Lesson from David Lichman - virtually

That's right - 5* Parelli Instructor form California David Lichman is available for video coaching - so I sent him my links to my L3 audition video and another of us doing circle game and yo yo later on....

He gave me some wonderful feedback and then we had a 15 minute phone conversation about what I can do to improve;

1. Garbo's head being lower on the circle

2. Relaxation on the canter

3. Not to change gait unless asked on circle

4. Arching his body to the inside rather than looking out

I made furious notes then he asked me to email them to him for checking and any extra comments....

So yesterday we tried the head down aid...tapping him on the back but not on the backbone, on the ribs side, with the middle of the carrot stick, standing in Zone one, and with my other hand asking for head down and stopping when he puts his head down. Goodness he got it really quickly- so that by the end of that short session he could lower his head just with me lightly tapping his back.... wow.

Next I have to replace the tapping with the savvy string - lightly landing the savvy string on his back for head down (so we can use it from a distance). Then we add movement with it, I have to trot backwards initially.... that will be funny....

David taught Karen Rohlf and many others.... he's also interested in coming to NZ and Australia to do a clinic next year - cool!

Anyway - he said he loved Garbo and loved my videos and said he was very pleasantly surprised after my pre-amble before he saw the videos....

Can't wait for the mud to dry so we can practise. Also getting the all clear fingers crossed next week from Tommy - I have been really good and not ridden him since May!!