How to train your dragon

My friend, Dianne, posted this picture on her FB a couple weeks ago. It immediately made me think of how Luba feels to me sometimes - like riding a fire-breathing Arabian.

photo credit: Artur Baboev

A FB conversation ensued about this being why we keep ourselves in good shape (physically and even more important, I would argue, mentally), so we can "tame the beast", or train your dragon.

 My friend, Nancy wrote these wise words to me:

YOU chose to ride an Arabian and do a speed outdoor sport so you have a horse with more hemogloben than the ones around you.  You have a horse that was born to run , so you are not going to have quick stops and complete obedience that you would ask of a Quarter Horse a Morgan or cold blooded horse!    So The Arab needs to slow down slower turn less sharply.  You need to not MAKE your horse do something, rather  COMPROMISE and  with finesse convince your horse that this is what we are going to do. It may take three strides more than other breeds .  Try the gallop with a snaffle and let me know if it works.   I assume you will be standing two point when you canter (This is NOT show ring) .  

She also sent me an eventing article by Lisa Slade from The Chronicle of the Horse, Oct 29, 2012 edition, entitled, "In Search of the Most Balanced Gallop". Two types of rider positions for gallop have emerged among eventers in US: one with a closed hip angle, crouching over the horse and the other with an open hip, standing more upright. Nancy recommends the more upright position for endurance riding. 

Nancy Beacon riding Traverston Sadat at the 1994 World Equestrian Games 

One of the most common faults discussed in the article is galloping more or less in a two-point position, but your bum gently tapping the saddle with each stride."Every time the rider's weight tips back and taps that saddle, it is wearing and tiring on a horse."  I worked on this with Sandra Sokolowski at her clinic in October. Lots of the exercises she gave me were aimed at strengthening the muscles needed to maintain this kind of two-point position. Nancy, bless her,  pointed out that I could strengthen these muscles by riding in two-point. LOL

So practising canter/gallop in the two point and practising compromise is part of my plan for How to Train my Fire-Breathing Arabian. Notice that two-point is also the way to ride a dragon:

Last weekend, the snow finally arrived! So the footing is good again for faster work :) And Uwe just plowed the Paddock Track yesterday, so including the lane way, we have almost a mile for cantering! And lots of snowy trailbreaking in the woods to really work those glutes. Almost makes me sad to leave for Arizona on Monday. Almost.

lane way to the road

paddock track before

paddock track after