A Warwick Schiller Playlist and an Update

 

I’ve been deep diving on Warwick Schiller in the past few weeks.  First it started with figuring out how to build a better half-halt response, which has been mega successful, and now I’m looking more at having Cruise more present in his body.  THIS PLAYLIST has been particularly helpful, especially “Observing the Ears”.  We’ve been playing with these concepts of connection and having the horse be present instead of looking for gremlins everywhere, and I’ve got to tell you it’s like witchcraft.  Basically, it’s guided meditation for horses and the rein or lead rope is the anchor.  I finally feel like I have Cruise focused mostly on me and have techniques to get him back when he strays.  Granted, it’s only at home and early days, but like with the half-halt, real progress has been made and I feel good about the path we are on.

As I’ve been implementing these changes of the horse being present and connected, I’ve also delved into Warwick Schiller’s earlier work which mostly focuses on training techniques without as much of the connection stuff, and I have to tell you, it’s pure gold.  I’m shocked by how balanced, through, and physically developed his horses are, and how they really embody classical dressage.  Soft, light, and engaged-what’s not to like?  I like his principles of training and especially like his basic checklist that is the basis of every movement.  It’s really not how”Dressage” horses are started but I’m finding his system very helpful and Cruise is straighter and more balanced than ever before.

In further updates, Cruise was tested yesterday for possibly being a crypt orchid.  It’s a fairly complicated blood test involving three blood draws and the injection of some hormones.  Because a I don’t know Cruise’s gelding history, I got a fabulous horse at a rock bottom price, and he’s exhibited some stud like behaviors on trips off property, I felt like I wanted to test to be absolutely sure.  I’m expecting the test to come back negative, but would I be shocked if it’s positive?  Not at all.  Will post when I get results.

Oh and I forgot, the trespasser was caught on video trying to access the barn again in the middle of the night and ran when the alarm went off.  I’m feeling pretty good about the security camera coverage we’ve got but it’s still a bit unnerving.  The good news is that I’ve turned out to be pretty good shot with a rifle and I feel a lot more secure with the cameras, alarms at night, and a loaded gun. 

Warwick Schiller for the Win

 

I’ve really been liking this playlist as a frame work for Cruise lately.  We’ve been struggling a bit with balance and after forays into Your Riding Success, Mary Wanless, Connection Training, and Balance Through Movement Method we’ve finally struck gold.  Adding THIS Warwick Schiller playlist, specifically Stopping from a Canter parts 1-4, and Teaching the Half-Halt, to concepts from the above programs has proven to be the sweet spot.  Mix in a dash of sit to the inside of the banana with a speck of using more core, combined with tilt my pelvis back/touch the back of my neck to the collar of my shirt,  while keeping the 3 pillars in mind, has really been working for us.

The techniques in this playlist are a step by step to have a better rebalancing half halt but also to have a more present horse.  I love the way WS explains things and breaks down concepts for horses and people.  He is such a gem and everything is free.  What a deal!

A Visit from the Sherrif

 

Monday morning I went to barn to feed  at 7.  I was a bit out of it and noticed the interior gates looked a little funny but fed the barn cats and both horses as usual.  When I went in to pick Cruise’s stall I saw that one of the double ended snaps was gone from his door latch and his blanket was on the ground.  I couldn’t believe he got it off and as I looked at it, I realized he didn’t.  The front snaps were both undone as were the rear leg straps but the belly surcingles were still fastened.  WTF?  Then I really looked at the gates and finally woke up enough to see that not only were the interior gates unfastened but so were the front barn gates.  As I walked up the driveway to see that the gates there were also not properly fastened, just jammed together, I finally got it that someone had been in my barn and in with Cruise.

So, after a frantic call to my husband, then the Sheriff, and then the vet, we have a plan.  We made an official trespassing report and found out there haven’t been any recent incidents like this in the county.  The Sheriff recommended security cameras out the wazoo and we already have 3 of 4 installed.  We are upgrading our front gate lock and both horses are getting microchipped tomorrow.  Someone also suggested doing current 4 side views of the boys just in case, which we did last night.  

I have no idea WTAF was going on with the person in the barn.  Why remove his blanket partially?  Why re-close his stall door if it was just mischief making?  Why didn’t they just steal Cruise?  I’m going with the thought they will be back and bought a quality security system that will even see into the interior of the barn.  I think I’ve made things as secure as possible but it was a really scary incident that has me a bit on edge.  I am grateful though, to still actually have both horses and that Cruise didn’t kill himself wiggling out of his blanket.  He deconstructed the blanket rather thoroughly, pulled the stuffing out, drug it to his pee spot and peed on it.  At least someone had a good night.

Another Way of Looking at Half Halts

This is an interesting take on half halts by Dressage Institute/Your Riding Success.  Basically, it has you think of a half halt as anything you do to rebalance a horse, not just one specific set of aids.  And it is continuous, not just in the corners or before a transition.  Think of half halts as more like all the corrections you make while driving a car or crossing an icy bridge under saddle.  This concept has been really hard for me to implement,  and I’m still working through the process, but I think this is how great riders do things.  Who knew you have to rebalance A LOT more?  See it HERE