Working with Claire

I don't have any pictures today because as usual I was out there by myself. So here is what I did today.

Claire

1. I saddled her and she stood calmly. I took my Clinton Anderson stick and took off the lunge string. I tied a plastic bag to the end of the stick and I did some ground driving using Sylvia Scott's method in her video on Natural Horsemanship. Basically I stood behind the drive line (horse's shoulder) and walked along side her as I drove her forward. This is a good method to use to get your horses through gates. She didn't have any trouble other than not wanting to go at first.

2. The next thing I did was tap the saddle with the stick and bag hard while Claire was walking around me. I also did a window wiper wave above her head while she was walking around me. This will get her used to anything flying over her head while I am riding-- hopefully! I increased the intensity with the plastic bag making all kinds of noise. Every so often I would stop her and rub her all over with the plastic bag at the end of the stick to let her know not to be afraid of the plastic bag. I also did a big wave first touching the ground ahead of her while she was walking and then behind her while she was walking around me. This seemed to bother her the most as she would see the big stick coming up over her head. She hesistated a few times, but eventually she was able to walk head down while I was doing all of this--- waving above her head and in front and back of her. I did it from both sides.

3. On the ground, I took the stirrup and placed it against her flank and kept it there until her hindquarters moved. This was difficult at first for her, as she didn't want to move, but I kept the pressure there until she took a step. I did it on both sides several times.

4. I rode her flexing her alot and practicing the one rein stop. I would trot or walk her down the arena and then reach down for one rein pulling it softly to my hip and her head would come around and she would eventually stop. She needs a lot more practice on this.

5. I trotted her more today and her trot is very bouncy. I hope she gets better. I trotted 3 lengths of the arena ending up at the scary spot and then I got off of her. I wanted to reward her for her trot effort as once she started trotting, we were bascially in cruise control until I asked her to stop.

Problems

1. Today Claire was being a little resistance in not wanting to leave the barn or would stop and refuse to go when I was leading her into the arena. I finally had to pop her with a leather strap, and then I also backed her when she would not come forward. I need to work on her response time.

2. I need to do alot more trotting and I can't figure out what to do with her head set. I feel like I have no control over her head that bothers me. I am not sure if I should even be worrying about her headset right now.


I didn't work with Annie because I got a late start today. Annie was so cute she wanted so bad to come and be with me. She was nickering at the gate wanting to come out when I put Claire up. I rode Poco yesterday afternoon and worked on Canter departures. She did better, but she gets so stressed when my leg goes back and over anticipates like mad.

Look for a video tomorrow of me riding Claire!!!