Monday - MH rode Try

Catching game in the pasture, avoiding Richmond as MH rode him first, then MH rode Try. Today I noticed a different pattern--more head movement--MH said she was trying to rebalance herself. Also MH said when Try jigs at the walk to keep my legs on her--it is emotional--don't release--help her work through it. Also when going from left bend to right bend/circle, watch for Try dropping her right shoulder and help her stay square.

Later in the day I rode Devon:
Lovely catching game in the pasture twice today. Taking the bit in bridling still an issue. WTC Also did Intro A test before and after cantering. Canter went well--good energy and did not break gait except to poop which is permissible for him.

The test:
1. The first time was before cantering and I had problems getting a good trot.
2. The second time we had good energy in the trot but during the walk at the end he broke to a trot twice.
3. I learned: straightness was an issue down the center line and on the diagonals.
4. The circle at A we did not reach the first side marker--both times!
5. Pretty good at bending in the corners, and reaching the letters at the shoulder.

Conclusion: this was fun BUT better to work on the pieces than do a whole test--basically practicing things incorrectly.

Saturday - watched EDCTA show at Wind Drift

Enjoyed the show day. Great to be able to sit with Kathy to see if I could see what she was seeing. I saw it on an intuitive level that she was able to describe with knowledge. I was especially interested in seeing Lynne Green's Intro A test as this was her first show and Kathy was coaching her/reading the test for her. I took the photo.

It was also fun to see Lisa doing the Sport Horse Versatility with her two year old pony Waiku (Q).

This inspired me to learn the  Intro A test:

Saturday and Sunday with Try: Saturday both Dawn and I stopped by and hung out with her in her pasture and gave her treats. On Sunday, C.H. and I brought the big pumpkin and I visited with Try again.

Thursday Fun Patterns with Kathy and Devon

Went to the barn about noon as its getting colder in the mornings and dressage ring is free in the afternoon. I spent 20 minutes of dwell time with Try on her right side and she did not attempt to move the position. Just hung out while she grazed.

Then talked to BA about changing Devon to 2x per week instead of 3 and picking up the extras in January etc--providing he is still at Rollover. Also may help her with turn in next Friday.

Then Devon, groom and warmup in the ring. Kathy arrived and we played with dressage patterns and geometry and I am stoked. This is going to be fun. Devon was great about moving off my leg etc. Also I showed Kathy video of Try and I cantering in the bareback pad and my not having an issue sitting the canter. I cantered with Devon and really worked at sitting deeply as his canter is so lovely. I have to admit to some fear at sitting in that position instead of forward and Kathy said it is my position check MY THIGHS are long and relaxed--move them out and down and back in place.

Got back to the barn and BA had clipped Try for me!!

Geometry lesson:
1. diagonals: arrive at the letter with shoulder--okish to zone 3 not terrible if arrive a little soon--judge just thinks I need more precision, bad to be late--shows a lack of preparation. Use legs to stay nicely on course to make this happen.
2. straight on the rail: needs just a bit of bend of the shoulder fore to give the illusion of straightness from the judge's point of view--otherwise HQ appear to be out of line.
3. 20 meter circles: i.e. at C--3 points on the rail for only a couple of strides--again using right or left leg to cue so horse stays straight between my legs on the circle. A 20 meter circle in the middle (not at A or C) is more difficult as there are only 2 points where I connect with the rail.
4. This should be a seamless dance especially in the transitions from one pattern piece to another.
5. I want to practice this with Try--including closing my eyes on a straight line down the center line to feel and correct with my legs AND with my eyes open and a strong focus to see if she is following my focus.

Wednesday - I am in trouble!

Rode in MH's saddle and the difference was way too huge to ignore. I really don't have $3,000 to spend on a new saddle but from that ride I can truly see the need.

Great ride ever so pleased at how easy it felt especially at the trot and the canter was great also. Try coming up and maintaining so I can think about other things and I sat that canter.

Homework, etc.
1. Warmup at the walk for rhythm, tracking up, walking on a straight line before asking for contact/connection. 5-20 minutes! Try needs a long warmup??
2. Trot and canter was so much easier with my arms wider and lower--Try really understood. MH says it is used a lot for young horses.
3. Circles and walk/halt/salute--something fun to practice especially 20 meter circles that are not a 1/3 of the ring.
4. Canter on the circle then go off the circle on a diagonal and use 1/2 halt and sit deep to get a better transition to the trot.

Try's Right Side
Before the lesson with MH I rode Try bareback in the back paddock to play with the right side issue. She was amazingly light in the basic lateral flexion and not afraid to step out. I did not play with maintaining the flexion and ask for HQ yield. I remembered to mount and dismount on the right side. Forgot some to be on her right side on the lead line and we did a lot of dwell time and treats on her right side.

Tuesday - MH rode Try and I rode Devon

I arrived early and groomed Try. MH rode and Try looked like a dressage horse. MH said she was really responsive to seat cues and that I had done a good job with her. Also that as she got going she was responding more and more--shorten and length canter, turns, helping her on her right side, etc. Also being in raging season she and Richmond were very aware of each other. I noticed Try cutting her eyes before she got the idea of connecting/contact then her eyes softened. After I saw a lack of self-confidence.

We then went to the back paddock and played various liberty games all on her right side: i.e. weave cones, touch it with a cone on the barrel and sideways across the barrel, sticking together/dwell/friendly and apple slices.

Showered her with warm water as it was cold, cooler and in her stall to dry off. Her winter coat is really coming in and takes a long time to dry. Looking forward to that blanket clip soon!!

Next got Devon in from his field--all three of those horses are friendly and nice to be with. With Devon we warmed up w/t then no-stirrups posting trot and I needed to walk between my two laps. Canter was better--broke gait once only and was more relaxed at the end and we did more laps than Monday.

Monday - Strange Day

Went to the barn at 1 instead of 9am. I had no energy or concentration--sunny and I ate a brownie for lunch. Anyway spent the time with Devon--he did not break at the canter even tho both of us were feeling really lazy. Treats, dwell--first day Devon did not want me to leave when we got back to his pasture. Could be treats and with 50 some hours together--who knows what he thinks of the relationship. Only tricks today was mounting block--should bring kids carrot stick out next time.

Try: spent 20 minutes with her in her pasture only on her right side and in zone 3 or 4. She kept trying to change that and put me in zone 1 and off the right side. Interesting.

Friday - Dan Thompson

2013 10 18

·        Questions/help

·        Slow, fun non-physical stuff on line or liberty—filling her +s bucket priority—creative ideas??

·        Stiff on right side – lateral flexion

·        Canter and emotion—Dawn comments—does Try ever like to canter—always emotional?

·     

·       ·        Balance in Try’s life

o   Dressage learning—shortens the body, tightens the spring, benefits to health and to my learning. So far Try is positive or neutral in response. This includes stretching.

o   Loosen the spring necessary for balance. This is the yeehah factor—go out in the field and just go for it stuff. Ride ‘em cowboys. Barrels and poles: has she been taught use of body or just pushed thru it like jumping.

o   Filling the + bucket

§  feeling smart and appreciated without much physical exertion

§  sweet spot like the pedestal

§  precision and degrees of advancement

§  short duration of high physical activity or emotional stress

§  Parelli puzzles—solving a puzzle and nicker—enjoying learning process

§  Dwell, do nothing

§  Mirroring, sync

§  RIGHT SIDE

o   Fixing emotional issues:

§  right side emotional stiffness

§  intensity is our friend

§  Canter:

·        Lateral movement to release emotion

o   Offensive/defensive

o   HQ/shoulders/ribs

o   Serpentine

o   Heavy on forehand—counter bend on the circle—leg yield for lateral drift to take tension out of the ribs

o   Task her brain to get focus off the emotion

·        Vary the speed within the canter—use this in an approach and retreat manner to reduce the emotional reaction. Change her expectation and help her find a better answer.

·        Note: most emotional bending around the corner on the right lead—right side lack of trust and confidence.

THE RIGHT SIDE

·        ONLY the right side unless not possible until 2014.

·        Constant conscious awareness—post reminders at home—calendar etc. and in tack trunk, etc.

·        Ask BA/Dawn etc. to help with this when leading/dwell time

Preparing to ride

·        Lead on Try’s right side and spend extra time there as halter fastens on left

·        Groom both but spend more time on the right side

·        Tacking up can be done mostly on the right side

·        Mount and dismount on the right side

On the Ground—On Line and Liberty

·        7 games

o   Friendly!!! Including dwell/treats especially after riding

o   Porcupine and driving

o   Sideways to and fro and bring yer butt

o   Squeeze—pedestal

o   Touch it

o   Sticking together

·        Obstacles—cue from the right side

o   Weave

o   Tarp

o   Sidepass the barrel or whatever

o   Touch it cone on barrel

o   Straddle a pole

o   Small jump

Riding the Right Side!!!

·        First Can Try think out of the right side when touch right side from a stand still?
·        Then think and move stepping first with right front foot
·        Add HQ good step release and watch for right eye to relax (white not showing)
·        The walk and slow trot turns from right and left side and later without using the reins
·        Then release ribs and shoulder releases·         

Kathy comments:   Dan said he has been working on a book as he has been exploring,  what he refers to as having the horse think out of their stiff side.  By watching the horses eye you can see where they are thinking/leaving.  A horse may be doing what you are asking, but, where are they really thinking.  The hook is that when a horse is giving you stiffness, resistence, spookiness it may not be naughtiness, leaving etc., it may be that the horse just can't think out of that side of the brain.  It is not a right brain controlling the left side motor responses as in a brain injury, it is something no one has ever taught them or given them the chance to solve/find the right answer.  WHen I reran my mental images of Try in my head, I could see the biggest problems have been on the right side.  It was a totally new way of thinking about and looking at a horses' problems.  It reminded me of my first horse Nauti, who had rt lead problems and they were corrected by my touching her on the right shoulder to signal which lead she should throw.  In essense, I helped her think out the right side.  It is a very new way of looking at how horses think and connect to & with us.  Dan is so interesting.