Thoughts on our progress please, oh added the old video if you want to see.

[rabicon]

So its been about 5 months since we started dressage lessons with myself and my boy. 5 months ago I posted a video and we needed a lot of work. :winkgrin: So now this is about 5months later and even though I've posted photos on here I know you can't really get a good idea from photos, so we got another video. They are very short so it won't take long. I hope that you guys will take a look and let me know what more we should work on. My trainer is trying to get my elbows bent and more weight in my heel but its a muscle building issue and I'm getting much better with the legs :winkgrin: These are trot videos and I'd really like to hear what you guys are thinking about how my boy is doing. Thanks so much.

http://good-times.webshots.com/video/3014125410101424462IREkHc

http://good-times.webshots.com/video/3053060650101424462MaMHqD


this is the old video about 4 months ago with the old trainer.

http://good-times.webshots.com/video/3035279410101424462pHQinj

[Calhoun]

I'm laughing as I type this . . . are you riding in shorts and boots?

[AmandaandTuff]

I'm laughing as I type this . . . are you riding in shorts and boots?

It looks like shorts and half chaps :lol:

I do have to ask, is that comfortable? Or do you get sores?

[slc2]

This is so different and an amazing amount of progress since the previous pictures. It looks like a completely different horse from earlier pics.

Whatever you doing, too bad you can't bottle it and sell it. You'd be a millionaire. The horse is so balanced and relaxed and not leaning in on circles and turns now.

WOW.

You have excellent posture. Your back is perfect and you sit up really straight and tall. With a perfect basis like that you should go very, very far.

Your heel comes up when you use your leg.

Your reins are loose, and your horse does not seem to go forward when you kick him. You have to work pretty hard to get him to go, and it pulls your leg up and your heel up.

You may be to the point in your riding where you can take a more following contact on the reins, so it never looks like the reins are loose (they aren't tight, either, of course, it's just that the hand follows so well there is no loose look to the reins, and no loose-tight changes in how the reins look)...and get the horse to go more quickly forward from a lighter,, smaller leg aid. What do you think about that? Do you feel you're at that point?

[rabicon]

Yes, it is half chaps and shorts :lol: No I do not get any sores or rubs as long as I have on half chaps. I'm pretty tough skined, don't bruise easily either. Hey, when its 86 degress I'll suffer a little. :winkgrin: I don't know why it doesn't bother me, you should try it one day and let me know if its just me.


SLC Thanks so much, we have worked very hard and he is a smart horse so once he figures something out he usually enjoys it. He does have his moments but so do I when things don't go great. I think my wonderful trainer (since I switched from the last video) has done worlds of wonders for us. I think we could probably take up a little more rein now. I will discuss that with my trainer, thanks for that advice I want to keep progressing that for sure. My heel coming up is an issue from me riding hunters and I used my heel instead of my calf. So its a bad habit I'm trying to break. Its a work in progress but thank goodness it has gotten better. I'm so glad my position is better. Thats so exciting!! I'm very greatful for you comments they have helped us also, not just the training. I take in everything that everyone tells me and try to use it all, not just one thing. This is why I love critiques on us, I do believe that is what has helped us so much and the great trainer. The critiques tell me alot of what others see not just the trainer so I get it from all ends and I love to try to fix it. Thanks again.

[TeddyRocks]

[QUOTE=rabicon;3259662]Yes, it is half chaps and shorts :lol: No I do not get any sores or rubs as long as I have on half chaps. I'm pretty tough skined, don't bruise easily either. Hey, when its 86 degress I'll suffer a little. :winkgrin: I don't know why it doesn't bother me, you should try it one day and let me know if its just me. QUOTE]

Very nice. I don't remember the first video, but cute horse, lovely position. If that's all you've been riding dressage, - 6 months, then boy oh boy, you are doing something right.

I am in SW Fl and today it was 93 degrees, and I NEVER, HAVE NEVER ever thought about riding in shorts and half chaps... I love the idea, but don't know if I could do it. Ingrained in me I guess... BREECHES,Breeches, breeches... :D Where are you located? Anyone on here from FL ever ride in shorts??? Just curious.

Good work rabicon... Can't wait for the next update!:yes:

[FillyMe]

Teddyrocks, I am in South Florida and in my hunter days ( mid to late 90's) I used to ride in bike shorts (remember those) with regular chaps on top. When I was done riding, I would whip off those chaps and be cool and comfy in my bike shorts. If I did that now, my DQ trainer would have a heart attack, LOL. I now try to buy lightweight breeches all the time.

[TeddyRocks]

Teddyrocks, I am in South Florida and in my hunter days ( mid to late 90's) I used to ride in bike shorts (remember those) with regular chaps on top. When I was done riding, I would whip off those chaps and be cool and comfy in my bike shorts. If I did that now, my DQ trainer would have a heart attack, LOL. I now try to buy lightweight breeches all the time.

Unfortunately I do remember those, and I used to ENVY all the h/j riders that rode in shorts with full chaps and then took them off, AS they were dismounting. :lol:

I had to take care of my horse first, then I changed. lol But I have come to love my Kerrits, and b/c I haven't shown in eons, (why let them sit), I will on the really "HOT" ones, ride in my white breeches... (shhhh!)

hehehe. I am in Bradenton btw... Where are you?

[Roan]

Dang, you look good, rabicon!

Half chaps and shorts would still kill me -- you guys might laugh but I ride in shorts, Ariat Terrains, and a buffalo hide in the summer.

Yep, hair-on buffalo hide. I took a hide, wet it down and placed it over an old saddle that was covered with plastic. Once it dried, I cut it in the saddle shape -- down about half the flaps. I just throw that over my saddle and set my sorry butt down in that soft, soft buffalo hair. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! Doesn't slip, cause the leather formed to the saddle shape, but when it warms up it gives nicely to my body.

Looking forward to summer now!

Eileen

[rabicon]

Wow Roan, very talented. I'd never be able to do that. :D I use to ride in shorts and full chaps about 8 years ago and it was just to hot still. So I went to riding in just shorts, but at that time I rode more western so it didn't bother me at all. When I got back to riding h/j I had to put on half chaps because if not then I would bruise all the way down my calf from keeping my leg on and like I said before I don't bruise easily. So now with my half chaps I have no problem and I stay cool. I tend to get very sick at my stomach if I get to hot and so this helps alot from not getting overly hot.

I did ride in my shorts and half chaps one day with my trainer and she asked me "Now, how much work do you think your going to get done with shorts on?" I told her alot and then I did everything just like normal, I think she was surprised. :lol:

Oh yea, I live in GA. East of ATL. I can imagine how hot it is in FL. trying to ride. :eek:

Thanks everyone I'm glad to see our hard work is paying off, hopefully now we can get that canter going nicely.:eek::lol:

[Roan]

Wow Roan, very talented. I'd never be able to do that. :D . . .lNot so much talent as desperation :D

I just cannot deal with the heat in VA -- I'm from Ontario, dang it -- anything over 75* is hot for me and anything over 85* renders me incapable of anything even remotely resembling physical activity.

The hide helps me stay cool enough that I can get through my lesson without falling off from heat exhaustion. Trainer thought it odd and funny at first, but she's getting used to my quirks now :D

Eileen

[rabicon]

added it up top.

[Feuerlilie]

Rabicon....BIG difference!
Your posture is sooo much better...your horse looks more consistent into the contact esp in the second video. He looks like he knows his job now whereas before he looked a little confused. I like how you start your trot out slow and then build it up into a nice rhythm...rather then be at him from teh word go.
I would start doing some lengthenings in the trot to get him to engage more.
Up the anty a little more.

How is his canter work coming along?

[slc2]

The whole thing with dressage is to know what is wrong, make it better, and move on to the next level. And the NEXT level is knowing what's wrong, making it better, and moving on to the next level. :D

I think it's very hard to maintain a mental balance thru all that, and to not get overly discouraged or get the idea that since one hurdle has been gotten over that there aren't any next hurdles. We need to be like the eventer that's always looking toward the next jump.

[AnotherRound]

I don't see improvement, personally. Your horse is a saint to tolerate you digging your heel into him with every other step. You aren't using your seat, and you aren't dropping your leg down and sitting into your horse, which is, I am given to understand, the basis of dressage. Your leg it in front of you, not under you.

I find when I wear breeches and tall boots, I can engage my leg better. I think when you begin to use the right equipment, including your attire, you will begin to be able to produce the right seat.

I don't know what you are working on, but your leg and seat are the only thing you should be focused on, and until you have that, you won't progress, and you don't have that.

[rabicon]

feuerlilie-our canter work is slowly progressing. He is still very unbalanced to the right but the left is getting much better. We have actually canter a 20 M circle to the left a few times. I was very excitited about that. We have a show in 2weeks but I think we are going to stick with the intro B test still because he is just not ready for the canter to the right. Unless he has a dramaatic change in 2 weeks. We have tried a little lenghtening but he tends to get confused and picks up the canter so thats a work in progress also :winkgrin: Right now we start out the trot slowly and pick up the pace so he will maintain contact and not throw his head and hollow thru his back. He is getting much better so hopefully we'll be able to start the full out forward trot from the get go before long. Thanks for you critiques. We are working hard and its nice to see that it is paying off somewhat.

SLC-There is always room for improvement, I have to really believe that!!! I love that we have actually made progress on the things we have been working on. We have alot of work ahead of us, heck we are still in intro b :lol: but I want him to be started correctly and myself also and not just thrown into a show ring to do levels we are NOT ready for just because. We have been constant at 64.5 at the last 3 shows at intro B. I'm hoping we can up that a little or lot :winkgrin: in 2 weeks and keep improving until our canter is underway.

anotherround-I'm not digging my heel into him every other step. It may look like it but its not digging into him. I do pull up my heel to ask him to go more forward which I'm trying to break that habit. In that video though I only did that once. The rest of the time is my leg moving because we have been working on building strength in my legs so I can drop into my heel more and hold the position. I am using my seat believe it our not. I used my seat in both videos to go from walk to trot, from trot to halt, to keep him on the rail to the left (in which he loves to jump off of). I use a lot of seat now days. I have to agree I think in the second video my leg is out in front but not in the first. Thats something we are working on, but I also think it has gotten better. Sorry if my shorts and 1/2 chaps offended you but its hot here and if I want to ride everyday its to hot for breeches. I will get nauseated and really will not feel like riding then. I don't think my attire has anything to do with where my leg stays on my horse, that has to do with strength not attire. Sorry I don't agree with that. I'm not meaning to argue with you but you just sounded a little snarky. Oh by the way my horse is a saint on days he wants to be, but he will not tolerate me digging into him, believe me this is why he would buck and rear before I got him. He likes to be ridden as quite as possible and if you aren't he gets very angry, with me he only swishes his tell alot when I do something wrong. So believe me he would not tolerate me digging my heel into him every other step. And we are still working on my seat. thanks

[slc2]

I would really be concerned if someone couldn't look at the older and newer videos and see a big difference in this particular case. We really need to be able to see and identify changes over time in riders to allow us to evaluate our own progress in a level headed, helpful way, otherwise people get very unrealistic ideas (either that they're horrible and should be shot for how they ride, or that they are perfect and have nothing more to learn).

Too, I think it's important to see the overall picture and not focus on just one fault, especially when that fault is legitimately something that can and should be taken care of much later on.

So as far as 'digging in the heel', there is a time and a place to fix everything. The first thing that is the most important to establish is a rhythm. this horse did not have that before. he does now. this is very significant and forms a foundation for working on each thing in turn. Now he is much more listening to his rider than careening around. Some bending, some work on figures and transitions, seems more likely to happen next.

It may not even be appropriate yet to get the horse more off the leg right now - that's why I asked the rider how she felt about it. A few months ago, this horse was tearing around leaning in like a motorcycle, with a rigidly stiff neck and no rhythm. If the rider tried to get him better off the leg right now, they might head right back to that. Let this new work get established first. Rome wasn't built in a day.

I think it's very important to be able to not just go looking to find fault, but see improvement, and to learn what's realistic to expect at each stage of a rider's and horse's development. We wouldn't want to discourage a horse by expecting him to to a Grand Prix test before he can bend and have a rhythm and connect to the bit, for example. I think learning to have reasonable things that one expects at each stage is all a part of learning to train one's own horses and improve one's own riding.

[AnotherRound]

I would really be concerned if someone couldn't look at the older and newer videos and see a big difference in this particular case.

Somehow I doubt you are really concerned about how I see things. However, I have looked again and I see no difference in the rider between the two videos.



So as far as 'digging in the heel', there is a time and a place to fix everything.

The time to fix that was in her first riding lesson. I don't buy any of the BS slick has blathered on about in this paragraph, although reading the OP, I will concede that she may not be digging in the heel, althout that's what it looks like. Whatever it is she's doing, her leg and foot are all over the place, and its because she sits like she's in a chair and isn't lengthening her leg and pulling it under her. Why she's doing that, I have no clue. When I look again, it still looks like she's using her heel on the horse, and , in fact, she says she does do that in her response. It is making her heel ride up and leg swing. If she was using her seat correctly, she wouldn't be using her heel to communicate.


The first thing that is the most important to establish is a rhythm. this horse did not have that before. he does now.

I don't know what you can't see, but the horse has a lovely rhythm in the earlier video too. The rider is being carted around and not engaging with the rhythm.

It may not even be appropriate yet to get the horse more off the leg right now - that's why I asked the rider how she felt about it. A few months ago, this horse was tearing around leaning in like a motorcycle, with a rigidly stiff neck and no rhythm. If the rider tried to get him better off the leg right now, they might head right back to that. Let this new work get established first. Rome wasn't built in a day.

This is the biggest piece of imagination I read about why not to ride correctly I have ever heard.

I think it's very important to be able to not just go looking to find fault, but see improvement, and to learn what's realistic to expect at each stage of a rider's and horse's development. We wouldn't want to discourage a horse by expecting him to to a Grand Prix test before he can bend and have a rhythm and connect to the bit, for example. I think learning to have reasonable things that one expects at each stage is all a part of learning to train one's own horses and improve one's own riding.

Good grief, a rider wanting to improve is not going to make a horse discouraged. What kind of world do you live in? Riding a quite deep seat and quiet leg are foundational, and should be taught first and formost, including on the lunge liine until she gets it. That's my opinion. Sorry if it isn't encouraging enough, but when things aren't improving, sometimes people need to hear the truth instead of "oh, gee how wonderful". I don't see the changes and I see alot of problems with the rider. The horse looks nice. That's my opinon.

[AndalusianMom]

Think of posting to WHERE YOU WANT TO GO, rather than where you have been. To do that, your core has to go forward, and therefore your legs have to be under you.

[AnotherRound]

AM has the idea - when Slick said 'ride off your leg' I thought "Huh?" That she would confuse the horse if she sat deep and rode from her seat? "Off her leg" is what slick said. You don't ride off your leg, you ride from your seat, and your leg holds the horse in his position and acts as a guide, but it comes from your core to your seat through to the horse.

If you want to improve, don't make excuses for why you ride wrong. Learn correctly, and do better. To reitterate, explain and excuse why you ride wrong, well, you're just reinforcing your mistakes. Slick making all kinds of other imaginary excuses for her as well is just her regular nutso self, but doesn't help anyone get better. It might help Slick to feel better because she's discounting someone else's critique, but it doesn't improve the rider, who does want to hear about how to improve, I would assume.

The rider needs to get a seat and good legs first and foremost. Why she hasn't isn't important, and why she can't just reinforces her mistakes. Either keep your old habits or dump them and learn correctly.

I'm not saying that to be mean, I am responding to all the excuses and reasons why she hasn't done that yet, it needs to be a straightforward response, and hopefully she will address it too, with no nonsense.

Good luck - keep working - you may need a better instructor, if she isn't helping you with this.

[AnotherRound]

Sorry if my shorts and 1/2 chaps offended you but its hot here and if I want to ride everyday its to hot for breeches. I will get nauseated and really will not feel like riding then. I don't think my attire has anything to do with where my leg stays on my horse, that has to do with strength not attire. Sorry I don't agree with that. I'm not meaning to argue with you but you just sounded a little snarky.

Hi, you didn't offend me. I don't care what you ride in, its not a moral issue for me. I suggested the better attire because it DOES allow you to use your leg better, with the protection that comes along with it. I wasn't snarky, I was direct, and, I was explaining why it would help you. And when you get nauseated in the heat, you are dehydrated. We all get nauseated when its hot like that if we don't drink water. You might need to be drinking even more water than others to keep yourself hydrated, if you are feeling sick. And you will ride better with protected legs.

[rabicon]

My instructor has helped me alot with this. Its been a major work in progress, I don't think slc is making excuses but we have talked privately about myself and my horse so I think slc is a little more in tuned to what we started with and where we are. I will say that at our first 3 shows I was scoring 5's and 6's on rider scores and in my last 2 shows I've scored 7's so to me that is improvement. I think we have improved but I know there is much more to do and work on, by no means are we perfect but I'd like to have some comformation that we are heading in the correct direction. I don't use my heel anymore, I use to, sorry if that confused anyone. Now I drive him from seat not heel and I try my darnest to keep my leg on. Believe me, my trainer knows this issue and we are working on it, its just taking time to build the muscles in the correct areas of my legs. ;) If you notice I am only 117 lbs at 5'7 1/2 and my strength is mostly in my arms and not legs. It is just taking some time. You may also be seeing that from the old video to this one my irons are a lot shorter now, before I was reaching really hard for them and leaning way forward. Hey another round I'm going to attach some photos I'd really like you to look at from before and now. Let me know if you see any improvement in the photos or if you still don't see anything. thanks Really not arguing I just really want to see. thanks again

This is us right before dressage, this is the way he went his whole life

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2683690680101424462PrYJqx

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2313877390101424462babhWH

This is right before we started and I tried working on him myself until I found a trainer

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2797281240101424462WeltMX

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2814786470101424462pjUDTe

This is from our last show

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2870506430101424462yKMuXB

Our first show in Jan.

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2575959760101424462YwUqsh

[AnotherRound]

Rubicon, I see alot of improvement in the sequence of photos, in how the horse is carrying himself. Obviously you are doing something right, but that's not my point, you still ride with your leg in front of you like you are in a chair, and from the videos, the leg is moving and your heels are riding up during your posts, but you really can't tackle your swinging legs until your seat is correct and your leg is under you. Its not a matter of strength as much as it is a matter of working and making no excuses. I'm sure you will be able to start working on that soon, since he is doing so well. Good luck!

[CatOnLap]

A little duckling somehow got out of its nest and was lost in a big field. It was getting dark and the duckling was cold and hungry. Along came a cow and laid a cow pie right on the duckling. The duckling was MAD...but somehow the cow pie was warm, there were some grains in it and so he had something to eat. Along came the fox, who plucked the duckling from the cow pie, carefully dusted the manure off, and admired the little thing in his paw. The duckling thought "Hay, this is Alright! At least I'm not in a stinky old cow pie!" Then the fox ate him.

The moral? Not everyone who shits on you is intending harm. Not everyone who admires you is doing you a favour.

IMO, your rider position has changed in 5 months, but not really improved, based on the 3 videos you posted. Your horse has made some minor improvements in 5 months, but more the kind I would expect in a couple of rides with an experienced rider. He is more forward, has a little better rhythm but often remains leaning, overbent or hollow backed. Kudos for you for making the effort to seek instruction. I wonder if your trainer has a schoolmaster you can ride so you can really work on your position without also having to worry about the horse. You may also want to check your saddle as your position will not improve if the saddle is forcing your legs forward away from your center of gravity, so you have to grip with your calves and heels up to give aides. It certainly looks to me as if you are spurring him nearly every step in all the videos and it does not look intentional. Your horse is very forgiving.

[rabicon]

well thanks everyone, and these concerns I will bring up with my trainer on Friday. I don't have on spurs so I'm not spurring him, unless you meant that as a figure of speech :cool: I believe we've came a long ways but everyone has there opinions and like I've said before I take them all in account because all they can do is help us get better. So thanks everyone I really appreciate your advice. :D

[lorilu]

Cute horse. I am really not qualified to comment much, being a struggling rider myself, but I had a saddle that put my leg forward and it was really impossible to be correct in my position. When I look at your pictures the stirrup leather looks vertical so perhaps the stirrup bars are too far forward for you. This works for me: I scoot my crotch slightly forward into the deepest part of the saddle, and that puts me more over my stirrup. It also forces my knee to drop and my thigh to lengthen down (because my knee runs into my knee roll!). I find that place at first by dropping the stirrups and sitting a few steps of trot... just a slow joggy one, but it puts me right in the "pocket" of the saddle. Then adjust the stirrup length. It also helps me to think about pointing my knees down when I rise in the trot.
I imagine some will find fault with these suggestions, but they worked for me.

Edited to add: It also helps me to think about connecting my heels to my horse's hocks; it helps me keep my heels back and down.

GOod luck, and don't give up.
Loretta

[AnotherRound]

Lorilu, those are the same kinds of 'tricks' I use to get the right leg position. I didn't even articulate that to myself, but that's what I do. Cool. :winkgrin:

[Valentina_32926]

I am in SW Fl and today it was 93 degrees, and I NEVER, HAVE NEVER ever thought about riding in shorts and half chaps... I love the idea, but don't know if I could do it. Ingrained in me I guess... BREECHES,Breeches, breeches... :D Where are you located? Anyone on here from FL ever ride in shorts??? Just curious.!:yes:

Never - always 100% cotton breeches and full boots (which to me aren't as hot as chaps.

[goeslikestink]

Somehow I doubt you are really concerned about how I see things. However, I have looked again and I see no difference in the rider between the two videos.





The time to fix that was in her first riding lesson. I don't buy any of the BS slick has blathered on about in this paragraph, although reading the OP, I will concede that she may not be digging in the heel, althout that's what it looks like. Whatever it is she's doing, her leg and foot are all over the place, and its because she sits like she's in a chair and isn't lengthening her leg and pulling it under her. Why she's doing that, I have no clue. When I look again, it still looks like she's using her heel on the horse, and , in fact, she says she does do that in her response. It is making her heel ride up and leg swing. If she was using her seat correctly, she wouldn't be using her heel to communicate.




I don't know what you can't see, but the horse has a lovely rhythm in the earlier video too. The rider is being carted around and not engaging with the rhythm.



This is the biggest piece of imagination I read about why not to ride correctly I have ever heard.



Good grief, a rider wanting to improve is not going to make a horse discouraged. What kind of world do you live in? Riding a quite deep seat and quiet leg are foundational, and should be taught first and formost, including on the lunge liine until she gets it. That's my opinion. Sorry if it isn't encouraging enough, but when things aren't improving, sometimes people need to hear the truth instead of "oh, gee how wonderful". I don't see the changes and I see alot of problems with the rider. The horse looks nice. That's my opinon.



iam in agreement with another round, you have spurs on and the horse is a nice fellow
doesnt need that type of digging into his sides - you are fortunate to have a forgiving horse

matey if you rode another for instance, and dug like you do then you would cuase a bolt a rear or nap. its not on to keep digging into the horses sides

and to be honest-- the 2nd video you have no contact with the horse at all, you reins are like a holding abook or newspaper yet in he 1st video as in the old one you have better contact with reins - your forming bad habits and the trianer should correct them

[hitchinmygetalong]

GLS, I think what *appears* to be spurs might be the snap on the bottom of the half chaps. I thought it was spurs also, but the OP says she was not wearing spurs.

I honestly can't tell. Anyone else?

[rabicon]

I have never worn spurs on this horse. Don't know what he'd do with them and honestly he doesn't need them. I am also not digging in his sides, it may look that way but I am not. If I was you'd see a lot of head throwing and tail swishing. He will not tolerate that, like I said before.

[rabicon]

Oh, also GLS in the first videos the old trainer was only concerned about a "frame" there was no engagement and she just wanted me to pull his head down, that is why my reins are so much tighter. With my new trainer we are working on going forward with some contact instead of choking up because I'm pulling his face back. Also now he doesn't clinch his jaw like he use to, he goes with ease. Once we get the forward back then we are going to ask for more contact. At least this is the way the new trainer wants to do it. She isn't concerned about a "frame" but more concerned about a happy horse that goes forward and doesn't choke up and clinch his jaw. Also when I took up the contact like in the first pictures and videos he started a rearing problem that he had never done. Now he is happy and learning to move again forward and hasn't tried to rear once since we stop with the old trainer. Also old trainer wanted him in draw reins and me riding him in them, which I don't think that I am ready for and I WOULD NOT do it. He already wanted to rear up from cramming his head back much less put draw reins on him and make him even more pis*ed off about it. I believe he is doing much better since we have went from and 54 and 58's in intro to 64.5's and my rider score has improved. I do appreciate the critiques though and my trainer comes Tuesday and we will discuss all these concerns and see where to go next. THanks