Ok everyone- it's description time! :D
Day 1- we started out with fairly basic things, but not necessarily EASY things. ;) (Believe me, BUNCHES of us can attest to getting tangled up in the rope during these excersises!) Anyway, we practiced moving our horses' shoulders over, driving forward, and changing reins on the 'lunge.' We also lunged/drove in and out of 'gates' (barrels and a fence set up like a gate) and ended up driving in and out of a REAL gate on the round pen! We also changed eyes and practiced one-rein stops on the ground.
For the riding part of Day 1, we did more one-rein stops and played with opening the shoulder up. I'm still not confident on that move, but it is helpful when you know how to do it correctly. We then worked on herd-bound issues in the ring and also did some sidepassing.
Day 2- Obstacles Day!! We started out by reviewing all the groundwork from the day before and then went on to obstacle work. We walked over tarps, dragged tarps behind us and put them on/over the horses, walked across a 'bridge' (a wooden platform set on the ground) and jumped over a tiny vertical!
We reviewed our herd-bound exercises in the afternoon then went out in a field to try them out! Each horse with herdbound problems got to wait while the group left, then walk toward the group and KEEP walking as the group turned and walked past them. All of the horses did really well at this!
When we came back we had a special treat waiting for us: a horse-drawn wagon! Pepsi did NOT like the wagon at all, but tolerated it better than I expected after a few laps around. We also practiced riding over all the obstacles we had done groundwork with that morning- the bridge, the tarps, etc.
It really was a great clinic and we all had a lot of fun that weekend! Next time, all of you should come audit!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Sounds like a really cool clinic! I like that they helped with the herd bound horses. And I can only imagine what Pro would think of a horse-drawn wagon.
YAY, finally descriptions!!! Can you elaborate on what a one-rein stop is? Besides what it obviously sounds like...I mean, what it's used for and why/how exactly you do one.
Hahaha poor Pepsi with the wagon...
I have to say, Mary - he's GORGEOUS!!! I had no idea you had SUCH a cutie! No wonder you put up with his crap. ;)
Well, not put UP with his crap...but continue to work and persist on FIXING the crap. ;) That's what I meant!
Wow, sounds like you worked on some great stuff! It looks like you and Pepsi were doing good, too!
I still really wish I could have come and brought Deuce, especially after hearing your description!
Ummmm, yeah...Kate, you were right the first time. ;)
Ok, the one rein stop- it's used to get your horse's attention back on you and OFF of whatever it is they're looking at/spooking at/etc. It's also great for horses who want to pick up an upward transition w/out you asking them to. ;) In other words, if they pick up a canter from a working trot that you DIDN'T ask for, you simply use the one rein stop until they figure out that it's harder work to make their own decisions than it is to just listen to you.
How you do it- you take hold of ONE rein and pretty much drop the other entirely. (Well, no contact with that outside rein at least.) At the same time you use your leg to move their hindquarters over. AS SOON AS they've listened to your leg and moved their hindquarters you release the leg pressure but keep the rein pressure on UNTIL they stop and give to the rein pressure. Then and ONLY then do you release the rein pressure.
The point behind it is, again, to get them listening to you and to keep moving their body until YOU are back in control. It's hard for them to fight you with this, at least when it's done correctly.
Alex, if I've explained anything poorly please come and correct me!
Post a Comment