Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday catchup

Big week.

Tuesday: review of what we did with Marie--most of it went really well. Then pleasant ride with Try.

Wednesday: progress with the circling game and ride with Sephira--lovely to start--mounting block, good walk, relaxed trot where I was able to work on the overall relaxed/physical feeling I want to be my new habit. But horses came in for breakfast distracting Sephira and Sephira did not want to pick up canter or maintain it. I stayed with it until we got it but it was not pleasant.

Thursday: MH rode Sephira and found her to be sticky--suggested if I am having issues with tricks/respect that she or BA ride her once a week. I was unhappy as it doesn't make me feel successful to need to go to someone else for help. Got up with Sharon over both animal communication questions and respect issue:

COMMUNICATION notes from Sharon:

In the beginning it makes things a lot simpler if you're quiet, relaxed and open to receive the info sent. That doesn't mean it's a "have-to" by any means. I find it easier when I close my eyes, take a few deep breaths, ask the question and expect an answer. Some animals show you their answers with pictures, some with a voice like yours or mine and sometimes both. And..sometimes they'll answer before you have time to frame your question because you've already sent the thought not even realizing you've done so. One of the big keys is trusting whatcha get. Don't doubt it's coming from them. For instance if you want to ask Try a question, visualize her in your mind, say her name and fire away. Very seldom will you get an answer from another being because you've directed your energy to that particular being in that moment. If it makes it easier, see an invisible thread reaching from your third eye to theirs. When you've finished with your questions tell them thank you and that should disrupt that connection and you can move on. Water is very emotion oriented and sometimes if I've been having a difficult time with an animal for one reason or another they'll pop through while I'm in the shower. Very normal! Sometimes it's an "A-ha" moment, too. Lots of times it's easier for me to connect from here rather than there (meaning being in their space) because there's usually distractions at folks facilities and I'm in my own space here. One thing that might help you is when you reach for them from a distance is to rub their neck with your hand (in your mind) and you can usually feel them connect..

Girl, I don't believe in coincidence. They do hear, they do know and they most assuredly pick up on our thoughts. Seen it too many times.  Sooo don't doubt what you get!

So I will go ahead and trust what is happening.

Now with Miss Fancy Pants! There comes a time when you have to step out of your comfort zone and get a little aggressive with this mare, Elizabeth. She says you haven't earned her respect, yet. Respect is a two-way street. She's pushing you and your buttons because she knows she can. I explained that you don't want her to be put through some of the stuff she's had to deal with in the past. She knows, and she's grateful and she does love you. But..you're going to have to step up to the plate and make her mind. There's a big difference between abuse and getting her attention. I've shown her a dressage whip, and I think that's what I'd use instead of spurs. Your choice, though. I've called her on her misbehavior and explained this is unacceptable. Bring your energy up higher..and keep me posted! NOTE: MMJ not higher energy but focused energy!!

So this upset me--I tried to reach Sephira unsuccessfully from home and got real negativity--she out and out said I don't respect you. Then went to the barn. She was ignoring me with really nasty looks when I got there--deliberately ignoring me--even after I talked to her from home--so I hung with Try and gave her some carrot pieces. Then Sephira started to come around and I TALKED to her and cried a little, talked a little, gave Try another carrot piece and left.

Friday morning: I realized I had to get rid of my emotion, that the answer is always dwell time and the horse is "right".  So Good news--Sephira and I are on good terms again and next week we can begin fixing specific "tricks" to build respect. I got rid of my anger/emotion, did a big visualization and talk while I was taking a bath--apologized to her for overdoing the friendly game and causing the disrespect to seep in i.e. taking responsibility myself and that really helped clear the air. Then when driving to the barn talked again that I was on my way and that I hoped she would come to her stall door in good spirits as I had a couple carrot pieces for her. When I got to the barn she was already waiting for me at her door and sweet as can be.


MEANWHILE Try and I this week:
Lovely rappore. I tried connecting now that I realize I can use the movie idea asking Try to join the movie. Perhaps Try prefers to communicate with pictures/movement than words tho she will do that also. Two movies: Galloping together with no fear and abandon--??a message to me that we need yeehaw time and to examine my fears??? The second we were floating in the clouds--sorta riding and sorta just two spirits together. I have been very afraid of her aging and my aging--perhaps she was telling me that we will always be connected--that death will not prevent our spirits from being together.

Cool stuff: MH and BA are playing together with Charm and colt starting. Love watching.

Riding: It is very important right now to have lots of dwell time and be careful of getting really direct line in my thoughts. It will be better to work on me than them!!

MMJ and B Me: worked on my energy in the bathtub and on the way to the barn and thought about it a lot while at the barn. Friday I did the video homework with Lisa's energy ribbon. Looking forward to finishing the month that is all about me and my energy and adding it to me and my horses next month.


From MMJ--feedback:

 I think you make a great point - that identifying the tension and specifically releasing THAT can be hard - but a necessity in truly releases and entering GM fully. My plan for our last Session that will focus primarily on US is to work on this - and work on entering GM in an environment where it is not easy to go there. It is a unique perspective for you to have both horses to 'read' as they both offer you something unique.

YES I am a full believer in Animal Comm. ... if you'll notice the TTime movie is a little bit of that - but I am careful how deep I go with folks at first b/c I do not want to scare them off :-) .. For me - when I talk to my horses I really notice them 'hear' me when I start to acknowledge their feedback - You have to Really BELIEVE it for them to believe you .... Next time you do TTime why not invite Try into the movie and ask her to turn it into HER movie and you'll go along for the ride - be sure to respond to her so she knows you hear her - whatever happens - go with it - do not over-think it - just roll with it.

And I do hear the voice of my horses in my inner voice - In my opinion that inner voice is the 'medium' for a lot of things - as in - your horse .. your higher self .. even God ... so for me - it's not as if I 'hear' it in the horse's voice - but it's def. the horse. ... You'll know. Just believe and roll with it - Try will guide you ;-)


Lovely rappore. I tried connecting now that I realize I can use the movie idea asking Try to join the movie. Perhaps Try prefers to communicate with pictures/movement than words tho she will do that also. Two movies: Galloping together with no fear and abandon--??a message to me that we need yeehaw time and to examine my fears??? The second we were floating in the clouds--sorta riding and sorta just two spirits together. I have been very afraid of her aging and my aging--perhaps she was telling me that we will always be connected--that death will not prevent our spirits from being together. woo-woo/believe

Monday - Marie Pruden

Sephira
All about learning to respond to my energy.
Learning to puzzle solve

HQ yield

• energy up
• exaggerate energy with my body as needed
• tag HQ
• reset
• repeat
• quit when she is able to do it from my energy

Backup

• E up
• take one step toward
• tag chest
• reset
• repeat
• quit when she takes a step from my energy alone

Circling

• IF HER NOSE/MIND LEAVES USE HQ YIELD AND DRAW TO ENGAGE THE MIND AND THEN TEACH HER TO FOCUS ON ME ON THE CIRCLE.
• the send
• stand 180 degrees, energy up (varies amt), lift stick, swing stick in one fluid motion and tag whatever lingers and quickly stick down and reset while she moves
• stand still til reach 180 degrees or mind leaves--observe her nose
• hq yield (with repeats/reset as needed) its a dance--lunge and use stick as an extension of my arm, tag if needed, remember reset in between each ask
• back up and trust she will come in

Riding

• passenger game for breaking gait
• follow my focus/target game--visualization
• mounting block use indirect rein or yield HQ to me rub reward
• apply circling game--every ask starts with a HQ yield like Dan's wheelbarrow. Is nose bending on the circle, if not correct with HQ. Is she thinking outside the circle or inside--watch the nose and watch for the THOUGHT
• TEST: when riding how responsive/how light to cue FQ/sideways/HQ from leg just forward of the girth, at the girth and just behind the girth. HQ can support by lifting inside rein if needed
• Marie starts riding session with HQ yields to unlock the ribs.

Sunday - Kathy and Try

New habits:

• soft eyes, ballet, reins together, elbows at my side, NO direct rein, lower back spreads softens, abs
• shouder fore on the rail

walk

• visualize a little more overstep at the walk/longer stride
• partial displacement of HQ to help her loosen hips, energize
• use calves to encourage march rhythm
• vary trot and walk to energize

pattern

Vary 1/2 circle then back to rail with on the rail 10meter circle. also circle in the middle and reverse back to the rail and then half circle. walk and trot

Outside rein on the circle helps balance, look sooner, no reins

Updated plan for September

Me

1. My fitness physically
2. Keep updating the riding plan and learning
3. breathing/relaxation--visualization--affirmations
4. B Me study
5. blog

Both Girls:

1. What's in it for her?
2. Share and spread the golden feeling
3. Listening/conversations
4. DWELL time
5. fitness--physical

Try

Liberty puzzles for fun

Grazing "passenger" walks

Sephira

1. lots of patience and observation
2. watch and study--what is relaxing for her? what isn't? blog
3. look for signs that she is thinking about learning in new ways
4. consistency in dwell time and connection

Friday - overall riding session plan as of 8/22/14

Warmups
calm, connected, responsive
HQ yields and backup on the ground

riding warmup
walk til she blows or gets ready
for me pilates, breathing and remember soft eyes and ballet ribcage
then trot for desired riding energy

session
walk

• check list
• think of walk as passenger
• good walk
• nose leads
• moving off my leg in zone 3 to supple

trot

• good energy in the walk required for upward transition
• really post--hold pommel--my energy big and driving
• nose leads, HQshapes on the circle
• patterns circle, spiral, serpentines for gentle bending and suppling

canter

• think uphill to ask and maintain the visualization
• brief 1/2 halts if need be

stretching

• both Sephira and Try love this
• at the trot--small 1/2 halt, stroke reins, lower my energy to rebalance if need be etc

Thursday - Sephira and I, Try and Dawn - play day

So pleased--Kathy needed to reschedule to Sunday so I invited Dawn to come play. We were a great foursome about a month ago. I dressed down--jeans and tee for fun day.

Try was relaxed and terrific. Sephira simply did not want a conversation or to play. In fact I felt that she would not allow me to connect with her. I checked every way possible to see if was soreness from the farrier and saw no signs of ouchiness. I asked her to please let me know what/why and got no help. If it was something I could fix I would do it. Is it me? OR is it not always about me? Who knows what her evening was like in the pasture, etc. She was spooky and nervous--unlike her increased relaxation these days. She did spook at a standard in dressage ring. Issue--should I have just taken the day off and Dawn and Try go ride together and I head home? Mounting block--the last plan did not work. ASK BA

What is the answer? It is always DWELL TIME!

• I loved her big trot
• I enjoyed cantering
• I didn't fall when she spooked
• I felt little bits of connection at times
• She 'ground tied' beautifully

1. Mounting block

2. Head down.

Thursday am early B Me

MMJ just posted a video pep talk after the first two weeks:

So helpful to realize that of course that this is a work in progress for everyone of creating the state of being within ourselves that we desire.

Prime example is my whining and complaining even to myself about how busy I am and how much I have to do that creates tension blocking my ability to connect with my horses. Even more so getting frustrated and getting into a fight with the horse. Horses feel that energy and some just completely put up a block and do not relate--keeping you out with no chance of a conversation. Also being direct line and having an agenda as I did with the riding yesterday is something Try REALLY feels.

I have learned through Parelli study not to get into a fight--at least I understand that. I strive to not feel frustration with them. I can correct and then laugh and dispel the energy with Sephira and she seems curious about that--perhaps that she can't "get my goat." i.e. mounting block Tuesday when she knowingly stepped away--mostly to test me and be in control but perhaps a tiny bit of fear as well--so I whopped her on the butt big time then laughed and changed my energy quickly to positive (thank you Carol Coppinger). Repeated and mounting went smoothly and we waited.

Solution: take a breath, let go of whatever, tell the horse something kind. thankful. 60 second count, breathe and start again. I am personally finding waiting the 60 seconds with positive visualization to be very powerful.
This is NOT wasting time--time is wasted if the negative energy isn't changed.

MMJ says when she is dedicated to this way of thinking that is when the brilliant moments happen. I believe that totally.

Mary Miller Jordan

2 hrs

I am almost done with your write-up for Session 3 - but must hit the hay  I'll have it posted tomorrow for you all - but wanted to go ahead and share this little clip first - you are not alone - we are all in this together 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtEgW2sBOKo&feature=youtu.be

B ME Workshop PepTalk before Session 3

YOUTUBE.COM

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  Elizabeth Pope Wonderful. Thank you. Without realizing that I was doing so, I have been beating myself up over the fact that I have been sorta/off and on trying to do this for myself for 40 years and not yet perfect nor able to make every moment perfect permanently. HA silly girl--so helpful to view your video!!!!!!! Great way to start this new day!!

  2 mins · Edited · Like

Wednesday - Just Try and I

• Awesome long reins driving--best ever
• HQ yields from a look or driving--great
• I loved riding
• I did my 1st nearly successful leg wrap thanks to Try being so helpful
• Amazingly easy with everything on the ground
• B Me cookie with big release/licking and chewing

1. How do I apply B Me to riding so it can be just so incredibly positive?

2. Review for Marie Monday

Visualization before and during and B Me cookies are working well for us.

What we did:

We had some magic brilliant moments today:
1. We began on the ground with long line driving and it was amazing. We have not done this for at least a year and Try remembered right off the bat to begin from wheelbarrow turn/HQ instead of traditional ask. Then we walked together easily here and there turning etc for a couple minutes. Just so lovely and pleasant. We followed this up with 60 sec visualization cookie. Lots of licking and chewing.
2. Next we did HQ yield from a look. left side we got this quickly. cookie given. Then right side it took 3 attempts including upping phases--she got it--big nicker and release. cookie
3. Sidepassed into me on the mounting block even though I felt she didn't want to go riding. Perhaps she felt the huge agenda I had going. Or perhaps she was hurting some where? She had had two days off.

The riding we pretty much did it all and Try pretty much went along with all of it BUT it is a new PRIORITY to begin using the cookie riding. Let loose of AGENDA and expectations and offer little pieces of task with cookie reward.

What we did riding:
1. walk--check list of what needs suppling to get a good walk, passenger at the walk, HQ to put nose of the circle, moving Try off my leg in zone 3 for suppleness.
2. trot--getting a good walk to make for good upward transition, really post with energy (only sorta), circling from HQ, did not do spiral or serpentine
3. canter--ask uphill, brief 1/2 halts
4. stretching vertically at the trot using 1/2 halt or circle/stroke reins for quality trot

in between each we walked to the shade and stopped for me to visualize/cookie but I couldn't get myself out of agenda mode.

Tuesday - Notes from phone coaching Dawn Roth

This was not the most helpful session--I was spacey and had trouble concentrating and was going sorta stream of consciousness which was not helpful and not taking advantage of Dawn's area of expertise.

Important: ask Marie for help in Jake's concepts of leading with the nose and using the HQ to shape both on the ground and in the saddle with the intention of helping supple Try. Email/video Dawn how it goes.

Also send Dawn my updated goals. Riding plan, Try, Sephira and I.

Nose leads: Nose, neck maybe the feet--think in everything you do. Use pushing the inside hind leg to shape on the circle and to release tension in Try's body. (wheelbarrow turn idea). NOTE: if the nose goes off the circle then the mind has already left. Adjust the mental with pushing hip if Try has checked out.

Reminder: cueing with leg--at the girth move sideways, in front of the girth move shoulder, 1-2" behind is move HQ.

On the ground playing on line circling game--when the nose leaves push the hip out. Relieve Try's brace in her rib cage. Marie--hand in pocket on circling game.

Tuesday - Lesson with MH and Sephira

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXjF-isgAp8&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aduFS9CmWR4
Video below is uploaded from youtube to blogger.

We are working on developing the warmup and basics of a session. I would say that what we are doing is predressage. Also working on making ipad my new camera--higher resolution--no room BUT large screen and mounted on tripod makes for much easier job for videographer. Experimenting anyway. Two links--first has a # of clips--I saved as file to hard drive and uploaded to youtube. Second is one clip only and had Pinnacle Studio software do the uploading to youtube. Comparing quality: second is better but no where near as good as the original. Third is same quality, smaller image, more convenient to view here. Test--ask Dawn if she can watch it.

Tuesday
Grooming in wash stall. Nice compliment from BA on how much Sephira has grown to trust me. In the ring we played with B Me cookie: I asked for HQ yield and got it from a look only and gave the 60 sec visualization reward. Then asked for backup and Sephira thought and then took a full step back cued from my look and body energy. 60 second/visualization cookie given. Mounting block: played friendly. When went to mount she moved HQ and I immediately whopped her on the butt with the carrot stick--big reaction from Sephira. Then repeated and she was great. Warmed up with walk and trot.

ballet ribcage/fitness

• I loved trotting it felt like dancing, flying, free
• HQ from a look
• backup from facial expression and forward E (??understanding phases after talk??)
• Spray conditioner on forelock--BA says she has learned to trust me
• Perfect mounting the second time and good use of phases on first ask

1. keep talking

2. self carriage at the walk/passenger

Lesson Notes:

• I asked about riding with soft feel, connection with the reins and MH said its not about the reins--its a connection of energy and mental connection. Rein length can vary depending on what I am comfortable with. Note: Sephira has no issue with my picking up soft touch and soft feel.
• So we started with a walk on the buckle as we would do any time warming up. Generally I walk until Try blows or I feel a readiness in Sephira's body to do something more. MH says she walks Richmond for 5 minutes or so.
• Good walk: I have changed my perspective. See first video link. This is actually passenger rather than my controlling--Get the walk and then follow her/passenger until she no longer maintains. No nagging. I can get the good walk from leg/two legs/stick tapping my leg or her shoulder if sticky. If the walk was too much energy--little, quick 1/2 halt. I had a few strides that felt more like what I envision her walk could be but it didn't show up on the video. If correction is too be made, make it SOON. Did shorten reins after a bit. "Good following, good use of aids." The term is "in front of my leg."
• Stickiness--too take this further: She may be sticky because she needs SUPPLING like a dancer will stretch/loosen parts of the body before a ballet class begins. So we can use simple bending/moving her off my leg. (zone 3/at the girth) No reins. That bend will get us more balanced, more "through" and we will have a better ride. MH starts with circles and serpentines soon for this reason. Adding this the walk need not be as forward. MH likes to just meander with it--no pattern--focus just on moving off the leg. I found that Sephira did not move as well off the left side and when I moved the stick to that side we had some really nice steps--see first video.
• Question: Correction to me to LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD. Do I turn my torso to help or does that stay straight ahead also??? I have some real HOMEWORK to do here in my body with both Try and Sephira--I have have developed some funky habits of looking to the center of the imaginary circle on the bend--it does help bend the horse BUT causes other problems. WATCH VIDEO of accomplished riders.
• Trot: The first requirement for the trot is a forward walk to set up for the upward transition. The first video shows a pretty nice upward transition. Correction to shorten outside rein to help us stay on a true circle and balance her. Maintained rhythm in the serpentine. Had reins too short which held her back while I urged her on. The went to looser reins and had a lovely free trot on video--MH said I likely did not need reins that loose.
• Soft feel--perhaps for now at a walk, my eyes closed--see how friendly my hands can be.

MMJ week 3 preview - using my thoughts??

From MMJ: 
Below is a quote that I think really hits home ... and the last line is something we'll focus on in Session 3 ... Giving our "Mind" something to watch and focus on in order to quiet it and then align it ...

"Reflections on a quiet mind:
Ways to have a quieter mind:
Become aware of your thoughts, most of our thoughts are on auto-pilot and have a life of their own.
Ask your mind to be still, don't demand it this creates the energy of resistance.
Observe your mind but don't react on it, at first your mind will scream at you for attention. Gently continue observing.
Invite silence into your life, simply ask it
Dont' get upset if your mind is too busy this creates a cycle of energy and a repetitive pattern of thinking.
Most of the minds thoughts are echoes from the past, stop feed the echoes and they fade.....
Practice only using parts of your mind that are necessary for what you are engaged in."

Martin Soulreader

Monday with Sephira

Sephira

• I loved her trot
• I loved her canter
• She licked and chewed after HQ yield on the ground
• She was tense when I arrived and lovely and relaxed with me by the time we got to the ring.
• She likes to stretch which is cool as I love a horse to stretch.

1. mounting block - friendly game
2. soft feel--really soft -- how friendly can my hands be??

When I arrived horses were still out and acting pretty crazy--thunderstorm predicted for afternoon would have made for waaaaaaay too much time in their stalls so no turn in despite the heat.

When Sephira and I got to the ring I asked her to circle both ways and saw no sign of the silliness of the other horses. Then we played with B Me mirroring (Sephira was curious where Try was not) then using HQ yields to check out the cookie of 60 seconds of visualization with golden feeling and Sephira licked and chewed. However, she doesn't get the idea of phases in cueing!!

Riding: Our space was a bit limited to avoid the stallion but we walked and trotted on loose rein to warmup. Then in the dressage ring we played with getting the good walk--much better today--into a good trot. Trot was a little sticky at times but I was ok with carrot stick tapping my leg to energize her. We did circles and serpentines. Transitioning to a good walk and back to trot. Sometimes just taking a break at a walk. Then canter--upward transitions better and broke gait only once when I wasn't paying attention. Canter was fun and trot was glorious. Hung out after then shower etc. 

BA compliment to us for taking our time to get to know each other and how much Sephira seems to like me because of my efforts to understand her.

Sunday - Lesson with Kathy and Try and watch Lisa's lesson

Plan: getting my relaxation and golden feeling going on the drive to the barn. No videographer today so set up both ipad and camera. This is a TRANSCRIPTION mostly of our 45 minute lesson.

Try did NOT want to do anything. She came to me easily and relaxed in her stall but turned her head to avoid the halter. Waited and eventually she was ok. (Later Kathy said she was saying she hadn't had a chance to have her cup of coffee and check her email. LOL So true. Both Try and Sephira tend to not want to do anything first thing in the morning--after feeding but before the hay is gone. In a couple hours then they are bored and DO want to leave their stalls to do whatever.) Anyway Try kept telling me this so I wondered what kind of ride she had with Dawn the day before??

Warmup: We did the mirroring--she was relaxed and pleasant and mildly curious as mirroring is something we have done many hours of in the past in different ways. I stayed upright with my shoulders and was more comfortable. Then task: I decided on a simple task as time was short with lesson in a few minutes. I asked for back-up and draw back into me. yoyo. The away as great--cued with slight increase in body energy and lift finger as higher phase. Coming back she was hesitant and I needed to touch the rope the first two times. Then did 60 second count with visualization each time. That was very pleasant and each time we did the task it got better. Try's release was not really big as the task was so simple. When I have more time I will use a task that she has to puzzle out for herself as that is when I am most likely to get the big release.

Warmup in the saddle: walk til she blew--quickly today. the alternate walk, slow trot to slowly build energy. then lots of energy. Then we went into dressage ring and did a trot pattern without using reins and a little shoulder in and haunches in to review for me. We also did leg yields asking for big crossing step on the ground FQ and HQ.

Lesson starts:
CHECK LIST: Can I determine what to choose to improve and have the tool box ready?

Walk: We worked on check list for me to develop for myself.
1. my position--that is easiest
2. Try: is she balanced forward and back, pulling or pushing, right and left
3. Try's outside hind leg was sluggish compared with her inside right hind leg. I was impressed with myself that I could FEEL it!
4. So how to get more engagement in outside hind leg--we explored methods, TOOLBAG

1. change rein to circle
2. turn on the forehand
3. haunches in
4. leg yields on the ground
5. partial displacement

So we played with alternating partial displacement of right and left hind leg (can be used to slow and to power up) Do right and left like conga line. Will loosen topline also. Change my weight aid, hip more forward, scissor legs as I change direction. It is NOT about the reins. Can reinforce with voice and stick. Can be done in any pattern--diagonal, circle, serpentine. Also we did haunches in as we have been doing that a lot lately. 

My question about opposite rein to speak to HQ: Kathy says be careful as you can get too much bend and she will fall out in the opposite shoulder. Also the outside rein will steady her FQ so her HQ can catch up. If she gets quicker in front then HQ will be way out behind again.

I had suggested the turn on the forehand and Kathy suggested doing it in the corners as a walking turn on the forehand and Try and I got a couple really great steps.

Get overall feel, turn loose, dance. (prerequisite for me--nitpick, have a clear pic of what to do in my body, practice it and then let it go)

8:50 For Try with her conformation it is more difficult for her to use her HQ than her FQ so she decides to do what is easier for her.

Trot: check--even front and back? pulling vs pushing? She was using her FQ more but harder for me to feel as perhaps to a lesser degree than with walk before.  So what is the solution: back to the walk and played with Shoulder In and Shoulder Out--alternating with the purpose to relax and soften the shoulders.

I got a bit confused at this point: "If she is stiff in one side of her neck, do a little rein isolation on that side periodically. For shoulders out have shoulders on the track and haunches on an inner track. Switch to shoulders in--push her out don't let haunches fall in." ??????????? ASK

Then back to the trot: Now how balanced does it feel. I thought level then downhill. CHECK other camera here--still confused.

We made her think about different parts of her body and then Try says it is ok not to be stiff and I'd like to go forward now. Pleased with herself--waiting and listening for me--not taking control of the trot.

A question I had: Given I like our initial warmup to have a passenger element--if her trot is runny and she is a bit emotional--do we just experience that as is or ask for a better trot? Kathy says--yes let her express herself for a while then correct it--suggests using circles so Try corrects herself instead of my making her change her trot.

At 20 min. Spiraling in and out. I was not able to do moving sh and haunches R and L and spiral. Keep it simple and just spiral. Head--look in to center or on the current circle arc--my torso. ASK??? Using spiral to let Try figure out how to collect herself as the circle gets smaller. Then repeat at sitting trot. Must have forward energy first more than bending. Get a good trot and use my body for spiraling. ASK

pretty ballet ribcage: homework

Canter:
1/2 halts to steady Try, slow the canter--keep them brief and let go of it. Then do it again if need be til she gets it.

Stretching at the trot: yummy. correct it as needed.

Review for Dawn #4 the plan as of our last call

The overall plan is to remain careful until August 15 to give my shoulder a chance to heal. I am feeling really ambitious though. Any way discussed with Dawn using the monthly plan rather than weekly. This will need some refining into weekly chucks to avoid being overwhelming and some items are H-homework.

August 15: send in audition tape for level 1, On Line

I copied the 7/17 notes here to comment on progress.

horse development 9
Rider 8

Talent 24, Skill 23, Try 24, LUCK 25

For Try

• The golden feeling
• Listen to what feels right to her--is she ready for a conversation
• H film her expressions
• Ride for fitness and determine what that should be
• Trot and canter quality
• H stand in my stirrups
• H friendly game in motion

As of 8/17: 

• Try and I have really been concentrating on parameters of the golden feeling. Listening to her, waiting to be sure she wants to do something and mostly being able to say yes to her. 
• Filming expression my videographer likes playing with still photos during lesson breaks and Try looks really relaxed and peaceful. 
• I haven't done all that great a job of fitness for Try this month. 
• Question for you about yeehaw vs gait quality. We have made some big strides in canter quality, simple bending cueing and I feel I am finally starting to "get" dressage instead of just being confused. 
• Done a little stand in the stirrups, and friendly game in motion causes no reaction.

For Sephira

• Listen to what feels right to her--is she ready for a conversation
• H film her expressions
• Ride for fitness and determine what that should be to achieve partnership goals
• Lenthen Trot, canter and soft feel/frame up
• H stand in my stirrups
• H friendly game in motion
• Patience but track her learning to express herself and puzzle solve, retain learning rather than react and expect micromanagement
• H ride with my eyes closed

• Dwell time, attempting to read her and being reminded by her to do so. Waiting for her to come to me before taking her out of her stall. YES
• Filming expression--I haven't done this.
• Ride for fitness better than Try but not as much as I would like for her to be gaining fitness unlike Try where the issue is more maintaining fitness level.
• Huge strides in my confidence in riding Sephira.
• NO not much progress with lengthen trot, canter and "framing" These are not my goals right now but BA's and we are on different wave lengths. I do plan to build to a normal on the rail hack soon to intersperse with "dressage" days. I am glad to do lessons with MH as I feel that she is helping me with a pre-dressage very beginning approach and looking for Sephira's happiness as we are all too aware of her burnout in the past.
• Stand in stirrups and close my eyes--yes some
• Friendly game in motion--we did this and it was confusing for Sephira as if she wondered if it was like lunging in her past. Good to put this on list for next month because she is doing so well with friendly.
• We are still not having the mental breakthrough I would like about learning. We are learning, changes are coming BUT I don't think it makes sense to Sephira.

Me

• fitness - pilates etc
• riding for safety
• golden feeling
• 5+2/affirm/mind reading
• watch videos savvy pack/dressage
• 
  
• I actually REALLY want more energy and endurance and to begin addressing my own fitness again. I have always been fit in my life and I have lost ground with the injury and my age. This is an important priority and I let so many other things come first!!!
• Riding for safety: I am almost back to my normal confidence--the next confidence hurdle--do canter laps on the big rail with Sephira. A normal basic canter hack at Rollover is 3 laps or a mile canter. 
• Golden feeling: I keep reminding myself to check for golden feeling with Sephira. It isn't as easy to keep the feeling with Sephira as with Try. My insecurities come into play and she doesn't send me the lovely warm feelings in the manner that Try does. 
• 5+2 tracking has gone well, affirmations and mind reading I have let slide recently.
• watched savvy pack games 1-3 and found them helpful also found new Scale of Training--fist video inspiring. Also felt HUGELY inspired watching FEI level riders in the sessions with Dennis Callin--I could see the progress during the session and two days and see a pathway instead of dressage just looking like some miraculous thing that naturally talented horses can do.

Question:
1. Emotional fitness and emotionally needy??

Review for Dawn #3

What has happen since the July 17 plan??

Review for Dawn #2 Try

I am back to lessons with Kathy. I had the saddle fitter check all of Try's saddles for fit and she recommended riding in the western saddle (custom) as first choice and NOT in the wintec dressage. So Try and I are now officially studying western dressage! LOL

• Continue to review shoulder in and haunches in.
• Play with the new improved canter (thanks to western saddle)
• Creating rhythm and relaxation in the trot

from last time and homework I remembered to consider:

• visualize uphill in asking for the canter and keep the visualization so as not to "drop" Try
• My position in the canter (feels like leaning back but is actually vertically aligned shoulders over hips) My tendency to be foreward--hunt seat.
• Extra time on getting a good step with the hind quarters--sit deep and relax

(small plane crop dusting low over the field across the street our entire session)

1. Shoulder in

We used circling to get a good bend/shape and to provide pattern variety. Both Try, Sephira and I are circling with a nice bend from my seat using inside and outside legs to stay "straight" on the circle. After circling keep the shape in the shoulder in sometimes "ride her more in."

2. Haunches in Outside leg goes back. No need to rebend. Shoulders more to the track. Crossing more.

3. Canter: First canter I wasn't effective in letting Try know I wanted canter in the ask. Loss of energy...4 beating...my visualization and communication-- mind saying no and my seat saying yes-- causing confusion. Picture uphill. Second side Try knew it was coming and offered the canter before I was ready with my visualization. So it was messy and it took me a bit to find my seat. Kathy called it a happy accident...great that she offered and an opportunity to fix it. Third canter at end of session.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu7rdPa0J5Y .53 seconds

4. Rhythm and relaxation in the trot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA7_0swXJpc 3.23 minutes

Finding a good rhythm if the trot is "runny" I can slow my body, comb reins (I can bounce on her back). I kept missing that Kathy was saying to allow Try to stretch my combing the reins and giving her more rein. If its fast/runny/emotional--circle and get a good shape.

PICTURE a big relaxed swinging stride lengthening and reaching in her FQ. Having the video I could hear Kathy give the instruction--I tried it--visualized and on the video I did see just a bit of lengthening in front. WOW THIS IS HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!! The ability to visualize and ask for something new. Later I visualized this in liberty circling on the rail and Try reached out with her inside shoulder so much that she "straightened" her knee.

At facebook I commented that Try and I were playing out back at liberty and she offered front feet and one back foot on the pedestal as that is a game she really knows. I decided to change it up. I wanted a real puzzle for Try to solve so asked that instead of lifting her right hind foot and placing in on the puzzle I asked that she step her hind feet TOWARD me as I knew it would be too easy to ask her to move them AWAY from me. This took quite a long time--??7 minutes for her to figure out and she gave a big nicker when she got it. That gave me the opportunity to practice the long 60 second count/visualization release that Mary Miller Jordan is teaching.

Review for Dawn #1 Sephira over the last month

Sephira changes - 

• moving toward more confident and dominant. 
• Reactive mostly in the wash stall/cross tied, showers--does not like being sprayed. 
• She used to be reactive to grooming and is now much more relaxed. 
• Also the lack of reactiveness means she feels less extraverted. 
• I am confident that it will take a good bit to get her to explode with something new on the ground AND she is pretty much not concerned by any of the riding she has experienced at Rollover. I do think a big ol' exhausting hunter hack and jumping as a regular thing could make her really grouchy. 
• My riding lately has been walk/trot laps on the big rail as a warmup--patterns with bending in the dressage ring, playing with rhythms and for me gaining confidence especially in the canter which is quite lovely.
• She will make downward transitions from my intention as that is her preferred direction!!
• I do feel I need to be careful not to make her dull and uninterested. I keep debating how much to up the ante. Just up my energy level and Jim Carrey devilishness? Higher phases--On line start to ask for more energetic stuff?? 
• Riding I have MH's help to find the balance. MH REALLY likes Sephira for natural talent, prior training and knowledge and lovely willingness and happy in sessions. Issue: should I include occasional rides for Sephira with MH as a treat/something different??

On Line assessment:
1. Friendly game--she isn't afraid and is relaxing more. I want to be more observant now as to degree of relaxation from which method.
2. Porcupine game--yes FQ/HQ circles and getting the idea of getting good steps and fairly soon likely to be true turns on the haunches and forehand. HQ yields are easier than FQ. Backing--she doesn't like as much--dominance--but she is getting the idea more and more. From the chest and from the nose coordinating the steps with my fingers R/L. Head down for bridling/haltering: she is more likely to offer this for haltering than bridling. LOL Using Parelli approach of porcupine phases on top of head will not work as she is incredibly taller than I am BUT lower phases from below with halter/lead or visualize and ask her with loving energy to match my head lowering or having a low cookie will work fine. Higher phases offend her.
3. Driving: I can drive HQ--sometimes it is an escape rather than confident. FQ--we are just starting to get this. Backup--it takes a wiggle from the wrist and maybe elbow but sometimes from my energy/body language/intention.
4. Yoyo: Her draw is way stronger.
5. Circling: I want to get Marie's help with the send as Sephira and I know different ways to ask for the send. Circling itself--gait transitions up and down are easy. The bring back--I haven't gotten the idea across that my looking at her HQ means yield HQ, halt, turn and face and ask for permission to come. We are starting to get some nice changes of direction on the circle.
6. Sideways on the fence: played with it just a little FQ/HQ etc and then a few sideways steps. As dressage horse I don't know how much she did a true sidepass.
7. Squeeze--she is not claustrophobic about tight spaces--don't know otherwise. She can be hesitant about unknowns i.e. no desire to walk on the tarp--nose, neck and one foot.

Sticking together: on the lead line easy to match walk/trot/halt--backup takes a reminder.
Figure 8--we will have it when our change of direction on the circle is more solid.
Touch IT --if there is a cookie there--she doesn't understand the concept
Pick me up at the mounting block: this is a big priority for me now as she moves her HQ away from the block and I feel sure she is saying I don't want to do this. Actually--we noted before in photo that she was even going internal when someone was getting ready to mount. I have started standing on both pedestals and rubbing her in zone 3, leaning on her in zone 3, then walking away with her and repeating. She gets a cookie for a successful mounting and bop with the baby carrot stick for moving HQ. ??????????

However I still don't feel any of this makes any sense to her--she is thinking about this I guess in a way that doesn't make sense to me or doesn't compute for her.

Riding: Now that I am feeling more confident about the basics I am starting some pre-dressage basics in lessons with MH. I asked for help and got it in having consistent nice rhythm in the walk and trot and for help in improving upward transitions which came from having more forward energy before asking. Also enjoying bending in patterns: circles, serpentine and cloverleaf--shaping her from my body--not using reins--adding straightness through my leg. MH and BA say prevent falling in with inside leg to outside rein BUT do I even need rein??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX6Q0XDop_8  8 minutes--5 minutes walking then trot on circle--fast forward to 7:15 for serpentine

Plan to continue above and alternate with days of simple hack on the rail. Explore safety issues in riding out in the fields. Don't know about that yet?

#5 Saturday - Comparison B Me and Parelli

Comparison of B Me and Parelli as I see them at this point:

Friday - Lesson MH and Sephira - walk and trot - quality rhythm and transitions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX6Q0XDop_8  8 minutes

Started with the walk (after Sephira and I warmed up with trot laps on the main rail and circling. Sephira and I have been just walking (as if we were on a trail ride or something LOL) and not paying attention to quality of walk that may well have caused issues in upward transitions to trot and canter!

So use leg or if need be stick--bop shoulder in need be, more energy etc to get a nice walk. If will however be even nicer after a higher gait. Be careful of nagging--ask, get it then leave her alone and if she loses it ask again at that point. IN FRONT OF MY LEG. Not sticky. Too much energy: take my energy down and use 1/2 halt in my body. NEED the energy to get a good upward gait transition! A naturally laid back horse i.e. Try and Sephira need a warmup to wake them up.

I still did not see on the tape the walk I visualize Sephira can do but that may not be appropriate for me at my stage or learning/need for safety etc. MH did say after riding Sephira that she is really trained and to Grand Prix level--and said "lucky you." Also we discussed her baggage and balancing--making me think about being careful for not too much pressure leading to old feelings vs not asking enough of Sephira and Sephira not respecting me or wanting to follow my leadership. I do feel I have made her dull in my search to feel safe after the fall.

We trotted circles that show on the video and serpentines where we were off camera a lot. I loved the trot in the serpentines as she really got going and had good energy mostly. We had a few strides where everything came together and it felt like we were dancing. Serpentines at 7+ minutes.

Lots to think about:

1. Good rhythm--consistent
2. Good shapes--bending in Sephira's body
3. Using my body to turn
4. Change posting diagonal in the center
5. 1/2 halt or other adjustment to rhythm in the centers
6. the center as a straightaway releasing the bend
7. pay attention to the letters in the ring
8. relax, swoop and enjoy the movement!!

Monday and Tuesday rides for building block basics such as rhythm, relaxation and transitions.

Sephira was HAPPY!

Homework for me--I would like to video some walk and trot rhythms--experiment but I think I know the feeling I want even better with Sephira than Try.

Using the circles and serpentine for balancing/energy.

Friday - B Me notes for Session 2

The Lesson - Text

Part 1 - Do what your horse does Mirroring

Align yourself with your horse. Face the way she is facing. Standing about 10 feet from her side, align your shoulder to hers. Mirror her in Body. Do whatever she does. If she rests a leg, rest yours. If she exhales, exhale too. If she walks off, amble along with her – being sure to not put any pressure on her to do anything. Her job is simply to exist. Nothing more. (Complete passenger mode) Only do this if Try or Sephira are already in GM mode.Focus on every little detail in body that your horse is doing and mirror EVERYTHING you can. Do this for at least 15 minutes at a time and try it at least three different times. Often the first time is the hardest

Day 1 with Try: I stood too close to really observe everything so I missed a good bit of expression and tail swishing. She was not in the mood to move and I (RBE) got bored and my legs got tired so at 3 minutes and 8 minutes I asked her to move with basic Dan sticking together ask. She took a few steps and stopped again each time. This was not the exercise--I needed to hang the whole 15 minutes without asking Try to do anything. ??If mirroring needs to be subtle for human to human, should it be subtle for human to horse mirroring??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdmjE6tCxRs This is 8 minutes edited down from 30 minutes of video 0-4 min is initial mirroring, 20 seconds of mirroring at a walk. The task to magnify release with GM energy cookie is 4 minutes. (Task is to step with HQ toward me while FQ remains on the pedestal.)

Part 2 – Magnify Release through GM Energy Cookie

1. Request your horse does something – anything. have your horse feel an increase in tension (from your intent/request to do something) so that he can then release from it.  After you have asked your horse to do something, allow him to halt. Watch for all signs of release. Mirror any sign of release. 

4. Wait for a LARGE release. This could be all sorts of things - but often a long lick/chew or a deep exhale or big Yawn are signs off large releases. When your horse offers a LARGE release we want to make a really big deal of it. Let’s say he exhaled for his large release. You will exhale in return and lower your gaze/and or drop to the ground to squat – and do a 60 count. This is where you want to go to GM yourself for one minute. This is that ultimate cookie the horse craves. This is how you say YES this was IT. That was what I wanted. This is how you build freeways of positivity.

5. Do this at least three sets in each session and do at least three sessions. You can work this in to anything else you do with your horse. It can be within a riding session or just leading to the pasture. I would like you to practice first on the ground, but if you ride your horse feel free to do it while on her back as well.

6. Take note of what YOUR horse does to release. What are his Large releases? What does he do when he is tight vs. relaxed? What about you?

7. Take note of when your horse offers those Large releases the most. Is it after a ride? Is it throughout a ride? Is it when you turn him loose in the pasture and go to leave? Is it when you take him to the barn aisle to groom? Notice these things. Be aware of your horse’s emotions. This is valuable stuff you will use in the future.

Day 1 with Try: I used the pedestal task and stayed with it for the 3 times. First was small release, messy, I did not have my act together. 2nd and 3rd better. Try gave immediate Large release--big nicker--to say I am so cool I figured it out--I am so smart--where is my cookie. I did give the cookie and ??wonder if I can bridge in the beginning from good girl/cookie AND GM energy??? Then did the count but rushed it and the movie of what Try just did was not clear.

Discussion at facebook--prior to my being able to watch footage of Try and I

• Well gave mirroring a go this am--not as much fun as I thought it would be--Try didn't want to move and stood in one place--my muscles got tired just standing there and cheated and asked her to move a couple times during the 15 minutes. LOL Not what I expected. I didn't realize until today that the mirroring I have been doing--leadership may (or may not) have been shared but was never just me mirroring her for that length of time. I do enjoy mirroring on the lead line as we have some place to go. OR perhaps I don't have to mirror her exactly the whole 15 minutes and its ok to get some variety of movement going. ??

  19 hrs · Edited · Like · 1
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  Michele Sayetta This will be very interesting...

  18 hrs · Like
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  Mary Miller Jordan Good thoughts Elizabeth Pope  .. There are two aspects to this Session (part 1 and part 2) .. for part 1 it is really important to not request anything of your horse - AT ALL - I know it's hard .. Everything we do with a horse involves our leadership in some way - but much of the point of this is to let that GO and truly submerge into our horse's life and way of 'being' ... remember to mirror EVERYTHING - not just if she walks, but the shifts of weight from left front to right front .. every TINY shift - mirror it .. I think we will all be surprised to notice all the little things our horses do all the time that we over look. Little things are the BIG things 

  16 hrs · Like · 2
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  Mary Miller Jordan and for this you do not want your horse thinking she is supposed to be waiting for your guidance - She needs to know it's ok to just BE. Can you imagine a friend that ALWAYS told you what to do? It would get old. We need balance. They need balance. I have a 'cue' w/ Dance where I pat him and say verbally 'ok' that's his sign that he can do whatever he wants .. you want your horse to know it's ok to just hang out .. you might play around with different locations .. as long as your horse is in GM and you are safe it will work.

  16 hrs · Unlike · 2
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  Mary Miller Jordan but YES Elizabeth Pope - please do try this in different ways and different time frames - you might try hand grazing too ....

VIDEO #1 Theory Notes
HOW can we encourage our horse to have internal GM? How to let him know that it is right and that is what we want. We in GM mode as the ultimate "cookie" for our horse. MMJ she counts correlating the good thing that just happened into the county of 60 i.e. a movie of what the horse just did suprimposed into the rhythm of the count.

Remember: Horses see our thoughts!! We get more done in that well spent minute than if we skip it. (finding the time to do it right versus having to do it over and over again wrong??)

VIDEO #2 Mirroring

• Do not ask horse to do anything during this time--15 minutes or could be less
• We always expect horse to do stuff FOR US
• Need to be able to tell him when he has done a good job--this goes deeper than giving rest or good girl.
• Use E/GM ultimate way to say he did right.
• Where is your horse most comfortable and relaxed. Horse not constrained--at liberty. not guiding horse even if horse wants to be on top of you--if need be have fence between you for safety.
• Do what your horse does. Build the tool before you need to use it. 12' away, shoulders aligned, facing the same direction, drop head and be passive--take it in. This can be a way to get to your own GM--Live real time visual movie for you.
• Horse starts to pay attention to her.
• ??subtleness/simultaneous ness
• Powerful concept. horse will be more comfortable in your presence

VIDEO#3 the "Cookie"

• Ask Try to do something--at this stage we are NOT concerned about what the task is or how we ask
• When Try does it, wait for the release, and ID what the release is
• Large release, magnify it with 60-1 count in GM mode and visualize what Try did.
• This tells her she is right--that she got it.
• big release I exhalt and melt--MMJ kneeled
• signs: exhale, lick n chew, nicker, tail moves, drop head, eyes soften, rst leg, blow

1. What does the horse do when she is "tight"?

2. What are her signs of release?

3. What are her large releases? blow, nicker, shake and drop her head

4. What do I do when I am tight? forget to breathe, tighten jaw and eyes

5. My release? blow, exhale, shake it out

term: statue mode LOL