Tuesday - A Quieter Day?

Possibly the best ride yet with Sephira. The first ride since the clinic, the first ride in the new dressage ring in the field and a weekend of watching Dressage at Devon show all led to more confidence on my part as well as more impulsion from Sephira.

What we did: groom, test responsiveness on the ground FQ--good, backup less so. Mount at picnic table (another first)--she wasn't really any different. Warmup with easy walk and trot. Walk for impulsion was great in the beginning but when I tried to add contact it all failed. Stopping at letters was good. I don't know how to cue her backup?? The trot was best good energy and better contact. Some extended trot and serpentines, leg yields and shoulder in. Then we rode the first intro test which was good until the last walk up the center line. Much more connected and relaxed when we finished than when we started.

Midway when big dump trucks rolled in and dumped dirt etc. I dismounted and we played with golden ribbon/see meTM cue--at first Sephira didn't get it but when she really did focus in on me with zone one we quit. (??something like the find my focus game??)

After Try and I "helped" BA fill a hole in the new ring and then played with GM/TM see me, align and got improvement in a bit of added energy in coming to me when I let more line out.
I would like next time to watch the FLOW of energy more.

News

Rollover was crazy yesterday so much going on...

1. I spent much of the weekend watching video feed of Dressage at Devon show. Friday MH's Prix St. George was not on the feed--she got 68 and 9th/50. Saturday I got to watch MH--she and Richmond were great--again 68/9th/50. Sunday was the coolest--freestyle--MH got 5th and a score of 70. So interesting--I just could not watch riders/horses who were not a part of their music. Also some music seemed cobbled together with abrupt transitions, and tacky with vocals, etc. MH music was beautifully done but did not match Richmond in places as he has progressed so much this year. Great pirouettes and extended canter. He seemed a bit tired in places both days. They all got back to the barn from Pennsylvania at 4am!

2. As I drove into the barn I saw Try has a pasture mate!! Grey 3 y/o TB mare fresh off the track--very skinny and sweet. Try was very happy, up and distracted. I gave Try a lovely long grooming, casual ride in her pasture with the new mare and a long, lovely shower. The new mare and a grey gelding arrived ?? sometime over the weekend--their boarding facility in Williamston had a fire. The owner is Olivia ??--who has known BA for many years.

3. BA and Devon were champions both days at their hunter show over the weekend Thursday thru Sunday.

4. The ring: BA was busy leveling and then packing crush and run before screenings arrive tomorrow.

Saturday - Marie Pruden - freestyle notes

2014 9/27/Marie/Freestyle

·        Warmup:

o   Mount, sit and do nothing

o   Test lateral flexion commitment

o   Test hq/fq flexibility and backup

o   Walk til she blows plus my pilates

·        Warmup patterns to test connection and responsiveness:

o   Straight line follow my focus

§  The fewer corrections the more rest

o   Circle and figure 8

o   Start with visualization/intention

o   All corrections to pattern made with hq/leg not reins

o   For dressage/finesse—we do not want to have to use reins to stay on the pattern

·        Warmup for impulsion/relaxation

·        Warmup for suppleness: lateral and vertical

Misc

·        Check how light is light with leg at girth for HQ/FQ/sideways movement

·        Green cow—would Try like to chase green ball out of the ring when we finish?

·        Check my R/L balance/brushing my teeth

·        Use scale of 1-10 to check for progress

·        Round turn/circle is inside leg; square is outside leg pushing

·        Neutral is a fixed position for freestyle, ?steady contact for finesse?

·        Believe I can do it

·        The plan

Newspaper Article

Sunday and Monday Dennis Callin clinic

This clinic was a revelation. I was scared to death to ride Sephira in a high pressure clinic but we did it and I learned lots from riding and from watching.

1. The first segment of 13 minutes I was working hard as I didn't have spurs. I thought because of my energy level, that Sephira would pick up on that and we wouldn't have the issues with lack of impulsion. Wrong--guess she isn't that effected by the atmosphere--Try surely would have been. Also though I know Sephira knows well about rounding up--I haven't been doing this--I have really been riding here in a pre-hunter way. SO I was surprised that Denny asked for a head set as even though I know we can both do it I have hesitated to do so because of her baggage/history etc. She has been doing this for MH and Bethanna lately as they rode her while I was out of town etc. Anyway, in the Denny clinic Sephira was in and out of it--showing a lack of respect or a lack of leadership on my part. Each time I had something new to think about up came her head. Walk/trot--rounding up and impulsion. Also we did shoulder in and it was not crisp and clear like the next day when Bethanna rode Sephira. Another homework item. Also I don't look like a dressage rider--guess it is time to assess why.

There was one place in this section where things seemed to be coming together: trot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhiaPQwYhOw&feature=youtu.be

2. The next segment of 4+4+2 minutes included serpentines, leg yields and extended trot. Leg yields again could be more clear. Extended trot--we did extend some but I confused her with my aids and she also offered canter and passage. LOL The crowd watching got a kick out of that.

Section 2 - 4 minutes
http://youtu.be/poXjIgPGBt0

Extending trot - few seconds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FShuZAB9cHg&list=UU-eu-CX2dh5WAjMzyVVHRsQ

Video to compare: Bethanna riding Sephira 3 minutes 23 seconds. Trot and halt, Shoulders in, haunches in, leg yield or 1/2 pass and extended trot. Check comparative clarity. (note: full footage in file including lead changes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoO_WWW0yQ0&feature=youtu.be

MORE: patterns: simple changes every # strides? Counter canter the serpentine. Serpentine with simple changes over the center line. Canter the diagonal and do turn on haunches in the corner.

Notes from talking with Kathy about Sunday:
1. spurs - YES LOL
2. contact - yes for language and leadership that Sephira needs--soon test self-carriage etc
3. Sephira - needs conditioning to be ready to help her maintain her balance and support herself.
4. lots of gait transitions good to build muscle, walking out in the field, trotting but not too much
5. boredom - patterns change it up like we do with Try

Try: remember the process--how choppy she was, now using her HQ and rounding up on her own, opened her mind to movement possibilities. 2.5 years. Kathy did not realize that she was bred as halter horse. Sephira of course is smoother than Try with swingy stride.

Friday

Easy ride with Sephira in preparation for Sunday clinic.

Thursday - Kathy, Try and MMJ

Perfectly marvelous lesson with Kathy and Try. I have for about 4 lessons now made my relaxation a first priority and Try has been happy and offering all sorts of great stuff. Whoda thought Try would be happy in dressage study??

Self carriage in shoulder fore on the rail, really nice 1/4 turn on the haunches at the canter, good corners at the trot, etc. Kathy said Try is physically capable of doing 3rd level and has done 3rd level tasks/moves etc. This of course does NOT mean that we have our sights on any sort of competition nor ready to do a test. I did suggest at the beginning of the lesson that I thought it would be fun for Try and I to memorize the simplest possible test and do it for Kathy and have her judge it as a measure for me of where we are at.

In the afternoon Kathy and I were back at the barn for MMJ to come and help me with B Me with both Try and Sephira. More on this to come.

MMJ -- video transcript 55 min with Try, no footage with Sephira but teaching of concepts with Try.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-NSR53tMP4&feature=youtu.be

Summary – MMJ visit

• ·        Check Try lifts her head when I first lift the ribbon in GM
• ·        No huge release without something big to come down from. What was Try’s something? Anticipation of big pressure with guest instructor/fear?
• ·        Pressure: goal is to learn that it is ok, that she can successfully figure out answers and release that pressure and get her GM cookie
• ·        GM: for me—keep repeating the GM energy ribbon and check my level of GM in my body until we find deeper and deeper relaxation
• ·        Check my rhythm
• ·        Can move to different spots checking for reaction and finding relaxation in the new spots. Look for the edge at which she reacts.
• ·        Exhale to relax cue—watch this to be sure we are using it as a cue to allow and not to Make
• ·        Take the time it takes—tolerating the ribbon is not the goal—melting into the ground is
• ·        If she melts completely—grows roots into the ground—it is important to give her time to pleasantly transition out of it into doing something
• ·        GM if she is tuning me out, I can use a little slice with the ribbon to bring her back. (Sephira) Do not overuse or it will lose its power. Also I do not want her to be a slave—momentary distractions are just fine.
• ·        Tiger Mode TM—important that I am still in GM and that I am directing focus to ?6 inches away from stifle not directing TM at her!!
• ·        TM asking for alignment and draw to me from intention first, TM with energy ribbon next, then my backing up causing rope to make contact last. We may not need ribbon or rope—for both Try and Sephira but check that their energy is coming from HQ first i.e. sincere desire on their part to align.
• ·        I give her a place to go simultaneous with asking energy from her HQ to align with me
• ·        Circle of energy from my intention to her HQ, over her topline and FQ and moving the energy back to me in alignment
• ·        As soon as she aligns—I see energy from her HQ—let off Tm back into GM
• ·        When she draw/aligns I want a smooth transition of energy back into the GM energy ribbon—slow my feet and melt smoothly. All of this process should be smooth, danced energy transitions on my part
• ·        It helps in melting back into GM to give her room to come to a stop
• ·        As we are moving in alignment, if she begins to tune out I can add a little energy ribbon out to the side directed at HQ.
• ·        The purpose is only alignment and connection!
• ·        We can test the alignment by backing more and turning into her etc.
• ·        Also I can give her more room between us and see if she will put more energy into closing the gap and staying with me.
• ·        SINCERE THOUGHT, DESIRE TO ALIGN—ENERGY COMES 1ST FROM HQ
• ·        Stick to me/zone3—we would be one magnet—it is about our shared alignment and energy NOT about my Making her do something—shared leadership, maintain the strong energy connection
• ·         

Wednesday - Sephira colic

Sephira mild colic Tuesday afternoon/evening. Vet came intubed and better Wednesday and day off for her. She did not get her am hay and was whining.

Try--she did not want to do anything--so we took our time--easy on line play and very easy ride in the ultra muddy ring. Then a little clipping to tidy up and wash her face and ears. She seemed to really enjoy the latter and stands quietly for the clipping.

Then barn chores--clean/condition tack etc.

Tuesday

Today I am not feeling well. Went to the barn did a little with energy ribbon, groomed and came home. I am not just tired from the trip but am feeling head-achy and nauseous. I feel the beach trip as great as that was isn't worth losing a week of riding during fall or spring when the weather is great for horsemanship pursuits.

Anyway:
Try: Did not want to leave her stall at first--I think they have been out 24 hours for several days--perhaps tired and anxious to be in and get relief from the many insects. But she came--we tried to play with energy ribbon session 5 out back but bugs made it not possible to concentrate--then tried in the parking lot away from grass/woods/whatever and still the bugs were an issue. Ended up in the aisle of the barn.

Yes GM mode circles with the energy ribbon are relaxing. The TM energy ribbon focused on her stifle she did not get the first time--it required my stepping back and allowing the rope to make contact. After she came from my stepping back with out the rope tho I am not sure that the ribbon meant much. Tried it once at liberty and it is the draw in my body she responds to not the ribbon. Will be glad for MMJ's insight on this.

Finished with shower and the equispot bug stuff and a peppermint. She was certainly happier and more relaxed than when I first saw her.

Sephira: I had planned to ride but not feeling up to it. She also was ambivalent about coming to me in her stall. We played with the energy ribbon in the aisle. This was the first time with the ribbon for Sephira--in GM mode circling without and with ribbon unfurled she was confident and relaxed. When I did it from zone one over her head/neck she licked and chewed. TM focusing on her HQ--I must not have enough focus--did not mean anything but she came to me pleasantly when the rope made contact.

Finished with grooming and MH is going to ride her today in my place. That is good and the best thing but I am not happy about not getting to ride.

B Me--more--For Try she knows if I focus on HQ with a driving energy to yield HQ away from me. With a drawing/come to me GM energy/body language focused on HQ she will yield HQ to me. Ropes not necessary. HOWEVER for Sephira--it has been taking a LOT of energy to get her to yield HQ away the first time I ask that day. I have not asked either to think of my focusing on their HQ as a cue to see me/come to me. This is different.

Monday beginning GM mode with energy ribbon with Try

First day back at the barn (raining) after the beach trip.

I had planned to ride Sephira but realized that Try could use the attention more and was desiring my attention while Sephira was busy in her run in shed eating hay.

In Try's field--I decided to take it one step at a time and only introduce the energy ribbon in GM mode. So got my GM smile going and matched Try's relaxation as best I could and decided to do it without any ropes/halter etc. Presented the dressage whip with ribbon wound around the whip. Try wasn't interested in sniffing it. Then rubbed her wither area and around her--she was mildly interested, relaxed and pleasant. Next unfurled the ribbon and began the circular GM energy in her wither area, checking to pause on the diagonal and found the place for that where the ribbon would drape nicely, then did a few circles on each side. Try seemed quite happy with that. Then the figure 8 around her head and that also appeared to be mildly interesting and pleasant to Try. I did not video. Next time when I have rested a bit from the trip I will progress to TM mode and to playing with Sephira.

For next time: when rubbing Try all over--look more carefully for any signs of discomfort--does she like being rubbed more some places than others.

Some thoughts on concentrating on me in part one of B Me course

Wednesday before beach trip

Sephira
Very pleasant time together--groom--easy ride/trot in muddy ring--shower etc.

Try
Wow--filming in ring (MH/BA and stallion Richmond) so rode up the drive bareback and she was FULL of herself. Opted to play on line games out of sight of the ring. Try was still full of herself--we played the cutting game and we both had the Jim Carrey thing going. Asked for sideways away and she sidepassed nicely about 10' away and then back to me with a lot of energy and little asking on my part. Very curious day!

Sunday - Incredible day with Try and Kathy

I struggled a bit to be really relaxed and it went pretty well.

Kathy laughed at me because Try was doing things before I could cue them!

We did 1/4 turns on the haunches without losing forward momentum at the walk, trot and canter.

Try was happy, relaxed and pleased with herself--as well she should be. She sat back on her HQ and lifted her shoulders from my sitting deep and turning my torso slightly in tune with her movement.

Confusing coordination: my lower body hip bones down does not move, torso turns from the waist all in one piece with shoulders in alignment but head does not turn as much???

Thursday - I ride the awakened Sephira

After wearing spurs Tuesday and BA riding Sephira on Monday, Sephira was fired up!

1. Mounting block better
2. Lots of forward energy (tho emotional/escape)
3. I was able to watch my use of spurs
4. Canter
5. I was not tired despite upping the # of laps and less rest time
6. Sephira did get a good workout

1. suppling
2. ground play? ribbon?

Wednesday: I ride Try, BA rides Sephira

Try

• I loved being with Try
• Try has beautiful relaxed ground manners
• Try was helpful--thinking how to be helpful!
• We had a pleasant workout and review
• Hard to imagine a more pleasant horse to be with

1. We didn't get to just play which was the agenda for the day

2.  Looking forward to dwell time/graze/not ride

for me: I remembered the relaxed posture here and there, I want to visualize more, I want to apply the checklist, I asked with confusion for leg yield and Try forgave me on the spot.

Sephira

• BA said her trot has improved
• Her grooming is good--getting dappled--but weight a bit much
• She got a good workout
• She was happy after
• Girth issues

1. ?riding with contact??

2. fitness for upcoming clinic

These are BA's priorities not necessarily mine.

For me and Sephira:

• Learning to use spurs to cue--avoid nagging and find self-carriage (some day she will be so willing and helpful I will not need spurs).
• Quality of walk and trot
• Canter--pick up on first ask and maintain gait
• Move off my leg in zone 3--
• bending from my body on circles, serpentines, in the corners
• Ride on the big rail 
• check girth issues
• dance--soft eyes--have fun
• leg wraps

Scale of training: rhythm, relaxation, connection (physical/mental), suppleness, straightness and lastly and not now collection

Try and I farther along as a partnership than Sephira and I. 

Building the kind of foundation together that will yield a happy willing horse.

Levels: training, first, second, third, 4th FEI: Prix St-George, Intermediate I and II, Grand Prix

Awakening the "Sleeping" Giant

Had lesson with MH and Sephira and wore my little rolly spurs. Wow what a difference. Could really play with how light is light. AND its not just how light to get "a" response but an energetic response. Now I have a whole other energy level to get used to--at the walk its lovely and I can go to "passenger" mode i.e. neutral and check for my new wholistic relaxed posture. At the trot--anticipate the big jump into the trot (that is desirable?!) and make a smooth transition in my body--then little 1/2 halts to steady the trot. (careful outside rein on the turns to balance). Sephira was so fired up she didn't make downward transitions from my thought!. Then took off the spurs and asked for the canter and got it on the first ask.

Three weeks to get used to the new trot!

Sunday - Much more than Magic

AM bathtub: Visualization from Try that we were floating--asking that I trust her relax, and give up the need to be in control and concentrate so hard. I also remembered the need for yeehaw and was a little wary of a dressage lesson this am--if she needed to loosen the spring rather than tighten it.

Both Try and Sephira were in a pleasant mood when I arrived tho something bothered Try for a minute or so in the wash stall?? Try and I got a full 20 minutes of dwell/hangout/be together time before Kathy arrived. Try hovered over me, licked and chewed and breathed on me.

Then Kathy came and the three of us hung out at the picnic table in the shade so I could bring Kathy up to date. She took note of the yeehaw and my need to let go and trust Try and Kathy knew just what to do. Thank you!!

I had a magical rider, perhaps the best ever. Kathy called out what to do and instructions for me to visualize and for the most part I was able to ride Try cueing with my visualization and I was as relaxed as I can remember while still maintaining a good position. I was super relaxed on the way home also. I am learning much of the physical tension is between my eyes from trying to control myself and everything else and concentrate so hard. Soft eyes, Elizabeth!