PolarSkye
Well-Known Member
Well - let's just say that I love her - real lightbulb moments.
Warmed up and then I told her a little about Kal and me . . . I had said that Kal probably wasn't the best horse for us on paper because he isn't a novice ride (quirky, sensitive, a worrier) and then the lights went out in the arena so I hopped off and left him with her (in the dark) while I went to find some 20p pieces to feed the metre. Apparently while I was gone he was hyperventilating he was so worried . . . bless his little cottons
.
That was the first lightbulb moment . . . he was able to stay sort of calm with me once the lights went off (although I knew he was somewhat tense), but once I left him with a stranger, in the dark, he panicked . . . he trusts me!
The really huge lightbulb moment for me though (just so we beat this particular metaphor to death
) was when I said to Tracey that I had been really struggling with my hands. I fiddle. Endlessly. And I've never done it with any other horse. She complimented my lower leg - it's perfectly still - but said it's also completely ineffective (partly because I'm fixated on keeping it still - especially now I'm wearing spurs - and partly b/c I don't trust my leg aids). We talked about how Kali can look like a "cut and shut" . . . i.e., two different horses front and back . . . and she asked me to try and engage his back end by using my leg (and leaving his head alone) . . . no dice.
Then . . . she suggested I engage his back end by getting him to move it laterally . . . cross over. We have struggled with lateral work and I haven't pushed it b/c I didn't think he COULD offer leg yield/shoulder in, etc. She proved to me (tactfully) that he could and OMG he engaged his hind quarters, lifted his back and . . . lo and behold . . . became soft in front . . . all with NO rein. It was amazing.
So, our homework is to practice this yielding/engaging the hindquarters . . . on the ground, on board . . . to unlock him.
What a very clever, patient, obliging boy he was. Yes, he was worried. Yes, he spooked several times (lots of light/dark/shadows/strangeness). But he still tried.
I do love him.
P
Warmed up and then I told her a little about Kal and me . . . I had said that Kal probably wasn't the best horse for us on paper because he isn't a novice ride (quirky, sensitive, a worrier) and then the lights went out in the arena so I hopped off and left him with her (in the dark) while I went to find some 20p pieces to feed the metre. Apparently while I was gone he was hyperventilating he was so worried . . . bless his little cottons
.That was the first lightbulb moment . . . he was able to stay sort of calm with me once the lights went off (although I knew he was somewhat tense), but once I left him with a stranger, in the dark, he panicked . . . he trusts me!
The really huge lightbulb moment for me though (just so we beat this particular metaphor to death
) was when I said to Tracey that I had been really struggling with my hands. I fiddle. Endlessly. And I've never done it with any other horse. She complimented my lower leg - it's perfectly still - but said it's also completely ineffective (partly because I'm fixated on keeping it still - especially now I'm wearing spurs - and partly b/c I don't trust my leg aids). We talked about how Kali can look like a "cut and shut" . . . i.e., two different horses front and back . . . and she asked me to try and engage his back end by using my leg (and leaving his head alone) . . . no dice. Then . . . she suggested I engage his back end by getting him to move it laterally . . . cross over. We have struggled with lateral work and I haven't pushed it b/c I didn't think he COULD offer leg yield/shoulder in, etc. She proved to me (tactfully) that he could and OMG he engaged his hind quarters, lifted his back and . . . lo and behold . . . became soft in front . . . all with NO rein. It was amazing.
So, our homework is to practice this yielding/engaging the hindquarters . . . on the ground, on board . . . to unlock him.
What a very clever, patient, obliging boy he was. Yes, he was worried. Yes, he spooked several times (lots of light/dark/shadows/strangeness). But he still tried.
I do love him.
P
