Equitation

Defined as "the skill and theory of riding horses", equitation also refers to a rider's body position when mounted.

Bottom line, coming from a loooooong ago Dressage background, I knew my equitation (or EQ) wasn't close to what it once was. I also remembered the blisters, sweat, and muscle pain it took to get my previously good eq, when I was younger and bounced back from things more quickly than I do now. 

That little voice in the back of my mind kept chirping at me to fix my foundation before what I was doing now became such a strong habit that it was even harder to fix. This voice was small enough to snuff out with a little effort until I knew I was going to ride in front of people at the IEA show last month. Then I wanted perfection that there was no way to get in the time frame I had. 

I can crucify myself in all the photos of me riding in the blog to this point. 

It was time to do the work. Katie Miller is a trainer and riding coach at Lonestar who excels in horsemanship, equitation for older riders, and handling problematic horses. Once I knew she was a trainer I could trust with me and with Whisper, I signed up for a lesson and prepared for the worst. Unfortunately, Whisper's leg injury became full blown right about then and there was no way to use her. I had the pleasure of riding Scooter again instead and did my very best to try and take in all Katie was teaching me. I knew what she was saying was right, I was completely prepared to feel awkward and stiff, but I had underestimated my overall lack of muscle tone in the correct areas. It also brought back some deep back pain I had back when I gave up riding all together.

When I stand normally (my normal position is my hips sort of angled with my belly button forward and my rear pushed back) my spine pushes through my skin like this at my last few ribs.

Feel your own back and you'll notice a lovely indentation that does not exist in me since my eventing fall and subsequent back injuries as a teen. When I tuck my hips under, straightening the back line and opening the hips to a correct EQ position, this is more pronounced and I feel like there's nothing supporting my upper body.

Frankly, that pisses me off, especially since it's what made me quit, and I'm determined now to find some muscle groups I can focus on to compensate and hopefully ease the lasting pain after a ride where I hold correct position. From that lesson until today, I've worked on my position driving the car, exercising the dogs, and even prepping dinner. Patience is not my virtue and I'm hoping to change the habit of poor form as fast as possible. 

It does feel really great when you get it just right, one jump with Scooter in our lesson I nailed position and it was like sailing a boot on a glass lake. 

Whisper's leg is healing up nicely with one tiny exception. It's bald. All of that rinsing to flush the wound + all the rain we've had almost daily for weeks now + thick winter hair on her legs not allowing rapid drying = rain rot. Treating that and it should be gone or well on it's way out.

We've ridden twice this week and she's riding well. I'm so focused on my seat position and feeling the bones and angles correctly that I don't care if she avoids an entire half of the ring. She's happy about that.

As I hear the wind outside tonight it's clear that the spring storm season is upon us and it'll soon be time to pack up horse clothing and bring out fly gear. I'll close today with a look back at Whisper's fashion from the 2011 season. : My husband has 2 jackets and a shirt that match Whisper's main blanket, of course he was the one who picked out the blanket, hmmm...  

Quote for the day from the birthday boy, Dr Seuss : "Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting... so get on your way!"

Do something, anything, today to bring you one step (even a small one, no leaping required) closer to what you want to achieve.