Knee probs have kept me from playing much lately, but I wanted to be with the herd so I took my girl grazing and wanted to do something benign that wouldn't have me running or having an RBE moment with her (knee can't take it) so I did some sqeeze through a circle of PVC that was around 7 feet tall. Sort of flimsy so I had trouble holding it up and getting her to go through...enlisted hubby and she did it brilliantly. I was proud....however when she went through from right to left he put it down before she'd gotten more than three feet from it and she spooked slightly. zone 5 was not ok so must pay attention to do more there. However, I backed her under hanging strings (from a tree branch, looks tacky but it works) and INTO a wind chime with zone 5. I've used that wind chime a lot for all zones backing into and sidling up to. Nothing, she was ok with it. Funny.
Then the trailer. I had hay in the right stall so there was lots of hay grabbing, but we did circle on the ramp, back on and off ramp, circle around trailer. then yo yo onto and off of trailer. When she got all the way in she discovered there was nice hay in the manger. And I gave her a treat, too, scratched her back and did friendly when she was on the trailer rubbing her back and scratching her. She maintained a nice expression and no more freakouts so I called it quits. All in all a successful trailering/squeeze session.
June 30, 2010
Hose and Splashing Fun
Two of the herd, O'Rion and Exy, are freaks about the water...they LOVE LOVE LOVE IT and will paw and splash until there is no water in the trough, so I have two troughs, one on a tall platform so they can't get in it! lol.
Fiona and Boss are not as great, although Boss LBI has had things done to him and he didn't seem to mind. Although I know now that he did mind, and was afraid of a bath.
He freezes and hardly ever exploded in the past, but he was almost comatose and staring with glazed eye if he became unconfident.
So yesterday I tried again (this has been an ongoing thing with him) to play friendly with the hose and water.
I did friendly with the water just as if it were the CS and string. Figure 8 around me with the water turned away from him. some staring. Retreat, he looked, I bent the hose so no water came out. Lick, lick, lick. Nice.
Repeated this for about 30 mins and my husband came over "What are you doing with the hose???" he didnt' get it...that's ok. I explained but he looked at me like I was a nut. I'm ok with it.
Retreat and advance with hose flinging a wet figure 8 (rhythmic pattern for relaxation) that didn't touch him. I was breathing with him...leg cocked (mine) and thinking "I'm ok, you're ok." Lick, lick. Every time he turned to me I bent the hose in half and backed a step away. Eventually he started turning 100% toward me and even advanced to the water. I put it on his feet, he started glazing over so I kept at it rhythmically with the silly figure 8 until he licked and looked at me...I bent hose and walked backwards. This is when the big breakthrough happened, he started tracking me with ears and turned to me and advanced wherever I went. Finally put water on his withers and back, and rump, (it was hot! and he is old, I wanted to cool him down) and he was ok with it.
Success! I gave him belly scratches while holding the hose in other hand, and he never glazed over again in this session. Each time I retreated he came to me and had a lovely soft expression. I ended on a very happy note, and a cool one, too, as I squirted myself to celebrate. :)
Fiona and Boss are not as great, although Boss LBI has had things done to him and he didn't seem to mind. Although I know now that he did mind, and was afraid of a bath.
He freezes and hardly ever exploded in the past, but he was almost comatose and staring with glazed eye if he became unconfident.
So yesterday I tried again (this has been an ongoing thing with him) to play friendly with the hose and water.
I did friendly with the water just as if it were the CS and string. Figure 8 around me with the water turned away from him. some staring. Retreat, he looked, I bent the hose so no water came out. Lick, lick, lick. Nice.
Repeated this for about 30 mins and my husband came over "What are you doing with the hose???" he didnt' get it...that's ok. I explained but he looked at me like I was a nut. I'm ok with it.
Retreat and advance with hose flinging a wet figure 8 (rhythmic pattern for relaxation) that didn't touch him. I was breathing with him...leg cocked (mine) and thinking "I'm ok, you're ok." Lick, lick. Every time he turned to me I bent the hose in half and backed a step away. Eventually he started turning 100% toward me and even advanced to the water. I put it on his feet, he started glazing over so I kept at it rhythmically with the silly figure 8 until he licked and looked at me...I bent hose and walked backwards. This is when the big breakthrough happened, he started tracking me with ears and turned to me and advanced wherever I went. Finally put water on his withers and back, and rump, (it was hot! and he is old, I wanted to cool him down) and he was ok with it.
Success! I gave him belly scratches while holding the hose in other hand, and he never glazed over again in this session. Each time I retreated he came to me and had a lovely soft expression. I ended on a very happy note, and a cool one, too, as I squirted myself to celebrate. :)
June 17, 2010
Hide your Hiney
I think Hide your Hiney with the herd when I'm just ambling about is hilarious. O'Rion tends to get a little complacent about thinking of me as alpha...so his is the target usually...the others revolve around me like I'm a little sun. If I get behind, they turn. I love it. Not O'Rion and lately Exy made this mistake, too.
I have thrown pine cones, a tiny pebble, some sand, used the CS (of course) and then when they turn I'm looking at the clouds, like 'who me?' giggles. O'Rion only takes one time before he joins the planets that revolve around me, and he likes to peek at me a lot to make sure I'm not behind him. He's a card.
Today I was doing approach and retreat with the water...if anyone had come at me today with water I would have mobbed them yelling 'squirt me! Squirt me!' But Boss was a little skeptical. He got in the farthest corner and turned away, so I kept the water towards him but retreated, when he looked at me sideways I turned away taking the water away. Only took three times of this to have him face me but the hose was not long enough to get closer so I called this quits. To have someone to squirt I squirted myself and called it good.
Fiona has really been coming to see me lately, as I've decided we're not progressing until SHE takes an interest. She's so lovely, I just want to squeeze her, but she has to want to be my partner, so I'm playing with everyone else. She's more and more curious and that's what I want.
I really really want to ride, so that's good considering how fearful I've been in the past.
PS..I thought O'Rion was worried about going to the left over the log the other day because he stopped, started lipping it and looked like he was going introverted, so I backed him away from it and let him look at it, then asked for the other direction. That went well, so I reversed again and let him go left again. He was slow to pass over the (very tiny) log, but I didn't ask him to, just let him make that decision. He was able to paw the log and finally go over it. Success!
I have thrown pine cones, a tiny pebble, some sand, used the CS (of course) and then when they turn I'm looking at the clouds, like 'who me?' giggles. O'Rion only takes one time before he joins the planets that revolve around me, and he likes to peek at me a lot to make sure I'm not behind him. He's a card.
Today I was doing approach and retreat with the water...if anyone had come at me today with water I would have mobbed them yelling 'squirt me! Squirt me!' But Boss was a little skeptical. He got in the farthest corner and turned away, so I kept the water towards him but retreated, when he looked at me sideways I turned away taking the water away. Only took three times of this to have him face me but the hose was not long enough to get closer so I called this quits. To have someone to squirt I squirted myself and called it good.
Fiona has really been coming to see me lately, as I've decided we're not progressing until SHE takes an interest. She's so lovely, I just want to squeeze her, but she has to want to be my partner, so I'm playing with everyone else. She's more and more curious and that's what I want.
I really really want to ride, so that's good considering how fearful I've been in the past.
PS..I thought O'Rion was worried about going to the left over the log the other day because he stopped, started lipping it and looked like he was going introverted, so I backed him away from it and let him look at it, then asked for the other direction. That went well, so I reversed again and let him go left again. He was slow to pass over the (very tiny) log, but I didn't ask him to, just let him make that decision. He was able to paw the log and finally go over it. Success!
Hello Followers!
Thanks so much to the people who have commented on my blog. However, I have a dilemma: I do not know how to contact some of you! Please email me at chebs1@aol.com if you want me to comment back to you on the comments you left (coming to mind is Petra). :)
I so appreciate your taking the time to ask me a question or just ready my adventures...it means a LOT! Thanks.
Shelly
I so appreciate your taking the time to ask me a question or just ready my adventures...it means a LOT! Thanks.
June 13, 2010
Exy Playing with Tools
Exy is another piece of work. Put halter on, she shook head and acted all pissy. So i took it off, wrapped it up and gave her a good scratch with it. Put it back on, with some wiggling for friendly and she took it MUCH better.
Then put saddle pad (hoping it would stand in for bareback pad) on the ground and directed her to it, letting her paw, bite, sniff, and lick it. In the background O'Rion went for the bareback pad on fence and was doing his best to demolish it, so I directed him to saddle pad and he went at it with Exy. They pawed and bit it, with gusto.
I began to feel better with O'Rion as he obviously had some issues...so let them bite it and carry on as long as they liked.
When I got way too hot standing in the sun I called it a day, took off her halter, and came in to the A/C.
Wanted to ride today. Plan changed.
Off to the pool.....
Then put saddle pad (hoping it would stand in for bareback pad) on the ground and directed her to it, letting her paw, bite, sniff, and lick it. In the background O'Rion went for the bareback pad on fence and was doing his best to demolish it, so I directed him to saddle pad and he went at it with Exy. They pawed and bit it, with gusto.
I began to feel better with O'Rion as he obviously had some issues...so let them bite it and carry on as long as they liked.
When I got way too hot standing in the sun I called it a day, took off her halter, and came in to the A/C.
Wanted to ride today. Plan changed.
Off to the pool.....
Can't get Permission
Today I'm afraid I'm a little bit heart broken. After 5 years I STILL cannot get permission to get on to O'Rion. Oh my Gosh, WHAT THE HELL DO I HAVE TO DO?
I have studied Horsenality. To that end I have determined that he is RBI/LBI. With the occasional LBE thrown in.
O'Rion caught me right away. Played all games, and he offered to back up (nice). I started out today with lots of friendly. Retreat, mirroring. He finally licked and chewed. Took a long time.
Took him to water three times and he would not drink.
Got on the bareback pad with savvy, tightened in four steps and did lots of friendly in between.
Got him to go over a log. (tiny one.) Asked for a trot over it, he was worried to the left, but then played with the log. Bent him both ways (stiff to right although he got it quickly). Would easily disengage hind on both sides.
Played Mirror Me all along the fence, and he was brilliant!
Took him to the fence, climbed on it and gave him a treat, and then scratched him all over. Then asked him to come get me. I was there thirty minutes. Three times I tried to do the savvy mounting--got him in position, gave scratches. Waited. Big sigh, so I tried to rock him, and then grabbed mane and rein softly and put my leg on his side, he walked away. Repeated this multiple times, once tried to put my belly over his back and do friendly. He walked away again and never would get by me again. Pawed fence and ground. (I took this as a sign tension was building so I quit asking anything and just petted/scratched his mane and when he gave me his hind I scratched that). He did use his head to wipe me out once, or tried to. I did body blocks.
Seemed worried although I didn't ask anything except to have him stand by me and receive friendly scratches.
Finally I took off the bareback pad and halter/reins, put it on the fence and let him sniff/bite it. He seemed very interested to do so.
I am very disheartened. This horse was raised DAY 1 with Parelli and STILL I can't get on him with his giving permission. I"m sad today. Did think "this is for tomorrow" but DAMN, how many tomorrows does this take? I"m ready to ride and planned just to go passenger and bending, but if I can't even get on then why do I have these horses?
Had camera to take pics but never even thought of it once I got outside.
I AM very pleased that I know to ask permission, but would be pleased to advance some. Trying to rein in my emotional fitness, but just reporting how I feel.
I have studied Horsenality. To that end I have determined that he is RBI/LBI. With the occasional LBE thrown in.
O'Rion caught me right away. Played all games, and he offered to back up (nice). I started out today with lots of friendly. Retreat, mirroring. He finally licked and chewed. Took a long time.
Took him to water three times and he would not drink.
Got on the bareback pad with savvy, tightened in four steps and did lots of friendly in between.
Got him to go over a log. (tiny one.) Asked for a trot over it, he was worried to the left, but then played with the log. Bent him both ways (stiff to right although he got it quickly). Would easily disengage hind on both sides.
Played Mirror Me all along the fence, and he was brilliant!
Took him to the fence, climbed on it and gave him a treat, and then scratched him all over. Then asked him to come get me. I was there thirty minutes. Three times I tried to do the savvy mounting--got him in position, gave scratches. Waited. Big sigh, so I tried to rock him, and then grabbed mane and rein softly and put my leg on his side, he walked away. Repeated this multiple times, once tried to put my belly over his back and do friendly. He walked away again and never would get by me again. Pawed fence and ground. (I took this as a sign tension was building so I quit asking anything and just petted/scratched his mane and when he gave me his hind I scratched that). He did use his head to wipe me out once, or tried to. I did body blocks.
Seemed worried although I didn't ask anything except to have him stand by me and receive friendly scratches.
Finally I took off the bareback pad and halter/reins, put it on the fence and let him sniff/bite it. He seemed very interested to do so.
I am very disheartened. This horse was raised DAY 1 with Parelli and STILL I can't get on him with his giving permission. I"m sad today. Did think "this is for tomorrow" but DAMN, how many tomorrows does this take? I"m ready to ride and planned just to go passenger and bending, but if I can't even get on then why do I have these horses?
Had camera to take pics but never even thought of it once I got outside.
I AM very pleased that I know to ask permission, but would be pleased to advance some. Trying to rein in my emotional fitness, but just reporting how I feel.
June 5, 2010
Intriguing Stuff-Boss, Fiona, and Exy
Today was lovely, I was very tired so slept til 4pm. Had no expectations.
First fed everyone, had Boss (old guy QH ) in paddock so he'd get all his feed. I'll start there I think.
So after he eats I do a lot of scratching and petting and such...LBI. My goal today is to get him to pick up his back feet willingly and with a very soft touch....feather-like. (this has been a challenge for us both).
first lots of friendly. Then did some massage, as he has been quite stiff at times. He loved it! Put me where he wanted me which I love, so I worked on his haunches and really dug in there. If he could have laughed he would have.
Lots of friendly on back legs,
Now hovered over the cap of hock. Air, count to three, hair, count to three....waiting for the tiniest weight shift.
got to phase 4 and held it forever (hand cramping) I'm thinking PATient and passive persistence....I actually added a little friendly while holding phase 4 with right hand on cap, to his flank so he'd know I was ok, he was ok, but I wanted something and not to be afraid (he looked sort of going off into staring). This friendly on the flank produced some of the BIGGEST yawns and licking. I was on to something!
Weight shift and it was over.
change sides, he did the left side to phase 3 with friendly on flank.
I repeated sides three times to make sure he got it. Second time on his right I had to phase 4 it again...more flank friendly and HUGE yawns.
Third time on right it was phase 1 morphing into phase 2~ NICE! I quit, then thought I'll do ET! So I did saddle block, butt shots, and some of his shoulder and neck, and top of head. (with breaks). He loved it.
Lots more licking and chewing although instead of processing he was ready to leave the paddock, so I let him. He seems to be moving much better. Lovely expression upon the end of session and he comes to me which is huge for our relationship (or lach thereof for 15 years. This relationship has TRANSFORMED). amazing.
Second: Exy eating...lots of friendly all zones, then scratch whithers (one of her spots) and then I went from sitting on fence to leg on her back. No response, so I laid accross her back. I was on there about 10 secnds, she took a few steps away and I just slid very softly off. This girl is ready to move on (I'm mega slow and want someone to put some hours on her correctly so the framework will be there, but so far I've done it all. I'm pretty proud of our relationship, too, as she'll leave the herd for me and stay glued to me if I let her! (sometimes I have to protect another herd of two and it breaks my heart to send her away as she truly wants to stay with me.)
Yoga in the herd next as I'm working on my mind to quiet it and connect with the energy of the herd.
My yoga is one or two poses, so don't get ahead of me here, I'm mostly working on the mind with a stretch thrown in. ha ha.
Anyway, while I'm doing my thing Fiona comes up to me. Sniff, sniff.
I quietly began breathing in concert with her and put my body in alignment with hers.
Then did some slow deep massage strokes down next to her spine and along her rump. The reaction. Amazing.
She looked at me with great surprise and then as I repeated the move she pushed against the move and slowly walked so that i was at her rump....leaning into the massage. face of bliss...
I worked on her butt and did long deep strokes with my knuckles and palms and she just leaned into me and cocked her hind leg, head down, ears on me. She lipped my neck and head. LONG time since she's done that. It brings me to tears the moment is so lovely.
The herd at this point leaves but she sticks with me. Lately I have felt our partnership is smoke, all on my part, and she's not into it at all. right now I feel connected, it's lovely. I've kicked around the thought of just taking on another levels partner (Exy or Boss) but right now as we've come so far I hate to change although to be honest I have actually added them just not deleted her. Fiona's spook used to be the whole field. (at my house) She ran away with the "trainer" who rode her first. Now it's about 10-20 feet. I did that. That's real progress and this was a run away with the previous rider. I want to be what she needs. Have also started trying to ask WAY less with her to get more. She's SO sensitive I just forget sometimes that she's way ahead of me. So let's persevere...
She begins to graze so I mirror her with one hand on her whithers and one hanging like I'm grazing. I mimic her posture, breathe in concert, and we slowly walk and graze (me on her right side with my right hand plucking the ground, mirroring her steps, left hand on her and my spine mirroring her spine. She turnes to the right to look at me many times, (what are you doing?) so do I turn to right. We lift our heads to scent the air and look. We become one as we slowly move in concert. A lovely synchronization. she pics up a walk and I go with her. We rejoin the herd.
She watches me leave and the ears and face are soft, more with me than she's been in weeks.
for the tail end of the day I've had a lovely evening and as I go to help my husband bring in the night I smile a secret smile.
First fed everyone, had Boss (old guy QH ) in paddock so he'd get all his feed. I'll start there I think.
So after he eats I do a lot of scratching and petting and such...LBI. My goal today is to get him to pick up his back feet willingly and with a very soft touch....feather-like. (this has been a challenge for us both).
first lots of friendly. Then did some massage, as he has been quite stiff at times. He loved it! Put me where he wanted me which I love, so I worked on his haunches and really dug in there. If he could have laughed he would have.
Lots of friendly on back legs,
Now hovered over the cap of hock. Air, count to three, hair, count to three....waiting for the tiniest weight shift.
got to phase 4 and held it forever (hand cramping) I'm thinking PATient and passive persistence....I actually added a little friendly while holding phase 4 with right hand on cap, to his flank so he'd know I was ok, he was ok, but I wanted something and not to be afraid (he looked sort of going off into staring). This friendly on the flank produced some of the BIGGEST yawns and licking. I was on to something!
Weight shift and it was over.
change sides, he did the left side to phase 3 with friendly on flank.
I repeated sides three times to make sure he got it. Second time on his right I had to phase 4 it again...more flank friendly and HUGE yawns.
Third time on right it was phase 1 morphing into phase 2~ NICE! I quit, then thought I'll do ET! So I did saddle block, butt shots, and some of his shoulder and neck, and top of head. (with breaks). He loved it.
Lots more licking and chewing although instead of processing he was ready to leave the paddock, so I let him. He seems to be moving much better. Lovely expression upon the end of session and he comes to me which is huge for our relationship (or lach thereof for 15 years. This relationship has TRANSFORMED). amazing.
Second: Exy eating...lots of friendly all zones, then scratch whithers (one of her spots) and then I went from sitting on fence to leg on her back. No response, so I laid accross her back. I was on there about 10 secnds, she took a few steps away and I just slid very softly off. This girl is ready to move on (I'm mega slow and want someone to put some hours on her correctly so the framework will be there, but so far I've done it all. I'm pretty proud of our relationship, too, as she'll leave the herd for me and stay glued to me if I let her! (sometimes I have to protect another herd of two and it breaks my heart to send her away as she truly wants to stay with me.)
Yoga in the herd next as I'm working on my mind to quiet it and connect with the energy of the herd.
My yoga is one or two poses, so don't get ahead of me here, I'm mostly working on the mind with a stretch thrown in. ha ha.
Anyway, while I'm doing my thing Fiona comes up to me. Sniff, sniff.
I quietly began breathing in concert with her and put my body in alignment with hers.
Then did some slow deep massage strokes down next to her spine and along her rump. The reaction. Amazing.
She looked at me with great surprise and then as I repeated the move she pushed against the move and slowly walked so that i was at her rump....leaning into the massage. face of bliss...
I worked on her butt and did long deep strokes with my knuckles and palms and she just leaned into me and cocked her hind leg, head down, ears on me. She lipped my neck and head. LONG time since she's done that. It brings me to tears the moment is so lovely.
The herd at this point leaves but she sticks with me. Lately I have felt our partnership is smoke, all on my part, and she's not into it at all. right now I feel connected, it's lovely. I've kicked around the thought of just taking on another levels partner (Exy or Boss) but right now as we've come so far I hate to change although to be honest I have actually added them just not deleted her. Fiona's spook used to be the whole field. (at my house) She ran away with the "trainer" who rode her first. Now it's about 10-20 feet. I did that. That's real progress and this was a run away with the previous rider. I want to be what she needs. Have also started trying to ask WAY less with her to get more. She's SO sensitive I just forget sometimes that she's way ahead of me. So let's persevere...
She begins to graze so I mirror her with one hand on her whithers and one hanging like I'm grazing. I mimic her posture, breathe in concert, and we slowly walk and graze (me on her right side with my right hand plucking the ground, mirroring her steps, left hand on her and my spine mirroring her spine. She turnes to the right to look at me many times, (what are you doing?) so do I turn to right. We lift our heads to scent the air and look. We become one as we slowly move in concert. A lovely synchronization. she pics up a walk and I go with her. We rejoin the herd.
She watches me leave and the ears and face are soft, more with me than she's been in weeks.
for the tail end of the day I've had a lovely evening and as I go to help my husband bring in the night I smile a secret smile.
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