The Gifted Fund

Kathy Doyel

USDF Region 7

One Time at Horse Camp

First of all, I must say what a fantastic learning experience the Carol Lavell Gifted Fund has given me.  As a “backyard rider” that only receives professional instruction about three times a month, I was elated to be able to have a week of riding with Carol Tice.  I’m not so sure my partner, Nautique, was so appreciative.  He was perfectly happy with our, shall we say, “relaxed” way of going, and he had absolutely no qualms with flabby abs!

 Secondly, a very big thanks to Jim and Carol Tice for the above and beyond hospitality.  They allowed me to park my motor home right there on the ranch.  Jim had a little “campsite” for me amongst the pepper trees right next to Nautique’s stall.  We even had our own wash rack and turnout pen within 15 feet of us.  It was fabulous! As outlined in my application letter, my goals were: 1) Improve suppleness through my body to allow my horse to become more supple.

2) Lighten my horse to the aids. 3) Strengthen “push” for better extensions. 4) Lunge line work for me to improve my body awareness. 5) Learn the proper use of cavaletties.

 I am very happy to say that all of these were addressed and improved.  Through walking local trails in the morning, doing some yoga, using the Balimo chair, exercise ball and trampoline, I learned a lot about my body and how conditioning will help my riding.  The Balimo chair, exercise ball and trampoline were especially helpful because there was immediate and obvious feedback of exactly where my physical weaknesses are.  Carol gave me exercises to practice at home so that I will continue to improve my right-side weakness (residual effect of spinal cord surgery), which will also correct my habit of hanging on the left rein.

 Another tool Carol gave me is awareness of my breathing.  By learning where I was breathing into – upper, lower, right or left quadrant of my abdomen – I could affect my horse’s movement.  By moving my breathing around to the different quadrants, I used different muscles and thereby gained new communication with my horse.  Wow!  Who knew such a simple little thing could make such a difference!

 Carol gave me two lunge line lessons that were fantastic – somewhat painful (no whining from me - whining only gets you more work!), but extremely beneficial.  I have the common problem of falling to the right.  What I learned on the lunge line was that my right hip and pelvis were coming too far forward.  It’s amazing how well you get to know those little muscles – they scream like big muscles when you ask a lot of them!  Carol had me move my horse in and out of the circle one step at a time, with my thighs and weight only.  Going to the left was obviously the weaker side because it required my right hip to stay back where it belonged in order to use my thigh properly.  Each step, Carol could see and feel Nautiques movement on the line and would give me feedback by saying, “he’s drifting” or “good”.  I was then able to make a quick adjustment of my hip and thigh.

 Cavaletti work was next on the agenda.  Carol set up cavaletties on each quarter-line.  We were to come down center-line and leg-yield to the center of the cavaletti, then leg-yield to the rail after the cavaletti.   Sounds simple enough.  This was a rude awakening for both Nautique and I!  For me, the control and position of the leg-yield along with accurately arriving at the center of the cavaletti was challenging.  It required all those little screaming muscles to get to work.  Nautique was not all that eager to pick up his hind feet, but after he hit the cavaletti a couple of times he decided it was less painful to pick ‘em up.  In the end it was a lot of fun for both of us even though it was hard work.  By the end of the session Nautique was wonderfully light, round and forward.

 During almost every session (two per day), Carol had us riding a pattern for at least half the lesson.  All of them were very helpful, but my favorite was a pattern that had us coming across the diagonal at the trot, into a leg-yield from center-line to quarter-line, then into the canter for half a 10 meter circle, and back to trot.  With a 17.3 hand horse, all of that comes very quickly, requiring a great degree of concentration on my breathing, balance, softness and clear communication with the horse.  Really, really fun!  It was great abdominal work for Nautique, and made him more and more responsive to the aids because he had to be attentive.  This pattern forced me to prepare earlier for the next movement, something I really need to improve on for shows.

 After each ride, Carol would check out Nautique’s sweat pattern to be sure he was working all the right muscles.  Never a problem – he always got good-boy pats.  To check on me, she would inspect my saddle pad.  I always put a baby pad on under my regular saddle pad.  It’s much easier to throw a bunch of the baby pads in the washer than it is to put several of the heavy pads.  The baby pads keep most of the hair and dirt off the heavy pad, which allows me to wash the heavy ones less often.  Also, by changing the baby pads each day, it makes it easy to see the dirt pattern on the pad so I know how I am distributing my weight in the saddle.  Very helpful.   

 As a “back yard" rider, it is extremely helpful to have this array of tools and knowledge to work with.  Having my horse at home has the benefit of allowing more riding time, but it also has the detriment of riding alone and not having the input of a trainer readily accessible.  Carol has given me a multitude of tools that give me immediate feedback, which will help me through the days or weeks between lessons with my local trainer.  My toolbox over-floweth. Thank you Carol Lavell, The Dressage Foundation, Inc.