You know, it's really interesting, studying horses, Parelli, etc, for years, knowing horsenality front to back, and having a seemingly excellent grasp on even the most obscure little pieces of information on how to play with different horses in different situations, and yet, the variations of strategies are so great that you don't realize you've missed something until...well...you find what you missed.
Now, if you were able to follow that obnoxiously long run-on, congrats. What I'm getting at is that there are SO MANY WAYS to motivate an LBI, and if you think you've tried them all, chances are, you really haven't. I had one such experience today with Prin. Now you would think, after having this horse for 6 years, KNOWING she's an LBI, KNOWING she likes food and scratches and slowness, you might get it, and get creative.
I've played a lot with incentives recently, especially now that we're getting more into things that require a greater level of athletecism, that Prin, little miss LBI that she is, doesn't necessarily WANT to do. I've found that there's REALLY nothing Prin won't do for a Winnies cookie, but often times, especially if she's farther out on the line, etc, the moment passes before I can reel her in to give her a cookie, and then we kind of lose all sense of goodness.
So, anyway, today, I happened upon something that actually worked really well, and I found it completely by accident. I had been playing on the 45' line a bit, which had gone okay. We were playing with relaxing and stretching down in the canter, which actually did come together, Prin was blowing and extending out a bit (as opposed to lifting her neck and getting "crunched up")and looked a bit more comfortable. But, as usual, there was a lack of try, and a big "Why am I DOING this? I'm BORED! I HATE circles!" and when she DID try, no way could I get her attention quick enough to get her to associate the reward with the behavior.
After finishing up on a fairly decent note, I left the line and halter on Prin and went and got her feed pan with her grain, and as I was climbing the fence, a thought struck me. I don't know WHY the synapses connected, but for some reason, I thought of how much Prin liked her grain, and just how tangible and OBVIOUS a feed pan was, and how if I placed it strategically enough in the center of the circle, let Prin know I had it, and then set the situation up, my horse would literally create her own motivation. The very best way I can put this is in one word: SUCCESS!
I sent Prin out on the circle, and INSTANTLY encountered a new thing: I actually had trouble getting her to TAKE the rope! usually, on the 45' she goes "Hey, rope, cool! Bye!" and goes to the end. Today, it was a consistant, comfortable 35-40 feet, with slack, belly of the rope dragging, and a WHOLE NEW HORSE out there. She was stretched and moving round, carrying her body arched with the circle, and with NO DRAG AT ALL on her halter. WOW. I couldn't BELIEVE it! She wasn't offering anything spectacularly athletic, but I wasn't expecting that, but the change in mental/physical alone was enough to boggle my mind. I did eventually GET her to canter a couple laps in each direction (using her shoulders correctly, btw) and also got a whole new level of close range circling (WOW let's talk flexibility!).
All in all, a very interesting experience. We'll have to see how this pans out, and whether or not there is a situational thing here, or I've really figured out WHY Farrah actually plays with her horses before they eat ;)
Pix to come tomorrow, lets hope!
Savvy on, and hey look, it's only 10:30! I might get some good sleep tonight!
Photo by Margaret Chant and edited by Jessica Metropulos
Showing posts with label motivation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motivation. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
Words of Kindness Warm my Soul
Hi all,
One of my favorite things in doing what I love is being able to inspire and encourage people to pursue their dreams, and to show what is POSSIBLE. It makes me feel WONDERFUL when I see results, new-found motivation, or even a spark in a new PNHer's eyes after seeing what my horse means to me, and how we interact.
My purpose in having this blog has been to share my journey in PNH, with my horses, with the hope that I could provide useful information as well as perhaps inspire and provide motivation to continue in the journey, and I'm beginning to realize just how much it's done.
I recieved a really wonderful, touching, and flattering email from someone tonight, and I just wanted to share a little bit about it. Katie, if you happen to read this, I am talking about you, and I thank you SO MUCH for your kind words :)
Hi,
I kind of sort of but not really met you in Williamston, NC this year.
I went to Linda to ask her to sign my black visor and she asked you to go get her a metallic marker. Hahaha!
Close enough to meeting though, right? I honestly thought you were her niece or something for a little bit!
Just wanted to let you know I love your blog and I'm a huge fan of your journey. I LOVE PRINNY.
I swear I think I'm her biggest fan. The change in her posture and muscles since the Fluidity arrival pictures are insane.
Is that really all because of the Fluidity?!
If you make it to Jacksonville, I'll probably see you again. If my mom and I go we're riding down in the van with Mariah & co.
She gave me permission to follow you two around like a lost puppy dog once we get there. Lol.
I'm just in Level 1 as of now but I'm constantly on the lookout for new learning experiences!
Thanks again for blogging, you're such an inspiration!
I'm a very emotional person, and so, true to Fran fashion, I've been here blubbering like a baby ever since. I am so flattered! Words can't express how much an email of this nature means to me! Positive people make it that much easier for me to keep my head and spirits up, and helps me to stay motivated in playing towards my goal. Thank you ALL SO MUCH for your support!
One of my favorite things in doing what I love is being able to inspire and encourage people to pursue their dreams, and to show what is POSSIBLE. It makes me feel WONDERFUL when I see results, new-found motivation, or even a spark in a new PNHer's eyes after seeing what my horse means to me, and how we interact.
My purpose in having this blog has been to share my journey in PNH, with my horses, with the hope that I could provide useful information as well as perhaps inspire and provide motivation to continue in the journey, and I'm beginning to realize just how much it's done.
I recieved a really wonderful, touching, and flattering email from someone tonight, and I just wanted to share a little bit about it. Katie, if you happen to read this, I am talking about you, and I thank you SO MUCH for your kind words :)
Hi,
I kind of sort of but not really met you in Williamston, NC this year.
I went to Linda to ask her to sign my black visor and she asked you to go get her a metallic marker. Hahaha!
Close enough to meeting though, right? I honestly thought you were her niece or something for a little bit!
Just wanted to let you know I love your blog and I'm a huge fan of your journey. I LOVE PRINNY.
I swear I think I'm her biggest fan. The change in her posture and muscles since the Fluidity arrival pictures are insane.
Is that really all because of the Fluidity?!
If you make it to Jacksonville, I'll probably see you again. If my mom and I go we're riding down in the van with Mariah & co.
She gave me permission to follow you two around like a lost puppy dog once we get there. Lol.
I'm just in Level 1 as of now but I'm constantly on the lookout for new learning experiences!
Thanks again for blogging, you're such an inspiration!
I'm a very emotional person, and so, true to Fran fashion, I've been here blubbering like a baby ever since. I am so flattered! Words can't express how much an email of this nature means to me! Positive people make it that much easier for me to keep my head and spirits up, and helps me to stay motivated in playing towards my goal. Thank you ALL SO MUCH for your support!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Lessons in Shimming
Visited Sherri today out at her place, today. We took the girls (Cerra, 6 yr old QH cross mare, and Cheyenne, 4 yr old QH mare) out for a little spin, which was fun. The really interesting thing about playing with those two is that they're such polar opposites of eachother. Cerra's a deeply layered RBI mare, prone to spooking, bolting, and sudden panic attacks. Cheyenne is a happy-go-lucky (sometimes a bit TOO happy) LBE mare, who enjoys putting anything and everything in her mouth, and also takes pride and joy in eating so persistantly on rides that you'd like to rip your hair out.
Anyway, so Sherri started on Chy, I started on Cerra. Cheyenne was tacked up in a Circle Y Park and Trail saddle with Parelli Theraflex Pad, and had a Parelli halter and reins. Cerra was decked out in my Fluidity saddle (She really needs that Super Wide gullet!!) theraflex pad, and bridle with confidence snaffle and finesse reins. We rode out to the big field (66 acre alfalfa) and just played around for a bit. Cerra and I did some Canter/Halt transitions, which she's sickeningly good at.
Sherri and Cheyenne were butting heads a bit, however. Chy has this lovely tendency to sull up and get LBI food oriented when we come anywhere NEAR a field with edible foliage. And Sherri, of course, does not want to spend all afternoon waiting for the fatty to fill up so they can move on. So it ended up that I got on and did some "WIPE THAT LOOK OFF YOUR FACE!" from her back, but as I was doing this, I began kind of observing some patterns.
*Chy's attitude usually comes with upward transitions that require more topline, and with backing up.
*Her neck gets bracy, her head goes up before anything else
*Gaits seem rushed
All these things point to a shimming problem in my mind. Chy's having problems rounding/using her topline, and when she goes to put her head down (she's a pleasure bred QH) she would get snotty, like something was poking her (like a poorly shimmed/placed saddle)
So, we rode back to Sherri's, pulled out her marking stick (Sorry Sherri, I know that's just one more thing for L and D to give you crap about!) my extra sets of shims, and we untacked. I gave a full shim demo, all the way from marking Chy's scapula at rest and in motion, to explaining where the saddle needed to be placed, to how Chy needed to be shimmed. (Looking like 2 or 3 thick in the shoulder, and a wedge) That all went well, and the moment of truth came when Sherri hopped on. First thing she said I think was "Oh wow, I feel so much...farther back?"
She and Chy walked, trotted, and cantered around, and I can say from an observer's perspective that Cheyenne looked MUCH more comfortable, and the look on her face was that of mild interest, not complete and total resent (cranky). She stretched her neck down and blew several times, a good indication: Topline is coming up, ribcage is expanding, and therefore the horse wants to stretch and breath. So overall, I'm pleased to see this, and we'll see what we can do to keep it going next week!
Afterward, they gave me a little liberty demo, which was a pleasent surprise. They looked LOVELY, Chy's LBE enthusiasm is really really fun to play with, and Sherri's done a great job in developing it.
I really appreciated Sherri's comment in jest at the end of the session "Wow, that was the best $10 I've spent in a long time!" Glad you got your money's worth, Sherri :)
A photo of Chy and Sherri, taken in April 2007. Kinda fun, look how far you guys have come!!
Anyway, so Sherri started on Chy, I started on Cerra. Cheyenne was tacked up in a Circle Y Park and Trail saddle with Parelli Theraflex Pad, and had a Parelli halter and reins. Cerra was decked out in my Fluidity saddle (She really needs that Super Wide gullet!!) theraflex pad, and bridle with confidence snaffle and finesse reins. We rode out to the big field (66 acre alfalfa) and just played around for a bit. Cerra and I did some Canter/Halt transitions, which she's sickeningly good at.
Sherri and Cheyenne were butting heads a bit, however. Chy has this lovely tendency to sull up and get LBI food oriented when we come anywhere NEAR a field with edible foliage. And Sherri, of course, does not want to spend all afternoon waiting for the fatty to fill up so they can move on. So it ended up that I got on and did some "WIPE THAT LOOK OFF YOUR FACE!" from her back, but as I was doing this, I began kind of observing some patterns.
*Chy's attitude usually comes with upward transitions that require more topline, and with backing up.
*Her neck gets bracy, her head goes up before anything else
*Gaits seem rushed
All these things point to a shimming problem in my mind. Chy's having problems rounding/using her topline, and when she goes to put her head down (she's a pleasure bred QH) she would get snotty, like something was poking her (like a poorly shimmed/placed saddle)
So, we rode back to Sherri's, pulled out her marking stick (Sorry Sherri, I know that's just one more thing for L and D to give you crap about!) my extra sets of shims, and we untacked. I gave a full shim demo, all the way from marking Chy's scapula at rest and in motion, to explaining where the saddle needed to be placed, to how Chy needed to be shimmed. (Looking like 2 or 3 thick in the shoulder, and a wedge) That all went well, and the moment of truth came when Sherri hopped on. First thing she said I think was "Oh wow, I feel so much...farther back?"
She and Chy walked, trotted, and cantered around, and I can say from an observer's perspective that Cheyenne looked MUCH more comfortable, and the look on her face was that of mild interest, not complete and total resent (cranky). She stretched her neck down and blew several times, a good indication: Topline is coming up, ribcage is expanding, and therefore the horse wants to stretch and breath. So overall, I'm pleased to see this, and we'll see what we can do to keep it going next week!
Afterward, they gave me a little liberty demo, which was a pleasent surprise. They looked LOVELY, Chy's LBE enthusiasm is really really fun to play with, and Sherri's done a great job in developing it.
I really appreciated Sherri's comment in jest at the end of the session "Wow, that was the best $10 I've spent in a long time!" Glad you got your money's worth, Sherri :)
A photo of Chy and Sherri, taken in April 2007. Kinda fun, look how far you guys have come!!
Friday, July 25, 2008
Bridle Wisdom and Problem Solving
Round two...DING!
In the heat of my frustration, I ripped out my November Savvy Times to have a go at Bridle Wisdom before I totally gave up on my bridle. And of course, being an article written by LP, I find every single answer I need, before I get a chance to say "yeah...but" and come up with an excuse to email her! YAY!
Notes and Things for tomorrow:
*NEEDS to be on the Small rings for collection! I did not know this! I figured it would be *better*, but I've seen Linda and Remmer do it on the big rings, and figured it's something one should be able to do.
*Transitions, galore--encourages horse to elevate with the bridle on the small rings.
*Overbending--try a curb strap perhaps? Suggests that it helps "elevate" horses that come behind the bit, (tendency in horses that aren't forward moving...PRIN!)
*Non-Elastic chin strap. Put on loose and allow Prin to get used to feel. Head tossing etc is "normal". To quote the article, "...at first the horse may show concern when he feels the noseband restrict him and throw his head around or even run backwards. One needs to remain calm and allow the horse to do it, as after several repetitions he will stop, having realized what happens before what happens happens."
*Zone 1 is key in LB dominant horses, so solid chin strap will help. DUH!!!
I feel renewed...Thanks Linda!
In the heat of my frustration, I ripped out my November Savvy Times to have a go at Bridle Wisdom before I totally gave up on my bridle. And of course, being an article written by LP, I find every single answer I need, before I get a chance to say "yeah...but" and come up with an excuse to email her! YAY!
Notes and Things for tomorrow:
*NEEDS to be on the Small rings for collection! I did not know this! I figured it would be *better*, but I've seen Linda and Remmer do it on the big rings, and figured it's something one should be able to do.
*Transitions, galore--encourages horse to elevate with the bridle on the small rings.
*Overbending--try a curb strap perhaps? Suggests that it helps "elevate" horses that come behind the bit, (tendency in horses that aren't forward moving...PRIN!)
*Non-Elastic chin strap. Put on loose and allow Prin to get used to feel. Head tossing etc is "normal". To quote the article, "...at first the horse may show concern when he feels the noseband restrict him and throw his head around or even run backwards. One needs to remain calm and allow the horse to do it, as after several repetitions he will stop, having realized what happens before what happens happens."
*Zone 1 is key in LB dominant horses, so solid chin strap will help. DUH!!!
I feel renewed...Thanks Linda!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Busy Week
Sorry guys, behind, behind, behind. I'm exausted, and really don't have much energy to recap the week's events in great detail, so here's a small, jotty list, comment if you have questions.
*Cricket's abscess popped out on Tuesday, no longer a lame girl
*Virge arrived on Wednesday
*Farrah got sick, and couldn't go to tour on Thursday
*Thought I was going to take her spot on Savvy Team, but couldn't
*Left for tour on Friday
*Hung out with Savvy sisters/had a good chat with Linda, Nita Jo, and Jesse Peters on Friday
*Saturday of tour--Cranky and sleepless, took care of Maylynn, Nita Jo's mare, saw lotsa people, had a couple hysterical conversations with Linda
*Went riding with Lori Wegner on Saturday night...very fun.
*Sunday morning took care of Nita Jo's mare
*Great tour day, got used as a model, and will now NEVER let Pat stand behind me again with the intent to demonstrate how to get a horse to round it's back
*Drove home
*Filmed a new video on Monday
*Gave Scoot his first ride, which had some FUNNY moments...he's a little mother bucker...and yes, you did read that correctly.
*Ordered my Cradle Bridle on Monday afternoon
*Edited video today
*Got an AMAZING message from some one on the forum...Made me cry to think that I could inspire someone like I did her.
Watch my new video here:
If you have questions or want details on anything on that list, post a comment. I'm REALLY tired, and will try to get back on track tomorrow. Thanks loves!
*Cricket's abscess popped out on Tuesday, no longer a lame girl
*Virge arrived on Wednesday
*Farrah got sick, and couldn't go to tour on Thursday
*Thought I was going to take her spot on Savvy Team, but couldn't
*Left for tour on Friday
*Hung out with Savvy sisters/had a good chat with Linda, Nita Jo, and Jesse Peters on Friday
*Saturday of tour--Cranky and sleepless, took care of Maylynn, Nita Jo's mare, saw lotsa people, had a couple hysterical conversations with Linda
*Went riding with Lori Wegner on Saturday night...very fun.
*Sunday morning took care of Nita Jo's mare
*Great tour day, got used as a model, and will now NEVER let Pat stand behind me again with the intent to demonstrate how to get a horse to round it's back
*Drove home
*Filmed a new video on Monday
*Gave Scoot his first ride, which had some FUNNY moments...he's a little mother bucker...and yes, you did read that correctly.
*Ordered my Cradle Bridle on Monday afternoon
*Edited video today
*Got an AMAZING message from some one on the forum...Made me cry to think that I could inspire someone like I did her.
Watch my new video here:
If you have questions or want details on anything on that list, post a comment. I'm REALLY tired, and will try to get back on track tomorrow. Thanks loves!
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