Generalization

 Back when I was studying to be a Speech Language Pathologist we learned the concept of generalisation: the ability of an individual to apply something learned in different situations and settings. It promotes independence and adaptability. 

This applies to horse training as well. At home Quaid is doing incredibly well. He's a solid horse with a lot of try. But the proof is whether we can do the things we working on: WTC, rating his speed, steering and focus in other settings.  For example, he's quite good at ground tying in the ring but not in the barn. I've started working on that and it's coming. But he'd much rather explore the barn. 

Quaid: standing is boring

We have a show this weekend. It's the first one of the year. I wanted to get him off property before we went so I arranged to travel to Krista's for a lesson with Jane. It's not a totally new place, he was there last year for a clinic. To be 100% honest I was a little worried. I was leaving Carmen behind but I wanted to test that as well. I got everything ready and asked him to get on the trailer. He walked on by himself but needed some encouragement to take the last two steps. I got there about 90 minutes before our lesson. I put him in the stall. 

I walked him around and was happy to see that he wasn't a nervous wreck. Just more on edge. 

he approved of the grass

When it was time for our lesson I was able to bring him in to do some ground work. The wind was high and the canvas ring was flapping a bit.  It was definitely unnerving but he did well to focus on me. I then mounted. I wish I had some footage but I messed up and decided otherwise just get to the lesson rather than fuss with it.  

Not gonna lie, it was a really tough lesson. Quaid was nervous and uncertain and I was tense and worried. Not the best combination. Jane, however, was great. She kept telling me to put my butt in the saddle and ride. You are a good rider. You need to ride like it!  I was really struggling though.  Riding is hard but the mental part is the hardest part of it. The physical is, by comparison, easy.  He was a speeding up and slowing down and getting pissy when I tried to rate his speed. My tension was not helping either.  

At one point she asked me to canter and it was terrible. Bouncy, zero steering feeling really precarious. I rode like I'd never sat on a horse in my life.  I brought him to a halt and Jane said 'you decided that you were coming off and gave up.  I looked at her. Absolutely. I said.  She laughed. I think she was expecting me to argue, possibly blame Quaid. But she was right. I went into full self-defence mode.  

That seemed to break something loose and I was able to, finally, buckle down and ride the damn horse. And when I did things got better.  I was able to follow instructions and get back to work. Jane said that at the end it was good. She was firm that I need to be stable to help him find his balance. Which is true. And hard. But anyway we got it done and it was a valuable lesson. I might have thought that Quaid needed practice off property but clearly so did I. 

I put him back in his stall and loaded my stuff back in the trailer. When I went to load him he refused to self load. I was at the end of my stamina by then so I walked him on and tied him. Fortunately, he followed me easily and did not pull against the tie.  We made it home and I hosed him off before letting him out in the field.  

I was going between being frustrated with myself and recognising all the positive things.  

I gave him the next day off and rode him on Tuesday. He was not happy and the things I thought had been solid at home were definitely not.  The canter wheels had totally fallen off the bus.  I decided that this was a great opportunity to work on making what I thought was solid, truly solid. Because clearly it was not.  It was a difficult ride again. But rather than give in to my nerves or be frustrated I took what Jane had taught me and put it to work.   I refused to hide from the canter work.  Even when it sucked. Especially when it sucked. I did my damndest to sit up and ride him forward.  I rested when he gave me a good try.  

I just love teal on him. 

I was bit worried about the show after that ride. I texted my friend, Tanya, that we no longer had a canter and the show was going to be GREAT (sarcasm font).  But she told me to get a hold of myself.  So I did. 

Today I decided to ride Carmen first. I figured that if my rides on Quaid were going to be hard then it didn't matter and Carmen would give me the chance to work on keeping my seat in the saddle and not tensing my thighs.  Whether it was the weather (warm and sunny vs cold and windy the day before) or the hard work I did or the stars aligned but I had my horse back.  Early in the ride he picked up a canter by accident and I just rolled with it. and it was fine. We had a great schooling session of him listening and me supporting. It was nice to feel us jell again. 

Tomorrow both horses are off while I pack. We leave Friday and come back Sunday. I don't know how it will go there.  But my goals are not to win any red ribbons. It's to support and ride my horse while keeping my eye on the real prize: being a team.