Getting The FEEL

Lessons with Tumbleweed continue with the same basic theme, learning how to bring him back to me under stressful situations.

There is the issue of being herd bound, which all horses have to some degree, and the dynamics of other horses, which you can’t escape riding in groups, but there is also the scary thing that presents itself out of the blue. 

Today, we had a little bit of everything  

New horses arrived at the park and we got to work on getting his attention by controlling speed through space, lengthening him through vertical flexion, and releasing when he was able to maintain it himself.

Of course, Leah was also taken in and out and around during this. 

 

Regina added in some scary noises, pounding the barrel, and rolling barrels, as we were working, and I was to maintain speed and soften him through vertical flexion.

She says he is an agile horse who can think about a few things at once. We want to keep his focus on me by being proactive. Very proactive. 

Tumbleweed wants to speed up and build up energy, so we’re doing the opposite—slowing him down, yet trying to maintain an energetic forward.

Engage, soften, listen, and move with energy and consistent speed.

She wants us to ride in half beats—which means a slower time. 1,2 2,2, 3,2, etc. 

Part of slowing down, engaging his hind end motor, and with that, more control, is sitting on my butt back in the saddle. I feel like I’m slouching, and I am, but she wants that exaggerated seat for now. If he bounces me out of it, that is a sign he isn’t carrying himself. 

We got some beautiful work done today, and were able to maintain it all for longer sections. I also got more of a feel for what I should be looking for and when to release and reward. We will meet again Monday for more.