21 days to form a new habit(s) days 1-3

It is the highest priority to me to start at the absolute beginning of cueing while riding from the standpoint of teaching/control/reinforcement and refining or putting to a purpose/progressing.

Why? 1. Contact with a horse's mouth is so far something that emotionally I can't feel good about.
2. The better my cueing, the more polite and respectful of Try's ability, the happier she is and our relationship.
3. Cueing from my body language--matching and mirroring is the most natural riding aid to me with my dance background of communicating to an audience through movement.

For success:
1. Go slow and go step by step to be clear and polite
2. Druthers--LB--I need polite, consistent way (with phases) to have a conversation with Try that yes I understand this isn't her first choice of activities at the moment but yes this is what we are going to do and I would like you to pay attention and give it your best effort.


So--redo my cueing list I started a few weeks ago updating with what I did with Dan riding. Then need to fill out/redo the upward and downward transition cueing.

Then--21 days of repetition--with variety and progression to keep Try happy.
Analyzing how effective I am and why/whynot.
Most important not to get side tracked.

Day 1: Dan and the backup--see notes
Day 2: Dan--backup, forward with changes of speed within a walk, turns on a circle straight or shaping and pivot on HQs. see notes

Day 3: first day Try and I on our own.
Backup: I was able to get it from wheelbarrow leg. But I have a question--if my body says the direction is backward and the first leg says GO--when or if--can we drop all leg cueing in the backup? We did put this to purpose of backing a cavaletti pole and she offered to sidepass off the pole. Later we backed along a jump--this could be further put to purpose of backing along the rail at the judges stand or out by the pasture gates. Also speed, distance and pattern.

Forward from a standstill: This is the easiest to cue. To progress this add changes of speed within the walk before trotting.

Turning straight in my body--we have this at the walk and trot--thank you Kathy.
Turning by shaping/bending my body--I really felt how to do this without twisting from my hips and it was incredible--that little bit of bend in my body she would match so easily.
We were able to progress this into serpentines so easily and I am sure we are ready for the trot. Also I want to think of a couple of good patterns.

Pivot on HQ--Dan and Kathy were pleased with this Day 2 but I still don't like it--I feel that I am hauling Try around by her front end.

Also transitions of gait in the future. Turning we started because I have felt very uncomfortable cueing laterals with all sorts of leg and rein aids in lessons.