Reina work sessions...videod

[Michelle Clarke]

I thought this would be fun...been working on a sales video with Reina, showing different aspects of what we've done with her. This is part I - basic riding session after about six weeks off due to weather. You can see she is out of shape and out of focus for work! The rider, Cali, is working on Reina listening to her seat/leg for transitions and turning. When she does not respond as she should, Cali uses the rein to reinforce.

So, maybe you can share your thoughts, questions, etc and we could get a discussion going. I have part II loaded, same session, working on obstacles, that I'll post below this. I will be getting video of Reina riding more concentrated plus groundwork and liberty work to share.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZerTskLi_Vw&list=UU2z5vnIlBqeZ_ttrHucIylQ&index=2&feature=plcp
[/youtube]

[Michelle Clarke]

Our training is based on developing a calm and willing horse that enjoys their job. The point where Reina is at is that she has worked past most of her emotional issues; she was always worried about things going on around her and focused on stuff that was "out of place". You can see in the first part of the video, she is focused off past the pasture, looking at a trailer that had come in for lessons.

Reina knows how to follow the rein, both direct and indirect (not so much supporting yet). She knows how to do transitions with the seat for walk, trot and stop. She is still learning for backup and canter. This does not mean she does not need reinforcement with the rein when she ignores or is not focused.

Reina also knows how to turn with just the leg, only through the hindquarter at this point. She also is on the beginning level of learning to lateral with just leg.

We teach all the basics (transitions, turns, etc) without a bit and on a loose rein.

Video summary:

* Stand quietly and square, with a loose rein for mounting and do not walk off without being asked. We rock the saddle back and forth as a prep cue for the horse to square up, distribute weight evenly and be prepared to be mounted (or dismounted). Many accidents happen when folks are getting on or off, so standing still is not up for negotiation and we work on it until it is solid.

* Walk forward when asked at a nice, forward, reaching stride.

* In the first corner, Reina comes off the rail and Cali asks her to lateral back with her seat and then leg, the horse ignores it, so the rider picks up the rein and helps her take a few steps sideways, she is kind of stiff, so the rider puts her leg further back so the inside hind leg steps further under her body and puts a better bend on her. Cali winds up having to keep her there until she goes almost in a full circle before she listens.

* Once she is on the rail, she comes off pretty quickly, so Cali laterals her back. Reina listens only after the rider needs to pick up the rein but better than she did the other direction. What I like here is that she really gives a good stretch down after she is released.

* 3:09 - off the rail again, this time she listens quicker after Cali picks up the rein but keeps her bending until Reina does a full circle to get the point across to her and make it more difficult when she comes off...kind of like "you want to come off the rail - good idea, now we have a chance to work on a circle". You want to make it harder without making them feel like they are in trouble - they always have a choice and you can always ask again.

* Great stretch on the far side and nice bends as she is brought off the rail to go down the center. That stretching down is telling us she is beginning to relax and focus some more.

* After she comes through the barrels, Reina gets stiff, so Cali bends her, to which Reina rubber necks (bends at the base of the neck only) so the rider brings her all the way around until she listens.

* After she goes backs to the right, Reina turns off the rail with just the seat really well but keeps turning after Cali quits aiding and wants her to come across the center - so Cali has use leg then pick up the rein again.

Keep in mind, that Cali is just learning too. This is the first horse she has worked on with me. More later...

[citykid]

Cali is doing a great job - please tell her. Luv the video. Luv the step by step training method to not worry the horse. I know it is asking alot but it sure would be nice to see a whole video series of this horses' progress over the next 3-6 months.

[gotkiger]

I think it is a job well done.. and for 6 weeks off brava. Only complaint I have is you arent close enough to me so i could take lessons

[gotkiger]

the second video... with the stump

was the goal just to get a foot up or to get her to stand on it? To me, and please correct me if I am wrong, it looked like Cali was trying to get her to step up onto the stump but gave up after Reina put some weight on it and it moved. Dont get me wrong I still say Brava There is no way I could get Dollie to do it... heck i cant even get her to step into a tire and barely a trailer

[Michelle Clarke]

You are correct...Cali wanted her to put both feet up but the stump was not stable and Cali did not want her to slip off it. Eric had been working a horse to get all four feet on it that morning, so it must have moved around quite a bit. Cali just got her to at least try before moving on. This was originally a sales video that I was making for a potential buyer and I don't think Cali wanted Reina to hurt herself by pushing it.

[gotkiger]

ahh, I dont blame her for stopping, and she did good, imo, after it moved having Reina put her foot back on it.

[Michelle Clarke]

* 4:06: Reina is upping the anti a little bit and when Cali puts her leg on to turn her back to the left, Reina speeds up her feet and throws her head up, getting stiff. Notice how as soon as Cali reaches down the rein, Reina actually puts her neck/head somewhat to the outside - this is a mental brace that equals physical brace. Then she rubber necks (breaking at the base) and after she finally gives, she snaps her head back to the front. She is showing her opinion right here; this is only a physical give - not a mental give - only one step above actually not giving. Also notice when she takes her head back, it does not go straight but actually to the right some - now watch it again and see how when she does that, she pushes her ribs into Calis' left leg. This is an offense and should be addressed ASAP every time. This is why Cali picks right back up on her (4:15) and Reina not only listens well to this request but stays bent around the barrel with just Calis' seat.

* 4:20: turn to the right, having to pick up rein but Reina follows throught almost the whole rest of the turn with mostly just leg and a little rein. There is a perfect sequence at 4:22 - Cali looks where she wants to go, opens her outside hip, puts her right leg back, then slides easy down the rein. Reina does the whole turn very softly and mostly with focus.

* 4:30: Reina gives a half way turn to the right; Cali does a nice release but Reina stiffens right back out so the rider has to pick her up again to finish the turn. Reina drops the outside shoulder, misses the turn so Cali has to not only hold her there, but slide down further to get Reina to commit the hindend all the way and finally make the turn at 4:36.

* Nice turn to the right, so Cali lets her go straight and get that release. If she would have went right back to the left (where Reina is having issue), the focus would be on the negative and not what she did right.

* 4:45: good focus on turn to the right

*4:50: Cali has picked up two reins lightly and relaxed her lower back then dropped weight into her stirrups to ask for a halt between the two barrels. Reina ignores the request and even tries to blow through the turn back to the left.

* 5:04: Reina stops very well, mostly with only seat and a little weight in the stirrups - just a hint of rein.

[DianneC]

Its lovely to see the work in progress. Too often videos are cropped to just show the perfect moments and not the training going on. I thought Cali did a really nice job with her. Reina is just beautiful!

[Michelle Clarke]

Thanks Dianne. It always bothers me when folks want to see a "finished" look, no matter what the horses level. When I made this video, it was because someone wanted to fly out and see Reina. She was looking for a horse to do Dressage and said training did not matter because she had a trainer. She did not want a "hothead" and liked to also enjoy trail riding, so that was important. I suggested I send along a video first before she came all the way out here.

Reina had been off for six weeks and even before then, was not "show ready". Since show season ended, we had gone back to focusing on her listening more to just the seat and staying between the leg and rein. I thought it was good because I was going to be able to show Reina at her "worst". So, I sent this along and do you know what the comment was?? "I thought she was further along with consistent contact".

Did she not notice the horse turning and stopping with just seat or leg? A great forward stride on a totally loose rein and no bit? Obstacles - even when she really did not want to do it, how she tried and worked through things easily? Going through the parking lot with all that going on - between that tractor and car that was not there that morning? What do people want? What is their focus?

I had not even shown her the two rein work yet and she was not even in shape to hold a "frame" for any length of time. I am glad I found out before I sold the horse because my guess is on trail she rides in a frame or at least with contact the whole time.

I have more video of Reina over the next five days after that - we filmed every day to show her progression. The first day with any contact, she was horrible - by the third day it was nice and the fifth day it was super...she can't hold it long and she gets winded at the walk after fifteen minutes, but that is how you bring a horse along without breaking them down. Why is that so hard to understand? Oh well...

[citykid]

What a great way to filter thru crappy owners!!!! Quality instead of quantity..... you really need to lower your standards Michelle. Not to hard to understand, those people want to show off themselves, get people to envy them because they got this great horse so they are therefore great by association. It is Sunday - why am I preaching to the choir??? Anyways, would it be possible to get all of the film footage from you? I love watching that kind of stuff .... the progress of the process is so exciting.

[Michelle Clarke]

Thanks B...knew you would understand! I will surely post videos as we go. I can do this one, which is Day 2 plus the following two days. Then Reina had friday/saturday off. Today we rode together so I was not able to film, which was fine because she was more focused on my horse, Rev, and what we were doing, especially when we left the arena.

So, here is Reina on her first day back to two rein - still no bit. All we are working on is her getting round and forward. Cali is asking the inside hind leg to step further underneath her body in order to lift the abdominals which rounds the back which will bring the head down for balance. Right now we want her neck reaching down and out, with her head ideally in front of the vertical. This is the beginning stages of learning to carry the rider in the most efficient way. The rein is used when Reina does not listen to the leg...you'll see a lot of rein being used on this ride!

This exercise is not easy. We are not forcing or putting the head where we think it should be. We are developing correct self carriage to benefit longevity of the horse and strength for carriage of the rider. The horse needs to slowly build on moving this way and actually change her way of going.

Reina is also so out of shape for this that you will see her head/neck be all over the place - which is perfectly fine. At the end, we just want her to stretch down to end in something positive and at least in the direction of what we wanted.

[Michelle Clarke]

Somethings to look at is how when Reina is moving, her hips are going side to side with little bend of the joints in the hind legs. No engagement - no roundness. When she gives, she is just dipping her head, getting behind the vertical (BTV) with her head with no change in the body.

Watch how stiff her back legs are. When her head is up, she is jamming her back and rotating the hips out behind her which shortens the stride and drops her back. When her had comes more wither level, she moves so much more fluidly. Right about 4:46, she begins to use herself better, more flexion happens in the hind legs and her head is more steady, even though it is not stretched down.

[Michelle Clarke]

These are some stills I took over the couple days we worked with Reina with the two rein stuff. This is only a small part of training - surely not the end all. Teaching a horse to travel correctly provides carrying power to hold up the rider most efficiently and taking the strain off of the skeletal system for longevity. Curbs hoof/leg problems, back issues, etc.



Many times when folks refer to "collection" the above picture is what is common. The exercises I am showing are not for collection - they are for roundness; though they only help in the long run if you want to train that far. This picture does not show proper collection - only Reinas' head and neck appear to be in a "frame".

* Her neck is broken at the 3rd/4th vertabrae; the first vertabrae (right behind the ears) should be the highest point during correct collection. Some people call this the poll, however, the poll is actually right between the ears.

* Her head is behind the vertical; the frontline of the face should be vertical or slightly in front. When it is behind like this, the connection to the hindend is lost and the jaw is locked, not to mention the first few vertabrae. This means there is a lack of blood flow to the brain and nerve messaging to the central nervous system is impeded. Just look how tense things look around her jaw and the first section of her neck.

* You can see her weight is more over her forehand - look at the left front leg; it looks strained much more than her hind legs. Weight on the forehand for short periods and training purposes is okay, however, if this is your end goal, there will be a lot of breakdown on the horse.

* Along those lines, look at her hindend - looks flat and weak; not rounded because she is short striding in the hind and not using herself at all. When both legs are under the horse and on the ground, there should be the appearance of a "V" if the horse is sufficiently round. In the case of the walk, this inside front and the outside hind should be closer together.

* When your eyes go to her back, you can see it dropped with no tone in her abdominals. Over time, a horse carrying weight like this will break down and the spinus will begin to rub together and wear. Not only painful but detrimental to long term use for the rider. A reason why horses are "washed up" in their early teens.

[Michelle Clarke]

Here Cali is asking for the inside hind leg to come further underneath Reina in order to get some roundness. Since Reina is still at the beginning stages, she asks for a bend on the inside with the rein. You can see Reinas' abdominals contract as her hind leg comes up underneath her. Notice her hip is rounder and her back has come up some. There is also the start of the "V" with her legs. She is trotting here, so it would be the legs on the same side.



This stretch is a forward, down and out (FDO). Nice and beneficial in a lot of ways but little roundness. Allowing a horse to stretch like this lets the horse learn to swing the hind legs further under the body and gets the back loose instead of contracted. Yes, the weight is on the forehand but this is needed for some time to build flexibility and forward.



Compare this photo to the above. Reina appears stretched but this is a useless stretch and of no benefit to anyone except she is getting out of working! Notice she is totally dropped on the forehand and the base of her neck is collapsed instead of being held up and out. Her back has also collapsed to the inside. Instead of her body being "held up" but passive tone, she is being lazy and letting herself fall to the inside. See how Cali looks like she is sliding off to the inside instead of sitting balanced as in the first photo of the stretch.

Legs are not working again - just flexing up and down and taking short strides; hip looks flat.