I don't even think about the catching now, every morning I call when I do the boys breakfast and both boys stand at the fence waiting to be caught, tied up and fed :-D I'm sure things will revert when I move them, but I hope that Ziggy is acclimatised enough now to still want to come back despite the freedom!
Work is ramping up a bit now, Ziggy has had a bridle on the last two days and has accepted it perfectly happily - he was bitted before I bought him so I didn't expect any issues on that front. I've put him straight in a NS team up loose ring which he's fine with, nicely mouthing and soft with it.
As I don't have a school at home we're working on the back lawn (much to Superhubby's horror!!)
The sessions take the same format each time with a start on close inhand work followed by larger circle work on each rein. We work on flexion & bend, pace and relaxation - so giravolta, turn on forehand, straight etc ...now with added stretching FDO.
As he knows how to lunge already on the large circle work I'm looking for refinement of what he already does - instant change of pace reactions with as light an aid as possible (as much as needed, as little as required) and now I'm introducing the concept of transitions within the pace. He's actively stretching down and out now when asked rather than running around with his head in the air and that neck bulging, and all done without a chambon / side reins. I have them in case I needed them, but from being shown the stretch close in-hand he's working out for himself a better carriage which is great
I introduced the idea of long reins yesterday - knowing he can be a bit handy behind I started with the long line direct rein change of direction exercise and he picked it up immediately and completely calmly so I attached a second line and just in walk did a couple of circuits with a supportive outside line. No issues at all so we can work this into a couple of sessions a week and build his confidence up until we can double line lunge properly....then start adding proper long lining in prep for in hand hacking pre backing!
On that note I'm already standing with him, arms over his back, reaching over etc. I'll introduce a step in the next day or so too...
Every session finishes with a nice bow, it's his party piece and he's very proud of himself as he knows it marks the end of the session when he's done well. He's so motivated to please and a joy to work with!!
This sounds like lovely work Larri. I'd love to know more about how you encourage the stretch down up close, then translate it to large circle work. Any chance of some vid or pics of this?
ReplyDeleteThanks Ash! I'll try and persuade hubby to take pics or vid again, I'm getting harangued on EE for them too lol!
ReplyDeleteThe request to stretch down always starts when standing still and it's a gentle repetitive (non escalating) ask on the rope stopping the instant he moves his head down, the idea is always look to use as light an aid as possible and reward with a release the instant you get a good try. Once the feel of a downward movement is accepted as a cue I move to doing the same at a walk but adding a visual arm movement to invite him to seek to lower his head (it'll be the same movement I'll use when ridden to ask the horse to take the contact forwards down and out!) It's then a matter of asking on the circle at increasing distance once it's established :-D
wish i could persuade Monf that lunging holds any attractions - he's essentially not interested in doing it, and won't! a shame...
ReplyDeleteHas he ever actually been taught though Claire? Ziggy is the only one of mine who's come to me knowing it already others are all taught from scratch, starting close in-hand and working out.
ReplyDeleteAaaahh I see. That's pretty much what I'm doing with Faith at the moment just at liberty, but at a standstill. I've basically taught her a cue, just a hand signal, to lower her head and stretch her neck, then we will work on doing this while she is walking, and build it up from there. Good stuff.
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