He is a spiritual healer. Mark's own words are "I am not teaching techniques". He is teaching trusting relationship between horse / rider and how to recognize when your horse tries for you which many of us miss and therefore end up cueing more than we needed. This about how to help your horse find the right thing by offering a slight change. I read it as instead of making the wrong thing difficult it was more a matter of making the right thing comfortable and the wrong thing just a bit more work.

"Everything comes from the relationship". Heard this from Mark many times over the 2 days. I struggled with this - OK so how do you GET this relationship thang?? I have decided that at least part of it boils down to trust - both the horse trusts you but also you trusting the horse. You can provide trust to the horse by being fair, consistent and soft in your cues. That means timeing, feel, all the things you can't learn except by doing it on/with the horse. Then you have to trust the horse - that he will try his best. One example was someone asked about a lameness and Mark was talking about how the horse that gets killed ( wolves, glue factory) is the lame one. So a horse naturally does his best or he's going to be the next one on somebody's dinner menu.

Mark is offering a different way to see the relationship - not an Alpha horse scenario. The relationship seems based on how the horse see the world and the human proving direction within that paradigm. For me watching Mark was like seeing the tip of the iceberg. You know that the largest part is hidden underwater - the base of what is holding that tip up. The deep part is the attitude and commitment to paying attention to your fairness in dealing with the horse and not judging the horse according to the old rules. The first day Mark helped me with flying lead changes - it went OK. But the next day we worked on western jog transitions and I got a much better feel for the REAL lesson I had come to learn from him. Feeling the horse's try, releasing immediately but with backup to get the job done with the smallest amount of cue possible, focusing on a task and not getting distraced into other issues. Also taking the time to let the horse find the answer but not in a "just keep asking" kind of way. If the answer doesn't come to the horse - help him find it with another idea offered calmly in a way that doesn't contradict the goal or upset the horse.

Most often heard comment during the weekend: "That might have been to much cue" and then he proceeded to teach how to get the task with less each time. Another gem was if you drill the horse on something to much the horse will tune-out or quit from boredom, frustration or muscles getting tired.

Mark doesn't do as much groundwork as some other clinicians. He wants good groundmanners in leading, lunging and long line but then moves on to teaching the horse while mounted. He said he thought pointing your finger or wagging it in the horses face was "rude" as you don't do that to humans without upsetting them either. He doesn't believe in liberty lungeing but I can't quote the reason, didn't get everything down on paper although I remember it was something to do with the horse knowing when he was to work and when he was free.

Mark returns to Arizona in July and I am looking forward to working with my horse in the next weeks before riding with him again then.

Dianna

There were at least five people there who have been or are on one of the lists I am sending this to. Please, please feel free to add, correct, comment. The more the merrier--actually the more the more we learn. I'm doing this as a review for me as much as a sharing with others.

P brings her horse into the round pen. He's a chunky, short palimino--an unrefined foundation quarter horse type. He looks like he's been in a few battles given the small scars and scratches. The moment P starts to halt his head goes down searching for the grass. She lugs his head back up, starts to talk to Mark. Head goes down, hits bottom, P pulls up. Starts to talk, head goes down, hits bottom, P pulls up. Repeat, except that this time when the horse's head reaches the ground Mark kicks a bit of dirt at his nose. Head up. Attention on P's part drift, head down. Mark scuffs dirt. Head up. One more try but at the first drift of the head downward Mark cocks his foot. The head snaps back up.

So before we have heard about the horse we have had a lesson. "Your horse was asking your permission. He didn't lower his head in one smooth motion. He lowered it a little bit. 'Can I put my head down?' You didn't respond so he thought that was permission. He lowered it a bit more. See he's asking. Then he gets it all the way down, and you wind up in an argument with him. He's confused because he thought it was okay." Mark doesn't allow his horses to eat while he has them on a line. This is working time, and he doesn't want them confused about what is okay. The place to begin is when they first dip their heads asking permission. Consistent response will set the tone for future sessions.

The horse is Nicky, an eight-year-old gelding. He is owned by a family of three who lives in the midwest but keeps six horses in Colorado for summer and seasonal use. There was much discussion of which of the six were to be brought to the clinic. Nicky was picked because P wants him evaluated to see if he can a 4-H horse for her 9-year-old daughter.

When P bought Nicky she was told that he was being used as a children's lesson horse and a "lazy" one at that. This suited her plans for a horse for her daughter. However, since acquiring him, Nicky has proved less tractable and more obsteporous than was reputed.

Mark examines Nicky and, not surprising considering the battle scars, finds that he is sore. As he moves out at liberty he is uneven and halting in his gait. It is suggested that Nicky too see the chiropracter. Work is somewhat limited the first day given his discomfort.

Lael

The pen is too small for much more than walking when there is a rider and given Nicky's soreness this will be sufficient for today.

As Nicky walks around the pen Mark asks P and the auditors if the horse is going at a steady gait. On first look he is, but Mark asks us to look closer, asks P to feel his movements. Almost impercebtably there is a surge and ebb to the gait. As Nicky picks up momentum and swings into the walk there is forward power. He reaches the stride, carries it for a few steps, relaxes into the rhythm, and there is a tiny dropoff of speed and momentum. This continues around the pen. Mark points out that all horses in all gaits move this way.

If you learn to recognize where in the gait the horse is, you can use this to your advantage and the horse's. Ask for the stop as the momentum is slowing. It is easier for the horse to stop get his legs under him and stop. Ask for an upward transition in gait as the horse is making the forward surge. Less power is required as the momentum is begun. MR works with P to recognize and utilize the relaxed stage to ask for stops.

Nicky runs through the first few stops. Mark coaches. "Each time you stop ask for a back until you get clean stops." When Nicky runs through a stop, P asks for a back until they reach the place where the stop was requested.

When you ask for a stop start first with your weight. Quit riding, Roll your hips down, stop riding. This is a preliminary cue that lets the horse know further cues may be coming. Put your hands in one position, hold them there, wait for the back. Reward the try--a shift in weight, a tucking of the head. Release. Set hands, hold, believe that the horse will respond. Do not pull or tug or get into an argument. Wait, believe. Let the horse do it for you.

P was skeptical. Nicky didn't do clean stops. Try it. She tried. Nicky tried. Soon the stops were quicker, the backs easier, the response livelier. But Nicky tried tucking his nose down to avoid pressure. Bring one rein up to ask for the head up.

P tried it. Nicky's head came up. She eased it straight. They were in position to back again. A few tries with just a light pressure on one rein and then the back, and Nicky quit tucking his head.

We next saw what P had described. Nicky tossing his head when asked for a stop. Try a lighter cue. But will he respond. Believe in the horse. Nicky walked through again on a lighter stop, was backed, and soon was responding with a clean stop to a light cue.

Next they worked on thinking walk faster. P thought walk faster. Nicky walked faster. Mark's only explanation was that when we begin to think what we want from a horse we are unaware of the subtle responses our body is making as we prepare for what is next. The horse can feel these changes in our body and responds before we even know we are cueing. "If you think it and your horse does it, you'de better go with it."

P left the pen that day shaking her head--a lot of new information. We auditors were shaking our heads too. Let's see--feel the momentum, use it, believe it will happen and it will, lighter, lighter, lighter.

Lael

Mark kissed for his attention and got it quickly. He approached Tonto and began to gently explore his withers, back, chest. Tonto sidestepped but stayed. Mark ran his hand down his sternum. Tonto flinched and moved away. There was a lot of soreness there--another candidate for the chiropracter. Tonto came quickly back.

D was ready to free lunge Tonto. Mark was quiet and gentle with her. Tonto wanted to stand. He didn't need to be sent out. If D was afraid of excess energy, she could turn Tonto loose in the round pen to run off excess steam, but once she entered the pen then the goal of groundwork was to get Tonto to stop and stand and to keep his attention on her. And it was clear that when D stopped trying to send him out and make him run, he wanted to stand by her and pay attention.

D explained that there were also some riding issues. Tonto gets too heavy. He wants to be heavy. Mark asked why a horse would want to be heavy when it's easier to be light. Often heaviness results when there is confusion about the directions being given.

Tonto's mind wanders as they are riding. Mark suggests that when this happens a touch of the rein, a slight change of direction will bring the horse's attention back to the rider.

D has a longer list of complaints. Mark asks her what she would like to do today. D elects to ride.

As they circle the round pen D is focused on Tonto's poll. She is instructed to lift her head, to focus on a point forward and ride toward that. But D"s concern repeatedly has her dropping her head to look at the horse not the horizon. Mark teases her. She looks up then later drops her head. Tonto's gait is uneven and speeded up, course crooked. Mark explains that a person's head weighs about 25#. If you are looking at the horse's head that pulls the body weight forward onto the horse's neck. You become balled up in the saddle. Feet come up against the horse which is a go signal for the horse who then does what you fear--goes faster. By looking down at the horse's head you become a fulcrum which propels the horse forward.

D gradually becomes more focused on keeping her eyes forward, looking toward a goal. Tonto's pace and path even out.

Mark stands beside D feet together and asks her to push him. D, a petite woman, pushes Mark. He tips and scrambles to right himself. He stands next to her again with feet slightly spread apart and asks her to push him. He stands solid this time. With his feet spread slightly apart his center of gravity is lower and more stable. This is what happens to horse and rider when the rider sits with feet slightly forward, heels tipped downward.

We move into the large arena (at least I think we do--my notes and memory get sketchy here--was that day one or day two. I think day one.) D is working with Tonto to make transitions, to stop, but at two points Tonto blows, crow hopping and buck, D rides it out and says, "See, see what I mean."

They go back to the walk. Back to focusing on a point in the distance so that D is balanced on Tonto. Back to practicing up and down transitions.

To stop, quit riding. Tonto picks up this pre cue quickly and doesn't earn a lot of backing correction. To transition to a slower gait give one tap, release with the slightest change and trust in the try. Tonto slowly begins to give more to the tap until quitting riding (rolling the hips under) and the tap are all that it takes to trigger a transition.

Mark points out the tries. "There, that's a try. Did you feel it?" "There when he hesitated--slowed--changed a shoulder, an ear, the head--there do you feel it?" D's awareness increases. She is also learning to focus, and her messages become clearer to Tonto.

D has heard about "bringing you energy up." How is that done? Mark suggests that she try paying attention to herself as she walks. What is happening as you walk slow, and what occurs as you move into a rapid walk. This is bringing up your energy. Feel your energy rise.

You can practice at home too.

Lael

Kola is worked only at a walk as the chiropracter requested. His attention strays as he locates Ashcroft outside the arena. Mark works with L to give clear cues to Kola. Gradually Kola's attention becomes focused on L as he feels her cues become more definitive.

L is asked to focus on the walk, to feel the shift in momentum from surging to ebbing, and then to use this as she asks for transitions. As there is a shift in Kola's momentum to slower, he is asked for a halt. Stop riding--first cue, hold hands steady--second cue, hesitation in Kola's walk brings release. He goes through his stop, but Mark says again, "Reward the try. It will come." Back to the point where the stop was asked for. Begin again.

Think fast. Kola picks up speed. Use the slowing of momentum to ask for a stop and soon the try has become a full stop. They walk on. Mark coaching a softer feel, a gentler cue, until they seem almost imperceptable, but Kola is responding beautifully to the ask. As the cues get softer he gets softer. His head is lower now.

You can stay and watch if you want. I just checked my watch. Mark says he'll work till dark if necessary, but I need to get home and feed. Meet you here tomorrow for day 2. Maybe you can fill me in on what happens with Kola and L after I leave.

Lael

Manny is haltered and asked to move out. He is nonchalant. Mark winds up swinging the rope occasionally to get him to move. Manny doesn't see a need to be concerned so Mark continues to move him asking him to canter rather than trot. He does not make it easy for Manny to drift but continues to give him an opportunity to stop where he is comfortable. After some time Manny is responding to Mark's kiss cue. Mark stops and pets Manny. Mark often stops and pets the animal he is working with to reward a correct response--making the best choice.

Now Manny is left free, and the rope around the girth exercise is done in preparation for saddling him. Mark again tells us how he gets colts used to saddling. When they are a few days old he inverts an adult web halter over the foal's head sliding it down to the base of the neck. The poll strap/throat latch are brought around the foal's girth and fastened. You now have a foal in a harness which can be used to steady the foal. Light touch is applied to the butt. The colt moves, pressure released, the beginning of teaching a colt to yield to pressure. By the time a halter is used the colt will yield to the pressure of a halter and rope.

Manny is reintroduced to saddle pad and saddle and easily saddled. He is relatively unflappable. Mark lunges and ground drives with little reaction from Manny. Now M is called into the pen and begins lunging Manny.

Lunging is done by walking at or behind and out to the side of the hip. Manny lounges around the pen. Mark asks M to experiment in raising her energy. Manny quickly has a corresponding rise in his energy, and the pace is brisker.

Michelle then ground drives Manny with the saddle. It goes smoothly, and she confesses to wanting it to go "right."

The mounting ritual is adhered to by M. Prayer--doesn't have to be outloud. Bracing by pulling on the stirrup. Here Manny moves a bit and must have his feet squared up and rebraced. He moves again. Mark asks if he may step in. Given permission he tries, Manny moves, and he moves Manny in a circle then asks for a stand again. One more circle and Manny decides the best choice is to stand for mounting.

Michelle mounts two or three times to let Manny know that she isn't going to live up there. In between times Manny is walked to relax.

The ride begins. M turns Manny's head toward Mark, kisses, squeezes a bit, and Manny takes a few steps. They practice some stops then Manny makes an unscheduled stop to scratch. Mark takes this time to urge us to let our horses have these moments--just as we would want time to scratch. The circling resumes, and we can see Manny gaining balance, confidence, and responsiveness.

It is a good time to end on a good note.

Lael

Mark moves the saddle to the fence and begins work with the blanket. Facing him with the blanket, touching his sides, rubbing it lightly on Kostani then on, off gently. On, off, on, off until he is throwing it lightly on his back from a distance. His left side is okay, but work begins all over again on the right side, and the saddle pad has become scarier. Mark stops often to pet and praise Kostani.

A repeats Mark's work. they quit at a good point keeping the trust that is building.

Now Kostani gets the lead rope work. Over gently, tug and slip off, over gently, off. When he is quiet with this, Mark puts the lead rope over, pulls it under in a closed loop around his girth. When this is no problem it is tightened. A repeats this work also.

A brings out the saddle. The pad is removed. To get acquainted with the saddle the distraction of a blanket is not needed. Kostani is hesitant, wary, then chooses to move off. A follows. Kostani keeps ahead of her. Mark asks her to move him off with some pressure--a kiss.

Mark shows A how to rest the saddle on her hip to make it easier to keep the saddle in Kostani's view but ease her discomfort. Kostani continues to move rather than stand hesitating when he can, trying just enough to get by.

Mark stops A and halters Kostani to give him support. He still has the length of the lead rope to leave, but he is calmer, keeping out of reach but near A. Mark said that if he had a horse that was too scared of the saddle he would find an old saddle and leave it on the fence or in the pen for the horse to explore.

They give Kostani a break and walk him around then start over. A has trouble with the weight of the saddle and is awkward when she tries to lift it over Kostani but supported by the rope in Mark's hand he begins to stand. She is able to put the saddle on, take it off, put it on and off several times. They switch to his "bad" side, and he moves and shifts for awhile then settles and allows repeated placement of the saddle until he is quiet with that.

The pad is brought back. The saddle placed on Kostani and inch by inch he is quietly saddled. Mark shows A how to work with the stirrups, lift and lower. Kostani catches the lift and moves away from the protruding stirrup. Lift and lower, lift and lower until he can stand quietly for each side. Then it is lift and release. The stirrup bounces. Kostani is back on alert, side stepping, but repeats bring a relaxation.

A lunges Kostani in the saddle up to a trot, back down several times each direction. The ground driving lines are attached. Kostani remembers his lessons from the day before, and the driving is easy, comfortable, the stops light. It is a good place to stop for the day.

Lael

Mark, with each horse, offers first the opportunity to stand still and be approached--the best choice, the choice involving the least work. When Ashcroft choice instead to tour the large arena, trying to stop occasionally to holler for his buddy, Mark really just walked steadily in his direction not allowing him to stop to call. When Ashcroft showed any sign of giving Mark his attention Mark would stop, sometimes even backing up a step.

I believe it was Ashcroft that gave with a shoulder first, a slight softening and turning inward of the shoulder. Whichever horse it was the owner had missed that completely because she was looking for head or eye or licking of the lips. Mark was incredibly perceptive at picking up on the signals each horse was giving. He would also narrate for us. "There, see the shoulder. Did you see it--the hesitation?"

When Ashcroft stopped in the corner and faced Mark, Mark backed off a step and waited a moment letting Ashcroft know that was the right choice. Mark also said, "I don't think he's finished yet." He walked toward Ashcroft softly, but as he neared Ashcroft made the choice to run again. Mark calmly trailed behind not upping the ante but making sure Ashcroft couldn't just run to another end of the arena and take a nap there. His choices were to stand for Mark or to move.

That's a bit of clarification on day 1 with Ashcroft. Give me a few hours real time for my beauty sleep and I'll share Ashcroft's day 2 with you.

Lael

I second that Linda.. Wonderful job you are doing translating Lael. I can 'see' each horse in my head so clearly.

>>Would you -- any others there or anyone else who has had this experience -- tell us a bit more about just what those signs were that this horse was asking permission to put his head down?<<

Our little welch/shetland cross pony here is the all time master of asking, pleading, and begging. When asking permission to munch grass, he will start on his way down, hesitate and maybe even tilt his head toward you briefly to find your approval. The hesitations from them is usually set off or caused by a weight shift, or some movement by you, toward them. This hesitation is brief, because they are going for munchies, but it's there. And in the case of our pony, he hasn't got far to travel to the grass, if you know what I mean.. You know how when we were little, we could pretty much decipher our desired answer from just about anything remotely close to what you wanted your parents to say? So to them, your not moving, [or noticing] is the answer they are looking for. Freedom to munch. The gal was focused on Mark, not aware of the palamino until he was down, eating, then she'd tug him up. The horse is thinking.. '..hey... what's up with that??..' Because she aproved it earlier by 'not doing anything' when he asked permission. Horses are used to more attentive, aware, and consitent leaders.

Talk about patience... That little pony will take the time it takes alright.. Slowly inching his way up to the hay feeder, or into the shed when it pouring rain, or hailing as we experienced last week then stopping when he figures an eighth inch more will set off the others... looking around so casual... if he could whistle, I bet he would be doing just that at that moment.. There's no better way for me to spend idle time, that watching all the communication going on during storms, and feeding time. The yeilding, asking, telling [in the mares case]. It's remarkable. You want to find your own worth in your horses eyes? Go among them, in the lean to shed, during a thunder boomer. Watch their ears, and how long they are on you.. But when the crack comes after the light, keep your cool and practice your breathing slow, long and deep. They begin to watch you more closely with each time that you are calm as a cucumber and they spook in place. I love it.

>>See, to me, it read like one fell swoop on down there to the ground.<<

>>Oh well. Look forward to all of you who can shed some light on the mili-second changes that occur in the SWOOP!<<

I believe that the 'swoop' comes when the handler doesn't communicate the desire not to munch until the horse is already munching. When Mark took over for the girl, and that's what her horse saw happen, Mark taking over.. Mark was consistent with his rules.. The dirt scuff twice.. then when tested Mark a third time, Mark cocked his boot back slightly to show the horse, '..you go down... this is what your going to get..' And the horse respected that by staying up. The Gal was a bit distanced from her horse which is from being to focused on one aspect at a time. [A very predatorial instinct I might add] I pictured her talking to Mark, focussed on him, then realizing '.. shoot, he's munching..' *yank* *yank*, then focusing back to Mark, loosing her horse again, who knows of her monofocus handicapp. Then *yank* *yank* again.

I believe the 'swoop' comes first.. and the hesitation comes after they have been accustomed to and have consistently experienced redirection and release before they have reached their destination [grass in this situation]. The gal will get there, [she may well be there now] after she learns to be consistent and attentive with what she's relating to her horse. Have you stopped to study how consistent your lead horse is? It's amazing.

I had my first taste of real desire NOT to be with the alpha horse. Shoot, you all know I could babble on hear for days, but long story short, my laid back Paint gelding and the pony decided to stay out in the pasture and graze rather than follow the lead gelding and lead mare in for feed at feeding time. It was my first experience so I walked out to see what was wrong [only fifteen acres, but lot of hills]. I know what happened, they were content with the peace and quiet of their own company for a while. Kinda neat, and kinda makes you think, huh?

the pupil,

Andy

He romps and runs and tosses his head. He wants to play, but it is time to work. K kisses to him which gives him the choice of moving round and facing her--giving her his attention--or moving him out. For awhile he chooses movement. Absent is the calling and worrying about Kola's whereabouts. This is just a tall, handsome thoroughbred moving easily and having a good time. A few circuits of the arena and he is cutting down the circle. "See, that's a try." Dipping his shoulder in slightly. "Watch his shoulder." And finally he stops not looking directly at K, but Mark's goal is for the horse to stop and wait.

Mark cautions. "Don't approach his head directly. He's still not sure he's going to stay. Approach his shoulder obliquely." K does, and Ashcroft stays. She pets his back and shoulders. He stretches his neck out enjoying the contact. She works her way to his head, and the haltering is easy.

Tacked and ready to work we watch K and Ashcroft warm up. When it is time to work on transitions K cues him into a trot. He surges forward. She trots him around to Mark, brings him down to a walk, and circles him as he asks her if what cues she used to gain the trot. She had leaned forward, given two kisses, and started posting. " Try it softer, he suggests. Fewer kisses," he laughs.

She moves out and uses a shift in weight and posting, and the transition is smooth and easy, the trot slow. Ashcroft shakes his head and blows softly through his nose.

Soft blows of the nose, Mark explains, are just the horse relaxing. Hard snorts or blows indicate the horse is worried.

Ashcroft now remembers that somewhere he has a buddy and starts to call. Mark instructs K to cut off a call by moving his head around or changing directions. She does so, and after a few tries Ashcroft no longer calls. "That tells him you've noted his concern. You're supporting him in his anxiety."

He is moving in and out of a soft trot. K is using lighter and lighter cues. "Let's get one more good one from him." Another upward transition using his surge momentum at the walk to ask for the trot. Another downward transition to the stop by stopping riding then lightly stopping the hands and holding. "That's good. Back him a step. Right to where you asked for the stop. Good. See that try. Let's get one more good one from him."

The exercises are repeated sometimes looping the arena. Sometimes coming across. There is a large grin on K's face. Ashcroft is moving smoothly, lightly, responsively. "Okay, let's get one more good one from him in the trot." Then Mark turns to us grinning and says, "You've probably found out that get one more good one doesn't mean one last good one," and he turns back to help K.

"There, there that was a good one. He was there for you because you were there for him."

When it is finally the last good one for day two for Ashcroft, K and Mark stand talking. K is scratching Ashcroft's back. He stretches his neck out and around, opens his mouth, and moves his lips and mouth in deep appreciation.

When K momentarily stops the scratching Ashcroft moves forward suddenly reconcerned about Kola. He is stretching his head up and out looking, looking. K kisses for his attention. Without lowering his head or looking at K he neatly backs up half a dozen steps so that his back is under her tender ministrations, and he can still scan the horizon.

And that's where we will leave them for today.

Lael

>>and the previous "relentless stalking"? In other words, what if ANY kind of approach translates to "pressure" to the horse. When he moves off, Mark trails him. When he stops and faces Mark, Mark stops. Then he slowly approaches the horse. At this point, what if this still feels like pressure to the horse?<<

I hear what you're saying Nicki. That feeling has to come from within us depending on the horse, and situation.. If approach and retreat is necessary because of fear in the beginning, or if pressure is required to redirect the horse through, to our version of good behavior, then the release in he form of stopping, step back, or less intensity in our stance. Buy less intensity I mean relaxed posture, turn your shoulders off angle to the horse, lower your head, rock your weight to one foot.

Again, in the former, the pressure would be walking squarely toward, or the 'head 'em off at the pass angle'. More than likely brisk. And the release would be the stop, and maybe back step by the handler. The latter, un pressured approach would be with relaxed off angle shoulders and focus on the ground instead of directly to the horse [that's the opposite of what lions do stalking their prey] with maybe a 'quarter or half moon' path toward the horse. If your horse retreats with the latter approach, you need to access the reason. Is it Fear? [of you or of working] Disrespect? [catch me if you can oh Gunsil of Gunsils] Sometimes it's the tiniest of the tiny reasons, last fall, we aquired a wonderful 10 yo Paint gelding. He has _never_ left one of my approaches. Until this spring, I went to him, and he scooted. I thought '..what??..' and immediately accessed myself. I had ropers gloves on. Something he's never seen while here, but the others have. I took them off, stuffed them in my pocket, walked up to him then worked them into a nice friendly game. Now.. if I had been perceptive enough to realize that he would notice them, and approached him more cautiously and in the way stated above, he'd of probably been fine. But me being used to him accepting me, I made my usual un-focused B-line to him. He noticed the gloves, and they were approaching him faster than he had time to access them, so nature told him he had to leave. I should have sensed his feelings building, and retreated, but we are only human, and such assuming, habitual creatures by nature.

the pupil,

Andy

Nicky has a day of easy riding, chiropracter's orders. He has had another treatment and needs a bit of time to get over some soreness. P is free lunging Nicky in the round pen. He's feeling better, almost skipping around, doing hops, bucking. If my own chiropracter hadn't convinced me there is merit in chiropractic treatment, watching Nicky move so freely would. He doesn't look like a battle scarred veteran today.

When Nicky is haltered P shows us what Dave Seamonds, the chiropracter, has asked her to do with Nicky to help him move freer. She eases Nicky's head to his shoulder flexing the neck and then repeats it gently on the other side.

P has questions about the free lunging. Nicky is turned loose again. Mark helps P see when Nicky is making a try. He tries--a dip of the head. "See his head, now stop." P stops. Nicky stands. P starts toward him and he is off again. Mark coaches her to see the tries and reward each one. "It's a moving target. You get a try, reward it, start toward the next goal, but it may not go the way you planned. You make a new plan."

I think I'm getting it. The goal's in free lunging, according to Mark, are to get the horse to stop and to stand. If the horse will do that, you can catch it. So you reward the tries, the stand. If the horse moves instead of standing, you keep it moving until the next try. Reward. Look for your opportunities. Present yourself as the resting place, the quiet spot.

Haltered Nicky moves to put P on his left side. After stroking him, she moves toward his right. He shifts so that she is cut off from his right side. This is the sore side that the chiropracter has worked on. Quietly she moves his head to the left side and moves to the right stroking him softly, acknowledging his pain but reassuring him that she will not add to it.

Nicky is turned loose again as Mark and P discuss what the plan is for today. When they are finished P strides toward Nicky hand extended. He moves out. P is confused by his response, but Mark points out that from Nicky's point of view, she just sent him out.

P practices lunging with Nicky. As she walks faster Nicky responds by walking faster. As P drifts from a spot behind his hip to his shoulder, Nicky turns in. Mark helps her see where she needs to walk to keep Nicky walking. She begins again, hand held high and out. Nicky slows down. "Now what. See he doesn't obey me." Mark shows her that when she is holding her hand high and out Nicky takes it as a sign to slow or stop. She tries again but needs another reminder to keep her hands and line low.

She is now walking almost beside Nicky. His speed slows, and he tosses his head back toward her. "Try walking out further. He can't see you where you are." When she does Nicky is able to pick up on her speed and match it. When he is responding well, Mark invites P to leave the pen for a few minutes. Nicky watches her as she crosses the pen, leaves, and for a few seconds afterward. Only then does he drop his head and graze.

P returns. Nicky's head comes up. As she stands with him his head bobs down slightly. She asks for attention. The head comes up. A few more tries at lunging, and it is time to go to the large arena.

Lael

Mark reinterates the goal in the large arena is to have him stay still so that he can be caught. There has been a breakdown of trust over pain issues which needs to be rebuilt.

Nicky, loose again, has stopped near the center. P, with halter rope draped over her arm marches toward him. He wavers and breaks. "Try it a bit easier, with the rope in plain sight, not stuck out in front. You look like a woman on a mission." She sure does if I were a horse with a person marching toward me.... Oops, don't you just hate it when you're right in the middle of being judgemental and find out that you're looking in a human mirror. I wonder if that has anything to do with Lucita and me.

Nicky is now saddled, and P is working on transitions. Mark guides her to again feel whether they are ebbing or surging (my language not his) to make upward and downward transitions. They look softer and easier together. P reports that Nicky is responsive. He is easier to stop, easier to bring down.

There comes a moment when Nicky stops, and P reports that she was only thinking stop and hadn't cued for it. "If you're thinking stop and the horse offers, take the stop." Nicky wanders after the stop. "Back him now. There that's where you asked for the stop." Be consistent in cues, requests, stops.

By the time they end this day Nicky is moving quietly and responding easily. There's a lot of learning going on here.

Lael

As they practice transitions she complains that Tonto is backing in circles. Mark works with her to keep his head straight. "If the head is straight, the horse will back straight." And soon Tonto has corrected his wandering backing.

Mark continues to coach D to keep her head up and ride to a point at the far end of the arena. It works for awhile and then Tonto begins to drift. D shakes her head and confesses she has lost her focus. She focuses. Tonto focuses.

Mark works with her posture in riding. Her heels are coming up, bringing her body forward. This causes Tonto to gain speed and have all his weight on his front feet.

They practice stops. Tonto pushes through them. D is asked to rolls her hips down, fix the reins, ask for a stop. Two steps blowthrough--Mark coaches tipping Tonto's head around until he offers to stop. Then the reins are let out, and he is asked to back to the original place of stop.

Another stop--Tonto lowers his head to eat. D is asked to tip his head up with one rein and then back to the original stop position.

"You're trying to stop him with the bit. That's not what the bit is for. The bit is there to give a cue. Let's try again with hips and then holding the rein."

Each try Tonto is rewarded with a pet from D and from Mark when he is near. Finally, a bit petulantly when Mark has petted Tonto and praised D, she asks, "Why doesn't anyone pet me?" Mark comes over and pats her on the leg. They move on to stops at the trot. Everything is done the same as at the walk except faster. D practices rolling her hips under and setting her hands. Tonto is responding to her cues.

But as their time together draws to a close Mark makes some observations. Tonto has been working and worrying his bit. Mark observes that he is not familiar with a bit and that he also needs his wolf teeth pulled. He further observes that this is really a green horse with a green rider. The training it was represented to have is not present.

Lael

They begin work with Mark asking L, "How would you get your horse to go if you didn't have legs?" Legs, arms, hands, reins, voice are all aids to give cues.

L and Kola try a sidepass. Kola is hesitant and wobbles. Mark asks to see her cues for disengaging the hindquarters, moving the frontquarters, and the sidepass. They are quite similar. He clarifies leg cues for each move. Then asks her to again try a sidepass. She lines Kola's head up straight, keeps contact on the off rein, off leg makes contact in the middle, hold some contact as Kola moves sideways so that he doesn't go forward. He is soon moving over with more confidence and far less wobble.

They practice transitions. Always Mark is helping L soften, soften, soften the cues. "Now try thinking 'move faster.'" She does and Kola's walk becomes brisker. She tries again, and he moves up into a trot. They work tirelessly with Mark helping her see the response and remove the cue as soon as there is a start of response. The day ends in large smiles on all faces.

Lael

Mark's Texas Clinic Page Three