2016 Gifted Recipient: Arlene Gaitan (Region 9)
I was finally able to take advantage of my week of training, courtesy of The Dressage Foundation, after many setbacks in 2017 including a groin injury which kept me out of the saddle for about six months! I really appreciate TDF allowing me extra time to use the scholarship to make my dream happen.
Recently I spent a week with my trainer working on my riding goals. My schoolmaster, Questt, is 22-year-old Swedish Warmblood Arabian cross that I purchased when he was 19. Questt and I earned our USDF Silver Medal in 2016. We had our first competition at I1 in June of 2017 and though we were close, we did not get a 60% on our first two rides and on my third ride I pulled a groin muscle during the halt from the canter at X. The injury took a long time to heal. My goal is to try again at I1 in the fall of 2018.
My biggest obstacle is riding Questt’s very suspenseful trot. Even younger riders agree he is difficult to sit and at my age (53), it is even more challenging. If I can improve our trot work our 5’s and 6’s could be 6’s and 7’s and help me get the additional points needed for a 60%. Questt’s canter work on the other hand is very nice.
Day 1: After trailering Questt in the evening before, Judy Urban (my trainer) and I decided we would concentrate on sitting trot on the lunge line after warming him up at the trot and canter under saddle. We began at the walk and performing exercises to loosen up my waist but swinging my shoulders from side to side while keeping my head straight, legs long and toes up. This exercise kept me from tightening up and pulling my shoulders up into my ears! Judy had me perform the same exercises at the trot, both directions, with one hand on the bucking strap for security.
Day 2: After warming Questt up at the trot and canter, long on low, I resumed the exercises from the previous day on the lung line. After about 15-20 minutes we tried the sitting trot off the lunge line with stirrups. I had to lower my stirrups a hole! I tried the same swinging exercise while riding. Questt finds it easier to passage rather than move forward so I had to really push him through. I noticed I could sit and move with him better than the previous day! We also worked on straightness at the canter as Questt likes to swing his haunches in.
Day 3: Both Questt and I were a bit sore from the previous two days! We warmed up and tried the lunging exercises again. I noticed today I was a bit stiff from being sore, so I took frequent breaks. This time off the lunge we worked on sitting trot and medium trot. I was only able to keep my balance and seat about half-way across the arena in the medium trot but it was better than I had felt previously.
Day 4: Questt and I took the day off to rest!
Day 5: Both Questt and I were rested and ready to resume our boot camp! I warmed Questt up and then spent a short time on the lunge line. After the lunge line, we worked on trot circles keeping his tempo steady and my body supple. Then we worked at the canter on straightness.
Day 6: After a warm up we spent a short-time on the lunge line. Then off the lunge worked on our 8 meter voltes, which are harder than they look! My goal was to maintain the tempo and keep his shoulders aligned, as he tends to fall in. Then we worked on canter straightness and the canter zig-zag pattern in I1. I have a bit of a problem with the geometry especially with the first half pass (going too far or not far enough).
This week gave us a re-boot to our training program. I now am inspired to keep up our training, despite the heat in Texas, so I can reach my goal of a 60% at I1 in the fall.
I really appreciate TDF’s support and opportunities for scholarships like the Gifted Grant, especially for riders like myself who find it difficult to make the time due to professional and family responsibilities.
