WORKSHOP: A Review

THE WORKSHOP: A REVIEW

What a great group of horse-folks at the Communication & Obstacles Workshop! Awesome turnout, LOTS of great work…er….FUN in the SUMMER SUN with our horses. Did we mention the tasty lunch! Homemade Chili, Cornbread, Cesar Salad and Watermelon! The fun, the fellowship, the food, the learning and the (yes, we are saying it again) FUN of the day was great!

After the “Listen Up” and covering some basic terminology we dove right in. Starting off in the round pen we worked our horses off the lead line. Folks were able to really dial in their conversation with their horses, Everyone got consistent impulsion, changes of direction and real connection with their horses. It was so great to watch the changes in approaches and attitudes in both horse and human! Clarity and refinement happened. Awareness to the human’s position in relation to the horse happened. On the ground, under saddle and through all the obstacles, everyone seemed to be improving themselves and their horses. Could not be more proud and impressed with the folks who braved the heat and rocked it in this workshop! We had a participant who was nine years old and his horse was a spry 20 year old!

Everyone worked really hard and kept an open mind. So many wins and changes for the better happened today it sort of boggles the mind and humbles the spirit.

We covered LOTS of information. Here was the schedule for the day:

10:00am - Getting the Language Right

•           Introduction & Overview of the Workshop and Property (2-3 minutes)

•           Rhythmic vs. Steady Pressure –What they are, how they look and how to use them.

•           Active vs. Passive Body Language - What they are, how they look and how to use them.

•           Positioning the Human to the Horse – Driveline & Reaction. Critical to Communication.

•           Loud vs. Quiet Conversation – Loud to Teach, Quiet to Refine.

•           C.P.R. – Clarity, Patience & Release/Reward

10:30am – Round Pen Exercises NO LEAD LINE.

•           Getting Impulsion – Trot & Lope

•           Getting Two Eyes

•           Getting a Change In Direction with Consistency.

•           Quiet Conversation/ Refinement Attempt

•           (Everyone attempts this 3 times in each direction)

11:00am. Round Pen & Flat Area w/ LEAD LINE

•           Yielding the Hindquarters/ Getting Two Eyes

•           Getting Impulsion – Trot & Lope

•           Getting A Change In Direction with Consistency.

•           (Everyone attempts this 3 times in each direction)

11:30am – Working with Obstacles and Terrain.

•           Sending

•           Backing

•           Communication & Building Trust

•           Good Positioning & Good Release

12:15pm -1:20pm – Lunch (put up your horses and head to the house)

1:20pm-1:30pm – Get your horse and tack up!

1:30pm Trail and Obstacle Work.

•           Quiet Mind/ Clear Mind/ Focus

•           Quiet Hands

•           Quiet Seat/ Legs – Ask, Listen, Tell, Listen

•           When In Doubt Do It From The Ground!

3:00pm – Q & A/ Coaching Through Challenges

4:00pm – Wrap Up!

We will be doing a Part II workshop in October which should be fun!

 Trailers arriving!

 Pasture and workshop area just beyond.

All shapes and sizes of horses!

 Having fun in the sun!

 Even when we watered, there was dust.

 Working with the participants.

 Discussing position and impusion.

Yes, Annie was in the middle of all of this too. We may have actually found her a new family. Another “second visit” family at that. We will know in about five days if it is a “real” fit. We are also taking in a border next week. Wallie is an OTTB (off the track Thoroughbred) who stayed with us for a time last year. Seems he got hurt during training somehow and needs some downtime. He is a really nice fellow and we have space so why not extend the “good karma” energy. We have a pretty busy season ahead in regards to the horses so…away we go!

We hope to post a few pictures here as soon as possible!