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.

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%.

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.

Al and Max

Al and Roan Horse

Jade working the flag

I think this is Raisin

Cody working the flag

Al working the flag

Carol and I got a ride back to the ranch and I got ready to go.  The flight back was uneventful except that I had to spend the night at the airport as I had to be there at 4 am and I wasn't going to make anyone drive me at 3 am.  I flew to Los Angeles, then Vancouver, Campbell River and Comox, arriving at 4 pm. A long day.

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.

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.

Taz

 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.

Bridle Change on Taz

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.

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.

This is the Palo Verde tree in bloom

And see they do have mountains

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.

Tomorrow the team is going to a cutting show. Carol and I are going too so it`s an early night tonight.  I`ll leave you with a couple of more pictures from Greasewood Flats.

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. 

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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

Arizona Day 1

Woke up at 6am to dogs and coyotes.  Beautiful sunny day but a little chilly in my room. Got up at 7am and had breakfast with Carole, my roomy for the week.  She's been here since January from Colorado. This is the bunk house we're staying in.

Living Room

My Messy Room

Kitchen

 There are 2 other bedrooms a bathroom and laundry facilities.

The porch out back is a wonderful place for breakfast and watching the sun come up over the large cow working round pen.  Okay it was already up by the time I went out there but it sure was pretty.

Morning

Evening

I went for a walk and shot a few more pictures.  Al got in late last night from Ohio and usually gets Monday off so I was on my own for a bit.

I watched and met some of the people and tried to remember names.  Charlie rode first, he's a friend of Al's and a photographer.  The cactus are amazing and how many people can say they have one in their riding arena.  That's one pylon you won't be running over.  The footing is really nice.  Firm base with about 1 1/2" of loose stuff on top after it was worked up.

At the same time Louis was tying out horses to be worked throughout the day and to learn patience as well. The tie poles are like tether ball poles and the horses can move around them if they're fussy.  All but one had a cement pad where the front feet would reach possibly to eliminate ground wear from pawing.  For those that have met him, doesn't that look like my Papa horse?

Next Jade and Cody went to get the cows for the days work.  The focus here these days is mostly on cutting but there's always help for working cow horse and reining people too.  Everyone here is so polite and helpful.  It's a great atmosphere to learn in and very comfortable.

While Jade rode in the cutting pen I got to warm up Raisin and T-Bone.  No pictures of course but will get some before we're done.  It was interesting finding the stiff spots and resistances and applying the corrections and feeling the horses respond.  I could especially feel the lift of not only the shoulders but the whole back of Raisin on lope transitions.  I was able to feel when she wasn't elevated and fix it till she stayed there herself.
I did a lot of suppling until she felt more even.  I also worked on the trot, circle, back, exercise which I have a little trouble with at home as my horse tries to make the circle smaller.  I figured out a couple of things and am looking forward to trying it again with Boomer.

T-Bone was a lot lazier and stiffer.  He really made me work on Go Now. His back up was crappy too, for me, so after loping a bunch to warm his muscles I worked him on the trot, circle, back, exercise as well which really lightened up his back up. I found him stiff through the back so I worked a little on counter bending to get shoulder control, which was pretty easy using the triangle rein position then started working on haunches in while keeping the shoulders out of the way. The right side was a little hard to get but the left was difficult. He was getting it in the end so I was happy.

It was Dillon's final day here so we broke for lunch about 1:00 and went out.  Can't remember the name of the place but it had a lot of choices and a lot of stuff I could actually eat.  It was excellent.

After lunch I got to ride one more horse.  He was Al's horse Max and he can do anything. I repeat, HE can do anything, we, that's a different matter.  I had a lesson on him and I hope I get to ride him again tomorrow cause he's going to teach me a lot.  Be softer, rhythm, go into corrections slower, ask with less, relax, loosen the legs, loosen the arms. I'M SORRY MAX.  After our lesson I got to ride in the desert with Jade and Cody. Incredible scenery, didn't have the camera but went back out later and took some pictures.

The Palo Verde tree is the state tree of Arizona. It has a green trunk and green branches, and blooms with bright yellow flowers but not in bloom right now.

The Saquaro gets it's first side arm at about 75 years old and new ones every 10 years or so.

Arrived at Almosta Ranch, Arizona

Well I'm sitting here in bed at Almosta Ranch, Scottsdale Arizona. Left home at 9 pm last  night to drive to Comox airport.  I didn't want to leave this morning and risk missing my plane.  I went to sleep in the car at 10:30 pm and set my alarm to get up at 4:15 am to be in the airport for 4:30, 2 hours before my flight as instructed.  Hey guys, your airport doesn't even open till 5 am.  So I go in and nobody is working yet.  I went to the thing that looks like an ATM to print my boarding passes. I still had to go to a clerk for the baggage tag.  Next I wait for the coffee shop to open.   I don't drink coffee but want a bottle of water to mix my anti-anxiety herbal tinctures in to (I don't fly well). Turns out she opens in the secured area first so I go through the security check with my laptop, camera, passport, little glass vials of herbal tinctures (please don't make me throw them out). No problems. Finally I get my water and wait to board the plane, a 737.  I prebooked a seat just behind the wing (least turbulence) and by the window.  I add my herbs to my water and drink half of them, I'll sip the rest as we fly.  I stow my bag and start working on my crossword puzzles.

As the plane takes off I have to close my eyes and lean back in the seat, anything else feels worse.  When we got to the Rockies there were breaks in the clouds.  Lots of snow and rocks and looking out the window felt better.  Looking down the aisle briefly wasn't as claustrophobic as last time I flew but I had an aisle seat then and no herbs.  The landing was okay, didn't like it but it was okay, just a little ear pain.

Arrived Calgary 9:30 to depart to Phoenix at 10:30.  I go through the airport, for about 15 minutes and no I wasn't lost.  Another trip through security, this time for US customs, no problem. Another long hike and I find the gate, it's getting close to 10:00 already. I proceed to the gate to find out they moved to another gate.  I find that gate and am handed a $10 lunch voucher, apparently there's a 2 hour delay.  Now I get to hike all the way back to security and the same distance again the other way to find the food court.  A bar, a hamburger joint and a Tim Horton's.  But wait, behind that glass there's juice and wraps and salads and for some reason only people travelling somewhere else that have gone through some other security point can get in there.  What a pain.  I end up with a salad, 2 nut and seed bars and a juice from the bar.  At 10:00 am BC and Arizona time I phone Al Dunning to tell him my flight has been delayed and is arriving at 3pm.  No answer.  I connect to the internet and retreive my mail but can't send any.  At 12:00 I hike back to find they've changed gates again.  It occurs to me the herbs are really working well.

Once again I board a 737, same seat but this one's not quite as far back relative to the wing and I can't see out nearly as well.  Take off was better.  I leaned back in my seat before we accelerated and took off.  Another bottle with herbs and it's a reasonably enjoyable flight.  Clouds a lot of the way but I got to see the Grand Canyon area and part of Utah and Arizona.  The landing was painful but it was nice and sunny.   Of course it's only 2:00 pm because they meant we'd land at 3:00 pm Alberta time.

Now I'm supposed to meet my ride, where?  Thank goodness for internet.  I open my emails and find it's the North side.  Now I don't know if they got my message or not so I wait out there from 2:30 to 4:30 just in case.  I keep trying the number but still no answer.  By about 5:30 I'm thinking maybe I should rent a car to drive out before it gets dark.  I follow the signs and discover I have to take a shuttle to the car rental place. It's about 15 minutes away.  I inquire about a car and find out that for one day it will be about $100 with insurance.   You've got to be kidding.  There's a bit of a discount if  I take it all week but not much.  The nice man tells me that the Super Shuttle back at the airport will probably take me where I want to go for under $50, so back on the bus to terminal 4.  It takes me a few minutes to realize the bus has dropped me on a different level, find the elevators and find the shuttle.  Yes they will drive me, not only that but the nice man even stopped at a grocery store for me on the way.  Then the guy in the Safeway store used his points card to save me $15 off my groceries so I gave the shuttle driver a $10 tip.

So I arrived here at about 8:00 pm.  Got to see some of Phoenix and Scottsdale on the way. Lots of Cactus landscaping and Adobe.  It's dark now and I don't know much except this should have been a very stressful day and I feel like it was an ordinary day.  Can you say tincture of oats, passionflower and lemon balm for anxiety along with St Johns Wort and Kava for muscle spasms.

Stay tuned for pictures and updates.