Circling at Liberty and disengaging the hind 1/4's

OK, so for ages I've been wondering how I can get Dani to circle at liberty with out having to use a round yard, pretty much because I don't have a round yard.

So I just got her walking, moving off and then a few steps later I would disengage her hind quarters. Then I would make it longer before I disengaged her. Pretty soon she was out on the circle and doing great. I wouldn't totally ask for a full disengagement all the time, but just enough for her to move around me in a circle. Once she was doing that pretty great I asked for a trot. Not a problem there at all. I'd ask her to stop and then go again (all this is to the right) and she appeared to be pretty confident with my signals and what I was asking for. I am a bit naughty, because asking for the canter could have gone bad and I should have waited a while longer before I asked. But I did ask and she was great. I wish I had video footage! I was there with out any one watching me. I think I do better in those situations as I'm not so bothered about making mistakes!!

Around to the left was another story, and it appears Dani has a hard time disengaging when I'm on the left hand side of her. It took a while to get her to turn to face me. When she did she licked her lips, so we'll see how she is next time I play and see if I have as much trouble. That is my bad side too, so it doesn't really help. I'm probably not very clear with my instructions on that side.

I've also started teaching her to come. I wouldn't say she was enthusiastic about coming, but she came. I only spent a little time on that.

Just because I love this photo...

Touch It Game

Dani's a pretty smart horse and picks up on stuff real quick. I started the touch it game with her. I would hold out the toy, give the comand 'touch' and she would go and put her nose on the ball! I had done a little with the ball before I started with the clicker, so it wasn't completely new to her. I did start with the ball close enough for her to be interested in it, then move it a little further away and had asked her to streach down for it. So when I did use the clicker she pretty much instantly knew what was going on.

'Charging Up The Clicker'

Supposedly the first thing you have to do before you can do much else. I'm pretty sure she's understanding the fact that click means food!!

Then it was 'respecting my space' it was funny to watch her (I shouldn't laugh but she was so cute) realising that she can't go for my pockets to look for treats and she'll get one if she looks away from me. She'll be looking straight ahead and you can tell that she knows she won't get a treat if she goes for my pockets but it's hard to resist having a look, but thinking she must if she wants the treat. (Is that putting human thoughts and emotions into a horse or what!!)

Thankfully she's a very fast learner and she's no crocodile snatching for a treat so I have that on my side. It was so exciting. I'm so motivated to go out and do more stuff because I know it all works!!

I'm going out this arvo to start target training, I'm pretty excited :P

What we can do

I should probably let you know what we can do already.....

• Catch and lead with out a halter and lead rope in a paddock with other horses.
  
• The '7 games' from natural horsemanship


• Yealding the hindquarters at liberty and other movements away from pressure


• Stick to me in any direction at liberty


• Lunges/ circles on voice command (I'm not a believer in 'lunging' but do circle and include things to think about) (She was taught this before I bought her)


• Has been well schooled under saddle (before I bought her)


• I can get her to stand on a tarp, or trot over it, both on line and at liberty


• Put her nose on things.

If I remember I will add more. As I progress with my clicker training and natural horsemanship I will keep adding things in future blogs!

Tools

I have already got a rope halter and a 12 foot line (rope) which have been excellent training tools, plus I have also read books and articles and watched alot of DVD's about natural horsemanship and horse behaviour. These have been a great starting tool.

Today I bought Dani a new toy. I know it's a dogs toy but it is safe and it cost me a whole $4. Here is my dog modeling it....

I also bought this book- you can get a copy for yourself from http://horsetraining.org/

The Chioce

I've owned Dani now for just over a year. Things have been pretty good, we've done some natural horsemanship and I've managed to build my confidence up.

We have come accross a couple of rode blocks. These include she is hard to saddle and is girthy, and hard to get on to. (She had a saw back, this has been resolved (the physical side of things) and I have had her saddle checked and re-packed) Second she can be fowad moving and speedy, especially in the canter, or coming back from a canter into a trot. (She is a meduim/mild Left Brain Extrovert) I also want to work on our trail rides as she is nervous on the way out from the ride, (She turns into a mild Right Brain Extrovert) but then rushes on the way home. They're really what I want to work on, aswell as building a better relationship between us.

What she is great at is ground manners and she is already well educated. She is really sweet with a bit of an 'old lady' personality. We seem to get on pretty well!!

I am excited to be receiving my jumps and witches hats which I'll be getting in the next couple of weeks!!