Africa: Our Journey #16 Progress & Horsenality Report

So much to blog about tonight.  Africa and I made a big step in one of the games and my Horsenality Report for Africa came.

Africa and I have been working on our Freestyle.  He is following the rail without micro-managing, halts without brace, turns with the direct and indirect rein, and backs up when I bounce my legs.  These last few weeks, we seem to have settled into a calm, mutual partnership while riding.  He stays at his gait and watches where he goes.  I have learned to be more balanced, focus forward in the direction we're going, and use my seat to cue movement or stopping.  Our big challenge is the Freestyle Sideways Game.  Africa gets confused at my cues and then gets balky, pulling his head down to jerk the reins out of my hands.  We have been working on it one tiny step at a time, using indirect rein for a step with the hindquarters and direct rein for a step with the front feet.  (Jesse Peters suggested this strategy.)  Today I used the carrot stick as a reinforcement tap for movement.    Africa made 2 or 3 steps on both ends without arguing or pulling on the reins.  Of course I gave him alot of praise and rubs. Our session ended then, with cookies and carrots.  I am so pleased with the progress!

Now some comments about the Horsenality Report.  It came in a pictured notebook inside a beautiful box.  Africa's horsenality, after the questionaire I completed, revealed he is a spirited, Right-Brain Extrovert.  The report explains what I might expect from Africa based on where his dot is placed on the quadrants.  It goes on to explain the nature of his horsenality (RBE), some do's and don'ts, and what behaviors and reactions I might expect from Africa while playing the Seven Games.  The report suggests the best games and patterns to use for Africa's advancement.  So far, the part I like the best is the suggestions for designing a session with Africa.  Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by all there is to choose from and this feature of the report gives a concrete sample of a session.  There is lots more in the report that I just haven't had time to read.  This is going to be an important resource in our journey.