Thursday, March 7, 2013

Bridge work and Practicing dressage


                   My home made "bridge" produces the echo it produces is enough to help train for the real thing.
                         Making the corner.......we still need to straighten out to center on the bridge.
Today was a splendid drive.....I set up the fake bridge in my arena so I could practice the "thump, thump" of crossing an actual wooden bridge. Legacy has no issues with the bridge..I will be confident to cross an actual bridge! 
After yesterday's drive I had a thought..I need to be practicing an even pace. In dressage, an even pace is one of the first things you need to establish. I had been a bit lax and let Legacy speed up a bit when we make 10m turns,  so, today, we practiced keeping an even speed. For a horse to keep an even speed, even through the corners, they must remain balanced in their body.  Today's drive was splendid!  a nice even pace, with a balanced horse in front of me was a pleasure.....We drove for about 1/2 hr....and did alot of trot work. One of our neighbors shot at a coyote while we were working...Legacy had a bit of a startle,  but she handled it well. We continued walking to help relax her. She is such a sweet heart...I love her dearly!
Posted by at

10 comments:

  1. AngieMarch 8, 2013 at 9:12 AM

    Awesome photos...Legacy is beautiful. Love our Curlies calm outlook on their world{:>

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda @ Creekside CurliesMarch 12, 2013 at 12:10 PM

      Thanks Angie, Legacy is amazing, she is so willing and so eager for a leader it makes life easy!

      Delete
  2. Susan LejonhudMarch 8, 2013 at 1:00 PM

    Excellent idea on the bridge. You two are going to make quite the splash in the show ring this year! I love your ring, what a nice set-up. What size is it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda @ Creekside CurliesMarch 12, 2013 at 12:13 PM

      Thank you Susan, my arena is 60 X 90 feet. It is covered, not enclosed. We don't get much snow, so it is a nice place for me to drive. One reason we built it is for the shade, we get wicked hot in the summer, I have seen 114 degrees here. If I was driving a mini or pony my arena would be much larger, but it is a good safe size for Legacy and I to work in. We hope to move outside soon!

      Delete
  3. UnknownMarch 8, 2013 at 7:27 PM

    Like everything else, there is such precision to driving. Sounds like she's coming along nicely! She is a beauty!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda @ Creekside CurliesMarch 12, 2013 at 12:14 PM

      Thank you Janeen, driving is all about precision. If you let your hand wander, you horse certainly will too!

      Delete
  4. Peter SchumannMarch 9, 2013 at 1:34 PM

    Very cool! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownMarch 10, 2013 at 4:19 PM

    Some people might think that driven dressage is easier than ridden. I will disagree!! Driven now seems much harder to me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda @ Creekside CurliesMarch 12, 2013 at 12:18 PM

      For those who "think" that driven dressage is easier than ridden, perhaps they would like to try their hand at it! LOL....certainly NOT easier, you have only your hands to guide your horse, where in riding you have your hands and your seat.....and there is the whole "wheel base" issue too...ride a corner takes little planning, where as driving a corner takes a whole lot of planning, as you have to account for both the horse and the path of the carriage....but..I LOVE challenges!

      Delete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)