A Thank You

I would like to thank Brother Twitchell, Sylvia, and Randy for taking the time to teach and to answer all my endless questions. I am very grateful for the chance I had to take this unique class and pursue one of my passions.

I am also grateful for the two horses I worked with. Although it proved to be a difficult challenge for me to gain Iceman's trust in so short a time, I know I was beginning to gain his trust. We have so much more we could work on and improve, but I feel successful knowing what we did accomplish.
Gwenevere taught me how to teach and she built my confidence in my own abilities and capabilities. I am grateful to her forgiving nature. If it were not for that, we would not have progressed as we did. She is a very bright horse, and I hope I did some good for her. I will never be able to give back to her all she gave me.
Iceman kept me humble. But he also taught me how to be taught and how to learn. Giving up is not an option. He did not trust me at all for a long time, but he never gave up on me. In the end I feel I have been able to connect with him and he has made me a better rider and I believe I helped him over come some of his paradigms.

Last I want to thank my Heavenly Father and the many blessings I have been given over this course. When I felt I was a failure, He helped me become better. I know it is because of Him that I was finally able to begin to understand Iceman. He gave me the strength to overcome my weaknesses and to understand those things that were unclear.

THE END??????

I cannot believe the semester is over. I did endure my own share of heart ache and frustration, but I know I have gained new understanding. I am now better aware of the "holes" in my knowledge and although I do not always know exactly what to do with a difficulty, I know at least now know where to begin.

I am very grateful for the chance I have had to take this class. Everyday I was humbled, but I was also given another chance to try again. It is a good thing horses are forgiving animals. I have decided the best kind of friend is one who will let you believe you are teaching them, when in reality they are teaching you.

growing

Monday Iceman and I worked on circles some more. Now he is even better. He was very willing to trot and even wanted to walk after loping just a few circles. It has boosted my own confidence in my abilities that I can make a difference and I can accomplish impossible feats. Now I am just worried about the riding final and what to do for free style. I would like to jump, but I am not the best jumper.

Better

Saturday I  came out to ride. This time I had Iceman stand still for 10 seconds before we went anywhere. From there it was our best ride to that point. We worked on circles. CIRCLES ARE WONDERFUL!! After going around for a while at a lope, he was more willing to slow down and he trotted a circle!!!!!!!! I was so excited. While we were loping, he was happy to stay at a nice slow lope. I felt like he did not need to run, but that he just likes to move. I noticed that I have to keep my focus on where we are going or else we go off course. Most of the time he follows my body movements and where my focus is. He is better at matching me when we are going in circles in comparison to riding in straight lines.


Movie Raquel and Iceman
Some things I noticed about myself after watching this video is I do not think I always give him time to ask a question or figure things out for himself. I noticed this particularly while we were weaving through the ground poles. I don't think I gave him a chance to follow my focus.

Loping
In this video, I noticed my stirrups were too short and I was bouncing around at the beginning. But what I like about this video is how nicely Iceman was loping. He was not trying to run off with me, it was a nice slow lope. He even responds positively to my request to slow down to a trot.

Improvement

Last Friday, I decided not to give up on Iceman or on myself. I took Iceman into the arena and then let him go. I wanted to watch him and see how he reacts with other horses and by himself. I also brought treats with me and I occasionally approached him, to play the friendly game with him and to give him a treat. He was more willing to let me come up to him in the arena compared to his pen. I observed that he is NOT a dominate horse, he is curious, and he is often a loner. At the end I did put him on line and played with him for a few minutes.

Frustration!

Last week was really difficult for me. I felt like I was failing and that I could not get through to Iceman. I was tired of feeling like I was fighting with him. I felt like I was more of an annoyance to him then anything else. I knew he did not trust me or care to be with me. I really just felt like a failure and that the two of us would not be able to accomplish anything. More then anything I was frustrated with myself for not knowing what else to to and because I knew that I was the one who needed to change and I could not figure out what Iceman needed from me.

Saturday Ride

Saturday's ride was the best yet! We worked a lot on speed control, and we are finally beginning to get it!  I was able to get him to trot a figure-eight pattern. Later I was able to have him trot for a little ways going straight before he went into a lope. It has taken lots of effort and consistency, but I can see small improvements. We are getting better! My faith in myself and my abilities has been strengthened.  I was really worried that Iceman might prove to be too big of a challenge for me, I can do this!

Another Ride

In class on Tuesday we started to work on jumping and preparing to jump. I knew Iceman had no problem jumping but we needed to work on few things first before we went over anything. Brother Twitchell wanted us to be able to two-point over some ground poles first. Should not have been too difficult except that Iceman doesn't really trot. If anything he wants to lope EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME! As class went on, I finally able to keep him at a walk for a little bit. As soon as I asked him to go a little faster, I felt like I lost his mind. He was connected with me at a walk, but when we went faster, I felt that he had left me behind. BUT! we made some improvements. I remembered that on the ground, he does a good job of matching my pace, so I tried to relax myself even more when I released pressure. This helped a lot.

We did the same exercise on Thursday, and we never did get a trot quite right. The walk became much easier and free moving. I believe that Iceman does not know the difference in energy when asking for a trot and a lope because as soon as I would bring up my energy he would jump into a lope. I need to work with him on the ground some more to make sure he can notice my energy changes, and I need to try to make my cues even smaller. 

Tight Places

The first time I attempted to tighten the cinch on Iceman, he became very nervous and danced around. I thought it might be because he was the only horse in the green barn, but later I learned that this behave is due to being very uncomfortable with tight "places". Brother Twitchell and I developed some strategies to help Iceman with his claustrophobia. For instance, playing with the cinch around his stomach, driving him through tight places, and being able to drive him with a lead around his foot and work up to being able to drive him with the lead around his girth are all activities we can play.
The next time I worked with Iceman, I decided to stay on the ground. From my prior experience with him I knew he loved to move, so I did my best to move a lot to try to gain his respect by doing a little of what he wanted to do and felt most comfortable doing. We played all kinds of games- jumping (I knew from before that he liked to jump), weaving through patterns, I asked him to back up into the holding area on the south west corner of the arena, speed control, and getting used to the lead around the foot. While we were playing I came to learn a few things about Iceman- he is very willing to do what ever I ask, he is a very long horse, and he is a right brain extrovert.

A Change

So Gwenevere's back is still sore or something so I can't her any more. I only got to ride her once, but I am happy that I was successful in my goal of riding her bareback. Now I am working with Iceman. The first time I worked with him was a bit rough. All he wanted to do was lope and I wanted a walk. Syliva helped me realize that I was not giving him enough of a release when he did slow down and my body was tense. So my body position was encouraging him to keep his speed instead of slowing down. Once I tried to relax things got a little better.

A Good Day

Gwene and I are good friends. I am amazed at how far our relationship has progressed. She will either let me come up to her in her stall and put her head down for me or she will come to me. Before she would take a few steps toward me and then walk away or she would not want to leave her stall. Today we spent about an hour on the ground. We worked on lots of different things- weaving through obstacles, exploring what a popped ball tastes like, went over the jump with the poles crossed on barrels, we went over the bridge with a scary green ball piece next to it, and we went into tight places to name a few. There were lots of people, horses, and dogs in the arena today and they did not bother Gwene at all. At the beginning of the semester I would have been nervous to have her in there with all that commotion, but now it does not bother her at all.
When I went to take her home, I decided we would go on a walk instead. It was so beautiful outside and I had time so I couldn't resist. I learned that Gwene does not know what to think of sheep, but is okay with cows. We walked all over the back part of the LC and I think the next Saturday if it is nice, we will play outside for more of the time. I really enjoyed being out of the arena and exploring with my friend.

Rodeo

On Tuesday we were going to work on a cloverleaf pattern. I really wanted to ride Gwene bareback again just to be sure it was not a fluke ride. I had Randy help me again, and she did fairly well. She moved away from me some but Randy and I thought we should just push her through it. When I went to swing over she bunny hopped some, so I got off. I decided I would try the saddle, both Brother Twitchell and Sylvia said that the girl who donated her came in rode her with a saddle no problem after she had not be ridden in several months. I put the saddle on her, I did my best to let her get used to it, but she dance around a bit. Finally we were set and I went to play with her on the ground to make sure she was okay with everything. She did fine, so I started working on the pre-flight check where you put just your foot in the saddle, then your stand. I got that far with no problems, but I decided to call Sylvia over to stand with me. I got on just fine, and Sylvia was going to fix my stirrups when she went off. I have no idea how many times she bucked or any idea what it looked like but my thoughts went like this --- This is okay, I"ll just ride it out---Umm she's not stopping---I need to get off---I dont know how to get off---emergancy dismount---I CANT REMEMBER HOW TO DO THAT--- (then i just let go of everything and closed my eyes and somehow did not end up hung up in my stirrups) ---dont get stepped on!! - ( I curled up into a ball and just tried to hide inside myself until I could not longer hear her behind me).
As I looked up I saw her still bucking and running to the other side of the arena. Randy brought her back to me, and for the rest of class I worked with her on the ground with the saddle still on. She did really well. She would come back to me and we even went over the jump going to the right. For some reason she does just fine going to the left over the jump but not the right. But that day we accomplished that. Later I asked her to go over it going right again and she did no problem.
It is possible that the reason why she bucked is her back is hurting and that was the only way she knew how to tell me it hurt. It could also be that she was being dominant, but she has not been that dominant with me before, so it would be very surprising if that was the culprit to her behavior.

FINALLY!!!

Last Thursday I was finally able to accomplish my goal and ride Gwenevere bareback! I was told I could use a saddle, but this is something I really wanted to be able to do. I warmed her up and did the pre-flight checks with her including putting weight on her back and jumping around. I had Randy help me, because I could not get her to stand near the mounting block. But I did get on -we rode around and she did great! I learned that when I turn if I turn my whole body it will help open to my horse which direction I want her to go in and it made a noticeable a difference. Being able to ride Gwenevere bareback and confidently was a huge confidence booster for me- I CAN DO HARD THINGS!

Hope and Realization

This is a post from the discussion board from the first week of pre-flight checks. 


Working with Gwene has proved to be a challenge for me. I have learned a lot, and one of the most important things I have learned is to be clear with my cues and instant with release. 

It was very helpful to have Brother Twitchell work with her. Gwene does not understand some of the preflight checks and is unsure of what is being asked of her. I finally got on her today for a just a minute. 

After she freaked out the first time I tried to get on her, I had the paradigm that she would never let me up there without a saddle. But seeing Brother Twitchell get on her helped me get over that. Because of the things Gwene and I have accomplished I know she can learn and be better in other words I will be able to ride her bareback. I need to not compare where we are to other people. 

I want to be able to ride Gwene comfortably and confidently bareback. This is going to take time and me doing my best to understand what she needs and to know when to ask for more and when to back off. 

Mounting....sorta...

So getting on Gwene has turned out to be quite an adventure. The first time I swung up, she shimmied right out from under me. From there we worked on me just being able to touch her back, to putting some weight on her. I worked on her from both sides and she did get better. She did stand next to the mounting block so I could lean on her, but she was not consistent with this behavior. I never did get on her the first day. The next class period Brother Twitchell worked with her for a while and that really helped. It was good for me to see that she can do things that to me seem impossible. I learned that I need to push her and then go back to something she understands. For example, she is really sensitive about her stomach and her elbows. So I need to rub there with rhythm and consistency but then go back and rub her neck or another area she is okay with.

midterm

Midterm went really well. A lot better then I was expecting. I went a bit more slow with her as I was trying to make sure I gave her time to think about things and not to seem too nervous. I did not feel that nervous, I just pretended we were the only two in there. She walked over the tarp, bridge, and jump fine. With the zig zag poles she did fairly well all though on the last part she did not wait for me and kept walking, but she did stay between the poles. With the cones, we did it! Not perfect and we had to circle around one and I dropped my stick, and I did not stand in the hula hoop because  I felt like in order for her to be successful she needed more support from me. We did not have time to complete the ground poles but she did walk over them nicely. I was proud of what we accomplished. She has come so far since the first time we worked together.

Sides

I noticed the first time I worked with Gwene that she is very protective of her sides. She will try to block me with her head and/or sidestep. I can usually touch her sides if I start in front of her head and work my my way down her neck, but she does not like me to walk out and then back to her sides. We have not be able to work on the porcupine game with the carrot stick for this reason. I tried just getting myself next to her and keeping my hand on her side until she stopped walking away from the pressure, but I was not getting any real results. I then went to Sylvia. I learned I to be clear with what I am asking for and what I am NOT asking for. When she starts to move away, I need to ask her to stop until she does. I need to keep applying the pressure to her side until she stands still. I can also use my carrot stick to move her head away from trying to block me. Sylvia helped me understand that when she is physically blocking me with her head, she is also mentally blocking me. I am working on trying to help Gwene get past that. Since Sylvia's help, Gwene has gotten much better. I can now get up to her sides without having to ask her to stop for long periods of time. We are still far from perfect, but we are making progress. It is taking me a while to become coordinated with the carrot stick and getting after her with the lead, but I am slowing getting used to it. I am constantly amazed at just how fast she learns and understands what I am asking. I can see a distinct difference in her behavior in comparison to the first time I worked with her.

Scared

About two weeks ago, we were asked to go through three different obstacles - trailer loading, going over the bridge and going between the poles on the ground while being watched by either Randy, Sylvia, or Brother Twitchel. While Brother Twitchel was explaining what we were to do, my heart sank. I had not worked on anything of the sort with Gwenevere and I felt that we would not be able to accomplish any of these tasks. Brother Twitchel did give some ideas of how to prepare your horse to accomplish these tasks. I took a deep breath and went to work. Gwene did amazing! I was so shocked and surprised at how well she did. I took it slow and gave her a chance to see things and try to figure things out. When it was our turn to be tested, she so well. At each station I was given suggestions and correction of how to better communicate with Gwene. For instance- when I drive her, I should not move until her shoulder is level with me and to keep my stick as close to me as possible, for if its not completely out of the way, she will feel pressure from it. I also learned, to give her a chance to ask a question and that having my hand up is still applying pressure. I need to remember to put it down when its not needed. Another thing I learned is to make sure I can control both her shoulders and her hips and be clear enough so Gwene can tell the difference between which one I am asking for. This experience has given me more confidence in both my abilities and those of my horse.

hooves

So Gwene does not like to give her feet so I asked Brother Twitchell for advice. He said to play with her feet, touch them all over including her legs (the friendly game) before asking her to give them. Then as soon as she gives in a little bit release the pressure. Then ask for more, make sure she relaxes before giving her back her foot. She has made such good progress. With her front left foot she gives it just by touching her fetlock. I have got lazy and for a while did not play with her feet. It has made a difference, as she is not as good as she was with her feet. I need to play with feet at least once everytime i work with her.

First Day

She is a dark bay with a white back sock and star. She lifts her head when nervous, then her ears then her eyes.  She likes to be rubbed in the middle of her forehead but nowhere else really. She dances/moves away if I try to come up on her sides. We mostly worked on the friendly game since she seemed so nervous. At first she really didn’t care that I was there, but near the end she realized I was better then no one. She never tried to run away and was usually willing to come into me, just as long as I wasn’t near her sides. She also prefers me to be on her left side. If I tried to be on her right she would move her head so I would be looking into her left eye. She is very aware of pressure on her sides. She is good at turning her hindquarters away and moves away from pressure- but maybe a little too well. I need to work on desensitization with her and gain her trust. She is not mean , but she is right brained. She doesn’t like to pick up her  feet especially the back ones. Once she would lift them she would kick until I had to let go. But I stuck with her until I could hold her foot without her kicking for about 5 to 10 seconds. I didn’t really get to clean them out since I was focusing on her letting me pick them up. She is curious and looks around. Sometimes she was really good and would walk next to me with her head down and seemed fairly relaxed. We did not do and driving game I led her around the arena to let her check things out. It seemed that she had not spent a lot of time in there, but she didn’t spook at all but was very aware of everything. She throws her head a lot when she is uncomfortable and backs away from even the slightest pressure. She does not try to run over me and stops when I stop.