Brilliant day with O'Rion and Fiona

I played a total of 4 and a half hours yesterday with O'Rion and Fiona and it was going so well I didnt' want to quit! Only darkness stopped us. Today I'm sore as I've been a couch potato for two weeks due to being ill. Yoga this morning and a good stretch helped. Albert did some with me after MUCH ribbing on my part (he thinks it is easy and sissy) and he changed his tune. Realized it was harder than he thought! He's stiff.

Back to yesterday play session: First went O'Rion as Fiona completely ignored me. He caught me and we went to the play ground (a platform, some cones, a green ball, two tractor tires, poles and some logs. Sometimes a tarp.)

He was so engaged and so smart! This LBI/LBE boy was a whiz at the puzzles I put out for him and we went fast and loose. Two barrels with a green ball in between: he pushes that green ball right out and goes through. Easy peazy. He pawed at the pedestal a lot as he'd not been on it but briefly once. Pushed the ball around.

Once he lost his confidence but was LBE on adrenaline and wanted to go fast, so I helped him go faster and put an obstacle in front of him to jump/interrupt pattern. Lovely stride and lovely round jump. I enjoyed it! In the past I would have freaked out as he's a LOT of horse especially on adrenaline....there was a moment when I gave him a phase 4 with the buckle and he stopped and said THANKS! I needed that! His old self came through then. Amazing. This Horsenality stuff has completely revolutionized how I play with the horses and it is so freeing! I used to be clueless as to what to do if a horse got really big and it really scared me! Now it's no biggie. I like that. THANKS to Pat and Linda Parelli I'm on the path to my dream.

Fiona came next. I studiously ignored her and she came right to me and caught me at the fence. I was leaning on a fence looking off into the distance and I felt this gentle touch and then sniffing all on my back. My girl Fiona had come to play.

My goal for this session was to take a walking trail ride and expand her horizons. She has lots of thresholds so we did approach and retreat with me driving her and watching for thresholds. Lots of licking and chewing ensued as we retreated each time her head came up or she gave a blow, or she just looked worried. We retreated so much we didn't get much of anywhere but I think we made LOTS of progress. I am going to take the time it takes. No shorter, no longer. She offered a lot of things while we were playing like getting on the pedestal without my asking. However, once she got up there she had trouble figuring out how to get down. She got up there three times and got stuck. I finally helped her down. She weaved and did fig 8 brilliantly. I'm so proud of her!

Then I took her back to the playground and put the bareback pad on, and got on after about 10 mins of friendly with carrot stick and with my hands and body. She's still worried about that stick. It was getting dark so I just rode a few mins. When she started off fast in the wrong direction (not fast and no big problem really) I bent her to a stop and got off because of my brain and trying to decrease fear. I thought "OH MY GOD SHE'S GOiNg FAST." so I got off...although my mind really understood I was in no danger somewhere deep inside thought YIKES. So I felt silly but glad I did what I had to go to preserve my trust in myself.

Sick x 2 weeks but now I'm back

I just wrote a VERY long blog. NOT sure what happened but I'm talking epic and now it's gone. I will shorten it and type some of it again. I'm ticked off.

Exy's LUMP is going away very slowly but going away! Yay! I'm very happy about that! It really had me worried.

Had the flu (swine? who knows) for two weeks. Now I'm much better although my voice is all dusky and sexy. can't quit coughing. STOP already.

Played with Boss, my 23 year old QH. He used to be LBI Extreme and attacked me twice until I figured out LBI. now he's a joy. He weaved like a champ, did circles with an OBSTACLE (key) and grazed after each game. I showed him barrels and just stood there like do what you want, ok? and he pawed at them. With gusto. He's a love. He tried to get on the pedestal but tripped. I took the TRY and moved on. good boy!

More grazing.

Scratched his belly and got the lip out and quivering. Hilarious! I was chuffed at the whole day.

did some LIBERTY with O'Rion in the horses' field. Then came Fiona at liberty. She did well with friendly and porcupine FQ and HQ and backwards. Driving she left. I spent a LOT of time with Friendly on the string and CArrot stick. She licked at the end. And came to pick it up with her mouth. BIG. She has NOT been curious about anything much. I was happy with that. LOTS of more friendly and then she left me. I got too direct about it! (can't seem to learn that lesson?!). she's very sensitive to pressure.

I sort of wandered where she was, ignoring her...and just happened upon her--OH! Youre here. did the Laborador Retriever energy and panted, pretended to be a dog frolicking and all around her and all over her and she allowed me to do much more. Yep, I was too direct line as myself. Note to self: LIGHTEN UP!

OK, I had much more here but can't do it all over again...hope you're well and living your dreams. Let me hear them!

check out Shelley's blog at Savvyscotland.com.

Till Next time....
Shelly

Exy has a lump

My 2 year old Exy has a lump. I'm watching it, had the vet out. He said wait and see. I'm a little nervous. It's raw and oozing...and swollen.

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