Snack of the day: 4/21/15

In 2011 the option to ride first level tests at the posting trot was introduced.  My first reaction was...

But a sign of becoming older and more mature is to put your gut reactions aside and consider an issue objectively.  I still haven't decided whether this, overall, a good or bad thing, so in order to do so, let's look at the pros and cons.

Pros

- Allowing riders to post encourages horses to stay rounder over their topline and not drop their backs.

- Many riders are not ready to sit the trot by the time they are ready to move on from training level and forcing them to do so prematurely can have adverse impacts on both their development as riders and their horses' development.  Eliminating the requirement of sitting trot could prevent this.

- First level classes will attract new riders that were previously afraid to attempt a level with sitting trot requirement.

Cons

- The seat aids for leg yields are less likely to be used and perfected when posting trot is allowed.

- At a point in the horses' development when they are suppose to showing the beginnings of collection, the seat will be made less effective and riders will rely more on their hands.

- Riders will just put off developing their seat even longer.

I'm still not sure how I feel about this issue, but would love your input.  Discuss!

Be vewy quiet!

Let's imagine you're at a crowed party trying to have a conversation with a friend.  Music is blaring, there are many other people talking and laughing, and you're having trouble communicating over all that noise.  You can make basic points by yelling like "I like this song!" Or "want another drink?" But more complex thoughts are lost in the background chatter.

Now, let's imagine your friend is your horse. The blaring music is your seat that hasn't quite figured out how to move with the motion, and the conversation and laughter are your hands and legs that haven't developed the ability to become independent from your seat.  You can make basic points like "stop" and "go" with loud aids, but more complex thoughts are lost in the background chatter. 

We use the word "quiet" to describe good riding for a reason.  A quiet rider makes very little "noise" unless he or she has something to say, and when it comes time to communicate, a quiet rider can whisper instead of yell with the aids because there is is no background chatter with which to compete.  So next time you're on your horse, imagine you're hunting wabbits and...

Snack of the day: 4/19/15

Sometimes after a long night's sleep, I have trouble getting myself going in the morning and often like to blame it on inertia.  This is one of those mornings.

For those of you who may not remember from physics class, inertia is a concept explained by Newton's first law of motion.  Objects at rest tend to stay at rest unless acted upon by an outside force, and objects in motion tend to stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force.  Well after being in bed all night, I'm in need of an outside force to get me going, and today (and everyday) that outside force is a big cup of black coffee.

Inertia is also a useful concept to apply to riding if you remember that the motion aspect of it is directional.  So in order to clarify this a little more I'm going to use a visual.  Let's imagine your horse is a wrecking ball hurtling down the long side.

Not quite the visual you were looking for first thing in the morning?

Now imagine you need to make a 20 meter circle at E.  It's going to taking a lot of energy to redirect that wrecking ball and as you redirect it, it's going to lose some of the energy carrying it forward. The smaller the circle, the harder the initial redirection will be and, and the more forward moving energy will be lost during the redirection.

So what does this mean in terms of riding? Well I like to think of the "redirection force" as the combination of inside leg and seat bone that initiate increased bend, as well as the outside aids that hold the desired level of bend and initiate the turn.  So the smaller the circle, the more redirection aids are needed. Then in order to keep your speed constant and not lose forward energy, a positive seat (and potentially leg if needed) must be employed.

For all you science nerds out there, I've left out the variables of mass and velocity to simplify the concept a bit, but if you knew to think of them in the first place, I'm sure you can figure out how they come into play.

I hope the image of a naked Bobby Moynihan hasn't made you completely lose your appetite, and that you've enjoyed this morning's snack.

Snack writing

I would like to write more and I've figured out that the only way to actually write more is to...well... write more.

When I was in grad school, I adopted a habit called snack writing for which I would spend 15 to 20 minute time blocks writing scattered throughout the day as opposed to multi-hour writing smorgasbord.  This worked fairly well for the most part until thesis deadlines and massive editing tasks came into play, but I figured for something as low pressure as writing about horses, this strategy should work quite well.

So here is my plan:  Every morning, first thing, spend 15-20 minutes producing a "snack piece" that I will then share with you, my readers. These "snacks" might be training tips, conversation starters, or maybe just weird musings. I'm aware that doing this first thing in the morning will probably lead to some half awake ramblings, but I'm kind of counting on that to add some entertainment value.  My hope is that this will create some inertia that will lead to longer, better, and potentially HorseNation.com worthy pieces

So now that I've awkwardly explained myself, here is your snack of the day for 4/18/15:


Whenever I hear the Lady Gaga song, "Applause," I change the words to the chorus and sing along:

"I live for the dressage, dressage, dressage.
I live for the dressage-sage, live for the dressage-sage.
I live for the way you piaffe and passage.
I live for the dressage, dressage, dressage."

One day I will rewrite the lyrics to the entire and make a music video.  It will be magical!

Go ahead.  Give it a try for yourself. It fits perfectly!

This snack is proudly brought to you by Biz's inner-crazy

Equestrian anxiety dreams

You know when someone is like, "OMG.  I had the weirdest dream last night!"  And you're like "OMG. No one cares!" Well I'm about to be that narcissistic jackass with the audacity to believe that the ongoings of my slumbering brain is a topic you all want to hear about :-D

I've been having anxiety dreams lately.  Horse related anxiety dreams.  This is more than likely because show season is here (at least for those of us not living in the arctic tundra) and as fun as shows are,us type A, DQ's, will ALWAYS sweat the small stuff.

Non-equestrians have several common anxiety dreams including: Driving a car in which the breaks don't work, being naked in front  of a large crowd, forgetting to go to class for an extended period of time and then showing up to an exam etc.  Assuming that there are also common, horse related anxiety dreams that run amok in the equestrian community, I'm going to share mine and take a stab at interpreting them in order help those of you experiencing the same crazy, nocturnal musings.

The "I don't know my test!" dream
My most common horse-related anxiety dream by far is the "I don't know my test!" dream.

From The Idea of Order

This dream can also appear as the "I don't know my course, reining pattern,  or equitation pattern!"  In one version of this dream, I not only don't know my test, but when I look at the test book, the pattern is far more complicated than I could have ever imagined.

Interpretation:  You are feeling underprepared for some upcoming event.  Notice I said "feeling."  While you may, in reality, be unprepared for a challenge in your near future, it is equally as likely that you are just lacking in confidence and doubting your own abilities.  Regardless of the root of this anxiety, the only way to ease it is to prepare, prepare, and prepare some more.

Horse in the crossties
Every so often, I'll wake up in a cold sweat thinking that I've left a horse standing in crossties overnight. This is something I have never actually done, but I'd put money on the fact that if I did ever leave my horse in the crossties overnight, there would be no barn left in the morning.

"If I have to stand here much longer I will tear this barn down to the ground."

Interpretation: You are clearly forgetting or ignoring something, something that if not dealt with now will cause you even bigger problems down the road.  Are you bottling up your feelings regarding barn drama, or are you attempting to work on collection without establishing rhythm and relaxation first? These are just a couple examples of things that can lead to the horse in the crossties dream. Deal with issues as they arise and save yourself some trouble in the future.

Ride time in 5 minutes!
You arrive at the show only to hear over the loudspeaker that you're on-deck. You're hoping that you can get your horse unloaded and tacked up in time.  You can forget about your warmup.

unnecessarilysumie.com

Interpretation: You are feeling overwhelmed. It may be time to look into some new time management strategies, or assess whether you might be taking on too many responsibilities.  Just remember, it's better to do fewer things really well than more things half-assed.


I hope this helps and I'd be curious to hear about other horse-related anxiety dreams out there.  Until next time go, riding!

Biz Stamm is the 31 year old trainer and instructor of Stamm Sport Horse, LLC, specializing in pure dressage, as well applied dressage for riders involved in other disciplines. Originally haling from Hudson, NH,  She is now living in Corvallis, OR. Biz started riding lessons at the age of 6 years old when the Dr. recommended that it may help with her bad balance and lack of coordination. While she is fairly coordinated and balanced on a horse these days, she is still somewhat of a mess on her own two feet.  

Biz currently owns two horses: her lesson horse, The Kalvin Cycle (Kalvin), a 9 year old half-Arabian gelding…

Kalvin and Biz

… and her personal horse, Alpha Helix, a 4 year old Kiger mustang gelding.  Biz has had Helix since the day he was weaned, and considers him her “heart” horse.

Biz is also the proud owner (more like ownee!) of a 7 year old standard rex bunny named Pi Rex Rufuse (Get it!?  Pi r-squared!!!). Biz has always wanted to have some sort of mini horse to live in the house, and since the current landlords won’s allow any kind of equine on the property, Biz opted for a rabbit, which evolutionarily speaking, is very closely related to the horse.

After getting a Masters degree in Plant Pathology, and pursuing a career in the scientific world, it became clear to her that she was only truly happy when she was interacting with, or talking about horses (and sometimes rabbits). Now that she is riding full time, Biz still keeps her scientific training close at hand, focusing on correct biomechanics and physics involved in riding. 

Things Equestrians Say Taken out of Context

Have you ever wondered what non-equestrians think we're talking about when they stumble upon us mid conversation?  Here are a few things that can be taken horribly out of context.

I can't wait to get back in the stirrups!

What they think...

photo from www.tressugar.com

What we mean...

photo by Jean Johnson

I rode him real hard yesterday. I think I wore him out.

What they think...

What we mean...

photo from britannica.com

I love the smell of leather!

What they think...

photo from manualahorn.com

What we mean...

photo from mecnita.com

I'm going to jump Johnny this afternoon

photo from galleryhip.com

What we mean...

photo from softgreen.com.br

Are you (mentally un)fit enough to marry a horse girl?

Let's be honest, dating a horse girl is no easy task. Please refer to last year's Are You Fit to Date a Horse Girl article for the required list of skills. Last May, my ex-boyfriend (now husband) and I decided it was time to get hitched.  Marrying a horse girl is something reserved for the very rich...

 the equally horse crazy...

The gorgeous Boyd and Silva Martin.  Picture from horseradionetwork.com

 ...or the certifiably insane.  My husband, Dave, does not fall into either of the first two categories, so that only leaves one option.  See exhibit A:

Exhibit A:  Because behind every great woman, there's a man dressed like Norman Bates?  Wait...what?!

So yes, my husband is a bit crazy, but I feel like his insanity is the one thing that allows him to deal with my horse obsession so effectively.

Here are some of Dave's crazier traits that have allowed him to not only survive, but thrive in a horsey marriage.

#1 An uncontrollable "BABY ANIMAL!" reflex.  Because of this trait this...

...this...

....and this...

...are now permanent members of the family.  

#2 A complete lack self preservation.

For those of us that began riding as kids, we never really thought about the fact that by riding we are drastically increasing our odds of a premature death.  Or at least I never did.  An intelligent adult, on the other hand, is aware of this fact and willingness to overlook it is a sure sign of insanity.  Just this past year, Dave has taken the ultimate step in embracing the horsey lifestyle by learning how to ride.  He says he would like to event (another clear sign of insanity).

#3 His manic enthusiasm all things horsey.

OK.  Maybe that last one is all in my head.

Go riding!!!

Equestrian/fitness humblebrags

Not only am I huge fan of the Horse Nation equestrian-style of comedy, I am also a huge fan of comedy in general.  One day while listening to the podcast Comedy Bang Bang, "Parks and Recreation" writer, Harris Wittels, introduced me to the humblebrag and my life was forever changed.  Urban dictionary defines humblebrag as:

"Subtly letting others now about how fantastic your life is while undercutting it with a bit of self-effacing humor or "woe is me" gloss."

Since discovering the humblebrag, I've made somewhat of a hobby of sarcastically humblebragging and calling others out on their own humblebragginess.  For today's Fit to Ride, I've come up with some fitness/equestrian humblebrags that I would like to use my expertise to interpret for you.

The humblebrag: "WTF, man!  Now that I've lost weight, all my breeches are baggy."

Interpretation:  "Hey!  Don't I look awesome?!  I really look awesome!"

Photo from Etsy.com

The humblebrag: "My arms are looking so manly from lugging around hay and water buckets all the time."

Interpretation: "My arms look so good Evangaline Lily would be jealous."

Photo from solitaryphoenix.com

The humblebrag:  "Ugh!  My abs are so sore from sitting my horse's gigantic trot!"

Interpretation:  "My horse is incredibly gifted...probably the next Totilas, and not only do I get to ride that magnificent beast, but I have a six-pack from doing so."

Photo from www.wbfsh.org

The humblebrag: "I have such a hard time finding breeches that fit.  My legs are just too long and skinny."

Interpretation: "I'm an Amazonian goddess with legs that go forever!"

The humblebrag:  "It's so hot down here in 'Slow-cala'!"

Interpretation: "Yep.  I'm in Ocala and you're stuck in the cold b&$ches!!"

Photo from USeventing.com

Go riding!

Fit to ride 5k Challenge!

Hey there, Horse Nation.

We're a couple weeks into the New Year and I'm betting that some of you are already starting to lose steam on your fitness related resolutions.  Well here is what I'd like you to do. Log on to the world wide interwebs and Google 5k races in your area.  Find one that is a month or two out and sign up...right now.  Some may say that the fear of public embarrassment is the best sort of motivation, but if you are completely lacking shame, like myself, a concrete goal is a much better option.

So perhaps you've never been much of a runner and have no clue where to begin when training for a 5k.  Well fear not!  A 5k (3.1 miles) is a very manageable distance and a reasonably healthy adult can prepare for one by running/walking as little as 3 times a week.

Here is a plan I made for myself to follow since I was just cleared to run again after a knee injury (:-D).

	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Week 1	Stretching	Rest	Run 1 mile	Rest	Run 1 mile	Cross train	Run 2 miles
Week 2	Stretching	Rest	Run 1.5 miles	Rest	Run 1.5 miles	Cross train	Run 2 miles
Week 3	Stretching	Rest	Run 2 miles	Rest	Run 2 miles	Cross train	Run 2.5 miles
Week 4	Stretching	Rest	Run 2 miles	Rest	Run 2 miles	Cross train	Run 2.5 miles
Week 5	Stretching	Rest	Run 2.5 miles	Rest	Run 2.5 miles	Cross train	Run a 5k!

Stretching: While it is important to stretch before and after each run, on your "stretching" days spend a full 15-30 minutes devoted just to getting loose.

Rest: I think this is pretty self-explanatory, but it is important to give your muscles a chance to recover, so kick off those running shoes, slip into your slippers, and sink into your couch for a "Heartland" marathon.

Running: For those of you completely new to running, I would advise alternating between 2 minutes of running and 1 minute of walking.  Those with a little more experience can just go for it.  Maybe it's just because I'm the slow and steady type, but I tend not to worry so much about my speed or my time, but rather focus on completing the run I had planned.  It's all about going the distance.  You can use websites/apps like Map My Run to plan your routes.

Cross-training: On your cross-training days, participate in a form of physical activity other than running.  I'm assuming most of you ride once a week, so count that as your cross-training!

5k:  On the day of your 5k, eat a healthy, light breakfast, give your body a good stretch, and then let your training shine through.  Don't forget to smile and have fun because you are doing something great for your body! 

Go riding!!!

Ask a rabbit: Avoiding junk food at work

"Dear Pi,

I recently transitioned to healthy diet and have pretty much eliminated junk food from my at-home eating habits. The only issue is that at work, my boss frequently rewards good work with boxes of donuts and giant bowls of candy. I'm great at not buying junk food, but I find myself pretty helpless when it is presented to me. Please help!

- On The Timeclock Binger

Hey there OTTB. This is a very difficult issue that many of us face.  I for one, am completely helpless in the face of yogurt bites. Over the years, however, I have developed some great coping mechanisms that enable me to make better choices when confronted with delicious looking junkfood (like that cheesepuff Mom just dropped on the floor).

First off, eat a good breakfast rich in protein and low in sugar and simple carbohydrates. The only thing that separates simple carbs from sugar are a few covalent bonds, so from a dietary standpoint it's best to treat them as the same thing. Eating food high in sugar causes your blood sugar level to spike and then crash.  These crashes are what lead to the sudden cravings and pangs of hunger that can make those unhealthy treats look so good.  I personally avoid sugar because it makes me gassy, and after a great deal of experimentation I've found the extra gas propulsion does not improve my hopping ability as I hypothesized.  Mom has been eating mini frittatas for breakfast these days and says she will post the recipe on the "Fit to Ride" Facebook page later this week.

Next, your going to want to be sure you're staying hydrated.  In the winter time it can be tough to remember to drink, but it is just as important as in the hot weather. Caffeine free teas are a great option on those really cold days when a cool glass of water doesn't seem appealing.

From noliesradio.org

Lastly, you are going to want to arm yourself with healthy snacks so you have a better option when confronted with unhealthy food.  Whenever I'm having a craving I turn to my treat log.

From squidoo.com

Now I realize that you humans may not find a treat log all that appealing, but the filling inside is made up of seeds and dried fruit. I believe you guys have something similar called trail mix.  Be sure to get a trail mix that is completely made of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit.  Avoid things like chocolate and pretzels.  Most grocery stores have a bulk section with some great trail mix options.  Whole fruits and vegetables, like apples and carrots, are also great snacking options.  I sometimes get a little too into the whole carrot thing, but it's better than donuts.

Well OTTB.  I hope that advice is useful.  Thanks for writing.  If anyone else out there in Horse Nation has a health or fitness question, please post it to the "Fit to Ride" Facebook page using the hashtag #askarabbit.

Go riding!!!

The Notebook

Hey there, Horse Nation.  T'is the season for self-improvement and goal setting on a grand scale. Millions of people will pledge to be healthier and many of us equestrian type will resolve to up our game in the saddle.  I know I will be doing both of those things.  Up until a couple years ago I had this habit of buying a new notebook each time I set a new goal.

In these notebooks I would track my progress as I pursued my goal.  The first few pages were always filled with meticulous records, detailed notes, and often, inspirational doodles of happy ponies.

These entries would quickly devolve into hurried scrawlings as life got in the way of my ambitions...

and then... they'd stop all together.

I recently stumbled across my last notebook. A plain and simple journal.  This notebook was obviously purchased when I was in a bit of a dark place.  I was in the process of finishing my thesis, and was dealing with a major professor that took immense joy in demoralizing her students. Despite the fact I got this notebook with the sole intention of recording my thoughts and feelings, the topic of "goals" crept quite conspicuously into the very first entry. I guess my brain is jus very goal-oriented.

**Read in my best goth kid voice**

"I bought this new notebook because there is something so rejuvenating about a real, physical blank slate. Blank slates are something I seem to need a lot in my life.  As a result, I have a house filled with half-filled notebooks with the scrawlings of goals never achieved. Souvenirs from the place where dreams go to die."

Ugh.  I promise.  I'm typically not such a drama queen. At the time, I saw these notebooks as evidence of my failures, and looking back I still believe that to be the truth, but in a much less depressing way.  The difference is I now understand that my successes in life are built on the backs of my failures.  Each time I falter when reaching for a goal, I learn valuable lessons on what not to do which aid me in my next attempt.  The only true failure comes with not trying again. So as I look forward to 2014, I will still reach for the sky. What I won't do is allow myself to be crippled by the fear of failing, because hey.  That's just part of the game. With that being said, I'm off to buy a new notebook! Happy New Year, Horse Nation!

Go Riding!!

Un-tooching your booty

Hey, Horse Nation.  I have something I need to admit to you. I love to watch "America's Next Top Model."  I love the awesome clothes, great locations, and artistic photo shoots.  What?! That's a load of BS you say? Yeah.  You're right.  I really just enjoy watching beautiful people act like complete idiots.  Anyway, those of you that watch the show will be familiar with the "booty tooch."  For those of you that are unfamiliar with the term, a booty tooch involves tilting your pelvis forward, creating a little extra arch in your low back and accentuating your money maker.  Here, Tyra Banks shows Jimmy Fallon how it's done.

From Buzzfeed.com

Some of us ladies are born with a natural tooch.  I am one of those people. X-rays showed that my pelvis was tilted a whopping 61 degrees forward! Women do tend to have a natural tilt to their pelvis, but I was way beyond normal. Unfortunately I make my living in the saddle and not looking fierce in front of the flash bulbs. Unlike in the modeling world, a tooched booty in saddle can be quite problematic.  It can make it difficult to achieve a deep and fluid seat.  Also, attempting to sit the trot with an overly forward-angled pelvis is a sure recipe for both human and equine back pain.

My former seat.  Great for a photo shoot.  Less good for riding.

After acknowledging my tooch, I immediately went about correcting it and will now share my process in hopes that I can help those others who are similarly afflicted.

I started off by stretching my low back. One of my favorite stretches for the low back and glutes involves sitting cross-legged, and then extending the arms and upper body forward.  Aside from being incredibly effective, this stretch is comfortable enough to hold for long periods of time making it an ideal position for meditation or visualization exercises.

I then went on to strengthen my lower abdominals in an attempt to correct the tilt of my pelvis. Leg lifts are great for increasing lower abdominal strength.  Lay on the floor and place your hands under your butt to keep your back from arching.  Then raise your legs about two feet off the ground.  Lower your legs until they are an inch or two from the ground.  Hold for fives seconds, and repeat.

Lastly, to avoid going from riding with an arched, hollow back to riding with a rounded back, it is important to strengthen your mid-back and shoulders. You can do this by performing a variation of the "superman" exercise.  Lay on your belly with your arms extended in front of you. Raise your head and shoulders off the floor.  Then alternately lift diagonal arm and leg pairs.  Think of trotting, but you know, on your belly.

Because of my conformation, I will always have to be aware that a lack of vigilance could easily cause my position to revert back to complete toochitude, but for now, these exercises have really helped me reshape my seat.

Untooched seat!

Go riding!

Fit to ride

Generally, buying your wife a piece of exercise equipment is something done by the oblivious or suicidal, but last year for my birthday I asked for a kettle-bell and my husband nervously delivered.  For those not familiar with what a kettle-bell is, it's essentially a cannonball with a handle, and is a great tool for getting strong and toned.  The reason I love my kettle-bell so much is because it builds functional strength, and by that I mean it engages several muscle groups at a time, giving you strength you can use instead of tone that just looks pretty.  After using my kettle-bell for awhile, I started to feel stronger in the saddle, so today I'm going to share some of the exercises that helped my riding the most.

Two-handed swing:  Do you have issues engaging your hamstrings to get your leg back and underneath yourself?  This exercise is for you!  Start with your feet slightly wider apart than shoulder-width. Hold the kettle-bell with both hands and then push up from your heels and quickly contract your hamstrings and glutes to pop your hips forward.  Aside from being great for your low back, hamstrings, and glutes, 2-5 mins of two-handed swings will really get your heart pumping!

Around the world:  One of the more difficult things we do as riders is to stabilize our bodies so that we are able to stay still despite the fact we have a bouncing horse underneath us.  In this exercise we swing the kettle-bell around our bodies, passing it from hand to hand, and use virtually every muscle in our body to stabilize against the centrifugal force.

Abdominal twists: Those of us familiar with the sitting trot know that our core can NEVER be too strong.  This is one of my all time favorite abdominal exercises, and I guarantee you will feel the burn!  Sit with your feet flat on the floor and hold the kettle-bell with both hands. Lean back until you feel your abdominals begin to tighten, and then twist from side to side.

Why wait for your New Year's resolution  to start exercising when you can ring in the holidays, kettle-bell style!  I know. I know.  That pun was terrible, but I can't help myself.

Be sure to check out the Fit to Ride Facebook page to get our weekly workout challenges and submit your health and fitness questions (#askarabbit).

Go riding!