Fairfax Performance Bridle clinic

Wow! What a fabulous, interesting afternoon  

I have a Fairfax girth, works for us, fitted by saddler, I tried it a few times before I bought one, so was happy it suited us. Was based on Daniel's yard when the research began for the new bridle, so it has intrigued me to see how it finally turned out...very, very interesting it all is that is for sure.

Wanted to try partly out of curiosity, partly because the boy can be VERY sensitive around the ears (as FP! witnessed at Frensham a couple of weeks ago) They are certainly a top end product, but for that you have a 'top end' service, attention to detail and a real desire, I believe, to improve an individual horse's performance in an empathetic, comfortable way.

Some very fancy ponies there today, we were definitely the smallest and least flashy, so felt a bit   , however Vanessa Fairfax is very quick to put you at your ease. Quick introductions and they began to measure our own regular double bridle and select corresponding pieces to make up a bespoke bridle for your horse. When I say bespoke, genuinely, every part is just that, a bewildering world of possibilities in fact, that would probably ensure no two bridles would necessarily be the same. We had a close look at the headpiece, with cushioned pads just above the browband. It looked odd off the horse, but on, made complete sense and followed the contours of his skull nicely and lifting the headpiece way from his most sensitive part at the base of his ears. Every part is lined with prolite and was wide over the top of his head, dispersing pressure over the poll. They took ages to make sure the fir of cheek pieces was correct and then the noseband.
Now, this WAS extremely interesting as the padding is in 3 parts, it makes it bulkier than you might be used to, but not ugly. The central padding lifts the noseband and keeps the areas on either side of the nasal bone,clear of pressure. It also has two large rings and two smaller rings which mean it is pliable and moves softly, fitting nicely but not tightly. 

The browband is NOT changeable, everything is neatly stitched and clearly very carefully considered and researched. They asked me to ride in my old bridle first, took video and watched his way of going. We spent at least 20 minutes getting the fit right and then off we went again, under the watchful eye of 3 experts   

I will preface this with the statement that I am no great shakes, you know that, and this is only my opinion...an ordinary rider with an ordinary horse with some 'special ' needs including dislike of change  
To begin with he felt heavy in the hand, almost leaning into the bridle more than normal, but once he settled into it and readjusted his balance, he went well, very well.Now, the cynics (me included) will think, ah well, you wanted to feel a difference...believe me, I really didn't, I REALLY didn't...it is one expensive dilemma to have.However, quickly it became clear his transitions were better, more responsive and through I guess and he was definitely taking me forward in the medium trot. There was also a definite 'engagement'in the canter which felt great  Some of that will be the better surface I know, but when I dropped the reins and walked over to 3 ladies, the feedback was a definite improvement in the engagement/activity of the back end and a big difference in his stride length. He certainly felt powerful and happy in it, he certainly didn't dislike it!!!  

So, the plan is to try it at home under the watchful eye of trainer in 3 weeks. We can therefore eliminate the better surface possibility, and the riding under pressure scenario and see what it looks like filmed and photographed and analysed with different critical eyes  
Part of me feels it is pointless unless we are going to make it past medium, part of me thinks we need all the help we can get  
So nice to be back at the farm, you forget how much of a luxury mirrors and an indoor school are  
I will make sure I take photographs next time as I realise this is a largely dull blog entry without them, but well worth a look/try if one of the clinics are near you. It does need to be professionally fitted, especially with all the different options.
Worth bearing in mind there is no flash noseband option and the drop is not FEI approved as yet so would not be usable in competition until it is approved, so cavesson snaffle or double are really the only competition options  
Any questions, ask away, I am not an expert but rapidly becoming a convert... 

Freestylin'

Finally the star were aligned and I had the music, floorplan, school free, video-er primed (but on a limited time slot  ) ready to have our first go at putting it all together.

Disclaimer for the dressage police  :
Time was short, so I had to crack on with a bare minimum warm up in walk 
Some of it was winging it a little to fit the final cut of the music, especially the final trot bit
Rider's position and horse's frame are both under close enough critical scrutiny, so I am more than aware heels need to be down in the trot work and positioning for the leg yields need to be clearer/better  Free walk needs to be 'free-er' tansitions need to be clearer, mediums better prepared, infact the whole thing will need to be more uphill and energetic, probably also need to find a way to get rid of the bag of cats hibernating inside my jumper!!!  


Having said all that, I am chuffed to bits with how it is taking shape.
Sure the music will divide the judges, but it make me smile...a LOT,so that is the main thing 
Really looking forward to giving it a go in public and seeing how it is received  
We qualified for regionals first time out with our novice and I think this is hugely better than that attempt!!! So fingers crossed someone else thinks it is good enough 

Elementary Freestyle first run through

Onwards Wonderpony 

Lessoning brain ache

The lovely boy has been feeling fab  

We have changed his snaffle to a Verbindend and noseband to a drop and what a difference...no setting of the neck,much more willing to stretch down and forward, nice soft mouth and flexion through the jaw...and although I am not a fan of the aesthetic qualities of a drop, I am a fan of the effect...it did the same for my old, no idea why i didn't try it earlier  Maybe because it hasn't been awful in the kk and flash, but with the refinements at medium, it has definitely not been the easiest getting the harmony and relaxation we now seem to have  

Great to have trainer on site to go through the test sheet from last weekend, also fab that she saw the test and could put the comments to what she saw and refine our training on from that.

First port of call, that straightness through the stretchy warm up work...always a focus. We had a chat about my position as it always needs some work. But today she made it clear that the more advanced his training is getting, the more sensitive and responsive he is becoming, the more utterly VITAL it is that my signals are clear, consistent, balanced, focused  If I am not sitting completely straight we aren't going to be going in a straight line.I also need to remember the aids to apply for a straight line!!! No, really!!! On the left rein, right leg on the girth, left leg 'slightly' behind the girth, weight on left seat bone, shoulders turned the way we are going, weight through elbows ensuring a giving hand...reverse for the right rein...easy you would think...man alive it makes my brain ache!!! 

Worked on that forward straightness through the transitions from walk to trot, trot to walk, walk to halt, always thinking of up and forward from the shoulder, taking that weight back using those hind legs....then progressing to changes of pace within the pace, particularly on and back in the trot, without rushing, loss of balance, sucking back, always forward and up to that giving hand  

Trainer wanted to look at canter as there has been an issue with my aids for left...sigh....  
My positioning has been asking for counter canter on the left rein, so of course pony has been helpfully giving me counter canter!!! So what do we need? The inside hind stepping through...think shoulder fore before the transition, a soft inside contact, but not abandoning the rein, right leg properly back, weight to the outside, inside hip forward, but sitting tall, tall, tall....an active walk or trot also vital, up into the canter and balance, forward, balance, forward...riding the rhythm with the seat, not blocking wothe the hands...today we got some lovely, soft and balanced transitions into a much more balanced canter...he felt great. Walk to canter energetic, canter to walk, really thinking about collecting to a walk pace canter before closing the legs and riding the walk rhythm...we had some abrupt transitions on the left, so I need to make sure I am prepared,thinking ahead and keeping that connection soft but there!!!  

We then did a brilliant exercise to help me with the brain work for Medium tests. Trainer knows I am a berk when it comes to preparation and multi tasking!!  
So on the right rein, counter flexion round the corner, down the long side thinking about positioning of leg and seat: 4 steps of leg yield right, 2 straight, 4 steps of half pass left, 2 straight...change the rein and repeat on the other side....really helped me think about his flexibility, maoeuverability, relaxation, rhythm and most importantly where my legs, shoulders and seat need to be...we did it in walk first, then moved to trot...it immediately became obvious my tendency is to change the position of my leg aids when actually for this exercise it needs to stay the same, it is just the left and right leg that need to alternate whether they are supporting or asking for the wonderpony to step across. A real lightbulb moment...fab exercise for us  

We finished with long, low stretches on both reins as he had worked very hard...but today he remained relaxed and calm and for us, that is a real turning point as when things get hard physically or mentally he has a tendency to throw some distraction techniques into the mix....delighted today!!

Clever pony  
Onwards!!!!  

Huh.....

Horses huh?

Great levellers....  

First trip out for 5 months, wasn't going to go, trainer made me...have FSM soon as she thought that  would be the order of the day if I attempted it before any outings at all!!!  
Fair play, late entry sorted, trainer and YM both going, happy little outing...
Yup, or more specifically errrrrrrrrrrrrr nope  

Things were going soooooo well until Wonderpony decided he had something in his ear...cue violent headshaking and throwing onesself around  
Thank god FP was on hand to remove fly veil quick smart...pony not happy about any touching of ears full stop, so this was the poor boy's worst nightmare....interrupted warm up threw me (creature of habit  )
I began to flap, Small brown continued to shake his rather furry ears/head around...difficult to get any sense out of him  
Told trainer I wasn't going in, trainer said I was  

Pony convinced whatever was/had been in his ear was eating him from the inside out...trundled down to arena in a tizz.....
Test was a shocker consequently....found it nigh on impossible to get any flexion on the right rein (ear gaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh) leg yield left consequently a more of a stagger and fall out, we reinvented the canter sections with a 10m circle in counter canter, a flat out gallop with me screehing 'Holy shit'to handbreak turn, a fancy skippty skip type thing in the medium walk....suffice it to say, had trainer not been watching I would have retired...not a great comeback that is without doubt  
Packed up and went straight home without waiting for score or sheet....tail thoroughly between our legs
By some miracle it seems we might have scraped 63% by all accounts...how in God's name we did that I have no idea  

In happier news Larry Sausage is on his way in the morning!!!  

The halo has slipped.....

Sooooooo. Yesterdays 'conversation' with the wonderpony went a little like this:
SB: Oh hi Mum, you are late. You are going to have to hang on, we are about to have supper.

Me: Ummm, no wonderpony, YOU are going to have to hang on, we need to work, especially after yesterday. It will still be there when you get back.

SB: Hmmmph, not thinking that was the agreement.

Me: No, indeed , it is a little out of the ordinary, but it won't kill you.

SB: Mmmmmmm,we shall see.... that looks like a double bridle

Me: Yes, it is Vera's, you like this one better than yours

SB:(visibly pissed off) We will see about that, look how I can grab it in my teeth and throw it towards the door.

Me: 30 minutes, that's all we have to do. I even washed your saddle cloth.

SB:We shall see, I am now facing the wall so I can't see you, that might make you go away. Oh, and I also filled my cheeks with hay to make up for the lack of supper, so now you are going to have to run the gauntlett with my gnashers to get it out...you might give up and let me stay in bed />/> 

Me: Mmmm, no. Thank you. Lets go out to the school.

SB I can't, I just can't. It was so windy yesterday. Everything moved. The bin fell over, straw blew in front of my face. The electric fencing was making that weird whistly noise!! DON'T YOU REMEMBER??!!!! />/> 

Me: Yup, it's not windy today. All will be well.Come on! />/> 

SB: Oh God, there are people in there. On horses. I haven't seen that one before. What if she looks at me?

ME: It's fine

SB: I tell you, she is looking at me. I am going to have to stay far. far. away />/> 

Me: Well, really you need to go where I want you to go. So relax, nice stretch round the outside track, it's fine.

SB: I can't, nope, I can't. Holy shit, now she is leaving, and someone else is coming to lunge in the lunge pen, and WHAT are those two doing putting poles away next to the arena?! OH GOD, I AM GOING TO DIE!!!!! />/> 

Me: No one is going to die. You DO need to listen to me though />/> 

SB: If I stretch down I can't see over the fence, and that bin is looking very threatening again today.

Me: SMALL BROWN!! You MUST stretch down and go forward, here is my leg asking you to go forward, her is my kind giving hand allowing you to stretch down...get on with it young man...

SB: They have lit the bonfire now!!! We are doomed!! See how I can bounce up and down, make myself really big to protect you. My head can go really high!! Look!!! />/> 

Me: This game is not funny any more, seeeee, people are actually looking at us now, and not in a good way. I am going to have to get my balls out of the bag, if you carry on...no one likes to see a lady get her balls out... />/> 

SB: But I can also go very fast with my head up your nose too! I have seen them do it like this on the tv, all pointy toes and snorty noses!!Look, see, if I head away from the bonfire we will both be safe...but you don't look that happy that I am saving you now Mum />/> 

Me: I am not happy now, you are quite correct wonderpony! />/> Here are my balls, do what you are told...

SB (now muttering under his breath) I wonder how big they ACTUALLY are...

Me: So lovely BD lady said make you think, lets do some 10m circles

SB: In canter? I can canter!

Me: No, in trot please.

SB: I can canter

ME: I know you can canter....thing is I have asked for trot...

SB: See this shoulder in lark, too, we need to talk about that...

Me: We don't really need to talk about it...you NEED to do what you are told...Please

SB: Did you ask for canter?

ME: No I asked for trot half pass

SB: You definitely asked for canter

Me: I definitely didn't (repeat at least 10 times more)

SB: Shit, he is power washing his car next to the bonfire now!!!

ME: I Know!!! He does it a lot, just not when you are being a turd generally!

SB:I might be getting tired now...

Me: Oh Good, then you will listen and get on with it perhaps, we have been here an hour already...we ARE NOT going in until I get some long, stretchy work from you and if that take another hour so be it...

SB: Oh man, you sound cross />

Me: I have had better hours of my life to be honest....can we remember how to trot nicely yet?

SB: Ummmmm, yes.... /> Where has everyone gone?

ME: I think they might have gone home, as we have been out here so long....is that a free walk on a long rein you are offering now?

SB: Ummmm, might be /> 

Me: Did we die?

SB: Ummm, no.

Me: Might we be able to have a sensible session tomorrow?

SB: No guarantees...I do love you Mum, really />