I live in Western Washington, which means one thing in the winter: Rain. And it’s usually combined with cold, windy, and/or dark.
This makes conditioning for endurance challenging, but with a little creativity it’s not impossible. In order to continue getting in trail miles, I’ve made sure to invest in a solid riding raincoat (Muddy Creek is my favorite!) and I’m lucky to have access to a handful of parks and logging roads that are safe to ride year-round. However, when I have a full-time job and it gets dark at 5pm, it’s a bit of a challenge to ride not matter what the weather is doing.
This year, I’ve really learned the value of cross-conditioning and corss-training in the arena. I’ve always been a bit of a “trail brat” (my own term!) and hated riding in endless circles. However, my heart horse, Vinnie, injured his right front suspensory ligament in 2023 and it’s been a long road to recovery. Standing at only 13.3hh, he’s a small guy, though very capable of carrying my weight for 50 miles. However, I have to ride well and make sure he is moving well in order to ensure he’s able to carry me efficiently.
Enter: Dressage lessons.
As part of my reconditioning regimen for Vinnie, I began taking dressage lessons with the communicated goal of increasing balance, correct movement, and communication. I have no desire to compete (although now that we’ve learned and grown so much, I’m shocked to find that I’m tempted to enter a low-level schooling show just for fun!). Mainly, we’ve focused on lowering Vinnie’s head and lifting his back, engagement from the hind end, bending, and yielding, including turns on the forehand and haunch turns. Many poles have been involved. For those with a dressage background, I’m sure this all sounds very basic. However, the bulk of my riding technique and skill comes from being slapped on the back of a horse from a young age and figuring it out (as one usually does after becoming a better rider, I want to apologize to all of my former mounts!).
The results have been life-changing, I’m sure for Vinnie as much as they have been for me. In a short 6 months, Vinnie and I have an entirely new way of communicating with one another. Moreover, he is SO MUCH stronger and his top line has filled out beautifully. Where I always felt like arena riding was drudgery, I now look forward to flowing through our circles, bends, and transitions. They feel so smooth and floaty! And I can communicate with Vinnie and ask him to adjust his body with the wiggle of a finger and the press of a heel! Of course, this means that I have become a much better rider – since in all honesty Vinnie has always had this talent and ability. He was just waiting for me to bring it out in him.
Wintertime has given me an awesome opportunity to sit and focus on some of the fundamentals that I simply don’t think about as we’re boogying down the trail. I do want to make a point of asking Vinnie to work his newfound muscles and move correctly down the trail in the future (and make sure I’m doing my part too!). Now I’m confident that we can both achieve this, and he is more ready than ever to get those completions.
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