JANUARY 2012 ON-LINE PROGRESS

 2012 OnLine started with a visit with Jo Tucker, and being able to try out her feather lines. Super! Zaina was amazingly responsive. After this try-out I ordered them, and FINALLY they arrived at week 3.

An issue to deal with this month was the discovery that Zaina's vision has further deteriorated. It made for high headedness, increased spookiness, and lack of confidence.
Then by week 3 her left brain emerged!

Jan 1: Whew, a LBE showed up today during Jo Tucker's visit! VERY exuberant and responsive, especially on the featherlines. She did figure 8's with just a phase 1 ask, yo-yos without resistance and straight. Mmmmmmmm, something tells me the regular line was pulling her off balance and giving conflicting signals.

 

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Jan 3: Backed toward her wooden board AND stepped on with back feet!!!! Calm and willing trot over the raised ground poles both directions, figure 8 at walk and trot (moving my feet cause she was on a 12' line, but terrific paying attention, pushed the ball and when it rolled back toward her she pushed it again!!!! Sweet sweet success.

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Jan 5: Nice and relaxed day playing in the snowfall, Zaina looking for grass, me peppering in the sideways game. Been too long since we've played outside because of the wind and rain. We both enjoyed the change. 

  

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 Jan 12: Lots of learning today for both of us. Her fears continue, so I'm having to remember to not make assumptions about her abilities. Just because she was fine a month ago with things, doesn't mean she is now, so to take things slow and check on her confidence. Confident being on the tarp, but not wanting to keep hind feet on it, or back toward it. Not wanting to back toward tall pylons, not wanting to canter. So, I just played with her up to the limit with all of these, and quit before she got upset.
Put a pole on a cavalletti block, with an extra block underneath to start simulating a wider log or barrel. This worried her but she was able to walk and trot over.

 

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Jan 14: Zaina more confident today. I worked hard at keeping the belly of the rope on the ground to take the pressure off her, and it seemed to help a lot. She was much more willing to squeeze over the raised pole today - does a jump instead of a trot because the blocks worry her, but still calm. Played friendly game with the ball rolling around her, touch it from 22 ft away, traveling circles, and pedestal. She LOVES putting her front feet on "her" board - she looks so proud of herself. Still not comfortable with back feet! VG though backing toward wall after standing beside it,

Jan 21:  Zaina has grown a left brain lobe. Seriously! And what a delight it is. Today she decided that she d'ruther not complete the figure 8, and when I persisted she decided to be a monster. So I said, "Good, I'm gonna be a monster too!" Lots of hard and fast disengaging ensued - then she stopped and asked, "Can we not play monsters anymore?" Now she's trotting the figure 8 and being respectful rather than barging through me.

I did think that I blew the chance for a liberty session given how much pressure I'd put on her, but when I took of the bridle she stayed right with me and we went on to play stick to me at the trot and canter, that then morphed into circling at the trot, canter, and walk - with lots of disengagements as this is like maybe time 3 that we've done this - in an arena! So now I know her secret - a left brain is in there and I just have to be deserving of its attention. Wow.

Jan 22: Easy day as Z has some swelling in right hind after catching herself in the fence while rolling. Everything at the walk . She was worried at all the snow on the coverall as well. Used the featherline for entire online session, which kept me slower and more in tune with her needs.
Touch it (tarp), & ball.
Close range circle (new challenge on the feather line - trying to make clear what I want).
Figure 8.

 

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Jan 24: More confident on the tarp today. Was able to stop with hind legs on, and back off.
Figure 8 at walk and trot, with trot having to bring up her energy so she would make the second turn.
Nice standing next to tall pylons (zones 4 & 5). 

 

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Jan 31: Emotional squeeze over a pole that was held by 3 blocks - to start simulating barrels - but I let her rest, and persisted until she was going over calmly. She over jumps, when all she needs to do is trot. She's had more trouble lately it seems, knowing where her feet should be when going over even a ground pole. I suspect it's related to her vision loss. I was gratified that she trusted me enough today to continue to try even though the task was worrying her.

Lots of friendly game with the ball, working toward getting it closer to z3 while I hold it - I suspect it will take a year before I can put it on her body.

January 2012 Liberty Record

I have posted here my liberty sessions for January 2012,  as a way to easily review our progress.  January  started with a visit with Jo Tucker. The month progressed with my feeling more confident in my ability to ask Zaina for more advanced liberty tasks. We moved from close range to beginning of circle game. Takes my breath away, each time we play.

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Jan 1 Another day of great connection to show off for Jo. Trotting stick to me on the figure 8. 

 

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Jan 3  Small circle around me; step onto board with front feet; stick to me at trot; touch it from 3 feet away. Still smiling. 

 

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Jan 8 Touch it from 6 ft away; Porcupine HQ & FQ, stick to me slow and fast walk, back, and trot, stick to me at trot over two raised poles; then turn & face!!!! Close range circle both directions (better). 

 

Jan 12  Wonderful liberty session (as always!). Today SHE had fun too!!! It was a true 51/49% sharing of leadership. She had an opinion and expressed it a few times about wanting to have a good run, or not go over but go around the pole and by allowing her, and being excited with her, she clearly got the idea that she was smart, not wrong, and came back to me always.
Played at close range circles but further away - she's starting to get it. Lead by front leg with savvy string. Very calm with friendly games.
Went back to her stall at liberty with just a bit of direction, and later to her paddock.
I was able to drive her back (gently) for 12 feet, keeping my feet still.
This was our first 30 min liberty session.

 

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Jan 22 Liberty: Left brain Zaina today during some of our liberty play - how nice to see!
Touch it (tarp and ball)
stick to me
Figure 8 (new liberty challenge - very good sending her away and back when her left eye was on me, stopped at cone when it was to her right, and gave me left brain neck attitude - how interesting. Persisted gently, with a couple of breaks as she left for awhile to have a think, but then came back. Stopped after two rounds when she was able to round the second cone.

Jan 24 LIBERTY: Getting Z's energy up for the figure 8 took her left brain for liberty! Lots of neck swinging, and left the figure 8 area because it was too worrisome. But came onto the tarp (front feet), touched the ball, and lots of to-and fr. with her left brain attitude. Tons of fun!

Jan 26. Liberty: Played only at liberty today to see how that would "go". She was a star. Did 3 walking circles, close range! Also stick to me at walk and trot, weave, lead by the tail, and yoyo.

 

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Jan 28 Very interesting liberty play. Was getting a sour look at stick to me, so lots of waiting and waiting and waiting. Then when she came with me happily, and I sent her further away then brought her back a beautiful happy stride coming to me - ears forward, exuberance! Afterwards minutes and minutes and minutes of huge yawns, tongue stretches, etc. Oh my, lots of releases. Lots of learning?

 

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Jan 31  Astounding liberty after a challenging online session - sideways slow (stick to me), trot and canter stick to me that then morphed into circling game. She can go 3/4 of a circle without needing to come back to me, AND she's interested in maintaining the direction and gait.

Squeezed onto the tarp, and after two walk overs was able to stop and wait with me, with all 4 feet on the tarp.

Afterwards practice going in and out of stall with the savvy string as she got emotional today - sound of the power box for the fence seemed very loud and near her stall so might have worried her.

JANUARY 2012 FREESTYLE RECORD

YIKES - only two rides this month. Oh well, couldn't be helped....

Jan 1: .Jo Tucker visited us today, and was a great help with getting me to RELAX at the posting trot, and advice to let Zaina maintain her responsibilities for the figure 8 and circle. This helped Zaina relax. Great way to start the year.

 Jan 28: Back in the saddle after 3 week break because of a cold, bad weather, and Zaina having a slight injury. Trot was excellent, and today I was able to "give up" trying to put her head into a position and do things "right". Wow, big difference for me and her. Had to stop when stalls were being cleaned as she's quite unconfident at the sounds. I got OFF! Yeah for me!