5+2 Sephira

I messaged Sephira how much I love her relaxation and thanked Try for being perfect and wonderful.

Sephira
The good

1. Draw/happy to see me--pick me
2. Curious
3. Relaxed
4. Lovely progress with friendly game
5. Lovely shower

Priorities

1. Follow up to friendly--see previous post
2. The inbetweens need driving game language

Try

I said Hi a couple times and gave her a couple treats. Unfortunately she also said pick me and it broke my heart not to accommodate her. Perhaps in the future it would be fun to follow up after Sephira with asking the exact same things of Try and filming!!

I am confused right now about Try. I don't know what is going on with her. Sometimes she is the Try I know and sometimes she is unhappy. Twice her face has looked older to me. Her body looks good. I do not want to do too much. Our relationship feels so golden and perfect.

Bethanna took this photo of Try last weekend--I was not there. I hate how she looks so sad and submissive.

Saturday - Level one, on line, friendly game

After viewing Friday's video, I decided it would be smart to get back to basics and review--so I watched the savvy pack, level 1 On Line, student pack and most of how to pack for just the friendly game.

Thoughts:

1. I really like this pack. I especially like Pat's manner in teaching the student who was apparently an already accomplished professional from a different discipline. I thought the tasks/tests are so useful for everyone.
2. My purpose with the friendly game and Sephira:
1. Developing confidence and relaxation foremost
2. Developing an understanding of a new way of learning--puzzle solving--Sephira is so very smart and I believe she will love this if I make it fun and positive for her.
3. Friendly to teach Sephira a way to know that she got it--its the right answer.
4. Safety for me
5. Balance of rapport and respect
6. Teaching a relaxation cue--I think she is getting the rub to a stop--tho I want to be more consistent in its use. HOWEVER, I find I am rubbing her forehead a lot--this is her favorite place. But I may be overusing it for my own purposes--for my relaxation, going back to neutral, reset and time to think.
7. The timeline: If Sephira is in charge of the timeline--I want to know and respect it.
8. Distance--friendly and confidence at close, mid and "far" range.
9. ??rhythmic motion is friendly, rhythmic pressure is driving??
10. ZERO BRACE is the goal and will apply to everything we do.

Tasks:

1. Close range: Approach and rub everywhere. yes. I did find her sensitive spot in the girth area where she has been teased in the past. I can use grooming and tack-up time with approach and retreat to explore making this a non-issue.
2. Close range--Rhythm--swing string over her back 6x right and left sides--yes. And kudos to us both as it took several sessions for Sephira not to be scared of stick/string period.
3. Mid range--walk forward in a circle swinging stick/string from side to side. This way good. I was not confident in my ability to do helicopter without looking--so I peaked and Sephira has no issue with helicopter.
4. BUT when I turned and walked backward facing her--she was not comfortable--we made a bit of progress and we can explore this again.
5. Jumping jacks toward zone 1 from mid range to close: (well 1/2 jacks--my left shoulder--not a good idea). Sephira was ok with this. Skipping to zone 3 and hug--not so much. Skipping improved when I used approach and retreat--skipping with more and more energy. Another good one to repeat.

Video link at youtube with excerpts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUHRK7fdaA0&feature=youtu.be

Wednesday and Thursday

Wednesday--got out of Dr office--elated that I am healing and can ride sensibly. Went directly to barn to shower Sephira and Try and they were trapped in their stalls with farrier having his truck parked in front of both. Hot, unpleasant, bad smells etc. I sponged them both and gave them a treat and hung out with both.

Thursday--tired day for me so opted to play on the ground rather than ride. Katie filmed and took pics which were eye openers!! Perhaps better when I am too tired to only have dwell time.

Try

1. loved just being with her
2. super laid back 
3. Try was pleasant and happy
4. We played a bunch of games at liberty all on the tarp: yoyo, HQ yield away and toward, circling, turn on the haunches, sideways away and toward, etc.
5. Try enjoyed her shower

priorities/thoughts

1. Try was moving really slowly--she was doing those games, pleasantly with a good attitude and absolutely no energy and not just because of the heat. She was obedient and not into the games just into being with me. I DO NOT see the point after watching the video and I am sure she doesn't see any purpose in this. Also I don't see any reason when we are loving being together to up the ante and make her execute tasks with more energy. In sessions with DAN and MARIE both it seems CHANGE is in the air--riding for fitness is good and if there is sufficient mental challenge great then time on the ground can be primarily dwell time. GOLDEN relationship.
2. We had an energy level mis-match--even though I was cueing from intention and body language my energy was HUGE. Actually I am not sure I have ever had as low an energy level as Try! It upset me to see the video and I did not like what I was doing. I want to spend more time as least attempting to MATCH and MIRROR HER energy level.

Sephira

1. Safe and sweet and the most relaxed I have seen. A month ago I did not know she could be so relaxed. I love this. Caveat: balance is needed in this as in all things.
2. HQ yields were improved. Getting step now from a look, particularly on her left side. With porcupine I can get a good step--not surprising given her dressage background.
3. Backup: this is really improving and she is getting the idea, lighter and less resistance
4. We circled in the ring some--eye opener--she really prefers her right side/lead and it took a while to send in the other direction but stayed with it til we got it and she licked and chewed.
5. Going back to the barn she began to disrespect my space and I corrected it with more energy (3rd day working on this). She licked and chewed and stayed nicely at my side.

priorities

1. FQ yield and driving from one place to another, purpose i.e. back out of ring
2. For me--study on line level 1
3. ALWAYS film everything on line for the time being to check my use of phases, energy and timing

Weekly goals - July 8

horse development 9, rider 8
talent 23, skill 23, try 24, luck 25

Try

1. conversation
2. listen to what feels right to her
3. what does Try enjoy?

Moi

1. Golden feeling
2. positive attitude
3. my physical fitness
4. trot habit: unconscious competence and safety

Sephira

1. Walk/trot hack this week--how to add variety?
2. Retaining learning?
3. The backup
4. Dwell, fun, ??play hard??

Conversations with Sephira and Try

Qs for Sephira

1. Are you pleased to be living at rollover now?

2. How can it be improved?

3. I am still injured and waiting for saddle that fits you...I hope I am not boring you riding.

4. How can I let you know that I want us to have the lightest possible cueing? Not reins but my seat for example 5. I am pleased when you from the ground yield hq or back from a look...how can I help you remember it farm day to day?

6. Is there anything you want me to know?

1. and 2. Yes, shower every day it's hot

3. Boredom is tolerable because the ride is not exhausting like some.

4. and 5. Let's work on it...don't know how to cue walk to trot...could try doing it from seat Remembering. Seems pointless, not fun, not the kind of connection yet that she will do it for me out of both love and understanding Can I make it fun?

6. Prefer not to be with Mimi annoying and Try because of her bond with me. Would like variety, changes of energy and fun.

Qs for Try

1. Why were you so sluggish today
2. I feel like you are not happy at times. Is it anything I can help with?
3. What would you enjoy doing
4. Do you want to do the spotlight...I don't much but I will if you would really like to do it.
5. Is there anything you would like me to know?

1. Chiropractic and heat

2. It's hot and I am tired of being by myself. I am not comfortable. I am pretty healthy. 

3. Go places, be with other horses, hang out together, not just ride.

4. spotlight: Don't know 

5. Love, fears getting old, losing me to Sephira.

MRI results

bummer
1. small tear some where
2. AC cuff separation
3. rotator cuff tear
4. possible small fracture

I am surprised I didn't think they would find much of anything. Disappointing as I am ready to be back riding fully. In fact, I am not interested in letting this disturb my current positive energy.

Monday - rode Sephira and Try today

I was pleased and proud to ride both horses today and feel strong and good. It was uneventful--just a nice day. A cool happening: Jen is now in charge of Skunk and playing with him on line in a Parelli like way under the watchful eye of BA. Jen is excited and Skunk loves to play. She got him to step on the pedestal with BA's help. That would be a great pic for the Rollover web page or facebook page as Skunk is just the cutest little yearling+ pony. Jen intends to be the one to start him next year. (She has decided she isn't interested in showing but is still loving riding.)

Try
She was absolutely not in the mood to expend energy which is highly unusual--perhaps the heat, perhaps the chiropractic session last Wednesday? Anyway I listed to her and we walked a lot and trotted some then went in and showered off.

Good stuff
1. golden feeling--I just loved being with her
2. I didn't push her to go beyond what felt right to her
3. Lots of draw and desire to be with me
4. We rode in the western saddle and I tacked her up myself
5. Try was lovely and relaxed

Priorities: 1. do a little more at least, 2. dwell time and enjoyment

Sephira
Groom, walk trot ride for confidence. Please that my endurance is getting back to normal. I felt fully confident and we were the only ones in the ring. She enjoyed a lukewarm shower and could use some clipping and a really good bath this week.

Good stuff
1. She stood tied in the ring patiently while I helped with something.
2. We got HQ yield from a look
3. Got one relaxed backing step from a look
4. I was confident riding and did not even think about the concept of confidence.
5. I had better endurance riding her big trot.

Priorities
1. Can we PLAY on the ground? (Am I too cautious and boring?)
2. What does it take for learning to carry over to the next day?
3. How do I convey to Sephira that the goal is for us together to learn ever lighter cueing?