Exciting Announcement

Driving Thursday

Introducing the new competition team for 2017.

Bliss & Greg Photo by Kate Bushman
Bliss & Greg
Photo by Kate Bushman

Coach Kate has very kindly asked if Greg would be interested in showing the lovely & talented Bliss at driving events this year. Yes, please.

Since it’s the horse world, many things could go wrong, from soundness problems to personality conflicts. If all goes the way we hope, Bliss will have a job, Coach Kate will have help with her new horse at shows, and Greg with have an experienced CDE partner. Win, win, win.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Saddle Seat Versus Dressage, In A Nutshell

Saddle Seat Wednesday

Recently, I was asked how I would explain the difference between saddle seat and dressage to a dressage rider. Never ask me these things in person. I talk way too much. I finally came home, sat down, and consolidated my thoughts.

Both disciplines want the horse elevated through the shoulder & pushing from behind. Saddle seat horses go with more autonomy and are always collected, instead of extending & collecting.
~~~
My dressage related comments & ponderments over the years.

2014

When a horse objects, I had been taught to turn the head to the inside & push past the Scary Thing with my inside leg. Unfortunately, Saddlebreds go off the outside rein and leg.
Show Report: Winter Tournament 2, Hartselle AL

Obedience Epiphany
Back To The Bigtime

… keep a steady hand and give sharp, jabby picks with the reins. This feels wrong at a cellular level. On the other hand, I have never truly grasped the idea of contact in any discipline. It could be this is the take-and-give that dressage instructors have been yapping on about.
Show Report & Tweets: Georgia Fall Classic 2014

Overall, the guest instructor’s method had more dressage stirred into the mix: bending, leg yield, changes of direction.
Clinic Report: Saddle Seat with Christy Parker

Headset

2015
Saddle Seat Vs. Dressage: Patterns
Dueling Disciplines What I say about H/J would be true of Dressage.
The Ups and Downs Transitions

2016
Riding Loose
Show Report: ASAC 2016 Two years later, I’m still confused about the concept of contact.

Thoughts?

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Counterbalance

Milton is not Rodney. I forget this.

When I’m grooming Milton, I will slooowly reach toward his head with a brush. He stands there. Then I remember Milton is not head-shy; I can brush his head like any other part of his body.

I take Milton for a walk. He utterly fails to get uptight. (Unless, of course, we encounter a flock of turkeys, or a storm blows in, or other horse-alert events.) The response to the average walk varies between, ‘Meh.’ and ‘Why are we doing this?’ Milton has his moments (see above). Trudging around the perimeter of his own field is not one of them.

This is all on the ground. If-and-when I ever ride them (HA!), it will be interesting to see how the two horses compare & contrast.

If you ride more than one horse regularly, do you tend to a type? Or do you enjoy variety?

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Rodney’s Hillwork

Remember back when walking up a hill caused Rodney to suffer an explosive anxiety attack? [Aftermath of an Explosion]

Illustration by Jean Abernethy
Illustration by Jean Abernethy

This is Rodney on the same hill last week, a mere five years later.

I don't waaaaana. It's too much wooooork.
I don’t waaaaana. It’s too much wooooork.

On the way up, he stopped repeatedly. Not from concern, rather from the fact that his hooves were glued to the ground.

Slow, plodding progress.
~~~
Horsekeeping note: the angle of the light makes Rodney look ribby. He actually looks pretty good, for a Thoroughbred, at least for one of my Thoroughbreds. I’ve never had one who knew how to blimp out.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

I had planned a post on my LEGO hobby & horses, but work got in the way, so have a cat.

Thoughtful Henry Photo by Elizabeth Hickman
Thoughtful Henry
Photo by Elizabeth Hickman

 

Previous Henry
Guest Cats: Caroline, Henry, & Kitty Wampus

Inspiration
So I Spent My Entire Day …
I Completely Lost Track …
I won’t give Whatever credit for the idea of a cat picture, that’s the Internet as a whole. However, the title is clearly an homage.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott