Went out early to play around with freestyle stuff. Got there and Tara was about to do stuff with Riley and wanted help. Cathy arrived to ride Shirley. Try was in a bad mood, fussy and active about it. Today I wasn't able to change the atmosphere except in small doses. She wasn't happy and content until I showered her off. (Hot, humid, sticky, and she isn't getting much feed and no hay because of the grass belly????)
Set up the ring for open the gate, tarp, walk over the flower box, turn and face, and drag the cone. Mounting was good--western saddle from the rail and sideways towards--didn't work from the opposite side. Open the gait was nothing--check that off. Tarp we sidepassed but that wasn't interesting enough to film. Maybe bigger tarp and improv to see what Try offers? Can I learn 360--that would be cool on the tarp. flower box was lovely including turn and face and relax. We could trot it next time. I rushed the drag the cone but it was still good--we did it at a trot.
Round pen to gain her focus. Did quickly back, disengage, spin sorta, etc good energy.
Sideways with two sticks was so-so. Again take the time it takes!
Cantered cloverleaf but did it with casual rein. Not the day for sticks only.
Did question box--pretty good, especially considering the overall day.
Changed saddles and did my 6 laps of no stirrups posting trot.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Sunday, June 7
Two things stood out:
1. I really improved her mood. Cranky when I got there--sweet by the end.
2. We learned to drag the cone while riding bareback--can try next time to back w/cone in front, use bucket or have Try hold it instead of me.
Emotional fitness: I did pretty well today, I am a little stressed despite being conscious and doing a little exercise for it. (Do I need to get back to Golds?) I took the time and was laid back, aware that she didn't want to circle and let it go, perhaps got a little rushy once or twice but not bad.
On a scale of 1-10 of energy we were both about a 4. but both pretty clear minded--relaxed focus.
Started w/grooming in paddock and spin and go. Then in ring reviewed games 1-3 online as she was pretty out of it. We spent time online dragging the cone--she was a little curious and sniffed it for a treat but otherwise no big deal.
Mounted from the fence (do on other side next time) rope reins over saddle loop, and savvy string around her neck and 1-2 sticks. Pushed gate open w/carrot stick. Did figure 8 around some jumps--using body weight, guiding with my hands on her neck, leg--did not need stick. I don't really know what to do with savvy string?? Do you neck rein to turn or pull to stop--yuck.
Tomorrow in western saddle try savvy string only and carrot stick and canter clover leaf pattern.
finished in round pen with great sidepassing with sticks--did not need the rail. Also lateral flexion with stick is so-so but great in reaching for a treat. Took a little while to get disengage HQ with stick--haven't done that in at least two years.
360 spin with sticks?????????
1. I really improved her mood. Cranky when I got there--sweet by the end.
2. We learned to drag the cone while riding bareback--can try next time to back w/cone in front, use bucket or have Try hold it instead of me.
Emotional fitness: I did pretty well today, I am a little stressed despite being conscious and doing a little exercise for it. (Do I need to get back to Golds?) I took the time and was laid back, aware that she didn't want to circle and let it go, perhaps got a little rushy once or twice but not bad.
On a scale of 1-10 of energy we were both about a 4. but both pretty clear minded--relaxed focus.
Started w/grooming in paddock and spin and go. Then in ring reviewed games 1-3 online as she was pretty out of it. We spent time online dragging the cone--she was a little curious and sniffed it for a treat but otherwise no big deal.
Mounted from the fence (do on other side next time) rope reins over saddle loop, and savvy string around her neck and 1-2 sticks. Pushed gate open w/carrot stick. Did figure 8 around some jumps--using body weight, guiding with my hands on her neck, leg--did not need stick. I don't really know what to do with savvy string?? Do you neck rein to turn or pull to stop--yuck.
Tomorrow in western saddle try savvy string only and carrot stick and canter clover leaf pattern.
finished in round pen with great sidepassing with sticks--did not need the rail. Also lateral flexion with stick is so-so but great in reaching for a treat. Took a little while to get disengage HQ with stick--haven't done that in at least two years.
360 spin with sticks?????????
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Thursday, June 4 How interesting
Not feeling well today but decided to do my lesson anyway.
Asked for Bethanna's help with circling game changes of direction as they seemed so rough in the video. I asked very politely and got some nice walk and trot changes. Then I think Try just had extra energy or was bored with or ticked off (who knows) and took off at a canter. Oh Boy! Great, you want to canter, lets canter! I am not sure but what she falls between LBI & LBE as she really had some extra energy.
Then 3+3 laps of no-stirrups posting trot.
I am feeling sad after reading again the Feb article by Linda Parelli: "Putting the Relationship first." I missed so much on the first read. See LBI page for further info.
Asked for Bethanna's help with circling game changes of direction as they seemed so rough in the video. I asked very politely and got some nice walk and trot changes. Then I think Try just had extra energy or was bored with or ticked off (who knows) and took off at a canter. Oh Boy! Great, you want to canter, lets canter! I am not sure but what she falls between LBI & LBE as she really had some extra energy.
Then 3+3 laps of no-stirrups posting trot.
I am feeling sad after reading again the Feb article by Linda Parelli: "Putting the Relationship first." I missed so much on the first read. See LBI page for further info.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
More Wednesday, June 3 Lovely Day
Cooler, cloudy morning.
Paddock: grooming stuff, saddle stuff, notes etc everything moved out there in advance.
Played treats on the barrels circling game with variations--not going whole circle and changing it into sidepass, change of direction, yoyo etc. hmmm make up patterns for this or get really good at improvisation??? use more obstacles, vary methods of driving from one place to another.
lovely spin and go the first time we did it
sideways towards and away--Try really understood
Saddling--best ever at swinging it up there. Try less girthy when eating grass!
Ring: mounting: nearly forgot rock, Try walked off too soon--need to anticipate and see if I am cueing her or if she has just decided its time to go.
Had planned to continue level 1 review but others coming out to ride so progressed to 2 carrot stick cantering patterns, change of direction w/simple changes. Some a little wild. On the rail--arms folded etc. cloverleaf at trot lovely, up at times in canter.
Sidepass:
Paddock: grooming stuff, saddle stuff, notes etc everything moved out there in advance.
Played treats on the barrels circling game with variations--not going whole circle and changing it into sidepass, change of direction, yoyo etc. hmmm make up patterns for this or get really good at improvisation??? use more obstacles, vary methods of driving from one place to another.
lovely spin and go the first time we did it
sideways towards and away--Try really understood
Saddling--best ever at swinging it up there. Try less girthy when eating grass!
Ring: mounting: nearly forgot rock, Try walked off too soon--need to anticipate and see if I am cueing her or if she has just decided its time to go.
Had planned to continue level 1 review but others coming out to ride so progressed to 2 carrot stick cantering patterns, change of direction w/simple changes. Some a little wild. On the rail--arms folded etc. cloverleaf at trot lovely, up at times in canter.
Sidepass:
- did w/reins ala level 2 to let Try know what was coming
- one stick--didn't work so well as need to block front end just a bit
- two sticks--wow she had it 10 steps or so and briskly (my focus, body position)
Try knows stick as signal to move front end and disengage hind end.
But can I get full lateral flexion w/stick????
Wednesday, June 3 hmmmm
I really like this savvy club contribution this a.m.:
"And over the last few days / weeks, we hade an enormous break through! It feels to me, that she’s finally “letting her guard down”, really starting to trust in me, work with me. Don’t get me wrong, we had a great relationship before and were envied by quite a lot people for that, but I wanted more; she is a really strong LBI, so people often mistake her calmness and confidence as a good relationship, but I knew better… "
hmmmmmmmmmmm
"And over the last few days / weeks, we hade an enormous break through! It feels to me, that she’s finally “letting her guard down”, really starting to trust in me, work with me. Don’t get me wrong, we had a great relationship before and were envied by quite a lot people for that, but I wanted more; she is a really strong LBI, so people often mistake her calmness and confidence as a good relationship, but I knew better… "
hmmmmmmmmmmm
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Tuesday, June 2 visited Marianne and Skip
WOW--what a great relationship Marianne and Skip have--such a strong bond and they are both LBE. I did a little liberty with Skip and he is so easy--he wants to move and play.
For circling game and Try: consider variety and changing things up--travel, change gaits and direction, obstacles--change less frequently than Marianne and Skip and ask with lightest possible cues/have fun/emotional fitness. Check out patterns and circles for variety.
For tomorrow freestyle riding continued in western saddle:
review of level 1 continued and patterns.
For circling game and Try: consider variety and changing things up--travel, change gaits and direction, obstacles--change less frequently than Marianne and Skip and ask with lightest possible cues/have fun/emotional fitness. Check out patterns and circles for variety.
For tomorrow freestyle riding continued in western saddle:
review of level 1 continued and patterns.
Monday, June 1
Small paddock:
1. Try liked (and trotted) circling game w/three barrels set up in circle w/treats!
2. Our new trick is weave with sidepass away and toward--Try has been offering sidepass towards as the answer to everything. gggg.
Freestyle review:
1. Saddling--did this in the small paddock w/English saddle--awkward, visualize smooth transitions. Try send to saddle good. She was eating grass in paddock and didn't care about tightening the girth! (Tightened in about 10 stages. Unclear about how to work on girthiness.)
2. Mounting: I have this pretty smooth--rock her to be sure she has her feet planted and wait once mounted need to be part of program.
3. Lateral flextion and disengage HQ are better than they were at Double D two+ years ago. Try willing and seemingly easy for her to do. Did not get as up on the disengage HQ as she used to do.
4. Go and whoa: Go easy from bringing up life; whoa took slight lift of rein as she didn't want to be in the arena--other horses had left.
5. Casual rein and turning: good--eyes, belly button, leg were sufficient--would have been nice not to need leg. Practiced the old diagonal direct rein to turn.
6. Will add on next time--probably Wed in western saddle
4 laps no stirrups (2/3 mile)--Try was going to town on the trot--instead of usual urging trot on, I was asking her to slow--exhale, voice, couple of half-halts, etc.
BA says Thur lesson: play with online circling game transitions and phases--that I am nagging at a phase two. Then no stirrups etc. Next week: ride Cricket (winning TB hunter/jumper) for smooth canter, good bending, taking a bit of contact, etc. Probably just trot the first lesson. That will be fun and different and give me more time for freestyle riding with Try.
1. Try liked (and trotted) circling game w/three barrels set up in circle w/treats!
2. Our new trick is weave with sidepass away and toward--Try has been offering sidepass towards as the answer to everything. gggg.
Freestyle review:
1. Saddling--did this in the small paddock w/English saddle--awkward, visualize smooth transitions. Try send to saddle good. She was eating grass in paddock and didn't care about tightening the girth! (Tightened in about 10 stages. Unclear about how to work on girthiness.)
2. Mounting: I have this pretty smooth--rock her to be sure she has her feet planted and wait once mounted need to be part of program.
3. Lateral flextion and disengage HQ are better than they were at Double D two+ years ago. Try willing and seemingly easy for her to do. Did not get as up on the disengage HQ as she used to do.
4. Go and whoa: Go easy from bringing up life; whoa took slight lift of rein as she didn't want to be in the arena--other horses had left.
5. Casual rein and turning: good--eyes, belly button, leg were sufficient--would have been nice not to need leg. Practiced the old diagonal direct rein to turn.
6. Will add on next time--probably Wed in western saddle
4 laps no stirrups (2/3 mile)--Try was going to town on the trot--instead of usual urging trot on, I was asking her to slow--exhale, voice, couple of half-halts, etc.
BA says Thur lesson: play with online circling game transitions and phases--that I am nagging at a phase two. Then no stirrups etc. Next week: ride Cricket (winning TB hunter/jumper) for smooth canter, good bending, taking a bit of contact, etc. Probably just trot the first lesson. That will be fun and different and give me more time for freestyle riding with Try.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)