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.