JULY 2011

JULY 1 2011

(On Line, 30 mins) Online play to prepare for riding outside (first time at new place). Played at turns on FQ and porcupine to back up on roadway, then played at backing up and down hill (still at porcupine game, quitting after one good step).

(Freestyle, 30 mins) Freestyle in outdoor ring. Z's feet were moving today, but not frantic. So glad to know about disengaging the hindquarters, matching my energy with hers (then some), bulls eye and circle patterns. All helped to keep me emotionally calm and a leader for her, and helped to focus. She wanted to go back to the barn with the other horses, so kept the play ride short, and quit when she was relaxed.

JULY 2 2011

On Line, 60 mins) Relaxing online hack today, down the road into the woods, over natural obstacles and touching natural pedestals, played at turns and backing. Then some conditioning road hill work.

JULY 5 2011

(On Line, 30 mins) Hesitant to circle or follow me today so played touch it using the techniques in Linda's June dvd segment. Big progress with new knowledge of stick use, focus, and directing the nose. Z even put her leg over the scary log obstacle that we have not played much with, when I asked with the new technique - foot over rather than on is huge for her, and necessary before she'll touch it with her foot.

(Freestyle, 30 mins) Today during Freestyle Z was less worried about getting back to the barn, but still anxious. However, not at all concerned about the hay mower in action near us, and behind the trees!!!! More worried about the weeds on the side of the ring, sigh. Oh well. Played with a million transitions, somehow finally understanding for real, their purpose, not just going through the motions, and that purpose in my focus transformed Z's walk from worried to calm. Nice over 3 poles lined up together, going into the corner, halts. Only fair back ups out of the corner (worried), good figure 8s. Still lots of development needed at the trot with transitions, better bullseye, Less commotion today - well, until the biting flies arrived!

JULY 7 2011

(On Line, 60 mins) 2'6" Vertical!!!!! Without the driving game!!!! Going to the left, with me on the right side of the jump. Z hit the jump, but the cavaletti blocks held the jump pole so it didn't "chase" her. She was in good emotional and mental form afterward. We quit at that point, after a play of FH turns, waiting with hind legs on obstacle, and touch it using techniques refined from June DVD. A superb day of learning and moving on with the journey.

JULY 10 2011

It has been four weeks since Zaina moved into her new boarding facility, and four weeks since our Fawn lesson. Much progress, including since the last post about our first coverall ride.

Since then we have had three in the outdoor ring in the hackamore no less. First couple were rather emotional, with Z wanting to get back to the barn, as the horses are now inside during the day and outside at night. I used parelli principles and techniques to work on her confidence, and mine, and today (the third time) there was a big change. During the passenger lesson she left the ring, but instead of going to the barn, she checked out the newly mowed field. She had a grand old time - me less so, I had to turn her back before her curiosity of "What's over there???" was satisfied as I was anticipating monsters lurking behind trees to spook us. Next time...

So good trotting over poles, including three in a row between jump standards. I'm not worried about her getting anxious over them (by the by, she jumped a 2'6" vertical the previous play session, on line!!!!!) and so she isn't anxious. Playing the million transitions pattern meaningfully (ie, with a purpose not just robotically as I had been doing) helps me to not let her get emotional in her walk or trot.

Most interesting discovery today (aside from her confident curiosity re the field) is that when I switched from two reined to try one rein riding for the first time she was immediately more relaxed. I just had to indicate with my body a direction and she followed. She does neck rein, so I'll have to be sure not to depend on that for changes of direction. So, it seems that she would either prefer to be in a bit with confidence, or completely free with one rein, rather than the lack of clarity with two reins on a halter.

Other areas of progress - touch it pattern, using more focus and intent (energy in the carrot stick, rather than wimpy waving).

Squeeze game over obstacles - as mentioned above. Really, this seemed unachievable before the lesson with Fawn.

The big green ball! Touching and moving (sort of, by accident, or design - very softly - but still, movement).

Ron Pyne lesson scheduled for August 20th. Hope to work on fixing the yo yo game and circling, and improving my riding.

Plan to video my on-line level 2 audition in September.

It is so wonderful - I'm not just riding my pony safely, but starting to have fun with the riding. Love it.

(Freestyle, 60 mins) Again played touch it pattern using techniques from June dvd. I upped much energy using the carrot stick and this made a huge difference. More (clearer) intent is the name of the game. More focused getting Z saddled and pre-ride checks, and as a result had minimum resistance and the start of a good yoyo. Fantastic freestyle day. Z much less emotional in the outdoor while horses were inside. During our passenger lesson she decided she wanted to explore the newly cut field - out the gate she went and sauntered along as calm as could be, despite the wind and trees fluttering. I went as far along the field as I could before getting nervous and then directed her back to the ring - she'd rather we'd play in the field but I'm not ready for that. Great trotting over poles, my sitting trot is much better, very good backups - even out of the corners. Biggest surprise, at the end I let go of the reins and used the line - immediate softening, and only needed to direct her with my body and open the rein or use indirect touch to neck and she went wherever I wanted!!!! Now THAT is interesting. Sooooo, seems that maybe she's best with either the bit and contact, or one rein no contact, rather than two reins pulling on her face. Back to review freestyle level 2 dvd for riding with one rein - never thought we'd be doing this. Mmmm, how many times now have I said that!

JULY 14 2011

(On Line, 15 mins) Preride touch-it, getting better at being further away. Very good figure 8 at the trot; after 4 times Z continued in the trot comming toward me, but then stopped before taking next circuit. I WAITED until she looked at me, which took a couple of minutes and I had to sit down. Then did it again, two more times and stopped when she continued with the trot. Very good saddling. Still worried about the stirrups when trotting, but working on it.

(Freestyle, 60 mins) One rein riding today. Practise practise practise one rein stops, staying back at the trot (especially on the transition). Walked over cavalletti and onto tarp no problem (first time walking on trot in freestyle!). Z picked up a beautiful canter on her own, but I was too nervous to ride it (especially as she was heading to the cavaletti!). Mainly a session of working on my body, moving with her and relaxing on downward transitions. Need to again review level 2 on rein riding material on dvd. But it's hapening!

JULY 16 2011

(On Line, 120 mins) An unexpected day spent with Zaina, nursing her through a gas colic, including two one hour one-line walks (undemanding time!). Hopefully the worst is over. Thankfully she is with super caregivers at her boarding facility so I can depend on them to help me out. Poor Z, she's never had something like this before - hopefully never will again.

JULY 17 2011

(On Line, 60 mins) More hand walking today, as still in some discomfort. Played at FH turns, back from driving line (jingle bells - see savvy times).

JULY 18 2011

(Liberty, 15 mins) Z looking a bit better today. She let me give her stretches, and we played lead by the chin before coming inside.

JULY 19 2011

(On Line, 60 mins) Had a slow and easy online play session. Did lots of waiting, and Z did lots of licking and chewing and some giant yawns. Touched board with both front feet, squeezed through tall pylons going forward and back (the latter using porcupine and close range driving game and going very slowly). Did not want to circle to the right at all, not sure what's up with that.

JULY 20 2011

(On Line, 60 mins) Z's continuing to do better, very stiff though in left shoulder and right hind leg, perhaps explaining lack of interest yesterday in circling. Did lots of stretches today at liberty in the arena, and played lead by the ear and chin, doing gentle arcs, and squeeze games. Sideways over a pole (close range, excellent); back toward pole and then over (close range, very good - at first very skeptical and kept swinging Z5 away, but I was persistent in the proper position and then she did very well. I was surprised by her offer to go over the pole, and on coming back to me, to be okay with waiting over it. Great progress.

JULY 22 2011

(On Line, 60 mins) Z feeling a lot better, much of her stiffness is gone. She was willing to trot to the right for a bit, and offered a soft canter. I think she was surprised at how good it felt, and so then wanted to do it bigger! Then some squeezes over a cross rail and low vertical, and backing toward pole. Trying always to maintain her relaxation. Today she was able to back two steps straight away from me (rather than me moving with her), toward the pole, Then we quit. She looked like she was starting to understand that I wasn't asking her to do something that would hurt her.

JULY 24 2011

(On Line, 45 mins) Short session due to the heat, but Z is feeling great. Pushed her a bit more today online, moving more quickly from one task to another (trying to flow). This will take time for her to feel really good about it, so can't push it. After doing 3 tasks, slowly, one after the other (touch with nose, Z 3 next to wall, then sideways) she needed a long wait time as went RBI. Then I needed to up my energy to help her trot over a cavaletti in second position. When she could do it once without "encouragement" we called it a day.

JULY 26 2011

(On Line, 15 mins) Z had moved to different part of barn, so was pretty emotional when taken to the arena (attached, can see the horses). I was able to rise to the occasion and help her become more centred by matching her energy +, and doing lots of transitions and changes of directions.

(Freestyle, 30 mins) After Zaina calmed down, was able to play with her in freestyle. Still trying to figure out one rein riding. Transitions each way were sooo much better than last time, I was slower, clearer and Z was more responsive in positive way.

JULY 28 2011

(On Line, 60 mins) I think the level 2 dvd freestyle lesson on one rein riding is finally sinking in. It is so frustrating to a) not remember and b) realize that what I was remembering was not even on the dvd (no wonder it didn't work). So, today on figuring out really how to do hind end disengagement I realized I have NO SEAT whatsever when Z goes into a fast trot. Legs splayed forward (mine), bumping on her back, discoordinated hands. BUT, made progress by figuring it out. At the end realized that I need to ride with more energy in my body and not be so schlumpy.

JULY 30 2011

(On Line, 15 mins) Took up energy today, to good effect. Have to wait for Z to relax and look at me, but then have to ask with more focus and intent. Circling game MUCH better, over obstacles and waited for me to ask her to disengage, both directions. Very interesting look from her when I insisted she straighten herself after a couple steps of backing - "Oh, THIS is what you wanted. Well why didn't you say so before." Sheesh, sorry.

(Freestyle, 45 mins) I'm starting to GET the freestyle motion in my body at the trot. Again, more energy, focus and intent. Starting to be able to leave the reins alone. Using the carrot stick really helps with turns, so I don't need to pull on her face. NICE over ground pole (first time she jumped it, haha), and tarp at trot. My confidence is growing.