Notes on a positive groundwork session

Keeping it going after our coaching with Jo.

A super session with Fina this morning, taking it slowly works best for both of us and gets us further as we both need time to think and not lose the plot under pressure. Slow and right beats fast and wrong. Apparently we are not ready for fast and right!

We warmed up with some sideways on and off the fence, we have cracked this and stopped the drift after Jo's help. Then, as I had messed up the long and low a couple of days ago and we are having to rebuild confidence on that, we did shaping on the circle first. We have been doing this for some time so we are both confident and can stretch the bubble. Then I mixed it up with some long and low and kept at it patiently, it is working well at walk now and taking it into trot in small increments. I was rewarded by a slack line and a horse soft and light in my hand, then she produced some lovely relaxed jaw movements as we were walking, such as they usually give after a massage! This is a mega release for Fina. I love how this stuff works when you get it right! Now I know what we are looking for.

After a break, we did transitions on a circle, my reward there was getting 2 eyes and 2 ears, asking questions, and very positive responses. I mixed in some stick to me, and managed to extend my own walk so she would trot beside me, which also meant she had to put more effort and less speed into her trot. Then we tried canter stick to me and on the second attempt she offered a few strides so we ended on that triumph.

Coaching with Jo Bates Inspired Natural Horsemanship June 2018

Coaching with Jo Bates Inspired Natural Horsemanship 18 - 20 June 2018

 For the third year running, my natural horsemanship instructor and friend Jo Bates (Inspired Natural Horsemanship) came to stay and gave me and Seraphina coaching and tips over 3 mornings. We played with online, liberty and freestyle (without contact) riding, relating what we were doing from one savvy to another.

A few notes and points that came up:

We talked about visualizing a bubble - which has boundaries which both the horse and you need to respect. You can't expect horse to focus if you have left the bubble mentally or physically, and if the horse leaves the bubble then remind her of her responsibilities.

When you instigate a movement with the horse, think "we" are going sideways etc.

The bubble is not always round, it depends on the movement.

Thought, energy, body cue and if necessary the stick supports and says "are you listening?". Always start with what you want, reinforce if necessary, and be sure to only release to what you want, so if you need to use the stick to get the desired response, do not release on that, continue asking with thought until you can release to a try on that.

Be effective; don't let the boundaries be vague.

How this works in sideways: strong focus, strong boundaries.

Switching from focused energy to dispersed energy, making me aware of my body language and energy, and helping Fina to understand that she should not respond until you give focus and direct the energy towards her.

Long and low massage in movement. In walk, causing her to stretch by massaging spots on neck and along body line corresponding to spine. Find tight spots. Stick and rope in outer hand to block if necessary, looking for slack in rope. Body asks for low.

Online on circle, moving different parts of horse's body to flex and cause her to be more supple. Constant conversation, play with it and observe.

First get the walk/trot you want, before asking anything else.

Look for the sweet spot when you get the desired flexion, it might be between flexing inwards and turning away, might come and go so be ready to release and encourage the one you want.

Seraphina was a star, it was hot even in the mornings, and the flies were very distracting and bothersome, but we gave her plenty of breaks and time for reflection in between tasks, and as we discussed them.