Good day with Try on Friday

On Line: repeated draw exercises but on a circle with just a hint of pinned ears at the send. Draw was good. Next time in round pen/liberty repeat the stick to me and backward S/figure 8 to be sure they are still solid for draw then move on to circling on the rail.

Freestyle riding:
For me: pilates and no stirrups--bareback pad
Bareback pad--weave--Try was great--only needed cueing at the ends of the weave. She really knew her pattern. Did weave at walk and jog. No reins/stick/leg etc.
Also bareback: two circles cantering tracking left--felt great when I got a good canter--not so good when canter was trashy--somehow I am cueing her to do this when I am bareback????
Saddling/mounting: reviewed pick me up at the pedestal, western saddle still too heavy even standing on the pedestal.
Western saddle: finished with 3 laps each way canter--casual rein--circling in the corners when she would speed up--overall nice consistent gait.

Thank you Try for a lovely day.

Joyous Day

Keystone: On Line: games 1-3 good, yoyo Keystone finally getting the idea of backing from phase 1, also learning to put his head down for the halter and picking up all 4 feet from one side. Also small circle online today was first day he diseng HQ to stop--took a few asks to get it--this just was not in his repertoire.

Lesson: Finesse: taking contact at the sitting trot, posting trot and canter--sitting the canter on my balance point. At the end he actually rounded up thru his top line--I was driving with my legs for it to happen. Is that a Parelli consistent thing??? I can see how I could really progress in my riding with Keystone. Also this was the first ride in the dressage saddle--it was almost as comfy as the western saddle and I loved being more upright as opposed to the forward system/close contact saddle.

Try: Liberty: great draw--did several backward S patterns, figure 8 and also sideways on the rail with change of direction.

Magic Day!!!!

Riding in the Field

Try and I rode in Matrix's pasture. It went pretty well but left me with questions.

Try wasn't in a bad mood, wasn't scared, some of the time was nice and relaxed and I could ride on the buckle and sped up going toward the gate. Although I was calm and fairly relaxed, I did not feel good about the speeding up as it was a sign she didn't want to be there. I thought we were doing this as something fun for Try!

I did canter clover leaf and think next time I would add small circles at each "leaf" where Try speeds wanting to go to the gate.

Partial disengagement and small circles--both relax the ribs??

Stop, consider, choose:

Stop when feel a negative emotion: i.e. that Try wants to go to the gate/rejection

Consider: Its not about me--so what IS the benefit of riding in the field then? exercise, my confidence in riding when Try is extroverted in a large space.

Choose: to add small circles to a larger clover leaf so Try and I can have good communication re smooth canter gait in the pattern and she chooses/takes responsibillity for staying on the pattern.

Pride

Well--is it ok to say that I'm proud of myself?

Today I repeated the basic riding of yesterday with Keystone. Just did it--no fuss--including the no stirrups and canter--no one else there at the time.

Also Keystone and I reviewed games 1-4 and touch it. He has improved in putting his head down (porcupine), easy 360s HQ/FQ yields porcupine and driving. yoyo--backing from phase 3 and no issues with the draw. Lots of friendly.

Try: stick to me in the round pen for a few minutes again with my backing and draw to me, occasionally adding the change of direction. Stopping/treats. Also played around with stick to me turning into and away from her. She enjoyed showing off for Katie and Jen.

Draw and Homework

Improvement!! walking stick to me on the rail in round pen--I back and she comes to me and gets a treat rubs etc varied with occasional change of direction and repeat other direction. This was really good and establishing the idea that my backing up like that is a great thing and cue for her to come to me. Did this before and after ride.

Homework: 2 laps each direction, trotting--2 point, posting trot, no stirrups and canter. 16 laps/2.6 miles. Even tho it was hot I was less tired.

Was home by 10am with energy to spare.

Change of Direction (i.e. Draw)

1. The draw in change of direction is an issue at liberty circling on the rail at a trot or canter: I can draw by looking at HQ but simply backing up did not work today.
2. Online: Try gets snarky ears for circling game and change of direction at trot and canter.
3. Circling on the rail--better to get closer to draw.
4. Suggest: more rest when she comes in, the harder it is to come/the longer to rest. So Try can understand that coming to me is the source of safety/comfort/friendly/treats.
5. Also varied it with walking the figure 8 at liberty and rewarding the draw. Also walking stick to me on the rail short distance and rewarding the draw.

Friday

Got to the barn at 7am.

Try Online and Liberty in the round pen: We played various ways toward change of direction at liberty and I need more research as it happens online but Try doesn't like it and liberty not so much. Cue: both from 2 eyes and my backup. reward with stopping and treat. Make the undesirable thing difficult--continue to circle????

Riding: played for the first time with dressage saddle/stirrups/rope reins/parelli bridle plus confidence snaffle.
Pilates warmup and considered Linda's alignment/use of muscles etc (forgot bicep)and to improve this I need to do it longer.
9 step backup and a little contact--film and send to Kelly.
also did no stirrups--only 3 laps and ??harder in dressage saddle??
little bit of canter