Monday

Sephira

No one at the barn when I arrived so we played out back for connection and then did a good grooming after the weekend. (I had promised myself not to ride Sephira if there is no one on the farm.)

Anyway--good stuff
1. She has still got backup from the look--one step anyway--and that after not doing this for ??two weeks.
2. extreme friendly--she has no issues with slapping the ground standing in near her nor helicopter. If I slap the ground with intention directed to her she knows the difference.
3. circling game--she will make downward transitions from my energy down
4. She is so curious--explores when she gets out back and did the hunt for treats which went well
5. she enjoyed grooming and pampering

priorities
1. she knows move HQ from a look--??from other horses?? anyway, can we establish this and the backup as a consistent pattern?
2. ride!

Try

I had not planned to ride her today but oh well. Groomed in the wash stall and played around in the ring. She was in a funny mood. Started out draggy, then on adrenalin a bit and really wanting to trot out, then not interested in cantering then offering canter.

good stuff
1. I loved being with her
2. She had fewer insect bites
3. she was super at the mounting block/bridling and haltering
4. we repeated things calmly til they got done
5. sitting the canter in wintek saddle

priorities
1. time off for chiropractic
2. can I find a fun mental challenge/pressure for Try?
3. counter canter

Thursday - Try and I playing with the canter

The plan was
1. golden feeling
2. play with canter using HQ/counter canter and fitness
3. give a bit of attention to soft feel and also rhythm and freedom in the trot

When I arrived
Try was not in the mood to do anything--hot, humid and ??perhaps a stressful night out at the barn with some pasture changes for some of the horses.

What we did
1. We really took our time and started really slow. Hanging out and playing on line with a game we know and do well. Hanging out at the mounting block with massage and relax.
2. Slow walk and then little jog with transitions and rest in the shade.
3. Playing with trot and some soft feel just to check that Try did not have any negative feelings about the contact. Some trot for fitness.
4. Canter in the dressage ring--using HQ but no contact. Playing with change of direction and maintaining the lead to be counter canter--we were confused with mixed results. Then just asked on the rail for counter canter and I think that is the better way for us to establish that counter canter is ok and not a mistake to be "fixed."
5. A few canter laps in the main ring.
6. shower, hang out

Good stuff
1. It was a pleasure for me to spend time with Try
2. I liked that I recognized Try is in charge of the timeline.
3. We achieved some riding for fitness without stress or negativity
4. This was my first real cantering since the shoulder accident and it was great.
5. We have a plan for getting the counter canter established.

Priorities
1. freedom and relaxation in the trot--yeehaw
2. counter canter

Wednesday - Day off from the barn

Tuesday

Try

THE PLAN
groom, check FQ/HQ yields lightness in porcupine game, warmup for MH
MH: ask her to check for suppleness, discuss freedom and rhythm in the trot and using HQ in the canter.

Let Try know MH will ride.

"I am loving my morning with the glorious, wonderful Try--spending time together is golden."

WHAT WE DID

good stuff

• It was delightful being in Try's company: grooming, warming up, hanging out, the mounting block and showering. So sweet, relaxed and a pleasure to be with.
• I saw a really pretty trot--may have some video
• It took a while to get canter but it was nice also--balance of rhythm relaxation and framing up
• compliment from MH for Try and I for how soft and light she was on contact

video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enZk4AfSYvI&feature=youtu.be

Priority

Play with canter and counter canter

Conversation out back

Sephira

THE PLAN
the mounting block, see if Catherine/BA want to play/discuss
picture in my mind Sephira approaching the mounting block and getting into place.

"Sephira is walking to the mounting block and positioning herself for mounting--happy to help and fully confident that her ride will be lovely."

Catherine rode Sephira--nice at the mounting block--did not go internal. Enjoyed grooming and shower but issues with coughing especially at the canter.

Both affirmations/visualizations did happen just as pictured.

Monday - lovely day with Sephira and Try

Sephira
groom, ride, shower

good stuff

• got canter lead both ways on first try
• posting trot with Dawn's suggestion was really solid and in sync
• Sephira was happy for me to clean her teets--first time
• enjoyed the ride and felt confident--no sense of anything scary
• Sephira was lovely to groom

priorities

• partner at the mounting block
• play out back
• take trot and canter a bit further

Try

groom, spa day, on line circling

good stuff

• awesome circling from the stand point of cueing and mind reading--no need for carrot stick
• awesome circling from the stand point of using HQ
• lovely to groom
• enjoyed spa day--shower, clip, treat rain rot, curry, being together
• happy for me to clean her teets

priorities

• set myself up for cantering in western saddle with HQ engagement
• check for stiffness/ areas to concentrate on suppling?

Phone coaching call Friday with Dawn

Conclusions:

It is time to get my act together over shoulder stuff and get back to being me!
Affirmations and constant conscious awareness for my confidence.

Misc

• Treats--plan them to teach but avoid the cookie monster (maybe not have them on my person).
• Approval can be verbal, stroking etc to let horse know she figured out the puzzle.
• Dwell time: this is when the magic happens

Canter--Try

• With Try for fitness, online circling is an option
• I don't have to ride it if it feels wrong--play with trot--long/short etc
• Options with Try: light seat, two point, California roll instead of casual rein
• Standing: Colleen Kelly exercise WTC

Trot--Sephira

• Rising trot--pubic toward my hand--helps horse use HQ
• think hip bone head lights shine over her ears
• upward 45 degree angle

Shoulder/injury fears

• I have been spoiled by how safe Try is--there are few horses like that
• Good for my growth to learn to be safe and confident with different horses
• Trust my gut feeling
• Stay rested and take days off
• Affirmations and blog it
• Go ahead and get it x-rayed.

Mind Reading Thoughts

There is no doubt in my mind that Try and Sephira read my mind when we are together and I look to see what they are thinking and feeling. I practice at home clearing my mind and sending messages. i.e. I just sent a message for Sephira thanking her and appreciating the way she took care of Jen in this morning's ride. Both Try and Sephira look at me in a very connected way--Sephira more intently  much of the time and Try knows me so well and is so comfortable about it.

Joey Barley (BA's hunter trainer/coach) who found me for Sephira said in message this week--

Elizabeth I can't express .how happy it makes me that u have sapheria I feel as if one of my life's missions is complete thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.

Joey said Sephira saved his horse Devon's life. Joey said he and Devon communicate by mind reading and can do that between Burlington and New Bern. He felt Sephira was terribly unhappy and it was his mission to provide a good new life for her.

Marie said that this communication method is what all great horsemen do.
Although I was confused and certainly have some doubts, I am very intrigued.
Of course, just because you can communicate and they understand, does not mean that what I want is top of their priority list. HAHA

Friday - Group Ride - Try

Today I rode Try, Jen rode Sephira, Catherine rode Nudie and BA rode Nelson in the ring together. After two 100 degree plus heat index no riding days, we were all glad to get back out there. Try and Sephira enjoyed getting groomed and showered/bathed. I enjoyed watched Jen (BA's daughter age ?12 or 13, tiny, riding Sephira and seeing how safe she was with just a bit of coaching from BA--really good for my confidence. Rode Try with left arm--she neck reins--etc--as shoulder has been sore again now that I have cut back on the ibuprofen. We did actually do trot laps and rode more and longer than before. Try has learned that it helps me for her to sidepass over the mounting block so I can dismount--she is so great. Sephira enjoyed having Jen give her a baby oil bath--her dry coat just lapped it up and Sephira seemed so happy about it.

Wednesday - thoughts about fears

If love and fear can not co-exist then the fear must go.

FEAR of being INJURED

Try: I do not recall ever being afraid of getting hurt BUT I also feel completely free to call a halt to anything that doesn't feel right.

What is the fear--the worst that can happen? That I am too old and not physically strong enough or a good enough rider and I will fall and be permanently disabled for a good long miserable old age.

Many injuries or falls in my riding past I have realized occurred when I was stressed in a lesson situation but not all. I also fell with Spiderman when he spooked. Also a factor several times was being over over tired.
When I am tired it is likely that my alignment is not good--rib cage collapsed rather than open.

Reminder:
1. not tired
2. open ribcage/shoulders back
3. trot on my balance point and more vertical
4. sync/mirror and match Sephira
5. soft feel for connection??
6. my legs resting gently on her body

I am safe riding when I trust my judgement and go with it.
I respect myself enough to rest and take a day off as needed.
I am enjoying setting an unconscious habit of riding physically for alignment and safety.

----------------

FEAR of losing Sephira

I feel bombarded with negativity. I do not want to worry that if I am not safe I can not keep Facebook posts of riders falling, getting killed. This is fueling fear.

Yesterday riding Sephira I was careful to sync with her trot and transitioned to the walk frequently--partly for my shoulder and also to build confidence. I was never in any danger of being out of control.

I am enjoying riding Sephira's beautiful big suspended trot.

I love this horse dearly and have promised the both of us that I will care for her for the rest of her life. I think with my Parelli background I can create a wonderful situation for Sephira--admiration for her talent and her beautiful spirit, physically in shape in a moderate healthful manner, mental challenge of the Parelli program and philosophy and a great deal of love from me and others. Also a facility geared to the upmost comfort, safety and relaxation. On the other hand, Sephira can give to me--the chance to learn more about the physical development and capabilities of horses, the opportunity to become a better rider by riding a very different horse physically than Try. Sephira can give Try a break. Sephira and I can connect on a deep level.
I feel we must be together.

I am so grateful that Sephira and I have found each other. 
We are both enjoying getting to know each other.
Sephira and I are so very attuned to each other.
I am aware and not taking riding for granted until Sephira and I know each other well.
I can say no. I do not need to "tough it out."

Tuesday - First ride with Sephira

Today I rode Sephira for the first time since my accident. I was afraid and still have fears that I am now too old to ride such a horse. However it went well.

Mounting: Easy--she stood and nearly went to sleep before we walked off. She will walk from a stand still from my seat cue alone. After walking a considerable amount of time we alternated walk with trot. I did not trot for long at a time to protect my shoulder. I was pleased that some how I seemed the most in sync ever  with her big trot. Several hints for safety--

1. Riding on my balance point in the trot rather than forward as in hunt seat. (more vertical posting).
2. Making a new habit to have my legs resting against her side in case I might actually need them. LOL
3. BA recommended to trot with soft feel to help both of us.
4. My 9 points pilates--alignment especially open rib cage--

So the good stuff:

1. I rode and trotted.
2. I overcame fears
3. I synced with the trot
4. She was a partner for me in mounting, dismounting and learning lighter cueing
5. She is backing from the nose at what would be the traditional phase one--touching the hair.

Priorities

1. Time to step away from treats before she becomes a cookie monster
2. Check list for porcupine game and maybe driving for HQ??
3. Continue riding so we can be partners/on the same page/communication/connection
4. Baby oil bath? for dry coat

Interesting:

Sephira does not lose connection with me BUT she could learn to be connected and still play against me! She is curious and playful and confident. Try on the other hand can drop the connection and pick it back up quickly which is actually quite useful--when I need to focus elsewhere she can just relax and take a snooze.

Weekly goals

Horsemanship 8, Rider 8
Talent 22, Skill 22, Try 24, and Luck 25

Try
Conversation? and dwell time
Freestyle canter in western saddle
Play and experiment with cueing counter canter

Me
golden feeling - meditation and relation
mind reading and affirmations
consider fears and blog--affirmations
physical fitness -- pilates for riders dvd

Sephira
Check list for porcupine
Check out driving HQ?? experiment
Ride walk and careful trot

Monday - Hot weather arrives - Lovely day with Try and Sephira

Try:

We rode

good stuff

1. Was she ready for a conversation? yes
2. We took our time and acknowledged the heat, rested in the shade.
3. HQ yields were good on the ground and riding
4. She offered vertical straddle of pole
5. mount/dismount/bridling she was a great partner
6. trot is returning to free and loose

priorities

1. dealing with the heat
2. vary how we play with HQ yields
3. For me--review leg yields

Sephira:

We played out back--liberty and on line for the backup.

Good stuff

1. Ready for Conversation
2. Tons of draw
3. GREAT curiosity
4. Backing from the nose from phase 1 supported with driving
5. She has figured out the bridge from Easter egg hunt to touch it.

Priorities

1. no treats
2. my confidence/fears
3. RIDE
4. awareness of phases in porcupine games

Comments on visualization, talking to Try and Sephira and affirmations--I prepared well. I thought I would be relaxed and really enjoy just hanging with Sephira but I was nervous. Try was absolutely not in the mood to do anything because of the heat so we played at it and were actually fairly successful.

Friday: 2: 5+2

Try
We rode

good stuff
1. conversation? yes--in her stall--interested in coming to me and in going and doing something.
2. trot--yes--better and closer to the freedom of two weeks ago!
3. no objections to soft feel at the trot
4. I had a good time
5. awesome partner for the dismount--backed and sideways so I could get off onto the mounting block!

priorities for next time
1. play with porcupine and HQ at a halt on the ground to cue Try what we are lookin to do
2. find a fun game: ?? knock the cone off the barrel

Sephira
We played out back

good stuff
1. Yes she wanted to play and after it was over and she was back in her stall she still wanted to play
2. she has very expressive eyes
3. her backing from the nose was lighter and I think she is getting the idea/figuring it out
4. she enjoyed the Easter Egg hunt/touch it but I am not sure what she learned other than we don't always have to be working at something difficult and that is a great thing to learn.
5. great draw
6. lots of curiosity
7. we were both freer to just be/dwell/session mostly at liberty
Ooops that was supposed to be 5

priorities
1. go thru the check list
2. ? repeat the backup--treats and good girl, pats for right answer
3. can we give a treat for touch it??

soon
Ride and check out Cathy's saddle so I can return it.

Wednesday

Today Try and I spent time together:

5 great things.
1. The conversation--she left her hay and came to me.
2. We played the Easter Egg hunt/touch it game with treats on obstacles. She so knew the game but got confused at two obstacles thinking she needed to offer tricks before we went on to the next hunt.
3. She offered games
4. We were cleaner on the circle and I reset when asking for HQ yields on the circle
5. I got to ride!

(Note I used affirmations for the circling etc in preparation.)

Priorities
1. We have lost the glorious loose freedom in the trot: ??weather and humidity??
2. I think it would be great for relationship to pick one simple thing to sharpen up each time we get together.

Sephira--Katherine rode and I went out for a few minutes and the 3 of us hung out and visited and appreciated Sephira. Also at the end when Katherine was hanging out with Sephira in the shade, Sephira used her eyes to signal she wanted to connect so I joined them and had treats in my pocket.

5 great things
1. Sephira got a lovely break in her ride for us to visit
2. Sephira felt appreciated
3. She got a lovely relaxed physical fitness session
4. We got to hang out in the shade under the trees
5. She loved getting treats
6. She saw me and wanted me to come.

2 priorities
1. ride at a walk
2. easter egg hunt/touch it to build confidence in learning/puzzle solving

Weekly goals

Horse development 8
Rider 8

talent 24
skill 22
try 24
luck 25+

Try

• Is she interested in a conversation--dwell time
• Circling and HQ
• Experiment with loose, relaxed powerful trot--video
• Play with canter and counter canter

Me

• golden feeling
• mind reading
• confidence in the canter

Sephira

• Conversation?
• Check list--back from the nose
• Easter egg hunt (touch it) for fun and confidence in puzzle solving
• Ride for relaxation and connection at a walk.

Dennis Callin weekend

News: Dennis Callin weekend--Very positive and supportive for the riders with a lot of consideration for the horses' physically and emotionally. The riders all very pleased. Everyone saw big changes in horses--basically from using exercises we all do every day?? Even though it was incredible to see what Sephira could do AND he pushed me to canter Try on contact and get beyond a fear, this is not what I want to be doing. I truly have no interest in competition at all and happy to learn some dressage at a very leisurely pace with Sephira and possibly even more leisurely with Try. Photos at the end.

A few highlights:

1. Bethanna (BA) rode Sephira day 1--BA has no dressage background whatsoever--hunter--and of course Sephira hasn't been a dressage horse for years--ridden as hunter if ridden at all. In the 20 minute session of serpentines, leg yield, counter canter etc, she rounded up--gorgeous (brief) leg yields, shoulder in, haunches in, 1/2 pass, flying changes. Dennis said 4th level. I thought the session went 4-5 minutes too long and that Sephira was really tired at the end.

2. Day 2--I rode Try, instead of Bethanna riding Sephira again as planned, BA and I both thought better to give Sephira a rest (bute both days). Dennis had me riding Try with contact at the canter and counter canter. Try and I have never played with counter canter before and there is no reason not to--she was great. I was amazed--I told him I wasn't ready for contact at the canter and he said do it anyway. Try was therefor using her HQ and I was actually able to sit her canter in that saddle while doing patterns etc--big step for me. I watched the video--her trot wasn't as powerful and relaxed as it has been lately. I think Try was sufficiently challenged in the session and she was very focused etc--not leaving time to think much about not wanting to do it. I won't ride Try this way often BUT it is time to reconsider some of the ways I have been telling myself I can't do things. I want to play with the trot on my own and video.

3. Another highlight (among many)--Bethanna rode her show hunter show horse Devon.  I had the opportunity to ride Devon--as hunter--not jumping-- for 4-5 months last year twice a week and had a couple wow dressage lessons riding him. He took to the dressage like crazy--confident, sure, responding. Dennis said Bethanna could show him 4th level right now. (Bethanna no such plans--and said absolutely not 4th level BUT said she could really see building some of the dressage training into his training/maintaining regimen.)

Pictures taken by Kathy Glielmi from Day 1

Day two: Try and I

Preparation--emotional fitness: I was nervous about doing this and planned emotional fitness goals, used affirmations and breathing/meditation at home in the morning. I groomed Try early and we both felt edgy. I had sent her messages in advance that we needed to do this to give Sephira a break. When we got to the ring for the lesson I did a few things on the ground to get more mental connection and then in the warmup just walked and played with things to get us on the same page and relaxed.

We started the session with Dennis asking me to pick up the reins and round her up. She wasn't ready so I asked to go back and trot a while asking for stretching. That worked and we did fairly well with it tho in and out during the session. Fairly quickly he asked us to canter--I told him I don't canter with connection with the reins and he said go ahead and do it anyway. And it was ok, Try was using her HQ and I was able to canter with her in that saddle with contact for the first time ever. I doubt Try loved it LOL but she went along with it. He challenged us with counter canter--a first for us and actually not difficult.

We did
Serpentines--bending and maintaining frame and not falling in
lots of transitions--gait and direction change rein on the 1/2 diagonal and riding a large circle
Leg yields or perhaps drifts?? complimented on those. Lengthening the trot--didn't focus on it.
Early on canter on the circle and then the rail both directions. Finished with challege of counter canter.

Fears
1. Being able to sit Try's canter in the wintec saddle--with or without contact.
2. I can only ride an LBI or Try and be safe.

Try 5 things that were great and 2 priorities
1. we cantered in the wintec saddle
2. counter canter
3. great feeling in the serpentines
4. I enjoyed Try's try and going-along-with-it attitude
5. stretching and vertical flexion at the trot really worked

1. counter canter just for fun
2. more warmup and not be afraid of Try's power
3. play with loose rhythm relaxed big trot
ooops that's 3 not 2

Thoughts after several days: I am pleased that I can feel more confident about the canter. I still feel it is premature to be cantering with contact and asking Try to come up thru topline. I feel we are at the stage of feeling good about peppering in soft feel at the trot and walk and feeling great about ourselves.

I am pleased that I see I can banish whatever fears upon consideration and go ahead in learning.

Try: I want to take my dressage learning very slowly, building our learning, confidence, physicality and joy of movement.
Sephira: I want to take my dressage learning very slowly, building our learning, confidence, physicality and joy of movement. Just because she knows it, doesn't mean either or us want to push ourselves to do it.

Friday's session with Marie, Tammy, Try and Sephira

Creating the “golden” state of being in myself that Try and Sephira like, makes me open to reading them and communicating on a deeper level. 

This was an incredibly wonderful morning--just EXACTLY what I needed!!!!

1.      Breathing:

a.      At home practice—deep breathing from yoga

b.      Practice during dwell time

c.      Use it when I feel tension

d.      Use it riding for freedom and joy

e.      Use as prep for communication

f.       Use to be able to quickly find the quiet/relaxation/golden state

2.      Use affirmations:

a.      Review ones I use already

b.      Plan when and where to use

c.      Use affirmations on the way to the barn keyed to the day’s plan

d.      I love you, I am sorry, I forgive you

e.      Check Louise Hay, Joe Vitale and Hawaiin guy for tapes

f.       Ask Marie for links

g.      5 things to be grateful for—Will Bowen

h.      List all the things I love about Try, also Sephira

i.       List all the things I have learned from horses

j.       After session, on the way home:

                                                    i.     5 things that went well

                                                   ii.     2 priorities for next time

                                                  iii.     Hold myself accountable for the priorities

                                                  iv.     Make + affirmations based on the priorities

                                                   v.     Visualize positive intent, each step with clarity

                                                  vi.     Task must be achievable for us both

3.      Log/blog the journey of spiritual growth, dwell time, use of affirmations. Becoming ethereal.

4.      Is Try ready for a conversation?

a.      No she was not and for a long time. She was tired and had a long, rough night upset over Sephira being moved to a different pasture. At times she was conflicted over whether to come to me or hang at the gate to watch horses come and go.

b.      I sat on the ground and worked on my breathing. At first breathing and inviting which is kind of a MAKE. Getting distracted and starting over. Playing with how deep the breathing.

c.      She did come and we hung out at the fence. She still not ready to do anything. Eventually we did a little stick to me.

d.      Marie suggested I approach Try as if I had never seen her before and check her out.

e.      I started with 7 games: friendly good enuf, porcupine she was light and awesome, yoyo amazing also. Circling at liberty—soso Sideways away good but toward wasn’t there!

f.       Circling on line: moving forward, yield inside HQ to spiral shoulder, resets

g.      Did not ride but discussed saddling as if she had never been saddled before

5.      So 5 great things

a.      Try came to me

b.      We played stick to me without stick or string despite Try being exhausted

c.      Try’s porcupine game was light as a dream

d.      Try was lovely to be with and I felt confident being with her.

e.      I felt proud of how light Try was with cueing—especially with Tammy watching as she had not seen Try in action in years.

6.      2 priorities for next time

a.      Is Try ready for a conversation

b.      HQ yield on the circle

7.      Affirmations

a.      Try and I are enjoying dwell time together. I am practicing my breathing and journey toward golden. I am enjoying experimenting and reading Try in the moment.

b.      Try and I found success in the HQ yield and I asked and then reset.

c.      Riding: Try and I are enjoying a lovely ride that is just what we need for our physical and mental health.

Sephira

1.      Was she ready for a conversation? Yes

2.      Checking her out on line

a.      Friendly: ok—with stick and string etc but not relaxing. Rubbing her forehead can be relaxing

b.      Porcupine: Backup from the nose—she doesn’t know it. From Intention not today. From the chest was light. Shoulder yields—yes but not pivoting. HQ—yes she moves it easily.

                                                    i.     Yoyo—yes and good draw

3.      Played with backup from the nose: intention, 4 phases and support with driving rhythm. Quit with a bit of success.

4.      Confidence improved from our last session with Marie

5.      Test of Confidence

a.      Confidence in me as a leader

b.      Confidence in things

c.      Confidence in learning

d.      Confidence in what we are doing?

6.      What went well

a.      Curious

b.      More relaxed

c.      Good draw

d.      Positive reflexes in most of porcupine game as a new game for her

e.      She is beginning to get the idea that she can figure out how to solve a puzzle

7.      Priorities for next time

a.      Play with backup from the nose for puzzle solving learning

b.      Play with Easter egg hunt/touch it as a super fun game which will tap into her natural curiosity and build her confidence in learning. Attainable.

Friday - my notes in preparation for morning with Marie

2014 6 6 prep for Marie

Sephira

1.      Catching games: advantages/disadvantages/differences??

a.      Zigzag to take off the pressure

b.      Ignore and circle to HQ

c.      Straight line get out of my way

d.      Dan—catch the thought/look and invite

2.      Backup

a.      Zone 1 from intention

b.      Nose porcupine 4 phases: hair, skin, muscle, bone

c.      Chest porcupine same (phase 4 is whatever it takes for them to care)

d.      Stick and string—driving--confusion—different ways

e.      Rope—driving

                                                    i.     Intention

                                                   ii.     Finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder

3.      Yoyo and draw

4.      Stick to me on line

a.      ?withers/Dan

b.      Bridge to what Sephira knows from lead line

c.      Mirror me at walk, halt and ??backup??

d.      I mirror her first

e.      Turns and HQ focus to keep her with me

I want to GO SLOW and get help with this as RBE

Take my time, relax—golden feeling, visualize in detail, ask from intention first, then phases. Easier to visualize known Parelli skills than new dressage! Rhett Fincher colt starting.

Respect and connection and greater relaxation as goals.

Sharon Baldwin and messaging. Send/don’t know how to receive.

Sephira has suppling issues with tight shoulders.

Changes: head down for haltering, waits at mounting block, better about spray, brushing forelock, go slow, be relaxed, ask permission. Lighter downward cues, counter canter, flying changes, passage, turn from weight aid. Super trained.

Pinning her ears in her stall—invading her bubble/space?

Discuss: “evil” energy and “game on” Try vs Sephira. For Try—it’s joyful to me, Sephira I don’t know—I am apprehensive.

Try

Go slow, time to process for us both

On Line or Liberty

1.      Catching game

2.      Stick to me for connection

3.      Review yoyo using intention—relax, visualize then ask

4.      Find my focus game—Dan approach—how to make it lighter—bridge from it??

5.      Circling game

a.      Send—my focus and belly button

b.      Using point finger to bridge if need be

c.      Bring back for loss of connection and reward for connection 180 degrees—review

d.      Distance on the circle

6.      Circling game with HQ yield

a.      Start with porcupine at a halt to signal that we are now focusing on HQ yield

b.      Match and mirror

c.      Help us to get really good steps

7.       Discuss suppling HQ/FQ/ribs/lateral and vertical etc

Riding

1.      HQ yields at a standstill with carrot stick if need be

2.      Tea for two – how light is light

3.      Review—lifting one rein to cue as preparation for riding in contact with reins—take the time to check her reactions to picking up one rein, both reins?

4.      Discuss partial disengagement—everyone uses it—Dan/hunter/Kathydressage—seems mean—can we add phases and make it lighter?? In hand and in the saddle

5.      Back up 4 steps to 8 steps

a.      Can I teach seat means maintain gait and release seat means halt??!!

Isolations for Physical Fitness

1.      Leg yields

2.      Partial disengagement?

3.      Swing shoulders

4.      Snappy backup

5.      Falling leaf and S bends on the circle match and mirror

6.      HQ/FQ 360s

7.      Weave swinging shoulders

8.      Weave from FQ/HQ turns

9.      Laps in the ring—no—out in the field or on the trail

10.   Point to point in the pasture at a hand gallop

11.   Try needs canter for aerobic development more than trot for muscular development.

12.   Canter yoyos

13.   Point to point—short and long distances

14.   Sideways (second leg)

15.   Wheelbarrow turns from HQ.

16.   Wheelbarrow backup more precise than bumping my legs on FQ

17.   On Line or Liberty: falling leaf and S bends circling games and figure8

18.   Carrots for lateral flexion

19.   Preparation for canter lead changes

20.   Feel swing of barrel to cue HQ

21.   Offensive, defensive use of HQ stepping forward and back

22.   HQ: can, will, use

23.   Massage, stretches

24.   Age old issue for LBI: fitness versus boredom.

25.   Offensive sidepass: front end direct rein, other side at the girth use leg to get sideways, carrot stick at HQ

Stretches (Yoga for Horses)

1.      Use treats at zone 3 or 4 to stretch

2.      C 6,7 scapula and rib stretch. Pick up leg and little circle to stretch. Then cross it over standing leg and put leg down.

3.      HQ tail pull, 2 minute minimum. Horse square, roc side to side til square and feet apart. Come out gradually. Lower lumbar and soas stretch

4.      Roll HW under—frees lower back, 7” in from top of tail—scratch and pus a little and hold for a 10 count, repeat for a little more—will to all the way to ribs

5.      Lift tummy—hold 10 seconds with pressure and then a little bit more. Raise and extend ribs, don’t want horses topline to drop. Ribs up, HQ engage, HQ can move freely, Last step extend into withers.

Wednesday

Good day today!

Rode Try and she was an absolute dream. Follow my focus--no need for reins WTC. She offered canter--both leads and it was light and lovely using HQ. (We had done some HQ suppling before that--tea for two etc.) I could have ridden with two reins but Try was happier riding on the buckle with one hand. I think when I start back with both arms I will need to build up endurance. Depo or no depo she is just the greatest!!

More good news:
Ronald adjusted Sephira's trim.
Katherine Dzimitrowicz rode Sephira and we all looked for any stumbling and did not see anything.
Perhaps just an occasional little hitch in her giddyup so to speak--nothing that would be a problem for a rider.
Katherine loved her--especially her flying changes.
BA suggested I only ride her at a walk until we are sure the big stumbles were caused by the previous trim.
If that doesn't fix it--then ask Karen Bullock and perhaps there is a better trim.

Tuesday

Try was magically wonderful. Went out back--waited for her to explore and then come to me. Nice long grooming with Try just standing there happy and relaxed. Then we pursued the "new" circling game a bit and we really have the send and she is connected--instead of thumb in the pocket did rope thru the beltloop because of left shoulder out of commission. Then played with HQ yield on the circle--didn't get idea across at first then stopped and asked for plain HQ yield from and halt. Went back to the circle and matched and mirrored in my body and she was stepping across. Back inside--a little clipping/clean up/treats and back to her stall.

Sephira--my plan was to play out back with some simple communication. She ate hay, hid in the corner of her stall and pinned her ears at me. I was intimidated and was able to get her out of that mood/attitude just by dwell time and waiting--40 minutes. With Try I just would have laughed, said "game on" and had fun playing hard with intensity. HMMM

Monday with Try

Lovely ride--Try was full of herself and still in season. Walk/trot--played/messed around with transitions, patterns, suppleness. Turns on the haunches, sideways, tea for two, whatever. Careful groom and shower after--BA saddled western saddle for me. My shoulder did not hurt in the trot. Still riding with one (or no) rein but relatively pain free. What a privilege to be with Try.

Thoughts from phone coaching with Marie last Wednesday

Hour coaching call with Marie to follow up and prepare for the next session.

1.      4 hour session and my endurance. OK more talking and breaks/dwell time. I should participate in ideas for topics to explore. Examples I can think of from the last session would be

a.      The catching games—I know 4—what are the merits of each?

b.      Many HQ/FQ flexibility exercises

c.      The concept of bridging from what Try or Sephira already know? Is it rude not to do this and expect them to figure out the known puzzle answer from really different cueing?

d.      4 hours with Marie is an incredible opportunity to—

                                                    i.     Brush up on Parelli learning

                                                   ii.     Be up to date on Parelli learning

                                                  iii.     Bring my learning up to L4 ways of doing things

                                                  iv.     Have better communication with Try—assumptions, sloppy, quit too soon?

                                                   v.     Try likes being particular if I can be clear. Solving puzzles makes her feel smart.

                                                  vi.     Try does not need to be retired—could become depressed over lack of mental stimulation. Marie and Joe: Joe still WANTS to play.

                                                vii.     We have had golden time together—this cannot be forced to continue—especially by not asking anything of Try on the ground—better to pepper in a bit of cleaning up/new learning/being particular in the midst of games we know and can do successfully. This way we can have the golden feeling of doing fun things together with no direct line/agenda—experiment and play, Jim Carrey—still doesn’t matter if we get anything or not—it’s still about the quality of the time together. Leaving on a good note.

2.      My LBI/RBE dichotomy—will I drive Marie crazy with this? Will it put road block between us? The whole analyzing/intellectual/list making/planning to the extreme vs the let loose/out there RBE stuff?

3.      Misc

a.      Drip it in early to give it time to percolate i.e. soft feel years before I use it, pepper it in, Drip it in to progress finesse until the horse is ready for it.

b.      Kathy lessons--both horses for 20 minutes each??

c.      Sephira and a freestyle plan??

d.      Intent vs agenda?

e.      Practicing with Try before exploring with Sephira

f.       Suppleness from HQ yield to relax rib cage—inside rein—partial disengagement

g.      When would I trust to ride Sephira in a hackamore?

h.      Transitions, dwell/lick and chew time/ giving both horses breaks during riding session

i.       SHORT sessions on the ground and in the saddle!! MH is great for this!!