tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post2630066250724530966..comments2024-03-06T06:33:18.841-05:00Comments on Guinness on Tap: TIL: The Florida Chronicles, Part 2Austenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13004088333430762406noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-48452813987170635082015-02-18T21:19:01.243-05:002015-02-18T21:19:01.243-05:00Ooooh that is definitely something to think about!...Ooooh that is definitely something to think about! Going to try it in tonight's dressage ride!Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13834098473974912416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-16513242667070805672015-02-18T13:34:56.307-05:002015-02-18T13:34:56.307-05:00You'll get there! Don't underestimate your...You'll get there! Don't underestimate your coordination abilities. I'm the most uncoordinated person on the planet (Seriously. You should watch me play video games. Hand/eye what?), so I feel confident that if you just chip away and try your best not too get frustrated, you'll get there.Austenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13004088333430762406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-73455260974856268972015-02-18T13:13:00.310-05:002015-02-18T13:13:00.310-05:00great post!!! it's mostly beyond my coordinati...great post!!! it's mostly beyond my coordination levels currently, as i'm still learning how to even just keep my butt in the saddle haha - but lots of super useful tidbits to think about to help move towards a more optimal position. i brace on my stirrups like crazy too - and think your points (and Megan's bit about pulling heels toward the hocks) will really help!emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-52951741628309673312015-02-18T12:12:15.891-05:002015-02-18T12:12:15.891-05:00Hey! I rode last night. It was actually toasty war...Hey! I rode last night. It was actually toasty warm, and I enjoyed having the barn all to myself. Sometimes those nights out there "alone" can help you get in and out and get done exactly what you need to! <br /><br />Will you be showing this year? I need to post my show schedule!Austenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13004088333430762406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-69012260446052184042015-02-18T12:05:01.226-05:002015-02-18T12:05:01.226-05:00Oh how I would love to take off down to Florida!!!...Oh how I would love to take off down to Florida!!! Pretty sad when you are excited to see temps in the 20's and think 'today I can ride!'<br />I am enjoying reading about your Fl lessons and your change in position. I have been working on the same thing in my lessons with Jennifer since moving back. I like how you break it all down!Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10313417800020012776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-89544636109315416062015-02-18T10:30:51.636-05:002015-02-18T10:30:51.636-05:00Honestly, when I work on something like this, I tr...Honestly, when I work on something like this, I try to pay attention to how other parts of my body are moving around when I am putting things in the right place. So, I know when I move my legs back, that my upper body wants to tilt forward or hunch. Then I make a sort of mantra to repeat to myself. Like: <br /><br />"Fix your legs, Sitting up? Sit up. Shoulders back and down."<br /><br />Usually once I get everything fixed, I notice my legs have moved again, so I repeat. Enough repetitions, and everything starts to get easier to keep in place. Austenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13004088333430762406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-22604497264635825252015-02-18T10:06:32.561-05:002015-02-18T10:06:32.561-05:00In theory, I can only speak for myself but it ofte...In theory, I can only speak for myself but it often seems when I focus on fixing one thing to help the bigger picture something else falls outta whack - hence my absolute admiration for your isolation of limbs & body parts ☺Aoifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06324156483692821044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-45995174578120194862015-02-18T07:46:15.406-05:002015-02-18T07:46:15.406-05:00Me too! This position felt so far behind me I had ...Me too! This position felt so far behind me I had to constantly check in the mirror to make sure it was right. Everything just felt unnatural.<br /><br />I'll suggest that working on your leg position might help you keep your aid application more consistent. Keeping weight on the outside toe really helps me keep my heels off, my calves on, and the rest of my leg from pinching.Austenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13004088333430762406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-74631799295392327982015-02-17T23:04:05.992-05:002015-02-17T23:04:05.992-05:00This was awesome, because it's exactly what I&...This was awesome, because it's exactly what I've started to think about doing for myself too! Feeling my knees hang down more and letting my heels come a little back. However, I need to work on aids a bit more first, so that I'm not pinching and squeezing.<br /><br />Isn't getting use to the new normal horrible? I wish it felt good immediately!Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13834098473974912416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-65139536392391709272015-02-17T22:16:52.195-05:002015-02-17T22:16:52.195-05:00Bad legs indeed! What are they thinking down there...Bad legs indeed! What are they thinking down there? Geesh!Austenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13004088333430762406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-61035540581873201932015-02-17T17:09:08.016-05:002015-02-17T17:09:08.016-05:00Yes to Florida and brown breeches! I am guilty of...Yes to Florida and brown breeches! I am guilty of the bracing habit when I'm doing down transitions from the canter (while jumping) improperly. Bad leg!SheMovedtoTexashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01062200290148658096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-22707004556815919632015-02-17T15:48:11.431-05:002015-02-17T15:48:11.431-05:00I have super flexible ankles, too! In IHSAA judges...I have super flexible ankles, too! In IHSAA judges loved me because I could go around with my ankles lower than they should physically have been able to go! I never actually stretch them because of how over flexible they are.<br /><br />Top riders do usually have parallel feet, or even a slightly raised heel at times. It feels so weird to have my leg in the right position. Almost ineffective. Like it's out of my way, so it must be useless. Ugh. Why is retraining the body so hard?Austenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13004088333430762406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-58653199109244175422015-02-17T15:45:54.819-05:002015-02-17T15:45:54.819-05:00We might be the same person! ;) Oh I think it tota...We might be the same person! ;) Oh I think it totally is partially from riding baby horses! I have always been the crash test rider for anything and everything that's come my way. It's always been crappy for my equitation, but good for my overall feel. <br /><br />That sort of picking up and dropping again thing is an interesting idea. Sort of like how you can shrug your shoulders hard, then drop them, and have them be more relaxed and deeper?Austenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13004088333430762406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-72268918522254391202015-02-17T15:43:22.010-05:002015-02-17T15:43:22.010-05:00Ack! I hate that centered riding exercise! It is s...Ack! I hate that centered riding exercise! It is so good at pointing out where my problems are, and I feel so off balance. Clearly I need to do it more! ;)Austenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13004088333430762406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-76432604145855019132015-02-17T15:41:38.780-05:002015-02-17T15:41:38.780-05:00Are we the same person? It seems like I have all t...Are we the same person? It seems like I have all the same darn issues you do! I have gotten better, but when I get scared or nervous I instantly revert back to jamming my heels down and my legs forward. I think it comes from riding a lot of baby horses. Or just my natural reaction. I have really improved it by pulling my knees way up near my chest, then dropping them back down. I do this at walk, trot and canter (when my horse is not fresh. ha). It has really helped but still something I need to work on.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11609268980526224486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-29076709098130064062015-02-17T15:20:05.625-05:002015-02-17T15:20:05.625-05:00Great post! What apparently also helps some people...Great post! What apparently also helps some people is to think of squats - you can only do this when there is a nice head - hip - heel alignment! Literally trying this on the ground will help to understand when there is alignment and when not. What's more, changing seats as described in centered riding (posting trot for a few steps, then change to sitting trot and then change to two point and so on and so forth) also gives more relaxation to your seat - and eventually to the horse :)Dressage Haflhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11239158901871285798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-66223838612397552912015-02-17T15:19:52.490-05:002015-02-17T15:19:52.490-05:00The heel thing was a revelation for me. I also str...The heel thing was a revelation for me. I also struggle with jamming my heels down- part of it is because I have very flexible ankles, so it's never uncomfortable for me to have them down down down. The other part is exactly as you said- it FEELS deep and secure, and you aren't going anywhere! <br /><br />Many years ago, an instructor told me to look at pictures of top dressage riders and notice that their heels were, more often than not, parallel to the ground. MIND BLOWN. Ever since then, I have tried to keep that in mind when I am in my dressage saddle- it's hard to break the heels down habit!!Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07140631127593549541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-15430440718897480622015-02-17T14:27:49.385-05:002015-02-17T14:27:49.385-05:00Too Florida! We shall invade with our aggressively...Too Florida! We shall invade with our aggressively disobedient legs! ;)Austenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13004088333430762406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-22174144819298389982015-02-17T14:27:19.101-05:002015-02-17T14:27:19.101-05:00Oh now, you aren't so bad. Riding is really le...Oh now, you aren't so bad. Riding is really less about fixing the whole as it is about working on the little bits until the whole is better. Right?Austenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13004088333430762406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-75150811708099360132015-02-17T14:15:56.176-05:002015-02-17T14:15:56.176-05:00This is a super reminder. I have one knee, especia...This is a super reminder. I have one knee, especially, that refuses to behave and often ends up braced like that obviously throwing everything else off. My trainer is always reminding me to bend my right knee and it fixes a lot of issues. If I spend my lessons actively thinking about bending my knees, things go pretty well but the second it isn't at the forefront of my mind, that leg braces. I'm unsure if this is truly a strength issue I can work on (yes, probably) or a joint stability issue (many surgeries, no cartilage) but I know it will be something I'll always have to put a little extra thought towards when I ride. And yes, lets go to Florida.EquiNovicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17799583464228214025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-21389695671101250142015-02-17T13:51:22.949-05:002015-02-17T13:51:22.949-05:00These posts make for fascinating reading, my posit...These posts make for fascinating reading, my position in the tack is so terrible it'll take a lot more than altering my leg position to fix it - but there are deff awesome tips to make note of and hopefully implement in the not too distant future ☺<br />Ps i love the breeches and whole outfit ♡♡♡Aoifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06324156483692821044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-87033955166916713442015-02-17T13:48:10.599-05:002015-02-17T13:48:10.599-05:00The hip joint is key, you're totally right. Wh...The hip joint is key, you're totally right. Which reminds me... I need to do some crazy yoga stretches tonight!Austenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13004088333430762406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-49343430447975890012015-02-17T13:47:31.371-05:002015-02-17T13:47:31.371-05:00Love that!! Saving that little statement in my not...Love that!! Saving that little statement in my notes! :)<br /><br />Young horses are the worst for your position, aren't they?! All that wiggling and loss of balance while they figure things out can be so rough. Austenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13004088333430762406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-2316791520198606952015-02-17T13:15:35.788-05:002015-02-17T13:15:35.788-05:00Looove brown breeches! I always think "pull m...Looove brown breeches! I always think "pull my heels toward the hocks" which picks them up, opens my hip angle, and gets my knee out of the block. Currently my leg is all scrunchy on the babies but for a while I had a nice leg position :) it will come back one day!Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04255900012774193536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677504786349906999.post-43550195380300576772015-02-17T13:10:52.960-05:002015-02-17T13:10:52.960-05:00Another great post! I also like to think of good l...Another great post! I also like to think of good leg position as starting from the hip joint, with your upper leg turned in towards the saddle. Once that thigh is turned in, everything else falls into place. Alli + Dinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06928482808436392040noreply@blogger.com