March 2013

2013 3 18 Dan

Rhythm

Another aspect to the topic is who is following who. That is, can I sync with Try’s rhythm before asking her to sync with mine? Doing the exercise will allow me to feel what Try is thinking on a deeper and deeper level and Try will like it.

1.      Riding with my eyes closed at the walk first. Getting in sync with what Try is doing in her body so my legs are getting longer and I am sitting even deeper.

2.      At the trot without stirrups sitting the trot—feel that my legs are lifting just as much as Try’s are in her trot.

3.      Canter—sit on my thumb and find her rhythm

4.      No stirrups posting trot—take it from the amount Try’s trot naturally lifts me and keep my thighs long and relaxed.

5.      Feeling, allowing vs mechanical and forcing

6.      To be quiet you have to be in motion, if trying to be still you are out of sync.

7.      I loved the loose towel feeling of my thighs in the trot

Sideways on the circle: my focus and body pointing is just a bit in the direction we want to go and the goal is she is following  and matching my body shape rather than reacting to the carrot stick.

S bend at liberty: draw

1.      Drawing straight before the change of direction

2.      Progress this with extreme or subtle turn, tempo, gait

3.      Canter is flying change

4.      One shoulder is drawing and the other is driving/shaping

5.      We want the amount of effort to match where we are in the learning process. Slow is ok until we get comfortable and can dance it at a faster tempo.

Drive

DRIVE as important subject for me to rethink. View it as just as much a dance as draw: Energy, fun, Jim Carrey and Tango. I have been looking at drive as a necessary evil and hating beating up on my horse and Try not liking drive and therefor avoiding it if possible. Level 1 and 2: TIME TO CHANGE MY MIND SET!!!!! It’s a fun game, not getter done.

Falling Leaf

Once I viewed it as a Tango, it was big, fun and full of big energy and joy for us both—trot and canter. Good to find some Tango music and add it to a playlist. Try it at liberty.

Riding the Falling Leaf

1.      Trot on circle

2.      Fully disengage HQ to stop

3.      Swing shoulders!! Fully

4.      Then ask for canter

5.      Clean simple change with HQ engaged

Riding the S Bend

1.      On the circle

2.      SWING the shoulders to the counter bend and stay on circle for amount of time I choose.

3.      Then change to the circle in the new direction

4.      Progress to a zigzag and then to a straight line

5.      Variations: Weave

a.      Shaping: inside leg

b.      Swing the shoulders

c.      Wheel barrow turn

d.      Outside leg to push remaining fairly straight

6.      (Review Colleen Kelly 1^st series on turning)

7.      Watch pole bending competition on youtube

8.      This would lead to flying change

9.      Watch success series lead change ladder again.

Offensive Sidepass and Impulsiveness

1.      Begin with relaxation in lifting the rein

2.      Then how lightly to ask with leg at the girth

3.      Accept a little bend

Taking off the bridle—take the time it takes.

For the future: April and May

1.      Relearn drive as fun, music, dance

2.      Use S bend and falling leaf as tools and put to purpose

3.      Purpose vs principal is a balancing act. If use it before its in place that is forcing and if go on too long after learning that is boring, drilling.

4.      Need plan and flexibility enough to throw out the plan

5.      Obstacles and patterns for variety and purpose

1. 6.      Ie. Cloverleaf: stop different places, change the lines, change gaits and direction with in the pattern.