APRIL 2012: IN REVIEW

APRIL 2012: REVIEW
Reviewing my entries for each savvy this month doesn't show much, but soo much was happening. A lot of time spent on line doing much by waiting waiting waiting. Controlling my energy while Zaina processed her thoughts has resulted in massive changes. It has been such an important component of my learning as well - not just jumping from task to task, but paying attention to HER emotional and mental progress through the tasks. 

April riding has been about working out her trot anxieties, and in doing so working out my fears of the speed. Still a work in progress as month comes to an end. 

Not much liberty play, but lots of closeness. She's catching me when I come to the field, eyes forward, moving by Tago despite his inclination to keep her to himself.

April 2, 2012 

For the past couple of days I have been protecting Zaina's space from invasion by her pasture-mate when I come to get and return her. It hasn't taken much, just a few shakes of the finger or carrot stick, and he understood the need to stand and wait for an invitation to come in for a carrot treat instead of being bargy.

Payoff? Today, when I arrived Zaina looked up and immediately started coming to me. Pasture buddy reached out to bite her ribs and she JUST KEPT COMING! Later on, when I was wondering through, she left her flake of hay to come and say hello.


Do Parelli people ever get tired of smiling? 
Thank you to Barb McL for the reminder of the importance of being the protector of our horses.

April 22, 2012   

Something's changed with Zaina emotionally. I could feel it as I was grooming her. A sense of a bond between us - very deep. Stopped me in my tracks, and I just leaned on her and was grateful. Ten years for this moment to occur. 

After riding, and being unsaddled she looked queenly. Very different - not looking "done in"; proud, dignified.

April 25, 2012   

Little blonde boys in bright red sweaters are apparently wolves in sheep's clothing! How good to know to "GET OFF NOW" - with memories of 3 years ago and the bright purple sweater incident swirling in my head. Whew, so much better this time.

APRIL, 2012: LIBERTY LEARNING

APRIL 2012: LIBERTY
Didn't ask for a lot at liberty this month as was spending a lot of time during our sessions riding.

April 2, 2012 

After our grand walk-about I released Zaina into the outdoor ring. After she had a bit of a look around she came over to me, ignoring the nearby grass, and permitted me to groom her thoroughly without a move away. How awesome is that?

April 16, 2012

Friendly game, sponge bath after the ride. Nice, how she stayed with me.

April 22, 2012   

First liberty play in the outdoor arena! stick to me - walk, lead by the hind leg (left vg, right very worried), circling game w, t, - her own idea to canter. But that's okay, she was more relaxed after doing so.

 April 25, 2012   

Very short liberty as I could not compete with the bit of grass in the corner of the arena. Established stick to me at the walk, then let her get to it. Next time I'll be smarter and end it at the grass so she isn't walking away from me. Sigh - savvy is as savvy does!

APRIL 2012: FREESTYLE FUN

APRIL, 2012  FREESTYLE

Not much riding in April (5 rides). Started riding outside, and so put Zaina in the bit and bridle. Waited until received the rein leathers to do this, as worried about hurting her mouth. Wanted to use the bit to have more control outside since she's zinging around enough inside at the trot! 

April 16, 2012:
 First outside ride and first ride using the rein leathers and bit. Played at self-haltering, and stretching into the bit. She likes the leathers... Worried at first, lots of disengaging, lots of transitions. Went for the trot, more disengaging and transitions. Gave me beautiful few strides of canter even though I didn't think I asked for it. Then I got scared and transitioned down. But learned that this is possible (both the up and the down) without fear (from her - mine is still there).

April 18, 2012

Took a totally different approach to freestyle trotting today. Partial disengagement has not been making a difference, nor has full disengagement, in terms of resulting in a calm trot EVENTUALLY.

Soooo, instead of trying to "get" her to trot at a pace I was comfortable with (all about me) by interfering with the pace (and perhaps rewarding it by stopping it????) I let her choose the speed and took it into circles and figure 8s. In other words, I tried to make it about her needs.
 Many of those circles got awfully small and man this gal is so nimble she can keep up the speed! Figure 8s were more difficult because she'd worry at the change, so I'd alternate small circles then change, then more circles then change.



Sometimes she even decided to canter - which we haven't done for two years. Nice and slow and even, despite my lack of balance....

The neat thing is, I didn't fall off! And when it got too fast I gave a small disengagement to the outside and she trotted. That I could do the disengagement means I've got some balance going.



I was able to do all of this on a longish rein, and one rein riding. 



After about 30 minutes Zaina was THINKING about maintaining a calm trot rather than running, although we've got a number of rides ahead of us before its solidified.
When I dismounted felt I had a successful ride rather than failing because of not being able to get her settled.





Sooo very interesting. The lesson here, for me, was to stop working against Zaina's worries at the trot. Instead, just trot trot trot trot trot trot a million circles. 

Those canters were too cool. I think she just wanted to move.

April 20

Spent a lot of time on a small circle pattern at walk with a disengagement at each rotation, and not walking again until she relaxed. Then began trot, let her proceed at her speed, transitioned to walk and disengagement and waited for relaxation. Then walked only - this blew her mind as she expected to be "told" to trot. Trot still fast and worried, but that's just how it is for now.

April 22, 2012   

Major breakthrough with the trot. Had some moments when Zaina didn't feel as if she was going to be killed - how nice! Cloverleaf pattern helped tremendously (thank you, Jo). Was able to use partial disengagement effectively - she's now understanding and paying attention! End with a relaxed trot to the right. Super big deal.

 April 25, 2012   

Shorter than anticipated freestyle because Zaina's emotions were pretty raw. Flies were bothering her, and when the boy in the bright red sweater appeared across the field she figured it was in the cards for her! Lots of resistance to backing, even kicking out. Mmmm, how interesting. But very nice walk figure 8s and weave. No trot, given the high headed warning phase! When I got off with her worrying she was soooo relieved. I think doing so will pay off big time - I let my mare know I cared and understood.

APRIL 2012: ONLINE LEARNING

APRIL 2012, ONLINE

April 2, 2012 

Had a wonderful on-line hack exploring the property and putting tasks to a purpose. Zaina was extraordinary. She asked questions, and was very brave - even when she was skeptical. Lots of practice sending her from Z4, squeeze games, and touch it. Most of all friendly, friendly, friendly with the world we encountered.

April 8, 2012

Spent most of today's indoor play session sitting on a mounting block waiting as Zaina licked and chewed and licked and chewed while snow was sliding down the coverall. Many years of "indoor" stress she has to overcome - induced by me! Sigh.
Focused on one leg over a pole. Difficult because Z is so foreward, so had to figure out the best position for me to be in so I wasn't driving her. 

Slowly but surely she was able to slow down her emotions and her body. She waited a minute with her leg over the pole, with snow sliding down behind her. I'm just not sure if she was fully relaxed while doing this, or was just putting up with it in an RBI kind of way. Mmmmm.


Then outside for a walkabout that turned into a purpose. Sideways up and down a hill! Long reining Z5, directing from Z4. She's so much happier and willing to do tasks outside of the arena and ring. Oh - mmmm, natural? purpose? More sighs of learning from me.

 

April 12, 2012 

Had a lovely session outside. Starting to discipline myself to play sideways game without moving my feet. I soooooo want to help Zaina, but it seems I'm not allowing her to learn her responsibilities. Today along the fence she was able to move 12 feet +! Guess I should keep giving her responsibilities!


Also played at the figure 8 task using techniques from the latest savvy club dvd. SUPER big change for Zaina. And my goodness she must have been watching Linda as well - and the reminders to be particular about backing straight. Zaina still gets very worried seeing the markers as she comes around, but after some repetitions she became quieter. 




Back to leading over pole and halting. Much much better than last time. Very funny, at one point she was bargy and just went past me, I said, "That was rude!" Honestly, she turned and looked at me, then went BACK over the pole politely - I didn't even ask!!!!! Mmmmmm.

April 16, 2012

Four days away, now time to play! Simple stuff, but being particular. Sideways up the hill for grass munching. Backing - uphill, pretty dang straight! Walking/waiting over pole - MUCH calmer. She now understands the pattern, and is better able to stay left brained because she understands, mmmm! Then some circling - outdoor footing worries her so we worked on transitions within the trot to maintain-regain calm, worked.

April 18, 2012

To prepare for freestyle trotting without micromanaging I asked Zaina to trot at her own speed both on the circling game and driving, using my body energy for transitions if she got really worried. Spent a long time at this, but it paid off, quiet trot, paying attention to me

April 20

Big change with the circling game trotting. Much more relaxed, able to transition down with change in my energy. Easier time of one leg over pole.

April 22, 2012   

Touch it from distance, directing from Z4 & 5, walking over two cavaletti, driving with energy change for trot walk transitions (very nice!).

 April 25, 2012   

Really nice online play progress today. Set up 3 walk cavaletti and at first Z was skeptical but I kept my energy focused forward, and noticing no thresholds, was persistent and she was magnificent. Third time through and big blow outs. 


Then circling at walk - 7 rotations, transition with body driving up to trot, same. Beautiful in each direction. She let me know that today she needed these circles.
Lots of flies, and they are really bothering her mind. 


Having aborted freestyle returned to online and did the weave pattern on the 22ft line. Just at the walk, but wow - what a difference from the last time (which I think was months ago). I used my energy to drive and draw, and having only to "promise" once that she not bolt around, she got it!!!!

I was able to walk a straight line about 12 feet away from the cones, and without a carrot stick direct her! Both directions were successful. This is sooo neat.