Dennis Callin weekend

News: Dennis Callin weekend--Very positive and supportive for the riders with a lot of consideration for the horses' physically and emotionally. The riders all very pleased. Everyone saw big changes in horses--basically from using exercises we all do every day?? Even though it was incredible to see what Sephira could do AND he pushed me to canter Try on contact and get beyond a fear, this is not what I want to be doing. I truly have no interest in competition at all and happy to learn some dressage at a very leisurely pace with Sephira and possibly even more leisurely with Try. Photos at the end.

A few highlights:

1. Bethanna (BA) rode Sephira day 1--BA has no dressage background whatsoever--hunter--and of course Sephira hasn't been a dressage horse for years--ridden as hunter if ridden at all. In the 20 minute session of serpentines, leg yield, counter canter etc, she rounded up--gorgeous (brief) leg yields, shoulder in, haunches in, 1/2 pass, flying changes. Dennis said 4th level. I thought the session went 4-5 minutes too long and that Sephira was really tired at the end.

2. Day 2--I rode Try, instead of Bethanna riding Sephira again as planned, BA and I both thought better to give Sephira a rest (bute both days). Dennis had me riding Try with contact at the canter and counter canter. Try and I have never played with counter canter before and there is no reason not to--she was great. I was amazed--I told him I wasn't ready for contact at the canter and he said do it anyway. Try was therefor using her HQ and I was actually able to sit her canter in that saddle while doing patterns etc--big step for me. I watched the video--her trot wasn't as powerful and relaxed as it has been lately. I think Try was sufficiently challenged in the session and she was very focused etc--not leaving time to think much about not wanting to do it. I won't ride Try this way often BUT it is time to reconsider some of the ways I have been telling myself I can't do things. I want to play with the trot on my own and video.

3. Another highlight (among many)--Bethanna rode her show hunter show horse Devon.  I had the opportunity to ride Devon--as hunter--not jumping-- for 4-5 months last year twice a week and had a couple wow dressage lessons riding him. He took to the dressage like crazy--confident, sure, responding. Dennis said Bethanna could show him 4th level right now. (Bethanna no such plans--and said absolutely not 4th level BUT said she could really see building some of the dressage training into his training/maintaining regimen.)

Pictures taken by Kathy Glielmi from Day 1

Day two: Try and I

Preparation--emotional fitness: I was nervous about doing this and planned emotional fitness goals, used affirmations and breathing/meditation at home in the morning. I groomed Try early and we both felt edgy. I had sent her messages in advance that we needed to do this to give Sephira a break. When we got to the ring for the lesson I did a few things on the ground to get more mental connection and then in the warmup just walked and played with things to get us on the same page and relaxed.

We started the session with Dennis asking me to pick up the reins and round her up. She wasn't ready so I asked to go back and trot a while asking for stretching. That worked and we did fairly well with it tho in and out during the session. Fairly quickly he asked us to canter--I told him I don't canter with connection with the reins and he said go ahead and do it anyway. And it was ok, Try was using her HQ and I was able to canter with her in that saddle with contact for the first time ever. I doubt Try loved it LOL but she went along with it. He challenged us with counter canter--a first for us and actually not difficult.

We did
Serpentines--bending and maintaining frame and not falling in
lots of transitions--gait and direction change rein on the 1/2 diagonal and riding a large circle
Leg yields or perhaps drifts?? complimented on those. Lengthening the trot--didn't focus on it.
Early on canter on the circle and then the rail both directions. Finished with challege of counter canter.

Fears
1. Being able to sit Try's canter in the wintec saddle--with or without contact.
2. I can only ride an LBI or Try and be safe.

Try 5 things that were great and 2 priorities
1. we cantered in the wintec saddle
2. counter canter
3. great feeling in the serpentines
4. I enjoyed Try's try and going-along-with-it attitude
5. stretching and vertical flexion at the trot really worked

1. counter canter just for fun
2. more warmup and not be afraid of Try's power
3. play with loose rhythm relaxed big trot
ooops that's 3 not 2

Thoughts after several days: I am pleased that I can feel more confident about the canter. I still feel it is premature to be cantering with contact and asking Try to come up thru topline. I feel we are at the stage of feeling good about peppering in soft feel at the trot and walk and feeling great about ourselves.

I am pleased that I see I can banish whatever fears upon consideration and go ahead in learning.

Try: I want to take my dressage learning very slowly, building our learning, confidence, physicality and joy of movement.
Sephira: I want to take my dressage learning very slowly, building our learning, confidence, physicality and joy of movement. Just because she knows it, doesn't mean either or us want to push ourselves to do it.

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!!