Quantum Savvy, Moreton Agency

Hi All

Level 1 camp with Firefly ...  awesome doesn't cut it to describe this fantastic experience. Fantastic is not the right word either ...  it was way past fantastic, awesome, marvellous, inspiring incredible ... supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. 

I haven't got the words to describe adequately how wonderful the experience was and to be able to share it with Tracey and her young horse Indy, and our new friend Helen who had a marvellous time with Boots and can't wait to get started on her horse 'Doc' when she returnsto Victoria in a few weeks time, and Kathy who became Freckles bestes tand newest friend during Level 1 camp.

Well... where do I start?

At the beginning of course. I was chuffed when Meredith said... bring Firefly. Firefly is my little16hh pony who got started by Shane in early 2007 and had some foundation training with Mel Peacock in Oct 2008. Since then she has been more or less left in the paddock to mature, though I have passed a couple of L1 ground skills assignments with her already and had clocked a little bit of riding time with her... always in walk and just a wee little bit of trot.

I was excited about the prospect of trot passenger lessons and canter transitions and was looking forward to them and also was a bit unsure about it all, but I had so much fun doing the passenger lessons and the canters, I couldn't get enough.

But... that just the beginning... although all that happened in the last 4 days, and only after I made the commitment to ask and follow through with my phases to get the canter and in the end we got some nice trot canter transitions happening... oops skipping ahead again .

Okay back to the beginning...

Camp started with working on our ground skills and getting control over the hind quarters. This was especially important with our young green horses as getting effective HQ yields diffuses tricky situations helps switch our horses from right brain thinking to left brain thinking... Very Important...so I repeat it. An effective Hind Quarter Yield switches our horses from right brain (reactive) thinking to left brain (logic) thinking and calms them down. So ... no more skimping on my phases to get the HQ yield happening and no more acceptance of a HQ shuffle (placing feet next to one another). An effective HQ yield means the feet cross over... they need to cross over for the brain to switch over A huge revelation for me and a real situation saver when Firefly got scared by little Briggy (Rhiannon's Shetland pony)

Firefly taught me a few more lessons... like

• The need for me to be consistent with her, and make sure my energy is on or off and not somewhere in between.
• She also needs me to reward the slightest try, even it is only a muscle twitch in the right direction.
• She wants me to use all of my phases, including an effective phase 4, so she is confident in my leadership. To earn her Trust and Respect I need to have effective/good leadership and that means using all of my phases.
• Her contact yields are much easier and politer after I established good leadership with no contact yields. She showed me when I was lacking leadership by coming into my personal space with her shoulder.
• She also taught me that all of her feet have to be in the right position for the yields, which for the Fore Quarter yields meant her weight had to be off her front and onto her back. I had to make sure Firefly was standing 'square' with her feet before asking for a yield and be aware where her weight was before asking.
• When it came to leadership, Firefly needed me tos tand up and be one, which ment I had to be behind her drive line (being section 4) and drive her, rather then being in front of her drive line (ie in section 2 or 3) where she was driving me. I get away with being in front of the drive line with Stubby, but Firefly ... to earn her respect and trust as a leader I need to be in section 4 and make it comfortable for her to have me there. Lots of rubs and release. In the end she was walking nicely next to me, even increasing and decreasing her speed to match me and keep me in section 4... it was really lovelyt o have that and have her walking next to me with her head relaxed and below her wither.

There was so much more, but I think these are the most importantlessons ... oh and ... do not pull on her head, she does not appreciateit as she is so soft and will follow 'feel'. Pulling on her head isdownright rude and she will tell me so ... and I am listening.
Some insights, BFO, my own versions of the cryptic horseman:

• When the forward is working, the back-ups, halts and steering are working better
• Offer light phases to achieve a light horse
• Make the commitment and stick with it, or, When you decide to do something... do it!
• The softer I am, the softer my horse is
• Respect and Trust are earned through good and effective Leadership
• Being on the ground makes me aware of (the size) of my personal space
• Being on the barrel makes me aware of (the size) of my horse's personal space (especially above my horse)
• Look for the opportunity (the slightest try) to release, rather then for the completion of the task
• Rhythmic Pressure - uses all phases rhythmically - it will sensitise your horse and it will try for you
• RhythmicMotion - no phases (or the same phase over and over and over again) - it will desensitise your horse and it will stop trying (especially if you are stuck on a phase )
• Focus, Focus, Focus and then Focus some more

My biggest Ta Dah's

• I cantered Firefly in both directions and achieved some really nice canter departs
• I had my Focus working even when cantering to a focus point.
• I had really nice soft yields, sideways both on the ground and ridden.
• I helped Firefly find comfort in a group of horses and even got used to having Briggy around
• We went on a calm and relaxing trail ride playing leap frog.
• Firefly and I are comfortable with each other
• We had Fun
• I Love my little horse

Phew... I think that's about it. Oh and did I mention it was an absolutely fantastic, awesome, marvellous, inspiring, incredible ... supercalifragilisticexpialidocious event and I am so looking forward to quickly finishing Level 2 with Stubby (1 assignment to go), get started on Level 3 and buzz through it so I can finish off Level 1 withFirefly, get Level 2 with her a.s.a.p. and do Level 3 camp with her next year? Yep I am booked into Level 3 camp for next year... wanna join me?

Cheers and have fun with your ponies

Petra