Sunday gorgeous weather

Gorgeous day in the 60s. Felt great to be outdoors.

BUT I videoed some on line stuff to compare with summer of 09 and was shocked to see Try, while not in a bad mood, completely unmotivated to move beyond a walk! I was not being "provocative" or finding a phase 4 that she cared about although I thought I was. BFO

freestyle riding: not very cooperative here either. Did get 4 good laps of canter--not pounding on the front end--not negative just not motivated to GO.

Friday

Try:
On Line in play paddock: warmup then circling game with obstacles/draw
Freestyle: western saddle on the rail, rhythm, relaxation--walk, trot, canter

Spiderman:
On Line: basics, backing, sideways etc
Ride: contact at a walk, no stirrups

Thursday - 3 horse day!

Riley: more friendly in zone 1--coming along really nicely. Held halter low and he put his nose in it with no offer of a treat. Now to teach him that it would be lovely if he would maintain the low head while I slide halter on--baby steps?? loving hand on neck and only ask for an inch or two???

Spiderman: wow
1. walk til blow
2. walk with contact--best w/eyes closed, arms low--can extend sideways to maintain contact, palm down and no bend in wrist, slight swing from the elbow.
3. trot repeat contact
4. 2 laps no stirrups

Try: no energy left to ride so we did On Line stuff in the ring where the footing was better
1. Driving with one 22' line
2. Back 100' as stick to me--to further our joint idea of backing--not just 4-5 strides
3. Circling test: Try will trot forever but canter she will trot a few steps behind my back consistently. I have read its ok if its only a couple strides but this is too much of a pattern and shows issue in relationship--brace of a kind--so I need to think how to improve this with an LBI.
4. Sideways away and towards both sides: wow reaally improved in cueing, distance and speed.

Spiderman!

BA called--I am getting 1/2 lease of Spiderman--I think he will be a great horse for lessons, no stirrups, and GoC for me. I started On Line: friendly is good--not afraid of stick and string, being rubbed on legs (duh) etc and porcupine is pretty good but not thrilled about backing. Only driving was yo-backing--he was surprized by phases and did lotsa lickin and chewin. Riding: slippery in the ring--walk til blow, trot, canter.

Spent an hour or so with Try as well. She was happy to see me. We did a mix of liberty and online in the paddock out back--improvements in sideways--distance, lighter cueing, and "speed." Coming to me from barely touching behind Z3 with stick/string from ?8' away. We rode--slippery in the ring--did the usual biometric stuff--shoulders/hind end/backing. Canter--2nd day I felt I was sitting deep in the dressage saddle.

Energy, Focus, Intention

Thoughts on Energy, Focus and Intention January 22, 2011

Energy: It is a given that life up signals to the horse that something is coming like the military “tenshun”. Also letting my energy out is friendly and signals game over, at ease, etc. This applies to On Line, Liberty and to riding. I think I do this without thinking pretty much BUT it would be wise to take the time to check myself  on this and even to film it to see what I am doing.

Focus: This is such an important way for me to communicate with Try as horses are all about body language and pick up on the focus of other horses so intuitively.

Current focus game suggested to me by Dan Thompson: Teach Try to hunt for my focus (physical focus/where I am actually looking) and line up on it. So I focus on something in the distance and KEEP my focus there and use phases/tools/etc to bring Try into line with my focus. Remember the stages of learning a new skill: teach, control, reinforce, refine. Try and I are at the control/reinforce stage with this. Because she likes the trick of vertically straddling a cavaletti pole that is a fun way to play the game and she quickly knows what to do—the trick of all this is that although I may be cueing her to line up my focus needs to remain in the distance beyond the cavaletti pole.

This then applies to the 7 games i.e. backing—hunt my focus and stay in sync with it. Sideways—focus over and beyond zone 3 and cue zone 3 without losing my focus. Etc.

Intention: Then this goes beyond physical focus to hunt my focus including hunt my intention. i.e. my intention is for you to remain on the circle even though my eyes are not focusing on the circle. Or my intention is for you to follow me at 15’. So Try learns the GOOD DEAL for her is to search for what I want. (As opposed to ignoring me, waiting for a phase 4, or anticipating and offering things she thinks I might like to see.)

Simulations:

Dan had me do some simulations with him. No tools, using energy and focus primarily and some body language. Ie. Yoyo, circling  game.

Summary: What I've learned from Dan Thompson that I am currently considering

In general:
I want to teach Try to hunt for the  GOOD DEAL.
I am taking the time to check my use of ENERGY--life up/life down--FOCUS and INTENTION.
We are playing the hunt my focus game.

A priority for us is DRAW
1. catching game--more closer and apply more pressure
2. sticking together: consider progress with break over distance, variety, how open are we to each other.

Games to play with to practice the above:
1. backing for hunt my focus. Also life up/dn to cue from energy alone.
2. Sideways: energy and focus--can I stand in one place and get sideways--how far/how fast
3. Circling: leaning/ears/variety/distance/draw at the trot

Warmups: On the ground--use fun slow stuff i.e. cone/barrel variations. touch it.

TEACH
CONTROL
REINFORCE
REFINE

RIDING
Warmup: walk until blow/pilates 21 days
Confidence/acceptance in zone 1--its a conversation
Snappy go/whoa/relax--good gait
Progressing my 7 step soft feel (GoC)
RBE challenges: match + gate/circling/lead change/jump/transitions/coming off the rail/riding in the field etc
incorporating Michael jackson
Patterns: hunt my focus game--still the leadeer but give Try responsibility
Falling leaf, weave with shoulder swing, partial disengagement etc for shoulder flexibility and using HQ

Friday Study Day

Today I began reviewing my blog and clinic notes for the second 1/2 of 2010. Will post summaries here soon. Completed today reviewing Dan Thompson private sessions notes--tomorrow will start compiling notes on Game of Contact from course, manual, letter and dvds.

Thursday in the Mud

On Line: having reread my notes from Dan Thompson sessions, I was set to keep energy/focus/intention in mind. We played with hunt my focus over the cavaletti pole--interesting how quickly she lined up when I kept my focus--later tried it out in asking her to line up with me for mounting. This mind reading really works. Also watched youtube video of preschool age child riding bareback and bridleless and asking horse to push the ball or get on the pedestal from focus and intention!

Sideways towards on the right side is coming along nicely--Try has figured it out--so we have learned and are in the controlling stage. With sideways away and towards on the left that would be refining stage and we could go for more energy or greater distance and moving from intention and focus.

Circling: not on the plan but I needed something to get her more mentally with me so we circled in the ring on the 22' with me checking the send and gait transitions from my energy etc. Also had some fun turning it into a stick together game.

Riding was mostly freestyle: bareback in the ring--posting trot and canter. I think I am solid for the canter unless there was a big, quick change of direction or something--I was ok with a big stumble. Then we changed to the western saddle for a passenger trail ride--Try going where ever she wants (within boundaries of my perceived safety). I let Karen know to come for us if not back in an hour. But today Try did not want to keep exploring and was mostly interested in stopping past Jim and Pauline's house and checking out the geldings and even more so was curious about the big field across the street. I don't know why?? We finished with 4 laps of canter in the ring.

We did play with falling leaf, picking up contact, backing, swing the shoulders, stretching. Walk til blow and my pilates as warmup.

Muddy, sinking in the mud, slippery etc.

Monday: Riley and Spiderman

When I arrived BA was riding Forrest, Jen was riding Angel and Riley was tethered to the tree awaiting a ride so I spent time with Riley on line--lots of variation of friendly game in zone 1--he was very relaxed as a result and good ride. Then BA offered I could ride Spiderman if I wanted--I cantered in my dressage saddle and BA offered I could try her close contact saddle as well. The latter saddle a better fit for him and I like less bulk. Then Try and I began a liberty stick together and on line focus/intention warmup but it started raining so Try went in her stall and I helped bring in the horses. I look forward to getting to ride Spiderman some more as he is fun and I can play with Game of Contact with him.

Friday and Saturday

Friday: dwell time with Try: checked out pattern for 1/4 sheet--walked around, grazed, protected my herd of two when Angel tried to drive Try away from the water trough,etc. Try seemed to not want me to leave.

Saturday: Try--dressage saddle plus 1/4 sheet-really yummy fleece. We played a little online in ring--follow my focus to straddle cavaletti vertically and sideways and yoyo follow my intention. Saddled up and let Try choose where to go--she left the ring and walked up the rode so I directed her to the small pasture behind Karen's house and we walked and trotted there for while then followed Try out of there and back up the road--went into the ring for some canter and I felt I was able to sit deeper in the saddle.

Riley: took our time with meeting up in his pasture, protecting my herd of two, graze, dwell in the round corral, liberty--checking out objects, following me around. On Line--lots of friendly--swing stick/string over all zones, legs. Lotsa friendly on the face--Riley almost fell asleep. Nice soft porcupine and even a bit of driving of FQ. Played with soft movement around Riley's face. No real progression with head down for haltering--happy to do head down for a real or supposed treat--just no mental connection that I would like him to put head down for haltering??

Dan Thompson January 9, 2011

Dan Thompson January 9, 2011

The weather was in the teens so I opted to do the 3 hours inside. Discussion of the big picture, planning, Riley, and some specifics and simulations.

Syncing not just movement but our energy in the sticking together game—i.e. I choose energy level and see if Try will match it and vice versa.

I had some questions about where I am going as L3 grad considering L4 and also mentioned the boredom issue for LBI Try and LBE me. Dan comments that levels are never ending but a way of recognizing accomplishment along the way to provide motivation. Basically he said level 3 is about putting what I know to purpose and that will prevent boredom.

Purpose/conditioning for Try

1.       Purpose: playing together—Try doesn’t feel I am playing at her

2.       Playing with psychology

3.       Dressage maybe

4.       Cows

5.       Drill team maybe

6.       Handling another horse while riding Try

7.       Choreography

8.       Riding with another horse and rider

9.       Obstacles on the trail at a trot and canter

10.   ??Make riding in the field interesting

11.   Vary the HQ stuff from day to day!!

12.   2 people and horses passenger and stick together

13.   Lots of transitions speed/gait through the woods

14.   Cavalettis, hill therapy, putting patterns to a purpose

15.   Finding better posture and “holding” it—holdover in healthy posture beyond the session.

16.   Million transitions: Walter Zettl

17.   Trail—canter ½ mile but add in ½ pass or ??whatever to add mental challenge

18.   Pulling something heavy enough to be physical for Try i.e. cavaletti pole

Whatever it is—it won’t be fun if it gets drilled!!!

We talked about the subject of physical development for Try. I don’t feel the need for her to be conditioned as a top athlete but rather good physicality and biometrics to assist her as she ages. This includes increasing use of hind quarters and engaging top line and abdominals. This seems the least I can do for the health of my lovely horse. BUT Dan hit the nail on the head with how do I achieve fitness without the drilling that brings forth a bad attitude—classic LBI issue. I realized that I have been dealing with this issue for ages. All those laps in the ring at trot and canter are healthy physically but not mentally and emotionally. I have tried varying by doing the “work” in patterns, passenger lessons etc. Dan’s suggestions were out of the ring.

Another issue—I would like to be a really good rider:

1.       Dan says this is another never ending quest

2.       Obviously time in the saddle, study ie Walter Zettl

3.       Versatility—cross disciplines, like cross training ??dressage

4.       Ride other horses that are good at their disciplines to see how it should feel

5.       Kelly eventing, Dan—future help to add in to what I am doing

6.       Go ride one of Wendy’s cow horses.

7.       Ride physically different horses, ride any other horses available??

8.       Is the dressage saddle preventing my sitting the canter?

9.       Pilates warmup—21 days makes a habit

10.   Can’t ask horse to engage if we are tight/tense or a slob.

Parelli and Tasking: Pat organizes thoughts around tasks, Linda feels it is more valuable to figure it out yourself—at the center instructors wait for questions from the students. Important to ASK. Balance of gaining information from other sources, and puzzling it out on my own.

EARN the right to be a good leader by being a good follower: Ultimate passenger game there is no agenda even if that means sitting at the gate for as long as it takes. Dan clinic ½ hr one day, 5 minutes the next. And huge difference in the horse. This would be good to do in the field every day for a week—Dan did this and felt for the first time his horses’ thoughts and subtleties. Can I with a trot or canter passenger, close my eyes and be with her on downward transitions and turns. Kinesthetic takes away the visual if close eyes can feel what the horse is doing. If there is NO agenda (not saying I hope Try doesn’t go to the gate) then I am open to sensing more.

Email Ruby etc re session with Dan on play day fun.

Hunt for my focus game: fun, Try is finding the good deal. Put it to purpose.

Simulations: Cueing each other with focus/body language/intention alone!!!

Want to get so confidence and respect are not issues/opposition reflex—want to be entirely out of the negative.

Riley

1.       Most important is to find the starting place of what Riley will accept or tolerate not necessarily love

2.       Building confidence

3.       Head down for haltering—rest arm on his poll/neck and allow my natural weight to slowly take head down—very friendly game

4.       Want him to understand that this is not a bad deal

5.       Driving FQ: 3 stooges, close annoying, quit in 1.5 minutes or so

6.       Vet check: start close and very gradually build from walk to trot: brace just wait and let him find the good deal.

Lovely day

We had a lovely day—actually over an hour, pretty much 1/2 On Line and 1/2 Liberty whatever seemed right at the time including lotsa Grazing On line around the farm and dwell time/liberty/grazing.

Also showing off the pedestal, push the ball, knock the cone off the barrel (without knocking over the barrel) for some visiting youngsters. Try as LBI loves to show off—she knew those children thought she was the smartest, sweetest thing ever.

Lotsa slow sticking together, find my focus, etc,. sideways variations. Checking out draw etc. Whatever improv. Being together was fun, interesting, and relaxing for both of us. I needed that!

Direct Line

I was so excited 3 tasks away from L1 for Riley and got direct line: the three tasks are all keyed to his issues with motion around his head and I will need to slow up and spend more time here--lotsa friendly.

I got to ride Spiderman today--large, experience hunter/jumper pony. Lots of fun!! And good for practicing riding with light contact at the trot.

3 tasks away from L1 for Riley

3 tasks away from L1 for Riley AND Try gets the award for the most clever horse today.

Riley in 3 sessions only lacks 1. haltering, 2. driving FQ--both being a head shy issue and our main focus. 3. also I run stop and back w/flapping arms and Riley is to back--he will back--I am not giving him the idea that HE is supposed to trot while I run LOL

Try: we were just very self indulgent in 45 min or so or walk/graze--fed her an apple and some carrot slices--and did easy tasks, find the focus, good friendly game stuff.

Some photos of Riley

Riley in the small play paddock: Hard to get a good pic of pony who follows you like a puppy--also super curious about everything--all the toys, the kitty etc.

Tuesday with Try and Riley

Riley: I started with 30 minutes with Riley, ticked off a few more getting started tasks i.e. touch it with the trailer and figure 8. Issues are head shy--haltering, run and flap arms, driving the FQ. HQ much more relaxed today. Backing could be easier and lighter. Sweet, good learner--improvement in just one session. We got the put your head down and into the halter with treat in just 3 tries today.

Try: riding session did not leave me with a feeling of satisfaction. Our warmup time went to Riley above. Walk til blow went quickly. Confusion over backing. Canter--good pointer from BA--canter felt disconnected and by adding a bit of leg was able to get HQ more engaged without going heavy on the FQ--was able to sit it better in dressage saddle. BA suggested riding Spidey some time soon to see how his canter feels compared with Try. Try was up after the canter but was able to quickly walk and really relax.

Monday - nice ride for Try and I AND day 1 with Riley

I started with Riley. Occasional treat in the pasture a good idea. We played in the round pen--mostly On Line. Lotsa time on being relaxed at the poll. Head down for bridling/haltering best from using lead not poll until he is more confident--he was really getting the idea of getting a carrot slice if he put his head down and into the halter--I started and Bethanna built on it--I think it is really going to work as he was VERY motivated to get that little bit of carrot.

Friendly: rub pretty much all over with stick, swing string over his back, walking and swinging rope not so clear or confident. Lots of rubs, stroking, etc and more relaxed all the time.

Porcupine: Did not know backing from the chest--phases. Forehand and HQ yields ok--HQ more like a ball--sensitive.

Driving: yes to back, HQ, no knowledge of FQ. Touch it--sorta--if object was really obvious.
Yoyo: lots of draw, hesitant to back but learning quickly.
Circling: he knows it--can build on it
Sideways: he ran away from me--need to start with porcupine, start slower
Squeeze: didn't do--once we get good a driving it should not be an issue.

He offered the pedestal.

TRY: nice ride, the usual warmup stuff, 6 laps trot, 4 canter--nice variation of speed within the trot, canter I am still confused. Then we went for long walk around the facility.

January 1: Happy New Year at the Barn

Enjoyed warm weather in the 60s. Try was a little irritated at times today--nothing to eat in her pasture but hay and she would prefer to be back in her big pasture. Still muddy and the road is still icy in places.

First we went to the round pen and played with some dwell/eating grass time followed by some nice sticking together--responsive but not "spiritually" connected. Played in sticking together with follow my focus. Then liberty--point and wait (follow my focus) for Try to knock ball off the pedestal, cone off the barrel. This was followed by On Line line up on my focus and back a step or two on the focus--we did this in several places and Try is really catching on. We also did this in the ring over a cavaletti pole.

Barn--first full grooming in ages with warmer weather.

In the ring, dressage saddle, walk til blow occured early. We played with lots of stuff at the walk: stretching, contact, back/sideways without reins, turn on the haunches, swing shoulders, falling leaf and more. Then we trotted a little and cantered some--I am not getting the idea of lifting her front end when she pounds without cueing her to slow tho I did add leg. Need clarification.

Then we circled the gate until we could leave the ring with relaxation and turned right and started up the road. I encouraged Try to go where she wanted--she headed all the way down the road and out of the farm turning right and heading past Jim and Pauline's before I turned her around and returned to the barn.

I take this as a sign that Try would like a nice trail ride or to go on a trip--perhaps some place new.

New blog site for the new year 2011

My old blog site was becoming cumbersome so here goes a site for 2011.