Tom Graham 8th September 2015

Well it has been a long time since I last rode with Tom and a long time since I blogged properly.

I went to Portugal in May with Pip had a wonderful time riding, have tried several horses but they all have a but, my issue not theirs

My back has been bad this last month so Chorrie hasn't got the walk work he needs for his rehab and it was all a bit pear shaped and I was feeling very despondent.

But here we are I'm back in the saddle, my back is now just grumbling rather than shouting at me and life seems less grey. Still the worry with Beaglie and the dementia but we have to take each week as it comes and travel in hope

So back to the lesson, first lesson in the new indoor for Chorrie he found all the stable noise terrifying    so walked him in hand until he settled. Told Tom wanted to work on our halts as they were AWOL, Tom asked us to show him what we'd been doing and there was the first bl00dy great hole we bumble along and bimble I might do a bit of leg yield or shoulder in but there isn't much of a plan nor it would appear is there much straightness

So worked on a circle with C staying on my circle path and me having a defined path

We've lost straightness most of my halt issues are straightness issues ride him off the outside rein maybe with some counter flexion and he halts easily.

So exercises

1/ If he gets too deep do a few steps of LY to engage and thus lift the poll
2/ If he spooks keep the leg on keep him thinking forwards
3/ LY to track, half 10m circle, LY back to track

But most of all ride the outside round , not pull the inside round.

Lager lout pony

So started off improving the halt need to not dribble into the halt but walk into it, also think of the halt coming from my sternum and use legs (!)

Onto trot started off well need to sit left when LY on left rein.

Was just trotting on right rein towards A when I suddenly found myself teleporting 50m down the arena with Chorrie almost taking out Tom (!)

Got some fab work after that certainly had forwards for free, half pass was fab, who'd have thought six months ago I'd have been riding half pass?

Good times

Crisp and correct

So Tom lesson this morning , explained C was a bit stiff and stuffy yesterday for Katie

Tom said he appeared to be a bit 'caus' as in casual he needs to walk on crisply and walk out

Keep him interested by keeping him busy, transitions, move him around, rein back nothing needs to be hard either on him or for him but keep his attention and waiting for the next thing

Trot do a 1/4 circle  of trot then walk, rinse and repeat keep doing this, the way to access his back is to keep him onside and interested and not drill him into submission

Did some canter, initially just let him roll onwards then onto long side   2m loop counter bend ask for counter canter walk then true canter rinse and repeat

Canter serpentines in counter canter with simple changes

Finish on canter serpentines in true canter

You've got to want it

You've got to want it was  the phrase that stuck from last night's lesson

I wanted to work on half pass in walk particularly doing the zig zag as that is where I get most confused

Take homes are keep the poll up, especially in trot, straighten, change bend FINISH the movement, DO not flop keep riding as Tom said you can't ride a walk/trot like that. Didn't have the heart to tell him that was pretty much how I've ridden ALL my tests BT (Before Tom)

Then onto canter did four loop serpentines with simple change over centre line very pleased with boy and with me too

I had started thinking this was beyond my skill level so set off half assed, at which point Tom pointed out you have to WANT IT, so rode a circle and restarted with a bit of fcuking conviction and lo it happened

Really chuffed with the boy

He was really onwards bound after the walk half pass and felt up for it, the trot work was just lovely a little on the edge at times but he was just lovely and to think forwards used to be such a big issue 

Tom

My back was dire so Tom rode

Wow that pony can move was so good to see him powering around the arena enjoying himself.

Tom said he feels better than the last time he rode him :-)

Have finally bitten bullet and ordered Sprenger stirrups to see if will help back/knees

Amazeballs just amazeballs

So not written up my Tom lessons my bad!

Some gems " have submission before you add in power" " check who is holding who"

Last lesson  19th August Tom rode Chorrie because I was a stess head with work and full on IBS, got on afterwards and wow, my lovely VW Polo has morphed into a Ferrari he felt so unlocked through his body started work on the canter which I need to let roll onwards

So fast forward to today I need more commitment ride everything for a ten, each transition should be the best I can do no half assed attempts

More work on canter again I need to let it roll forwards and encourage him to open up his stride 

Simple changes should come from my body not my hands and do the change on a straight line

Trot post canter was cracking but again I must ride the transition and each stride not sit and wait for three strides

Homework is to work on simple transitions can also add in bits of Novice tests 

Tom Graham 19th April

Leg yield head to wall shows use or lack of use of outside rein, I lose my left rein and bang we lies the angle

On and back within the LY

Half pass don't make it harder than it need be to half pass left then turn onto centre line from left rein

Walk piris have improved 

Overall will to go forward has much improved

Hand still hurts :-(

Commitment be the ham not the egg

So was late getting out of work but luckily Tom was caught in traffic so I was ready on time, was feeling pretty under the weather IBS having flared up again (TMI?)

So take away points

• Hold the left rein *properly* (Jeez when will I get this consistently?)

• Be committed to the transition - At one point I lost connection so had a whinge and Tom pointed out the transition to walk  was just not good enough I am too fluffy and indecisive and we sometimes just wallow and wade into transitions. Essentially I have made Chorrie in my image (do enough at work to stay out of trouble) so if I want more I need to be committed and just darn well ask properly.

• Started training trot half pass, I need to watch the angle, we are NOT riding GP so do NOT make them steep. So on left rein down centre line in left SI, keep him around inside (left) leg and move him across the diagonal to the left away from the right leg.

• I am still thinking ‘ooh well done good boy’ and flopping into a heap *finish* the movement

• Still need to do more adjusting pace (on and back) and  flexion to keep him listening and with me

More Mr Fabulous

So started off with Tom asking how it had been since last lesson and what did I want to work on this session

Explained had been concentrating on suppleness as felt this was biggest missing link as he had good natural rhythm and contact aways came good if we had rhythm and suppleness

Wanted Tom to watch me start working in and to discuss afterwards 

So worked in really pleased with how much progress we have made, he moves sideways away from my leg now so much better now, need to watch left shoulder is straight.

Then looked at trot need to go with him and not get behind him, also I need to raise my game and not get a piece of good work, praise him and then just stop riding (SFO also has said this ) praise him and finish properly not just abandon him

Worked on leg yield then SI or towards medium trot

Next exercise was SI up centre line then take counter flexion then refine this down to just a feeling of counter flexion, in trot do I have options can I collect or push the trot on? Doesn't need to be huge either way just need to test I have the adjustability.

So take home message was I need to test the adjustability more, it should be invisible to onlookers it will also keep him focused (and me!)  

Was another excellent lesson Chorrie improves every lesson so wish I had found Tom years ago he had improved the way I ride Chorrie beyond recognition and I now have a horse that can go forwards 

Pony in a billion 

Tom Graham 14th June

Newsflash: have been threatened with working without stirrups, if I am brave (mad?) enough next time!

So explained to Tom that I wanted to work on/check my understanding of warming up.

So for me Tom warms up based on the first three scales of training

but firstly I need to check that I have reaction, will he walk / halt crisply?

Once we have reaction then start to think

Is the rhythm good or bad? (good is relative to where you and the horse are, not an absolute scale )

Do we have equal suppleness left <-> right? Can you take left flexion and move Chorrie away from the left leg with the same ease you can take right flexion and  move Chorrie away from the right leg?

Contact is it even ?

Do we still have reaction? Do we still have rhythm, suppleness and contact?

Then onto trot work again work through reaction, rhythm, suppleness and contact and so on and so forth.

The take home message was to evaluate what you have and to keep revisiting and evaluating. I have lots of exercises now to use.

The other lightbulb moment was leg yield we're pretty good going away from the right leg not so the left leg Tom finally got me to twig how to ride the shoulder first and not get him quarters leading.

Alison's lesson

Watched a bit of Al's lesson, looking really good one lightbulb moment for me was Tom saying that a lot of horses canter left because we are on the left rein not because we are aiding for left canter.

So to test on a straight line can you pick up left and right canter?

Tom Graham

Lesson with Tom on Saturday forecast was set to heavy rain, I was on first at 08:30 woke up to a dry morning which was very unexpected, we didn't get the rain until 10:00 when it chucked it down flash flooding road  closures the whole shebang. Was very pleased I'd elected to go first :-)

Tom asked how week had been said I wanted to look at contact in walk as it was deteriorating now I was attempting to keep fingers closed on left rein. Had tried to resolve with more impulsion, counter flexion, transitions, leg yield . 

Tom had me doing counter flexion AND move the shoulders in on a circle then politely straighten  if he started to fall onto left shoulder then counter flexion move shoulders politely straighten. Rinse and repeat.

Made a huge difference, I like the idea of politely straighten , it isn't punishment so don't swing horse back to inside flexion do it politely !

Tom also improved the leg yield I was not using my outside rein enough (correctly)

Tom did say I had become rather Pony Club, legs to go, hands to whoa 

Interestingly enough in leg yield Tom suggested I use the whip to "irritate" the left hind into more activity had always assumed it would always be right hind in need of activation

Had some fabulous trot again Tom has a way of opening Chorrie up and freeing him off and then we fly 

Again I need a different attitude need to be " we can do this" and ride with that conviction

Will be interesting to see if a month of this improves the tightness in his left side at his next physio appointment . 

I like the way Tom operates, it isn't twack the bugger with the whip, there is understanding that as I change how I ride ( left hand) Chorrie will need time to adjust and we need to work him through it.

Slightly scary how Chorrie and I collude in our less desirable habits,   Need to stay away from the arena sides as we both like to hug them a little too much

Tom Graham @ Duttons Lesson Three

So safe to say lesson was bloody good :-)

I like Tom's style, he is very encouraging whilst expecting good work, he teaches you the why and gives you ideas for you to try, he doesn't ride the horse through you.

So today was a lot about not letting him brace his neck against me, Chorrie's default to new things seems to be to brace and block, however I must also be sure I am not blocking him.

Need to keep my left hand CLOSED around the rein, failure to do so leads to poor work.

Trot down long side half 10m circle, leg yield to track, shoulder in to end

Three quarter or centre line, shoulder in, should at least stay on my line as a minimum, feel which way he wants to lean.

Refresh trot with large circle give and retake rein, lengthen rein forwards, on and back.

Start diagonal line then flexion then leg yield ensure we go where I want and finish where I want.

Finished with on and back going large, bloody hell that boy can trot!

Tom is a god the difference we get over a lesson is simply bloody amazing

Need to remember to rebalance the trot and not just keep taking it don't ask beyond what he can freely give

Sunny Schooling

Lovely morning warm and first session of the year in a polo top :-)

Halts are much improved and much softer to the contact.

Walk -> Trot transition much sharper (not carrying a whip), being fully committed to transition makes it a better transition

Trot feels more forward from the start, need to remember however to swing in the trot so he swings in the trot.

Pirouette on left rein so counter flex right and pirouette around left hind to end up on right rein are improving in walk and OK in trot.

Pirouette on right rein so counter flex left and pirouette around right hind to end up on left rein is sticky but improving  must  remember to start as a volte change bend then piri, to help him round. In trot is 'rustic' but he is maintaining the trot now so progress

Tom Graham @ Duttons 10th May Lesson 2

Disclaimers Turn on forehand and pirouettes are descriptive labels for me, not the classic movements you might expect to see.

Why we are doing what we are doing TOF is to improve bend, piri to engage outside hind, aim of both is to supple Chorrie as that is the huge factor in the lack of forwardness.

Take homes (my words not Tom's) I need to pay attention to detail so it is a good thing I now have brain space to notice rein back is not straight (first time was just glad I could quicken it) so notice it and correct it, not just mention it and carry on. Bit like the transition to trot , if the contact isn't good then the transition is unlikely to be too. So set him up so he can do his best.

I need a more positive attitude if I ask for trot then I must expect trot with every fibre of my being not be half assed about it. Insist and persist and be consistent.

Don't chase him forwards, supple him and help him by setting him up and swing in the trot so he too can swing in the trot

Could do the giravolta in hand before mounting

Lesson

So started off by showing Tom our much improved halts, need to watch he doesn't bear down on the contact as we go to halt needs to be forward to the halt with the contact staying 'true' . So I need to pay more attention to detail (my words not Tom's!)

Explained to Tom that I thought I'd lost the feel of the TOF exercise, so Tom showed us how from the ground I need to think of the TOF more as a giravolte.

Added in a new exercise half a walk pirouette with counter flexion, need to ride the shoulders round (have tendency when doing it from right rein to left to ride the 1/4s too much and get Chorrie stuck) start by riding a volte then counter bend and pirouette, important to then leg yield to track to reinforce.

Exercise 1 So halt rein back walk then half a walk pirouette with counter flexion leg yield to track halt rein back walk then half a walk pirouette with counter flexion leg yield to track

Do (1) then if he feels good down the rein transition to trot; need to get the TOF feel on the circle and remember to swing.

Then moved on to doing (1) in trot, again more insistence from me required, yes Alexis it is more difficult for your brain but keep going :-D

Summary Pleased Tom could see I have been doing my homework, however more pleased I could analyse and feel where we have improved, also pleased to build on where we left off and progress not be repeating the previous lesson.

Good stuff really like the way Chorrie feels when I get it right

High as a kite

I am as high as a kite went into the arena this morning with a plan:

"To do my homework and achieve at least 60% of how it was with Tom"

Well we achieved that and more and I made sure I smiled.

It wasn't until I left the arena that I realised how long it has been since I walked out of a schooling session not worrying  will he / will he not be ok.

There was the period of rehab. which was always a worry if the legs would take the strain, then would he stand up to cantering?

It was so nice to walk out feeling I had my boy back :-)

Amazeballs

So first lesson with Tom this morning, explained I wanted to work on having C more forwards without using the kick and gallop down the long side technique as that wouldn't work for me

Tom watched me do walk warm up and basically I  don't do enough, too much time between transitions / movements. I would say looking back that I slop around with no plan or real purpose 

So on a 20m circle started working on walk -> halt! more leg required and just do more transitions than I usually do.

Added in partial turn on forehand, need to stay on my seat and not consent to being pushed off it, also need to think "tie to Tom" to make sure my shoulders are correct position.

Also halt -> rein back thinking quicker steps as schooling exercise then walk (later trot) 

Trot -> halt -> rein back -> walk -> turn to outside to change rein -> trot

In trot think inside leg to mid line, watch still doing tie to Tom, stay forward in rise 

The partial turns on forehand were much more useful for suppleing than my usual shoulder in/ travers

Halts improved hugely but I need to be more consistent , persistent and insistent to stay where we got today when on my own

End result was C more responsive to leg, better transitions and moving in trot without leaning and being manoeuvrable , could ask him to increase stride length without him going down onto my hands

Also much more inclined to have poll as highest point and not bear down.

Need to use outside rein more than I do and use inside less - change the ratio also need to use legs and support / hug him into downwards forwards transition

When about to ask for trot trans don't tighten through hips, relax and go. Looking back I think I have been getting too anxious about getting him to go and thus tighten and make it harder for him so Zintry harder and tighten more and bingo you're in a  vicious circle 

I think I need to praise more and smile more and enjoy the moment more. I have always looked as if I am sucking lemons when riding Tom couldn't tell if I delighted or not so how would that feel to Chorrie ? It was sone of the best feelings ever and if Tom didn't get that vibe then would Chorrie ?

It was amazing to feel the transformation in Chorrie without "getting after him" or doing anything really other than being quiet and riding with a plan and purpose.

It was an amazing high and I'm still flying :-)