Monday - follow up day

Today was my first day to follow up on what I learned from Dan Thompson Thursday. I was tired, still a bit under the weather from the virus but managed to be at the barn 4 hours for On Line and riding for both Spiderman and Try and bath for Spiderman.

Spiderman On Line
1. haltering: we are just starting to go for this--Dan suggested for head down, the change of sides with his head under my arm then leading forward and back with head down.
2. extreme friendly: Spiderman was great--stopping on either side. Took a little for me to get my act together to remember my energy, quick release and I forgot to sing.
3. Back up: not so good to begin with but by the end of the day he would yoyo in and out of the fence opening going to the ring with a ??phase 2.
4. Circling: 3 perfect non stopping circles in each direction, great send at a trot, and my soft bring back rather than using rope to tilt head.
5. SIDEWAYS: we started this, rethinking based on what Dan suggested with other games.
     a. Life up
     b. Ask with low phase then quickly to effective phase--don't rush--
     c. What is effective phase? not an underhanded swing or soft tap at the shoulders? Over hand swing, flick string at the belly??? Need to experiment
     d. Dont be afraid of ugly or being out of control
     e. Timing of the release and time to process

Riding with Spiderman: The usual walk til blow, walk with the lightest possible contact, contact at a trot--just a bit, 2 point and no stirrups.

Try On Line
Follow up: warmup strongly, after walking in from pasture, grooming and saddling (dressage saddle) went to the ring and a few slaps of extreme friendly for Try's life to come up. Then circling--leaving at a trot and falling leaf Try wasn't as emotional as Thursday so quicker relaxation.

Try Freestyle
Walk til blow, contact, stretching bits, falling leaf then lots of backing for energy (could have interspersed some extreme friendly). Cantered mostly for my seat and also for the backup. Forgot canter yoyos and wished I had used carrot stick and leg to canter all sorts of patterns for fluidity. Try did not have any issues with relaxing any time we stopped.