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.