Step 13 – Observations
Step 13 - Observations
Now that the Creating Connection Through Change in Focus is working well (or you would not have moved on), it’s time to introduce you to the groundwork playlist.
From this point forward, we are going to start the day by asking yourself if you are ready to move on yet or not. Think back to the podcast on Pass/Fail.
After watching today’s videos, we would like you to go out and halter your horse. Then take them to either a round pen or an arena. Then observe: what does your horse tend to do if you just stand there in front of them?
Do they move? Are they twitching at all in the muzzle area? What was it like catching them, were they easy to catch? When you led them to the place where you are standing, how did that go? Today is just an observation.
This little exercise and the entire “flowchart” which is the next step, is where we are not ASKING anything of our horse (ok, you may have asked them to walk with you to the area you are going to work in, but once you get there, you are not going to ask for anything). You are simply responding to what they do. We are not training them. We are attuning to them. We are helping them feel better about themselves. But, that is tomorrow. Today we are just observing so that when we watch the video explaining the Flowchart you will be armed with information about what you observed today.
Remember how to navigate this course? Just click on the topics below under Lesson Content. Then at the bottom of each topic, there will be a button to move you to the next topic. If you click on Next Lesson at the bottom of this page without going through all the topics, you will feel lost! LESSONS = STEPS and the TOPICS = What we want you to learn about during that step.
I’m a new subscriber and I’m working through the Jumpstart course with my gelding. He’s coming 8 and I’ve had him since he was 4. I’d say we have a fairly good connection, but I’m learning we have some “gaps”, and I’m already starting to see changes in how we interact how that *I’m* changing.
I ride English and have hopes to jump and event, but I’m not in a rush. I’ve been realizing that my gelding is a bit of an internalizer or stress, but he is also naturally curious and likes to interact with his muzzle. I’m hoping to help him self-regulate and give him more confidence that I’m attuned with him through this process.
I’ve been working on creating connection through change in focus – I’m curious when you know you’re ready to continue to the groundwork? I’m not in a rush, but want to make sure I don’t get ahead before we’re ready.
We practice this in an indoor arena (we’re in Canada so the weather isn’t that great yet). My boy is pretty naturally curious and likes to wander around the arena we use and just explore, so he moves around a lot. He can often sometimes use the time to run around and get energy out. If he does that, I generally just wait until he settles before starting anything. He definitely doesn’t stay in one place even when he’s calm though.
I would say he has now started to come over more and more, and we’re getting to the point where he unlocks his feet and follows me, but it isn’t for long, and then he’ll kind of wander off and do his thing and we start again. Sometimes he wants to engage, so I engage, and sometimes (more rare) he will just come and hang out a bit. Sometimes, it can feel as though he wants me to follow him, if that makes sense at all.
Should they be staying/following for a certain period of time before you move on to groundwork?
Hi there
It sound slike youi could start the groundwork, as long as he turns his head well when you draw his attention with the flag.
Hello. I have a bitey, pushy horse and another pushy horse. I’ve been working thru the fence and currently, they walk away when I approach but come back to engage. One by scraping teeth on my hand and the other stays back mainly cuz bitey won’t let him approach. I have not worked on CCTCIF since they both have more draw than drive. Should I move on to day 13 or is there something I’m missing in creating connection. TIA! D
How is your energy when they are engaging through the fence. Do you feel relaxed, and not feeling threatened at all by their behaviour
Yes. Feeling relaxed and not threatened. I can create energy and they will back up and reach their nose out to continue engaging.
My horse will be 24 in April. We have had many miles trail riding, one time bringing in cows from the mountains. Has done well with groundwork from other “programs” but seems like it is very mechanical. We had two summers of extremely smoky skies from wild fires which made it very unwise to do more than groom and take walks. Since then, her attitude has changed from a willing partner to one that would rather not be messed with. I am here because I really want our connection back and your focus on “attunement” has drawn my interest. I have been spending many hours of just hanging out with her.
Going out to the pasture with my halter in hand, she immediately acknowledges me but either goes back to eating or turns and walks away. I usually turn and walk away, then approach again, leading her from behind until I get a whoa when asked or when I feel a connection and draw her to me. She will stand quietly beside me but turns her head away when the halter is presented. I wait long enough for her to decide to keep her head still so I can slip on the halter. She gets a treat after the halter is on. She goes with me on a loose line to the barn. She gets a treat at the barn.
In the arena I take the halter off. She stands with me for a short while then walks away exploring the arena. When I approach as demonstrated in your connection videos, she either turns to face me when I take less than 3 steps or totally ignores me even with the flag out. Maybe this is because of all the years of the tarps, the balls and whatever else I could think of to get her use to noise, the unexpected. She either stands and looks at me or trots to me stopping just in front of me. I am very conscious of not backing up. She will walk beside me, trot with me. Time to head back to the barn, the haltering starts all over with her turning her head away from the halter.
In the pasture, I have observed her ear flicking and/or eye blinking with the use of the flag or her turning to face me when I take a step or two without the flag. We will keep working on it. Any suggestions?
Do you carry the halter while you do this exercise?
Some times yes, some times no.
Yesterday, I worked on the “connection” getting more of an ear flick. Then she turns and quickly returns to me, passing me, either stopping with her shoulder by me or her hind end. I stood still for about 3 seconds then walked passed her back end about ten feet. I repeated this every time she turned and walked towards me until she stopped in front of me. Yesterday was the first for many days that I was able to work in the arena due to the muddy, slippery footing due to much rain. She “sticks” with me in the arena better than in the pasture where there is grass (though not much due to winter) to distract her but I was still able to get eye blinks or ear flicks or just a change in her focus from whatever was going on in the neighborhood just not necessarily to me.
I am thinking I have what you have been describing as a “clingy” horse even though her focus is not one me. She seems to be on high alert, head up and ears pointed to whatever appears to be nothing to me – just anything but me. When we go for a walk she is frequently close to me or touching me with her shoulder. When we go for walks, she frequently pauses looking at whatever. I look with her. I wait for her to lower her head, look at me, then we proceed on. Is it OK to proceed on with the flowchart when we go for walks?
“Is it OK to proceed on with the flowchart when we go for walks?”
It sounds like you’re still working on step 1, the creating connection through change in focus.
” I stood still for about 3 seconds then walked passed her back end about ten feet. I ”
I would just stand there. This is a lot about hanging out together, and it seems you are turning it into an obedience thing.
Hmmm. OK.
You sound like you were not sure of my answer?
Looking for guidance after my Jan. 28, 2025 response.
Sorry, Im unsure how I missed that. Is it guidance in the pasture you are after, or when you go on walks?
Focus and connection in the arena: she does not stay away from me very long while in the arena. When she trots or walks up to me, she occasionally stops in front of me which I just relax and enjoy those times. Most of the time, she passes me stopping with her shoulder very close to me. I understood by watching some of the videos I am to walk passed her letting her know that is not OK. She said it looks like I may be turning it into an obedience thing. Not sure now what I should be doing.
Focus and connection in the pasture: thought that might be better as she would not be clinging to me like in the arena, would be more occupied with eating, her fleeting attention to who knows what, and it would be more productive to getting the ear flick, etc Your thoughts?
Our for walks: she is usually walking with me on a loose line, but her attention is frequently drawn towards whatever might be going on, forgetting I am even there. That is when I have to watch for that shoulder blocking me, or maybe directing me in a different direction.
” Not sure now what I should be doing.”
Id say to start with, when she cpomes up to you allow it, as long as shes not knocking you over. Just allow her to stand with yopu for as long as she likes.
Today the sun came up and it was a balmy 33 degrees. Much better than the past week. So we ventured down to the arena, took her halter off. She hung by me for a few minutes, then went about 20 feet away for a good roll. Walked around a bit then returned to me. I just stood with her, relaxed. She does like to rub on me. When she stepped toward me to rub, I just did a small bounce til she stepped back. I offered her my hand so I could rub her forehead which went well but if she stepped toward me, again, I did a small bounce until she stepped back. Lots of licks and chews, big yawns.