redzip
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Post by redzip on Oct 7, 2014 15:11:01 GMT
Awwww, I'm crushed! Our trainer is leaving for the winter  She has taken a job in Sarasota, Fla. at a dressage barn (her true love), but is leaving until February smileys-sad-593832 We/Zippy have made SO MUCH HEAD WAY thru her. I actually cantered today on the bad lead,.., made him get it, made him stay on it (GO ME!) and also cantered him the opposite lead.
So we have our winters work cut out for us, but I am sad that she is leaving
She really 'got' both of us and our learning style.
I'll post video of her riding Zipper, and she took some pictures of me, that hopefully, she will post on FB.
If so, I'll bring them over here also.
So truly bummed,..,but happy for her 
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
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Post by mistersmom on Oct 7, 2014 15:16:16 GMT
Perhaps she will be able to help from afar? Sounds like she gave you and Zippy a great start and some things to work with. Hopefully if there are any problems, she will be willing to give you some advice. And it sounds like she will be back in a few months (?).
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redzip
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Post by redzip on Oct 7, 2014 15:24:49 GMT
Perhaps she will be able to help from afar? Sounds like she gave you and Zippy a great start and some things to work with. Hopefully if there are any problems, she will be willing to give you some advice. And it sounds like she will be back in a few months (?). Yes, she will probably be available thru FB,.., but I think I need to find an instructor to help me locally. Maybe help me,., to better help Zippy. I certainly learned some things about my Zippy boy with her help,..,, just hate to lose the 'forward momentum' we had going. Plus when you find a GOOD trainer, you hate to lose them, even if its only a few months. Who knows if she will actually come back to this area?? Just kinda bummed. |
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nhg
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Post by nhg on Oct 7, 2014 15:50:33 GMT
But the crappy trainers are always available. That's too bad. It's so hard to find someone good. I'm really picky and it takes a lot to impress me. Which makes me sound like a critical jerk to my friends when I go see their coaches or trainers and tell them what I think, my friends, not the trainers.
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Post by horselover4life on Oct 7, 2014 16:14:19 GMT
nhg.... being critical because you are not snowed with flowery words but want to see "proof" in progress or get on and ride...do what you make mention of.
As all of us know....we can all quote a book, but applying those lessons is a work of art and true horse-mastership and horsemanship in communication and education of man & beast.
When you have a basis of that knowledge and experience you can pick them out very quick and simply put...toss them with the garbage. 
Red...keep in touch with her.
She may be leaving for now, but trust me...those people DO NOT stay in Florida year round to compete and school their string of horses..
Winter months only and they are out of here to start the competition and schooling in March/April at the latest it seems....you should see the line of haulers and animals heading north...Whew!
It is just to darn hot and no one stays for the hot months...if they do...well, enough said. By mid March it is getting humid and considerably warmer days where you mention in this state 
If she is really good, she may be able to help you continue going forward with you doing video lessons and her critiquing and offering comments.
You can ask if she would be willing to help you this way.....
You can also ask her who to seek out to continue with during her absence till she returns...
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mistersmom
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Abita Springs, LA
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Post by mistersmom on Oct 7, 2014 16:45:39 GMT
I agree - ask her for some suggestions of other locals who could help you along.
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redzip
Junior Member
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Post by redzip on Oct 7, 2014 17:38:26 GMT
I already discussed some other local trainers,.., something will work out. Otherwise, Zippy and I will have to 'go it alone' and see how it goes. I've gotten A LOT from our training sessions, so I'm feeling more confident that I can better problem solve than where I was with Zippy in the spring. Just enjoyed the friendship and comradery too.  |
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redzip
Junior Member
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Post by redzip on Oct 8, 2014 0:16:15 GMT
Just a little reminder for myself here, and so, if I forget, I can refer back,..,
Things I've learned about Zippy thru the help of this trainer-
1.) He is best left alone once you get him going properly, not too much adjusting, playing with his face.
It confuses him, because he's so sensitive, and he's already trying HARD to find the right answer.
2.) When cuing him for the canter on his left lead, make the cue (turning his nose to the inside) OBVIOUS
by opening my left hand and arm.
If I try to be too subtle, by laying the rein on his neck, he gets confused,., mixed message,
therefore, OBVIOUS CUES for now, subtlety/refinement can come later.
3.) Also, when asking for the left lead, sit (way) back on my seat bones, open my right hip,
and give him plenty of room to find the answer.
4.) LOTS of trail miles this fall, wet saddle blankets are GOOD for Zippy.
5.) Zippy is very smart, and he LIKES to work WITH me, he isn't like Red, who let me be in charge.
I kind of have to 'ask' Zippy, where I was able to 'tell' Red.
6.) Zippy has come a LONG way, so definite progress has been made.
- He no longers 'runs away' from leg pressure
- His frame is A LOT more level, with his head DOWN, instead of 'jacked up'
- We have successfully found a bit that works
- He is LESS spooky under saddle (edt. to say, unless he is anxious)
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**I'm sure there are other things I will want to remember, and will come back later to add,..,
This has become a short 'blog' for me,., and anyone else who might gain something from my experiences**
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redzip
Junior Member
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Post by redzip on Oct 8, 2014 12:42:32 GMT
Okay, heres proof that I DO RIDE ZIPPY  Trainer took this pic yesterday,., AND, she gave me the # of another trainer, so things are looking better for Zip and I to be able to continue our forward momentum  |
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mistersmom
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Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Oct 8, 2014 12:48:02 GMT
Yay! A picture! Looking great!  |
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redzip
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Post by redzip on Oct 8, 2014 12:59:46 GMT
Yay! A picture! Looking great! LOL, Thanks MM  |
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nhg
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Post by nhg on Oct 8, 2014 14:41:10 GMT
Good for you! What kind of bit is it that he likes? Just curious. And, yes, a great way to show a horse what you really want is to have your reins wide when you use them as a cue and make it obvious, finesse can come later. 'Make it easy for them to do the right thing' as the big name trainers say.
That was something I was disappointed in when I watched my friend take a lesson a couple of weeks ago. Having the reins wide is also good for TWHs when you're asking them to hold their face but asking for impulsion at the same time. The horse she bought is young and is still in training with the coach but my friend gets a lesson on her once a week. The coach/trainer didn't suggest once that she widen her reins and they were working on bending and the horse wasn't collecting. I took lessons a few years ago and we were working on bending and we used the wide reins and all of us have older horses. I still do it if Prince isn't sure what I want. |
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Lipizzan
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Europe, Croatia
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Post by Lipizzan on Oct 8, 2014 19:51:29 GMT
You two look good  |
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redzip
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Post by redzip on Oct 9, 2014 19:58:21 GMT
Rode today! Zippy jogged the entire pasture, both ways WITHOUT head flipping, speeding up, or raising his head/evading. NO SHENNIGANS Also cantered his good side around without racing away, loosing my stirrup, or becoming an overly sensitive mess. Go me, Go Zippy!   |
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mistersmom
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Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Oct 10, 2014 0:27:32 GMT
Yipppeeee!!!!  633995 |
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hugs
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Post by hugs on Oct 10, 2014 1:48:10 GMT
How inspiring! That was a good idea to write out all of those things you learned. I find it useful to write things like that on index cards so I can carry them around and look at them from time to time. It reminds me of my gains when it feels like things are slipping back. Learning is NOT a straight line. And so often the stuff we struggled to learn becomes background and we forget about the success of it, we take it for granted.
I had one of my horsemanship lessons today. I asked to work with the 2 yr old stallion because I wanted to push my comfort zone in the confidence department. He sure did! What a little goof ball, tried walking all over me and nipped at me, yikes! But patient persistence in the proper position paid off. Sounds like you do that too. So I guess maybe what you take for granted is the very thing that has you be successful... like me! I'm going to have to sleep on that one to take it all in. Think if we started licking and chewing we'd learn better?!
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redzip
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Post by redzip on Oct 10, 2014 9:24:11 GMT
^^  , I knew if I didn't keep track of the discussions from the lessons, I'd end up reverting back to my old habits, and Zippy and I would lose the progress we've made. I can not allow that to happen, bc that is why we ended up where we were, when I had reached out to the trainer, earlier this summer I had come to the end of the techniques that I knew/had, and we had stopped moving forward. Hopefully the new trainer can help us.., she is teaching a clinic not far from my house on this Sunday and I am going over there to watch and possibly speak with her. Sounds like you are enjoying and learning a lot as well, working with other horses. Congrats on that decision, and your progress |
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redzip
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Post by redzip on Oct 10, 2014 13:40:46 GMT
YAY! Already honing in on another trainer that comes highly recommended She was training at that new facility about a mile from me (I had posted it in an old thread, Castle Farm) www.castlefarmandalusians.com/I had heard she had left there, but my neighbor just told me that she is still in the neighborhood, and will travel to my farm.Shes right around the corner, LITERALLY, and will travel. Shes working with 2 of my neighbors horses on Sunday AM, and i am going to meet with her then. YIPPEE ZIPPY! smileys-summer-446831 |
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mistersmom
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Abita Springs, LA
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Post by mistersmom on Oct 10, 2014 13:43:40 GMT
How exciting!!!!! See, everything happens for a reason (but it usually takes a little longer to see that reason). apple
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redzip
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Post by redzip on Oct 10, 2014 14:13:57 GMT
How exciting!!!!! See, everything happens for a reason (but it usually takes a little longer to see that reason). apple I'm very excited! My neighbor, one road over, is actually an old childhood riding friend. We rode together, and I rode on her parents farm for several years, growing up. We've been trying to get together and ride for the past couple of years,.., altho we live close, we kind of travel on different paths??,.., So, really, it is ALL totally coming together. COOL! |
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633995
, I knew if I didn't keep track of the discussions from the lessons,