Pleasantly Surprised! July 31, 2007
Posted by kimayars Uncategorized
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After the clinic/voo-doo session this weekend, I moved Rasyn to Sherene’s place. Sherene is a very good friend of mine and this year built a barn on a lovely 3 acres. We had been planning this for 2 years and it finally happened. Today was my first ride on him in the new digs.
I was expecting the worst. He’s a very “energetic” horse and it’s been a challenge for me to redirect that energy into something that I can work with. On Saturday when I picked up my right stirrup, he piaffed which is eventually where I want to go. However, in an untrained horse it usually means they are going to explode either forward, backward, or up because they can’t sustain that level of collection. Luckily, he blew forward and I only ended up on the other side of the arena. Moments like that tend to keep you on your toes.
But today there was no trace of that. He stood calmly while I mounted (usually he takes a sucker-step just as I put my foot in the stirrup), and there was very little of the rushing that I usually experience in my ride. He was right there with me. I almost fell out of the saddle I was so shocked.
So, we worked on “straightening by bending”. I used counter-bending on large (20m) circles to help with flexibility, then used shoulder-fore to help his weaker right hind engage. Then we did several changes of direction both on the long diagonal and on a figure-eight to ask for the bend from his barrel, and not from his neck. I tried to be especially careful of placing his shoulders in-line with his haunches so he can get a true flex with out the infamous “floating butt”.
Physically this ride was very interesting for me. One of the valuable tidbits I took away from the riding (non-voodoo) portion of the clinic was a change in my riding position. I have now discovered that there is a little-used muscle on the outside of your calf that IS VERY PAINFUL when fatigued. In fact, I had to cut our ride short because it was excruciating. My left leg tends to rotate out. So when I’m on the horse, my right toe will be pointing forward, but my left toe will be pointing out at a 45 degree angle. This new position, which has my weight dropping down my thighs which allows me to rotate my left hip more, directs my left toe straight head. If I ride long enough (which is what happened on Sunday) then my left ankle will actually roll to the outside, and that really smarts.
So if anyone has any idea on how to strengthen that little muscle I’m all ears. I’d even be happy for a name for it (soleus? tibialis anterior? Fred?) It’s becoming highly annoying and I want to fix it. Now.
Comments
Yay on the horse progress! Bah on the leg pain!
I’m not sure if this will get to the correct muscle, but have you tried doing child’s pose with your feet flexed rather than flat? Try to press weight into your little toes. Sometimes stretching these out helps release my outer calves. Again, not sure which part you’re working on, but as I recall from my horse days, those may be the right ones.
Another way to stretch the toes (and everything connected to the toe bone) is to thread your fingers through your toes and start stretching the toes & massaging between them.)
Good luck!
I will try that! I bought a “Pilates for Equestrians” book today, so I’m hoping that will have some clues there as well.
I responded to your detox question on the boards. You might find you’ll have some diarrhea this week from eating like that. Good luck though, but fad diets are that, just a fad and usually not good for the body.