My promise to Sefira

I am very aware that Sefira has baggage from over training, etc. I want us to be able to develop a lovely connection and realize I will need to show her I will be different.

1. I will be observant of what Sefira is thinking and feeling, of what she feels she needs.
2. I will always respect and value Sefira.
3. We will work together to establish ever lighter use of aids in cueing through my being relaxed, aware of what I am asking and taking my time with planned phases.
4. I will take the time it takes to establish quality in the simplest things before moving on to any other challenges/fun learning.
1. Quality of gait transitions
2. Quality of rhythm with relaxation
3. Walk/trot/canter with freedom
5. I will not block her movement with aids especially reins unless for my safety. This includes particularly not asking for things before we are ready.
6. I will seek to see that she does not feel undue pressure.
7. I will seek help from instructors who understand my goals.

At present

1. trot to walk: Sefira will make the transition if I release some energy and say "and" however this is not as smooth as using reins AND I need to think forward to have a good energy in the walk. Test: from a very forward trot--it will take longer for her to think walk.

2. Picking up the trot--Sefira is responding quickly but am I overcueing if she has that big first step and the trot starts out a little big (what kind of big--fast/too much energy).

3. Picking up the canter: we get it immediately on the left lead but not the right lead and hopefully I can get some help with this. Slight right bend/sit back/ask.

4. The canter--I am uncomfortable with her canter making the turns on the short side of the dressage ring. I feel 20 meters is too short for her stride to remain smooth/have a good rhythm. Issues with my saddle.

Friday: we played with soft feel for the first time. This was a session for me--to maintain the feel in transitions.

Thursday - Lovely day--Joyous

Sefira
Nice ride wtc
Downward transitions without reins are happening now. Upward asking for the trot and canter on her left lead are easy tho we still need to work out the right lead canter.

I am giving her a lot of breaks to a walk on the buckle and stopping a few times in the shade. We are very comfortable trotting on the rail in the full ring and beginning some laps for fitness in a casual sort of way. I am going with the trot she gives me for the most part even knowing that she starts the trot a little fast--this will be something to consider--am I overcueing to produce this? The canter--we need to do this outside the dressage ring the 20 meter side is so very short for her strides.

We had some interesting moments after the ride. She objected to my putting the rainrot stuff on her back legs but then decided it was ok and I was able to stroke them with love. Then she objected to my brushing her forelock and I stepped back and waited a bit then she was happy for me to do it and it was another smooth, loving moment.

Try

Groom, ride, shower.
We didn't work on anything--just being together. She just feels so perfectly wonderful to me--nothing bothers me--little stuff I might have found annoying and thought I should "fix" in the past I am not even noticing. Also interestingly she is in raging season and still responsive. It all feels so warm and together and right.

Tuesday was an AWFUL day

Today I tried for the second time to get some footage of stretching, lengthening and shortening the trot, and combing the reins and sliding rein to send to Dawn. I was tired and spacey--not very focused--but Try was just lovely and doing a great job/responsive. Later I found out that I didn't have camera setting right and did not get any video.

After I decided for variety etc to play with a little on line games with Sefira. We did not accomplish much of anything and got attacked by a swarm of deer flies and ran back to the barn together.

Monday - Magic day

My message to Kathy Glielmi

> Thank you for that clarification about lifting shoulders--yes I felt it--yes subtle and I did not see it--will go back and look again.

>

> My first ride today by myself in the ring with Sefira--walk/trot/canter. I feel safe--Katie videotaped Saturday and I could see how safe she is.

> I am striving to be in sync with her trot and we are working out--between us--cueing gait transitions.

> Today what I wanted to do seemed to be what she wanted to do and what she seemed to want to do was what I wanted to do--very pleasant.

> Trotting on the big ring a few laps and cantering a circle in the dressage ring--soon off that circle.

> My first goal is communication between us on basics and it is coming quicker than I thought.

> She is not where Devon or Try are with subtle cueing but no reason why it can't happen.

> Look forward to dressage lessons with you fairly soon.

> Perhaps one week Try and one week Sefira--that would be in keeping with my need to practice and work things out on my own???

> I am excited.

> Elizabeth

Kathy's reply

Super for you, as usual I am game for what you want to focus on or who.  Glad you are feeling confident and comfortable with her.  As you know mares are often more sensitive.  It will take 6mo - year to really learn her, but if you are playing on-line with her it will probably come sooner.  See you in a week Me

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

> Thank you for that clarification about shoulders--yes I felt it--yes subtle and I did not see it--will go back and look again.

Monday with Try: Lovely time together--groom, shower, treat rain rot, graze, dwell.

Saturday - video Sefira

Having watched the video from Saturday:

1. Sefira is safe for me to ride!
2. I want this coming week to be all about getting in sync with her big trot
1. Hold the pommel or hay string to steady myself especially going into the trot
2. The more vertical I am the better--being forward puts me out of sync and yet the big trot puts be forward.
3. For the canter--sit on my pockets and follow
3. Also as we are just getting to know each other cueing transitions is important to communication
1. I am going with using reins lightly to cue downward and it is working
2. Next I want to visualize, change my energy, sit deep and then use reins lightly if needed
3. Sefira does look for downward transitions and is slower to get the upward transitions.
4. Review in my mind carefully asking for trot and canter
5. When Sefira goes into the trot or canter I need to check for excess energy that she may have and was my overcueing the cause.
4. Be aware of using reins/half halts/leg nagging--I want to create a good relationship. consider rein length and either loose reins or be in connection with her mouth so as not to bounce reins on her mouth.
5. Transitions, breaks, stretching

On the ground: She was relaxed, she did lick and chew at the back up which is good for building some respect--perhaps I can build that on the ground as I get to be a better rider for her.

Book on horse personality:
Sefira: left brain and more intraverted than extraverted thus far. Both riding and in the pasture with her yearling RBE pasture mate.

Characteristics to consider:
1. Is she innately sluggish--no
2. Can I make her lazy by micromanaging--absolutely
3. Sensitive and quick to take offense--yes--on the ground more so than Try

Gender
1. Yes it is obvious when she is in season--I don't know how it affects her as yet.
2. Yes I would expect her to be less tolerant of poor riding and become cranky--ears/tail swishing.
3. Yes I hope she expects me to use subtle aids and the sooner we work that out between us the better.

new book: Dressage Training Customized--personality considerations

Try

1. Character type: Try can be a bit over reactive when she gets emotional but is generally a cusp for extraversion/intraversion in Parelli terms. She has elements of being an overachiever as she will anticipate and "offer" things perhaps through anxiety of not wanting to be wrong and also on the other hand wanting to be the one in control. Important to take breaks, not drill, get off it when she has it and provide mental variety. She is also sensitive and cares very easily. She can get resistant other wise. She does love to figure out puzzles and learn especially if she gets credit for it. She enjoys feeling smart and likes to have an audience appreciate how wonderful she is.

2. Conformation: I couldn't figure out from the types in the book but Try as an Impressive bred AQHA incentive fund foal--is thought to be bred for showmanship and halter/in-hand classes to show off how pretty she is. But--she has a big barrel chest and big hind end that make performance more challenging.

3. Gender issues: Yes she is a mare! I find she can be distracted when in season but not overly cranky then. She is a mare who goes into season in a big way and is very interested in other horses during that time. She can also be especially sweet when in season. She is sensitive to touch and light cueing is important to have her be a happy horse.

4. Breed types: the book did not address quarter horses. LOL But they are known for being calmer and more sensible. Try is also 1/4 thoroughbred--also not addressed in the book.

Friday - Lesson with Kathy

Kathy's comment at facebook and my reply:

Had fun with Elizabeth Pope. Try wanted to hang out with us and chill, but when we began to work, she rose to the occasion with energy. To change up the lengthening the trot we asked for a very slow walk to an energetic trot. We worked on getting Elizabeth relaxed and bending slightly from the waist so she would remain following the motion of the trot as Try lengthened stride and lifted into self carriage. We finished with elasticizing the trot so many trot strides lengthening and so many strides back to some collection and out again varying the number of steps. We are working on riding back to front and using visualization, energy & intent; it was not about the reins. Try was so willing to be Elizabeth's partner and went forward with joy. 

 

Thanks for the wrap up--always helpful to see your description. I am so pleased that with your help Try and I are getting such lovely rhythm trotting and being able to ask for the lengthening and shortening of stride with ever lighter cueing. Most important--Try is having fun.

What we did

1. played with how slow we could walk and have a good rhythm from my visualization of the rhythm I wanted. Then alternated with moving out in the walk.

2. Lengthened trot--to assist me in not having my awkward moments of losing sync as we pick up power Kathy had me hold a piece of mane so I can remain forward in my body. This worked well. Part of me doesn't see why I should need this--I should anticipate and be with Try.

3. Then played with lengthening and shortening the trot. The long trot is easy for us to cue and Try loves it. It is harder for us to shorten: She understands from my seat/core cue to shorten/come up but is enthusiastic from the big lengthened trot and takes a bit to make the transition. Kathy suggested 1. to be very relaxed in the cue I give as phase one 2. Add letting go and "bouncing" on her back as a higher phase to cause her to care enough to begin thinking/transitioning sooner.

All in all Try was absolutely wonderful and I so enjoyed this session. Watch trot from last session for shoulders.