You know those moments when it feels like a lightbulb gets switched on in your brain? In a new weekly series presented by Attwood Equestrian Surfaces, eventers share their ah-ha! moments. Today, we present the second in a three-part series by adult amateur eventer Judy Rossi about what she calls “epiphany lessons” she has experienced while training. Check out parts 1 and 2. 

J Stanley Edwards and Tanzkonig. Photo by Reflections of Killington.

Epiphany Lesson #3: ‘A Lovely Picture’

I wasn’t the rider in this lesson. I was watching a friend of mine, J Stanley Edwards, ride a beautiful Grand Prix level dressage horse, Tanzkonig, with Barend Heilbron. Although one of the toughest coaches I train with, Barend is also one of the best. Barend’s strengths are: the depth of his knowledge of classical dressage; his ability and willingness to teach anyone willing to try; his recognition that every horse and rider team is individual and, therefore, is willing to modify the training to get the best from that team; and his insistence on a high dressage standard regardless of your riding discipline.

Stanley’s lesson followed on the heels of a show in which she had competed at the Prix St. George level. She was not overly thrilled with her performance. “It was OK, but not great,” she told Barend. “I didn’t feel I got what I needed in my warm up to get what I wanted in the ring.”

Barend said, “OK, show me the warm up you did at the show, and let’s see what we can do.”

Stanley picked up a trot. Tanz was in a lovely frame, relaxed, with a steady rhythm and soft connection. She changed directions, did a few 20-meter circles, some transitions to canter, then back to trot and so on. It looked gorgeous. Poetry in motion.

Barend watched quietly, then called out, “Do a 10-meter circle at the canter. NOW.” Stanley attempted to execute the 10-meter circle, but lost the connection, some rhythm and the bend. She finished the circle, but not smoothly and not where Barend had asked for it. She continued her canter. Barend called out, “Halt. NOW.” After three or four additional strides, a few trot steps and a walk step or two, Tanz halted.

At which point Barend said, “A lovely picture – I can’t do a thing with it.” That was the moment. I then watched Barend help Stanley understand what “on the aids” really meant. With creative, thoughtful exercises and movements, Barend transformed her warm up so that Stanley was able to have a fully engaged horse. After 15 or 20 minutes, Tanz and Stanley were able to execute any movement at any instant in any gait. She then rode her Prix St. George test. It was stunning!

Photo by Spotted Vision Photography.

Fast forward to the Stable View Horse Trials I rode in on my up and coming horse, Dice. Dressage was nice, but not fantastic. Dice was focused and relaxed. Cross country was great as Dice got better and better as the course went on. I was looking forward to show jumping the next day.

The show jumping course was challenging, but fair — nothing we hadn’t done before. The venue was more than Dice was used to with a large stadium arena and grandstand seating, but I wasn’t overly concerned. Dice was very relaxed and happy in warm up.

We entered the ring, picked up a lovely canter and off we went. Although Dice felt a little sluggish jumping the first three jumps, I was pleased that he was relaxed and not distracted by the venue. We turned to fence 4 – the first fence that turned away from the in-gate and headed directly toward the stadium seating. It was a straightforward oxer with some curved, rainbow painted panels in front of it. I felt Dice start to back off. I put my leg on to encourage him. I got nada, zip, zero, noth’n. No response to my leg and no canter to work with. Dice stopped, followed by two more stops. Alas (not the actual word I was thinking at the time), we were forced to execute the forever humiliating “walk of shame.” We returned to warm up, jumped a few jumps (perfectly I might add), and went home to regroup. What I realized:

1. Dressage started with an “8” on our center line entrance, followed with scores no higher than a “6.” I was happy with the nice, quiet, relaxed horse, and I rode the nice, quiet, relaxed horse.

2. Showjumping – Dice felt so relaxed in the warmup and I was really happy with him. The course started out so well, all good, and I continued to ride my nice, quiet, relaxed horse. Then Dice stopped at the oxer and caught me by surprise.

3. Cross country was the highlight. It was a challenging course, and I rode every stride of that course with focus and purpose, and felt Dice’s confidence build as the course progressed.

When I looked back at how I rode my dressage and showjumping, and then compared those rides with how I rode cross country, Barend’s words hit me like a ton of bricks: “A lovely picture – I can’t do a thing with it.”

Thanks, Barend, I’ve got some work to do.

Judy is an adult amateur event rider living in Harvard, Massachusetts. She started riding as a young girl, and began eventing as an adult over 20 years ago. Judy has owned and brought along three horses — Bosco who learned the sport along with her and will always be “the horse of a lifetime;” Sateen, who told her that dressage and trail riding were a better career; and now Dice, who is doing his level best to be the best horse ever. When not riding, Judy is a marketing and communications professional and the founder of Open Fields Communications.

You know those moments when it feels like a lightbulb gets switched on in your brain? In a new weekly series presented by Attwood Equestrian Surfaces, eventers share their ah-ha! moments. Today, we present the second in a three-part series by adult amateur eventer Judy Rossi about what she calls “epiphany lessons” she has experienced while training. Check out part 1 here. 

Judy and Dice. Photo by Flatlands Photography.

Epiphany Lesson #2: ‘Do You Like That Canter?’

I have a lovely 7-year old Oldenburg gelding. Dice is an interesting character. He loves being the center of attention with an unrelenting desire to be engaged. When I first got Dice, I described him as everyone’s “8-year old kid brother.” The one who could push every small, petty “pick me” annoyance button. And, just when you were ready to kill him, he would do something so adorable or so phenomenal that you would fall in love with him again. Dice’s greatest attribute — then and now — is that he LOVES to work. He is most relaxed when he’s got a job and working. In fact, Dice can be so relaxed while working that he lulls the rider (that would be me) into complacency.

When I bought Dice I knew he was very talented, but also very young and I knew training Dice alone was beyond my capabilities. Over the last couple of years, I have had the pleasure of training with Sarah Morton. Sarah is fantastic with young horses (and amateur riders) and brings them along the eventing training scale safely and confidently so both horse and rider achieve accomplishment and success (amazing gifts).

Sarah fully understands Dice and has helped me channel his energy and talent by keeping me focused on long-term goals, with such sayings as: “We’re not trying to build a Beginner Novice horse, so don’t worry about making mistakes at the Beginner Novice level.”

Judy and Dice. Photo by J. Stanley Edwards.

One day, while working on the flat with Sarah, Dice was “in his zone” ––quietly cantering in a lovely consistent rhythm. He was so relaxed that his eyes were half shut. I’m happily and contentedly sitting in the saddle barely thinking about anything. At that point, Sarah asked, “How do you like that canter?”

Huh? Um? Uh . . . .

I suddenly woke up as my brain started trying to come up with the “right” answer, because I KNOW there is a right answer. First thought? There’s something wrong with the canter because why else would Sarah ask me. Second thought? I have no idea whether I like this canter or not.

That was the moment.

I realized I wasn’t paying attention to my riding or my horse or the quality of the gait. I was simply sitting there, and while it felt lovely to be relaxed, I was not taking responsibility for my ride. I just figured Sarah would “tell me” what to do or what to fix.

Hello!? What am I doing up here? Riding is not a passive sport. Riding requires concentration and focus by both horse and rider. How else are we going to make it around cross country and get home safe and happy? We both need to be alert and engaged so we will be able to adjust — a lot or a little — sometimes in less than a nanosecond. For me, one place to start that training begins with asking “Do I like that canter.”

Judy and Dice. Photo by Flatlands Photography.

When Sarah asks me that question now, I’m ready to answer. I don’t always get the right answer (Sarah wants a shorter stride or a bigger stride, better connection, more impulsion from behind, more or less bend), but I can say that I’m focused on my horse, focused on my riding and focused on the quality of the gait.

Yes, Sarah, I do like that canter!

Judy is an adult amateur event rider living in Harvard, Massachusetts. She started riding as a young girl, and began eventing as an adult over 20 years ago. Judy has owned and brought along three horses — Bosco who learned the sport along with her and will always be “the horse of a lifetime;” Sateen, who told her that dressage and trail riding were a better career; and now Dice, who is doing his level best to be the best horse ever. When not riding, Judy is a marketing and communications professional and the founder of Open Fields Communications.