Back in the saddle again!

Wow.  Just Wow.
Today was my first lesson in about a year and a half.  I wasn't expecting perfection, but I was surprised (and to be honest, disappointed) in how much my body had forgotten.

The farm I went to was really spectacular.  The facility was really nice and the grounds were just gorgeous!!  The horses were all really happy, healthy and friendly and I really couldn't stop smiling!  While I was waiting for my instructor to come up from where she was repairing fences in the field I gave some love to the horses in the barn and in the fields nearby.  The smell of hay and horses, the atmosphere of happy horses grazing in the fields nearby and just the general intoxication of just being around horses again was amazing!  I really could have kicked myself for not trying to get back into riding sooner.  I've been missing so much.

My lesson horse was a cute little chestnut Thoroughbred gelding who was such a sweetheart!  After grooming him and saddling up, we mounted and headed for the dressage arena.  It felt so right to be back on a horse.

My riding instructor was wonderful.  She was friendly, positive and very knowledgeable.  She was also understanding to the fact that I hadn't ridden in a while, which I really appreciated.

In my lesson, the main things that she had me work on was keeping my legs and heels down (thinking about reaching to the ground with my legs and through my heels) and keeping my upper body and arms soft and giving.  I tended to stiffen my upper body and arms resulting in a locked elbow and low hands.  I'm trying to figure out why I did that.  I didn't feel unsafe or out of my comfort zone and looking through the old pictures of myself riding, I feel like I never used to ride like this.

Another thing is my legs.  I'm riding with the inside back of my leg instead of the inside front and allowing my leg to "lift up" resulting in a shorter, less stable and deep leg and my heels going up.  Another thing was the lack of strength in my legs.  I tried and I pushed and I found it extremely hard to correct my leg.  On the few occasions that I could, it was even harder to keep.

In this picture you can see that even though my arms aren't as braced as they were in some other parts of the lesson, my heels are up and I'm "nagging" the horse with my heel instead of using inside calf pressure to ask him to go more forward.  I'm also not pushing my weight down through my leg and heel, so my leg isn't long and down like it should be.

I also found it really hard to give aids with my inside calf.  I want to say that the horse I was riding isn't as forward as the horses I was used to riding, but to be honest, that's completely untrue.  Yes, the last horse I leased was a 16.2hh warmblood with a massive stride, but I also used to exercise and school many different kinds of horses and ponies.  I ended up having this annoying, disgusting nagging heel and feeling like I have just become an ugly and really ineffective rider.

During the moments when everything came together, I opened my chest, relaxed my shoulders, raised and softened my hands and deepened my leg, everything came together nicely.  The horse became softer, rounder, and I could really feel his back raise and his stride open up.  You know, I don't really think I have ever ridden a horse that was THAT responsive to my seat.  To go from hollow and sucking back to soft, round and forward by just adjusting my seat and position was pretty amazing.  I feel like that's how it should always be :) hee hee

Right now I am trying to focus on the positives so as not to become weighed down by my body not responding the way it used to and the way I wish it would.  I know that the fitness is an issue, and I was completely expecting that.  Being riding fit is so different from other kinds of fit and I could barely canter a circle without huffing like the big bad wolf.  We had a pretty awesome trot in the end which was just soft and forward and lovely and received some great compliments from the coach.  But afterwards, I seriously thought I was going to puke.  I was just like "No.  You're good.  Don't puke, just breathe".  I'm so glad I didn't vomit!
I kinda like the lessons when I feel like that at the end.  It means that I pushed myself and that I tried my best and it helps me to not look back on the lesson and wish I had tried harder.  I also feel like once I get to ride more, I will become more fit and then working on pushing on my legs down and some of the other issues I have, will become easier.  Thinking about it now, I honestly have no idea how I used to ride 5 horses a day after school, just a year ago!

After I gave my lesson horse some much deserved love, carrots and a wash, I downed an entire bottle of water and he went into his stall to have his supper.  Matt (my boyfriend) and I walked around giving cookies to the other ponies and visited the two momma horses and their babies!

Aren't they just too cute!!?  One of these little warmblood foals is a month old and the other is three weeks old.  We gave the moms some very well deserved treats and then headed back home so that I could have a hot shower and take some Aleve.

I'm in the process of adding a list to my blog of things I need to work on, i.e riding fitness, pushing my legs down, softening my upper body, so make sure you look out for that!

Some more exciting news, I am in the process of trying to find a summer job doing something with horses (hopefully riding, but maybe working at a summer camp) and I should be getting a phone call about a possible position or more information on available positions.  So hold thumbs everyone!

Also, if you (or anyone else you know) is looking for someone for a horsey position (uh, paid - I need to make money to put myself through college) in Easton, Maryland, I would be very very VERY happy to apply, be interviewed, and pretty much do anything you want me to do.
AND/OR, if you know anyone that needs a horse to be ridden/schooled/shown/exercised (maybe a project horse the owner doesn't have time for?) in Easton, Maryland, I would be very happy to do this free of charge, as long as I would have time to have a full time (possibly unhorsey) paid job elsewhere.

Does anyone else feel empty when horses aren't in your life?

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Back in the saddle again!

If the boots fit, wear 'em!

Or in my case, Ride in them!

I have no idea how, but I actually managed to get my new boots on!  After about 10 mins of trying to zip them up, I finally did it!
It could have been that I tried working the ankle in a bit as I put them on, that I put them on wearing thin skinny jeans or that I found a little trick where if I lift my leg up and straighten it, the boots become easier to zip up. All I can say is HALLELUJAH! **clouds open up and choir starts singing**

Also, some really really exciting news!  I scheduled a riding lesson for tomorrow!  This will be my first lesson in over a year and pretty much the first time I will be on a horse in about a year.  Boy, am I gonna be stiff tomorrow!  (Not that I really mind - my favorite lessons were always those ones where I pushed myself so hard that when I dismounted my legs were shaking!)  I just really hope the weather holds so that my lesson wont be cancelled due to mud or bad footing!

Wish me luck! I am so excited!
Check back tomorrow to see how it went!

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If the boots fit, wear 'em!

Horses Crossing their Jaws

Today, a good friend of mine asked me what I knew about horses crossing their jaws.  I must admit that I knew very little about it, other than it being a form of evasion, and because I love to learn new things I decided to do some research on the topic and share what I found here.

Why a horse crosses the jaw
The important thing is to try to discover why a horse does something, in order to deal with the actual problem and to not just treat the symptom (in this case the crossing of the jaw).  Not only is it the correct thing to do, but also by dealing with the cause of a problem you are less likely to have to deal with new problems arising from the original problem.
By doing a bit of reading, I found that, as riders, we have to consider the possibility of there being a problem on both sides of the rein (i.e. not only a problem with the horse, but with the rider as well).  It is also important to remember that a horse will not be evasive unless he has a reason to.  Below I have outlined the most common reasons for a horse crossing his jaw.

Pain in the Mouth
First, it is important to make sure that there is nothing wrong with the horse's mouth.  That means getting a vet or equine dentist to come out and check for sharp edges and points, retained gaps, ulcers and wolf teeth (which start to grow as early as 18 months) and resulting lacerations to the horse's tongue and cheeks.

(Image from equisports.net)

Because crossing the jaw can be a reaction of oral pain, it is important to ensure that the horse's mouth is healthy before you consider anything else.

Problem caused by the rider
First I want to note that even if you are a good rider, you could still be doing something incorrect in your riding (whether it is your hands, seat or something else) which could be causing a problem with your horse.  Likewise, just because something in your riding is incorrect, or you may have picked up a bad habit, it does not necessarily mean that you are a bad rider.  There are several things that a rider could be doing to cause a horse to cross his jaw:
Unyielding hands and pulling in the mouth:  First, it is important to remember the correct positioning of a riders hands.  There should be an invisible straight line from the horse's mouth to the rider's hands and through the rider's elbow.

(Image from cumbrianrider.co.uk)

This position of the hands allows the rider's hands to be yielding and contact to be soft and elastic.  Riding with your hands low and your elbows locked results in unyielding hands which can cause a horse to become evasive and resistant because there is never any "give" from the rider's hands.  I have often seen people riding with their hands low and and elbows locked in an attempt to make the horse go "round".  This is a forceful and incorrect way of making a horse go on the bit, because the horse is not engaging the hind, working forward and through the back and coming softly into the bit.  Instead the rider is forcing the horse's head into position and it only makes sense that evasion should follow.  The rider's hands should also be still and soft with a soft, light contact to the horse's mouth to allow the horse to come correctly from behind, through the back and into the bridle.
Incorrect seat:  It is equally important to ensure that your seat is correct and that you are not tensing in the saddle, but being as relaxed, supple and correct as you expect your horse to be.  A rider twisting their wrist, while incorrectly placing their seat bone against the horse's spine can cause discomfort and therefore resistance.  Also, a rider who is rotating his/her shoulders could cause a movement that travels down the arm and into the horse's mouth resulting in resistance and possibly crossing of the jaw.

Problem with the bit or incorrect fitting bridle
Crossing the jaw seems to be a common reaction from a single joint snaffle.

(Image from horsenpetoutlet.com)

As well as acting on the bars of the mouth and the horse's lips, a single jointed snaffle has a "nutcracker" action, where pressure is applied on the horse's tongue in a downward, squeezing action.  Some horses may cross their jaws to evade this nutcracker effect.  Using a double jointed snaffle such as a french link snaffle, which only acts on the lips and bars of the horse's mouth, may result in a horse not being inclined to cross his jaw, provided there is nothing wrong with the horse's mouth or muscular or skeletal structure.
It is also always important to be sure that your tack fits correctly and  remember that different nosebands fit differently.  Always do your research to make sure that your tack fits correctly and that it is not causing your horse problems such as pinching or incorrect pressure.  This is a good guide to correct noseband fitting which can be a huge help if you are trying to fit a new noseband, or even if you just want to make sure that your current noseband is sitting correctly.

Muscular problems
If a horse has a muscular problem, it could result in pain or discomfort for the horse when being ridden and therefore resistance and evasion such as crossing the jaw.  In this case, you should consult an accredited equine masseuse recommended by your vet, and remember that if there is a muscular problem, it will take time to overcome and for the horse to be able to work comfortably.

Skeletal problems
If a horse suddenly starts to cross his jaw, his spinal alignment may be out (perhaps at the poll) in which case you should consult an equine chiropractor.


A note on training
If you have taken measures and consulted with equine professionals to ensure that your horse's evasiveness is not a result of discomfort or pain, you might consider how you are actually riding the horse to try to achieve a correct "frame".  If you are trying to ride the horse "on the bit" make sure that you are riding the horse forward and into the bit with your seat and legs and not just trying to make your horse round by using your hands.  By trying to put a horse into a frame with only (or mostly) your hands often results in tension and therefore resistance and evasion.  Also remember, that just because your horse is walking or trotting, it does not necessarily mean that your horse is moving forward.  


The figure 8 Noseband
I am going to mention this noseband, as a lot of people use it, and it was developed for this exact purpose.  However by just putting a nose band on your horse to prevent him from crossing his jaw, you may only be treating the symptom and not the actual cause of the evasion, and by doing this you could very well be ignoring your horse's attempts at trying to tell you that there is something wrong and that he is in pain.

(Image from sustainabledressage.net)

The figure 8 or Grackle noseband is restricts the horse from crossing his jaw through pressure with the front "crossover" point being the main point of pressure.  If you do decide to try this noseband, ensure that it is fitted correctly and note that it should sit higher up on the horse's face than a cavesson.

I hope you find this interesting and informative.  I know I learned a great deal researching and writing it.  As horse people, we all know that the learning never ends and that learning new things not only makes us better and more knowledgeable riders and horse moms (and dads), but better people too.

If you would like to comment or have anything more to offer on the topic, please feel free to leave a comment by clicking on the "neighs" link at the bottom of this post.

Happy riding!

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Horses Crossing their Jaws

How to buy riding boots online

Or rather how not to...

So a few weeks ago I bought a pair of tall riding boots online.  Did I do my research? No.  Did I even know what my shoe size is in the US?  Not really.  Did they fit?  Nope.

After living in 3 countries within the span of a year, I had barely figured out my shoe size in Australia, let alone the US.  I bought two pairs of shoes recently (trying them on first) and they are size 7 and 8.  I figured I would buy the size 8 boot, thinking that the bigger size would be more likely to fit me.  The shoe size of my new boots is perfect.  The calf size?  Not so much.
About 3 years ago I bought a pair of tall boots in the US and the regular calf size fit me perfectly.  I definitely don't have slim calves and I was pretty sure that the wide size would be too wide, so I opted for the regular calf size.  And do they fit me?  Absolutely not.  I can't even zip them up...actually, my jodhpurs were also a lot tighter than they used to be when I put them on to try the boots on...

Honestly though, I really like these boots!  They are Ovation Pro Field boots and they are just awesome!  The leather has a fancy shiny black finish that would look really good in the show ring (when I eventually get there again) and they have a super convenient zip up the back so that they are easy to put on (and you aren't trying to pull them on with two hoofpicks).

To prevent others from making the same mistake I did, I will offer a bit of advice on how to buy boots online and what I really should have done before I shelled out $100.  Honestly, it's just common sense.  Common sense that I didn't use because I was too busy singing "NEW BOOTS! NEW BOOTS!" very excitedly.

How to buy boots online:

1.  Find a pair of boots you like.
2.  Check reviews on the boots you are looking at online.  (I actually did do this)
3.  Note anyone's comments on sizes being smaller/bigger than you might think and order accordingly.
(If you are like me and want to buy second hand boots online you should definitely do the following things)
4.  Visit a local tack store/dealer that stocks the brand of boots you want to purchase, try them on (with riding pants on of course) and make sure that
a)  they actually fit right, and
b)  you like how they feel
5.  If you live in a tiny town (like me) or in the middle of nowhere, contact the seller and ask for measurements of the calf length and width of the boot.
(The following is a good article on how to measure for tall riding boots (and of course I should have read it before I bought the boots)
6.  Compare seller's measurements with your own measurements.
7.  If you are sure the boots will fit, buy them.  If you aren't, find or wait for another seller to have secondhand boots that will fit.

A tip on boot fitting:

When you try the boots on, you want them to be slightly taller because once the you get a bit of wear in the boot's ankle, the boot wont be as long.
This means that you want the back of the boot to be slightly higher than the bend of your knee and the side of the boot to be a fair amount higher than the bend of your knee.

My boots are slightly too tall, but I think they will be fine once the ankle gets worn in a bit...if I could only get them on... :p
I now have two choices,
1.  Get riding and lose a little bit of chub
2.  Get riding and sell my beautiful new boots

Happy riding!

How to buy riding boots online