We go for a hack

A beautiful October day. Dan is riding Seraphina and I walk with Lucie.

Leading from behind (and taking photos!)

We let the ponies enjoy the forest grass for a few minutes

Masterson method

The Masterson Method® Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork

https://mastersonmethod.com/

The Masterson Method® is a unique, interactive method of equine bodywork that anyone can learn, to help build trust with the horse. Years of stress and stiffness can often be resolved in a few sessions, by relieving built-up tension in core muscles and key junctions of the body that affect the horse’s performance.

With The Masterson Method®, you learn to recognize and use the responses of the horse to find and release tension. In contrast to traditional massage, it works with the horse’s nervous system and the horse actively participates in the process. It is something you do with the horse, rather than to the horse.

A couple of friends from the north of France are certified practitioners and as part of a road trip to visit clients, they stayed with us and gave the horses a bodywork session. Thanks Mary-Ellen and Nicky! Good thing you made your trip before we went into lockdown.

My first Equifeel competition

I participate in my first live Equifeel competition at CEPB at Beaumont-du-Périgord - and win my class, the Club 2! My friend Tamzin very kindly offered me her second horse, the gorgeous Raz, to participate with as she was entered with her more experienced partner, the equally handsome Voodoo. She won her class too, Club 1! 

A super day out among horsey people, looking forward to some practise and the next comp in February.

A little bit of liberty

"When the halter off comes off, what you have is the truth" (Pat Parelli and others). Meaning that you will find out whether your horse wants to be with you or leaves as soon as he has the choice. This will usually happen the first time you test your connection, but if you have done your teaching well, on line, at different distances, and you continue to use the same cues at liberty, then you should have the same connection and responses.

The first few times I tried with Fina was in the round pen. She would stay connected for a while but as soon as she felt too much pressure or lack of confidence, she left me and either wandered around or cantered circles on the limit of the round pen. It was easy enough to get her back, no chasing but waiting until the right moment to yield the hindquarters, which brought her to face me and she was only too happy to rejoin me.

Jo Bates coaching us, reminding me to cue as if we are still online

Today, she is as connected to me off line as on line. We don't need the restriction of the round pen. We play in the paddock, with Lucie and the shed and an open gate to the next field. Sometimes we go out into the big field. Building up to bigger distances and faster paces!

Meanwhile here is a bit of video of a little bit of liberty at the end of our play sessions for Equifeel training; it felt right to finish off line with some free style patterns. A work in progress but she never left me, mostly she was relaxed and connected, at one point I was able to bring her emotions up and obtain a bit more effort and impulsion, and at the end I asked her to lower her head,something we have been working on which helps relaxation and tempo if she gets a bit excited.

Equifeel (1)

Remember the Parelli games, which were showcased on Horse & Country TV? Now we have Equifeel, the French version; apparently initiated by Andy Booth in France. This discipline, which is basically playing with your horse online or at liberty with obstacles, is becoming popular in France and the FFE, Federation Francaise d'Equitation, has officialised it and established rules for competitions which can be found on their website.

All you need is a basic knowledge of how to play the 7 games, a horse, and some equipment (tarp, cones or markers, poles, something to make a small jump; and the usual kit, halter and 4m and 7m ropes, a stick if you use one, carrot or dressage).

And if like me, you don't have transport, there's no excuse for not joining in because you can video yourself and enter online competitions through Equifeel-Partage.

So no excuse!

I went to observe a competition recently in the Dordogne, at Ecuries de la H.A. near Sainte Foy de Longas; here are a few photos:

Obstacles in the sand school

The tests

Transitions in the round pen

Tamzin and Voodoo, the eventual winners of two classes

Suitably inspired, I gave it a try at home; see next post!

How not to organise a hay delivery!

What happened, and what should or shouldn't have happened...

Before the mayhem. One of the gates which I should have closed!

We have a new shelter in the winter field, so much easier to have the hay bale under shelter and a dry area for the horses to stand and eat. The photos are before it was finished with doors to the hay shelter.

The new shelter, hay shed to the right (now with doors)

Hay storage and horse shelter (the bache was soon trashed and replaced with doors). My story concerns the second bale we had delivered when this one was eaten up.

The farmer came on his big tractor with a round bale on the spike, and in order to deposit it in the hay shed he had to drive into the horse's field and manoeuvre. He was cold and it was raining or hailing, he was in a hurry and my first mistake was to let him rush things. I let him through the gate, and should have closed it (second mistake) while I sent the horses further into the field and opened the shed doors, meanwhile the tractor was turning and I thought the horses were well out of the way in the field.

Then I heard a shout from the farmer and turned to see Lucie the Camargue going for the gap behind me. She shot through the open gate and out through the secondary gate (which I also should have closed!). Fina made to follow and another mistake, I could have stopped her; she hesitated, but I thought, let them go, they will only go into the next field... 

So I helped the farmer deliver the bale. Meanwhile the two horses had continued at full gallop, round the next field and instead of stopping there, they went out into the track, and disappeared at speed, past the neighbours's house and into the woods! They saw where they went, by now out of sight, so trying to hold back panic, I set off after them with halters. 

I finally caught up with them after an anxious walk along an uphill forest track which led to a grass field, where the horses were grazing (that moment of relief when you see them safe!) but still on high alert. I had only grabbed a thin mac and boots when I saw the tractor approaching earlier, thinking I would be out for 10', so I was cold and wet as well as fighting panic. 

I realised the horses were still high on adrenalin and not approachable and all I could do was join the herd and wait until the emotions settled. So I just mirrored them as they enjoyed the grass, breathing and not allowing my thoughts to rest on catching them, even though it was late and the light was fading. 

At first, if I got too close they would move on or turn away, so I had to be patient. I already knew that it was Fina who would be the softer touch, she is "mine" but will be led or misled by Lucie, she is divided between which of us she connects with and responds to. When I considered the molecules had finally settled, I was able to scratch her underneck and felt a connection re-established, and when I offered the halter she put her nose in it without question. I asked her to graze again and checked out Lucie, I judged her not ready to respond to me so decided to make out we were on a normal outing and it was now time to go home. I led Fina off and called Lucie to follow, but she was sceptical and watched us, keeping her distance. I wanted her to feel she was with us, not being abandoned, so I turned and led Fina back to her and this seemed to give Lucie confidence to follow us back down the track, when I led off again. I was purposeful but unhurried, and strategically suggested grazing breaks on the way. Making things my idea. Now I felt I had "hooked" Lucie. She then tried to come past me and Fina so I quietly blocked her and she accepted it. Yes! That was the sign I was looking for, she was now right behind Fina and I offered my hand and when she didn't react adversely, I scratched her head. Then I offered her the halter and she accepted that I take charge. 

After that, all became normal, a walk back to the field (a momentary high head from Lucie to check that there were no tractors) and they waited patiently for me to give them some hay. 

No sign of harm on their side, the impromptu outing and exercise probably released their emotions after several days in the wet field enduring bad weather. 

I was physically and emotionally drained!

I didn't learn any new lessons only paid the penalty for not remembering the old ones and respecting the horses' way, and allowing myself to be manipulated by an outside influence, forgetting that my job is to protect the herd and their space from intruders, even those bearing gifts! Although I know I did not set it up for success, and took my eye off the ball and lost control of the situation, I am slightly disappointed in Lucie for reverting to her nature and acting like a prey animal, but she amazes me - for her age and with a gammy leg, she can still gallop like a youngster if she thinks she has to!

Goodbye 2018

As 2018 draws to a close, what were my horsey highlights to remember it by?

Each year I seem to achieve less and less, our rides get shorter and we are getting older and lazier and fatter (well, Fina anyway!). Following our coaching in June, I managed some horse time most days and was able to keep the ponies fit and make progress with Fina for a few weeks before the heatwave which continued through July and August made it hard to work the horses except very early in the morning. As there were many other jobs to be done in these precious cooler hours of the day, I lost momentum and the horses had a quiet time from then on.

Here are a few photo reminders of summer and some good days and time with the horses.

June coaching and fun at liberty

Practising our focus and body language in the saddle

Huge log stacks line one of our regular tracks

Fina has a new palette to stand on; Lucie in the background does her own thing!

The summer field during the hot dry spell

A walk in the woods

Our one chicken hangs out with the horses

An autumn ride

Foraging in the woods in December