tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339321308717215115.post6945669945233978304..comments2023-12-20T01:49:09.131-05:00Comments on From Racehorse to Showhorse: Tuesdays!Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11564627110822414614noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339321308717215115.post-55178298829161966132009-06-04T13:44:07.074-04:002009-06-04T13:44:07.074-04:00Great job! Keep up the good work.Great job! Keep up the good work.LindaVAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01622080185250496067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339321308717215115.post-50690419119785393512009-06-02T21:24:51.982-04:002009-06-02T21:24:51.982-04:00What a wonderful post, Wendy, and I agree with you...What a wonderful post, Wendy, and I agree with you completely! It’s “all about the horse,” and the fellow who sold my horse to me said, “Every horse needs groceries and a job to do.” Sounds like Toby is enjoying his job, and he is obviously putting his groceries to good use ;o)<br /><br />My OTTB has many of the same issues you are facing with Toby. While Huey loads and travels like a champ in my 2H straight load bumper pull, he is a worrier. THIS time we will go to the Place Where Life Ends, so much of my time is spent making sure he knows he has "Been Here Before And Lived" or he has “NOT Been Here Before But Will Live."<br /><br />I've had issues with his back (he was born with a roached back and made it worse at the track rearing up and flipping over--NEVER with a rider and never with anyone behind him, but "up and over" just the same), and we are now on a regular acupuncture schedule. He also gets three tablespoons daily of an herbal mixture called Body Sore in his high-protein (muscle-building) mixture of alfalfa pellets, soybean pellets, rice bran and supplements. He is much more willing to go on contact. After we've warmed up, he heaves this very audible sigh, which means he's not worried anymore, and we can get to work.<br /><br />The sigh is new—he has always "held his breath," but I think he's over that because his back feels better--and he does too.<br /><br />I too come from a hunt seat background. Betsy’s "get the horse on contact" approach is what my teachers are using on me, too. I ride with two instructors who have different backgrounds and approaches. Their verbiage is different, their exercises are different, but the common denominator is ME--they each help me work through my problems establishing a firm contact and "driving the horse into a receiving hand."<br /><br />My goal is to show and be competitive in First Level by next year. The California Dressage Society is very supportive of the adult amateur rider, and I want to take advantage of some of the shows and programs that are especially for AAs like me. There is the CDS Amateur clinic (one member from each chapter in a region attends a four-day clinic with a noted trainer, with fees paid by the rider's chapter); the RAAC (Regional Adult Amateur Championship) with two divisions--Novice for riders that have never competed in a CDS Year-end Championship, and Elite, for those that have competed in the championships; and the championships themselves.<br /><br />The chapter I belong to holds four shows a year--two schooling shows and two rated shows. All the facilities are nice and fairly close to me. I live in the High Desert, which is a minimum of 40 miles from the nearest trainer or show venue.<br /><br />Keep up the good work and keep writing about your lessons! I enjoy reading someone else's journey ;o)TBDancerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03889066602819359591noreply@blogger.com