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!
Thursday, 18 November 2010
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!
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