Search results matching tag 'dressage'

Hip Help!

3dayeventcra-z — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Hello,

I've been eventing for four years and am a C3 level pony clubber, going for B traditional next year. However, ove the last year I've noticed my hips have gotten very stiff and restricting when I try to sit the trot and canter. Are there any stretches that can help? I recently purchased a 4 year old TB and in order for him (or any other horse frankly) to learn how to use and use his back correctly it doesn't help him much if I have a hard, driving seat (my old horse was a warmblood and I developed a horrible "electric butt" to get him going, so I think that has contributed to my stiffness).

Any help will be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks

How to polish your riding boots to a brilliant shine!

Ruth Hogan Poulsen — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 07:00:00 GMT

www.ruthhoganpoulsen.com

HOW TO POLISH YOUR BOOTS TO PERFECTION

Ok... I admit I am a little OCD... but its part of my routine when I'm getting ready for a show or class... Iuse the quiet time to go over my test and think about my plan... and boy do my boots shine!!

Start with a clean and DRY boot. (Use a salt remover type product, or water, NEVER EVER a SOAP product. SOAP or oiled products will leave a residue and no matter how hard you try, they will never shine!)

Only use the old-fashioned boot polish made by KIWI. Use the type that says “PARADE GLOSS”. It has silicone in it shines like crazy and helps shed water.

Get some sheet cotton. ONLY COTTON… and wad up a palm size amount in your hand and get it slightly damp with water. Only a few drops of water should come out of your cotton when you start applying the polish.

Make sure you polish is warm, or has been sitting in the sun. If it’s raining, or no sun, use a bic lighter to heat the polish for a few seconds.

Rub some polish on the damp cotton and rub into your boot. Circles are best for the first few layers. Do NOT apply polish to the inside of the boot!

Reapply polish when the cotton looks grey or bluish. Don't over apply… you are going to put 6 layers on so don't put it on all at once!

Let the boot DRY. Put the boot in the sun in on a heat great, or use a blow dryer. You must not buff the layer until the polish is dry.

Buff boot with long, straight, and fast strokes with a soft COTTON cloth or buff brush. Buffing also heats the polish, that’s why you need to do it with elbow grease!

Repeat these steps 6 more times, and you will have boots that you can see your smile in … and they won't be patent leather… just look like it.

Ruth

For more practical tips and other information, sign up for ny FREE news letter!! www.ruthhoganpoulsen.com

Ride your horse to MUSIC and solve training issues!

Ruth Hogan Poulsen — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Ride your HORSE to MUSIC and solve training issues! Whether you are riding a dressage musical freestyle, or just riding your horse to music, there are TIPS you should know before you start. Over the years, you have told me that the most important thing to you is that you want the RIGHT MUSIC for your HORSE and you WANT TO HAVE FUN!!

You've also told me that:

You want help recognizing the rhythm of your horse's gaits.

You can't maintain a rhythm.

You and your horse are nervous and you need help relaxing.

You're tired of seeing "4"s for loss of rhythm on your dressage tests.

You're frustrated because there is no harmony between you and your horse.

You don't know what the right tempo is for your horse.

You don't know the difference between rhythm and tempo.

You don't know what type of music to choose.

You can't hear the difference between walk, trot, and canter music.

You can't identify the tempo (or BPM) of music.

You are tired of buying so many CDs when they only have one good song for riding.

Here's how I got started...

I grew up in a musical family so learning to read music and play various instruments was ingrained into me early in life. But most of all, I've always loved listening to music. (I always had the radio on in the barn.)

But riding to music became a necessity when I got a high strung Trakehner gelding to re-train. This horse was so incredibly tense, and fearful that simply trotting in one rhythm was IMPOSSIBLE. Anyhow, one day I was trying to trot around the arena, when a perfectly cadenced Scottish bagpipe march came on the radio. That horse picked up a swinging, rhythmic trot all by himself! AND he was breathing in time to the music. (Yes, I even have two witnesses to this!)

I was completely shocked.

After that, I became fascinated with how music affects both the horse and rider, and my quest began.

As I developed my business creating musical freestyles, I was time and time amazed at how perfect music could improve and enhance the horse's movement and the rider's rhythm! When the music fit the horse and rider, both the quality of the gaits and movements improved. The music enhanced both the artistic aspect and the technical side of the ride. Because rhythm was maintained!

I thought this was AMAZING, so I wanted to learn more...

I was stunned by the things I learned such as:

Studies show that music affects our physiology. Slow music slows the heartbeat and the breathing rate as well as brings down blood pressure. Faster music speeds up these same functions.

Listening to your favorite music is good for your cardiovascular system. Researchers have shown that joyful music has a healthy effect on blood vessel function.

Riding to music increases your endurance and feelings of well-being. Studies show that exercising to music improves endurance by 15% and improve the "feeling states" so, people derive much greater pleasure from exercise. (Those cool endorphins!!)

Many hospitals use music to treat patients with stress-related illnesses to stimulate the brain and relax the body.

Music affects both sides of your brain, so whether you are a left-brain logical thinker or a right-brain artistic thinker, music helps you ride better.

Even animals react differently to various types of music. Given a choice, rats will choose calm classical music over hard rock every time.

Music can also influence brainwaves. Faster beats make you more alert and slower beats help you relax.

Music creates a long-lasting change in brainwave activity. That means that music can bring lasting benefits to your state of mind, even after you've stopped listening.

Music filters out background noises so that you and your horse can concentrate better.

Music acts as an INTERNAL metronome to help you maintain a regular rhythm.

Music puts you in a more positive state of mind, helping to keep depression and anxiety at bay.

The bottom line is... it's fun to ride to music! Rhythm and relaxation are essential for EVERYONE including dressage riders, trail riders, hunter riders, and western pleasure riders.

Ruth Hogan Poulsen

http://www.Ruthhoganpoulsen.com

Ruth@Ruthhoganpoulsen.com

Before you can pick the perfect music for your horse, you need to understand the difference between rhythm and tempo

Ruth Hogan Poulsen — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:00:00 GMT

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Before you can pick the perfect music for your horse, you need to understand the difference between rhythm and tempo.

Many people use the words rhythm and tempo interchangeable, but they do not mean the same thing. I will talk about the meaning of each, both in musical terminology and in riding reference.

Rhythm - When riding, regularity of the rhythm refers to the even spacing between each step in a stride of walk, trot or canter. In music, rhythm is made up of sounds and silences. These sounds and silences are put together to form patterns of sound which are repeated to create rhythm.

Look at the two descriptions of rhythm and put them together. Think of the sounds and silences of the musical terminology and the even spacing between each step of your horse's gaits as the same thing. When the horse's foot is down it is a sound. When your horse's foot is up, it is silent. This is how we can relate the rhythm of music to the rhythm of your horse’s gaits.

Tempo –Tempo is the speed of the music or the speed of your horse. Depending on how fast you want to go you can adjust the rate of repetition of the rhythm. Tempo in music can be fast or slow or in-between. Music sounds and feels different depending on how fast it’s played. The same piece of music will have a different effect or mood depending on weather it is played fast or slow.

Hopefully this will clarify the difference between rhythm and tempo as it applies to music and how it applies to your horse.

Before you can pick the perfect music for your horse, you need to understand the difference between rhythm and tempo.

Ruth Hogan Poulsen — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Many people use the words rhythm and tempo interchangeable, but they do not mean the same thing. I will talk about the meaning of each, both in musical terminology and in riding reference.

Rhythm - When riding, regularity of the rhythm refers to the even spacing between each step in a stride of walk, trot or canter. In music, rhythm is made up of sounds and silences. These sounds and silences are put together to form patterns of sound which are repeated to create rhythm.

Look at the two descriptions of rhythm and put them together. Think of the sounds and silences of the musical terminology and the even spacing between each step of your horse's gaits as the same thing. When the horse's foot is down it is a sound. When your horse's foot is up, it is silent. This is how we can relate the rhythm of music to the rhythm of your horse’s gaits.

Tempo –Tempo is the speed of the music or the speed of your horse. Depending on how fast you want to go you can adjust the rate of repetition of the rhythm. Tempo in music can be fast or slow or in-between. Music sounds and feels different depending on how fast it’s played. The same piece of music will have a different effect or mood depending on weather it is played fast or slow.

Hopefully this will clarify the difference between rhythm and tempo as it applies to music and how it applies to your horse.

Left Lead Solved!

nicoledm — Mon, 04 May 2009 07:00:00 GMT

The past three days have been exceptional! I have finally solved the puzzle of the left lead two words "seat bones". I have to make sure I am on my left seat bone, I am very right seat boned, and give her the left canter aid and viola instant left lead. I have now learned to listen to my mother more, she was compeletely correct!

Now that are biggest hurdle, thus far, is solved there is no way but onward!!!

Steffen Peters Clinic Ottawa, Ontario, Canada May 1, 2, 3, 2009

CdnRider — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Event Date: Friday, May 01, 2009

The Ottawa Area Dressage Group (O.A.D.G.) proudly presents a Dressage clinic with Steffen Peters – May 1, 2 and 3, 2009, at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (R.C.M.P.) Musical Ride Arena, Ottawa, Ont.

Steffen Peters is an accomplished international dressage rider. Steffen narrowly missed winning the individual bronze medal for the U.S. at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. In 2007, he placed 3^rd overall at the World Cup in Las Vegas. He won team silver at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, where he finished 6^th overall.

The clinic consists of an evening classroom session on May 1; and riding sessions May 2 and 3. The clinic will progress from lower to upper level horses. Steffen will focus on the ultimate goal of dressage: developing the horse’s self-carriage with light seat, leg and rein aids. Steffen will have a microphone so auditors, as well as riders will benefit from his teaching. Questions will be encouraged at the end of each ride and during the lecture. Auditing hours may be accredited for 6 hours of coaching certification. This is a unique opportunity to learn from a renowned dressage trainer and international competitor.

All are welcome to attend as auditors. The weekend package rate, which includes lunch on Saturday and Sunday, is $100. Pre-registration deadline is April 24, 2009. Please see http://www.ottawadressage.ca/Calendar.php Questions can be directed to the Clinic Secretary, Cathy Gordon at 613-257-5145, oadgtreasurer@hotmail.com

December editorial: What's Fair?

staceyhedge — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

In the December 2008 editorial, I invited you to discuss the findings of the FEI Tribunal in the positive drug cases at the Olympics.

In a nutshell, American Courtney King was disqualified--and the US Dressage Team's fourth place finish erased--because Mythilus tested positive for a very small amount of Felbinac. (The concentration found in his blood wasn't enough to have an affect on a rat.) While the Tribunal acknowledged the excellent stable management practices of the US team, they had to uphold her suspension and disqualification because she was unable to prove the source of the contamination.

On the flip side, Brazilian show-jumper Rodrigo Pessoa's horse Rufus also had a positive drug test. Rodrigo was able to show the source of the contamination--his groom was using a topical ointment on his own broken collarbone and accidentally transferred the substance to the horse. However, the Tribunal still found him guilty and upheld his suspension due to what they deemed poor management practices.

My question to you is this: Is the FEI's "zero tolerance" policy fair, or do you think there needs to be some middle ground when it comes to decisions in these types of cases? And, if you agree the system needs to be overhauled, what do you think should be done?

Riding Master Julius von Uhl Dressage Clinic - Wellington, FL

BocaDr1 — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Riding Master Julius von Uhl will be returning to Wellington to hold a Dressage Clinic beginning Saturday, October 25th, 2008 and continuing through Sunday, October 26th, 2008.

Location: Border Fox Farm
14475 Wellington Trace (south of Draft Horse Ln)
Wellington, FL 33414

With 52 years of success using his simple “Ride Like You Walk” system of riding, Baron von Uhl can fix or markedly improve virtually any problem almost immediately. The “Ride Like You Walk” system has worked so well since 1956, that B. von Uhl makes the following claim:

ALL LESSONS ARE UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED:
RIDER MUST BE SATISFIED WITH THE LESSON OR NEED NOT PAY

You can be sure that no matter who you may have ridden under or watched train, anywhere, you will have never seen such quick, easy and clearly explained techniques! You won't hear any "Dressage euphemisms" like "through" or "rounder" or "more impulsion" ... if the rider rides correctly and lets the horse "be a horse", the horse will take care of supporting, framing and impelling all by him/herself! It's what horses do by themselves in the wild without a rider on their backs! Learn the definition of the Half-Halt. Learn how to make a horse light and sensitive enough to be able to do an entire Grand Prix test without a bridle!! You really have to see these lessons to believe them. These are not 'tricks' or 'short cuts' - rather pure, essential, Classical riding techniques to enhance balance, communication and trust between horse and rider.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Dressage - beginner to Grand Prix (including Airs Above...), classical/competition; Jumper - Open, Hunter - all levels; Equitation - all disciplines; Western - all
TUITION: Clinic tuition is $75/lesson (~1 hr) - group lesson rates are adjusted
AUDITING:Auditing is $35/day - if you take a lesson, auditing is included and highly recommended; video-recording is permitted and also recommended for future review
ARENA: lessons will be in a covered regulation short (i.e. 40m) arena with excellent footing. This arena is designed to remain at least 10-15 degrees cooler regardless of outside temperature. A full-sized (60m) uncovered arena is also available. A full jump course is available for jumping lessons.
STALLING: stalls available for $10/day or $25/night, incl. shavings + water bucket

Private lessons may be available - $100./ hr @ your facility by arrangement.

A lot of very effective information and technique is given during each ride, so videotaping of each lesson is advised, if possible. This will allow you to review and study your lesson afterwards.

For more information or to reserve your ride times, email:
Dr. Leon Gerard
BocaDr1@bellsouth.net

Riding Master Julius von Uhl Dressage Clinic - Wellington, FL

BocaDr1 — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Riding Master Julius von Uhl will be returning to Wellington to hold a Dressage Clinic beginning Saturday, October 25th, 2008 and continuing through Sunday, October 26th, 2008.

Location: Border Fox Farm
14475 Wellington Trace (south of Draft Horse Ln)
Wellington, FL 33414

ALL LESSONS ARE UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED:
RIDER MUST BE SATISFIED WITH THE LESSON OR NEED NOT PAY

Private lessons may be available - $100./ hr @ your facility by arrangement.

A lot of very effective information and technique is given during each ride, so videotaping of each lesson is advised, if possible. This will allow you to review and study your lesson afterwards.

For more information or to reserve your ride times, email:
Dr. Leon Gerard
BocaDr1@bellsouth.net