Spirit – Training Video 5

Today we just hung out together after I had trimmed Spirit’s hooves and I decided to just have a wee session with the techniques we’ve been learning. To use those techniques for a purpose is what it’s all about whether it’s trailer loading, getting ready to mount, riding or going through a river….putting feet up on a pedestal helps with all those kinds of things as it builds a trusting connection that gives the two of us a way of communicating. What I try to do is set things up where I ask a question which involves a task and through the process of Spirit asking questions about that task he uses his brain to figure out what it is that I’m asking him. This thinking process is what bonds us more. We started off with the ABC’s of that communication but slowly we are getting more fluid in this language together.

 

Pedestal Update: Third practise session….going pretty well….

 

  • Shelley – HorseSavvy

 

Spirit – Training Video 4

This is Spirit and our first Bitless Riding Video together and the start of his Bitless journey. It shows the very beginnings of riding for us which is our halt, what is known as a one rein stop or Lateral Flexion. This is our emergency halt and we will practise this a LOT, from a standstill, then from a walk, then from a trot/canter which will be after I’ve directed him onto a circle, into a disengage of the hindquarters and into a LF for that relaxed halt with Spirit’s neck/mind nice and soft and that goes for my body/mind too. Later on I will be doing this now and mostly stopping through our breathing, body cue connection but for now practising our emergency stop will make it easier if I have to ever use it and it won’t cause a brace as it will become a relaxation technique through learned behaviour.

  • Shelley – HorseSavvy

 

 

Spirit – Training Video 3

The 3F’s: Slowly my  Familiarisation, Feel, Focus techniques are working more together, I’m working on trying to connect the cues from a focus first, a thought, a body stance, then some energy and then a feel if necessary and with Familiarisation I’m working on showing Spirit that things that flap, make noise and move don’t mean he has to move, only when I put my own energy towards him it does it mean move..as in when I move my body and flap with my stick/string to encourage forward movement.

Familiarisation: Umbrella and rope over head

Feel: Changing sides with a forehand move, Rope around Spins

Focus: Starting half circles and circles in trot

Again we will practise these particular moves for 7 training days in a row, the first 2 lessons games will also be included now and then so nothing gets left or forgotten.

Lesson 3 

 

  • Shelley – HorseSavvy