Gia - sessions 1150-1152 - back to riding, and some behavior modification!

 Last week was a little crazy, hence why I am just now getting around to writing the blog!

Tuesday - I was finally able to get back into the saddle on Monday (although I didn't get a chance to ride Gia).  I did get back to my lessons with Suzin today though!!  We worked at the walk, trot and halt doing a lot of transitions.  We worked on bending, and when I got stuck in one direction not able to get the bend, she reminded me that I could go the other direction and ask for counterbend just until she was straight.  She also reminded me to "give" for the tiniest correct answer that I received from Gia.  All things I say to my students all the time, but it's funny how you can forget these things when you are in the saddle yourself! We also worked a little on turns-on-the-haunches, and even got a couple of nice steps!

Wednesday - due to the rain, the fields were too wet to jump in, so Gia and I stayed in the arena for some jumping.  I mainly focused on her impulsion - she had to be forward and in front of my leg, but she also had to be obedient to my opposing aids and behind my hand.  So, we did a lot of transitions.  We also worked a little on straightness.  We didn't jump much, just a large crossrail a few times, but the quality was good when we did jump!

Friday - Gia is never great for her newer grooms.  She usually has to "break them in".  However, she was being an absolute biaaatch to Chloe on Friday.  So, in lieu of riding Gia, I decided to work with Chloe on some behavior modification with Gia.  And I might be doing that with her grooms going forward, if she can't change her tune.  Basically, she pins her ears and stomps her feet or picks them up, threatening to kick, anytime a groom brushes her.  And it isn't necessarily with a certain brush or in a certain way or in a certain spot either.  It's just the groom.  If Danielle or I go to do the exact same thing, she leans in to it and acts like it's the best thing ever and it's her spa day. 🙄 Once the groom has been with her a while, and she realizes that she isn't going to scare them off, then she eventually relents and is fine with almost everything.  However Chloe is still fairly new, so Gia is basically picking on her.  (Horses are basically giant pre-teens stuck in a middle school cafeteria trying to figure out their lives).  Anyway, I coached Chloe to keep brushing Gia in the same area whenever she got pissy, until she gave any sign that was the least bit more positive - like her ears going slightly more forward, for ANY reason.  As soon as that happened she was to take the brush away and tell her "good girl".  Meanwhile, she had to completely ignore the naughty behaviors (after all, they are just trying to get your attention with them, and just trying to get an answer from you - kind of like a giant toddler with a temper tantrum.  If you don't give the temper tantrum any attention, then they eventually find something else that WILL get your attention.  And as soon as it's something positive, YOU GIVE IT TO THEM!!!)  Then I would coach her to try to find a spot that she really liked to brush as a reward.  After a few minutes of that, she would continue on her regular grooming routine until the next "bad" spot, and repeat.  We ended when we got a really good reaction on one of the "bad" spots.  I'm thinking we might continue with this work for a little while.  Stay tuned ...

Sadly, I overdid my riding this week, and made myself sore in my seat, but also my back, so I will be back to riding one horse this coming week, or none at all, depending on how I feel.  I'm going to take it much slower when I do feel better and start coming back. 😞