BACK AT HOME
I took Simon home today and did some groundwork review with Debbie enable her to practice the basic cues with him. He was responsive to cues and behaved consistently on his home territory.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Day 13 - Simon
LAST RIDING DAY
Simon was even more consistent today, making light direct rein turns, and stopping every time I exhaled and quit riding. Lateral shoulder movements were improved and the sensitivity to the bit was MUCH LESS. I focused on lateral flexion and hindquarter disengagements. Transitions into the trot, though still sluggish and slow, were much improved. I asked for a canter and picked up both leads. And, he was showing less hesitation before making water crossings.
Simon was even more consistent today, making light direct rein turns, and stopping every time I exhaled and quit riding. Lateral shoulder movements were improved and the sensitivity to the bit was MUCH LESS. I focused on lateral flexion and hindquarter disengagements. Transitions into the trot, though still sluggish and slow, were much improved. I asked for a canter and picked up both leads. And, he was showing less hesitation before making water crossings.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Day 12 - Simon
ASKING FOR THE CANTER
Simon began today's lesson with a slow, sluggish trot. I did not try to liven him up. Instead, I took him out into a new field where there were new things to see. The tall grass put more spring into his stride. Strange horses running up to the fence really caught his attention! He whinnied, but just stopped and looked, didn't try to run with them. I let him stand and watch for a little bit. Then we continued with our trot work.
I had MUCH MORE precision and control today. Direct rein turns were EXCELLENT by the end of our ride and lateral shoulder control is MUCH BETTER! Simon's backing is continuing to improve and become lighter. Transitions into trot are also so much easier. He is beginning to listen to my exhale, sit and the closing of my hands on the reins as a cue to transition down to halt from a trot. I ask him to canter and picked up both leads.
Simon began today's lesson with a slow, sluggish trot. I did not try to liven him up. Instead, I took him out into a new field where there were new things to see. The tall grass put more spring into his stride. Strange horses running up to the fence really caught his attention! He whinnied, but just stopped and looked, didn't try to run with them. I let him stand and watch for a little bit. Then we continued with our trot work.
I had MUCH MORE precision and control today. Direct rein turns were EXCELLENT by the end of our ride and lateral shoulder control is MUCH BETTER! Simon's backing is continuing to improve and become lighter. Transitions into trot are also so much easier. He is beginning to listen to my exhale, sit and the closing of my hands on the reins as a cue to transition down to halt from a trot. I ask him to canter and picked up both leads.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Day 11 - Simon
DETAILS IMPROVING
We started out our ride at a walk, but Simon volunteered a trot almost immediately, so I allowed the energy. He was quiet and steady, never trying to race or get excited. When we came around the field in front of the pond, he volunteered a canter, and I allowed that also. Again he was quiet and steady, never trying to race or get excited. At the end of the field, he slowed down on his own and I asked him to trot and started working on lateral yields, both shoulders and hindquarters. We did quite a bit of trotting, circling and weaving in and out of the cows. We also did some cantering on both leads. When I asked Simon to slow down, he came right down with me to a stop and was much lighter in his backs. Simon was less reactive to the bit today too. By the end of our ride, I was getting much more consistency and control.
We started out our ride at a walk, but Simon volunteered a trot almost immediately, so I allowed the energy. He was quiet and steady, never trying to race or get excited. When we came around the field in front of the pond, he volunteered a canter, and I allowed that also. Again he was quiet and steady, never trying to race or get excited. At the end of the field, he slowed down on his own and I asked him to trot and started working on lateral yields, both shoulders and hindquarters. We did quite a bit of trotting, circling and weaving in and out of the cows. We also did some cantering on both leads. When I asked Simon to slow down, he came right down with me to a stop and was much lighter in his backs. Simon was less reactive to the bit today too. By the end of our ride, I was getting much more consistency and control.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Day 10 - Simon
DEBBIE RODE SIMON FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY
Simon is being consistently quiet about being handled, saddled, mounted. Though he did pull back twice today at the tie rack. Both times, he didn't over react and did come forward off the pressure to stand quietly. I started out riding him with a demonstration of what I had taught him and how he was responding to my cues. Though responsive, he was a little more sensitive to the bit than I would like to see, especially at the trot and would lift his nose in the air, especially when I asked for lateral shoulder movement. Then, we went on a walk, crossing several water crossings and stepped up and down a small bank. He was relaxed and steady. At this point, I walked, and Debbie rode Simon. He seemed to be as comfortable with her as he was with me and was well behaved.
When Debbie left, I tied Simon up and let him stand awhile before taking him back out to do some trot work. At the beginning of our session, Simon continued to react to my asking for lateral movement by lifting his nose. Every time he did, I took the slack out of the reins and held soft pressure until he dropped his nose. Then I released the pressure and asked for a little more forward movement. By the end of our ride, Simon was beginning to move forward smoother without being as sensitive to the bit and beginning to be more responsive to individual rein cues and my presignals when I asked him to slow down.
Simon is being consistently quiet about being handled, saddled, mounted. Though he did pull back twice today at the tie rack. Both times, he didn't over react and did come forward off the pressure to stand quietly. I started out riding him with a demonstration of what I had taught him and how he was responding to my cues. Though responsive, he was a little more sensitive to the bit than I would like to see, especially at the trot and would lift his nose in the air, especially when I asked for lateral shoulder movement. Then, we went on a walk, crossing several water crossings and stepped up and down a small bank. He was relaxed and steady. At this point, I walked, and Debbie rode Simon. He seemed to be as comfortable with her as he was with me and was well behaved.
When Debbie left, I tied Simon up and let him stand awhile before taking him back out to do some trot work. At the beginning of our session, Simon continued to react to my asking for lateral movement by lifting his nose. Every time he did, I took the slack out of the reins and held soft pressure until he dropped his nose. Then I released the pressure and asked for a little more forward movement. By the end of our ride, Simon was beginning to move forward smoother without being as sensitive to the bit and beginning to be more responsive to individual rein cues and my presignals when I asked him to slow down.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Day 9 - Simon
MORE TROT WORK
I spent a lot of time trotting Simon this evening. I insisted on him moving quicker into a trot when asked by taking the end of the macate and tapping him on the hip, just lightly tapping. He is very sensitive and doesn't need a lot of encouragement, even when he is being lazy. I focused on trying to create a pattern that he could easily anticipate, focus forward, lift reins and inhale, take the slack out of the reins, hold slight upward pressure, squeeze with my legs and click, pick up the macate and tap him on the hip. Even though the tap did encourage movement, Simon is a little slow to anticipate and avoid the coming tap by moving into a trot when I squeezed him with my legs and click to him. We also worked on shoulder control at the walk and trot, and practiced transitions from a trot to a halt. Simon is also having difficulty reading the cues leading up the the halt.
I spent a lot of time trotting Simon this evening. I insisted on him moving quicker into a trot when asked by taking the end of the macate and tapping him on the hip, just lightly tapping. He is very sensitive and doesn't need a lot of encouragement, even when he is being lazy. I focused on trying to create a pattern that he could easily anticipate, focus forward, lift reins and inhale, take the slack out of the reins, hold slight upward pressure, squeeze with my legs and click, pick up the macate and tap him on the hip. Even though the tap did encourage movement, Simon is a little slow to anticipate and avoid the coming tap by moving into a trot when I squeezed him with my legs and click to him. We also worked on shoulder control at the walk and trot, and practiced transitions from a trot to a halt. Simon is also having difficulty reading the cues leading up the the halt.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Day 8 - Simon
TROT WORK
I mounted and dismounted Simon several times today, each time he stood quietly and wasn't bothered by my movement up or my leg over into the saddle. He was giving, following and responding to rein cues so much better today with very little reacting to the backward pressure. I focused on shoulder control, stopping and standing and transitions into a trot, which need to be quicker. I trotted him quite a bit and rode among the cows. Some of them walked towards him, and he was steady and unwavering as he walked right up to them until they turned and moved away. Simon was quite and consistant, never getting excited even if they ran. We worked on creek corssings, where he is hesitant. It took a little persistence, but he crossed without me having to dismount to help him out. Just before I finished, I asked for a canter. It was quiet and steady with no excitement or added energy.
I mounted and dismounted Simon several times today, each time he stood quietly and wasn't bothered by my movement up or my leg over into the saddle. He was giving, following and responding to rein cues so much better today with very little reacting to the backward pressure. I focused on shoulder control, stopping and standing and transitions into a trot, which need to be quicker. I trotted him quite a bit and rode among the cows. Some of them walked towards him, and he was steady and unwavering as he walked right up to them until they turned and moved away. Simon was quite and consistant, never getting excited even if they ran. We worked on creek corssings, where he is hesitant. It took a little persistence, but he crossed without me having to dismount to help him out. Just before I finished, I asked for a canter. It was quiet and steady with no excitement or added energy.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Day 7 - Simon
IMPROVING BASIC TURNS
Today's lesson was started with a groundwork warm-up in the bridle. Simon responded well to everything I asked of him, so I mounted and started riding. The last two days, I mounted from the tractor tire. Today, I mounted from the ground. Simon didn't seem to notice the difference. He was just as steady as he was yesterday, except today he was more responsive to directional cues and leg aids. His walk is relaxed, forward and confident, so much so that I didn't ask for more forward movement. I don't think he is going to have any problem with that. Instead, I focused on refining direct rein turns, teaching lateral shoulder movement and backing. Simon responds, but is a little too reactive to backward pressure from the bit. Being this is the second day that he has worn a bridle and been ridden, I am impressed with how quickly he is understanding and responding to cues. There were several places that Simon didn't want to go, so I worked on teaching him to be more responsive to forward cues. Simon seems to like being out and still isn't having problems with leaving the other horses. If his progress continues to keep up this pace, he should be doing quite a bit in a short amount of time.
Today's lesson was started with a groundwork warm-up in the bridle. Simon responded well to everything I asked of him, so I mounted and started riding. The last two days, I mounted from the tractor tire. Today, I mounted from the ground. Simon didn't seem to notice the difference. He was just as steady as he was yesterday, except today he was more responsive to directional cues and leg aids. His walk is relaxed, forward and confident, so much so that I didn't ask for more forward movement. I don't think he is going to have any problem with that. Instead, I focused on refining direct rein turns, teaching lateral shoulder movement and backing. Simon responds, but is a little too reactive to backward pressure from the bit. Being this is the second day that he has worn a bridle and been ridden, I am impressed with how quickly he is understanding and responding to cues. There were several places that Simon didn't want to go, so I worked on teaching him to be more responsive to forward cues. Simon seems to like being out and still isn't having problems with leaving the other horses. If his progress continues to keep up this pace, he should be doing quite a bit in a short amount of time.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Day 6 - Simon
IN THE SADDLE
Today, I saddled Simon and started his warm-up on the long line as usual. Everyday that I work him, he gets more responsive to cues and is more comfortable trotting and cantering. After a few minutes, I bridled him and worked him with the snaffle bit to help him recognize the basic forward, backward, left and right cues coming from pressure in his mouth. He seemed to pick up the signals quite quickly, so I mounted him and rode first in the pasture by the house. Simon acted as if he was used to someone on his back, and it wasn't long before he was walking forward for me, so I took him out in the big pasture and went for a walk. We crossed several creek crossings. Though Simon is still hesitant to move forward in places, he never made any indication that he might be thinking of bucking, spooking or trying to run away. I was very pleased with his responses.
Today, I saddled Simon and started his warm-up on the long line as usual. Everyday that I work him, he gets more responsive to cues and is more comfortable trotting and cantering. After a few minutes, I bridled him and worked him with the snaffle bit to help him recognize the basic forward, backward, left and right cues coming from pressure in his mouth. He seemed to pick up the signals quite quickly, so I mounted him and rode first in the pasture by the house. Simon acted as if he was used to someone on his back, and it wasn't long before he was walking forward for me, so I took him out in the big pasture and went for a walk. We crossed several creek crossings. Though Simon is still hesitant to move forward in places, he never made any indication that he might be thinking of bucking, spooking or trying to run away. I was very pleased with his responses.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Day 5 - Simon
SADDLE AND MOUNTING
Today, I pretty much followed the same groundwork routine of the last lesson, only I saddled Simon this time. I would have started working him in the bridle, but he started out just a little to resistant in the face, and I didn't want to be pulling on his mouth. Consequently, I kept Simon in the halter and worked on lightening his responses. The cows were out in full force, but Simon wasn't concerned with them at all. He acted like he was raised with them and confidently walked right through the middle of them. The water crossings were not a problem either. There was no jumping or rushing, and he navigated all but two perfectly, and then we moved on. The other two he did well on. I just made him repeatly them to get it perfect. I asked him to do more circling and cantered him quite a bit, so he got a good workout. Most of the lesson, Simon was responding lightly and calmly to my cues. Just before I unsaddled him, I mounted and dismounted him briefly three times. Simon didn't seem to be bothered by it. Next lesson, I should be able to start working him in the bridle and transferring the basic cues to the snaffle bit.
Today, I pretty much followed the same groundwork routine of the last lesson, only I saddled Simon this time. I would have started working him in the bridle, but he started out just a little to resistant in the face, and I didn't want to be pulling on his mouth. Consequently, I kept Simon in the halter and worked on lightening his responses. The cows were out in full force, but Simon wasn't concerned with them at all. He acted like he was raised with them and confidently walked right through the middle of them. The water crossings were not a problem either. There was no jumping or rushing, and he navigated all but two perfectly, and then we moved on. The other two he did well on. I just made him repeatly them to get it perfect. I asked him to do more circling and cantered him quite a bit, so he got a good workout. Most of the lesson, Simon was responding lightly and calmly to my cues. Just before I unsaddled him, I mounted and dismounted him briefly three times. Simon didn't seem to be bothered by it. Next lesson, I should be able to start working him in the bridle and transferring the basic cues to the snaffle bit.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Day 4 - Simon
INTRODUCTION TO TRAINING GROUNDS
I took Simon out for a walk today to evaluate how he responded to the environment and to being away from the other horses. He wasn't particularly spooky and didn't seem to be bothered that he was out by himself. Water and mud weren't his favorite obstacles. I spent some time getting him to walk quietly through them, as his first instincts were to leap across. It was the same with gullies. I focused mostly on reviewing basic cues and reminding Simon to stay out of my space while navigating an obstacle and committing to the direction he was sent. My only regret was that there were no cows out this evening, so I was not able to assess his reaction to them. I will need to do that before I can ride him out back.
I took Simon out for a walk today to evaluate how he responded to the environment and to being away from the other horses. He wasn't particularly spooky and didn't seem to be bothered that he was out by himself. Water and mud weren't his favorite obstacles. I spent some time getting him to walk quietly through them, as his first instincts were to leap across. It was the same with gullies. I focused mostly on reviewing basic cues and reminding Simon to stay out of my space while navigating an obstacle and committing to the direction he was sent. My only regret was that there were no cows out this evening, so I was not able to assess his reaction to them. I will need to do that before I can ride him out back.
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