Thursday we saw some improvement

Try

Sideways on the circle:

Thoughts I wanted to consider:
1. backup if needed--didn't really use this

2. phase 1--this looked good--life up and 4th go life down cued Try to stop

3. real phase 4--I tried this-1st go was one for nothing messy, 2nd go used sideways slap and she reacted. 3rd and 4th go straighter and 1/4 way around the circle. I think she may be beginning to figure out that HQ has to move faster than FQ

I was pleased to see improvement.

Riding: Rhythm and Vertical flexion
I did not videotape this--nice warmup of walk trot--getting rhythm at the trot with long rein/contact but not asking for flexion. Then walk/take break and go to trot with shorter reins, used bending and laterals and change of direction. Got pretty good one side, then better on the second side then good enough on the first side to keep it around the ring. The best part to me was my remembering what to do for sluggish trot and choppy emotional--the latter I only saw once. Then when inverted to avoid the bit/flexion I remained steady and she gave. We're back.

Wednesday

Try:

Repeated three games in muddy ring after big day of rain yesterday. Some improvement.

Sideways on the circle:

Goals
1. Move Try backward just a bit it she is escaping forward
2. Use phases 1 and 4 especially and remember 4 is something that will make Try care
3. The release teaches.

What happened: 
I did use backward, and some nice clear phase one--other phases not so clear, nagging and she didn't care about the phase 4 I chose. But the task itself was a bit improved. Also I kept doing the task without improving and without a clear ending.

S bends:

Goals
1. Warmup extreme friendly, Simulation: moving backward and changing hands gracefully
2. Modern dance slice for Try to match my bend
3. Dance

What happened:
1. Good warmup and silly simulation
2. I remembered my body position some
3. I was dancing and sometimes smooth even at the trot
4. We were able to do walk and trot--what about canter? hmm

Falling Leaf:

Goals
1. Simulation for walking forward and changing hands
2. Walk toward HQ and FQ
3. Keep walking and no silly trotting by me--looks ridiculous

What happened:
1. Off camera a lot
2. Simulations need work
3. I did remember walk forward and drive HQ/FQ but not smooth and graceful
4. Got off pattern in going toward HQ/FQ--ask when she passes my belly button??

Keystone: walk/trot and no stirrups. 

Afternoon went to see Helene and Tango.

Monday

Try:

On Line:

1. sideways on the circle
2. throwing the 22' rope
3. S bends
4. falling leaf

1. Sideways on the circle: remember about phases especially phase 4. Remember little backup for a FQ escape.
2. Throwing the rope: much better
3. S bends: how about dancing them, alternate walk and trot, flow, smooth change of tools: modern dance spin position
4. Falling leaf: you must walk forward into her HQ/FQ for this to work, modern dance spin position to ask Try to match to get bending and good HQ steps/engagement.

Riding:

1. Tea for two: how light is light
2. Trot: quality of rhythm improved and I remembered what to do but no flexion because of not asking and not staying with it and quitting too soon.
2. Offensive sidepass: 1. bend head, 2. my focus, 3. move dem HQ!! Stay with it intensity is our friend.
3. Canter: she is 4 beating and trotting behind. Need a snappy warmup.

Keystone:

Easy start, friendly in the pasture where he was lying down, grazing on the way in groom, etc. Easy warmup walk and trot then because his trot was looking really good played with contact and flexion. We got it quickly and he looked and felt good. Then I worked on my tendency to overcue change of direction. I learned I need to make a new habit in use of spurs and that Keystone likes me to widen hands slightly to cue him to maintain flexion.

Thursday

Big Day

Try and I started the day with grooming hanging out and light preps for lesson with Kathy. I thoroughly enjoyed Try's company. In fact I have been enjoying being with her all week.

Lesson with Kathy: I asked for help in setting me up to improve trot rhythm when its just Try and I:

1Getting a good rhythm at the trot

General

I want a lovely swingy trot at a good tempo with emotional balance

Warmup on the ground—HQ/FQ, mental connection

Warmup in the saddle—tea for two etc brief

Film, assess 1-10 and go thru mental list of what to do

Slow sluggish trot

Not using HQ

Use long lines or canter

Use intensity to wake up

Outside leg to go forward

Move HQ with stck

Laterals and bending

Contact—especially outside rein and short enough rein to encourage HQ use

Fast, chopping trot

Inverted—not using HQ

Use shorter lines and circles

Relax myself especially as the trot improves

Contact especially outside rein, and outside rein to slow—little halts

Slow up in my body

Bending/HQ/laterals

After the lesson Dawn and Hilton joined Try and I and we went for a 40 minute trail ride through the woods and around the property. Try was lovely and relaxed and helped Hilton to relax.

Dawn planned to ride Keystone in the late afternoon session where BA would be showing Forrest to a prospective family.

Wednesday - Keystone and then Try at Cottonwood

I got to the barn early and groomed and did light hack with Keystone. He had a lot of energy and seemed to feel good--I forgot to take crop and only needed to bring my energy up at times to get a good speed. For the most part pretty nice rhythm but I would like to film this to see it.

Then Bethanna and I loaded up Try and Forrest and went to Cottonwood to ride in the indoor in preparation for BA possibly taking Forrest there on Thurday. (Folks coming from TN to look at him and if running late might need the lighting in the indoor.) Anyway, Forrest was nervous and took time to settle and Try was not RB at all but very curious and aware. We began on line and she was distracted, looking around and why not? Then we rode for some time walk/trot and played with phases in cueing, transitions and patterns as well as asking for some contact/flexion. Then canter which was difficult to sit deeply in the dressage saddle. We finished with walking through the big open jump course with lots of obstacles and Laura joined us. I was glad for Try to have the chance to go some place different.

Tuesday - Try and Keystone

My first day back riding Keystone after getting him stabilized and comfortable. Groom, light hack WTC. His trot felt good and canter on the first side but tracking right was uncomfortable for him for perhaps the first 20 strides. Followed by a full spa bath with Bethanna and I "double teaming" him. From muddy and brown to white and sparkly.

Try: we repeated on line games from Monday. For sideways on the circle we got a few steps. For S bends I worked on my foot pattern and falling leaf Try REALLY had it--when she saw me start to put the stick under the rope she moved her HQ then shoulder and made the turn. The challenge now will be to progress or put to purpose the game. Also have begun asking for FQ draw from intention.

2013 February 18 Dan Thompson – Try

What we did on line:

Sideways on the circle: we kinda mushed around with this—no problem with 360 just not straight so Dan stepped in. What I saw: LIFE UP at phase 1, holding Try really close (I never, ever do that), phases—same as Sunday. Phase 1 lift stick, 2 small circle, 3 broad strokes toward flank, 4 tap flank and phase 4 is whatever it takes for Try to care. We then got 4-5 really nice straight steps. I had been creating a not good pattern by accepting the lack of straightness. It made a big difference that, although Try wasn’t making a big escape with the shoulder (versus HQ lagging) when Dan backed her just a bit when he felt a bit of escape happening. IMPORTANT

S bends—WOW I learned that I had been adding in a cross step that blocked the flow of the movement: I can work on this with and without Try and also film myself to change this pattern in myself. Note: S bend at a canter will result in flying change/ canter in falling leaf will be simple lead change

Falling leaf: More WOW. I was cueing the change of direction from zone 1 (which later could be good/more advanced/can lead to roll backs). Dan taught Try very simply breaking down the steps of moving toward her HQ to get her to face up enough to redirect—move into her shoulder. I want to film this also to check that I am always stepping forward.

What we did riding:

I asked about cueing from intention while riding. Dan said in effect that cueing from intention is body language so my weight aids are phase 1. So plan is to take session where I do very simple things and ask for clear phase 1 then go up in my phases appropriately to start teaching the refinement. We played with this is S bend and falling leaf—can Try turn from my upper body? Yes BUT it took big movement in my torso—start with baby steps and not worry about rider biomechanics that she should turn from eyes/focus or shoulder until we are ready for that further refinement. Eyes, belly button etc. Do in my body what I want her to do in hers—means also be clear about what I am doing in my body so as to not miscue and confuse.

Then offensive sidepass. Lift inside rein and shape with outside leg and stick. We did this from a diagonal and also from sideways and then Dan helped us until Try got it—we got a couple good steps and sideways most successful way to start. This is engaging the HQ not escaping like in regular sidepass.