July 31, 2010 On line
It has been a week since I've been even seeing Z, because of family visits. Today is on-line day! I've been refreshing myself by watching the level 2 on-line dvd.
Played circling game, with two barrels on side set up, disengaged hindquarters after going by 2nd bucket (not always) at trot. Better disengagement, still difficult at trot, but getting better.Plan was to mix this up with figure 8s, but did not progress to that because of difficulties disengaging.
Circle game at canter, working on being particular with her transition into the canter. This is the second time I've played with her with this purpose in mind. Played this in the round pen - first time (round pen recently arrived). Much better as she was much more attentive to me, same with as the trot. Immediate disengagement and coming to me. Over excited at canter, maybe because in round pen for the first time, but controllable.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
July 24, 2010 Side Pull
Mounted: Side Pull Bridle
Today we played with the side pull bridle. I really like how it helps my confidence in transitioning into the trot, and trotting over ground poles. I don't worry about knocking Z in the mouth, and thus "go for it" over poles, as well as putting a lot more variety into our trot work (more transitions and turns, being more particular). I like how she doesn't surge foreward into the trot with it.
BUT, she really really leans into it, on the right. She only doesn't do this if I let her take her head right to the ground. If I ask her to carry it up, she pushes onto the rein, with no weight at all on the left side. As we proceeded this became more of a problem - I guess she figured it out!
I tried everything I know of to change how it was going, but nothing worked. She even became more difficult to halt. It isn't that she does not like it - I think she likes it a lot, because she really can do what she wants.
Mmmmm, guess our relationship still has some ways to go...
I have not been able to find information on the internet to help me. Seems that every brand of bitless bridle promises to resolve the problems of every other brand, but there is no discussion of horses that just won't pay attention to it at all.
Given that she does go nicely on the bit, and is not on the forehand I do not want to prolong use of this bridle as it seems we might actually regress, especially if she starts muscling up her neck incorrectly. I'm going to go back to the bit and work harder at sitting back for trot transitions, as well as incorporating more over-poles work, etc. to bring up my confidence.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
July 20, Online
On Line, Outside: A left-brain/right brain Play Day!
Zaina jumped over her paddock pole (2 feet) when I came to get her today. I think she was worried about the flies, and because Anne was taking Leo in, who has the paddock next to her. She ran around a bit (zaina-like), then trotted up to the barn and visited with Rosie, and had some grass. Interesting how I completely lost my parelli knowledge when she started coming over the fence, and almost got hurt.
While I was setting up the play pen I let her off the line for grass. When I went to catch her, more left brain zainanigans. So we played at liberty a bit! Interesting, she canter/galloped in a big oval rather than charging around the entire arena, so maybe the off-line relationship is beginning to develop.
It was very buggy out, but Z paid attention. Played at the figure eight around the barrels, she can trot then walk the change at a short distance. I'm better with the carrot stick in directing her, and she understands better.
She touched obstacles from a medium distance, with lots of encouragement after a couple of times. Bored?
She walked calmly over the cavaletti during the circle game - this is now old stuff for her.
Then circling to the right she trotted very calmly over a cavaletti - then right brain zaina returned. Insane zaina - I had to power position her to the fence 3 times, that put her into a trot. Then I moved her sideways to the left at a trot - it worked! Then lots of yoyo game to keep her attention. Whew! She was back. Now isn't THAT interesting!
After that I had her walk over the cavaletti, yield her hindquarters, and stop. Once she was doing this calmly, did it at the trot. More difficult, but achieved success.
A hotter workout than planned, but I was very pleased with my increasing ability to train her using Parelli methods, not just stumble through the games. It's coming together, naturally. Well, at least when there is no crisis happening!
Zaina jumped over her paddock pole (2 feet) when I came to get her today. I think she was worried about the flies, and because Anne was taking Leo in, who has the paddock next to her. She ran around a bit (zaina-like), then trotted up to the barn and visited with Rosie, and had some grass. Interesting how I completely lost my parelli knowledge when she started coming over the fence, and almost got hurt.
While I was setting up the play pen I let her off the line for grass. When I went to catch her, more left brain zainanigans. So we played at liberty a bit! Interesting, she canter/galloped in a big oval rather than charging around the entire arena, so maybe the off-line relationship is beginning to develop.
It was very buggy out, but Z paid attention. Played at the figure eight around the barrels, she can trot then walk the change at a short distance. I'm better with the carrot stick in directing her, and she understands better.
She touched obstacles from a medium distance, with lots of encouragement after a couple of times. Bored?
She walked calmly over the cavaletti during the circle game - this is now old stuff for her.
Then circling to the right she trotted very calmly over a cavaletti - then right brain zaina returned. Insane zaina - I had to power position her to the fence 3 times, that put her into a trot. Then I moved her sideways to the left at a trot - it worked! Then lots of yoyo game to keep her attention. Whew! She was back. Now isn't THAT interesting!
After that I had her walk over the cavaletti, yield her hindquarters, and stop. Once she was doing this calmly, did it at the trot. More difficult, but achieved success.
A hotter workout than planned, but I was very pleased with my increasing ability to train her using Parelli methods, not just stumble through the games. It's coming together, naturally. Well, at least when there is no crisis happening!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
July 17, 2010 Mounted, Inside Bitless Bridle Time!
Terry and Barb, co-chairs of the Stewiacke Branch of the Zaina fan club visited, and Terry brought bitless bridles to try. After reviewing her response to them in the stall we went with a stripped down Dr. Cook, as a sidepull.
Under saddle Z was happy. Backed straight for ten strides, first ever! Calmly into the trot. After a while she started pulling me along, so I need to work at using my body more to keep her off her forehand. Tells me I've still been depending on the bit for control and steering.
Under saddle Z was happy. Backed straight for ten strides, first ever! Calmly into the trot. After a while she started pulling me along, so I need to work at using my body more to keep her off her forehand. Tells me I've still been depending on the bit for control and steering.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
July 14, 2010 Mounted, Halter Ride
Today, in preparation for an upcoming bitless bridle try, I rode Z with only her halter. She was an angel. Even trotted at the post and sitting. Transition into the trot was great, no lurching forward. The bridle is too loose so I had almost so steering capability, but was excited at how positively she responded. Even did figure 8s around pylons. Good going Z!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
July 8, 2010 Online
Shelley says that Z's new name is Zen-ia. Cause she's so zen. Today she ate a treat off her ball, had a rest on the tarp, chewed on the ground pole, and went over and touched the pylon while on a 22 foot line (and was supposed to be circling, but oh well!).
Monday, July 5, 2010
July 5, 2010 online and mounted
On-Line
Saddled up in the arena with rope on the ground. Z was nervous about the white saddle pad, so we played a tepid catch me game, and then I spent a lot of time having her sniff and rub it. She went internal for awhile, which was very interesting. I didn't put the pad on her back until she relaxed. Saddle was not a problem.
Used the shims for the first time today. More on that on report below about the ride.
Played at walking in harmony, with carrot stick laid on withers, patting zone 3 if need to move forward. At first she was confused by this, but after a bit of practice understood what was wanted. Have to keep her attention when turning away from her. Good at slowing down, and after a couple of miscues, good at halting.
Touch it from a greater distance using carrot stick to direct nose to object. This worked well. Was able to stay 3-4 feet away from cone.
I had put a pole on the ground between two cones. The pole seemed to worry her, and she spent more time than usual sniffing it. To start with I moved her away from it, rather than asking her to go over it. This was interesting given her complacency with walking over the cavaletti two days ago. I wonder if she was testing me - to see if I'd revert to pushing her over? Later we worked on moving sideways over it, quite difficult. I should not have tried this, given her hesitance to walk over the pole, but should have just moved sideways along it. Next time!
Under Saddle
Shims made a noticeable difference. I was able to sit back without having to slump so much, it was easy to keep my lower back in an upright position, without flexing it inwards. I could feel her hips, and her stride was long. It was easy to carry the carrot stick and stay in position.
Nice walking on the rail and changes of directions. Worked on leg yielding using carrot stick. Difficult going to the left off right leg.
She's still dashing off at the trot. I changed to asking for a trot while her head was bent toward wall and disengaging her hind quarters. This helped a lot. Whenever she sped up I went back to that position and it slowed her down. I was able to do a lot of sitting trot after this.
Trotted once over the pole - and then she went into a walk (patted her and went to the rail). Afterwards she was really worried when we went by the pole that she'd have to do it again so I just circled or changed directions.
Cantering - her shoulders came up during the transition into the canter (although it was harder today than last ride to get her to canter), and she stayed round during the canter to the left, even going up the wall a bit without speeding up. Nice. To the right, more strung out and fast - my fault, I still go forward. When I could sit back it was better.
Lots of nice stuff today.
Saddled up in the arena with rope on the ground. Z was nervous about the white saddle pad, so we played a tepid catch me game, and then I spent a lot of time having her sniff and rub it. She went internal for awhile, which was very interesting. I didn't put the pad on her back until she relaxed. Saddle was not a problem.
Used the shims for the first time today. More on that on report below about the ride.
Played at walking in harmony, with carrot stick laid on withers, patting zone 3 if need to move forward. At first she was confused by this, but after a bit of practice understood what was wanted. Have to keep her attention when turning away from her. Good at slowing down, and after a couple of miscues, good at halting.
Touch it from a greater distance using carrot stick to direct nose to object. This worked well. Was able to stay 3-4 feet away from cone.
I had put a pole on the ground between two cones. The pole seemed to worry her, and she spent more time than usual sniffing it. To start with I moved her away from it, rather than asking her to go over it. This was interesting given her complacency with walking over the cavaletti two days ago. I wonder if she was testing me - to see if I'd revert to pushing her over? Later we worked on moving sideways over it, quite difficult. I should not have tried this, given her hesitance to walk over the pole, but should have just moved sideways along it. Next time!
Under Saddle
Shims made a noticeable difference. I was able to sit back without having to slump so much, it was easy to keep my lower back in an upright position, without flexing it inwards. I could feel her hips, and her stride was long. It was easy to carry the carrot stick and stay in position.
Nice walking on the rail and changes of directions. Worked on leg yielding using carrot stick. Difficult going to the left off right leg.
She's still dashing off at the trot. I changed to asking for a trot while her head was bent toward wall and disengaging her hind quarters. This helped a lot. Whenever she sped up I went back to that position and it slowed her down. I was able to do a lot of sitting trot after this.
Trotted once over the pole - and then she went into a walk (patted her and went to the rail). Afterwards she was really worried when we went by the pole that she'd have to do it again so I just circled or changed directions.
Cantering - her shoulders came up during the transition into the canter (although it was harder today than last ride to get her to canter), and she stayed round during the canter to the left, even going up the wall a bit without speeding up. Nice. To the right, more strung out and fast - my fault, I still go forward. When I could sit back it was better.
Lots of nice stuff today.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
July 3, 2010 Online
Outside
What a day! Many things just fell into place, as if Z had been doing them for a lifetime. I spent more time in the stall with her, curried, hair do, etc., maybe that made a difference.
Circling: at walk, both directions, without management, except once to right she came in. Really nice changes of direction.
Lead by the leg: 3 steps with string around her left leg.
Cavalleti: Walked over while on a circle, both directions, without a second thought.
Touch it: From about 4 feet away. Have just watched level one touch it technique, will be better next time - push air around zone 1 to move nose toward object.
Yoyo game: Backed between barrels to posts (4 feet), fairly street, and once with me sitting on mounting step.
Cantering: still fast, but disengaged better.
Afterwards I sat on mounting block while she grazed in the arena. A very harmonious play session.
What a day! Many things just fell into place, as if Z had been doing them for a lifetime. I spent more time in the stall with her, curried, hair do, etc., maybe that made a difference.
Circling: at walk, both directions, without management, except once to right she came in. Really nice changes of direction.
Lead by the leg: 3 steps with string around her left leg.
Cavalleti: Walked over while on a circle, both directions, without a second thought.
Touch it: From about 4 feet away. Have just watched level one touch it technique, will be better next time - push air around zone 1 to move nose toward object.
Yoyo game: Backed between barrels to posts (4 feet), fairly street, and once with me sitting on mounting step.
Cantering: still fast, but disengaged better.
Afterwards I sat on mounting block while she grazed in the arena. A very harmonious play session.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
On line and Mounted: No Fighting
Outside, On Line
Walked and halted over cavaletti (lowest position) with confidence (me at her side). Backed up zone 4 and 3, with me directing from zone 1.Inside, Under Saddle
Plastic owl was tied to gate, but Z only gave it a look and touch and was not at all worried about it during the ride!
I was better at flexing my back during posting trot. Worked on bending her ribs to bring her down from trot to walk when she stiffens, and speeds up rather than pulling her back. Difficult to do, had to do more disengagement.
Worked on finesse with flexion, releasing with triceps. She's still confused in that she thinks I want her to stop when I keep the contact. I need to release faster and more often at the beginning when she gives (old habits die hard). But she wasn't upset, and we played at finesse trot for about 10 minutes.
Sitting trot is much better.
Three canter transitions to the left using my body with energy rather than legs (need to change how use body though, canter rhythm not trot). Still rushing forward, brought down to trot and rested. Third time was very nice, and went into trot afterwards with flexion - beautiful. Ended on that note.
It is really nice not to be FIGHTING with Z, as we used to do, all the time.
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