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!
Wednesday 23 June 2010
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!
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