JULY HIGHLIGHTS - What a month! 14 sessions
July 1 Freestyle Level 2 audition!
July 3, Cantering on long rein.
July 6, It's not about the levels.
July 21, LIBERTY.
July 24, New hackamore, rawhide noseband.
July 29, superb trot under saddle in bosal hackamore.
July 1, 2013
Online
Warm up for riding. Great FH yields, steps under control. Able to do 3 steps and rub to a full stop.
Freestyle
Opened the gate task, done.
Freestyle level 2 audition, practice then for real. Zaina terrifically left brained. Even had to put her on the rail at the trot to bring her life up! The ride was terrific.
http://youtu.be/TlrtTeYPckc
July 3, 2013
Online
Touch it with nose, waiting for a question before asking for next task. She asks questions so quietly, and I wonder if that is a sign of unconfidence? After waiting for her and when got a question, smiled and went on to another touch it, this seemed to heighten her interest or maybe confidence in asking questions as they became more direct.
Sideways along jump blocks, then sideways toward with the blocks in z3. When she gave a big step we waited, then I took her for a big run to the other end of the arena and back. Asked her to move toward the blocks again, this time also toward me. Still unconfident but able to work through evasions, trying really really hard. I'm rewarding tiny tries and stopping when there is a bit more effort.
Circling - canter to right. Breaking, rushing, so changed pattern and asked for downward transition from trot keeping her parallel to me. Got giant neck swing, but beautiful transition. Repeated, same response. Then from trot asked for canter and after a bit of a wobble she was able to continue calmly and lowered her neck, which caused her to use her hind legs.
Freestyle
Took the plunge into level 3 freestyle today after watching the level 3 dvd. Used my body much more. I realized then how little I have been using it. Amazing how awareness starts to develop. I was able to give up the california roll at the trot. Zaina rounding up for a few strides. Lots of walk and rest reward.
Canter to left - 3 times, 1 1/2 rotations each. On 3rd time she went large to back of arena and past the middle coming to front - yahoo!
July 5, 2013
Zaina's confidence continues to increase exponentially. Today she calmly jumped over 3 jump blocks laid side to side. A big part of this accomplishment is from my having been putting jump blocks and poles in her paddock, so that they are part of her normal environment and don't just show up for a "session". Over time I've been increasing the amount of materials and thus increasing the likelihood that she needs to go over something. Today I added one last block, closing up the space completely, asked and received a beautiful jump over. Went for a long grass session. Returned, asked and received 3 more jumps. Natural progression rules!
July 7, 2013
Another very humid day, so lots of time on grass. Then slow, soft progressive play in her paddock.
I really like how I'm getting smarter, softer and slower. Quality in terms of Zaina's understanding and developing confidence rather than completion of a task to get a change. World of difference.
- FH yield to the left, one step at a time. Progressed to 1/3 of a rotation. Terrific responsiveness - calm, connected, waiting, stepping, waiting....
- Squeeze over blocks with a log on top. First time over bit rushed, but then calm.
- Squeeze between, stopping in each zone. Asked for a step back before going forward and this made a huge difference. Calmly waited in each zone, AND offered to back one step at a time once we had finished.
July 10, 2013
Online
Squeeze over low cross rail - no sweat!
Sideways along poles, and with poles in Z3 - getting more confident!
Circling, trot with changes of direction NICE. Canter to right - really really good! HUGE change.
Freestyle
Haha - we were outside and there's lots of grass along the fenceline. I used the Cloverleaf (mmmm, pun?) pattern to get her focus because she was going to the rail and the rope halter doesn't have much effect in that case! But the pattern got her focused on me, and we had a great ride.
Trotted over the crossrail instead of jumping, and turn face to wait.
Lots of circles, serpentines, and halts.
Tires quickly still, because of the incline, so lots of resting.
Worked on walking to the cross rail then stopping, backing, forward, stop back repeating. This blew her mind - not HAVING to or NEEDING to go over. Beautiful time.
July 12, 2013
Mostly UDT today, with Ada grooming, us chatting, lots of pictures. Zaina being very brave with the treat ball - pushing it right over to get banana pieces, even though it was placed in a squeeze area.
Also some squeezes over a log, Ada learning lead by the tail. Beautiful beautiful day.
July 13, 2013
Online
45' Line - first time since moving at the beginning of June. Haven't felt confident enough in the new surroundings until now, but time to progress! It was great to use for circling game, as now I can play with Zaina going out as far as she can on the line at the trot. She's discovering that she can take the line all the way to the grass along the ring fence!
Cantering to the right continues to improve. She went back to playing the "if I run fast she'll bring me in game" and when I didn't, changed it to "I'll just come in" game. When that didn't work I got giant LB bucks and kicks - wooooeeee! Then a settled canter. How lovely to be playing WITH her.
Developing sideways from zone 1, with jump block in Z3. Continues to stretch her confidence.
Freestyle
Developing transitions in the gait. Fitness is still an issue in this sloping arena, so lots of chances for full transitions. Zaina far more cooperative - not bracing into the halter to get at the oh so tempting grass. My use of my body is getting slightly better. Canter to the left, using more of the ring. I thought it would get wild but it didn't, she's looking after me!
After that, a long time on grass. Beautiful beautiful time. I'm soaring.
July 19, 2013
Ada's play day with Zaina. Zaina very LBE and pushy so taught Ada Flying Leaf pattern. Really worked to turn Zaina's dominance into respect.
Circling game at the trot. Zaina switched to walking behind Ada, but when Ada upped her energy Zaina said "YES m'am!" and was super responsive! It was wonderful to see and helped me realize that I can and should be asking for more responsiveness now.
Then my turn, continued circling game with canter to right, continuing to develop. Zaina more able to maintain canter. Trying to help her bend so that she is more balanced and thus having an easier time of it. Still a work in progress but FAR easier than reviously. No more running around, Z trying hard.
July 21, 2013
Online
Karen helping me learn carrot stick riding online. Backing using carrot stick, turning using carrot stick. Once I got my timing and feel right Z was very responsive. Helped a lot for riding and more for liberty!
Freestyle
Applying strategies of partial disengagement and lateral flexion learned from July's savvy club dvd to help with Zaina's forwardness. Helped a lot, especially to the right, to get her to bend, flex and be much more focused. More difficult to the left, with Zaina bracing. Need to review dvd segment. But still helpful. More effective than just telling her to stop, this way am asking for focusing but also letting her move, which she needs to do.
Z got bit emotional when heard paraequestrian's walker scraping the floor in the barn. Got off, Z looked outside and was able to see the walker (although now not scraping). Got back on and reviewed skills again. Good ride.
LIBERTY!
First played mirror me, then stick to me at walk and trot. Amazing, Z stayed with me despite the allure of the gate and grass beyond. Backing, lead by tail, lead by leg, then circling at trot which included change of directions. Wonderful - she was even able to change to the right (after a couple of tries) and maintain a circle!
July 24, 2013
Online
PP sideways along wall - very good.
Canter circling to right and left - everything is improving.
Backing - phase 1 and 2, and quite straight.
With saddle on and new lariat hackamore - walking and trotting as Z got used to the feel.
Freestyle
New hackamore has more communication so Z a little reactive to begin with - moving off in stead of flexing, but that's okay. She quickly figured it out. Did lots of small circles with partial disengagement to ensure calmness. Much easier to communicate. Trotting - no problem. To the right. I was able to relax into the trot and relax my eyes as the hackamore allows for less use of arms and less bracing from Zaina. Very Nice!.
Liberty
Stick to me at walk trot - "you can do no wrong" helped me stay relaxed when she wouldn't immediately transition down, I just stayed with her and kept asking and she went from walk to trot at the door. Used the door as the motivation fort changes of direction. Then she lost interest until I said "So Canter!" And she did, with wild sliding stops into the corner and at the door. After 3 of these she cantered toward me, then did a partial figure 8 through the obstacles and stopped. Very proud and happy with herself! I then asked for a close circle - and it worked! Took 3 asks to get a full circle without her coming in early, but it worked. Beautiful!
July 27 & 28, 2013
Friday and Saturday - Zaina moderately tight and sore, I think from her being in heat combined with too much stall time because of the weather. So, long sessions with the red light and just a bit of play to help her move out. On Friday NOT wanting to trot at all. Saturday able to do some S turns and enjoyed walking up an incline. Very much enjoyed grass time.
July 29, 2013
Online 45' Line Indoors (first time using this line indoors at this new barn)
Point to point at trot- Zaina able to maintain gait and direction. I didn't make corrections of where to stop or how to stand, and on third go, she went straight to the targets, didn't overshoot, and stood facing them.
Circling game - trot, changing directions. Couple of goes at it before she was responsive to the ask, then she disengaged and had a think; a bit worried because of changing in each direction in pretty quick succession.
Circling game - canter: picked up a very nice canter to the right! Only asked for a couple of circles as she was so calm and responsive. Still needs to bend, and flex but the calmness is there!
Figure 8. walk and trot: 3rd time through she followed the pattern without overshooting. Very calm.
Sideways from zone 1, using rope on ground as barrier. She wanted to come to me, so instead of sending her back repeatedly I accepted and used this to develop sideways over the rope zone 3, since this is worrisome for her. She was calm and developing sideways from zone 1 this way.
Liberty
Stick to me at walk and trot, beautiful connection, developing transitions within the trot downwards (moving toward passage - it was neatoooo).
Figure 8, walking, using the open door to help guide her away from me. Positive reinforcement using my voice "good girl" to bring her back to me. This went VERY WELL. It has been a long time since we've had success with the figure 8 at liberty, and it is the more positive approach AND breaking it down (stopping and resting when she comes to me before sending away again). Achieved a full figure 8 this way. Stopped after one success (getting smarter!).
A huge day of connected achievements.
July 30, 2013
OnLine
Warm up for riding.
Freestyle
Second ride with the bosal hackamore. VERY nice bending at the trot. Able to direct her slowly and more accurately. Lots of in and out of cars and people today, so I was nervous, although Zaina was handling herself well. After trotting when she blew out I ended the session. Great ride - wonderful way to end this month's horse time!
