Dec 2 2011
(On Line, 30 mins) Brief online to
connect before freestyle. Excellent with the ball - what fun she's having
learning to follow it! AND zone 3 next to the ball. I had to ask carefully and
softly (ie, respectfully) for her to back so she was next to it. It as really
neat to see her assessing her trust in me, and allowing me to take the
leadership. Also online with the Cruiser in place. She's learning to trot
saddled without restriction. It is different for her, so I can see this will
take time as she figures out how to move under it.
(Freestyle, 30 mins) Second ride in
the cruiser. After mounting, asked for flexion each way with the softest of
feel and she responded with "you rang?" How delightful. She's putting
her nose on the ground and I'm staying back in the saddle. We played with
backing, transitions, and circling. She feels as is if she can do anything I
ask!
Dec 4
2011
(On Line, 30 mins) During pre-ride
check asked for canter circle - we are still learning to be unemotional during
the canter - and got a beautiful soft canter to the left. Then to the left a
BIG LBE dominant charging around canter! What fun! I remained persistent -
didn't stop her but would ask for her to slow a bit, and when she'd stop and
face on her own with a big snort I asked her to go again. This took repeated
tries, as she'd change direction, but I but on my play the game face and made
it fun rather than punishment to change back. She finally did a calm canter and
stopped. I let her rest, lots of blowing and chewing. THEN I asked her to
canter to the right again and this blew her mind. "What - again?" And
she did a beautiful soft transition and a circle, so that was all. I love
having the technique and knowledge to let her figure it out, and me to not
worry about it.
(Freestyle, 30 mins) Day 3 in the cruiser. BETTER posting trot.
Maybe the canter fun helped? When trotting her online in the saddle I could see
her starting to use her back legs more, so I think she's trusting the saddle
more and starting to understand it. I kept "feel" in mind to move
more with her which helped (thank you to Debi for the advice). Plus had just
last night watched the Mastery dvd "steady rein" and that was a super
technique for getting Zaina to not keep speeding up at the trot.
Even did some backing with suppling - very nice to left, awful
to right.
Did a wee bit of sitting trot - amazing that I can do it at all,
this is just going to get better and better in a very short span of time.
Next play day will be a chance to mosey for grass before it
disappears under snow and have a nice break from riding.
(Liberty, 15 mins) After our fantastic freestyle, I was able to
play with her on liberty, close range. Disengage, back, draw, and even turn on
FQ. Even after she had a big roll she was willing to stay with me. Love the
feel.
Dec 6
2011
(On Line, 60 mins) Beautiful online time today. Munching grass,
sideways to fence, zone 3 on fence (yahoo!), and stick to me at walk (getting
better). Lots of squeeze games on a trail walk (under branches, through trees,
onto a tree trunk). Sooo relaxing, and Zaina is so much more willing to let me
direct her into challenging areas
Dec 9
2011
Today I realized that if I use my abs
to stabilize my spine while walking and trotting, then my shoulders move in
rhythm with my horse. Happier horse!
(On Line, 30 mins) Pre-riding online play, without then with
saddle. I'm learning much from watching her walk-trot transitions in the
saddle, focusing on how lightly can I ask so she pushes from behind. Too much
energy from me, and she leaps forward. Also, making the saddle on the stand a
sweet spot with carrots and rest.
(Freestyle, 45 mins) Ride #4. This was our longest time in the
saddle to date. Focused on what my body was doing, so lots of passenger lesson
at the walk. I learned my shoulders are not moving with her when going to the
left unless I stabilize with my abs. How interesting! Big difference at walk
and trot. Trotted circles over pole - she was doing an exaggerated trot until I
used my abs, then kept the rhythm. No rushing - how nice!
(Liberty, 15 mins) Enough connection after freestyle to play at
liberty again. Sweet. Wonderful to play at lead by the mane and jaw without
resistance. I'm starting to get in the groove of this fine fine game!
Dec
12 2011
(Online 15mins) Stick to me at walk - figure 8s, really being
particular about Zaina keeping up with me, and with me! That surprised her, and
boy did things improve and got nice licking.
Lifted the ground pole 3 inches and after a little hesitation -
I think not knowing what I wanted - Zaina happily trot over it each way. I was
surprised at how quickly she did it without emotion. Big change!
(Freestyle, 30 mins) Less of a connection today, don't know
where my mind was, but I had a difficult time focusing on what my body was
supposed to do and keeping to a play. As a result, Z did lots more speeding up.
I'm still working on getting the trot right - had it last two rides but not
today. She let me know afterwards that I was not a very good leader, by not
wanting to play at liberty. Good for her, I needed the telling.
Dec
14 2011
(On Line, 60 mins) Thought I'd blown it last play day, but
apparently not - or Zaina is super forgiving. She was interested in meeting up
with me in the field, and we had a super online play. Stick to me at the weave,
sideways with z5 to fence, and backing to fence. After all was done she offered
me her jaws to caress - we never had such a soft moment before - I'm thinking
she's starting to really like me (apologies to Sally Field).
Dec
16 2011
On Line, 30 mins) Today's emphasis was on transitions on the
circling game to help Z develop her confidence with the new saddle, and her
hindquarter strength. Beautiful to watch her confidence developing, and to see
her strength building.
(Freestyle, 30 mins) Ah - I've got the rhythm at the trot. 20
metre circles with FLEXION in a natural hackamore no less. Then to top it off,
a soft (no rushing) trot over a raised ground pole. What is it Pat says, about
their being nothing you can't do when your horse becomes part of you? I'm in
the stars right now, thinking about how my horse has let me become part of her.
Dec
19 2011
(On Line, 30 mins) Much greater connection early on outside on
way for a grass snack. This repeated expectation - that you need to pay attention
to me first not the grass, is beginning to pay off.
Today's pre-ride play included two low cavaletti at the trot.
Zaina needed some encouragement to be confident wit going over the second one,
but once she understood that it was part of the task, rather than running out,
she trotted beautifully (no saddle).
(Freestyle, 30 mins) Zaina became unconfident under saddle early
on, as riders were preparing their horses outside the arena door, which she'd
never before experienced. I got to develop my skill at keeping her attention
and building her confidence rather than pushing her over her limit. The prize
was her clear happiness afterward - she told me I'd done well by her!
Dec
22 2011
Today, after our play session I
realized I was not longer afraid of riding Zaina. Two years of Parelli has
helped overcome 9 years of fear.
(On Line, 30 mins) Moseyed for grass and went there playing
touch it with multiple objects. Much more focus on me outside than past days.
Still needed lots of encouragement to ask a question before having grass.
Inside, focus was on trotting wearing the saddle, including over two raised
(angled) poles, circling, and transitions. Happy to to trot over the poles
going to the right, but got emotional to the left. Turned it into a project and
played sideways game along the poles.
(Freestyle, 45 mins) Saddle play sessions just keep getting
better. Played with carrot stick riding, applying insights from latest savvy
club dvd. Starting to be able to better go through planned activities without
making a mash of things: from passenger, to stay on the rail, to a million
transitions, to figure 8, Million transitions included going over the 2 raised
ground poles. When she got worried about doing this again, I went back to the
project and helped her gain confidence staying between the poles by encouraging
her to leave when she wanted to. Five times, then she choose to stay and
relaxed.
Dec
26 2011
(On Line, 45 mins) Challenging day for Z - more RBE than usual.
Snow coming off the coverall perhaps. I was a good leader, able to ignore the
snow slides and work on conveying confidence to her, while still understanding
her insecurities. Played at canter circles (very emotional), squeeze over low
crossed poles - beautiful over jumping and increasing emotion, so changed it to
a project which BLEW HER MIND - "What? You aren't gonna make me go over
that again! Okay, I'll play at this sideways game." Lots of fun pushing
the ball.
(Liberty, 15 mins) Stick to me at walk with small circles around
me and change of direction.
Porcupine game - savvy string around both front legs to walk
forward - amazing, I never thought we'd be doing this! Then back to her stall
with just the string around her neck. When finished post-play grooming, stick
to me - no ropes or sticks, to her paddock. She left once, but came back and
nicely came into the paddock. After her treat she RAN to her buddy tossing her
head! Then turned and looked at me softly. Ha! Love the exuberance!
I think Zaina prefers liberty to on-line!
Dec 27 2011
On Line, 45 mins) Zaina much more centred today despite sliding
snow. Canter was more relaxed. Played at a million transitions, moving her
sideways when she started to get emotional, rather than wiggling rope as that
only works when she is calm. I tried to do as little as possible today, and the
reward was fantastic.
Also trotting over angled poles, closer to shorten her stride;
back between poles (excellent when I dropped the rope and just used my body -
gigantic yawn afterward!
Zone 3 next to wall, sideways to wall (scary).
Best of all - touch it from 20-22 feet! AND stick to me at walk
and trot!
(Liberty, 15 mins) Liberty continues to get better and better.
Used carrot stick to move FQ over - she stepped and stopped as soon as I quit
asking! Stick to me at walk, toward and away, and change direction on a small
circle. Most surprising - Zone 3 next to wall! How come it is so hard on line
for her???
After finishing up in the stall, walk to paddock with savvy
string around her neck - safety net today. Much better, lost her once she was
in the paddock, but she waited while I put savvy string back around neck, took
her out and back in again - calmly.
Dec
29, 2011
Liberty, 15 mins) Small circle around me, touch it, and stick to
me at trot, including change of direction, halt and backing!
