I have two dressage competitions this weekend. I wouldn't normally do two shows in two days, but as they're both being held where I keep Echo and chances to compete are few and far between, I thought it probably wouldn't hurt.
We are desperately practising being precise now - I find it really hard to ride her well in a test, maintaining her way of going and getting her best movement, partly, I think, because I don't usually ride to markers. I make a transition when I have achieved what I wanted to in the previous pace - for example, I would never make a transition to canter if the trot wasn't going forward and supple first. In a test, however, you've just got to do it, and it can feel horrible at times.
I also find that she gets really heavy in my hand during a test, going onto her forehand. How I tried to get around this yesterday was to ride a couple of movements from the test, then get her back up again by riding on a circle. I don't really know how to fix it when in the middle of a test.
Being prelim tests, they are not particularly difficult, but I am finding the precision really challenging - it's definitely something I need to work on. This evening when I ride her, I will practise making transitions at particular markers and changing the rein when I have to, not just when she's ready. I don't want to practise my tests too frequently, but I need to get my accuracy problems sorted.
On a completely different note, I am really suffering with my back at the moment. I find that after doing any work on collection with Echo, my lower back really hurts. I'm sure my position is not what it should be. My best friend is a physio and she suggested that I might be tilting my pelvis too far forward and I should think about keeping it in balance when I ride, but it is really quite sore today. No sitting trot for me this evening!
3 comments:
Ah, lower backs! I've had back trouble for years, so you have my sympathy. Your friend is right, you may be changing your position when you ask for collection - try keeping your position the same and even relaxing a bit -don't push with your seat. That might help. The getting heavy on the bit may also be due to some tension you are carrying - or - are you by any chance looking down? Many people do this at transitions - it tends to drive the horse's energy downwards - so instead practice looking up and mentally feeling "lifting" as you do a transition - it can lighten everything up. These are just a few things that have helped me.
That's got to be nice to have some shows right where you keep Echo. Sure is a convenient way to get her some show experience.
I recently read that tight hamstrings contribute to lower back problems. Robert Dover ended up having back surgery because of that, and strongly recommends a good stretching regime before and after riding. I always have tight hamstrings, and tend to have lower back pain after a hard ride. I've started stretching more and it's really been helping.
Hey Suzie, check out my post from the 21st May - you've been tagged! Have fun :)
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