Spent 4 hours today with Wendy's horse Target. I am blogging separately for Target--also notes from Dan Thompson are under PP.
This weekend clinic with Kelly Sigler.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
New HORSE!!
Today my friend Wendy is loaning me a horse to play with for a couple weeks. BA and I brought home Wendy's Target 15'2 paint, lovely canter. I am so excited. Photos soon!!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
easy bareback day
Monday, with still a little bit of warmth in Try's back leg, rather than do nothing we got out and walked a bit. On the ground played with the life up idea, riding leisurely walking with some attention to indirect rein on the right side and 7 step soft feel.
Afternoon: phone call with Dan Thompson on questions/follow up to visit a few weeks ago. Will post notes later here or under the PP/clinic sub-blog.
Afternoon: phone call with Dan Thompson on questions/follow up to visit a few weeks ago. Will post notes later here or under the PP/clinic sub-blog.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Go to Plan B
Well, I was so excited--in my riding lesson with Bethanna we were going to play with bridleless canter yoyos--yee hah!! I arrived at the barn and found Try's right hind leg was swollen so no lesson, no riding.
BA suggested I just go ride Angel (medium pony) for fun.I was hesitant as I am soooo used to Try or Keystone and Angel is a goey little pony with a pony stride. Also I've not ridden her for two years. Anyway, saddled up and trotted, (posting, two point) and canter. BA was out in the ring riding Haylie and told me to go with Angel's canter with my arms and .t was really fun. I could feel the improvement two years of riding has made for me. It is strange to be hovering over a pony at the trot when I am used to the 15'1 15'2 horses.
Gave Angel and then Try great long showers and cold water on Try's leg/bute.
Thinking very seriously of getting one of Wendy's horses for awhile to play with--with two great months of fall weather, why not spend a 1/2 day Mon-Fri with horses??
BA suggested I just go ride Angel (medium pony) for fun.I was hesitant as I am soooo used to Try or Keystone and Angel is a goey little pony with a pony stride. Also I've not ridden her for two years. Anyway, saddled up and trotted, (posting, two point) and canter. BA was out in the ring riding Haylie and told me to go with Angel's canter with my arms and .t was really fun. I could feel the improvement two years of riding has made for me. It is strange to be hovering over a pony at the trot when I am used to the 15'1 15'2 horses.
Gave Angel and then Try great long showers and cold water on Try's leg/bute.
Thinking very seriously of getting one of Wendy's horses for awhile to play with--with two great months of fall weather, why not spend a 1/2 day Mon-Fri with horses??
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
What a glorious day!!!!!!!!!
The weather was wonderful and we had so much fun!! We were both in the mood to canter and canter we did.
Playing with concept of Energy, focus, intention, I've tried to figure out the best games to play to get the idea across. I decided best is games where she sees me clearly and the action required is simple--not requiring a complex combination of movement. So today we played with backing--Try really got the idea of my focus and mother in law face--but not the idea that my friendly face means stop. Hmmmmmmmmm. Then HQ disengagement from a look--took a phase 4 one time to get the idea across and then it was good--Try could see/feel the difference in my intense energy wanting her to move the HQ and the friendly I love you I just want to massage your butt.
Circling game: ?? how do I get Try to leave the rope on the ground?? I did quit both directions when she had the best attitude.
Canter: lateral flexion nice, indirect rein to the right--opposition reflex. 7 step soft feel nice. Counter canter--I do believe we had it! We also did cloverleaf at a canter and just cantered about.
Riley: today--followed me, curious and enjoyed playing the easter egg hunt on his own, spooked a little at the wind.
Playing with concept of Energy, focus, intention, I've tried to figure out the best games to play to get the idea across. I decided best is games where she sees me clearly and the action required is simple--not requiring a complex combination of movement. So today we played with backing--Try really got the idea of my focus and mother in law face--but not the idea that my friendly face means stop. Hmmmmmmmmm. Then HQ disengagement from a look--took a phase 4 one time to get the idea across and then it was good--Try could see/feel the difference in my intense energy wanting her to move the HQ and the friendly I love you I just want to massage your butt.
Circling game: ?? how do I get Try to leave the rope on the ground?? I did quit both directions when she had the best attitude.
Canter: lateral flexion nice, indirect rein to the right--opposition reflex. 7 step soft feel nice. Counter canter--I do believe we had it! We also did cloverleaf at a canter and just cantered about.
Riley: today--followed me, curious and enjoyed playing the easter egg hunt on his own, spooked a little at the wind.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Better today, added trot at least
Today, Try was better--cuts looked good but a little swelling so plan called for no cantering.
Round pen: walk and a little trot as yesterday, Try offered to sidepass barrel away and toward. Stayed with me on stick to me--thought about making assumptions and kept changing things up. played with energy up and down--need to ask, whether I should pick games where Try can see my facial expression.
At one point, Try left so we played the catch me game. She would stop but not come when I backed. One time she took off bucking and farting--so much for taking it easy. I have filmed this issue--how its clear on the film.
Saddling: pinned ears at the saddle going onto her back. No ear pinning for a couple days now pulling on girth strap.
Riding: what a lovely mind reader Try was today. Lateral flexion was good--indirect rein Try was leaning on the rein on the right bend--went up in my phases and I think she is starting to get the idea.
I set two cones and we started by going thru turn and face and wait--varied the direction and type of turn and then backed thru the cones--took almost no urging for any of it. Did a little trot, stop, back wait--good reactions to go and stop and lovely still wait. Also intersperced some contact--7 step soft feel even from walk continuing to walk and side passing. Then no stirrups posting trot but only about 4 laps. Finished by setting cavaletti pole up on pedestal and cones to make a little "jump" repeating the turn and face and back from before--little opposition reflex from Try over backing up to the jump.
Next Riley in the round pen, friendly and porcupine went well and we played the easter egg hunt game. Next time take a book and do dwell and see if he will be more curious. Today he wasn't afraid but he wasn't really relaxed.
Round pen: walk and a little trot as yesterday, Try offered to sidepass barrel away and toward. Stayed with me on stick to me--thought about making assumptions and kept changing things up. played with energy up and down--need to ask, whether I should pick games where Try can see my facial expression.
At one point, Try left so we played the catch me game. She would stop but not come when I backed. One time she took off bucking and farting--so much for taking it easy. I have filmed this issue--how its clear on the film.
Saddling: pinned ears at the saddle going onto her back. No ear pinning for a couple days now pulling on girth strap.
Riding: what a lovely mind reader Try was today. Lateral flexion was good--indirect rein Try was leaning on the rein on the right bend--went up in my phases and I think she is starting to get the idea.
I set two cones and we started by going thru turn and face and wait--varied the direction and type of turn and then backed thru the cones--took almost no urging for any of it. Did a little trot, stop, back wait--good reactions to go and stop and lovely still wait. Also intersperced some contact--7 step soft feel even from walk continuing to walk and side passing. Then no stirrups posting trot but only about 4 laps. Finished by setting cavaletti pole up on pedestal and cones to make a little "jump" repeating the turn and face and back from before--little opposition reflex from Try over backing up to the jump.
Next Riley in the round pen, friendly and porcupine went well and we played the easter egg hunt game. Next time take a book and do dwell and see if he will be more curious. Today he wasn't afraid but he wasn't really relaxed.
The best laid plans ...
I arrived this Monday am with the intention of upping the ante: liberty--focus, energy and riding some full out canter laps among other stuff.
Well, Try had been kicked--bunch of cuts on her left hind leg and some swelling expected--washed, cold water 10 min, saave? and bute. But we were very limited to some walking in the round pen. Little energy up and down in sideways, figure 8 and stick to me. then bareback ride walk, stop, back, change direction from seat, weight, turn on haunches etc.
Well, Try had been kicked--bunch of cuts on her left hind leg and some swelling expected--washed, cold water 10 min, saave? and bute. But we were very limited to some walking in the round pen. Little energy up and down in sideways, figure 8 and stick to me. then bareback ride walk, stop, back, change direction from seat, weight, turn on haunches etc.
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