The Gifted Fund

Christie Cooper

USDF Region 7

Receiving a Gift from "The Gifted Fund"

I have been blessed to have found a very talented trainer. Her name is Gayle Smith. She has done wonders for my riding and my confidence. Being able to spend a solid week at the barn from start to almost dark was a great experience. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have been given the Gifted Fund scholarship. I found myself even luckier when my employer said I could have the week "off." I didn't need to worry about using my vacation time or taking time off without pay, which was an extra added bonus! Everything seemed to fall into place very nicely.

The plan for the week was to ride each day and on Friday we would be leaving for our first horse show and returning on Sunday. Even though Radetzky has been shown to 3rd level himself, I have only shown to 2nd. The plan Gayle set for me was to take Radetzky to school at two shows this year, which we did! My issue is feeling confident while away from home. I ride my horse well at home and then get easily distracted by "all the stuff" going on around me. To ease my nerves we decided to enter at First Level Test 4 for the weekend instead of Second Level. I need one more score at 2nd level so I can move up to 3rd to finish up my Bronze medal! Patience grasshopper, I tell myself!

Day 1

After spying on my horse most of the morning to see him taking his "infamous naps" in which he lies flat out for quite a long while, I finally got to see him take one. He's so sweet...while he was lying down I quietly entered his stall and stooped next to him, patting him on his neck all the while. What an absolute love bug!

During my first ride of the week, Gayle warmed up Radetzky so that I could get the feeling better of what we were trying to accomplish, which was to have my horse in self carriage and more collected. This was a good challenge for me after she was done riding him because now I had to "keep it." We worked on making sure that Radetzky was soft and supple and equally between my leg and my reins. He is quite supple laterally so I have to be careful that he does not swing his haunches left or right. Working on straightness is one of the most difficult things for me, especially at the walk. I worked on keeping Radetzky light and responsive to my aids.

Day 2

Today, is trash day and I survived the dreaded trash truck! My horse is really very confident and rarely does he spook. Gayle is great at making sure that no matter what is going on around or in the ring that I continue to RIDE my horse and not become a passenger when I become tense myself. I tend to pay more attention than my horse does to the things going on around me.

Today, we continue on making Radetzky more responsive to my aids at the canter. He has a very good work ethic, however, if I don't have the right "mental state" that I am in charge then sometimes he likes to play around. This tends to show up most when we canter. He will get behind my leg and kick out a bit, not a buck...after watching a video, it feels bigger than it looks! The remedy here Gayle quickly tells me is to sit back on my seat more and drive him forward, which in the moment is hard to think about sending your horse forward when I feel like his haunches can whirl me off in a moment. I find the problem gets fixed quicker if I do as she says quickly!

Day 3

Today I warmed up Radetzky and am very pleased with myself! Gayle had the other trainer at our barn video tape me during my ride. This will later prove helpful to evaluate my video from the show, which was not as good as Day 3 at home! I am very happy as I was able to get my canter departs exactly when and where I asked, without any antics! With my tendency to help my horse canter, I lean forward too much. Gayle reminds me to sit up straight, which feels almost behind the vertical, yet after watching the video I really am straight not going back. A feeling I need to become more comfortable with.

I rode thru my test that I will be showing at in 3 days. I completely stopped RIDING. I went from "thinking rider" to passenger. I lost my focus and became too occupied on the wind around me. Gayle had me run thru the test again...this time she offered movement by movement feedback to get me back on track. I had to get my game face back on and not let my horse just take me for a ride. I finally re gained the suppleness, self carriage and uphill frame by using more half halts, sitting quietly with leg and hand to keep Radetzky steady in his frame.

Today is the day that I really am concentrating on keeping his poll the highest point. It feels a bit strange as I am used to riding him deeper. I normally work on keeping him round and over his back and also placing his neck where I WANT it.

Day 4

Radetzky feels pretty fresh today as I warm him up. Gayle tells me to drive him forward into my hand...drive him forward...how about slow him down. She says that I need to let the energy go forward not back and to ride him a little bit deeper so he doesn't play around. She is always right, so I choose to listen and do what she asks quickly so I don't have problems!!

Today we focused more on my stretchy circle after not doing so good with it yesterday. Since the stretchy circle is now in a new place a V instead of C, I think it is a more difficult spot. I don't have so much fence to use to help me plan my circle and after coming across the diagonal from canter to trot, I find I really need to get Radetzky collected and really on my aids, otherwise my stretchy circle is rushed and not stretching! After about the 6th stretchy circle "I" finally get it.

We move onto doing some lengthenings. With Radetzky being so supple I must be very careful with my hands and leg to keep him steady and not make him bobble here. We begin by doing this on a circle and it seems to help to keep him more balanced. I ask him to lengthen on the open part of my circle and then collect. I finally get about 4 strides when I can really feel that he is lengthening after doing this exercise a few circles around. Then we put it together by doing a lengthening across the diagonal.

Today is spa day...I need to get Radetzky bathed and clipped up for the show we are leaving for tomorrow.

Day 5

We pack up the trailer and leave for the show. I am the first to warm up at the show. I chose to "get it over with" rather than have Gayle ride her clients horse first. I have this little voice inside me that says it's kinda cheating when I have the trainer warm up my horse for me, even though it really helps in the long run. Besides, how does my horse advance if the trainer does not ride, right??

I ride for about 30 minutes...I am really glad we went to school Radetzky at two other shows as I feel more comfortable now! I am glad Radetzky was fresh yesterday as he was a bit today!! I warm him up the same away from home as I do at home. I bring him up higher a little more quickly in the poll and am striving to make him look as fancy as possible.

Riding my horse on the buckle AWAY from home is truthfully not my favorite thing to do...so what do I need to do...ride my horse around the outside and inside of the arenas on the buckle. I want to make sure that Gayle is pleased with my work so I try hard to get my game face on and just suck it up!!

Day 6

We arrive at the show at 7 am, my ride isn't until 11:45. Gayle decides to give Radetzky a little tune up for me. I think she is really doing this to help me out because I have been working so hard this week. Gayle rides for about 20 minutes and I ride for about the same. The goal is to have the poll the highest place, while making sure Radetzky is round, responsive and supple.

Since this is my first show with Radetzky it is a bit of a guessing game right now to know how much warm up he needs and how much I can handle. Gayle suggests that I give myself 30 minutes to warm up before my class.

Time for my class...unfortunately, I had a flash back to day 3 in which I stopped riding during my first practice test. It's a good thing I have another day to try to redeem myself tomorrow and earn a qualifying score. I actually took 2nd place today, however, it is not the ribbon I am after, it is the % on my test!!!

Day 7

A new day and a different judge...maybe that will be my saving grace today!?! Again, we get to the show grounds about 7 am and I warm up Radetzky for about 20 minutes. I am doing much better this morning in my warm up. Anyone can tell when I am a thinking rider as I RIDE my horse and do not become a passenger!

We decide that 20 minutes should be plenty of warm up before my class this afternoon. After checking with the ring steward, Gayle is told that the judge decided to take an un announced break and would be back soon. Hmmm...not in MY plan...I take about a 10 minute walk break and then go back to work, not really knowing when the judge would be ready.

Finally, I get to go in!!!! The good news is I do MUCH better than yesterday and I am more pleased than my previous ride.

In summary, this week was a great learning experience for me. I had to deal with things that were not in MY PLAN, I had to stay focused and not worry about the static going on around me. As we drive back to the barn Gayle and I agree to some different goals and things to try. It was a learning experience and I can say I will be better for it the next time around!

I can't express my gratitude enough towards The Dressage Foundation and Carol Lavell. The fact that I was able to spend time riding my own horse and not be time constrained to race back home was very nice. Having no time schedule to adhere to and being able to clean all my tack, everyday, walk up to Radetzky's stall and watch him nap and be able to feed him carrots and apples throughout the day and hand walk him around the property at my leisure was very special. I was able to spend the day with Gayle and watch her ride and give lessons throughout the days, which was very valuable as well!!

Again, thank you!!
Radetzky (by Kennedy)
Imported by DG Bar Ranch - Hanford, CA
8 y/o Dutch Warmblood Gelding