SEPT. 3, 2012 (On Line, 120 mins) On the
circling game zaina, after one lap, choose to walk over the tarp; on the
second lap choose to walk over a partially raised pole. At the trot,
went over the tarp (second lap), not the pole yet - BUT maintained gate,
direction and looked where she was going!!!! This is HUGE, as
previously she would have either stopped, or after avoiding the obstacle
picked up speed. I loved how she made the decision to go over the
obstacles after giving them a small birth - terrific to see her
thinking.
A. played with her, lots of development. Stick to me over
the obstacles, circling game walk and trot, and first time - figure 8.
Zaina was a terrific teacher, waiting to change direction on the figure 8
while A. straightened out her tools.
SEPT. 5, 2012
Zaina's pasturemate Tago, died suddenly
today. Twenty-six years old. Beautiful big guy who provided her with
reassurance and leadership when she arrived at a new barn. Six months
later she moved again, together with him. Tago wasn't a Parelli horse,
but he was clearly a LBI. I'll miss his persistently pushy nose. It will
be a transition for Zaina, to be without her Man.
SEPT. 7, 2012
(On Line, 30 mins) Zaina very responsive to phase 1 and 2. Played at
sideways, fast along fence. more consistent level 3 responses.
(Freestyle, 30 mins) More lateral
flexion play, and cloverleaf pattern at walk. Once on the pattern she
becomes more RBE so back to laterial flexion. She's understanding. I
like that I don't feel it necessary to go into a trot to "progress" but
to continue to equalize her who with her go.
(Liberty, 30 mins) Outside liberty. Stick to me at walk, then circling,
which ended up as point to point, but then a nice circle game.
SEPT. 9, 2012
Don't know yet if I'll be selected as a volunteer for the Tampa Horse & Soul tour stop but decided to go ahead and book my flight and hotel. Can always spend a relaxing day in Florida!
(On Line, 60 mins) Playing in stormy
weather today. Z only a bit distracted at the howling, and a couple of
jumps, otherwise super super cool. Played at sideways over pole and
cavalletti block (block wasn't going to happen today, but most of the
pole was soft).
Raised the crosspole and played squeezes at trot, couple emotional each way then calm. Good girl!
Trot circle with changes, lowering my phases.
Oh
- and play with the ball, first time in awhile. Z went toward it when
it rolled toward her, then she pushed it and followed! Four pushes, then
a treat. Back to it later, for four more pushes. What a gal!
Sideways fast on 12 foot line.
(Liberty,
15 mins) Just a bit of liberty - rain is letting up so want to be able
to get out of the arena before it storms up again. Sideways along pole,
each direction - I'd asked her to walk over and when she started going
sideways I made it my idea. That sure surprised her!
Then start of 360 close range. Cool, very cool.
SEPT. 11, 2012 (On Line, 120 mins) Z is lonely, came
straight to me from across the grass. I'm glad I can be her friend and
partner. A's day to play with her. Developing "walk forward and keep
horse out of space". That's a hard one for both of them. A finds it hard
to send Z away and Z wanted to cuddle. Circling game, walk and trot,
then with a slightly raised pole. Figure 8, with Z keeping her feet
still. When A was positioning Zaina for various tasks she was asking for
sideways - she figured out how to do it from watching others. Good - no
need for me to screw her up by trying to teach her!
Outside the ring, asking Z to touch the van and target touch on my car. More sideways. Pretty soon level one audition!
SEPT. 13, 2012
(On Line, 30 mins) Preflight play, and
developing level 3 cantering. Looking for more responsiveness so asking
for transitions, and to help her from going RBE when speed turns up.
Great saddling, interesting going RBI when I asked her to chill out in
the question box.
(Freestyle,
60 mins) Lots of sideways today. I was able to lift my jacket off the
fence, and later put it back! Still some tension. Lots of laterial
flexion to keep those feet still. I love the feeling of knowing I can
just keep walking and walking and walking until I can feel her able to
handle a trot. Progress by waiting.
SEPT. 16, 2012
Oh heavens, sweet dreams are made of
this - after weeks of trotting sessions on Steady Edwina following the
GoC simulations, I gave it a go with Zaina, outside no less. Soooo, this
is what posting is supposed to be like: rhythm, relaxation - harmony.
Who'd a thought, after all these years, that this was possible. Parelli, that's who. Thank you.
(On Line, 30 mins) I savvied up big time
for Zaina on the circling game at the canter. Ignored her rushing,
didn't get taken in by her stopping - just let her go at it, eventually
using travelling circles to walk around and fill the holes she was
drilling into the footing. And then she trotted, and then she cantered
quietly. And after that we had an amazing freestyle session. I love the
"level 3" feeling I'm beginning to occupy.
(Freestyle, 45 mins)
TODAY, no walking off after lateral flexion.
TODAY, no brace when picking up and putting back a rope from the fence.
TODAY, halting in the corners by dropping my energy and lifting the rein.
TODAY, no evading the question box.
TODAY, able to balance while standing in the stirrups at the walk.
TODAY,
trottttttiiinnnnngggg - outside, circles, and a few lines. NO RUSHING.
Thanks to Steady Winny's tutelage, my body was (or at least some of it)
was doing it right. Circles as soft and relaxed as imaginable.
SEPT. 18, 2012
Sooo, today put the "drunken sailor"
confidence building task to a purpose. I was about to give Zaina an
allergy serum injection when 10 year old A. suddenly started doing a
body wave, stumbled underneath Zaina's neck and crumpled to the ground
at her feet.
Yikes! Yes, she is okay. Zaina didn't move her feet.
Just blinked while I attended to A. Guess she was wondering, "Why are
you playing the drunken sailor game at this moment?" Thus, a reminder,
drunken sailors all round before the unexpected happens.
(On Line, 90 mins) Circling game at the
canter, to see if still playing a crazy game. Very relaxed going to the
left, very left brain "I'm gonna go fast" to the right, then stopping
behind me - so for sure this isn't RBE. I never turned to look at her,
but used the CS to ask for her to continue. After digging a deep rut in
the sand, she brought her self to a calm walk without stopping behind
me, and was able to do a very relaxed trot.
Then A's turn to play
with her. Refining feel for a flexion without Z moving her feet, and
then A rubbing Z's legs, keeping Z 8 feet away from her while playing
stick to me at a walk, figure 8 around higher obstacles. Had placed a
ground pole between the Figure 8 ends to give Z something else to focus
on as she's getting bored with the pattern. No problem with stepping
over it - used to be a real big deal. Afterward, I asked Z to back over
it - hesitant, so lots of retreat. Touched it with her foot and didn't
get emotional. Did go a bit inward, but flies brought her out. Then nice
step over and waited to be asked to keep going back.
(Liberty, 15 mins) A. alongside me for a short liberty play. Stick to
me, change directions, yoyo (very nice!), and friendly game with CS
& String. Zaina's a real partner for A.
SEPT. 21, 2012
(Freestyle, 45 mins) More positive
riding with my new body understanding. Inside today because of the rain.
I reacted to the cat crawling out of my bag on the bench, Z didn't.
Still, I have to wait until we are level 4 freestyle to be okay with
that scenario. Not able yet to do full loose rein at the trot, so no
carrot stick trotting yet.
WONDERFUL calm horse when I picked my
jacket up from the fence and put it on, then put it back on the fence.
AND, over by the tape fence, calm horse as I played with the loose tape
with the carrot stick. Open gate here we come!
(On Line, 45 mins) Fun time online, with
Z continuing to be LBE on the cantering circling game. And now it has
just hit me, I wonder if it is boredom? Mmmmmmmmmm. Will add an obstacle
next session and see if that changes things.
Beautiful fast sideways along the wall - exuberance and control.
Nice squeezes over obstacle.
22 sideways feet with my feet still.
(Liberty, 30 mins) Hahahah - Zaina is
having so much left brain fun at liberty. And so am I, now that I
understand that this savvy, for her, is about fun - I guess as it all
should be, sigh. Circling, wonderful flying lead changes, and with
perseverance, figure 8 at the trot.
SEPT. 25, 2012
On Line, 30 mins) Resolved frantic cantering on circling game by adding a raised
ground pole. Whereas a few weeks ago this would have sent her scurrying,
today she walked, trotted and cantered over it with aplomb. Didn't ask
for lots of circles over it, as she would have gotten worried. Enough to
know that what she needs is more stimulation, ie. challenges in all the
games. What an incredible shift in her way of being.
(Freestyle, 45 mins) Indoor riding to
focus on my position. Everything gets better and better. Used the
question box to help focus my riding. Trotting more securely than last
time, and asking for flexion when she worries about what is "out there"
rather than leaving her to "hang".
Major progress on "open the
gate" task. With lots of perseverance, and lateral flexion to own her
movement (which super surprised her) I was able to unwrap a featherline
that I'd arranged on the arena supports, AND return it! Then, came back
to just stand and chill out in the same spot. This was a 20 minute
endeavour - I persisted without being direct line. Mmmm, becoming a
leader in the saddle.
Liberty,
15 mins) Big indoor for liberty so stuck to stick to me, and asking Z
to walk over the ground pole. She needed convincing and it was done, and
than it was done without worry.
SEPT 28, 2012
(On Line, 45 mins) Stressed Z today by assuming she could handle a more
challenging obstacle. NOPE. Simplified and had success. Next time, start
simple and build on it.
Freestyle, 45 mins) Outside riding. Z
wonderful at the walk. Trot was challenging with her being more
emotional than inside. I was able to maintain my balance and position
for the most part. Eventually we trotted until we both liked it.
Able
to maneuver her sideways to gate and pick up savvy string. Refrain in
head: I own your feet. In other words, passively persistent in the
proper position. She appreciated the leadership and stood like a champ.
Liberty, 15 mins) Stick to me, then point to point (developing), and
walk over obstacle - yahoo on the last one, first time at liberty.
