Monday, January 11, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Developing curiosity through Undemanding time
I have decided to start spending more undemanding time with my horses.... and cleaning manure up every day doesn't count ;)
I am not sure if I will have a schedule or just fit it in here and there we shall see. So today I took a lawn chair out into the corral and sat down. Twosox was the first one to come over then Ruffy then shortly after Ruffian was Prince. Prince and Ruffian stayed the longest... well they stayed the whole time I was out there. Ruffian started licking my coat and wouldn't stop so I let him lick on. And Prince just hung out with me. He put his head right beside mine and stayed there for the longest time before he started sniffing me. It was so much fun!!!
I think Prince and Ruffian were teaming up on me because at one point they were both literally inches away from me investigating everything. It was neat!!
Well I think I am off to watch the Level 4 Liberty DVD!!
Talk to you later!
~Keri
I am not sure if I will have a schedule or just fit it in here and there we shall see. So today I took a lawn chair out into the corral and sat down. Twosox was the first one to come over then Ruffy then shortly after Ruffian was Prince. Prince and Ruffian stayed the longest... well they stayed the whole time I was out there. Ruffian started licking my coat and wouldn't stop so I let him lick on. And Prince just hung out with me. He put his head right beside mine and stayed there for the longest time before he started sniffing me. It was so much fun!!!
I think Prince and Ruffian were teaming up on me because at one point they were both literally inches away from me investigating everything. It was neat!!
Well I think I am off to watch the Level 4 Liberty DVD!!
Talk to you later!
~Keri
Saturday, January 9, 2010
If feels good to have new arrows in your quiver...
Today I played with Twosox. Mr. Ron Pyne [who I had been emailing with about some issues that I have been having with Twosox] phoned today to talk to me about some new strategies to try with Twosox. Plus he had some comments about the video I sent him showing our main issues. So I went out this afternoon, very excited and I had some new arrows in my quiver. One thing he said was that Twosox is now more of a LBI... not all the time but he needs me to teach him more like a LBI now.
Twosox was REALLY REALLY easy to catch.... he was practically begging me to halter him... I haven't played with him for a couple days.... well more like a week.
We then went up to the riding ring to play. I was only planning on playing with our figure eights because it was live -20 something. But the opportunity came to do some circles, another thing Mr. Pyne gave me some strategies for. So we were off. I was definitely seeing the left brain side of Twosox. It was SO much fun!!! We did some traveling circles, LOTS of transitions [something Mr. Pyne said would help get Twosox's mind on me while circling], change of directions, Twosox even offered to canter a couple times! A couple times Twosox tossed his head, bucked etc and tried running off but I was able to hang on and play with it. I was having so much fun and I think Twosox was too!! It was asking loads of questions and was really in tune with me.
I can't really pin point the change in me but there much have been some change because Twosox was even more LB then he was the last time we played. After the circles we went to Figure eights. I was prepared for what Twosox was probably going to give this time. Twosox didn't look away going around the left barrel but while was going around the right barrel... just like he did in the video, he looked towards the gate while he was coming around the barrel... so like Mr. Pyne suggested to do I brought Twosox in and gave him a treat.... why? So that he would have incentive to look at me instead of looking towards the gate. Hmmmm.... I never thought of that before!! So each time Twosox came around the barrel I brought him in and gave him a treat and a rest then sent him back out again. It took a while and it still is no where near perfect but when Twosox only looked away a tiny little bit when he was coming around the right barrel then looked at me with two eyes when I asked him to come to me I stopped and we ended there.
It was really interesting thought because the whole time Twosox was being dominate. It was really fun!! I can't wait to play with Twosox again!!! We have a long way to go but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now!!!
~K
Twosox was REALLY REALLY easy to catch.... he was practically begging me to halter him... I haven't played with him for a couple days.... well more like a week.
We then went up to the riding ring to play. I was only planning on playing with our figure eights because it was live -20 something. But the opportunity came to do some circles, another thing Mr. Pyne gave me some strategies for. So we were off. I was definitely seeing the left brain side of Twosox. It was SO much fun!!! We did some traveling circles, LOTS of transitions [something Mr. Pyne said would help get Twosox's mind on me while circling], change of directions, Twosox even offered to canter a couple times! A couple times Twosox tossed his head, bucked etc and tried running off but I was able to hang on and play with it. I was having so much fun and I think Twosox was too!! It was asking loads of questions and was really in tune with me.
I can't really pin point the change in me but there much have been some change because Twosox was even more LB then he was the last time we played. After the circles we went to Figure eights. I was prepared for what Twosox was probably going to give this time. Twosox didn't look away going around the left barrel but while was going around the right barrel... just like he did in the video, he looked towards the gate while he was coming around the barrel... so like Mr. Pyne suggested to do I brought Twosox in and gave him a treat.... why? So that he would have incentive to look at me instead of looking towards the gate. Hmmmm.... I never thought of that before!! So each time Twosox came around the barrel I brought him in and gave him a treat and a rest then sent him back out again. It took a while and it still is no where near perfect but when Twosox only looked away a tiny little bit when he was coming around the right barrel then looked at me with two eyes when I asked him to come to me I stopped and we ended there.
It was really interesting thought because the whole time Twosox was being dominate. It was really fun!! I can't wait to play with Twosox again!!! We have a long way to go but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now!!!
~K
Circles, Figure eights, Point to point, Liberty, and more...
What a play session! Prince and I had a wonderful but very interesting play time this afternoon. I don't even know where to start!! On our way up the hill I drove Prince from zone 5 on the 12ft line. He was really in tune with me and responded really well when I asked him to move over etc... considering I had an arm full of stuff I was taking up.
Once up there I switched to the 22ft line... the one we have to tie on [now pay attention this will be very important later... ]. Then we went over to the planted tire. I noticed that Prince was a little.... "unsettled"... if that is the right word so I played with the horses that showed up and instead of going onto what I had planned we just hung out together for a bit. Then I asked Prince to back between the tire and fence and over the pole that was half way up [one end on the fence rail and the other end on the ground :)] Prince had a little bit of trouble at first backing over the pole but then he got it and backed right over it. Prince was about 21ft away from me by this time. After that I stood on the tire that was standing up. Prince go worried. By this time I was really wondering what was up. I had stood above Prince before and he had absolutely no issue with it. So I just did a lot of friendly game until he relaxed a little then I asked Prince to go over to the pedestal... well that was what I asked for but Prince offered sideways so I took it, he went sideways over to the pedestal then I asked Prince to put his back feet on the pedestal. He did really well. At first he was trying really hard but just wasn't sure exactly what I wanted. I rewarded the slightest try and he put one foot on it then got a little stuck so I brought him in and gave him a rub then sent him back out to try again. This time he knew exactly what to do and he put both of his back feet on the pedestal. And from 22ft away while I was standing on the tire... not bad ;)
After that we went to circles. I stood on the pedestal and sent Prince out. He offered a really nice close circle, with slack in the line.. and I mean the belly on the rope was on the ground. It was really cool!! I asked for a couple change of directions here and there then let more rope out so Prince could go farther out. I noticed that Prince could circle easier going one way then the other. So I took a mental note of that. Another thing I noticed that was almost every time I asked Prince to a change of direction as soon as he would feel the pressure he would go faster... and not just on the change of directions just when he was circling and I asked him to circle closer to me he would speed up almost like he went RB. Also Prince couldn't look at me when I was backing him up.... so anyways after I got one nice change of direction I brought Prince in. Then while he was resting I remembered that for the last couple play times I have used the 22ft line with the clip on it and I remembered what Mr. Parelli said about coil tension and how it makes horses really uncomfortable and we don't even know it!! So since my mom was done with the 22ft with the clip on it I switched ropes... and you will never believe this!! As soon as I put the other 22 on Prince started licking and chewing, yawning, lowering his head and he was a totally different horse... well he was a totally different horse to what he was earlier... he was back to my normal Prince.
I then sent Prince back out on the circle to test my theory.... and it was really interesting. Prince was relaxed, he was responding to the pressure instead of blowing through it, we got some AMAZING change of directions, Prince could walk and trot on a close range circle no problem, canter with slack in the line and maintain the canter. It was really, really interesting to say the least. I was really glad to have my normal Prince back that was for sure. Prince and I did a little bit of traveling circle at the canter. Prince likes cantering on a traveling circle a lot better then when we are standing still but we have to get good a both so we practice both!! But only the traveling circle when we aren't going to run into anyone else ;)
After that I put my 12ft line back on and it was onto mounting from the neck. The first attempt wasn't very good. It was more my fault because I didn't land right on Prince's neck... but the second time IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I landed right, Prince knew exactly what he was doing, and this time he really put effort into doing it. I felt a HUGE amount of power lifting my up. It was an amazing feeling!! It really helped that I had my coat on also because it took some of the friction away. We rested for a while before heading off. I was planning on doing follow the rail bridleless but then when I saw that my mom had set the barrels up for something she was doing with Knightly I thought that I would take advantage of them [while not getting in her way of course] and do some point to point at the trot. Prince and I haven't done that in a LONG time so it was fun. After the we trotted to one barrel Prince knew almost exactly what he was supposed to do. We trotted a couple times back and forth and I hardly needed to correct Prince. Then one time my mom called me over to see something.... both Ruffy and Twosox were lying down, in almost the exact same position, about 10ft from each other sleeping. It was so sweet!!!
On our way back to the barrel I am not sure what happened but Prince pinned his ears [did I even tell you that Prince is really cute when he pins his ears ;)] and did a little buck. I stayed on and we kept going. Then on our way back to the other barrel [after we had had a rest at the barrel we were going to] Prince threw in two more little bunny hops. It was really funny actually!!! I mean if I had come off I probably wouldn't have been laughing and I don't know why I had smile but anyways. I didn't feel the need to get off so we kept on going. Then took a rest at the barrel we were supposed to be trotting too. Then we headed back to the other barrel. Prince didn't buck this time, which was good ;) buck I decided to switch the game up a little, instead of resting at each other barrels we would trot to the one barrel, walk around the end and then trot back to the other barrel... a figure eight... but with out Prince knowing it ;) You see since both Prince and I really don't like riding Figure eights I figured this way it would be fun for both of us. We did a couple of these and Prince really was getting the hang of it so we stopped. While we were riding here and there I would stop using my reins and just use my savvy string. Prince did well and was really light.
After I got off Prince we played at Liberty a little bit. Prince wasn't convinced that he should stick with me. It was fun though! We did some Stick to me [w/t/c], close range circles, draw to me at the trot and some other stuff. I set the barrels up in the corral and asked Prince to jump them but he decided not to and took off. We played around with that a little but Prince didn't want to so I put him back online and then he jumped them. Prince was being a little lazy though and when he jumped the barrels he knocked one because he wasn't putting a whole lot of effort into it. So then there was only one barrel left. I asked Prince to jump that one. At first he just ran around it. But then he figured out what I wanted and jumped right over it.
We ended there. I took the halter off and then sat on the tire and we did some undemanding time. At first Prince went over to the gate but then he came over and sniffed me out and they stayed with me for a while before I had to go. It was fun!!!
~Keri
Once up there I switched to the 22ft line... the one we have to tie on [now pay attention this will be very important later... ]. Then we went over to the planted tire. I noticed that Prince was a little.... "unsettled"... if that is the right word so I played with the horses that showed up and instead of going onto what I had planned we just hung out together for a bit. Then I asked Prince to back between the tire and fence and over the pole that was half way up [one end on the fence rail and the other end on the ground :)] Prince had a little bit of trouble at first backing over the pole but then he got it and backed right over it. Prince was about 21ft away from me by this time. After that I stood on the tire that was standing up. Prince go worried. By this time I was really wondering what was up. I had stood above Prince before and he had absolutely no issue with it. So I just did a lot of friendly game until he relaxed a little then I asked Prince to go over to the pedestal... well that was what I asked for but Prince offered sideways so I took it, he went sideways over to the pedestal then I asked Prince to put his back feet on the pedestal. He did really well. At first he was trying really hard but just wasn't sure exactly what I wanted. I rewarded the slightest try and he put one foot on it then got a little stuck so I brought him in and gave him a rub then sent him back out to try again. This time he knew exactly what to do and he put both of his back feet on the pedestal. And from 22ft away while I was standing on the tire... not bad ;)
After that we went to circles. I stood on the pedestal and sent Prince out. He offered a really nice close circle, with slack in the line.. and I mean the belly on the rope was on the ground. It was really cool!! I asked for a couple change of directions here and there then let more rope out so Prince could go farther out. I noticed that Prince could circle easier going one way then the other. So I took a mental note of that. Another thing I noticed that was almost every time I asked Prince to a change of direction as soon as he would feel the pressure he would go faster... and not just on the change of directions just when he was circling and I asked him to circle closer to me he would speed up almost like he went RB. Also Prince couldn't look at me when I was backing him up.... so anyways after I got one nice change of direction I brought Prince in. Then while he was resting I remembered that for the last couple play times I have used the 22ft line with the clip on it and I remembered what Mr. Parelli said about coil tension and how it makes horses really uncomfortable and we don't even know it!! So since my mom was done with the 22ft with the clip on it I switched ropes... and you will never believe this!! As soon as I put the other 22 on Prince started licking and chewing, yawning, lowering his head and he was a totally different horse... well he was a totally different horse to what he was earlier... he was back to my normal Prince.
I then sent Prince back out on the circle to test my theory.... and it was really interesting. Prince was relaxed, he was responding to the pressure instead of blowing through it, we got some AMAZING change of directions, Prince could walk and trot on a close range circle no problem, canter with slack in the line and maintain the canter. It was really, really interesting to say the least. I was really glad to have my normal Prince back that was for sure. Prince and I did a little bit of traveling circle at the canter. Prince likes cantering on a traveling circle a lot better then when we are standing still but we have to get good a both so we practice both!! But only the traveling circle when we aren't going to run into anyone else ;)
After that I put my 12ft line back on and it was onto mounting from the neck. The first attempt wasn't very good. It was more my fault because I didn't land right on Prince's neck... but the second time IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I landed right, Prince knew exactly what he was doing, and this time he really put effort into doing it. I felt a HUGE amount of power lifting my up. It was an amazing feeling!! It really helped that I had my coat on also because it took some of the friction away. We rested for a while before heading off. I was planning on doing follow the rail bridleless but then when I saw that my mom had set the barrels up for something she was doing with Knightly I thought that I would take advantage of them [while not getting in her way of course] and do some point to point at the trot. Prince and I haven't done that in a LONG time so it was fun. After the we trotted to one barrel Prince knew almost exactly what he was supposed to do. We trotted a couple times back and forth and I hardly needed to correct Prince. Then one time my mom called me over to see something.... both Ruffy and Twosox were lying down, in almost the exact same position, about 10ft from each other sleeping. It was so sweet!!!
On our way back to the barrel I am not sure what happened but Prince pinned his ears [did I even tell you that Prince is really cute when he pins his ears ;)] and did a little buck. I stayed on and we kept going. Then on our way back to the other barrel [after we had had a rest at the barrel we were going to] Prince threw in two more little bunny hops. It was really funny actually!!! I mean if I had come off I probably wouldn't have been laughing and I don't know why I had smile but anyways. I didn't feel the need to get off so we kept on going. Then took a rest at the barrel we were supposed to be trotting too. Then we headed back to the other barrel. Prince didn't buck this time, which was good ;) buck I decided to switch the game up a little, instead of resting at each other barrels we would trot to the one barrel, walk around the end and then trot back to the other barrel... a figure eight... but with out Prince knowing it ;) You see since both Prince and I really don't like riding Figure eights I figured this way it would be fun for both of us. We did a couple of these and Prince really was getting the hang of it so we stopped. While we were riding here and there I would stop using my reins and just use my savvy string. Prince did well and was really light.
After I got off Prince we played at Liberty a little bit. Prince wasn't convinced that he should stick with me. It was fun though! We did some Stick to me [w/t/c], close range circles, draw to me at the trot and some other stuff. I set the barrels up in the corral and asked Prince to jump them but he decided not to and took off. We played around with that a little but Prince didn't want to so I put him back online and then he jumped them. Prince was being a little lazy though and when he jumped the barrels he knocked one because he wasn't putting a whole lot of effort into it. So then there was only one barrel left. I asked Prince to jump that one. At first he just ran around it. But then he figured out what I wanted and jumped right over it.
We ended there. I took the halter off and then sat on the tire and we did some undemanding time. At first Prince went over to the gate but then he came over and sniffed me out and they stayed with me for a while before I had to go. It was fun!!!
~Keri
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Maintaining gait, bowing and zone 5 driving...
January 4 2010
Prince and I had a wonderful play session. I didn't have a whole lot of time to play but I really wanted to play with him so I went out. We only did a couple things.... but they were big.
We did maintaining the canter on the circle. Prince cantered 4 laps and only broke gait once but picked up the canter again. It was really cool because the snow was fresh so you could see that Prince cantered a perfect circle!!! He got a LONG rest after that. I was so proud of Prince!!
After that we played around with bowing. This was our first official time of doing it. Prince caught on really quickly. After a couple minutes his knee was about 3-4 inches from the ground and he was stretching really far. I guess it was easier because he is food motivated ;) Prince did really well it should be interesting to see how it progress over the next couple play sessions!!
The last thing we did was zone 5 driving with two lines. We haven't done this in a LONG time. We have done one line driving here and there but not with two lines. We started out and some Touch it then we did some circles, walk/trot, stop, and change of directions. Prince did REALLY well. I had my carrot stick with me so that helped too. Before Prince would not respond to the reins when I asked him to go faster he would do everything else but that. So having my carrot stick really helped. We also did sideways towards me. I was really surprised at how light Prince was. He responded so well!!!! It was amazing!!
Even though we didn't play long it was an AMAZING play time and I can't wait till we can play again!!
~Keri
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Have your way by Britt Nicole
This is my theme song for... well....right now.
Feels like I've been here forever,
Why can't you just intervene?
Do you see the tears keep falling
I'm falling apart at the seems,
You never said the road would be easy
You said you would never leave,
And you never promised that this life wasn't hard,
But you promised you'd take care of me,
So I'll stop searching for the answer,
I'll stop praying for an escape,
I'll trust you God with where I am
And believe you will have your way,
Just have your way,
Just have your way,
My friends and my family have left me,
And I feel so ashamed and so cold,
Remind me you take broken things,
And turn them into beautiful,
So I'll stop searching for the answer,
I'll stop praying for an escape,
I'll trust you God with where I am
And believe that you will have your way,
Just have your way,
Just have your way,
Even if my dreams have died,
Even if I don't survive,
I'll still worship you with all my life,
My life, yeah,
Whoa, oh, oh, oh,
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh
And I'll stop searching for the answers,
I'll stop praying for an escape,
And I'll trust you God with where I am,
And believe that you will have you way,
Just have your way,
Just have your way, yeah
I know you will,
I won't forget,
Whoa, oh, oh
You love me,
Have your way,
Yeah
Happy New Year and God Bless!!
~Keri
Feels like I've been here forever,
Why can't you just intervene?
Do you see the tears keep falling
I'm falling apart at the seems,
You never said the road would be easy
You said you would never leave,
And you never promised that this life wasn't hard,
But you promised you'd take care of me,
So I'll stop searching for the answer,
I'll stop praying for an escape,
I'll trust you God with where I am
And believe you will have your way,
Just have your way,
Just have your way,
My friends and my family have left me,
And I feel so ashamed and so cold,
Remind me you take broken things,
And turn them into beautiful,
So I'll stop searching for the answer,
I'll stop praying for an escape,
I'll trust you God with where I am
And believe that you will have your way,
Just have your way,
Just have your way,
Even if my dreams have died,
Even if I don't survive,
I'll still worship you with all my life,
My life, yeah,
Whoa, oh, oh, oh,
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh
And I'll stop searching for the answers,
I'll stop praying for an escape,
And I'll trust you God with where I am,
And believe that you will have you way,
Just have your way,
Just have your way, yeah
I know you will,
I won't forget,
Whoa, oh, oh
You love me,
Have your way,
Yeah
Happy New Year and God Bless!!
~Keri
Mounting by the neck, energy, snow, and more!
December 31 2009
Today Prince and I had an amazing play time. We started with played with the ball a little. Prince did really well and pushed it around. Then I bounced it all over him, I stood in zone 5 and bounced it on him and behind him. He was fine.
Then we went up to the riding ring. Prince had SO much energy!!! It was a lot of fun to play with. We did some traveling circles then we played with maintain gait on the circle at the canter. Prince cantered 3 circles with me in total neutral. We then played with our transitions and change of directions. Prince was really in tune with me. Our change of directions were a million times better!!! We did some really fun transitions... canter to walk then back to the canter again. Prince was amazing!!
After that I decided to play around with mounting by the neck. Prince did really well with me bouncing while he head was low and then jumping up but then once I was up there he had no idea what to do. So it took a while to help him figure out not to turn his head away. Then I decided to try putting him closer to the fence that way he would have a natural barrier there so he wouldn't turn his head. That helped a lot. The first coulpe onces were messy... it didn't help that Prince's mane is so thick that I couldn't slide down. Oh well. After about 3 successful mountings. They started getting a lot smoother!!! It was a lot of fun!!! Each time that we got a successful mount I would stay on Prince but give him a really long rest then get off. One time I wanted to ride over to my coat so I, with out picked up my reins, turned my eyes, belly botton and then just put a tiny little bit of pressure on with my outside leg, as soon as Prince felt my leg he turned his head, and then turned in the direction I was asking. It was amazing!! We then walked over to the fence and I relaxed and Prince stopped. It was really cool!!! Then I got off. Prince is getting really light and responsive!!
After we were finished playing with mounting by the neck my mom and I played with both horses together. We started with the circle game.... but first we had to get keep Knightly on his own side... :) I was standing behind mom and had just backed Prince up then Knightly decided that he wanted to take off so I started swinging my carrot stick so that he would stop... then he tried going the other way... so I switched sides and did the same thing... well the look on his face was PRICELESS!!!! He just stood there mooping... and Prince just stood there like “What happened??” So then we were off on the circle... well it was supposed to be the circle game but you know..... with two LBI thinks don't always go perfectly ;) hehe It was a lot of fun though. Prince took off on the circle at a canter and Knightly... well he didn't quite see the purpose in circling around with Prince. Then (poor Prince) Prince's rope got caught under Knightly's tail... and.... so.... yeah. It was funny!!! Once we got everything sorted out we started again. This time things went WAY better. Prince and Knightly decided to stay a little bit farther apart and that seemed to work really well. Once we got a couple nice circles we both started walking over to the barrels. Prince jumped it first then Knightly. They are so handsome!!! Our two jumping boys!!!
Then we brought them in. They were so cute looking at us!! Then we each sent our LBI over to the pedestal. Prince got on first but he was trying to be greedy and stood right in the middle so I moved him over then mom sent Knightly up. It was a perfect match! Prince is wide and Knightly is thin!! Just right!!
After that we took the halters off and played at Liberty a little. Our goal was to get the horses to go around the outside of the arena and then I would ask him to come to me and keep Knightly going then Mom would ask him to come to her. That was the goal.... but first we had to fix the “go around the outside of the arena” part first. Some how the horses missed that part!! hehe Plus the part about not changing direction!! After a little bit we got it going right. Prince stopped chasing Knightly and Knightly stopped trying to stop and go the other way. Acouple times they jumped the barrels too!! All part of there responsibillity to watch where they are going right? :)
Once everything was going smoothly and we got a couple good laps around the riding ring. I disengaged Prince. As soon as he saw me bend over just a little bit he came right into me. It was so cool!!!! Last time mom and I played with both horses at the same time Prince was to busy having fun chaising Knightly to listen to me. But this time he was paying attention!! Knightly stopped and looked at me when I asked Prince in so I sent him on and he went right to my mom when she asked him to come!! It was SO much fun played together!!
It was a perfect end to 2009!!!
~Keri
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