SavvyCruse

General

Horsenalities

Incentives can be food, rest, scratches, reverse physiology. Horsenality is a strategy not an excuse. Still need to be assertive but use different strategies. More variety for any savvy even if he is LBI. Increase variety slowly to create playfulness. Accept what he gives but also shape it how you want.

Five Areas of Confidence
· In you as a Leader L
· In Themselves T
· In Herd H
· In Environment E
· When Learning L

Creating Puzzles
· Imagination
· What horse finds interesting
· Could be a small thing
· Be aware of body language

Solving Puzzles
· Leadership is important
· Have a plan
· Play the 7 games in 5 zones
· Accept what they offer
· Isolate Zones
· Use different obstacles

Patterns
· Gives you consistency and focus
· Horses like them
· Gives us a plan
· Calms them and calms us
· Makes us more precise
· Gives a sense of achievement

The number of times and how long depends on the horse. When they make a change, be particular i.e. have a plan and know when to stop. It’s important to decide pace, direction etc before you start. Pattern for a long horse – bullseye, figure of eight, weave. Pattern for a short horse – corners, follow the rail, point to point.

Horseman’s Developing Chart

Control, Confidence and Competence. When you play with your horse and he wins the game, he doesn’t feel good. He feels like he can’t rely on you as a leader yet. If you criticise yourself or have self-doubts, he feels like you are criticising him. Need to make him feel positive and like a winner by feeling that yourself. This is because they feel as a herd – they feel the same as the leader.

Control – accept leadership. Make sure its with everything e.g. saddling i.e. a control situation having your personal space protected is the most important thing for respect. They don’t run into their herd alpha. When you play the seven games, you are creating challenges to get the horse outside the comfort zones so that he knows that you can handle it. When he is unconfident, he knows you are a good leader. Do the basics with L4 savvy.

Leadership. What do we need in ourselves to be a good leader for ourselves first so that the horse wants to be with you no matter what? Make sure you are emotionally strong. Be prepared to answer the horse’s questions even if you don’t know the answer. Think about it later.

Three leadership qualities to improve upon for horses (Paul):
1. Be clear
2. Have a plan
3. Be imaginative

Three leadership qualities to improve upon for horses (Emily):
1. Assertive
2. Focussed
3. Have a plan

Bits. Confidence snaffle. Confidence in Z1. Also with a 12ft line, end with snap it weighted. Sweet Iron Snaffle. Stay in only for a while to build confidence in Z1. Bit does not give and horses cannot reach for it. More for control and1 rein riding. Myler comfort snaffle. Mecate has three ties:
1. horse
2. belt
3. neck
With any snaffle, use a chin strap. Also, when using finesse reins, lead by the throat lash. Fluid rein gives confidence in Z1. Pommel reins – use in L5 for one rein riding but pulls on both at once. Use on bits with move leverage. Bossal – very stiff nose piece. Have to have good hands.

Cradle Bridle. Cradles head in 5 places:
1. nose
2. chin
3. poll
4. bar
5. tongue relief

Small ring puts pressure on bit and nose. Large ring just bit. 3 bit types:
C1 – RBE – has bar and tongue pressure to give leadership like you are holding hands
C2 – RBI – pressure on the bar with some tongue relief
C3 – LBE/LBI – tongue relief to allow horse to go
Use bungee strap for freestyle, fixed strap for finesse.

Saddles. English Fluidity – standard/extra wide. Leave girth attached, saddle up the same side, girth closest. V- straps on saddle to give stability. Natural Performer – long wide equiflex tree. Do up front cinch then back. Vice versa to undo. Ranching roper – solid horn. Also on equiflex tree.

Shimming. Three reasons to shim:
1. To get human on balance point
2. Give scapula clearance
3. Muscle atrophy
Need air pad to stop unevenness of shims. Use shims to fill in hollow areas front or back. Stack shims on top of each other starting at back to allow space for scapula to move back. Have air cells open for saddling and put shims on top of them. Close cells before mounting.

Fitting Saddles. Posture – hollow. Bad – higher croup, saggy belly. Good – topline, strong tummy muscles. Find limit of scapula by lifting front leg. The second scapula mark is where the stirrup bar should be. Rotated scapulas:
· Bump = hollow behind shoulder
· Rotation = like hunched shoulders
Both caused by bad rider, bad saddle, horsenality.

Improve Posture. Playing online, keeping his mind engaged will help his posture. Maintain gait – 20 laps. Transitions get his weight back.

Theory and Quotes
When you want to learn as badly as you want air, then you’ll be easy to teach.

Balance drive and draw

You either asked the wrong question or asked the question wrong

Think about winning points with the seven games

Aim for Rhythm and Relaxation

Riding with stick – ride with stick and rein in same hand (this is the lifting hand), use free hand to reach down the rein and flex.

Fun – excellence – truth – results.

Expect a lot, accept a little, reward often (i.e. the slightest try).

The technique isn’t important, is the respect that follows that matters.

The four elements of success are:
· Talent – you are born with
· Skills – you develop
· Try – an intestinal fortitude or guts
· Luck – spelt WORK and is defined as when preparation meets opportunity.

Love, language and leadership.

Parelli is:
· Putting the relationship first
· Studying the four savvys
· Never ending self improvement

- Mind – flexion – weight – feet.

- Feel of, feel for, feel together.

There are no problems, just opportunities.

To stop the horse eating grass, get his brain thinking, for example, walk to Z5 and spank. The ‘do-something’ plan.

Phases. Suggest – Ask – Tell – Promise. I am:
· Teaching - phase 1234 3 seconds between
· Controlling
· Reinforcing - long phase 1 quick 234
· Refining - when trying but some confusion and needs support (level 3)

Phase 4 gives lightness = effective

We are only ever doing two things:
1. sensitising
2. desensitising

When using the 45’ line, always throw it out before you clip it on.

The 12 things Pat wants done well
1. Haltering/Unhaltering – When unhaltering, he keeps bend and stays, you walk away to tail.
2. Hands Free Hoof Prep
3. Trailer Loading
4. Saddling
5. Bridling – at Pat’s barn, bridles are hung up with molasses on them and a loose head stall for ease of ears.
6. Mounting and Dismounting – Mounting – put carrot stick on same side as you are mounting.
7. Neutral lateral flexion
8. Indirect Rein
9. Direct Rein
10. Supporting Rein
11. 9 Step Back Up – max of 12 paces using Phase 2
12. Soft Feel

Ambition. Know what it is so you can focus on it when things get tough. Patience sequence – how you get there.

Knots to Know
Wrap Around – start under and do 3 to 4 wraps, depending on material of post. Use for a young horse or an unknown one that might have a pull back issue.

*** unknown*** Inside to out, through, under, over, through, stop at thick bit.

Mecate – out to left.

Eight Rein positions
1. Suspension
2. Direct
3. Indirect
4. Supporting
5. Casual
6. Concentrated
7. Fixed
8. Lateral flexion

The Four Relationship Killers
1. Chauvinistic – ‘I’m better than you’; thinking you are better than someone or something else
2. Autocratic – micromanaging; do as you are told
3. Anthropomorphic – putting human emotions and values into animals; thinking a horse is doing something because it has the same values as us
4. Direct Line – not thinking laterally

The Eight Principles By Pat Parelli
1. Horsemanship Is Natural.
2. Don’t Make Or Teach Assumptions.
3. Communication Is Two Or More Individuals Sharing And Understanding An Idea.
4. Horses And Humans Have Mutual Responsibilities.
5. The Attitude Of Justice Is Effective.
6. Body Language Is The Universal Language.
7. Horses Teach Humans And Humans teach Horses.
8. Principles, Purpose And Time Are The Tools Of Teaching.

Principle Number 4 - 8 principles and the responsibilities of horse and human...
Horse
1. Act like a partner
2. Maintain Gait
3. Maintain direction
4. Look where you are going
Human
1. Act like a partner
2. Have an Independent Seat/Feet
3. Think like a horse
4. Use the natural power of focus

The 10 qualities of a Horseman (the first four also apply to the horse):
1. Heart and Desire - strength of bond, rapport (level 1), putting the relationship first
2. Respect - (level 2), mental collection, which should be mutual
3. Impulsion - (level 3) emotional collection (as opposed to scattered)
4. Flexion - physical collection (level 4)
5. Attitude (and Focus) - being positive, progressive and natural
6. Feel - the feel we give horses, fluidity is not just riding but also on the ground - also think about how communication works - mind - flexion - weight - feet
7. Timing - release that teaches, using phases
8. Balance - (focus, feel and timing give you balance)
9. Savvy - combine all the ingredients, why to do, when to do, what to do and when to quit doing what you are doing, conscious competence
10. Experience

The 7 keys to Success:
1. Attitude
2. Knowledge
3. Tools
4. Time
5. Technique
6. Imagination
7. Support

Horsenality made up of four things:
· Innate characteristics
· Learned behaviour
· Environment
· Spirit

From ‘Phycio-Cybernetics (The SUCCESS Mechanism):
1. Sense of Direction
2. Understanding
3. Courage
4. Clarity (Showing)
5. Esteem (Value/Respect)
6. Self Confidence
7. Self Acceptance

Let go of past, challenge your values and change your perspective.

Breakthrough by Anthony Robbins:
1. Change your environment
2. Confront your real issues (2nd position)
3. Embrace your strength – task
4. Change your perspective – values change
5. Let go of the past – bring out cause
6. Own your truth
7. Design a compelling future
8. Own your breakthrough

Walter Zettl’s seven steps to collection
1. Rhythm
2. Relaxation
3. Contact
4. Schwung
5. Straightness
6. Suppleness
7. Collection

Linda’s Formula for Progressing. Why is he not doing what we are asking of him?
1. Is he afraid?
2. Does he not understand what we are asking?
3. Is he being dominant?

“Watch your thoughts, for they become your words.
Watch your words, for they become your actions.
Watch your actions, for they become your habits.
Watch your habits, for they become your character.
You and I are one of life’s characters
So watch your thoughts...”

Renvers, travers, shoulder in, haunches in, shoulder out, haunches out. Know the difference, know what degree of bend should be in the body (and which direction!). Know which track the feet should be on.

Consistency = 80%, variety = 20%

Online
Three reasons to play online.
1. Preparation for riding
2. Teach human something new
3. Teach horse something new

Starting out. Friendly and relaxed – good results. Games 1, 2 and 3 in all 5 zones, halt, walk, trot.

Progress. Play 7 games in 5 zones on both sides. Increase length of rope and then move to liberty.

Preparations. Wormer, farrier, vet, spray, dental. Pick up all 4 feet – squeeze and kick/rhythm so they hold up foot.

Porcupine. Reinforce with stick if needs be but must finish with porcupine, otherwise the horse is taught driving.

Phases for Porcupine Game:
1. Touch Hair
2. Touch Skin
3. Touch Muscle
4. Touch Bone

Yo-Yo Games. Phases:
1. Wiggle finger
2. Wiggle wrist
3. Wriggle elbow
4. Wriggle shoulder

Circling Game. 3 parts:
1. Send
2. Allow
3. Bring Back
The better the send, the better the allow.

Phases for the Circling Game:
1. Lead it
2. Lift it
3. Swing it
4. Touch it

Zone 5 driving simulations. 45ft line. Lots of phases with stick. If he doesn’t listen, run to tag him behind Zone 5 (stay out of kick zone). Driving – lateral flexion Zone 5. Do it in Zone 3 if not working. Friendly rope around lower legs. Do straight lines first. Throw ropes over. 2 x 22ft or tied 45ft best. Straightness, back up, change direction. Start at walk and make sure it flows. Very soft and flowing improvements.

Drawing. Go slightly in front of Zone 1 to draw – slip grip touch, friendly. Draw on a circle – not change direction. Use with 45’ to improve change of direction, use as long reins and work on canter towards.

Canter figure of eight. Improve circle at canter, using wider cones and move feet a lot. Get maintain gait and direction better. Keep tight to barrel and tag where he was if going wide. Use the power of intention – don’t need to tag him – do need intention.

Squeeze Game. We often go direct line. Need to isolate – separate and recombine.

3 parts:
1. Send - #2 and #3
2. Allow - #1
3. Bring Back - #2, #3

Trailer preparation. Need to get first 3 games light phase 1 before you go to the trailer. Also, the horse must be very calm. Need to over prepare the first 3 games and get to the end of the rope. Also over prepare for everything to do with the trailer – bigger step up and down. Test each zone e.g. squeeze through a barrel and see where horse is confident or not confident. Build confidence in especially in zone 3 and 5. Take the horse away just before he wants to go in. Be particular about where you want his feet. Be fair and consistent with phases i.e. promise that you will do whatever it takes to help them through.

Freestyle
Saddling and Riding Preparation. When saddling, don’t leave the horse to fetch the saddle. Right hand side, right elbow, rope. Be particular. Push left had on pommel whilst doing girth. Reach for girth with hand nearest to horse’s front.

Preparation is friendly game in motion using carrot string and rope. Can also use the rope like a girth while moving. Walk beside and squeeze with hand round tummy. Work on confidence in Z3 while standing on something. Porcupine like when riding. Check ok with rope round legs, rubbing when above horse with hands and legs. Make sure the horse can move while stood on something and is not frozen in fear.

First after saddling, move his hindquarters rather than backing (for cinching). Need to walk, trot, canter and jump before riding to see what happens when his life comes up. Do pre-flight checks – hurry up and relax.

When saddled, use stirrups from ground to disengage, move front end etc. Online – send at canter circling – make sure there is no brace. Lateral flexion (without reins i.e. foot and/or with string), porcupine Z3, moving, touch Z3 on things, softness in circle send. Need to get the mental, emotional and physical – friendly in motion. Use transitions to get the horse mentally engaged on you. Porcupine in Z1, bring back in a zig zag. Do the same as you will do when riding. Throw rope over. Figs of 8 – his responsibility to do the pattern. Just guide him. If you micro manage, he will do less. If he breaks gait, tag the spot where he was. Warm up strong to ride soft.

Riding. Keep rope at fixed length and don’t let it slip unless the horse is unconfident. Be particular about getting both eyes. Use long phase 1 and then quick 2, 3 and 4. Then lateral flexion with feel and slow. Indirect rein with same feel at halt, walk, trot and canter. Remember to use legs. This helps to stop them being bracey. Go very slowly. The faster the horse goes, the slower you need to ask for flexion. Moving porcupine.

Phases for turning:
1. Eyes
2. Belly Button
3. Legs
4. Reins or stick

Phases for stopping:
1. Quit riding
2. Lift rein
3. Hold rein
4. Flex

Phases to Go:
1. Bring your life up
2. Smile with all four cheeks
3. Change you smile into a squeeze (smooch)
4. Spank if you please (yourself and then the horse)

Patterns don’t have to stick to basic pattern but need to do them in order. Adapt pattern to suit horsenality. Soft in your ribs in particular. Have a plan.
· Porcupine – reins/legs
· Driving – carrot stick
Improve quality of paces – don’t let him go really slow, expect more, especially on patterns. Make things more interesting by:
· Carrot stick tossing
· Savvy strong riding in pairs
· Beep beep
· Konga beep beep
· Driving each other on horses
Do stuff that the horse appreciates (not grazing). Alternate sessions 1 hard work with 1 easier (smaller stuff).

Simulations. Raise hand, trombone, hand in power position, close fingers slowly and wait, bend, get off.

Leadership. Don’t forget friendly when you get on to ride. For example, a RBI could do something he likes first, not much, to give him comfort.

Bridleless. More confidence. Better impulsion, better seat/relaxed canter leads and changes.

Advancing Freestyle Patterns. In order to do this, work to develop:
· Independent Seat
· Focus
· Responsibility
· Impulsion
· The less you use your reins, the more they use their brains
· Self Carriage
· Leads to finesse (checks the truth) so only use reins for refinement

Patterns. Don’t use patterns to get a connection. Get a connection before you start. Know what you want to get so you know when you want to stop and you feel and change in your horse e.g. a LB horse need variety so follow the rail with transitions, circles etc. Have a plan and use motivation – the horse knows where you might stop. Impulsion. Can we use the 7 games?

Disengagement. 1 leg is stronger than the other. It will be harder to disengage the stronger leg because the horse doesn’t want to give up using it.

Fluidity. Fluid, smooth and unconstrained in movement. To hang loosely and elegantly.

Canter on Forehand. Transitions, question box (big and small circles), engage body. Engage your body (tuck in tail bone etc) otherwise horse can’t engage himself. Retarding seat – push belly button back, imagine pushing saddle back.

Liberty
Using online to improve liberty. Good friendly game. Is he confident enough to continue eating grass. Remember your responsibilities will help him maintain his. Can you drive HQ and FQ with no rope or stick. Maintain gait/direction Z3, 4 and 5. Stay in neutral and focus. Count corrections for everything e.g. circles, driving, follow the rail, etc. Sideways pick two focus points that they can rest/graze at – helps them want to go sideways and to build desire and speed. Use markers for a squeeze to build the pattern. Can you keep the rope on the ground while doing it.

Drive and Draw. Especially Draw. Yo-yo, S patterns, Slip Grip Touch, Friendly. Play with rope through belt then take halter off. If you go somewhere then take your horse with you. Use HQ yield to create draw. Stick to me – aim for horse to come and find you. Make sure you are not teaching him something he doesn’t need to know. Make sure your expectations of him are not too high. Use to improve canter towards, change direction and spins. Porcupine – excellence with imagination. Bring your life up to have more fun. Be provocative in phases, use variety in speeds e.g. slow fast – slow.

Finesse
Stating Out. Check freestyle first, that both sides are equal. Check horse is moving away from the leg e.g. transitions and check straightness.

Engagement. When you ask a horse to engage, engage yourself as well. Bend your ribs, use the suspension rein, tense tummy, step under HQ, round back.

Feel. Needs to be soft, timing needs to be excellent. Use transitions to develop e.g. walk to canter transitions with a soft feel. First do this walk to trot. In trot, use suspension rein, bring weight back, do 2 steps in walk, back up then to trot. Do it only a few times before canter. When you change direction, do 1-2 steps back or forwards in walk and then up to previous gait.

Footfalls.

Suspension Rein. Soft feel up transitions use a suspension rein. Circle inside rein, also use for downwards transitions. Use the suspension rein with a gait if the horse hollows his back or goes on the forehand. Good for half passes and shoulders in during gait. Pick up reins like a 9-step backup and take as much rein as possible.

Shoulders In. Move shoulders, use supporting rein. Don’t over ask, keep the porcupine.

Haunches In. Don’t over ask, keep the porcupine. Come from a circle to achieve this.

Half Pass. Travel in same direction as bend. Lead with forequarters. Push with side to go sideways and forwards. Open up with other side. Check out sideways at trot and canter online. First do shoulders in, then haunches in – these are the ingredients. Then forwards and sideways until both together. Use the flexion you have. Knee, lift inside thigh to push over for swing the shoulders. Use suspension rein (inside). Do 3 times longer on weaker side.

Lead changes. Lead change ladder – practice different parts in slower gaits.
1. Confidence and relaxation – always keep this
2. Canter – walk transitions
3. Count the strides – be consistent
4. Swing the shoulders – make sure shoulder leads
5. Serpentines – suspension rein to inside of bend. Big serpentines to start with then less and less until almost straight. Builds to a straight line (important to teach the pattern) but should also keep the angles. Could also use bowtie or fig of 8 as long as they are big.
6. Change

Key Actions for NC
Learn Order of Patterns and practice them.
Driving from Z5 to increase distance and improve confidence.
Lots of maintain gait at canter and on different terrains.
Improve sideways online at trot and canter.
Improve forequarter and hindquarter yields without reins.
Clover leaf at canter.
Phases and focus.
Porcupines at liberty.
Set up precision pen.
Pat’s Precision Pen

SavvyCruse

Saturday, 3 September 2011

Shaun Freestyle - Sideways Arms Folded 20ft

Shaun Freestyle - Transitions - Seat Only

Shaun Online - Change of direction

Shaun Online - Backwards by the tail

Friday, 22 April 2011

Fast Track Theory

Fast Track Testing

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