How Is a Lipizzan Like a Teapot?

[dancinghorse]

Blame the title on S.

Lesson today. Pook is not ready for prime time--he has some more work to do (of the kind described below) before I feel safe riding the rocket. Ten days, and then we'll do the next lesson with the Wild Thang.

In the meantime Ephiny was very much in favor of the grooming and the saddle and all. She even offered me a foot to clean, which is a first. I've always had to ask. Small milestone, but significant.

We took our time starting, in part to teach Miss E the art of waiting patiently for the humans to get around to working with the horse. She was very patient. No fretting or fidgeting. Girl knows how to wait--which is more than I can say for myself. :P

Eventually however we got around to talking about the homework we've been doing, engaging the back end and teaching her to rock back and come forward, aka the Pendulum. She was not in favor in the last lesson, but given a few days to think about it, she allowed as how it wasn't so bad. Even with the right hind, which tends to get stuck somewhere in the recesses of her twisty little brain. She actually stated that she was going to walk on out now, and keep pace with me, and demonstrate her homework.

Good! said S. Now the next step of the work in hand: instead of me standing in front of her watching as she positioned each foot, I had to stand beside her and feel it.

Sneaky, evil S. That meant true work in hand, aka the horseless riding lesson, aka where is your core and how do you feel what the horse is doing without looking to see?

Because if Pook is going to start back to work in the next week and a bit, I had better have a core, because Pooka is merciless. The mares I've been riding, well, aren't.

Ooops.

Also, being out of shape, ow.

It was somewhat reassuring that S also had interesting times with Ephiny, who could not see why she had to just step back and step forward in diagonal pairs when she could: Go Sideways. Go backwards. Step over behind. Step over in front. Cross her legs.

But not flip her head, except once. That's huge progress. And not bite S, which is also progress.

Gifted-kid problem. Why bother with the ABC's when you're hardwired for Proust? She did not see why she should worry about still being sound when she's an old lady, because she plans to live forever. (After all, isn't that Pandora's plan, too? And Pandora's her sister. So.)

She wasn't sulky about any of this. Or angry. Or resistant. Soft ears and soft eyes. Asking questions. Not always getting the answers she wanted, but willing to entertain the notion.

We took a break with a walk in hand, and instead of the imminent explosions I've had to deal with before, she only became irritated when she got rushy. Rock back, engage, balance. Get brain inside head. Walk on softly and lightly.

Then we went back to work in hand, this time along the fence on both sides, for support. That worked. I braced, she braced. I got soft, she got soft. Amazing. Spine straight--no kinking the head, neck, or body. Feel the movement, don't kink or twist. Use whip as aid wherever she needs it--for hindleg, as near the top of the croup as possible, just tapping. Pointing: Engage Here.

We could have done this under saddle today, but she was a pooped pony. Little grey cells all fizzy and whirry. Next time.

And the teapot? Rear-wheel-drive equines, which Lipizzans are, can only really keep impulsion (and go forward comfortably at all) when their balance is in the rear. If they tip onto the forehand, all the impulsion runs out. So you have to keep tipping them backward till they stay tipped on their own.

So, teapot. Keep the tea in the rear. Don't spill it out the nose.

Makes sense to me.

Comments

[deire.livejournal.com]

Was at a Parelli seminar this weekend--just curious--what do you think of those folks?

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Um.

Well.

Would you be terribly upset if I answered: Not much?

[mallt.livejournal.com]

*Like*
Hee!

[deire.livejournal.com]

:g: I would not be upset at all. My mum is currently horse crazy, and she takes up fads with unfortunate fervor. She bought their whooooooole membership pack, which included free tickets, which is how I ended up there.

I came back and told my housemates I wanted to not hear about horses for a very long time, and I wanted to burn the word "horsenality" with fire.

[deire.livejournal.com]

Or maybe flog users with the "Carrot Stick"(TM).

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Only $49.95!!!!

[deire.livejournal.com]

: snicker: Well, IF you're a member! And then you can buy their $6000 saddle too!

Their catalogue is...instructive.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

I am in the wrong end of the business.

We were talking about that, which is why Ephiny had to learn to Wait. How very lucrative it is to have a one-size-fits-all Method that allows the "trainer" to assembly-line the horses and clients. And how ugly the results can be.

The Parellis have been known to damage horses, though they're not as bad as some of the others--and the show trainers, oh ye gods. At least with Parelli most of the nonsense involves messing with the horse from the ground. He may end up flipped or fried, but mostly he just gets bored and tolerates the human doing the silly "games."

At least she's not into halter QH's (which remind me vividly of the giant sick sheep in Norstrilia), or worse, crank-and-jam dressage or Big-Lick Tennesse Walkers. Horrible, horrible things are done to those horses in the name of show wins.

[deire.livejournal.com]

Yes. If nothing else, they make a point of "hurting horse = bad" and "patience = good". So I do give them that.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

It's something in this world, isn't it?

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

It has its uses for inexperienced animal people who need a way to understand the alien mind. It can become extremely stylized, even abusive, when applied hurriedly or dogmatically.

It's also somewhat notorious as an out for people who are afraid to ride their horses.

Most of these trademarked(tm) "Methods" are descendants of the PT Barnum school of edumacating/entertaining the public.

[deire.livejournal.com]

:nod: I'm all for understanding animal behaviorism; I have textbooks on the subject. But I don't believe that any one system or person can do that work for me.

What really worries me is how someone talked my mom into buying a horse I think she fears *and* loves and won't sell. And, er, yeah, she's using Parelli instead of riding.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry. That's a classic new-horse-person situation. If she's happy with it and isn't hurt, and the horse is treated decently, I guess it's as OK as it can get.

[deire.livejournal.com]

Yeah. The horse is very well cared for. Expensive barn boarding, mostly ridden by trainers. Her interaction with him is mostly to cosset. Which, if she enjoys it, good enough. It puzzles me because 40 years ago she was a competitive jumper.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

If she's happy and the horse is happy, that's more than most people or horses get.

Fear is the mind-killer, really. And it can set in hard with the horses.

[deire.livejournal.com]

He had a huge kerfluffle on her, and he understandably scared her. Unsecured barn door, unexpected wind, the door hit him. It was bad for a loooooooong time.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is sad. What kind of horse is he? So now he's scared and she's scared and it's a feedback loop. Parelli is great for that if the owner can get past the "games" and back into the saddle.

I've been in the too-scared-to-ride boat, put there by a sick and toxic trainer, so I know how it feels and it's awful.

[deire.livejournal.com]

Meantime, I love hearing you talk about your horses. I can't even consider having horses for another three years. Grad school beckons, and I have too many interests already. I miss horses though--I started riding when I was four. Admittedly, I learned on "mutts". And one Arab whom I loved very much but who was both intelligent and an UTTER fluffhead. Not wise enough or dumb enough to stay out of trouble, poor lad.

[aishabintjamil.livejournal.com]

I had an Arab who matched that description perfectly. World's *WORST* trail horse. He'd fall in the hole in front of him if you didn't steer him around it, because he was looking in fascination at something 50' ahead.

[mallt.livejournal.com]

We had an arab who was afraid of his feed bucket... when it had food in it, no problem, as soon as it was empty *OMGITSGOINGTOEATMYHEAD*!
Oh & his own shadow... working in a circle as the sun went down... turned the corner & he slew to a stop because his shadow was suddenly in front of him!

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Some Arabs have had the brains bred out of them, unfortunately. The original article is fiery but -really- smart. Mostly the problems come from the horse deciding the human is too stupid to get out of her own way, so the horse will take care of things. Sometimes not to the human's advantage.

LOL! about the feed bucket. Obviously you did not appreciate the full scale of the danger to horsedom.

[mallt.livejournal.com]

Having lived in the middle east & seeing "real arabs" I find it sad that so many have been spoiled by bad breeding choices. As much as I love the breed, I don't own one.

[raithen.livejournal.com]

What said above re: parelli.

Re horses and marketing read hilarious email today - you may have seen but will fwd in case not.

Re fear - oh ya. TUrns out have more than I thought since last year's accident. Rode at same site for 1st time today - am puddle of goo :S.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the email! It's hilarious. And a bit sad.

Courage--you'll get your riding-fu back. It just takes time.

[adriannem.livejournal.com]

I love your fat white pony joke. And it's really cool to see how you think with the horse.

Must go finish chapter 7 for you now.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

:)

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I do love reading about your horses, and their endless determination to train their way. Thank you!
I hope the aches are subsiding.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I have some lovely green patches, and an ache or two, but mostly am back to abnormal.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

That's good to hear.

[mallt.livejournal.com]

I love hearing about the training sessions with your horses... makes me want to come visit with Ariel & she what she'd make of it all :)

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Sure! We love young guests. Are having one next week in fact. :)

[mallt.livejournal.com]

I don't feel all that young but I guess age is relative! :D
Unfortunately you're a little far away to bring Ariel but I've been working on Mum to see if she'd like to go to horse camp with me. Maybe next year, this year is all about The Wedding (my sisters). Hopefully I can learn something to bring back to my fat white pony! ;)