Finding Neutral Savvy Times May09

Giving the horse responsibility

Circling game

1. biggest test of responsibility on the ground espec w/introverted horse.
2. circling game: its the horse's responsibility to keep going in the gait you have asked for while you are in neutral
3. Neutral means relaxed, could be talking to someone etc anything but concentrating on the horse or waiting for him to make a mistake
4. A horse can feel intension as pressure
5. adjust only when he doesn't uphold his responsibility to maintain gait and direction
6. fascinating for horse as compared to mindless micromanagement of longing

Freestyle

1. The best way to teach a horse responsibility is through freestyle.
2. use patterns giving progressivly more responsibility
3. when you put him back on pattern, you have held him accountable for straying, but the moment he is back on the pattern you drop the reins and trust him again.
4. 4-7 session for horse to learn the pattern and to realize that I am giving her the responsibility.

The more you use your reins, the less they use their brains.

Finding Neutral

1. On the ground neutral means keeping your feet and emotions still
2. Riding means not moving your hands or feet or changing the E in your seat. But doesn't means you relax as that should tell your horse to stop
3. the opposite of neutral is micromanagement

Allow the Mistake

Reminded not Reprimanded

1. Remind by picking up reins, putting on course then going back to neutral
2. My attitude is crucial--not critical
3. 4-7 sessions

It won't be long before I'll find myself riding a cloverleaf, and Try is actually making all the turns and asking if she should stop in the center--but not actually stopping until I agree.