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Kismet Joe RMH winner of the 100 Day Classical Dressage Challenge education's and personal journey.
(1)

26/05/2024

Keeping a horse in its natural tempo is essential to balance.

26/05/2024

Another lesson I had to learn in my 'journey'.

The body must be aligned- ie Poll the highest point, sternum raised to the extent possible of the horse, and the hind-legs beginning to fold.

It's the folding that brings them under the body. How often we see modern horses bringing the legs under without folding. This is out of alignment...

First, the horse learns to use the legs from mobilization exercises. In one sense, they (perhaps this is my view from owning a very sickle hocked horse!) back up underneath the body to find where the true power lies- the hips.

To understand this- look at someone doing a correct squat vs a faulty squat. You will find in order for the correct form, one must lift the upper body, and arch the back to the degree the back can be relatively straight and strong. We never want the back too round!

The last pic shows a collected competitor in poor alignment. See how this compares to the lady doing the squat?

Compare to my random screenshot from a week ago on Joey. Not a perfect picture but see how much straighter...

26/05/2024

Raising the neck base of the horse aids lightening of the front!

Vs

Modern dressage (pulling the nose in) brings the horse in a pseudo position but never truly light in the front.

Allowing the horse to be degradated onto the forehand is not good! I see this on the other spectrum with kind riders! Forwards and downwards is never the solution. Ask yourselves- how is it that horses move without a rider? We are only improving and developing balance from this.

The black and white photo is a good example of a trot in balance.

The horse can progress following the chart on left. Horses need the whole neck. Helping the horse find balance and shorten his stride go hand in hand.

(Difficult for Joey because of his massive stride and troubles with strength. Easy for a correctly built horse. Regardless, good posture is good posture... You either are on a horse carrying himself, or you are carrying him.)

You cannot ride the horse over tempo... and this is a problem of today's riding.
..
Also,
One of the learning curves for me had been understanding the neck bending verses the body. The neck is more flexible than the spine therefore it also bends more.

It's important to note the feel that the horse isn't escaping out with the outside shoulder, but that the neck is just placed to the inside. This was the poll remains the highest point.

Pics (Except the photos) from the PK's Twisted Truths.

23/05/2024

Correct frame of a young show-bred Warmblood! Exquisite to see.

21/05/2024

Advice for the week... whatever you're doing, however you're doing it, have fun... Be your horse's entertainment.

Don't forget to sometimes let go and just ride. :)

I liked this pic. Oof this horse is so narrow. 🙈. His heart is an artist who wants to perform but his body a struggle every step of the way.

What's wonderful is the feeling of when the body finds even moments of steady balance, be it fast, slow, a circle.. ease is a result.

Whatever the question, vertical is the answer.

We must always work in the interests of our horse.. work 'with'. You are part of him!

20/05/2024

Posted by a member of Alois Podhajsky

"Why do men feel more affinity horse then with any other animal? Is it his native beauty that is so striking, his strength, the harmony of his movements? The answer must live much deeper. Since time immemorial man has had the dog as a daily companion and protector, sharing his walks with him and “talking” to him. But the dog remains a servant, a subordinate. Not so the horse. Man “speaks” with the horse as an equal, though in fact the horse is far superior in strength. The horse can lend man wings, but he can also destroy him. Man transcends himself on horseback – and therein lies his love for the animal. Romantic as it sounds, it is nevertheless true that on a horse man plumbs deep into the unconscious as something of the primeval spirit of the centaur floods over him, and though he is still bound to the earth, he can satisfy, if only briefly, his eternal longing to fly. Pegasus is a magnificent symbol.’

- Excerpt from The Spanish Riding School by Colonel Hans Handler. Colonel Handler was the director of the Spanish Riding School from 1964-1974.

Photo courtesy of the fantastic book, "The Spanish Riding School by Colonel Hans Handler". The image shows Colonel Handler riding Lipizzaner stallion Favory Basilika in the enchanting gardens of Vienna’s Schloß Schönbrunn.

19/05/2024

Excuse my lack of.. being professional?? 🤣. What's the point if it's not fun? What use is it to your horse?

And yes, motivation this day had come from pretending to swivel a sword. He finds that interesting. Horses are in your head! If you're game, they probably are too.

I dislike comparing horses to humans, but in this way, horses are very much like kids.

Horses have little interest in complexities.

Comfort, safety and enjoyment are what is valuable to them!

18/05/2024

I was asked to do a comparison with no saddle.
Seriously though, wow! So awesome.

This was after two days of heavy rain, in which his muscles were clenched the night prior.. Why he was standing a bit tense.

What strikes me in these photos is posture. Crooked table vs straight table! In the top photo he is not as lifted. You can see his weight leaning, and the lack of supporting muscle through the hind-end to keep him straight. This goes for the chest as well. His sickle hocks are pronounced, stifle weak, and there is a lack of core stability the front legs are also brought back.

See the difference in neck muscle, and in front of the shoulder blades, down the neck and to the chest? These are not resistance muscles. These are carrying muscles.

Now, roll your eyes between the two photos. Do you see the bounce?

The definition in the shoulder and neck. 🤤

FYI remember that conformation IS conformation. You either worsen or strengthen them. They will always be simply a weak link. ;)

17/05/2024

In the next episode of "what has Joe been up to?" he wants to show you his get-up!

Several years ago in recoup I taught him how to pull. Upon searching, a perfect old Meadowbrook and well made harness came up on marketplace. The older couple drove hours to bring us both.

Despite being a reactive horse, especially of things behind him he learned to drive easily with no blinders or bit.

Our work is tricky because we live in what is becoming one of the most populated areas of the country. From what was a town you could ride down the road 40yrs ago, now an era of indoor arenas, ear plugs and hunter WBs.

Alas, we created a track system, a giant, mega paddock paradise around the outskirts of the 9 acres. And our terrain is all hilly- which turned into quite a fitness track has made progress possible.

At the moment Joe is accustoming himself to trotting. He needs to be able to handle our environment with confidence. It's not 'one thing' that upsets the horse the most- it's multiple small triggers at once!

He loves to work with the UTV golf cart, (we do farm chores together) and it's a great way to get some trotting miles in. He is never tied up of course!

The bridle doesn't appear to fit... The harness fits perfectly though. 👌.

The blinkers have given him a new experience and have aided with straightness. Sometimes I like to throw challenges his way. Thinking horses need it most.

16/05/2024

I apologize for being so quiet on the page! Much of our work has consisted outside of the arena making footage impossible to capture. Some non-horse related and time consuming projects in our personal lives has added to this stress. As much as I love you guys- Facebook is limited- and I ask you to READ the classical texts.

Progression photos

9 1/2 mos. 🔥

Our training nearly halted over the winter with laminitis. Thanks to mainly Vertical training we were able to continue. Posture and mobilization exercises, along with 2mos of handwalking.

The difference is staggering. 👌❤️
What is most interesting to me is the muscle improvement at the stifle area.

04/05/2024

Facebook gave us a 2 year mark. 🥰

Be like a sailboat ⛵️. When the storm hits, adjust, and keep moving forward.

04/05/2024

'Get off yourself' is a necessary pill to swallow but crucial for any true relationship with a horse.

Ultimately it cannot be about yourself. It's about the horse. Training requires undivided attention and relentless consideration.Your fulfillment comes as a treat, your reward via the horse.

The horse is a living masterpiece in which you get a part in!

Ps, this took years to truly 'get it'. This isn't something achieved easily. It is, in one part, a skill.

30/04/2024

Dressage is not abusive.
It’s a kind and ethical training.
Dressage is not flashy.
It’s about correct posture and spinal alignment.
Dressage is not exhausting.
It's about lightness and motivation.
Dressage is not about getting fast results.
It is quiet and humble.
Dressage is not about external validation.
It’s an art.
Dressage is not for building up your ego.
It’s a journey of self-discovery.
Dressage doesn’t wear out the joints.
It keeps your horse fit until old age.
Dressage doesn’t shut down the horse or cause anxiety.
It is about a human and a horse connecting on a deep level, from heart to heart.
When riding is abusive, flashy, exhausting, promises fast results, used to get external validation, needed to build up your ego, wears out the joints, and causes shut down or anxiety, it’s not dressage!

🐴🐴🐴 Post by Academic Art of Riding - Bettina Biolik

30/04/2024

Excellent

28/04/2024

Two things needed as a rider:
Time and Basics.

Two things few people of today are putting emphasis on:
Time and Basics.

Keyword: Quality.

It takes courage to learn, patience to understand, and discipline to keep showing.

You want to get fit- 5 minutes a day. Show up for 6 mos.

You want to get healthy- Eat a little less processed food- keep at it.

You want to be a better rider- Be in the present, forget all you learned- ride!

Riding is natural.

'I can't ride.'
Well, what will lead you in the direction? Centered Riding, Groundwork studies? Classical books, films?

Photo: young Abbey learning correct posture, holding full reins for the first time, and experimenting with Basics from lots of time on lead.

18/04/2024

I thought I'd share a little clip of us working at trot.

It's one of our first rides since last summer and we are on a hill. 🙈

He settled towards the end, and I noticed I was more relaxed, too. :)

Note my clips are not finished products and will have mistakes or places to improve.

15/04/2024

Update- So happy to be back in the game.

Thank you all for the love and support this winter. I think it's safe to say that many, many prayers flooded heaven's mailbox. 💕🙏☺️

Just as when something great is about to happen, there will always be a storm you must head through first, knowing that the storm may also be preparing you.

I find it interesting how not only did we come out, but we came up better because it forced us to work on areas overlooked and to slow down even further. In this way the "setback" was extremely influential, and I am grateful for it.

Ultimately dressage is working on the basics.

I've ridden him now 4x, trotted him 3x, and we work on something different, everyday.

So proud of this boy. ~

14/04/2024

Carriage. Can you spot the improvements? 😍

Forward is an illusive idea nowadays!
Note how simple a lifted trot is, in reality.

Nature can exist without art, but art can never exist without nature.

❤️👍

For learning, this horse is right handed- aka left bent, ( the neck bends left to counter-balance). Here one mark of improvement was noticing the neck bending slightly right. :)
Much stronger.

04/04/2024

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. 💕🐰🐣

03/04/2024

1 year progress. :)

This is why rounding the spine is not necessarily contributing to posture... No, collecting equals lengthening the neck while shortening the stride.

Collection is not simply bringing the hind legs under the body. Yes, it does this, but notice how his hind steps farther under in the top photo. He does this in an over-stride without flexing.

Vertical for vertical sake. And yes horses at play, given time to do so, more quite vertically. We are simply improving this.

28/03/2024

When they say 'frame' your horse, it becomes a broken subject when common sense is lost.

Without flexion of the hind-legs, you have nothing. When we mean hind-legs, we mean hips, back underneath the body (not pulled forward) ie in alignment. And omg, the next rider to say to me that Pessoa lunging systems are necessary to stretch the top-line. 😳 or better yet, sidereins in dressage, even in low level warm-up rings, used to where the horse cannot use the neck.

Joey is essentially a German Shepherd. (It's easier to describe him from that). He is 'sickle-hocked' meaning the lower leg is bent too much, like a sickle. The pluses are an increase of balance and rider comfort, the downsides are wear and tear, chronic fatigue, as well as blocking the hip. Naturally these horses need to work harder to bend properly, but this is essential to correct function.

We see many riders either ride well, kindly even, and follow classical dressage, but neglect the fact they are the one needing to light the flame to conduct the horse to the correct forward.
In the other side we see riders believing to be riding in a dressage outline, and ride the horse in hunter position, meaning, no forward. The horse in both cases, fails.

Why? Balance. The horse must (first be put forward), learn to shorten the stride enough to find the balance, and find a place he can lift the sternum.

Joey has a front end of a Tennessee Walking horse.. an over stride with a massive scapula and a long, noodley neck. This is the most difficult thing for him to do, but without lift, and chest freedom, you have no potential. Note his hooves are due here, adding to the reach as he grows forward toe.

This is why, without riding facilities, I spend time on the ground. My weight can be too much interference. :)

Update: Doing fabulous. Resumed careful work this week, trotting (or cantering) in alternative days.

26/03/2024

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the most handsomest, crazy boi in the whole world. ❤️🎂

18? Good grief!! 😵‍💫

🥰

Thank you for being my best friend and partner.

21/03/2024

Beautiful! Liz Hartel.

This self carriage.- Self! Not the horror pictures witnessed in dressage today.

In other words, we train the horse to hold the rider up, not the rider holding the horse up. Dressage was never intended to be stressful/strenuous. It's supposed to make the horse 'want to' because it helps him feel strong, yet relaxed. Forward, yet enduring by teaching balance. Balance unique to that individual horse.

What seems to missed today is the need to kick the horse into bigger tempos, looking for a lost concept of forward, consequently causing the horse to be perpetually out of balance. The Horse learns collection, without balance.

The unbalanced horse needs help and leans heavily onto the bit. Riders are taught this is what contact should feel like. Then, they wonder why horses constantly need urging on, kicking, whips or 9 calming supplements and bodywork treatments to cure the horse's daily anxiety to work.

This horse here holds himself up, on his honor system! See how he holds himself back underneath the rider? Ironically we stay out of the way in classical dressage as much as possible.

I like to see it like playing with a fire... How one would stand back, never touch it, but provide occasional wind, sticks etc for it to grow or maintain. We are necessary to it, but ultimately it kindles on its own.

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I thought I'd share a little clip of us working at trot. It's one of our first rides since last summer and we are on a hill. 🙈 He settled towards the end, and I noticed I was more relaxed, too. :) Note my clips are not finished products and will have mistakes or places to improve.

Played with slow mo. Nice lifted trot, shortened stride and poll the highest point. In one word, balance. Without it, you have nothing to base off of.

Spanish Walk ❤️

A giggle for your day. He did this once years ago in trying to get our attention- then I laughed. All he needed. 🤪😂😂 A clever way to get something out of the teeth too. 😅

Kiss for everyone! 😘🐴

Boy looks good. ❤️ Tired here- this was the last trot and canter of the day. A+ for that halt! I like how he's found a position now. He understands the feeling and balance needed in order to lift into canter. This is also a gaited horse, so you have a certain biomechanical ability that is different. But, given time and desire for perfection on his part, the handicap has helped him. ;) #classicaldressage #biomechanics #rockymountainhorse

Some trots ❤️ Many times we free lunge to warm-up, rest and then we do our circles. We did a couple of short yahoos, loosened up into beautiful canters, and then down into trots. #classicaldressage #biomechanics #rockymountainhorse

🥰 See the collection? Trying to bend the joints over locking them up.

This was over a week ago, but wanted to share our start in the roundpen. It's been helpful! Especially since our ring is gigantic. He is not strong enough to carry me at the trot. In the beginning trotting at all was a challenge- but his body has adjusted. It is MUCH harder in a circle- many horses are injured in roundpens and on lungelines. 10-25min We begun by warming up outside the roundpen, either his paddock or some free lunging in long straight lines. Then, a rest to be saddled, and trotted/cantered (just one or two canters), looking for high energy to power him around. Stopping always after a few good steps and never more than twice around. 7-10min Then ground mobilization, bit flexions and 5min-10 Follower with 10min of riding, shoulder-ins and out mainly with some straight step and haunches over. Usually followed with a day off. Always go slow- whatever you are doing.

Here's a full moon pony kiss 💋 for everyone. 🥰

Some trots.. He doesn't have the strength yet to maintain, but headed in the right direction. Beginning to show roundness. Nice and slow! He's very happy. As he gets stronger he can become more and more relaxed because of his folding of the hind-legs. It's even more important for an higher-strung horse. Last week we had practiced a bit in a smaller area, so after time playing with that, we changed the area to a large size. The hill makes it more difficult than it is. I am also a bit tall and heavy for his funny body. . Much to balance! It's important to stop when correct, and right before he get a chance to fall on the shoulders. I try not to let him run on the forehand.

Kisses for everyone... 💋

Couple sleep trots. 😆 A little over stretched out and tired today. 😴 We had done some Gaiting which are some new muscles. He recently began chewing on the bit at trot. 🥰. It takes more energy for longer beings. A trot uphill takes much more exertion.

We had an interesting moment a couple weeks ago, where he changed. He's been given more and more signs of using his whole body. More photos where you see the rump lower than the front. Can you see the lift? Obviously we have far to go, and we wouldn't want even a hair faster. As he goes he will be able to close-couple, but for now his great bending will come at a time where it is not as difficult. What's important is to keep changing the balance and to think less about relaxing and more about riding forward. And forward means with expression, ready to gallop onto an imaginary battle. This is how it feels to me. Otherwise we all slide lower and lower. His feet were due and he grows toe. He also is going downhill but many nice aspects here. Our next step is to work more on tighter areas as his strength is growing. Ps again sorry for shorts. Enjoying my last week of hot weather before a winter of clothing begins. 😕

Saddle Rack vs Trot (fun comparison.. Rack will improve with time) Rack is a lateral 4 beat gait- a more "collected" version of pace. Rocky Mountain Horses were bred for this gait along with the genetic color mutation, Silver. Rack is the most common gaited horse gait, expressed in each breed a little different. Icelandics call their Rack a "Tolt". His dam was a multiple World and National Grand Champion. Bred not only for Saddle Rack, but the much harder and faster Singlefoot. As he gains fitness, he's showing me bits of his special smooth gait. I want him to be comfortable and balanced. Interestingly because it forces him to lift and shorten his stride, his trot immediately improved. There is absolutely an aspect of collection in gait.

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