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Post by nars on Apr 1, 2007 19:30:42 GMT -1
One problem that breeds such as Dales can have is in their jaw. They don't have much flexion in the way that warmbloods and TBs can have. It can be difficult to get 2 fingers in and it is an area the physiotherapist can help to keep free.
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Post by southerner on Apr 2, 2007 21:29:56 GMT -1
Pru went to novice level easily but had prolems balancing in canter. Looking back the main thing is to get the basics correct - work long and low to build muscle and use walk to canter to establich the strike off was a help. Also use your breath for transitions - short intake to go up, long breath out to go down!
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Post by bellajack on Apr 3, 2007 0:53:03 GMT -1
Thanks all, brilliant stuff!!!!
Would love to see some pics of all of your dressage Dales in action.
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Post by greydales on Apr 3, 2007 14:25:42 GMT -1
These are show pics, but both these two have done dressage so the paces would be much the same! Dan is the grey and Saturn the black (he was 4 in these pics). Dan  These two pics are just my daughter messing about in the field but just to show you that Dan had a lot of self carriage! Collected trot  Had to include Dan's mini rear - he used to do this a lot and it was so controlled lol! It was Anna's fault for teaching him it when she used to do gymkhana games on him, and he then used it as an evasion but was never dangerous with it. I'm sure he would have done levade easily.  Saturn   |
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Post by harveydales on Apr 3, 2007 19:31:06 GMT -1
Lovely Gill!
Sadly, I don't have any good dressage pics of Harvey but have one fabulous video of us inthe Sheepgate Novice Championship but can't copy it on here. aCtually, it depresses me a bit to watch it, thinking of what could have been were it not for my stupid ankle!
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Post by nars on Apr 4, 2007 16:31:05 GMT -1
They are lovely pics, Gill.
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Post by bellajack on Apr 4, 2007 17:56:42 GMT -1
Are you sure that Dan isn't a Lippizaner? The SRS would be proud of him. Now, if someone could just tell me how I can get Jack trotting like that......
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Post by bellajack on Apr 5, 2007 22:03:43 GMT -1
How far do you think that it is possible to go without a trainer?
I had a great, long list of well known trainers who are local to me and asked the opinion of an advanced rider (not local unfortunately) who happens to know them all personally.
I said that I was just looking for someone who could get enthusiastic about training a native (or 2 in my case) and who believed in training horses in a patient, sympathetic manner. She drew a line through nearly all of them, leaving only 2 who are international riders and almost certainly wouldn't have time even if I dared ask, and could afford them!
I had a friend who worked with top level dressage horses and she became very disillusioned with the way they were treated, and I don't want to pay someone and end up arguing with them. I am very protective of my ponies and hate the 'push me pull you' school of dressage you so often see. I read a quote somewhere that said something along the lines of "the driving seat should be left where it belongs - sitting in a carriage behind a horse".
I am beginning to wonder if I would be better off spending what little money I have on a video camera in the view that I know what I am after, and what I am doing wrong, when I see it.
I would be very grateful for other people's opinions.
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Post by harveydales on Apr 6, 2007 5:13:29 GMT -1
Well, I have to say I think this "trainer" business is somewhat over rated. I've watched several top international trainers/riders giving lessons and on the whole, have been heartily disillusioned. I agree with your friend, I know of one or 2 top dressage yards where I wouldn't dream of sending any horse of mine!
I have had some lessons from a couple of top international rider/trainers and have benefited considerabley. But looking back, the main thing I got from them was confidence to go to the next level up. The rest I could have learnt by just watching them teach others.
Is anyone helping you now? Your ponies seem to be coming on very well as it is anyway. Personally, I rate my friend and instructor way above any of the big names. She has brought several difficult horses from nothing up to Advanced Medium with no help from any one whatso ever. Mind you, she has natural talent which I don't! For me, what worked best was regular instruction from this person, watching clinics where ever possible and having the odd "one off" lesson from "big names". The "semi-big names" have always been disappointing!
So yes, I do think you can do it on your own and certainly bring your 2 ponies up to Medium level and hopefully beyond. I would also suggest, if you are serious about it, then Affiliate sooner rather than later and get in front of top judges so you can get the best feedback. At the moment, the one person I am interested in watching instruct is PMG who can't be that far away from you?
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Post by bellajack on Apr 6, 2007 5:43:33 GMT -1
I wondered where he was based. Do you know?
No I don't have any help at the moment and actually never have had, but my aspirations haven't been as high before. I have never had horses with so much potential before.
I have more dressage videos than Equestrian Vision, for reference, and a huge equestrian libary.
It is very interesting that you should say that Harveydales because the overall perception seems to be that if you don't have a trainer you can't be taking it seriously.
I think that mirrors would be a big help but our outdoor school gets very windy. Does anyone have any experience of having them in an outdoor school?
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Post by harveydales on Apr 6, 2007 7:41:34 GMT -1
We don't have outdoor mirrors but I have used them in other people's arenas but don't know much about them. It is true, mirrors are a HUGE help. PMG is based in Northamptonshire. this is his web site: www.elcaballodeespana.co.uk/ |
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Post by greydales on Apr 6, 2007 16:34:18 GMT -1
I would much prefer a trainer who is interested in classical type training, rather than competition dressage. I've seen a lot of horses trained in a very harsh and dominant way for the latter and have watched videos of some very big names riding, shall we say I am not impressed by the force used, driving seat and controversial training methods  . One top competition rider I do like is Carl Hester, he rides very gracefully and seems to care very much for his horses. Any instructor I have must be sympathetic to the horse and someone who actually teaches me something (believe me there are a lot of instructors out there who are very well qualified but can't teach!). I've been very lucky to have had lessons from Heather Moffet, Peter Maddison Greenwell and other inspiring people, and it makes it very hard to find someone who lives up to that standard locally! Mainly I do my own thing but I have recently found a lovely lady who is classically orientated and very kind, and have started having lessons with her - mainly because I need someone to point out what I am doing wrong ;D |
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Post by khristyne on Apr 6, 2007 19:59:34 GMT -1
D would def prefer to trot all day long as she finds it harder to come off the forehand and balance in canter. It is def to do with her conformation. She is v big in front and was a driving pony before we got her.
Having said that her last elementary score was 64% with a list 1 judge, so she cant be too bad!!!
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Post by southerner on Apr 6, 2007 20:34:35 GMT -1
I would say use demo like theclassical riding club and ttt events. Don't be afraid to go to anyone for lessons. I worked at a dressage yard for Brugs Nicholls and Vicki Thompson taught her there, I saw lessons with Rocky as he trained her and learnt loads. Sylvia who rode G Prix at the time saw me one day and offered me a weeks worth of lessons - she rode my highland every day and did wonders with her. She then got a show jumper to get her going forwards for me! I wrote at a dressage comp for Debbie Lush who is an international judge who has offered to do some clinics for us and is judging at our dressage show in september. John Lassiter and Sylvia Loch both love natives, and Jennie Loriston Clarke is also a native fan. Andrew Gould gave me some good lessons on my dales, as did Zoe Colgate! Most people are very approachable and are happy to help, they like a change! Go for the best - they can only say no! They are not much more expensive and much beeter value. I would try to get one occasionally as it may work out better value.
I have found that most of the crc member instructors are very good, where abouts are you as there may be one in your area?
Have you got the new sylvia loch interactive dvd as sounds good but can't find someone who has it?
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Post by bellajack on Apr 8, 2007 23:04:13 GMT -1
No southerner, haven't got that one.
I am on the Herts/Beds/Bucks border.
I was trying out your tip of upward transitions on a sharp intake of breath today - brilliant, really made a difference - thank you very much. I always ride downward ones on a sigh, but for some reason had never thought of doing it the other way around. Very grateful for that.
Thank you for the link Harveydales - have to get the map out.
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. One top competition rider I do like is Carl Hester, he rides very gracefully and seems to care very much for his horses.