Video. Only took 2 years, LOL. And new sideways to me!

As I mentioned before in my blog, Kaspin always 99% cross canters going to his left. The right lead is usually always fine(RBI horse usually do better on their right side). I have had kaspin over 2 years now and I always tried to get the left lead correct with no luck what so ever!!! I tried every trick in the book!! Literally!  Even started to wonder if medically something was wrong too! But I had massage therapists out and a vet out to eyeball at Kaspin and he is fine. Then, while I was recovering from my shoulder surgery in April. I had Steve Andrews Parelli Professional out quit a bit to keep Kaspin going for me. One thing I told Steve was that I really wanted to try to play with Kaspin's left lead. RBI horses usually are very bracy, and tight. I have always heard if you don't have the mind you won't get the feet! Steve worked on getting Kaspin calm, but still responsive. Steve also got some help from the arena fence. Meaning, as Steve asked for the canter Steve would push Kaspin into the fence making Kaspin bend his ribs to the right better. Which in turn helping Kaspin pick up the correct lead. As soon as kaspin did pick up the correct lead. Even if it was only a stride, or 2. Steve would call Kaspin in and give him a reward with a break, and or grass. Finally my shoulder got stronger and I could play with kaspin myself. One thing Steve noticed that I was asking for a canter with the wrong leg of Kaspin's. I would ask when the inside leg closes to me was back. But I actually need to ask when the outside rear leg was back!! Ahh ha, I learned something new! I would also use the fence to help me, but a lot of times Kaspin still would cross canter on the left with me. I got frustrated and gave up with the fence idea. I felt I was just now teaching Kaspin how to pick up the wrong lead with the fence(not good)!!! Another day Steve worked on Kaspin getting the correct left lead in the middle of the arena with no fence. I watched, watched, and watched. I noticed Steve would say sometime just as Steve asked for a canter....ohhh this one will be wrong lead! I asked Steve how did he know?? Steve said, he saw Kaspin tighten up just before he went into a canter. Which meant more than 100% Kaspin would cross canter. Steve tried again and said, ok this one Kaspin will be correct! And long and behold Kaspin was correct on the left! I kept watching as Steve did this. I really saw that day that when Kaspin's brain was relaxed. Then Kaspin's brain could work with his feet correctly!! If Kaspin's brain was even a tiny disconnected by Kaspin being tight in his body, ribs, or legs. Than for sure Kaspin would pick up the wrong lead. So the main key was keeping Kaspin's brain quiet at all times when asking for the left lead!! That also meant that me being and LBE(Left brain extrovert!!) and having way too much energy. Does not help a shy, quiet, RBI horse. I noticed how quiet Steve would be and how calm he came across to Kaspin at all times. I know, I don't do this!! So later after my shoulder healed and I went back to my own fun with Kaspin. I tried all this myself at the barn with Kaspin. 3 months after Steve leaving I can now do this myself!! I finally after 2 years can get Kaspin to canter, and to canter on the correct left lead and to not cross canter!!!! Wooo hoooo!!!! I never really thought I could make it happen! In this video below you see I am still animated and really playing with Kaspin. The difference is that I am keeping my emotions out of it (I would normally get frustrated and upset inside my body)and making sure it really is all a game to Kaspin and to just have fun with it! I even think someday I can teach Kaspin to rear for fun, but I am still thinking about that one, LOL. You can also see how well Kaspin is now using his hind end more! This is also helped Kaspin be more collected with his canter and not do a racing run canter that was really flat. I also love seeing my litle RBI go a bit LBI and get out his sassy attitude! I hope to see more of this in the future as Kaspin gets more and more confident daily!! I do take advantage of the thick clovers in the outdoor arena too, when teaching Kaspin! Kaspin + good boy(left lead)=CLOVER! At the very end of this video I also show off Kaspin's NEW sideways to me! Kaspin just learned it last week and I couldn't be more proud of Kaspin's accomplishments!!! I soooooo love this little blonde hairy horse!!!! Sorry, the video is a bit grainy. I had to lighten it, due to the shadows of the trees and the background so bright. 

Keep it natural!! J9, left lead canter Kaspin, and the very missed Enzo!

WELL......won't do that again!

Very disappointing after the Double Dan clinic. I knew it wouldn't be Parelli, but I didn't realize it would be farther off than I thought. I don't like to bash people, so I will be as nice as I can. I love how Parelli puts the horse first, the relationship fist, and doesn't MAKE the horse do things. They want the human to learn how to get their horse to be with them and be a willing a partner. I did buy Level 1, and Level 2 of the Double Dan DVD's before hand. I usually can tell then  in the DVD's if people are too hard, or I don't like their training before I do any clinics. To give an example, I bought the Guy Mclean DVD also. After watching it, I knew this man was not for me. He was more forceful in the DVD and also was more about getting things done with the horse. He even tied a tarp onto a horse tail and ran it around till the horse was used to it. Needless to say, the horse ran and ran scared and got quiet sweaty. It just wasn't my cup of tea. Anyway, I watched both DD(Double Dan) dvd's and I didn't see any force, or anything. I practiced all the maneuvers at home on the Level 1 ground control tape before the clinic! Kaspin did great! At the clinic there were people there who had no ground manners with their horse what so ever!!! And honestly shouldn't have even owned a horse!!! I knew then it was going to be a long clinic. My next question was could we take pictures?? Dan James said, NO! A red flag went up in my head. I thought that was odd! What was Dan trying to hide?? Eventually, Dan took 2 of these horses at separate times from those people who knew nothing about horses. Dan explained he has no problem hitting a horse and he only has to do a little, then never again. Ok, I got that idea!!! Well than Dan started with one of the problem horses but Dan hit the horse so hard( I never could cause that much force anyway). All I saw was a super scared horse that didn't understand what Dan wanted. Give you an example. If Dan wanted the horse to move forwards. Dan would pick up his whip and point the stick to the horses hip and if the horse didn't move? Then, WHACK went the whip. Ok, I get it, but why did the 1st whack have to be soooooooooooo darn hard???? Then Dan would pick the whip up again. Same thing if the horse didn't try to move that WHACK again just as hard! It hurt me to the core and I had to leave and not watch. I really didn't understand why Dan couldn't give the horse more phases to understand what he wanted? Later these horse were better acting after Dan worked them and had them run around and sweating their asses off. But I just thought there really has to be a better way! Than just making the horse do what you needed. I have never seen any Parelli clinics(or behind any Parelli scenes) do something like this in person. Now I can see why no pictures at the DD clinic. Either way, it just really bothered me for the rest of the day and I realized the clinic was so not for me. I have spent soooo much time gaining Kaspin trust and bringing out his confidence in people. The last thing I needed was a stranger now WHACKING Kaspin to make him do something! I never went back on SUNDAY! I never said anything to Dan James, nor asked for any money back. I knew I wouldn't get my money back anyway. I also knew Dan would see me as one of those horse people who only want to love their horse, and feed it treats, and put it in bubble wrap all day long!!!! Like I mentioned before even in Pareli they teach us phase 4!!! And if you need it you better use it to save your life, or the horse from hurting themselves. I just thought Dan used his phase 4 way too much and too many times in a 15 to 20 minute period. And Dan James was more about making a horse do what you needed. And again that was not my cup of tea. Kaspin is sensitive enough. I left there Saturday night with the best day ever in our eyes anyway!!! Kaspin trailer the best he has ever trailered!!! No screaming, pawing, or kicking both ways!!! Kaspin was quiet in his stall and even ate hay and drank a whole water bucket. He usually is too nervous to eat, or drink, and screams also. Then in the arena Kaspin was a cool cucumber also and did all the DD moves perfectly. Thanks to our practice at home already! What a great boy Kaspin!! The other thing was the clinic was poorly managed through the day,  and arena too small for 12 horses. So we had to split up into groups. Which left for lots of standing, or sitting around doing nothing!! Way to much money to basically get 2 hours out of the 400 hundred dollar clinic. Either way, I tried and I was happy to go home with Kaspin's dignity in tact!! 

Keep it natural and safe! Bummed J9, Happy Kaspin, and the late Enzo!