Finding (True) Neutral

I want to discuss something that has been on my mind lately and has become a new personal challenge for me, and that is finding my true neutral. When it comes to horsemanship, Pat always says "it's the release that teaches" and going back to neutral is a reward for your horse. Furthermore, going to neutral can help your horse learn to maintain his/her own responsibility. When you are riding and you hands are in neutral it means you are no longer micromanaging your horse with the reins, you have given him a cue and now it is his responsibility to follow through with the objective. The same goes for games on the ground. The circling game is the best example, we ask the horse to maintain gait, and maintain direction, while we stay in neutral until the we ask the horse to make a change, either to come in or to switch directions. Neutral is so important in these cases because it helps clarify what you expect of the horse, which enhances your leadership as a result, and it also helps build confidence for your horse!

So what does true neutral look like, and how is it different from regular neutral!? Well, put simply, true neutral is the absence of all energy. In true neutral, absolutely no pressure is being put on the horse. While you may be saying "uh, yeah, that is what my neutral is all the time!" Think about this example, once when Emily and I were having a lesson, the Parelli Professional we were working with told Emily she needed to go into neutral while Sonny was on the circle. She was confused because she was just standing there passing the rope behind her back with the carrot stick at her side. However, our PP went on to explain that while she felt like she was in neutral, her body was still buzzing with energy, and even though she was passing the rope and not actively pushing her horse, she had not completely relaxed and gone into true neutral....WOW! This was a major observation, and I don't think I completely understood it until now.

So today, while playing the touch it game, I tried to really monitor my energy, keep my belly button positioned away from her, look away, and take all the energy out of my body when I wanted to be in neutral. Finding true neutral is my new challenge of the month and today I found it very difficult. It is even more difficult when riding as I'm finding I hold my breath a lot! I encourage you all go out and practice this, even practice it at home on the couch. The better we can control our energy, the better horsewomen and men we can become!

It may be 95 degrees outside but I sure don't miss this weather!

Where Does the Time Go?

Weeks are flying by as I attempt to get my life together for graduation and beyond. Stress has been on the menu lately and my horse time is suffering as a result. In the past week I have been in the Emergency Department twice in an attempt to figure out why I've been getting short of breath and having really horrible chest pain. Well, here is your google search of the day because it turns out I have Costochondritis and Pleurisy which is harmless but painful and was likely induced by stress. :(

I've been working on finding my peace and directing pent up energy and nerves toward more constructive things such as playing with my horse, or not playing with her and just being with her and doing nothing. Since that can be a bit boring for blogging purposes, here are some pictures our visit from the equine dentist today (well, mostly the dopey aftermath). :)

A very drugged, very cute, Rydel.

Weekend Fun!

This weekend was an absolute blast. Saturday, Evan and I went to the Kentucky Derby with the OSU Horseman's Association. We didn't win any bets but we had a great time! 

After having such a good time, I went to the barn today and was in such a great mood! Rydel seemed extra cute and being with her made me so happy. Well, I think my good mood must have rubbed off because Rydel was particularly extroverted today and also very left brained!!! It was so much fun, she was following me everywhere and volunteering to play with things like the pedestal and the ball. She gave me some great canter circles and did a LOT of licking and chewing! With us both in a good mood I decided to ride and had a lot more success with saddling this time. We rode for about fifteen minutes but I rarely had to correct with my reins and was happy that Rydel was offering to trot! After I unsaddled we just played around with stick to me and then some undemanding time. All in all a great day and one more success I can attribute to our progress and ever-growing relationship!

Not exactly sure about this one...

You can see Sonny in the background

I'm in love!

Why I Love My Right Brain Introvert

My RBI has taught me more than I could have ever imagined and for that I am very grateful. While it is often easy to focus on the negatives of Horsenality, or use it as an excuse, I wrote this poem to focus on the positives of my horse's Horsenality. It is also to say "thank you" to the best horse in the world!

Why I love My Right Brain Introvert

Dear RBI, you are SO willing to please,

you try very hard and offer a squeeze.

A very sensitive horse you are,

a little pressure will go quite far!

I take my time, wait and see,

just how great you can be!

Foot on the pedestal, a jump or two,

it doesn't take much to be a breakthrough.

You taught me balance and how much is too much,

Cones, barrels, tarps, with your nose you now touch.

Sweet little horse, you are just what I need.

Together as partners we will succeed! 

Happy Day :D

After feeling discouraged for about a week or so now, I finally have a reason to be happy. Yesterday, in an effort to work on our "relationship problems" and fix our catching game, I set up a small make-shift round pen in our indoor arena out of big cones and yard tape. I started playing around with hindquarter disengagement leading into the stick to me game- this is where I found our problem (or one of them). I noticed, and was not surprised, that Rydel can't move her hindquarters around and give me her right eye, but she will do it from the opposite side to give me her left eye. Hmmm! So I need to do more friendly game on her right side. After playing with it some more she finally understood that walking in an arc toward her hind end and putting a little pressure on her means "spin around, give me two eyes, and walk with me." Keeping things short, sweet, and successful, we ended when she could do it on both sides and was feeling pretty relaxed with me on her right side.

Well...Today was a huge testament to the fact that doing less sooner pays off because when I went into the pasture to get Rydel, all it took was a little pressure on her hindquarters and she was walking back toward the barn with me!! She had to stop at some thresholds in which case we took our time and played the game again, but I was thrilled when she stopped a few times to blow out and relax. She even followed me all the way into the barn without me having to touch her at all and walked right into her stall! :D That is a success in my book.

New Kensington Protective Sheet!

Been giving Rydel lots of down time as I have spent the week nursing multiple skin issues. On the up side, today I got to try on her new Kensington Protective Sheet! I was introduced to the brand at Equine Affaire and was impressed with the quality and outstanding warranty policy so I decided to give it a try. So far this is the best fitting sheet I have found for Rydel since she is so small. The sheet is supposed to protect from flies, UV rays (which means no more bleaching out!), dirt, and water. I'll let you know how it works out, but in the meantime, here are some pictures!

Without the mask

Snazzy in full garb

Sharing a moment

Awww!

How Interesting...

Lately I have been feeling a little bit stumped and the fact that I haven't had much time to play with Rydel has only made it worse. When I do get some time, I've been practicing my catching game with Rydel and found out some interesting things......It doesn't take long for her to turn and look at me and even keep her attention on me ears forward but it seems like no matter what I do, turn around, turn around and walk away, walk away keeping my body facing her, turn around and bend down, etc. I cannot get her to follow me. The whole time she will just stand there with her ears on me almost as if she's saying "well!? Are you coming over here or what?" Now, if I put enough pressure on her hindquarters I can get her to eventually have to turn enough that she will walk a few steps with me, but this feels like cheating and I don't know if her heart is really in it. Tomorrow I will try to play the catching game in a smaller space than a pasture or large arena, for now though...all I can say is "how interesting."

The catching game may have us stumped but we are great at playing touch it! 

RBI's are so funny- it's hard for her to look at me with two eyes from this distance.