Samantha Thorning with Aspen, (On Line, 60 mins) Played with Aspen OL for the first time since my Seattle trip - it was great to be with her again! Practiced stopping on a circle at a marker with a long Phase 1 and quick to 4 - got some great stops and then super expression and question ears.

Moved on to the F8 pattern fix - she did really well, really looked to turn around the difficult side and go for the center of the markers. It was a remarkable change from last time.... When we got to a good place to stop she came over to me and then licked and chewed for minutes, MINUTES! She never does this - she just kept licking and chewing and blinking, and was totally relaxed and with me. It was so profound we just quit there and I put her away. Can't wait to try the F8 next time! :)

Sat 09 Jun 2012 at 02:40PM - Comment - Delete

Samantha Thorning with Aspen, (On Line, 45 mins) Been bringing Aspen into the barn each snowy day to help get her confidence in there and play with bridling, unbridling, and yielding the HQ & FQ. Today it was decent out so I went into the arena to play with circles. I wanted to see if we could get 20 laps each way at the trot, we had about 5 corrections to the right and about 3 to the left. Not bad! She just kept asking to come in to me, which was great to see, and took a soft suggestion to keep circling pretty nicely.

Also asked for the canter until she smoothed out her gait and blew out - purity of gait is going to be what I focus on at the canter.

Did some great F8 - though she's still disconnecting around the left marker. I have a plan to help fix this so when I get back from my Washington trip I will start 7 days of this to help get her thinking back to the pattern when looping the left marker.

Got a few nice jumps on a circle without her trying to disengage and then some great STM at Liberty. Did a few HQ/FQ yields and tested a few things out to see where we were actually at without a line attached.

Overall, a really nice session to end with before my mini-vacation! :) I'm going to miss her!

Sun 27 May 2012 at 04:59PM - Comment - Delete

Samantha Thorning with Aspen, (Freestyle, 15 mins) Got a few super canter transitions and much more relaxation as far as speed - still grumpy attitude, but I'm feeling a lot better about it! :)

Thu 24 May 2012 at 10:37PM - Comment - Delete

Samantha Thorning with Aspen, (On Line, 60 mins) Day 2 of bridle exercises, much more relaxation in the barn today. Played on 45' line, got some awesome downward transitions and helped Aspen understand that she can't just disengage after every jump - that it can either be a squeeze or a circle game. Also backed through the weave pattern! :)

 

Samantha Thorning with Aspen, (Freestyle, 45 mins) Hopped right on Aspen out of the pasture yesterday just because it felt like a good idea :) Opened and closed our first gate - wasn't terribly pretty but we got it done - even with a slightly difficult chain, it certainly doesn't help that she's so tall and the gate chain is so low! Required a little extra leaning and hoping on my part :) Felt inspired to ride in the big field where she was a little hot so we just did some snakey bends until she calmed down and then I got some beautiful stretchy circles and 3 amazing backups with her just marching backward!

Saddled her up, warmed up OL, then hopped on to practice more cantering. Started with some great steering with the CS - FTR, CL, and CoD, then moved onto the canter. She was a little rushy and did a few dolphin bucks but I feel like there's progress. I know I just need to keep at it. It's so hard to get myself organized and in harmony with her, my legs under me and balanced, and stay emotionally relaxed when she's just hoofin' it like there's no tomorrow. She's fast, she's slow, she's bucking, she's stopping, she's going left then right. But I'm feeling more and more confident on her so I know that will help me get more relaxed and improve my Fluidity. 83 days until my FT to get this all sorted out!!

Mon 21 May 2012 

Samantha Thorning with Aspen, (On Line, 30 mins) Played w/ the 45' line yesterday and asking for transitions and stretching on a circle. Had some great sideways and she's really offering to put her feet on EVERYTHING!! lol

Mon 21 May 2012 

Samantha Thorning

Mon 21 May 2012

Samantha Thorning with Aspen, (Freestyle, 45 mins) Practiced backing, FQ & HQ yields, and sweeping turns with the CS. Then played with canter - feeling more relaxation and slowness which is nice. Really tried to work on my legs being under me and practiced some techniques from the Colleen Kelly article in the most recent Savvy Times.

Sat 19 May 2012 

Samantha Thorning with Aspen, (On Line, 60 mins) Used the 45' line today to work on some transitions. Had the saddle dumping left and the pad sliding down on the right... Not sure what was up today with that.

Sat 19 May 2012 

Samantha Thorning with Aspen, Aspen got her teeth shined up today!

Tue 15 May 2012 

Samantha Thorning with Aspen, (Freestyle, 30 mins) Rode at the trot until she relaxed on a big F8 - then practiced cantering on both leads, ended with great relaxation going to the left!

Tue 15 May 2012 

Samantha Thorning with Aspen, (On Line, 15 mins) Warmed up OL with the yo-yo game on a circle - speed within the gait and transitions.

Tue 15 May 2012 

Samantha Thorning with Aspen, (On Line, 60 mins) Played with entering and crossing the creek as well as trailer loading and allowing the divider to close and another horse to load with Aspen. All went well! 

Sun 13 May 2012