Lovely day yesterday

Monday, in preparation for private 3 hours w/PP we did a lot of Try's favorites with as little pressure and saying "no" as possible.

Round pen/liberty: Try ate grass for 5 min then decided to come to me. Try offered to push the ball--choose it as the fav toy and with a very little bit of urging pushed it 1/2 way around the ring. I tried figure 8 and it was there.

Freestyle riding: baretek pad, rope halter and lead left on the saddle. walk, trot with just a little leg, turn on the haunches (didn't know we could do that without guiding the front end). Canter was trashy and did not do much--just not the day for it.

On Line stick to me--walk trot canter stop back turns from both sides.
Quick bath at liberty and more dwell time.

Result Sheet

audition video click here 

yesterday was fun

Yesterday, we didn't do much of a warmup I was tired and Try wasn't in the mood.

Began my first riding lesson with BA in weeks and decided on a back to basics. Try was in a uppity mood and did not settle so after we finishing a trotting warmup--2 point and posting, BA suggested playing around with lots of transitions in the 20x40 dressage area. I was relieved as could just imagine how Try's canter would be on the rail (280x300' ring) when she was that up--i.e. heavy on the forehand and time would need to be spent to regulate the gait as she would want to go to fast for a nice rhythm--not really much fun at all.

Soooooooo we played with lots of transitions at the various letters--all gaits including sitting trot, turns on the forehand and haunches and circles of various sizes. Both Try and I had to concentrate mentally and settled in and had a great time. Thanks BA!!

Don't Erase the Finish Line

I am still thrilled about passing level 3 and am reminding myself "not to erase the finish line"--that is to continue to savor and celebrate the accomplishment: Savor to energize, inspire vs burnout from immediately getting back to "work" or minimizing the accomplishment i.e. its no big deal, not that good, lets see if I can do better, etc.

Actually, I printed out all my 2009 blog entries and, in reading, I see wonderful growth in horsemanship and spirit beyond passing a level!!

This month's savvy times, p73 (goal setting article by Linda) concludes with "make sure you celebrate your smallest achievements not just the big ones."

I remembered that I used to keep a file of special accomplishments or things that make me proud, feel all warm and fuzzy etc. So I've found the file and it is amazing.

Thus, I think in addition to a diary blog, to start a sub-blog of those warm and fuzzy moments when Try and I have an especially lovely day together.

Onward naturally...

Thoughts on obedience and motivation

I have been thinking about how Try's life has been about obedience and what a lovely obedient girl she has been so much of the time--but turning her into a machine and causing her to do the sneaky little LBI things to assert herself.

If she and I are exploring motivation, and I am freeing her up to explore and express her LBE side, then obedience becomes an issue both in the LBI-not-in-the-mood-for-precision sense and in the LBE wheee-I want-to-canter-fast and free mode.

Also as extreme LB as she is, if I am asking for more task-wise and energy-wise and being more tuned in to me--we are surely going to be exploring dominance issues between us. I need to remember that this is a really good thing--not fall back on a normal--shut-er-down-she-must-be-obedient-whether-she-likes-it-or-not-mode.

Tuesday at the barn

elated over passing the audition of course and important not to "erase the finish line" but to celebrate the milestone.

Today: Try and I played with creative phases on level 1 online plus some touch it as warmup. Then Cathy came in with Shirley and since Try and Shirley are best buds the 4 of us walked around for about 10 minutes catching up on doings around the barn, upcoming events etc.

Then Try was "up" as she perhaps wanted to trot and canter with Shirley who moves at a much faster face. Soooo hopped off and watched them finish up and leave. Played some circling game variations and made up a new traveling circling game and played with "keep the rope on the ground" then played with canter trot transitions in stick to me. By that time Try was refocused and we went back for a nice trot/canter ride.

Keystone is going to a new home--I am sad for me but know he is going to love his new life as a casual trail horse!! What a sweet heart.

We did it!!

Try and I have passed level 3 and are now officially level 4 students!!!