video of our quadrille practice!

[laura jeanne]

This is a vid from our lesson this morning (thanks OH). We had a great time!

[wanabe]

So where's the video?

[laura jeanne]

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a156/applevalley/th_MOV00927.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a156/applevalley/?action=view&current=MOV00927.flv)

[frazz_starlight]

Very good!!!
But :o people have no hats on:o
xxx

[wanabe]

I do not understand the obsession so many people here have with wearing a helmet! I guess it's a U.K. nanny totalitarian-state thing.

Laura Jeanne that is great but it must be distracting having to share the arena with other riders.

Did you have all that pattern memorized or was the RI telling you what to do as you went along? Is the Quadrille always the same pattern?

[laura jeanne]

frazz, well, in Texas, many people don't wear hats. People with their own horses rarely do! Stupid but that's the way it is here.

Wanabe, we had microphones clipped to our boots and she was telling us what to do as we were riding. That was the second practice and the first time for me. She was planning the moves on the fly to avoid the others riding in the arena. To tell you the truth, I was concentrating so hard that i didn't even notice them while I was riding.

[LindaAd]

I do not understand the obsession so many people here have with wearing a helmet! I guess it's a U.K. nanny fascist-state thing.



There have been discussions about wearing hats before ... There are obviously regional differences; still I don't think it's really necessary for a citizen of the US to be rude about our government. Wearing hats is nothing to do with the state anyway; it's to do with our history - riding here historically involved going fast across country over fences - and the fact that most of us prefer to preserve our brains as long as possible.

[casey]

Are you doing this for a competition or for fun? Becuase if it's for a competition, I would want to see far more impulsion. But I guess your just learning the drille and trying to get it right before perfecting.:)

Cool video.:D

Guy's please let not turn this into a hats debate.:)

[wanabe]

I noticed the greater impulsion on the video Laura Jeanne posted earlier of some champions doing the quadrille -- but wouldn't have known to call it "impulsion". LJ's group is just learning and I'm not even sure they know how to get impulsion yet. I think they look good, tho.

I'm still curious about whether the quadrille is always the same moves or you can pick from a group of moves, or you can make up stuff.

I think it's a great way to get saddle time and have the drill keep your mind off the mechanics of your riding (at least at first while you're learning the routines.)

[kat1]

I would love to live in the states!

[laura jeanne]

This was the second practice for the group, the first time for me. I seriously think that rather than drag out a series of lessons in the intense heat here in Texas, my RI decided to group us all into one early lesson. Plus, she has taught this before and probably wanted to give us some fun. I can't see us doing this in a competition but you never know.

I was riding a 21 year old horse with arthritis so her was definitely not keeping up with the others but was doing better by the end (owner gave him some bute about 1/2 hour before the lesson).

You can make up your own routine. Since we have just started and obviously have different levels of competence in the riders :p and we had to avoid the others in the arena, RI was just having us do some basic moves.

We practiced this past Sunday in an uncovered dressage arena and had music to ride to. There was lots of confusion and horses acting up this time and I rode another horse that I had never ridden before. We all love it anyway and look forward to Sundays now!

[horsemadmandy]

Hi
Talking from someone who has had a fall and came away with the hat cracked in half and a serious concussion I feel the nanny state saved my life and my two boys have a mummy up and about :) I cant believe anybody would not wear one:mad:

[IrisSilverMoon]

There have been discussions about wearing hats before ... There are obviously regional differences; still I don't think it's really necessary for a citizen of the US to be rude about our government. Wearing hats is nothing to do with the state anyway; it's to do with our history - riding here historically involved going fast across country over fences - and the fact that most of us prefer to preserve our brains as long as possible.

agreed, I would like to point out its not anything country specific either. Riding in my area in Washington state, riding with helmets is DEFINATELY stressed. I've grown up with the habit and really feel somewhat uncomfortable riding without a helmet (and i have fallen and smacked my head on a jump standard before, i'm sure that saved me a concussion or death). I honestly feel wanabe, that though you edited your comment to be less rude than it previously was it is still a tad rude to our UK crew on this board, and I don't think anyone should be looked down upon for being concerned with their own personal safety.

As for the quadrille, wonderful job for your first time laura jeanne! and over all for the second time you guys had practice period. it takes a little getting used to, but its lots of fun trying to match everyone perfectly and look uniform. The better you guys get the more interesting your moves will get too! I remember one time doing a crazy 10m circle figure eight and when you cross one horse goes in front and one behind. it was very tight and hard to avoid collision, but lots of fun!

[wanabe]

I think I should have left the U.K. out of it. Perhaps I stated it that way because I had just read an article in a U.K. newspaper bemoaning the nanny-state totalitarianism of their government -- and of course, most of the comments were in agreement.

It's really the nanny mentality I am protesting.

What I think is rude is entering threads and making comments about riders not having helmets on when that has nothing to do with the thread subject.

No one who objects to such rude intrusions is saying the poster shouldn't wear a helmet if they choose to (I, myself do). But, we think other adults should have the right to make their own decisions on this matter without be harped at.

[IrisSilverMoon]

but it really wasn't stated in a rude way, it was listed as an aside and i don't think the poster was trying to be rude, which is the difference, the intent behind it.

you didn't call the country totalitarian at first either, you called it fascist. Both terms i would consider incredibley rude without the inclusion of nanny state as well (US is probably more totalitarian at the moment than the UK!) to this group of people who i've gotten the impression from that they have a lot of love for their country.

In any case, this is clearly far off the original subject, my apologies to laura jeanne

[Afellpony]

Wannabe, regarding the wearing of riding helmets; I really dont think it's the nanny totallitarian state thing, I think it's because people dont want their brains spattered all over the ground when they split their head open if they fall of their horse whilst riding hatless!!! A lot of the British breeds are quite fiesty, perhaps unlike yours and wearing a hat is well...sensible.

[Joyscarer]

I agree with the nanny state comment. I always wear a hat because I choose to. You can't legislate against stupidity. I intensely dislike being dictated to on a common sense matter.

[casey]

WHATEVER....make a seperate thread guy's. LJ doesn't need her thread hi-jacked in this manner...Show some manners.:rolleyes:

[RustyMary]

WHATEVER....make a seperate thread guy's. LJ doesn't need her thread hi-jacked in this manner...Show some manners.:rolleyes:

I completely agree - this is irrelevant to LJ's post.

LJ that looks like such fun! I'd really like to try it. Which one is you?

[laura jeanne]

Oh, I'm in the brown t-shirt - still struggling with posting trot!! (after 4 years)

[Skyhuntress]

Looks great. we do a Christmas Quadrille each year and have 4 matching bays and we dress up in costume, so its great fun.

[Grace O'Malley]

That looks like great fun! :D

The only times I've ever done anything remotely like that in a lesson, there was just two of us. Still, with two differently-strided horses, it was darn tricky to end up in the right place at the right time!

Well done!

[Skib]

Is this a cultural thing in the USA LauraJean?

At the various rodeos and re-enactments we went to this summer there was formation riding by groups all dressed up to match and some with tinsel on the horses too. Some groups were very polished, others seeming to be family based with tiny kids taking part - and sometimes a mistake or even a fall when things got over enthusiastic.

[laura jeanne]

Here is an example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHghWsx1np8

[IrisSilverMoon]

Is this a cultural thing in the USA LauraJean?

At the various rodeos and re-enactments we went to this summer there was formation riding by groups all dressed up to match and some with tinsel on the horses too. Some groups were very polished, others seeming to be family based with tiny kids taking part - and sometimes a mistake or even a fall when things got over enthusiastic.



quadrille is actually a dressage thing seen all over the world. THe highest examples of riders in formation can probably be found watching the Changing of the Guard or at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.

its not just a US thing, its definately international! though not as common obviously as people riding through one dressage test by themselves. There are quadrille tests you can get (the US has them for each riding level) and pas de duex tests that outline all the moves to do and you can compete in it at dressage competitions. It should go all the way up to Grand Prrix level.

[wanabe]

I went back and watched that video again, this time with the sound on and it's even better. The collection of the horses -- especially in canter -- is a great example of what we should be trying to achieve with our horses.

The comments are amazing tho. There certainly are some sourpusses out there.

[ShariN]

Lets just say I live in the US and I use a helmet.
In fact..most of you know of my accident..which I have no doubt at all..I would not be sitting here writting if I had not worn an Helmet.

As for people pointing out people that are not riding with an helmet...for me.. I do not want to see anyone get hurt..and a helmet can make a major difference how badly a person is hurt if they come off. So,, sometimes I will point it out.
I do not want them to them to go through a mind boggling amount of life changing pain I have gone through. And unless one has been in an accident, there is no way for that person to know how bad it can get without the safety riding equipment.
I am not trying to be rude and it is not a US or east vers west thing..it is just safety thing...just hopefully get someone to go...hummm.. maybe a helmet would be a good idea.;)

[Brandy Snap]

thats looking really good laura jeanne.

I used to love it when we did formation riding in lessons! Not done it in a long time tho.

Hopeing to get some group lessons at the yard over the winter so maybe see about doing some quadrille then.

[laura jeanne]

Thanks Brandy Snap. I'm now taking 2 private lessons a week and so hope to improve a lot over the next couple of months. Yesterday OH filmed my lesson and I had a nice talk with my RI about a few things. My sitting trot is coming along pretty well and posting trot, well, what can i say??? If anyone can give me any tips after looking at the video, that would be great. I know I still push myself out of the saddle, my legs are too far forward, my arms are forward, etc. I worked on it yesterday but after watching the video, I have a better idea of what I need to do.

For the record, I would never ride without a hat. One of my friends at the barn who jumps always wore a hat for the last 3 years I have known her and now is going without. I mentioned it to her a couple of weeks ago and she didn't even answer me, I think she was offended.