Friday, February 27

Back from Florida trip:

Warmup: few games, sideways towards--kept at it quite awhile before we got it.

Ride: warmup/no stirrups for 2 laps, canter.

Cool down: clean up legs, etc then walk back grazing in the good clovery places.

Upcoming: ??3 days of bad weather??

Thursday, February 19 No stirrups, flying change, sideways towards

Try: came to me immediately in pasture. Went to round pen warmup, sideways towards good w/flank rope coming to me on her right side only. Pedestal didn't work.

Lesson: 2 point trot, no stirrups--2 laps (1/3 mile) not touching with hands posting trot, then good flying lead changes (for Try she gets it in front then hup hup, slow so she can catch up in the back). No stirrups a big jump forward.

Then asked BA to watch sideways toward with pedestal and Try did it first time--really swung the pendelum over her back to opposite side.

Homework: Haylee--desensitization to arena, keep working on my no stirrups, sideways towards and get back to the OL L3 plan.

Saturday, February 14

Suggestions:
1. watch again: self assessment video for online L2 and L3 Lots of great video!
2. watch again: H&LB
3. use patterns and make 4-7 day program of effective phases--no more than 2 corrections
4. forum Level 3

1. online falling leaf stick to me
2. lay down/ bow
3. mt from neck
4. stand on back pic film
5. lesson time drive 2 reins/drag cone
6. Haylee circle/back up

Friday, February 13

Today I did not ride or play with Try after 5 days in a row of riding. I did go out in her pasture and rub and give a cookie. I was happy that she was glad to be with me.

Hannah: She met me at the gate today!!
Haylee: Did not play with her today.

Thursday, February 12

Filmed some OL stuff circle, yoyo, lead by tail, touch it-- to get an idea of where I am--old stuff, not practiced reviewed & not enough of a warmup but I learned:

Good:
not moving my feet,
calm, light,
working at greater distances.
Touch it from 45' is good even if it doesn't go well-Try really recognizes the cues from that distance.

Work at:
effective phases to prevent nagging,
coiling 45 line coming in.
lead by tail could be lighter but its there.

Riding Lesson:
Worked on using phases to achieve good trot. First lesson with flying lead changes. No stirrups: 1/3 mile (casual rein)--2nd half did not need to make any adjustments with my hands.

OL L3 Self Assessment Outline

L3 OL

45 foot line, zones 4 & 5

phase 1-2, subtle communication and direction.
Attentive, responsive horse, positive expression.

Patterns: 45' line--touch it, 8, weave, circles, push ball, obstacles.

Holdovers from the past
1. lift any leg and hold for 30 seconds
2. hold the tongue
3. private areas
4. tilt head to bridle
5. swing saddle to place
6. back feet from one side
7. lead in from pasture w/Z5 or mane, ear, etc

L3--7 games: I can go ahead and film all.

Sideways towards: flank rope and get above her with carrot stick to teach this.

Ideas, thoughts, misc

Idea:
checklist of quality/relationship items to review daily--

how light is light
phases prevents nagging

Steps to my goal

Steps to achieve my goal:
1. Reread the self assessment sheet
2. Mark off items completed
3. Video those items and watch for quality
4. Check items not completed
5. Research info I may need to see how to do the item, quality needed, etc
6. Make a plan for 4-7 day program for the item
7. Assess progress, how interesting, oh boys
8. Video as I get a new group
9. Have fun editing video and making a dvd for myself of OL3.

The beginning

I am undertaking the project of self-assessing Level 3 Online and plan to use this blog to register thoughts, plans, progress.