OVERVIEW
Wow - what a weather month. Only six visits, only one ride. Oh well, at least there were those 7! Catching game went sour but at end of month think the problem is that I've become too direct line, and there's been less "play" in it for her, so made a change to that in last couple of visits.
Barb's beautiful Ben died this month as a result of a strangulated bowel caused by a fatty growth.
Zaina's confidence building on backing and squeeze games.
February 1, 2013
Started this month of with a ride! First time since Zaina's trip and subsequent muscle soreness in mid-November. Went VERY well. I felt in control of my body. Technique from last Mastery dvd was of terrific benefit to help her relax. She offered to trot did so instead of running. I think the new girth is responsible for a lot of the relaxation. Trotting the circle she was really stretching her inside shoulder. I think even her neck was relaxed!
That was the last part of the session. Started with a long and seemingly fruitless catching game inside. Just going in circles with her ending up at the ground pole. However, shows it is the sweet spot, and she did happily walk over it a number of times. Finally, after having a sit and a think, I changed the game. Sent her sideways then onto a circle. Close range walk circle at liberty! One circle, disengaged, then asked again and she did 2 circles. When I disengaged her she caught me!
Online, when asked her to walk over the pole (still on the ground but with a cavaletti block at each end) she did the same hesitation. Sooooo, walks over freely at liberty but not online. I kept steady pressure on the line to let her know what I wanted and she came over, a little worried because of the cavaletti blocks. Repeated a few times, including at the trot, at which point she did mini jumps. Interesting.
Then on 45' line, asked her to move out and trot and canter. She did this willingly and happily! At one point she started to get emotional at the canter but then was able to relax herself. When she stopped cantering I told her she was good, and she looked totally surprised. I'm thinking I've been making her do things, instead of asking.
Short bit of weave play. At the trot when I indicated I wanted her to slow down to turn away from me she stopped right at the cavaletti block! Wow, that is some sensitivity. I gave her lots of praise for being so responsive.
What a terrific start to the month!
February 5, 2013
"A"'s play session. Zaina NOT wanting to catch us outside. She was very intent on eating her hay outside, and did much evading and showing an unwillingness to be caught even when she did stand still. Might be she'd only recently been turned out, and had probably been inside most of the past two days due to the weather. After 20 minutes of playing the catching game, and 10 minutes of us doing energy simulations (April 2009, issue 41 dvd) we just stood by Z as she ate. She slowly let us get closer and rub her. I could then put the rope around her neck, and took it off and let her keep eating. Did this a few times. Slowly she'd let me do this and stay relaxed. When she finished her hay, and didn't react negatively to being approached and touched we put the halter on her. She wasn't resistant to haltering.
Backed part of the way to the arena, which she did quite easily. Phase 2. Still needing lots of breaks and chances to look behind her, but much more trusting.
Inside, played with the treat ball on the mounting block. Z was able to gently push it with the side of her muzzle as she ate carrots near it, and its rolling away didn't frighten her. Great progress!
"A" played friendly games with the kidz stick and plastic bag. Z worried about it but not emotional until Z asked her to trot and rubbed the bag on the wall, but even then once "A" asked her to go sideways she settled. We'll work on this FG more to help Z reach Level 3 confidence.
Circling game, adding trot. Z stopping a lot behind Z and disengaging as coming around shoulder, but this because of "A" figuring out her rope and stick handling technique. Z being very cooperative otherwise and "A" doing an excellent job - oh especially because she was using the adult CS!
Sideways along the wall with "A" keeping her feet still. Got a few steps!!!!!
Then "A" challenged to find an interesting way to move Z to the mounting block. She selected backing in a zig-zag pattern. She did a great job of figuring out what to do, and when to do it. Z fairly confident. As got nearer the block and Z got more worried and was evading, it turned into backing on a circle! "A" able to cause a half rotation.
More fun with the treat ball. Then a bit of FG with the umbrella, stopping when Z didn't turn to face the umbrella as "A" danced around with it approaching Z5.
Whew, what a successful day!
February 7, 2013
Horrid news, that Barb's Ben has died from colic. I had the great pleasure and honour of practising early Parelli skills with him in 2010. I was a failure at engaging this extreme LBE, but he sure taught me a lot about what I had to learn. Barb had to dig deep to learn the patience and strategies for helping him in humansville and was sooo successful. He taught us all a lot, especially about how to be better humans. Rest in peace, Ben, you will never be forgotten.
February 15, 2013
Halfway through the month and this was only my 3rd visit with Zaina. Bad weather and work has interfered! It has been 2 weeks since I saw her last, so was worried that there would be lots to make up for. I was wrong, she had not regressed and either had I.
Catching game though is now still much harder. Keep having to resort to turning it into a liberty play session asking her to move sideways, back, and circle before she will catch me. Maybe this is okay? Will check with Genevieve.
Lots of backing: up the little incline from her field, into the barn, frontward into stall then back out, and back into stall across the aisle. Lightbulb moment - set up stall to be narrower to simulate trailer!
Played on 45' line for entire session. Outdoors at first because arena door frozen shut. HQ yields, almost there.
MUCH better going over pole. Excellent walk, less sticky. Asked to trot over, first one was emotional, but turning and waiting, and very fine tuned asking for the trot changed it to being calm!
Inside, focused on circling with playing the "game" of disengaging before I need to use my stick. IT was FUN! I'm beginning to understand the "game" aspect. This really change Zaina's attitude. She started paying more attention to me, and it shifted the emphasis from STOP as an order. Really interesting. It took a loooong time for this to be effective, and when it was there was a huge change in her feeling - no resistance, we became partners. Can't wait to follow up on this.
Almost had an accident, when I went out of the arena with Z on 45 foot line, she got worried and went around the fence barrier to come out too, ending up dragging the line around the jump pylon. This scared her and she became emotional BUT what could have been a disaster at the door didn't. As she got turned around with the line at the same moment she saw me she went left brain. Disengagement! Plus more emotional strength on both our parts. I swear she was a bit chagrined at herself when I said, "What's up?" Lots of praise for staying calm! This stuff is indeed fantastic.
February 19, 2013
"A"'s session today, after having missed last week.
First we played the catching game, trying not to care and being provocative. Took about 20 minutes, but limited our frustration, and Z did catch us. It got us playing at liberty - sideways, backing (excellent!) and circling.
Then I backed Z out of paddock, with "A" reminding me to do the unexpected and not back her when she thought I would. This definitely helped Z to relax! After backing, "A" moved her sideways along fence. Then we practiced being provocative, with "A" asking Z to back up when her attention was wondering. Didn't take much for Z to start being responsive and calm. To the barn through snowdrift, then sideways along all. I brought her inside.
Inside, "A" playing stick to me at the trot, working at being in harmony with Z - difficult because of Z's speed and energy, but it is developing. Backing between very widely spaced poles, with retreat. Third time, Z put one ear back and one foreward, and excellent change!
Play with treat ball on mounting block, with Z developing confidence touching the ball to get to the carrots.
Confidence building with the umbrella in Z3, and leading at the trot.
After all this, 45' line with me asking for circling game with provocative disengagements. Only 2 times and after this Z disengaged herself when she got to running!!!!! Let her sit, and it was at least 5 minutes of HUGE releases.
February 22, 2013
Horses in today because of the wind, but its not that cold so spent a long time outside for fresh air and movement. Grooming, then going for a long trek through the property. Through snow, branches, into the field for grass. FUN! Practiced HQ yields.
After last session's breakthrough, Zaina is disengaging with snap on the squeeze game turn back! Also getting better at the HQ yield PP game, but still bit sloppy.
Super backing today, very soft. Further distance through the chute, and narrower space.
Played at going over the poles at walk and trot. Much improvement, softer. I need to ask, but very very quietly. With confidence she started putting her ears forward. I've been shouting at her in the past on this task, so it seems. What a difficult balance - asking enough but not too much; when does she lack confidence, when is it a responsiveness issue.
Perhaps have figured out a reason for difficulty with catching game - it's been less fun for her afterwards. Catching without much reward, just to go and do my stuff. Today gave lots of carrot treats for her coming to me on various occasions.
February 26, 2013
"A"'s day and we spent it outside. Going for new grass while having a deshedding session, then "A" handling Zaina during online hack. Stick to me at the trot in the field. Challenge returning because of gelding out and about on the next property and Z was in high spirits. I did falling leaf pattern to help settle her but a phase 4 "stop" was necessary, then she licked and chewed.
Friendly game confidence building with umbrella (that Zaina started touching with her lips and biting!!!!!), rattle, and treat ball. Looking for confidence in squeeze game through chute of ground poles. Circling game walk, trot and canter at Zaina's request. "A" handling rope and stick very well.
As I was leading Z out of ring I asked her to move toward me and the opening gate, which she did with much confidence! HUGE improvement from where we left this in the fall.
