reinforce my fears and give up freedom. And after all this, I
am really no safer or more secure than I would be if I had
done nothing" ~ Robin Shen
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| Photo (c) FourStarFarm |
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Simply put..
"When I let fear dictate how much control I need, I
reinforce my fears and give up freedom. And after all this, I
am really no safer or more secure than I would be if I had
done nothing" ~ Robin Shen
reinforce my fears and give up freedom. And after all this, I
am really no safer or more secure than I would be if I had
done nothing" ~ Robin Shen
Monday, March 25, 2013
Memory Lane
While at my parent's house, I found some old photos. My first horse, my original levels horse, and baby Cheyenne pictures :) All horses that helped lead me to where I am, and that have taught me so much. I thought it would be cool to share their stories with you :)
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| Buckshot, my first horse :) |
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| Bareback and bridless in my pre Parelli days |
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| Mer <3 |
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| Tearin' it up ;) |
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| Our last ride at Bennington Lake, our favorite place to ride. And, of course, bareback <3 |
And then, of course, came Cheyenne :) My mom rescued a mustang mare from a Parelli friend, and the mare's name was Fantasia. She was from a California herd with TB and Morgan influence from the calvary days, and had been bred by a mustang stallion out of Montana with QH influence from local ranches. Several months later came my little bundle of joy :)
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| This was the first time I laid eyes on my baby girl <3 |
I used to whistle when I walked into the pasture, and she would come barreling over to me for hugs and loves :) I would pick her up and tote her around, just chill with her, and go exploring with her :) I was twelve years old when she was born, and we have definitely grown up together!
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| Dorky little me and the adorable filly who stole my heart <3 |
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| Have you ever seen anything so precious?! |
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| 2 year old Chey and 14 year old Me :) |
Below is Roloef V, the friesian stallion my mom bred two mares to, one resulting in her current mare, Lena. He was a total sweetheart, and they actually let me ride him! Pretty awesome moment in my life!
Quality pony time :)
I spent last weekend at my parent's house and got to see Cheyenne for the first time in FOUR months! The distance was really starting to kill me, and pony therapy was just what I needed :) I ended it yesterday with two AMAZING rides!
First I rode Cheyenne with the intention of trying out a canter transition technique Lillan talked about in November. Our canter transitions have always been pretty rough, and much less we almost never pick up the correct lead. We did a quick warm up OL, and started off our ride with walk/trot transitions while playing FTR. Fifteen strides walk/fifteen strides trot, and repeat. She was really bracey on my left rein, but we slowed it down then switched to trotting the F8 pattern until she relaxed. Once we went from impulsive and bracey to calm with a loose rein, it was time to try out the new canter depart! Once we rounded the corner to the longer side of the pasture at the trot, I weighted my outside stirrup and raised my energy. Oh, and I also did this awesome move where I was half posting, half using my seat to ask for canter in mid air.. which apparently does not qualify as raising your energy lol. Chey was really getting pretty frustrated with me after about two attempts, so I took a deep breath and promised her I wouldn't try so hard. As we rounded the corner at a trot again, I stayed in the saddle, weighted my outside stirrup, and pulsed my butt cheeks (don't look at me funny, it was in the new Mastery DVD!) and the transition was GORGEOUS! Super smooth, her neck was rounded, and we were on the correct lead! Oh my goodness! And it was an awesome tempo! It was like riding a shorter version of my old dressage instructor's horse! I am really excited to finally have the answer to our continual counter canters, and I think Chey is a little relieved too ;)
I decided it worked so well on Cheyenne, that I wanted to try the butt pulses out on Gweny. If you haven't seen the DVD, essentially to ask for an upward transition, instead of asking with your legs, you pulse with your cheeks and raise up your energy. This helps your horse see it as more their idea, and you're not asking them abruptly with your legs, which leads to smoother transitions.She responded so well! She will typically get offended whenever I ask for any sort of forward motion, be it walking forward from a standstill or asking for the trot. She will raise her head, put her ears back, and sometimes go stoic and refuse to move. However by just raising my energy and asking with my cheeks, she seemed really eager and didn't give me any of her normal blocks.
All in all, it was a really gratifying weekend :) It was really therapeutic to be back in the pasture, and I got to try out the techniques I've been dying to try. What more could a girl ask for?
First I rode Cheyenne with the intention of trying out a canter transition technique Lillan talked about in November. Our canter transitions have always been pretty rough, and much less we almost never pick up the correct lead. We did a quick warm up OL, and started off our ride with walk/trot transitions while playing FTR. Fifteen strides walk/fifteen strides trot, and repeat. She was really bracey on my left rein, but we slowed it down then switched to trotting the F8 pattern until she relaxed. Once we went from impulsive and bracey to calm with a loose rein, it was time to try out the new canter depart! Once we rounded the corner to the longer side of the pasture at the trot, I weighted my outside stirrup and raised my energy. Oh, and I also did this awesome move where I was half posting, half using my seat to ask for canter in mid air.. which apparently does not qualify as raising your energy lol. Chey was really getting pretty frustrated with me after about two attempts, so I took a deep breath and promised her I wouldn't try so hard. As we rounded the corner at a trot again, I stayed in the saddle, weighted my outside stirrup, and pulsed my butt cheeks (don't look at me funny, it was in the new Mastery DVD!) and the transition was GORGEOUS! Super smooth, her neck was rounded, and we were on the correct lead! Oh my goodness! And it was an awesome tempo! It was like riding a shorter version of my old dressage instructor's horse! I am really excited to finally have the answer to our continual counter canters, and I think Chey is a little relieved too ;)
I decided it worked so well on Cheyenne, that I wanted to try the butt pulses out on Gweny. If you haven't seen the DVD, essentially to ask for an upward transition, instead of asking with your legs, you pulse with your cheeks and raise up your energy. This helps your horse see it as more their idea, and you're not asking them abruptly with your legs, which leads to smoother transitions.She responded so well! She will typically get offended whenever I ask for any sort of forward motion, be it walking forward from a standstill or asking for the trot. She will raise her head, put her ears back, and sometimes go stoic and refuse to move. However by just raising my energy and asking with my cheeks, she seemed really eager and didn't give me any of her normal blocks.
All in all, it was a really gratifying weekend :) It was really therapeutic to be back in the pasture, and I got to try out the techniques I've been dying to try. What more could a girl ask for?
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Workshop Notes on Liberty & Bridless Riding Prep
As I promised, here are some notes from last weekend's workshop with 3* Lillan Roquet on Liberty and Bridleless Riding :)
Liberty ~
* At liberty, your #1 goal is connection, not necessarily getting a quick response. If you're having a response issue, go back online. But at liberty, connection is key. Think of velcro between you and your horse.
* When you tell your horse "game over", do NOT ask them to come in. It is their choice. When you ask them in, they forget what they did right. It's like saying "Hey, good job! You're all done! Now come do this." If they choose to come in, it is a reflection of your connection :) If they choose to stay out to process and think, allow them to do so.
* With a LB horse, you want every 'try' to be a little more than the last. You have to "up" what you're asking of them each time, otherwise they get bored and you loose their interest and your connection.
* The release is always equivalent to the try. if they barely give you two ears, for example, you barely give them a release.
* At liberty, use Z5 to get connection (arc around HQ).
* Be conscious of your velcro between you and the horse
* The purpose of tagging a spot where the horse should have gone outside the cone, for example, is to get the horse's internal energy up :)
* Kalley always says "There should always be an imaginary string attached to their nose, and you should be able to pick it up at any time and send in either direction."
* L to L = Confidence in their leader, themselves, their herd, and as a learner.
* Is your horse giving you a green light, yellow light, or red light?
* When a horse feels unconfident and blocks you with their nose, respect it. Stop and wait. Make a conversation about it. Respect their opinion and pause when necessary. 1% improvements are more important than achieving the ultimate ending goal. Be aware of changes in the horse. Change your approach if necessary.
* Pay attention to mental and emotional speeds. RBEs, for example, is she mentally slow but physically fast? Adjust your energies and strategy accordingly.
Bridleless Riding Prep ~
* Look for a calm, connected, responsive partner when under saddle (and in yourself as well!).
* When riding Cheyenne, NEVER block Z1. Bend her if she gets too go-ey/bracey.
* Transitions are great for gaining connection under saddle, especially with extroverts.
* If the horse won't stand still (under saddle), yield the HQ and direct the nose. Once a horse offers a standstill, reward it.
* When asking to go forward, find new ways to ask instead of squeezing with your legs. it makes the transition more fluid vs. jerky/suprising the horse.
* Horses move in = mind > flexion > weight > feet.
* Your back-up becomes your brakes, so make sure this is responsive and automatic before taking off the bridle/halter :)
* Focus on accuracy and response to your body vs. your reins. Body isolations help.
* Ask with your body first, THEN your legs.
* HQ yields/FQ yield isolations. How specific can you be? How responsive/light is your horse? can you do the FQ/HQ yield form just your rein? From just your leg?
* Use patterns to set yourself up for success so they become second nature for you and your horse.
* Use a fence to do a 180 degree FQ yield to change direction; give it a purpose.
* Constantly think "how can i act like a partner?" Recognize red lights/signs of being offended and address/respond accordingly.
* Isolate your goals of speed, accuracy, and distance. You horse then will naturally put it all together.
* Don't say "Let's get this better", break it down idea by idea (speed, accuracy, distance) and allow them to combine it all themselves.
* Work on neck string sensitivity.
* Practice transitions off of just body cues
* Back up off neck string: how little does it take? Isolate sensitivity. Don't worry about speed or straightness. How little can you do, and how quickly can you release?
* As many cues you can have for halt/back up, the better.
* Reward with a release/moment of silence :)
* Focus on using your energy to go and to whoa.
* Can you porquipine to FQ yield off of just the neck string? Support with stick if needed, but goal is just the neck string.
* FQ yield over a step, then back a step.
* Set it up so you get "yes's" :) Do not nag.
* For halt, turn into a sack of potatoes. To back up, lift your belly button and engage your core.
Liberty ~
* At liberty, your #1 goal is connection, not necessarily getting a quick response. If you're having a response issue, go back online. But at liberty, connection is key. Think of velcro between you and your horse.
* When you tell your horse "game over", do NOT ask them to come in. It is their choice. When you ask them in, they forget what they did right. It's like saying "Hey, good job! You're all done! Now come do this." If they choose to come in, it is a reflection of your connection :) If they choose to stay out to process and think, allow them to do so.
* With a LB horse, you want every 'try' to be a little more than the last. You have to "up" what you're asking of them each time, otherwise they get bored and you loose their interest and your connection.
* The release is always equivalent to the try. if they barely give you two ears, for example, you barely give them a release.
* At liberty, use Z5 to get connection (arc around HQ).
* Be conscious of your velcro between you and the horse
* The purpose of tagging a spot where the horse should have gone outside the cone, for example, is to get the horse's internal energy up :)
* Kalley always says "There should always be an imaginary string attached to their nose, and you should be able to pick it up at any time and send in either direction."
* L to L = Confidence in their leader, themselves, their herd, and as a learner.
* Is your horse giving you a green light, yellow light, or red light?
* When a horse feels unconfident and blocks you with their nose, respect it. Stop and wait. Make a conversation about it. Respect their opinion and pause when necessary. 1% improvements are more important than achieving the ultimate ending goal. Be aware of changes in the horse. Change your approach if necessary.
* Pay attention to mental and emotional speeds. RBEs, for example, is she mentally slow but physically fast? Adjust your energies and strategy accordingly.
Bridleless Riding Prep ~
* Look for a calm, connected, responsive partner when under saddle (and in yourself as well!).
* When riding Cheyenne, NEVER block Z1. Bend her if she gets too go-ey/bracey.
* Transitions are great for gaining connection under saddle, especially with extroverts.
* If the horse won't stand still (under saddle), yield the HQ and direct the nose. Once a horse offers a standstill, reward it.
* When asking to go forward, find new ways to ask instead of squeezing with your legs. it makes the transition more fluid vs. jerky/suprising the horse.
* Horses move in = mind > flexion > weight > feet.
* Your back-up becomes your brakes, so make sure this is responsive and automatic before taking off the bridle/halter :)
* Focus on accuracy and response to your body vs. your reins. Body isolations help.
* Ask with your body first, THEN your legs.
* HQ yields/FQ yield isolations. How specific can you be? How responsive/light is your horse? can you do the FQ/HQ yield form just your rein? From just your leg?
* Use patterns to set yourself up for success so they become second nature for you and your horse.
* Use a fence to do a 180 degree FQ yield to change direction; give it a purpose.
* Constantly think "how can i act like a partner?" Recognize red lights/signs of being offended and address/respond accordingly.
* Isolate your goals of speed, accuracy, and distance. You horse then will naturally put it all together.
* Don't say "Let's get this better", break it down idea by idea (speed, accuracy, distance) and allow them to combine it all themselves.
* Work on neck string sensitivity.
* Practice transitions off of just body cues
* Back up off neck string: how little does it take? Isolate sensitivity. Don't worry about speed or straightness. How little can you do, and how quickly can you release?
* As many cues you can have for halt/back up, the better.
* Reward with a release/moment of silence :)
* Focus on using your energy to go and to whoa.
* Can you porquipine to FQ yield off of just the neck string? Support with stick if needed, but goal is just the neck string.
* FQ yield over a step, then back a step.
* Set it up so you get "yes's" :) Do not nag.
* For halt, turn into a sack of potatoes. To back up, lift your belly button and engage your core.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Be Warned: This is a Rant
Today I learned that one of my first riding/4H instructors from my pre-Parelli days was voted "Best Trainer of 2013" by my home town. When anyone wins an award, you always want to be happy for them. But the fact that this person was selected makes me sick to my gut. Between how she handles horses, and then the fact that horse owners LOVED it, it just really blows my mind. Let me give you a little bit of a back story..
I come from a small country town which a lot of competitive horse owners call home. The majority are western riders, and barrel racing and team penning are the most popular events. In my experience, and especially in my home town, these people are incredibly competitive and tend to think more about prestige and pride than that's best for their horse. Yes they think horses are pretty and a good time, but it's all about ribbons and appearance.
The first time I met this trainer (who shall remain unnamed, but for the sake of the blog I will refer to her as "L") I was about 10 years old and had just joined 4-H with my green broke mustang gelding, Merlin. He was a sweet and willing horse, and the first horse I've ever trained. He was great during our lessons, however when it came time to go home, he was pretty unconfident about loading back into the trailer. I asked L to help us out, and she preceded to grab a broom and smack my horse with it repeatedly for about 10 minutes until he loaded in. At the time I knew it was wrong, but being 10 years old and not knowing much, I didn't want to say anything. Needless to say I did not continue lessons with her. I then learned that my neighbor's mare Mariah had gone to L for training, and she noticed after a week that she had gone lame, yet still kept her in training for the rest of the month. Next, at a team penning event, she decided she was upset with another competitor and attempted to run him over on her horse, and after it was all said and done claimed that her spurs had slipped. She is incredibly heavy handed, beats horses into doing what she asks, and does not take their physical or mental well being into consideration at ALL in showing or training. Her "professionally trained" horses can rear when the herd leaves, buck their riders off in a field, won't load into a trailer if their life depends on it, but if they win a blue ribbon it was a success.
Who thinks this is okay?! Who thinks this is acceptable horsemanship? And then to go as far as to vote for her as best trainer of the year?! I'm sorry, I know this is childish, but I would LOVE to go toe-to-toe with her in an arena once I'm a solid L4 student and challenge her that anything she can do on her "professionally trained" horse, I can do on my PNH trained horse bareback and bridless.
I am a firm believer that if you want to show something without having to take it's mental and emotional state in mind, then show a car. There is NO excuse for manhandling a horse, working a lame horse, or beating horses into a trailer with a barn broom. It sickens me that she even has students who think this is okay, but to be voted the BEST?! There may not be a lot of natural horsemanship students in that town, but there are definitely a lot of more compassionate trainers that deserve that award that truly take the time it takes. My old dressage instructor, for example, always had the horse's best interest in mind and was fabulous at reading feedback and properly addressing the issue, whether it was my posture, the tack, etc. And guess what? She still wins blue ribbons, so much in fact that she is not allowed to show in local events anymore because she always cleans house. She might not do Parelli, but she is 10x the superior horse trainer than L has ever amounted to with happiness and success of her horses. This really boils my blood.
There's not a lot I can obviously do about this, except maybe once I'm an instructor I can target that area and start at it bit by bit, hoping people can tell the difference between want vs. make in their horses. I just have to breathe, remind myself that I am 300 miles away, and be grateful that there are so many amazing PNH students and instructors around me and watch the positive changes that they experience, and that I do as well. I guess at worst I can say that this makes me even more proud of my training choice, which has ended up being more of a lifestyle choice. Using psychology vs. force not only with my horse, but with others around me as well.
Thank you, rant OVER.
I come from a small country town which a lot of competitive horse owners call home. The majority are western riders, and barrel racing and team penning are the most popular events. In my experience, and especially in my home town, these people are incredibly competitive and tend to think more about prestige and pride than that's best for their horse. Yes they think horses are pretty and a good time, but it's all about ribbons and appearance.
The first time I met this trainer (who shall remain unnamed, but for the sake of the blog I will refer to her as "L") I was about 10 years old and had just joined 4-H with my green broke mustang gelding, Merlin. He was a sweet and willing horse, and the first horse I've ever trained. He was great during our lessons, however when it came time to go home, he was pretty unconfident about loading back into the trailer. I asked L to help us out, and she preceded to grab a broom and smack my horse with it repeatedly for about 10 minutes until he loaded in. At the time I knew it was wrong, but being 10 years old and not knowing much, I didn't want to say anything. Needless to say I did not continue lessons with her. I then learned that my neighbor's mare Mariah had gone to L for training, and she noticed after a week that she had gone lame, yet still kept her in training for the rest of the month. Next, at a team penning event, she decided she was upset with another competitor and attempted to run him over on her horse, and after it was all said and done claimed that her spurs had slipped. She is incredibly heavy handed, beats horses into doing what she asks, and does not take their physical or mental well being into consideration at ALL in showing or training. Her "professionally trained" horses can rear when the herd leaves, buck their riders off in a field, won't load into a trailer if their life depends on it, but if they win a blue ribbon it was a success.
Who thinks this is okay?! Who thinks this is acceptable horsemanship? And then to go as far as to vote for her as best trainer of the year?! I'm sorry, I know this is childish, but I would LOVE to go toe-to-toe with her in an arena once I'm a solid L4 student and challenge her that anything she can do on her "professionally trained" horse, I can do on my PNH trained horse bareback and bridless.
I am a firm believer that if you want to show something without having to take it's mental and emotional state in mind, then show a car. There is NO excuse for manhandling a horse, working a lame horse, or beating horses into a trailer with a barn broom. It sickens me that she even has students who think this is okay, but to be voted the BEST?! There may not be a lot of natural horsemanship students in that town, but there are definitely a lot of more compassionate trainers that deserve that award that truly take the time it takes. My old dressage instructor, for example, always had the horse's best interest in mind and was fabulous at reading feedback and properly addressing the issue, whether it was my posture, the tack, etc. And guess what? She still wins blue ribbons, so much in fact that she is not allowed to show in local events anymore because she always cleans house. She might not do Parelli, but she is 10x the superior horse trainer than L has ever amounted to with happiness and success of her horses. This really boils my blood.
There's not a lot I can obviously do about this, except maybe once I'm an instructor I can target that area and start at it bit by bit, hoping people can tell the difference between want vs. make in their horses. I just have to breathe, remind myself that I am 300 miles away, and be grateful that there are so many amazing PNH students and instructors around me and watch the positive changes that they experience, and that I do as well. I guess at worst I can say that this makes me even more proud of my training choice, which has ended up being more of a lifestyle choice. Using psychology vs. force not only with my horse, but with others around me as well.
Thank you, rant OVER.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Lessons from Lillan :)
Today I indulged my new found addiction and audited another Lillan Roquet workshop :) So happy she is coming to Washington more often! She has an incredible ability to a) have an incredible energy that engages my attention, b) communicate effectively and in an encouraging manner, and c) politely call you out on your faults and build you back up and really help you take your horsemanship to the next level - quickly.
The first workshop today was about liberty, and the second was about preparing for bridleless riding, two of my all-time favorite subjects :) I took tons of notes and plan on doing a follow-up blog of all the tidbits that really jumped out at me, but for now, enjoy some iPhone snapshots I got of today's amazing breakthroughs :) Please check out my YouTube channel (user name craxyrox07) for some video on teaching spins and some cool liberty info :)
The first workshop today was about liberty, and the second was about preparing for bridleless riding, two of my all-time favorite subjects :) I took tons of notes and plan on doing a follow-up blog of all the tidbits that really jumped out at me, but for now, enjoy some iPhone snapshots I got of today's amazing breakthroughs :) Please check out my YouTube channel (user name craxyrox07) for some video on teaching spins and some cool liberty info :)
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| 3* Lillan helping an RBI change direction without disengaging the HQ |
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| RBE Arabian working on F8 at liberty |
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| Such a cute little horse with Fabio hair <3 |
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| Pretty LBE warmblood <3 |
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| Lillan asking to be on the other side of the horse via a conversation, and having the horse's feet move, not hers |
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| Thinking time during an intense saddling demo - this horse had a HUGE breakthrough! |
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| A student getting some pointers from the wonderful Lillan :) |
Monday, January 14, 2013
Parelli Potluck
This last Saturday I drove an hour and a half north to attend 2* Sarah Merry's Parelli New Year Potluck :) There were probably about 10 or 12 other students there, one of which I knew, so it was nice to have a comfort zone while still meeting other people. I have a tendency to go introverted with that many new faces around me, but everyone there was so friendly and welcoming and I had a great time :)
Sarah wrote up a poster with about nine different sections, each labeled with a different subject. Horseless workshop, Horsenality in Depth, Bettering your Freestyle, etc. Everyone wrote their names in the sections they were interested in, and that's how Sarah will judge what lessons to focus on this year. How cool is that?! It's amazing to have an instructor who really puts her students first and is so dedicated to our success.
In about two months my boyfriend and I will hopefully be moving up north between the Everett and Bellingham areas, which will put me closer to Sarah and this wonderful little Parelli community. The reason I am so in love with Parelli Connect is because it's always been pretty difficult for me to find other Parelli people in the area, and even when I do our schedules conflict to the point of never seeing each other, anyway. But this new group has enough people in it to where there is always someone who is down for a pony play date in levels from 1 to 3 :) Talk about fun, encouragement, and the best support team ever!
Sarah wrote up a poster with about nine different sections, each labeled with a different subject. Horseless workshop, Horsenality in Depth, Bettering your Freestyle, etc. Everyone wrote their names in the sections they were interested in, and that's how Sarah will judge what lessons to focus on this year. How cool is that?! It's amazing to have an instructor who really puts her students first and is so dedicated to our success.
In about two months my boyfriend and I will hopefully be moving up north between the Everett and Bellingham areas, which will put me closer to Sarah and this wonderful little Parelli community. The reason I am so in love with Parelli Connect is because it's always been pretty difficult for me to find other Parelli people in the area, and even when I do our schedules conflict to the point of never seeing each other, anyway. But this new group has enough people in it to where there is always someone who is down for a pony play date in levels from 1 to 3 :) Talk about fun, encouragement, and the best support team ever!
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| A view of Mt Rainier on a clear, sunny, January day :) |
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