Oz's clinic writeup Tipp

[el]

Kilfeacle OZZIE CLINIC June 2011

It looks like there won't be an offical clinic in Ireland this summer (at the minute anyway). So I took off 5 days and am down in Tipp and will be working with Oz hopefully every day, as if it was a clinic. So in the absense of a teacher, if anyone wants to jump in and help me out go for it!



Our current situation is we work mainly in walk, working on control of the feet, softness and attention. Also need to check if Oz is still upset when I dismount (fat+saddle=disgruntled Oz)

We're aiming to improve our walk, our fancy moves, and work towards trot. All to be done emotion free and with softness.

DAY 1 - morning, 1 hour 15 mins

Groundwork - 15 mins:

Saddle on. In hand work. Oz very chilled, as usual sticking right beside me. When I point out he does go out a bit further.

Walked all around the paddock. Did circles with bend, can move outside hind out, inside fore in, and wholehorse sideways.

Also did trot in hand. Beautiful jog. Honestly. How I do this, is walk with him, then I raise up my energy (rather than go faster) he raises up his energy, we both get faster and automatically trot together. This results is no emotion from Oz and a lovely jog. If I try to make him trot (gw or riding) we get a strop. I have to feel for him and then we go together, otherwise it doesn't work. My goal is to figure this out in the saddle as well.

Bank: Got him to walk up the bank calmly (brilliant). If I ask too much of him he will do it but will buck and canter after it. Go thim to walk off it too. First time he walked up & down, rather then jumped.

Very nice chilled horse.

Riding - 1 hour:

Mounting:

Hopped up. Hopped off. Hopped up again. Hopped off. Realised when I hopped off I put my hand on the front of the saddle and put weight on it. Maybe with the fatter pony that was having more of an impact. Oz didn't mind today though. Hopped on again and stood still.

In the saddle:

Rode around the whole paddock. The whole time I had the front feet in my hands. I could feel each front foot moving without looking and used these everytime to control them, slow them down, go faster, turn, etc. This was a direct result from Australia. Before I could keep Ozs attention on circles as I was always focusing and correcting the bend, but would loose his attention on straight lines. Now I have this attention the whole time. If I loose it to a quad or a tracter, I move his appropiate foot the other way and get it back. This is BIG!



Worked on slow & fast walk. This is preparation for our trotting. For the first time I can get a slow walk. Before I would get a normal walk, ask for a slow down and either keep the current walk or get a halt with his head in the air.

Fast trot - Oz wasn't giving this much, just now and again. More to do on this but on the right path. I need to get it so I can ask & get a fast walk when he offers it, and one day he'll offer a relaxed jog and like in the GW we'll go together. up to that I'm not going to harass, kick, squeeze him etc as he just then does the opposite. I can't make him do stuff, he's got to want to do it and be prepared and set up in the right position to do it.

So we did lots of straight long walks, al around the paddock. Rests every so often, but not as much as usual as he seems to be able to cope with doing more continious work now. All around the paddock, by cattle, quads, tracters up the field etc. JUst kept control of the fete when I lost his mind.

No real taking over either. I did always try to have the front feet in my hands.

Did some FQ yields (not as soft as they have been but not bad).

Backup - need to do more and also backup to FQ yield.

Sidepass - ok, neds work, but did get him to go over a white block which we figured out together as a team and were both quite pleased when done as it involved a bit of patience and manuvering. Did it in a relaxed manner.

That was about it. First ride I think in 3 weeks. Lovely to be able to go out & throw on a saddle



MORE THINGS TO WORK ON:

Sidepass towards me off side - GW
Backup tail - GW
Sidepass 1 direction over block- GW
Trot and control of the feet - GW
Possible canter if trot is good - GW

Riding - backup & FQ yield
Riding - softness in walk
Riding - control of the hind feet
Riding - build on full use of the paddock
Riding - sidepass block the other way
Riding - various speeds of walk, heading towards a relaxed trot

[el]

DAY 1 Afternoon - Groundwork

Went out and trimmed the horses after lunch, and did GW with Oz. No idea where the time went I came back in and it was 5.20pm! Oz was perfectly behaved, except when he bit Dougs arse while Doug was getting his off hind trimmed, and when he sneezed all over Dads jumper which had been left on the ground.

Sidepass towards me off side - GW - still where it was, but can cue it from waving my fingers over his back. I reward when either the front come over & the back stay still, or the front come over and the back come over a little. If I only reward both coming towards me I confuse Oz as he tries after a while then to go the other way. So we'll stick at it anyway. Takes a while for the penny to drop I think.

Trot and control of the feet - GW - got more emotion free nice trotting. Again he likes to stay close to me as his default position rather than go out on a big circle. So we both trotted around



Possible canter if trot is good - GW - no chance, the energy wasn't there. I could make made him, but the deal is I work with what he offers, then we get nice soft relaxed work. If I rush stuff or make him do stuff it all goes downhill.

Generally he was very well behaved and mellow thoughout.

Banks - we also went up and down the mini bank a few times, very mellow again.

I forgot to do the last two so I'll got out again now & do them. Also, just heard Sinead is coming over tomorrow at 2pm so we'll have a mini silversand student reunion and she can give me advice!!!!



5.45 - 5 mins groundwork

Both horses walked up to me when I went out. Caught Oz.

Backup tail - GW - first tried with 30 tail hairs. No problem going back straight or going back to one side. Then did the same with 15 tail hairs (I counted).

Then went back and sideways back WITH JUST ONE TAIL HAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOLY MOLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Sidepass 1 direction over block- GW - tried to walk/push forward the first time we stopped beside it but I asked him to step back. Then we stood beside it and had a rest. Then he very calmly sidepassed over it and did a good lick & chew.

And that was it! 5 mins as we were done.

Thoughts for the day:
Do less.
Work with what your horse offers & build on it.
Give them time to process.
Time your cues in at the same time as the feet movement. If you get with the feet you get their attention.
Softness and relaxation or its not worth doing.

MORE THINGS TO WORK ON:

Sidepass towards me off side - GW
Sidepass 2 directions over block, get it better, make block bigger- GW
Trot and control of the feet - GW
Possible canter if trot is good - GW

Riding - backup & FQ yield
Riding - softness in walk, while walking.
Riding - walk to halt transitions only when soft
Riding - control of the hind feet
Riding - build on full use of the paddock
Riding - sidepass block the other way
Riding - various speeds of walk, heading towards a relaxed trot

[el]

DAY 2 - MORNING - GROUNDWORK
With a very relaxed chilled horse.

MORE THINGS TO WORK ON:

Backup using one tail hair - YES DID IT AGAIN!!

Sidepass towards me off side - GW - more practise just waving my hand. Still get the front legs and the back ones either staying still or the odd time moving a fraction towards me.

Sidepass 2 directions over block, get it better - GW - got it better, did it about 6 times, my cues were lighter, he was more comfortable to go straight over it.

Trot and control of the feet - GW - he wanted to go to the loo while means he's not keen on going forward, but it takes him a while to rev up to actually go to the loo. So we walked about, up and down the back as well. Then we tried a trot. He wouldn't come with me, so I had to get after him a bit. Got a trot with a few headshakes but they disappeared quickly and got a nice trot where I could also move the outside hind out a little with the rope.

Possible canter if trot is good - GW - not a hope, lack of energy.

Big afternoon today, Sinead coming over so hope to do lots of riding and see how shes thinks we're going.



When we're stopped together he likes standing right beside me and either staring into my eye or with his head down right at my knees. He is very chilled and relaxed these days. Very odd.

[el]

DAY 2 - AFTERNOON - GW and RIDING - about 1.5 hours

Sinead came over this afternoon so Oz walked straight up to her ignoring me more or less, delighted to be the centre of attention once again!

Groundwork - Did some walk with mes, sidepass towards me on both sides, circles with bend, backup, turn left & right, etc. All grand.

Sinead had a try as well. She reckoned Oz was very light & responsive, listening hard and very relaxed the whole time, much different to how he used to be. The light backup and turn using a slack rope got a mention.



Oz was great the whole time. Tacked him up, then sat still and his eyes closed as he went asleep. Then a few lateral flexions to wake him up.

Then sidepass from halt, walking straight lines and circles.

Our 'walk the line' didn't go well, need to work more on softness and lightness in walk.

But got one or two nice FQ yield 180 degrees, the key being to make sure you have a soft listeing horse before you ask for them.

Then to top it off sidepassed over the white block.

Oz throughout was very relaxed, chilled, focused and did a HUGE amount of head in the air yawns, before during and after our various manouvres. Lots of licking & chewing as well.

Left him off, then he got a delicious apple Sinead had brought over especially for him.

Really, aside from the ridden sidepass over the block we didn't progress much in the session, but we did have a lovely time!

[el]

DAY 3 - MORNING - GROUNDWORK - 1 hour
A bit distracted

Went out & caught Oz. Did him for about an hour, but had two obstacles - 1 he got a bit distracted. This happened after we did a few fast laps of the paddock in walk.

2 - horseflies are out properly today. Oz hates them and gets all grumpy.

Anyway! got a few things better.


Sidepass towards me off side - GW - I figured out how to make this better. Ask Oz to sidepass towards me, then once the front fete have come over, put up my hand to block any more front feet movement but still ask him to come sideways, and then you have more chance of the back legs coming!!

Sidepass 2 directions over block, get it better, make block bigger- GW - this was better again. Also we sidepassed over a long plastic pole and I also got him to stand with a fore & hind on either side of it after a few tries. He had a rest like that then for a few minutes.

Speed - we needed to get out fast walk bettter on the ground, to have a hope of it being better in the saddle. So off we went on long fast walks of the perimeter of the paddock a few times. All good kept up the speed for a few laps, no slowing down at all.

Trot and control of the feet - GW - Once we started this he got a bit distracted and I tried to eat the horseflies. Got a few trots with me but his head was often on the outside. To work on this I got better at asking for the outside hind to move out, but still he was distracted. Mixed it up with a change of direction, walks, etc but not quite there.

From now on got about 3 bites of the lead rope (not tolerated, he got made backup fast) and also a few bucky canters instead of soft trots. They weren't too bad really but the mind wasn't there so it was time to ditch the plan of working on a bit of speed and instead go back to getting the feet.

Back to the black pole - took about 5 mins to get him to put his feet either side. He was coming back from being distracted and a bit pushly as well. We got it though. Once I had a mellow attention paying horse on the line again, we went off on a walk together, then on a fast walk and trot together - this time on a striaght line whcih Oz has no issues with, and got a lovely relaxed soft trot.

Left it there then after nearly an hour. Flies still biting him. I have some fly spray though so will use it later.

He walked behind me the whole way back in case there might be a handful of grass. Then at the gate I saw Doug was just staning still at the top of the paddock looking at us, so I decided to leave Oz and jog back to Doug to make sure he was ok. Half way across the paddock, the thunder of Connemara hooves overtook me as Oz galloped and bucked his way over to doug then got up on his hind legs a few times trying to harrass poor Doug. Anyway, Doug was fine, I shooed Oz off and peace was restored.

I have a friend of mine I did pony club exams with years ago coming out to see Oz this evening, lord only knows what she will think of him!

[breakfast]

Sounds like you're upping the ante a little with some of that today, which is probably quite useful for him just because you need to monitor what he is alright with over time. It's way too easy for any of us to end up working with the horse we had yesterday rather than the horse we have today.

With your "with me" leading stuff, can you lead from level with his hindquarters and have him staying with you and following your energy?

[el]

Jul 1, 2011 13:51:21 GMT breakfast said:

With your "with me" leading stuff, can you lead from level with his hindquarters and have him staying with you and following your energy?

Thanks Ben! Went out and did this for 10 mins.

Generally he's pretty ok. Sometimes he will try and walk across towards my side. To stop him I can yield him away from a touch on the side of a twirling rope. Happened when he was getting near the other horse and going up the hill.

On a straight line he'll turn away from me when I turn my shoulders towards him, and come with me if he's listening when I turn, or some a light reminder cue on the rope if he's not listening.

He was very mellow throughout and did a nice lick & chew when we stopped each time. Didnt try too much of the going faster here due to my position near his HQs.



I'll do more on this tomorrow (good one thanks). Off out for a ride now.

[el]

DAY 3 - AFTERNOON - RIDING 1 HOUR (and a little GW by a friend!)

Backups are improving.

BACKUP - Hopped out and hopped up on Oz. Did some walking around controlling the front feet. Did some backup, asked and when got no answer he got 1 quick bump, and that speeded up the whole backup, got much better. Good it see it improving.

FORWARD - Did walks & circles.

HICCUPS - He got the hiccups. He hates the hiccups. Ever time he hiccupped his whole body tensed up then he did an annoyed head shakes after every single one. I had to just sit there and wait until he had finished, took about 5 mins.

BACKUP CIRCLES - Did some backup in a circle as well with our new improved backup.

HQ yield - Did some walk to HQ yields to stop, the more I did the better we got. The ones are the start were a bit heavy/ploddy.

360 FQ yield. Did it with some nice moments!

Then my old pony club friend came out, Lord knows what she thought of us riding around in a headcollar trying to do various mavouvres in walk!

Showed us sidepass towards me, which I think impressed her. All Oz wanted to do was politely blank me out and stand beside her.



Anyway, back to business. Oz was actually quite patient and listening. I wasn't doing everything with him as usual as I also was trying to explain what I was doing to my friend. So was asking OZ to do stuff randomly to show her, rather than focusing on what he needed. Nevertheless, he surprised me and was very good and patient, and didn't get bothered.

GROUNDWORK WITH MY FRIEND

She had a go at soft then backup (Oz was very good), and circle with bend walk & trot, and hand up to HQ yield. Oz was the perfect pony.

Left him off, happy pony.

FARRIER

Brought him in 2 hours later, put him in the stable for 30 mins, he was a pain then with the farrier, picking up his feet ok but then not standing still, trying his best to constantly bite the rope, and in general being a nuisence. He had stood perfectly loose the day or two before when we rasped his feet in the paddock. Luckily the farrier was very patient and Oz survived the (cough) ordeal.

[el]

DAY 4 - RIDING - over an hour @ 7.30am!!!!

Gorgeous ride.

Was up at 7.15am and out in the saddle at 7.30am!!! This was a miracle for me!! We happily beat all of the horseflies who were still asleep and the annoying buzzy flies only started to come out at 8.15am.

Anytime I led him I led him from the HQs ;D

RELAXED LAPS OF THE PADDOCK: We did 5 laps around the outside of the paddock. This was great. He was chilled out & relaxed and the odd time he looked away I got his attention back by moving a forefoot, same if he decided to lean a bit one way, I used the opposite fore to bring him back.

Lovely though, we just pottered our way around 5 times and he was with me the whole way - a big thing for Oz, as I wasn't asking a whole heap of him, so without me being on his case the whole time before he'd zone out more often.

He got surprised by a rabbit once and did a fairly fast hop to one side but the auld superglue worked well and we continued on like it never happened.

Gorgeous, honestly just gorgeous. He'd do a little sigh as he walked now & again, very relaxed.



SLOW WALK: Also, news of the day he's very good to do normal to slow walk (without stopping) when I just restrain each rein a fraction as that leg is about to move. Fast walk not quite there yet but we'll tackle it another day.

Then we went up the small bank! woohoo another 1st!

BACKUPS: Backups today were very light - both the actual backup and also many times when I asked him to soften, lift up his shoulders then move back. Delighted with these. Really listening.

Did some backup and open with the front leg as well, and backup in circles. Again, softer & faster than before.



WALK THE LINE: Then we tried some walk the lines - so walk on, HQ yield 180 degrees, walk backwards a bit, FQ yield 180 degrees, walk on on your original direction.

We broke them down. So first up were some walks and HQ yields. Def getting better!! Then did a few soft backups at the end of these - not bad!!! Then added on one or two FQ yields! He's not soft enough yet to do it all together, but they are improving doing them on their own, then one after each other with a break in between so we'll get there.

Then did some circles with bend.

Thoughout lots of yawning from Oz and various head shakes during his little rests. A very nice, chilled, focused happy horse!

After about an hour we left it then. Everyone else has left Tipp now so that's probably my last ride for the 'camp'.

Delighted with our ridden progress and that I can throw a saddle on him, ride anywhere in the paddock I want, he's listening and not trying to mess or actively take over, and we had 4 lovely rides our of 4! Also very happy our slow walk, walk to HQ yield and backup is getting better, and I have his front feet at any rate. And we've got a few more hours on the clock which always helps!

[kas]

Sorry I missed your camp El, but that all sounds great.