Freezing / Piggy Update

January 29, 2021Posted inFancy, Flying Change
The group lesson people had an opportunity to get our weekly lesson four days since the horrid cold rain and mud shut down our regular Monday lesson. Erin told us we could have a lesson on Friday and scheduled for 3:00 warm afternoon. Sadly, something came up and it was scheduled for 9:30. That time of the morning was a 32 degree day. I've been thinking a woman in her third childhood should not have to ride when it's that cold. However, I jumped at having a group lesson. I…

It was a Piggy Day!

January 21, 2021Posted inFancy
I had asked Erin to ride Fancy today. Flying lead changes are still a training item. Also today, the future new owner of the stable moved in. Erin Patterson will continue to train a few horses there and then change to giving only riding lesson at the facility. Mini pig and two mini babies had moved into a stall adjacent to the arena. Three sheep and a young llama moved into another stall. These stalls are attached to the indoor arena. When I asked Erin to ride my horse today,…

What is Good Horsemanship

January 19, 2021Posted inHorsemanship
Dressage FEI researchers undertook an in-depth literature review together with semi-structured interviews with 105 people (51 men and 54 women) from six continents, 30 countries, across eight disciplines and 21 stakeholder groups. They concluded that horsemanship could be defined as a sum of these 14 attributes: comprehensive knowledge, practical experience, growth mindset, respect for the horse, ethological empathy, effective application of the learning theory, awareness of and attentive to body language, commitment to the priority of equine welfare, emotional intelligence, humility and integrity, adaptability, patience, selection and treatment of support…

They are Not Muck Boots!

January 18, 2021Posted inFancy
Group lesson Monday with Erin Patterson trying to control our regular three riders and a person new to our rowdy group. Names omitted to protect the guilty. We were doing flying changes and every rider needed the entire arena. The other three riders hid in the corners. The corners are the safe space, except when Fancy starts her straight line flying changes . Pity the new rider, but at least she wasn't in the corner where Fancy wants to canter into it at full throttle. The regular group riders are…

Another Banner Flying Lead Change Day!

January 11, 2021Posted inFancy, Flying Change, Missouri Fox Trotter
Group lesson Monday was another day for the flying change record book! Group lesson today was two quarter horses and a fox trotter. One quarter horse is a former reining horse! The other QH is designated by me as a million dollar horse....safe for anyone and has heart and try. He is learning flying lead changes, but because of his breed and try, it’s easy for him. Flying changes are difficult for many reasons for all riders! All us riders are ornery. Only Erin can keep the humans under control.…

Flying Changes Memories!

January 9, 2021Posted inFlying Change
Ask a high level Dressage person for help: -I went to a high level Dressage Master clinic and watched 30 minute individual lessons. During the question and answer session for the auditors, I explained I was seeking to do flying changes on my horse and wondered why the riders put their foot so far back on the side of the horse when cueing the flying change. She was stunned at my stupidity and was unable to answer. -High Level Dressage rider in my lessons with Jenny had only done flying…