FAB Day Today

I'm MAD!  Took a pic of what I did today WHILE I WAS on Fiona and it was a FANTASTIC piccie, and now it's not on my camera. 

OK, my plan today was friendly with all 4 horses of my herd, and PRACTICE MECATE REINS with the 22' (thanks, S!). 

Went out with only 22' and halter.  Fiona came right up (they all did) so I put on halter, went slowly as she seemed a tiny bit unsure.  Threw rope from Z 2 about 8 times...head came down so I proceeded to tie reins.  Did games with the reins like this and Fiona was So SOFT and SO Expressive, I thought "this looks  rideable!"  (!!! BIG THING FOR ME).

SO...I took her to an adjoining field and we played at the fence with the other horses, stick to me and move all quarters.  Was trying NOT to think about riding (escalating fear in the past from just that) instead tried to concentrate on getting WAY more from WAY less.  It worked!  Phase 1 with fingertips to move fore and Phase 2 to move hind. 

I thought, OK I'll get on the fence and practice the sweet spot pickup.  That took WAY less time than in the past and she sidled right up with a little tweeking, but stood calmly.  I rocked her (giving her plenty of warning.  Shortened rein...put my belly on her back/withers.  And rubbed, just hanging there til I could BREATHE.  She and I just stood. 

I slid off cause I thought about it.  She did NOTHING.  Nothing to even deserve that thought, but I'm working on MY brain, so I did it.

OK..moment of truth.
 
Got back on fence, she came right up and picked me up.  I just stepped on and sat there. 

She blew out, I did, too, and we both just stood breathing.  NICE and NO FEAR AT ALL. 

So the plan was follow the fence.  There was lots of tweaking but she got it on the second pass down. 

Then bend (I realize I should have done this first but was so happy to BE ON MY HORSE that I forgot.) 

I did the rein positions that Pat sent in the last video and she did fantastic...right side was not quite as perfect as left, so we repeated both sides bending/disengage front.  Last time I tried it was lovely and soft both sides but right is not quite perfect yet. 

Then disengage hind. 
Once I got MY body right she followed right along. 

LOVELY! 

So I called it a WILDLy FANTASTic SUCCESS and got off.

Then did more at liberty with follow a feel with the rope....
Fiona followed me at a zig zag with the tail of the rope over her neck.  NICE!

I left and she came to the fence to see me off after a lot of scratches and rubbing and loving all over her. 

amazing feeling....she was blowing and licking big time...we have a breakthrough with BOTH of us, I feel! 

I FEEL 10 FEET TALL RIGHT NOW! 

I RODE MY HORSE! 

To answer especially Mary's questions:  HOW did playing with Kelly's horses change my play with my horses or help me any?  Wow...well it showed me that I was accepting things that were unacceptable.  That my horses could be WAY more responsive than I was wanting/asking for/accepting.  And now I want that...and I can see it peeking in to Fiona's and my play...she has become way more responsive because Buckly taught me how to ask, perhaps?  Or she showed me what was possible in a real way and not "out there somewhere with some horse I'll never see." if that makes sense.   :)