Larry Stewart Focus Camp – 24 JN 09

Listening to a Master

I was fortunate enough to be able to get Wednesday off work in order to attend the last day of Focus Camp.
Here are some notes:

Be persistent, but particular

Stop the feet – not the horse! Always talk to the feet

Daily Chores:

Flex the tail on a daily basis, massage it every day.
Massage the mouth every day. Hold the tongue over such that the horse cannot close mouth.
Preparation for needles
Pinch the skin on the neck (mid-way) until horse flexes neck towards you.
Picking up feet: horse should lift feet up to you. Human to catch the foot. This will eliminate the horse leaning into you.
Massage the legs!

Taking it all in ...

Backwards “S” :

Will improve draw.

Drive Zone 1 until the horse comes straight towards you with NO tension.

Create it to be the horse’s idea to come running to you.

Always be provocative and creative to avoid boredom in a horse.

When the horse gets it, quit and move on to something new. Don’t overcook it.

Riding Naturally

Circling Game :

Get rid of the union horse. Rub only when warranted. Too much rub will equal complacency.

Do not be mean – be FIRM.

If you rub for nothing, you will get nothing. Only rub for effort. For snappy departures, the horse must yield at phase 2, or less.

Don’t rub, rub, rub – just rub and let him stand and think it out alone. Don’t rub while you wait for him to think and sort it out.

EARN THE RUB

No attitude = No fear = Fairness

Larry Stewart Focus Camp – 21 JN 09

Audited one day (of 5) of the focus camp by Larry Stewart. I only wish I had more vacation time, so I could have experienced more. It was an eye opening experience with material presented by a Master.

Here are a few notes:

Liberty – tests your ability of what you have learned on-line (communication)

Circling Game:

If your horse does not maintain gait, your send is not good enough. Send out Zone 1 well!

When backing up horse (preparing for send); use the porcupine game. It has more control than driving (you may lose horse, while driving). DO NOT use Yo-Yo. When you porcupine out, send out as far as you can reach. DO NOT move your feet!

Send out Zone 1 = Respect. Send by Z4/Z5 = disrespect. To send out by Z1, lift stick straight up and you are in Z1. LEAD & LIFT. If you are going to send to left; rub with left hand, porcupine with left hand.

Phases:
1. Lift stick, swing in air
2. Tap behind you
3. Tap beside you
4. Tap in front of you (and/or make contact)

To draw in:
1:30 – Attention!
Past shoulder – hook (horse turn to face you)
Draw back, go to bullseye
-this will maintain the bend in the horse, instead of snappy HQ with no bend. To bend, get in time with outside front foot.

Lines:

MOVE OFF 12’ – even if you use a 22’ – USE IT. 22’ does not equal 12’, get to the end of the line.
If it does not work on the 22’, move back to 12’ and fix it.
Once you get good at 22’ – don’t sit there – move to 45!

Draw/Catch Horse: Belly button (energy) to Zone 4 (straight on). If horse turns, you turn to maintain energy on Z4.

Lead by the Mane – Arm over neck, porcupine game. Support with savvy string, if need be.

Lateral Flexion and Direct/Indirect Reins – demystified:

Neutral Lateral Flexion – is at the halt. NO energy in body.
Lateral Flexion – w/t/c
For lateral flexion, ensure your arm is straight and within inside leg. If your arm is on the outside of leg, this will give a “spring” if horse moves neck.

Direct Rein = movement of front feet ONLY (pivot on HQ)
Indirect Rein = movement of hindquarters (pivot on FH)

Taking Notes from a Master

9 Step Back up

Your butt (derriere) is the only aid your horse should listen to.
Elbows against your sides.
To stop the back up, sit up straight – do not release the reins.
Horse soft in hands = vertical flexion.
Use motion to ride the horse. To stop, stop the motion (hunch/tip over). If horse does not stop within 4-5 strides, then lift one rein UP (not towards you).

Liberty!

Summer Pasture - Henry

I moved Henry ~ 2 weeks ago and felt a “disconnect” as he was trying to settle into his new herd. To sum up a long story short, the past couple of weeks – I just remained patient and knew he would come back to me – just give it time … patience is indeed a virtue (that I need to work on).

Well? Last night, after playing with Henry for a while, my inner voice told me to take the line off Henry. Picture the ring – it is an outdoor dirt, surrounded by a turf outer track, then fenced. So – if I take Henry off line – he has the choice to stay with me on the dirt, or mosey over to the grass outer track and do his favourite activity … graze.

He stayed with me! He never even considered the grass track, not even ONE blade of grass. I couldn’t believe it. I then started to ask him (at Liberty) for “point to point” games and then upped it even more for asking him to “do” stuff at certain targets (foot on disc, front feet in hula hoop, rear feet in hula hoop), etc.etc. He followed my each and every request without any hesitation. I then asked him to sidepass over a pole and HE DID!!! I just went with the flow – letting my “Self 2″ take over (currently reading the book, “Inner Game of Tennis” from Pat’s recommended reading!!!).

Summer Pasture - Night Herd

Then, at the end – I was able to share this wonderful event with my new Barn Manager and her reply was that “she was very impressed” and could not believe a horse so young (3) was doing this. I am the only PNHer at my barn – so this made me sooooooooooooo proud of my boy.

It was such a fantastic night!!!

Heather

Kinship with all Life – a “classic” read

Kinship with all Life

I have just finished reading J. Allen Boone’s book, “Kinship with all Life” (refer to my reading list page). I highly recommend this book if you are interested in human-animal inter-species communication. It is a CLASSIC. One of Tom Dorrance’s favourite books and on Pat Parelli’s recommended reading list.

“Some” of my favourite passages are:

“There’s facts about dogs”, he said, “and there’s opinions about them. The dogs have the facts, and the humans have the opinions. If you want facts about a dog, always get them straight from the dog. If you want opinions, get them from the human.”

… “yet in all that experience and with all these opportunities for intelligent observation, I had never actually seen a dog! I had merely looked at dogs, without being able really to see one of them.”

“I was privileged to learn from my dog instructor how to get my human ego and intellect out of the way, how to blend my best with Strongheart’s best, and how to let the Universe express itself through us, as the Universe with its wisdom and long experience well knows how to do.”

“The most significant difference between training and educating an animal, I learned from Strongheart, lies in the matter of emphasis. It depends on whether one places emphasis on the mental or the physical part of the animal. The conventional trainer, following traditional and rigid patterns, places his emphasis almost entirely on the physical. As long as his animal looks its best and obeys orders promptly, he is satisfied. The conventional trainer starts from a negative premise.
… The animal educator does just the reverse of this. Moving into the situation with insight and intuition, he places full emphasis on the mental rather than on the physical part of the animal. He treats it as an intelligent fellow being whose capacity for development and expression he refuses to limit in any direction. He knows that the animal’s appearance, actions and accomplishments are only the outward expressions of its state of mind. He seeks to help the animal make use of its thinking faculties, so that there will be corresponding results in its looks, character and actions.”

Trail Hiking …

Henry & Jasmine

Update from Henry’s fields:

I was able to test thresholds yesterday for future trail hiking (vs. riding – LOL!). Took Henry up a trail (just him and I) and only went a little ways, as I felt my threshold crashing … so returned back. Then, a lady who rides the lead mare of the herd was going out and she asked if anyone wanted to walk with her (meaning humans). I asked if I could come along with Henry and she said YES. It was FANTASTIC. We didn’t go far, but it was far enough for Henry & I. Henry followed the lead mare (who is also in the stall next to his) VERY willingly and compliantly. We then turned around and Henry was in the lead with the mare, “Summer” behind him. Well? Summer is the lead mare and wanted to pass Henry. I said go ahead and the owner said, “NO, she has to learn that she can follow too”. Anyhow, Henry was like – LET HER PASS – LOL!!! He was fine on the lead (that wasn’t the issue) – it was the lead mare driving him from behind that he totally respected and wanted out of the way Anyhow, it was great – his ears were forward all the time and he was happy to go out with the other horse. Good start for the trails

The owner then put Summer out with the herd (who were all waiting at the gate for their leader) – but Summer wouldn’t go out into the pasture. She was holding back. I put Henry out (5 minutes) later and how interesting! (herd dynamics) – once the last of her flock was there, Summer led everyone out to the pasture. Henry has been accepted (and he only moved 1 week ago). Henry actually has two dynamics going on. He is out now 24/7 with one other horse (his buddy, Cody). Everyone else is on rotation. So right now there are “two herds” and Henry is part of both of them. Summer (the ultimate leader) is on the day rotation. I am not sure who the leader is on the night rotation (yet). Henry has always been the “last” to come in for this breakfast/dinner (he comes in during the rotations and he has his Equalizer/Carrots before being turned out again). He stands back and lets everyone else go before him. Apparently he is now 3rd to last to come in (he has attempted to move up 2 spots). How interesting!

Heather

Parelli Reference Link

Really nice reference link summarizing Parelli Natural Horsemanship. Well done!

Parelli Reference (click)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Henry - June 12th, 2008

One year ago today (June 12th), Henry Fjord came into my life. It has been an amazing past 12 months as Henry and I have bonded. He is my bestest pony pal and I absolutely adore him. We have both come a long way together. Henry has reinstilled my love of horses and confidence.

Henry - June 2009

My promise to him remains – that I will do everything that I can possibly can to ensure he is a healthy and happy horse. I love you Henry – and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my sweet, blonde boy.

Heather

OH BOY Moment …

Funny story that I had to share … well, at least I could laugh afterwards.

I moved Henry yesterday to Brookville/Campbellville. Nice spot with an indoor arena, huge paddocks and close to home that I can afford!

I was in the outdoor ring, moseying along with Henry. Barn Manager went to the pasture to fetch “Cody”, Henry’s first introduction to his new family. Barn Mgr comes back with Cody in tow and the ENTIRE herd (~ 12 horses) is on her heels.

Henry stops, ears/neck up – and POOF – he was off like a rocket towards the mutual fence line (between the summer paddock and outdoor arena). Rope is flying through my hands, I said “screw it” and let go (no way I wanted to be on the end of a horse galloping off). Looked over, arena gate is OPEN … Looked at Henry (lead line dangling all over the place as he was in flight) – looked at the open gate. Henry can take care of himself with the rope (his responsibility now) – I take off for the gate. Managed to close gate (no escapee of the now “extrovert” horse) and I look at Henry – completely on adrenaline and “me” being absolutely invisible.

“Humph”, I have to get him sooner or later … so I went to go get him and this is where the fun begins. Henry is BIG when he is on adrenaline, so I thought – hey! Let’s yield the hindquarters (bearing in mind that at this point in time, it’s all at LIBERTY). I go to yield the HQ and forget my position … Picture me being in zone 3, Henry sideways along the fence trying to check out the new herd. I raise my CS to yield (forgetting to check in on my position) and all of a sudden, I have the most impressive sideways (side pass) at Liberty – LOL!!! Henry is flying along at a trot, sideways along the fence, HQ crossing over so eloquently – and me getting frustrated that I cannot catch him.

BIG DOH … he was ONLY doing what I was communicating to him to do!

After I realized what I was doing, I turned off the energy, went into neutral – he stopped and I picked up the lead line.

Lead by the Chin

Another PNH task … “lead by the chin” … captured on a short video clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJQAnzBSzfU

Captured on film (spur of the moment) by hubby, Anthony.

Lead by the chin is a “follow the feel” task. Just started this with Henry. We still need to develop “lightness”, but he’s such a gooooooood boy!

Heather