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

Thursday

What an interesting day today. Adding the LBE info keeps changing my thinking.

Riding lesson today in the field. Try was pretty LBE as expected. Bethanna helped me to block Try's tendency to go to the gate and to go from my balance point to a more forward position rather than constantly adjusting the reins from casual to concentrated as Try was transitioning so quickly. Try was in a good mood and seemed to be enjoying her self pretty much. Actually, she might have like to take off at a galop but I don't feel confident with that nor the stamina to ride it as long as it might take for Try to have her fill of it. Not bad for a 19 year old.

Keystone in the round pen. He seems mildly right brain to me--maybe even cusp as well LB/RB. Certainly not as confident as Try by a long shot. We did friendly, porky head down, figure 8 for the first time and continued playing with touch it.

Started watching the June gold dvd--great stuff--1. Pat and Sam on test your liberty and 2. Linda and Leslie on what it takes for Leslie to ride Remmer in Linda's absence.

This in from Stacey and Linda re horsenality cusp scores

"Hi Elizabeth!

I'm finally getting back to you, had a couple of weeks of madly writing lots of stuff, including the new information on cuspal Horsenalities.

Reading your modified report was actually great confirmation for me because the problem with people borrowing someone else's report on LBE (as in your case) is that this is not the core horsenality, so only parts of it will apply. So you have to start as LBI, the main training concerns are LBI, but as soon as the horse gets motivated (which will happen more quickly when they're on the cusp) you need some LBE tips - also how to recognize it.

So what you've done for Try is great - you took the LBE parts that would relate when Try goes there. I must say I am impressed by your grasp of this, you obviously have put a lot of time and effort into understanding horse behavior in terms of horsenality!

The reports that have been launched now have the cuspal information automatically attached. We will then be going back through our Silver and Gold members whose horses showed cusp scores and making that portion available as soon as possible.

I trust all is going well with you and Try :)

Yours naturally,

Linda"