come join the fun!

Chill, baby, chill.

It's brave to post a clip like this on Facebook. It's far from perfect. But discussing imperfections is a start to learning. Virtual Diva is a safe space to post clips like this and discuss them with supportive peers and empathetic professionals, on your own schedule. Check out the event page: https://facebook.com/events/s/virtual-diva-august-edition/723303315189673/?ti=cl

This is a screen shot from the Virtual Diva in May. "Why didn't I see this post?", you may ask? Answer: you needed to participate in Virtual Diva to see it. As a Diva you have access to exclusive content on Workplace and you interact with the best group of experimenting, learning, supporting, laughing, sharing horse lovers on this side of cyberspace. E-mail Trish to sign up, [email protected]. Tell your friends to sign up, too.

No trick. No filters. This is one of the new arrived young stallions from our stud. The horse tail has already turned totally white. The back still needs time e...ven if one of our most experienced groom Jusuf tries the best he can. . www.srs.at. #spanishridingschool #lipizzaner #horses #ride #riders #stallburg #hofburg #palace #groom #brush #clean #stallion #instagram #instagood #vienna #austria See more

"I already take lessons with Trish, why should I do Virtual Diva?" 1/Because you also get to learn about Biomechanics from Susan Hoffman Peacock and Instinctive Meditation from Bernie Kozlowski. 2/ Because you get to watch video and interact with posts at whatever time works for you. 3/ Because you get to post your own efforts and see everyone else's. 4/Virtual Happy Hour. Any Divas have anything to add?

Perhaps a new strategy for training the leg-yeild?

Save the date! Virtual Diva is back and better!

On the left is the Training Pyramid, an image used to explain the key qualities of Dressage training. While this image has many virtues, it does, occasionally, give a person the impression that first you work on Rhythm/Balance, and once you've set that in place, you work on putting Suppleness/Looseness on top of it. Perhaps the more useful image is the one of the juggler on the right. Focus on Rhythm/Balance as you catch and deal with it, then toss it up to get it out of the way as you deal with Suppleness/Looseness, and so on. The better you get at 1/efficiently identifying which ball you are catching, and 2/ tossing it back into the air in 3/ just the right direction and with 4/ just the right force, while getting ready to 5/ catch the next ball, the more correct and effective a trainer you will be.

Do you use your horse to make dressage? Or do you use dressage to make your horse?

How much force you put on your horse's back is affected by more than your weight.

Who wants another Virtual Diva? Choose your preferred dates; August 13 to 19 or August 27 to September 2. Have questions or suggestions? Get in touch!

We need to nurture the movement of the horse's back, not as an end itself, but because a correctly working back co-ordinates the rest of the body.

River is waiting...... She would love to get more grooming and treats, she will trade some riding time. River is available for partial on farm lease with lessons included. Get in touch for details.

Grass is always greener...