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impulsion

Short horse strategies
· Go slower (western pleasure) this includes time between tasks
· Wait! For the response
· Allow the mistake
· Point to point—gets really impulsive, use transitions, circle and shorter lines
· One rein transitions : partial disengagement

Tantrums/faster—treat as a long horse

Long horse strategies
· Tiny circles
· Frequent and rapid change of direction
· One rein transitions: partial disengagement
· Encourage forward motion

Patterns:
Very relaxed in patterns that lengthen i.e. cloverleaf
Patterns that shorten i.e. question box and 180s she may get impulsive/tantrum. For dreaded circles: add obstacles, or even weaving—see if she prefers larger circles?

Human impulsiveness: MATCH THE HORSE

back to basics

figure 8 and canter

Audition Planning

Ride with 1 or two carrot sticks, saddle and bridle as safety net.

Compulsories

1. Mounting from fence
2. simple or bowtie lead change - part of ? box
3. canter stop add this into end of clover leaf?
4. open gate

Obstacles: ball/tarp/pedestal (?substitute cones)

Patterns:

1. Corners
2. Clover leaf
3. ? box

Gaits: walk, trot, canter, stand still, back up: show in corners game?

Games to show:

1. friendly: drag and carry bucket
2. porky: back and turn rt and left?
3. driving turn, lat flex, hq disengage or spin??
4. yoyo: walk/trot/canter/halt/back with 2 sticks
5. circling arms folded 2 laps ?? add into clover leaf?
6. sideways: over barrel with 2 sticks
7. squeeze: trot over small jump, turn and face

self assessment videos freestyle

Friendly game

1. preflight check lateral flexion and 7 games
2. mount both sides, ask permission
3. lat flex and rub face
4. rub horse all over
5. passenger at walk
6. trombone rein
7. one rein stop dismount
8. swing legs
9. rub horse w/raincoat--take off and on
10. toss single rein over head
11. swing carrot stick
12. rub legs w/stick
13. passenger at trot and canter
14. trail ride
15. canter stop dismount
16. hold tail over shoulder
17. bridle and unbridle
18. swing rope
19. drag something
20. carry bucket

Porcupine Game

1. Lateral flexion - hold til relaxed
2. indirect rein to disengage HQ and direct rein
3. squeeze to go
4. relax and bend to slow and sto
5. direct zone 1 to turn (direct rein)
6. 9 step backup
7. savvy string and stick--back and turn
8. refined direct and indirect
9. finger tips to guide
10. use seat only to back

Driving Game

1. lateral flexion one stick
2. bounce rein to back
3. turn with w/stick at walk and trot
4. disengage HQ w/ stick and rein
5. back using legs only
6. lateral flexion two sticks
7. 2 sticks: disengage HQ and turn
8. spin 2 revolutions 360 degrees, medium speed
9. canter and back up 2 sticks

Yoyo Game

1. lift rein, hold to stop and back
2. transitions walk, trot (lift rope to cue)
3. halt, walk, trot, canter transitions 2 sticks
4. canter 4 laps small circle (around cone) 2 corrections casual rein
5. with 2 sticks walk trot canter halt back

Circling Game

1. figure 8 at a walk with casual rein
2. casual rein, 4 laps at walk and then 4 trot around cone, 1 stick, both directions
3. change of direction at the walk with stick and casual rein
4. carrot sticks on shoulders, canter 4 laps, 1 correction per lap
5. simple change bowtie, casual rein, bowtie
6. arms folded canter 2 laps
7. simple changes with one stick
8. flying change one stick and savvy string around neck
9. figure 8 with 1 stick
10. fast canter, slow canter

Freestyle basics old old level 1 review

Saddling

1. take saddle etc to back paddock
2. Try at liberty: touch it to saddle
3. friendly with pads
4. saddle from the off side

• W/back to horse's shoulder, rest saddle on left hip w/left hand holding cantle and right hand supporting the front, under the front panel.
• Sway the saddle back and forth
• Swivel on right foot and let momentum carry saddle up. practice with english saddle first
• once saddle is in place, left the pad up at the front to give relief to the withers

5. Cinching: 3 stages

Mounting

• Rock pommelso horse has his feet braced and ready
• Hold rein and mane short but not tight
• face horse's tail
• reach for stirrup, take hold of pommel and hop til beside horse in zone 3 and can look him in the eye
• bounce a fewtimes then step in in stirrup and wait, ask permission then put leg over
• find other stirrup w/o looking
• sit for a few moments, friendly, dwell

Lateral Flexion

Calmly (comb rope) bend neck to one side and bring head around--do on the ground and from riding--hold 5 seconds.

Disengaging the HQ - Indirect Rein

• One rein (little finger to belly button)
• slide tombone 1/2 way asking for lateral flexion i.e. right hand
• then slowly lift rein to my belly button, my fingernails turned upward
• Turn my body in that direction and look at horse's tail
• Other hand on poeem
• gentle push back of z3 with right leg
• release at slightest try as horse gives hindquarter disengage. Build to several steps

Impulsion

• Go: smile, squeeze (bounce??), smooch, spank
• Focus ahead and stretch rein forward
• smile w/all four cheeks
• smooch is one cluck only
• riding is not just sitting need appropriate engergy
• 4 phases to slow: energy down, lift rein, hold rein bend to stop

Passenger Lessons

Direct Rein

• moves front end straight elbow
• hold rein in crook of thumb and let rein slide out as move to diagonal
• use eyes nad beyy button to fus
• as soon as horse starts to follow the feel and turn, relax the rein but keep walking forward
• don't use direct rein unless horse is moving
• phases eyes, leg, bellybutton reins

Indirect Rein

• Controls hq
• front halt pick up indirect rein and move HQ 180 degrees
• Ask horse to walk forward and then apply indirect rein just enough to get change of direction, then release and continue
• alternate direct and indirect: direct 90 degrees and keep walking foward casual rein, then use indirect to get 360 degree turn. Focus on new direct and repeat Do on both sides

Focus

• Casual rein--on the buckle
• pick focal point to ride to use phases as appropr focus w/all eyes.
• don't look at horse--maintain focus
• relax and stop stay for 30 second
• then use indirect rein to rurn and again stop and relax
• repeat. do at short distances then longer then trot
• goal not have to touch reins

Follow the rail

• casual rein
• use free hand to bring back to rail then drop rein instantly
• trust her to make the mistake then correct rather than micromanage
• one correction per lap
• then trot or canter

Carrot stick riding

• basics--how to start

9 Step Back Up

Sideways

• body position, leg, rein

Controlled catastrophe

Freestyle self assessment

LEVEL 3
(Casual Rein + 2 Carrot Sticks)

Friendly:
x Passenger Lesson at canter.
x Bridle and unbridle from your horse’s back.
x Trail ride.
x Canter, stop and get off.

Porcupine:
o Savvy String, keep bridle on.
x Back up and turn right and left.
o Refined Direct and Indirect Rein.

Driving:
o Lateral Flexion, 2 Sticks.
o Disengage with two Carrot Sticks.
o Full turn.

Yo-yo:
o Transitions: halt-walktrot-canter (2 Sticks).

Circle Game:
x Carrot Sticks on your shoulders, canter 4 laps, with less than 4 corrections total (1 per lap).
x Simple change, bowtie.
x With Casual Reins: canter 4 laps with less than 2 corrections per lap.

Sideways:
o With 2 Carrot Sticks.
o 20’ Sideways without fence.
o Over an obstacle.

Squeeze:
o A log (12”-18”)
o Turn, face and wait.
o 2 sticks.

April 9 09

Time to start thinking about freestyle.