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Tuesday, August 18, 2020
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Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Time Fly's
Wow I didn't realize so much time had passed already. I've been working hard on Boomer, Partner and Papa in addition to all my regular customers which has made for some long days.
As a Team AD protege I send weekly video clips to Al Dunning to be critiqued which is really helpful. The first helpful thing is that I have to edit 20-60 minutes of footage down to one or two minutes I want to send so I get to watch myself like I'm coaching and see what things I already know how to improve and make sure I work on them. Then I get Al's take on the video I sent which confirms what I need to work on and points out things I may not have noticed.
My horses are making improvements daily from various reasons.
Firstly they are getting consistent work. It's hard to expect improvement with hit and miss training, especially as I need to use them for the odd lesson still. I make sure that I ride them 5 times a week and definitely for at least 15 minutes after a student has been on them.
Second, they are getting fitter so they are able to do the job I'm asking of them. A horse has to be both physically fit and mentally fit. If a horse isn't physically fit his body can't handle the stress of reining training and yet you can have a horse who's physically fit from trail riding in the mountains all day every day and still have trouble because he's not mentally fit. Just like a person, a horse has to be ready to go to school and this takes time.
Third we are getting regular coaching both from Tom and Al. At the very least a person should be video taped to assess their position. A horse can not perform correctly if you're not in the right place doing the right thing. You may be able to assess yourself or you may need a coach or friend to help you.
Fourth, I also make sure to ride them for the right length of time. I can't tell you how long that is, sometimes it's only 15 minutes. It depends on the horse, the lesson, the day... Yesterday I rode Boomer in the field working on loping in an open area. First we had to work on steering at the trot, one handed. Then we worked on loping but then I discovered that we needed to work on rating the speed as he increased going towards the barn. Rather than pull on him I used his body to convince his mind that waiting for me was in his best interest. I loped circles at the far end of the field, not asking him to go or to slow, just relaxing, breathing out and waiting for him to come down to a trot. When he did we went towards the barn but as soon as he sped up I guided him away from the barn, put him in a lope and went back to the far end of the field and loped circles till he slowed himself down again. Altogether it was 1 1/2 hours for him to figure it out and come to the barn, turn away in trot and come at it again, with no speed increase. He wasn't exhausted, when I turned him away to lope he was quite willing and could have done another 1/2 hour, but it would not be in his best interest. The lesson was, wait for me, he did, we're done. I dismounted and led him back to the barn.
As a Team AD protege I send weekly video clips to Al Dunning to be critiqued which is really helpful. The first helpful thing is that I have to edit 20-60 minutes of footage down to one or two minutes I want to send so I get to watch myself like I'm coaching and see what things I already know how to improve and make sure I work on them. Then I get Al's take on the video I sent which confirms what I need to work on and points out things I may not have noticed.
My horses are making improvements daily from various reasons.
Firstly they are getting consistent work. It's hard to expect improvement with hit and miss training, especially as I need to use them for the odd lesson still. I make sure that I ride them 5 times a week and definitely for at least 15 minutes after a student has been on them.
Second, they are getting fitter so they are able to do the job I'm asking of them. A horse has to be both physically fit and mentally fit. If a horse isn't physically fit his body can't handle the stress of reining training and yet you can have a horse who's physically fit from trail riding in the mountains all day every day and still have trouble because he's not mentally fit. Just like a person, a horse has to be ready to go to school and this takes time.
Third we are getting regular coaching both from Tom and Al. At the very least a person should be video taped to assess their position. A horse can not perform correctly if you're not in the right place doing the right thing. You may be able to assess yourself or you may need a coach or friend to help you.
Fourth, I also make sure to ride them for the right length of time. I can't tell you how long that is, sometimes it's only 15 minutes. It depends on the horse, the lesson, the day... Yesterday I rode Boomer in the field working on loping in an open area. First we had to work on steering at the trot, one handed. Then we worked on loping but then I discovered that we needed to work on rating the speed as he increased going towards the barn. Rather than pull on him I used his body to convince his mind that waiting for me was in his best interest. I loped circles at the far end of the field, not asking him to go or to slow, just relaxing, breathing out and waiting for him to come down to a trot. When he did we went towards the barn but as soon as he sped up I guided him away from the barn, put him in a lope and went back to the far end of the field and loped circles till he slowed himself down again. Altogether it was 1 1/2 hours for him to figure it out and come to the barn, turn away in trot and come at it again, with no speed increase. He wasn't exhausted, when I turned him away to lope he was quite willing and could have done another 1/2 hour, but it would not be in his best interest. The lesson was, wait for me, he did, we're done. I dismounted and led him back to the barn.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Partner's Progress
While Boomer dried off I rode Partner. He of course had lost one of his 2 new front shoes but felt okay so I just worked him easy. He has been packing students and carrying his neck a little high and his nose stuck out so I worked on having him drop it down and get more vertical, while staying light at the trot. I ended up riding a lot of circles and counter bending to make my point. He was really good on the counter bending from the outside rein but got sticky on the give the hip on the same side as you're bent. I worked on lightening him up on the legs both ways which really helped his head carriage. I didn't ask him to move his haunches in as he needed to be lighter first. Hopefully they will both get their sliders tomorrow.
Boomer Gets A Rude Awakening
Well it wasn't that rude but definitely a surprise. I worked Boomer on lightness alternating between follow your nose, get off the inside rein, counterbend, get off the outside rein, give the hip out, get off my inside leg, give the hip in, get off my outside leg, don't drop the shoulder in when the hip's in, do stay up in the bridle, do stay off my hand, now canter, don't push through my hand, now canter, don't push in to my leg, do keep your shoulder out of the way, do canter off straight. It took a lot of fixing in the beginning but got better as I made the corrections firmly and then asked again softly.
Next I asked him to keep his shoulders up when he cantered while staying soft in the neck and giving his face while still cantering. In the beginning he'd only hold it for a stride but as we practiced he gave sooner and lasted longer.
I finished up with work on his turn arounds. Do give your head, do turn off a light rein, do not flip your butt out, do move haunches in, do turn off outside leg while I lower my hand, do not go forward out of the turn, if you need to move do haunches in then try the turn again. All the corrections were technically more difficult than just doing the turn around. He figured out he needed to hold himself in position and then it was easy.
Al Dunning says make 1% improvement and after 100 days you have 100% improvement. We definitely made more than 1%.
Next I asked him to keep his shoulders up when he cantered while staying soft in the neck and giving his face while still cantering. In the beginning he'd only hold it for a stride but as we practiced he gave sooner and lasted longer.
I finished up with work on his turn arounds. Do give your head, do turn off a light rein, do not flip your butt out, do move haunches in, do turn off outside leg while I lower my hand, do not go forward out of the turn, if you need to move do haunches in then try the turn again. All the corrections were technically more difficult than just doing the turn around. He figured out he needed to hold himself in position and then it was easy.
Al Dunning says make 1% improvement and after 100 days you have 100% improvement. We definitely made more than 1%.
Arizona Day 5 - Thank-you and goodbye for now.
Well up at 5:15 am today. Jade and Cody left last night for the Queen's Creek cutting and Carol and I went today with Al. Got to see more of the country. Got to warm up Max for Al for a turnback horse and got to ride one other, a bay. It was the warmest day yet.
This is Al on Max, I was sure he was going to do some graffiti but apparently he was painting the back fence markers for the cutting.
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| Al and Max |
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| Al and Roan Horse |
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| Jade working the flag |
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| I think this is Raisin |
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| Cody working the flag |
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| Al working the flag |
Despite the flights each way it was an amazing week. I learned so much from Al, Jade and Cody. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. I can't begin to put in to words how much I appreciated this opportunity. I would recommend every one look in to the team ad protege experience and Al Dunning's on-line trade school for the western horseman, http://www.teamadinternational.com and at the very least sign up to view the video clips on the site to further your knowledge. I like that I can send videos and get suggestions and when you get to ride with Al and the team it just solidifies and backs up everything he's been saying. There's no other program like it.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Arizona Day 4
Watched some riding and cow work this morning and then got Taz ready and warmed him up for Al for cutting. Did some trotting and loping, mostly working on loosing up my self. My lower back has been great but my collar bone area's still bothering me when I trot. Each ride feels better than the last. The horses are getting used to me and I'm getting used to the style they're used to. I kinda lost track of what horses I did today. I got to sit on one in the cutting pen, move the occasional cow and open and shut gates, I think it was Raisin.
I got to ride Lucky again today and he was a lot more supple to the left. I worked on some straight lope departures and sidepassing at the canter, then straight, then stay on the same circle, occasionally I asked for a lead change, they were good and he stayed slow and elevated. Some times I changed to a new circle and sometimes counter cantered.
During my lesson we worked on rundowns and stops. You have to stay relaxed, remember to keep pushing, keep the front end up, ride and then stop riding. Sure it sounds simple. It takes a lot to get used to the speed and trust that the horse will stop.
So when I was taking Taz to Al I slipped going down the bank and landed on my butt in the dirt. Al laughed and said where`s that camera now. I said "She can ride, but she can`t walk". He laughed even harder.
On the way back we stopped at this cute little place called Greasewood Flats for a hamburger and a beer. I swear Carol ordered a Red Bear which turned out to be beer and tomato juice. Luckily I just said I'll have the same. It was actually called Red Beer and I`d of looked kinda funny ordering a Red Bear. Darn accents.
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| Taz |
During my lesson we worked on rundowns and stops. You have to stay relaxed, remember to keep pushing, keep the front end up, ride and then stop riding. Sure it sounds simple. It takes a lot to get used to the speed and trust that the horse will stop.
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| Bridle Change on Taz |
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| Al Dunning and I. TS Pictures by Tabitha Smith |
This evening Carol and I took Tabitha to the airport. I got to see how I got here while it was still daylight.
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| This is the Palo Verde tree in bloom |
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| And see they do have mountains |
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Arizona Day 3
Early in the morning while horses are being saddled the rings are worked up for consistent footing. The last 2 mornings I was out there waiting for the horse stuff to start. Today I went out a little later and wouldn't you know it, they started earlier. You snooze you loose. Actually I was on the computer.
There are 3 grooming stalls conveniently located next to the large tack room, with a wash rack beside for rinsing them when you're done. Today I got Taz ready and warmed up for Al to use in the cutting pen. That was hours ago. I can't remember now what we worked on except that it was stuff we learned yesterday and I was concentrating on riding one handed. If I can get it one handed I definitely can do it two handed.
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| Taz |
Next I rode Raisin to warm her up for Jade. Raisin and I are getting along well. Today she did some awesome spins after I got my leg out of her way like Jade showed me. She went faster than Dustin did yesterday, fastest I've ever gone and with her nose just about on the ground. Our lope departures were a lot straighter too.
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| Raisin |
I saddled T-Bone but didn't ride him as Jade was ready for him so Al sent me for his horse Lucky. What an incredible horse. Apparently he can get a little strong and be a little more difficult to ride but we hit it off well. I practised more one handed with lots of direction changes and loping off straight and spinning, fastest yet and stops right when you ask him to. I also visited a little as we were waiting for Al and I was getting a little tired as it was past lunch and I had been on horses since breakfast. Three of us had a lesson together which was great because as he worked with one person you could practise a bit too and be ready for your turn. We did some body control exercises to prepare the horse for lope departures and lead changes. When it was my turn Al told me to lope a big slow circle, if I could, not one of Lucky's best moves, slow that is. I did what I had seen the others learn, which involved collecting by lifting and holding, not pulling back, while driving forward. So cool, it worked, look out Boomer here I come. Then we worked the lead change drill with the sidepass in to the previous circle and lope off straight. Looking good so far. Then flying changes on the diagonal so there was a longer straight stretch. The first 2 he made the change but got a little exuberant with the hind end so we pulled him around a little, pushing him off the leg he objected to and then tried one more time with more inside leg release, less outside leg. Awesome change. Al said, you have no idea how good you did today. Yay! I guess you could say, I got lucky.
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| Lucky |
In the afternoon I rode Dustin with Jade working on stops. He challenged me a couple of times sticking his ribs out or leaning and I corrected him the way Jade told me yesterday and he stayed way straighter. Even though you need speed increasing, if I just let him increase speed and asked for the stop he bounced me in the saddle but if I applied what I had learned earlier about lifting the front end and driving the rear up to control his speed, create more impulsion, we had a great stop.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Arizona Day 2 Evening
This evening I had a lesson with Jade and rode Dustin. I rode by myself for about 1/2 hour and worked out the "yes you do have to go." Then I practiced my lope departures. I'm figuring out how to keep him framed and keep his shoulders out of the way but let him go forward. He was really good at haunches in. Jade asked what I had come down to learn and I said I would like to feel faster spins and flying lead changes before I went home but needed to work on rein handling the way they do.
We started out with working on turn arounds, how to start them, speed them up, get the forward feel. Cool. Next we worked on flying lead changes, bridling up but keeping the forward and not laying against my leg. i learned a better way to correct when the horse takes charge. We did some run downs, working on straightness and then some sliding stops. The last one was about 5 feet and when he stepped back he was right in the middle, nice and straight. Then Jade showed me some beginning lead changes on the youngster he was riding and using the corner drill to get a horse forward and off your leg. Looking forward to riding my horses, have all sorts of new ideas for them.
We started out with working on turn arounds, how to start them, speed them up, get the forward feel. Cool. Next we worked on flying lead changes, bridling up but keeping the forward and not laying against my leg. i learned a better way to correct when the horse takes charge. We did some run downs, working on straightness and then some sliding stops. The last one was about 5 feet and when he stepped back he was right in the middle, nice and straight. Then Jade showed me some beginning lead changes on the youngster he was riding and using the corner drill to get a horse forward and off your leg. Looking forward to riding my horses, have all sorts of new ideas for them.
Arizona Day 2 Morning
I was surprised to wake up sore down the back from my neck to my legs. I`m not used to doing this much canter work and keeping my legs loose and bumping and my arms loose and in time with the horse. Who knew relaxing could be such hard work. I was outside at 8 and there`s lots of activity with chores, everyone getting saddled, horses on the hot walker or tied to poles but no riding till about 9.
The Priefert horse walker is not just for cooling out. It is programmable for speed, direction and length of time. The one here holds 6 horses and they are loose not tied. They are separated by panels which can be electrified, like electric fence, if a horse doesn`t respect them. The ground had rubber mats for shock absorption with a little wood shavings on it for absorbing dampness. I watched the horses go around for awhile and noticed with interest that 4 of the 6 were suppling and stretching themselves after a night of standing in the barn. They would bend and twist their neck first one way, then the other, then stretch and blow while trotting around, an option that would have been limited if they had been tied in the traditional manner of hot walkers.
I got to ride Raisin again today to warm her up for Jade. I tried to remember the things Al had told me yesterday afternoon (afternoon is not my alertest time of the day). The first thing I discovered as I put her in to the trot was my front from neck to belly button was way more sore than my back. I had no indication till then. So it`s keep trotting and breath through the pain and don`t lean forward and keep everything loose ( my students are all laughing right now aren`t you). I worked on loping her, she was really quick and I don`t know how much was her being fresh, how much was me leaning forward and also it was a different pen, closer to the cutting area. I worked on collecting while remembering to ask lightly with a lift of the reins like a finished horse and then smoothly transitioning to the triangle of inside rein up and outside rein open and back and slowly releasing to maintain what I had gained. It took awhile. I could feel her lift her shoulders and then lose them again.
Next I rode Wilma. I was going to get to work the flag on her (which is like following a fake cow) and have a lesson with Cody on rein management. In the warm up I worked on loping. The first lope to the left wasn`t very good so I tried to work on counter bending shoulders and haunches in, the next one each way was better. I`m working on loping off straight or even having the shoulders go to the outside but not using so much rein that you get in the horses way of going forward. Basically it`s asking the horse to lead the lope with his hind end. I also worked on stop, back up, roll over your hocks and give me your shoulders. All parts of body control I knew I`d need for the flag work.
Flag work gave me an opportunity to put correct rein handling techniques to use in a real life situation. One direction we were really good, the other way not so good. She didn`t want to back straight and would bulge her left shoulder to the flag when backing. I had to fight muscle memory and habit and make my self concentrate on lifting the inside shoulder and using my inside leg to move her shoulder away from the flag while backing with my outside rein. Her inside bend was causing her hips to move out and I had to remember to move her shoulders off the flag instead of pushing her hips to the flag.
After the flag work I walked her to cool out and worked on riding one handed (properly), lifting to fix her, going smoothly to two reins as needed and back again. I could get her to follow the reins down with 2 hands better than with one.
Next I did a short ride on Irene, there again trying to be as light as she needed me to be. I knew her right lead could be difficult so I was again working on shoulders out, haunches in. I had a really hard time in the beginning keeping the forward motion. It`s a matter of using the reins in rhythm with the horse without blocking them. We did good with the left lead and I only missed the right lead once but I couldn`t get her to maintain on the right. Probably so glad to get it I stopped riding. I was also realizing how tired I was and decided to go have lunch.
The Priefert horse walker is not just for cooling out. It is programmable for speed, direction and length of time. The one here holds 6 horses and they are loose not tied. They are separated by panels which can be electrified, like electric fence, if a horse doesn`t respect them. The ground had rubber mats for shock absorption with a little wood shavings on it for absorbing dampness. I watched the horses go around for awhile and noticed with interest that 4 of the 6 were suppling and stretching themselves after a night of standing in the barn. They would bend and twist their neck first one way, then the other, then stretch and blow while trotting around, an option that would have been limited if they had been tied in the traditional manner of hot walkers.
I got to ride Raisin again today to warm her up for Jade. I tried to remember the things Al had told me yesterday afternoon (afternoon is not my alertest time of the day). The first thing I discovered as I put her in to the trot was my front from neck to belly button was way more sore than my back. I had no indication till then. So it`s keep trotting and breath through the pain and don`t lean forward and keep everything loose ( my students are all laughing right now aren`t you). I worked on loping her, she was really quick and I don`t know how much was her being fresh, how much was me leaning forward and also it was a different pen, closer to the cutting area. I worked on collecting while remembering to ask lightly with a lift of the reins like a finished horse and then smoothly transitioning to the triangle of inside rein up and outside rein open and back and slowly releasing to maintain what I had gained. It took awhile. I could feel her lift her shoulders and then lose them again.
Next I rode Wilma. I was going to get to work the flag on her (which is like following a fake cow) and have a lesson with Cody on rein management. In the warm up I worked on loping. The first lope to the left wasn`t very good so I tried to work on counter bending shoulders and haunches in, the next one each way was better. I`m working on loping off straight or even having the shoulders go to the outside but not using so much rein that you get in the horses way of going forward. Basically it`s asking the horse to lead the lope with his hind end. I also worked on stop, back up, roll over your hocks and give me your shoulders. All parts of body control I knew I`d need for the flag work.
Flag work gave me an opportunity to put correct rein handling techniques to use in a real life situation. One direction we were really good, the other way not so good. She didn`t want to back straight and would bulge her left shoulder to the flag when backing. I had to fight muscle memory and habit and make my self concentrate on lifting the inside shoulder and using my inside leg to move her shoulder away from the flag while backing with my outside rein. Her inside bend was causing her hips to move out and I had to remember to move her shoulders off the flag instead of pushing her hips to the flag.
After the flag work I walked her to cool out and worked on riding one handed (properly), lifting to fix her, going smoothly to two reins as needed and back again. I could get her to follow the reins down with 2 hands better than with one.
Next I did a short ride on Irene, there again trying to be as light as she needed me to be. I knew her right lead could be difficult so I was again working on shoulders out, haunches in. I had a really hard time in the beginning keeping the forward motion. It`s a matter of using the reins in rhythm with the horse without blocking them. We did good with the left lead and I only missed the right lead once but I couldn`t get her to maintain on the right. Probably so glad to get it I stopped riding. I was also realizing how tired I was and decided to go have lunch.
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