Day 3

Yesterday, Try and I had about an hour together in the ring then Kaycee and Wendy joined us with Cobie and Target. We rode, swapped horses and then Wendy and I told Kaycee a little about Parelli. We finished with a ride in the pasture adjoining the cows and checked out the calves feeding. Try led into the pasture and high tailed it to the fence line to check out the cows--she was interested in the calves also but offered a lovely sidepass at a trot one time she got too close for her comfort.

Day 2

Try was elated and so alive today at all the possibilities at Dancing Branch.

Day 1 of Try's Amazing Adventure!

Today Try accompanied Target back to Wendy's for a five day fiesta of fun. Today Try, Wendy and I checked out her gorgeous big pasture and she cantered it several times checking everything out--especially Wendy and Tommy's house? Then liberty in the ring where she got to know the big boys, Barney, Bill, little Trapper and the grey. Naturally she flirted and then squealed and headed off to check out the mares who were in sight from the far side of the ring. She cantered back to me! (There's a first.) We played stick together and one round of circle draw then went to the round pen and talked some about circling. Try likes the round pen's grass. Try was cautious and concerned and elated and relaxed--first one then another at everything being so different. Next we walked up the road to check out the cows. Try, though on edge, REALLY was curious and wanted to check them out. Next it poured down rain and we high tailed it to Wendy's barn where Wendy made Try happy by bringing Ruby to be her next door stall mate until the rain subsided.

October 26 coaching phone call - Dan Thompson

See PP sub blog for notes.

Tuesday: Try, Target, Riley

Try: the horses spent the night in for the weather and were very anxious to be turned out--however Try was my first pick of the day for play and she wasn't happy about it. Today was a riding day: walk til blow, trot 6 laps canter 6 but inside track. Played with relaxation in rein transitions at a stand still and a walk and Indirect rein at a stand still--both were really improved. Also Try improved huge in her attitude and was quite lovely to be with fairly quickly.

Target: again a riding day--walk, trot, canter. His trot was much more relaxed and the canter was much more together also. Bethanna challenged us to do 2 laps without breaking gait at the canter--we got 1+1 not two in the row.

Riley: I helped BA out--we got the two ponies, I groomed Riley, BA rode Forrest while I held/played with Riley. Next time hopefully I will get to ride Riley while BA rides Forrest then swap--play online with Forrest while BA rides Riley.

Very interesting, oh boy day for me

Went to Try's pasture and waited for her to come to me. As I was putting on halter Haylie backed up to Try and was about the kick. Try sidepassed into me--I took halter and lead and in a personal fury chased Haylie away. How dare she pick on my beautiful, wonderful Try!! Well Haylie didn't care but I scared Try--took 30 minutes for her to decide she could be with me (approach and retreat) before we could halter up and go in.

First: stick together in the play area: much smoother today, I was mixing it up more then moving 6' or so away from her to measure our stick-to-a-tivity, she did blow one time. I did not opt for circling on the rail and draw--instead left that for the ring. The first direction (trot) it took awhile for her to decide she could come to me. 2nd direction good and we quit on that.

Riding 15 min walk passenger then on the rail--one small blow then walking in the center circle, did the stretching and soft feel and release and she started blowing really well. Lateral flex and picking up and dropping reins were way softer more relaxed. Then we trotted awhile (bareback) and a bit of canter--for my strength.

Stick Together Game

Today we continued our stick together game/liberty/round corral. And this was all we did. Goal: watch Try for changes and watch my energy level. It occured to me on the ride there that it isn't fair to ask Try for relaxation if I'm not relaxed first?? However one of my best ways to relax is touching Try. Anyway, we have the life up, focus and walk around thing. I was interested to see if she would blow--only once. I have determined that now that we know this much of the game that it is important to mix things up as to who leads and that I can be a bit creative when I am the leader. Today I wasn't very busy, busy, busy. More relaxed, slower. I did not see any concern in Try except perhaps one time I asked for a send on the rail with more energy than necessary. I did see her relax and look soft a little and I also saw a lot of "oh well I'll do it but I'd rather be doing something else. Stick to me was pretty good. Draw from a distance perhaps a little improved and perhaps not.

3 horse day

whew 9-2:30

Try: considering partial disengagement. Studied dvd from Feb. Walk til she blew then started with lateral flexion; also picking up rope and dropping it with the goal being that it means nothing to Try. (On a hunt for RB stuff to consider/fix.) Then after trotting etc tried the partial disengagement--not really getting it. BA hopped on and asked for it firmly at the trot and she went very RBE and gave BA truly lovely dozen or so strides of canter with gorgeous HQ yields--BA worked with her a little to relax by asking for trotting partial diseng each time Try wanted to canter RB.

Forrest:

Today BA was riding Riley and I got Forrest. We got them, took to barn. I groomed and mostly played friendly with Forrest in the barn. Then to the ring. BA rode and I alternately took Forrest around to sniff different things and use my brain to keep changing things up with different games. Then BA lunged Forrest and he did great on his leads! Back to the barn for more lovin while BA cleaned up Riley. Forrest followed me like a puppy in the pasture and he loves the pedestal.

 

Target:

I was tired by the time it was his turn. Got him from the pasture--he and Lincoln were at the far end  of the big guys pasture. Grooming in the barn, then out to Dwight's paddock for some On Line. It was fairly awful in the beginning--the backing and staying out of my space took 3 steps back again. Eventually we got it improved then some circling, S bends--practicing directing the shoulder, and touch it--used my hat--kept throwing it different places--quit when he got it. Then followed me around at liberty.

Great day yesterday

Riding lesson yesterday on Target with BA: I was proud of how we were learning stay on the rail as a pattern and how nice and consistent Target's trot was becoming. Well not up to BA's standards--wonder when mine will come up to that standard? Anyway, trot not so bad but really worked on the canter--the main issue being a consistent speed at the canter and I was thinking because he is a trail horse to ride him on either a loose rein (casual/on the buckle) or with short reins. He needed more help than that and seemed to appreciate it so I rode with light contact then softened contact when the canter was nice and Target quickly got the idea. I never would have thought I would be comfortable with a bareback canter with yesterday's canter but after the above fixes it was good and I felt strong. Thank you BA! Note: Target was even offering to round up a bit--looking like a dressage horse. What a cool horse.

Then my Sand Savvy friend Marilyn came for a trail ride as getting confident with her horse Shiloh on the trail is her biggest goal. To be sure she could be successful I asked BA if she would go along. So I led with Try and BA was followed up in the rear with Target. She rode him bareback with the lead rope then just put the lead over his neck and let him do it! Target truly has another fan in BA--she would so love for Target to stay at Rollover!!! All three horses were confident and fun to ride and the day was glorious.

Monday - 3 horses

Target: I am just loving this sweet guy. Improvements today. Getting used to each other and he is getting to be an arena horse as well as a trail horse--stay on the rail, maintain the speed of a gait etc. See Target's blog.

Forrest: Sara Austin's adorable pony--yesterday we played 5/7 games and today we took a trail walk to the ring so he could see it for the first time.

Try: Lovely--round pen, pasture, up the road the withers stick to me. Directing turns with this started today--when I turn the direction away from her she would continue and not turn so disengage HQ and start again and by the third time she had it figured out. Also the draw on the circle game at a walk was beautiful.

More...

The emotional/psychological on Sunday:

Try: I did not feel her get emotional RBE at all. Perhaps a bit of concern, a tendency to drift to the sweet spot and even tho it was a laid back enjoy the weather day--I did not feel a joyous desire to be with me. On the ground she was particularly obedient. The circle/draw--Try was VERY happy to come to me.

Me: I was alert to Try's feeling, watching for any RBE tho not expecting to see it. Very careful to make our current learning tasks pleasant, moving on immediately when she got it, etc. I did not remember to watch myself for busy, busy, busy--probably not so bad as it was a relaxed day. The more tense I am (RB) the more busy I get--is that RBE?

Gorgeous fall day.

Sunday Try and I--played the withers stick to her game in the ring. Try goes so nicely when my life comes up. Then passenger to where she wants to go--usually a jump--wait and repeat.

On Line--did a couple nice HQ yields in conjunction with the stick to me--being sure she is stepping under neath herself nicely. Then circle game and draw with back wards circle--really nice did once only.

Riding: we walked a long time waiting for her to blow. Bareback, posting trot in the ? box and canter, lateral flexion and HQ yields. 1/2 a carrot on the trip back to the pasture.

This did not leave time to get Target but Forrest was handy sooo went into his paddock, upped my energy and joy at seeing him and started to jog--he trotted to me--we played games 1-5 and I gave him 1/2 a carrot. First time I have done anything with him.

Studying Feb Mastery dvd on Partial Disengagement

Studying partial disengagement to find pathway to teach this to Try for her emotional (lack of confidence or anger) moments. Important to find a way to teach in an easy going pleasant way as I was uncomfortable about the methods Tuesday and Thursday.

Friday trail ride etc with Wendy, Try and Target

Fun day, laid back, played a little in the ring and trail ride. Gorgeous weather, good company. Great break after pressure filled week.

Thursday's riding lesson

Started with video of suspension rein and fluid rein--sep SC dvd 9 min and 30 sec of private session with Kelly showing Try stretching and rounding up--trotting in an unusually nice frame on the circle.

Lesson started well with walking on a circle until Try relaxed and would blow, practiced transitions that might cause a reaction--casual to concentrated rein etc. Then added bending on the circle walk and trot.

Theory tested: more effective leadership, especially with the reins would get leg yield sooner, Try would learn it and we could go on to other stuff--Try would feel successful and not RB. This was only partly successful. For myself--1. I need to ID the feel of a really good HQ yield, 2. homework--more stretching laterally on the right side, 3. homework--online HQ yield with reward as she loves to feel successful. Riding get one and stop, rest, stroke her neck etc.

We studied Try as she progressed thru the session, LBI, LBE with good energy, LBE with bad attitude, and some RBE. From her back I can immediately feel when she is emotional--i.e. the LBE bad attitude or RB but can't always tell which it is--easy to see on the ground from her facial expression. ??

Fluid rein, Leg Yields, Partial Disengagement

See PP notes sub blog for my wrap of of thoughts thus far on the titled topics

Wednesday

Dwell time and the new stick to me from behind the withers/liberty. Today is was a stick to her--just wanted to feel a lovely connection--day off for her as she had BIG day yesterday and tomorrow is riding lesson.

Played on line and freestyle riding with Target--posted on Target's page.

Monday and Tuesday

Monday: Target--grooming, riding, improved yoyo, started question box. See blog.

Tuesday: 3 hours with Dan Thompson--see PP blog. Hard to put into words--real nitty gritty stuff.

Spa day

Gorgeous Saturday--Try and I reviewed stuff for Dan Tuesday then had a spa day!

Sunny lovely fall day--great day to be with horses

Feeling lazy in the sunny October weather. Played with Target (see blog) and with Try.

Try: we did a little lazy trotting circling game reinforcing the idea that she can come to me not necessarily change direction from the draw. Also riding she still wants to stretch all the time--how interesting. Easy leg yields--suspension rein. Laid back day.

Just watched the last episode of the Horseman's Apprentice and my lovely lazy day would not have cut it at the Parelli ranch. I have had a lot going on with rain, flooding, trip, deaths and health concerns among friends but I now want to get ahold of myself, reassess priorities and get ready for next week.

Round corral day

We started in the paddock out back because the grooming stuff was there then ended up doing the whole session there. Two good draws/catching game tho not terribly energetic--I did put her boots on. Some good energy in sideways, backing and lovely liberty walking figure 8. Also stick to me. Next time it would be good to film. Also to film the stretching in riding.

Try is a mind reader!

I adore this wonderful horse. Light, responsive, she can figure out what I want from 20' away from increasingly smaller cueing etc. i.e. backing thru cones, setting her up to be square for the back up. Sideways she trotted and got a carrot slice as a reward for the exuberance--I upped my energy to get the trot.

Circling I wanted to do to improve the bring back/vs/change of direction and keeping slack on the ground. Dan has suggested my leaning on the rope to help with the slack issue but I was not able to lean as she never pulled and the rope is mainly on the ground--will ask about that next week. Also still getting the snarky ears in circling but was careful to reward her when I was getting good ears by bringing her in. Also bring back/draw at the trot was nice but Try is confused about the canter--I think a little shake of the rope as I back may be all we need to add.

Riding: so funny, Try immediately offered lots of stretching--can't wait to discuss this with BA and Dan, film and discuss again with Kelly.

I feel so lucky to have this time with Try.

The perfect horse for me?

1. Calm and safe!! Deal breaker
2. maybe quarter horse and geling
3. conformation more uphill--also a deal breaker
4. willing
5. maybe LBI or RBI but not extreme
6. trained for riding but not Parelli trained so I can do it
7. maybe smaller i.e. 15 hands