Tuesday 7 June 2016

Private lessons Part 3 Freestyle

First I had some fun with the one rein riding, and the carrot stick riding too; both helpful for thinking and developing focus and direction through feel, and not relying on the reins. Interestingly I find it hard not to use a tool when it is in my hands, be it rope or reins or stick, and spend time teaching myself not to pick up tool or rein unless I am asking something. A very human habit I'm afraid! These exercises really helped.

The audience watches us check our neutral lateral flexions and Dave takes photos
 
Jo is coaching me how to throw the rope over her head as I sort myself out for one rein riding

Carrot stick riding was really good and helpful



The carrot stick was held in the inside hand, resting the end on the pommel and the tip on my shoulder. Going round the small arena, I try to turn at the corners and follow the rail/sides as close as possible; of course, the horse doesn't understand why I want to do this and is likely to take her own course, or cut corners, which is logical for them to take the shortest route. The aim for me is to look and focus where I want to go, adjusting hip and belly in that direction, which means a weight shift cue to the horse; then if she doesn't respond I can slowly bring the end of the stick in an arc from my shoulder to point towards her nose to redirect it, using a gntle rolling motion. It is not meant agressively or to touch the horse but just suggest she move her nose over and the body follows. It certainly helped Fina understand what I wanted without having to use a hand or leg aid. Then we introduced points at which I would turn her 180° in a similar manner. In "normal" riding in this same area, I was constantly putting her back on the rail with rein or leg, which was becoming frustrating for both of us. Of course there are other ways you might do this but I found it helpful and works for us. I think this use of a stick when riding is a Parelli technique, not sure if others do it. We didn't have time to develop all these ideas further, Jo was giving me techniques to play with and hopefully develop later on my own. The aim is not to use the stick, it stays in the neutral position on my shoulder, it is only there for support if the horse doesn't respond to the ever reducing cues. After a few minutes of this, we were able to negotiate the weave through the line of tyres without the need for me to do more than look where I wanted to go and Fina picked up on that slight feel.

Other patterns for developing focus and carrot stick riding, after starting with follow the rail:
Corners
Point to point
180 turns
Transitions
Circles
Figure 8
Weave
Question box
Clover leaf

We also looked for a soft feel and some framing or shaping, through step 7 of the 9 step back up, preparing the horse for forward movement.

Monday 6 June 2016

Private lessons with Jo Bates Parelli 2* instructor Part 2 - Liberty

Fun at liberty


In Parelli, we don't practise "join up" and do not chase the horse around. Sometimes we might ask the horse to move its feet or encourage it to keep moving. If the horse loses concentration and connection, a technique is to ask for the hindquarter yield to bring the head round and this usually helps the horse to reconnect, the move can be repeated but will be replaced by more subtle signals as we progress in our understanding and confidence together. The stick and string can be a useful tool as a prolongation of the body and give us body length, and clarity in signals. 

Using the round pen gives us a safe area and an advantage, it's easy to "catch" the horse and reconnect if he leaves.

Preparation is playing on the 22' line at the end of it, and "stick to me" alongside the horse on a slack line. Liberty is the test of connection and progress. Test and challenge by playing sideways at the end of the rope, or weave fromthe fence. Notice if it comes unstuck, and at what point.

Ask yourself, how can I communicate more clearly? How long does it take to establish a good connection? How can I cause her to stay connected?

Once the halter comes off, there is only the truth...


Jo shows me how to slip the halter by undoing the knot and holding both ends, then disengage the hindquarters and walk off, as if going somewhere... the horse follows closely, and the crowd goes wild...

At liberty, in the round pen, developing draw - one of our first topics, was very relevant and here in this photo I have Fina coming towards me happily as I go backwards; I like the French word for it : aspiration

And again, as she comes in off the circle:

Once or twice it was too much for Fina, and she left me, taking herself to the perimeter of the round pen in trot or canter; Jo reminded me to act as if the rope was still there, to disengage to turn her in and come back to me.












Tests and challenges: will she walk when I walk, stop when I stop. If she goes past me I can use the stick in front to back her up a step. The sweet spot is now the side of the neck.

Stick to me in figure 8.

Sideways.



Yoyo, how far can I drive her. Be accurate, don't drive one eye, make sure energy is centred and the stick position too.

Use the centre, with me, as a sweet spot, a desirable place to be.


Don't let her leave, but if she does, treat it like a circle game. Don't let her decide when to stop or turn in; gentle but firm resend, thanks for asking but not yet... 

Experiment to find out what causes her to leave - pressure, distance, etc.

What motivates her to stay

Invisible string, use hand as if the rope is still there.

Get playful, provocative, use the "ping", don't be afraid to bring her emotions up.

This stuff is soooo much fun....


Saturday 4 June 2016

Private lessons with Jo Bates Parelli 2* instructor Part 1 - Online

June 2016, and a brilliant two days of private lessons, at home with Seraphina, with Parelli 2* instructor Jo Bates.
 
Private lessons are addictive!

Clinics and workshops are great, but you learn so much more in one-to-one teaching, and working with my own horse too. I had been worried that Fina would not be able to deal with the concentrated attention, but she appeared fine and "with us" throughout, except for one small period of introversion in the first hour which we waited out. There was lots of talking in between tasks, and we gave her time to digest her thoughts before moving on. I think Fina enjoyed having my undivided attention and was very connected, she loves learning as long as she isn't rushed, and when we were talking or giving her a rest, she chilled with us and didn't try to go off and eat as they do when they are bored or unwilling to participate. The sessions were not long, and broken up with discussion and theory, and lunch, and so we did online in the morning followed by a liberty session, to test the connection once the halter was off. After lunch was recap, pre-flight checks then freestyle (riding without contact), in the halter, and using the carrot stick for turning which is something I haven't done alone as I wasn't really sure how it worked. I found it really helped Fina and enabled us to "follow the rail" and use some other patterns designed to develop sense of direction and riding with feel, without using the reins, leading to bridleless riding, which is one of my goals.

My brief to Jo was to look at online and freestyle (riding without contact) and some liberty. So the mornings were spent on line, finishing with a short session in the roundpen at liberty, to test our connection; and saddle up for freestyle in the afternoon. Two days of teaching meant I could learn one day and progress and refine the next. As always, Jo's teaching is structured but flexible, and inspiring as well as fun - totally addictive!

Online

First Jo wanted to see us in all 7 games to assess us. A few things showed up including something I wanted to ask about. I could send Fina, or back her up, but asking her towards me, I didn't have a good draw and I was relying on the rope. Jo coached me with suggestions and some patterns to help; (see below) and very quickly I had Fina moving happily towards me. Then we were able to use this on a circle then figure 8.

#1 extreme friendly game

#2 vertical flexion from the halter. Wait, don't increase the pressure, wait for them to find the release.

#3 quality, lifting of shoulders, do it until have quality and rhythm and effort

#4 : Improving draw. Isolate, take that ingredient. What creates draw? Start close, one or two steps. Invite with body, suggestion on rope, stick at side. Support with stick to side, invite with body back and open, don't rely on porcupine but slight feel on line. Patterns to improve draw. Semi circle then back along fence, keep facing them then draw backwards. Sweet spot in centre of head, face because you want the two eyes, two ears on you. Increase distance gradually. A pattern to help. Off circle using fence or rail to support. Send as for circle, then move towards fence and as horse reaches rail, backwards and draw. Remember to keep belly button towards horse, don't turn sideways. On circle, change of direction, with draw backwards. Then step forward towards horse support with stick to shoulder, could you please, take that bit away. No spiralling, keep body straight.


Some notes from the lessons and thoughts for the day (to remember!):

Testing the 7 games and knowing why we play online : Teaching. Preparation for riding and for liberty. For safety. For fun.

Remember it's about winning the games, not just playing them.

Motivation, have a goal, a reason for doing something.

Use filter of quality, distance, speed. Think about testing through these, in that order, and look for where they meet the edge, you can push the horse to it and bring back, thus expanding and playing with their limits.

They need to own the solution. Waiting and allowing them to rest on the release and think helps them to do this. Allow them to relax between requests.

Circle and squeeze games - be playful, provocative

Don't let them tell you but don't make them feel wrong.

Do they need consistency or variety?

Mind, flexion, weight, feet : Look for the mind going and do something when it's just a thought - watch for the ear or head turning away, do less sooner than more later - don't let them leave!