Notes summary 09 and Jan-Aug 2010

Learning: Notes from 09 & jan-aug blogs/clinic notes

All
General
So much of horsemanship is about me—my fitness mentally, emotionally and physically and being a “better” self for my horse. Thus, the benefits are obvious of preparing my frame of mind: such as relaxation and visualization before heading out to the barn, using touching and loving Try as a means to be relaxed and centered, focused and self assessment when I get home—how did it go today?

This brings together learning from past experiences such as the concept of Fear vs. Love. When all I feel is love—that lovely warm, cozy “buzz.”, the session at the barn with Try is guaranteed to be wonderful. Conversely, any negativity on my part is fear driven and going to affect my relationship with Try. Love promotes awareness on a greater level of what both of us are thinking and feeling. Love promotes the freedom of joy, improvisation and my confidence. Negativity or fear: examples are feeling adversarial toward Try—that I must win, or direct line—I must win now. Another example is negative self talk –i.e. that I have failed by not achieving whatever goal.

Some strategies that may help include constant conscious awareness of where I am on the love/fear scale. The same depth of awareness of what Try is feeling. Relaxation and friendly for us both, dwell time, grazing, passenger time, grooming and bathing, doing the opposite of the expected. Also acting class repetition game to help me be aware of both of us on a deeper level, watching my facial expression—does it say “You are so beautiful, I just want to give you a big hug”? Another is focus on light cueing, how light is light, make vs. want and ambassador of yes. Also what is fun for Try?—eating, showing off, new learning, new places and sometimes exuberant movement or just hanging out and being rubbed. Or, what are we going to do today that is new?

Specifics
1. Good deal/sweet spot
2. Variety and transitions prevent assumptions
3. Energy/focus
4. Slow warmup—wait for the sign that she is ready to do more
5. Wait for the connection
6. Playing in the field/stop and eat grass
7. Stay with it til see the improvement
8. Transitions with in gaits—online, liberty, riding stick to me
9. Lick and chew
10. Staying neutral
11. Ribs on the circle
12. Patterns laminate and mark em off as I do em
 
On the ground

General45’ line in the field—big moving energy improve variety Playing in the field stick to me at a distance, run to a spot, circle to a spot, change of diection, band and draw, sideways, change gait, music Staying neutral

Friendly dwell time and extensive, put in the time until Try releases tension and relaxes.

Porcupine Remember to use phases Lead by the leg porcupine Soft porky head down

Driving Front end flick fingers Wait for hq yield from a look, left side/right side, Dance 360 hq to fq—intensity
Driving with one rein, Change of direction various

Yoyo flick for phase 4 variation; canter yoyos Back to inc draw on line, check soft yield coming forward with good ears

Circling Circling: step out on the send, bring back diseng in opposite direction, do not allow her to come to me with ears pinned, rope on the ground, quit when Try has a good attitude, Falling leaf and S ,good send, Add obstacles to circling game et al, Spin and go, canter around a tree

Sideways Sideways toward on the other side Sideways towards from farther away sideways butt behind

Squeeze Jumps for relaxation—put on list for dan

Patterns Change of direction in stick to me, back up draw and redirect changing sides?? Stick to me turns use line before stick Mirror her, stick to who Stick to me halt back canter puts wt on haunches

Cutting game Stick to me canter yoyos to get try on her haunches Figure 8 super friendly look on the back up Weave: back or sidepass?? Weave popper and back up and point

Other The ball
Swing western saddle
4 feet on pedestal Lay down, bow
Mount from the neck
Lift leg and hold 30 sec
Hold the tongue
Teats—carrot stick
Tilt head/haltering
Do back feet from one side

Liberty
Watch may mastery dvd liberty again, bigger spaces i.e. the ring, Draw
 
Riding
Focus up
Apply Linda’s finesse physicality
Bareback canter
6 laps of no stirrups
Canter in all saddles and be able to find a good rhythm relaxation
Lateral flexion say I love you 3x
Pilates for dressage
Sally Swift: soft yes breath core alignment
Tenshun, at ease

7 step soft feel
Indirect rein light feel
Partial disengagement
Bend on the circle
Warmup: walk, passenger
Ride in the field with hills for conditioning
Try relaxation after canter/quiet, slow stuff after canter etc

Coming off the rail or going to the barn—
The gate
Bow ties
Jumps
Reining

Does try care which saddle I use? Which bit?
Walking off when mount
Mount from the neck
Mount from the fence—sideways towards
Swing western saddle
Lay down to mount
Walking off when mounting

Goals, Dreams

Welcome Home! In one of her clinics Carol Coppinger told us a story about how she greets her horses after being away for awhile -- with exuberance and joy and the horses running to her. And I remember thinking -- boy, that will be the day when my horse does that!

Today after returning from a ten-day absence I went to the field to let my mid-20s Left Brain Introvert catch me. He catches me very nicely thanks to Parelli and today I was expecting the same nice catch that almost always occurs at a walk. Presto and his buddy were grazing way out in the pasture.

When I got about 20 steps into the field up came his head and I waved as I always do. He immediately began walking briskly (usually it's more of a sashay), so I mirrored him by walking briskly toward him. He began trotting; I trotted. He cantered with spirit and so did I until we met. He gave his low whinny greeting and put his head right at my chest! This is the first time ever that my horse CANTERED to me and you can imagine how thrilled I am!

I have held that story of Carol's as perhaps an unrealizable dream given my horse's personality, but thanks to Parelli that dream has become a reality. —Joyce Cross, Level 3 student, Alexandria, VA, USA

10 Qualities of a Horseman

Heart & Desire
Respect
Impulsion
Flexion
Attitude
Feel
Timing
Balance
Savvy
Experience

The three laws of parelli

The three laws of parelli

1. Put the relationship first.
2. Develop in 4 savvys.
3. Never ending self-improvement.

Parelli Eight Principles

#1 Horsemanship is natural.
#2 Make no assumptions.
#3 Communication is two or more individuals sharing and understanding an idea.
#4 The eight responsibilities of a Partnership.

There are four responsibilities for the human: 1. Don’t act like a predator. Become more mentally,emotionally and physically fit. 2. Have an independent seat. 3. Think like a horse–man. 4. Use the natural power of focus.

And four for the horse: 1. Don’t act like a prey animal. Become more mentally,emotionally and physically fit. 2. Don’t change gait. 3. Don’t change direction. 4. Look where you are going.

#5 The attitude of justice is effective.
#6 Body language is universal.
#7 Horses teach riders, riders teach horses.
#8 Principles, purpose and time are the tools of teaching.
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