Training Video 2 – Progressing Familiarisation & Feel games + adding Focus games now too.
So now I’m starting to communicate to all four of his feet, his inside shoulder and his mind. We will continue to progress these new games and start using them for a purpose as we go. Once we have some real connection through the games we can start having fun and adding obstacles to the mix. I will do an update in a week or so to show how we’re getting on so remember ‘Practise makes Progress’ 🙂
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LESSON 2 UPDATE – showing Spirit’s progress with last week’s lesson
Training Video 1 – Basic Familiarisation & Feel games
Familiarisation = getting Spirit used to things, energy, motion, noise using approach and retreat and not over facing him with stimuli. I want him to be able to become familiar with things and not be frightened or shut down. I’m looking for relaxation when doing this so I will go as gently as he needs but progress when he’s okay about it. This game is the most important one and as relaxation is the goal I will be able can return to it often to reassure Spirit to find that sweet spot regularly when he needs it.
Feel = This is where I ask for specific moves by touching the horse. I work on these to help him understand my riding aids and I want to make sure those are good before I ride him, more so because he will be going bitless so working on a feel from the halter/lead rope is paramount to a good bitless start. These moves are done by pulsing cues between halter/rope and hand on body and I’m looking to move all 4 feet in all 4 directions with equal understanding, lightness and purity as we go along…for now, just one step is good but I will make sure that one step is done well before releasing/rewarding so that Spirit understands.
Process = Play for 7 days in a row to ensure lessons are understood well. Just one step and reward after by a big breath out, release hands on lead rope and horses body to cause a stop, some scratches at his withers which he loves or even just resting next to him. I will give him a BIG reward at the end of each session with some of his favourite pony nuts on the ground just before I rub him and walk off showing the end of the session clearly.
Progress = After working on asking for one step for 7 days I will start to introduce more steps slowly, making sure I use my ‘pulsing cues’, this makes sure I end up with smooth moves and no brace in the horse (physically, mentally or emotionally / neck,head, body, legs, mind). I will show this progress as we go 🙂