conditions;Unable to ride today due to delay leaving work.

I have been thinking about Caddymaster a lot and I wanted to put down in words the thoughts about why he is doing so well of late.

Caddymaster: So I've been the only human riding him since he was turning 4 years old (he is now 12). He has always been a laid back dude. The bit has always slid a little out of the left side of the mouth. Recently the tongue has appeared on the right - during moments of resistance. also lately he has been way, way too difficult - even his changes have been off and he gets 8's or 7's for his changes and tempes at PSG.

Last show season he started out so well, winning a class at saratoga and earning me my silver medal and then just became flat. Well, he PROBABLY had lyme disease and is now completing a 6 week course of doxycycline.

But I have also changed a lot about the way I ride him.

My favorite quote is Kyra Kyrklund - "if you always do what you always did, then you'll always get what you always got". So I've always gotten on Caddy and (after a minimum of 10' walk) gone leg, leg, leg, leg, leg - to get him going. Always trying to get into a rhythm that is quicker than what he offers at the same time fussing with the suppleness in the neck. In the warm-up seemingly any movement with the bit will cause him to "stop" so its leg, leg, leg, leg, again.

To top this off, he is a very spooky horse. Not spooky that he will spin and run - but spooky in that he will freeze, or suck back. I think one of my big problems is I was slow to recognize this (like didn't realize it until about 8 years of riding this horse 5 - 6 times a week - how can I be so DUH)

I've been very interested in the recent educational information coming out of Holland (NO NOT THE ROLLKUR). I've read Tineke's Bartells book and watched Edward Gal's master class and Anky and have been soaking up anything that Angela walkup ( from horsegirltv) has posted. So I've been thinking a lot about speed control and that the horse should stay where he is until you tell him to change (ie, if you put the horse in shoulder in then you can relax and ride as opposed to asking for the shoulder in every stride). And finally that the aids should be very simple.

Then there is Kyra K's "ABC's" So begin by asking for a simple halt with a firm but quiet restraining hand (I also say whoa). Give the reins as soon as the horse stands. (horse does not need to be on the bit or square). " It is important that the horse does not start to move forward when he feels the giving of the reins" (Caddy TOTALLY moves forward - Tia, Boogs and Heidi do not) Then moves on with light pressure from both legs. Another thought about this is that Caddy needs A TON of pressure on the reins to stop. (From DRESSAGE WITH KYRA page 44)

So I started thinking why is this so hard for Caddy (thinking was a big improvemnt to the previous frustration). And then again the "if you always do what you always did then you'll always get what you always got"

So I changed the riding. Starting with the warmup - still the hack in the woods or if not possible 10' walk in the ring .

So 1st just posting trot in his own speed letting him have the reins and blowing the snot out of his nose. No worries if the trot was more western pleasure than FEI and the neck was stiff. He only needs to be straight.

Then simple trot walk trot transitions. Gradually taking up the contact as it is offered to me. Trying to make the aids for the transitons invisible. I do use my voice. and he needs to listen to a light pressure with my calf (He's a PSG horse I shouldn't need spur to get him to trot). Again thinking about straightness and getting him to respond to invisible aids rather than making a forward trot and having the neck in a certain position. So its OK that the trot is slow, but as he makes the transitions and they become better with repitition, the hind legs naturally engage. when this happens it is seamless to make transtions within the trot a few steps medium a few steps back and the medium comes from me just opening up my core - no whip no spurs

And HOLY CRAP does that work!! Then trot canter trot walk canter walk this is the new warmup

Then when this is going well he is looking so good really fancy, up, soft what a pleasure.

I had a trainer I worked with at 3rd and 4th level who was really encouraging me to sell him. Then Sandy Osborn came to help me for a weekend and didn't "see anything wrong with him" and Deb Dean-Smith really thinks that we can do grand prix. I'd LOVE to earn my gold medal on him.

I figure that it was about 6 weeks that he was out of real work with the "Lyme" so I'm taking a full 6 weeks to get back.

can't wait to ride tomorrow