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.