Thursday, June 24, 2010
Goal for Thursday and Friday
Goal: get some rest and get everything together for clinic this Saturday, Sunday, Monday with Berin Macfarlane. Riding lesson today with Keystone in the field, dressage saddle. Probable good canter in the ring for Try to prepare her for the weekend.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Day 2: riding and online/liberty for 2 horses per day (in the heat)
Got to the barn at 7am and home at 11:30! Was tired and spacey when I got up this am. And kinda tired and spacey now that I'm home. Hope I can remember ...
Try gets the award for working through her "its-too-hot-to-do-anything" attitude. She came in hot and irritated from the pasture at 7am. Cooled her off with wet towel and then nice grooming. Went out back for liberty and she showed some sass and then got over it. We played with 4 feet on the pedestal for the first time in ages, sideways towards on the right side and some stick to me and draw on the circle.
Then we rode bareback again today as she is still missing a shoe. High point was Try taking off at a big trot (for her) and posting trot/no stirrups and even being able to ride it in my body--no hands/reins on the neck--i.e. no hands and no stirrups posting trot. Anyway did nearly 5 laps in all and it was fun. Canter did more than yesterday but it wasn't as relaxed--either pounding on front end or trashy--tomorrow I plan to canter the usual 6 laps on the rail in a saddle to get a nice relaxed gait.
Keystone: gets the award for sticking out the second big ride of the day with me.
On Line: concentration not as good for either of us. Head down is getting better all the time. Not moving at the mounting block is improved. Touch me to the mounting block is improved. Backing and HQ diseng on the circle pretty good. Sideways a few really nice clean steps.
Riding: dressage saddle: 2 point, posting trot and canter. Need to be foreward more at the canter to have contact with neck to follow his rhythm.
Try gets the award for working through her "its-too-hot-to-do-anything" attitude. She came in hot and irritated from the pasture at 7am. Cooled her off with wet towel and then nice grooming. Went out back for liberty and she showed some sass and then got over it. We played with 4 feet on the pedestal for the first time in ages, sideways towards on the right side and some stick to me and draw on the circle.
Then we rode bareback again today as she is still missing a shoe. High point was Try taking off at a big trot (for her) and posting trot/no stirrups and even being able to ride it in my body--no hands/reins on the neck--i.e. no hands and no stirrups posting trot. Anyway did nearly 5 laps in all and it was fun. Canter did more than yesterday but it wasn't as relaxed--either pounding on front end or trashy--tomorrow I plan to canter the usual 6 laps on the rail in a saddle to get a nice relaxed gait.
Keystone: gets the award for sticking out the second big ride of the day with me.
On Line: concentration not as good for either of us. Head down is getting better all the time. Not moving at the mounting block is improved. Touch me to the mounting block is improved. Backing and HQ diseng on the circle pretty good. Sideways a few really nice clean steps.
Riding: dressage saddle: 2 point, posting trot and canter. Need to be foreward more at the canter to have contact with neck to follow his rhythm.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
My first full two horse day: on the ground and riding in the heat!!
Keystone gets the award for best attitude and improved on line thinking.
OnLine: yoyo phases--almost getting backup from phase 1 and beginnings of understanding not just reacting.
circling HQ diseng--two good ones
sideways--good at first then fell apart--I need to go slower so he is thinking and not just reacting.
traveling circle into touch it--carrot slice on the pedestal--thinking here also.
Riding: basic 2 point and posting trot, posting trot 4 laps without stirrups and not a big deal! Then 6 laps of canter. Good energy.
Try gets the award for best bareback canter of my life!
Liberty: It was hot and no shade: relax 1st, remember dwell T between things, Add chg dir on the partial circle from fairly close, draw on the circle. Also catch me game on the circle when she left me. First time stick to me with no ropes/carrot stick nothing—walk stop and back.
Freestyle: bareback pad: missing a shoe so easy ride, ride gaits in my upper body at walk and trot—downward transitions without any further cue/canter in small circle area was the best EVER—on the buckle, on my balance point and I felt completely strong. Thanks to no stirrups posting trot!!
OnLine: yoyo phases--almost getting backup from phase 1 and beginnings of understanding not just reacting.
circling HQ diseng--two good ones
sideways--good at first then fell apart--I need to go slower so he is thinking and not just reacting.
traveling circle into touch it--carrot slice on the pedestal--thinking here also.
Riding: basic 2 point and posting trot, posting trot 4 laps without stirrups and not a big deal! Then 6 laps of canter. Good energy.
Try gets the award for best bareback canter of my life!
Liberty: It was hot and no shade: relax 1st, remember dwell T between things, Add chg dir on the partial circle from fairly close, draw on the circle. Also catch me game on the circle when she left me. First time stick to me with no ropes/carrot stick nothing—walk stop and back.
Freestyle: bareback pad: missing a shoe so easy ride, ride gaits in my upper body at walk and trot—downward transitions without any further cue/canter in small circle area was the best EVER—on the buckle, on my balance point and I felt completely strong. Thanks to no stirrups posting trot!!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Trail ride
Trail ride was very interesting today--I learned lots.
1. Ruby rode Tonka instead of Splash and Try keyed into his energy. I did not play with Try before riding and I know better--just because she is super calm and confident on a trail ride, doesn't mean that I don't want her looking to me for leadership. She trotted nervously for awhile then settled down and was herself. It would be interesting to either play on the ground or hack for 10 minutes before going out on the trail in terms of relationship.
2. I feel good that the ditch and one little spook were non events. The day was good for my self-confidence as I always feel that things can go wrong on trail rides.
1. Ruby rode Tonka instead of Splash and Try keyed into his energy. I did not play with Try before riding and I know better--just because she is super calm and confident on a trail ride, doesn't mean that I don't want her looking to me for leadership. She trotted nervously for awhile then settled down and was herself. It would be interesting to either play on the ground or hack for 10 minutes before going out on the trail in terms of relationship.
2. I feel good that the ditch and one little spook were non events. The day was good for my self-confidence as I always feel that things can go wrong on trail rides.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Saturday Keystone AND Try
Keystone:
On Line: We were distracted in the ring but played with yoyo, circling diseng HQ stop, and sideways games. Backing started well but Keystone got distracted and I didn't get him focusing on the phases just backing. Three times in a row good HQ disengage to end the circling. On the rail nice sideways on his left side.
Freestyle: dressage saddle, rope haltamore, walking playing with concepts from latest SC dvd for fluidity/passenger/ and Keystone's confidence. Also a little trotting.
Then nice EQ bath for Keystone.
Try: Liberty: Try was feeling left out so we went out back to the round pen and reviewed the stick to me draw and backwards S draw from a farther distance then circling on the rail walk and TROT--backing to draw worked even from the other side of the round corral. Then shower/treats.
On Line: We were distracted in the ring but played with yoyo, circling diseng HQ stop, and sideways games. Backing started well but Keystone got distracted and I didn't get him focusing on the phases just backing. Three times in a row good HQ disengage to end the circling. On the rail nice sideways on his left side.
Freestyle: dressage saddle, rope haltamore, walking playing with concepts from latest SC dvd for fluidity/passenger/ and Keystone's confidence. Also a little trotting.
Then nice EQ bath for Keystone.
Try: Liberty: Try was feeling left out so we went out back to the round pen and reviewed the stick to me draw and backwards S draw from a farther distance then circling on the rail walk and TROT--backing to draw worked even from the other side of the round corral. Then shower/treats.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
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!!!!
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!!!!
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