Some thoughts on concentrating on me in part one of B Me course

Wednesday before beach trip

Sephira
Very pleasant time together--groom--easy ride/trot in muddy ring--shower etc.

Try
Wow--filming in ring (MH/BA and stallion Richmond) so rode up the drive bareback and she was FULL of herself. Opted to play on line games out of sight of the ring. Try was still full of herself--we played the cutting game and we both had the Jim Carrey thing going. Asked for sideways away and she sidepassed nicely about 10' away and then back to me with a lot of energy and little asking on my part. Very curious day!

Sunday - Incredible day with Try and Kathy

I struggled a bit to be really relaxed and it went pretty well.

Kathy laughed at me because Try was doing things before I could cue them!

We did 1/4 turns on the haunches without losing forward momentum at the walk, trot and canter.

Try was happy, relaxed and pleased with herself--as well she should be. She sat back on her HQ and lifted her shoulders from my sitting deep and turning my torso slightly in tune with her movement.

Confusing coordination: my lower body hip bones down does not move, torso turns from the waist all in one piece with shoulders in alignment but head does not turn as much???

Thursday - I ride the awakened Sephira

After wearing spurs Tuesday and BA riding Sephira on Monday, Sephira was fired up!

1. Mounting block better
2. Lots of forward energy (tho emotional/escape)
3. I was able to watch my use of spurs
4. Canter
5. I was not tired despite upping the # of laps and less rest time
6. Sephira did get a good workout

1. suppling
2. ground play? ribbon?

Wednesday: I ride Try, BA rides Sephira

Try

• I loved being with Try
• Try has beautiful relaxed ground manners
• Try was helpful--thinking how to be helpful!
• We had a pleasant workout and review
• Hard to imagine a more pleasant horse to be with

1. We didn't get to just play which was the agenda for the day

2.  Looking forward to dwell time/graze/not ride

for me: I remembered the relaxed posture here and there, I want to visualize more, I want to apply the checklist, I asked with confusion for leg yield and Try forgave me on the spot.

Sephira

• BA said her trot has improved
• Her grooming is good--getting dappled--but weight a bit much
• She got a good workout
• She was happy after
• Girth issues

1. ?riding with contact??

2. fitness for upcoming clinic

These are BA's priorities not necessarily mine.

For me and Sephira:

• Learning to use spurs to cue--avoid nagging and find self-carriage (some day she will be so willing and helpful I will not need spurs).
• Quality of walk and trot
• Canter--pick up on first ask and maintain gait
• Move off my leg in zone 3--
• bending from my body on circles, serpentines, in the corners
• Ride on the big rail 
• check girth issues
• dance--soft eyes--have fun
• leg wraps

Scale of training: rhythm, relaxation, connection (physical/mental), suppleness, straightness and lastly and not now collection

Try and I farther along as a partnership than Sephira and I. 

Building the kind of foundation together that will yield a happy willing horse.

Levels: training, first, second, third, 4th FEI: Prix St-George, Intermediate I and II, Grand Prix

Awakening the "Sleeping" Giant

Had lesson with MH and Sephira and wore my little rolly spurs. Wow what a difference. Could really play with how light is light. AND its not just how light to get "a" response but an energetic response. Now I have a whole other energy level to get used to--at the walk its lovely and I can go to "passenger" mode i.e. neutral and check for my new wholistic relaxed posture. At the trot--anticipate the big jump into the trot (that is desirable?!) and make a smooth transition in my body--then little 1/2 halts to steady the trot. (careful outside rein on the turns to balance). Sephira was so fired up she didn't make downward transitions from my thought!. Then took off the spurs and asked for the canter and got it on the first ask.

Three weeks to get used to the new trot!

Sunday - Much more than Magic

AM bathtub: Visualization from Try that we were floating--asking that I trust her relax, and give up the need to be in control and concentrate so hard. I also remembered the need for yeehaw and was a little wary of a dressage lesson this am--if she needed to loosen the spring rather than tighten it.

Both Try and Sephira were in a pleasant mood when I arrived tho something bothered Try for a minute or so in the wash stall?? Try and I got a full 20 minutes of dwell/hangout/be together time before Kathy arrived. Try hovered over me, licked and chewed and breathed on me.

Then Kathy came and the three of us hung out at the picnic table in the shade so I could bring Kathy up to date. She took note of the yeehaw and my need to let go and trust Try and Kathy knew just what to do. Thank you!!

I had a magical rider, perhaps the best ever. Kathy called out what to do and instructions for me to visualize and for the most part I was able to ride Try cueing with my visualization and I was as relaxed as I can remember while still maintaining a good position. I was super relaxed on the way home also. I am learning much of the physical tension is between my eyes from trying to control myself and everything else and concentrate so hard. Soft eyes, Elizabeth!