Five workouts, one post!

I have been lax in writing these posts of late.  Sarah and I have had five sessions since the last post; the first was on Wednesday, 3/3.  On this day, we worked on the rail, again emphasizing self-carriage.  Particular attention was paid to Sarah lifting through the withers and working off of her hind quarters.  This work was done in the twisted-wire snaffle bit.  Then, on Saturday, 3/6, the same type of thing was applied using a "colt bit", which is a short-shanked snaffle.  On Sunday, 3/7, a back-through obstacle was assembled.  It had a squared-off zig-zag kind of a shape.  I used it not only as a back-through, but as a trot-through AND as a side-pass obstacle as well.  It is nice when one obstacle can serve so many purposes!  The obstacle was more narrowly-spaced on one of the legs; this made it more difficult, and challenging for both backing and trotting.  For the trot-through, it took four times for Sarah to loosen up her spine enough so as not to hit the poles.  She finally did this, moving her spine in response to my leg on the fourth time through, making the entire s-shaped path without hitting any poles at all, even with the narrower opening at the far end of the obstacle.  What a good girl!
This week, we did another self-carriage workout on Thursday.  I had eaten an apple before coming to the barn; Sarah has the nose of a bloodhound...she could smell that apple on my hand through my glove!  I vowed to bring her a treat on Friday.
On Friday, after I watched the new AQHA video on trail class and getting new ideas for obstacle set-up, Sarah was treated to a fun combination trot-over-serpentine-lope-over walk-through obstacle!  Heavens!  The lope-overs were most fun; the first time over, traveling on the left lead, Sarah rushed the pole and jumped over it.  The second time, she broke stride.  After a quick correction (she knows better!), she followed with three good left lead lope-overs, no hits, no breaks.  Atta girl!  Then, traveling on the right lead, she loped clean over the pole four times in a row.  Wow!  She was really being careful with her feet.  We finished up with the walk-over, which had cones set in the center front and back.  This is meant to be entered on one side of the cone and then exited on the other.  Kind of like a serpentine within a walk-over pole obstacle.  I found that I need to use the longer poles for this, because when using the short poles, moving across the center makes it too easy to exit the obstacle entirely unless there is a longer length of pole to negotiate.  So, next time, for a serpentine-walk-over, I will use the 10-12 foot poles.  So many variations and possibilities for Sarah!  It's like "horsey crossfit".  Afterward, I gave Sarah her promised treat, two large carrots.  Sarah knew about the carrots before I even rode her; she could SMELL them on my clothing!  You cannot get anything past her...
Until next time,
Kirsten


All for now!

Saturday and Sunday fun

Well, on Saturday, 2/27, I set up a large box using the 8-foot poles.  We used this box for trot-overs, lope-overs, side-passing, and turn-arounds.  The most challenging exercise that we performed was what I call a "U-turn" inside the box at a trot.  Sarah is required to trot into the box, and turn 180 degrees and trot out again, all without breaking stride.  We did this several times.  Sarah never hit the sides of the box, though she came close at first.  She learned to rate her stride after awhile, and make tighter turns.  When Sarah did her lope-overs, she was very good about placing feet and never hit a pole, and never broke stride.  She did well both directions.

On Sunday 2/28, I set up a back-through "L", again with the 8-foot poles.  These poles were set up with 3 feet of space between them, making them appropriate for trot-overs as well.  However, this made for a tight back-through obstacle.  Sarah did quite well with this, but she was not perfect.  We need to work more on these in the near future.  I will need to set up a bit more complex back-through obstacle next time I think, to keep her attention.  The first time she backed through, we had no problems; the next time, she ticked a pole.  She was getting bored, and wasn't paying as much attention as the first time through.  This seems to happen when Sarah is "drilled" on something that she does perfectly fine the first time.  The clue here for me is to catch the exercises that she excels at the first time, and then change it up in some way so as not to turn it into a drill.  Drills only work for Sarah if she doesn't understand the obstacle the first time and needs more practice.
The trot-overs went well, as did the side-passing.  We still need to work a little more on side-passing to the left than to the right.

Overall, a nice workout from Sarah.  The usual Sunday "manicure", and cubes and peppermints all around.  A great way to start a new week!

A bit of a break...

Well, after being in Florida for a week, during which time "Uncle Jack" and "Auntie Susan" made sure that Sarah did not get bored, I finally went to see Sarah on Friday the 19th.  Unfortunately, I found her with a sore left front foot...so, no ride, just treats and treatment for the night.  Then, on Sunday the 21st, I went back to find her sound and ready to go!  We just hit the basics, making sure that the soundness was for real.  Everything checked out.  So, back I went tonight for a review of "skills and drills" with two lope poles.  We worked on walking, jogging and finally loping over the poles.  A couple of hits on the walk-overs, but none on the jogs and lopes.  She placed her feet well on the lope-overs, too; atta girl!  Then we worked on simple lead changes on a figure-8.  Finally, side-passing over the poles.  This went just peachy.  I think that we are close to being back on track.  Cubes and a kiss for Sarah.
Until next time,
Kirsten

Another go

Tonight I set up seven cones for Sarah to negotiate.  Again, Sarah was ready to work right off the bat.  She did not want to warm up on the longe-line.  She has been so down to business!  No fooling around.  Four of the cones were spaced four "human- strides" apart.  We worked on weaving through the cones, both at a walk and a trot.  This went very well, considering the work that we did yesterday.  Sarah remembered all of that work, and applied it to tonight's tasks.  This made weaving through the cones easy.  Her jog-trot was nice, slow and steady.  She was well collected and was lifting through the withers.  We also worked on moving diagonally through two sets of cones, both at the walk and the jog.  I had to use my leg in a slightly more rear-ward position to make the diagonals to the left; once doing that, everything fell into place.  The last thing that we worked on was backing through several cones set up in a triangle.  It has been awhile since we have done this, so it was good practice.  We will do more of this in the near future.
Cubes and peppermints, and we were good to go!

Uncle Jack

Today we had a session with"Uncle Jack", aka Jack Kujansuu, trainer extraordinaire.  We worked on the rail, getting Sarah to carry herself properly and consistently with good form.  This involves the rider setting the horse in the correct "frame" using cues from the seat, legs and hands.  Ideally, everything will come together with the cues from the seat and legs without much use of the hands.  This is how western horses can do all that they do on a loose rein.  Hands are used in the beginning to school the horse; as the horse learns, she will take the cues from the other aids first, with the hand cues being used last if needed at all.  With Sarah, in order for this to be an effective workout, we need to do it "quick-change" style, where many different moves are asked of her in random succession.  This keeps her work interesting and she cannot anticipate what will happen next, so she is always listening and ready for the next cue.
I always appreciate our sessions with Uncle Jack; it really helps to have another set of experienced eyes on us as we ride, so that we know exactly what we need to work on.  We worked on flexing properly at the poll in particular; also body flexibility and working off of the hindquarters, lifting through the withers when traveling clockwise and counter-clockwise in the arena.  She prefers to travel with her nose toward the rail, especially when moving clockwise in the arena, so normally we work extra hard on the right side for flexibility so that she is traveling correctly with a slight arc to the inside. Tonight, however, we spent a little more time going counter-clockwise; her clockwise work was quite good.
Our session did not last too long at all tonight; Sarah picked up on things right away and pretty much did all that was asked of her.  A new bed of shavings and cubes and a peppermint for Sarah, and off I went.  Until next time,
Kirsten

More building blocks

Another day above 10 degrees (but not much...).  Today we worked on two elements of trail courses: walk-over poles, and lope-over poles.  The walk-overs were spaced 24 inches apart.  The new twist:  there were six of them.  Typically we have been working with up to four.  The first time through, Sarah ticked the fifth and sixth pole.  The second and third times through though, no ticks, just a little hesitation.  Fourth time through, smooth, no change in speed, and no hits or ticks.  Done.  Then, the lope-over pole.  Just a single pole today, we need to get back into these again.  Usually this is more difficult to the right than to the left.  But today, traveling to the right was her strong suit.  No problems with this at all to the right.  To the left, the first couple of times she had to speed up to get the foot placing just right, but the last time, there was no change in the speed.  Again, today I just climbed on her and went to work, she had no interest in playing on the line.  So, it was rather short!  When the horse does exactly as you ask, or, learns quickly what you are asking and then does exactly as you ask, there is really no need to drill, is there?
A weekly beauty treatment and manicure for Sarah, followed by the ever-winning combination of cubes and a peppermint.  She very well may have the freshest smelling breath in the barn!

Happy Saturday!

Hello, happy Saturday!  I love Saturdays and Sundays in the winter for riding; the arena is always filled with light.  Today, I set up a back-through L (like two wide V's spaced 3-4 feet apart) for Sarah to work on.  It is a nice obstacle, spaced properly, it also can be used as a trot-over in two different ways.  No longeing needed again today.  One look at the poles, and it was, "let's get on with it!"  First time through the back-through, a bit sloppy; haven't done one in awhile.  Second time, not too bad.  Third time was a charm.  No hits or ticks.  Listening to cues.  Atta girl!  Then, trot-overs.  One pole was raised.  First time through, Sarah forgot about this and hit the pole with a front foot.  Second time, up went her feet.  Good girl.  Then, through the "V" section of the poles.  This time this obstacle was a little more difficult, as there were two in a row, spaced 6 feet apart, and one pole was raised.  This gave her something to think about, and it took a few times through, but she finally figured it out: like last time she did one of these, she tried to go left of the v, then right.  Finally, she took them through the center.   Lastly, side-passing to the left, then right, around the corner of the poles using a turn on the forehand.  Sarah did a nice job with these.
Enough for one session.  Time to get back to her hay!  Oh, and of course, cubes, and "safe choice", her pelleted grain product.
Until next time, enjoy this "heat wave"!
Kirsten