Still getting used to the new saddle—wintec. I really like it and am close to be as comfortable cantering in it as western saddle.
Precision pen: set up 20x40m circle—only using 20x20 area for filming. Try, happily, is pretty good at maintaining gait, direction and pattern--did some 20m and 10 m circles walk and trot.
2. Contact: I played with taking a little contact
a. in the 9 step backup—which we had not done in ages and was a bit of a surprise for Try.
b. Also backing on the circle with 1/8 turns—did just two 1/8 turns then quit—
c. Taking a little contact with two reins, interspersing relaxation for Try after each thing that caused her to feel a little “up.”
Trot and Canter footage for quality of gait: rhythm, relaxation
Plan for the next week or two is to watch L4 finesse again. I got some Karen Rohlf materials—plan to study them some with Bethanna in my riding lessons in August. (Walter Zettl materials ordered.) I am trying to come up with a good plan for Try and I to get started with finesse.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgXdD3nU6EM
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
monday - nice weather - we were all in a lovely mood.
1. Precision pen—I marked out a 20x40 meter area and marked lines in the sand. Just walking around as a warmup casual rein--walked lines and 10 and 20 meter circles.
2. 9 step back up—did it twice—how interesting—picking up the reins caused an adverse reaction
3. Pat on the extra footage for Horseman’s Apprentice #4 showed backing on the circle by making 1/8 turns in my body and then seeing if Try will come into alignment with that. This has possibilities—I have worked on backing a circle when the patterns came out and also about 4 years ago and Try would fight me on it. I see real possibilities for something better now—I tried it out and looked 1/8 and Try came into line (with a little leg cue)—did twice in a row then quit while it was good. This seems like a way to do this pattern and have it be much more relaxed.
4. Contact: twice I took a little contact and then went back to casual rein—Took a little while each time but I think with the release she will get it fairly soon—this was our first attempt—hope I am going about this right.
5. Canter: figured while we were out we might as well, as this is a new saddle (wintec) and I am still getting used to it. was mainly concentrating on seeing if I could be on my balance point with the feeling of sitting deep like I would in the western saddle—even sat on my thumb part of the time—
Keystone:
1. a little head down
2. a little backing and stick to me backing
3. the Tarp--he is getting it--sniffed it wadded up in my hand--ate a treat off it wadded up on the ground--spread a little on the ground he sniffed it and played with it with his right foot.
4. truly I am being able to direct him to go places from zone 1
2. 9 step back up—did it twice—how interesting—picking up the reins caused an adverse reaction
3. Pat on the extra footage for Horseman’s Apprentice #4 showed backing on the circle by making 1/8 turns in my body and then seeing if Try will come into alignment with that. This has possibilities—I have worked on backing a circle when the patterns came out and also about 4 years ago and Try would fight me on it. I see real possibilities for something better now—I tried it out and looked 1/8 and Try came into line (with a little leg cue)—did twice in a row then quit while it was good. This seems like a way to do this pattern and have it be much more relaxed.
4. Contact: twice I took a little contact and then went back to casual rein—Took a little while each time but I think with the release she will get it fairly soon—this was our first attempt—hope I am going about this right.
5. Canter: figured while we were out we might as well, as this is a new saddle (wintec) and I am still getting used to it. was mainly concentrating on seeing if I could be on my balance point with the feeling of sitting deep like I would in the western saddle—even sat on my thumb part of the time—
Keystone:
1. a little head down
2. a little backing and stick to me backing
3. the Tarp--he is getting it--sniffed it wadded up in my hand--ate a treat off it wadded up on the ground--spread a little on the ground he sniffed it and played with it with his right foot.
4. truly I am being able to direct him to go places from zone 1
Friday, July 30, 2010
What we did Thursday
Try: freestyle etc
1. For me: pilates warmup
2. Lateral flexion, indirect rein, yield HQ Try gets offended at the HQ yield
3. 9 step backup--forgot this
4. Patterns--did bullseye at the canter once each way
5. Canter was nice
6. Tenshun, at ease--thought about this ??tenshun
7. Focus up on downward transitions--makes for smooth transition when I remember
8. Rhythm in transitions
9. Stop, turn back etc without reins or leg?? pretty good
Keystone - confidence building
Played in round pen with objects: pedestal, barrel, green ball and tarp.
Did not push--gentle, took my time as it is important that Keystone not trot in reaction for now.
Pedestal--he is confident putting his nose on pedestal and I can drive him to it.
Barrel--this was new--put a treat on the barrel and afterward Keystone was fine with putting his nose on it.
Ball and tarp: Keystone would not go close. I had two buckets on the tarp and moving one bucket to the pedestal Keystone was fine with touch it.
Vet comes tomorrow if trot is oked then I will play a little colder/warmer with tarp and/or ball--accept a little reward, go on to something else and come back. This weekend I may move the toys to the ring where we have more room to move.
1. For me: pilates warmup
2. Lateral flexion, indirect rein, yield HQ Try gets offended at the HQ yield
3. 9 step backup--forgot this
4. Patterns--did bullseye at the canter once each way
5. Canter was nice
6. Tenshun, at ease--thought about this ??tenshun
7. Focus up on downward transitions--makes for smooth transition when I remember
8. Rhythm in transitions
9. Stop, turn back etc without reins or leg?? pretty good
Keystone - confidence building
Played in round pen with objects: pedestal, barrel, green ball and tarp.
Did not push--gentle, took my time as it is important that Keystone not trot in reaction for now.
Pedestal--he is confident putting his nose on pedestal and I can drive him to it.
Barrel--this was new--put a treat on the barrel and afterward Keystone was fine with putting his nose on it.
Ball and tarp: Keystone would not go close. I had two buckets on the tarp and moving one bucket to the pedestal Keystone was fine with touch it.
Vet comes tomorrow if trot is oked then I will play a little colder/warmer with tarp and/or ball--accept a little reward, go on to something else and come back. This weekend I may move the toys to the ring where we have more room to move.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Wed Keystone On Line - Self Assessed level 1
Self assessed level 1: I will want it more solid before considering filming it.
Friendly:
1) Under chin, over ears, change hands at the withers—great second time.
2) Swing rope 6x with rhythm—this is ok but sometimes Keystone moves so repetition would make this more consistent.
3) Walk away and swing stick string in front in pendulum fashion: no problem But back away and swing it between us—will take repetition to be relaxed
Porcupine:
1) Lowering and lifting head—lowering getting better with phases and keeping it down longer. Might be good to encourage it more. Lifting head—first time—soft. Haltering: turning head to me—okish, could be lower and softer.
2) Lateral flexion: no—did not trust me and walked around—take the time it takes.
Driving:
1) Stick on withers—pretty good—tapping rear end works and beginning to be able to direct front end to stay straight and use tapping rear end to match my gait.. Stick to me. Walk stop and back is there but backing isn’t soft. Needed extra work on driving front end from zone 1.
Yoyo: prep with tapping and stroking the rope is much less stressful and went rather well.
Touch It—was great at the pedestal—Played “your getting colder” and driving much smoother.
Friendly:
1) Under chin, over ears, change hands at the withers—great second time.
2) Swing rope 6x with rhythm—this is ok but sometimes Keystone moves so repetition would make this more consistent.
3) Walk away and swing stick string in front in pendulum fashion: no problem But back away and swing it between us—will take repetition to be relaxed
Porcupine:
1) Lowering and lifting head—lowering getting better with phases and keeping it down longer. Might be good to encourage it more. Lifting head—first time—soft. Haltering: turning head to me—okish, could be lower and softer.
2) Lateral flexion: no—did not trust me and walked around—take the time it takes.
Driving:
1) Stick on withers—pretty good—tapping rear end works and beginning to be able to direct front end to stay straight and use tapping rear end to match my gait.. Stick to me. Walk stop and back is there but backing isn’t soft. Needed extra work on driving front end from zone 1.
Yoyo: prep with tapping and stroking the rope is much less stressful and went rather well.
Touch It—was great at the pedestal—Played “your getting colder” and driving much smoother.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday and Tuesday
Monday:
Today, still following Dr orders not to ride for the knee BUT played liberty with Try--mostly stick to me and circling AND 1st time back with Keystone who is ok to walk/do ground work. Keystone and I played with level 1 on line friendly and porcupine and he is starting to think and figure out "touch it" pattern.
Tuesday:
Bethanna rode Try around the picnic table out of the gate, up the road, thru the barn to the ring etc over and over until she relaxed. Dominance games.
Keystone: got in the ring before the kids camp. Takes Keystone awhile to focus.
Friendly: Again we played with friendly but better after some other games. Did not get the quality of relaxation I would have liked.
Porcupine--worked on phases and he was really light for head down, backing, FQ/HQ 360 yields. Backing from the chest is light and better than ever with Try--from the nose is there but slower to respond than Try.
Driving: Backing from driving toward his chest is ok. Did zone 3 driving--good to bring his head up from the grass but he likes to slip to comfy Z2 driving.
Yoyo--did not do this today--next time.
Circling: did not do either as he would probably start trotting and that is a no-no until August 1 with his injury.
Sideways--I have decided to speed him up til he understands then go back to slow (with the fence, both ways). (Still only a few steps as its almost a trot.)
Squeeze: he is absolutely not claustrophobic--he did a tight squeeze between tree and pedestal and yesterday between barn and truck getting to round pen. Also did sniff the trailer because there was one parked in the drive. next time: squeeze and straddle a pole would be good--walking only AND communication to one foot at a time.
Stick to me: Did a little stick to me yoyo back--it happened but would be good with repetition. Ok to do this with walk, halt, back, walk transitions--no trotting.
Touch It: He is starting to get the idea about touch it and I am giving treats when I lead him to object and he puts his nose on it.
Figure 8: Did not do as likely to trot.
Today, still following Dr orders not to ride for the knee BUT played liberty with Try--mostly stick to me and circling AND 1st time back with Keystone who is ok to walk/do ground work. Keystone and I played with level 1 on line friendly and porcupine and he is starting to think and figure out "touch it" pattern.
Tuesday:
Bethanna rode Try around the picnic table out of the gate, up the road, thru the barn to the ring etc over and over until she relaxed. Dominance games.
Keystone: got in the ring before the kids camp. Takes Keystone awhile to focus.
Friendly: Again we played with friendly but better after some other games. Did not get the quality of relaxation I would have liked.
Porcupine--worked on phases and he was really light for head down, backing, FQ/HQ 360 yields. Backing from the chest is light and better than ever with Try--from the nose is there but slower to respond than Try.
Driving: Backing from driving toward his chest is ok. Did zone 3 driving--good to bring his head up from the grass but he likes to slip to comfy Z2 driving.
Yoyo--did not do this today--next time.
Circling: did not do either as he would probably start trotting and that is a no-no until August 1 with his injury.
Sideways--I have decided to speed him up til he understands then go back to slow (with the fence, both ways). (Still only a few steps as its almost a trot.)
Squeeze: he is absolutely not claustrophobic--he did a tight squeeze between tree and pedestal and yesterday between barn and truck getting to round pen. Also did sniff the trailer because there was one parked in the drive. next time: squeeze and straddle a pole would be good--walking only AND communication to one foot at a time.
Stick to me: Did a little stick to me yoyo back--it happened but would be good with repetition. Ok to do this with walk, halt, back, walk transitions--no trotting.
Touch It: He is starting to get the idea about touch it and I am giving treats when I lead him to object and he puts his nose on it.
Figure 8: Did not do as likely to trot.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Liberty Audition sent in!
Liberty audition tape
Well if today wasn't a strange day! Went out to check on Try and thought we'd do a little liberty and up the energy a little after last time and filmed it. Well about 2/3 of the way it occured to me that we might actually have enough of the compulsories done in 10 minutes to sent it off!
Sooooooooo it isn't wonderful--plenty of stuff not as good as usual BUT compulsories done in some fashion in 10 minutes so what the heck. I figure the worst that can happen is that it doesn't pass and I have to redo--no biggie.
BUT if I pass, I am done with L3 and become an L4 student--wrap ma brain around that!!
Well onward naturally--I see orthopedic dr Wed and hopefully can convince him that its ok to ride within whatever parameters. Keystone is well enough for some On Line and I am looking forward to learning some about dressage. yahoo
Well if today wasn't a strange day! Went out to check on Try and thought we'd do a little liberty and up the energy a little after last time and filmed it. Well about 2/3 of the way it occured to me that we might actually have enough of the compulsories done in 10 minutes to sent it off!
Sooooooooo it isn't wonderful--plenty of stuff not as good as usual BUT compulsories done in some fashion in 10 minutes so what the heck. I figure the worst that can happen is that it doesn't pass and I have to redo--no biggie.
BUT if I pass, I am done with L3 and become an L4 student--wrap ma brain around that!!
Well onward naturally--I see orthopedic dr Wed and hopefully can convince him that its ok to ride within whatever parameters. Keystone is well enough for some On Line and I am looking forward to learning some about dressage. yahoo
Dressage?
Yesterday I enjoyed watching a dressage practice session with Cathy Gould and her two horses and her friend Ruth at Catherine Mark's gorgeous indoor riding facility. Am considering whether learning a bit about dressage will be a good idea for Try and I as we approach level 4 finesse. Also considering materials by Walter Zettl and Karen Rohlf.
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