Reflections

So I've had a week of soaking, and have come up with some really rough points about my week with Mollie.  (There would probably be a lot more if I had done this sooner, but conciseness is good.)

In general:

- Be more of a leader.

- Don’t be afraid to ask for more.  Go outside of your comfort zone.

- As we progress with the levels, the amount of trust also progresses.  (I don't feel safe, and I don't trust you; I don't feel safe, but I trust you a little; I don't feel safe, but I trust you.)

- Learn all those principles, and responsibilites, and qualities of a horseman, etc.

With Cal:

- Play more with liberty and freestyle to balance with online.  Sometimes you just need to play at liberty, and let things go wrong...if they're really wrong, go back online, but sometimes the "problems" need to be fixed at liberty.

- Ride out!  Ride in bigger areas and with obstacles to help build impulsion.

- Driving with two-lines.  Hold like reins.  Just close one hand to turn and make sure to release with the other.

- Good hindquarter disengagement.  Improves draw.  Need it for successful liberty.  Also noticed it helped build his confidence.  Tough for RB horses to yield HQ.

- It's not about the gate!

With Lyssi:

- Canter until you get it going nice - no bucks.

- When she finds the sweet spot, don’t release immediately.  Let her enjoy it first.

- Jumping.  A lot of problems with jumping are just confidence and can be fixed with really small jumps.  One Lyssi was confidently walking and trotting over a small pole or log, she started offering to jump, just like that.  Cool!

- Sometimes you have to get LBI’s on adrenalin to get them going, and then bring them back.

- Straight lines/trails good for Lyssi; use circles if too impulsive.