New stable!
Fawn's Lessons: "yes" not "go"; flow; 1.5 seconds response; intimate space.
Notes from Ron Pyne's*** PEI clinic: move laterally or back after stopping, not straight immediately; end pattern clearly by taking one step back.
Savvy Club DVD #74 Major keystone dvds with Linda being a true master. Much more horse sensitive. Incredible learning.
OPENING A GATE
So much has happened this month. So much positive change with the move. Zaina "calmest horse in the barn". Me, chilling out. After 3 1/2 years of Zaina being an hour away, having her within 30 minutes is beyond delightful. The natural horsemanship of Equine Estates has done wonders for Zaina, helping her to very quickly adjust to the move and developing an inner zen. All the Parelli learning opportunities this month, more opportunities to play with Zaina, and a shift in atmosphere have made for huge progress. Time to move on to level 3 riding.
Goals for next month:
Audition video
Asking questions
June 1, 2013
First full day new home. Arrived to find Zaina calmly eating her hay outside. She wasn't worried, pretty blase about my arrival. First time with various moves where she hasn't been anxious during this early days.
"A" came to visit and we had a great time. Cleaned up the paddock, "A" groomed Z, played with the treat ball. We went for grass. Zaina chilled the whole time. Nice.
June 2, 2013
Had a short play session today, to start getting Zaina's mind focused on me despite the distractions of having new horse neighbours. HQ yield (needed lots of repetition before she was connected to me with this task), figure 8 trot (very good - 12 ft line), weave 3 obstacles at walk and trot - excellent. Great short and successful time. Grass reward.
June 4, 2013 ONLINE
First time in the new barn indoor. Other horses outside. Zaina a bit worried but also curious. No calling, so separation not a big deal. This is a HUGE change from the last moves. I'm thinking she's thinking I'm a worthwhile partner?
Her worries did enable a GREAT figure 8 on the 12 foot line. Trotting on the change of direction which we've never had before! Did a lot of sideways along the arena walls to explore. FQ yields to develop connection.
Horse came in for a lesson, big folding door opened - WOWSER said Zaina. Big French Canadian trotted in. WOWSER said Zaina. Put her on a small circle and she was able to mostly stay unemotional, as she showed off her beautiful trot. When she got worried she started to disengage herself.
June 5, 2013
Foot Trim.
Zaina worried during trim because in the barn without other horses, and none in sight. Took me too long to figure out what was the problem. Used the red light, thinking it might be soreness. It did help though to relax her. Hadn't seen this much ADD from her for a long time, so had forgotten what it can be like. Need to up the play session intensity now, in order to get her mind active and more focused on me.
June 7, 2013
Online: Finally getting back in the groove after the big move. 22' Line, trot figure 8, sideways fast along the wall (making it a game - move those hind legs or I'm gonna get'ya!), sideways without a fence, using the rope on ground then asking her to move sideways toward me to reverse direction. Super cool, as she was very responsive. Circling, walk - trot -canter. She likes the footing, as not slippy and deep so she picked up a beautiful canter and kept it with calmness to the left. Worried about going to the right so rewarded small tries.
Freestyle
Round pen - super cool. Walked and then trotted, and did changes of direction through a figure 8. When she worried I used an indirect rein to change direction, only had to do it a couple of times at the beginning of the ride. We were both smiling during that trot!
Zaina much more relaxed today when inside without the other horses. Waited patiently while I chatted, and didn't get worried when other horses were going out. Chilled.
June 9, 2013
Nine days into June and have been with Z 6 times! She continues to be a calmer, more confident horse. The handling at the barn is super for her. She's not worried, no more separation anxiety it seems. Very very different horse.
Online
22ft line - weave at walk, longer distance. Excellent.
Squeeze over folded tarp with one end raised on cavaletti block: skeptical, but stepped over, next time, more confident and stepped onto tarp.
Circling: beautiful trot, roller nose sounds happening!. Canter to right - helping her develop confidence.
Freestyle - Whole Arena!!
Zaina very much wanted to play the corners game - curious!
Walked, developing her confidence with the open spaces, and getting closer to the rail. By not pushing her to the rail, but letting her look and pushing away soon she was happily on the rail.
TROTTED! Circle, weave, on the rail.
June 10, 2013
On inspiration zipped out to see Zaina! Left at 2:15, home by 5. WOW. Super time. Super horse. Loving it.
Online
In the paddock, squeeze between cavaletti blocks. Then Sideways toward. Very very difficult for Z as she starts to go over. But got some steps toward. Lots of time to develop.
7 games in outdoor ring. Big thrill - Zaina interested in going in to big wet area in ring, even to deeper part!!! All very good.
Freestyle
Outside for first time at new place, so no carrot stick riding. Footing wet. Very surprised at Zaina's calmness.
Walk and trot on the rail, big serpentines. Tiring for Zaina, as footing is wet, and there's a slope, so she needs to work hard and its warm. Definitely LBI today!
So neat with her calmness. Perfect progress. Amazing.
June 11, 2013 ONLINE
Things are just getting better and better.
Walk, trot, canter circling game. To the right MUCH better. When returned to go to the right after a break from the left she started to PLAY. Four off the flour jump and buck! Then she sort of nibbled at the rope on the ground - getting left brainy!
Weave - 22foot line trot, from farther distance. Zaina super connected. On one of the circuits we miscued so I stopped, and she did, she knew to back up and walk around the obstacle. Toooooo cooooool. She knew the pattern, knew she'd missed the pattern, knew how to go back and fix the pattern!!!!!
Then, after a rest while I chatted she got bored and decided that she needed to do a canter game, so we used the obstacles for a canter figure 8 with simple changes. I love it when her idea goes beyond what I thought we could do!
June 13, 2013
UDT with grooming and grass munching during an opportunity to share time with a pal. Then a few minutes of liberty in Zaina's paddock. Haven't done liberty for ages and asking for liberty was iffy given we hadn't done much to establish rapport, so I thought. But she was with me, even though also really wanted to be "free". Played stick to me, with changes of direction, backing, squeeze, and move towards me sideways. Zaina, you always bring a smile to my face.
June 14, 2013
Online
Weave at the walk, 22' line - Excellent
Sideways along rope on ground - Very good.
Circling - canter to right, getting better.
Freestyle
Nervous today at the start, with horses going out and the rain. I was able to help her become confident doing figure 8s and indirect rein so she was disengaging. Starting to round her back at the trot, making it very very smooth.
Developed game of having her focus on obstacle by using focus, which helped with circling. Terrific ride. Big smiles.
June 15 & 16 Audited Fawn's Lessons with Barb, and Barb & Ada
Lots of learning. Tons of notes
- Intimate Space
- Extreme Friendly Game
- "yes" not "do it"
- driving game to back up PPG when phase 2 not enough
June 17, 2013
Online:
Incorporating techniques and strategies learned from auditing Fawn's lessons on the weekend. "Yes" instead of "do it" with support of the stick - made a BIG difference to Zaina's attitude with a squeeze, more quickly being confidant.
Extreme friendly game, and friendly game ambush also helping out.
Freestyle
Yehaa! Zaina had fire in her feet today. Lots of calling to other horses. Used Extreme Friendly Game by hitting stick on arena wall and my helmet as we rode - something I wouldn't have dared to do with energy before. Lots of short serpentines to help her get unemotional. Figure 8s and weave going well, including at trot.
She picked up a canter at one point to the left and it was good, although I become worried. Asked for it to the right for a bit, still choppy but she's getting more confident with her feet in that direction.
Stand by the gate and seating area - when she didn't want to stay still left and did lots of fast trotting, then back for a rest. Seems to be helping.
Finished the ride feeling great. Very happy that I can now stay with her at higher speed and am worrying less.
June 18, 2013
Ada's Fawn Lesson (playing with Teddy)
Ada had a two hour private lesson, on line topped off with liberty.
- Positioning
- Stick handling to eliminate "noise" and to be clear on where energy is being directed.
- Being particular (without being critical) gains leadership points.
- Circling send: are you blocking with the direction of your weighted foot?
- HQ Yield - don't pop up until have 2 eyes and no bum.
- FQ Yield - if drifting forward send backwards; don't stop asking until have crossover.
Online
Friendly game in the round pen with Ada helping by making a commotion in the "cynical" areas.
Ada circling Z walk and trot using techniques learned from Fawn Anderson***.
Treat ball with Ada being the leader and helping Zaina develop emotional fitness. Z showing excellent confidence with the treat ball.
Ada doing turns on HQ with front feet on tarp. Zaina getting worried, and Ada letting her move off the tarp but still asking for yield - Good Job Ada!
My circling Z at the canter to the right, continuing to develop her confidence with the footing.
Freestyle
Passenger lesson at the walk. Wonderful to be able to do this in a secure area. Zaina doing some sort of big shoulder push turns, so I got to practice my position.
Trotting - working on my position, with head and chest up. Some sitting trot. Really just having a fun time with moving.
Sideways to the fence - developing confidence for opening the gate. Zaina MUCH MUCH better with moving her body to the fence. Some nice big steps from her toward the fence - she's starting to be a partner with this task.
June 23, 2013
Using strategies learned from Barb's notes on Ron Pyne's*** clinic in PEI. Especially helpful was to move sideways or back after stopping rather than going straight immediately. End pattern clearly by doing one step back up.
Online
Sideways over rope (to the right) - VERY good
Backing over pole - excellent. Worked on it in stages, and on the 3rd "go" Z went over it smoothly, stopped after back legs and waited. Then brought her forward. Getting flow, phase 1 response.
Circling over rope on ground. She's now stepping on it instead of leaping or worrying over so I guess it's time to move on!
Freestyle
Figure 8 at trot with Carrot Stick. Breaking it down with walk and trot. Using the CS more correctly to assist with the turns. Turn still difficult to the left but I'm improving my position so getting better. When changed the size so much bigger figure 8 was easier for Zaina and much smother.
Lots of sideways with goal of standing sideways next to the gate. Used grass as a reward. Initially required a lot of persistence and lots of reward (by leaving and doing something else). Then a major breakthrough, moving sideways without wiggling to face it or away from it! Time to quit for the day!
June 25, 2013 Online
Hot day, so just taking it easy doing a couple things.
FH Yield - taking just one step. Getting better. Starting to understand that rub means stop. My timing is getting better with backing her if she goes forward.
Sideways over pole, going to the right. I played extreme friendly game in the vicinity when she was worried - running string through bushes and the like (that's extreme for Z given the situation). After that she was confident.
Going over pole propped on one cavaletti block. Extreme friendly with block (rubbing my foot on it) as she got excited at the sound of the pole rubbing it when she knocked it on way over. This helped A Lot!
Really enjoy doing a few things with more precision and looking for her confidence rather than lots of stuff to get it done.
June 26, 2013
Online
Extreme friendly going up ramp to arena. Very helpful for settling her worries. Able to halt calmly before proceeding.
Extreme friendly just by opening big arena door (garage door style on a chain).
Extreme friendly hitting rope barrier across opening then asking Z to stand sideways next to rope. Success!
Extreme friendly by arena ramp entry doors to gain confidence for open gate task.
Freestyle
Figure 8 walk and trot. Working on exaggerating my position so I move my body and she can feel it. Making progress with the turns.
Canter to left - after she bolted. In order for me to gain confidence with faster movement. She tires quickly but I'm remembering to reward her for going into a trot or walk rather than going faster. One canter to right, still quite unbalanced.
Open gate - used carrot stick end to pull half door open a few inches. Yahoo, Zaina not worried. Shut it then just sat and rested. Major success.
June 28, 2013
Online
HQ yield, near an obstacle. Stick to me, and backing. Extreme Friendly Game inside, with ruckus happening outside where Z could see, and on the observation seating area.
Freestyle
Figure 8, canter to left.
June 30, 2013
Online
Squeeze over raised pole - walk and trot, no issues!!!!
Sideways, not moving my feet - excellent.
Freestyle
Figure 8 trot
Canter to left 1 1/2 circles before breaking.
Open gate - ABLE TO OPEN HALF-DOOR TO ARENA 1/4 WAY WITHOUT ZAINA GETTING AT ALL WORRIED. THEN SHE TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO CLOSE IT WITH HER NOSE!!!!
