Dan T April 11 Try and Keystone

Yesterday I was surprised and touched that Dan arrived 30 minutes early so I could have extra time for Keystone. Dan asked what was my purpose in L1 with Keystone and I said mental stimulation.

Keystone: I explained that while we had made our way thru the level 1 tasks that Key wasn't getting it the way Try does and I knew he needed intensity to learn about finding the good deal BUT with the stiffle injury and just getting back in shape I was not comfortable with how physically reactive he gets. Innately LBI, RBI with the new Parelli on line stuff and quickly RBE. Dan was fantastic at showing me how to use mental intensity rather than physical to accomplish this.

1. My energy level is not the same or tied to phases. Sooo I can have a low energy that Keystone needs and still use all 4 phases. I want to remember soft eyes and not cue phase 1 with predatory eyes. Previously I was skipping the phase 1 I would use with Try, basically nagging at phase 2 and afraid to go to phase 3/4.

2. Also I learned that I need to relearn components of level 1 on line--that I am skipping over steps. i.e. yoyo is same for Key as Try (soft eyes) and circling--go back to (soft energy) slow lead it, lift it, swing it and even 3 phases to touch it--all the while keeping the low energy. Phase 4 doesn't mean get predatory!! (In the afternoon, Dan kept saying Am I working hard, am I rushing?)

3. The game is about me not the rope or stick and string: game--swing stick under rope facing zone 1 so it means nothing--I must be completely friendly--then ask for the back up so he learns the difference. Also asking Key to walk as asked rather than trot to escape in the circle game its not about the rope.

4. Mental intensity: Dan cues more with his rib cage than his facial expression/eyes.

TRY: I asked that we concentrate on HQ yields so I could understand it well enough for Try and I to make it happen without Dan's presence.

Interesting: I compared the difficulty in finding an extreme friendly with Try and when I was able to get a reaction Dan said it wasn't extreme friendly--as I got energy up and predatory and it was no longer a friendly game!!

1. On Line: This time we approached it from the S bend approach where I back and draw.
a. Will Try draw on 22' line at the new phase 1 of intention alone?
b. Back and then draw a circle only using modern dance slice and reed flutes finger to shoulder
c. then back both circles
d. then cue shoulder to yield
e. then cue HQ until get good step across

2. Riding HQ yield--get good circle, then good figure eight--again same use of my body--check for the tighter circle. Then cue for HQ yield until get that good swinging motion of big step across.
GOAL: can maintain circle or diagonal sideways with that big HQ step.

Dan T April 9 2012

2012 4 10 April 10 Dan T

Two top priorities

1. Where is my horse thinking?

2. Can I control through the hind quarters?

Relationship requires commitment from both human and horse.

Liberty: the human is most scared that the horse will leave. But it is better to help the horse to truly commit by helping him to leave so he can understand the good deal.

Keystone: Walt and Dan simulation re lateral flexion or horse heavy/leaning on the reins. Important to use phases. Phase 1 is feeling the horse heavy on the rope, phase 2 is wiggle rope with slack, phase 3 wiggle without slack, phase 4 is whatever it takes to cause the horse to care.

HQ: 3 stages

1. Can the horse move the HQ?
2. Will the horse move the HQ?
3. Can the human engage the horse’s HQ in a positive, useful manner.

Note: this is stepping across. Simulation—if human takes tiny step across, it is difficult to move. Big ol lunge across with good knee bend on both—human is poised ready for movement.

Chris: Dan asked why she starts with friendly instead of extreme friendly when with her LBI she has dominance/respect issues. Her horse doesn’t need friendly.

Sherri asked if it is ok to tip the horse’s nose (on line to get the bend on the circle)? Dan says the horse will give you the answer. Try it out—if she can’t get the bend w/o tipping his nose, then that’s the answer.

Use bend in my body to ask for the bend.

When the horse goes forward, is it with me or did she leave me. Can develop into a habit—do not release on it—active stay in control of the game—especially with a confident horse. Or passive method is to play on the horse’s terms—leave, and leave and leave until the horse asks the question may be better for an unconfident horse.

What is the finished product of bend on circle supposed to look like: big stepping across and maintaining forward motion??

Can vary the distance in the circle. Also human can walk forward on a circle or back on a circle—forward is driving like falling leaf, back is draw like S bends. Drive confident horse/draw unconfident or whatever works.

UGLY: I need to learn to love ugly. Important—it’s there—bring it out to help the horse over it.

Zone 5 driving: misnomer as beginning from porcupine game rather than driving game may be preferable at times, especially with an unconfident horse—porcupine is hand holding and reassuring providing solid leadership that horse desires. Disrespectful horse: use driving—“you just missed the good deal buddy.”

Riding:

1. Leading rein start is also hand holding. Porcupine as teaching game and Driving as power of suggestion game.

2. Lateral flexion: See notes on simulation with Dan/Walt.

3. Simple start: life up, focus, squeeze w/all 4 cheeks then use savvy string to get a snappy start—ask Dan about when/how to use snappy start.

4. Snappy stop?

5. Ride the figure 8 and win the turn.