20th Feb
What a day!! I set out with a very clear focus today of working on our sideways game so that it's up to scratch for assessment
As per normal, she was not happy with me stood in zone 3 on the right, I think this is partly because I favour the other side; for an absolute age, she was pushing her zone 1 and 2 at me, and was clearly showing she wasn't happy with me there; another example of it all being about zone 1 dominance with her; this game went on for quite some time, and when I got her lined up straight, I gave her loads of comfort and dwell time, and some grass for good measure, I have to really force myself to give her longer to just chill, this is one of the big things that has made the difference in recent weeks I think, it's hard for me to just be in the moment, but crikey it makes a difference to her!!
It was a good reminder how persistent she is about things like this, but it's so much easier on the ground, I wish i could be as patient as I was today when I ride... maybe one day!!
So after working on friendly in zone 3, asking her not to push on my bubble with her zone 1 /2 and life up, life down and getting some decent sideways, I started asking for a bit more speed, but still kept going back to having to drive zone 1 as she pushed into me after I dropped my energy for a stop. Interesting that really focusing on specifics kept her interested, I often think I need to really mix things up, and certainly that's good, but occasional sessions like this with a clear vision and working on just one thing are also effective at keeping her attention
This went on for a while, and then really started to pick it up, then out of nowhere, she went from sideways into a flat out gallop on the 22ft... didn't shut her down immediately, as I now know not to make her feel wrong when this energy comes out, so disengaged, brought her in, rubbed her nose, yo-yo'd her back about 10ft, and again she just took off, absolutely flat out, she has never done this from a yo-yo, and it wasn't right brained chaos, she was easy to disengage and bring in, and there was no head up, tight face, shallow breathing etc, hmmmmmm I thought very interesting
So, I pondered for a while, it's fascinating, now that this exuberance is starting to show, and she's beginning to really play with me, she is really moving up the impulsion scale, her behaviour today was a reaction to me truly out-persisting her and winning a game; but she was also feeling free and having fun, and felt able to express herself, and WANTS to move her feet..... there are so many things that have come together in recent weeks, but I feel so elated!! Although I obviously don't want her just taking off at a gallop at any moment she sees fit, it is a real sign that she is interacting with the games, and i am pushing her buttons and we are both asking questions; in the past, more often than not, it felt like I was playing the games with an unwilling participant, and there is nothing more frustrating and saddening than that, when you are trying to find that fun and connection. When her life is up like this, the whole thing becomes more fluid and dynamic, and there is something to channel! When I look back to the horse that would be so resentful and unhappy about a few strides of trot online, this energy and excitement is an absolute revelation...
So...... re-visted our sideways after some dwell time, lined her up to be straight, with me in zone 3, and she immediately put herself perfectly straight, and just turned her head to me, and she had ears totally pricked and focused on me, and was looking at me with such intensity, it was quite surreal; so it seems that winning the game in a non-confrontational fashion, caused a reaction and playfulness, followed by a new level of engagement with me, it was very different to the look and feel she gives me which is more along the lines of "why are we doing this"
Although I was saddled up and wanted to ride, I realised that there would never be a better moment to call it a day, give her huge rubs and turn her out
As per normal, she was not happy with me stood in zone 3 on the right, I think this is partly because I favour the other side; for an absolute age, she was pushing her zone 1 and 2 at me, and was clearly showing she wasn't happy with me there; another example of it all being about zone 1 dominance with her; this game went on for quite some time, and when I got her lined up straight, I gave her loads of comfort and dwell time, and some grass for good measure, I have to really force myself to give her longer to just chill, this is one of the big things that has made the difference in recent weeks I think, it's hard for me to just be in the moment, but crikey it makes a difference to her!!
It was a good reminder how persistent she is about things like this, but it's so much easier on the ground, I wish i could be as patient as I was today when I ride... maybe one day!!
So after working on friendly in zone 3, asking her not to push on my bubble with her zone 1 /2 and life up, life down and getting some decent sideways, I started asking for a bit more speed, but still kept going back to having to drive zone 1 as she pushed into me after I dropped my energy for a stop. Interesting that really focusing on specifics kept her interested, I often think I need to really mix things up, and certainly that's good, but occasional sessions like this with a clear vision and working on just one thing are also effective at keeping her attention
This went on for a while, and then really started to pick it up, then out of nowhere, she went from sideways into a flat out gallop on the 22ft... didn't shut her down immediately, as I now know not to make her feel wrong when this energy comes out, so disengaged, brought her in, rubbed her nose, yo-yo'd her back about 10ft, and again she just took off, absolutely flat out, she has never done this from a yo-yo, and it wasn't right brained chaos, she was easy to disengage and bring in, and there was no head up, tight face, shallow breathing etc, hmmmmmm I thought very interesting
So, I pondered for a while, it's fascinating, now that this exuberance is starting to show, and she's beginning to really play with me, she is really moving up the impulsion scale, her behaviour today was a reaction to me truly out-persisting her and winning a game; but she was also feeling free and having fun, and felt able to express herself, and WANTS to move her feet..... there are so many things that have come together in recent weeks, but I feel so elated!! Although I obviously don't want her just taking off at a gallop at any moment she sees fit, it is a real sign that she is interacting with the games, and i am pushing her buttons and we are both asking questions; in the past, more often than not, it felt like I was playing the games with an unwilling participant, and there is nothing more frustrating and saddening than that, when you are trying to find that fun and connection. When her life is up like this, the whole thing becomes more fluid and dynamic, and there is something to channel! When I look back to the horse that would be so resentful and unhappy about a few strides of trot online, this energy and excitement is an absolute revelation...
So...... re-visted our sideways after some dwell time, lined her up to be straight, with me in zone 3, and she immediately put herself perfectly straight, and just turned her head to me, and she had ears totally pricked and focused on me, and was looking at me with such intensity, it was quite surreal; so it seems that winning the game in a non-confrontational fashion, caused a reaction and playfulness, followed by a new level of engagement with me, it was very different to the look and feel she gives me which is more along the lines of "why are we doing this"
Although I was saddled up and wanted to ride, I realised that there would never be a better moment to call it a day, give her huge rubs and turn her out
posted by Fleur @ 2:32 PM
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