JUNE 2012

JUNE 2: ONLINE: 12ft line quick play, as I was too exhausted from new dog duties to do much else. Reviewed walk, trot travelling circles; played sideways along fence faster (very nice). Also sideways over pole (scarey, as usual), but she didn't go RBE when she continued over pole and was in a very narrow space between it and fence - dumb move on my part though, as could have been quite dangerous. As usual, horse is savvier than human. Fun hill play, walking and trotting, and going down steep incline. A short but super fun time, for both of us, I think!

JUNE 5, 2012  
 Annual teeth floating today. The vet was so impressed with Zaina's calmness he 1) only gave her a "quarter horse" level of sedation (rather than the double dose most arabians require, and that she USED to need, if not more), and 2) that next year she probably won't require any sedation. He said, "She's a sensible gal."
YES SIRREE, that's my Parelli gal - naturally sensible. I'm still smiling.

 (On Line, 30 mins) Brief session to develop a connection before Zaina's time for teeth floating, as she was showing anxiety in the stall and the other horses were very worried. Figure 8s and squeeze over raised pole (MUCH calmer) and she was focused on me. Walked into the barn and greeted the vet with a relaxed head.

Saddled up with the smart pad for the cruiser today. A beautiful fit! It drapes over my Zaina more comfortably than the theraflex, and required no pulling and pushing to get it and the saddle correctly positioned. I love the raised withers area. Even though Zaina has no withers, her shoulders are big, and this helps keep the pad behind her shoulders.

Plus it looks gorgeous.

Walked and trotted on line, and even with the stirrups dangling, which she still hates and generally does not relax with them banging around, she lowered her head, BLEW OUT, and was pushing with her back legs. Looking forward to when I can try it out mounted in a couple of days!

JUNE 6, 2012. Prior to packing up my level 1/2 dvds to lend out, I reviewed the level 1. WOW, how different to watch after two years. How magnificent is Pat in his explanations and demonstrations. How much more I'm learning by watching it again. Initially, I watched to learn how to get things done. Now I appreciate I'm watching a master, AND his generosity in sharing this knowledge.

JUNE 7, 2012
ONLINE:  Downward transitions on 45' line at circling game. Making progress on staying on the circle line. Positive progress on trotting over a raised pole. Effective short range sideways to maintain connection and build confidence with spooky predator in the area (ie, a person across the field).

 (Freestyle, 45 mins) Fantastic ride in the smart pad. Able to stay in position, lovely halts and backing with Zaina's back rounded! Trot quickly became calm, and was easy to return to calmness. Lots of confidence building, with Barb tossing around a bucket, being a surprise at the door, and a predator across the field. Then a walk through the ring gate, along the arena, and up the hill!!!! First time out of the safety net of the arena in a year. Zaina wondered what all the fuss was about.

JUNE 10, 2012
 Oi - mare in heat day. Pretty pointless to be riding, after all. BUT worked on my skill set, and despite Zaina's mind/body/emotions being anywhere but with me, did not too badly. She spontaneiously cantered, and I stayed IN THE SADDLE.

The smart pad report: Today, for the first time in my riding life, I was sitting back and down when my horse cantered. And it was not a beautiful canter, very flat, and forward, but despite its awkwardness, I was stuck there and able to move my upper body in rhythm with my mare. I'm imagining what the ride will be like when she's round at the canter!

(Liberty, 15 mins) Despite pretty poor performance for freestyle had a lovely liberty. Full circle turns at stick to me, start of move toward me sideways, and a walk circle. The latter very challenging given her distractionality today, but with encouragement one walk circle, and beautiful draw. Glad I knew when to quit, and not wreck tomorrow's relationship.

JUNE 17, 2012. 
 (On Line, 30 mins)  Played at refining HQ and FQ yield. Nice to feel the development of less resistance AND less rushing, especially with FQ yield. Transitions on the circling game staying out and not turning in suddenly HERE!

FREESTYLE: First ride in cradle bridle. Rode outside as others were out and Z would have been very stressed if being ridden while hearing others next to the arena. She was highly distracted by the grass possibilities. Running in the bridle. How interesting. It has a very soft feel, and it appears to allow her to express her opinion - and the opinion is that she's worried about a bit. Stayed mounted until she had some relaxation.

JUNE 19, 2012
 (On Line, 45 mins)  What a great online play today. Simple change on circling game, when changing from going right to left. I could feel my timing/rhythm with her being in harmony, so it just happened. Changing the other way was through the trot, as it was a disharmonious connection. Wonderful to feel how it should and could be, as now I know what to aim for and how to help her develop this skill and make it consistent.
 
Then to the plywood board, for friendly game with hind feet on pedestal. Today instead of rushing off, she was able to have both back feet on and front feet off. I played friendly game with the CS and string in zone five. She stayed stayed stayed - head up - then she caught a glimpse of the string and JUMPED forward and turned - then licked and chewed licked and chewed. Ahhhhh - so she was being a RBI, and then learned she was not being trapped. Changed direction - could only put one back foot on, but she was doing it on her own, understanding the task. Less RBI. This was a huge achievement for her and me. I'm better at the technique, and she's more confident and me and herself.
 
THEN onto the weave at trot. First one was a miss, then good, then better, then BEST! Wow, drive and draw with my energy, on the featherline. She understands the pattern and put effort into maintaining her responsibility. She was calm. How little indeed it takes. I liked how when it was better, I asked for one more and then quit. I liked how I stopped after each go to have a break, before returning in other direction, and thus helping her to stay calm.

 (Freestyle, 60 mins) For June 19, 2012. Second day in cradle bridle. Wow, what a learning day (stayed inside). Immediately felt calmness. Walked on loose rein on the rail, interrupting the pattern when she started to speed up. Weave, using the techniques learned from freestyle figure eight savvy club dvd. Very successful. She kept stretching so going to the left I picked up some contact, excellent stretching. I asked for some more, she kept the contact. I asked for the trot - stretching. She kept the contact - bingo, momentary stretch of her back Good Banana! I almost cried. What a feeling. She blew and blew and blew.
Changed rein - here is where it got most interesting. As soon as she felt the contact she went into a run. I stayed with her, she calmed. We walked, every time she felt the contact she snatched the reins and sped up the walk. I didn't slow her (very hard habit to not revert to), and we played at this for a long time. Staying calm, helping her to understand she was neither blocked, nor going to be forced into a frame. Must have been 30 minutes, and then she relaxed, and I was able to stretch calmly into the contact. I got off. She was relaxed. What a story she was telling me - I'm looking forward to the next - rewritten - chapter.

 JUNE 21, 2012
 Today, on the drive to the barn as I was planning my riding session I suddenly realized I was experiencing a new sense of self - "competent rider". Wow. I had to lick and chew on that for quite a few miles. "Competent rider." I kept trying it on, and it seemed to fit.
What brought this on, after all the years of, well, you know, wearing the LOSER RIDER jacket? One session of the game of contact. Realizing I could be understanding and effective. Extra nice - on the drive home, I felt I'd earned the right to wear the jacket.

ONLINE: Zaina offered calm smooth canters today on the circling game. I thought I was asking her to move out sideways at the trot, to improve her frame, but she picked up the canter. I was smart enough not to make her feel wrong (boy, how easily those feelings of the need to "correct" come up!).
Point to Point from long distance (naturally - how wonderful to feel her understanding and putting in effort and interest, as if our ideas were the same).
Figure 8 - As I focus on being more particular about myself - not moving my feet, I realize that while the turn to the right is good and easy, to the left is not. Overshoots, doesn't seem to understand the pattern. Even at the walk, and on the 12' line it is an issue. Mmmm - more circling? No, I realize that when I ask her to change directions going to the left the same problem arises, she doesn't even seem to feel me drawing on the rope. This will take some figuring out.

FINESSE: Was going to ride freestyle in the bridle but Zaina INSISTED that we play the game of contact. What a difference from the previous day going to the right. A bit of yanking the reins, but she didn't run off at the walk. Couple episodes of rushing in the trot, but quickly calmed with short episode of partial disengagement. I could feel her WANTING to be calm and to dance WITH me. We were able to play in stage 2 in both directions! Kept the session in each direction very short, just looking for relaxation. My unstoppable mare is trotting in rhythm instead of rushing! I just realized, as I was selecting the savvy for this update, that GoC must be finesse, not freestyle - how did that happen??? Oh, I know, because of the Parelli pathway - naturally progressing.


JUNE 25, 2012 
Had a wonderful Saturday afternoon play day with the Nova Scotia Parelli Gals. Here is a video of Zaina, extreme RBE, and a future Parelli professional: http://youtu.be/BRjGV6mJbqc

 (On Line, 30 mins) Online, first play after the playday and Zaina was licking and chewing from the get go in her stall while grooming. Online we played with trot change of directions using the technique Jo Tucker demonstrated, and Z started to understand instead of reacting to the instruction to shift her mind from forward to thinking of me and what I was asking.
She BACKED, with the porcupine game, onto the playwood board!!!!!
Squeeze over obstacle in both directions, was GOOD. She overjumps instead of trotting, but was looking where she was going and was able to more calmly stop and turn and wait.

 (Freestyle, 30 mins) Day 3 of GoC. Very interesting - a little bit of running at walk and trot, but then she shifted into "I'm blocked". Mmmmm, it means, I think, that she was thinking rather than reacting. So I got to play "reins mean go" just like shown on the DVD! We were able to play at Stage 2 in both directions. Afterward, asked for a freestyle trot, still tendency to run, but I was able to calm her with partial disengagement using one rein. PLUS TOOK ON AND OFF JACKET!!!

 (Liberty, 15 mins) Lead by hind leg, figure 8 at walk. Very calm and interested horse!

JUNE 27, 2012  (On Line, 60 mins) Wonderful relaxing time. Z had tetanus vaccine on Monday. Expected soreness but none apparent! Still, just hand grazed, asked for her to touch rock with foot. She gladly walked under very low hanging branches.

JUNE 29, 2012

 (On Line, 60 mins) Touch the ball, and ball on back; circling - went LBE cantering, had to shut down, when got nice trot quite. Played on tarp - hind legs on, HQ yield, sideways; squeeze over low spread jump. Only had to take one stop and look, and circle before jumped fairly calmly both directions!

 (Liberty, 15 mins) Circling at walk (pretty unconnected).