About this Blog

Meet my very 1st horse, Lazarus.
I couldn't wait for Santa anymore or ask one more time for a pony for my bday (after age 30 it got embarrassing). I took matters in my own hands and I finally decided to pick a pony that needed a new home. Laz found me as I contemplated with this idea. He was sweet yet very sassy, fresh off the track, Thoroughbred (OTTB).
Join us for our re-training, rehabbing from laminitis and testing all parts of mixed up horsemanship and partnership, and luck...

Thursday, January 3, 2013

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 ;)


14 comments:

  1. I am really glad you two are doing so well and that you are heading somewhere. :)

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  2. I am glad you were able to get some insight to the situation. Take my advice for what it is worth(which is not much ;) but it looks to me like it is a defiance move. Not agressively defiant. More of a way to get out of work/listening tactic. It was almost like he anticipated getting to walk as soon as he started his 'move'at one point. Also curious if this just started in the snow or did it start before the snow showed up?

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    1. Amy, YES, I think he's trained me quite well to listen to him over my original intention. Hmmmm ;)
      He has done this for a while, the snow isn't the issue.

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  3. First off, OMG how flipping cute is Masie walking around with his bone (is it a bone? Or toy?)!?!? Adorbs!
    Second, LOVE hearing some good Midwestern accents. Makes me feel all nostalgic and homey. :-) Down here everyone has a Hispanic/Miami accent, so hearing a Chi-town accent is a rare treat, lol.
    And it does look like Laz is being ever so slightly fresh/naughty and then you reward that by letting him walk and take a break. Totally not judging b/c I know it's way easier to say that watching it on the computer vs actually riding it. Just my two cents. You guys look great and I'm so happy for you that Laz is feeling so well!

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    1. Mason, my angel boy!!! It's a toy. A true lab and his security blanket being of carrying something in his mouth.
      Funny you said that about the accent, I HATE hearing myself on video..can I pronounce the "S" any "SSSSier?" ugh
      Yes, on the reward of a walk...I feel like I knew it but wasn't 100% sure. Video helped see that what he was doing wasn't as it felt. Riding it I thought he was like Lucifer, lol, and now I think I'll know it's silliness and to push him forward for a nice balanced stride and reward with a walk, when we achieve that. Naughty boy! ;)
      My other concern was it was lameness, but I reallllly don't think so...

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  4. It is amazing at how video taping yourself make such a difference. Changed my whole world!!!

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    1. HUGE difference. I was laughing at how dramatic it felt vs reality on tape.

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  5. Sweet! Keep us posted on how it goes:) Have fun! Love us! xoxox

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  6. That is great the online coach is helping you two sort through your issues. Keep at it, you will get there!

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