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Post by el on May 16, 2012 18:47:53 GMT
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Post by quest on Jun 1, 2012 7:40:19 GMT
I am working slowly to regain Nancy's confidence. When a horse panics it braces one part or all of its body in preparation for flight. The problem I had was identifying which bit was braced as she becomes very very obedient in times of stress, but it's all reactive. So I've worked slowly down her body testing her ability to " give" to the feel, and bingo it's her belly. When relaxed I should be able to move it gently, but when shes stressed -head and tail touching, its solid. A real ah ha moment and of course I should have remembered her sideways is terrible so I now have my summer project to teach her to relax her mid section. I'm hoping for lots of hot weather as I'm anticipating lots and lots of standing still.
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Post by quest on Jun 2, 2012 10:35:54 GMT
Really interesting. I've been working her round the back paddock where the others are grazing. Just walking round the edge and noticing the slightest deviation and/or speedup which each change she does I do a one rein stop. If she moves forwards I back her up, sideways I ask her to go the other way. I do all this very slowly and she is starting to listen and think instead of just moving. She has just has her feet trimmed and as the ground is very hard we won't be attempting the trot for another few days. She is much happier with this method and spends lots of time with me and around me whenever she can
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Post by quest on Jun 5, 2012 15:53:11 GMT
It was a ride the horse you've got day today. All was going well and I was working on soft one rein stops and re directing with weight, but as we worked I could feel her adrenalin coming up and I managed to switch my focus from the task and onto her and stopped the redirection and concentrated on the one rein stops. When her adrenalin is up she is only able to concentrate on one thing at a time And that is usually lets move and fast. All we did was to wander round the field and when she changed speed or direction, I allowed it to happen then started the one rein stop.
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Post by kas on Jun 8, 2012 19:38:14 GMT
Great diary Quest, thanks. x
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Post by quest on Jun 9, 2012 16:46:13 GMT
It's frustrating not being able to hack out round this beautiful countryside, but Nancy's confidence still isn't ready. I felt reluctant to ride her today as the wind is still high - a 4 peg day, but took her saddle and ropes out to justbspend time with her. I put the saddle on as she still has some issues with it after her long period of having the sarcoid. So even if I don't ride I often out it on. I messed around first rearranging the poles into an L shape and placing the jump wings in a line for some serpentines and Nancy followed me round at liberty, I saddled her up and played around with the 22' line circling and changing rein using the"I've got all day" attitude and looking for slow, calm perfection (ha ha) and we were both pleased and happy with the result. I clambered aboard (as you do when your drawing a pension) and just stayed in the walk checking for accuracy and straightness with no fuss. When she quickened we slowly stopped and viewed the situation. She was in a "let's stop and look" frame of mind rather that the "let's keep our feet moving" one, which I find harder to deal with. Over all we both really enjoyed ourselves and feel very much a unit.
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Post by beksnjake on Jun 9, 2012 18:26:30 GMT
Sounds really positive. I'm not sure which I'm happier with - the "lets keep moving" or the "stop & stare" - but am working on it.
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Post by quest on Jun 14, 2012 10:57:43 GMT
We marked out a 20 x 40 area as I'm trying to reproduce everything Nancy was comfortable with to build up her confidence and at the same time looking to see where in our training we have a big hole. I found while working round the top end that is open as i aid her into a 1/2 O left she naps right to go up to the others and we end up in a bit of a scuffle although she is always obedient and turned back onto the track. Stopping to analyse what what was happening, and having another go without corrections, I found that her natural wish is to return to the others. No problem there, she's unconfident and I know isn't recognising me as a good enough leader which I am trying to rectify for her. Then I realised I was putting on the aid and holding it there and, when she didn't respond natural instinct clicked in and I lifted my rope (we're working in a single rope) and moved into a defensive position instead of reinforcing the aid with a stronger phase. So the next time round I kept my upper body and hands completely still and relaxed, not an easy thing to do, and went to phase 4 with my leg aid. We had a bit of a scuffle but she came round in a better outline. We then stopped for a lick and chew and did it again and bingo she came round sweetly on a whisper. So rather depressingly I've realised that I am causing her panics by grabbing the reins even in a very slight movement, but I now have something to work on
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Post by el on Jun 14, 2012 13:21:48 GMT
good stuff!!! its so fascinating all this stuff and so never ending. i think if it wasn't such a challenge we wouldn't enjoy the great days as much
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Post by quest on Jun 30, 2012 21:37:51 GMT
Had an excellent 3 hr session with Jodie Ruskin our local Parelli bod. Loads of useful tips on how to keep Nancy's attention. Fairy and Hairy achieved trot circles over poles and Fatty Hattie managed to stay calm. This morning Mermaid (4yrs old) was out in the field with ropes on hairy practicing the trot circles. We're still wondering when she learned to do this as she was out during the session and how come hairy is so good with her.
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Post by snigsby on Jul 2, 2012 7:41:08 GMT
Mmmm...........mysterious Mermaid! What sort of tips for keeping Nancy's attention quest?
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Post by quest on Aug 15, 2012 8:08:30 GMT
The main tip was to be as persistent and as annoying as a fly - quite hard, i found. To get a horses head to from grazing tap very gently and rythmetically on th rope with a stick or your hand. The same movement ant time I loose her attention, just a gentle rythmetically tap with my stick or hand and it does work IF I have the patience to stick with it
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Post by quest on Aug 21, 2012 8:01:39 GMT
Slowly slowly we're getting there. Doing gw, walking up the banks with me getting off when her stress levels get too high (I getting quite fit) and I'm sussing out useful fences and bridges that could be used to aid mounting. When pondering the problem of how to boost her confidence I decided to try her back in her bridle and doing some traditional work and some dressage as this was her original training. She started off doing her (now) usual spooking jigs, but as soon as I started doing dressage movements she settled down and concentrated. All the old memories of elementary dressage were still there, even though we did them at the walk with a little trot. So at last we're slowly getting out act together with a mixture of hacking, dressage and Parelli. She's got a week rest now as I'm of to Kent for a few days. Daughter and son have now found property (separately of course) so maybe by Christmas we'll be down to 2 instead of 8. What a shock that will be
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Post by quest on Sept 11, 2012 18:05:43 GMT
Nancy hacking our quite quietly now mainly at the walk with a few short trots just a mile up the bank and back again. I've started back on my quest for flying changes again (Unicorn I am SO jealous) and have been working on figure 8 with a little yield through the middle at walk and trot to help her understand the change of bend needed. She is now able to do flying changes when loose and playing in the field - something she couldn't do before. We're at an interesting time, when she is "sharp" she is very nimble and agile but simply cannot learn and when she is calm she can learn, but cannot get her legs right. I'm sure someday we'll get it all together. Hairy is doing well and I've been pleased to see her starting to complain and make statements about not wanting to do some of the work, in particular a trot circle but now if asked respectfully she will complete one circle. I love to see this and know she will soon be offering her own suggestion and will be great fun. She is still very good with Fairy, Superman and Mermaid. In particular with Mermaid who can cope with all 3 equines who appear to be amazed at her small size and the amount of confidence and leadership she Has
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Post by quest on Sept 22, 2012 20:58:54 GMT
Took Nancy up the road today for a mile with OH on his bike. Nancy was back to the Nancy I know and love, I still love her even when she practicing her airs above the ground and then came back up the bank and home. This is obviously the way to explore the countryside and I'm now busily convincing OH he needs to start a new keep fit programme involving a few miles everyday with his bike Started progressing Hairy's work and walk her up the bank. This was a bank too far for her. I hadn't comprehended how low her confidence and general experience was. We had been told she hacks out fine and is traffic proof - not so. Today I took her out the field gate and spent a couple of minutes just watching her and although she seemed very calm and quiet there was a tiny tremor in her flank. So we spent a happy 10 minutes playing with out circles and backups until she relaxed and then I took her back. So this is my project with her to work her up the road and bank until her confidence is either replaced or improved
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