Monday December 24

Try:
Played with drawing HQ from intention in the field, groom, riding in the field and ring, walk/trot/canter, a bit of contact, meander up and road, etc. in preparation for days away due to Christmas activity.

Key:
Dwell and graze on lead line, groom, walk/trot/canter, etc.

Catch up

December 17 Monday Try ring was wet walk and trot. Walk up the road, graze etc. great picking me up on the fences to remount. Key nice easy hack.

December 19 Try light ride, nice easy connection. Key full hack and 15 minutes riding with contact.

December 20 Try lesson with Kathy. Not good...I was sick and Try not in the mood to cooperate.

Tour Stop

Amerika ride

 

Session with Beth Collins and Amerika

 

 

1. Sitting more deeply on right hip--I have found that its not always right but often right or left more deeply rather than balanced between the two.

2. Try leg cue for canter as little sweep.

3. Ring finger holds the reins not thumbs.

4. For fast canter I overcued and unintentionally put my leg on when I got nervous

5. For Try transitions both engaging and disengaging I want to come from energy in seat or upper thigh and lastly reins.

6. For fast canter--for me 2 point variation to solve issues until canter is smooth??

 



Try

some observations from Sharon: Try likes dressage as it makes her body feel good and trail riding. Tired of boring, old stuff. Likes different and new. Generally physically she is fine--some possible arthritis in ??left front knew. Likes Dan but not being pushed--duh. Likes our time together and happy to be in her pasture. HUG.

Tuesday

The usual stuff--groom, hanging out, walking in and out together except played briefly with drawing HQ from intention and it is improved--big HQ step toward me and just a big of movement in front. Still not a plant in front and HQ only big step to me.

 Lesson with Kathy 2 hours--and of course we did not ride the whole time, talking, hanging out as well. When we finished Try wanted to just hang with us! Try seemed to thoroughly enjoy the two hours! Course Kathy gave her treats--we only rode for 3 segments and when Try improved we quit and Try got a treat. Best canter with contact--using outside rein to rebalance, outside leg to step deeper--quality of canter improved--using HQ better and more consistent and canter was never rough. Working on my positioning hips open and relaxed, long leg, weighting stirrup to bend and change direction, transition to walk to prevent falling on the forehand etc.

1. Keep hip open and relaxed. With back injury I was tenser than usual and tended to raise and shorten leg and pitch forward which puts Try on her forehand.

2. Took right hand and held the rein near the left hand which helped me keep my hands in the center and raised a bit. Important to keep my hands/elbows relaxed and in position to help Try be relaxed in the contact. Wantonly minor adjustment with the reins, to not drop her in the contact.

3. Homework: more frequent changes of direction and bends/yields etc to re-energize Try and keep her interest.

4. Transition to the walk using HQ instead of stumbling onto FQ

5. Canter departs using HQ--indirect rein/falling leaf and backing and 1/4 turns on HQ. Also lifting the FH. Outside rein and leg are her security blanket for her to frame up. Rein rebalances and my leg helps her to step deeper--keeps her from falling in.

Next time: leather reins and set up camera and tripod.

6. Remember use outside rein to rebalance. Outside rein and leg are her security

Monday

I feel energized by the tour stop.

What I have decided:
1. As much as I am physically able to do so--to treat winter 3 months as if it is summer i.e. go for it without wimping or whining over the cold.
2. To keep my focus on
     a. Helping Try and I to forge a better and better connection
     b. Help Try know it is a good deal for her--that she can trust me to give up control as needed
     c. To focus on improving my finesse riding.
     d. To focus on finesse L4 with Try for physical development in lessons with Kathy.
     e. Work for balance of fun and variety for Try and Keystone.
     f. Continue every opportunity to learn from Dan, Kathy, etc.
3. What I will NOT do as a way to further the aims above.
     a. I will not get sidetracked by other things to learn or play with unless they can fit into my overall goals.
     b. I have dropped my PC membership to digital and I will not watch the dvds unless desperate for something new.

Monday

Try: catch me in the pasture and a bit of sticking together. BA rode by and was impressed that Try would come to me from ??40 feet while her pasture mate trotted off the other direction. In her pasture--played a little with drawing HQ only from intention then dwell, walking in together, groom, and finished our riding with more draw HQ--just a bit each time until she figured it out. Started in the ring, walked and I did my warmup pilates, passenger, meandered and jogged awhile so Try could get used to 2 new geldings on the farm next to the ring. She was still a little distracted for what I wanted to do so we left and rode in her pasture. We trotted for quality of gait, Played with weighting the stirrup and follow my shoulder/focus. When she knew that was what I wanted she had it but it took a little while. hmmmm. We did a little taking contact and light flexion review to prepare for Tuesday's lesson.

Keystone: Lovely catching game in the field--saw me and sorta wanted to come from ??40 feet and was able to come from about 25 feet!! Long slow walking together in from the field, good grooming and shower at the end and hanging out in his field at the end. warmup on loose rein: walk/trot/canter. clover leaf/serpentines, inside track etc. Good impulsion and he felt good. light contact and flexion--2 laps

Sat/Sun Tour Stop

Tour Stop in Williamston
Not very good at taking pictures--

 Emily and Ryan's horses playing at liberty

 Rider biomechanics session

 Rider biomechanics session

Emily and Ryan

Thursday - Dan Thompson - 3hours

December 6 2012

Since September

1. Low keyed, less intense connection—this was a good thing—trust myself
2. Lessons with Kathy—giving up control and HQ/FQ isolations

1. Old age fear—Dan dealt with this—examples and lt less physical cueing a good thing
2. More intuitive and less planned and goal oriented – still a good thing
3. Parelli materials fig 8—information only—need a more narrow focus rather than try to absorb the clutter of all Parelli info
4. stopping over jump—trot and maintain gait or stop over pole—see below heavy on FH
5. Need reset as to connection--get back on track as to control/distance/right side/ and giving up HQ

Stuff to do maybe

1. Figure 8 online and liberty: right hand loop
2. Stopping over cavaletti pole
3. Opening and closing gate while mounted
4. Quality of canter gait

Impressions and ah ha’s

1. The greatest moment was the figure 8 on line. Try was motivated, happy and playing with the pattern as an LBE which freed me up to be able to enjoy the RBE that I am.
2. This was accomplished not by mechanics of what am I doing right or wrong in my body nor motivating Try as LBI by smacking the ground in the middle LOL.
4. This happened because Dan helped me make this pattern interesting for Try.
5. It had never occurred to me to vary and be particular about shape and distance.
7. First—a good circle shape as Try had the tendency to hug the obstacle to avoid the game.
8. Then two circles with my turning my body to accomplish that.
10. Then distance small and large circles, maybe one small and the other large
11. Shape can be circles or infinity sign etc.
13. From this I realized that the Parelli dvd on the subject sent me in the wrong direction with my thoughts and plans and I need to be careful as Try is her own self and we are in L4. My avoidance of the dvds may actually be a good thing—my instincts better and Dan/Kathy one on one coaching better than one size fits all dvds or magazine articles. Balance and not overdo to keep Try happy also important.
14. Another example was my taking the exercise from magazine to develop Try stopping over pole and sidepassing towards to get off the pole.
16. I thought this would be good as we already sort of had it. BUT putting on the breaks was the problem, talking with Dan I realize this exercise requires Try to fall onto her FH—something we are trying to avoid at this stage. Thus I am putting this task as a priority 4 to reconsider at a later time.
17. Another big ah ha was the fixing/development continuum. As we have made progress with the fixing we are able to happily proceed with dressage physical/intellectual/mental skill development for both Try and I.
19. Especially as Kathy watches the fixing portion with Dan and incorporates it into our development lessons IE giving Try time to figure things out rather than make her do stuff which doesn’t facilitate learning AND helping her learn that she is safe to give up control i.e. of her HQ.
20. So my guilt over not doing fixing with Parelli ground work was off track—it was being done in lesson. I was doing a good thing by using on line and liberty as a pleasant warmup to get us loosely connected for riding.
22. Also a fix is my lack of big goal focus and energy and frustration.
23. The Gate: Try does not like confrontation and positively pushing into pressure is an issue.

WHAT WE DID

ON LINE

1. Catching game
2. Stick to me to the gate to get halter and rope
3. Played with sticking together on the rail: walk and stop on my HQ and back using stick in front and asking for nice backup ENGAGING to a stop. To prevent the stop to be falling on the FH.
4. We were then able to take this onto a circle—relatively small at first to make it more like stick to me. Try would swing her HQ away on the stop so I would drive Z1 to straighten and then back straight. (Repeating this in round pen would likely help with stopping on the circle.) On circle phase 1 is lifting the rope.
5. This exercise helped me understand why I want to stay away from the stopping over the pole that either results in falling on the FH OR relaxing to a stop!!
6. Sideways towards—Drawing HQ only from intention Prevent FQ from moving, lean back to draw. Wait it out until she figures it out. Life up.
7. Next was figure 8—an incredible high moment—see above. I feel so energized and proud that we are on track to good stuff!!!

RIDING

1. Girthiness: rub friendly
3. Tip nose and continue in opposite direction for counter bend
4. Indirect rein with good energy in HQ (stick?) then change of direction and maintain counter bend until I decide to straighten. This becomes set up to ask for canter depart using HQ. Falling leaf pattern.
6. Canter: my role in vicious circle of FH/back hurting/tension.
7. Flying lead—changing bend at shoulders plus HQ engagement
9. Can we engage HQ rather than disengage to a stop?
10. Offensive sidepass: pushing into pressure?? Lift rein and keep[p opposite leg on—sidepass in the bend not straight. Had to wait a long time for Try to give up control. The first time she was relaxed and kept suggesting other things then got frustrated and figured out what we wanted. The second time she got frustrated and emotional tho giving the task—we sidepassed a long ways until she relaxed and when we quit she fast walked away—still emotional. WAIT

END: unbridling—keep contact until Try relaxes.

1% better for 100 days = 100%

Old age—doing less is goal anyway

IMPROVEMENTS since September

1. Try offering to put one hind leg on an object
2. Picking me up at mounting block which will improve when we get drawing HQ from intention.
3. Backing (while not exactly desired—has so much better impulsion)
4. Figure 8—I saw and loved LBE fun. Joy for us both—my being able to recognize it as joy.
5. We are improving in fitness, skill, fixing control, giving up HQ, Try figuring it out, balancing fun with development sessions, relaxation within pressured learning.
6. Catching game
7. Moving from fixing to development while not neglecting fixing
8. Sideways towards from intention instead of phase 4
9. Old age: doing less is good anyway
10. More partnership

CATCHUP/CLEANUPS

Yoyo draw
Right side, zone3/4/5,
 

Tuesday - Keystone

Rode in the ring with Dawn/Hilton and BA/--good session with Key--he a little sore so we were careful.

Later Karen came and said Keystone's feet sore--not his back--and sore from feet trimmed too far back. GRRR.

catching up again

Last week:

Try: basic hack with emphasis on canter, great lesson--bending from wting stirrup and contact sooner plus super confident lovely trail ride back thru the woods.

Key: hacks, no lesson, trail ride with Dawn and Hilton in the woods.

Monday:

Try: on the ground--slow lovely, responsive warming up and nice stopping over pole at a trot--liberty/HQ bending on the circle and on line. Groom, ride in ring--passenger, HQ isol tea for two, backing, wheelbarrow turns, contact, wting inside stirrup to bend, canter. Then BA/Smitty, Try and I rode through the woods followed by long spa bath for Try, grazing in the good clover, etc.

Thursday "trail" ride

Today Keystone and I rode with Dawn and Hilton all over Rollover except the 3 occupied fields: in their pasture, up and down the road, in the front yard, the side paddock, behind the barn, in the field by the ring, etc. Exploring different places for Key and Hilton. Relaxed hour and a half ride--just walking about and checking things out. Both seemed bright, happy and relaxed. i.e. Hilton relaxed and Keystone bright.

That was yesterday ...

That was yesterday and yesterday's gone.

Coming to grips with the reality that a magic summer of horsemanship is over, cold weather is setting in. I think at least I am over the initial shock with colds/old injuries speaking to me.

Lovely lesson last Friday with Try and Kathy. Try was just great--offering, good attitude.
Several low keyed rides with Dan and Hilton. Big ride and play with stopping over pole online and liberty with Try.

Wednesday great session with Keystone. Warmup light hack then Key maintaining the contact and flexion easily.

Catching Up

So much happening and not much of it horsemanship:

Cold weather has brought back injuries: knee and lower back and has cut down on my riding the past two weeks. Also the hurricane and a nasty cold.

Lesson with Kathy and Try: homework--getting contact quickly.
Keystone: riding in the field with Dawn and Hilton.

Thursday - another magic day!

Try:

Long relaxed grooming and later bath.

I watched the April SC dvd for on line fig 8 pattern L1/2 and noted with a sluggish LBI to tag the X after horse's tail passes the spot. So with Try my GOALwas for quality walk with light cueing, then trot for emotional fitness and consistency of gait.

Started with walk: a couple were pretty nice then Try started offering all sorts of things to avoid trotting the 8. An interesting variation was sidepassing the arcs of the 8. Things got ugly and it took going back to just circling--a lot at a canter to get us back together. Then back to the 8 with pretty good energy in the trot but not maintaining consistantly--some canter thrown in. Quit on a couple good ones and was PROUD that I took the time instead of giving up when it got ugly.

Then freestyle casual rein in the ring--played western pleasure and Try was just super--walk til she blew, jog then trot then jog etc, then 8 laps of canter. Try's canter was relaxed and comfortable just a little reminder if she slowed or got a bit too much energy.

Then left the ring and the farm and passenger ride up the road aways and back.

Key:

He has ride with Emily later. I got him out and spent an hour or so treating the rain rot with MTG and he loved being massaged and scratched. Then bathed his oily tail etc tail.

Beautiful, beautiful day to just be messing with horses. Could not imagine anything better.

Wednesday - clipping Keystone

Keystone got the full spa treatment. I helped BA and Ariel clip Keystone--took a couple hours and he was touchy in places with the rain rot. Then pulled mane, photos, and MTG for rain rot.

7 months at Rollover:
What an improvement in grooming, weight and physical conditioning.

catch up

I am neglecting this blog--gorgeous weather, lots of horse time and thus tired and writing less.

Thursday: Keystone--got some great feedback on what I am doing with him. Have been asking for contact at the standstill and waiting for him BUT would release on a bit of flexion without softening which was not effective. light bulb moment. Anyway lovely trot, patterns, transitions of gaits.

Monday: Magic day

Keystone: western saddle and just rode and played about in Try's field, Devon's field and the ring: walk, trot, canter. He was bright and alive but when in Devon's field he started to worry about being the only horse outside.

Try: She was in her stall and making ugly faces at me so we went out back to improve her state of being. Well, as soon as we got there, she was happy as a clam and we played with first one then the other suggesting things to play with--stream of consciousness style. Then as I had no tack available, decided to just ride bareback with the savvy string around her neck as backup--walk and jog about, patterns, transitions, HQ/FQ isolations, turns, slow spins etc. Beautiful day and just lovely to be together.

Tuesday: LessonS with Kathy in Try's field. I had set up the cones for a 20x40 meter dressage ring.

Keystone first while Try was content in the round pen nearby. This was the first lesson with Kathy in months with Key so we started way back. We asked for the contact a bit differently and when it came it was great and was there for much of the lesson walk, trot and canter. Both the trot and canter had extended times of being gorgeous--quality of gait and body shaping. Key--took awhile for him to decide that was the "good deal." Also I think he enjoyed riding in Try's field instead of the ring. We got to play some with using the whole ring, crossing diagonals, 20 meter circles etc.

Then Try: Million transitions and lots of HQ/FQ isolations to motivate Try to flex etc. Good walk and trot and best of all, she seemed really happy. I ran out of steam after 2 hours of lesson concentration.

I'm back

Tuesday: saying HI

Try: easy relaxed grooming, friendly game, dwell and relaxed bareback walk/jog in her field.
Key: relaxed grooming, friendly dwell.

Wednesday

Try: lesson with Kathy--good attitude. rhythm and relaxation in walk/trot/canter. Also warmup with circling online and liberty games.

Key: quick grooming and light hack then few minutes of walk/trot with contact.

Mental vacation week

Try is getting a complete vacation this week--just on general principles--and then see where we are next week.

I having been giving myself a break also--Tuesday, Wednesday--did not go to the barn at all and Friday thru Sunday is beach weekend.

Keystone: Thursday--perhaps we should have taken that day off also. I did not have the energy to pull energy out of him as he just did not feel like expending any energy. We did some how get thru a walk/trot/canter hack and finished with a little contact--it was slow going getting Key to offer to carry himself but we did get it with some really nice looking trot.

Monday with Keystone

Still working on the rainrot, bless his heart, at least he enjoys being rubbed. Then walk/trot/canter in the ring including no stirrups for me. First time in close contact saddle in awhile and felt strange. Also only 2 laps of no stirrups tho it started out really strong. Finished with getting light contact and flexion then walk/sitting trot/posting trot/sitting/walk in each direction on the rail.

Try: giving her some "space."

End of the Quarter

Ending with lots of improvement with Keystone and real attitude issues with Try. I will be doing a lot of soul searching in the upcoming week as to how to help Try and me to find a happier place.

1. Passenger and stick to her.
2. Dwell
3. Only twice a week
4. Shift lessons to Keystone only
5. Kathy? fix canter without contact?
6. Moody mare, hormones?
7. Work through control issues--round pen catch me
8. Control and HQ??
9. Canter: ride with out contact long enough for Try to relax?

What is the best way to help Try be relaxed and happy?????
I guess we are ending the quarter with a cliff hanger LOL.

Friday with Kathy and Try

Today we took our time to get Try to decide the good deal was actually the easy thing. She was resistant to both contact and quality of gait. I never asked for contact directly but we found it in the movement. Kathy kept giving me strategies to keep Try thinking and searching for a better answer. Including various HQ/FQ isolations and bending and even turns on the haunches and forehand. Canter we used smaller circle to reset--like a half halt in a way--maintain the smaller circle until the canter becomes better then make the circle a little larger. Then if need be to get smaller--outside leg and rein move Try in a bit while inside leg and rein prevents falling in.

Keystone - first canter with contact

Lesson today with Keystone - first canter with contact AND in bareback pad. I was proud of the fact that I could concentrate on corrections and do so bareback. Problem tho between all of that was falling back into western pleasure habits of hands low etc.

Wednesday - Whats up with Try?

Try was witchy again today. Whats up with that? Has been going on for over a week off and on. She has not been ugly on the ground where I am comfortable with ugly but we are starting to see more ugly in the saddle. Is she ok with the ground and just not want to carry a rider? Is she testing me to see if she can scare me away from asking/pressure to learn? Is it tied to moody mare or treats? Does she need a break? Go some where else?

Anyway today we did all our lead line stuff on the right side. Then in the ring as warmup we did just a bit of stick to me on the right side and it was generally nice--just a bit of wanting to put me on the left side. Then back and over and forward and hq yield pattern. And 360 HQ to be loose and really stepping. Mounting--I had her nearly set up to mount on the right side--she moved out of position and repositioned herself on the left side.

Passenger walk/jog til she blew. Review for Kathy/Fri did not go well tho we got it done in the end including canter.

Keystone on the other hand got the prize for improving and great attitude. Spent nearly an hour treating the rain rot--clipping his butt and later hot/warm water on the places and light scrub with rainrot shampoo. He really liked having his butt rubbed.

We did warmup and serpentines, trot laps on inside track then ?6-8 laps of canter, and reviewed trotting with light contact and flexion, sitting and posting and transitioning up and down from walk and patterns/change of direction.

Notes: Monday with Dan

Priorities: Giving up control of HQ, Distance, Right side.

What we did on line and liberty:

1.      Liberty: for right side—developing confidence and experience—stick to her game. What is Try thinking? Match her energy, foot falls, stride, body position. This is something great to do when we don’t have much time!

2.      Although the next topic was distance on the circle—we were not able to play with it until we worked through the issue of giving up control of Try’s HQ which we stayed with on the circle until Try was able to do that.

3.      On line: distance on the circle—moving farther away less of an issue. Want the drive and draw to set distance to come from intention. I have never taught Try that I want a certain distance—I have left it to her to choose the distance from me. Therefore, she cannot possibly understand how to circle me at liberty in an open space except perhaps at a close distance. To draw and shorten the distance, I can use spiraling technique and vary my body position—we played with squaring my body to directly ask for draw.

What we did riding:

1.      Passenger riding like Stick to Her on the ground: Where is Try thinking, matching her energy, body, etc. Be careful that I am not thinking something different i.e. My thinking please don’t go to the gate when Try is thinking I want to go to the gate.

2.      Releasing the HQ: On the circle again, using overhead opposite arm with stick to better match what I would like Try to do in her body.

a.      Get a good attempt at moving HQ

b.      Get a really good step with HQ

c.      Plant front foot and good step with HQ

d.      All of the above plus keep going.

3.      Move on HQ: trot 20 strides or so and disengage HQ to a stop (as opposed to 2 legs asking her to engage to stop—remember looking up.)

4.      Prep for offensive sidepass. Try and I look to the left while I ask right haunch to move to the left.

 

Tuesday felt like Monday

Still working on notes from session with Dan.

Today was Try only and we reviewed everything from Monday.

1. stick to her on right side for 15 minutes--we walked all around but she would have preferred hang out at the gate with Ollie or eat hay--but she seemed relatively confident--I had to really concentrate to keep matching her--her stride is longer than mine--she does a little developpe with each step--and she keeps changing her rhythm.
2. then because right side is such an issue we played liberty games of back and over then sideways on the right side. Sideways towards took some time to do. (draw on right side being weak--i.e. fig 8)

hmm, isolate, separate, recombine
I must connect with Try first, if I would like her to connect with me.

3. Next circling on line with HQ yields--I started with 360 move your HQ as a warmup:

a.      Get a good attempt at moving HQ

b.      Get a really good step with HQ

c.      Plant front foot and good step with HQ

d.      All of the above plus keep going.

We fairly quickly got the good step, we got a few good plants, and I had to cue the keep going part.

4. distance on the circle--yes she will go to end of rope and I can use some drive but she does it anyway. wow this concept is so new for us both. Yes I can easily get her to circle into me with the spiral technique and I played with squaring my shoulder for a direct draw. I don't see how we get from here to teaching distance on the circle from intention drive/draw without using rope and stick/string.

Riding:
1. Passenger for 15 minutes: Game ok to stop at gate for 3 minutes then go again--off limits were hay. I practiced where is Try thinking and matching physically. She was thinking lets go to Ollie so I thought that too and she I guess felt it and picked up a bit of speed toward Ollie.

2. Then we did some walk/jog til ya blow warmup and then added trot and stop using HQ disengagement or 2 legs/look up engagement. (hmm--looking up--can that be the new lighter phase for whoa?). It took awhile at first for Try to disengage but she licked and chewed and it got faster.
Then played with the steps above and they went about as well as on the ground.

3. Offensive sideways--got one good step--but lots of resistance and confusion.

4. Finished with big trot and canter about the pasture for fitness and release.

Monday Dan Thompson at Rollover

Overview: Starting with stick-to-her game at liberty on her right side, which along with the passenger game later are great games for me getting in sync with Try. (Can't expect her to connect with me unless I connect first.) LOL Then lots of HQ stuff for fitness, readiness for sport and especially to help Try give up the need to be in control. Also explored the idea of--can I set the distance Try and I are apart in on line circling thru draw and drive intention--something necessary if we are ever to consider the circling game at liberty in a large open space. Still workin on my notes--will post later.

Friday lesson with Kathy

Try was not in the mood. It took a long time of her trying things before she gave up the control and went with the program. Canter was improved and rather nice on her "bad" side tracking right.

Strategies:
1. Try gets short and choppy (emotional)--go ahead and come down hard in the posting trot--took only a stride or two before Try decided to make the correction.
2. Try going too slow--more swing in my seat in posting and outside leg
3. Too fast: slow by pushing my abs out and posting slowly.

Remember:
1. Cue with inside of my calf, bounce a relaxed leg.
2. Orange string and holding crop with two hands.
3. Relax legs and ribcage in the canter.
4. Elbows--relax hands

Thursday

Key: again basic hack plus contact. He is getting the idea that the good deal is to maintain the bit of flexion. One area in the ring with uneven footing he lifts his head and upward transitions are not smooth.

Try: dwell time again and it did not go well. She did not come and had nasty attitude.

Wednesday

Had an appointment cancelled and some extra time in the afternoon so went to barn and did dwell time with Try in her pasture which seemed quite positive.

Tuesday

Try: I had planned a carefree bucket filling day in the field.
Started with easy warmup and then bareback passenger. Try was in a bad mood so I switched gears for liberty figure 8 in the round pen which led to catch me game--her left side relaxed and sheconnected mentally and gave up HQ quickly but right side was very emotional and took a long time. Then back to figure 8 and Try couldn't handle the right side of it and back to the rail for another catch me on that side. Then Try could not do the figure 8 still so went back to main area and did push me the ball at liberty and she had sufficient mental/emotional state for that. Then back to bareback and did canter cloverleafs.

Keystone: basic hack in the ring, and played with cueing and maintaining the contact.

Monday 9/17/12

Try:
catch me at liberty in the field--did focus on shoulder and she didn't leave. Then played with pushing the ball thru the cones to the barrel--I helped her the first time, gave treat and she was excited to repeat the game with much less help. I need to remember about clear endings even tho I would like to progress a task.

bareback--Try had a bit of attitude so we went to the round pen. I was not clear but played with the concepts from last lesson with Dan. She is much more emotional on her right side. played with not driving, and on left side, blocking FQ and driving HQ. I saw her connected mentally and it took her awhile to yield HQ.

bareback again: cantered cloverleaf and felt strong.

Key:
Basic hack.
Contact review--did not go as well as last time--did keep the contact longer but I felt I was nagging.

Casual Friday--western saddle in the field---Try and Key

Try: in her pasture--no tasks, passenger at walk and jog. Then canter so I could practice relaxing my legs, balancing on my seat and relaxing my ribcage.

Keystone: brighter and happier in the western saddle in the field. Walk/trot/canter. Loose rein. Ride em cowboy.

Thursday with Keystone and Devon

Today Keystone and I had the best contact/flexion ever. We started with my asking at a stand still and reminding sooner rather than later. Also stopping and starting again if his head came up.

Then I got to ride Devon--I was nervous until we walked a little. He has a big trot but comfortable and a nice canter. I did not have spurs and he took advantage of that a bit.

Wednesday 13th lesson with Kathy and Try

Today we did travers and renvers mixing them up. Also canter with contact was much improved--my lower body more relaxed and I found out I was holding tension in my upper body as well. After the lesson Kathy and I talked about which freestyle/western pleasure cues to rate the quality of the canter were good to use for dressage. I CAN use holding with two legs--ok for western pleasure but not for parelli--as cue to slow the gait or to reset.

Monday call to Dan Control and Purpose

See clinic notes blog.

Discussed primarily issues of Try being afraid to give up control and what the heck is purpose.

Thursday, Friday and Monday

Thursday Keystone: basic hack and then some coaching on contact--hands go wide and hold til he releases then come back together. My energy needs to tell Key that I mean business.

Monday Keystone: after light hack warmup, reviewed the above, hands go wide, also right rein and bend and drifting out in the bend and reminders--took a long time to get one good lap around the ring. I forgot to take some time to close my eyes and feel Key's stride without any contact.

Friday Try: reviewed HQ/FQ off the circle and changed it up for variety. Also continued playing with the canter. I was amazed at what a difference that orange string made to keeping my hands quiet.

Kathy took a couple photos and commented: "Your position is definately improving.  Using the string is helping you relax your back, hips and legs.  You can see Try is downhill, but as your seat gets more secure you will be better able to energize her HQ so she can step under raising her back and shoulders."

"Elizabeth at canter nice seat"

"Working canter isolate hands"

Monday with Try: Played liberty games in the ring. Started with put one HQ on my hat. She got it immediately but not the concept of LEAVE the HQ there. Played with match my energy in the sticking together and cutting games. Then bareback walk/jog/canter. Two laps each way of canter working on relaxing my legs down and balancing on my derriere.

Tuesday

Continuing the review and rewriting and recombining of horsemanship notes.

Try: today played with sideways game, focus, intention, phases. lots of confusion and also some progress since even a year ago in energy, distance. Considering tho--I still need to go back to focus, life up, intention and get just a couple of steps and life down before asking for more. We did this at liberty in the ring. Pastures still too wet. Then walk/trot/canter. Canter to work on my relaxing my thighs and balancing on my seat when she starts pounding on FQ to see if she will relax and if I can avoid hurting my lower back. Also HQ/FQ stuff from Friday and contact. Shower and graze.

Keystone: basic hack and it was too hot and humid. Did play a bit with contact and forgot about following him when his head came up.

Thursday and Friday and Labor Day weekend

Thursday played with BA and Try on lengthening and shortening strides at trot and canter between two poles. Competition between Keystone, Try and Devon. LOL. Try, of course, was the champion at shortening at both gaits and by a mile at canter as she cantered in place--too funny to me to watch tho Try wasn't enthused! Lengthening at a trot she was behind both Key and Devon as might be expected tho not by much. Canter she was only 1/2 a stride behind Devon with a big skippy, counter canter.

Friday lesson with Kathy:
1. worked on HQ off the circle w/FQ maintaining on the circle--HQ outside and inside the circle in both directions. Then repeat w/FQ which was much easier. For HQ: bend in the direction, leg pushes HQ and opposite rein keeps FQ on the circle.
2. Canter tracking right: goal to relax and sit this more to help Try get conditioned to relax with it and use HQ, lessen the pounding that isn't good for my lower back.

Weekend:
Studying and recombining Dan notes from last two years.

Monday

Try:
Played online in the ring--no place for liberty available. Made right side the priority. played games on right side checking to see how far away and Try confidence. Also cutting from more than 8'. Checking to see when/if Try took the rope off the ground.

Then walk/trot/canter playing with counting strides--more strides than Keystone at the trot as she is slower but not able to extend the trot--just got choppy.

Keystone:
Walk/trot/canter plus no stirrups and a bit of contact. working for my correctness from hunt seat perspective, good gait without the crop, and my hands on the contact.

Friday Dan Thompson

See clinic notes.

Liberty:
1. sticking together from zone 3 or 4
2. playing from more than 8'
3. right side!! fear

Friday being particular with Try

Today I set up two things to be particular about--with the possibility of some Jim Carrey fun.

1. yoyo at liberty: from intention. Started with find my focus and one messy (ugly) start when Try just escaped back without my asking. The second try was perfect--backed from my energy up and "the look" and quit with energy down then draw from intention. WOW. This could be progressed with backing farther.

2. Pick me up at the mounting block: again liberty because she was 6/8' away and I thought what the heck why not try it and see what happens. She was not only that far away but diagonally so from the fence and couldn't just walk forward. She came SIDEWAYS DIAGONALLY FORWARD right into place!! This was a big high for me. Gosh--do I just not expect enough?? How rude.

RIDING: The main goal was canter for Try to increase her aerobic fitness. Because I have been reviewing Dan notes I decided to do his exercise on the circle: trot then canter shaping on circle with HQ getting a good bend, small and large circles then go out on straight away and change the bend to change the lead. Well Try not only changed but kept cantering SIDEWAYS DIAGONALLY FORWARD to the rail. It was so cool I didn't have the heart to stop her. Then we cantered on the rail and played with small circles when the canter was rough to get a nice canter in both directions.

Contact: Finished with this on the small circle. Quickly got the flexion and mostly kept it at a trot with change of direction. Then at a canter in one direction. She was so great I quit at that point.

Is it a good idea to play with contact at the end of a session?

Thursday lovely day

Thursday was cooler and less humidity and I enjoyed that.

Keystone: good grooming and cleanup, walking together to and fro then riding nice basic warmup then played with different ways of turning from Colleen Kelly dvd.

1. turn from direct rein only
2. direct rein and outside leg
3. direct rein and inside leg
4. indirect rein
5. indirect rein plus inside leg and outside leading rein (preferable--also ? add sniff and focus)

This related to the concept of "falling in" which I am taking to mean not being square on the circle. i.e. inside shoulder can fall in to inside etc.

Also after making the reverse with #5 above, it helps to block the outer side to square up going back to the rail.

Try: groom, clip, baby oil on chestnuts.

Tack: got it all oiled/cleaned/straightened up.

Wednesday

Today was Try's day:

grooming at liberty at my tack box. full barn with no stall to tie her to--don't want to cross tie her in the aisle nor put her in dark wash stall! She stood beautifully until I erred in giving her a treat but she still didn't move her feet just get nosing toward the treats in the tack box. Anyway really throough nice grooming.

Saddled up with western saddle and headed to the field as I felt Try could benefit from some cantering today.

Liberty: catching game--she waited til about 20 feet to come to me and then stayed with me for some stick to me, cutting, yoyo, sideways play--my goal being particular and getting our focus together before riding. Not enuf Jim Carrey sense of fun on my part--concentration on particular--can do both at the same time.

Riding: Try did not really want to do this but she went along with it. We did falling leaf and walk til she blows etc as warmup. Then trot point to point. Next canter point to point, back, turn and canter off and then halt and put reins down and she would just stand and relax every time. Finished with cantering about both directions.

Back to the barn for big bath. Rain rot, teats but couldn't get chestnuts.

Keystone: grooming and cleaning his derriere--sweet and relaxed except for flies on the way in. Grazing on the way back to his barn.

Monday--I'm Back!!

After rain, flu bug etc last week I got back to the barn today. Try was in her stall with shutters and door closed and I cried--I think from guilt that I had not been there in nearly a week.

Keystone: light hack, walk/trot/canter. He was so sweet and lovely. I like the way he would look where he was going when we crossed little ditches made by the rain. Also he is very responsive to eyes/bellybutton/leg and is maintaining quality/speed of gait nicely tho we went with slower than usual trot and canter today. Short grooming session but long bath for cleaning up his derriere, rain rot etc. Also enjoyed leisurely walks to and fro barn to barn.

Try: I did not have the energy to ride. Quick groom at liberty at my trunk then out back for stick to me then the best liberty figure 8 ever--trotting straightaways, walking around the circle and looking for me to draw to me. So sweet and lovely and smart. Sideways over the L on both sides and with turn on HQ/FQ. Then cutting game--she knows it and is beginning to make the turn from intention, matching instead of reminding FQ with the stick. Then finished in the ring with circling and canter. Long shower for Try also. Treats.

Sunday watch dressage lessons

Watched dressage lessons on Sunday at Wind Drift with Jeannette Van Mill, coordinated by Paula. Got to see

0730 - 0815        Cathy Gould - Skye

0815 - 0900        Lisa Graf - Tiara

0900 - 0945        Pat Lanier - Silver (quarter horse)

Did not see but met  Mary Ann Cubbage, Jane Dorris, and Paula's Sven.

Was impressed to see Silver as it helped me put things in perspective. Also although there was much I'm not sure I understood, I can see how this study is going to help me in my goal of physical development for Try and understanding how to communicate with her HQ and FQ using various aids. Was especially impressed with the way Lisa and Jeannette talked all through her lesson and how relaxed Tiara was.

Friday - HQ- Try and Kathy lesson

wrap up from Kathy on what we did:

You did some excellent work Friday. Alot of new feelings and learning to identify what the horse is doing under you. Trye is beginning to understand the difference between sidepass and leg yield with shoulder-in and disengaging her HQ and going forward in leg yield with haunches-in. She ended up offering her HQ and let you encourage the FORWARD and Over. Your seat in a 3 point canter is improving and you were able to begin to use the porkipine game to drift her into your outside aides and began to rate(ajust MPH) in the canter. You had a very good beginning to having a meaningful conversation with Trye about the quality of the canter. As this continues and you can feel her response better, the canter will become more balanced and rideable. Good Job, Elizabeth...you and Trye are an awesome partnership.

More--Kathy emailed this to Lisa:

Glad you two had the chance to get together (Watched Lisa at jeanette clinic.)  Friday we worked on leg yield shoulder-in and LY haunches-in.  Trye was confused with sidepass and didn't understand FORWARD and over.  I walked beside them and helped them understand the feel of maintaining forwardness.  Of course, Trye wasn't thrilled with LY haunches-in as she doesn't like to release the HQ.  After a couple of repetitions, she began to offer her HQ. EP is beginning to feel the difference.

We also worked on the canter.  The mare has a strong,pounding canter that doesn't give EP much of a place to sit, unless she really relaxes, finds her seat and holds it with her core.  Her dance allows her to isolate her core, but "letting go" and finding her balance point for 3 point - while the horse is pounding and disunited is very hard.  I was able to get her sitting in a more relaxed position.  She was able, for the first time, to begin getting Trye into her outside rein and we began to rate the canter and get her standing up more.  The canter, of course, got a bit better as she slowed and stood up.  EP had no idea of what she had been able to do.  I think she was feeling a bit frustrated, but I explained what she was able to accomplish.  I think she was a bit overwhelmed as we had covered alot of territory, even though we had been there before - less successfully.  I wrote her an explaination on her FB page so she could see it, read it and begin to digest it.  She was surprised that she had been able to do all that.  As I've told her, I can see more of what she is doing successfully as she is doing what I am asking and not in a position to internalize what she is doing and the horse is trying to do in response.  Trye is really trying to understand what we are asking.  It is hard for both of them as they have never had a conversation like this.  Neither of them have ever cantered on contact and asked these questions before.  They are doing so well.

Thursday - Keystone - hunt seat

Fun back to basics day for Keystone and I

walk, trot, canter

for all: heels down, chest open, elbows in

trot at 2 point: seat back, knee bend, lower to counter balance and I was able to balance w/o touching with my hands.

posting trot: lift my self back down

canter: (2laps 2pt, 1 sitting, inside track) I am playing with bending in the corners, using inside leg to bend, outside leg wt in stirrup to prevent falling in. Still a little unclear about reins.

more catch up

Monday: I knew I wouldn't be able to do much Tue/Wed so had big rides with both Key and Try.

Keystone: basic hack and no stirrups (2/3). He was lovely responding quickly to gait transitions and maintaining a nice rhythm so much better at walk/trot and canter.

Try: wanted just a quick ride--got to arena and she was full of herself so just let her go with it pretty much until she began a big leg yield at canter for ??10 yards (which was cool but out of control) until we got close to the rail. Got off for some on line circling and then finished canter on the 2nd side. She was tired.

Key needs trot for muscle development. Try needs canter for aerobic fitness.

Tuesday: Had a grooming lesson with Alie and Try and picked up some good pointers.

Wednesday: Wash out rainy day. I watched Colleen's first dvd and sorted through some of my confusion over "8 ways of turning" section. The HQ yields crossing over is a nono for dressage but can be useful for other purposes such as HQ development, engaging the horse. Colleen showed a prefered method of sniff, look, wt inside stirrup. Because Try falls in a better way for me could be sniff (puts my wt back), look/focus/eyes, reins indirect on inside of turn and direct on outside, use inside leg to bend and outside needs more weight to prevent falling in.

catch up

I took time off and got behind in blogging.

Wed: Kathy and Try (Key nose bleed/swelling so few days off): tempo, speed, rhythm etc

Thur: field trip to Jocelyn's with BA, Dreama and Try. We really needed a day off instead--both Try and I were really tired. Discussion re being particular i.e. sideways over U shape and Try's position with cavaletti in middle of her body or behind my leg and #2 maintain gait trotting over platform--with good figure 8 shape, playing with changing diagonal before during and after the platform.

Fri/Sat/Sun time off.

Monday: both Try and Keystone basic rides.

Tuesday: Alie, lunge line, bareback exercises for strength and balance including BB/BL canter. BB canter was solid in my position riding around the ring on casual rein.

Wed/Thur time off for household responsibilities

Fri: nice long ride with Try and then good basic hack with Keystone. Keystone was great at maintaining a solid rhythm at the canter.

Saturday: MAGIC DAY with Try. games in the ring: sideways over the "L" and cutting. Try was very clear about her position for the L, stopped calmly in the center and easily did turn on haunches or forehand to maneuver the corner. Cutting: I asked with phase 1 for stick to me out of the turn for trot and she offered canter! Riding: Sideways was lovely and particular and Try was proud. Long relaxed grooming session and shower. Pleasant time together--Try offering and reading my mind--a great partner. Also no one at the facility was relaxing.

Tuesday - playing on lunge line with Alie

Fun exercise today: Alie had Try on lunge line with me riding only I was mainly the one cueing Try. lots of variations walk/jog/trot/canter: standing in stirrups with arm positions, sitting and touching toes, leaning forward and back, etc. When Try's canter was rough I had to hold onto pommel (dressage saddle).

Keystone: easy ride with loose reins--not as responsive to me as last week. hmmm. Hard for me to avoid nagging with the spur to get a good rhythm and energy.

Monday - 3 hours with Dan - liberty in the field

2012 7 16 Dan T

3 hours: 1.5 in the field at liberty

Themes:

1.      Getting back on track with connecting with Try

a.      Precision’s purpose is making Try happy rather than to accomplish a L4 task--that works for me. There is no connection without precision. Try uses lack of precision to get me off track and to take control and drop the connection. She is happier and more relaxed being connected to me as a leader. That is natural for horse and for her as an LBI. For Try precision is more important than speed and she responds so well to precise, clear cueing. For me I love speed and freedom so much more than precision. Precision made Try check into the game rather than tune out as bored.

b.      If I go introverted, I lose the connection.

c.      Sometimes she needs me to go slow and piece by piece. Sometimes she needs the variety of my varying my energy level. That is mentally fascinating to her.

d.      Try hanging out with me, Dan, Paula and Kathy as a part of the herd.

e.      A frequent mistake Parelli students make is creating the habit or pattern of shutting the horse down.

2.      Power, intensity, galloping full out etc. Can be from anger, fear, need to cut loose. But can it be used for purpose?

a.      Using patterns to create a pattern that is not innate to horse: how to trigger exuberance? Today we used the cutting game pattern.

b.      Change horse 20%.

c.      Try is absolutely NOT opposed to playing hard—but on her terms and for a short time!!!!

d.      Revving her up to give her (and me) a mental/physical/emotional break is a GREAT thing to do.

e.      Try offered rounding up—what exercise will accomplish this on the ground?

f.       Note: at end when we revved up Try did it with the go/stop/back/turn pattern and Dan really got exuberance in the backing and swatted Try’s butt in the turn and she really cantered! She was happy and exuberant, not afraid or angry.

g.      Are dressage lessons with Kathy bringing more power out of Try?

3.      Miscellaneous

a.      I asked about Australians at RTTH: fine line between fear and respect. Respect is empowering.

b.      Unconscious competence: using purpose effectively unconsciously is a great thing.

c.      What purposes of mine are meaningful to Try? Not passing L4: task.

d.      Can create sweet spots i.e. pedestal, trailer. (For Try who has always been great about trailering—its not a scary dark cave, its food, other horses, rest and going somewhere.)

e.      Can make arena a sweet spot. Ride hard in field then go to arena to rest. Then to arena and one circle rest. Then 3 circles and pretty soon LBI will offer the 3 circles.

f.       Tempo vs. speed: if lengthen stride—Try will need to go faster to maintain tempo.

g.      HQ/FQ offensive and defensive turns on the haunches by stepping forward or back

h.      On the ground at liberty: walk, back, mirror each other turn (invite to draw)

What we did

1.      Pinch to get her attention, crouch behind carrot stick—have to play hard enough—pulling her tail did not do it. Had to piss her off to get her to engage, then after getting the positive response it took less to engage.

2.      Walk forward, back and mirror turn (step back and draw) mirror vs sync TO PROGRESS this it can become the cutting game and I can get my speed and power. Good for Try physically as well.

3.      Jump—Try and I ran off together stick to me style and I went to the jump. It had two cavaletti poles and walking over it—Try lost confidence over her back legs. We did it at a trot but then Dan had us go back with one pole and Try accomplished getting her back legs over at a walk and then nickered like crazy—“look what I did and time for a treat!” Huge moment.

4.      Riding

a.      Backing use porcupine wheelbarrow as more refined than driving with legs

b.      Walking off from a standstill: using porcupine squeeze from two legs doesn’t work as it prevents free rib cage needed for movement. (I’ve never done this anyway.)

c.      Turns

                                                    i.     Started with the walk/back/turn pattern but of course turn is sync not mirror LOL

                                                   ii.     Defensive—start with indirect rein—stepping back

                                                  iii.     Offensive want to be moving forward and asking for turn to stay straight like reining spins FORWARD step with hind end and pivot on hind leg

                                                  iv.     I need more help and review with the defensive and offensive cueing.

d.      Dismount on the opposite side.

e.      Zone whatever driving with one rein to go back to the barn—unconscious.

5.      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKQgTiqhPbw 

6.