Natural Horsemanship Play Date using c/t

Good day today. Peter rang this morning to ask, seeing that it was such a perfect spring day, could he bring Emmy down and we'd have a Natural Horsemanship play. For the first time Balthazar ran away when I went to get him but I think it was the excitement of having a strange horse in the yards. He wasn't hard to catch. Cleaned both horses up and took them to the arena. Peter helped me with the preliminary 'games' to assess the readiness of the horse to work. Balthazar was a bit 'up' at first but soon settled. Emmy, an old hand from many camps and much practice at home, was unfazed by the strange surroundings and strange horse. Peter helped me with some problems, specifically Balthazar spiralling in on the circle. Also, going through the games gave me some homework. I did use c/t during todays session. I don't want to bump him, as Peter suggested when I was attempting to get Balthazar to give to a turn on the hindquarter. I want to just use consistent pressure and when he gives, to reward that give. Balthazar did pick it up so I'm very pleased. Also, I don't want Balthazar to disengage his hindquarter to stop on the circle. He is too ready to face me already. I want him to stop on the circle, ideally bent to the same degree on the circle when he halts as when he's is going.

Certainly I don't have the xperience of Ken Falkner or Pat Parelli and am probably wrong in attempting to do things my way but I want everything I do on the ground to be relevant when I am on his back. For example to halt when walking beside the horse, Ken advises asking them to give the head *away* from the handler. There's something else too whether it's a tug on the lead or what I don't remember, I just remember thinking I wouldn't be riding the horse and asking him to move away from my hand flapping at his eye. I've been walking parallel, saying whoa and raising the hand with the lead rope, trying to duplicate from the ground what Balthazar would 'feel' when I was riding (plus using the voice of course). So that's what I did. It's not Faulkner, it's not Parelli but until I can see the sense of asking him to give way to a flapping hand, it's what I'll do. If he learns the commands through clicker training, it's not so much 'giving to pressure'. He can learn everything he needs to know with a reward as the goal to have an attempt at it.

Instead of asking for a complete sloppy circle of turning on the forehand or turningn on the hindquarter, I would ask for one good step and reward that. Because we moved on to other exercises I didn't attempt to perfect them. I just wanted the basics to practice when Peter's not around. I can look for improvement when we practice solo. I truly believe c/t is a far superior method of training. Giving to pressure works but what's in it to motivate the horse? Why should he try for you?

Unfortunately Balthazar was lame. Not badly. It only showed up at the trot on the circle as a bit of unevenness. Still, he's been 'spelling' for two years so I'm not sure what else to do. It's the same hoof that had the abscess but that's long ago now and shouldn't be affecting him. Could find no swelling or heat in leg or hoof. Of course I don't have hoof testers so can't tell if it's the hoof or not. The lameness is very minor yet I don't want to ride him when he's not right. Took the saddle down and thought if everything went well I'd have a ride on him.

Peter is goingn to modify my old endurance bridle, made of lightweight nylon, so that I can attach reins to it. He took Balthazar's measurement (above the muzzle). Riding with this modified bridle will give clearer signals than riding with the knot below a regular rope halter like a pseudo bosal.

I didn't realize I missed horses so much. I fed them every day, turned them out in the morning, patted them, checked them over for problems, sometimes groomed them, especially in the spring when they are losing their winter coats, but otherwise I hadn't interacted with them for such a long time. Now I'm excited, looking forward to going bush, riding in company (Peter's got an old friend, also a horseperson who is keen to trail ride), and just spending special time with my special horse.

Balthazar and I

Had a really good session with Balthazar this evening. Have been trying to fit in a few sessions a week of only 10 or 15 minutes to re-introduce both of us to work. He's been on holiday for about two years so I don't want to overload his brain or his body. Not that it's hard although trotting around on a short longe can put some strain on joints, muscle and sinew if overdone. Short sessions should start to build some topline and flexibility before I put a saddle on. Being a thoroughbred he's not overly developed along his spine.

Reread Alexandra Kurland a few days ago and wanted to approach the clicker sessions more slowly. I have always been impatient and have to force myself to slow down, let Balthazar finish chewing before asking for something else. The last time I worked with him it was obvious I was going too fast because he started to get a little anxious and he was taking the carrot but not chewing it. It was a wake up call for these sessions should be pleasant for both of us. And I was getting anxious too. So I went out tonight with the idea that I would only work on the back up. We didn't fare well at first. Balthazar was so uninspired that he looked as though he was falling asleep. The softly softly approach was too soft. What to do? Send him around in a circle. He is eager to trot and keep trotting going left and reluctant to start going right. We work more to the right, his stiff side. Pushed him off me, first with the end of the lead (not hitting) and then with a gesture for he tends to spiral in on top of me. Also, when he halts going either way, but especially to the right he often backs up without being asked. He also wants to change direction. Eventually he did a few circles either way that were good. He wasn't stressed either, relaxed and nickering for his treat which he chewed rather than holding in his mouth. When we returned to the back up with a hand gesture he was brilliant. Instead of one lazy step he smartly backed up for four steps. I was very pleased. I think he was too. I grazed him on the green grass over the septic tank for a few minutes as well.

Having a break from riding or even working with Balthazar has given me the opportunity to try and do things differently. I'm not in a rut. Neither is he. I want this to be a real breakthrough time for both of us. I'm reading some Parelli notes Peter has given me as well as looking at clickerhorse on the net. I am hopeful that I am more mature and that doing yoga for two years has made a difference not only in my body but in my mind. If I am in touch with my body and mind and breath, I can stay grounded and calm. And patient.

I know I am quick to anger. I don't get angry often but am amazed at how quickly and with how much force anger manifests when it comes. It's like a whole other person lurks inside me, a very scary person. The things I am ashamed about in my life have to do mostly with allowing anger full rein. I do think anger, righteous anger, can be constructive in motivating me but anger born of frustration or fear is not. And that flavour of anger is unfortunately the one I am familiar with. I'm still alive, mobile and breathing so still have the opportunity to grapple with that ugly aspect of myself. It was a small step tonight but a powerful one for it showed me that taking the time, remaining calm, making decisions based on objective observation make for a happy relationship between Balthazar and I.