Thursday, January 20, 2011

What's your problem?

I mean it! What is your problem with your horse? 
We all have them.
There is no shame in it!

My problem is lead changes. I used to get lead changes without even thinking about it. I had a few horses that were natural changers. And Diana was wonderful- she could change on every beat like in dressage...I can get Bob to do lead changes, and some other horses, but my last mare China had real issues giving good lead changes and now I am having a heck of a time getting lead changes from Desi. I'm snakebit! We tried yesterday for about an hour.
I watched Les Vogt's video and then his Horse Channel clip. It helped. I was able to almost get a change...but not quite.Desi gets frustrated and does the pop up thing, and then I have to fix that and then go back to the changes.
We are doing the drill at the walk and the trot. And then we worked into a lope ( that is where I almost got the change)but it began getting dark so we quit for the day. Tomorrow is suppose to be warm again- so I'll try some more tomorrow.
I know that to get good changes I'm going to have to work on this everyday. But without someone actually standing there watching me, coaching with a loud, nownownow! It will take twice as long as necessary.

I am determined not to give up.
I'm going to also re- read Tom Dorrences book especially the chapter on changes, and watch Les again and again. I'm picking those two because they are the standards and the masters.
I've also tried Dana Device's ( now in North Carolina) and Sandy Collier's methods. Dana was unique in his approach, but we didn't have enough lessons for me to 'get' it and if I don't get it- then there was no way Desi would get it! So I tried Sandy at a clinic or two, but mostly we worked on hip control ( cuz that is where it starts). So I have some hip control and working on the rest ( read left side).
I'd love to hear what your problem is with your horses- maybe we can encourage and help each other through the 'dismals'. Thats what I call the times when I really just wnt to sell the horse and buy a nother one, a better one, a more broke one... but not really. He is kinda cute!

And I already have the clothes!