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The Valkyrie from pasture puff to diva - a journey.

20K views 273 replies 35 participants last post by  jaydee 
#1 ·
This is the story of 2016, hopefully it will a long story....at the moment I have a horrible feeling it may be a short journal.

Here I sit, haven't ridden for 6 weeks, found out this week I have a chest infection, that explains the 3 weeks of coughing, so now wiped out by the antibiotics, Oh joy. Add to that my usual nerves, self doubt and winter blues this does not feel promising:icon_rolleyes:

Intros, for anyone who doesn't know us...

Me, older, nearly done with my 50's, rode a lot as a kid, young person and young adult, then stopped for a while. So adult re rider, who was doing well until my body and my confidence both took major damage in a fall in 2013. I have been carried back to (nearly) full confidence by a fantastic horse The Awesome Mr Gibbs, who is my rock, but sadly he does not do well at dressage, and he suffers from heaves and struggles at shows.

Horse Mammal Pony Shetland pony Horse tack


last year I leased a great gelding to show, but he was sold just before the last show of the season, but he taught me a lot, a great step up from Gibbs.

Horse Bridle Halter Rein Mammal


Shortly after Troy left I was called to the barn to try out a mare they had there, she had been brought in for a trial, but not suitable for a school horse. My first instinct on seeing her was HECK NO, red headed, high headed, see the whites of her eyes mare, WHAT IS MY COACH THINKING? Then I rode her, and I think I was a little in love three strides in. So Fergie became mine, she is a 15 year old, Belgian x Morgan/QH. She is actually well broke, has lots of buttons installed, but has had two years off and isn't that keen on starting work again. Her main issue, she was ridden in draw reins, we think, by someone who did not understand how they work, so she was very over bent to start with.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q5uAAZVjwY

After some work she is a lot better. Now to share a video that shows how far we have to go...no critique needed, I know where the holes are, and......this was my last ride of 2015 on her, the weather was bad, and for the first time she gave me real trouble, I couldn't get a lope transition out of her, she was rushing and threatening to buck through it, so my coach had called the guy riding her in the first video, to come ride her for me, she grabbed this pic as i was riding her waiting for him to come. For me quite a low point, I was tense, worried, and it shows, and she isn't that happy either, BUT actually I think she is going a lot better here than the first video, still quite the journey to make I know, but getting there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrVHDUEMXMY

Anyway, that is our start point, she was bought to be my Level 1 horse, but I think we will be starting with Basic and Intro, at least at the first show, then if we are ready we can move up during the year.

I guess you have already noticed that I am a plus size rider, really don;t want to be, have been battling this all my adult life, and trying really hard now to get fitter and lighter for the up coming season, step 1, have got back down to pre Christmas weight....just got to keep it heading in the right direction:)

Fergie, The Valkyrie

Horse Bridle Equestrianism Animal sports Mammal

Horse Vertebrate Mammal Mane Stallion

Horse Pink Pony Mane Pack animal

Horse Bridle Mammal Rein Vertebrate

Horse Halter Bridle Rein Animal sports
 
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#4 ·
First ride of 2016

Despite the fact that it was -31*C (-23.8*f) this morning, and the windchill made it feel like -40*C (that's the same on both scales) and the fact that I had a bad night with this cough, I was determined to go ride today.

Caught her up, fine, got her ready, no worries, took her into the arena to lunge her, and WHOA, who IS this firecracker.....NO WAY I'm setting my butt in that saddle today. 15 mins later she is listening, responding, and OK, maybe I can ride her. Had to wait for trainer to come in, rather than getting on and warming up on my own, but once up there it was FANTASTIC.

We did all our work at the scary end of the arena, and she was pretty good. We just concentrated on getting a good walk and trot rhythm, and nice smooth transitions, and she was great. By letting her go, and having reins just a little longer she was far freer, only picked her up for the last few minutes.

Yesterday after the break I was scared, despondent and wondering if we can do this. Today I'm feeling great!

She had her Chiro and massage after the ride, she did really well this time, was all sorts of worried last time, especially with the cranial sacral stuff, that totally freaked her first time, but she was so much better. She was tight in her shoulders, but good through her back and hips..onward and upward.
 
#5 ·
19th Jan 2016, a game changing day.

Today was a group lesson, guess who was the example for good posting, light and rhythmical, even more shocking good hands!!

I really don't know what switch has flipped, but it is like I can actually ride again, I mean REALLY ride, it is very exciting, and just a little worrying, just hoping that I can keep doing this.

The upside, well of course Fergie is benefiting, we are getting a nicer trot, far better rhythm, she is working over her back, it's all falling into place :loveshower:

If I could bottle this feeling and this standard I would...
 
#7 ·
Awww, thank you :oops:


I promise not post every little thing, but I wish I had a picture of my face at my last lesson. Coach asked me to halt, and came up, I thought she was going to correct my hand position, but instead I found myself holding a dressage whip, I'm sure I looked like



I have always thought of her as forward, because of her energy level, but actually I have to work at getting her forward, and even more at keeping her out, especially on the right rein. Add a dressage whip and I have a whole 'nother horse again, ask, tap, and WHOOHO, more energy, and I realise how much I have been nagging, also now I can get her in a better looking bend to the right.
 
#8 ·
Typical of a journey, we went from the highs of couple of weeks ago, and have had a series of frustrating lessons. I am doing too much again, and have not been able to find that effortless roundness and bend...grrrr

Last two lessons to be honest have been a real struggle, two lessons ago, she was going OK, then had a minor melt down because everyone left the arena and she was left alone, we rode and awful lot of small circles that day.

Was really hoping that first ride of February was going to be "new month, new start" well it may have been, but not the way I hoped. See, the scared hopeless rider if two years ago, is buried in there, and today she surfaced, for no good reason. We were actually having a good ride, some really great moments where I could really feel her working nicely, then for some reason the lope work, well I just fell to bits, left rein went OK, right rein, NIGHTMARE, enough that I was >< that close to getting off and quitting.:cry: No idea what happened but this 'rider' was stiff, hunched, bouncing, just a nightmare. At one point she 'kind of' took off on me, and she took a swerve around a jump standard and I got unbalanced, coach said at that moment she had two choices: The dirty horse would step out away from you, and dump you. The good horse steps back in under you and saves you. Fergie is a GOOD horse.

It took a lot of persuading to get me to try again, but finished the session picking up the lope at K, and dropping to a trot at F, which we managed nicely, so called it good.

So instead of a great start to the month, it was a kind of bad day, that ended up OK. Once again we are onwards and upwards.

First show 45 days and counting!

Here she is post work out, cooling down and modelling her much too small cooler, and new stable boots!

Horse Mane Mare Stallion Stable
 
#9 ·
Today the potential Dressage Diva did her first ever tests...and we SUCKED
:D

No I am not at all unhappy, the tests are brand new for this year, so only got sight of them last night, and rode them today. So it was new to horse, rider and trainer, and, well we wouldn't of got eliminated, but neither would we have scored well BUT in all three of them there were nice bits, just need to get more of them.

Most of all, after the problems in the last lesson, I had my head right, well better anyway, so we did everything, including lope circles, and loping along the rail, with no issues. Biggest thing to take away from the day, "Ride the horse, not the test" yes heard it before, lots, but now it makes a lot more sense. Other thing :evil: well I trimmed the reins on the headstall Fergie is using, it was Gibbs show kit, and he was tripping over the reins, so I trimmed them up. Now when Fergie puts her head down for free walk, or stretchy trot I am running out of rein, so need to find another black pair, but longer, or dye a spare set I guess......That will teach me! Today the potential Dressage Diva did her first ever tests...and we SUCKED



No I am not at all unhappy, the tests are brand new for this year, so only got sight of them last night, and rode them today. So it was new to horse, rider and trainer, and, well we wouldn't of got eliminated, but neither would we have scored well BUT in all three of them there were nice bits, just need to get more of them.



Most of all, after the problems in the last lesson, I had my head right, well better anyway, so we did everything, including lope circles, and loping along the rail, with no issues. Biggest thing to take away from the day, "Ride the horse, not the test" yes heard it before, lots, but now it makes a lot more sense. Other thing
well I trimmed the reins on the headstall Fergie is using, it was Gibbs show kit, and he was tripping over the reins, so I trimmed them up. Now when Fergie puts her head down for free walk, or stretchy trot I am running out of rein, so need to find another black pair, but longer, or dye a spare set I guess......That will teach me!

Today the potential Dressage Diva did her first ever tests...and we SUCKED



No I am not at all unhappy, the tests are brand new for this year, so only got sight of them last night, and rode them today. So it was new to horse, rider and trainer, and, well we wouldn't of got eliminated, but neither would we have scored well BUT in all three of them there were nice bits, just need to get more of them.



Most of all, after the problems in the last lesson, I had my head right, well better anyway, so we did everything, including lope circles, and loping along the rail, with no issues. Biggest thing to take away from the day, "Ride the horse, not the test" yes heard it before, lots, but now it makes a lot more sense. Other thing
well I trimmed the reins on the headstall Fergie is using, it was Gibbs show kit, and he was tripping over the reins, so I trimmed them up. Now when Fergie puts her head down for free walk, or stretchy trot I am running out of rein, so need to find another black pair, but longer, or dye a spare set I guess......That will teach me!
 
#10 ·
good work! I haven't done any test for so long I don't know what I'd do, but I know it wouldn't be pretty. Is this an indoor heated arena? I wondered how you managed to get so much riding in where you live, which I know is very cold normally.

we don't have such things as heated arenas. when they say heated, what temp does it get to?
 
#11 ·
No heated arena, the stabling area attached is heated, but not the riding area. This winter has not been an issue, because winter has forgotten to arrive so far!

The coldest I've ridden in there was -30*c, but this winter there has only been one day that I have worn a coat to ride, most of the time a couple of layers, and my safety vest and I'm good to go.


ETA, not sure why everything posted twice there.....
 
#14 ·
Hey Golden Horse. I think you posted everything twice :P

You people acclimate or something. -30c with any sort of lung condition, good grief.

I know I am a ****** next to the kinds of training a good dressage rider does. I do hope y'all do better at your next test (isn't that what it is called?). I like to say "Sure I didn't get a score. But compared to other ways I haven't got a score, this is great." Good luck.
 
#16 ·
Well things have been quiet for a while, to be honest I had a disaster of a lesson a couple of weeks ago, for no reason that I could think of at the time I had a melt down...not proud of it, but it happened. I quit, got off, but the good things A got on and rode her for me, and BOY does she look good under saddle, so much better. I did get on and ride again, but was very down, coming out of the blue, it was horrible.

Then I got ill, and have not been able to ride, so today was the first try to go again. First problem it is very windy, and I'm told all the horses have been messing about all day, so I was told to go free lunge her in the arena for a while. She was very up, started by scooting about all over the place, but in the end was free lunging around me just as if she was on the lunge. Tacked her up to ride, and coach suggested that we try ear puffs for her, MY what a difference, took her back into the arena, and after walking her around for a while she just stood, with her head down like a old cart horse taking a break. LOL at the end of the lesson when we took them out, she was back on high alert again, looks like we will be trying a quiet life for a while, wish I could afford this https://www.tacknrider.com/shop/equiline-soundless-ear-net-soundless-ears/ .

Anyway, the lesson part, well we rocked it, considering how bad it was before, and then being off sick, I was delighted at how we did, lots of walk and trot, giving her lots of rein, just trying to get a consistent bend, as coach says, when we get it, it is beautiful, then I lose contact and she inverts and it's ugly. This is the big difference between Troy and Gibbs and Fergie, the boys were kind of on a level, never outstanding, never bad, Fergie is either great or not, depending on me...what a responsibility. Again I have to work at doing less and more, lots of subtle communication, riding every step..

Now another thing, having thought about it, when things were going really well, when we got back from the UK, I was on a no junk food kick. When things really went down the pan, I was on a week off, so was eating both white flour and sugar, today, now sugar or white flour. I am seriously wondering if my diet affects my confidence, am going to monitor things as we go.

First show, 22 days and counting....
 
#17 ·
Yesterday I drove an hour to the barn, warmed up for 20 mins, rode one test, lots of work needed, so said we would come back to it. Rode the next level test, and we both agreed just to stop there, she was amazing, I was good, it just seemed right to stop on a high!


When we show the scores will be what they will be, just getting the feeling that I got in that second test, well that is what it is about...
 
#18 ·
Well, I just have to remember that we learn more from difficult days, and yesterday was a doozy, The Red Head I think is testing me to see if I am worthy..


The scary end of the arena is at A, so "enter A working jog" is at the moment a work in progress, if it read "enter A counter bent, doing a crabbing sort of half pass, in some kind of gait resembling a jog" then we would be scoring high! Did it a couple of times, and it did improve. The whole test was kind of rough, as I balance "you're doing to much, leave her alone" with "RIDE HER"


The killer though...
C working jog
MXK change rein working jog
A down centre

X halt salute...


OH dear...we had attitude, we had shan't, we had two minor spooks, and one MAJOR spook, and we rode that darn line many times, we rode 10m circles at K, but in the end we rode it half decently....then it took an hour to cool us both down..


BUT


She didn't scare me, the minor spooks I am used to, the major one was enough that I lost my stirrups but, stayed with her and rode her through it, and was able to give her heck for it. I THINK that is all she has, she is basically honest, so again stayed under me, when going the other way would have probably dumped me. I know that I have to be far more demanding when she is like that, but even less demanding when she is soft and giving.


When I was untacking her, I took out one ear puff, and then saw the other on the ground, not sure if it came out when I was taking her bridle off, or if she shook it out before we went out, if it was the latter it might explain why she was quite so pissy



First show 18 days and counting...
 
#22 ·
Wouldn't you know it, life and sickness got in the way and curtailed out prep work again, but progress has been made.

Last week I went to ride, even though I had been ill the day before, thought I was better, until I had Fergie caught and lunged ready to go, the I felt bad. Decided to try and ride, but couldn't get her to stand still at the block, I was ready to quit, but my trainer went all errrr insistent on me, and from a safe distance made me insist on Fergie standing still while I mounted. I managed to get on, and rode about 5 mins before I had to quit in a hurry and run for the bathroom!

It was an important day, the realisation that I have allowed MY mounting issues, be an excuse to let her mess about at the block. So although I take longer than some people, and everything has to be right, it is NOT unreasonable for her to stand still and wait for me. So no more excuses, she will stand until I am ready, we have been working on it, and today she was fantastic.

The riding, well we have gone through some major lows, with me thinking that she is just to much for me, then logical brain kicks in and says what a great match she is. We have done some work trying to get her better at the 'scary end' of the arena, including working at the safe end, then resting the other end, bringing her in and out of the arena through the scary end, then taking her down there after she is untacked and feeding her, and I think it is helping, she is better, but not great.

Today we had a great lesson, I rode her 'lighter' and she appreciated it a lot, I still struggle balancing a light giving hand, with asking her more positively when she is being a pain.

4 days to first show, we MAY just live through it...
 
#24 ·
I was going to ride today, but in the end chose not too, we had to get her trimmed, and this mare who jumps at most noises stood like a rock, got her bridle path, ears, beard, legs and she loved it...much to my surprise. Maybe she is a Diva after all!

Then I went to lunge her, and she was so good, even managed to work nicely when I was stood at 'L' that is huge for her.

Positive ride yesterday, everything good today, sometimes you take the good.
 
#25 ·
So show number one is over and


well it was interesting, in lots of ways, and we survived!

Friday, haul in early, warm up, and she was better than I hoped, there was no allotted warm up times, so we just had to join the others and warm up in a crowd, she was 'up' but OK. Then it was hustle to the wash racks, get her bathed, found out that bathing is fine, but don't hang about, she gets bored, kind of a theme for the weekend. Get her nearly dry, then it is time to tack up and ride....OH dear, warming up in company is one thing, suddenly being in the ring on her own, NOT GOOD, she was anxious, she was calling to the other horses, we scored a 51.034, lots of comments about needing to relax, etc etc. I was happy though, I purposely did not ask to much of her, so thought the mark was fair. Next two tests were similar, she was tense but we worked through it, scored 52 on second one, but got a 53.60 for our Basic (training level) test, which I was pleased about.

Day two, she was very very 'up' in the morning, and had to make a decision if we should take her to the notoriously scary warm arena, or just walk her out to loosen up and then take a chance, which is what we did, didn't want to amp her up any more...well test one was errr interesting, after the final halt, walked down to the judges table, and she said "well that was intense" I had to agree, but what the heck, we survived. Basic B, Oh my, this was special, I decided that as I had lived through test 1, then I may as well just enjoy the ride, so set off with a big smile, asked more of her, and had a total blast I had so much fun, and we scored a 57.2, I was delighted, she was still tense, but gave me so many good moments, we just need to string them together, to get a decent test, it is all there, and when it's good it's amazing. I nearly cancelled the last test of the day, wanted to finish on a high, but decided what the heck, and it was an good ride, but didn't give me the same buzz as the one before, BUT scored a 59% I was simply delighted.

I got to talk to the judge later, she was very nice, said she wished she could of scored us higher, but Fergie just was never consistent enough. She said what she liked, and I was happy with it. I have a video of the last test, and it is great to see that she never ducks behind the vertical any more, we now have to much head in the air, I can see why the draw reins went on, but we will get the happy medium in the end.

Horse Halter Mane Neck Sky


Horse Bridle Mammal Animal sports Rein


Horse Dressage Animal sports English riding Sport venue


Horse Bridle Mammal Vertebrate Rein
 
#28 ·
Sometimes it takes a while to sink in, but:

March 19th, 10:42 - 10:46 am...


I would just love to bottle the feeling of that 4 minutes, "smile while you ride" sums it up..


The most confident I have felt in ages, the most competent I have felt in ages....


4 minutes riding a dressage test that felt great, kind of reminds you why you ride. Didn't matter that I liked it far more than the judge, technically yes a lot to improve, but she doesn't know how much we have already improved


This journey is so rewarding, and it continues...
 
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