Natural Horsemanship with my Haflinger!

my plan to give giddy two days to take it all in, ended up being three as the weather here was unbelievable, torrential rain, high speed winds, not a day for riding

today was hugely interesting, left rein canter online was actually better which is odd, got a great bit of footage of what i am sure is the perfect demonstration of this task on this rein

going to the right, at one point she slipped, and then went a tad right brained, did a circuit and came in and was blowing and puffing really hard, proving to me that all the blowing she has been doing (but not in the last few sessions) is related to emotions and not fitness

my ridden work was not so hot today, didnt really have a clear plan, and boy does it make a difference to the results

I knew it would happen... today giddy didnt want to go on the trailer, she wasnt particularly obstreperous about it, just stood on the ramp looking at me, shame really as she has been going on with total perfection for some time now; but she has of course cottoned on that it means she is off to work

I tried explaining to her that we all have to go to work ;0))

anyway, didnt take long, and on she went, but I am mindful that i need to somehow make this programme at least marginally entertaining for her!

amazing how changes can happen so quickly, today she is offering that rocking horse canter on both reins on the 22ft, got two circuits both ways, often she is dropping to trot then back up without being asked, or with just a light lift of the rein; remarkable results in such a short time just from having a plan and a programme, being consistent, making some changes in myself, and being on a good surface

she is such a smart little mare, I think she has basically realised that the "dont change gait" principle does actually apply in canter too; so now she has accepted this, she has found herself a little canter that uses a lot less energy than life up and lots of bucks, slides etc, although that can be fun to be around when shes like that, but for sure it's not going to get that task passed!

now, I know at some point I am going to need more life, but its easier to get more energy from here, than to gain respect when she is going full blast; and I know Ali is right in what she says, she has to be able to canter with me in neutral for one or more laps if we are going to get the ridden canter

worked on ridden sideways today, and thats going a lot better

and as yesterday, worked on those millions of transitions

according to the weigh tape, she has lost a grand total of 12 kilos in the past 7 days, very, very nearly two stone! Amazing

giddy bless her heart is going to have a day off tomorrow

more improvements today

had a lovely section of canter on the right rein, not leaning on the halter, and looked really balanced; again, that very slow rocking horese canter we had yesterday; she did a full circuit straight from the send, and me not moving an inch (left rein not so hot, but better than it was yesterday)

I have totally underestimated the power of neutral I think, so really working on this, so if she's cantering, I am forcing myself to be really, really still and being prepared to move and tag her the instant she drops, this I think is a big part of the puzzle, so if shes cantering, I figure whatever sort of canter it is, it will do!

and then..........

walked some cloverleafs, trotted some cloverleafs, did stacks of transitions both reins.....

asked for a faster trot up the long side, and I felt her rock back and she cantered ;0))))

she only held a stride, but it was calm and balanced and she just offered it up; it wasn't even from one of those really manic trots she can do, just asked for a little energy, and she just did it

I got off at this point as it felt like a really big try on her part and I wasn't even looking for it

happy days ;0)

of my 7 day and 8 week programme

so tantalisingly close to being officially level 2 now, but then so far, the only way its going to happen is to get a serious programme in place, because time is running out until its all change on the 1st January; I like deadlines, so the motivation is on the rise!

left to assess: just the mounting task, as she needs to put herself in place more, ridden sideways, needs to move off leg more, the online canter task, and the dreaded ridden drop to trots

soooooooo, 8 weeks in which to get it done; so the first part of the plan is now in place, the sand school up the road is now mine to use unlimited between 12 and 3 during the week, they did me a fab deal of £25 per week, its hassle loading up every day, but its only 5 minutes away

it's just not fair on Giddy to expect her to do the canter task at home on the slippy grass, so this is making life so much easier

2 days in and she is being brilliant, not once has she got in a tizz, gone all bracey or dropped into that resistant mode

ali has set us a 7 day programme - set out for 10 laps of canter on the 22ft, doesnt matter if she canters, but she has to do 10 laps, and I am looking for as much canter as possible; sadly the footage of the canter task wasnt good enough, as although she was life up, I wasnt in neutral, and the other footage where I am, she doesnt maintain gait

genuinely, she is unfit, and she does get puffed, but I am now reading this as emotional, she will gallop full pelt in the field, up hills, at length, and not be as out of breath as 10 laps on a 22ft! but I am seeing some improvements; today, she was offering a really, really slow, rocking horse canter on one rein, dropping to trot, then next stride lifting herself back into canter; it is difficult to know if this is really enough of a try, but then again, I dont want to lose a canter that looks rideable, and looks like she could collect up from this position; certainly looks nicer than the flat out mad canter that she does for a lap before sliding to a stop!

so, here it is, my 8 week plan

5 days a week in the sand school, one or two hacks on a weekend / play day etc

get giddy and me fitter

I WILL return to my yoga and pilates to help with my position, which subsequently should help our ridden canter

perhaps a couple of lessons at the riding school to help my position in canter transitions on a horse thats not going to buck ;0)

there it is, in writing, no going back, official level 2 here we come, I am putting the view of "if Eddy Modde cant get her to canter, then neither will I be able to", firmly behind me, and its a brand new motivated me that believes we CAN do this!