Our lesson on Tuesday was awesome, as usual!
Satin seemed to really get a lot out of this session as her tongue and mouth wouldn't stop moving! She was processing information like a butter churn.
We started by sending her to objects to touch-it. She showed much more engagement and curiosity than our last lesson. Karen immediately noticed the difference. Satin even looked for things to touch and was asking questions! YES! I had her mind here and there - how exciting!
My disengagement still needed work so Karen taught me a variation of the falling leaf pattern. I drive from zone 3 (which we are SO much better at now!), my friendly hand (the one closer to Satin) has the CS while my other hand holds the rope. I choose a moment and turn my body back towards her hind end and ask for disengagement. She swivels and looks, I back up and draw, then I am in the perfect position to drive her nose the other way. This made a lot of sense to both me and Satin.
There were times during the lesson when we had to solve a puzzle. Satin didn't understand that I wanted her to touch the small cone. I had to figure out how to send her to the cone without moving my feet. What a challenge mentally and emotionally.
Now we will focus on this falling leaf pattern and solving puzzles with touch-it.
This is so much fun!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Between lessons
Over the weekend I played with Satin every chance I got. I started to bring her in from the pasture in the mornings before feeding so that I could work with her. We are really focused on hindquarter disengagement (because she has a tendency to "check out") and driving from zone 3, sending, and touch-it.
I felt as though I was being "loud" in my suggestions because she reacts instead of responds. The issue? She doesn't understand my neutral. She clearly does not realize that when I am in neutral, she is good right where she is, whether it be standing still, walking, etc. I need to become clearer in my body.
And when I send & allow, she needs to know the difference in my body between walk and trot. I really need to be aware of my body language.
Satin is showing right-brain tendencies - How interesting! Keeping her left-brain and engaged will be my challenge as we break through these old habits.
These were my questions for Karen (2* PP) at our lesson on Tuesday.
I felt as though I was being "loud" in my suggestions because she reacts instead of responds. The issue? She doesn't understand my neutral. She clearly does not realize that when I am in neutral, she is good right where she is, whether it be standing still, walking, etc. I need to become clearer in my body.
And when I send & allow, she needs to know the difference in my body between walk and trot. I really need to be aware of my body language.
Satin is showing right-brain tendencies - How interesting! Keeping her left-brain and engaged will be my challenge as we break through these old habits.
These were my questions for Karen (2* PP) at our lesson on Tuesday.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
The morning after...
Friday, Sept. 4th:
I have to admit... I was reluctant to play with Satin because our lesson the day before was so intense. I didn't know if I was up for such an emotional test. Could I stay calm and in a teaching frame of mind while Satin blows through pressure over and over and...
I decided to make no assumptions. We were going to work on what we had learned. Make no assumptions, Kathy!
I got the girl from the stall. Driving from zone 3 out of the barn. She still doesn't seem to get this yet. Whether it is our of habit that she doesn't understand or that she doesn't want to cooperate because it is a change. I am not sure.
I can drive her forward but as soon as I start to walk with her, she stops. We do this 'start, stop, start' dance for eternity. Then when she gets going and I direct her nose with the CS, she stops. Maybe my CS directing is too 'loud'.
We got out to the pasture and immediately started playing with the send & touch it. SHE. WAS. AWESOME.
She really must have learned from the lesson because she did NOT understand prior to that lesson. Today she walked with impulsion towards an object and touched with curiosity!
I am beaming!
Gosh, this girl will teach me so much.
I have to admit... I was reluctant to play with Satin because our lesson the day before was so intense. I didn't know if I was up for such an emotional test. Could I stay calm and in a teaching frame of mind while Satin blows through pressure over and over and...
I decided to make no assumptions. We were going to work on what we had learned. Make no assumptions, Kathy!
I got the girl from the stall. Driving from zone 3 out of the barn. She still doesn't seem to get this yet. Whether it is our of habit that she doesn't understand or that she doesn't want to cooperate because it is a change. I am not sure.
I can drive her forward but as soon as I start to walk with her, she stops. We do this 'start, stop, start' dance for eternity. Then when she gets going and I direct her nose with the CS, she stops. Maybe my CS directing is too 'loud'.
We got out to the pasture and immediately started playing with the send & touch it. SHE. WAS. AWESOME.
She really must have learned from the lesson because she did NOT understand prior to that lesson. Today she walked with impulsion towards an object and touched with curiosity!
I am beaming!
Gosh, this girl will teach me so much.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Lesson with Karen
Lesson, Thursday, September 2nd:
Wow. Just... wow. When Karen took over the reins, so to speak, at our lesson today, Satin revealed some of herself that has not come out in our lessons previously. Karen finally got a view into my world with Satin.
Overall I am happy. I am blown away by Karen's ability to handle a tense situation. Her savvy is evident in her quick responses, patience, and know-how. Because of this Satin was able to learn a lot today.
But I'm also battling some sadness. Satin expressed today just how emotionally 'messed up' she is. There is no doubt that I have caused this emotional trauma built up over her lifetime. I struggle with the guilt of knowing that all these years I have never once asked Satin, but have always made her.
One point in particular, Karen was playing the touch-it game and Satin had completely shut down. When directed toward the object Satin would push through it or just stand there, introverted and turned off. Karen was directing her towards a jump with the focus on the standard (nose to the standard) and Satin did all she could to ignore Karen, even plowing through the jump. Satin would blow through pressure with such emotion. She did everything she could to leave.
If I had to describe Satin in a sentence, I would say, "She would have rather been anywhere else than with us." She was completely unengaged... until we made a break through. By the end of the lesson Karen had Satin's mind and her curiosity was starting to peak through her frustration and habit.
I am starting to see Right-Brained behavior from my LB horse! She's complex! Shutting down like an introvert but dancing and moving her feet like an extrovert. I couldn't ask for a better teacher than Satin.
What I need to work on:
* Don't let Satin be wrong for too long! Correct immediately, stop the pattern, or it will teach her that all the 'wrong' she is doing is 'right'. "I wouldn't go that way if I were you!"
* Be particular about disengaging the hindquarters. Satin tends to go faster in one direction - help her understand that I am asking for disengagement by lifting the rope. Going to the left Satin seems to have less understanding. Suggest, then ask... and if she continues, then explain your request in a way that makes sense (use the CS!).
* No trotting! Do not allow her to trot at this stage of the game. Work on these principles at the walk only and discourage any other gaits. "Her disengagement button is broken at the trot."
* Be particular about standing still. Satin is addicted to moving her feet into my bubble. When I am at neutral and we are standing, Satin should "maintain gate" (stand still).
* Keep slack in the rope. I have a habit of using pressure on the halter to disengage hindquarters or to direct her nose. This will make her dull to pressure on the halter. Keeping slack in the rope will help me to use rhythmic pressure for disengaging HQ and directing her nose.
Wow. Just... wow. When Karen took over the reins, so to speak, at our lesson today, Satin revealed some of herself that has not come out in our lessons previously. Karen finally got a view into my world with Satin.
Overall I am happy. I am blown away by Karen's ability to handle a tense situation. Her savvy is evident in her quick responses, patience, and know-how. Because of this Satin was able to learn a lot today.
But I'm also battling some sadness. Satin expressed today just how emotionally 'messed up' she is. There is no doubt that I have caused this emotional trauma built up over her lifetime. I struggle with the guilt of knowing that all these years I have never once asked Satin, but have always made her.
One point in particular, Karen was playing the touch-it game and Satin had completely shut down. When directed toward the object Satin would push through it or just stand there, introverted and turned off. Karen was directing her towards a jump with the focus on the standard (nose to the standard) and Satin did all she could to ignore Karen, even plowing through the jump. Satin would blow through pressure with such emotion. She did everything she could to leave.
If I had to describe Satin in a sentence, I would say, "She would have rather been anywhere else than with us." She was completely unengaged... until we made a break through. By the end of the lesson Karen had Satin's mind and her curiosity was starting to peak through her frustration and habit.
I am starting to see Right-Brained behavior from my LB horse! She's complex! Shutting down like an introvert but dancing and moving her feet like an extrovert. I couldn't ask for a better teacher than Satin.
What I need to work on:
* Don't let Satin be wrong for too long! Correct immediately, stop the pattern, or it will teach her that all the 'wrong' she is doing is 'right'. "I wouldn't go that way if I were you!"
* Be particular about disengaging the hindquarters. Satin tends to go faster in one direction - help her understand that I am asking for disengagement by lifting the rope. Going to the left Satin seems to have less understanding. Suggest, then ask... and if she continues, then explain your request in a way that makes sense (use the CS!).
* No trotting! Do not allow her to trot at this stage of the game. Work on these principles at the walk only and discourage any other gaits. "Her disengagement button is broken at the trot."
* Be particular about standing still. Satin is addicted to moving her feet into my bubble. When I am at neutral and we are standing, Satin should "maintain gate" (stand still).
* Keep slack in the rope. I have a habit of using pressure on the halter to disengage hindquarters or to direct her nose. This will make her dull to pressure on the halter. Keeping slack in the rope will help me to use rhythmic pressure for disengaging HQ and directing her nose.
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