Lisa Trowse said Fast Track Day 4 - what a relief to have some time in the classroom this morning. Spent an hour giving Jack some exercise this morning beforehand and skipped out. He is now settling and I am seeing my horse return to normality. I look upon the last few days as a learning experience. He was very challenging and I needed to have strategies to do even the most basic tasks and ensure I had extra time to do everything and still get to the sessions on time. I have learned how important matching the horses energy really is matching it. And then some if necessary.
Today was fantastic. We started with a session in the classroom on horsenality. We then went out to the playground in small groups with an instructor to play with and improve the first four games. With friendly I did the usual extreme stuff but came with an idea to put my coat over jacks head to cover his whole face. I was given a great idea to combine the porcupine with the friendly. Jack still at times throws his head when bridling. The game was to start to cover his face with the coat whilst putting downward pressure on his head. Then when he put his head down, give the release and take the coat away. The idea was to make it his idea to want to put his head into the coat to get the release. After about 5 times he was getting the game and within minutes I managed to put my whole coat over his head. Cool! We played porcupines all over bits of his body. The LBE was appearing as he kept trying to nip me. He is quite bracy still and needs refinement.
For driving I played trying to keep him on the fence and then turn him 180 degrees. Very hard, but fun. I was told my yoyo was very good at phase one. I only think with my energy and he knows to back up. So I was tasked to get him to back up quickly with just my energy. I had to do the initial ask and then go straight to phase 4 and keep it goin walking right into his space. Not too long and you see him thinking bugger, I'm backing, I'm backing!! Need to be consistent with this now and not let it go.
Preparation to ride was interesting. Couldnt quite read jack as he appeared exuberant when I got him to move his feet, but it could have been some RB snorting with tail up and fancy footwork, or maybe some of both. So moving his feet lots was not calming him, but upping his energy, so I was advised to use objects to slow him and make him think. He did some fantastic jamos but he didn't slow, so I was then directed to try to keep him in walk, and then squeeze him over the jumps or get him to stand on things. This worked and he came down off his adrenalin. After a while I was able to circle him and get a nice relaxed gait.
We then did vet prep. Can you, hold your horses tongue, play with his mouth, lift his tail over his back, pick all four feet and hold and place without any brace. Can you get the horse to relax his muscle in his neck for the needle.
In the afternoon we played with squeeze. Jack lost his confidence in the smaller gaps and I had to really concentrate on my neutral and he had to slow right down. We then tried squeezing at trot or canter and get the turn and face, or use longer distances. Interestingly when I asked for the higher gaits jack got really playful, and shot off in the opposite direction on my send. He really enjoyed them.
The sun shone down on us all afternoon and it was a really really great day. Jack was exhausted today. All the excitement has caught up on him I think, and 8 hours work a day has suddenly taken it's toll. He was glad for his dinner, hay and bed, and finally he was calm enough for me to safely groom. He had missed it as he stretched his neck right out whilst I massaged him and scratched his itchy spots.
Absolutely great day. Tomorrow we get out assessment results. I will probably be level one in most of them due to jacks challenging behaviour. I am prepared for that. Makes me very determined to work hard over the next three weeks to get my better best. I can't wait for tomorrow but the time is flying so don't want to wish it away either!
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