Design a schooling session..winter motivation!

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I can't be the only one who is last at the yard, no lights in school and now have to ride in the pitch black...?

To help get us through this bleak few months I thought it might be a nice idea to design and share a schooling session to improve our motivation.

Aim... 20 mins excluding warm up and cool down ...

Anyone fancy joining in?
 
Translationsneeded said:
I can't be the only one who is last at the yard, no lights in school and now have to ride in the pitch black...?

To help get us through this bleak few months I thought it might be a nice idea to design and share a schooling session to improve our motivation.

Aim... 20 mins excluding warm up and cool down ...

Anyone fancy joining in?
Click to expand...

I suppose it depends what you want to work on? If you tell me your weaknesses and goals ill have a crack at it :)
 
Mostly I want to work on being motivated enough to school in the dark 3 times a week :)
My weaknesses are...
Too slow (lazy) need to be more forward
We don't bend very well
Would like to be able to do a good novice in spring.
 
I'm going to follow with interest as I also lose motivation to school my manager has sent me some of her PT sessions list of exercises to try and inspire me at the gym I need something similar for schooling lol.

My motivation isn't helped by the fact I don't compete so don't have an end "goal." So if I lack motivation i go pootling down the road (obviously only if light) or do the same sort of schooling plan.

You could try running through a dressage test riding it as if you were doing it in front of judges then try and do it again and work on what you thought wasn't great? I need to relearn some of my dressage tests I used to know prelim 10 off by heart as old yo always chose it for the competitions she held.

I did transitions at every letter/ every other letter the other day that was quite fun e.g. walk at a trot at f canter at b then trot at m etc then built it up to direct upwards transitions at every quarter of the school he can also do halt to trot and rein back to canter so was including that as well.

But will definitely be following with interest!
 
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I'm a bit of a saddo and I created (after my fellow liveries requested) a folder with a bunch of schooling sessions in. Each piece of paper has an equipment needed section (if any), suggested warm up and the main session.

I have done them for flat and pole sessions and I add to the folder when I have inspiration. It's been a godsend for those evenings when my brain has died after work and I just want to pick a plan, read it and follow it.

I could photograph a few for you?
 
scats said:
I'm a bit of a saddo and I created (after my fellow liveries requested) a folder with a bunch of schooling sessions in. Each piece of paper has an equipment needed section (if any), suggested warm up and the main session.

I have done them for flat and pole sessions and I add to the folder when I have inspiration. It's been a godsend for those evenings when my brain has died after work and I just want to pick a plan, read it and follow it.

I could photograph a few for you?
Click to expand...

Not my thread I know but would love some! He's 20 and fairly lazy if that narrows down which ones to send! Can do changes if he uses his back end properly. Probably at the end of a good lesson could do a novice test maybe one of the easier elementaries.
 
Will absolutely be following with interest. My favourite at the moment is long-reining (it adds variety to a standard riding schedule) and we're currently long-reining intro dressage tests since we're not quite there under saddle! Plus it's excellent cardio ;)

If you struggle with bending I'd recommend marking your arena with cones - or something to that effect) just inside the track at A, B, E, and C as well as X (and G and D if you fancy) with poles in parallel pairs at X, A, C as a sort of channel. With this set up it's a bit more visually engaging to ride serpentines, figures of 8, and 20/10m circles as you have an aim to straighten up through your poles and a marker to ride towards for the various points of your circles!

Hope that was clear and/or helpful! :)
 
I am planning on refining and practising my jumping competition warm up. Although I dont want it set in stone, it would realy help my horse to have a consistent routine. It needs to be more challenging than what I currentlly do so I have been thinking about what would be optimal and am going to do it a few times so that it is easy and comfortable for us both.
We have a weakness with skinnies and I am a bit phobic about oxers so thats 2 things I need to do plenty of. The issue is always having someone to put poles up but it doesnt have to all be done at the same time. I can spread it out.
 
On nights when I CANNOT be bothered, and have NO brain power at all, I just pick a number of transitions and tell myself I can finish when they're done. 100 transitions in a session is always worth while, and I tend to feel much more motivated the next day!
 
First thing I do is ride the horse I find myself with on the day. Sometimes mine is a bit stiff, being an oldie, sometimes quite forward, sometimes soft and low. Depending on this, I would ride a variation of the following (my schooling sessions are 45 -60 minutest feel free to adapt):
Walk on a loose rein to warm up, about 5 minutes, longer if he’s a bit tight, until a regular swinging walk is attained;
If he’s ‘on one’ I do some half halts in walk to vary the pace and get his attention;
Move into some gentle lateral work in walk, usually varying quarters in with shoulder in to get him to open up and change his bend;
Once he’s loose and listening I pop him on a big circle and do walk / trot / halt transitions with a varying inside / outside bend - this helps me to feel whether I have equal weight in both reins too;
Then I spiral the circles smaller and larger to help him engage behind - again, if he’s ‘on one’ this slows him and helps him focus;
Some canter / trot transitions, if he’s loose and soft enough (if not, we stay in walk and trot) - I don’t do long periods of canter as he just tends to rush and get upset, it’s the quality of the transitions I’m after;
Then a bit more lateral work in trot - usually leg yield and half pass off the centre line;
Big pats all round and a walk on a long rein to warm down

Simples :)
 
I currently have a variety of homemade Le Trec obstacles in the arena and practice these led and ridden. Horse definitely perks up in these sessions - although I think the fact he gets treats to reward successfully tackled obstacles has something to do with this!!
 
Flicker said:
First thing I do is ride the horse I find myself with on the day. Sometimes mine is a bit stiff, being an oldie, sometimes quite forward, sometimes soft and low. Depending on this, I would ride a variation of the following (my schooling sessions are 45 -60 minutest feel free to adapt):
Walk on a loose rein to warm up, about 5 minutes, longer if he’s a bit tight, until a regular swinging walk is attained;
If he’s ‘on one’ I do some half halts in walk to vary the pace and get his attention;
Move into some gentle lateral work in walk, usually varying quarters in with shoulder in to get him to open up and change his bend;
Once he’s loose and listening I pop him on a big circle and do walk / trot / halt transitions with a varying inside / outside bend - this helps me to feel whether I have equal weight in both reins too;
Then I spiral the circles smaller and larger to help him engage behind - again, if he’s ‘on one’ this slows him and helps him focus;
Some canter / trot transitions, if he’s loose and soft enough (if not, we stay in walk and trot) - I don’t do long periods of canter as he just tends to rush and get upset, it’s the quality of the transitions I’m after;
Then a bit more lateral work in trot - usually leg yield and half pass off the centre line;
Big pats all round and a walk on a long rein to warm down

Simples :)
Click to expand...

I will be using this - thank you!
 
scats said:
I'm a bit of a saddo and I created (after my fellow liveries requested) a folder with a bunch of schooling sessions in. Each piece of paper has an equipment needed section (if any), suggested warm up and the main session.

I have done them for flat and pole sessions and I add to the folder when I have inspiration. It's been a godsend for those evenings when my brain has died after work and I just want to pick a plan, read it and follow it.

I could photograph a few for you?
Click to expand...

I would really appreciate some of these - lights at yard and can't ride in day as at work, so week days will now be schooling only so variety is key!
 
Thanks all! Some fab replies on here, very helpful. Yes pls to the photos of the folder :)
In terms of obstacles, would that be possible in the dark? My eyes do adapt a bit but will we just run into stuff?
 
Oh and this might be another dumb question but does anyone canter in the dark? (No school lights and dark surface)
I tried the other night and it was well scary but not really sure why!!
 
Yes I canter in the dark as long as I know the surface is good and there is a little moonlight, on really black nights it can be a little disconcerting riding a black horse!I will do pole Work or trec obstacles if the poles contrast well with the surface, my wooden poles don’t show up too well but the plastic striped ones are ok for me. An example session for me would be: 10minutes walking with no stirrups, working on turning using only seat/leg aids getting him bending through his rib cage. Bringing in walk halt walk transitions. Then start counter flexion, leg yield in a couple of steps, then straight, then leg yield out a couple of steps. Also riding squares, on a couple of corners I will ask his shoulders to come round, then the other couple I ask him to yield his quarters instead. Then pick up the trot and repeat the bending through ribs and then yield in and out exercise. Pick up canter and work on keeping my legs and hands still and using my seat to lift him up into canter and use his back. (I still don’t fully understand what they mean by this but I’m trying anyway!). Working on walk Demi pirouette into canter then back to walk and repeat, really gets him sitting and pushing into the canter transition. Also rein back to canter. I’m now working on slowing him down in each pace to give him time to elevate the stride and really use himself, so where I thought I had a good forward trot before it was actually me pushing him out of a rhythm, onto his forehand so now I’m thinking slower and in just a few short sessions he’s feeling fantastic. Then stretching down on a big trot circle, then walking stretching. Then a little rein back and side pass along a pole practice before I hop off.

Other days we go out, he spots his big football (human exercise ball) and we spend 20mins with him chasing that around whilst I hang on to the front of the saddle! Last time I had to get off and take it off him like a small child with his favourite toy, he wouldn’t leave it alone!
 
Thanks KatPT, I'll give the canter another go, the surface is good.
Never really thought about doing poles in the dark but they are plastic with white bits so I'll give that a go too. Thanks for the input.

I did work out tonight if I put my torch slightly raised in the corner of the school it creates a nice silhouette.. free school mirror :)
 
Some great ideas, and good idea to share. I'm liking the folder idea as I can suffer from blank brain.
Some exercises I like to use (once warmed up)
Transition at every marker - sometimes working on transitions within a pace, sometimes on direct and sometimes to include lateral
Number of strides between markers (in any pace) - start with 'normal' and a then either try and get more in or less in.
Spirals round cones (I like using a cone as it makes me more accurate)
Bending round a line of cones - can also use lateral work to weave between them.

Respect for doing the schooling without lights. I'm too much of a wimp!
 
I neeeeed motivation! - I am on the most basic yard in the world (we don't have facilities or electric) but I do have a large well draining, reasonably flat field. I am trying to motivate myself to get up earlier and ride in the mornings (twice a week) before work whether this is schooling in the field if it's dry enough, doing a small hack around the block, or some groundwork on the hard standing.

My mare is rising 5 so our schooling sessions are short and sweet - about 20 mins - but go along the lines of this:
A couple of laps in a long contact walk on each rein to warm up.
Take up the contact and ask for halt to walk transitions, 20m circles in walk at each end of the field
Trot to halt transitions down the long side
Figure of eight in walk on each rein focusing on bending and flexing then half a figure of 8 in trot, walk across the diagonal then back into trot to complete the figure.
Stand at X and leg yield a few steps away from the centre line and then back.
Go large on a longer contact in walk for a lap on each rein to stretch off.

I would love to introduce poles (I have 5 but haven't used them yet) so if anyone has any suggestions that would be fun. And also if anyone has any exercises for suppling and encouraging her to lighten her forehand - she is that heavy my farrier asked what the hell she had done as she had practically worn down her front shoes this time!
 
Theocat said:
On nights when I CANNOT be bothered, and have NO brain power at all, I just pick a number of transitions and tell myself I can finish when they're done. 100 transitions in a session is always worth while, and I tend to feel much more motivated the next day!
Click to expand...

I like this esp as we only have a teeny tiny 20m ish sq school, thanks!
 
For those of you in dark schools, would those LED garden lights help for corners etc? You know the ones I mean, you buy them in garden centres and I think they charge from a solar panel during the day, then glow at night. People put them on their garden paths.
 
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