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.