HIGHLIGHTS: ZAINA 17 YEARS OLD ON APRIL 16! CALM CALM CALM TROT ON APRIL 19!
April 2, 2013
Online: Very soft. Progressed with the Squeeze, raising the 3 side by side poles on one end, onto a cavaletti block, walk only - how much SMARTER I'm being to limit the increase in difficulty one notch only. PP HQ yield to the right, becoming a ball. Circling - great progress to the right, with THREE calm canter rotations.
Freestyle:
Waiting for stand still emotionally while saddling important. Makes a difference.
Had reviewed savvy club dvd #44 rein positions. Realized how RUDE I have been in the use of my reins. Big change today, as I was more polite. During the ride we were CONVERSING!!!! First time I've ever had a conversation with a horse while riding.
BIG change from last two sessions, with Z calm at walk and trot. Set up question box, which is no longer a squeeze threat to her. She's asking questions now, during the ride (This way?)
Her calmness gave me the confidence to quickly move to cantering. Lovely. Very responsive to left. To right, she tried and tried and finally went into the canter. It was not good - perhaps disunited (I hope so, rather than a physical issue). Biggest deal was that she did not get emotional despite being unbalanced, but really tried to give me what I was asking. Went back to left, and over 2 times at it, it improved 10% from previous session. QUIT!
April 5, 2013
Continued squeeze over 3 poles raised at one end, PP on HQ really improved toward ball on water; circling to left terrific 6 in each gait THEN MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR releases!!!! Somewhere super stressed by circling, or perhaps something else but circle allowed relaxation? Took a break by playing sideways which she can do very well. Then circling to right - very hesitant to move away from me. I was very politely persistent and got 6 walk and 6 trot rotations, then 3 beautiful canters. Best canters to right on line in ages. One big yawn release.
Freestyle
Excellent saddling. Concerned about the video camera, but I was able to politely keep her attention. VERY responsive to body weight for direction, so almost no rein needed except when near video camera. Very nice relaxation in the question box. Easy picking up canter to left, for 3 circles. Then going right - she DEMANDED a canter, after 2 circles I could feel her wanting to do the transition so I just let her by making sure I sat back and released the reins. OFF WE WENT!!!!! Incredible. I brought her down after 11/2 circles because I was getting worried. ALL THIS DESPITE BIG WINDS KNOCKING AT THE DOORS AND COVERALL.
April 7, 2013
Catching Game
Stayed with her pal over fence while grooming at liberty. As soon as I picked up the halter she came over and caught me! Intersting....
Online
Trot over raised poles, to the left only.
Circle. Left terrific. Right canter got emotional. I let her work it out, then had a BIG rest. Then asked for one circle W, T, C. Very calm - savvy strategy!
Freestyle
Carrot stick walk and trot. Walk on casual rein. At trot - wasn't knocking myself with stick - means my position is better! Figure 8 at walk and trot. Then more canter. Position better, able to stick to the seat now and again. Going right, was able to get my outside leg back, into position, with put me in better overall position. Very very nice.
Practiced stand still going into paddock, getting permission to eat, first with hay then with apples. Was difficult for her, especially waiting to get into paddock. Will be interesting to see outcome.
April 14, 2013
OnLine:
Point to Point length of arena - practicing stand still emotionally.
Squeeze - refused obstacle 2x, so, smarter than before, changed the task and used the jump as a resting spot - mmmm, she thought that was WEIRD but good!
3 ground poles squeeze to develop hq, at trot - another opportunity to develop stand still emotionally.
Circling - better 1st responsibility. Calmness.
Freestyle
Walking developing my body communication.
Corners game - stand still em0tionally
At trot - flying, put her on cloverleaf (1/4) and she relaxed, at which point stopped to reward.
April 16, 2013
Zaina's 17th birthday today. It was "A"'s day to play with her so we focused on celebrating Zaina's wonderfulness by having a major grooming session, including braiding. Added to that an online hack to go for grazing.
April 19, 2013
ONLINE
Squeeze over 3 ground poles 2nd session. Introverted today, so lots of wait time. Not able to face the squeeze during the wait.
Point to point at trot, and to stay facing "it" - major improvement in sticking to me at the trot and maintaining direction when at "it".
HQ yield - much much more positive in response!
FREESTYLE
MAJOR MAJOR breakthrough with trot.
Absolutely calm from the get go, despite the wind. Changes of direction,
halts, all wonderful!
Didn't expect this calmness, so wasn't all that sure how to ride it!
April 21, 2013
Online:
Walked the squeeze, then played sideways around it - starting to get "ah ha" moments from her in understanding that I'm asking for sideways and not forwards.
Point to Point at trot, more improvement on sticking to me at trot.
Freestyle
Second calm trot day. Able to sustain cloverleaf pattern at trot, and to use CS after warm up trot. CS is keeping my outside shoulder back so better able to use my body properly. Keeping weight in outside heel on turns REALLY helps indicate direction I WANT to go in.
Big deal - played "stand still emotionally" next to tape fence divider in arena; came and went in small circles three times (it's not about standing here), then was able to pick up hat and jacket off jump standard. Little jump from Z when she touched the jacket with her nose but then back to being calm!!!!! Put on and took off jacket. Big deal because was hubby's jacket, so large and noisier than mine. Also touched her with it zone 2 and 4.
April 23, 2013
Very simple day - less is more, now.
Online
Sideways (much better understanding, and clearly happier at her success), then figure 8 on 45' line. My positioning is much better and my responsiveness. Z less reactive, more thinking. Last circle toward me sticky but she's able to come around the last obstacle, just wants to keep going.
No obstacles today, as too tired to move them but also wanted to provide break from that task.
Freestyle
Warmed up at
the trot with the cloverleaf pattern (our very best friend) and then
the figure 8. She gave a few jumps and big worries because of the wind
(when will it f'n stop!), but I was able to keep calm and remind her of
her responsibilities. She would get very relaxed at the trot when I
could manage to rest my rein hand on her withers. Really really hard for
me, but clearly something important. I was even able to do sitting trot
for a fair bit.
I could trot 1.5 of the figure 8 with one rein, but I didn't try it
with the carrot stick. Coming back to the centre after the second
rotation was not going to easily happen and I quit when she started
paying more attention to that as a possibility versus the banging wall. So, same issue of returning to centre as online.
I was smart enough not to ask her to stand quietly by a jump standard in imitation of the previous session's success.
April 25, 2013
OnLine:
Project - obstacles. Walked over. Happy to look at it. Point to Point - sooooo good at staying in harmony with me. Figure 8 - once I became clearer and positively persistent, at trot!
Freestyle:
Ride 4 calm trot. Today figure 8 with the carrot stick. Also corners game - very calm. I think she's liking this trotting stuff now.
April 27, 2013 Videocoaching
3rd Videocoaching Segment With Genevieve Benoit
Squeeze Game - need to focus on emotional and mental before physical.
The cavaletti I set up to help her physically won't work unless she's relaxed going over, so shorten distance and decrease number of poles, slowly increase both.
This was permission to do NOT DO the traditional cavaletti spacing and numbers.
Plus a warning that doing them on a circle is even more difficult.
A big reminder about the need to break things down rather than assuming that the traditional plan is sacrosanct. I know that, but still forget.
Also, a reminder (because surely I knew this) that horses do NOT have depth perception. Therefore how they see the squeeze is entirely different from the human perspective. They absolutely have to trust the human because they cannot tell that they are not being sent over a cliff or into a trap.
Major learning also about direct rein - to learn, raise arm high and look up to follow arm as opens rein. Puts weight on opposite butt.
April 28, 2013
Online:
Fixing squeeze - clearer intent, less challenging.
Point to Point - excellent stick to me at speed, and waiting
Figure 8 at trot - Improvement, not shooting past me on second turn and better maintain trot
Freestyle
Fixed lateral flexion, indirect rein and direct rein
Squeeze turn and wait as a result better focus, smoother, more polite.
Figure 8 at walk BETTER. Videotaped - need to sit more on balance point, round lower back.
Friendly game open gate simulation with rope, bringing rope toward Z, walking a circle with rope, moving it away from her. In stages, no bracing, no rushing but serious RBI moment.
April 30, 2013
Online:
Point to point with continued connection.
Backing straight from CS driving phases at chest.
Trotting 2 ground poles without worry.
Figure 8 BETTER - now able to push energy toward her shoulder for the change of direction. She said "Yahoo!" So much friendlier than driving Z5.
Freestyle
Developing my leadership skills at the walk with no reins for changes of direction. Using body weight for coming off rail and going toward. No reins but CS support for going sideways - that surprised her! Developing figure 8 at walk - have to remember to keep eyes (chin) up.
At trot, today focusing on gaining calmness through the trot. Activity in the barn worried her, but I was able to regain connection. Working on circles - can do 3/4 good.
End of month - terrific terrific progress at riding.
