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Ozzie
Apr 6, 2011 13:23:30 GMT
Post by breakfast on Apr 6, 2011 13:23:30 GMT
Awww! That is such a lovely picture!
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Ozzie
Apr 9, 2011 14:43:39 GMT
Post by el on Apr 9, 2011 14:43:39 GMT
Well, drove down from Dublin, threw my stuff in the house, grabbed my tack and off I went It was a nice day, warm, a bit windy and lots of new cattle bombing about in the fields next door, all happy out. Oz saw me and even though Doug walked half way down to me, Oz insisted on staying exactly where he was, with a prime vantage position so I walked the whole way up, caught him and walked all the way back down with a happy horse. Saddle went on, and then went off walking around. Oz was a bit on his toes, a few unplanned (by me) trots but I just kept him walking along with me and soon he realised that took WAAAAY too much energy and he walked on nicely beside me. Did a few lovely circles and soft backups in a straight line as well. Continued walking, and when he was with me and not on his toes, I walked faster and got a lovely jog alongside me with no rushing. Tightened the girth, did another jog about then hopped on. Stood still for a while, got a head shake then Oz relaxed. I had compiled all of my notes for my first 2 Steve clinics with Oz, along with all my Aus notes last year, so I had been planning to read them up in Dublin last week. Unfortunately I was way too busy so just got to the first page last night, before I fell asleep. Anyway, first page was the Tipperary 2009 clinic. And I read about the exercises Steve & I did when he pretend to be the horse and I had to ask him to move about. And I remember really trying to do as little as possible, so for example in walk, I just moved my hands forwards and Steve walked on. Anyway, tried to bring this into my riding today. Also in our GW our halt to walk is very good - I breathe in raise my energy, Oz twigs and then we both walk off together. So I wanted to do this in ridden work as well. Oz amazed me - again. First a few lateral flexions, which were good. Good focus on me, ignoring cattle, wind, dog, etc. Then I breathed in, asked for softness then from halt asked for sideways with just one leg on a little, and the other leg nowhere near his side. Got it!!! Oz really 100% thinking about working out what I wanted. 0 arguments, 0 distractions, 0 everything else, just listening to me and very willing!! Again, I'd literally come down from Dub, thrown on a saddle and this is what I was getting - FAB!! Did a few more sideways steps. Great, again tiny cues. Then soften and a few steps forwards - lovely. Then sideways the other way - small cues again. Then soften & backup - great. Really really focused on me & listening, 0 messing of any sort. HUGE yawns after every release I gave him, head stuck right up into the air, all teeth on display. A few head shakes for good measure as well. Very relaxed as well. but on the ball. Then walked in circles. VERY attentive to inside leg to move out. No loosing the legs on a circle and drifting out. Once he did move out more than I'd panned but that was my fault as I'd just put on my inside leg, obviously more than was actually needed, so he responded with more sideways than he had been doing previously. Did circles the other way, changed bends on straight lines, didn't matter what part of the paddock we were in , wasn't looking for excuses or arguments, just went along happily wherever I asked and whatever I asked. Absolutely delightfed. Our 'working together' is getting heaps better, our 'forwards' is getting much better, as is our sideways. Distractions are getting fewer & farther between. Tried backup in a circle, so got a few steps then oz started to brace up a bit so I was asking for too much too fast as we hadn't done too much backup in a while, as I wanted to focus on forwards which we had lost a little. Its all a balancing act I think once we do a bit more forwards we can mix it up again and improve our backup too. Walking in a straight line with softness we still don't both understand (me to explain to oz, oz to understand). Lovely ride, chuffed.
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Ozzie
Apr 10, 2011 12:38:48 GMT
Post by el on Apr 10, 2011 12:38:48 GMT
Perhaps he's growing up - a little? Beautiful hot, sunny Spring day in Tipperary. Got up horses all lying down, so went off for a walk instead. Got back, all up eating, so caught Oz who wanted his jaw scratched, threw on the saddle, did a quick walk & jog around the block then hopped on. I was a bit tired after the walk so was happy to take it easyish. Ended up riding for about an hour A bit asleep at the lateral flexions. Liked to sniff my boots though. Halt to sideways a few times, great. Really responsive off my leg as well when moving. Makes circles bigger, shoulder ins etc as soon as they are asked for. Plan was to just wander around the paddock, maybe going places we hadn't gone before..... (it's about as big as Steve's arena, but we tended to stay in one area where he's comfortable and I'm comfortable.) Our two BIG mental boundary areas are: SPEED LOCATIONSpeed - we always had a nice halt. Walk would often turn into arguments, but that got much better last summer and is improving every day so far this year. While I have 'made' Oz trot & canter before, we have never trotted and cantered 'together'. By that I mean relaxed, no arguments, no distractions, and Oz mentally happy with the whole setup. Have to say though when I have cantered him, its like floating on air....... Location - at the start of last year he was in a ball and wouldn't walk a circle or move from where he was. Got that better through last summer, aside from one stroppy moment one day when we got neart the hill.. Anyway, I was pretty chilled out today so thought we should move things on a bit and himself was being very amicable. Started with LOCATION. Worked on moving around the bottom of the paddock using big half circles and bend, I focused on Oz, he focused on me. Then headed for the hill area. Up we went, kept his mind on me with more circles all along the top of it, then gave him a rest up there. More circles, then down the other side (hill is tiny, its just a mental thing for Oz) and I could feel him getting a bit more spring in his step and looking for distractions (which if left unchecked will result in him trying to take over and arguments). So make to making him work harder, circles, rest. Then sidepassing from halt, then rest, etc. Got him back again. Then walk off and back down to normal area of the paddock again. Overall today he was great, but was looking for stuff so had to ask him to bring his nose (and mind) back to me a few times but it wasn't a problem. Also used Dads horse (loose, eating grass) as an obstacle to circle around. Then did more nice stuff in walk around the bottom of the paddock, less distractions by Oz. Shoulder in, bends. Then off we went again up past the hill. Again, kept him a bit more focused on circles & bends up there and kept him busy but it was great. Went further past hill doing circles as well. Then back down again, halted on hill and then went backwards down it When back on normal part, wanted to do some straight line riding to see if Ozs mind would stay with me when I wasn't always checking for bend. MUCH better than before. BIG IMPROVEMENT. Then back up the hill again. This time, less of the circling mvt, so it actually NEARLY!! felt like a hack. i.e. the two of us just tootling on with no hassle. Made my day. Then down the hill. We went down sideways Then we stopped and had a rest (me) & a yawn (Oz). Then did a HQ yield so we were now facing up the hill. Then walked off back to the bottom of the paddock, more -straight line walking- (!!!!!) no messing and after a lovely hour decided I had better stop now or dinner would be burnt. Breathed out, horse stopped, we both relaxed. I always make sure to get off in random places in the paddock. I took my feet out of the stirrups. Oz tensed up and put his head up like he was braced up a bit waiting for me to get off. I stayed where I was, then Oz stamped his foot and walked backwards a step or two. I still stayed where I was, gave him a rub and then for the craic started to sing. Oz at this stage obviously appreciated my delighted singing voice (not) and chilled out again, and lost the whole body brace. Sang a few verses and then I stopped and got off. My dismount is both legs out of stirrups, then a fairly athletic jump off, I'm not dragging off him or anything as far as I know - well hope I'm not anyway. Can't think its cos of the noise of movement as he's well used to all that messing about. SPEED - about 2/3s of the way through I thought for the laugh I'd try a fast walk, perhaps leading to a trot. Fast walk was ok. Leading towards a trot started to get Oz wound up and braced up, not what I wanted. I haven't done any GW prep for this in ages (last year?) i.e. both of us running together, so he wasn't ready for it so just left it and didn't try again. No point walking into a problem you could have avoided by preparing properly in the first place. Anyway!! GLORIOUS ride! Delighted we've expanded our areas to ride in and keeping the head, DELIGHTED we can now do more straight line as well as circles while keeping the head, and DELIGHTED I rode a lovely mellow horse for an hour in the sunshine who is so responsive to the cues etc. Love my horse.
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Ozzie
Apr 10, 2011 14:25:23 GMT
Post by el on Apr 10, 2011 14:25:23 GMT
Why are you sitting on the ground? Your boots are fair game. Yeah, I'm just a howl. Not looking too bad
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Ozzie
Apr 10, 2011 17:35:16 GMT
Post by breakfast on Apr 10, 2011 17:35:16 GMT
Hey, you didn't mention that Ozzie has two heads, eight legs and two tails!
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Post by el on Apr 21, 2011 10:55:29 GMT
So far... Thinking about how to tackle Trot while walking along beach in perth, and best way is how I did the walk.... Start where Oz is confident work along boundary lines and one day Oz will move the boundary line half an inch by himself. Current boundary line is fast walk. At halt he's relaxed. We can get soft. At normal walk were getting much better in terms of expanding location and moves but as steve pointed out the reason he's not as soft in walk, as halt, is emotional. no problem, can work on that. Oz currently doing huge yawns in walk and more licking and chewing, both on the right road to have him less emotional and more relaxed. As steve pointed out again this eve at tea time, Oz was a scared horse. So looks like I've got plans for soft walk and basics of trot sorted, and camp hasn't even started yet!!!!
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Ozzie
May 15, 2011 12:10:09 GMT
Post by el on May 15, 2011 12:10:09 GMT
RELAXATION, TRUST, CONFIDENCEI'm not quite 100% so thought I'd just do an easy day with oz - the plan - backup by the tail, sideways towards me and the circle, move hind, backup, move front manouvre when getting in time with Oz feet. So I went out. Oz was asleep sitting down. Hhhmmmm. Said hello to Dougal, then one of the cattle in a nearby field took off and woke Oz up! E.g. his eyes opened, but everything else stayed the same. So went over to him, said hello. Walked behind him and sat on his back, he had his eyes closed. Then put my leg over his back as if I was riding, a few times and he closed his eyes again. Then back to his head, he put his nose on my shoulder, just lightly resting there, for me to scratch his neck & underneath his head. Cute Then Oz went a bit back to sleep while I chatted to Dads horse, Ozs nose/teeth on the ground, Oz did the odd little sleepy jump & twitch, reminded me of me trying to fall asleep in an airplane seat. Still no sign of him getting up. So thought may as well do the opposite so. Pushed his neck and back a little to push him down fully, and low and behold he lay flat out, cheek flat against the grass, all four legs straight out, eyes closed me sitting beside him rubbing his check. He got up after a while (but was in no hurry) then asked him to lie down again, no problem, head flat, eyes closed, me sitting laughing beside him. Then sat up again after a while. He wanted his croup scratched as well so pulled lots of faces when I helped him out. Then decided to get up. Wondered if I could make him walk along beside me at liberty to pick up the halter up at the gate. No problem, he did a 180 then we walked along side by side and restarted again after he had to scratch his leg/side of his face, and made it to the gate together. Put on halter and it started to rain. Did one quick tail ask backwards, took the halter off and that was it. Just nice to chill out with my hoss
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Post by el on May 15, 2011 20:38:10 GMT
Still have stupid cold but needed another Oz fix this evening. Oz cantered over to me, highly unusual. I suspect he thought I was going to let him out into the field. Sadly not The two horses were then a bit hyper so I went for a walk around the paddock to see if anything was up. Cute enough the two followed me around and I found an empty mineral block bucket and a few feet beside it the actual mineral block. they (Oz) had been playing football. I put the block back into the bucket then cue two horses already with heads plastered with mineral block, diving in to get more. I used my stick as a barrier to keep Oz away from it, which he found fascinating and started to use it to scratch his chin. They all got very mellow then. My coat was covered in more mineral block as somehow was my jeans. Hope it comes off. We chilled out then I said bye and walked back to the gate. Leaving from behind Oz so he wouldn't follow, with Oz standing there, head turned looking at me. I reached the gate he was still looking at me. So I stood still and waited to see what he'd do. He waits too then starts a determinded walk over, then followed by dougal. He got a small handful of grass at the gate for his troubles as did doug and that was it. Left them there and came in. Aaww.
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Ozzie
May 16, 2011 11:30:01 GMT
Post by el on May 16, 2011 11:30:01 GMT
Overcast & windy today in Tipp. Out I hopped to Oz to see if we could get more done. Was out for over an hour I'd say, maybe 1.5 hours. Oz had a bit of pentup energy and did one or two lunges at Doug when he was nearby with his teeth, and a few bites on the lead rope, both which were the result of a bit of excess energy. Remarkably though, even though he was in top (potnetial argument) form the only thing I got was him rushing in walk slightly. No actual arguments or anything, and he really tried to figure things out as we went along so I was quite impressed. Put on the halter, did a bit of going backwards by the tail. Ended up getting a few steps back, was pleased will work on it more to get sideways and different paces and less hair soon. Then walk (me not to leave him behind) circle, get in time with feet, stop and pivot around inside fore, backup, FQ yield in time with feet. This got him thinking- the backup (my direction not his), FQ yield on a specific foot (very good) and about half of the HQ yields on the correct foot when asked as sometimes he wasn't quite focused and when I asked he ignored it and walked through the light cue a little. Also did some yields from suggestion, moving the front end when I walk towards it - good - I actually had to lower my energy (which I thought was low) just to get a step or two rather than a good few steps. Have to say he was really light on his feet and thinking, tried really hard straight away to figure things out, no standing there zoning out or anything, very on the ball. Then sidepass towards me on near side. At the beginning he was walking forwards perhaps from energy perhaps cos he thoght i'd be a bit more 'just do it' (not me, another story). We all stayed very chilled and patient, and by the end of maybe 10 mins, Oz had no problem sidestepping towards me, both ends, for three steps with the stick just hovering above his back but not touching it. Calm relaxed horse as well, yawning, curling up nose, etc. Sidepass towards me on the far side - tricker. Not sure if it was ever done. Poor Oz still thought I wanted sidepass the other way. Then he really thought I just wanted walk forwards. Helped him out in the end by putting stick in front of his nose when he walked forwards, then the second I got one foot to move slightly nearer me he got a rest. Cue more clicking etc. All very mellow still despite wind & horse with a fair bit of energy! Thinking about it maybe if he wanted to move his feet more I should have let him but he was holding everything in well and it wasn't an issue. If we go fast we tend to get more messy. Anyway, a few times got one step towards me with one end, or one foot. Rests straight away. At the end got, for the second time, sidepass towards me on off side, both ends together, from very light touch on his back. I took the halter off straight away (it had been a long session) and he looked at me for a few seconds, then took off at a fast canter like a bat out of hell up the paddock. Nice session, improved a few things in it, with a slightly more grownup horse!
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Ozzie
May 16, 2011 15:41:51 GMT
Post by breakfast on May 16, 2011 15:41:51 GMT
The sideways on one side and then trying to do the same thing when you change sides seems to be totally typical - the horses at Steve's all did that too and Zorro when I was working on it. Seems a bit of an abstract skill, but quite handy when you are at the mounting block and pony steps away... Sounds like Ozzy is doing a good job at the moment, or you are, or both
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Ozzie
May 21, 2011 20:40:42 GMT
Post by el on May 21, 2011 20:40:42 GMT
A horse with a lot of things in himOz had a week off. It was pouring here so stayed inside & made an app and got a new job as well (!!), and then went out to Oz at about 8pm. Was chatting out at the gate with Dad so Oz spotted us two and being the curious and slightly hyper bugger he is these days, cantered down straight to us. Dads horse didn't even bother, just ate grass. It was like Oz was a bit bored and wanted a bit of action going on. ;D Oz waited while we finished chatting then when I arrived over presented his chin for a scratch then I caught him, pulled on his tail a little and got a few steps backwards. Tried sidepass on the near side, not as good as the last day but after a short while got the whole body coming 2 steps towards me. Off side - was getting a lot of just FQs only coming towards me, which was funny, his two back feet not moving as inch as he circled. Got me laughing anyway (and I did work on correcting it!)as can't wait till we do the with a no reins in the saddle seeing as we have it cracked on the ground! Got a for bit of yawning. He was getting a little more distracted about now so he bit the rope once and once I got it out of his mouth he got backpeddled. He wasn't too impressed, so then we did more backpeddling. He was distracted, messing a little, but not pulling really on the rope. More backpeddling until we got a bit of focus but he was a bit tense and head up for most of this. When it got a little better I tried a few circles and yields with the feet but he was rushing in walk so I thought if he wants to move we might as well move. Getting more headshaking at this stage. So we hit on up the paddock at a fast walk (mini marathon in 10 days as well, two birds etc) and got one or two little bits of messing but we just changed direction and off we went again. He made me laugh as a few times when he broke into trot I put a light pressure on the rope and he stopped dead - trot - halt on such a light pressure, so even though he was fairly energetic he must have been listening to me on some level. Tried a few walk, get in time with the feet, and while walk was mainly a rush. a few times he did listen and when I got the feet - I really got the feet and his full attention. Walked back down, much better, Left him off the like the last day he canter off, but not too far and did a few bucks then came back over to me again. Then he followed me to the mineral block and got stuck into that. Then I went back to the gate on my own, turned around and me was staring at me. For the craic I stared back at him and waited, and low and behold he trotted right over to me and then got a small handful of fresh grass for his efforts which he enjoyed. Even though he was distracted and full of energy he still rarely ever pulled on the rope and I'm trying to do any other options first before I pull on it as well. Funny horse. Such a mix of things in him.
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Ozzie
May 22, 2011 11:08:29 GMT
Post by el on May 22, 2011 11:08:29 GMT
CLEANING, LIBERTY, FULL OF BEANS, SIDEWAYS TOWARDS MERotten auld day again, very windy, the sun peaks out then it gets cold and starts trying to rain. Went out and spent about half an hourly detangling manes and sprucing up both horses. Oz was in good form, hung around me the whole time, liked getting a scratch on his near side neck. After this, decided not to put the halter on yet and see if Oz would walk at liberty alongside me, as I want to get into his head that we have a job to do together when I'm about, whether the halter is on or not, doesn't make a difference. Off we went on a walk up the paddock together. He was in top form again full of energy so he he was walking a little faster than me, we did a full 270 degree turns, with him turning towards me and then off we went again. I also got hi to turn away from me by lightly touching his neck. Did a few walk to halts - when I breate out or slow down so does he. Then up past the little hill to the top part of the paddock together, and Oz was getting a little distracted. We were walking side by side, but when he got distracted he looked away and then of course when he head was pointed his feet followed and the gap between him and me a few times was about 4/5/6 of his strides long. However, I called him and once he looked back at me, he changed his direction, walked back over to me and picked up walking beside me where he had been. He did this a few times, quite funny. Lost him then at the end he wandered completely the other way so I went over to him and gave him a scratch to reinforce being beside me was a good thing. He decided he didn't want to get caught then (ate the jump, hooned around a bit, snatched at the rope) and we walked around a bit then caught him. Then he was a bit mellower so I puleld his tail and he stepped backwards and we got a nice lick & chew. Then brought him over to the stick and got nice sideways towards me on the near side with stick touching his back. Then threw away the stick and got sideways towards me on the near side with just my hand raised up!!!!! He'd had the halter on at the stage for about 3 mins, so I was thrilled with this and thought it was a good place to end, leave him on a soft, willing note. He was chilled out, ate a little, then had a roll. Then got up and galloped / bucked his way up and around the paddock, then went after Dougle cantering up his ass and trying to bite his tail.
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Ozzie
May 22, 2011 20:37:42 GMT
Post by el on May 22, 2011 20:37:42 GMT
I THINK WE ARE A BIT MADWent out, saw Oz sitting down so didn't bother to bring up the halter. Went up to Oz, who was still sitting down, and I sat on him as if I was riding. heeheehee. When I asked him to lie down flat however that was too much today so after great deliberation on his part he decided to get up. Then he stood still and looked at me. I walked behind, pulled his tail and got a few steps of backwards I tried a few times ot get him to walk along beside me, and while he's well used to the cues he didn't want to and just stood there. So I could make him (messy and wouldn't work) or I could just work with what he was offering. So I encouraged him to look at me by stepping away and then got him to do a few HQ yields. Then got a bit better and got HQ yield followed up a FQ yield so I was now on the other side of him. I thought doing this at liberty in a huge paddock was quite good! Did one or two more of these 2-in-1s and then low & behold he was happy enough to walk off with me after one of them and we got our liberty walk together after all. Then he spotted a flattened basketball. We wnt over to it, he picked it up in his teeth (stuffed it into his mouth as much as he could with the ends of it appearing out of either side of his mouth) then stood there, head held high, absoutely delighted with himself & his toy, as Doug the other horse tried to niddle / bit / pull on an end but Oz wasn't giving up the basketball for anyone. This went on for over five minutes as I cracked up watching them. I eventually got it out of Ozs mouth in case it disintegrated a lot and started to break into smaller bits, but I have plans to buy him a new basketball and he does seem to get a year out of playing with him before they're totally demolished. And that was the day. Still don't know what to make of it!
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Ozzie
May 24, 2011 18:59:04 GMT
Post by kas on May 24, 2011 18:59:04 GMT
You know you are mad, but having fun with it!
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Ozzie
May 30, 2011 15:55:37 GMT
Post by louisec on May 30, 2011 15:55:37 GMT
Totally agree with kas! Going well though for you:-)
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