Friday's session with Marie, Tammy, Try and Sephira

Creating the “golden” state of being in myself that Try and Sephira like, makes me open to reading them and communicating on a deeper level. 

This was an incredibly wonderful morning--just EXACTLY what I needed!!!!

1.      Breathing:

a.      At home practice—deep breathing from yoga

b.      Practice during dwell time

c.      Use it when I feel tension

d.      Use it riding for freedom and joy

e.      Use as prep for communication

f.       Use to be able to quickly find the quiet/relaxation/golden state

2.      Use affirmations:

a.      Review ones I use already

b.      Plan when and where to use

c.      Use affirmations on the way to the barn keyed to the day’s plan

d.      I love you, I am sorry, I forgive you

e.      Check Louise Hay, Joe Vitale and Hawaiin guy for tapes

f.       Ask Marie for links

g.      5 things to be grateful for—Will Bowen

h.      List all the things I love about Try, also Sephira

i.       List all the things I have learned from horses

j.       After session, on the way home:

                                                    i.     5 things that went well

                                                   ii.     2 priorities for next time

                                                  iii.     Hold myself accountable for the priorities

                                                  iv.     Make + affirmations based on the priorities

                                                   v.     Visualize positive intent, each step with clarity

                                                  vi.     Task must be achievable for us both

3.      Log/blog the journey of spiritual growth, dwell time, use of affirmations. Becoming ethereal.

4.      Is Try ready for a conversation?

a.      No she was not and for a long time. She was tired and had a long, rough night upset over Sephira being moved to a different pasture. At times she was conflicted over whether to come to me or hang at the gate to watch horses come and go.

b.      I sat on the ground and worked on my breathing. At first breathing and inviting which is kind of a MAKE. Getting distracted and starting over. Playing with how deep the breathing.

c.      She did come and we hung out at the fence. She still not ready to do anything. Eventually we did a little stick to me.

d.      Marie suggested I approach Try as if I had never seen her before and check her out.

e.      I started with 7 games: friendly good enuf, porcupine she was light and awesome, yoyo amazing also. Circling at liberty—soso Sideways away good but toward wasn’t there!

f.       Circling on line: moving forward, yield inside HQ to spiral shoulder, resets

g.      Did not ride but discussed saddling as if she had never been saddled before

5.      So 5 great things

a.      Try came to me

b.      We played stick to me without stick or string despite Try being exhausted

c.      Try’s porcupine game was light as a dream

d.      Try was lovely to be with and I felt confident being with her.

e.      I felt proud of how light Try was with cueing—especially with Tammy watching as she had not seen Try in action in years.

6.      2 priorities for next time

a.      Is Try ready for a conversation

b.      HQ yield on the circle

7.      Affirmations

a.      Try and I are enjoying dwell time together. I am practicing my breathing and journey toward golden. I am enjoying experimenting and reading Try in the moment.

b.      Try and I found success in the HQ yield and I asked and then reset.

c.      Riding: Try and I are enjoying a lovely ride that is just what we need for our physical and mental health.

Sephira

1.      Was she ready for a conversation? Yes

2.      Checking her out on line

a.      Friendly: ok—with stick and string etc but not relaxing. Rubbing her forehead can be relaxing

b.      Porcupine: Backup from the nose—she doesn’t know it. From Intention not today. From the chest was light. Shoulder yields—yes but not pivoting. HQ—yes she moves it easily.

                                                    i.     Yoyo—yes and good draw

3.      Played with backup from the nose: intention, 4 phases and support with driving rhythm. Quit with a bit of success.

4.      Confidence improved from our last session with Marie

5.      Test of Confidence

a.      Confidence in me as a leader

b.      Confidence in things

c.      Confidence in learning

d.      Confidence in what we are doing?

6.      What went well

a.      Curious

b.      More relaxed

c.      Good draw

d.      Positive reflexes in most of porcupine game as a new game for her

e.      She is beginning to get the idea that she can figure out how to solve a puzzle

7.      Priorities for next time

a.      Play with backup from the nose for puzzle solving learning

b.      Play with Easter egg hunt/touch it as a super fun game which will tap into her natural curiosity and build her confidence in learning. Attainable.

Friday - my notes in preparation for morning with Marie

2014 6 6 prep for Marie

Sephira

1.      Catching games: advantages/disadvantages/differences??

a.      Zigzag to take off the pressure

b.      Ignore and circle to HQ

c.      Straight line get out of my way

d.      Dan—catch the thought/look and invite

2.      Backup

a.      Zone 1 from intention

b.      Nose porcupine 4 phases: hair, skin, muscle, bone

c.      Chest porcupine same (phase 4 is whatever it takes for them to care)

d.      Stick and string—driving--confusion—different ways

e.      Rope—driving

                                                    i.     Intention

                                                   ii.     Finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder

3.      Yoyo and draw

4.      Stick to me on line

a.      ?withers/Dan

b.      Bridge to what Sephira knows from lead line

c.      Mirror me at walk, halt and ??backup??

d.      I mirror her first

e.      Turns and HQ focus to keep her with me

I want to GO SLOW and get help with this as RBE

Take my time, relax—golden feeling, visualize in detail, ask from intention first, then phases. Easier to visualize known Parelli skills than new dressage! Rhett Fincher colt starting.

Respect and connection and greater relaxation as goals.

Sharon Baldwin and messaging. Send/don’t know how to receive.

Sephira has suppling issues with tight shoulders.

Changes: head down for haltering, waits at mounting block, better about spray, brushing forelock, go slow, be relaxed, ask permission. Lighter downward cues, counter canter, flying changes, passage, turn from weight aid. Super trained.

Pinning her ears in her stall—invading her bubble/space?

Discuss: “evil” energy and “game on” Try vs Sephira. For Try—it’s joyful to me, Sephira I don’t know—I am apprehensive.

Try

Go slow, time to process for us both

On Line or Liberty

1.      Catching game

2.      Stick to me for connection

3.      Review yoyo using intention—relax, visualize then ask

4.      Find my focus game—Dan approach—how to make it lighter—bridge from it??

5.      Circling game

a.      Send—my focus and belly button

b.      Using point finger to bridge if need be

c.      Bring back for loss of connection and reward for connection 180 degrees—review

d.      Distance on the circle

6.      Circling game with HQ yield

a.      Start with porcupine at a halt to signal that we are now focusing on HQ yield

b.      Match and mirror

c.      Help us to get really good steps

7.       Discuss suppling HQ/FQ/ribs/lateral and vertical etc

Riding

1.      HQ yields at a standstill with carrot stick if need be

2.      Tea for two – how light is light

3.      Review—lifting one rein to cue as preparation for riding in contact with reins—take the time to check her reactions to picking up one rein, both reins?

4.      Discuss partial disengagement—everyone uses it—Dan/hunter/Kathydressage—seems mean—can we add phases and make it lighter?? In hand and in the saddle

5.      Back up 4 steps to 8 steps

a.      Can I teach seat means maintain gait and release seat means halt??!!

Isolations for Physical Fitness

1.      Leg yields

2.      Partial disengagement?

3.      Swing shoulders

4.      Snappy backup

5.      Falling leaf and S bends on the circle match and mirror

6.      HQ/FQ 360s

7.      Weave swinging shoulders

8.      Weave from FQ/HQ turns

9.      Laps in the ring—no—out in the field or on the trail

10.   Point to point in the pasture at a hand gallop

11.   Try needs canter for aerobic development more than trot for muscular development.

12.   Canter yoyos

13.   Point to point—short and long distances

14.   Sideways (second leg)

15.   Wheelbarrow turns from HQ.

16.   Wheelbarrow backup more precise than bumping my legs on FQ

17.   On Line or Liberty: falling leaf and S bends circling games and figure8

18.   Carrots for lateral flexion

19.   Preparation for canter lead changes

20.   Feel swing of barrel to cue HQ

21.   Offensive, defensive use of HQ stepping forward and back

22.   HQ: can, will, use

23.   Massage, stretches

24.   Age old issue for LBI: fitness versus boredom.

25.   Offensive sidepass: front end direct rein, other side at the girth use leg to get sideways, carrot stick at HQ

Stretches (Yoga for Horses)

1.      Use treats at zone 3 or 4 to stretch

2.      C 6,7 scapula and rib stretch. Pick up leg and little circle to stretch. Then cross it over standing leg and put leg down.

3.      HQ tail pull, 2 minute minimum. Horse square, roc side to side til square and feet apart. Come out gradually. Lower lumbar and soas stretch

4.      Roll HW under—frees lower back, 7” in from top of tail—scratch and pus a little and hold for a 10 count, repeat for a little more—will to all the way to ribs

5.      Lift tummy—hold 10 seconds with pressure and then a little bit more. Raise and extend ribs, don’t want horses topline to drop. Ribs up, HQ engage, HQ can move freely, Last step extend into withers.

Wednesday

Good day today!

Rode Try and she was an absolute dream. Follow my focus--no need for reins WTC. She offered canter--both leads and it was light and lovely using HQ. (We had done some HQ suppling before that--tea for two etc.) I could have ridden with two reins but Try was happier riding on the buckle with one hand. I think when I start back with both arms I will need to build up endurance. Depo or no depo she is just the greatest!!

More good news:
Ronald adjusted Sephira's trim.
Katherine Dzimitrowicz rode Sephira and we all looked for any stumbling and did not see anything.
Perhaps just an occasional little hitch in her giddyup so to speak--nothing that would be a problem for a rider.
Katherine loved her--especially her flying changes.
BA suggested I only ride her at a walk until we are sure the big stumbles were caused by the previous trim.
If that doesn't fix it--then ask Karen Bullock and perhaps there is a better trim.

Tuesday

Try was magically wonderful. Went out back--waited for her to explore and then come to me. Nice long grooming with Try just standing there happy and relaxed. Then we pursued the "new" circling game a bit and we really have the send and she is connected--instead of thumb in the pocket did rope thru the beltloop because of left shoulder out of commission. Then played with HQ yield on the circle--didn't get idea across at first then stopped and asked for plain HQ yield from and halt. Went back to the circle and matched and mirrored in my body and she was stepping across. Back inside--a little clipping/clean up/treats and back to her stall.

Sephira--my plan was to play out back with some simple communication. She ate hay, hid in the corner of her stall and pinned her ears at me. I was intimidated and was able to get her out of that mood/attitude just by dwell time and waiting--40 minutes. With Try I just would have laughed, said "game on" and had fun playing hard with intensity. HMMM

Monday with Try

Lovely ride--Try was full of herself and still in season. Walk/trot--played/messed around with transitions, patterns, suppleness. Turns on the haunches, sideways, tea for two, whatever. Careful groom and shower after--BA saddled western saddle for me. My shoulder did not hurt in the trot. Still riding with one (or no) rein but relatively pain free. What a privilege to be with Try.

Thoughts from phone coaching with Marie last Wednesday

Hour coaching call with Marie to follow up and prepare for the next session.

1.      4 hour session and my endurance. OK more talking and breaks/dwell time. I should participate in ideas for topics to explore. Examples I can think of from the last session would be

a.      The catching games—I know 4—what are the merits of each?

b.      Many HQ/FQ flexibility exercises

c.      The concept of bridging from what Try or Sephira already know? Is it rude not to do this and expect them to figure out the known puzzle answer from really different cueing?

d.      4 hours with Marie is an incredible opportunity to—

                                                    i.     Brush up on Parelli learning

                                                   ii.     Be up to date on Parelli learning

                                                  iii.     Bring my learning up to L4 ways of doing things

                                                  iv.     Have better communication with Try—assumptions, sloppy, quit too soon?

                                                   v.     Try likes being particular if I can be clear. Solving puzzles makes her feel smart.

                                                  vi.     Try does not need to be retired—could become depressed over lack of mental stimulation. Marie and Joe: Joe still WANTS to play.

                                                vii.     We have had golden time together—this cannot be forced to continue—especially by not asking anything of Try on the ground—better to pepper in a bit of cleaning up/new learning/being particular in the midst of games we know and can do successfully. This way we can have the golden feeling of doing fun things together with no direct line/agenda—experiment and play, Jim Carrey—still doesn’t matter if we get anything or not—it’s still about the quality of the time together. Leaving on a good note.

2.      My LBI/RBE dichotomy—will I drive Marie crazy with this? Will it put road block between us? The whole analyzing/intellectual/list making/planning to the extreme vs the let loose/out there RBE stuff?

3.      Misc

a.      Drip it in early to give it time to percolate i.e. soft feel years before I use it, pepper it in, Drip it in to progress finesse until the horse is ready for it.

b.      Kathy lessons--both horses for 20 minutes each??

c.      Sephira and a freestyle plan??

d.      Intent vs agenda?

e.      Practicing with Try before exploring with Sephira

f.       Suppleness from HQ yield to relax rib cage—inside rein—partial disengagement

g.      When would I trust to ride Sephira in a hackamore?

h.      Transitions, dwell/lick and chew time/ giving both horses breaks during riding session

i.       SHORT sessions on the ground and in the saddle!! MH is great for this!!

Talking with Sephira??

On Fri, May 30, 2014 at 8:57 AM, Elizabeth Pope <ehpope@embarqmail.com> wrote:

Hi Sharon,

I have a couple issues: When she said the following to you--

"She asked if you’d take a few minutes daily and open yourself to her..and trust!"

I am trying this and have no idea if I am actually communicating.

Also Sephira tripped and I fell and injured my shoulder am not able to do much with her right now. Bethanna is filling in and riding her until I am sure I won't be reinjuring the shoulder. Bethanna's approach is good but not as soft and loving as my approach--she isn't going for the kind of depth of understanding I am. 

I am worried that Sephira might think I am throwing her to the wolves tho I know Bethanna is NOTHING like the dressage stuff Sephira experienced. I hope Sephira knows and understands this is temporary.

From Sharon:

Oh No!! That's a longgggg way down! Did you break it? (been there) Ouch!!

I apologize! I should have finished my thought and not expected you to.."and trust the information you receive."

She does hear what you share, and she does understand you didn't throw her to the wolves. Although, she isn't particularly fond of Bethanna and her ways she'll manage until you feel confident enough to continue. She's very sorry you were hurt!

So..no worries, just heal so you can move forward! S

From me--attempting and thinking maybe I am not only sending but perhaps receiving unless I am kidding myself and that is just my own little voice answering--from my house to the barn. Discussed her exquisite trot and my desire to be in sync with her. She seems to understand and the thought came to me (from her?) about my own fitness issue in this.

Thoughts I have--I feel that horses communicate with each other this way. The Alchemy books seems to put forth a scientific basis for this. I have had some uncanny human to human communication a few times. Joey said he can communicate with Devon from Burlington to New Bern. Still this seems kinda creepy to me!! But it can't hurt to pursue any method to communicate well.

Note: vet visit reinforced in my mind Sephira's very good ability to teach us just exactly how she feels the humans should do things.

So for today at the barn: Dwell time in the back paddock and see if I can send thoughts and see any reaction. (After Sharon reached Sephira (and Try in the past) I could absolutely see a difference in the way they looked at me.) My plan is to discuss my desire for us to work together on the lightest possible cueing in the saddle (tho not riding today) and on the ground using the backup as an example.

WHAT HAPPENED TODAY (MONDAY)

On Mon, Jun 2, 2014 at 2:26 PM, Elizabeth Pope <ehpope@embarqmail.com> wrote:

Sharon

I believe I need another appointment.

Sephira “tripped” and nearly fell with Bethanna today just like she did with me the other week. BA did not fall off, but said she thought it wasn’t a trip but that her knee went out on her. Will get her to vet on Thursday but could use any info from Sephira before that.

Does Sephira know that this happens, how often, does it hurt? Does she have any advance warning—any way to let me know so we could stop and I could get off safely?

Afterward I rode Try and then went to Sephira to get her out of her stall to spend some time with her. She had her nose in the back corner and didn’t want to come out. I waited in her stall and tried to communicate and then just cried my heart out. After a while I pulled a treat out and she came. Afterwards she was happy to hang out with me in her stall and I could rub her head and she licked and licked and licked my hand.

I have made a big commitment to myself and her to provide her a permanent home for numerous reasons including that she deserves what I think I can provide. She is so sweet. If I can’t find a way to be safe riding her, I will not be able to keep her and I just don’t think I could stand that.

This weekend I played with sending messages to her from my home and I felt like she was answering but I could be kidding myself. I did not feel any answers today. But when I first saw her she gave me the look I get from her and Try after you converse with them.

Elizabeth

FROM SHARON

She's embarrassed and hurt emotionally. Not physically. She understands your concern about falling and your concern about a possible issue with her knees. She says it's not her knees. Check the angle on her feet. Has someone new been working on her? Is anything different? She thinks that's the problem.

She says sometimes your messages come in loud and clear. Sometimes they're garbled..like you have too much you want to say at once.

Try taking a few deep breaths with your eyes closed then send a brief question and open your mind for the answer. Keep your eyes closed so there are no distractions. The answer should come quickly. Just like you're talking to anyone. She may show you a picture and you can see it better with your eyes closed. If you get nothing, change your question just a little and try again. See if this helps!

Don't give up! I think you guys will go far! Hope I've answered your questions. For some dang reason I can't scroll back to find your message. Grrrrr!

This one's on me! Hang in there!!