We Cantered!

I know, I know, it isn't really that exciting for most people but for Duck and I it is! We cantered! And it was nice (no inclination of bucking or ears back) for about 3 strides. We did lots of transitions and did 2-3 canter strides as part of them. We've had such an issue with her bucking, refusing to canter etc. I am pretty sure it is the shimming of the saddle.

Riding her canter is a different story! It is SO different from Kira. Her stride feels HUGE and it moves you very up and down! It is going to take me quite awhile to get used to it! 

But I am happy! This is great progress for us!

I've also still been playing with the cloverleaf pattern, to which now she knows that "X" in the middle is for stopping so she stops without me asking. But we'll keep playing with it!

Cloverleaf

Well on Tuesday Duck and I played with the cloverleaf pattern. We started at the walk and did a whole pattern to the left, and then she felt pretty good so we trotted. She caught on pretty quick! The first few long stretches across the arena I had to do a few corrections to keep her straight, but then after that she headed straight for the barrels I set up as markers. We had one spook in the far corner of the arena but to my own surprise I just was able to push and disengage her and then I restarted. 

See I learned the "grip as hard as you can" to stay on, and this habit is dying hard. 

What I was most impressed with is the fact that we DID trot the cloverleaf pattern both ways at the trot with hardly any breaks of gait. She was however trying to turn before the very end of the arena (which I need to be more consistent about correcting) but WOW! We were trotting, and she had happy ears almost the whole time! Yeah! I know it is a small thing, but this is the first time since I have had Duck that I have done enough trotting for me to (and her) to break a sweat. 

I am attributing it to the following, or a combination of these things:

1) properly shimmed saddle. This is the first thing that comes to mind because this is the second time I have ridden her with the new shim arrangement. Last time she was happier for a little and then went sour and stopped.

2) Me having a very strong Focus (and a plan). I admit I kind of lack in the leadership department here! (Yeah for patterns!)

3) Duck is getting more confident under saddle with me

4) I didn't play nearly as long online. In fact just on my way to the arena. Preflight checks etc. This could have helped too, because sometimes she doesn't want to go because she is done energy wise...

Of course on Wednesday it POURED rain, so no riding, Thursday I was working at the barn (it is just awful to see her look at my van and keep driving past to go to work) and today I have been stuck at home with the painters doing our final repairs on the house. So off to the barn tomorrow and we'll do it all again!

More of the same + Buddy!

Duck and I are just really still playing with the trailer etc. I have ridden once bareback since my last post but it wasn't for very long! 

Duck doesn't have any issue walking right into the trailer now when there is grain in there! All the way. She is even getting more confident about me rattling the divider. The butt bar she is getting better but still has to come out occasionally. 

On Friday we also played friendly game with the bike. Christian was kind enough to ride his bike around. Duck is deathly afraid of the bike. She is getting better but this one will definitely take some more time! At least she isn't going all the way to the end of the rope and pulling on me when he rides by now. Now it is just a couple steps!

Christian has recently been coming to the barn with me to play with Buddy the pony. He has really been enjoying his time with Buddy, and he is responding really well so far. The first day he was dragging Christian all over (he has a bit of a pulling people around to do what he wants which is usually grazing) but today (just 2 short sessions later) Christian can lead the food hungry monster through the grass with hardly any issues. On his back is a different story but I am sure that he'll get even more responsive! He seems to be enjoying his play time. Little LBE!

As a side note Christian took all the pictures of Duck and I on Friday that are posted. I thought he did pretty well!

Zone 5 Friendly Game & Trailer

Today I had an hour. I knew I wouldn't have time to warm up and ride as well (It usually takes us a bit to be on the same page before we ride) so I got my 22 ft line and headed to the practice arena. I also took with me a bucket of the grain I bought for using in the trailer as a "bonus." I opnened Liz's 2 horse trailer put the grain in, then walked away back to the arena with Duck. She definitely was NOT expecting that! She was expecting "oh we are trailer loading again...". So we get back to the arena and it is warm but SUPER windy. The wind is just howling and there is a ton of noise at the compost pile from the huge machinery there plus the regular tractors around the farm. 

Mind you it was so windy that Christian, who was with me ran straight to the lounge, he didn't want to be out in the wind.

So I've kind of been playing with leading by the tail but it hasn't been going super great. I decided that since with the trailer and our loading issues in zone 5 that I needed to be more friendly in zone 5. 

So that is what I did. The 12 ft rope (22ft was attached to her halter) rubbed all over her legs, the stick and string all over zones 4 and five. Then I worked my way to doing the helicopter over my head with the string and she seemed to be getting used to it pretty well.

Then we did a few steps of lead by the tail a couple times. The second time she really seemed to be getting the hang of it and was much more confident. See, I have a plan! I want to be able to get her out of the trailer when I am back at zone 5 so there is my purpose, teach her to lead by the tail so she'll come out of the trailer. 

Then I did some approach and retreat with the 12 ft rope around her hocks. She seemed fine with that so I decided to try to get her to yield to that. The first time she just shifted her weight so I released. The second time she didn't know exactly what to think when there was more pressure on the rope and she backed a couple steps but with her hocks pretty high each time. I couldn't tell if she just wasn't used to it or if she wanted to kick against the pressure. Guess I'll find out next time! I quit with that. I kept checking her tail to see how tight it was. Her tail seems to be quite tight each time I start playing with her, so I have been checking to see if it is loosened while/after we are done playing. 

We ended in the arena with "touch it" from zone 3. Carol has told me to  play with zone 5 driving so I am going to work my way back there!

We headed to the trailer next but I didn't ask her to go in right away. I was trying not to be so direct line about it although now she thinks I always want her to go in! So I had her put her nose on the trailer, go sideways around the trailer and truck, and then I decided to try something different (zone 5 stuff again.)

First I decided to have her go over the ramp (that isn't new) but then we yo-yo'ed across the ramp and then I back her off it. First just her back feet, then up to all four. And then the new zone 5 thing.

I asked her to put her hind feet on the trailer ramp first. At first she didn't want anything to do with it! I just tried to be persistent about it, approaching and retreating from the ramp and also reminding her when she didn't want to go backwards that she needs to yield to that pressure (while not near the trailer) (She has backed all the way up the ramp and into the big trailer one time) But this is a much smaller (2 horse straight load) trailer. But with the approach and retreat I got her back feet up there, first one foot, then 2. And I quit with that. And we got lots of licking and chewing!

Then I asked her into the trailer. Mind you by this time the wind is just blowing like crazy, and strong! I figured it would be great practice for her because it isn't always a perfect sunny day to get into a trailer right? She went all the way in first try which is definite improvement. Our issue is still the butt bar and zone 5. Last time I ended with rattling the butt bar and she still wasn't confident with it. 

This time though I think with the grain in there she could have really cared less about the butt bar almost the whole time. I rattled, and put it up and down and rattled it some more. Definitely much better! 

Only 1 time did she get unconfident enough that she had to come out (albeit it was quickly!). There was a HUGE gust of wind at the same time I was doing the rattling of the butt bar (plus there is a tarp and exercise ball at the front of the trailer) so that could have moved enough to spook her and she came out really fast! But she went back in just fine but not as far up as she had been so I just did the butt bar around her leg and rubbed there. Then it was time for me to go so we ended there!

Of course we had to have a couple minutes of grazing on the way back to her pen....

A bunch of stuff!

Wow what a beautiful day today! Duck was happy to see me. Yesterday I let her graze a bunch and she was happy about that.

So I am trying to get my shims all arranged better. Lets just say that to say the least my saddle is too narrow, and too small for my post kid bottom. :) But beings how a new fusion isn't in the budget (or even a wintec for that matter) I am donig the best I can with what I have. But I had to buy more shims which arrived on Saturday.

After looking at the instructions I decided to try a wedge shim with 2 thick shims. Duck doesn't have a high wither, isn't really downhill etc, but my saddle has got to be too narrow. Besides the fact that it puts me right on my frontside like close contact/jumping saddles tend to do anyway. I just could NOT get on my balance point consistently. What a difference today though! I actually felt much more secure and Duck seemed quite a bit happier trotting around. Her ears weren't back near as much and she was doing pretty well maintaining gait (until she saw grass!)

We just did follow the rail and some transitions today. I'm not sure if she's getting bored with it or not, but our downward transitions are still not that great. I am having to use my reins too much. I need to her stop more from my seat. I will keep playing with it!

Before I rode though we played on the 22ft line. Today I decided to try trotting sideways on the 22ft (with the fence). She did it, with slack in the line every time but really nasty ears too. Both directions same story. But she was being very responsive with slack in the line so I figured I'd try a little liberty.

So I took off her halter (this is in the big practice ring) and we played "stick to me." Our stick to me is getting pretty decent at the walk and trot on a good day. She still gets crabby ears though while trotting. Well we did the weave, a figure 8, went through a lane and then back out, and backed her through 2 upright barrels all at liberty! I only lost her once when she went ahead of me while trotting and she didn't even go that far just her behind had passed me when I was able to turn her around!

This was great considering that we haven't done liberty in quite awhile and when we did it wasn't great so I just left it alone for awhile.

It was a great session on a beautiful day!

Movie Night and Play Day!

Friday I hosted a Parelli movie night. It was so much fun! I love getting to know people that also share my passion for Parelli and horses. I had a good turn out including quite a few people that I hadn't ever met which was great! We enjoyed some good food (my oatmeal chocolate chip cookies ended up being the favorite), watched the latest savvy club DVD and talked. Mostly we talked! It was just great to get to know some fellow savvy horse people! And I am going to try and keep it going more often than once every 6 months!

Then Saturday we did a playdate at our barn. There are 4 other Parelli students at Sundance now besides myself! Yeah! I am not the lone orange stick anymore! It is great to have like minded people around! I set up a weave pattern, figure 8, tarp, jumps, ground poles, and even the blue exercise ball.  Liz even hooked up her trailer for trailer loading practice! (Duck and I need all the practice we can get!)

Christian and Aricin even came over and played with Buddy the pony for awhile! And then Christian came back again to play with Buddy! He like leading him over "jumps" (ground poles)

Buddy is one smart pony. Catches on quite quickly and seemed to be enjoying mostly everything except when I interrupted his pattern of dragging Christian on the end of the leadrope. But he is smart and catching on quickly!

Duck and I need to play more with the tarp! And bikes. I need to have my kids come ride their bikes so Duck and I can follow them. She is quite scared of the bikes, and tarps! In Illinois I remember doing quite a bit with the tarp, but either it's been too long or I didn't do as much as I remember. Anyway it gives me another thing to play with as Liz left her gigantic tarp in her trailer for me to use! :) I want to get her comfortable enough to wear the tarp confidently. Another goal!

It was so much fun and hopefully I'll be able to meet up again with people this week. 

What an awesome weekend! And next time I'll try and remember to take some pictures but this time I was way too busy either helping people or my kids, or doing stuff with Duck!

Riding in the Chaos!

So yesterday I went to the barn to play and ride with Duck. There were SO many people there! I've hardly ever seen that many people there at once, especially in the winter. It was kind of chilly and very windy too!

I saddled up Duck. I've been playing with her shims some, trying to adjust etc to see if I can get on my balance point better. Well today she was somewhat happier. She had happy ears at the trot probably 75% of the time which was great!

We actually started in the round corral and on a whim I decided to do some liberty. I turned her loose and we did a couple figure 8's at liberty. I then put the barrels down trying to get her to squeeze over them, but it was more of a lazy crash through! :)

Then off to the arena. It was pretty crowded. There were 2 trainers both with lessons going on, and then a couple girls that own horses riding, and their friends on the ground as well. Of course the practice arena was empty. I chose this arena just for that reason. See, it very rarely there is anyone else in the arena when I ride/play, at the most 1-2 others and that is only occasionally. 

Duck has a rather large personal "bubble." So I wanted to see if she is getting any better with the other horses and help desensitize her to the groups. We were playing follow the rail and a million transitions. Of course as usual when there are distractions she ignores me, so I was really trying to be particular and effective in getting a downward transition. Towards the end she was listening much better to my body language. 

For the most part she didn't have big issues with the horses in the ring. One of the trainers was eating her lunch while teaching and had a bowl of something. Duck kept trying to stop and take me over there to see if it was something for her!

And that was it, about an hour just riding up and downward transitions just to the trot.

I'm so excited though because I get to go to a playday on Feb 28th! And a 4 day level 2/3 camp in June with Carol Coppinger at her place in Tennessee. I'm so excited! I haven't done a clinic or anything "Parelli" with a group (minus a couple trail rides) for almost 2 years now. 

Now I REALLY need to get Duck confident with the trailer!

Did I mention how excited I am for the playday and the camp!!! :)