Dan Thompson Day 1 December
Fun day today.
After catching up on goings on since the last visit ie BA going amature and Ocala trip, On Line in the new paddock. As a warmup--something slow and fun for Try i.e.knocking cone off a barrel--it is in Try's horsenality to like to push things around LOL. then Dan suggested sidepassing to the barrel and knocking it over or backing to a barrel and rolling it.
Then the main course: teaching Try to hunt my focus--to line up with my focus--focus not on her but on what I want to accomplish i.e. focus on tree to ask her to line up to back (preparation to preparation??) Trick is to use the right amount of energy/phase etc to ask without losing my focus then reward. Try was starting to get it--will take some time. Nice part is that I can start with L1 assessment sheet and we can work our way forward with variety built in and a clear path for me mentally.
Sideways: follow the focus--focusing over the withers--this one was easier both directions than backing.
Circling--more like following my intention: don't change gait or direction AND I choose the distance. Try had no trouble with increasing the distance as I let out rope and to decrease--I walk with her focusing in the direction as I reel in the rope. Note: we tried 6' distance--Dan says this is L4 and the hardest.
Then went to Kathy's and watched Dan help her with strategies for winning 7 games with an RBE and a great trailer loading session. Mostly I was impressed with life up and life down.
Watched part of Mary's lesson with Jake then Aimee with Sparkles--I appreciate the opportunity to watch.
Then 3:30-5 ish Try--mostly freestyle then a spot of figuring out when Try takes contact.
Warmup: We walked for Try to blow and it took longer than usual--
no doubt Try feeling/mirroring my not being as relaxed as usual--though it was a fun, joyous 2 days--still not as relaxed as when its just Try and I. Reminds me of dance rehearsal vs performance--the latter never being as free and glorious as the former as there is the knowledge of the audience.
Anyway, we broke up the walk with turns by my turning my whole body to look at Try's HQ. Then went to the trot and broke that up mentally for Try (to get her connection with me) by varying the speed of the trot from jog to medium to fast trot. (hmm ask BA about extended trot rather than fast).
Then falling leaf variation to lighten the shoulders etc:
1. walk then ask for HQ disengagement with my full body, lift rein hand elbow straight if necessary to keep Try's front end in place (turn on the forehand) and stick in opposite hand across our bodies to HQ as well.
2. After turning swing shoulders in same direction while wt is still back by using opposite rein/leading rein/?leg and if need be stick--holding downward to urge front end.
3. walk off in new direction with leading rein.
Practice bits til they become natural and join together into a dance.
Weave variations walk and trot swinging shoulders thru--so sidepass thru then proceed on a straight line.
Contact: Played with it at a stand still. We wait until Try takes the contact from me i.e. stretched down and then we walk off. Reins mean go.
Merlin/bullfighting
Linda Success Series lead change ladder.
Wonderful two days--glad I did not reschedule to January even though it was really cold both days. By watching other sessions it felt more like a clinic than private sessions only. Also interesting to consider would be the 6 day clinic in Hartsville SC.
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