Lead your horse backwards by the hind legs for 7 steps?
This task is on the self assessment check lists as a Level 3 task Online and at Liberty.I chose 7 steps because it's a fair distance, and everything in Parelli is "7"!
I saw this on the self-assessment and realized I hadn't done it yet, which is why it became my "Can You" for this week. ;)I did include in in my Liberty audition...I can't remember if I did it in my Online. I also did a "lead by the front legs". She did both of them really well, although had some opposition reflex going backwards in my audition, but only for a couple seconds, then she flowed really smoothly!
Interestingly enough, using the savvy string for the hind legs made me kind of nervous...in the future I'll probably choose to do it with something longer.
Also, in the new Levels Pathway video for L3 Liberty, Pat shows a clever trick: Swing your string over their back so it curls up under their belly and catch it. Then slide your stick/string back until it's circling the hind legs. This is much easier and looks pretty nifty! I'll admit to having a wee bit of trouble, just because my horse is so big, though! I didn't have a whole lot of room to maneuver. ;)
I attempted (never tried it before) to do this task with Lola's front legs before getting to the hind legs. She didn't seem to know what I was trying to accomplish so I can only assume I might not have been doing it properly. I will work on this more tomorrow.......I did get her to take two steps, so that's a start.
We can do pretty well with the savvy string. So I'm going to switch it up and get 7 steps at liberty with lead by the tail. Matrix gets kind of sticky with this. I ask lightly phase 1 and then tap with stick (234) if he doesn't respond. (He knows from riding freestyle) that tap on the behind during backup means pick up some speed.) I don't seem to be getting much improvement though. Any suggestions? Maybe backing up throught the gate or something will give purpose, hmmmmmm.... Cathy Routh
Cathy, My lead by the tail was non-existent after about 10 sessions or so, so I abandoned it. When I came back to it about 6 months later, it was there, and just needed tweaking. Talk about a long lick and chew! LOL. I had to get it really good online first, and wiggled the rope as my higher phases before going to liberty - then I wiggle my stick as a higher phase. In my auditions I used it to get her off of the pedestal and it worked fairly well. I know someone who taught it by overshooting a barrel, then backing by the tail up to the barrel, which miraculously had treats on it! Hmmm...I should try that with Dixie!
I started this task with the front legs, one leg at a time. Lola started to figure it out, but it will take me some time to work to the back legs. Great porcupine game!!!
Tina, the same thing for me. Lead by tail was terrible some months ago!! Now he will back up when I stand behind him and just motion with my hand.?? Who would have thunk it. Not trying to backup around a barrel / in serpentines. He's licking and chewing on this one!! Cathy Routh
I just viewed this in the Self-Assessment Videos and plan to try this today.
ReplyDeleteDid you include this in your audition, Tina?
I saw this on the self-assessment and realized I hadn't done it yet, which is why it became my "Can You" for this week. ;)I did include in in my Liberty audition...I can't remember if I did it in my Online. I also did a "lead by the front legs". She did both of them really well, although had some opposition reflex going backwards in my audition, but only for a couple seconds, then she flowed really smoothly!
ReplyDeleteInterestingly enough, using the savvy string for the hind legs made me kind of nervous...in the future I'll probably choose to do it with something longer.
Also, in the new Levels Pathway video for L3 Liberty, Pat shows a clever trick: Swing your string over their back so it curls up under their belly and catch it. Then slide your stick/string back until it's circling the hind legs. This is much easier and looks pretty nifty! I'll admit to having a wee bit of trouble, just because my horse is so big, though! I didn't have a whole lot of room to maneuver. ;)
I'm heading out to play today, so I will try both these "can you's" and leave a comment this evening.
ReplyDeleteI attempted (never tried it before) to do this task with Lola's front legs before getting to the hind legs. She didn't seem to know what I was trying to accomplish so I can only assume I might not have been doing it properly. I will work on this more tomorrow.......I did get her to take two steps, so that's a start.
ReplyDeleteWe can do pretty well with the savvy string. So I'm going to switch it up and get 7 steps at liberty with lead by the tail. Matrix gets kind of sticky with this. I ask lightly phase 1 and then tap with stick (234) if he doesn't respond. (He knows from riding freestyle) that tap on the behind during backup means pick up some speed.) I don't seem to be getting much improvement though. Any suggestions? Maybe backing up throught the gate or something will give purpose, hmmmmmm.... Cathy Routh
ReplyDeleteCathy,
ReplyDeleteMy lead by the tail was non-existent after about 10 sessions or so, so I abandoned it. When I came back to it about 6 months later, it was there, and just needed tweaking. Talk about a long lick and chew! LOL. I had to get it really good online first, and wiggled the rope as my higher phases before going to liberty - then I wiggle my stick as a higher phase. In my auditions I used it to get her off of the pedestal and it worked fairly well. I know someone who taught it by overshooting a barrel, then backing by the tail up to the barrel, which miraculously had treats on it! Hmmm...I should try that with Dixie!
I started this task with the front legs, one leg at a time. Lola started to figure it out, but it will take me some time to work to the back legs. Great porcupine game!!!
ReplyDeleteTina, the same thing for me. Lead by tail was terrible some months ago!! Now he will back up when I stand behind him and just motion with my hand.?? Who would have thunk it. Not trying to backup around a barrel / in serpentines. He's licking and chewing on this one!! Cathy Routh
ReplyDelete