Thurs 9th December 2010
I think I've mentioned before that I love Thursdays!! Had a great one this day. But, before I get into that, a few things have really got me thinking in the past week (dangerous, I know!!)
Firstly - and I know this is a bit of an admission but I bet loads of grown-up horsey girls do it - I re-read one of my kids' pony books; "Fly-By-Night" by KM Peyton. Here is what Amazon says about the book:
"Fly-by-Night" was not the best choice for an eleven-year-old girl who had never ridden before; but as soon as Ruth Hollis saw the sturdy, lively pony, she knew that he was the one she wanted. All her life Ruth had longed to own a pony and now that her family had moved from London to a new housing estate in East Anglia, she had persuaded her father to let her spend her savings on a pony. But having taken possession of Fly-by-Night, Ruth found that her troubles had only just begun.
The reason I picked this book up is because Edmund had pulled it out of the bookshelf. I had forgotten that Fly-By-Night is an unbroken New Forest Pony who was bought at the New Forest Sales prior to our heroine, Ruth, buying him for £40. Our own Duncan, also a NF pony, shares a similar history, having gone through the NF sales before being bought by Sharon for £50!
Once I had recalled that fact by reading a chapter in the middle, I decided to go back to the beginning! The "troubles" described in the book are basically all those to be expected (actually less than might be expected) when a novice rider buys a spirited unbroken pony! A lot of careering about on a wildly excited mount. Poor Ruth Hollis is constantly afraid but (I will get to the point in a minute!) she does not let this deter her from pursuing her dreams........So what did the book say to me?
It reminded me that you must expect "troubles" with young horses, even with the best foundation. New experiences generally cause great excitement! It's how you react that defines how long it takes your horse to become accustomed to them. The first show I ever took my previous (RBE) horse, Ollie, to, he was positively wild! Six months later, he was positively relaxed!
Now, this probably sounds foolishly obvious, but the book reminded me that you really do need a bit of mettle with a young or inexperienced horse and - Blimey - if 11 yr old Ruth Hollis can do it - so can I!!!
So, to our arena experience....I spent the best part of an hour helping P to dig out a track in the snow round the arena. Duncs was waiting happily in a stable (despite having no hay!). When I bought him out, P was trying to walk her black horse round but she got so excited by Duncs' presence that I took him back in until P had finished. Duncan himself was great. Although he kinked his tail right up in the air, he did not snort or cavort but kept looking at me expectantly for his treat (bit of apple) - a reward for paying attention to me. What a great pattern that is! Can't say how delighted I am about that one. I was also delighted that my adrenalin didn't go up at all either!
P then had to pick up the kids so I took Duncs back into the arena by myself. Got to do a lot on the ground including circling which we'd not done for ages (not too bad). I was then at the point where I thought he was ready to ride. I had a moment when I thought "Is this wise...I'm here by myself...perhaps I should ride in here once more with Pippa before I go it alone?" All sensible and valid thoughts but, with my new-found determination, I decided to seize the moment. It was just a case of finding a bit of mettle.
So, I took Duncs to a gate to mount (block was in the yard). He was absolutely fine, so we were off. What was really nice was that I was able to practice my Parelli moves, which of course I wouldn't have done if I was receiving instruction. We walked, stopped, backed up, flexed, disengaged the HQs, turn on the haunches and half circle changes of rein. Duncs was really chilled. I did err on the side of caution by not trotting, ground was very hard too, but I'm sure Duncs would probably have been fine. I was just delighted that he was obviously feeling really good about what we were doing. Of course, I am completely in my comfort zone doing schooling. I Love it! I tried Linda's game of contact with regard to the horse bending the "wrong" way - "Let me help you with that" - and it really does work!! Looking forward to trying it out further.
Re contact; I kept Duncs on a contact but towards the end, when he was really tuned in to my seat, I let the contact get longer and he maintained his confidence. That felt pretty exciting as I actually thought, for the first time, "I can see us going bridleless one day". As soon as he is consistently confident on a loose rein, I will go back to the hackamore and carrot stick. I am also excited by how comfortable I am in the bareback pad. I used to feel quite vulnerable but now realise that that was just because I was quite vulnerable!! At the time, I blamed it on my crappy seat. I still have the same crappy seat but I'm not worrying about it now because Duncan feels so different! Not sure how I'll feel about cantering on it, mind you!
The week before:
On 2 occasions prior to my arena ride, I'd played with Duncs. The first time, we went down the lane and I got on coming back - but very near to home due to ice and not having anything to stand on! Gave up trying to vault on last year after ripping my shoulder muscles really badly! Hey, why don't I teach D to lower his head for me, great idea!
Anyway, I dropped my rope shortly after getting on and had to turn back and get it. Duncs was sticky but, happily did go back after I waited and whip-wopped a bit. He then went past his home entrance and up to J's to look over their fence.
The second time, I walked up to the main road and then went across the pinneger paddock to Duncan's own (resting) back field which was deep in snow. Oh Boy! Did he get excited. He wanted to run about and play so badly and was biting at me with frustration. I was just (so I thought) calming him down with a squeeze game through the open gate when he spotted a huge digger coming our way. He reared up, kicked out, spun round and plunged all over the place. At one point, I thought I was going to have to shut the gate and let him go free lest I get hurt (foolishly only had 12' line on him).
In the event, I was able to keep hold of him whilst he cavorted back across the resting field (away from the advancing digger!) to Moet. It was a bit hairy to say the least but we survived and, instead of thinking "Help!", I was actually thinking "I wish I had a longer line on him!" Yes, I can definitely say, I've got a bit more mettle these days - not quite Ruth Hollis yet though!
Monday 13 December 2010
Friday 10 December 2010
Moving on and catching up
A lot has happened since I last blogged, lots of emotional stuff, the upshot of which is that my time with Duncs may now be limited.
So, what I really need to focus on now is continuing to transfer the trust he has developed with me on the ground to when I'm riding. Then I'll feel I've really accomplished something for him - and with him. Thankfully, this is already happening in a big way.
Strangely, there's no mystery formula to achieving trust. It's all recorded for you somewhere. It's the finding out for yourself which is the hard bit! For me, the most dramatic changes have started since:
a) Starting zone 5 driving (long-lining)
b) Understanding how to deal with thresholds
Now, I have to admit I recently found myself wondering, "If I'd just long-lined from the beginning, could I have got to this place a year ago? After all, that's what happens in traditional horse breaking" but No! Without the understanding of thresholds (previous entry of 14th Oct refers), I would have just ended up driving - or trying to drive - Duncan through them.
It's been the combination of both and probably more the second because, when you're behind a horse, you have more thresholds to deal with and less "control" which means if you don't have trust and rapport, it falls apart (which is why I went back to one-line driving!)
Fascinating stuff which I'm now able to apply to Rosie, a very interesting mare, I'm getting to play with once a week or so. Also, all the knowledge I've gained through hours of (extreme) friendly game with Duncs are helping me with a gorgeous foal too (LOVING that, I could really get into foals, so inquisitive!!) So, it's all good for the future.
I didn't write about my first lesson, and it's a few weeks back now, but you could tell I had a blast! That was on a Thursday. The following Monday, Duncan had a massage which brought lots of things up, including saddle fitting problems. He had to have a few days off afterwards so I didn't do anything until the Friday when I took him into the woods and then rode back up the road afterwards. His right shoulder was very stiff but he felt better behind.
Monday 29th Nov 2010
S took Duncan to a local private yard on foot and with the help of Amy along the main road. I met them there with my saddle as I had to drop Ed off at pre-school. None of the saddles presented fitted Duncan, including mine which was too narrow and slipped forwards. No use adjusting the headplate either as Karen (saddler) thought it would then be too long for Duncs. She pointed out that he has a very small area in which to put the saddle and we'd be looking at a 16.5 extra wide. That was disappointing for the long term but I was actually looking forward to riding in the bareback pad again in the short term!
Duncan was a star going there and back. He loved being out and doing something different and was very well behaved. Even coming back, he was calmer than last time coming back through the woods (been getting better).
Tues 30th Nov 2010 - SNOW!!!
I could not get to the field for a week. My car is not good in snow and we have a hill at each end of the road. Luckily, S has a 4WD so the horses didn't go hungry!
So, what I really need to focus on now is continuing to transfer the trust he has developed with me on the ground to when I'm riding. Then I'll feel I've really accomplished something for him - and with him. Thankfully, this is already happening in a big way.
Strangely, there's no mystery formula to achieving trust. It's all recorded for you somewhere. It's the finding out for yourself which is the hard bit! For me, the most dramatic changes have started since:
a) Starting zone 5 driving (long-lining)
b) Understanding how to deal with thresholds
Now, I have to admit I recently found myself wondering, "If I'd just long-lined from the beginning, could I have got to this place a year ago? After all, that's what happens in traditional horse breaking" but No! Without the understanding of thresholds (previous entry of 14th Oct refers), I would have just ended up driving - or trying to drive - Duncan through them.
It's been the combination of both and probably more the second because, when you're behind a horse, you have more thresholds to deal with and less "control" which means if you don't have trust and rapport, it falls apart (which is why I went back to one-line driving!)
Fascinating stuff which I'm now able to apply to Rosie, a very interesting mare, I'm getting to play with once a week or so. Also, all the knowledge I've gained through hours of (extreme) friendly game with Duncs are helping me with a gorgeous foal too (LOVING that, I could really get into foals, so inquisitive!!) So, it's all good for the future.
I didn't write about my first lesson, and it's a few weeks back now, but you could tell I had a blast! That was on a Thursday. The following Monday, Duncan had a massage which brought lots of things up, including saddle fitting problems. He had to have a few days off afterwards so I didn't do anything until the Friday when I took him into the woods and then rode back up the road afterwards. His right shoulder was very stiff but he felt better behind.
Monday 29th Nov 2010
S took Duncan to a local private yard on foot and with the help of Amy along the main road. I met them there with my saddle as I had to drop Ed off at pre-school. None of the saddles presented fitted Duncan, including mine which was too narrow and slipped forwards. No use adjusting the headplate either as Karen (saddler) thought it would then be too long for Duncs. She pointed out that he has a very small area in which to put the saddle and we'd be looking at a 16.5 extra wide. That was disappointing for the long term but I was actually looking forward to riding in the bareback pad again in the short term!
Duncan was a star going there and back. He loved being out and doing something different and was very well behaved. Even coming back, he was calmer than last time coming back through the woods (been getting better).
Tues 30th Nov 2010 - SNOW!!!
I could not get to the field for a week. My car is not good in snow and we have a hill at each end of the road. Luckily, S has a 4WD so the horses didn't go hungry!
Thursday 18 November 2010
Ride no 42 - our first dressage lesson!!
Thursday 18th November 2010
Well, who would have thought it? After 2 years, we have at last had a sensible ride in an arena! In the end it has all happened rather quickly but really it is the culmination of hours and hours of preparation.
The evening before, I looked up the level 2 freestyle checklist and audition details and pondered over what I needed to tell Pippa about how Parelli is different. In the end I settled on
1. If I want to get off, I will
2. No tight nosebands
A very short list - which made me feel good as I realise I now have enough knowledge and confidence to apply Parelli principles to alternative training. Now, the observant reader will have noticed that I have not yet mastered Freestyle riding so why am I receiving training in Finesse?
I have long held the theory that some horses need to be ridden into a contact before they feel confident enough to be turned loose and I believe Duncs is one such pony. I'm sure it's probably an initial training issue; if a horse is trained the Parelli way from the beginning, it's not likely to turn out this way. I don't ride in the hackamore - at the moment - because Duncan is much more confident in a bridle (wrote about this in a previous entry).
What really delighted me was reading Linda's article in the Savvy Times about her breakthrough using the "Game of Contact" with Allure. She now finds she can at last ride him Freestyle too. Aha......
I need to go to bed so, alas, will have to write in full about my lesson tomorrow. Just for now, I will say he was FANTASTIC! "Oldencraig" (dressage competition centre) here we come! I also got to play with a GORGEOUS mare with a rearing issue afterwards which was great and on Monday I'm going to practice my catching game skills with a feisty filly foal!
Well, who would have thought it? After 2 years, we have at last had a sensible ride in an arena! In the end it has all happened rather quickly but really it is the culmination of hours and hours of preparation.
The evening before, I looked up the level 2 freestyle checklist and audition details and pondered over what I needed to tell Pippa about how Parelli is different. In the end I settled on
1. If I want to get off, I will
2. No tight nosebands
A very short list - which made me feel good as I realise I now have enough knowledge and confidence to apply Parelli principles to alternative training. Now, the observant reader will have noticed that I have not yet mastered Freestyle riding so why am I receiving training in Finesse?
I have long held the theory that some horses need to be ridden into a contact before they feel confident enough to be turned loose and I believe Duncs is one such pony. I'm sure it's probably an initial training issue; if a horse is trained the Parelli way from the beginning, it's not likely to turn out this way. I don't ride in the hackamore - at the moment - because Duncan is much more confident in a bridle (wrote about this in a previous entry).
What really delighted me was reading Linda's article in the Savvy Times about her breakthrough using the "Game of Contact" with Allure. She now finds she can at last ride him Freestyle too. Aha......
I need to go to bed so, alas, will have to write in full about my lesson tomorrow. Just for now, I will say he was FANTASTIC! "Oldencraig" (dressage competition centre) here we come! I also got to play with a GORGEOUS mare with a rearing issue afterwards which was great and on Monday I'm going to practice my catching game skills with a feisty filly foal!
On-line and ride no 41 in the woods
Tuesday 16th November 2010
In between the last entry and ride no 2 with Amy on the above date, I did 3 sessions driving from zone 5 then getting on board to ride back. One time, I just had to sit on Duncan's rug as he was soaking wet and I put a rug on to dry him (didn't work!) Nice and comfy though!
I can't remember much about the riding bit (uneventful apart from one sticky bit coming home) but on-line, he is coming on really well and getting bolder and bolder. We even went into the spooky woods on the right and went all the way to the bottom. He was a bit tense but I got him busy. Now doing shoulder-in on the ground and lots of sideways to try to supple him up. He's picked them up well and puts a good effort in too.
Ride with Amy:
We got all the way into the woods and almost to Amy's field where we met Amy. Duncan was raring to go! I was a bit perturbed to see Amy on a new horse - a huge TB - which she told me had not hacked for a year - and is an ex hunter. GULP! Visions of us galloping out-of-control round the woods filled my head, not assisted by the fact that "Henry" was not keen to stand still to be mounted. Duncs was fine for me to get on and we both stood for a while.
As it turned out, Henry was a real gentle giant whilst Duncan pinged along generally bracing against contact and rushing off my leg in a rather unpleasant way. Basically, he wanted to go! At one point, he was so frustrated he fly bucked and I thought "here we go" but it came to nothing.
Still only walking, slowly, slowly does it! Maybe I will feel like trotting next week if/when:
a) Duncan is more responsive
b) I'm sure our babysitter will not come too if Duncs does take off a bit!
I was pleased overall but it did highlight how badly in need of "schooling" Duncs is (what is this called in Parelli language I wonder). I need to be able to move him about when he gets whizzy - he wasn't keen on listening at all! The positive was that I ended up really looking forward to my lesson!
In between the last entry and ride no 2 with Amy on the above date, I did 3 sessions driving from zone 5 then getting on board to ride back. One time, I just had to sit on Duncan's rug as he was soaking wet and I put a rug on to dry him (didn't work!) Nice and comfy though!
I can't remember much about the riding bit (uneventful apart from one sticky bit coming home) but on-line, he is coming on really well and getting bolder and bolder. We even went into the spooky woods on the right and went all the way to the bottom. He was a bit tense but I got him busy. Now doing shoulder-in on the ground and lots of sideways to try to supple him up. He's picked them up well and puts a good effort in too.
Ride with Amy:
We got all the way into the woods and almost to Amy's field where we met Amy. Duncan was raring to go! I was a bit perturbed to see Amy on a new horse - a huge TB - which she told me had not hacked for a year - and is an ex hunter. GULP! Visions of us galloping out-of-control round the woods filled my head, not assisted by the fact that "Henry" was not keen to stand still to be mounted. Duncs was fine for me to get on and we both stood for a while.
As it turned out, Henry was a real gentle giant whilst Duncan pinged along generally bracing against contact and rushing off my leg in a rather unpleasant way. Basically, he wanted to go! At one point, he was so frustrated he fly bucked and I thought "here we go" but it came to nothing.
Still only walking, slowly, slowly does it! Maybe I will feel like trotting next week if/when:
a) Duncan is more responsive
b) I'm sure our babysitter will not come too if Duncs does take off a bit!
I was pleased overall but it did highlight how badly in need of "schooling" Duncs is (what is this called in Parelli language I wonder). I need to be able to move him about when he gets whizzy - he wasn't keen on listening at all! The positive was that I ended up really looking forward to my lesson!
Thursday 11 November 2010
Ride no 40. Into the big woods!
Tues 9th Nov 2010
Now, before I set off for the field today I was thinking "Is this wise?"
Because:
a) I had only sat on Duncs twice since June
b) We were going into the "Whizzy Woods"
c) To meet a horse we didn't know
d) In fact, we had never ridden with another horse full stop
Patently the answer was No! But Hey! I thought, the worst thing that could happen was that I fell off - and it's a soft landing in the woods. I had committed to doing it for better or worse! Luckily, it all went swimmingly!
I walked down the lane and into the woods. At the "New Forest" clearing, we saw Basil coming towards us. Duncs was surprised to see him but all the horse familiarisation is paying off as he didn't get wildly excited. I explained that I needed to stand on something to mount or my saddle would slip and followed Amy back to her field to use the mounting block. Duncs was very keen and I walked behind him due to the narrow paths (glad of that zone 5 driving practise!). He was perfect to get on - totally LB - even looked at me for his treat for a long time until I said What are you doing?" then remembered!
We rode for about half an hour, chin wagging all the way, just walking. Duncs LOVED it! He led most of the way and was very forward going, quite joggy at times. I couldn't fault him or have asked for more. When we parted company with Amy, he was a bit sticky to leave (I got off before parting) then a bit too keen to get home but nothing worrying.
This was a great boost for me. In a blog entry in around Sept I declared I needed a hacking partner (as Moet was out of action) or I would die of boredom! Melodramatic - but that nearly came to pass. My enthusiasm, anyway, was slowly dying but now I'm alight again and plotting like mad. Next week I am going to have a traditional dressage lesson!!!!! Is this wise? Probably not.........but the worst thing that can happen is I fall off - and it's a soft landing in the school!!!
Now, before I set off for the field today I was thinking "Is this wise?"
Because:
a) I had only sat on Duncs twice since June
b) We were going into the "Whizzy Woods"
c) To meet a horse we didn't know
d) In fact, we had never ridden with another horse full stop
Patently the answer was No! But Hey! I thought, the worst thing that could happen was that I fell off - and it's a soft landing in the woods. I had committed to doing it for better or worse! Luckily, it all went swimmingly!
I walked down the lane and into the woods. At the "New Forest" clearing, we saw Basil coming towards us. Duncs was surprised to see him but all the horse familiarisation is paying off as he didn't get wildly excited. I explained that I needed to stand on something to mount or my saddle would slip and followed Amy back to her field to use the mounting block. Duncs was very keen and I walked behind him due to the narrow paths (glad of that zone 5 driving practise!). He was perfect to get on - totally LB - even looked at me for his treat for a long time until I said What are you doing?" then remembered!
We rode for about half an hour, chin wagging all the way, just walking. Duncs LOVED it! He led most of the way and was very forward going, quite joggy at times. I couldn't fault him or have asked for more. When we parted company with Amy, he was a bit sticky to leave (I got off before parting) then a bit too keen to get home but nothing worrying.
This was a great boost for me. In a blog entry in around Sept I declared I needed a hacking partner (as Moet was out of action) or I would die of boredom! Melodramatic - but that nearly came to pass. My enthusiasm, anyway, was slowly dying but now I'm alight again and plotting like mad. Next week I am going to have a traditional dressage lesson!!!!! Is this wise? Probably not.........but the worst thing that can happen is I fall off - and it's a soft landing in the school!!!
Down in the doldrums!
It is now Thurs 11th November 2010
I have had a roller-coaster few weeks emotionally but rising back out of the ashes now!
The slippery slope into the doldrums started a few weeks ago when I just couldn't seem to make the time I needed to make progress with Duncs. There is a lot to do at home but it's really all about time management. I waste an awful lot of time - and I go to bed too late so I'm always tired. I'm my own worst enemy! I also feel guilty about my horse time so will let other things squeeze it out.
I had got into a pattern of getting to the field with only an hour to spare and having to take D out with the dog. Then I didn't feel it was worth tacking up etc. etc.
Then, along came Ziggy! We looked after a spaniel who needed rehoming for 2 weeks from 23/10 to 7/11. He took over my life completely with his need for 2 decent walks a day and lots of entertainment in between. The trouble was also that I enjoyed it! Striding across the fields and along routes I hadn't walked for years (pre-Edmund) was really invigorating. I found myself comparing my tame ramblings up and down the lane with Duncs most unfavourably to these cross-country expeditions!
It actually came to crisis point on the evening before Ziggy went to his new home - I seriously considered giving up horses altogether. We could have kept Z and he would have been the catalyst. Of course my husband was very much in favour of me giving up the horses - but questioned whether Ziggy was the right dog and whether his acquisition would actually cause the longed-for "horse lobotomy" or not! In the end, we let Ziggy go to a far more suitable home, and the next day, I started to feel more normal again!
All the moons were lining up for a big change as Sharon (Duncs' owner) had also been doing some thinking about what she wanted for Duncs. Firstly she wanted him to do more and was thinking of asking a local girl, Amy, to help. I was galvanised into action by this and arranged to ride with Amy myself! Other things are afoot too but I will write about those another day!
I have had a roller-coaster few weeks emotionally but rising back out of the ashes now!
The slippery slope into the doldrums started a few weeks ago when I just couldn't seem to make the time I needed to make progress with Duncs. There is a lot to do at home but it's really all about time management. I waste an awful lot of time - and I go to bed too late so I'm always tired. I'm my own worst enemy! I also feel guilty about my horse time so will let other things squeeze it out.
I had got into a pattern of getting to the field with only an hour to spare and having to take D out with the dog. Then I didn't feel it was worth tacking up etc. etc.
Then, along came Ziggy! We looked after a spaniel who needed rehoming for 2 weeks from 23/10 to 7/11. He took over my life completely with his need for 2 decent walks a day and lots of entertainment in between. The trouble was also that I enjoyed it! Striding across the fields and along routes I hadn't walked for years (pre-Edmund) was really invigorating. I found myself comparing my tame ramblings up and down the lane with Duncs most unfavourably to these cross-country expeditions!
It actually came to crisis point on the evening before Ziggy went to his new home - I seriously considered giving up horses altogether. We could have kept Z and he would have been the catalyst. Of course my husband was very much in favour of me giving up the horses - but questioned whether Ziggy was the right dog and whether his acquisition would actually cause the longed-for "horse lobotomy" or not! In the end, we let Ziggy go to a far more suitable home, and the next day, I started to feel more normal again!
All the moons were lining up for a big change as Sharon (Duncs' owner) had also been doing some thinking about what she wanted for Duncs. Firstly she wanted him to do more and was thinking of asking a local girl, Amy, to help. I was galvanised into action by this and arranged to ride with Amy myself! Other things are afoot too but I will write about those another day!
Thursday 14 October 2010
I get to play with a LBI youngster. Thanks for the learning Duncan!
What's happening to me? I find I'm really up for a challenge - on the ground I hasten to add!
I went to visit my old friend Ursula (she's not particularly old - I've known her 24 yrs) for the weekend 9th/10th Oct. Urch has a 3 yr old Andalusian mare, Chenoa, who is most definitely LBI.
I was hoping I'd be able to have a play with her and, what joy, I got to play with her for a couple of hours each day. I really loved it. She is typically dominant but very switched on. She needed a lot of convincing that I was serious about her staying out of my space. It was a great chance to really work on getting the basics right and being particular without critical. Surprisingly, I found I had a lot of patience (?!) and stayed the course on each game until I saw a change. In the past, I would have quit at the first sign of a improvement, partly through lack of knowledge and partly through boredom (!) but I'm getting better at knowing when to keep going and when to quit.
The main themes we worked on were:
Amazing...at last, through playing with other horses, I'm becoming thankful for the hard time I've had with Duncs! I have a benchmark of how much I've learnt, and am learning, with him. Other horses have a lot more innate confidence than Duncan which makes it much easier to play with them. Duncan is the perfect guinea pig for me. I naturally bond with the extroverts, it's the introverts' respect and trust I need to learn how to win. I'm not there yet but I'm getting closer.......Thanks Duncs!
I went to visit my old friend Ursula (she's not particularly old - I've known her 24 yrs) for the weekend 9th/10th Oct. Urch has a 3 yr old Andalusian mare, Chenoa, who is most definitely LBI.
I was hoping I'd be able to have a play with her and, what joy, I got to play with her for a couple of hours each day. I really loved it. She is typically dominant but very switched on. She needed a lot of convincing that I was serious about her staying out of my space. It was a great chance to really work on getting the basics right and being particular without critical. Surprisingly, I found I had a lot of patience (?!) and stayed the course on each game until I saw a change. In the past, I would have quit at the first sign of a improvement, partly through lack of knowledge and partly through boredom (!) but I'm getting better at knowing when to keep going and when to quit.
The main themes we worked on were:
- Follow a feel from zone 1 - she was very sticky which made you feel like you wanted to flick with the stick! Worked on long and very clear phase 1 moving to quick effective ph 4.
- Yo-Yo - again, sticky so long, light ph 1 through to quick, effective ph 4. Good improvement here as she was very "Blah, blah, blah" initially!
- Circling - being very clear about the 3 elements of back-up, send and allow. Chen was a bit stressy about this, especially to the right when she wanted to either turn back, turn in or take off farting. I was extremely persistent with fixing each element as required and really happy with Chen's progress.
- Mounting Prep!! - I ended up lying over Chen's back, flexing her head towards me and "dismounting" into a run back. What I was delighted about was that this all felt so natural to me and I felt so confident. I'm sure, in a few sessions, I could be sitting on her thanks to the months of work I did with Duncs in this area - and the fact that Chenoa is a LBI with no hang-ups of course!
Amazing...at last, through playing with other horses, I'm becoming thankful for the hard time I've had with Duncs! I have a benchmark of how much I've learnt, and am learning, with him. Other horses have a lot more innate confidence than Duncan which makes it much easier to play with them. Duncan is the perfect guinea pig for me. I naturally bond with the extroverts, it's the introverts' respect and trust I need to learn how to win. I'm not there yet but I'm getting closer.......Thanks Duncs!
My calm, smart boy! Relaxed around other horses
Tues 12th Oct 2010
We went up to the car park and played extreme FG with Edmund's "Mr Bump" spacehopper which has handy horns to hold on to! Duncs was chilled, even with it bouncing on his back. Then off down towards the Scout Camp (left the hopper behind, I wasn't riding it!). Barely any thresholds - D was having a fine time. I had the 45' on - only the second time, feels very awkward and stiff.
How interesting! in the fields adjacent to the Scout Camp Lane, a local lady who is very successful in national dressage was showing off her youngsters to a photographer whom I later discovered to be Horse & Hounds regional reporter (Ooerr!) After 10 mins or so, they came over to the 3 youngsters who normally have a run-about when we pass.
The aim was to encourage the youngsters to trot/canter about for photos. They were not terribly compliant being far too LB and inquisitive. I ended up helping by throwing my 45' down the path and then lending P my carrot stick so she could chase the horses about. Through it all, Duncs was fab which was concrete evidence that he is getting over his "horse obsession". He didn't kink his tail up or snort once!
The herd even went for a flat out gallop but Duncs just stood and watched. I must say, I felt pretty proud of him! Not so long ago, he would have gone into orbit - along with my pulse rate!
We went up to the car park and played extreme FG with Edmund's "Mr Bump" spacehopper which has handy horns to hold on to! Duncs was chilled, even with it bouncing on his back. Then off down towards the Scout Camp (left the hopper behind, I wasn't riding it!). Barely any thresholds - D was having a fine time. I had the 45' on - only the second time, feels very awkward and stiff.
How interesting! in the fields adjacent to the Scout Camp Lane, a local lady who is very successful in national dressage was showing off her youngsters to a photographer whom I later discovered to be Horse & Hounds regional reporter (Ooerr!) After 10 mins or so, they came over to the 3 youngsters who normally have a run-about when we pass.
The aim was to encourage the youngsters to trot/canter about for photos. They were not terribly compliant being far too LB and inquisitive. I ended up helping by throwing my 45' down the path and then lending P my carrot stick so she could chase the horses about. Through it all, Duncs was fab which was concrete evidence that he is getting over his "horse obsession". He didn't kink his tail up or snort once!
The herd even went for a flat out gallop but Duncs just stood and watched. I must say, I felt pretty proud of him! Not so long ago, he would have gone into orbit - along with my pulse rate!
Procrastination and Gold Nuggets
I keep putting off writing my blog because I get left behind and then it seems like a) too big a job which will take ages b) I can't remember what I've done c) don't feel inspired d) blah, blah, blah.
I usually spend ages reading other peoples blogs or doing other things on the computer in order to put off doing my own! Then I get left further behind and feel less like doing it. Just get on with it, Lucy!
To get me going today, I will just write about the interesting bits rather than recount in diary form. The overall picture is I have always been on the ground, mainly in zone 5 and either with the 22' or 45' line (whoo!)
Breaking News!! It's only taken 2 years!!! How to deal with RBI thresholds........
Last week, I spent a whole session dealing with Duncs concern over a moving blue tarp and a man chopping wood (the same man who has a jack russell and a squeaky bike!) by the side of the road. They were below street level which made them more spooky. Because I was chatting to the chap, my new approach of:
1. Retreat from threshold
2. Move feet
3. Re-approach
...was quite low energy and relaxed. I decided early on that I was going to take as long as it took to get past (I could have led Duncs and he would have gone straight by).
Something started turning over in my brain (steady!) - subconsciously - not a bolt of lightning. Without thinking about it, over the next couple of sessions, I started "turning down the volume" when moving Duncan's feet and noticing results.
Today, I know I'm really onto something. I think I've actually found a bit of savvy! It's like a nugget of gold and the weird thing is, I feel like telling ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN! Something like:
"HEY, ALL YOU EXTROVERT HUMANS WITH RBI EQUINES. Listen up! This might save you 2 years of struggle!!
"Did you know that when your horse reaches a threshold, you can build his confidence by retreating and moving his feet SLOWLY?"!!!!
Oh man, it doesn't sound like much but honestly, for me, it's pure gold. I think I might even be in with a shot for a second Savvy Spot award!
Seriously though. It's understanding that:
Once we've retreated from the threshold, I need to match D's energy when I move his feet. If he is introverted (as we are always told with LBIs), I need to move his mind to get him to move his feet. It's no good me starting to up my energy and phases when he's nervous/bracey/static. All that does is blow his mind and make him nervous of ME.
If, on the other hand, he is RBE when we retreat, my natural high-energy jinks are fine!
The results I'm noticing are fewer and fewer thresholds. Had a great session down the Scout Camp lane which I will put as a separate entry now for easier reading!
I usually spend ages reading other peoples blogs or doing other things on the computer in order to put off doing my own! Then I get left further behind and feel less like doing it. Just get on with it, Lucy!
To get me going today, I will just write about the interesting bits rather than recount in diary form. The overall picture is I have always been on the ground, mainly in zone 5 and either with the 22' or 45' line (whoo!)
Breaking News!! It's only taken 2 years!!! How to deal with RBI thresholds........
Last week, I spent a whole session dealing with Duncs concern over a moving blue tarp and a man chopping wood (the same man who has a jack russell and a squeaky bike!) by the side of the road. They were below street level which made them more spooky. Because I was chatting to the chap, my new approach of:
1. Retreat from threshold
2. Move feet
3. Re-approach
...was quite low energy and relaxed. I decided early on that I was going to take as long as it took to get past (I could have led Duncs and he would have gone straight by).
Something started turning over in my brain (steady!) - subconsciously - not a bolt of lightning. Without thinking about it, over the next couple of sessions, I started "turning down the volume" when moving Duncan's feet and noticing results.
Today, I know I'm really onto something. I think I've actually found a bit of savvy! It's like a nugget of gold and the weird thing is, I feel like telling ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN! Something like:
"HEY, ALL YOU EXTROVERT HUMANS WITH RBI EQUINES. Listen up! This might save you 2 years of struggle!!
"Did you know that when your horse reaches a threshold, you can build his confidence by retreating and moving his feet SLOWLY?"!!!!
Oh man, it doesn't sound like much but honestly, for me, it's pure gold. I think I might even be in with a shot for a second Savvy Spot award!
Seriously though. It's understanding that:
Once we've retreated from the threshold, I need to match D's energy when I move his feet. If he is introverted (as we are always told with LBIs), I need to move his mind to get him to move his feet. It's no good me starting to up my energy and phases when he's nervous/bracey/static. All that does is blow his mind and make him nervous of ME.
If, on the other hand, he is RBE when we retreat, my natural high-energy jinks are fine!
The results I'm noticing are fewer and fewer thresholds. Had a great session down the Scout Camp lane which I will put as a separate entry now for easier reading!
Friday 1 October 2010
Back to one line zone 5 driving. How did I forget control of the feet? A funny pattern develops...
It's now a week since my last blog entry so I'll recap for the week:
Monday 27th Sept - pm
Had a tricky session in terms of my rope and dog handling skills. Flick (tiny Jack Russell) really doesn't like to be attached to me when I'm so close to Duncan but she's not obedient enough to stay off-lead on the roads. She wanders all over the place then just stands and stares when I call her (very annoying - it doesn't help my karma!). This is something I need to address obviously but, in the meantime, I will try to exercise her independently of Duncs for one of our 3 sessions each week.
Today I wondered if Duncs would be transformed after our bonding last week. I have a tendency to drift into storyland when imagining myself with horses (the reality of course being somewhat different!). It's the legacy of reading too many pony books in my formative years.
Well, Duncs was certainly different.....At the gate to go out, he was aware of some horses moving about up the road. I was chatting to Sarah whilst waiting for the goggling to finish but then D decided he wanted to go with them. I politely but firmly said no with the rope against the side he was leaning towards, whereupon Duncs threw himself round and tried to head back to the field.
I was a bit surprised and reacted instinctively - which was good because Duncan stopped - but not so good in that I gave a loud "NO!" and flapped my arms around feverishly! The "Old Me" would have followed this with some choice swearing so I guess I've come on a bit....
Whether I scared Duncs or he was just testing the boundaries today I don't quite know. I think it's a bit of both - the indicator is usually him pulling faces at me! I used to get bolshy back until I realised there was a bit of insecurity causing him to try to take the lead. I still haven't worked it all out...
Anyway, I was so wrapped up in retreating from thresholds and moving his feet, that I really didn't have time to worry. I had watched Pat teaching the circling game to a new horse the evening before where he emphasises the 3 slaps on the ground required initially to get the horse to understand they need to get going. I realised I have never been that strong or clear for fear of offending Duncs. This day, I gave it some welly! Perfect circles, Yes Maam!
We did back-ups for a long way, sideways, tapping the back legs to walk forwards 2 steps then back-up 2 steps, squeeze, lateral flexion. It was great and I remembered that I had forgotten about how important it is that you are the one moving the horses feet. How could I forget that? Too long spent walking in straight lines! Actually, too long spent "following" Duncan as opposed to "driving" him!
The other thing I realised was that I do need to go back to one line driving. How interesting...I need to be free of the second line so that at any moment, I can send Duncs any way because we are not yet at the level of communication where two lines can be used for refinement. I suddenly understood for myself why 2 lines should really only be used after you've mastered one (I have of course been told this by my ever-patient instructor!)
How typical of me...always trying to run before I can walk, jumping in at the deep end (how hard can it be?!) then realising I've forgotten to take the swimming lessons. Or, as I previously blogged, attach 2 lines, stand behind horse, then realise I don't know how to ask him to walk on! Is this because I'm gung-ho or lazy. Both, I fear! Must Try Harder....
We only got to the end of the road but I felt we'd covered an awful lot of ground. Duncs was quite sparky which, had he not been offering me things, I would have taken to be tension. Instead, I realised he was just really engaged. Err?? What's happening here?!
Tues 28th Sept 2010
Well, well. Duncs was really pleased to see me, Ooh, I'm getting the feeling....no, too early to be sure......am I at last going to find out the secret of how to be The Alpha?! Oooh, how exciting...
I can't remember all the ins and outs (probably just as well, this blog is going on too long) but Duncs was FAB!
I set myself up for success and went out:
We went up the road and into the village hall car park (we load up here so it's a good place to visit for a mooch) then back down and all the way into the scary Little Woods. I was very busy again AFTER retreating from each threshold. As we went into the woods Duncs was BLOWING OUT! I couldn't believe it. We went to the muck heap and I let him investigate it - he has a poo fascination, I guess from his days wild on the New Forest. I'm now wondering who, in a herd, would do the poo sniffing to see who'd been where. Have to Google that!
I had that really connected forward-going feeling from Duncs again today. He wanted to play touch-it with everything and was constantly looking round at me - hoping for a treat if truth be told! However, I know it's not just cupboard love. There's a bit more trust and respect going both ways between us now. Aahh. xxx
Thurs 30th Sept 2010
Whoah! Duncs went out like a rocket! Keen as mustard, very few thresholds, couldn't wait to go down the Scout Camp lane (his favourite - good grass and classy mares to look at!). Despite being keen, he was looking to me for guidance and was much more polite about eating, i.e. heading towards the grass but when I indicated I wanted him to go on, he did.
We turned up the path to the arena and Duncs trotted up there (!) which I encouraged. I was just loving how confident he felt. We came back down and Duncs willingly headed down towards the camp again, away from home. All the horses in the field alongside crowded up to the fence. Duncs was interested but, how funny, I have inadvertently trained a pattern into him!
What usually happens is the horses come over and Duncs does the equivalent of a dog straining on it's leash! I then back him up and, when his attention is on me, give him a treat. This day, in his super-confident mode, Duncan looked at the horses time and again then turned to me with his rapt "I get a treat now" face! Of course I obliged! Wow, I'd love to develop that pattern for when I'm on board!! See another horse, stop for a bit of apple? Yes please!
Despite Duncs good behaviour, I was aware that I still have my own thresholds round other horses. In the beginning, the mere sight of another horse would set him off cavorting and it's only thinly under the surface now. That said, he's come a long way (me too!).
I found myself thinking "Ooh, I hope they don't all start cantering about, I'd like to go back" but I said to myself "It's OK, you can go back any time you like, but just wait a bit longer as Duncs is actually fine". Hey, this approach and retreat works for me too!
There was a sticky moment when Duncs didn't want to leave his new buddies to go home but it soon passed and all the way home was asking me questions; "Shall I touch that wheelie bin?" "What about that cone?" "Shall I trot up the road like we usually do?" It was great.
Just so I didn't get above myself 'though, when I turned him out, he cantered off without a backward glance to the new grass!
Monday 27th Sept - pm
Had a tricky session in terms of my rope and dog handling skills. Flick (tiny Jack Russell) really doesn't like to be attached to me when I'm so close to Duncan but she's not obedient enough to stay off-lead on the roads. She wanders all over the place then just stands and stares when I call her (very annoying - it doesn't help my karma!). This is something I need to address obviously but, in the meantime, I will try to exercise her independently of Duncs for one of our 3 sessions each week.
Today I wondered if Duncs would be transformed after our bonding last week. I have a tendency to drift into storyland when imagining myself with horses (the reality of course being somewhat different!). It's the legacy of reading too many pony books in my formative years.
Well, Duncs was certainly different.....At the gate to go out, he was aware of some horses moving about up the road. I was chatting to Sarah whilst waiting for the goggling to finish but then D decided he wanted to go with them. I politely but firmly said no with the rope against the side he was leaning towards, whereupon Duncs threw himself round and tried to head back to the field.
I was a bit surprised and reacted instinctively - which was good because Duncan stopped - but not so good in that I gave a loud "NO!" and flapped my arms around feverishly! The "Old Me" would have followed this with some choice swearing so I guess I've come on a bit....
Whether I scared Duncs or he was just testing the boundaries today I don't quite know. I think it's a bit of both - the indicator is usually him pulling faces at me! I used to get bolshy back until I realised there was a bit of insecurity causing him to try to take the lead. I still haven't worked it all out...
Anyway, I was so wrapped up in retreating from thresholds and moving his feet, that I really didn't have time to worry. I had watched Pat teaching the circling game to a new horse the evening before where he emphasises the 3 slaps on the ground required initially to get the horse to understand they need to get going. I realised I have never been that strong or clear for fear of offending Duncs. This day, I gave it some welly! Perfect circles, Yes Maam!
We did back-ups for a long way, sideways, tapping the back legs to walk forwards 2 steps then back-up 2 steps, squeeze, lateral flexion. It was great and I remembered that I had forgotten about how important it is that you are the one moving the horses feet. How could I forget that? Too long spent walking in straight lines! Actually, too long spent "following" Duncan as opposed to "driving" him!
The other thing I realised was that I do need to go back to one line driving. How interesting...I need to be free of the second line so that at any moment, I can send Duncs any way because we are not yet at the level of communication where two lines can be used for refinement. I suddenly understood for myself why 2 lines should really only be used after you've mastered one (I have of course been told this by my ever-patient instructor!)
How typical of me...always trying to run before I can walk, jumping in at the deep end (how hard can it be?!) then realising I've forgotten to take the swimming lessons. Or, as I previously blogged, attach 2 lines, stand behind horse, then realise I don't know how to ask him to walk on! Is this because I'm gung-ho or lazy. Both, I fear! Must Try Harder....
We only got to the end of the road but I felt we'd covered an awful lot of ground. Duncs was quite sparky which, had he not been offering me things, I would have taken to be tension. Instead, I realised he was just really engaged. Err?? What's happening here?!
Tues 28th Sept 2010
Well, well. Duncs was really pleased to see me, Ooh, I'm getting the feeling....no, too early to be sure......am I at last going to find out the secret of how to be The Alpha?! Oooh, how exciting...
I can't remember all the ins and outs (probably just as well, this blog is going on too long) but Duncs was FAB!
I set myself up for success and went out:
- Without the dog
- With plenty of time
- Only one 22' line
- One carrot stick
We went up the road and into the village hall car park (we load up here so it's a good place to visit for a mooch) then back down and all the way into the scary Little Woods. I was very busy again AFTER retreating from each threshold. As we went into the woods Duncs was BLOWING OUT! I couldn't believe it. We went to the muck heap and I let him investigate it - he has a poo fascination, I guess from his days wild on the New Forest. I'm now wondering who, in a herd, would do the poo sniffing to see who'd been where. Have to Google that!
I had that really connected forward-going feeling from Duncs again today. He wanted to play touch-it with everything and was constantly looking round at me - hoping for a treat if truth be told! However, I know it's not just cupboard love. There's a bit more trust and respect going both ways between us now. Aahh. xxx
Thurs 30th Sept 2010
Whoah! Duncs went out like a rocket! Keen as mustard, very few thresholds, couldn't wait to go down the Scout Camp lane (his favourite - good grass and classy mares to look at!). Despite being keen, he was looking to me for guidance and was much more polite about eating, i.e. heading towards the grass but when I indicated I wanted him to go on, he did.
We turned up the path to the arena and Duncs trotted up there (!) which I encouraged. I was just loving how confident he felt. We came back down and Duncs willingly headed down towards the camp again, away from home. All the horses in the field alongside crowded up to the fence. Duncs was interested but, how funny, I have inadvertently trained a pattern into him!
What usually happens is the horses come over and Duncs does the equivalent of a dog straining on it's leash! I then back him up and, when his attention is on me, give him a treat. This day, in his super-confident mode, Duncan looked at the horses time and again then turned to me with his rapt "I get a treat now" face! Of course I obliged! Wow, I'd love to develop that pattern for when I'm on board!! See another horse, stop for a bit of apple? Yes please!
Despite Duncs good behaviour, I was aware that I still have my own thresholds round other horses. In the beginning, the mere sight of another horse would set him off cavorting and it's only thinly under the surface now. That said, he's come a long way (me too!).
I found myself thinking "Ooh, I hope they don't all start cantering about, I'd like to go back" but I said to myself "It's OK, you can go back any time you like, but just wait a bit longer as Duncs is actually fine". Hey, this approach and retreat works for me too!
There was a sticky moment when Duncs didn't want to leave his new buddies to go home but it soon passed and all the way home was asking me questions; "Shall I touch that wheelie bin?" "What about that cone?" "Shall I trot up the road like we usually do?" It was great.
Just so I didn't get above myself 'though, when I turned him out, he cantered off without a backward glance to the new grass!
Friday 24 September 2010
Oh Wow, Somethings Happening!
Friday 24th Sept 2010
Something happened today which blew me away. You have to know Duncs and how reserved and self-sufficient he is to know what a big deal this was, but I will try to explain.
As usual, had very little time. Not even enough time to go out. Decided to get some stuff out and play in the field. I let M out with D but they didn't play, Duncan was fixated with what I was doing. I chucked the big green ball over the gate and he came straight over and started pawing it. Rather gung-ho, I got the big white bag out and chucked that over too. Moet was the one who took most exception to this and both horses galloped off to the back field in fright.
Then....Duncan came back!!! He cantered back down alone, and trumpet called to me with great urgency. My immediate response was to call to him "It's alright, I'm here!" He stopped and stared at me with his legs splayed apart in a scared brace before wheeling back and forth.
I climbed over the gate and D came over and then seemed to calm down to the point that I got the bag and dragged it further up the field with him following me. He quickly remembered the game and began biting the bag and tossing it about, later trampling on it (took a picture). In those moments, it's easy to imagine D to be LBE but his confidence is actually quite fragile and has taken a long time to build which I mustn't forget. I did forget later and opened the umbrella rather suddenly (it was pouring) which gave D palpitations. Project for another day.
We played with the ball, trotting about after it which made Duncs so excited that he ran off and had a rough game with Moet after which he decided the grass was more interesting than me!
I was nearly out of time so I went to find him and gave him lots of scratches interspersed with drawing him to me at trot (not done at liberty before!) He got this nicely, only overstepped the mark with a face twice which I ignored (as in, I didn't get emotional over). I just reiterated a bit more firmly where he needed to stop and that he wouldn't get a scratch or treat until his face was polite!
Wow, I can feel things are really changing now. Duncan has never called to me in 2 years! I'm not sure if it was "Where are you my baby?!" or "Where are you my leader?!" but it felt really good as it told me for sure that Yesterday, I did OK. The relationship is intact. Better than that, we really do have a relationship!!!
Something happened today which blew me away. You have to know Duncs and how reserved and self-sufficient he is to know what a big deal this was, but I will try to explain.
As usual, had very little time. Not even enough time to go out. Decided to get some stuff out and play in the field. I let M out with D but they didn't play, Duncan was fixated with what I was doing. I chucked the big green ball over the gate and he came straight over and started pawing it. Rather gung-ho, I got the big white bag out and chucked that over too. Moet was the one who took most exception to this and both horses galloped off to the back field in fright.
Then....Duncan came back!!! He cantered back down alone, and trumpet called to me with great urgency. My immediate response was to call to him "It's alright, I'm here!" He stopped and stared at me with his legs splayed apart in a scared brace before wheeling back and forth.
I climbed over the gate and D came over and then seemed to calm down to the point that I got the bag and dragged it further up the field with him following me. He quickly remembered the game and began biting the bag and tossing it about, later trampling on it (took a picture). In those moments, it's easy to imagine D to be LBE but his confidence is actually quite fragile and has taken a long time to build which I mustn't forget. I did forget later and opened the umbrella rather suddenly (it was pouring) which gave D palpitations. Project for another day.
We played with the ball, trotting about after it which made Duncs so excited that he ran off and had a rough game with Moet after which he decided the grass was more interesting than me!
I was nearly out of time so I went to find him and gave him lots of scratches interspersed with drawing him to me at trot (not done at liberty before!) He got this nicely, only overstepped the mark with a face twice which I ignored (as in, I didn't get emotional over). I just reiterated a bit more firmly where he needed to stop and that he wouldn't get a scratch or treat until his face was polite!
Wow, I can feel things are really changing now. Duncan has never called to me in 2 years! I'm not sure if it was "Where are you my baby?!" or "Where are you my leader?!" but it felt really good as it told me for sure that Yesterday, I did OK. The relationship is intact. Better than that, we really do have a relationship!!!
A bit of a set-to & the first winner of the Savvy Spot!
Thurs 23rd Sept 2010
I love Thursdays! I have more time and therefore it's usually a good, or at least interesting, day!
Firstly. I must apologise to Petra from Savvy Central who has left 3 encouraging and constructive comments on my blog without me realising. Sorry, Petra, I didn't know they were there! I found them when I was looking at my blog list for editing. Thanks for your input and advice.
Today, I was greeted warmly by Duncs who was bursting to go out. There was the matter of a crate with a piece of blue paper flapping from it in the garden to negotiate but he went past calmly after a few mins approach & retreat.
We went p to the village hall car park where, in between snacks, we worked on lateral flexion, turns, standing still and back up. Turns are bad, particularly to the right. Realised I'm being a bit lazy and need to do a lot more flexing with him (spurred on by the latest S/C DVD where Linda demos partial disengagement).
Off down to the BIG WOODS. Actually, D prefers the Big Woods to the Little Woods - but only up to the part where it gets a bit dark by the Secret Garden! He went into the woods path of his own volition, stuffing his face with bracken (he's not up on his poisonous plants!) as he went.
He was forward going in the woods but I didn't get that this was more RBE than RBI until I asked him to stop and flex outside the Secret Garden. Then Duncs decided he'd rather go home! He's swift on the turn, leaving me somewhere in Z3 but I've learnt I need to nip back behind him quickly to avoid a tangle of ropes and emotion. Once back at the bum, I take a minute to calm down and assess the right time to ask him to go on and turn round again.
On this occasion, when I asked him to turn round he gave me the "Two Heels Up" sign with a mardy face to match. Rather than think Uh Oh! Where's this going to end, I was actually LB enough to think in a stern-mum sort of way" That is not acceptable behaviour Duncan!" "You can retreat but we're not leaving here until you've calmed down a bit!"
So began what I later described as a "bit of a set-to". Many, many partial disengagements and sideways later, D was a lot more respectful and a bit calmer. He still left the woods fairly quickly but was still listening to me. I was able to ask him to slow down and wait for me, for example.
Out on the road, I asked him to turn away from home and got another tantrum. OK, we will go home, I thought....sideways....at the trot! Back and forth we went interspersed by falling leaf. Sideways to the right (yielding the left side) was very sticky and D kept surging forwards, trying to climb the bank - and snatch foliage at the same time!! I started with a huge vertical rope wiggle - which I then remembered is not the most effective in this situation as D gets all worried about being clonked in the face rather than what I'm asking him to do. Instead, I grabbed him under his chin, a la BHS style and prevented him going forwards which he understood straight away.
What seemed to blow his mind was that I kept exclaiming "Good Boy!" at his spectacular sideways and giving him a treat. He really seemed unsure of how to respond - there were certainly no mardy faces anyway. He went home faster than normal but looked happy enough.
What I was most pleased with this day was, although I'm sure I made lots of mistakes in my timing, reading Duncs and phases, I didn't get emotional. That's a huge shift for me. I've always found it really hard to match RBE energy without getting tense. I must admit though it was an uncomfortable session, full of self-doubt if I'm honest. I left Duncs thinking "I felt Ok about that but Tomorrow, Duncan will tell me whether I got it right or not!
The Savvy Spot!
I am proud to announce that I was awarded the Savvy Spot by my "Horsey Girls" last night (although one of our four was missing!). This is a new award to be conferred upon the person considered to have made the most progress - either emotionally or physically - between one meeting and the next. I have to say, I was as excited as if I'd won as Oscar!
I received the award for advancement in my understanding of thresholds which I will sum up in a small nugget;
Don't push your horse over the threshold. Wait or retreat and move their feet behind the threshold until they are happy to go on.
Ah, the sweet smell of success!!!!!! "I'd like to thank my horse, my husband, my producer, my agent..........................
I love Thursdays! I have more time and therefore it's usually a good, or at least interesting, day!
Firstly. I must apologise to Petra from Savvy Central who has left 3 encouraging and constructive comments on my blog without me realising. Sorry, Petra, I didn't know they were there! I found them when I was looking at my blog list for editing. Thanks for your input and advice.
Today, I was greeted warmly by Duncs who was bursting to go out. There was the matter of a crate with a piece of blue paper flapping from it in the garden to negotiate but he went past calmly after a few mins approach & retreat.
We went p to the village hall car park where, in between snacks, we worked on lateral flexion, turns, standing still and back up. Turns are bad, particularly to the right. Realised I'm being a bit lazy and need to do a lot more flexing with him (spurred on by the latest S/C DVD where Linda demos partial disengagement).
Off down to the BIG WOODS. Actually, D prefers the Big Woods to the Little Woods - but only up to the part where it gets a bit dark by the Secret Garden! He went into the woods path of his own volition, stuffing his face with bracken (he's not up on his poisonous plants!) as he went.
He was forward going in the woods but I didn't get that this was more RBE than RBI until I asked him to stop and flex outside the Secret Garden. Then Duncs decided he'd rather go home! He's swift on the turn, leaving me somewhere in Z3 but I've learnt I need to nip back behind him quickly to avoid a tangle of ropes and emotion. Once back at the bum, I take a minute to calm down and assess the right time to ask him to go on and turn round again.
On this occasion, when I asked him to turn round he gave me the "Two Heels Up" sign with a mardy face to match. Rather than think Uh Oh! Where's this going to end, I was actually LB enough to think in a stern-mum sort of way" That is not acceptable behaviour Duncan!" "You can retreat but we're not leaving here until you've calmed down a bit!"
So began what I later described as a "bit of a set-to". Many, many partial disengagements and sideways later, D was a lot more respectful and a bit calmer. He still left the woods fairly quickly but was still listening to me. I was able to ask him to slow down and wait for me, for example.
Out on the road, I asked him to turn away from home and got another tantrum. OK, we will go home, I thought....sideways....at the trot! Back and forth we went interspersed by falling leaf. Sideways to the right (yielding the left side) was very sticky and D kept surging forwards, trying to climb the bank - and snatch foliage at the same time!! I started with a huge vertical rope wiggle - which I then remembered is not the most effective in this situation as D gets all worried about being clonked in the face rather than what I'm asking him to do. Instead, I grabbed him under his chin, a la BHS style and prevented him going forwards which he understood straight away.
What seemed to blow his mind was that I kept exclaiming "Good Boy!" at his spectacular sideways and giving him a treat. He really seemed unsure of how to respond - there were certainly no mardy faces anyway. He went home faster than normal but looked happy enough.
What I was most pleased with this day was, although I'm sure I made lots of mistakes in my timing, reading Duncs and phases, I didn't get emotional. That's a huge shift for me. I've always found it really hard to match RBE energy without getting tense. I must admit though it was an uncomfortable session, full of self-doubt if I'm honest. I left Duncs thinking "I felt Ok about that but Tomorrow, Duncan will tell me whether I got it right or not!
The Savvy Spot!
I am proud to announce that I was awarded the Savvy Spot by my "Horsey Girls" last night (although one of our four was missing!). This is a new award to be conferred upon the person considered to have made the most progress - either emotionally or physically - between one meeting and the next. I have to say, I was as excited as if I'd won as Oscar!
I received the award for advancement in my understanding of thresholds which I will sum up in a small nugget;
Don't push your horse over the threshold. Wait or retreat and move their feet behind the threshold until they are happy to go on.
Ah, the sweet smell of success!!!!!! "I'd like to thank my horse, my husband, my producer, my agent..........................
Thanks for the insult!
Monday 20th Sept 2010
Oh dear, seem to be in a permanent rush at the moment. We've got an extension being built and there's so much to do at home, and with Edmund (my 3 yr old). Really, it's about prioritising and after this day, I vowed I would go to the horses STRAIGHT after dropping Ed at pre-school, no diversions or deviations. On the first occasion after this pledge, I broke it! I realise i am good at making pledges and then, lets say, "reconsidering" them!
So, Mon pm, only had an hour. D trotted over to me and followed me about. Then I tacked up and put the 22' lines on. I only got to the end of the road due to lack of time but worked on getting D to be more responsive and eat less!
D's eating has now become a problem when I'm in Zone 5. It's hard to get him to leave the grass once I've said it's OK to graze (or he's taken the opportunity to stick his head down when I'm distracted!). I was flapping the ropes on his side but that is not effective - he was becoming desensitised to that. I have now taken to sending a bump down the line then tapping him on the bum with a twig as Ph 4 which seems to prove uncomfortable enough for him to shift it!
Not enough time to contemplate hopping on, In fact, I was trotting where I could to make up a bit of time! Then, as we were trotting back past the local arena, I heard " You're Mad! You wanna get yourself a Proper Pony!"
I just waved in a jolly fashion whilst continuing to trot along but my immediate thought was "You won't say that when we're competing at Olympia!" (fortunately I did not actually utter this childish response!)
What I really found interesting - and pleasing - about this episode was how defensive I felt towards Duncan. Obviously, I am a hopeless dreamer hence me imagining us in the Mountain & Moorland at the biggest showing event of the year! But...who knows..maybe when Duncan's about 20....although it will have to be in the veteran class because he's not actually a registered New Forest pony. Yes, I can see the book now, then the film......
Oh dear, seem to be in a permanent rush at the moment. We've got an extension being built and there's so much to do at home, and with Edmund (my 3 yr old). Really, it's about prioritising and after this day, I vowed I would go to the horses STRAIGHT after dropping Ed at pre-school, no diversions or deviations. On the first occasion after this pledge, I broke it! I realise i am good at making pledges and then, lets say, "reconsidering" them!
So, Mon pm, only had an hour. D trotted over to me and followed me about. Then I tacked up and put the 22' lines on. I only got to the end of the road due to lack of time but worked on getting D to be more responsive and eat less!
D's eating has now become a problem when I'm in Zone 5. It's hard to get him to leave the grass once I've said it's OK to graze (or he's taken the opportunity to stick his head down when I'm distracted!). I was flapping the ropes on his side but that is not effective - he was becoming desensitised to that. I have now taken to sending a bump down the line then tapping him on the bum with a twig as Ph 4 which seems to prove uncomfortable enough for him to shift it!
Not enough time to contemplate hopping on, In fact, I was trotting where I could to make up a bit of time! Then, as we were trotting back past the local arena, I heard " You're Mad! You wanna get yourself a Proper Pony!"
I just waved in a jolly fashion whilst continuing to trot along but my immediate thought was "You won't say that when we're competing at Olympia!" (fortunately I did not actually utter this childish response!)
What I really found interesting - and pleasing - about this episode was how defensive I felt towards Duncan. Obviously, I am a hopeless dreamer hence me imagining us in the Mountain & Moorland at the biggest showing event of the year! But...who knows..maybe when Duncan's about 20....although it will have to be in the veteran class because he's not actually a registered New Forest pony. Yes, I can see the book now, then the film......
Happy Anniversay Blog! Birthday present ride
Thurs Sept 16th 2010
I don't know what's going on with my memory at the moment but it's shocking how little I can remember even a week later! I do know that I wrote on a little bit of paper - which I now can't find - "Update Blog, Duncan trotting towards me!"
Since resuming contact after my enforced summer break, D seems to be getting keener on me! Until today (24th Sept) I assumed this was pure cupboard love as I always take him out for grass. However something happened today which completely blew me away! Hah, you'll have to keep reading now to find out what it was!! Oh bother, no you won't, you'll probably have read about it already if you started at the top. So much for keeping the reader in suspense!
Anyway, all I have been doing is zone 5 driving, going out down the road then into woods or down towards the scout camp. A couple of visits have been so brief, I've only had time to go up and down the road. He obviously really enjoys going out and will actually come over to the gate to be tacked up loose. No face pulling. He's less confident about the saddle and usually turns zone 1 away a quarter turn but after a bit of sniffing and swinging it off & on, he's OK.
My birthday was really nice as I had more time than usual and it was a lovely day. We went right to the bottom of the Scout Camp track with few thresholds but we were going really slowly. I'm pleased to say D is showing a lot less interest in the other horses (unless they cavort around!) He was doing a lot of munching and I was finding my rope flapping rather ineffective to get him to desist eating so I ended up breaking a twig off a tree. I could carry a carrot stick of course but what with the 2 ropes and the dog to reel in off her extendable lead attached to the back of my waist, I've got my hands pretty full!
The twig worked a treat although I forgot to desensitise him with FG first. Oops.....he was a bit startled at first. Then he realised it was edible! All went so well that I got on were the track forks on the way back. Interesting...as soon as I got on, D braced. I just sat and rubbed. He was holding it together rather than relaxing - evident not only by his posture but also goggling at a water trough that he never usually looks at. I decided to let him eat as that's a great relaxant if he's not too far gone. It did the trick nicely!
Had an embarrassing moment when the postman came down the drive and wanted to turn into a house in front of us. Flick was right in his path. I called and called, my tone ranging from wheedling to exasperated but she wouldn't come! I was very reluctant to get off as I'd only just got on! Luckily for me the postman decided to leave his van where it was and walk down the drive!!
I rode D almost back home (don't get too excited, it's only a 2 min walk!) but had to get off - to get Flick - when another car came further up. Very inconvenient! If I knew when I was going to ride, I could leave Flick behind but as I'm mostly on foot with no guarantee of getting on board, it seems a waste to walk Duncan then have to walk Flick afterwards!
That was a really good day..................
I don't know what's going on with my memory at the moment but it's shocking how little I can remember even a week later! I do know that I wrote on a little bit of paper - which I now can't find - "Update Blog, Duncan trotting towards me!"
Since resuming contact after my enforced summer break, D seems to be getting keener on me! Until today (24th Sept) I assumed this was pure cupboard love as I always take him out for grass. However something happened today which completely blew me away! Hah, you'll have to keep reading now to find out what it was!! Oh bother, no you won't, you'll probably have read about it already if you started at the top. So much for keeping the reader in suspense!
Anyway, all I have been doing is zone 5 driving, going out down the road then into woods or down towards the scout camp. A couple of visits have been so brief, I've only had time to go up and down the road. He obviously really enjoys going out and will actually come over to the gate to be tacked up loose. No face pulling. He's less confident about the saddle and usually turns zone 1 away a quarter turn but after a bit of sniffing and swinging it off & on, he's OK.
My birthday was really nice as I had more time than usual and it was a lovely day. We went right to the bottom of the Scout Camp track with few thresholds but we were going really slowly. I'm pleased to say D is showing a lot less interest in the other horses (unless they cavort around!) He was doing a lot of munching and I was finding my rope flapping rather ineffective to get him to desist eating so I ended up breaking a twig off a tree. I could carry a carrot stick of course but what with the 2 ropes and the dog to reel in off her extendable lead attached to the back of my waist, I've got my hands pretty full!
The twig worked a treat although I forgot to desensitise him with FG first. Oops.....he was a bit startled at first. Then he realised it was edible! All went so well that I got on were the track forks on the way back. Interesting...as soon as I got on, D braced. I just sat and rubbed. He was holding it together rather than relaxing - evident not only by his posture but also goggling at a water trough that he never usually looks at. I decided to let him eat as that's a great relaxant if he's not too far gone. It did the trick nicely!
Had an embarrassing moment when the postman came down the drive and wanted to turn into a house in front of us. Flick was right in his path. I called and called, my tone ranging from wheedling to exasperated but she wouldn't come! I was very reluctant to get off as I'd only just got on! Luckily for me the postman decided to leave his van where it was and walk down the drive!!
I rode D almost back home (don't get too excited, it's only a 2 min walk!) but had to get off - to get Flick - when another car came further up. Very inconvenient! If I knew when I was going to ride, I could leave Flick behind but as I'm mostly on foot with no guarantee of getting on board, it seems a waste to walk Duncan then have to walk Flick afterwards!
That was a really good day..................
Thursday 16 September 2010
The "Just a bit more" syndrome
I am not going to try to remember exactly what I did on different days here as I've got behind and just need to catch up! More particularly, I need to write about my "Just a bit more syndrome".
When I got the first lightbulb, I felt rather pleased with myself , thinking I'd got "it" all sussed out. Probably just as well I didn't blog then although it would have been interesting to revisit my feelings at the time. The next visit was a terrible one and I ended up feeling angry with myself - and with Duncan - and then I felt I didn't know what the hell I was thinking about!!
This is how it happened:
I took D into the "Big Woods" with the hope of getting a bit further than the last time. My long term hope is to be able to walk to meet Amy and hopefully ride with her as Moet is out of action at the moment and may be for some time. (I NEED a hacking partner so I don't die of boredom!).
I digress, D went past the Secret Garden, past the New Forest (rather an unseemly wrestle to get him to leave the grass there!) and up to the pinch point entrance which I always think of as the "Crocodile Spot" (long story....D had a very long stand-off there once which reminded me of Ollie whenever he passed a log which looked like a crocodile when we were in Kent. Yes, I know this is a barmy and extremely tenuous connection but there it is!).
Past the crocodile and into the shade of the woods. Mm, we'd been through about 3 thresholds to get here and D was "eyes about!" True to his conservative RBI nature, he was not moving is feet but his brain was working overtime!
What did I do? Whilst pausing here my mind was already thinking "Right, just a bit more!" "Let's get to the other side of the glade and then we'll go back!" Fortunately, something stopped me (probably the fact D was continuing to goggle!) and I suddenly thought "WHY?!"
WHY do I always need to ask for "Just a little bit more"? I really don't know! Or perhaps I do know. I think it's partly:
1. A residue from my traditional training where you always aim to get the horse to finish the exercise "well" - which usually means drilling them. And it's got to be on your terms or the horse has "got away with it" i.e. whatever wasn't going so well!
2. I am comfortable pushing myself where my mind is telling me not to go (fear). I want to make progress and I know that a lot of my fear is just baggage from the past which I do not want to heap on to the present situation/horse.
One perfect example of this was with Ollie. I was always nervous in open spaces on him as he had a lot of "Go" and I thought of what could happen based upon things that had happened on other horses in my past. Ollie himself never gave me any cause to be nervous. It was my baggage and mine alone. So, I would feel the fear and do it anyway and do my damnedest to make sure Ollie didn't feel it too. I guess I'd liken it to the parent with a phobia who is determined not to pass it on to her child!
Getting back to this particular day, looking across to the tempting far side of the glade.....I had a revelation that I didn't actually need to go there!
Then I reflected upon just how many times I'd insisted on "just a bit more" when Duncan had actually already given me one hell of a lot! So there it was - my illuminating lightbulb. There and then I decided to experiment with this and - forthwith - retreat after 2 major thresholds had been passed.
Great! So good in fact that I rode D back up the road when I got there and he was totally chilled. To demonstrate this, he walked over to a bright sign attached to a tree, sniffed it then turned his head round for the anticipated treat! I felt fantastic that he was LB with me on his back ALL ALONE!
I feel like a cuppa at this point but will continue to the bitter end now! My next visit was not so successful ("Oh Dear" moment following....):
I dashed up with one hour to spare....... Spot the first mistake!.....Chucked the tack on and hurried off the property.
Duncan was spooky but I was in a hurry and was hoping to get and ride back again....Yes, here's the second!....
He didn't even want to go as far as the cricket field. This is not even half as far as he went the time before!!! Yes, yes, I know it was windy and both the horses were flighty that day but come on....I only wanted to get to the end of the road for goodness sake!
I got to the end of the road, completely forgetting about my previous pledge. It didn't apply that day because Duncan was being unreasonable spooky and we were never going to get ANYWHERE if he wouldn't feel the fear and do it anyway!! Oh, and add to that I'm so BORED with this silly behaviour. Can't we just go out, actually go somewhere and have some fun?!!!
Ahh, all the emotions...I can recall them more easily now but I was pretty mad back then! I thought/raged:
When I got the first lightbulb, I felt rather pleased with myself , thinking I'd got "it" all sussed out. Probably just as well I didn't blog then although it would have been interesting to revisit my feelings at the time. The next visit was a terrible one and I ended up feeling angry with myself - and with Duncan - and then I felt I didn't know what the hell I was thinking about!!
This is how it happened:
I took D into the "Big Woods" with the hope of getting a bit further than the last time. My long term hope is to be able to walk to meet Amy and hopefully ride with her as Moet is out of action at the moment and may be for some time. (I NEED a hacking partner so I don't die of boredom!).
I digress, D went past the Secret Garden, past the New Forest (rather an unseemly wrestle to get him to leave the grass there!) and up to the pinch point entrance which I always think of as the "Crocodile Spot" (long story....D had a very long stand-off there once which reminded me of Ollie whenever he passed a log which looked like a crocodile when we were in Kent. Yes, I know this is a barmy and extremely tenuous connection but there it is!).
Past the crocodile and into the shade of the woods. Mm, we'd been through about 3 thresholds to get here and D was "eyes about!" True to his conservative RBI nature, he was not moving is feet but his brain was working overtime!
What did I do? Whilst pausing here my mind was already thinking "Right, just a bit more!" "Let's get to the other side of the glade and then we'll go back!" Fortunately, something stopped me (probably the fact D was continuing to goggle!) and I suddenly thought "WHY?!"
WHY do I always need to ask for "Just a little bit more"? I really don't know! Or perhaps I do know. I think it's partly:
1. A residue from my traditional training where you always aim to get the horse to finish the exercise "well" - which usually means drilling them. And it's got to be on your terms or the horse has "got away with it" i.e. whatever wasn't going so well!
2. I am comfortable pushing myself where my mind is telling me not to go (fear). I want to make progress and I know that a lot of my fear is just baggage from the past which I do not want to heap on to the present situation/horse.
One perfect example of this was with Ollie. I was always nervous in open spaces on him as he had a lot of "Go" and I thought of what could happen based upon things that had happened on other horses in my past. Ollie himself never gave me any cause to be nervous. It was my baggage and mine alone. So, I would feel the fear and do it anyway and do my damnedest to make sure Ollie didn't feel it too. I guess I'd liken it to the parent with a phobia who is determined not to pass it on to her child!
Getting back to this particular day, looking across to the tempting far side of the glade.....I had a revelation that I didn't actually need to go there!
Then I reflected upon just how many times I'd insisted on "just a bit more" when Duncan had actually already given me one hell of a lot! So there it was - my illuminating lightbulb. There and then I decided to experiment with this and - forthwith - retreat after 2 major thresholds had been passed.
Great! So good in fact that I rode D back up the road when I got there and he was totally chilled. To demonstrate this, he walked over to a bright sign attached to a tree, sniffed it then turned his head round for the anticipated treat! I felt fantastic that he was LB with me on his back ALL ALONE!
I feel like a cuppa at this point but will continue to the bitter end now! My next visit was not so successful ("Oh Dear" moment following....):
I dashed up with one hour to spare....... Spot the first mistake!.....Chucked the tack on and hurried off the property.
Duncan was spooky but I was in a hurry and was hoping to get and ride back again....Yes, here's the second!....
He didn't even want to go as far as the cricket field. This is not even half as far as he went the time before!!! Yes, yes, I know it was windy and both the horses were flighty that day but come on....I only wanted to get to the end of the road for goodness sake!
I got to the end of the road, completely forgetting about my previous pledge. It didn't apply that day because Duncan was being unreasonable spooky and we were never going to get ANYWHERE if he wouldn't feel the fear and do it anyway!! Oh, and add to that I'm so BORED with this silly behaviour. Can't we just go out, actually go somewhere and have some fun?!!!
Ahh, all the emotions...I can recall them more easily now but I was pretty mad back then! I thought/raged:
- How on earth do people get these sort of horses to hack out alone?
- Surely, despite my pledge re the 2 threshold thing, I can't be expected to honour it on a day when D won't even walk up the road?
- Surely he has to be "made" to go a bit further? It can't be right that I say, "That's OK, let's go home" when he's barely got out?
- Won't this end up with us not even getting out of the gate?!!!
Whoah! I felt so muddled up. I was going to put a negative post on KIN - something like "Help! How long does it take?!" I didn't get time to post and now Time, that old healer, has straightened my head up and I see all my mistakes clearly. Plus....I had a really good ride today!!!
Thursday 9 September 2010
Zone 5 driving - interesting!
I realised I missed out recounting a walk out which D and I did. I took him out on foot with his saddle and bridle on and one 22' line. We went down the lane to the Scout Camp.
D pretty relaxed and went down further than on previous occasions without getting RB. Then....there was a strange squeaking coupled with barking and the horses in the field next to us took off. D's tail kinked straight up. It's really comical - as soon as his adrenalin comes up his tail shoots up in the air. I was standing behind him the other day when it shot up vertical and I actually pushed it back down like a lever!! I don't know why I did that but I was laughing so I was obviously tickled by it!
Stranger still, when I pushed the tail back down his adrenalin dropped immediately! One to experiment with as I've also noticed that stroking his tail calms him too.
Back to the squeaks and barks....a chap was coming up the lane with a bicycle and a terrier. There was a pause of a few seconds as D watched the other horses when I thought "Great! He's not going to respond". Then D went into stallion mode, let out a huge snort, and pranced up the lane sideways! What was different was that I found it quite amusing whereas in the past I have found it scary! I guess that old teacher, experience, has shown me that:
D pretty relaxed and went down further than on previous occasions without getting RB. Then....there was a strange squeaking coupled with barking and the horses in the field next to us took off. D's tail kinked straight up. It's really comical - as soon as his adrenalin comes up his tail shoots up in the air. I was standing behind him the other day when it shot up vertical and I actually pushed it back down like a lever!! I don't know why I did that but I was laughing so I was obviously tickled by it!
Stranger still, when I pushed the tail back down his adrenalin dropped immediately! One to experiment with as I've also noticed that stroking his tail calms him too.
Back to the squeaks and barks....a chap was coming up the lane with a bicycle and a terrier. There was a pause of a few seconds as D watched the other horses when I thought "Great! He's not going to respond". Then D went into stallion mode, let out a huge snort, and pranced up the lane sideways! What was different was that I found it quite amusing whereas in the past I have found it scary! I guess that old teacher, experience, has shown me that:
- I can keep hold of D when he's like that (control would be putting it too strongly!)
- He's not out to hurt me and tries to avoid treading on, or pushing into, me
- It doesn't last long!
Now, before D got high on adrenalin, I had pushed him on past about 6 thresholds. Each time I waited him out then asked him on when he relaxed. I mention the number as this is relevant to a later blog! I was actually wanting to go right to the bottom of the lane - aha - MY GOAL!! More on this later......
Tuesday 7 September 2010
First ride in months!! Yoo Hoo!
Thurs 2nd Sept 2010
S and I went out round Scarletts lake. I wanted to go on a road ride as it's been so long, the woods would have been too Whey Hey!
Duncs VERY keen, I walked at first as per usual. This is SO required to take the edge off him. He was not fussed about me getting on but boy, was he tense for the first 5 mins. Unexploded bomb under me or what. I hate that feeling! I was trying to work out if he was uncomfortable or just tense. Turned out to be the latter - I could tell when he relaxed!
We met a New Forest pony of only 5 with a cart behind him (thankfully stationary as we approached). I shot off D at the first sight of it but, as it stopped, D wasn't too OTT. Mind you, he had a good goggle and we were encouraged by the driver and passenger to walk D round it an have a good look. Their pony was a bit wide-eyed behind his blinkers and had only been driving 2 weeks so I was a bit worried about spooking him!
We all had a very interesting conversation about driving - which Rob was starting to work towards with D before I came along. I actually think it would really suit D as he's much better with me pushing him on from behind that walking next to him - and obviously there wouldn't be anyone on his back to worry about! He could be a bit sharp of course but experienced drivers are used to that.
I hopped back on whilst the talking was going on. I could see the couples' interest in D - being a NF too. He was looking very handsome that day so I felt very well "horsed"!
Great to be back on board. Really looking forward to my next ride but also conscious that D really needs some suppling exercises as he's not as responsive as he should be.Plotting to hire a school again but this time take Moet with me!!
S and I went out round Scarletts lake. I wanted to go on a road ride as it's been so long, the woods would have been too Whey Hey!
Duncs VERY keen, I walked at first as per usual. This is SO required to take the edge off him. He was not fussed about me getting on but boy, was he tense for the first 5 mins. Unexploded bomb under me or what. I hate that feeling! I was trying to work out if he was uncomfortable or just tense. Turned out to be the latter - I could tell when he relaxed!
We met a New Forest pony of only 5 with a cart behind him (thankfully stationary as we approached). I shot off D at the first sight of it but, as it stopped, D wasn't too OTT. Mind you, he had a good goggle and we were encouraged by the driver and passenger to walk D round it an have a good look. Their pony was a bit wide-eyed behind his blinkers and had only been driving 2 weeks so I was a bit worried about spooking him!
We all had a very interesting conversation about driving - which Rob was starting to work towards with D before I came along. I actually think it would really suit D as he's much better with me pushing him on from behind that walking next to him - and obviously there wouldn't be anyone on his back to worry about! He could be a bit sharp of course but experienced drivers are used to that.
I hopped back on whilst the talking was going on. I could see the couples' interest in D - being a NF too. He was looking very handsome that day so I felt very well "horsed"!
Great to be back on board. Really looking forward to my next ride but also conscious that D really needs some suppling exercises as he's not as responsive as he should be.Plotting to hire a school again but this time take Moet with me!!
Business is resumed! August Bank Holiday walk
30th August 2010
I got time off for good behaviour to go and play with Duncs today. I hadn't seen him for weeks and I guess all horse lovers live for the day when you can look forward to a romantic reunion with your horse. Instant recognition - then he comes galloping towards you whinnying!
Well there was instant recognition alright but, in true Duncan style, it was "What are you doing here?!" He became super alert and stood stock still staring at me. Then he moved behind Moet!! Oh dear, luckily I'm not easily hurt. I know it's feedback but, it's also the fact that he's super skeptical which is just a facet of his horsenality. The next meeting (after he realised I was back on the scene to take him out which means EATING!), he was much warmer and by the 3rd came trotting over. Talk about cupboard love!
So, we went for a walk and D was so up for it we went into the left woods, past the "secret garden" and into the "new forest" which is a large field where the fence has fallen down which reminds me of the NF and perhaps D too as he's always keen to get in there! It was all about the grass today. I am just a vehicle to go out grazing to Duncs. This is obviously very good for rapport but not so good for respect as he has food constantly on the brain and gets the hump if you want him to stop eating!
I was very pleased at how calm and up-for-it he was. Came out of the woods a bit quicker but looking pretty relaxed. I'm now trying to drive from Z5 with one rope (as I've read that if you don't master this, you micromanage with 2 ropes which makes sense - but I'm still not entirely sure what I'm doing! We are getting along in a fashion though so that's OK!
I got time off for good behaviour to go and play with Duncs today. I hadn't seen him for weeks and I guess all horse lovers live for the day when you can look forward to a romantic reunion with your horse. Instant recognition - then he comes galloping towards you whinnying!
Well there was instant recognition alright but, in true Duncan style, it was "What are you doing here?!" He became super alert and stood stock still staring at me. Then he moved behind Moet!! Oh dear, luckily I'm not easily hurt. I know it's feedback but, it's also the fact that he's super skeptical which is just a facet of his horsenality. The next meeting (after he realised I was back on the scene to take him out which means EATING!), he was much warmer and by the 3rd came trotting over. Talk about cupboard love!
So, we went for a walk and D was so up for it we went into the left woods, past the "secret garden" and into the "new forest" which is a large field where the fence has fallen down which reminds me of the NF and perhaps D too as he's always keen to get in there! It was all about the grass today. I am just a vehicle to go out grazing to Duncs. This is obviously very good for rapport but not so good for respect as he has food constantly on the brain and gets the hump if you want him to stop eating!
I was very pleased at how calm and up-for-it he was. Came out of the woods a bit quicker but looking pretty relaxed. I'm now trying to drive from Z5 with one rope (as I've read that if you don't master this, you micromanage with 2 ropes which makes sense - but I'm still not entirely sure what I'm doing! We are getting along in a fashion though so that's OK!
Terris workshop 26th June 2010
Well, here I am writing on 7th September!
Not a lot has happened, however, apart from the above weekend as I had to take a break from Duncs over the holidays due to my Philpots work, building work prep and having Ed around.
We took D over on the Friday evening - late! He loaded great - S talked me through as I'm still a bit wary loading. Felt good to do it myself. Funnily enough, I'm always fine loading to go home! I suppose it's general nerves/excitement over the activity to come.
Got there about 9ish on the Saturday and a day of fun ensued! I can't now remember everything we did but a few things stand out:
What was very weird was, before lunch, I sat on D and he felt so tense and braced I didn't dare ask him to move!! Just sat and rubbed and chilled. After lunch I asked if I could put the bridle on and T agreed (but not without question, quite rightly). What a difference. D was so much more relaxed that I walked and trotted in the pen and even came out and rode round with all the others! Now, I figure the possible reasons for this are:
Not a lot has happened, however, apart from the above weekend as I had to take a break from Duncs over the holidays due to my Philpots work, building work prep and having Ed around.
We took D over on the Friday evening - late! He loaded great - S talked me through as I'm still a bit wary loading. Felt good to do it myself. Funnily enough, I'm always fine loading to go home! I suppose it's general nerves/excitement over the activity to come.
Got there about 9ish on the Saturday and a day of fun ensued! I can't now remember everything we did but a few things stand out:
- D was a lot calmer than on previous excursions
- I got to ride!!!
- D was unconfident away from the other horses (e.g. in school when another horse left)
- He was unconfident about me mounting - until I put the bridle on (?!)
- I did not like riding with very long reins!!
- I don't know how to do zone 5 driving with only 1 line!
What was very weird was, before lunch, I sat on D and he felt so tense and braced I didn't dare ask him to move!! Just sat and rubbed and chilled. After lunch I asked if I could put the bridle on and T agreed (but not without question, quite rightly). What a difference. D was so much more relaxed that I walked and trotted in the pen and even came out and rode round with all the others! Now, I figure the possible reasons for this are:
- It is all in my mind. I'm the one who relaxes when the bridle is on!
- D knows what is expected when the bridle is on
- D is actually not that happy in the bridle & fiddles with it constantly which provides a distraction from what I'm doing!
I actually reckon that it's all three. You might think I was unhappy with this, particularly 1 & 3 above, and ought to persevere with the hackamore but, as safety is my absolute number one priority, I am going to carry on with the bridle until we're both relaxed enough to dispense with it! I've obviously got to watch my contact though!!
I had a great time and went back sun to pick D up. It was boiling hot and, although I'd planned to have a play, I didn't have the energy or inclination so back home we came.
I'm trying to think what I did after this clinic , nothing I think as, by the time the second workshop was coming round (26th July), I'd barely had time to touch D and was getting stressed about lack of prep. In the end I decided to cancel and felt a lot better for deciding to put D on the back burner until after the summer hols.
Wednesday 23 June 2010
On-line update - since May entry
Having decided to work towards Level 3 on-line, with absolutely no preplanning or forethought, I decided to start zone 5 driving (or "long-reining" to use it's "normal" name). Duncs has already done a fair bit of this so I thought "How hard can it be?!"
As I told the Horsey girls later, I put the two 22' lines on outside the shed then realised I didn't actually know how to get D to walk on, never mind steer him! He seemed to want to go every which way except where I had in mind! I resisted the urge to phone-a-friend to ask how to start!!
Fast forward a few weeks and we're getting on pretty nicely. We've got a language going anyway. I'm still not in the know re the Parelli way of doing it (only got the finished result in my DVD library where it doesn't look like the handler is doing anything!) so I'm hoping to polish this up at this weekend's workshop (don't anticipate riding unless all the moons line up...). D seems to enjoy it and I'm gradually figuring out a few do's and don'ts. The biggest do is to stay behind him when he starts baulking and turning. It's very easy to find yourself at the side with a tangle of ropes!
I have been using my voice a lot which seems to help but I'm not sure how this goes with Parelli. D's been doing a nice figure of eight but, interestingly, his napping has been coming out too as he gets towards the gate. Usually just as I'm about to stop and rest. It's definitely an "I've done enough of this now" so, I need to stop before it gets there. Typical D, if you get after him too strongly, he gets RB very quickly. Just got to be passively persistent in the proper position!
One other little breakthrough...I've been trying to use energy to transmit to D that I want him to trust me. I hold my hand up hovering over his forehead or neck and think about sending the peaceful energy out (just read "What horses say!"). The effect is sometimes startling - D looks hypnotised and I feel like Crocodile Dundee!
One time last week, however, he butted my hand so rudely that I reacted pretty strongly - without thinking - and bumped him back with a "Duncan!" What happened was quite odd and I'm not sure if it was good or bad...D put his head right down and went into a completely passive stance. I actually thought "Is he catatonic?" However, he looked quite peaceful and I remembered that I've seen this reaction before when I've had to spank him with the C/S! I think I've commented on here that he seems to like it!!! Now, either he really feels put in his place and is being submissive or he's really scared and is hiding. Hmm. I think it's the former as on each occasion he seems to know that he's "pushed it too far" but I may be anthropomorphising here. One to watch out for.
Yesterday, we walked round the field that leads to the Ashurst Wood ride and a little way down the bridle path with me driving from Z5. D did not want to come home which was touching as it shows he is getting back to his normal self and has forgiven me for getting too predatory. Really hoping the Z5 driving is the way forward for confidence alone. The mere fact that you are driving from behind seems a very dominant thing to do as that's what horses do the most, usually biting each other on the bum as they go! Hopefully this will help to elevate me to the Alpha position in Duncs' eyes!
As I told the Horsey girls later, I put the two 22' lines on outside the shed then realised I didn't actually know how to get D to walk on, never mind steer him! He seemed to want to go every which way except where I had in mind! I resisted the urge to phone-a-friend to ask how to start!!
Fast forward a few weeks and we're getting on pretty nicely. We've got a language going anyway. I'm still not in the know re the Parelli way of doing it (only got the finished result in my DVD library where it doesn't look like the handler is doing anything!) so I'm hoping to polish this up at this weekend's workshop (don't anticipate riding unless all the moons line up...). D seems to enjoy it and I'm gradually figuring out a few do's and don'ts. The biggest do is to stay behind him when he starts baulking and turning. It's very easy to find yourself at the side with a tangle of ropes!
I have been using my voice a lot which seems to help but I'm not sure how this goes with Parelli. D's been doing a nice figure of eight but, interestingly, his napping has been coming out too as he gets towards the gate. Usually just as I'm about to stop and rest. It's definitely an "I've done enough of this now" so, I need to stop before it gets there. Typical D, if you get after him too strongly, he gets RB very quickly. Just got to be passively persistent in the proper position!
One other little breakthrough...I've been trying to use energy to transmit to D that I want him to trust me. I hold my hand up hovering over his forehead or neck and think about sending the peaceful energy out (just read "What horses say!"). The effect is sometimes startling - D looks hypnotised and I feel like Crocodile Dundee!
One time last week, however, he butted my hand so rudely that I reacted pretty strongly - without thinking - and bumped him back with a "Duncan!" What happened was quite odd and I'm not sure if it was good or bad...D put his head right down and went into a completely passive stance. I actually thought "Is he catatonic?" However, he looked quite peaceful and I remembered that I've seen this reaction before when I've had to spank him with the C/S! I think I've commented on here that he seems to like it!!! Now, either he really feels put in his place and is being submissive or he's really scared and is hiding. Hmm. I think it's the former as on each occasion he seems to know that he's "pushed it too far" but I may be anthropomorphising here. One to watch out for.
Yesterday, we walked round the field that leads to the Ashurst Wood ride and a little way down the bridle path with me driving from Z5. D did not want to come home which was touching as it shows he is getting back to his normal self and has forgiven me for getting too predatory. Really hoping the Z5 driving is the way forward for confidence alone. The mere fact that you are driving from behind seems a very dominant thing to do as that's what horses do the most, usually biting each other on the bum as they go! Hopefully this will help to elevate me to the Alpha position in Duncs' eyes!
Hacking update - since May entry. Rides 35, 36, 37, 38
Happily, we've had some lovely rides since my post in May.
Woods x 2: The first ride, soon after the awful eve, we went out through the gate near Melinda's and onto Butcherfield Lane and back which D & M loved. They didn't want to go back! The next ride, as before, S cantered on ahead at a suitable spot and Duncs just carried on trotting! I love this about him. Innately, although he has a lot of "go" this doesn't extend to a long flight path when spooked or the desire to bomb off at the whiff of a canter. Partly it's also unconfidence and could also be because he's not comfortable. Certainly the stiffness issue is there although I've now deduced that much of that is down to foot-soreness - you can really feel it transmitting through his back. When he has boots on, he's so different.
The saddle does slip to the right still. I've just watched a Savvy club DVD and think I may try some shims at the front of the saddle as it tips me forwards. I also need to try shortening my R stirrup rather than lengthening my left for a while.
Dry Hill path and round fields: D really good although there was one hairy moment when he leaped forwards and then got all spooky at my loss of balance and keys rattling. I think there was a horse-fly bothering him.
Scarletts Lake - this week: I thought D would be whizzy as he did so little last week and no riding. I was not wrong! Glad I chose the road ride as he went out like a steam train but had plenty of time to let off a bit before I get on. The horse-flies were absolutely terrible and D & M were both very distracted. That said, he was very good considering. Not as bold as previous rides, let M go in front a bit more today. I walked back down the road as I'd forgotten my hat and had to borrow one from a rubbish heap (I kid you not!) which was a bit large!
Woods x 2: The first ride, soon after the awful eve, we went out through the gate near Melinda's and onto Butcherfield Lane and back which D & M loved. They didn't want to go back! The next ride, as before, S cantered on ahead at a suitable spot and Duncs just carried on trotting! I love this about him. Innately, although he has a lot of "go" this doesn't extend to a long flight path when spooked or the desire to bomb off at the whiff of a canter. Partly it's also unconfidence and could also be because he's not comfortable. Certainly the stiffness issue is there although I've now deduced that much of that is down to foot-soreness - you can really feel it transmitting through his back. When he has boots on, he's so different.
The saddle does slip to the right still. I've just watched a Savvy club DVD and think I may try some shims at the front of the saddle as it tips me forwards. I also need to try shortening my R stirrup rather than lengthening my left for a while.
Dry Hill path and round fields: D really good although there was one hairy moment when he leaped forwards and then got all spooky at my loss of balance and keys rattling. I think there was a horse-fly bothering him.
Scarletts Lake - this week: I thought D would be whizzy as he did so little last week and no riding. I was not wrong! Glad I chose the road ride as he went out like a steam train but had plenty of time to let off a bit before I get on. The horse-flies were absolutely terrible and D & M were both very distracted. That said, he was very good considering. Not as bold as previous rides, let M go in front a bit more today. I walked back down the road as I'd forgotten my hat and had to borrow one from a rubbish heap (I kid you not!) which was a bit large!
Better Catch Up! It's now 23rd June.....
I have been putting off writing my blog as, the longer I left it, the more daunting a task it seemed....especially as I had LOADS to write. Yes, crazy! That's when I should be writing but the perfectionist in me (yeah, hard to believe but I'm very particular about my written word!) didn't want to just "dash something off". I also had some depressing stuff to write and was not relishing that bit! It's probably easier now as the passage of time has dulled my memory!
I am putting all the above aside now as I really want to get caught up before my Parelli workshop on Saturday. I shall not bother with dates but just try to put events in a rough chronological order!
Right! So.....after I fell off in the school, I had the most awful experience a few days later.
Disastrous last hack alone!
During the day, I had a heart-rending (for me!) talk with S about my and D's future ( see below). Ironically, when I went up in the eve, I couldn't wait to see D and felt a bit weepy. Aha, Cesar would say, I did not have the right energy to start with!! I decided to take D down the road and ride a bit. He was a bit reluctant probably reflecting his growing lack of confidence.
When I got to the woods entrance on the right, I started to prepare for mounting and approached the gate. D said "Oh no thank you!" and would not line up for me to get on. I thought "Bugger this! I'm going to behave like a normal person today and just get on anyway!" I lined D up the other way and scrambled on. I was pointing into the woods and D quickly turned around and tried to go home. I tried to just wait it out but he got so uptight he began RB pawing and nodding his head.
Relenting a bit, I thought I'd ride him towards home a bit to get his confidence then turn back again. This failed spectacularly as he got so uptight he refused to move, went into a total body brace coupled with over-reactive flinching at my slightest movement. I was really the predator on his back! By now, I realised I needed to get off or there would be a big explosion coming.
Exasperated, I got off thinking I would just have to bloody well get D to lead down through the woods! Uh uh, D was not having that either! I got further on foot but I could see him become increasingly spooky to the point where he was about to turn back and bugger off.
Totally frustrated, I admitted defeat and turned back. D was high-tailed all the way home, he couldn't wait to get back. I used up his energy with some nice sideways but it all felt hollow. After turning him loose, I had a bloody good bawl. I have never been so frustrated with Duncan as I was then. My overwhelming thoughts were "I am SO BORED with D's fear. I'm so frustrated that D still doesn't trust me. I just want him to be a normal horse!"
Philpots Manor
The background is that, in the same week that all this was happening, I was offered a job at the above venue as a weekend groom. Initially, I was going to be required to work all through the summer hols (twice a day). I realised there would be no way I could fit D in and do this work but I really wanted to do the job. Philpots agreed that I might be able to take Duncs there and I discussed this with S who agreed he could go there for a short while - prob just 4 weeks of the hols.
This holiday work is not now required but, in any case, after the above incident, I realised that I was in cloud-cuckoo land thinking I could take D there and do anything useful in a month. He would be crippled by insecurity away from his new herd members as he still does NOT see me as the Alpha. To think - I had imagined me trit-trotting round the school when he was so fearful just across the road in J's arena. I had imagined us taking advantage of the fabulous hacking - when he can't even go into the woods on his home turf alone. Wise up, Lucy, your imagination needs a huge reality check! Only a few months before I had hoped we might be going to dressage events but again, the reality is nowhere near.
Coming to a Decision and Enlightenment
Things were coming to a head. It had crossed my mind (just before that fateful eve) that I might have to give D up in favour of my PM work - at least for a while. Or I wondered if God had other plans for me now, possibly involving one of the PM horses. In my heart however, I still was not ready to give up on Duncan, I had just got to a big of a road-block. Then I spoke to Elisa......
I poured it all out and she said a very strange thing (considering she is not horsey at all and knows very little about Parelli!) "Do you think this is about Duncan or your commitment to Parelli?" Bam! It hit me between the eyes. E carried on talking - about what I don't remember because my mind was buzzing with what she'd just said!
Yes, that was my problem! I had to apologise for not hearing a word she'd just said and go back to the prophetic line! My problem is that "It's not about the" hacking, "it's not about the" schooling, "it's not about the" competing. It IS about the fact that Duncan does not trust me as his leader. I have been advised by a number of Parelli professionals to get him to level 3 on the ground but I have ignore this advice because I wanted to cut corners and I suppose I thought I knew better. Mainly, I wanted to ride!
I felt like shouting "Eureka" "Thanks God!" and a great weight was lifted off me there and then. In fact, I felt a bit euphoric (enormous relief probably!) That's what I would do....I would work towards level 3 on-line and liberty before going back to riding alone.
Luckily, I can continue hacking with S as D is a different horse when he's with Moet (so that's what it could be like when I've finally earned his respect and trust). Ideally this would be twice a week instead of once - but it's something.
Right, break here for a cup of tea. Phew!
I am putting all the above aside now as I really want to get caught up before my Parelli workshop on Saturday. I shall not bother with dates but just try to put events in a rough chronological order!
Right! So.....after I fell off in the school, I had the most awful experience a few days later.
Disastrous last hack alone!
During the day, I had a heart-rending (for me!) talk with S about my and D's future ( see below). Ironically, when I went up in the eve, I couldn't wait to see D and felt a bit weepy. Aha, Cesar would say, I did not have the right energy to start with!! I decided to take D down the road and ride a bit. He was a bit reluctant probably reflecting his growing lack of confidence.
When I got to the woods entrance on the right, I started to prepare for mounting and approached the gate. D said "Oh no thank you!" and would not line up for me to get on. I thought "Bugger this! I'm going to behave like a normal person today and just get on anyway!" I lined D up the other way and scrambled on. I was pointing into the woods and D quickly turned around and tried to go home. I tried to just wait it out but he got so uptight he began RB pawing and nodding his head.
Relenting a bit, I thought I'd ride him towards home a bit to get his confidence then turn back again. This failed spectacularly as he got so uptight he refused to move, went into a total body brace coupled with over-reactive flinching at my slightest movement. I was really the predator on his back! By now, I realised I needed to get off or there would be a big explosion coming.
Exasperated, I got off thinking I would just have to bloody well get D to lead down through the woods! Uh uh, D was not having that either! I got further on foot but I could see him become increasingly spooky to the point where he was about to turn back and bugger off.
Totally frustrated, I admitted defeat and turned back. D was high-tailed all the way home, he couldn't wait to get back. I used up his energy with some nice sideways but it all felt hollow. After turning him loose, I had a bloody good bawl. I have never been so frustrated with Duncan as I was then. My overwhelming thoughts were "I am SO BORED with D's fear. I'm so frustrated that D still doesn't trust me. I just want him to be a normal horse!"
Philpots Manor
The background is that, in the same week that all this was happening, I was offered a job at the above venue as a weekend groom. Initially, I was going to be required to work all through the summer hols (twice a day). I realised there would be no way I could fit D in and do this work but I really wanted to do the job. Philpots agreed that I might be able to take Duncs there and I discussed this with S who agreed he could go there for a short while - prob just 4 weeks of the hols.
This holiday work is not now required but, in any case, after the above incident, I realised that I was in cloud-cuckoo land thinking I could take D there and do anything useful in a month. He would be crippled by insecurity away from his new herd members as he still does NOT see me as the Alpha. To think - I had imagined me trit-trotting round the school when he was so fearful just across the road in J's arena. I had imagined us taking advantage of the fabulous hacking - when he can't even go into the woods on his home turf alone. Wise up, Lucy, your imagination needs a huge reality check! Only a few months before I had hoped we might be going to dressage events but again, the reality is nowhere near.
Coming to a Decision and Enlightenment
Things were coming to a head. It had crossed my mind (just before that fateful eve) that I might have to give D up in favour of my PM work - at least for a while. Or I wondered if God had other plans for me now, possibly involving one of the PM horses. In my heart however, I still was not ready to give up on Duncan, I had just got to a big of a road-block. Then I spoke to Elisa......
I poured it all out and she said a very strange thing (considering she is not horsey at all and knows very little about Parelli!) "Do you think this is about Duncan or your commitment to Parelli?" Bam! It hit me between the eyes. E carried on talking - about what I don't remember because my mind was buzzing with what she'd just said!
Yes, that was my problem! I had to apologise for not hearing a word she'd just said and go back to the prophetic line! My problem is that "It's not about the" hacking, "it's not about the" schooling, "it's not about the" competing. It IS about the fact that Duncan does not trust me as his leader. I have been advised by a number of Parelli professionals to get him to level 3 on the ground but I have ignore this advice because I wanted to cut corners and I suppose I thought I knew better. Mainly, I wanted to ride!
I felt like shouting "Eureka" "Thanks God!" and a great weight was lifted off me there and then. In fact, I felt a bit euphoric (enormous relief probably!) That's what I would do....I would work towards level 3 on-line and liberty before going back to riding alone.
Luckily, I can continue hacking with S as D is a different horse when he's with Moet (so that's what it could be like when I've finally earned his respect and trust). Ideally this would be twice a week instead of once - but it's something.
Right, break here for a cup of tea. Phew!
Thursday 20 May 2010
Ride no 34 - I fell off again! In the school
Thurs 20th May 2010
Oh dear. I fell off again! Actually, I'm not bothered about falling off but I was very disappointed when I saw how nervous Duncs was afterwards and again found myself wishing he was more straight forward and a bit daunted at the work ahead! However, through this blog, I am starting to recognise a pattern in my own behaviour (aha - Light Bulb moment!)
w
1. I hit a seemingly HUGE problem and start "Stinkin Thinkin (as Fly Lady says!). Today it was "D needs to do this every day, he needs more extreme Friendly Game, he's always going to be unreliable, I'm never going to have the time and resources to do this!"
2. I feel a bit crap and sorry for myself, maybe even for a few days. Think about giving up.
3. I think through the problem and start to think of ways to tackle it, call on past experience
4. I get determined that I'm not going to be beaten/give up!
The positive thing that I'm recognising is that I'm getting through these phases faster! Phew!
I'll start from the beginning. I went over to use J's school (marvellous!) and did quite a bit online. touch it, circling, weave. Lots of ponies about for D to look at which eh coped with very well. I felt very confident when I got on and Duncs went round taking things in his stride. We did PTP to start with then follow the rail (predictably fell in on the right rein). Lots of halt, back-up, flexing, disengaging. All Good.
Then, I trotted. Now, this may have been the turning point in D's confidence levels. I didn't notice!! We then went over to two bottles on a pedestal and D sniffed them as he had a number of times already.
As we walked away, D brushed a bottle with his tail or back end and it fell. He leapt forward in a way I'm starting to recognise. It's like a fighting bull or a bronc coming out of the stalls. They put their heads down and, with a huge push from behind, leap forwards with their heads down. There was a moment when I thought I was staying on but D put in another leap and I knew I was a goner! Rightly or not, I held on tight as I fell and as he shied at my falling body, he would have got a sock in the teeth. I did then let go before being dragged but i think that was enough to stop him farting off round the school. He took another jump sideways and stood looking at me!
Now, I actually felt fine. I hurt my left ring finger where my rings had squashed it and my right arm had been tugged but it was a lovely soft landing. What's more, I'm pleased to say I didn't feel nervous about getting back on. However, Duncs was not in the same frame of mind!!
As has been reported about his past behaviour, the rider falling off really rattles him and he didn't want to stand at the block for me to get back on. He was fidgeting about, wouldn't come alongside and, even when I put the block next to him, he moved away. I ran my stirrups up and trotted him up and down to get him moving. Ideally I would have put him back on-line but I didn't have time and I really wanted to get back on.
I got back on, no worries and D was "OK" but he was now hypersensitive and nervous. He spooked at a few things where he hadn't before and when I made a sucking noise (on my sore finger) he shuddered. I actually stopped then and rubbed madly while giving him a bit of a ticking off! I went round and about doing circles and keeping it all low-key but unfortunately, he didn't relax properly before I had to leave the school - although he was fine when I got off!! Ideally, I would have ridden round until he got pretty bored. Next time I need to ride earlier so I have spare time to work through issues.
I spoke to S soon after and was rather frustrated at how nervous D still is. She pointed out that I may never change that which, although true, was not what I wanted to hear! Actually, I think it can be changed but maybe not by me!!! We'll see.
Anyway, I've now got my thinking cap on and am wondering if I actually need to ride D forward a lot harder when he's nervous. I haven't as it's not what I would do with an unfit horse but I think tootling about is not a good thing for Duncs when he's in that frame of mind. What I would have done with Ollie was get into sitting trot and trot, bend, trot, bend, half halt, forward, back until he was dizzy with all my commands and, by then, forgotten about the spooky thing!
There's only one way to find out! I had a chat with J afterwards who was sympathetic and hopefully will let me use the school more frequently. I'm likely to have to slow down on my dressage dreams but I will see how we go in the next week.
Oh dear. I fell off again! Actually, I'm not bothered about falling off but I was very disappointed when I saw how nervous Duncs was afterwards and again found myself wishing he was more straight forward and a bit daunted at the work ahead! However, through this blog, I am starting to recognise a pattern in my own behaviour (aha - Light Bulb moment!)
w
1. I hit a seemingly HUGE problem and start "Stinkin Thinkin (as Fly Lady says!). Today it was "D needs to do this every day, he needs more extreme Friendly Game, he's always going to be unreliable, I'm never going to have the time and resources to do this!"
2. I feel a bit crap and sorry for myself, maybe even for a few days. Think about giving up.
3. I think through the problem and start to think of ways to tackle it, call on past experience
4. I get determined that I'm not going to be beaten/give up!
The positive thing that I'm recognising is that I'm getting through these phases faster! Phew!
I'll start from the beginning. I went over to use J's school (marvellous!) and did quite a bit online. touch it, circling, weave. Lots of ponies about for D to look at which eh coped with very well. I felt very confident when I got on and Duncs went round taking things in his stride. We did PTP to start with then follow the rail (predictably fell in on the right rein). Lots of halt, back-up, flexing, disengaging. All Good.
Then, I trotted. Now, this may have been the turning point in D's confidence levels. I didn't notice!! We then went over to two bottles on a pedestal and D sniffed them as he had a number of times already.
As we walked away, D brushed a bottle with his tail or back end and it fell. He leapt forward in a way I'm starting to recognise. It's like a fighting bull or a bronc coming out of the stalls. They put their heads down and, with a huge push from behind, leap forwards with their heads down. There was a moment when I thought I was staying on but D put in another leap and I knew I was a goner! Rightly or not, I held on tight as I fell and as he shied at my falling body, he would have got a sock in the teeth. I did then let go before being dragged but i think that was enough to stop him farting off round the school. He took another jump sideways and stood looking at me!
Now, I actually felt fine. I hurt my left ring finger where my rings had squashed it and my right arm had been tugged but it was a lovely soft landing. What's more, I'm pleased to say I didn't feel nervous about getting back on. However, Duncs was not in the same frame of mind!!
As has been reported about his past behaviour, the rider falling off really rattles him and he didn't want to stand at the block for me to get back on. He was fidgeting about, wouldn't come alongside and, even when I put the block next to him, he moved away. I ran my stirrups up and trotted him up and down to get him moving. Ideally I would have put him back on-line but I didn't have time and I really wanted to get back on.
I got back on, no worries and D was "OK" but he was now hypersensitive and nervous. He spooked at a few things where he hadn't before and when I made a sucking noise (on my sore finger) he shuddered. I actually stopped then and rubbed madly while giving him a bit of a ticking off! I went round and about doing circles and keeping it all low-key but unfortunately, he didn't relax properly before I had to leave the school - although he was fine when I got off!! Ideally, I would have ridden round until he got pretty bored. Next time I need to ride earlier so I have spare time to work through issues.
I spoke to S soon after and was rather frustrated at how nervous D still is. She pointed out that I may never change that which, although true, was not what I wanted to hear! Actually, I think it can be changed but maybe not by me!!! We'll see.
Anyway, I've now got my thinking cap on and am wondering if I actually need to ride D forward a lot harder when he's nervous. I haven't as it's not what I would do with an unfit horse but I think tootling about is not a good thing for Duncs when he's in that frame of mind. What I would have done with Ollie was get into sitting trot and trot, bend, trot, bend, half halt, forward, back until he was dizzy with all my commands and, by then, forgotten about the spooky thing!
There's only one way to find out! I had a chat with J afterwards who was sympathetic and hopefully will let me use the school more frequently. I'm likely to have to slow down on my dressage dreams but I will see how we go in the next week.
Ride no 33 - Scarletts Lake. Stiff..
Weds 19th May 2010
On board at last! Walked out and D was full of the joys. He was trotting down hills and pulling out in front going up to Shepherds Grove. He was good to get on and very good on the ride but boy was he stiff!
Duncs' back felt like a plank of wood which I think was because he's wasn't stepping through from behind. He felt very crooked too with a tendency to lean on the left rein. Thinking back, he was like this when I first started riding him and I wasn't sure if it was a suppleness problem or emotional tension. I'm now sure it's a suppleness problem but I'm sure it can be overcome. He was going very nicely before the lay off but of course only in walk and intermittently well in trot. True to expectation from the walk, D's trot was back to the choppy head-up style. This is why he is reluctant to canter I'm sure, both on-line and ridden. Same as Ollie, another little bit of history repeating!
On the way back, I did not go on the lead rein for the road and was ahead when a HUGE car transporter came past within an inch of our nose. I thought "keep calm, keep calm!" and kept D's nose pointing towards it as it came. He shied but not too far (fence in the way but if he'd been totally RB I'm sure that wouldn't have stopped him). After that, he was rather keen to get back and my brakes and steering were not the best. We wandered into the road into oncoming traffic but luckily all was well - the fleuros helped!
On board at last! Walked out and D was full of the joys. He was trotting down hills and pulling out in front going up to Shepherds Grove. He was good to get on and very good on the ride but boy was he stiff!
Duncs' back felt like a plank of wood which I think was because he's wasn't stepping through from behind. He felt very crooked too with a tendency to lean on the left rein. Thinking back, he was like this when I first started riding him and I wasn't sure if it was a suppleness problem or emotional tension. I'm now sure it's a suppleness problem but I'm sure it can be overcome. He was going very nicely before the lay off but of course only in walk and intermittently well in trot. True to expectation from the walk, D's trot was back to the choppy head-up style. This is why he is reluctant to canter I'm sure, both on-line and ridden. Same as Ollie, another little bit of history repeating!
On the way back, I did not go on the lead rein for the road and was ahead when a HUGE car transporter came past within an inch of our nose. I thought "keep calm, keep calm!" and kept D's nose pointing towards it as it came. He shied but not too far (fence in the way but if he'd been totally RB I'm sure that wouldn't have stopped him). After that, he was rather keen to get back and my brakes and steering were not the best. We wandered into the road into oncoming traffic but luckily all was well - the fleuros helped!
Walk on-line
Mon 17th May 2010
Duncs was looking pretty OK on his feet but I thought I'd take him out on-line & possibly jump on if he looked OK. Most of the time he looked fine but there were a few "Ouch" moments - which he does have if his feet are a bit sore generally.
I didn't ride however. D was so high spirited and I hadn't ridden for a couple of weeks so I thought it would be sensible to wait and ride when a) he'd had a good bit of exercise first b) we were on the roads where he's less whizzy and c) with Sharon.
We went into the woods on the right and back through some different paths. D got a bit nervous off the beaten track but was so keen to be out, he didn't have time to think about too much!
Got some nice sideways going home.
Duncs was looking pretty OK on his feet but I thought I'd take him out on-line & possibly jump on if he looked OK. Most of the time he looked fine but there were a few "Ouch" moments - which he does have if his feet are a bit sore generally.
I didn't ride however. D was so high spirited and I hadn't ridden for a couple of weeks so I thought it would be sensible to wait and ride when a) he'd had a good bit of exercise first b) we were on the roads where he's less whizzy and c) with Sharon.
We went into the woods on the right and back through some different paths. D got a bit nervous off the beaten track but was so keen to be out, he didn't have time to think about too much!
Got some nice sideways going home.
Undemanding time. Rough Play!
Sun 16th May 2010
Went up in the evening, poo-picked & scratched (D, not myself!). Went up earlier in the week too and had a scratching session.
Very interesting... Duncs came over to investigate me and I gave him a leftover from my pocket. He went back to grazing but when Moet ventured a bit too close, D was at him, chasing him off quite hard. Both of them cantered about and came too close to me. I tried a bit of liberty to get him out of my space but D wanted to play - and play rough!
I quickly decided that it was not a good idea to "play" with Duncs as he reared up and struck out - PP I am not! Anyway, it was a "how interesting" moment as Duncs treated me like his property or should I say, one of his subordinates. I don't think it means I'm not the Alpha at any time (putting aside other evidence for a moment!) as he does it to Moet too, who is the Alpha of the two of them. Maybe it's just high spirits. Shows me I still don't know a lot about horse behaviour anyway!
Went up in the evening, poo-picked & scratched (D, not myself!). Went up earlier in the week too and had a scratching session.
Very interesting... Duncs came over to investigate me and I gave him a leftover from my pocket. He went back to grazing but when Moet ventured a bit too close, D was at him, chasing him off quite hard. Both of them cantered about and came too close to me. I tried a bit of liberty to get him out of my space but D wanted to play - and play rough!
I quickly decided that it was not a good idea to "play" with Duncs as he reared up and struck out - PP I am not! Anyway, it was a "how interesting" moment as Duncs treated me like his property or should I say, one of his subordinates. I don't think it means I'm not the Alpha at any time (putting aside other evidence for a moment!) as he does it to Moet too, who is the Alpha of the two of them. Maybe it's just high spirits. Shows me I still don't know a lot about horse behaviour anyway!
Wednesday 12 May 2010
Duncan's lame! Thresholds explained by LP. Don't let him stay there too long!
Mon 10th May 2010
Having mentally committed to 29th May dressage, taken courage to ask J if I could use her school - she said yes!! Got tacked up ready to go and use said school, I found poor D was hopping lame on his off-fore! Looks like an abscess brewing.
Disappointed but not surprised. He seems prone to them in the summer. They usually resolve themselves but it could take a couple of weeks. I've been hoping he won't get one right before something important like my Parelli course days so, maybe he's getting it out of the way now! We can always put the dressage back. Next one is 12th June.
Just found some fab stuff on Linda Parelli's blog about thresholds. I'm sure she won't mind me copying them in here to remind me what I need to do - or what not to do! Slightly alter to fit all scenarios as she is talking about trailer loading but it applies to everything!
1. It has to be the horse’s idea to cross the threshold, don’t push him over it in any way or you destroy trust and confidence.
2. Making him uncomfortable outside of the trailer only causes a horse to load into the trailer to get away from that rather than having him really want to be in the trailer. That’s why we don’t use that approach. It certainly would not be using Love, Language and Leadership!
3. “The next move is his”. So once he’s at the threshold, we WAIT until he does something – either moves forwards or wants to come out again. And if he stays there too long, we bring him out and simply ask him to reapproach.
4. Never push him forwards once he’s stopped, you can only encourage his thoughts otherwise you are forcing the horse. The bottom line is that the horse has to be able to TRUST that you won’t push him “over the cliff”, that you will allow it to be his decision to go there. When you can do that, your horse will try his heart out for you. He will trust you and feel safe with you, and the effects will be felt in everything else you do with him too. Anyone can force a horse to get in, the real art is in helping him to develop the confidence to load himself.
Wow! That's really got me thinking again about Duncan's thresholds. When he stops, I watch his expression to see when he's ready to move forward of his own accord or is confident enough to be directed. He will either look soft in the eye or grumpy! I know I don't get it right all the time - Duncan tells me so! - so this is a good reminder for me.
Actually, re 3 above, I have been doing "don't let him stay there too long" without realising why. I've been asking D to back up, disengage or flex but NOT go forward. Fantastic, this is answering all the questions I had floating around. In fact, I'd emailed Kat asking her for a synopsis of what was covered in a "what to do when my horse is unconfident" session they had on a recent course. Whoopie do! Now, here's the funny thing. If D hadn't been lame, I wouldn't be sitting here writing my blog (now Weds), I'd be riding but probably not figuring things out the way I am now.
Every cloud has a silver lining....!
Having mentally committed to 29th May dressage, taken courage to ask J if I could use her school - she said yes!! Got tacked up ready to go and use said school, I found poor D was hopping lame on his off-fore! Looks like an abscess brewing.
Disappointed but not surprised. He seems prone to them in the summer. They usually resolve themselves but it could take a couple of weeks. I've been hoping he won't get one right before something important like my Parelli course days so, maybe he's getting it out of the way now! We can always put the dressage back. Next one is 12th June.
Just found some fab stuff on Linda Parelli's blog about thresholds. I'm sure she won't mind me copying them in here to remind me what I need to do - or what not to do! Slightly alter to fit all scenarios as she is talking about trailer loading but it applies to everything!
1. It has to be the horse’s idea to cross the threshold, don’t push him over it in any way or you destroy trust and confidence.
2. Making him uncomfortable outside of the trailer only causes a horse to load into the trailer to get away from that rather than having him really want to be in the trailer. That’s why we don’t use that approach. It certainly would not be using Love, Language and Leadership!
3. “The next move is his”. So once he’s at the threshold, we WAIT until he does something – either moves forwards or wants to come out again. And if he stays there too long, we bring him out and simply ask him to reapproach.
4. Never push him forwards once he’s stopped, you can only encourage his thoughts otherwise you are forcing the horse. The bottom line is that the horse has to be able to TRUST that you won’t push him “over the cliff”, that you will allow it to be his decision to go there. When you can do that, your horse will try his heart out for you. He will trust you and feel safe with you, and the effects will be felt in everything else you do with him too. Anyone can force a horse to get in, the real art is in helping him to develop the confidence to load himself.
Wow! That's really got me thinking again about Duncan's thresholds. When he stops, I watch his expression to see when he's ready to move forward of his own accord or is confident enough to be directed. He will either look soft in the eye or grumpy! I know I don't get it right all the time - Duncan tells me so! - so this is a good reminder for me.
Actually, re 3 above, I have been doing "don't let him stay there too long" without realising why. I've been asking D to back up, disengage or flex but NOT go forward. Fantastic, this is answering all the questions I had floating around. In fact, I'd emailed Kat asking her for a synopsis of what was covered in a "what to do when my horse is unconfident" session they had on a recent course. Whoopie do! Now, here's the funny thing. If D hadn't been lame, I wouldn't be sitting here writing my blog (now Weds), I'd be riding but probably not figuring things out the way I am now.
Every cloud has a silver lining....!
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