Monday - Looking toward goals for next week

How we did this week:

I. Rider biomechanics study and application and II. My fitness

These seemed to merge. I was glad for the perspective of Mary Wanless and what Dawn said about Linda's extreme conditioning--I know I need to ID and release tension BUT also I need increased fitness in various areas.

The Janice Dulak Pilates dvd is feeling good--she isolates 3 clusters of 3 muscle groups and through the 57 minute video helps to have them come together as one working unit. I found after doing the video and riding the same day that the unit carried over. This is great--plan/picture/feel--I obviously can't be concentrating on body parts but so much while riding--I need an intuitive overall feel so I can have energy for other stuff such as being aware of Try.

III. Big positive LBE energy
I lost sight of this and several times caught myself with some very negative self-talk. This needs to stay on the list for next week big time.

IV. Nutrition--see blog--for next week--find and try 2 recipes.
V. House--not on goal list--it will just be happening--packing, moving stuff

For next week:

I. Big positive LBE energy as #1 with the weather--losing three days again and waiting to see what is going on with Try. Self awareness and blog it. Making positive use of indoor time with horsemanship reading materials Kathy sent and Sally Swift/Eric Franklin--images for alignment in motion.

II. Try--downward transitions--tailored to how she is feeling
1. on line starting with backing from a standstill cued from intention and adding trot to halt and energy in the back up
2. thinking forward in downward transition riding--cueing with seat muscles--1/2 halt
3. being particular about responsiveness and then smoothness of the transition
4. Rethink cueing on the ground

III. My fitness, alignment etc as a rider: dvd plus my own exercises
IV. Nutrition--think about what I would actually enjoy eating and 2 new recipes or foods.

Sunday Downward Transitions and Canter - Oh My

Finally a good weather day.

Because vet says its not hocks etc but likely hormones bothering Try, I decided that I can go back to active learning goals for Try and I.

One of our issues is downward transitions.
1. I fall apart especially from canter to trot.
2. Try: it is a goal for her to be using her HQ and to have smooth transitions
3. Dawn suggested think forward in the transition--I have probably been thinking halt.

A basic exercise
1. On the rail from a standstill, my life up, lean back a little, bend knees to signal Try to back. Yes she gets that--the issue is a good energetic back--we backed (carrot stick) until we got the energy. Then repeated twice and it got better each time. Rest, treat.
2. On the rail, walk then halt and back--some progress here as well.
3. Next time: trot, halt and immediate back up with energy is the goal.

Riding: Warmup on the rail walk/trot--good energy. Lots of activity in the ring--good looking geldings etc! Try had plenty of energy--in fact they were all really fresh and full of energy--too much except for Devon who Bethanna was riding--perhaps because Bethanna was the rider.

Next went into dressage ring and put cones down and played with transitions walk to trot to walk to trot. Up and back--point to point from A to C etc. Try only missed one downward transition--we stopped and backed back to the cone with energy--some stick to cue--then turned away went back to start over and from then on she had it.

Just a little walk trot with soft feel and one nice leg yield.

Then canter--Try was wild, Ramone in the adjoining paddock was wild, Gretzky was wild, etc. Decided I needed more space to work it out and went to the rail. Wow. No sign of LBI! I have never thought of Try as ever running away from me but in effect she did. She felt angry, would not settled into a rhythm with little 1/2 halts, and finally took off after Gretzky and I had to pull on the reins to bring her to a trot. WOW!! So we played circing variations on line in the dressage ring. Try settled nicely and was the horse I know. I opted not to go back to riding the canter and left the ring for a long passenger walk.

Upon reflection--the depo shot has not had time to have any effect--I will likely put off getting a nice canter rhythm in the western saddle on Friday as that should give time for depo shot to have some effect and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday will be bad weather days.

Nutrition

Yesterday I downloaded nutrition software and did an analysis of what I ate:
I was not surprised to find that my carb % is slightly higher than ideal and protein and fat slightly less.
I also was pleased that if my body is absorbing the vitamins I take that I am getting what I need including calcium and vitamin D. I was worried about the recommended overload of vitamin D recommended by my GP and Ob/Gyn this past week but did research on internet and am OK with it. Also I can see why my weight is remaining stable. Although it would be "nice" to be 5 pounds thinner and super "tight" muscularly, both doctors think my current weight of 127-130 is smarter for my age. I think its ok mostly because I don't have to be concerned with dieting! Thus, moderate and balanced physical conditioning is a goal and being aware of eating and vitamin intake.

Caveat: days indoors with cold weather--not enough exercise!

January 27: The goal now is to find recipes and healthy food that I can really enjoy eating. With cold weather Tue-Thur that would be good time for the search.

January 30: planned meals for February--meals that will work for DH and sometimes for me. Have collected a few recipes to try.

January 31: much healthier eating today--I find it strange that the tension of the weather prompted some yucky mindless eating i.e. pretzels and pimento cheese.

Vet visit

Karen Bullock checked Try yesterday.
1. She did not find pain or any hocks issue. WHEW
2. She suggested this time of year/hormone cycling begins and could cause periodic pain and discomfort in her hind end. Gave her a depo shot and we will give it 3 weeks and see if this effects her crankiness and discomfort.
3. Eye discharge--apparently not related to nasal/rhino stuff--flush out was too easy. May be related to dry eyes/age--watch it each day and continue antibiotic on a day with a lot of discharge. (Let BA know.)
4. After using up Lubrisyn and Cosequin, will switch to Platinum Performance CH, apple flavor.

Comment/Update 1/28/2014--still waiting to see if depo shot has effects--Try still tense, angry and strange part of the time.

Fitness for Riding

I have decided to keep fitness notes with this blog post instead of posting daily to avoid confusion:
Summary as of 1/28/2014: Janice Dulak's new pilates dvd is perfect for me right now plus taking the time to do other stretching, strength building etc for overall fitness. This frees me up to shift my focus to other things once I get to Rollover and Try/Devon.

Some Initial Thoughts

Strengths: legs, grounded from hips to floor, body awareness and knowledge, background as an athlete

Weaknesses: abs, opening chest, shoulder girdle—flexibility

Known memorized old routines and exercise resources:

·        Pilates dvds 2-3, side lying series I currently do and book

·        yoga notes, books, dvds

·        physical therapy exercises—see notes

·        Cheryl’s abs and Katie’s upper body weights—these I do now

·        Jazz dance isolations for neck and shoulders—also ingrained

·        Stretches—lie on the floor and do whatever feels like it needs attention

·        Relaxation various methods and book for body parts

·        Study: Eric Franklin, Also Sally Swift Centered Riding

Assessments:

·        For Strength: lower body strength always, quads tho are too tight and need to be stretched, hamstrings are weak, knee stabilization for bends and ability to hold a plié without rolling isn’t there anymore and likely relates to knees rolling in when I do no stirrups posting trot

·        Flexibility: hamstrings more than ideal—quads tight, biceps/triceps are so-so—I can find them and use when I think about it. External hip rotation is fairly open, twists and sideways—much less flexibility

·        Aerobic capacity: needs work and I prefer to do so in posting trot and occasional short distance run/jog/walk—preferably with Try at the farm. True running is not a good idea.

·        Relaxation, breathing and meditation: always does wonders

·        Old injuries: Achilles tendonitis, torn ligaments and broken bone in feet, hamstrings pulled numerous times, lower back, groin, one elbow from fall, both shoulders, one wrist from a fall.

Priorities:

·        upper body flexibility in case of falling from a horse

·        abdominals for stability riding.

Consider being “tight” Just do it

Positive self talk: I have always been able to make physical changes in my body easily. My body responds quickly and well to exercise and conditioning. Be aware and get rid of negative self-talk.

Where and when issues:

·        I am not willing to commit to a gym membership and take time away from horsemanship. I truly want to take the knowledge I have and make it happen at home.

·        Time allotted: The best timing now before warm/hot weather is 8:00 in the morning.

·        Duration: Between 20-40 minutes and I am undecided on this.

·        I hate the physical therapy exercises—awkward, don’t feel good, etc.—just do em and track how it feels

·        Plan, picture, feel???

·        I could use more abs ideas than pilates and situp stuff.

Thursday, January 23 – 20 minutes

·        PT exer: quad stretch, ball/wall stretch for knee stability, rollups, lunges

·        Cheryl’s abs

·        My moment to new moment whatever my body felt like it needed

·        Relax, diaphragmatic breathing

·        Isolations and stretches especially shoulder area flexibility

Friday, January 24, 2014

·        New pilates dvd has arrived. 57 minutes—did the tape for the first time  Adv. Good corrections—looks like it can put a lot of body parts together as one piece  Disadv. Some terminology confusing, images not as helpful as could be possible.

Saturday, January 25

Today is a perfect day to exercise--another cold day. Issue repeat the new pilates dvd or cross train with something different. I spent a lovely 1/2 hour or so with basic abs, lots of easy stretching, tension release, breathing and some knee stabilitiy and upper body strength exercises. I sat at my desk and thought what does my body need today.

Sunday, January 26

Today I am undecided--looks like I can get a ride in weather-wise from 1-3. Also if I want to get as much out of the pilates dvd as possible that I should do that as well. Monday is going to be a zoo with chest x-ray, bone density and mammogram test and riding sandwiched in between.
Did the dvd: I learned--good news--the abs trio I can really do with the dvd and fully understand. The upper body three i.e. triceps, open chest and scapula muscles (back of arm pit moving down)--is much the same as ballet BUT I have lost more of this than the abs--some osteoporous and rounded shoulders and sunken chest--was better with the dvd today and I do understand. Third part: seat muscles, adductors and hip extenders--I am still working to understand this. 1. Double check that my understanding of seat muscles is correct, 2. Interesting that adductors are not just pressing to each other but in combination with lower abs/lifting pelvis and seat muscles are rotating outward. This is interesting as its used in a parallel position rather than turned out legs as in ballet. Hip extension is long thigh and the angle is how close the thigh is to the upper body. Hmmm.
Riding today: I started with the 9 muscle groups really there without thinking aout it and thought about it periodically as well. By the end I was tired and losing it--thought about the process as we went for a passenger walk.

Monday, January 27
Today I am tired and sore with waaaaaaaaay too much to do. I will not do the pilates dvd and hope to have some casual riding time midday with Try. Back to dvd tomorrow.

Tuesday with Try

I really didn't want to go to the barn today as I didn't think Try needed to see me and I could have used the day differently myself BUT with three days of bad weather coming decided to do it anyway.

When I drove in I could again see the tension and unhappiness in her just standing in her pasture near the fence. Later when I went to get her, she saw me from a distance and walked away to hang out at the side fence with the yearlings in the next pasture. It was obvious she didn't want to do anything with me. But I went ahead with the catching game. She did not come to me! I went to her, gave her a treat and stroked her a bit. When I went to halter her she walked away! So not like her. So catching game--she actually took off with a couple HUGE bucks and galop to the gate and when I changed direction repeated that to come back to the yearlings. Then started again with catching game (never in all this matching her big energy--even tho I love to play that way--my intuition said it was not the thing to do if she is not well.). This time she came to me from 6 feet or so away after thinking about it. Haltered and went in to groom and tack up.

My goal was to have a very light easy ride walk and just a little slow trot to loosen her up while we wait for the vet to come Thursday. Lots of activity in the ring. MH was finishing up a dressage lesson and BA was riding Frank with Jocelyn filming flat work and jump course. So I walked Try staying out of the way.

I was able to play with what I am exploring as the big 4 (can't remember 10 all at once LOL)
1. Seat pad muscles/abs/grounded/alignment sh/h/h I can handle as one
2. Feet grounded in the stirrups sharing some of my body weight with my seat.
3. Knit ribs. If played with rib to ab connection as a way to ask Try to lift her top line.
4. Thumbs--Kelly and Dawn have both talked about this and I did practice it last spring--even driving in the car--then forgot. Actually its not all thumb as the thumb presses on the first finger to hold the reins then the remaining fingers can be soft.

Also played with
1. standing in the stirrups with stacked alignment. with that saddle I find I can stand and be stacked correctly but I had to pitch it all forward just a little to be balance at a walk.
2. windmilling my arms: I have a pilates warm-up routine I do that involves connecting ballet porte de bras with inhale, exhale engaging my lower abs. I did that and played around with variations.

While walking I was able to also play find my focus or ride the line with a soft feel (All the above was riding on the buckle.) The first few were great--then Try lost interest and I had to use the soft rein aid.

Next after everyone left a couple laps of loose trot, on the buckle, letting Try pick her tempo.

We finished by leaving the ring and having Try choose where she would like to go, if at all and she chose to leave the farm and walk up the road a ways and then chose to return. After groom, treat and turn out she was so much more relaxed and soft in her body.

She had several moments today where she seemed to leave the planet--she had gone so internal I did not feel the connection. It really scared me--she was just gone. Sooo hoping Thursday I can find out what is going on and have a fix so she can feel good!

Tuesday phone conversation with Dawn Roth

bNotes: Conversation with Dawn 2014 1 21

1.      Cueing list

a.      Do for ground tasks as well

b.      Be consistent

c.      Rethink these as I pull together my ideas of how I want to use my body riding.

2.      Internal/external rotation of hip/thigh

a.      External – I have this stretch and it is not my focus

b.      Inner spiral of the thigh knee and calf—I have learned this in yoga—review

c.      Think of draping thigh

d.      This will assist me, by not being turned out, to have my heels under my shoulders instead of under my shoulder and hip.

e.      Also helpful with this is to think of grounding (not grinding lol) into the stirrups as it grounding my feet in the dirt. Draping down.

f.       Leg in front and external rotation cause me to lose stability. (I think I have thought that the goal was to just balance on my seat bones and not have my legs on or use reins.???)

3.      Recommended exercises:

a.      (Colleen Kelly) Stand in stirrups to walk, trot and canter as part of the warm-up. Trick is not to lean forward to balance but to be in sh/h/h/ alignment including angle of leg. Try this with dressage, close contact and western saddle and photo/video. (In playing with this I had to lean forward to be balanced even holding onto the pommel. Also, I did not like the idea of doing for very long as it put all my weight in the stirrups.)

b.      Another warm-up exercise is wind milling the arms—forward and up, nice and easy, will help to open the chest. Again videotape.

4.      Try and I playing—the monotone

a.      Be unexpected, surprise, tag her, erratic, canter—stop face wait, ok here we go, E off, E on. Short periods of time. After vet visit.

5.      Circling game

a.      Traditional, send/allow/bring back—maintain gait and direction vs driving game

b.      Driving keeps horse engaged, flexible, hocks stepping under.

c.      Use to create rhythm (remember old mastery dvd—young horse Pat and ?) plan, picture, feel. Send until we get the quality of gait I picture and then allow so she knows she has got it. Don’t overdo—pepper in more effort. Should help Try with stiffness. After vet visit.

d.      Allow ut send if she loses it.

6.      Other good games on line for rhythm

a.      Point to point and stop

b.      Use visual of obstacles

7.      Riding warmup

a.      “Ride the line” in open space. I focus eyes and body on a point and stay on it with a soft touch. The goal is for Try to keep her NOSE on that line. Use soft rein connection to put her nose back on the line.

b.     Vary with straight line, circle, zigzag, serpentine. Try knows this—the issue is her desire to play the game.

8.      PC article: horses heart energy connecting with us. Read the article. Magnetic. Energy fields.

9.      Rhythm-forward and relaxation

a.      Let’s be forward—do not nag, ask and allow. Plan pic feel.

b.      Use if necessary thump, thump tap on shoulder.

c.      Goal long top line. Do NOT need contact with reins.

d.     Freestyle—I thought relaxation most important and scale of training should start with relaxation and not rhythm. NO—forward first, Try needs to find her OWN relaxation.

e.      Engaged seat for coming up thru topline—knit ribs to core. Don’t need contact to do it.

f.       See check list that I want to put into an holistic image that works (plan,pic,feel)

g.      Linda stresses pressing the thumb on the reins energetically while fingers remain elastic to soften the connection.

10.   Fitness and nutrition projects great for cold weather to establish habit/practice.

11.   Barrel or ball, yoga, awareness—plan HOW to make it happen once I have the plan and pic.

12.   Downward transitions from canter to trot. Think forward—I feel sure I have been thinking slow and back. Of course, I still need a lesser energy, slowing in seat for a few strides before asking for the transition. Sitting more with HQ engaged and the thought process of forward. How much should my seat move in contact with the saddle in the canter—it moves more with Devon than Try.

13.   Pictures—don’t quit until we get close to the picture or Try will think the wrong thing is the right answer.

14.   Use pommel for stability in posting trot.

Monday - Devon

Today was the first day I rode Devon is at least a month. Katie videotaped but I didn't get all the footage I wanted. I only have walk and canter and the posting trot was what I most wanted to see in terms of stability in my body and syncing with Devon's movement.

I also spent some time with Try and have Thursday appointment for vet to come see if it is time to inject hocks again. We did just a little light trot and then went for a passenger walk off the farm.

photos for me to study my alignment and position:

 Note: yes my legs are turned out from the hip.

Yes, I am comfortable with my heel forward of my shoulder and hip.

Week January 21-27

horse development increased from 6 to 6.5
rider confidence from 6 to 6.5

blocks: talent increased from 20 to 22, skill from 10-14, try and luck remaining at 22

Preliminary Plan

Big changes in the plan for next week. I am adding in priorities other than horsemanship. There is a possibility that Try will need to have her hocks injected again. We will have ??3 days of extreme cold weather and I will not go to the barn. I have work to do for upcoming renovations to 1/2 of the house.

1. I plan to continue to study rider biomechanics with an emphasis on my alignment, strength and use of muscles to be a good riding partner.
1. Discuss in greater depth with Dawn the previous conversation about what Linda is doing in her body. Also discuss--how to make it happen/get er done.
2. Form a preliminary plan or check list from the Mary Wanless materials
1. Check shoulder, hip, heel alignement
2. Check for the leg 45 degree angles (arrow head)
3. Seat bones point down
4. Engage muscle pads around seat bones
5. Lift lower abs
6. Expand my outer edges outward??
7. Diaphramatic breathing
3. Discuss this with BA and Kathy
4. Quick review of notes from Colleen Kelly dvds and rider biomechanics clinic with Kelly Sigler.
5. Film every time possible to check what I am doing in my body.
2. My fitness
1. Review and pull together exercises etc from various routines
1. PT, Katie, Cheryl, ballet
2. Form a new habit
3. pilates and yoga dvds etc for variety
3. Big energy and confidence
1. Self awareness with Try and Devon--they both respond well to the big energy (caveat)
2. Self awareness with strong personalities in my life--discuss if a good idea.
4. Nutrition
1. Track and break it down
2. Plan meals that I like
5. House renovations
1. Homework
2. Keep household relatively organized despite chaos.

How did it go January 14-20

Well Jan 20 isn't over yet but I think I can still do a wrap up.

1. HQ Flexibility--we have made strides but will not have this on the list for next week unless the Thursday vet visit shows Try has no joint issues.
2. Using seat cues--what fun--studying this has opened up so much thought. When Dawn talked about the way Linda is using her body and I saw something on FB about Mary Wanless--I ended up getting the kindle version of her most basic book. So far--it appears to me to be incredibly in keeping with what I learned in ballet about stabilizing my body. 
1. So--I have studied about 1/3 of book so far and am applying, filming, study myself.
2. I skimmed the rest of the book and am feeling overwhelmed--needing to keep to manageable chunks to stay positive.
3. I see the need to up my core strength separate from riding, although not to the extent of having it take over my life, seeking the six pack abs, etc.
3. The big positive energy
1. I had so much fun with Try when I had that energy going--more confidence to stay on task until a win.
2. I had some negativity coming my way in personal relationships. I am thinking about this.
3. I am realizing that I have a lot of knowledge. With priorities and organizing and having my positive energy going I can do this. Also I know every day is a new day.
4. Try and mental fitness
1. Big strides for her also, she seemed happy when we were playing and feeling better after getting some exercise.
2. I was able to break through the extreme anger she had each day when I got to the barn and she seemed relaxed when I left. However, until the vet comes we will exercise lightly.
5. Fun
1. The big energy was fun and a surprise for us.
2. Pleasant rides away from the farm.

Thoughts on moving freely

I have been reminded several times lately about seeing the different horses on the Scale of Training dvds that Christoph Hess and Linda Parelli put together. I love the way Marion's Parelli horse entered the ring at a walk on a very loose rein, stretching, relaxed with a lovely energetic walk and continued that free quality of moving into other gaits!!!! 

This relates so well to what I look for in ballet dance--that glorious freedom in sync with the music. Relaxation and big energy whether adagio or allegro.

Also I saw this photo of Linda and Jazz on FB or PC. I love how powerful he looks and realize that as a horse gains power I need to have the corresponding fitness in my body to be a good partner.

Rollover on a Winter Day

Post at ParelliConnect

Jolene McDowell 1* Junior Instructor said 

"Recent studies conducted by the Institute of HeartMath provide a clue to explain the bidirectional "healing" that happens when we are near horses. According to researchers, the heart has a larger electromagnetic field and higher level of intelligence than the brain: A magnetometer can measure the heart's energy field radiating up to 8 to 10 feet around the human body. While this is certainly significant it is perhaps more impressive that the electromagnetic field projected by the horse's heart is five times larger than the human one (imagine a sphere-shaped field that completely surrounds you). The horse's electromagnetic field is also stronger than ours and can actually directly influence our own heart rhythm!

Horses are also likely to have what science has identified as a "coherent" heart rhythm (heart rate pattern) which explains why we may "feel better" when we are around them. . . .studies have found that a coherent heart pattern or HRV is a robust measure of well-being and consistent with emotional states of calm and joy--that is, we exhibit such patterns when we feel positive emotions.

A coherent heart pattern is indicative of a system that can recover and adjust to stressful situations very efficiently. Often times, we only need to be in a horses presence to feel a sense of wellness and peace. In fact, research shows that people experience many physiological benefits while interacting with horses, including lowered blood pressure and heart rate, increased levels of beta-endorphins (neurotransmitters that serve as pain surppressors), decreased stress levels, reduced feelings of anger, hostility, tension and anxiety, improved social functioning; and increased feelings of empowerment, trust, patience and self-efficacy." The Alchemy of Lightness by Dominique Barvier & Dr. aria Katsamanis

WHO KNEW there was some physical reason for the lovely feeling of being with a horse?

Day 2 Week 2 Goals Plan

The Plan

1. For HQ yield flexibility:
1. See if I can get the good one with carrot stick and then apply lesser cues with the goal to be just shifting my weight/seat.
2. Do leg yields to the rail homework I forgot Wednesday
2. Seat cues
1. Yeehaw--can I walk using seat muscle info from Mary Wanless materils?
2. Can I maintain into sitting trot? What about rising trot?
3. Video
1. my alignment (3) and stirrup length to get still shots to study
2. pic of using seat bones and seat muscles see previous post.
3. Big positive energy
1. Be aware of interactions with people
2. Try: Big ol' just ride around the ring--free, easy and pay attention to core. Video
4. For Fun
1. Passenger ride anywhere Try wants to go--except no grazing and safety concern. Alternate walk and trot based on footing conditions.

What We Did

I had the huge advantage of BA's daughter Katie being out of school and able to videotape!

1. HQ flexibility: After warm-up walk/trot I played with HQ yields from a standstill to see what would happen transitioning the cueing from stick to leg to seat on both her sticky right side and better left side. I am pleasantly surprised as I can't "see" what is happening in the saddle as I can on line. We can progress this either by further lightening the cues or playing with consistency--perhaps on line next time.

2. Seat cues: I did not know what would happen at walk, sitting trot and rising trot with concentrating on seat bones pointing to the ground and engaging pad of muscles around them. Result: absolutely no problem (if what I am doing is correct) as long as I was thinking about it. However, I completely forgot until our "trail" ride later to concentrate on leg angle and heel "down." I did see a whole lot of turnout from the hip. Perhaps in engaging seat muscles from ballet--I also engaged turnout OR I just ride that way anyway. Will want to check that out next time. From time to time I checked myself to have light weight in stirrups only. Also with trot--checking myself by holding pommel that I can control the descent back into the saddle in the rising trot.

The following three snapshots are seat positions for my study.

 Forward position: hunt seat, close contact saddle, posting, etc.?

 Sitting back behind vertical seat bones: western saddle, bareback pad, legs forward and angle changed.

Seat bones vertical, muscle pad around the bones engaged, shoulder mostly over hip, leg too far back.

3. Big positive energy

This is producing some "negative" results as a couple humans in my life seem to be unconsciously? feeling a different energy and not liking a change. How interesting.

Try: She was in a somewhat cranky mood again. Katie said Try tried to bite her when she was changing her blankets. I have noticed the last two times that she looks irritated in her pasture when I drive in. Also less happy about coming to me in the catching game. (Her arthritis??) Wednesday we (I) had fun changing the big frustrated energy into big energetic movement that brought on relaxation. In this Friday session we repeated some circling game on line briefly as needed--I liked how free and alive Try was in her movement. Katie thought it was funny. We also at the end of the session in the ring--went into the larger ring--put reins on Try's neck for some big posting trot on the rail--whatever Try felt like doing.

4. For Fun
We followed this by leaving the farm for a passenger ride up the road to the hunting camp and back. I enjoyed this as a time for reflection--Try looked around and seemed to enjoy herself as well.

Nickers, Mary Wanless and Seat Muscles

Thursday am: I have struggled with the exciting possibility of riding and playing with Sara's Nickers but decided to wait until March if that is still agreeable with Sara. (Happily yes it is!) Between weather and upcoming house renovations in February this seems the smart thing to do. It will be enough to stay with improving as a rider and learning dressage, etc. through this period of time.

Mary Wanless: Ride with your Mind. I am going to add some of this into my early morning study time.

Friday am: Have played around with Mary Wanless website--some articles and video and realized the best book for me now is the most basic and found a kindle version at amazon.com

Sooooooooooo reviewed 45 degree leg angles and shoulder, hip, heel alignment.
But big news flash: With dance over the decades there has been so much discussion and variation and varying images of HOW to use seat muscles for stability. I love, love, love Mary's diagram--it makes so much sense.

1. seat bones are pointing down ie. perpendicular to the ground
2. around them--think of engaging the following muscles but not to the point that it pops the butt off the saddle. This makes the most sense of anything I have ever seen/heard.

More

1. I had a blast yesterday and loved Try's snarky attitude as it gave us permission to play hard with big energy. It unleashed in be the big positive energy I had been looking for....

2. Wheelbarrow turns--Z5 driving--easily transitioned into traveling leg yields by my moving from Z5 to Z4 or Z3.

3. Holding onto the pommel did help to maintain a solid, steadiness in rise and sit of the trot.

4. When we were playing the circle game on line, after I helped her let off some steam LOL, she was coming up through her top line some followed by some nice stretching--at the trot. I have really wanted to see this AND this was either a first for her or the first time I saw it.

5. This energy was the unexpected surprise for the day for us both.

6. I watched myself for confidence in talking to Bethanna and my husband. I was also able to catch some negative self-talk and replace it.

I was playing around at home trying to figure out what the difference is in how I use my body for upward vs downward transitions:

Upward--especially from a halt to go--I rock slightly forward on my seat bones.
Downward--I sit deeper, moving slightly back by using my lower abs.

For Thursday:
Cold weather--if I get to the barn, bundle up and take Try for a nice long graze on line. Fill her bucket day.

More comments on Wednesday: Cueing

Cueing Update:

what I cue	how I cue now
go	life up, slight forward motion in my body, seat, little cluck, bounce legs
walk to trot	life up, cluck cluck, bounce legs lightly two/three times
trot to canter	life up, sit back, kiss and or touch leg behind girth
canter to trot	sit deeper, life down a bit, steady pressure two legs
trot to walk	sit, stick my stomach out
walk to halt	say "ho"--also taking my legs out of the stirrups LOL--steady pr legs
back up	sit deeper, life up a bit, rhythmic pressure two legs
turn	look, turn my body, outside or inside leg, reins
leg yield	inside leg to outside rein, outside leg to go forward and remain straight

Week 2 Day 1 Wednesday

The Plan

1. HQ: video all
1. wheelbarrow turns for 2nd time
2. dressage leg yield - MH homework
3. Dan's exercise w/o the carrot stick--can you--from shift seat bones?
2. Seat
1. Check I am on my balance point at the walk
2. Study my pattern of cueing gait transitions (?canter in the soupy ring)
3. Play with trotting with engaged seat and will Try match it? Video this
3. RBE to LBE
1. Tell CH about Nickers
2. Visualize and use big+E as acting exercise
3. Watch myself with BA
4. Fun
1. Play around with pick me up to mount
2. Go for long walk up the road and then graze

Order:

1. On the ground: warmup, wheelbarrow turn, pick me up
2. Riding: HQ yield from seat bones, figure out cueing for gait trans, balance point checks, trot with engaged seat and laps then few leg yields
3. Leave the farm

What happened

1. I didn't get any video--technical difficulties. grrr.

2. Try was full of herself and, of course, I loved it!

She offered the pedestal. Then she did something snarky? so we played some fast and furious games and she was full of big ol angry canter but settled with a lot of licking and chewing. We did wheelbarrow turns and they were better tho the HQ steps were not as big but they were calm and smooth. 

Pick me up: we played with this 1/2 dozen times or so--various places--I think the mounting block/pedestal was where she knew the game best. Funny on the fence by the road--she got into position but a bit to far front so I told her I couldn't get on from there and just sat and she backed. I did not draw any conclusions. One time I didn't like a lack of response and upped my phases and she was all yes ma'am.

One time I went ahead and got on but did not have a carrot stick/string around her neck or bridle and we rode around for a while. It was fine but less precise. Then I got the stick/string--played with HQ yield from shifting my weight and even with turning my belly button didn't get much response. So went back to stick and then it was better without the stick.

walk: lean forward, trot: cluck cluck then bounce legs, trot to walk--stick by stomach out, walk to halt say "ho" or take feet out of stirrups.

Thought about my balance point several times. Did posting trot without bridle thinking of engaging my lower abs and seat muscles and it felt great. Repeated with the bridle and light contact and ok but not as glorious. Forgot about leg yields.

left the farm and walked up the road some and trotted back.

Week 2 Goals

week 2
I.	Increase Try's right side HQ flexibility
		each time but less
		wheelbarrow turns
		dressage leg yields
		see if MH sees a difference
		pepper it in
		play with it bareback
		can I get those big steps without carrot stick--from shifting my weight?
		can I get more/consistent steps with traveling leg yield on the ground--allowing FQ drift??
II.	Using seat cues
		be on my balance point
		stop and clean up as needed
		using can you patterns including leg yield
		use my phases	visualize	relax	ask light seat		seat	leg
		think about how I use cues together--isolate, separate and recombine
		list everything I cue and cues/phases I use--then analyze for consistency or being too similar
		Linda's engaged seat--check for both the rise and the sit--should feel lighter to Try
		can hold pommel to guide pubic bone
		will Try match my engagement--video
		pilates dvd
III.	Balancing my need to be more LBE with consideration for Try
		Me: priority negative self-talk
		people and horse pleasing
		positive confrontation thru phases
		strong confident ++ energy
		visualization--bathtub reminder
		be aware and TRACK it
		watch myself with h'ship instructors
	Try: increase her mental fitness of attention span and attitude
	sync, dwell, awareness,
	do 1 unexpected thing each day--surprise and intrigue her
	energy of either oneness or Jim Carrey
	play with chunks of mount--keep energy flowing, fence for heights, draw w/exuberance
	need round pen
	whats in it for her
IV	Sense of Fun and varying the monotone
	how--needs variety??
	riding rather than stick to me??
	review notes for higher energy games
	music, line dancing, spanish walk
	brainstorm bucket list of everything fun: beach
	Dan list for high energy games

Week 1 Wrap Up - Progress and Next Week Focus

I. HQ flexibility especially on Try's right side.

I was pleased that we explored this consistently all three days on the ground and riding using 1/2 dozen or so different exercises for variety. I mostly remembered to look for relaxed, smooth, unemotional steps. We did get a lot of big steps crossing over outside hind foot--not consistently on every step. Try's right side HQ yields are not as free at least riding. To progress this for next week I would like to continue the wheelbarrow turns on the ground and go back to dressage leg yields with emphasis on the right HQ.

II. Freedom getting out of my head: I want to take this off the list and come back to it later. We did have some nice free moments of stick-to-me/her. Including stopping on a dime was improved. I have seen our syncing with each other really improve since Dan's visit December 20.

III. Using seat cues first.

This is the best review we have ever done. I was not surprised that Try is so good at this but pleased to be thinking of ways to put it to purpose. Also of note--this improved each time as the session progressed.
1. Stopping and cleaning up
2. Using a pattern as a "can you."
3. Clearing up confusion caused by taking out all the other cueing.
For next week--add back in riding with soft feel, legs and see if I can use my phases:
a. Visualize the transition/cue
b. Think relax
c.  Ask lightly with my seat
d. More seat
e. Leg

IV Comfort zone: Progress: I was able to think all week about my people/horse pleasing habits and how they hold me back. For next week--I want to add to thinking--finding the strong but relaxed energy I need. With Try I want to consider, plan and use phases to stay with a task until we win it. Also I want to apply this thinking to my people and horse people relationships--a strong confident positive energy--so I am taking control.

V. Try--expanding her mental fitness to do more. We are on our way with IV above. I like seeing and feeling a loose relaxed Try when we ride. Also her lateral flexion at a stand still on right side is amazingly soft and giving. For next week I want to be reminded to keep checking in with her, sync, dwell to balance with using phases.

Also to consider
1. I find a need to change negative messages I give myself:
a. If Try and I aren't doing something at better than level 4 quality, I have failed.
b. When we have a small success, I find something else that needs fixing instead of celebrating the win. "Don't erase the finish line." "When is it Miller Time?"
2. Should "monotone" make its way to the goal list?
3. Should Nickers (LBE pony) come to Rollover now or later?
4. Balance point clean up?
5. What about mounting block pick me up clean up?

Day 3 - Monday January 13.

The Plan

I. Increase flexibility of HQ yields on the right side
1. I want to film a basic level 1 HQ yield
2.I want to vary what we have been doing and decided to pick wheelbarrow turns as its been a very long time since we have done them. Plan is to begin with on line driving with two 22' lines and review "go" and turning.
3. In the saddle: wheel barrow turn--possibly around cones to add a sense of direction.
4. Turn on the forehand?? or simple tea for two--VIDEO
5. Remember quality of the yield--smooth and relaxed.

What happened: On the ground--
1.I was confused as to whether the step was crossing over and relaxed enough in the #1 basic. 
2. Wheelbarrow turns--we were getting some really big HQ yields--they did not feel overly emotional. Took a while to get it going as we haven't done zone 5 driving in several years. I do like the lighter 22' reins.

riding: I did get what I think are some good HQ steps on tape (49 seconds):

II. Freedom and joy for me--No progress this week--I needed a break from music. The pastures/fields are too muddy and slippery for riding. I have been sad that Dan Thompson is leaving. I did play early in the week with music and stick to me on the ground. I have video of playing with this late December: 
Check menu at the right: "Videotape Try and I to music" stick-to-me/her video 4 minutes The goal is joy, syncing and also varying energies so as not to have all a monotone. Note: if I am not finding the joy right now, I could find music for the sorrow and ride/play/dance it with Try and that would fall into the freedom and letting go category.


III. Riding from seat cues.
1. Because Try knows them, the issue (Teach/Control/Reinforce/Refine) becomes
a. am I using my phases (eyes/bellybutton/leg/stick) or seat/leg/reins
b. If Try ignores a seat cue--stop and clean it up--rather than just go on and ignore it. cleaning up video:

c. Use a pattern: i.e. walk AtoX, halt, walktoC, pick up trot on the rail to A and 20 meter circle. CAN YOU?

What we did: I reviewed a bit and then we went to the dressage ring. I started with reins on her neck and feet out of the stirrups and concentrated on only using seat and found 1. we lost precision in the geometry of the pattern. But the go/stop/turn that we had worked on were better. However two new issues--where was follow my focus? and not being on my balance point. Then we had confusion in distinguishing the difference between upward and downward transitions in my seat and half halt without using simultaneous leg or voice cues. (Western Pleasure issues). Then stretching and at the end bigger trot with super loose reins.

video 

IV. and V.
Comfort zone for Try and I. Be aware and release feelings of having to please Try (not the same as being pleased WITH Try LOL). Try can just do a bit more than she wants and get over it. The other side of this is my being respectful of Try--when she has it--quit, reward and/or progress it.

The something new/progressed: straddle the pole vertically from zone 1 not zone 3 and from a greater distance. This was the second day--why didn't she just do it without my asking--I guess that is her very strong need to retain some control. I am not repeating this until I have a better plan for effectiveness.  
Video (45 seconds):

All in all:
My luck score may have gone down last week with Dan leaving but a friend is offering me a free lease on a super cool LBE pony that I have always wanted to play with so I am still lucky.

Also issues coming up this week are phasing to be effective and not being afraid to use them, the monotone and wanting to establish who I am and what I can do in a new way. RBE lack of confidence holds me back.

Inspiration

http://www.barnmice.com/video/kelly-sigler-and-buckley-bridleless

Kelly Sigler and Buckley
Liberty play, Bridleless riding and Finesse

Day 2 of the PLAN

The Plan followed by results

Starting on the ground

1. Something new--not really new but progressed--straddle the cavaletti pole vertically, asking from a greater distance (basically from zone 1).

Result: With a 22' line, I asked from about 15' and did not move my feet. She asked a lot of questions and offered a lot of different things--particularly putting various feet on the pole. Once we were close to the answer--I felt it took too long and she wasn't really focusing/trying as she could have and would have if we were closer. However, she did get it. Game over, enthusiastic good girl, treat, etc. This can be repeated soon.

2. Sync to music--stick to each other. Purpose: Try's willingness to play/match different energy levels. Right side, 5 zones, 3 gaits, 7 games. Moment to new moment. But do add in stop on a dime.

Result: It just didn't work to do much with this--the music wasn't inspiring me to move. But Try did match my energy better than the other day and we were so much better at stopping on a dime from a trot after a few tries. I want to leave general stick to me and come back to it in a different way, or focusing in on something in particular. No music for a while.

3. On the ground one good HQ yield each side--big step and check for relaxation. Big treat and time to absorb.

Result: good big steps but please video and get feedback!

Riding

As it turned out it was starting to rain so rather than go groom and tack up in the barn, I rode bareback with 22' line and carrot stick minus savvy string--didn't seem to make any difference. Ring is the only place on the property that is ok to ride--still muddy mess but at least the ground isn't frozen the way it was yesterday.

1. Lateral flexion and one good HQ step each way from a stand still.

Lateral flexion was even better on the right side than the left. I need to videotape this.

2. Play with seat cues as warmup choose one to be particular ie backing.

From a walk, halt and back was great today. I think Try really knows seat cues. I believe the issue is do I use them consistently and then, if Try isn't responding use reinforcement cueing. So new plan is to focus on me--using a typical pattern etc--and just see if using seat cues can be my first thought.

2. Circling for HQ yield Dan and MH approaches

Not as good as yesterday. Did not do MH method with contact. Need to research for some different ways to play with this before it becomes "work." Perhaps wheelbarrow turns or find a different place to play?

Finish with leave the farm to graze in the green grass. YES we did this--its her fav.

Finally a day at the barn! Day 1 of the PLAN Thursday

First day to play with my new goals and priorities! Unfortunately could not find video camera--will borrow BA's tomorrow.

Goal/Concept #1
I want to help Try be more flexible in her right HQ yields.
What we did--
1. To give Try the idea we started with old level 1, 7 games driving game to move HQ. We fairly quickly had nice big steps with the inside hind leg crossing in front of the outside leg and they did not seem rushed or emotional. Praise and quit.
2. Later we took this to a circle or falling leaf on a circle and we lost precision in the step. ??Step was in front of hind but not crossing over on the circle.
3. Later still I did Dan's exercise riding ask first from a stand still for a HQ yield and got a couple of big steps each way but not on every try. I used the carrot stick. Then took it to a walk on the circle and I think a got one or two steps much better than the others and wished I had it on video. I know the feeling of a really good big step and did not get that.
4. Towards the end of the session, we trotted large and small circles with a soft feel and bend. More on the right side but on both sides.

Goal/Concept #2
Being free, having fun and being out of my head: nope, didn't do it. We did play sticking together (stick to me) to music.

Goal/Concept #3
Using seat cues first then leg cues in search of ever lighter cueing: I played "Can Yous" as warmup in the saddle. Try was not fully into it. But asked for go, halt, walk to trot and trot to walk and turning with NO
leg. Upward transitions used kiss some, sometimes she went from walk to trot with just seat and I bet if I made a program of it we could have it with consistancy. Downward transitions trot to walk are always good. Walk to halt were mostly good if I added a vocal cue of "aaaand whoa" A couple Try did from seat without vocals. Turning took leg and lots of body position until later on when we trotted circles from my body alone.

Goal/Concept #4 and #5
Expanding our comfort zones by releasing my need to please Try and increasing Try's mental fitness to be able to continue to "work" on something for a longer period of time: I thought about the energy I needed to be the leader but could not pull it together was not in the mood. (Actually a very sad day with my luck score slipping a bit.) I checked the on line circling and stick to me to quit before it got boring for Try--hope I achieved that. Try got irritated some in the riding but nothing like years ago with my using the carrot stick. She also inititally wasn't keen on the soft feel/contact but within maybe ??15 seconds had it and had so much better self-carriage than a couple months ago. She seemed at peace with that.

Also of note: Stick to me to music was a bit better -- day 3 not consecutive--slightly more energy, better syncing with each other. Better stopping on a dime goal.