Monday, June 15

What a day

Not the best day with Try. She loved the circle to the chair and treats game. We like riding with string around her neck and one stick. But I didn't feel like we ever connected riding. Needs purpose and variety I think. Good trotting cloverleaf. Canter only on the rail because I knew Try had had it by that point.

Haylee won at her first show.

Scheduling September trip to Pagosa Springs for gold summit.

Passed Online Level 3

Passed!!!!! L3 Online

great obedience
for L4: motivation and exuberance
was subtly micromanaging circle game

Friday, June 12 Wonderful Day

Well, all that emotional fitness study, ?s etc paid off today.

1. We played online circling to jump, chairs, board with treats--cantering various laps until stopping at a treat. I would love to see cleaner, more consistant canter but good to see enthusiam. Some ear pinning but jollyed her out of it with more of my own energy.

2. Riding:

did the whole session with neck string and one stick and realize that is what I am most comfortable with now and that is level 4!

on the rail pattern:

1. sideways was slow but we made it. Sometimes just 4 steps--emotional fitness from me and treat, eventually about 12 steps to the corner.
2. little confusion in my cues to back
3. great turn on the haunches with little string and stick
4. enthusiastic walk, trot, great canter and canter stop
5. WISH I COULD HAVE FILMED THIS ONE

next canter fast/slow for relaxation--this was good for my confidence and I did whatever it took to get Try relaxed and down after revving up in a fast canter. Did approx 4 laps of ring this way.

finished with no stirrups: varied the patterns and rode on the buckle

Thursday, June 11 Emotional Day

Read the latest mastery manual on emotional fitness 5 times and went thru it with Bethanna in place of riding lesson.

Try: times when she lacks emotional fitness:

• Online: change of direction and canter--hates circling
• Freestyle: turns at a canter that are not part of a known pattern (my miscueing??)

I thought it was important that the faster she goes the more adrenaline and that I want to find a way to help her, relax. ??faster and slower game??

Most important: I realized my emotional fitness: I get frustrated, feel guilty, like a failure, etc and that energy does nothing for our relationship and wears me out. I did not realize how much negative self-talk I have been indulging in. When something doesn't go right, I figure its my fault for not knowing what to do or being accomplished enough, etc.

What we did today was lots better in feeling: stick to me at liberty in round pen walk, trot, canter, back. Little circling--Try pretty happy.

Riding western saddle, string around neck (didn't use it) one stick except sidepass 2 sticks. Little kids having lesson in ring so used the inside area for walk, trot, figures 8s and then in round pen (rail not available) sidepass and canter.

Lots of rest and treats.

Wednesday, June 10 Interesting

Went out to play with emotional fitness and take the time

• mount opposite side with sideways towards--found that sideways towards is not established and spent time teaching. Go slower--1-2 steps and reward lavishly
• tarp creativity?? 360 is possible w/sticks played with moving HQ--turn on haunches,??turn on forehand also??
• small jump: did not do
• patterns for L3 did not do. Figure 8 around jumps was nice
• Try appreciated my riding with just the string around her neck.

Lots of freestyle basics today.

She isn't real happy now--came in and out of it while we were together. Acted starved when she was in paddock out back????????

Monday, June 8 How Interesting?!?

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.

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?????????