Prince: Another breakthrough!!

Sept 27 2010

Prince and I had a really good play session and ride today. We had a lot breakthroughs too!! We started with some Liberty with mom and Knightly. Knightly wanted to run and play so we sent the horses out around the riding ring. The goal was 1-2 laps around the riding at the canter with out breaking gait or changing direction. They both did well. After that we backed the horses between some barrels while we each stood in a tire then after a little rest we brought them back in to us. Prince did really well and didn't leave. He wasn't sure what I wanted when I asked him to come to me because normally I back up a step or two and he will come so that is something we shall have to play with!!

Then I had to figure out a new shimming pattern for my saddle. So we did that next. My mom was able to help with that also and we figured something out that I think might just work! Prince seems to like it so that is the most important thing. I might need to change of the shims around a little but that is about it I think.

Then we went Online and did Stick to me at w/t/c, Prince picked up the correct leads EVERY SINGLE TIME!!! I was amazed! Even to the left he picked it up no problem! Another thing I noticed was that Prince's canter was slower and more relaxed!! Then we did circles at the canter again Prince picked up the correct leads each time but our connection wasn't so great. So we had to play with that. But Prince found it pretty quickly. I was just really happy that Prince picked up the correct leads! It was really amazing. He looked so comfortable! We played around a bit with jumping some single barrels. Prince even offered to jump on with me in zone 5!! He has never done that before so it was really cool!

While we were riding we mostly did Follow the rail and transitions. We started with getting Prince more relaxed at the trot. He found a nice slow trot which was really nice so then when I asked for the canter Prince was relaxed and went nicely into the canter. It was only for about two posts so that would be about 16ft but I rewarded that because he went into it nicely, came out of it calm and relaxed and picked up the correct lead. We did a couple more of those and each time Prince would pick up the canter at a lighter phase, canter for longer and was still relaxed going in and coming out of the canter. Each time, no matter how far he cantered I would reward it then we would start again.

After the third time or so though Prince started assuming that I wanted the canter at that particular spot so I had to switch it up a bit. I started asking him to canter at a couple different spots and Prince did really, really well. I was so happy! The new shimming pattern really seems to be making a difference!! Prince didn't miss any of the leads! That was going to the right so I was interested to see how going to the left would go.

At first Prince would pick up the canter but for only a short distance. But I was happy with it and rewarded it because he was cantering on the correct lead. Then on the third of fourth time I asked for the canter a little early, we have a tree that is hanging over part of the fence and normally I don't ask for the canter until after we are past that but this time I was a bit early and something on my saddle hit on the tree. Nothing got caught but Prince broke gait for a stride or so but then picked it back up again and gave me the most beautiful canter to the left, on the left lead and we cantered from the tree which is about the half way point in the riding ring on the long side of the fence and we cantered all the way a long the fence to the small gate so not quite half of the riding ring but almost. What was really cool too was that Prince stayed a long the rail and before he had a really hard time doing that, he would cut it off and come off the rail. So it was really amazing. Prince was nice and relaxed when I asked him to stop and I got off right after that. That was huge for us!!

After that we spent some undemanding time. Prince didn't want to leave so I scratched him and he still didn't want to leave so we just hung out for a bit before I went and haltered Twosox.

I was so proud of Prince! I still can't believe how well it went. I think the thing that made the major difference is that I rewarded the slightest try, whether it was Prince going into the canter at a light phase, or Prince just cantered a couple strides. I rewarded it and Prince started relaxing and putting a lot more effort into cantering. It was really amazing!!

Naturally,
~Keri

Ruffian: Simple but interesting.

Sept 27 2010

Ruffian and I had so much fun today when we played. We started out with the Weave at the walk. Ruffian kept the belly of the rope on the ground the whole time and he was responding so well to just my body. It was really cool! For Ruffian to be that light is really an improvement for us. 

Then we did something a little bit different and I asked Ruffian to circle at a trot and jump the barrels that were in the middle of the riding ring. My goal was 4 laps and 4 jumps. Ruffian did well once he figured out what I wanted. He was really trying hard. One time though he decided not to jump and go between me and the barrels, I almost caught it but was just a little late and the rope got caught between his legs. He stopped instead of running off so I started walking in an arc out of zone 5 and to get the rope but he moved a little and the rope dragging really scared him. He galloped around the riding ring twice, all I could do was pray that he wouldn't crash through the rails because that would have been a disaster. But I was able to put some pressure (just a little bit) towards zone 1/2 and Ruffian trotted over to me. Praise the Lord!! 

After Ruffian calmed down we went back over to the barrels and continue. Ruffian didn't try to get away again so I am pretty sure that it was just an unfortunate event and not something he planned :)  Ruffian did the circles really well and jumped each time really nicely. So I brought him in and we chilled for a bit before moving on. 

I was really impressed at how well Ruffian was doing. He was willing to go but also willing to stop and just hang out. He also didn't go internal, even when I had to get to a higher phase so that was really neat also. 

We then played with the ball. Ruffian wasn't really sure what to do with it. So I asked him to push it for a little ways and then I just asked him to do something, anything, with it. After a bit he started asking questions and playing with it. It was really fun to watch. I then took the halter off and went and sat on the barrel. I wanted to see if Ruffian would do anything with it by himself. He tried scratching on it and then he pushed it around a bit. Where ever he went, the ball went. 

Then we finished up with some undemanding time and then I played with Prince! Ruffian did really well. It is so important though that I have a clear plan. I just can't go out and see what happens. Ruffian needs me to be a strong leader, yes we can still play and have fun but he needs to know that I am the leader and he is the follower. What is it that Mr. Parelli says... "Horses are natural followers looking for natural leaders" If I am not the leader Ruffian will be. It is either him or I. There is no in between! But then aren't all horses like that? Every horse wants a leader!! But each horse needs a different kind of leader!

Naturally,

~Keri

Prince: Respect, Impulsion and Flexion

Sept 22 2010

Prince and I had a really good playtime and ride today. We did some things a little bit differently than normal but it was good because I was able to test my savvy in some small ways. 

Prince and I went up to the riding ring at Liberty and I decided to stay at Liberty for a while and see what we could get done. What was interesting is that normally I don't play with Prince at Liberty at the beginning of our sessions so it was interesting to see how it was different. He stayed with me the whole time but he wasn't really putting effort into doing anything. He wasn't offering things and he was just kind of waiting for me to tell him what to do. 

So we went up to a barrel and I just wanted Prince to do something. So after a while of playing there we went and did some sideways from tire to tire, Weave at the walk and trot (our first time of trying it at the trot and Prince did amazingly well!), Figure eights, Stick to me at the walk/trot/canter and back-up. Prince picked up the correct leads almost 100% of the time! It was really amazing! 

The whole time we were playing at Liberty my goal was to get Prince motivated. At first he wasn't very motivated and he wasn't putting effort into what I was asking, even though he was doing what I asked. But with in 10-15 minutes Prince was way more motivated and he was putting a lot of effort into what I asked. The look on his face totally changed! It was really amazing!

Then the last thing we did was I sat on a barrel that was standing up on its end and I asked Prince to put me in zone 5. He caught on pretty quickly then we went Online. We refined our Stick to me transitions and got some really nice canter to halt to back up transitions. Then some other really nice, smooth transitions. Prince was so connected and he was picking up the correct leads. We also got some really nice jumping a single barrel. Prince was really willing to try and put a lot of effort into it.

Then I jumped up onto Prince, not to gracefully I will add but I still got up there ;) My plan today was to try cantering Prince bareback and see if he was able to pick up the correct leads. So we started out with some Follow the rail at the walk and trot. Prince was so smooth! Even when he trotted faster he still was comfortable to ride. When I asked for the canter I had to figure out what would be the best way to ask and still keep balanced. It took a couple tries but in the end we got it and Prince cantered  a couple strides. So I rewarded that. It was really easy actually and but the hardest part if asking for the canter but I think we are getting it. Prince did pick up the correct lead which was really nice.

The next time I asked for the canter Prince went into it relaxed, cantered a long ways and when I asked, he came out of it to a nice slow trot and then a stop. It was the most comfortable canter I have ever gotten on Prince and he was so relaxed! It felt wonderful!!

After a long rest, and lick and chew for both Prince and I, we did the Weave at the walk and I only had to use my carrot stick once!! On the way  back to where we started I really tried to use my body and even less of my leg and Prince responded really well. He followed my focus almost perfectly!!

Then we ended by riding down the hill into the corral. It was so much fun riding down the hill bareback! :) Prince stayed with me for a long time after I let him go. But I had to leave and get ready for work so I couldn't stay to long. It was such an amazing playtime though and Prince did so well!!

Naturally,
~Keri

Ruffian: It keeps getting better!

Sept 20 2010

Ruffian was totally amazing today! He was relaxed but had energy, willing to go but also willing to stop. He didn't once try to get away. We did circles in both directions. I have never seen Ruffian circle that well! Talk about rhythm, relaxation and connection!!!

We also played around with jumping two barrels that were side by side, so they were the width of one barrel but twice as wide. Ruffian jumped those really easily so we then did the Weave at the trot, Sideways and then we just hung out. We both had a lot of fun and I was so proud of Ruffian!! He was so confident!! 

Naturally,

~Keri

Prince: Puzzle solving and having fun!

Sept 20 2010

This morning I played with Prince first. I sat in the manger and just hung out for a bit before haltering Prince. We played with some small things too, like sideways towards me with just my body suggesting it and some other things which were really fun. 

Then we went up into the riding ring and we played with yo-yo's for a while. Just getting them lighter and a little faster. We had them really nice but I slacked off a little and so we had to fix them. But once that was going better we then did circles. Prince trotted some really nice circles to the left at the trot. He was so connected and relaxed!! To the right he did well too but they weren't quite as nice as the ones to the left. We also played with our trot to canter transitions. I only had the bareback pad on Prince because I wanted to still ride but I wanted to see if my saddle was causing any of Prince's problems with picking up the correct leads. 

They still weren't perfect but Prince did have a lot easier of the time getting the right lead. He cantered some nice circles to the right also. The left lead was a bit harder but Prince got it after a bit and cantered two laps to the left before I brought him in. So I am still not sure if it is my saddle or that Prince was just more relaxed and was able to get the correct leads but I will continue to test it. 

After that we did some Falling Leaf and then we rode!! I mounted Prince from the ground again. This time it was a lot better. Still not perfect better :) I gave my youngest brother a short ride first. We rode around double with M2 in front of me. We did some Follow the rail and we also went and stood on the pedestal. Then I jumped down and M2 trotted for the first time!! He did so well. He didn't even bounce!! I was just a little bit jealous!! Well... not really but I sure would have liked to have been able to ride a trot that well when I started!! :) 

After M2 got down I jumped back up again and Prince and I rode around brideless with two carrot sticks. He did well and we had a lot of fun!! We started with Follow the rail including small circles at the walk. Prince did very well again and responded to just my body. Then we did some sideways which was really amazing. At first Prince wouldn't really go sideways but would creep forward... his hindquarters were lagging, or his forequarters were running a head. So we played with that and I had to make sure that my body was in the correct position and then Prince got it really fast. It was pretty neat!

Then we played with backing up with just my seat. Prince got so good that at the end he backed three steps backwards with just my seat, no legs or sticks!!! It was soooooo cool!! I was surprised at how fast he caught on. It was incredible!! We then went and rode a Weave pattern at the walk and for 90% of the time he was responding to just my body and it was just on the ends a little bit that I had to support a little bit with my carrot sticks. I really feel that both Prince and I finally "got" it and now we are making leaps and bounds in our riding, things that we had been having a hard time with are now falling into place. I am so proud of Prince!!

We ended with me dismounting over Prince's neck. I asked him to lower it and I slid off. He did so well!! It wasn't quite as smooth as I wanted but that was my fault ;) 

Prince stuck with me even after I let him go so we played at Liberty for a couple minutes. We played with Stick to me and we got some really nice trot to canter transitions!! Prince picked up the correct leads on the second try and coming out of the canter he was relaxed and soft. It was really amazing! 

Then we did sideways towards me, Weaving and Figure eights. Prince did a great job on the Figure eights. He didn't even try to leave! Which was really cool! We did a couple and then stopped because they were just amazing. 

Even after I opened the gate Prince still didn't want to leave so he stayed with me for a bit and then Twosox came into the riding ring so I let him into the side strip of grass to graze and then went to play with Ruffian!!

I was really happy with this playtime and ride. I can see that it will take some effort on both Prince's and my part to get the cantering right but I think we are both up to that challenge!! The main thing I want to remember is to not knock the try out of Prince. He is so willing to try and I have to remember to expect a lot, except a little and reward often!!

Naturally,

~Keri

Prince: LBI on adrenaline...

Sept 18 2010

Prince and I had a really mind opening/ revealing play session today. Prince and I mainly played with circles and leads and lead changes. Prince was having a really hard time getting the left lead. So we played with some drop to trot lead changes and that helped a bit but it still wasn't helping much. 

Going to the right Prince would canter on the correct lead but he wouldn't have any connection. So we have to play with that also. After lots of isolating, separating and recombining I finally realized that Prince wasn't going into the canter calm, cool and collected. He wasn't right brain but he was rushed... and so he was missing the lead and loosing connection. I decided to take everything right down to the walk and see if I could find the underlying issue. One thing I noticed, which was effecting our changes of directions and transitions was that when ever Prince felt any pressure on the halter he would speed up. I think he learned this from the fact that on the circle he gets on adrenaline really easily. He won't be galloping around but he is a LBI on adrenaline none the less.

So at the walk, on about a 15ft circle Prince and I played with our porcupine game. I had to teach Prince that when the pressure was coming out in front of him that meant to speed up, but when the pressure was coming to the side it meant come closer, and when it was going farther back, behind the drive line that meant slow down, or stop. He caught on after a while but I could see the pattern which was pressure = go faster and that wasn't helping my cause any.

Once we got that going better in both directions when ever Prince took the slack out of the line he would feel the pressure on the side and he would put the slack back on the ground. We left it at the walk for today but I think I know what I will need to do next time. 

So one thing that I have decided is that I will not be asking Prince to canter Freestyle until he can pick up the correct leads Online. It isn't fair to him or myself to ask for it because it isn't setting up for success. I am also going to see if any of it has anything to do with my saddle. Because Prince is so wide my Fusion might be restricting him in some way that is causing him to not get the correct leads. I will have lots to think about!!

I did ride Prince after all that. We kept it pretty simple. I rode bridleless again and with two carrot sticks. We did sideways over barrels, back-up's, Follow the rail at the walk and trot with direct reins (just my body no carrot sticks!! We even got a couple at the trot!!!) and Figure eights. Prince did well but he seemed different somehow from yesterday, which leads me to think that it might be my saddle. So when Monday rolls around I think I am going to throw the BB pad on and not put my saddle on and see if that makes a difference. 

Prince spooked again... did I mention that the other day I rode my first BIG spook?? I don't think I did. Prince and I were trotting along and all of a sudden Prince spooks at something in the bushes, does a 90 degree spin and bolts across the riding ring. I was able to bend him and still ride it... which I was pretty impressed about that. I am not 100% sure what it was that Prince spooked at but he wasn't to sure about going near that end again so we did lots of approach and retreat until he could continue on.

Anyway so today Prince and I were riding by the same spot and this time we were doing a small circle to go the other way and something spooks Prince and again, in the same spot and off we go, this time bridleless. I rode that one too and was able to turn Prince and he stopped. I wish I knew what he was that was spooking him. Maybe we shall have to go play over there next time!!!

So yeah. It was an interesting playtime and ride and it definitely left me thinking as I went to work... not that I had much time to think as it was really busy... anyway. I shall definitely let you know what I find and how our next playtime goes!!

Naturally,

~Keri

Twosox: Using the patterns...

Sept 18 2010

Since Twosox and I were in the lead coming home today when we went up to the riding ring he was worried as to where the other horses were, even though they were just in the corral. I knew that I had to gain his focus or else nothing would go well so we started out on the Weave pattern but it was to much of a straight line so we switched to Figure eights, and small ones. Pretty soon Twosox started relaxing and thinking about where he was going and what he was doing and in the end we got some really nice Figure eights! 

Then we went to the Weave and Twosox was much more relaxed. Pretty soon though he became more dominate so I had to change some strategies. Once the Weave was going well and Twosox was trotting it and not missing any tires we stopped. After that we did circles. I was just looking for Rhythm, Relaxation and Connection for one or two laps each way. once Twosox got that we stopped. 

We also did some Backwards "S" at first Twosox wasn't yielding so the porcupine game but by the end he was putting slack in the rope and yielding really nicely. 

The last thing we did was just simple squeezes between me and the fence. At first Twosox couldn't even walk between me and the fence!! It was interesting. I think that might have something to do with his issues with jumping, even though he is quite a bit better now. So we played with that until he could walk between me and the fence and not stop. Then we ended! 

At the end Twosox was calm and relaxed and really focused on what I was asking him to do. It was really nice.

Naturally,

~Keri