Esmee Ingham Dressage

A MONTH GONE BY

esmeeingham — Thu, 21 May 2020 02:18:27 +0000

Slowly letting my roots permeate into the homeland…

With over one month since an incredible life change, it is still hard to believe I am back on Canadian soil. There is no doubt in my mind that I miss the Netherlands deeply… all of my beautiful and genuine friends and, of course, the Dressuurstal Rutten horses that stole my heart. It has been such a transforming experience to decompress and uncoil my mind after such a quick and chaotic departure. Having ample time to reconnect with my family has been truly heart-warming and so important to me. Fortunately the weather has been quite outstanding as well, so I have been able to spend extended hours in the outdoors.

It is safe to assume that nearly everyone around the world has felt as though this is a huge transitional period with many unknowns. We are all connected in this uneasy time and I hope that we are empathetic towards one another’s trials and tribulations. It has been a slight sense of identity loss without my professional equestrian life, but this temporary pause is by no means negative. It has enabled me to reconnect with passions of mine that I have had no access to or no time for prior to this and I am so thankful for this period of growth.

Beautiful British Columbia never ceases to impress, and as I discover more of this province I have grown up in, I am absolutely astounded. The combination of snow capped mountains, lush forests and stunning city beaches create this highly exclusive landscape that consistently delivers moments of serenity. Fortunately for me, I have easy access to many hiking trails in my backyard, as well as beautiful scenery for road cycling. Without a doubt, all of these activities have been paired with a fair amount of baking too… balance, right?

As social distancing guidelines are still in place, I have managed to distantly see a number of special people, but truly cannot wait to hug and embrace everyone once this is all over. Through the use of social media and so many FaceTime/WhatsApp video calls have occurred throughout this time – a blessing to have access to such incredible technology. We are now heading into Phase Two of reopening the province and I am hopeful that we are able to slowly and steadily continue moving towards a state of “normal”, however that may look for our future.

CROSS TRAINING FOR YOU AND YOUR HORSE

esmeeingham — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 19:23:06 +0000

Now that show season on the back burner until further notice, let’s take some time to discuss how to maintain fitness for you and your horse before things ramp up again…

There are countless studies and many professional athletes that will attest to the power of cross training. There is also proof that is takes 10,000 hours until you have mastered a certain skill. Let’s break that down for a moment…

10,000 hours
Is equal to
417 days
So lets make it even more tangible
3 hours mastering your skill every day
Would then take you
Approximately 9 years
to complete

I feel tired just reading that.

There are a select few people that can ride in the same 20 x 60 arena every day, three hours a day, for nine years. In addition to that, how many horses can withstand even one complete hour of such training every day? And let’s be realistic, how many people have access to multiple horses and a trainer devoting their attention to them with every ride? Because practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. So let’s redo the math and add in real-world problems

such as weekends, work, injuries, holidays, family emergencies, you name it. We are looking closer at the 15 to 20+ year span of perfecting the art of Dressage. Luckily for us Dressage folk, we can ride well into our fifties, sixties and even seventies (for inspiration: check out Japanese Olympian Hiroshi Hoketsu). A huge part of getting our horses and us safely & comfortably riding into our elderly years is cross training.

Defined by the Google Dictionary as “the action or practice of engaging in two or more sports or types of exercise in order to improve fitness or performance in someone’s main sport”. Lets be clear here, this does not imply that you must start up a new extreme sport and begin training at a high intensity – please don’t injure yourself. Cross training entails a huge variety of activities that you are most likely already doing. Low impact training includes examples such as yoga, walking, cycling and swimming. Whereas, high impact training includes activities such as weight training, mountain biking, running and hiking. That being said, all examples listed above can be toned down or ramped according to your fitness level. The goal is to progressively become more vigorous as your strength improves. The safest option is to find an activity that you have done in the past (or are currently doing) and steadily increase over time. Please note that rest days are also just as beneficial as training days! So make a well-balanced weekly schedule for yourself.

It is unfortunate that during these times we do not have access to our local gyms or public recreation centers, but fortunately we are on the brink of beautiful weather for so many outdoor activities (please keep in mind the COVID-19 guidelines for your area). Our access to Internet has also opened up HUGE possibilities for “at home” training. There are thousands of online programs, training tips and inspirational videos available for people with or without a budget – most of the content is free! So, no excuses. Involve a family member or a friend to add some fun and hold one another accountable to your fitness goals. You can also check out my Pinterest board that I have created specifically for Cross Training.

What about your horse though? Now that you’re becoming a well-rounded athlete, with improved overall strength, flexibility and endurance how can you recreate bodybuilding, yoga and marathon running for your horse? No matter what discipline you participate in, the basics of Dressage can – and should – be applied to your training. There are many loosening exercises that create suppleness throughout your horses’ body – for example, circles that spiral down to 10 meters, leg yielding and as you progress, half passes. This could be considered the yoga portion. The collected exercises such as transitions (changing gates) and half transitions (changes within a gate) that set your horse’s balance back onto the hind legs – these would be considered the weight training and bodybuilding aspects. All of these tools should be used according to the age, fitness and training level of your horse. The ultimate Dressage goal is to train those leg yields into half passes and use those collected half transitions to develop Piaffe and Passage.

What about those of you who are already doing Dressage and looking for ways to spice up your 20 x 60 meter life? Depending on the access and availability you have to trail riding and jump standards you may have to get creative. You also have to take into consideration the amount of gusto you have in regards to these activities. Please do not take any unnecessary risks. I do however, encourage you to safely step out of your bubble for your horse – who will benefit immensely both physically and mentally. Incorporating ground poles, small cross rails or even verticals will challenge your Dressage Diva to pick up his/her feet while maintaining a steady rhythm. I grew up taking jumping lessons, although now I have found that over the years without practice, I have lost my nerve to even look at a 3’6 oxer, but that doesn’t mean that I cannot attempt some poles and a cross rail!

Trail riding has always been such a peaceful getaway for me, and knowing how refreshing the feeling is, can you envision how good that would feel for horses that have to go around in circles day after day? Hill training, galloping and even long walks have so many benefits for the legs, lung capacity and mental health of your horse. This can be considered the “cardio” portion of your training regime. If you have access to a hay field, a quiet trail or a paved road around your barn, take the opportunity to mix up the scenery for your horse. Even if you are only comfortable with hand walking your horse, that is a win-win! You get a peaceful form of exercise and your horse is able to stretch its legs and work on strengthening different muscles on straight lines and varying surfaces. Start where you are comfortable, and find a steady trail buddy ride alongside you or a relative to bike in front.

All of these non-dressage activities have an additional and priceless advantage: bomb-proofing. My coach of over fifteen years, Wendy Christoff has always incorporated Bring It On Days at the barn. Everyone brings items such as balloons, strollers, flowerpots, tarps while playing music in the arena to challenge the horses and riders. Quite often the horses are shy in the beginning and within twenty minutes there is already a huge improvement. As each Bring It On Day passes, the confidence in each partnership skyrockets, with laughter and excitement during the planning meetings for the next challenge day. The more you are able to expose your horse to, the stronger your bond becomes, and the less likely your horse decides that the judges booth is a dragons den at your next show.

Again, with so much content available on the Internet, you can easily and freely self-educate on so many disciplines from the comfort of your couch if you do not have access to a trainer for guidance. Instagram, Pinterest and many websites full of videos and articles can help you visualize and understand techniques that many trainers use around the world. Do not hesitate to contact me if you have further questions or are interested in finding out more about anything discussed above.

HOW DRESSAGE HAS PREPARED ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE

esmeeingham — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 19:25:00 +0000

I have always been a strong believer that the lessons learnt and habits developed in the stable apply to everyday life. Commitment, hard work, patience and a genuine love for these animals has transferred over into other aspects of my life that has shaped tremendously who I am as a person today. Until now, I did not realize the extent of how “difficult rides” defined me, and what they have taught me about myself. A huge learning curve for me during my time spent in Europe was training young horses. Insecurities, anxieties and tremendous self-doubt have flooded my body and drowned my mind – as everyone learning something new faces. The tricky part is closing the floodgates and swallowing those negative thoughts as you step foot in the stirrup and begin to dance with your new partner. It is quite simple really; all young horses need to do is go forward willingly, with a quiet and steady connection in your breathing hands. What I have had the mental challenge of working through, is turning off my “over-analyzing mode” and instead, just getting on and riding. I ride with more feel and guts when I turn off my brain – something that is a continual struggle for my busy mind. So I have created little mantras as well as listening to my favourite tunes that help – but what I have found works best, is when I am under pressure. Not allowing myself time to overanalzse or try to create the ideal environment and instead, as Nike’s slogan says… Just do it.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of it.

All of the rides that have pushed me out of my comfort zone have encouraged me to push myself outside of my barn bubble too. I have learned over the years how to push myself in social settings or whilst setting fitness goals for myself. Setting goals – like all athletes do – has ignited a flame within that is the fuel for getting out of bed on the “difficult” days, and also allows me to run the extra mile or the guts to give a speech on a so-called “good” day. Sometimes I like to play around with my insecurities and anxieties… I force myself (or unwillingly find myself) in an uncomfortable setting and try to take a moment to soak it in. Can I feel that hot rush through my body as my face develops all fifty shades of red? Can process the tingly sensation as I slowly lose feeling in my legs? How long does it last? Does it come in waves? Normally at competitions I am not a nervous type, and quite frankly, it is one part of my life that I actually feel quite confident. However, occasional anxieties creep their way into my hyperactive brain

and cloud my riding in the moment feeling. By documenting these experiences it helps me break things down piece-by-piece, logically analysing it, understanding what caused the situation and feelings to arise. Ideally, this process will prevent anxieties and insecurities from happening again. OH but wait… those anxieties do indeed return – but the goal is to have them return at an intensity that is more manageable.

Don’t always believe everything you think.

It is totally natural and normal for people to experience periods in your life that are more anxiety ridden. The trick is to not let that define you or take over complete control of your life. Be kind to yourself; the way you think of yourself and the way in which you speak of yourself does matter. Just because you are going through a rough patch with your horse does not mean that you have failed. Horses are highly intuitive creatures and they can feel far more than we could ever imagine. Let’s say for example, you cannot get down to one end of the arena without your horse spooking or shying away. Make it your goal to get to that part of the arena but don’t hone in on that sole purpose for your whole ride. Instead, break down the steps to getting there – start with a relaxing warm up and begin making circles working towards the “scary corner”. Transitions are crucial and you can never do enough. Getting your horse properly on your aids and working back to front is going to be essential in your progression. In theory, if your horse is truly connected back to front, they will not spook. So once you have the feeling that your horse is on your aids, riding throughout the whole arena should become an effortless task. There is a catch however… you cannot forget to breathe. No matter how well you have your horse connected back to front, if you are holding your breath and are a tensed up bundle of nerves, they will sense that too.

Hot Tip: at every other letter around the arena, repeat the simple, yet effective breathing exercise: inhale & exhale.

It is quite cheeky to claim that the above is a Hot Tip, yet it is incredible how the human body can work so effectively most of the time, and at other times it can completely work against us. Involuntary actions such as breathing should come at no effort, but it is wise to spend the first five to ten minutes of your ride voluntarily focusing on them. In return, you will create a learned behaviour that will eventually become effortless. Funny how so many of these horse terms and training techniques are
actually in place for us to work on ourselves

Take your time throughout the process. Some days you will find that it is easier to work through barriers in your training, and other days you will face more resistance. We cannot forget that these animals do not understand the stresses of work, family and general life that we carry. There is no difference if your goals are highly competitive or you are just in it for the joy of riding, horses have no concept of where you are at in your target trajectory. Do your best to leave your problems in the trunk of your vehicle when you arrive at the barn and enjoy the journey with your dance partner.

Be sure to praise your horse, yourself & smile because after all, this is supposed to be fun, right?

For any questions or comments that have arisen during your reading, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Goodbyes, Hellos, and a Great Many Thanks

esmeeingham — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 22:51:17 +0000

First and foremost, I want to encourage everyone to continue practicing the safest possible measures during this global pandemic. My heart goes out to everyone around the world who has been impacted by COVID-19. Perhaps it seems rather contradictory that I chose to travel at a time such as this, however, it was extremely important to me to return home to be close to my family and friends (post 2 week quarantine procedure, of course). Not only this, my shoulder has recently incurred yet another severe dislocation, which has abruptly put the intensity of my professional equestrian life into perspective. A surgery will be done sometime in the future, once hospitals have had a chance to recover from the masses flooding in. I have made the very difficult decision to not return to the Netherlands to work at Dressuurstal Rutten. The last four and a half years have been an incredible chapter in my life.

The Dutchies have welcomed me with open and loving arms (and filled my stomach full of friet speciaal & frikandellen). I have felt completely at home here and have been fortunate enough to meet so many wonderful people along the way. My heart is full of gratitude…

Thank you Bert and Linda

Thank you Bert and Linda for believing in the Canadian young rider. You gave me the tools & opportunities to progress and learn. I am now officially a Grand Prix rider having achieved nearly 70%. I will return to Canada with the skillset and knowledge for my future horses.

Thank you Fred

Thank you Fred for your mentorship, wise words of wisdom and bringing a laugh to the barn every single morning. Working alongside one another, you taught me many horse skills and perhaps more importantly, life lessons.

Thank you Suzanne, Lison and the Family Swinkels

Thank you Suzanne, Lison and the Family Swinkels for entrusting me with helping you and your beautiful horses. I will deeply miss all of the fun horse show moments, the pure generousness of your family and coming to your peaceful stable. You have kindly adopted Roger and I am so thankful that he has the perfect temporary home.

Thank you Suzanne, Bas, Noortje, Anne, Wesley and the ten Hoeve family

Thank you Suzanne, Bas, Noortje, Anne, Wesley and the ten Hoeve family for feeding me so well and always welcoming me into your home, especially during the Christmas holidays… making me feel like I was a part of the family, mijn Nederlands familie.

Thank you Jip and Jordy

Thank you Jip and Jordy for your wonderful friendship. It is never a dull moment with you two! You are always there with a cold beer and good food… not to forget, the odd timbit.

Thank you to all of the Dutch, Spanish & British riders

Thank you to all of the Dutch, Spanish & British riders who I have met and worked with over the years. I am so appreciative to have worked alongside so many talented people. It is a true honor.

Thank you to all of the clients who I have been fortunate enough to meet at the yard

Thank you to all of the clients who I have been fortunate enough to meet at the yard. I sincerely loved watching all of the improvements in each rider’s partnership with their horse, whether they came for lessons/clinics or to purchase horses. It makes it easier to say goodbye to the horses knowing that they have gone to such wonderful and caring homes.

And a special shoutout to all of the characters living in the town of Hunsel.
A peaceful place without a stop-sign in sight. The beauty of the town crept through the corn fields and trickled down the willow trees as each season passed. It is unique beyond measure, and so are all of the people who live there.

There are not enough ways to express my gratitude for those who have I met over the years – I extend an invitation to come visit me in Canada. Pinky promise that I will be back to visit… after all, het is mijn “thuis twee punt nul”.

This isn’t goodbye, maar Tot Ziens!

As for my current state of affairs, I am anxiously counting down the days of my full isolation and look forward to reuniting with my family at a safe and acceptable distance – less than a week to go! Once I am able to, I will move up to our farm in Pemberton, BC where I will spend the summer months setting up my Esmee Ingham Dressage business and begin the necessary preparations for returning to work in the school system in September as a Special Education Assistant. Over the summer months (depending on how COVID – 19 unfolds) I will be offering lessons, clinics and my training program to a limited number of horses. For more details on all of my services offered, feel free to browse through my beautiful new website designed by a dear friend, Taylor.

Contact me for any questions or inquiries you may have and I would be happy to assist you! Bookmark this page to continue following my blog posts and don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page & Instagram account!