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We Are Flying Solo

November 1, 2011

Do Equine Epiphanies Have Giant Lightbulbs?

I've made a warmup routine for Encore -- since we don't yet have much of a bend button or a leg yield button yet, I use circles to soften his body and regulate his rhythm.  We work in a figure 8 of two 20-meter circles at the trot, first thing, every time.  I want him to recognize that ok, it's time to soften and bend through my body and pick up a quiet rhythm.

I think the unicorn horn grows out of his star.  See it??
We change directions back and forth until he begins to soften and lower his head, offering moments of pliability each way. Tracking left is markedly harder, I can feel the tightness on the right side of his body, resisting the stretch. Then we spiral the circles in and leg yield back out (in a fakey sort of way) and take a walk break.

Tonight, after our walk break, I thought, let's start some transition work. I put Encore in the bridle at the walk and asked for a trot. I'll be damned if that little horse didn't lift his back, soften his jaw, and step into the softest little trot, perfectly on the bridle -- and stay there. Perhaps you heard my squeaks of glee as we figure-eighted around the arena in this delightful gait. What took Solo a year and a half, this horse just got, CLICK, in six weeks.

And just like that, he had it. We did a few transitions back and forth to walk, a couple of which were lovely and balanced. It took all my willpower to end the session with some brief canter work and not just trot around in that blissful shape for the rest of the night.

Ohhhh, this winter is going to be fun.

14 comments:

  1. That's fantastic! My mare spoiled me. Where as my pony took weeks of asking him to bend and soften before you could get even the briefest moment of correctness, she figured it out in about 4 rides. Its amazing what not being messed up by humans combined with a bright mind can do. It sounds like Encore's definitely got a good head on his... withers :)

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  2. That is great!! You two are doing so great! Has it been six weeks already?? It does not seem that long. When Steady first came off the track we did lots of carrot stretches and it really helped to get some movement in his neck. I so wish that my lesson with Dorothy Crowell video was not ruined because she gave an exercise that got Steady moving off my leg in a matter of a few rides and it has made a night and day difference. But to explain what she did would be next to impossible for me because it has some level of contortion involved. I am so happy for you. It sounds like you are doing everything right with him and that is fantastic.

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  3. That is great! Some of them just learn fast, and the ones that haven't had someone waterski on their mouths all the time are less resistant to this. You guys are going to make a lot of progress this winter.

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  4. First of all, I always tell Laz that his star is the base of his invisible unicorn too! :) LOVE it

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  5. Also-these boys just have that WORK ETHIC to please. It's amazeballs.

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  6. Sounds like Encore is a smart boy and willing to please. Glad you are enjoying him.

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  7. Y'all are definitely right -- so much easier when someone has not messed them up first!

    Amy, I know, I can't believe how time is flying!

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  8. Oh, what an amazing horse he is going to be! Well, even more amazing:) What a great ride-you must have been smiling all day:)

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  9. Hehee, yes, I still have that grin on my face!

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  10. Whahoo! There isn't much that is lovelier than feeling the 'click' moment, and realizing it's not a moment, that he's GOT IT.

    I can see you walking on clouds. I bet he was too. Was he SO proud of himself? ;)

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  11. Thanks, TLH! I think he was quite pleased that he got it, funny little thing.

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  12. Sounds like Encore and Keegan are in similar phases of their training. Also sounds like you are having as much fun as I am and doing a better job posting about it.

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