Harley gave a good spook when I picked up the longe line attempting to wrap it up and get it out of tripping way. He ran a galloping goofy circle .. Okay. he ran for about five minutes, even after I put it down. Silly boy! Just relax.. I won't whap you with it, it was getting under my feet, and I didn't want to trip. After he relaxed, I skipped the neck stretcher, put the reins on, and hopped on.
Flex left? Light as a feather
Flex right? Light as a feather
Both reins? Held for about two seconds, light
FANTASTIC! I tested his walk/halt/walk/halt a few times, which again was a quick halt without the wigglies. Then, we took a walk right past the arena gate, into the pasture. Harley hesitated, almost unsure he was really getting to do more than arena work. C'Mon baby.. we can do this.
We walked around trees, up and down the little paths he's made through the grass. Through short grass, through tall grass. Under trees (I actually got to duck my head for a couple of them), down the hill to the pond area, and back up again. I laughed heading up the little hill, as I leaned forward ever so slightly, and Harley sensing that, stopped quick. No reins, no verbal, just a solid stop when I leaned. Silly boy.. it's okay.. keep walking!
Every so often, I'd halt him, flex left, right, both, and keep walking. Realizing I might be teaching him to flex voluntarily every time he halts, I stopped a few times and walked on without the flexing. I even asked him to back up a couple times.
Brave, I walked him back to the pond. There's still some water in there, though it's half what it should be (need. rain. now!). I got Harley to stand right up beside the pond, but he was hesitant to put his feet in. I flexed him left and right a few times, then pushed with my legs. He wiggled his bum, tried to avoid the pond, but I kept him facing first at it. Finally, he took a step towards it, and I released all pressure. He stood, front hooves near the muddy edge. I squeezed again, and he put front feet in the water. I let him walk the edge of the pond, all four hooves splashed. Lots of praise, and a solid standing break with back to the pond. We reversed, and with a little urging, got the same answer. Harley had muddy wet hooves, and I was delightfully satisfied. It's not "all in", but it's the attempt, and I'll reward that.
Total work and ride? About 45 minutes. I think we're solid at the halt working on suppleness. It's time to step it up! A day off today (Wednesday), and we're back to the longe line for a refresher Thursday. Friday brings the delivery of my "homework", and the next assignment. =) I can't wait!
Showing posts with label Water. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Water. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
08/28/10 Romeo
Grabbed Mo and all his goodies and off to the arena we go's. Western, lunge line warmup. Mo was NONE impressed with this idea, bucking, farting, and generally trying to express his displeasure with this limited circle he was forced to cooperate in. He desperately wanted to play "catch me if you can, we're in the arena", but I wasn't up for the game.
I set up a trail pattern "L" shape with my poles, scattered the standards all about, put three cones in a line across a short side, and set two other poles in irregular locations. Romeo often thinks arena means "run, run fast, don't think", since that's been mostly what the newer, larger arena has been for him (using the trail and the road for concentrated walk/trot/halt work). To combat this, I kept his mind busy in warmups, over the poles, through the "L" at walk, and trot. Some halts in odd places, and backup through the "L". A few rollbacks to trot, a handful of trot/halt/backups. He quickly got the hint, and relaxed his body & his brain.
So, off to some canter work, big circles, back half of the arena. I swear I heard either a snake or a rat scrambling through the grass for a while. Romeo was unbothered. His canter circles started out snappy, but settled into a nice, easy, gentle gait.
After the warmup,and the serious canter circles, I scoured the property.. What can we do? What can we do? What do I have easy access to that he could benefit from? Ah yes, the gate. Let's go open the rope gate a handful of times, in, out, in, out, in, out, in. Romeo let out a HUGE sigh, questioning, "Mom, are you serious?! I get it! Work the gate! Let's move ON!" I scoured again in my eyes.. what else is there?
Oh yes, the muddy pond water. The pond was a byproduct of the larger arena and pasture work this past spring. Places had to be elevated, therefore, other places had to be lowered. The pond is a two-set hole layout of sorts, the larger, deeper of those still has about 6" of water in the lowest spot. Romeo and I walked over to it, he investigated, he sniffed, and he danced around the water perimeter, totally unpleased with the notion of walking through getting his pretty hooves wet. I finally convinced him to put his nose to it. He blew hard at it, and got splashed in the face. With a heavy sigh of recognition, he walked through the edge of the water. After much repetition, Romeo was splashing through the pond from anywhere I wanted him to go. I asked for halt twice in the middle deeper part, and he complied.
It was funny - and it's how he handles the uncertain. Look at it, approach slowly, sniff sniff, touch with the nose, see it doesn't bite back, and give in. At some point, I ought to capture a video of it on some other item he's unsure of. It's really quite funny, and since I know how he'll handle it, I know as long as it won't hurt him, it's good to push him up to whatever it is.
I set up a trail pattern "L" shape with my poles, scattered the standards all about, put three cones in a line across a short side, and set two other poles in irregular locations. Romeo often thinks arena means "run, run fast, don't think", since that's been mostly what the newer, larger arena has been for him (using the trail and the road for concentrated walk/trot/halt work). To combat this, I kept his mind busy in warmups, over the poles, through the "L" at walk, and trot. Some halts in odd places, and backup through the "L". A few rollbacks to trot, a handful of trot/halt/backups. He quickly got the hint, and relaxed his body & his brain.
So, off to some canter work, big circles, back half of the arena. I swear I heard either a snake or a rat scrambling through the grass for a while. Romeo was unbothered. His canter circles started out snappy, but settled into a nice, easy, gentle gait.
After the warmup,and the serious canter circles, I scoured the property.. What can we do? What can we do? What do I have easy access to that he could benefit from? Ah yes, the gate. Let's go open the rope gate a handful of times, in, out, in, out, in, out, in. Romeo let out a HUGE sigh, questioning, "Mom, are you serious?! I get it! Work the gate! Let's move ON!" I scoured again in my eyes.. what else is there?
Oh yes, the muddy pond water. The pond was a byproduct of the larger arena and pasture work this past spring. Places had to be elevated, therefore, other places had to be lowered. The pond is a two-set hole layout of sorts, the larger, deeper of those still has about 6" of water in the lowest spot. Romeo and I walked over to it, he investigated, he sniffed, and he danced around the water perimeter, totally unpleased with the notion of walking through getting his pretty hooves wet. I finally convinced him to put his nose to it. He blew hard at it, and got splashed in the face. With a heavy sigh of recognition, he walked through the edge of the water. After much repetition, Romeo was splashing through the pond from anywhere I wanted him to go. I asked for halt twice in the middle deeper part, and he complied.
It was funny - and it's how he handles the uncertain. Look at it, approach slowly, sniff sniff, touch with the nose, see it doesn't bite back, and give in. At some point, I ought to capture a video of it on some other item he's unsure of. It's really quite funny, and since I know how he'll handle it, I know as long as it won't hurt him, it's good to push him up to whatever it is.
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