Day 2 of the PLAN

The Plan followed by results

Starting on the ground

1. Something new--not really new but progressed--straddle the cavaletti pole vertically, asking from a greater distance (basically from zone 1).

Result: With a 22' line, I asked from about 15' and did not move my feet. She asked a lot of questions and offered a lot of different things--particularly putting various feet on the pole. Once we were close to the answer--I felt it took too long and she wasn't really focusing/trying as she could have and would have if we were closer. However, she did get it. Game over, enthusiastic good girl, treat, etc. This can be repeated soon.

2. Sync to music--stick to each other. Purpose: Try's willingness to play/match different energy levels. Right side, 5 zones, 3 gaits, 7 games. Moment to new moment. But do add in stop on a dime.

Result: It just didn't work to do much with this--the music wasn't inspiring me to move. But Try did match my energy better than the other day and we were so much better at stopping on a dime from a trot after a few tries. I want to leave general stick to me and come back to it in a different way, or focusing in on something in particular. No music for a while.

3. On the ground one good HQ yield each side--big step and check for relaxation. Big treat and time to absorb.

Result: good big steps but please video and get feedback!

Riding

As it turned out it was starting to rain so rather than go groom and tack up in the barn, I rode bareback with 22' line and carrot stick minus savvy string--didn't seem to make any difference. Ring is the only place on the property that is ok to ride--still muddy mess but at least the ground isn't frozen the way it was yesterday.

1. Lateral flexion and one good HQ step each way from a stand still.

Lateral flexion was even better on the right side than the left. I need to videotape this.

2. Play with seat cues as warmup choose one to be particular ie backing.

From a walk, halt and back was great today. I think Try really knows seat cues. I believe the issue is do I use them consistently and then, if Try isn't responding use reinforcement cueing. So new plan is to focus on me--using a typical pattern etc--and just see if using seat cues can be my first thought.

2. Circling for HQ yield Dan and MH approaches

Not as good as yesterday. Did not do MH method with contact. Need to research for some different ways to play with this before it becomes "work." Perhaps wheelbarrow turns or find a different place to play?

Finish with leave the farm to graze in the green grass. YES we did this--its her fav.

Finally a day at the barn! Day 1 of the PLAN Thursday

First day to play with my new goals and priorities! Unfortunately could not find video camera--will borrow BA's tomorrow.

Goal/Concept #1
I want to help Try be more flexible in her right HQ yields.
What we did--
1. To give Try the idea we started with old level 1, 7 games driving game to move HQ. We fairly quickly had nice big steps with the inside hind leg crossing in front of the outside leg and they did not seem rushed or emotional. Praise and quit.
2. Later we took this to a circle or falling leaf on a circle and we lost precision in the step. ??Step was in front of hind but not crossing over on the circle.
3. Later still I did Dan's exercise riding ask first from a stand still for a HQ yield and got a couple of big steps each way but not on every try. I used the carrot stick. Then took it to a walk on the circle and I think a got one or two steps much better than the others and wished I had it on video. I know the feeling of a really good big step and did not get that.
4. Towards the end of the session, we trotted large and small circles with a soft feel and bend. More on the right side but on both sides.

Goal/Concept #2
Being free, having fun and being out of my head: nope, didn't do it. We did play sticking together (stick to me) to music.

Goal/Concept #3
Using seat cues first then leg cues in search of ever lighter cueing: I played "Can Yous" as warmup in the saddle. Try was not fully into it. But asked for go, halt, walk to trot and trot to walk and turning with NO
leg. Upward transitions used kiss some, sometimes she went from walk to trot with just seat and I bet if I made a program of it we could have it with consistancy. Downward transitions trot to walk are always good. Walk to halt were mostly good if I added a vocal cue of "aaaand whoa" A couple Try did from seat without vocals. Turning took leg and lots of body position until later on when we trotted circles from my body alone.

Goal/Concept #4 and #5
Expanding our comfort zones by releasing my need to please Try and increasing Try's mental fitness to be able to continue to "work" on something for a longer period of time: I thought about the energy I needed to be the leader but could not pull it together was not in the mood. (Actually a very sad day with my luck score slipping a bit.) I checked the on line circling and stick to me to quit before it got boring for Try--hope I achieved that. Try got irritated some in the riding but nothing like years ago with my using the carrot stick. She also inititally wasn't keen on the soft feel/contact but within maybe ??15 seconds had it and had so much better self-carriage than a couple months ago. She seemed at peace with that.

Also of note: Stick to me to music was a bit better -- day 3 not consecutive--slightly more energy, better syncing with each other. Better stopping on a dime goal.

Another Cold Day

Studying 4th quarter notes from lessons etc and making or updating summaries.
Call from Dan last night.

Cold weather day--goal setting with Dawn Roth

Dawn Goal Setting

2013 12 7

After discussion of my thoughts on long term, one year and 3 month goals, we started into what will be on the white board.

First rate myself 1-10 on my confidence--

·       Horse development 6

·       Riding 6

Next set up 4 boxes—each getting 25%--talent, skill, try and luck. I gave myself 20, 10, 22, and 22.

Also at the top of the board will be the big picture. In no more than 3 sentences, state the WHY that I am doing this. What do I want to accomplish, feel good about. This is to remind me each day of why I am doing this.

I am pursuing horsemanship to fulfil a personal need for a passionate pursuit of combined intellectual, emotional and physical growth, learning and achievement. I want to put this to purpose to help horses and promote good horsemanship

The board will change only once a week.

Next to pick 4-7 concepts—tasks to achieve each—the how--will fall underneath the concepts as tasks.

1.     I want to help Try become more supple and flexible in right side HQ yields.

2.     I want to get out of my head when I am riding, have fun, be free and be in the moment.

3.     I want to use my body as a rider more effectively to cue lightly and effectively first with seat cues and next with leg cues.

4.     I want to expand our comfort zones by releasing my worry of her being happy and engaging my LB self to not quit until we both win. This will make it possible for me to be successful without an instructor present.

5.     I want to expand Try’s mental fitness and attention span to allow the time to achieve learning.

I.                 HQ yields on right side strategies

a.     Circling game online with driving HQ a la Dan Thompson

b.     Be careful to have smooth slow step not emotional or bracing.

c.      Check if inside leg doesn’t really cross over outside—bracing?

d.     Check my tea for two NOT just for responsiveness and light cueing but also for that smoothness and slow control and confidence.

e.     When Try gives a really good step—reward, release or game over followed by time to process.

f.       Riding on the circle and asking for HQ partial displacement—Kathy/MH

g.      Check notes for other exercises to check for quality of HQ yield

h.     Videotape

II.               Riding—feeling instead of thinking, being mentally free strategies

a.     Ride to music

b.     Ride in the field for fun

                                                    i.     Variety and transitions within the gaits

                                                  ii.     Lengthen and shorten

                                                 iii.     Yeehaw—loosen the spring—turn her loose

c.      Sing songs while riding to shift my mental focus

d.     Trashing the exercise, ride as different characters

e.     Swooping, “Skiing” serpentines

III.              Using seat and leg cue strategies

a.     Can Yous

                                                    i.     Upward and downward transitions from seat alone

                                                  ii.     Backing

                                                 iii.     Turning

                                                 iv.     Play million transitions game

b.     Apply to a “homework” exercise and be conscious of cueing as first priority.

c.      Do in my body first what I would like her to do in hers.

d.     Light leg cueing may release the habit of lifting my heel.

IV.             Releasing myself from worrying about whether Try is happy expanding our comfort zones:

a.     Be psyched and have the right energy about myself

b.     Jim Carrey sense of fun – energy- getting it done.

c.      Again use music and playlists with variety (cut down on length of pieces)

d.     Visualize, relax and keep going with an attitude of pleased

e.     Just do it Try!

V.               Expanding Try’s mental fitness strategies:

a.     Read the moment and quit before she is bored

b.     Come back to it

c.      Pat and 30 minutes on the rail concept to remember

d.     Take my time and allow for questions and conversation

e.     Teach something new each week

                                                    i.     Could be an ongoing task that could be brought out once a week to avoid the dreaded every day repetition

                                                  ii.     Picking up something

                                                 iii.     Check idea list

f.       Avoid being boring and losing Try mentally while expanding her attention span.

g.      Issue: harder to read horse in the saddle—videotape

h.     Look for positive responsiveness

i.       Reread my ??2009LBI filling her bucket notes for ideas to discard.

Monday Try and I and MH rode Try - right HQ yields

Try and I played in her field and cleaned up basic games--she seemed quite happy to see me and to do this. Then after grooming we went to the ring and warmed up while MH rode Ramone in the dressage ring. Then when they left I played music and we walked and trotted. Try would sync with me and then get bored. It would be good to have a track with shorter more varied music energies.

Then MH rode Try:
I had asked for help with leg yields:
1. Try's HQ yields on the right side were not as good as the left.
2. Thus I may need to hold Try back with leg yields pushing from left side.
3. Right side--go back and review Dan exercises on the ground and in the saddle for HQ yields
4. MH--use circles to work on this and slight bend--HQ yields even on the straight sides.

Videotaped Try and I playing to music

What happened--unlike the excitement and joy of the session with Try and Dan, this was relatively calm as I focused more on getting Try with me and on the music. This ended up being successful mostly at a walk with my sticking to her.

What I learned:

1. Gain connection first
2. Consider what warm-up will work best
3. Stick to her to have stick to me
4. More leadership
5. More particular
6. Vary energies

Film and consider how much better we pick up different rhythms together riding.
Consider that I ride in a rhythm with classical music that is not playing.

Why music:
1. Fun
2. Rhythm as part of classical scale
3. Getting different energies from Try as LBI

Conversation with Kathy about music and rhythm etc

---- Elizabeth Pope <ehpope@embarqmail.com> wrote: 

> In thinking towards creating that training level musical freestyle for Try
> and I, MH had advised matching music to video of Try for rhythm. After we
> talked yesterday--knowing I would like to create something with at least
> some artistic integrity--i.e. avoid a piece meal group of music with jarring
> transitions--it seemed likely a classical piece with variety that means
> something to me would be my best choice and I prefer classical music anyway.
>
> So I took video of MH and Try as they seem to have such a good rhythm
> together and played on the computer various possible music selections while
> viewing their walk/trot and canter video (which was not filmed with any
> music playing) and found NO Match with any of the music. Just no connection.
> Music would not work.
>
> Next I tried video of Try and I in a lesson with MH and the music FIT our
> rhythm pretty closely walk/trot/canter. (Again none of the video had been
> filmed with any music playing.)
>
> How very curious is that? So a horse is that different with different
> riders. Also, what does that say about the way I ride? My ballet background
> survives within me when I ride? What about when I ride a different
> horse/Devon do they feel the music within me. Creepy!? Truly a new line of
> thinking.
>

From: kathy glielmi
Sent: ‎Tuesday‎, ‎December‎ ‎31‎, ‎2013 ‎7‎:‎25‎ ‎PM
To: Elizabeth Pope

Why should the horse or you reading each other before thought becomes action is feeling creepy, it speaks to me of a very special bond and understanding of each other on a more primal level.  Remember different riders have varying levels of sensitivity to the horse they are riding and visa versa.  Some riders want an obedient and technically correct horse rather than a horse who is more connected to you on a spiritual/different consciousness level.  I believe that when music is added to a ride it takes the horse and rider to a different level of consciousness and the music helps you both tune into the rhythms & tempos within the music.  Try improvisation, what sounds like/feels like it would be fun & interesting to do this or that.  Try thinking of lines, bending lines & shapes that you see or feel in the music.  Try not to ride a rectangle/ follow the rails all the time.  Come in and explore interior space - quarter lines or center lines.  I would try this approach rather than writing & riding a test-like format.  Let the music shape the choreography rather than a "test like format" that you try and force fit the music to.

Me 

My reply:

I think the creepiness is that I have been riding with an inner feeling for classical music playing without realizing it as, of course, there was no music playing at all. I think you are right about improve--at least a looser approach. At some point in time it will be interesting to see if a 20 meter canter circle will fit into a phrase of music or if Try and I can make a transition when the music transitions, etc. Actually on our own we don’t “stay on the rail” much anyway--Try doesn’t like it and neither do I. I loved the swoopy feeling we had that day in the big field when you had us circle back when she got emotional. So starting with pieces of patterns as they express the music seems smarter. I am curious to see if we sync better to music in the saddle than on line and liberty and I am willing to bet we do. LOL I filmed some on line and liberty to music yesterday and it was an eye opener. I was expressing the music in my body and didn’t pretty well at adjusting to different patterns and games but Try was mostly not with the music. I looked very sweet and naïve. I needed more initial mental connection, a better warmup, stronger leadership and a willingness to creatively use phases to wake her up. This is not something I will achieve the next time out.

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