Gifted Memorial Fund for Adult Amateurs Recipient: Shana Blum (Region 6)

Photo by Mary Cornelius

Dear The Dressage Foundation, 

I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity to spend five days working with my trainer, Paige Ruhl.  My goal was to improve the transitions, specifically trot/canter/trot with my young horse, Orison, 2019 KWPN (Wamberto x Wiskaia (HS Wistar)).  Zen found me as a two-year-old, one month after losing my 4th Level Oldenburg, Souvenir. Orison means ‘a prayer’, exactly what I needed going from a seasoned upper-level mature horse to a baby.  I call her Zen because she brings me peace. Our training program has been slow and methodical, developing the strength she needs through long lining, trail rides with many hills, and one lesson each week.  

My original outline for the grant pivoted slightly after suffering a rear end collision on January 17.  My vehicle was a total loss and my body sustained significant soft tissue damage. Rather than the originally planned Pilates every day, I incorporated Physical Therapy assigned by my doctor.  These exercises focused on my low back and hip strength that was compromised in the accident.  Ironically, most of these exercises are the same ones advised by the equestrian physio I’ve worked with in the past. Additionally, I videoed my lessons, reviewing them daily, more than a few times, and they continue to help me understand my positioning and my mare’s responses to correct and unbalanced incorrect aids.  

Our first Gifted Fund grant lesson under saddle gave us both an idea of exactly what we needed to work on. My position in the saddle was compromised due to pain and weakness in my sacrum/hips, mostly on my left side.  My left seat bone wasn’t secure, and Zen’s athletic gaits pushed me laterally.  Incorporating lateral work, shoulder in, leg yield, and head to wall leg yield, helped us find the straightness and connection needed for successful transitions. The best exercise we used was leg yield in trot down the long side with lengthening towards the end, then half-halt and canter aid.  This worked well tracking right, left needed more straightness. 

The following lesson was on Paige’s Grand Prix Friesian, Yahtzee. What a treat that was! His gaits are huge, and the sensitivity of a seasoned GP horse is clearly much different than a four-year-old.  This lesson demonstrated how unbalanced I was in the saddle, even on a well-balanced and strong horse. Once I was able to find my seat bones and find some comfort in a saddle too small for me, I could relax and focus on moving my hips in the correct positions. I needed to sit more left and back with my left hip, to truly ride from my seat. Surprisingly, I wasn’t as sore as expected after riding Yahtzee. Goes to show what good equitation can do for one’s body. 

Following that, Zen required vaccines and a dental putting her out of commission for a few days. She had a horrible reaction to the vaccines.  When we went back to work, we were able to focus on my positioning through every transition. Walk/trot is fairly solid, so our main focus was on trot/canter/trot.  Zen’s weakness is in her right hind. This contradiction of strengths and weaknesses is fascinating. My stronger right side can influence her weaker right side, but my weaker left side was being influenced too much by her stronger left side.  

Every day, twice a day, I was performing my PT exercises and every day I could feel the improvements.  

The next lesson on Zen was amazing! The canter transitions were beginning to come more often, smoothly, and accurately. The frustration with my malfunctioning body was waning and my strength was improving. Focusing on walk/trot/walk transition with connection and thoroughness on a curve helps her develop the strength she needed to use her hind end for canter transitions. Zen is a smart and sensible mare who thinks she knows what I want her to do next, lol. So, we change things up here and there between lateral work and transitions to keep her focus on me. Paige frequently reminds me that we are developing this horse and developing transitions. Baby horses are fun!  

We had the opportunity to haul into a neighboring barn’s covered arena when the weather and scheduling logistics demanded. This arena is much larger than the indoor we are accustomed to and the new environment was a challenge for my young mare. With Paige’s support and encouragement, we found more relaxation and suppleness and were able to find a few very nice trot/canter/trot transitions. That lesson taught me about riding the horse I have each day. Generally, Zen is a kick ride, my fault, I’m sure. That day she was quite hot and behind my leg. As contradictory as it sounds, I had to keep my legs on the hot mare and encourage balanced energy forward finding cadence at times. Keeping my left thigh and hip back for the right lead canter transition is still a work in progress. There were times when I would adjust my body and get a canter transition, indicating just how sensitive my mare can be.  

The following day at the same arena was much easier to find relaxation, but exhaustion came much sooner for my healing body.  The best lesson here was to stop before exhaustion, for both of us. No good work comes from a tired horse or rider. Before Zen’s quarter ran out, she gave me the feeling of riding a fluid, balanced canter. Always bringing her back down to trot before the canter became unbalanced. All these transitions are building strength for both of us. 

My goal was to improve trot/canter/trot transitions and I feel like I met that goal and have a much better understanding of the requirements needed for success. Now the goal is to continue improving, develop more strength so these transitions are consistently on the aids and through. 

Isn’t dressage fun? Once we achieve one goal another one is waiting, and that is what I love about our sport. The never-ending learning and application of skills to the rest of my life. I have started a few young horses before Zen, but never this methodically adhering to the pyramid of training. I feel like my USDF L graduate training helps me immensely understanding the process of developing my horse to the best of her abilities and mine as well. 

I hope anyone reading this will apply for The Dressage Foundation’s Gifted Grant. It truly is a GIFT!  

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART,
- Shana & Orison