Busy Arenas Help Horses Relax

Today was a blast!

Since we stopped boarding horses, I mostly ride alone in my arena. Today however was a blast from the past.

Beth, Marnie and Stacy were all riding while I was doing my warm-up and audition footage. I'd forgotten what fun a busy arena can be and it's great for the horses. Not only do they become accustomed to traffic and other horses moving in and out of their space, they learn to focus on their human and not necessarily what everyone else is doing.

In my video you can see Stacy practicing the Follow the Rail exercise in a halter and lead rope. Watch for her to ride by flipping the rope over Abby's head in the background. This simple exercise alone can help your fluidity and the power of your focus on riding with an independant seat.

Marnie was giving Beth a high-level Dressage demonstration and doing some incredible movements; basically dancing with Spice! Beth was watching but also perfecting her trot and canter with Kolby and I think I was on my own planet!

Today marked my 5th session with Jayden this week and I think I spent about 10 hours total playing with him. We filmed my audition video today, you can see it here. What I loved about this video was watching the level of relaxation my horse has. When I first started out playing with him 3 months ago he was nervous with me in zone 4 (his hip) and zone 5 (behind the tail). Watch me as I move around him swatting the ground with the carrot stick and string. He is relaxed, I can lift his tail and his posture is one of confidance and maybe even a bit bored! Just 3 short months ago I couldn't do this exercise without him flying sideways. He is no longer bothered by things swinging in his hind zones and doesn't kick when tied and frightened at all.

Working this program has definately hightened my communication skills and our joint understanding of him. I can read him so much better, know when to retreat from something (whether an idea, a threshhold or simply pressure) and when to push farther. His confidance as a learner has skyrocketed!

Audition Warm-Up...Lessons Learned

Michael helped me film the first practice video for my Level 1/2 audition!

Today was the first time I filmed myself with Jayden on the ground. I've seen video of us riding but seeing myself on the ground was REAL eye opener. Suddenly I was able to see most of what Linda has been working with me and talking to me about. I always felt confidant about my body language but I could see my horse wondering about me a bit and THAT was a total eye opener.

It was great fun and we learned about where the camera needs to be to provide the best view. I was a bit nervous and left out a few things I wanted to show so we are planning to film it again tomorrow.

On a positive note, Jayden backed up from 22 feet away with a Phase 1 ask. Incredible!

Groundwork Improves Impulsion!

Today's lesson with Linda was 3 hours long. It flew by as we played with ground work, Jayden's confidence in my body language, my skills as a leader and then transitioned to riding. Every time I think I'm getting "good" at being a leader Linda show me ways to improve that I hadn't even thought of. Ways to be lighter and more effective with even less pressure. It's amazing! Jayden and I learned a lot of new things and his impulsion is improving every day!

When To Step Back

This last six months has been an interesting period for me. I saw many advances in my horsemansip and I had many failures as well. I think you learn more from the failures almost than you do from success. Well...usually.


Two months ago I had my first lesson with a Parelli professional. It was amazing. Life-altering in fact. I've been studying natural horsemanship via Parelli Natural Horsemanship for the last few years and I'd gotten pretty good with horses on the ground. I can't remember the last time a horse scared me or made me nervous on the ground. All my confidance has come from moving through their Levels Pathway.

Having a lesson with one of their professionals was inspiring in a way I can't even begin to describe. I thought I had taught my horse to handle pressure....NOT in their book! If you want your horse to be a sconfidant as possible, NOT be a robot but still work for you, this is definately a program to look at!

Squeeze Game...It's Everywhere!

Today's ride saw a few breakthrough "aha" moments. Yesterday I blogged about my cues needing to be lighter and lighter for my horse to really be happy. After rolling around Pat & Linda's helpful hints on motivating introverts and how they can be offended by how loudly we ask for something, it dawned on me that perhaps some of the behaviours I see in my horse under saddle are because I'm asking too loudly for what I want.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not up on top of my horse yelling, at least I don't think I am - but it's what he thinks of what I'm doing that really matters.

Many things that we expect horses to do (calmly) involve squeezes of a sort: walk through gates, load in the trailer, walk underneath an overhang, oh yes...and go quietly while I sit on you with my legs wrapped around you too. Yep, this one is a BIG squeeze game. I've known a few horses in my time that the more leg you gave them, the faster they would seem to squirt forward. I didn't have a label for it back then (this was 15 years ago and wayyyy before I know who Pat Parelli was) but you just knew they were uncomfortable with it and more sensitive was probably how I would describe it. Stick with me here for a moment....

While riding today I was walking around on my horse while talking to my instructor about my theory of how loudly I'm asking Jayden to canter off and how that might be why he seems to want to lift up his head and overbend his head and neck to the right (when going to the right) which bows out his outside shoulder. In summary, I think he's giving me feedback on HOW I'm asking. So perhaps what should be a Phase 1 request is actually is being interpreted as a Phase 2 or 3 and the result is that his feet slow down rather than going forward.

We thought on this for a moment and then decided to experiment with it. I focused on sitting up a bit straighter but relaxing all the pressure in my whole leg, well both legs. I use my voice a lot with this horse and my tone plays a huge part in his relaxation levels. In preparation for his transition I asked hin with my voice to canter, barely asked with my leg while playing very gently with the rein - the result was a much better transition. There were less steps needed to get collection.

While cantering we practice circles if he becomes anxious or quick underneath which pulls his brain back into gear and allows us to compose ourselves. Today I noticed that when he would pick up speed rather than coming more round, through his back and collected, if I relaxed my leg to drape around him we might not need to do the smaller circle to achieve balance and collection.
When I drapped my leg, I noticed that he eased up, didn't grind the bit AT ALL and suddenly we had collection - mental, physical and emotional collection.

My theory for this horse proved correct...although he has gotten better with his issues with squeeze game, it's the mastery of my own body and fluidity that will help him inch that dot for claustrophobia more to the mild side.

Success!

Finding that Perfect Harmony (in your horse and your tack)

Have you ever noticed that all of us horse people seem to recycle our tack, clothes and even horses amongst each other? I was thinking today how small a world it really is and how many things I've acquired from people that no longer had need of the item.

Last week I hauled Jayden over to trail ride with my friend Beth at her barn in North Phoenix. That trip I rode in a friend's barrel saddle (I know zilch about those saddles) and happily gave my synthetic dura-leather western training saddle to Beth to ride and try. She recently sold her show saddle and was looking for something comfortable to ride that was also affordable - my training saddle is both (well, at least I think it is).

That training saddle marked my first western saddle purchase in 2007. I had $1,000 to spend and it had to provide for both a training and show saddle with some silver. Yikes! I think about that now and I don't know how I managed to get both saddles for that amount of money, but somehow I did.

Well, 3 years later that same synthetic dura-leather saddle is in fantastic condition and was with me every step of the way as I helped me learn to ride Western after 15 solid years or riding hunt seat in an english saddle. I remember that I liked that I could feel the motion or the horse underneath me (thanks to the close contact skirts) - much the way I could in an english saddle. If I'm lucky, Beth will decide to keep the saddle and I now have the task of finding a new partner to ride in.

So here's where I need your help (and opinions) but sick with me because this might be a tad long winded.

At the Pinto World show last year I was lucky enough to come across a Blue Ribbon show saddle owned by a nice guy who didn't need the money for it. That saddle was purhased for me as a gift for my birthday (thank you Mom & Dad!). I'm not at all embarassed to say my parents chipped in together and purchased this saddle. Each time I ride in it, I'll remember them and how they've always supported my horse activities either pitching in to help me afford things, or standing by the rail taking pictures and providing support.

I would like to find a saddle that rides similarly and makes the transition from training to showing very easy for me and not such a big jump. I have had friends recommend both the Royal King and Royal Silver saddles with positive comments on each. I've also heard some comments on the Royal Kings that they are wider in through the seat and can be difficult for people with short inseams (that's me) to ride in and that the Silver Royal is narrower.

Do any of you ride either of these saddles? If so, what can you tell me about them? What do you like/not like? What makes one any better than the other?

Both saddles are relatively affordable to buy and I'm looking to purchase in the next month. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

I am test riding a Royal Silver tomorrow and hoping that I like it and that it fits Jayden well too. Harmony within your tack creates harmony with your horse and there's no substitute for great tack.

We're prepping for the Prescott show in September, and getting down to the minutia in our corrections. I'm finding that my aids have to be even lighter than ever - Jayden is usually a left brain introvert but under saddle when aids become too strong he can turn into an extrovert pretty quickly and can get rattled. I've seen such HUGE changes in him within the last 4 weeks that I'm hopeful we will be well prepared for whatever we encounter. I'm also excited as heck to put on that new Western Show outfit I purchased form Show Me Again and go down the rail in it. There's nothing like a great outfit to help you look and feel the part.

Until next time, keep it natural!

Happiness Comes In Many Forms

Happy Memorial Day!

It seems like once you turn 30 the days (and years) just fly right on by. Once again time has gotten away from me and it's been a month since the last show and since I posted about my journey with Jayden my 5 year old paint gelding.

Although he had the opportunity to attend the May show in Tucson, many changes had taken place in April right before the Spring Fling horse show and I decided against going....I felt I needed a breather. In April I made the very difficult decision to move away from the trainer I had been working with. Although I enjoyed my time with her immensly and learned many good things from her, I felt that I need a shift (and so did Jayden) if we were going to start tackling some of the emotional signs I had begun to see in my horse.

Although Jayden was still doing his work (and to the traditional horseman you may not notice that anything had changed) I noticed that his feedback when asked to do things had begun to turn negative. I also noticed that he was much more emotional and reactive than he should be.

The April show was our first ever together as a team where we showed without the assistance of a "trainer." I watched him carefully for reactions to his environment and we showed only what I felt he was mentally, emotionally and physically read to handle. The result was success with the classes we did show.

In the last 8 weeks I've noticed some BIG changes emotionally and mentally in my horse. His relaxation has improved, he is offering to do more and more, the negative feedback is nearly gone and on the whole he is simply happier.

Part of the great thing I have learned is that it's important to NEVER stop learning. After a careful re-examination of my goals as a horsewoman and competitor, I have shifted my own mentality which I think has been key to some of our breakthroughs.

I have also been working with someone who has reminded me of some very important key points, brought out the best in me, the best in my horse and suddenly I am so excited about being around my horse that I catch myself going outside to the barn as many as 5 times per day (it's on my property) just to sit and be with the horses. Perhaps to some it would sound corny, but I am already reaping the benefits. My horse is healthy and happy and runs in from the pasture to see me!

What am I doing differently? I am incorporating A LOT of trail riding for both physical and mental fitness. Sometimes we haul out and sometimes just ride out to see the neighborhood sites. We see everythign now from cars and heavy traffic to rocks, bushes, paths up the mountain and natural washes.

Since adding regular trail riding to our program, I am also seeing Jayden's Horsenality Chart results changing. Whereas we would need preparation prior to hauling out and trail riding (to bring some of those dots to the mild side), he is now eager to get in the trailer, backs out calmly and with confidance, ground ties for saddleing and walks down the trail like a champ - curious but focused.

Although my Parelli journey is probably not "traditional" in the natural sense of the word (I came to Parelli after riding what is probably a Level 3-4 equivalent - hunter/jumper, dressage in competition), it's been a valuable and wonderful experience for me. Part of what also has me so excited are the new Savvy Club formats. I can't decide which one I want to be part of?!

Our new goal....we will debut again on the Paint Circuit in September after 5 months on our new program. I am so excited to see how we will do with newfound relaxation, confidance and better timing.

Aee you on a journey with your horse? If so, I'd love to hear your story. Drop me an email to krista.garren@gmail.com