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Equestrian Frustrations

It seems I find myself wanting to blog only when things with my riding aren’t going well, I wonder why that is… In truth it’s not that my riding is going poorly it’s just that I’m really hard on myself when something doesn’t go the way I think it should. Let me explain. I have goals within my sport of dressage and in order to reach those goals I lesson twice a week with a very good trainer, I ride 5 to 6 days a week, and I attend clinics with highly experienced clinicians. I put a lot of time and effort into having fun but still wanting to reach my goals with my horse.

I recently went to clinic that a highly experienced and respected clinician was giving. During my 45 mins with this clinician I went from feeling “wow I really do know what I’m doing” to “I am just a shit rider.” Granted we (my horse and I) are at that point of moving up a level so moves are getting more difficult but geez how can we go from feeling like we are on cloud 9 to being in the muck bucket in such a short time.

The sitting trot is probably the biggest obstacle I have at the moment to overcome. Well there’s certainly others but I’ll save those for later. I’ve only been riding really seriously for about 5 years. I got more serious when I bought Aldo who had experience and I thought I could catch up (could be another blog post). It’s so hard to remember that the great riders also sucked at one point in their training journey. I have found that if I really push myself and put my all into every ride it does get easier, a little anyway.

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Horsey Fun Stuff

I for some reason, can not stop buying horsey stuff! There’s so much out there from tack to blankets, saddle pads and rider wear and oh yes we can’t forget horsey treats! (Let’s be honest that’s really the only thing our horse really cares about.) I recently discovered Saddlebox, a subscription horse sample set that arrives once a month. Each month there’s a theme of items to try. Not only can use everything in the box it get’s to be a surprise once a month too! What could be better! With each box a portion is donated to help a rescue horse and a photo of that horse is inside your box. Such an awesome way to help others.

If you’d like to give a box as a one time gift you can do that as well. Such a cool company and so much fun! Click here to find gifts for horselovers.

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Selecting A Trainer

Kool Aldo

It had been about 2 years since I first started training dressage with my horse.  My horse, Kool Aldo being the 14 year old ISH that he is was schooling 3rd level when I bought him 2 years ago.  I had no idea how to ride him correctly….correctly as in balanced and light with a correct seat.  Aldo has been the most patient horse on the planet and has put up with a lot of my training mistakes with a very noble attitude.  I’ve been with the same trainer the past year and have felt a little stuck.  I moved to a different barn a couple of months ago and decided it might be time to look for another trainer.  

Dressage trainers are not a dime a dozen in my part of Florida.  It’s difficult and expensive to find really good ones.  Ones who have trained with elite riders and trainers and who have the credentials to back it all.  As I started looking around I “tried out” other trainers.  I went to see them train and talked with the riders they were training.  But I think its really important that you click with your trainer and you believe in what they are telling you.  I also believe you have to find a trainer that believes in you and your horse and they aren’t just stringing you along knowing that you may never progress up the levels.  So I decided to have a couple of trainers come to me for a training session to see if I clicked with them.  As soon as I did that I was told how bad it is to trainer hop.  Yes I don’t agree with switching trainers frequently and only using them for a short period of time before moving on to the next but I do believe it’s important to try them out so to speak before you commit.  Did I feel bad telling the ones that I didn’t click with they weren’t right for me?  Yes!  But we put so much time and money into training that you have to find the right one for you and your horse.  One that you can be with long term.  

The trainer that I’ve been with the past year is a great person and an awesome trainer.  I just didn’t feel like I was progressing anymore or that she was excited to work with me anymore.  The one I have now is much tougher and has more experience and is excited to work with me and Aldo.  In the last 5 weeks of training with her I have learned so much.  I’ve been able to correct my seat and get my horse round, I finally feel like I’m moving forward again.  

Don’t be afraid to question your situation and test the waters when it comes to training.  You want to have fun and be confident that your goals are important to your trainer and that you’re moving toward them together.  

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Our Story with Stressless

I purchased Kool Aldo (Aldo) about 2 years ago when he was 12.  He’s a big beautiful chestnut Irish Sport Horse Gelding at 17+ hands.  His career had been eventing with a very elite trainer.  Somewhere along the way he lost his confidence and refused to jump.  When I first purchased Aldo, he was spooky, but I had no idea how spooky he really was until I got to know him better.  One day I was carrying a brightly colored grooming brush out of the tack room and he reared up, broke out of the cross ties and kept running like he’d seen a ghost.   At that point I’d only ride him in the presence of my trainer.  I was scared to death of him.  

As my training with Aldo progressed we bonded more and trusted each other more but there was still this uneasiness about him.  He had a hard time focusing during our training sessions which made him more challenging to ride.  I began showing him in Dressage shows, he was tense but as soon as we got in the arena he’d literally become a ball of nerves.  I had a difficult time containing him and keeping my composure through the test.    

Stressless has completely changed my relationship with Aldo.  He’s always been a sweet horse but now he’s a sweet, calm, goofball of a horse.  Everyone loves him, his personality shines through now.  He’s more focused so our training has improved immensely.  I’m a much more confident rider as well knowing he’s on Stressless.  I’m no longer afraid of what he might spook at!  He’s still a little spooky but he recovers much quicker and is very easy to calm down.  Before Stressless Aldo was afraid of anything that looked like something he may have jumped in the past.  I recently took him to an obstacle course training clinic and he managed to concur every obstacle without a problem!  I was so proud of him!   

Kool Aldo and I have come a long way in 2 years.  I take Aldo everywhere now and don’t worry about how he’s going to react.  I feel so much more confident around him knowing he’s on Stressless!   You can purchase Stressless at https://equinesl.com