Today we played with obstacles as they were already set up.
After crossing the bridge and exploring the barrels, cones and poles, we began to review porcupine game FQ yields. Kai was very light but he needed reminders to not lean on the halter and to put his weight back and pivot. He has the tendency to "bottle spin" as Pat Parelli puts it- when the horse moves both ends during yields. Soon Kai was putting very nice effort into his yields so we moved on to sideways game. Kai gets disconnected when going sideways, almost like he is on auto pilot. He bends away from me and completely ignores light phases. He also gets emotional when going to the right.
I asked him to go to the left first as that is easier for him. I exhaled and went to neutral to ask him to stop and then bumped the rope. He stopped when I was neutral on the third try. I then moved on to the right side. Kai got emotional and tried to burst through my bubble to the left. I tagged him on the shoulder which made him jump up, fart in mid air and take off to the right. We were playing with the 22' line so I had plenty of drift. As the rope ran out I held onto him with the power position. Kai tried to go the other way but I blocked him. He did another jump in the air and started to run circles around me while pulling on the rope. I just stood there in the power position trying to be as neutral as possible. When I felt Kai slowed a little I asked him to disengage his HQ. Then I calmly positioned him back on the fence and he did a nice sideways to the right and stopped when I asked him. Then I breathed out and Kai mirrored me and breathed out also. I decided to have a rest so that I could think things over and so that Kai had a reward for doing nice sideways.
I think he reacted this way because he was trying to avoid me and he also had a bit of anxiety. I am also pretty sure that it is not going sideways that is the problem. The problem is that he is a bit more wary of things in that eye in general and being up against the wall makes him feel more trapped.
He did react rather mildly and he calmed down quickly. This is the only right brain thing he has done so far.
Pat Parelli was right once again, some horses can move forwards, backwards, left, right, up and down all at once!
Sorry Kai, you do not qualify to do Lipizzaner airs above the ground. No matter how well you try to imitate them.
Then mom filmed a video of me playing so that I could watch it and critic myself. Next I tied Kai in the arena for a while so that I could get his breakfast and help Kaila a little. When Kai finished gobbling I pulled myself together and filmed another video. It was a big achievement for me as I get very tense if someone is filming which hinders my horsemanship. Hopefully when I film my auditions I will be more comfortable with the camera.
After crossing the bridge and exploring the barrels, cones and poles, we began to review porcupine game FQ yields. Kai was very light but he needed reminders to not lean on the halter and to put his weight back and pivot. He has the tendency to "bottle spin" as Pat Parelli puts it- when the horse moves both ends during yields. Soon Kai was putting very nice effort into his yields so we moved on to sideways game. Kai gets disconnected when going sideways, almost like he is on auto pilot. He bends away from me and completely ignores light phases. He also gets emotional when going to the right.
I asked him to go to the left first as that is easier for him. I exhaled and went to neutral to ask him to stop and then bumped the rope. He stopped when I was neutral on the third try. I then moved on to the right side. Kai got emotional and tried to burst through my bubble to the left. I tagged him on the shoulder which made him jump up, fart in mid air and take off to the right. We were playing with the 22' line so I had plenty of drift. As the rope ran out I held onto him with the power position. Kai tried to go the other way but I blocked him. He did another jump in the air and started to run circles around me while pulling on the rope. I just stood there in the power position trying to be as neutral as possible. When I felt Kai slowed a little I asked him to disengage his HQ. Then I calmly positioned him back on the fence and he did a nice sideways to the right and stopped when I asked him. Then I breathed out and Kai mirrored me and breathed out also. I decided to have a rest so that I could think things over and so that Kai had a reward for doing nice sideways.
I think he reacted this way because he was trying to avoid me and he also had a bit of anxiety. I am also pretty sure that it is not going sideways that is the problem. The problem is that he is a bit more wary of things in that eye in general and being up against the wall makes him feel more trapped.
He did react rather mildly and he calmed down quickly. This is the only right brain thing he has done so far.
Pat Parelli was right once again, some horses can move forwards, backwards, left, right, up and down all at once!
Sorry Kai, you do not qualify to do Lipizzaner airs above the ground. No matter how well you try to imitate them.
Then mom filmed a video of me playing so that I could watch it and critic myself. Next I tied Kai in the arena for a while so that I could get his breakfast and help Kaila a little. When Kai finished gobbling I pulled myself together and filmed another video. It was a big achievement for me as I get very tense if someone is filming which hinders my horsemanship. Hopefully when I film my auditions I will be more comfortable with the camera.
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