tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996505457028956833.post435345993137136817..comments2023-06-10T10:37:13.281-05:00Comments on Horsemanship in Harmony: Obstacles, Hang-Ups, Roadblocks and Sticky SpotsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03261044008845212950noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996505457028956833.post-34209541159028123442010-11-30T21:26:51.031-06:002010-11-30T21:26:51.031-06:00Clare - the weird thing with Cricket is that she r...Clare - the weird thing with Cricket is that she responds so beautifully to body movement, leg pressure, focus, etc. Except when she doesn't. Then, if I need to use the stick to reinforce something, she bites at it. I think it's dominance (you can't make me) coupled with lack of confidence (you've never properly explained what that means from up on Z3. I've started playing friendly games - rubbing her with the stick and just keeping it up until she stops biting. Our last session was really good.<br /><br />Using CT for canter - I've never stuck with it long enough to get a free, forward canter. She's always halting, waiting for the click and treat. I'm using treats to reward her but not in a specific C/T manner. Not sure how it's going to play out - we shall see.<br /><br />Tina - you'll be reading all about my trials and tribulations as I work through the canter. The funny thing is that Cricket *wants* to canter under saddle, is always offering it, easy to move into it, etc. On the ground, it's like pulling teeth. Explain that one to me!<br /><br />I've watched some different auditions and I'm convinced I can do the majority of it at the walk and trot. But I need to feel confident enough to canter her with at least one stick in my hand. We're going to work on that this winter and see if we can muster an attempt at an audition in the spring.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08035597114351155375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996505457028956833.post-30446059929949274972010-11-30T21:10:46.261-06:002010-11-30T21:10:46.261-06:00We so need a brainstorming session, you and I! LOL...We so need a brainstorming session, you and I! LOL. Maintain gait at the canter is holding us back, too. And, I can totally relate to your Freestyle woes. I'll tell you, I did mine, hoping for L2, and got L3. It wasn't perfect, and in watching it again the other night, it wasn't even very good (to me). <br /><br />Dixie also gets upset if I have to use the sticks, and I suspect it's because (in her opinion) I don't use them fairly. She might be right, as I have a lot less emotional fitness riding. At my Kristi Smith clinic in Oct, I instead learned to play with some different techniques rather than resorting to the sticks (and pissing her off). For instance, when she'd leave the rail in FTR, my first tactic was to "brickwall her" and use my stick hard to let her know there was a brickwall there and she wasn't to run into it. Yeah, that just made her angry. So instead if she'd come off the rail, I'd say, you want to go in the middle - great, lets canter and do some sideways and some turns on the FH and some other more challenging stuff. That way trotting on the rail looked pretty darn good! <br /><br />Having an LBI is both a curse and blessing. At least she's teaching me to think outside the box!<br /><br />Good luck, and please share anything that works for you!!Tinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393381752572491969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996505457028956833.post-7704343191994838742010-11-30T19:54:14.569-06:002010-11-30T19:54:14.569-06:00Very, very interesting. You are well over my head...Very, very interesting. You are well over my head here.. If you start your phase 1 with the carrot stick way out to the side, does it make any difference in her biting response? I wonder if utilizing a little CT would help with teaching her to maintain a canter? <br /><br />Now to action! :-)Naturally Gaitedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04979228208328700204noreply@blogger.com