The clinic with Sarah Geikie has been cancelled due to the poor weather forecast.  The reschedule date has not been decided yet.

Sarah Geikie Comes in February.
The date or the clinic with Sarah is confirmed:  Feb 19 and 20 (Sunday and Monday).  Her time on Sunday will be split between Karver's Creek Farm and Hunter's Haven (Dana Taylor's farm).  On Monday, she will teach at Karver's Creek only.  Autditors are welcome, no charge.
Sarah is a USEF "S" judge, FEI "C" judge, USDF Certification Examiner and Grand Prix level trainer.  She is training this winter in Florida with Kathy Connoly on scholarship and will be happy to share her new knowledge and inspiration with the rest of us.

March Magic Opens Feb 7.
I got the email today that the first show of NC is open for entries starting Feb 7.  This year they are trying a new tactic to inspire us to turn in our entries asap:  $20 back upon arrival at the show if you enter the first week of open entries.  Wow, that is next week!

Competition horses are no longer giving lessons.
As the show season is upon us, Welle and Wonder are no longer giving lessons to clients.  When this season wraps up next fall, once again, they will be available to some students again, circumstances apply.

Working Student for the summer is needed:
Over the summer months, a position will be available for a student who would like exposure to my horses, career-style, competitions, etc.  in exchange for work around the farm:  primarily grooming, handling, tack cleaning, small amount of barn chores occasionally, and if qualified, lunging and riding horses.  Hours will be 8am - 2pm.  2-5 days per week, depending you student availability.    Please contact me if interested:  karv4@yahoo.com  I am looking for someone who will remain committed to upholding integrity, honesty, transparency, and reliability.

Blog Changes to The News Room
The Blog page from my website is being discontinued.  In its place will be this news and current events page.  Eventually, the name of the page will change from "Blog" to "News".  Comments and questions are still welcome.  Questions might be answered through a different medium.  I hope you enjoy the tidy and to-the-point nature of this page going forward.  Please feel free to offer suggestions.

Question Answered
There was a comment and question posted on the last blog regarding the basic aids for riding horses "The secret to horse training".  I did my best to post a reply.  Click "comments" from that post if you care to read it.
 
Upcoming Clinics
Two clinics are in the works.  The first is a  two day clinic with Sarah Geikie that might be near the end of Feb. I believe
the ride times are full (not sure) but please feel free to audit, rsvp.   The  second is a cavaletti and (low) jumping clinic.  Please respond to let me know  if you are interested in riding or auditing.  If I get enough interest, then I
will let you know suggested dates.

Ines' New Horse
Although Ines' new horse did not arrive in time for Christmas, as originally hoped, she has made it safely to Summerfield.  Sorette is a black Dutch warmblood mare from GA.  Although she currently doesn't have a show record, Ines is happy to develop one for her in time.  I am pleased to be a part in helping these two find each other.  Now the real work begins!

1.  Other people spend a lot of time de-sensitizing their young horses.  I choose to sensitize them to the correct things (like the aids) so I can apply the aids to communicate the security of my leadership.  Thus, in trying times, I keep the horse too busy being sensitive to my aids to be overly sensitive to external stimuli.  I find this reduces shying pretty well, and I like to keep my horses "hot".
2.  The good half halt is done before the horse "needs" it.
3.  When a good opportunity presents itself in dressage take it.  Welcome the work.  Most people say, "I want to be a good rider."  Sure, every rider wants to be a good rider.  But what they really need to be saying is, "Yes!  I want the work on the road to becoming a good rider.  I welcome the work."  It is that person whos "want" will produce the "good". 
4.  When you give the horse a leg aid, frequently people lift their knee or heel when applying that aid.  Do the opposite:  lower your heel thus making your calf more firm.  Every time you give a leg aid firm your calf to do it.
5.  If an "early" rider does not yet have a trained eye, then that person should limit the time watching videos of their own  riding.  It would be more beneficial to spend time watching videos of great dressage masters riding and schooling.  Then, the eye, and more importantly the mind's eye, will become trained.  It is the mind of the rider that ultimately creates the movement in the horse.  Train your mind, create the movement.   A huge, huge, huge mistake a rider can make is to entertain themselves watching you-tube videos of people falling off, horse wrecks, bad rides and the like.  That is a sure way to ruin your riding career.  People have said to me, "Grand Prix doesn't apply to me.  I am not there yet, so
I don't need to watch or study it."  Really?  So you plan to wait till you are "there" and then begin to study it? 
Your mind creates your movement, your movement creates your horse's movement! 
*This is the second blog applied to todays date.  Please enjoy them both.  (See below).

Cheers! 
First topic:  My struggle with the new dressage ruling requiring judges to consider the use of half points for everything on the scoresheet. 
Donna Kelly and I judged the early January show in Pinehurst to become, perhaps, the first two judges in this area to use the new scoring system.  Several people have inquired about my opinion of the new system, including show management and the NCDCTA newsletter.  I don't know Donna's opinion at this point.  Personally, I thought it was fairly difficult.  I was trained under the former whole number system and learned how to work in an easy groove.  After the show or at breaks judges can go to the score boards to observe the final placings of their classes.  We like to see that the final placing ended up being what we had designed in our head.  That means our numbers equal our intention.  Historically, I have done pretty well. 
While judging I can generally make a solid, quick decision ( Is it a 6 or 7?) based on what I observed.  However, with the half points, I felt like every score had one additional decision to make.  Instead of deciding between two numbers, I felt like I was choosing between three numbers for the same visual input.  If I were on the fence between a 7 and an 8, suddenly I had to choose between 7.0, 7.5 and 8.0.  For me, that resulted in one more decision per every movement scored.  Since the pace in the judges box is rapid, that additional decision slowed me down enough to knock me off my groove... a little.  Fundamentaly, I think I still found the right marks as per what I saw...  Maybe in the long run, I could learn to like the new system better as the decisions become more routine.  
Scores can be influenced by "modifiers".  They are all the little things that happen in a test to make it either more brilliant or more of a mess.  For example, in first level test 1, you are required to depart into the right lead canter at A. (score the transitition).  Then at E you circle right 15.  That circle is the essence of the next score, but as we know there is a corner between the transition and the circle.  If the horse stumbles in the corner because the rider has left him improperly balanced, then the judge can give a down modifier for the next score.  First, I see the canter quaility as number.  Lets say I am looking at a "7" quality canter (7 = fairly good).  The rider steered a decent round circle but the horse lacked bend as he leaned into his turn.  So, for the Criteria of that circle, (shape and size of circle; bend) I would be satisfied, but definitely not say it is fairly good in the bend department.  Satisfied means a 6.  The stumble in the corner was significant enough to warrent a down modifier.  How much should I modify down?  Previously I had to think in whole numbers, now I can think in halves.  Was it bad enough to warrent a minus 1?  Or should I only reduce it a half point.... hum...  If the stumble was significant enough for a 1 point down modifier, my end formula for that movement is 7 (gaits) and 6 (criteria:  shape, size, bend) equals 6.5 ...minus 1.0 because of the stumble in the corner.   That makes me write down a 5.5 for the score.  Previously, what would I have decided?  Previously, if I was torn half way between two numbers, I would generally lean toward the higher.  Now, I just choose the half point. Perhaps that means my scores will become slightly lower overall, but my placings will remain consistant.  I am not sure how this is going to feel in the long run.
I am interested in hearing about your opinions of the new scoring system.
I think "placing" challenges will always exist.  For example, if there is an elastic, good mover ridden by a sloppy, inaccurate rider competing against a weak, stiff horse ridden by a skilled, accurate rider, which one looks like he should win?  If you stand by the sidelines and watch, most people will be impressed by the fancy elastic mover who appears most "dressagey".  However, if you are sitting in the judges box looking at centerlines, straightness and accuracy, you may end up placing the weak mover with the skilled rider above him.  Then, the lay-person on the sidelines, declares you to be an idiot.  "The other guy was clearly more dressagey.  The judge is blind."  he says.  I don't think half points will change anything here.  People will complain about judging until the sun sets forever. 
As a trainer of some people who enjoy competition, my advice is this:  find a "dressagey" mover that you enjoy, and learn to ride it really, really, really well:  bring to the performance the skilled, accurate rider.   Then the layperson and the judge person may agree on your victory.

Topic two:  
The secret to horse training...  It was perfect weather and a smooth show.  One horse stuck out in my memory.  He was a naturally good mover with attractive presentation.   His rider sat balanced, supple and was well dressed ....  but the requirements of their tests revealed an interesting disconnect between them.  I could see the subtle rider give the horse aids within her tidy equitation.  I could see the beautiful animal "hear" and respond to those aids.  But most of the time his response was wrong.  When she closed her legs he sometimes engaged the muscles in his neck, or scurried his strides, or wiggled, or something else.  When she closed her fingers on the reins he offered a variety of responses too.  The horse did not choose the right response when he felt the "pressure" from his rider's aids.  He was guessing.  He appeared to be trying.   In his training, he had not learned the correct answers.  So, eventhough she appeared to be a tidy rider, her test was sloppy.
Here is the secret:  There are only 4 aids a horse needs to know.  The many applications of those aids create complicated grey areas... and a good rider needs to help the horse stay clear.  Simplify.  Simplify.  Simplify.
1.  The GO aid.  The rider presses the inside of the top of her calf against the barrel of the horse equally on both sides while slightly opening or relaxing the fingers on the reins.  A secondary GO aid is a bump with the calves or a flutter of the whip. 
2.  The STOP aid.  The rider braces her hips/lower back to resist the movement of the horse with her seat.  The secondary aid if the horse is hollow, or otherwise unable to obey the seat, is the tug on the reins by the riders hands.
3.  The LEFT aid.  This is two parts. 
    A)  A left rein pressure takes the horses' head and neck to the left position (lateral yielding to the rein).  There is a leading rein, a direct rein, and indirect rein pressure.  He needs to understand that he should yield to all three.
    B) The rider's right leg pushes the horse to the left (lateral yielding to the single leg pressure).
4.  The RIGHT aid. 
    A) A right rein takes the horses' head and neck to the right position.  (lateral yielding to the rein)
    B) The rider's left leg pushes the horse to the right.  (lateral yeilding to the leg). 

All dressage movements are created by combining the above mentioned aids.  Combinations often create confusion.   Especially if the rider gives the aids with some lack of clarity.  It takes a very balanced, independent seat for a rider to give all the aids with perfect clarity.  How can the leg aids be crystal clear if the rider grips her legs?  Lack of clarity creates resistance.  Resistance is a delayed response, an opposite response, a minimal effort response and the like.  If a horse has resistance, and it is not due to a physical problem or illness, it is because of a misunderstanding or disrespect of one of the 4 aids.  Therefore, the correction for resistance is for the rider to figure out which aid is misunderstood, misinterrpreted, or ignored.  Then, teach the horse the desired response (to a clearly applied aid) using a sensitively applied secondary aid, repeated until his response becomes crystal clear.  Reward!  Make sure you articulate your reward clearly in body language too.
When the horse is honestly on the aids (prepared in his mind and body to respond instantly and correctly to the 4 aids), he is "on the bit" and will demonstrate the attractive, well known carriage as such.  Simply because he is listening.   There is no formula for getting a horse on the bit other than clear training his obedience to the aids.  
A beautiful, balanced, skilled rider cannot mount a wild mustang and use aids to create desired movement no matter how good she is.  Because he would not be clear on the correct responses to her pressures.  But, he can be taught the responses.  Then, when she gives the aids clearly to him,  the horse can comply without resistance.  He will flex his neck in preparation for her lateral aids, he will cadence his gaits in rhythm with her seat as she balances him between stop and go aids.  All the beauty of dressage will appear as if by the horses' will.  It is all because of clarity of the four aids:   stop, go, left and right. 
Train your horse to respond perfectly to these aids given at a subtle volume, and you have created a dressage horse. 
Fuss at him randomly, and you may get the arch of the neck, hit or miss, a good day here, a bad day there.  Teach him to comply with the aids with a ready state of mind, then you can use the aids to bring him all the way through the levels of dressage.  This is why they say dressage is good for all horses:  because all horses benefit from clarity in communication.  Next time you feel resistance, ask:  which aid is most unclear to him at this time. Then stop the exercise you are doing, and re-train the aid that was confused.  Simplify.  Simplify.  Simplify.

Cheers!  Last weekend was fun and filled with horse events.  Saturday was a beautiful riding day ending in a drive to Raleigh to attend the 2012 HOY awards gala.  Then , Sunday morning, an early drive to Pinehurst to judge a show.  This is the first show of the new year to incorporate the half points in the tests.  The show inspired some thoughts I would love to share with you all.  However, that will have to come  a little later because my quick lunch break will not facilitate that much writing.  The sun has broken through the clouds and my fingers are nice and warm again, so I need to get back outside.  For now, here are a few pictures from the Gala 2012 taken by Gavin or Daryl Taylor.

Cheers!  Over the winter it is always challenging to gain or even to keep momentum in training if you don't travel to Florida or California where the action remains intense.  One suggestion I frequently give to my clients to help themselves in their journey of improvement with their horses is to have a friend take video regularly.  And to watch that video more than once to get a good, in depth study.  The first time I see a video I usually have a very critical eye and mentally punish myself many times during the viewing.  On the second or third viewing, I am able to detach enough to engage my judges eye and trainer's eye and narrow down the issues to a few needed improvements.  This winter Linda has agreed to video my rides once or twice per month.  Yesterday was the first session of 2012.  I see that I have a lot to work on but I am so happy to be able to do as much as I am.  The video of Wonder suggests that her canter work really impoves the quality of reach in her trot.  Overall, it looks like I need to get Wonder out in the wide open fields more often.  Welle is not as active in the piaffe work as she feels.   Sanibelle gets overly "compressed" at times and could have better balance.  Winnie is perfect.    ... just kidding.  Winnie needs to develop more power and often sneaks too much neck bend because her weakness entices her to avoid body bend (which is hard work due to the engagement the bend requires from the horse).   In addition to video, I asked Linda to snap some still photos of my ride on Winnie, my grey four year old mare (the baby of the stable).  I have not taken any under-saddle pictures of her until this ride, so I was eager to capture a bit of her at this stage of training.  I have posted a couple photos below of Winnie taken by Linda, winter of 2011-2012.

(Once again, appologies for the cheap camera quality.  Perhaps I will ask for new equipment next Christmas.)

Cheers!
I have a lot of family visiting this week.  Welle and Wonder were asked to play the role of "Kid's Pony".  They both worked in super style.  Actually, I am a tad worried that Welle liked it a little too much.  Christopher, my sister's nine year old son wanted to ride first.  So once mounted I led her forward so he could experience the feel of the walk movement.  I had to slow her a bit as I saw his eyes pop out of his head at the start.  Welle has quiet a power walk.  But she quickly learned to lollygag.   Once balanced, we put her out on the lunge and trotted.  He sat and held on.  Early in the trot I told Welle to slow down a few more times until she was in a lazy jog.  She happily jogged for the next three kids' rides.  Then my sister, who rode all through her childhood, got on.  Welle offered her a lazy jog.  So then I ended up coaching Welle with the lunge whip to get her engines going.  But she told me clearly she liked the jogging thing....  humm.

Guess what I got for Christmas from my Mother....  She gave me the original oil painting in the photo below.  Sadly, the cheap camera and the flat screen of the computer do not do it justice AT ALL.  It is inspired from my farm:  the lane down to the bottom pasture, but with artistic liberty which really adds to the charm.  I suppose since the horse is not grey, it must be inspired by Welle.  The real three dimensional, deeply textured, rich in color, painting hanging on my wall looks so romantic and inspires you to wish you could stroll through the fresh snow in the trees and play with those fantastic shadows.  Sorry though, once again I say the photo doesn't really express those shadows to you.   However, if you ever come visit me and want to see it in person, please feel free to ask.  I would be more than happy to show it to you!  (And maybe some of her others. )  I Love it!

Some of you may be wondering if Ines got her "Christmas Pony."  No, she did not.  But she is tough and optimistic.  There is still Hope in the works...
Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and I also hope you will get a 2012 full of happiness, joy, wisdom, laughter, fun, friends, and family... and happy riding too.

Cheers!  I finally got some photos of Legacy from this year!  Legacy is Linda's thoroughbred mare who had her right eye removed prior to her dressage career with Linda.  They showed Training level this year.  In the top photo I like how Linda is carrying her hands close together and she has her eyes up.  I would love to see the mare have a more proud neck (poll up) and for Linda to be carrying herself more evenly.  The middle photo is most exciting for me.  It is a shot I want to compare directly with the bottom shot, which was taken last year.  It is very evident the huge improvement in the mare's muscling and topline development.  She also is showing much more impulsion ("lift") in her stride.  You can see that she is developing nicely into a horse with the power of a first level horse vs. a training level horse.  The frequent big scores they were awarded this year are tangible evidence the work was finally becoming easy.  The new sexy muscles were earned from diligent, thoughtful schooling and diet.  Notice the lumbar area behind the saddle is more filled out.  The hind legs and buttocks look thicker, rounder and the neck is more clearly defined by the triangle of muscles on top than the underneck muscle below.  When work of high standards becomes easy, it is time to show it.