Sunday

Try and I went moment to new moment playing at liberty, on line, riding, grooming, shower with love and a sense of peace and ease as she switched from excited and exuberant to relaxed and laid back--over and over again.

Friday watching Dan, Kathy, and Lisa

2013 9 7

Notes watching Kathy Cheever and Lisa Graf’s sessions.

Kathy: freestyle 101

Passenger game: this game is won when the horse says every place is a good place to go—then you can take over the leadership. When you are in sync, it is easy to subtly shift who is the leader.

Lisa:

Whaiku—what fun to see Dan and Lisa getting him to play with Lisa and learning the difference between playing at and playing with.

Tiara

Riding lesson shaping review leading to flying changes

I want to remember—stepping over in front is desirable, stepping behind is an escape—film Try and I and see what is happening.

1.      Sidepass circling a cone with zone 1 facing the cone and fairly close: goal to have Tiara’s body remain fairly straight and maintain a good rhythm in doing so. Check that steps cross in front. Be able to do in both directions.

2.      Move out to 9 feet from the cone and repeat—requires amount of engagement and suspension to be able to do this at this distance.

3.      Do at a trot. Piaffe like steps

4.      Sidepass the cone with zone 5 facing the cone (with front end traveling the bigger steps rather than HQ when facing the cone). This is like a pirouette. Harder.

5.      Falling leaf and S bends—walk and trot. Trot looked really good.

Friday

Devon: groom, easy ride working on following in the wtc, and watching my body when I ask for something to id tension. Canter--issues with Devon stopping if I just follow--something that would not be an issue with Try LOL Suggested--keep leg on--trick will be how much to keep from getting him emotional, checking myself for emotion/tension, and at the end if I need to walk after canter to settle to be sure to go back to trot rather than reward the emotion.

Try--treat and say Hi.

Visualizations based on yesterday's lesson:

1. I follow not push my horse at the walk/trot and canter. I made real strides with this today at the walk and trot!

2. I am IDing and reducing tense and stiffness in transitions. After I got going I was able to watch my body as I asked Devon for something--this is a good beginning.

3. I focus on my quads in posting as it stabilizes my body and releases tension. Yes I remembered this a number of times--especially in the no-stirrups posting trot as I began to get tired (2/3 mile).

4. I am creating an unconscious habit of visualizing with relaxation before I ask and continue the relaxation into the asking. I really want to take my time and make this happen--not so great today tho not totally neglected.

5. I am breathing. Didn't do much with this either

6. Connection with the bit: I am focusing on relaxation in transitions while maintaining the connection. NA

7. I am frequently Pleased--yes I let Devon know I was pleased often and I am using my Confidence image--I didn't really do this.

Thursday

Try: Dawn rode Try while I had lesson with Kathy and Devon. Try seemed to enjoy herself. The four of us stopped and visited at the end and Try seemed relaxed, pleased with herself.

Devon: Quick groom, nice warmup in ring, dwell time, easy lesson with Kathy working on identifying where I am over-riding Devon and to relax and follow his movement, followed by some gorgeous connected trot, then more dwell time and quick shower.

Cueing, new book, ask about balancing on my thighs??

Tuesday Try and Wednesday Devon

Try:
We rode in the ring preceeded by Try reading my mind with straddle the pole and figure 8 at liberty in the back paddock. In the ring she had tremendous energy, no doubt at least partly due to the gorgeous stallion Richmond riding at the same time. WTC then cool down with a couple more incredibly responsive games with Try and shower.

Devon:
Worked on myself with relaxation (id and remove tension) breathing, being pleased and confidence image as well as being effective in cueing. For warmup and no stirrups I did well with these goals and no stirrups of 4 laps with a break was no issue. Then some lovely trot laps on autopilot for us both. Canter tho--started out really sloppy and I reved Devon up again. Took a good bit of walk and trot to get relaxed before continuing canter in the other direction. Then played with contact--if I feel my elbows connected to the bit we ride on contact--he rounds up and it is just that simple. Played at the end with lengthening his trot on contact. Cool down and shower/rain rot treatment.

Friday - Devon

Today I rode Devon and had a pretty good hack: wtc and 2 laps of no stirrups. I attempted to work on my visualizations and did remember cueing, my frame, pleased and tension. However I was distracted as this was the first day of MH teaching Jennifer and I could not help but watch some and look to see if I was staying out of the way. I have no way of knowing how having MH's operation at Rollover will change things at Rollover now how to take advantage of it as an opportunity. Likely MH will not mind my watching as her assistant Lauren Hopper was watching as well as Jennifer's friend Rene (who does eventing).

Friday

Riding Visualizations

1. I am riding N Sync with Try and Devon

2. I am practicing full breathing while riding

3. I am identifying and releasing any tension

4. I can Isolate cueing with legs from my torso

5. I am frequently Pleased

6. I am using my Confidence image

7. I am Effective in my cueing

8. I can maintain a beautiful frame