Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Alfredo Hernandez, Day 2: It's all about the groundwork

I was really looking forward to our second ride with Alfredo - I felt like we really pushed through some things on the first ride, and couldn't wait to make more progress. So I admit that I was a little disappointed when we started out with groundwork - I mean, we're past that, right? It's not like Taran needs to be longed or anything before I get on.

Only, this was a different kind of ground work. What Alfredo wanted was for the horse to perform a turn on the forehand (more or less), stepping under very actively with the inside hind leg while softening to the bit. Written like that it sounds so easy, but I struggled so much with this. You have to stand just so. You have to stay strong in your core, keep your arm in the right place. Use of the whip must be judicious and perfectly timed. You have to feel the moment when the horse is correct, then push for another step or two, then stop. Alfredo is very, VERY big on rewarding the horse with a walk on a long rein, immediately, when he's done the right thing - and you really have to stay on your toes and pay attention to know when it's right. I should also point out that this kind of groundwork can be pretty athletic for the rider too, because I was definitely puffing at the end of our short session.

Alfredo makes it look easy. Me, not so much.

When I was finally allowed to mount up, I immediately noticed that Taran felt different. He was MUCH more active behind, and more through over his back. He was also very quick off my aids, something that I've been struggling with quite a lot (pony club kicking is generally frowned upon to get your "first-level" horse to trot, did you know?). When I gathered up the reins ("REINS SHORTER!!!!") and asked for inside bend, he was much faster to comply. I was able to get him rounder and he was much steadier into the bend, deeper and rounder, and more solid in the contact than on the first day.

Look at my horse. My horse is so fancy. Do not look at me. I'm leaning back so much.

I don't think Taran knew he could look like this.

One thing that became really clear to me is how fake the left bend can be. My trainer is FOREVER on me about bending him too much to the left, even though I swear from the saddle he doesn't SEEM like he's bent at all (especially compared to the right). What he really does is crank his neck over without bending through his body, and I let go of the outside (right) rein to attempt to get more bend. Alfredo kept yelling at me to use more outside rein and open my inside hand, and I finally got to see what fake bend vs real bend looks and feels like. Lightbulb moment! I'm sure my trainer is doing a facepalm about now.

Not actually bent to the left, despite the fact that his ear is even with my knee. 

Our ride actually ended up being quite short with a lot of walk breaks, but it felt really productive because we further solidified what we'd worked on the first day, and the added element of ground work made me feel like I had a really impressive new tool to help me out. SO much winning!

Here's some video from the end of our ride where we're awesome.

I'm now a ground work convert.

34 comments:

  1. Poor Taran in that first video. He looks like "why are you doing this to me?" Not in a mean way, just a, why must I work this hard? He looks great after the groundwork though.

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    1. Hahaha, I KNOW. I was wondering why *I* had to work so hard to get HIM to work so hard!

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  2. ooo i want to do some of this ground work!

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    1. DO IT! The results are nothing short of amazing, I swear.

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  3. I can't get over how fancy he looks!! Second level is right around the corner!

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    1. Well, perhaps if he looked that fancy all the time and on something other than a 20 meter circle... but maybe there's hope!

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  4. I like both videos! I don't think I could do the ground work with Penn yet- he's very reactive on the ground... especially when working on his right side... which means I should probably do it!

    I love Taran in the riding video! He's looking so good!

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    1. I had to get after Taran because he's not at all reactive, but I bet working with Penn a little would be super easy because you won't have to push as hard. You should try it!

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    2. I will! But I'm afraid I'll scare him into the next county! He's so reactive from the right side. He tries to turn his haunches away from me when I go to that side to run a stirrup down. I spend time asking him to just stand there.

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  5. Oh my, Bridget does that fake bend thing with her neck too and I am still struggling with letting go of the left rein! Great recap - sounds like a super clinic!

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    1. What Alfredo had me do was get him straight between both hands, then open my inside hand away from his neck to ask for bend - WITHOUT moving my outside hand so much as an inch. It definitely worked, even if my outside hand kept wandering forward without my permission...

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  6. I'm jealous! He's coming to do a clinic at a barn near me and I really want to ride with him! Sounds like a couple of really good rides.

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    1. OOOH you should at least audit! If you ride with him, be prepared to work really really hard, and definitely do all 3 days to get the most out of it.

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  7. wow, that is SUPER interesting!! I might have to read up on some ground work exercises.

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    1. Turn on the forehand and turn on the haunches were the only things we did, but wow... it made so much difference!

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  8. Love the videos! (yes I watched). So glad you had this opportunity and can't wait to read about the third day!

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    1. It was definitely a big learning experience.

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  9. Who is that horse and what have you done with my boy-o? ;-) Jen, He's looking Fabulous!!! I wish I could have been there to see the lessons in person.

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    1. There was this fancy grey horse in our backyard the whole time! Who knew!

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  10. On Very Bad Bobby days I end up back on the ground doing in-hand work. Maybe I should try it more when he's actually being good!

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    1. In-hand work is my new favorite thing - good days or bad!

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  11. Omg Taran looks incredible!! You must have been so thrilled with him! I just recently got seriously dinged for left bend problems too and was similarly instructed to hold that outside hand steadier (literally anchored at the withers) but hey, it works!

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    1. Who knew that your outside hand was so important? Hahah!

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  12. I love in hand work and have used it for years. So great that you had a clinic with wonderful take-aways. You both looked great.

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    1. I've longed plenty, but never done in-hand work like this. It's a great tool!

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  13. He looks incredible and so do you! I cannot believe the transformation in his frame and way of going! I'm so excited for you to have a cool partner to work with again.

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    1. It's pretty amazing what happens when you get the hind end moving!

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  14. I fail so hard at ground work. I need halp

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  15. I kinda hate groundwork, but I've noticed the same thing. I use a little bit (getting Pig to pick up his hinds with a barest tap of the whip to each leg, especially) before many rides, and I notice Pig thinking more "forward and UP" when I put my leg on. He's also more likely to be ready to lift his back.

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    1. Yup, exactly. And while I don't love groundwork, if 5 minutes up front makes my ride 300% better, I'm going to go with it!

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  16. That's so interesting! I'd never thought to use ground work in that sense, but it clearly worked. I'm definitely going to be figuring out how I can incorporate this. Poor Taran though. He had no idea he could work so hard. Haha. That being said, he still looks relaxed enough and not too stressed about the work.

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    1. He was totally regretting that I signed us up for the clinic. Ground work is sooooo difficult for poor little grey horses!

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  17. I love that you're a ground work convert!!! People tend to look at me weird when they ask about my training regimen for Kacey and it includes a *lot* of ground work. ;-)

    Happy to hear that's not just my old trainer being eccentric. *laughs*

    Also - you both look great. Seriously... Who is that horse and what did you do with Taran? ;-)

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