Gifted Memorial Fund for Adult Amateurs Recipient: Renee Surprenant (Region 8)

Photo by B. Cataldo

Ride along with Renee Suprenant, the USDF Region 8 recipient of the 2023 Gifted Memorial Fund for Adult Amateurs recipient, as she trains for a week with Ann Guptill.  

Pre-Training
I am so excited to be starting my training week with Ann Guptill next week.  It is such an amazing opportunity was made possible by The Dressage Foundation and its donors.   

Ann has been in touch with me several times to firm up our schedules.  I had my weekly lesson with her yesterday and we talked about our plan for the week and got a head start on our goals.   

She started by asking me to form goals using the SMARTS method she learned from Dr. Jenny Susser.  This acronym was first written down in 1981 by George T Doran.  Dr. Susser, a sports psychologist uses it in her teaching and has added a S on the end of the acronym.  So here it is: 
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely, and Support.     

My goal for my training week is to improve on our Third Level work, specifically the trot and canter half passes, the differentiation between medium and extended trot and canter, to work on the flying changes, and to improve my position in the saddle. These will be measurable visually by Ann and myself (through watching video). It is a reachable goal as the Third Level groundwork is in place and I believe it can be achieved in the week we are at Ann’s farm. Ann will be my support. 

Photo by B. Cataldo

Day 1
Ann scheduled the day with a seat and position lesson on the lunge to work on rider alignment, with Jubilee scheduled second. 

Gypsy, a Morgan Quarter horse mare, came out for my lesson. Ann worked on my position in the walk and trot. Exercises included raising my arms above my head and to the side at shoulder level and making large backward arm circles, like in the backstroke. Then forward over her neck, first one, then both arms. I worked on long legs, toes in, and heels down under my seat and hips. Then we added letting my seat bounce with the trot. I was amazed at how much I had to learn and feel about making my seat and extremities work in unison and independently! I grew taller and with long appropriately placed legs. 

Next was my lesson on Jubes. I took what I learned on the lunge and used it on her. It was amazing. We worked on a forward, consistent tempo, and roundness in the walk, trot, canter, and counter canter. Next, we went to the canter, working forward and back in the canter and counter canter to get her in front of my leg. In the counter canter we worked on suppleness and responsiveness in preparation for the halfpass. Then some stretching in the trot and walk, ending with in-hand work, in preparation of half steps. During and after the in-hand work her back and shoulders came up and she was so soft and round. 

Day 2
Today we worked on Jubilee's trot. After warming her up, we did trot shoulder in to renvers, back to shoulder in. Keeping her shoulders on the same line as we made the changes in bend and on keeping the outside reins with the changes in bend, without getting too much bend in her neck. Ann, who rode with Carol Lavell for many years, quoted one of her favorite sayings from Carol. Connect the horse to the outside rein and when you change the bend keep the horse in the new outside rein. We had three tracks in the shoulder-in and four tracks in the renvers. When that was well done we added half pass, first on the quarter line from the renvers, then down the centerline, and half pass to the rail with good crossover behind! 

Then some long and low in the trot. Followed by the in-hand work, which we are trying to do every day. After the in-hand work, she was so soft and round, it was amazing!  It was the best she had ever been. 

My second lesson was on Raven, a Mustang. An amazing school horse to say the least. He was captured as a two-year-old and then trained by a friend of Ann’s who competed with him through First Level and low-training jumpers. I was told he had some instincts related to surviving in the wild. When I first started riding him, I wasn’t sure I should use my spurs or whip. He wasn’t forward and I had to work to keep him going. Ann said to ride him like I would ride any horse, just be aware of his fears. So I did and he gave me such a wonderful ride. He was sensitive, picked himself up, and did his job. You had to do as little as possible and he moved forward, super light on the aids. I rode the changes on him and I will never forget the feeling of him waiting for me to ask.  We were going across a short diagonal and he knew what was coming. I changed the bend and did a slight leg yield, he wanted to change but he waited until I asked. The feeling was beyond amazing. It just goes to show how dressage training helps all horses. 

Day 3
This day started with watching Ann ride a beautiful mare. She rode half passes and changes. So light to Ann’s aids, so supple, relaxed, and soft. The things I love about riding and dressage. Such an inspiration before riding my girl. 

My first ride was a lunge lesson on Gypsy. Ann worked on my position in the walk, trot, and canter as we did on my first day. She added a resistance band to my right leg to help me lengthen it and keep the heel down.  Ann has worked with Andy Thomas, who does symmetry work. Then we worked on canter transitions just off my seat and down transitions with a stretch up in my abs and breathing out. The mare could not have been more sensitive and responsive. It was beyond amazing!!! 

My second ride was on Jubilee. We warmed up walk, trot, and canter, forward and rounder maintaining the tempo. I tried to ride the canter transitions just off my seat. We lacked the forward with the up transition but we easily got them. We found I could get the forward by moving my legs forward, then adding a gallop, and asking her to reach with her shoulders. We ended with the changes utilizing the exercises we used on day one.  Since we got the changes we decided to end with that and not do the in-hand work.   

Day 4 
Ann built on all we had worked on in the previous days. We started today with Raven working on lateral work, half pass, and the changes. Trying to firm up what he has taught me so that I can try it on Jubilee. Another thing I am learning is that I have to be quieter in the saddle.  My half halts are too strong, they need to be softer and shorter, more a thought or whisper than anything else.  Riding Raven made it clear what I needed to work on, a total tell of where I needed to improve.  He is such a great teacher.   

 After warming Jubilee up, Ann chose to do the in-hand work first, as we wanted to end with the changes again.  It also helps her flex her hocks so that she can sit down for the changes. She warmed up super well, soft and round and forward.  We worked on canter down centerline to half pass, flexing right and left until she was soft, then half pass to the wall to walk.  Then we did the same exercise with a flying change instead of the walk.  When I hit the rail I looked up at the mirror and tried to stay tall, with my seat in the saddle, after the change I continued straight.  I tend to fall inside. She now anticipates them but is very ridable after the change.  

After watching parts of many lessons this week, it seems we all have similar needs.  Like the growing tall and looking up, longer legs stepping into the stirrup, keeping our tushes in the saddle and forward!! It's wonderful being part of the community here at Ann's.  I ride alone at home, it's so nice to talk to others who are on this dressage path.  

This week has just been a whirlwind and so much information, but the pieces are coming together, thanks to Ann and her school horses. 

Day 5
Today is an off day, and coincidentally a snow day! 

Day 6 
Today I had three lessons, two in preparation for the final lesson of the day on Jubilee.  My first lesson was a seat and position lunge lesson on Gypsy. We continued the same exercises to help improve my position and use independent synchronous aids. Next came Raven, the handsome Mustang.  Ann had us work on the same things we planned to work on with Jubilee, getting him forward and supple, then half pass and changes. Next was Jubilee.  I have been trying to ride her softer and lighter and she really appreciates me staying out of her way.  After an amazing warmup, soft supple, and forward we did the in-hand work. She was a superstar!  Then a little canter work that felt great.  We really wanted to work on trot today, so did the lateral work followed by medium trot, collect, and then extended trot. Such a super ride on her today. I am so amazed by all I have learned this week. Changes in my position and aids help my horse be soft, supple, and happy in her work.   

Day 7
My last day was just Jubilee.  After warm up we rode the canter work and ended with a little in-hand work.  Jubilee was wonderful and we had so much fun.  What an amazing experience for both of us. 

So did we meet our goals?   

First, both of our trot and canter half passes have improved based on viewing the video.  Second, we can get a medium trot and the beginnings of an extended trot. Third, we can get flying changes when I take my time in preparation and follow through after the change. The lunge lessons have helped my position and light use of my aids.  

This experience was even beyond my expectations.  Not only did I meet my goals, but the ability to ride other horses helped me to understand where I needed improvement to ride my own horses.  I love a soft supple horse; I realize that I also have to be soft and supple with my body to allow the horse to do the same.  This experience would not have been possible without the help of The Dressage Foundation and its donors. Thank you also to Ann Guptill for her hospitality and amazing knowledge, and her horses for all they have taught me.