Linda Parelli's Rider Makeover Clinic Day 2

Day Two of Linda Parelli's Clinic started a bit later - we had a wee sleep in. 

I arrived after getting a soy latte on the way and cleaned the gear, fed Boaz, groomed him and took him for a graze outside - today was warm!



Then we warmed up using the techniques we'd learned the day before and hopped on once we had a responsive horse - that's all you are looking for with and Introvert most of the time.

Once on board we also warmed up by riding forward. I felt I had more trust in Boaz today and could trust him to ride forward and that he wasn't going to do anything silly. He spooked a little at the umbrellas along the side of the arena but nothing too bad - then at a little girl. Linda's advice was just to keep your focus - don't let the horse distant you from your line or what you are doing (maintain gait, maintain your line).

About half way through the session I asked Tori to help find me a stick - the carrot stick seemed to big for Boaz. And I'd left Christine's lighter one in the float. Once I had that it was a big improvement because Boaz had a tendency to stop or to slow down so this meant I could ride him forward more to get him to use his body more. Today was Finesse. So we started with casual rein then moved to light contact. 

Riding lines...rhythm and tempo.

Visualise a line, look between your horses ears and stay on that line, don't look round the corner. Look at your line. Do circles, changes of direction and figure 8s without losing tempo or rthythm...same speed. Soft touch, me don't worry about the body just the nose on the line. Keep the reins connected, no floppiness.
Hold reins with thumbs, move with shoulders and elbows. Soft fingers, releasing fingers when allowing a stretch. Turn with your shoulders. Melt down to a walk, keep the feel with your elbows. Look through ears to see if you are on your line.
If they lean on your hands don't pull, more hind leg action. If a horse looks like it has shorter front legs than back legs it's lost the angle in its hind legs, it can come back.
In a crisis...(example was the crowd clapping) stay focused and stay on your task or line. Stay the leaders your horse gets scared.

Riding hind legs up to front.

Hold front feet still, walk hind end up to front feet, feel what you are doing in your body, energy in seat, engage seat but sit tall.

Laterals in finesse.

Weight in stirrup of direction you are heading in rhythm with the horse, weight, weight, weight.
Haunches in / inside stirrup
Shoulder in / outside stirrup

Sideways

Sit up straight. Shorter reins. Don't lean. Look in the direction you are going. If you find yourself leaning reach out with the hand in the direction you are going to grab a glass of water.


Only use your calf, and tap what isn't moving with your stick. Only use heel as phase 4. Keep the neck straight, put weight in other stirrup. (Direction of sideways)


Not like this photo but it shows the grabbing of glass of water to correct the lean (it didn't "feel" like this lol.

All in all a fabulous two days - I of course could have had more but that's me - love learning and practising. Time to head home and soak. 

On the flight home I got an upgrade which was great because I could spread out and write notes while I ate lunch!

Thanks to Boaz and Christine - couldn't have done it without a horse! And he was so calm and cool. And thanks Tori for encouraging me to do the clinic.