Today was the last day of the Liberty & Horse Behaviour course, which gives me mixed emotions. I am sad to be saying goodbye to those who are leaving, like Lynn. Yet excited that next week we begin riding in the Fluidity I course.The day started with Remuda taken by Jesse covering the necessary preparation for the next course. This involved getting your horse ready for saddling, saddling and then preparing for mounting (but not).
Since saddling is a squeeze and friendly games activity, Jesse began by playing all 7 games, with an emphasis on these two games. The desired outcome was a horse that was relaxed in their gaits, asking questions and sensitive to suggestions.
The demo horse was my house mate Christine's mare Sierra, who is usually very dominant and typically a left brain introvert, but the horse that showed up was right brain extrovert - how interesting! So Jesse interrupted the right brain behaviour and gained the respect necessary to start communicating. He then played the 7 games and Sierra even jumped her first ever barrels! Christine was a very proud Mum!
After establishing a rapport and achieving the required relaxation, attention and respect, Jesse moved on to the saddling. Did he just go and put the saddle on now? No, he played the friendly game with the pad in zone 3 first and then tried unexpected things like pulling it all the way over her head or butt (using rhythm, relaxation and retreat). When Sierra was happy with this he then put the saddle on. He emphasised the importance that the cinching (girthing for us English riders) was done quickly so that you don't end up in a situation where the horse goes right brain extrovert and is running around with the saddle under the belly BUT this does not mean you forget to be relaxed!
With the saddle now on, Jesse replayed the 7 games with Sierra, including jumping the barrels, until the relaxed gaits, the questions and the sensitivity was there. It was interesting that this took a fraction of the time, as the effort already put in had set this up to be successful! Now the positioning the horse for mounting practice. Simply sit on the fence and play friendly/squeeze with all the zones passing and stopping by you, without the feet needing to move or the back end swinging out. When this is really good, do not mount, simply walk away and play in the Playground or Savvy Park with the saddle on (as if it isn't there). This not mounting seemed to blow Sierra's mind - I think she had the assumption that the saddle on equal human rides. Remember the 8 Principles number 2 - Don't make or teach assumptions!
Apparently Pat Parelli has this saying for saddling: Always saddle a colt (young horse) as if it has been saddled a thousand times, and a riding horse, as if it is the first time!
Today's background card was very apt: Attitude. The 3 attitudes that make a good horseman are:
- Positive
- Progressive
- Natural
Day Ten of Liberty & Horse Behaviour (Finale)
The last day or Finale to Liberty & Horse Behaviour started with some predator 'praise, recognition and pork chops'! We all received our course certificate and t-shirt! I didn't know we got a certificate (oh what a predator I am)! Then we had an overview, looking at clips and footage we had watched on Day 1 and realised how our 'eyes' or perspective had changed in the past 2 weeks. We noticed different things, we understood more and we were less judgmental - very interesting. We also discussed the major principles in partners and what they meant to us today vs. last monday. We all have learned so much and become better horsemen as a result - not perfect, but better!
I decided to have a quality, undemanding time session with Roget this afternoon, so we went to the hill in the Playground and chilled - he grazed and I dozed. Things were all going great, then I saw Roget grow about 2 hands and fixate on something out towards the forest. So while I turned to look, thinking 'I wonder what Roget is looking at', he decided that perhaps his life was in danger and turned and galloped back to his pen, where I am reliably informed, he did a slide stop and calmed down immediately!
I lazily walked back to the pen thinking 'what a missed chance to show Roget what a good leader I am' but how I could use this as a lesson learned. I acted like a predator and became interested in what he was looking at, when I should have been a leader and removed Roget from the situation of fear, before he felt the need to leg it! I could always have a had a look afterwards! It seems that controlling my natural human instincts requires more effort!!!!!!
Well tomorrow is another day and we get another '1000 new starts' so hopefully I can be a better leader for him then.
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