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.
May 31, 2009
May 28, 2009
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'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
May 8, 2009
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.
April 29, 2009
Playing with my LBI O'Rion
Hi,
Back again in a short time! A record for me.
Two days ago I played games with O'Rion, my 3 year old RBI. He's pretty funny and can be LBE with his peep, Exy, but as a learner he can go to RBI and even introverted if pushed so I do not go there!
Anyway, I was stalking his butt (he's a slow mover and sort of devious about making ME do all the work!) but he got into it and was really moving around--took off bucking and farting and looking at me like I was crazy. I did Zap his butt once...that was all it took! He never let me out of his sight after that. He came to me, I scratched him in all his very best itchy spots, threw out hay and left. He was like WHAAAA???? hilarious.
can't wait to see how he acts next time I go to the field.
No riding lately as I have zoomed here and there...
SO..when I had a plan to ride, wouldn't you know, the horse that showed up that day was FIONA THE UNCONFIDENT. So I just played with her a little, did a lot of waiting around and doing nothing...then let her go. Treats, scratches, and ditched my plan. (I was disappointed 'cause had really gotten it in my head I wanted to ride, but I read her and it was a no go that day.) sigh. My girl comes first! So no ride.
Perhaps Saturday?
Hope your journey is going well. I'm slow but having fun.
til next time...
Back again in a short time! A record for me.
Two days ago I played games with O'Rion, my 3 year old RBI. He's pretty funny and can be LBE with his peep, Exy, but as a learner he can go to RBI and even introverted if pushed so I do not go there!
Anyway, I was stalking his butt (he's a slow mover and sort of devious about making ME do all the work!) but he got into it and was really moving around--took off bucking and farting and looking at me like I was crazy. I did Zap his butt once...that was all it took! He never let me out of his sight after that. He came to me, I scratched him in all his very best itchy spots, threw out hay and left. He was like WHAAAA???? hilarious.
can't wait to see how he acts next time I go to the field.
No riding lately as I have zoomed here and there...
SO..when I had a plan to ride, wouldn't you know, the horse that showed up that day was FIONA THE UNCONFIDENT. So I just played with her a little, did a lot of waiting around and doing nothing...then let her go. Treats, scratches, and ditched my plan. (I was disappointed 'cause had really gotten it in my head I wanted to ride, but I read her and it was a no go that day.) sigh. My girl comes first! So no ride.
Perhaps Saturday?
Hope your journey is going well. I'm slow but having fun.
til next time...
First Sit On Exy!
After LOTS of friendly and relaxing (us both as I was soooo excited/nervous!) I finally sat for the first time on my girl Exy! She's now two. (Perch/QH). A very laid back and happy RBI (I do NOT push her as she has been known to go introverted). she loves to play and has LBE tendencies but as a learner she's RBI. SO...I did approach and retreat, took about an hour and loved on her, lots of scratches, then put her next to the plastic mounting block and she wanted to get up there with me! (not good!) so we retreated and repositioned and I put my leg on her...scratches, then boosted myself up and sat on her! She rocked back and forth. I got off. It was a non-event lasting about 10 seconds. Success! I have actually started one of my own foals myself! This is a dream come true! Thanks, Pat and Linda to you it was a non event and so nice! I look forward to lots more...but I'm going VERY slow and mostly doing ground work with her til I get to Level 3 with Fiona my main levels horse.
BIG SMILES HERE!
Shelly
BIG SMILES HERE!
Shelly
April 1, 2009
an older note
Fantastic play sessions the past two days! I'm so excited.
first I watched a video on the savvy club that showed a French girl playing with her pony on the beach at liberty then riding with no
bridle or saddle. It inspired me so I went right out and played with Fiona. The girl had a lot of upward transitions (I mean the horse
going up in the air) so I tried it! Fiona got it first time! I had her walking like the fancy Spanish horses right away and she was riveted!
We played with the trailer (float) and she did circles with the ramp, then backed in then yo-yo in and out backwards. Nice and soft. I was so
proud of her!
We did undemanding and a lot of friendly then I tried to get her to balance on a wide post but she sidepassed over it (offered that) so I called that good.
Today I selected O'Rion to play with as he's mouthy and pushy, and wanted to establish more of alpha with him. If I don't have the Carrot stick he crowds.
With it (even if I ask nothing) he stays out of my bubble pretty much.
Anyway, went out, played friendly with the halter in zone 1, then put it on. He had a soft look and was very into playing. Eyes following me with ears pricked.
We did squeeze over a 4 inch log in between me and fence, then did some "put your nose here and there" and he was brilliant. When I asked a squeeze in between a cart and a tree
it was too much pressure so he got mouthy with the rope. I caught it and just stood letting him process...lots of chewing then.
Tried to do the lead with the leg but he thought it was too much, (got starey) so I did friendly with rope and stopped. Will pick that up later.
We walked sideways with the fence (only a few steps) and
I called the next game.
Falling leaf and S bends. He was bracey on zone 1. S bends he got that soft adoring look so I quit. NICE!
first I watched a video on the savvy club that showed a French girl playing with her pony on the beach at liberty then riding with no
bridle or saddle. It inspired me so I went right out and played with Fiona. The girl had a lot of upward transitions (I mean the horse
going up in the air) so I tried it! Fiona got it first time! I had her walking like the fancy Spanish horses right away and she was riveted!
We played with the trailer (float) and she did circles with the ramp, then backed in then yo-yo in and out backwards. Nice and soft. I was so
proud of her!
We did undemanding and a lot of friendly then I tried to get her to balance on a wide post but she sidepassed over it (offered that) so I called that good.
Today I selected O'Rion to play with as he's mouthy and pushy, and wanted to establish more of alpha with him. If I don't have the Carrot stick he crowds.
With it (even if I ask nothing) he stays out of my bubble pretty much.
Anyway, went out, played friendly with the halter in zone 1, then put it on. He had a soft look and was very into playing. Eyes following me with ears pricked.
We did squeeze over a 4 inch log in between me and fence, then did some "put your nose here and there" and he was brilliant. When I asked a squeeze in between a cart and a tree
it was too much pressure so he got mouthy with the rope. I caught it and just stood letting him process...lots of chewing then.
Tried to do the lead with the leg but he thought it was too much, (got starey) so I did friendly with rope and stopped. Will pick that up later.
We walked sideways with the fence (only a few steps) and
I called the next game.
Falling leaf and S bends. He was bracey on zone 1. S bends he got that soft adoring look so I quit. NICE!
January 19, 2009
Lots of Rain
Hi, January here already and it's 2009! Can't believe it, time flies. I just returned from New Zealand. My Dad had a stroke while on a cruise to Australia and NZ and when they said he might not make it, I had to go. Especially since I'm a Critical Care RN. Got a Medical team together for a meeting, got a plan and am working the plan. All is on go and he's recovering nicely. Even helped cook his own breakfast today! Good news.
Horse time has suffered since Dec. 22 when we learned of my Dad's stroke but I've done a lot of undemanding time and lots of scratching. Still wishing my horses would present the itchy spots to me but I know where they are for the most part, at least, and will get the funniest expressions from Boss and O'Rion and Exy. Fiona is one tough customer and I've only ONCE in the four years I've owned her seen that hilarious lip-is-poking-out-and-I-can't-help-it expression. She loves to be scratched right between her teats. loves it. funny girl.
O'Rion loves his withers scratched. Exy is a chest and tummy girl as well as withers. She gives hilarious lip faces. O'Rion does, too. I LOVE MY HORSES!
They look pretty scraggly right now with this rain and cold and wind. O'Rion has major tangles. Going to be a mess when I finally get around to grooming.
Can't do it all, eh? I can't beat myself up too much. I'll get to it.
Ta ta.
Horse time has suffered since Dec. 22 when we learned of my Dad's stroke but I've done a lot of undemanding time and lots of scratching. Still wishing my horses would present the itchy spots to me but I know where they are for the most part, at least, and will get the funniest expressions from Boss and O'Rion and Exy. Fiona is one tough customer and I've only ONCE in the four years I've owned her seen that hilarious lip-is-poking-out-and-I-can't-help-it expression. She loves to be scratched right between her teats. loves it. funny girl.
O'Rion loves his withers scratched. Exy is a chest and tummy girl as well as withers. She gives hilarious lip faces. O'Rion does, too. I LOVE MY HORSES!
They look pretty scraggly right now with this rain and cold and wind. O'Rion has major tangles. Going to be a mess when I finally get around to grooming.
Can't do it all, eh? I can't beat myself up too much. I'll get to it.
Ta ta.
December 31, 2008
Been Slackin
Hi, Been Slackin' on charting my progress, but I have made some and that's good.
Exy is really great about following me around and so we do patterns at liberty (she does almost better at liberty than on line--perhaps I'm so straight line with her on line?). She is a lot of fun, but does want to crowd me at times and for the first time EVER she blatently (it's been subtle up til now)challened my leadership and nipped me! This while walking SIDEWAYS through the gate and she reaches over and nips my sleeve. Well. Took me aback, I'll tell you and it made me re-assess my leadership--or perhaps I was pushing too hard? She's becoming more and more LB all the time (I was enjoying her being RBI to tell you the truth!). Sigh...gotta up the savvy. A stretch for me sometimes, unfortunately.
Now I have two LB's and Two RB's. I handle the RB's better I think. Gotta get myself to ramp it up a notch.
Been really tired and depressed lately since my Dad has a stroke on December 22, 2008 whilst on a cruise to New Zealand and Australia. He ended up in the hospital there and we were not sure he'd live, so I have put the horses on the back burner for now unfortunately. Have been out to love on them of course but no playing for a while now. Perhaps with the new year I'll feel more motivated and with the HD Video Camera that Santa brought me (to video my Parelli Levels!) things will look up. As I type this my Dad is still in NZ and is having trouble but at least he'll live. I'm so thankful and credit all the prayers from people all over the world as being a great help! THANKS! Thanks to God as well. He has spared my Dad in the face of a potentially fatal incident and I'm so grateful.
Starting to get cold now, too. I love cold weather (hate the blasting heat of our Ga summers).
Perhaps soon I'll be back to normal and will continue to play with my horses. Two of them are new to riding and I'm doing all I can to ready them and make it a non event. O'Rion has been ridden about 5 times and Exy I'm laying accross her back with no saddle and giving scratches and love.
Exy is really great about following me around and so we do patterns at liberty (she does almost better at liberty than on line--perhaps I'm so straight line with her on line?). She is a lot of fun, but does want to crowd me at times and for the first time EVER she blatently (it's been subtle up til now)challened my leadership and nipped me! This while walking SIDEWAYS through the gate and she reaches over and nips my sleeve. Well. Took me aback, I'll tell you and it made me re-assess my leadership--or perhaps I was pushing too hard? She's becoming more and more LB all the time (I was enjoying her being RBI to tell you the truth!). Sigh...gotta up the savvy. A stretch for me sometimes, unfortunately.
Now I have two LB's and Two RB's. I handle the RB's better I think. Gotta get myself to ramp it up a notch.
Been really tired and depressed lately since my Dad has a stroke on December 22, 2008 whilst on a cruise to New Zealand and Australia. He ended up in the hospital there and we were not sure he'd live, so I have put the horses on the back burner for now unfortunately. Have been out to love on them of course but no playing for a while now. Perhaps with the new year I'll feel more motivated and with the HD Video Camera that Santa brought me (to video my Parelli Levels!) things will look up. As I type this my Dad is still in NZ and is having trouble but at least he'll live. I'm so thankful and credit all the prayers from people all over the world as being a great help! THANKS! Thanks to God as well. He has spared my Dad in the face of a potentially fatal incident and I'm so grateful.
Starting to get cold now, too. I love cold weather (hate the blasting heat of our Ga summers).
Perhaps soon I'll be back to normal and will continue to play with my horses. Two of them are new to riding and I'm doing all I can to ready them and make it a non event. O'Rion has been ridden about 5 times and Exy I'm laying accross her back with no saddle and giving scratches and love.
November 30, 2008
Rain Rain Go Away
It is raining like crazy here with heavy fog so I've not had any horsey days lately. Been working a lot of overtime, so just had some non-demanding time while feeding hay, some scratches and did chase my O'Rion's butt one day when he turned it toward me, but otherwise nothing to report.
Exy has been more and more Left Brained and is doing well with patterns. So far we've done Figure 8 approx 4 times and she's getting it. No more dominant behavior for now. I had to get firm with her on coming on top of me!
O'Rion is doing well with figure 8 as well although he wants to squash the cones.
Fiona wants to sidepass through the cones. She's hilarious!
Will get back here soon, at least as soon as the dreaded fog lets up!
Savvy on.
Exy has been more and more Left Brained and is doing well with patterns. So far we've done Figure 8 approx 4 times and she's getting it. No more dominant behavior for now. I had to get firm with her on coming on top of me!
O'Rion is doing well with figure 8 as well although he wants to squash the cones.
Fiona wants to sidepass through the cones. She's hilarious!
Will get back here soon, at least as soon as the dreaded fog lets up!
Savvy on.
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