A Good Workout...

ANOTHER GOOD WORKOUT...

We had another good workout. We reviewed circle driving, backed two methods, tap the air and WWWW. Max did well.

We also did side-passing on the fence. We're getting better and better.

We worked on the take-off again in LFR-2 and the change of direction. He's getting better.

He did well with leading behind. I think we've got that one down.

We attempted leading beside. It was a little rocky at first. Then I tapped and Max took off. We'll work on staying in exactly the right position, but he did pretty well for the first time. Leading beside on the left was a little rockier, but he got it. We'll do it again tomorrow.

YAY! We tried turn and go again. I tried a couple of suggestions I got from NWC members on the forum when I explained the backing up problem I was having when I first introduced it. It was still not pretty at first - a lot of backing up. He finally found it! We did it lots of times. It was getting dark, but we couldn't stop right when he was just about to get it for good. We practiced a few more times and quit for the night. He was getting pretty smooth with it by the time we stopped. Good Boy.

And thanks to NWC members on the forum for helping me out!

It was another good workout...

Have a good ride,
Greenhorn

Last Post of the Year Unless...

**********Click back to the first few posts in August to see how Max and I came to use Clinton Anderson’s Downunder Horsemanship method to train me in handling Max on the ground and to regain my confidence in the saddle.

LAST POST OF THE YEAR UNLESS... 

            We’re still practicing Lungeing for Respect – Stage 2.  We’re getting pretty good at it.  Max understands what to do.  He turns better when changing from clockwise to counter-clockwise.  He is reluctant to make a smooth turn and change to going clockwise.  We keep working on it.

            We’re also still practicing side-passing.  Here again, he’s better at it going to the left than going to the right.  We’ll keep working.

            Due to weather and Christmas activities, I haven’t ridden much.  I’m still getting in at least one ride a week.  That isn’t helping me in making progress in the saddle, but it keeps my confidence up.

            Max and I will keep practicing our groundwork until after January first, and then start making progress again.

            So, this will be the last post of the year unless….........we somehow make big progress between now and January 1st…

            Have a good ride

            Greenhorn

Keeping Up...

 ***Click back to the first few posts in August to read how Max and I came to use Clinton Anderson's Downunder Horsemanship method to train me to work with Max on the ground and to help me regain confidence in the saddle...

KEEPING UP...

I’m way behind.  Thanksgiving and Christmas activities are tops on my list until the new year, so I’m working in short sessions with Max when possible.  Most days we can get in a bit of practice.  We’re not learning new skills, but we’re practicing the ones we know.  And…we can both use the practice.

            We’ve had some interesting sessions practicing lungeing for respect-stage 2 this week.  Some days I think he’s got it, then we go out the next day, and we’re all but starting over.  Other days he seems to remember right away what we’re trying to do.  I think that’s a product of just flat not having long enough sessions to practice doing it the right way after the concept is gotten.  But… we’ll get it, eventually, even through our short sessions.

            I have not watched disc 4 in Gaining Respect and Control on the Ground–Series 2 yet.  I’m really shootin’ for watching that this weekend.  If I get to it, fine.  If not, that’s okay, too.  We’ll just keep improving on our previously learned skills.

            We’ve also been practicing side-passing down the fence.  Again, we’re coming along slowly.  But there’s small improvement week to week. 

            I’ve only gotten in one ride this week.  I plan to ride a couple more times before the end of the week.  It was a good ride.  We didn’t do anything but walk and trot.  He acted like he’d forgotten how to back up.  So, we worked on that a little.  He remembered.  It was only about a forty-five minute ride. 

            If I can watch the last disc on GRCG-2 this coming weekend, we’ll be able to add  some new skills to work on before the end of the year.

           

If not, we’ll be just practicing our skills and keeping up…

Have a good ride,

Greenhorn

How Did We Get to This Point...?

New Post coming later this week...

Meanwhile...

To read how Max and I got to this point in our training with Clinton Anderson's Downunder Horsemanship method click back to the first few posts...

Back to Short Sessions...

***Click back to the first few posts to read how Max and I started using RFD TV’s Clinton Anderson and his Downunder Horsemanship training method.  We've made great progress! 

BACK TO SHORT SESSIONS…

For the last couple of days I’ve returned to short sessions for my training.  Like I mentioned in the last post, Max and I are still on Clinton Anderson’s Gaining Respect and Control on the Ground – Series 2 – disc four.  We have three more exercises to go in this series:  leading behind, leading beside and turn and go.

We’ve been practicing side-passing and lungeing for respect-stage 2 in the afternoons this week.  We’ve had short sessions each day of 30 minutes to an hour.  It seems to work well for us like this. 

I’ve only had one ride this week though.  That won’t do.  I like to ride four to six days a week.

This week Max was reluctant to begin lungeing when I pointed and clucked, especially to the right for some reason.  So, we worked on it.  It took many tries, over a period of a few days for him to remember to "go" when I point and cluck.  But we’re getting it now about 90-95% of the time.  The other 5-10% of the time he gets it with slight encouragement.  So, that’s progress.

Clinton Anderson says you probably shouldn’t be doing lungeing for respect-stage 2 if your horse doesn’t “go” when you point and cluck in stage 1.  Max used to “go” when I pointed and clucked.  He just needs a refresher.  We had that couple of weeks in which we weren’t able to work, so he got a bit rusty.

We are working, slowly but steadily, on lungeing for respect-stage 2.  We’re really sloppy at it, but we’re correcting mistakes as they happen, then trying again. 

For example, Max and I are having a hard time with when we want to change direction, him stopping and getting his front end around quickly enough.  He wants to ignore me and the whole quick change of direction thing, so he keeps on in the same direction just trotting a little bit slower, and looking at me the whole time like he knows what I want, but wants to see if I’ll do it his way this time.  

Of course, I won’t, so I stop him, back him up by wiggling the rope because by this time he’s moved in closer to me, yield his hindquarters and start him in the other direction while keeping his shoulder out and away from me.

Like I said, we’re really sloppy, but we’ll keep practicing.  We’ve both got the time. 

Side-passing is going a little more smoothly than before.  We’re still on the fence and he’s still moving up to the fence frequently so that we have to back up and then continue the side-passing to the right.  To the left, he’s doing quite well.  Again, we’ll practice a little everyday.

I need to watch disc 4 to see how to do the last three exercises.  Hopefully, we can start those next week.

The short sessions are working for us again…

Have a good ride

Greenhorn

Training Takes a Back Seat...

** To read how Max and I came to use Clinton Anderson’s Downunder Horsemanship training methods click back to the first few posts…

TRAINING TAKES A BACK SEAT...

For the last three weeks other commitments have moved to the front of my activities forcing mine and Max’s training to take a back seat.

Looks like my plans for longer training sessions won’t be realized until after Christmas.  Until then, I’ll be doing short training sessions to keep Max and me in practice.  We’ll learn some new skills along the way, but our progress will probably not be very fast paced. 

We still need to complete disc four of Gaining Respect and Control on the Ground-Series 2.  We were there three weeks ago when other activities began to take my time. 

Since then, I haven’t had many rides, so no progress in the saddle.  We haven’t progressed on the ground either.  But we are doing just enough groundwork so we don’t get totally out of practice.

We’re going to begin working on the exercises on disc four of GRCG-2 next Monday. 

We’re experiencing some snags in lungeing for respect – stage 2.  Max is not rotating around on those hind feet and taking off in the other direction.  But we’re working on it. 

Hopefully, training will be taking a back seat for only a few more days…

Have a good ride

Greenhorn

Happy Thanksgiving

To read how Max and I came to use Clinton Anderson's Downunder Horsemanship method click back to the first few posts...

Happy Thanksgiving!

New Post coming after Thanksgiving...

More Short Sessions...

            If you’re a first time reader, I’m a “beginner all over again.”  After being absent from the horse world for a number of years, I have my first horse ever.  And, because of a  riding incident last November, I’m seeking to gain control on the ground and re-gain confidence in the saddle.  I’m using RFD TV horse trainer, Clinton Anderson’s Downunder Horsemanship method to train me in handling and riding my first horse, Max.  Look back at the first few posts to see how Max and I got together, and how we came to use Clinton Anderson’s method.

(The following sessions with Max happened right before my trip to Katy.  I should be just about caught up to real time now.)

MORE SHORT SESSIONS…

We reviewed backing, yielding forequarters, changing sides, slap and tap, run up and rub, helicopter and walk and slap.  We lunged just a bit. 

Then, there came a big rain.  So…no ride. 

But… we needed the rain more than I needed the ride.

Next Day:

Good ride.  Steady progress with cantering! 

I remembered to do the touch and rub exercise today, on the ground with the bridle on.  I feel more comfortable doing it with the bridle on.  I’m not sure if that’s the way it’s supposed to be done.  I’ll have to watch that part again.  I’m sloppy at the cues because this exercise it makes me… uneasy. 

              Everything about it makes me uneasy.  Pulling his head around right by me.  (I just remembered I should keep my elbow up.)  Standing more towards the middle of his body instead of up by his shoulder, changing my hands like you’re supposed to do in the exercise isn’t natural to me yet, and keeping up with him on the ground while he’s moving his hindquarters around while I keep his head tilted toward me all need work.  (Whew-) 

I’m just real uncomfortable with it so far.  I’m going to need to get over it and stick with it.

We’ve been doing groundwork right in front of the barn this week.  Clinton Anderson says to work where he wants to be and rest where you want him to be, (or something about like that) and it’s another great idea.  So, we’re working at the barn since we had our disagreement about when to go back to the barn a few days ago.

Next Day:

We had a short evening session.  We’re not really able to have a good teaching session on these short evenings.  We’ve really only had time to practice skills I’ve already introduced.

Next Day:

No ride today-just a short groundwork practice session this evening.

Next Day:

By the time we could practice it was getting to be early evening.  I wanted to make sure I got a ride in so we barely did groundwork.  We just backed and lunged a little to warm up and to remember that I’m the leader.

Then, we had a good ride.  Still cantering – Still need to practice cantering.  It was a short ride but it was excellent.

We’re not progressing as quickly as I’d like through these first couple of discs on Gaining Respect and Control on the Ground-Series 2.  We got kind of stuck reviewing these past couple of weeks.  I gotta step it up.

Hopefully, next week we’ll be able to get back to longer sessions…

Have a good ride

Greenhorn

Back From Katy...

If you're a first time reader, I'm a first time horse owner using Clinton Anderson's training methods to train me in handling my horse.  After an incident last November I'm seeking to gain control on the ground and re-gain confidence in the saddle using his techniques.  Look back to the first few posts to see how Max and I got to this point...

BACK FROM KATY...

I’m really glad I made the trip to Katy, Texas, and I had a great time Saturday and Sunday at Clinton Anderson’s Walkabout Tour.  I enjoyed two days of horses, horses, horses.  I got a refresher on what it looks like, live, to do the exercises the right way.   Most of all, I got an infusion of inspiration and energy which will keep me enthused about making steady progress both on the ground and in the saddle.  So, my goals for the trip were definitely accomplished.

Clinton used his Downunder Horsemanship techniques to solve different types of problems on local horses.  He did it using direct instruction, clear physical demonstration, and flavored it with lots of humor.  He reached his training goal each time. 

Boo-coos of prizes were given away. 

I enjoyed looking at all the products during the breaks.  (I made a couple of purchases.)  I didn’t experience, or hear, any high-pressured sales going on.  I did experience, and hear, sales people answering questions about products.  They were all knowledgeable about the products, all helpful, all nice.

I observed Mr. Anderson as he talked with the folks during breaks.  He was polite and generous with his time.  He stayed after his show on Saturday and Sunday evenings as long as it took to get to everyone in the long line who wanted to speak with him.

Even I stood in that Sunday afternoon line.  (I’ve never stood in line to talk with a presenter.  But I really wanted him to know how well he was training me.)  He politely listened to my longer-than-short story and smiled and encouraged me to stay with it.   Very nice.

All in all, I’m glad I went...

Have a good ride

Greenhorn

I'm a Lopin' Lady!

***To read how Max and I came to use RFD TV's horse trainer Clinton Anderson's Downunder Horsemanship methods, click back to the first few posts...


I'M A LOPIN' LADY!

               I’m a lopin’ lady!!  We had a terrific ride!  We walked, trotted and cantered all over the arena!  I tried out the cruising exercise a little.  I didn’t really get the exercise going for as long as I should have, but we got a good taste of it. 

He’s getting into the canter right off, and a few times he was on the correct lead.  Now, I know in cruising, Clinton Anderson says you don’t even worry about things like correct leads, and I wasn’t worried about it.  I just happened to notice that a few times he was correct.

I’m really excited about this whole cantering thing.  His canter was noticeably slower and smoother, and I had all kinds of control.

WOO-HOO!  It’s definitely a breakthrough for me. 

I'm a LOPIN' LADY!!

Two Days Later:

Good groundwork –all review and practice -  

Good ride –

We “cruised” at the canter some.  Max’s canter was still nice and relaxed until he decided “riding time” was over.  He was ready to quit and sped up going toward the gate.  I closed it down with a one-rein stop.  

We rode outside the arena, and he was all about quitting and getting back to the barn.

I didn’t let him, and it was a little scary at times.  He was tossing his head and fighting me about which direction to go. 

I made us go back into the arena, ride slowly for just a minute or two, and then I dismounted deep in the middle of the arena, away from the gate.

I’m going to have to increase our riding time slowly each day.  Also, we need to ride outside the arena more.  Clinton Anderson says you really shouldn’t do that until you have control.  I think I have control, but then today, for example, I was having a hard time having him stand still outside the arena when he was ready to quit and go to the barn.   

 I kept pulling him around to a one-rein stop when he took a step that I didn’t ask for.  He didn’t seem to mind and kept taking that step.  I was definitely uneasy. 

Why do I still count it as a good ride?  It was good because I learned from it.  I learned that I clearly do not have the control I need…yet…

Have a good ride

Greenhorn

Short Sessions...

***To read more about mine and Max's progress using RFD TV's Clinton Anderson and his Downunder Horsemanship methods, click back to the first few posts...

SHORT SESSIONS...

I had a short morning with Max, but we were able to do a few rounds of yielding forequarters, backing, changing eyes and lungeing. 

Then, we had a good ride – short – but good.  No flies or bees today.  Very windy, but that felt good. 

I’ve been sloooowly working up to doing more cantering.  His canter seems to be slowing down a little from that big whallopin’ cowboy lope, so I’m getting more confident each time we ride. 

I’m not good at cueing him to get to the canter, though.  I understand what to do, it’s just not always working for me. 

Also, Clinton Anderson cues to the canter by continuing the squeeze, cluck, spank (if necessary) and release when the desired gait is attained method. 

The two instructors I’ve taken lessons from use the squeeze with the outside leg and make a big kiss sound method to get to the canter. 

I’ve tried both with Max lately (not in the same session, but still probably confusing the heck out of him). 

I’d really like to use the Clinton Anderson method, simply because it does make more sense to me, but I have to say that he has been responding more immediately to the big kiss method.  So, I really need to work on my cues. 

Also, Max had an attitude problem today on the ground when changing directions while lungeing.  He wheeled around and galloped off. 

I didn’t provide any resistance, not even a little tug on the line in an attempt to stop him.  I just immediately dropped the rope and let him go.  I didn’t want him to think he could have a tug-o-war with me anytime and pull loose.  I wanted him to think that I just decided to let him go. 

He ran off, turned and looked at me with ears pinned back.  Then he looked at me like, “Uh…What do I do now?” and crept back over to me.  I neither scolded nor soothed.  We continued with no more attitude…

Next Day:

Great ride!  We cantered several times.  I’m almost ready to do cruising at the canter. 

I think we’ve regressed on yielding forequarters…

A Few Days Later:

I got in from out of town this afternoon.  I just worked with Max for a few minutes this evening.  Mainly for exercise…for both of us.  We backed, yielded forequarters, lunged at the trot and a little at the canter.  He seemed to remember most of his lessons.  His canter is definitely slower and smoother.  I’m hoping that will transfer to the saddle. 

But we’re getting sloppy on yielding forequarters.  I need to watch that segment again on the Gaining Respect and Control on the Ground dvd and see what the “ideal” yielding forequarters looks like. 

Clinton Anderson always shows you the way the skill should look with a well-trained horse first.  I need to re-see the “ideal” yielding forequarters.

We haven’t been able to have some good long workouts this week, but we’re hangin’ in there with our short sessions…

Have a good ride

Greenhorn

Practice, Practice, Practice...

***To read more about how Max and I came to use RFD TV's Clinton Anderson and his Downunder Horsemanship methods to train ME in handling my horse, click back to the first few posts and see how we've progressed...


PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE...

         If you’re also using Clinton Anderson’s dvds with your horse, let me know how it’s coming along in the comments section…

        I got out late this morning, and it was already getting HOT.  I wanted to get some riding in so we did a minimum of groundwork.

        In the barn I’ve begun using changing directions when tacking up Max.  We backed, we yielded forequarters.  Both were fine.  Yielding to the left is still coming along. 

        We lunged a few circles right, then left, at the canter.  Cantering to the right still needs improvement, but he does look more comfortable.  He seems to get into the canter more easily than he did before.

        Then, we did Run Up and Rub.  He’s fine with this one.

        The ride was really good.  We trotted all over and we cantered.  I felt like I was really sitting into his canter today.  And a couple of times I know he had a little bit slower canter, and it felt great.

Gone Next Five Days:

First Day Home:

        I worked with Max in the evening.  I only did a quick review of backing, yielding forequarters, lungeing and a little Sending.  He remembered.  Mainly, he needed some exercise.

Next Day:

       We worked on the ground for quite some time.  We reviewed all Clinton Anderson’s Gaining Respect and Control on the Ground Series 1. 

      

       Then, we had a really good ride.  We cantered several times.  I’m feeling more and more confident. 

       

       I still don’t feel like I’m controlling direction, but that’s what cruising is, right?  We didn’t actually cruise at the canter, but we cantered enough times that I think I’m just about ready for it.

Next Day:

        Today I spent time watching the whole Gaining Respect and Control on the Ground Series 2 dvds.  I like to watch the entire series to get the big picture to see what I should be able to do at the end of the series, then go back and watch the individual exercises as many times as I need to to be able to be clear on what I do and what Max is expected to do.

Next Day:

        Today was groundwork intense.  We worked on Gaining Respect and Control on the Ground Series 2 exercises.  We did Run Up and Rub with no problem.  We continued working on yielding forequarters.  We’ll keep working on that daily.  We did Changing Sides.  Max did excellently.  Slap and Tap – also excellent.  Not a flinch when I did the Helicopter exercise. 

       

        He caught on to Touch and Rub on his nose pretty quickly.  He backed up without much protest when pressure was put on his nose, but we’ll add this exercise to our daily routine. 

       

        Max also did very well on Touch and Rub on his poll.  I saw this exercise quite some time ago either on Clinton Anderson’s Downunder Horsemanship show on RFD TV or on the Problem Solving dvd series.  I don’t remember which.  I’ve watched both of them so often.  I began working on this when I first had trouble bridling Max last fall when I first got him. 

       

        Max actually did the Changing Eyes – Stage One exercise without a lot of struggle.  We need practice.  But wow, he’s getting good!  I think I need more practice on this one than he does.  I’m having a little trouble changing my hands and keeping my body facing the right direction.  He did it, though, even with my less-than-clear clues.

       

        Our ride was okay.  We didn’t canter as much today.  We worked on yielding hindquarters at the standstill, and I still like practicing that Craig Cameron exercise I mentioned in a previous post, entitled “Way Off the Subject.”

        

        We are improving, and we’ve almost completed disc one of Gaining Respect and Control on the Ground Series 2 in this short amount of time.

        We’ll just keep on with practice, practice, practice…

        Have a good ride

        Greenhorn

Anyone Else Using Clinton Anderson's DVDs?

***Read more about how Max and I came to use Clinton Anderson's Downunder Horsemanship methods, click back to the first few posts and see how we've progressed...


ANYONE ELSE USING CLINTON ANDERSON'S DVDS?



               Before I tell about our training experience today, I would like to ask anyone reading who is using Clinton Anderson’s training DVDs to feel free to tell us what you’re working on and how it’s going for you in the comment section.

Also, I read some good information on the http://www.horseforum.com
 website.  It really helped me to know more about what to look for while Max is lungeing at the canter.

I was glad to read that many who were commenting encourage cantering on the ground first to get the horse used to it and to teach correct leads.  Yea!  I’m doing something right. 

I originally went to the website to see if I could find out anything about horse chiropractors.  I was beginning to think maybe something was wrong with Max’s right shoulder since when I’m in the saddle doing the very little cantering that we do, 99%  of the time he takes off on the left lead. 

Does anyone know if horse chiropractors really help?  I mean really help?

When I canter him on the ground he’s not nearly as smooth on his right lead either.  On horseforum.com folks were saying that getting horses cantering on the ground helps get them used to using this gait.  Some also said that cantering on the ground is helpful in teaching correct leads.  More than one suggested cantering on the “bad” side more than on the “good” side.  Clinton Anderson also suggests that whenever there is one side that’s not as “good” as the other (this goes for any skill) to work that side two or three times as much as the other side.

Makes sense…  So we did that today, and I know that small improvement was made. 

I went back out this evening when it cooled off.  We lunged a little and Max is doing better all the time on that right lead.  I’m doing it twice as much on the right as on the left.  He still doesn’t look real smooth on the right.  I’m letting him go in big circles as someone suggested on horseforum.com. 

We also did sending.  He’s getting it, pretty well.  He trots through with lots of encouragement.  He still goes a too far around behind me when going to the left.  But I wiggle the rope to back him out and he gets back in position to come through to the right. 

Max is still yielding forequarters correctly to the right, and he really did better moving to the left.  Not yet pivoting on the left hind foot, but crossing his right foot over better and more consistently.

Run up and rub was fine.  Slap and tap was fine.

Anyone else working on any of these exercises?         Anyone…anyone…?

Have a good ride

Greenhorn

Do We Make the Grade?

A few Sundays ago, I watched an episode on Clinton Anderson’s Downunder Horsemanship show on RFD TV.  He was grading a student on the Fundamentals section of his horse training program.  It made me think about how Max and I are progressing.

Upon reflection, I had to admit that Max doesn’t really show energy in his take-off and his lungeing at the trot seems sluggish most of the time.  And I must strive to be more consistent and project high energy with my body language. 

The student he was grading was worried about her horse yielding hindquarters and giving two eyes.  She was concerned that he wasn’t doing it fast enough. 

Remember, I was concerned earlier about this and decided to work on it.  But on this episode CA said that if the horse is getting that backend around and looking at you, it’s okay.  That when you go through future exercises that require him to yield his hindquarters in order to do the exercise, he’ll get better and better at it, so don’t just work it to death.  Okay.  I’m good with that.  We’re moving on.

I know I need to project energy in my body language in order for Max to get energetic.  He’s a lazy type (and I can be, too), and he can get an attitude if not kept in check.  He decided to demonstrate this today when I wanted to work on the energy part.

I went to the barn with the intention of seeing what kind of grade we’d get on Lungeing, Stage One.  I wanted to project energy so he would take off with some snap.  We began, I projected and he snapped all right. 

He snapped loose from me as I attempted to point and cluck him up to a more energetic trot.  He went through the open gate and out of the pen, and when he got to his stall he yielded those hindquarters with energy and gave me two eyes.  He cocked his foot and licked his lips.  I laughed out loud!

I went and got him, neither scolded him nor soothed him, walked him back into the arena (closed the gate!) and took up where we left off.  We practiced, both of us with energy, for a while with no more incidences.  Maybe by the end of our practice we could have pulled a B…

Monday I did an evening workout with Max.  I was surprised by his light take-off when I pointed and clucked.  His whole trot seemed a little lighter and more energetic.

               I pointed and clucked to get him up to a lope.  I used the stick and string the second time I pointed and clucked.  On the left lead he tossed his head kind of like, “I don’t know if I’m going to do this without showing you I don’t like it,” but he stepped it up. 

On the right lead when I pointed and clucked, and then pointed, clucked and used the stick and string the second time when he didn’t lope, he tossed his head and wanted to kick out and got a bit snarky.  He tried to jerk away, but I held him and kept the pressure on while he acted silly.  We worked through it. 

He went a time or two more at the lope, then I brought him to a trot for two circles, then stopped and rubbed him and rested just a moment.  We started again in the same direction and had no problem.  Thanks, CA.  Good instructions.

Lungeing Stage One had definitely improved.  More energetic take off, better change of direction.  We might get a B on that.  Don’t get me wrong. He’s not stopping and rotating around on his hindquarters and taking off in the other direction. 
He’s stopping.  He’s giving two eyes better and understands, most of the time, to go the other way when I point in the other direction and cluck.

I’m thinking that I should even go back to the four backing up methods.  On some days I think we’re definitely B material.  Then again, when I tapped the air today for Max to back up, he looked at me like, “What?”  

I did the yielding hindquarters and backing and he stood still after yielding.  I don’t think I was clear on my signal to back up on this one.  We hadn’t practiced it in a while and I was clumsy with the cues.  But no B today.

We continue to work on moving forequarters.  We can do about 180 degrees until he wants to step forward instead of across.  No B on that one.

Do Max and I make the grade?  I’m afraid that right now, we don’t rate a solid B on several exercises in Gaining Respect and Control on the Ground – Series I.  The episode reminded me that I must keep my expectations for both of us high when training Max.  We can do it...    

            Have a nice ride,

            Greenhorn