Saturday - Employee not Leader

Today was day three of stick to me into the circle and it was not a good day!
1. Me--low energy, nagging
2. Try bored and messing it up

Gretchen said Try views me as an employee not a leader and I see it. Glad to finally be able to video and study tho Adelia posted Gretchen teaching me.

For the next session:
1. choose a different game, particularly one that is simple and that she knows
2. life up, wait, be particular
3. be prepared for join up session
4. film and see if there is any improvement

Thursday lesson with Kathy

Very good lesson and I am inspired to review all previous lessons notes and summarize to super charge study this summer.

Wednesday

mostly dwell--just a few minutes of concentrated liberty. We started with draw and pick me up for sticking together--she crowded me so we started over and she fit her withers under my hand BUT it would have been better if I drove her away and then started over instead of stepping aside. Then we stuck together and she did not leave. Then sideways away was ok and I asked from intention for sideways towards and she started to bring her front end so I drove that and asked again and she sidepassed nicely to me. Then we began the circling progression and in a couple minutes I could stand still and she would circle me at about 6' away at the walk and trot. This was an easy day to build relaxation and confidence before dressage lesson tomorrow.

Finding MY Boss Mare

How to be Effectively Positively Assertive:

1. It may involve bringing up my life and energy and could involve facial expression
2. It may or may not involve upping my phases
3. Negative emotion that comes up on my part--identify quickly and calm/relax.

More than anything my desire is to cue lightly, softly, relaxed, nearly invisible and have that dance lyrical look while being effective and having Try tuned in and responsive.

Film myself
Be creative in planning to avoid repetition as that makes Try happy.
Watch Adelia's video again
Find video of lyrical leader: linheartshorses L4+++

Tuesday

groom, liberty sticking together plus short range circle game, riding in the field, online circling game, canter/walk figure 8 pattern in the ring, shower, graze/dwell

Today we followed up on things from the weekend:

1. In the back paddock, I was able to invite/turn my back and hold up my hand and she walked into place putting her withers under my hand. We did stick to me and she did not leave. Then we did the transition into the circling game at about 5' away from me. Try absolutely got it on what we did in the Saturday liberty session but I was not surprised!

2.The riding in the big field. She was lovely and calm and we played with "where is Try thinking" little taps to walk on a straight line and circle and slower/medium/faster walks. Then trotting--jog/medium/fastish. Canter we did several laps both directions again playing with varied speed working on rhythm. At this point she got antsy and quit listening the circle/drive HQ method worked for awhile then I felt her thinking ugly thoughts on how to challenge me.

3. So went to the ring, allowed Try to canter on line a bit to get it out of her system and went back to the final task--playing with canter walk transitions on a figure 8 pattern and Try offered them at a canter nice and calmly.

Funny Photo

Williamston Clinic Friday-Sunday

Friday Riding Session with Gretchen:

Falling leaf for right brain and left brain horses: send on the circle to get rhythm. Use stopping for RB horse and keep the horse going for LB. Be sure to bring up life and really cue HQ/FQ--using my energy not necessarily higher phases.

Circle to sideways to squeeze then HQ/FQ to repeat games 6/7 the other direction: again good for RB horse or to get concentration.

Mounting cue the front end

Walk slow medium power/fast with rhythm/relaxation

Trot same but ??opposing gears turning in sync with Try’s hip/shoulder movement. Really trotted out--good for Try.

Canter patterns starting with trot first

Bow tie: direct/indirect rein and set her up for new lead

Figure 8 usual cantering the circle and walking the straightaway

Reverse that and be careful to get the correct lead sit on right hip before circling to the rt

Try has a right/left imbalance that shifted in different tasks. Front back imbalance in that she is so much looser in her HQ than shoulders. Responds to cueing more/easier HQ than FQ. Typical for LB horse.

Ask ing for canter is different for finesse than freestyle?

Saturday:

am: watched Dan and EHA/Moore Stables/Kathy Glielmi students: made a note to play with Try on exercise where I set my focus on a straight line beyond Try' FQ or HQ or whatever and walk straight to it without wavering and she has to get out of the way. This would be good for establishing myself as the boss mare as learned in the afternoon liberty session

Liberty with Gretchen: join up and circling game and learned about being the boss mare. Adelia posted great video of this session for me.

Sunday:

Using where is Try thinking and changing the thinking with tap on other side for straight lines and circles then played with it for haunches in and out and shoulder in and out and half pass. Then went for easy ride around the area.