How good am I? Well right after this picture was taken the DOR started to move me off and the bit fell out of my mouth due to a serious bridle malfunction (it fell apart) and I didn't go nuts. In fact I followed the DOR's directions given with a neck rope and her seat. She was very pleased, at one time in my past this would have turned into a werehorse incident for me.
Of course the DOR has to fess up that at one time in our past this would have given her a panic attack. I think we are doing much better.
John Lyons talks about teaching cues so that horse and rider can communicate better. He also talks about working on one thing at a time. Well I have been working on the "get off" cue for the DOR. I have to say she is a very slow learner. I line-up to the mounting block and she stays on. I got to thinking my problem was that it is the mounting block, not the dismounting block. When the DOR would line me up to the mounting block to get off I would wait for her to swing her leg over and then step away from the block, forcing her to drop her left stirrup and hop to the ground. I was thinking that it would teacher her that my proximity to the "mounting" block was the cue for her to get off. It didn't work, in fact she started making the mounting block an arena ornament that I had to work around.... So I started lining up with the rail fence for her to get off, she won't even try...
Well I am persistent, I will get her trained soon. After all Buck will laugh me out of the arena if I can't get my rider to dismount on cue.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!
1 comments:
I'm learning so much from you, Jack! You're right, it's not always a dismounting block, but it's a shame she wouldn't respond to your clear communication... I have the same issue. Clearly when it's time to leave I stand by the gate. But NOOOOO. We have to do circles by the gate now. Like I even want to go near it anymore.
Yesh.
--Smokey
Post a Comment