Follow up to online video lesson

Isn't that a nice thought for 2013 and beyond :)

There are days where I can't believe how lucky lucky lucky lucky I am to still have Lazarus and to have him healthy and happy

To even have the able thought of "Oh I need our trainer to help us with this riding issue" is a BLESSING. 

I have a horse. 

My horse. 

To ride, love and play with.

Lucky. 

I. am. lucky.

We.are.lucky.

I will get into our 2013 Goals and accomplishments from 2012, but that is for a different post.

Look at my 'fresh' boy. 

I know, I know, his fresh behavior is like a skipping leaf down a pebbled road

None the less, here are some stills of what I'm working with.

 Tonight I had my online video lesson and review with Meggie and it's SO awesome to have a positive person wanting to help AND having great thoughts/insight and answers.

We chatted about what I thought and what she thought, which happened to be along the same line. After watching the videos and after a couple days to digest I realized a lot before we even spoke.  This tool alone just made me think more and gave me the time to dissect a few things and prepare questions

I thought at first, this head snaking thing (let's just call it his cobra move) was defiant and excitement. While I'm sure there is some of that there, it's also a way of him telling me "I don't think you are being my herd leader." or "I don't want to listen to your request, this is MY idea" or "I'm frustrated with this request"

Meggie suggested the following:

I need to have more of a clear plan of riding, offering patterns, and transitions to help mentally focus Laz and give him security to build on his confidence and when I do ask for a faster gait; suggest it, then ask for it, then tell, then promise. I can't let him evade the forward movement, which I knew, but I just wanted to make SURE and to know how to do this without force. 

It's a matter of FOR the horse vs TO the horse type of riding and helping him find out what the answer is to my question/asking.

I LOVE this type of thinking/riding/connection. It's not for everyone, but it makes me feel confident and happy.  She wants me to build on offer my leadership to our herd of 2 (3 with Mason) so Laz feels more confident and doesn't basically try to take over and then feels overwhelmed himself.  By giving him tasks and playing into my mental focus on what, this should help us both. 

DUH right?! But so easy to forget for me!!!

Use patterns (circles, serpentine, bull's eye, figure 8's, etc) until Laz feels soft and relaxed. Listen for his breathing, exhaling a soft exhale vs his loud quick snorts and then reward and build on to that, or end the session. 

I know this sounds so elementary but when you ride alone, you forget little things like this and it's a great tool for reminding and refocusing.

Maintain loose rein, with contact once a good mental state and level gait is established.  Keep cantering until I can get a better canter, even one stride, then bend him and stop/praise.

I look forward to trying this all out, as I am a softie rider, and Laz needs me to be a better planner/guide/leader/active rider instead of a passenger

This fuzzy boy is like 90% perfect so if we need this last 10% to get to our next step of learning to canter again, happy and balanced-then great. We have some tools in our box to try out. I'm just so thankful he isn't determined to really buck or tap into a fire breathing dragon sort of hissy fit.

 Enjoying our powder

 Bare tootsies in the snow

Eager and happy ears. 

That is satisfying.

If you find yourself stuck in a grocery line waiting and want to see one of our several video clips that I had for my Parelli trainer, take a lookie loo

Warning; borrrring for you, but pure happiness for me :

One of many video..go ahead, subscribe and join in on the fun of our channel ;)