Prince: This is just to much fun!

May 24, 2011

You may have noticed a gap between today and the last session but that can be explained in the simple fact that I was sick and the weather was uncooperative.  Today it was cloudy and looked like rain but we went out and played anyway. The sky cleared up in the end and it was even more beautiful outside! 

Prince and I had so much fun today it was unbelievable! We played on the 45ft line like planned and we backed up the hill and into the riding ring. We got a little stuck at the gate because there is a rock wall there to --try-- and stop the riding ring dirt from washing down the hill. But in the end we made it over the wall and continued to back to the end of the 45ft line. 

Then we went sideways without a fence to the end of the 45ft line and then I asked Prince to touch the barrel with his nose. Then we turn and went sideways over the another barrel and back over it the other way, then I asked Prince to back up to the rope gate and touch it with his tail, all at the end of the 45ft line and with me keeping my feet still 90% of the time.  

It was really fun to be able to challenge our communication at 45ft away, something we haven't been able to do in a long time. We finished with Prince jumping a single barrel on a yo-yo and trotting towards me. It was really cool especially because of the distance we were doing it.

Then we played with some circles. Getting more and more circles at the canter with rhythm, relaxation and connection. Prince really put a lot of effort into it and we got some nice traveling circles at the canter as well as normal ones. While going to the left Prince had a harder time maintaining gait so we played the game "Don't make me come out of neutral" This worked really well and after a couple times Prince had it figured out and cantered without breaking gait.

We played at Liberty a little bit also and did some traveling circles at the trot, stick to me, and jumping barrels that are on end. Prince did really well and was so connected! So we didn't play long because I wanted to end when Prince was really connected.

Mounting from the ground went really well. It was easy and I got it on the first try. I felt even more stable and confident, so much so that we even tried the canter. I rode around bridleless for a while. Doing Follow the rail, circles off of the rail, sideways, backing up refined, indirect and direct rein.

We also played with speeds within gaits. We focused on the trot mostly and got a really slow jog all by my energy. It was incredible!! I put my hackamore on for the canter. Prince did so well! He went into the canter smoothly and we cantered around half of the riding ring. It wasn't actually that bad. The hardest part was the canter transition downwards but then I realized that it was because I wasn't focusing up when I went to stop, as soon as I did that I was able to ride the transition to the walk (or halt) well and it was so much more comfortable.

I couldn't get over how well Prince went into the canter, at a phase one consistently, and he maintained gait so well, not like before when if he went into the canter softly he couldn't maintain it for very long. Then I realized that it was because Online we have been playing with the exact same thing, getting more and more circles from a phase one. It has paid off!!

We finished shortly after that and then went over to the pedestal and hung out there for a while. It was a lot of fun and I can see how bareback riding will definitely improve my fluidity :)

Naturally
~Keri

Twosox: Figure eights and jumping

May 17, 2011

After I played with and rode Prince I had a little bit of time left so I played with Twosox. The blackflies were getting worse by the minute so we kept it short and... well short. We started with Figure eights. Twosox was not connected at first and was bracing a lot. So we played with that and eventually his bracing got less and less, but he was looking out on the one end of the Figure eight so I decided to give him a reason to look to me... food! I brought him in, gave him some sunflower seeds and then sent him back out again. This worked very well and after a few times of doing this we got two beautiful Figure eights at the trot and Twosox was willing and motivated! 

Then I set the barrels up on end and asked Twosox to trot out onto the circle then I set it up so that Twosox could have a choice of whether to jump the barrels or not. He picked to jump them. He trotted up nicely, having a great rhythm and relaxed trot and jumped over the barrels to problem. I asked for a change of direction which we got and then we went the other way. The first time I allowed Twosox to come between myself and the barrels because we had done the change of direction a little to close to the barrels for him to comfortably, at this stage, jump the barrels. He could have done it but I wanted it to be relaxed and not rushed. 

He trotted a full circle, came up to the barrels and jumped it no if, buts, or maybes :) Then I brought him in and gave him a rest. After a little while we walked over and I let Twosox lick honey off of the bit and also bridled him for a short amount of time. I didn't leave it in his mouth long because I was getting pretty bothered by the blackflies so I unhaltered Twosox and went down to the house. 

Naturally,

~Keri 

Prince: Challenging ourselves

May 17, 2011

Prince and I had a wonderful session. It was a lot of fun and it was great to be able to play on the 45ft line. I didn't want to go to quickly with it and then run into a lot of issues because Prince wasn't ready so we stayed at around 35ft for the majority of the time that we were doing longer distance things. It was so nice to be able to play and advance our distance especially in the circle game! 

We started however with picking up all four feet, massaging the legs, getting some very nice, light, fast hindquarter disengagements using the porcupine game, as well as forequarter yields. Then we played with some Falling Leaf and then circles. Prince did well at the trot so we didn't stay there long. We went into the canter and played with maintaining gait. Pretty soon Prince's mind was engaged and he was cantering around and putting a lot of effort into it!! 

Changes of directions were interesting as Prince would brace and go faster and faster in the canter. It was very similar to what he used to do at the canter so I knew what to do and eventually, after a lot of consistency we were able to get a couple nice change of directions at the trot and canter (with flying lead changes) and we ended with a beautiful canter draw! 

Mom was ready so we headed back to the riding ring. I led Prince most of the way and didn't do a whole lot. When we got back I put the bareback pad on Prince and off we went. I have also given myself a little challenge that I want to ride only bareback, or with the bareback pad, for the next while. I want to improve my bareback riding and so this is an active step towards that goal. 

We played more with changes of directions because Prince was still bracing and didn't know how to respond to that pressure. It took quite some time but in the end we were able to get the changes of directions at the canter (where Prince was having the hard time) in both directions and Prince was also able to get the flying lead changes.

Then we played with bridling. Prince was okay with licking the honey off but not completely comfortable with it. So I decided that I wasn't going to bridle him because he wasn't truly accepting of it. I could have gotten it in there but our relationship is more important to me than getting Prince bridled. So until Prince is accepting of it and can take it in his mouth willingly, I will not put it in. I can guide it but Prince has to be okay with it. 

So then we went over to a rock that is sticking out of the ground (it is a big rock) and I mounted from there. It is about 2-3 inches off of the ground so it was a little easier to mount than the last day but that was okay. I am pleased with how well this little task has come along and how well it is going considering I only start a couple days ago :) But then Prince isn't very tall ;) 

After I mounted we stood still for a little while doing nothing while I helped Mom and Knightly out. Then we did some forequarter disengagements. These were super light and Prince put a lot of effort and energy into them plus it was at a phase two! I was really impressed. Hindquarter yields were a little more interesting as I could tell Prince the answer but if I asked him and stayed at a phase one or two he would try everything else, trying to figure out what I wanted. So if I gave him the answer he would willingly do it, how fast how far kind of thing, but when I don't tell him the answer he gets lost and confused.

We played with this for quite some time before Prince started getting it. It was difficult balancing supporting Prince, helping him so he wouldn't get stuck, and giving him the answer. But in the end things started going really smoothly and we were able to get about half a circle with just my body, no leg. So we ended there.

Then we rode the rail! We started at the walk and put full and half circles off the rail and back to the rail here and there. This went well and when Prince could walk the circle and just my body and no stick or reins we went up into the trot. Prince offered me a nice, very soft trot which was so comfortable!! We trotted a long for a couple laps changed direction and trotted a couple in the other direction. Then we played with circles, like at the walk. Prince wasn't as light as at the walk so we kept playing with it until he started recognizing when I changed my focus and when put my leg on, which by this time he would be turning. We did big circles and small circles, full circles and half circles. It was great fun and all bareback!!

I wanted to find a good place to end so I decided that I wanted to trot a long the rail then turn off of the fence and trot in a straight line over to the pedestal where we were end... but I wanted Prince to figure that out. I didn't go past phase two and if we missed the pedestal we trotted in a full circle and came around again. Eventually we figured it out and Prince climbed on the pedestal thinking that it couldn't have been that easy!

It was such a great ride and I am looking forward to improving my independent seat through riding bareback. Hopefully soon we shall be able to start cantering... that shall be fun! I have cantered once bareback and the transition into it was the hardest part... so we shall see how that goes :)

We ended by spending undemanding time, Prince just didn't want to leave. So as long as he hung around I stayed and then eventually we both left :) I love being able to spend time with my horse :)

Naturally,
~Keri

Ruffian: Playing on the 45ft line...

May 17, 2011

 Today the horses left before Mom and I got out so we went out to the back field to find them. Ruffian was the easiest horse to catch -- "Catch the easiest horse first" as Mr. Parelli says -- so I haltered Ruffian and we played. I had the 45ft line because for the next while I want play only on the 45ft line. Ruffian was so connected and kept the slack in the line the whole time. It was really amazing.

Everything was going well and we were getting some really nice circles but when I asked Ruffian for a change of direction he stepped over the rope (my fault for not managing the rope better) I decided just to let go of the rope and then catch Ruffian again. Ruffian would have been fine except the other horses started running around and since the rope started dragging Ruffian got scared. But eventually I was able to catch Ruffian again and my 45ft got a nice trip through the bush, mud, water, grass, and etc :) 

Then we played our way back to the field and then did a lot of approach and retreat with my coat that I had taken off and left on the grass before. Ruffian thought it was really scary so we would do squeeze games, circles to the threshold and then stop, backup and go the other way, and kept doing this until he was able to walk up to it and sniff it. After this he was convinced that it was safe and commenced to eat it in a typical Left Brain Extrovert fashion. 

Mom had put her coat on a log so we then went and checked that out, Ruffian had by this time figured out that coats where not scary and could be eaten. So we checked that out then we did some yo-yo's, sideways and lots of traveling circles! Ruffian loved the extra room but still kept the slack in the line, which was great! 

Then we finished by checking out a big rock and pawing it then I sat down and unhaltered Ruffian. He stayed with me for a little while and then he moseyed off and I went and played with Prince. 

Naturally,

~Keri

Prince: Long rein driving

May 16, 2011

Because Prince still seems to be having a hard time accepting the bit I decided to try doing long rein driving that way I could fully concentrate on it and not have to think about much else, verses riding where I have to think about more at once. Bridling was easy. Prince didn't have any hesitation about taking the bit in his mouth. Since I do not have the Featherlight lines I tied a few savvy strings together and that did a good enough job for now. Hopefully I will be able to get the real Featherlight lines eventually. 

Prince was very light in turning, going and stopping but he constantly had his mouth open. So I am not sure what to do. I am out of strategies. So we ended when he was doing better though and was able to do lateral flexions from zone five on both sides, turn at the walk, stop and back up with his mouth being open less. Than I let him graze for a couple minutes and then I unbridled. Now this is where the truth hurts... I wanted to let Prince lick the honey off of the bit before putting it away but Prince wanted nothing to do with it. This is definitely an "Oh Boy" situation :) So we played with it until he would lick the bit clean and then we went onto other things. 

Prince was now at Liberty because I didn't have a halter on so we walked around and went up to the garage to see Mom and Knightly. I looped a savvy string around his neck and then we practiced our ground tying while I went and picked up all four of Knightly's feet. Mom has been getting him more comfortable in the garage so that I can trim Knightly in there through the bug season but she asked me to come in and pick up his feet and see how it was doing with that now. He did great and was way more confident and comfortable in there than I have ever seen him. 

Prince stood where I put him the whole time and then I went and picked up all four of his feet, I think that kind of blew his mind because normally I don't do much with his feet unless I am trimming them or just massaging them (which I am doing a lot more of recently). Prince stood very well and only had a little trouble with one back foot when he spooked at a tree that was being cut down and moved by my brothers, it was a small tree :) 

Then we went over to the other side of the yard and did some mounting from almost the ground. When I say almost I mean I was about 1 1/2 - 2 inches off the ground, just standing on a thin rock. It took a couple tries at first but Prince stood well and in the end I was able to mount from both sides!! I am making sure to be able to do it from both sides and I want to building my muscles evenly and not be one sided ;) 

After that I dismounted and then backed Prince through the gate and into the corral where we spent some time scratching itchy spots and hanging out together before I headed inside. 

It was cooler today so the blackflies were in hiding! Hooray ;) It was a nice treat. 

Naturally,

~Keri

Twosox: Respect while eating...

May 16, 2011

It looked like rain this morning and afternoon but we never got more than a few drops here and there. Twosox and I had a great little session today that mainly had to do with respect while grazing. I had taken Twosox out to the back yard to graze as the grass in getting rather long. He would wait until I gave him permission and then start eating but after I had given him that permission he sort of "forgot" about me, pulling on the rope when ever he wanted to reach for different grass etc. 

So I would allow him to eat for a couple minutes and then ask him to move around and do something and then allow him to eat again. This took a little while I seeing as I also wanted to play with him and not just let him eat it worked out very well. We did things like sideways from zone three from 22ft away, which at first didn't go very well because Twosox wasn't seeing me as someone to listen to more than absolutely necessary. After we got a few good, soft steps sideways I would give him permission to eat again and go back to neutral. 

Some other things that we did were circles. There is a slight hill in our back yard so it was perfect for doing a little bit of Hill Therapy while we were there. Twosox by this time was responding better and better and so we did two or three circles in each direction with a nice, soft, very smooth and light change of direction between them. At first he was a little unsure about going until a tree branch that was hanging low but by the end he could trot under it with no issues. 

Then I gave Twosox a longer break while still requiring him to maintain the slack in the rope. He did much better. We ended with doing zone five driving with one line from the back yard to the corral. Twosox was so much more confident and relaxed about it this time as compared to last day. Then we went into the corral and I unhaltered and then hung out with all three horses for a little while before going to get some things ready to play with Prince. 

Naturally,

~Keri

Ruffian: A little delay...

May 11, 2011

This afternoon Myles played with Ruffian. I was going to hop on him bareback afterward and after I played with him a little but as I was playing with him he tripped and stumbled a bit. I didn't think much of it at the moment as he seemed to be okay but then I noticed that at the canter on the circle it was more of a two beat canter... he was limping :( So I brought him in and checked his wound and low and behold he had managed to re-open his wound. Thankfully it wasn't bleeding and I was able to take care of it and let him graze for a little while before we headed back to the corral. 

So Ruffian shall get a couple more days off until his wound completely heals but hopefully we shall be able to still play a little Online and such. 

We did get some nice Figure eights and circles. Ruffian was so light and connected! He was asking loads of questions and we also got some nice cantering on the circle. It was great! Hopefully we can pick up where we left off once he heals again. 

Naturally,

~Keri