Highlights: May 7 - trotting without reins! May 31, move to new stable!
May 3, 2013
Online:
4' telescoping pole 1st use, friendly game no issues. Very very light to use, it's a refining tool. Helps me use my body energy more. Z likes the pole communication - less "static" I think, compared to CS & S. Easy to switch hands quickly for Figure 8, and when running.
3 ground pole squeeze, set close, walking. bit sticky going to left on 3rd pole. I was able to progress by moving farther away.
Point to Point - developing more coonnection.
Figure 8. trot - REALLY GOOD. I'm progressing with my position, working at staying in my hula hoop. I was nicely surprised at how good it went with the pole,really thought I'd need to CS & S.
Freestyle - pole nice to carry while riding, very light, easy to switch hands.
Better small circles at walk. Great Follow the Rail.
Trotting - I was worried we'd have to abort as lots of wind noise and people sounds were worrying Z, but I was able to develop calmness for both of us using the cloverleaf pattern. Then even more surprising was able to move on to 20 metre (or so) circling. MUCH better than last time - calm throughout and my body position was more effective and she was more responsive. I quite when the calmness was achieved and maintained, only going to the right.
LIBERTY
Hadn't done liberty for ages as have been focusing on rewarding freestyle calmness by quitting. Stick to me, move toward me sideways, asked to walk over single ground pole. All going very nicely. She wanted to stay by door because of wanting to go outside, but she stayed mostly connected and responsive.
May 5, 2013
ONLINE
Outside play in ring, first of season - FLIES!
Point to point, backing from jump block to jump block - quite straight! more confidant.
Squeeze over tarp, stop and wait. Can stop from going on, can wait, but not able to stop going off.
FREESTYLE - inside, fly free!
Practiced indirect rein - have confused her between this and lateral flexion, so lots of time spent clarifying. Also, lateral flexion to stop was weak, so had lots of opportunities to practice.
Trotted over pole and used indirect rein to turn and wait. Calm trotting over.
Great walk on rail.
Sideways between wall and one jump pole. Worried, especially going to right, but I didn't "make" her do it, but did circles and returned. After a couple of circles she did it completely relaxed, SUPER smooth. Quit as big reward.
May 7, 2013
Tons of flies, biting. Z's left ear a big bloody mess. She let me clean it out and drench her in first of the season fly chemical warfare.
Online:
Squeeze over tarp developing confidence with halting as walk off. Getting better.
Point to Point new target.
Backing straight online from a distance, me in zone 2.
Freestyle:
Really improved circling at walk and figure 8.
THEN TROTTING WITHOUT REINS! Sublime, partnership - never imagined it could happen for me and Z! Great place to quit for the day and have a grass eating session.
May 8, 2013
Lots of undemanding time while munching on grass.
Then some play outside, stick to me with changes of direction.
Lots of backing.
Friendly game with gate as squeeze.
May 9, 2013
Online:
Point to Point.
Backing from zone 2 at a distance.
Lots of tarp play. Improved confidence coming of the tarp.
Freestyle
Trotted figure 8!
Too much go for trotting without reins, but instead cantered! Too left, kept my seat and able to move my arms with her!!!! 2 circles and quit.
Liberty
Stick to me with changes of direction.
Sideways towards me.
Touch it with tarp.
May 12, 2013
Online:
Point to Point, backing, halting as come off tarp (increasing confidence), carwash - return after long absence. First "go" very emotional but quickly disengaged and calmed. Second go MUCH better. Still a bit rushy but not as charged up, so quit at that improvement.
Freestyle:
Filming for videocoaching:
lateral flexion at halt, walk to halt and trot to halt.
Indirect and direct reins.
Follow the rail (walk).
Stormy day, so trot was less then calm (no reinless trot today!). I find it disconcerting to NOT be focusing on a pattern, and my lack of focus is not helpful for Zaina. Still, great improvement on figure 8 and circling, with loops for direct rein smooth.
May 18, 2013
Online only today, more effort into developing confidence
Halt part way off tarp. Getting better!
Flank rope. Haven't done for ages. SOOOOO much improved with confidence. Let me hang the rope around hocks and put pressure on while asking to stand still. First go at turning toward me got emotional, but second one was calm.
Backing toward tarp. Crooked, but I didn't worry about it, and got improved straightness as developed.
Friendly game with tarp - wearing the tarp, almost covering head. Lots of communication from her "enough! off" without much emotion, so that's a big deal.
Car wash: To left, went through calmly with plastic hanging down to her shoulder.
To right - emotional 2x, then much on 3rd. Knowing when to quit!
May 21, 2013 My Birthday!
Lots of backing today. Her confidence has really grown. She backed into a
corner area, and put one foot over a pole. Also backed, with lots of
support, toward the wooden board, and put both hind feet on it.
Waited calmly coming off the board after walking on with front feet.
Wore tarp, better over her ears.
Developed FQ yield, expecting her not to run.
Flank rope excellent - able to drop hold of lead and put pressure on
flanks but she's waiting, rather than running. Lots of treats!
Halting beside tarp hung up on fence - then friendly game, that was
worrisome, so more friendly game hitting the tarp with the string - she
settled!
May 24, 2013
Focusing on improving calmness at the basics.
FQ yield, continuing to develop moving with me not running away. Taking time but it's happening. Licking and chewing going on.
Reviewed lead by front and back leg.
Flank rope. Excellent responsiveness today. Waiting rather than reacting.
Backing between cavaletti blocks - with going to grass as reward. That worked really well. Was able to go back to the blocks 3 times, each time moving them closer. Even though she was a bit worried, she stayed connected and worked through her worries.
She helped me put the cavaletti blocks away - I wrapped them around the end of the line and we both pulled them (mostly me) across the sand. She was VERY calm.
Red light day today (wellness) to bring up her immune system. Got a lot of licking and chewing and peacefulness.
FQ yield with waiting, improving.
Squeeze onto board on crusher dust, and WAIT. Hard to wait with grass on the other side, but eventually calm on and calm off with waiting.
Friendly game with tarp on jump standard with CS swatting. Moving closer, staying calmer.
Backed into corner and over pole - SUPER.
May 29, 2013
Red light day today (wellness) to bring up her immune system. Got a lot of licking and chewing and peacefulness.
FQ yield with waiting, improving.
Squeeze onto board on crusher dust, and WAIT. Hard to wait with grass on the other side, but eventually calm on and calm off with waiting.
Friendly game with tarp on jump standard with CS swatting. Moving closer, staying calmer.
Backed into corner and over pole - SUPER.
May 31, 2013
MOVING DAY
Move to EE stables in Mount Uniacke, 30 minutes from home. Zaina fairly confident and curious about getting on the trailer, not confident staying on.
Arrived in good shape. Settled in wonderfully. Happy.
