Here is a record of my play goals and progress.
November 21, 2010: After auditing the Game of Contact have realized I have so much more to learn from Zaina. New goal is to only play on-line throughout winter, focusing on developing her confidence/our relationship.
LEADERSHIP SELF ASSESSMENT
On ground, LB/RB balanced:
- July 2010 - 6.5
- Oct 2010 - 7.5
- Dec 2012 - 8.5
On ground, RBE:
- July 2010 - 0-3
- Oct 2010 - 4-5
- Nov 2010 - 7
- Jan 2011 - 7.5
- July 2011 - as I have gained more knowledge I realize that my ratings were too high. Relatively speaking though, for what I KNEW, they were correct. In terms of what I know now, I would lower my leadership to a 6; compared to what I could do and knew before though the change is up not down. How interesting.
Dec. 2012 - I think I can now be confidant that a rating of 7.5 would be appropriate.
Mounted: LB/RB balanced with stuff understand:
- July 2010 - 5
- Oct 2010 - 7.5
- Dec 2012 - Still a 7 but a better 7 than what I thought was a 7 two years ago!
Mounted: LB/RB balanced with new stuff:
- July 2010 - 4
- Oct 2010 - 6
- Dec 2012 - 8
Mounted: RBE
- Oct 2010 - 5
- Nov 2010 - 6.5
- Dec. 2012 - 7 to 7.5
Overall
- July 2011 - See above comment about relativeness! I'm probably a 4 to 6 in Parelli-land. I let my leadership slip too much, need to be much more focused on the purpose and intent rather than just being in the moment.
Dec. 27, 2012. Major changes in March and April of this year, and my attendance at the Tampa Horse & Soul Tour event in Dec as a volunteered upped my confidence and ability quotient. I think Zaina is feeling more often as being in the upper quadrant of leadership rather than the lower.
Feb. 2012 - The past two months have seen a big change, with me not being so worried about position Zaina's head. She's softened a lot, as I have.
Dec. 2012. Still a 4-5 but a better 4-5!
On-Line
Ears up and forward to show mental connection (physical will follow), see Horseman's Apprentice, episode 2.
- January 2011 - Getting Better!
- July 2011 - looking for this all the time, really playing with it. Easy to get impatient and not wait.
- February 2012 Soooo much better. Happens most times now, because I'm not so pushy.
Dec 2012 - For the past months I've forgotten about watching for this.
June 2013
No longer an issue. As have gotten softer and more of a leader, her ears are almost always up.
Change of direction at trot, on circle
- Nov 2010 Playing with it
- Jan 2011 Getting Better!
- March 2011 Pretty Savvy!
- Dec 2012 done deal.
January 2013
Started videocoaching sessions with Geneviève Benoit. *** Parelli Professional.
Major achievement in March:
Stand still emotionally - both horse and human. This has transformed both of us. From this progress riding has become a dream come true rather than a nightmare in the making. It has changed everything.
July 2011
Started videocoaching sessions with Geneviève Benoit. *** Parelli Professional.
Major achievement in March:
Stand still emotionally - both horse and human. This has transformed both of us. From this progress riding has become a dream come true rather than a nightmare in the making. It has changed everything.
July 2011
- in September 2011, online level 2 audition submission. Achieved, October, 2011!!!!
- develop one rein riding with confidence and skill over summer and fall. Fore-go one rein for now, as cannot flip it over Z's head to turn.
- ride in field with more confidence. - not this year!
November 21, 2010: After auditing the Game of Contact have realized I have so much more to learn from Zaina. New goal is to only play on-line throughout winter, focusing on developing her confidence/our relationship.
GENERAL
on a scale of 1-10 (with ten being excellent)
February 29, 2012: As my knowledge increases, my expectations of leadership also increase. How I saw myself as a 7.5 a year and a half ago, no longer fits what I see as necessary now to have the same rating. Instead, my leadership goals will be to make my good better and my better best, continuously, but to always return to this as a goal to catch myself if I'm not progressing.
LEADERSHIP LEADERSHIP LEADERSHIPon a scale of 1-10 (with ten being excellent)
February 29, 2012: As my knowledge increases, my expectations of leadership also increase. How I saw myself as a 7.5 a year and a half ago, no longer fits what I see as necessary now to have the same rating. Instead, my leadership goals will be to make my good better and my better best, continuously, but to always return to this as a goal to catch myself if I'm not progressing.
LEADERSHIP SELF ASSESSMENT
On ground, LB/RB balanced:
- July 2010 - 6.5
- Oct 2010 - 7.5
- Dec 2012 - 8.5
On ground, RBE:
- July 2010 - 0-3
- Oct 2010 - 4-5
- Nov 2010 - 7
- Jan 2011 - 7.5
- July 2011 - as I have gained more knowledge I realize that my ratings were too high. Relatively speaking though, for what I KNEW, they were correct. In terms of what I know now, I would lower my leadership to a 6; compared to what I could do and knew before though the change is up not down. How interesting.
Dec. 2012 - I think I can now be confidant that a rating of 7.5 would be appropriate.
In November, 2010 a new Zaina showed up on-line, LBE!
- Nov 2010 - 6.5-7
- Dec 2012 - LBE at liberty and often on circling game - my leadership still about a 7.
- Dec 2012 - LBE at liberty and often on circling game - my leadership still about a 7.
Mounted: LB/RB balanced with stuff understand:
- July 2010 - 5
- Oct 2010 - 7.5
- Dec 2012 - Still a 7 but a better 7 than what I thought was a 7 two years ago!
Mounted: LB/RB balanced with new stuff:
- July 2010 - 4
- Oct 2010 - 6
- Dec 2012 - 8
Mounted: RBE
- Oct 2010 - 5
- Nov 2010 - 6.5
- Dec. 2012 - 7 to 7.5
Overall
- July 2011 - See above comment about relativeness! I'm probably a 4 to 6 in Parelli-land. I let my leadership slip too much, need to be much more focused on the purpose and intent rather than just being in the moment.
February 29, 2012: I think I'm doing much better in this regard. Better focus, able to change to fit the situation much better. Much better reading of Zaina.
This month I realized that I when Z is RB I have to ask up to phase 2, and if it isn't working, to retreat or change what is happening. Otherwise she just gets scared at the higher phases, and "does" it, but "it" doesn't stick. Dec. 27, 2012. Major changes in March and April of this year, and my attendance at the Tampa Horse & Soul Tour event in Dec as a volunteered upped my confidence and ability quotient. I think Zaina is feeling more often as being in the upper quadrant of leadership rather than the lower.
HOW SOFT CAN I BE? (Goal added end of Nov 2010)
How soft am I? Self Assessment (Scale 1-10, with 1 being softest)
On Line
- Nov 2010 - 6
- Jan 2011 - 4.5
- July 2011 - 3.5
Feb. 2012: Continuing to develop. Better with the rope, but my gestures and body language is often to hard and fast.
Dec. 2012. I think I'm a 3, BUT a better 3 than in July of 2011.
- Jan 2011 - 4.5
- July 2011 - 3.5
Feb. 2012: Continuing to develop. Better with the rope, but my gestures and body language is often to hard and fast.
Dec. 2012. I think I'm a 3, BUT a better 3 than in July of 2011.
Mounted
- Nov 2010 - 4-5
(Not riding since Game of Contact mid November, in order to improve Z's confidence on-line)
- July 2011 - better than November, but with more knowledge, still same rating!(Not riding since Game of Contact mid November, in order to improve Z's confidence on-line)
Feb. 2012 - The past two months have seen a big change, with me not being so worried about position Zaina's head. She's softened a lot, as I have.
Dec. 2012. Still a 4-5 but a better 4-5!
On-Line
Ears up and forward to show mental connection (physical will follow), see Horseman's Apprentice, episode 2.
- January 2011 - Getting Better!
- July 2011 - looking for this all the time, really playing with it. Easy to get impatient and not wait.
- February 2012 Soooo much better. Happens most times now, because I'm not so pushy.
Dec 2012 - For the past months I've forgotten about watching for this.
June 2013
No longer an issue. As have gotten softer and more of a leader, her ears are almost always up.
Change of direction at trot, on circle
- Nov 2010 Playing with it
- Jan 2011 Getting Better!
- March 2011 Pretty Savvy!
- Dec 2012 done deal.
Figure 8 at walk medium distance (online level 2).
- Oct 2010 Playing with it
- January 2011 Getting Better
- February 2012 - wow can't believe it has been a year since I've updated this task. Zaina very much dislikes the figure 8, even though she can do it well at the walk. I think it is the change of eye on me that causes the difficulty. She does it well going to the left to start, around the obstacle and starting to the right, but gets stuck at the obstacle. Completing the change is very difficult. I need to puzzle this out.
- January 2011 Getting Better
- February 2012 - wow can't believe it has been a year since I've updated this task. Zaina very much dislikes the figure 8, even though she can do it well at the walk. I think it is the change of eye on me that causes the difficulty. She does it well going to the left to start, around the obstacle and starting to the right, but gets stuck at the obstacle. Completing the change is very difficult. I need to puzzle this out.
Figure 8 at trot short distance (online level 1).
- Trot to walk for change of direction, June 19, 2010, We've Started!
- Nov 2010 Playing with it. This has been a difficult task but I think I've finally worked out my difficulties. Expect a lot, accept a little, reward often - rather than trying for the whole thing.
- Jan 2011 Getting Better! My position is better. I'm understanding how to stop/slow her, and then send her in the new direction without disengaging her hindquarters.
- July 2011 Playing with it! Getting control of Z's creep into dominance via Fawn's lesson in June has really helped with the figure 8.
- February 2012 - see note for walking.
- Dec. 2012 What a difference these months have made. Zaina is now an "old hand" at the figure 8, in fact, now she can get pretty bored with it. A couple of savvy club dvds this year on the figure 8 online and at liberty really helped me with position AND with understanding when Z was actually LBE and needed to PLAY with the pattern. Walk and trot a done deal, now time to start playing with it at canter to develop lead changes. Who'd a thought....
June 2013: Zaina decided cantering the figure 8 would be a nice change. She did so without emotion; simple changes. Footing at the new place is so much better for her, she feels secure.
- Trot to walk for change of direction, June 19, 2010, We've Started!
- Nov 2010 Playing with it. This has been a difficult task but I think I've finally worked out my difficulties. Expect a lot, accept a little, reward often - rather than trying for the whole thing.
- Jan 2011 Getting Better! My position is better. I'm understanding how to stop/slow her, and then send her in the new direction without disengaging her hindquarters.
- July 2011 Playing with it! Getting control of Z's creep into dominance via Fawn's lesson in June has really helped with the figure 8.
- February 2012 - see note for walking.
- Dec. 2012 What a difference these months have made. Zaina is now an "old hand" at the figure 8, in fact, now she can get pretty bored with it. A couple of savvy club dvds this year on the figure 8 online and at liberty really helped me with position AND with understanding when Z was actually LBE and needed to PLAY with the pattern. Walk and trot a done deal, now time to start playing with it at canter to develop lead changes. Who'd a thought....
June 2013: Zaina decided cantering the figure 8 would be a nice change. She did so without emotion; simple changes. Footing at the new place is so much better for her, she feels secure.
Saddle in aisle (or arena) rope on ground (freestyle level 2).
- June 19, 2010, We've Started!
- Nov, 2010, Playing with It
- July 2011. Still playing with it. Lots of holes that need filling regarding my confidence, intent, purpose.
- February 29, 2012. Much better. In January she shifted me to her left side, but now at the end of February she's block me when coming to her with the pad/saddle to her left. Lots of friendly game needed.
- Dec. 2012. Mastery dvd on saddling savvy in the summer helped tremendously. As did purchase of Smart Pad. Still on occasion she doesn't want to be saddled. I'm a clumsy oaf (is there any other type of oaf?) so that doesn't help.
June 2013. Saddling is now a non-issue. Sometimes still a bit cinchy - and she's telling me with more directness now, so she's more confident about stopping things that bother her. I gotta watch my butt!
- June 19, 2010, We've Started!
- Nov, 2010, Playing with It
- July 2011. Still playing with it. Lots of holes that need filling regarding my confidence, intent, purpose.
- February 29, 2012. Much better. In January she shifted me to her left side, but now at the end of February she's block me when coming to her with the pad/saddle to her left. Lots of friendly game needed.
- Dec. 2012. Mastery dvd on saddling savvy in the summer helped tremendously. As did purchase of Smart Pad. Still on occasion she doesn't want to be saddled. I'm a clumsy oaf (is there any other type of oaf?) so that doesn't help.
June 2013. Saddling is now a non-issue. Sometimes still a bit cinchy - and she's telling me with more directness now, so she's more confident about stopping things that bother her. I gotta watch my butt!
Point to point, short and long rope (on-line level 1 and 2).
Medium range,
- July 14, 2010, Playing with it.
- Nov, 2010, Gettin' Better.
- January 2011, Pretty savvy!
- Dec. 2012 - somewhere over these 2 years moving to the 22' then 45' online occurred. Took a lot of PUSH emotionally and mentally for me to make the distance to the 22 - I always thinks Zaina needs to be babysat and reduce my expectations accordingly. When I raise them, she matches with her responsibilities.
Jan 2013 - 45' line at the trot. Yahoo!
Medium range,
- July 14, 2010, Playing with it.
- Nov, 2010, Gettin' Better.
- January 2011, Pretty savvy!
- Dec. 2012 - somewhere over these 2 years moving to the 22' then 45' online occurred. Took a lot of PUSH emotionally and mentally for me to make the distance to the 22 - I always thinks Zaina needs to be babysat and reduce my expectations accordingly. When I raise them, she matches with her responsibilities.
Jan 2013 - 45' line at the trot. Yahoo!
Move sideways, medium speed along fence (online level 2).
- Nov. 2010, started
- January 2011, Getting Better!
- February 2012, Pretty savvy!
- Dec 2012, with Ron Pyne's help this summer this became a done deal.
- Nov. 2010, started
- January 2011, Getting Better!
- February 2012, Pretty savvy!
- Dec 2012, with Ron Pyne's help this summer this became a done deal.
Sideways over a pole (online level 2).
- Sept 2010 playing with it
- July 2011 - took some downturns over the year, but confidence has been rebuilt and now playing with it again.
- Dec 2012 - still comes and goes. Vision is probably the biggest issue. Has put herself over the pole at liberty, and by this Dec. is able to do it fairly confident at short range.
June 2013: From Fawn's lessons - "yes" instead of "go" made a HUGE difference.
- July 2011 - took some downturns over the year, but confidence has been rebuilt and now playing with it again.
- Dec 2012 - still comes and goes. Vision is probably the biggest issue. Has put herself over the pole at liberty, and by this Dec. is able to do it fairly confident at short range.
June 2013: From Fawn's lessons - "yes" instead of "go" made a HUGE difference.
Sideways without fence medium speed (online level 2).
- Jan 2011 We've Started!
- July 2011. Haven't been developing this much, as focus was on squeeze games and other skills. Time to get back to it.
- Dec. 2012. Continued to be relegated to the back burner, but by the end of this year has been on the "to do" list. So, achieving sideways at slow speed without a fence!
- Jan 2011 We've Started!
- July 2011. Haven't been developing this much, as focus was on squeeze games and other skills. Time to get back to it.
- Dec. 2012. Continued to be relegated to the back burner, but by the end of this year has been on the "to do" list. So, achieving sideways at slow speed without a fence!
Sideways TO fence (for mounting) (online level 2)
- Dec. 2012. Oh yeah, done deal.
LIBERTY
- Oct, 2010 Playing with it
- July 2011. Hadn't worked on this at all since had not ridden through the winter and not much in the spring. Time to get back to this as well.- Dec. 2012. Oh yeah, done deal.
LIBERTY
Lead by the ear
- Nov, 2010 Started
- Jan 2011 Getting Better
- July 2011 Good in stall, fair online.
- February 2012 check
- Jan 2011 Getting Better
- July 2011 Playing with it in stall. In June when I crooked my finger Z backed up to where she needed to be, in the stall at liberty!
- February 2012, started
- Dec. 2012 done deal, working at level 4 of of 10 steps with few hairs and around corners.
- Jan 2011, Getting Better
- July 2011, playing with it in the stall. Need to play online.
- February 2012, check
- Jan 2011 Getting Better
- July 2011 Good in stall, fair online.
- February 2012 check
Lead by the Tail
- Sept. 2010, Started - Jan 2011 Getting Better
- July 2011 Playing with it in stall. In June when I crooked my finger Z backed up to where she needed to be, in the stall at liberty!
- February 2012, started
- Dec. 2012 done deal, working at level 4 of of 10 steps with few hairs and around corners.
Lead by the Mane
- Nov, 2010, Started- Jan 2011, Getting Better
- July 2011, playing with it in the stall. Need to play online.
- February 2012, check
Mounted
Trot weave, then walk weave to return (freestyle level 2 pattern)
- Sept. 2010 We've Started!
- July 2011 Playing with it.
- Dec 2012 not much play with this has have been focusing on calmness and connection.
Question box pattern (freestyle level 2)
- Nov 2010 We've started.
- July 2011. This was very difficult for Zaina, as she was very skeptical and unconfident of halting between poles and cones. I switched to focusing on gaining her confidence with squeeze games online. We have not yet gone back to this specific pattern, as we've just started riding consistently again, but her overall confidence being near obstacles and going over poles while being ridden has increased tremendously. Looking forward to playing with this pattern again.
- Dec. 2012. Squeeze with the cones etc is no longer a problem. Haven't completely developed the pattern because of other issues, but it will be "done" in the first half of 2013.
Trot and walk with tarp and ball in ring (freestyle pattern level 2)
July 2011 - trot and walk OVER tarp, turn and wait achieved!
Back a circle (8ths) - see Horseman's apprentice episode 3
Dec 2012. Oh yes!
Trot weave, then walk weave to return (freestyle level 2 pattern)
- Sept. 2010 We've Started!
- July 2011 Playing with it.
- Dec 2012 not much play with this has have been focusing on calmness and connection.
Question box pattern (freestyle level 2)
- Nov 2010 We've started.
- July 2011. This was very difficult for Zaina, as she was very skeptical and unconfident of halting between poles and cones. I switched to focusing on gaining her confidence with squeeze games online. We have not yet gone back to this specific pattern, as we've just started riding consistently again, but her overall confidence being near obstacles and going over poles while being ridden has increased tremendously. Looking forward to playing with this pattern again.
- Dec. 2012. Squeeze with the cones etc is no longer a problem. Haven't completely developed the pattern because of other issues, but it will be "done" in the first half of 2013.
Trot and walk with tarp and ball in ring (freestyle pattern level 2)
July 2011 - trot and walk OVER tarp, turn and wait achieved!
Back a circle (8ths) - see Horseman's apprentice episode 3
Dec 2012. Oh yes!
Mount from off side (freestyle level 1).
- From mounting block 2x as of June 19, 2010, We've Started!
- Oct. 2010 Playing with it
- From ground Oct 2010, we've started!
- Dec 2012. Lost the program. At one point she knocked me down and I've lost my confidence with this. Have been focusing on other issues. Will relook at this when we are playing at level 3 freestyle.
Dismount from off side
July 2011 - we've started!
August 2011 - getting better!
Dec. 2012 - can do it occasionally but requires lots and lots of confidence on my part.
- Dec 2012. Lost the program. At one point she knocked me down and I've lost my confidence with this. Have been focusing on other issues. Will relook at this when we are playing at level 3 freestyle.
Dismount from off side
July 2011 - we've started!
August 2011 - getting better!
Dec. 2012 - can do it occasionally but requires lots and lots of confidence on my part.
Open gate (freestyle level 2).
Dec. 2012 - still working on the elements for this. No longer have a high gate where it is a very safe task to complete. Also need to further develop HQ yield pivoting on front legs, and staying straight at back up. BUT much friendly game with fences, gates, and ropes has occurred - seemingly amazingly to me.
Dec. 2012 - still working on the elements for this. No longer have a high gate where it is a very safe task to complete. Also need to further develop HQ yield pivoting on front legs, and staying straight at back up. BUT much friendly game with fences, gates, and ropes has occurred - seemingly amazingly to me.
Trot over log (12-18") (freestyle level 2).
- Oct 2010 Pole on ground as circle, Playing with it.
- Nov 2010 12" log, playing with it.
- Dec. 2012 I still get really scared by this task. As Z develops calmness over obstacles online I'll develop more confidence in the saddle. A 2013 goal.
- Oct 2010 Pole on ground as circle, Playing with it.
- Nov 2010 12" log, playing with it.
- Dec. 2012 I still get really scared by this task. As Z develops calmness over obstacles online I'll develop more confidence in the saddle. A 2013 goal.
Passenger lesson at trot (Freestyle level 2).
- Oct 2010, we've started!
- July 2011, we've started again!
- Aug 2011 - found my balance point!
- February 2012 - finally, doing it!!!!
- Dec. 2012 - haven't continued practicing, so it's not a "done deal".
Canter in body
Dec 2012 - on two occasions this year Z picked up the canter and I STAYED WITH IT - ie, didn't fall off. I'm still too fearful to ask for the canter, and online her canter is still too emotional to have developed this in the saddle. Stay tuned for 2013!
- Oct 2010, we've started!
- July 2011, we've started again!
- Aug 2011 - found my balance point!
- February 2012 - finally, doing it!!!!
- Dec. 2012 - haven't continued practicing, so it's not a "done deal".
Canter in body
Dec 2012 - on two occasions this year Z picked up the canter and I STAYED WITH IT - ie, didn't fall off. I'm still too fearful to ask for the canter, and online her canter is still too emotional to have developed this in the saddle. Stay tuned for 2013!
