I played with Avery for just a little bit today. I really want to get my circling game good. He has a dominance issue with it, and I think if I can get myself to push him through it, and tag him at just the right times, it'll help a lot.
He can just explode sometimes though, clearly in a dominant way. Usually my fear gets the better of me, and I abandon the rope, the horse, and all, and hide behind a tree until the explosion settles. That's about how riding goes too. I think I'd feel better to get the circling game good because it is so similar to his antics and fits when riding. Why work in the saddle what I can work on the ground? Shouldn't be a fight.
I also know I have to retreat, and reward at the right times too. I've got a lot to practice. Should be fun though.

I played with Avery today. I've been trying to lead from zone 3 for awhile now(zone 3 is the middle of the horse, between the withers/shoulder, and the hindquarters). It's really an interesting thing to do with your horse instead of lugging him everywhere. You reveal thresholds because they're "leading" and your sort of guiding, just as you would be from the saddle.

Anyways, I've had a really hard time keeping Avery motivated to keep moving forward while i stay in zone 3.

Today I realized that first I need to get him to walk with me. And arrive with me. So...we just walked. I walked very intently, and had an objective to arrive somewhere with a plan. Anywhere. And he stepped up his pace, and I actually saw some energy come up in him, and an interest in what we were doing! After awhile, I was leading from zone 3 with lots of motivation from Avery. It was VERY cool for me.

Avery is a horse that is extreamly difficult to keep motivated to do ANYTHING! I've realized(now...after having done things much differently, and quite unaffectivly) that once you engage his mind in something he will put in all his effort.

I also brought out our excersize ball to play with. We played lots of friendly game(approach and retreat), and then the yoyo game. I would back him up past it, then ask him to come forward in front of it, causing him to "bring" the ball to me. By the end of the day we were playing with the ball at liberty. It was a pretty good day.

Avery is so different from Pepper. He is very left brain, and clever! I had a hard time keeping up with his quick thinking today.
I asked him to circle around and go through 2 trees, a task we have done many times before. Well he decided to just wrap around both trees, and THEN go through them! What a tangled mess my rope was!
He doesn't like the circling game, it's too predictable for him. He knows what's going to happen, and doesn't understand why I keep asking him to circle. So we don't do that long before moving on to the next game.
I had him standing with his front feet up on a pallet, and he was doing well...but when I asked for all 4 feet the pallet broke, his foot fell through the slats, and a few large pieces of wood went shooting out from under him. He perked his ears forward and manuvered his foot out carefully, and casually, as if he had only found a new puzzle to work out.
Such a smart horse, I can't wait to see what kinds of things we'll be able to accomplish.

Just got back from viseting with Pepper. His horsenality changes just about everyday. The day I rode he was inately Left Brain Introvert. Today he was Right Brain Introvert, trying to go extrovert! So I decided it was absolutely best not to ride.
We started with circling game. We did great at the walk, making several laps. He did well with the trot, but was having a hard time staying in a left brain way of thinking. His head came up, his legs got stiff, and he was constantly looking around him as if looking for a way out. I think he was a bit shocked that I didn't push him harder into a lope or gallop.
He had a hard time manuvering through the jumps I directed him twards. In order to go over a jump, ideally, he would be looking where he was going. But since he was traveling with his head up, hollowed back, and stiff legs, it took a few trys to make it over the jump somewhat gracefully.
He was also absolutely not willing to go anywhere near moms white sweater. So I took it and played with it around him. I put it over his neck, but he was so distracted, he didn't even realize it was there for about 5 seconds. When he just about went LBE.
So we played lots of friendly game until he relaxed. Even his lips were persed togather. He did relax though, especially on the way back to the pasture.
It was an intersting day, and I'm curious to see how he'll be next time.
Hard to imagine I had such a good ride on this horse just a few days before.

Didn't spend too much time today. Just spent some time at liberty with Avery. He's gotten pretty good with porkypine game moving the forequarters, and okay with the hindquarters. Pretty good with driving game, but tends to escape when drving the front end. Backs up great, and comes to great(yoyo)! Gets a sour expression quite a bit, but I expect that from the LBI. Otherwise he seems willing, and puts in some effort!

one step at a time

Today I went to go viset with Pepper. He is my horse who was abused when his last owner rode him. So he is such a sweet heart to be around on the ground, but when it comes to riding he is very Right Brain Extrovert(i.e. - impulsive, scared, can only think of how to get away).

So I started in the arena just playing some games on the ground as usuall. Porkypine, here and there, circle, yo-yo, etc.etc. We went through some poles, over jumps, and between barrels. When we were done, I parked him next to the mounting block to practice leaning on him. I have been leaning on him for awhile now, and usually do at the end of every session. I wait until he relaxes, and then rub him, and put him back.
Well today he wasn't tense at all! In fact, he fell asleep! So I slipped a leg over, and sat on him. Not much of a reaction, so I rubbed him. Then he started walking a little, so we walked a circle, and ended up back at the mounting block! I am SO excited, and feel so accomplished! I hope to continue to help Pepper feel secure with a person on his back.

I felt so great about Pepper, that I went home and sat on Avery! haha, He's so crabby sometimes. We played first, adn he trotted 1 circle in the circling game(which is great, by the way)! He broke the pallet and got his foot stuck...but was very calm in figuring out what to do about it. So, I did some leaning with him too, and hopped on! He tossed his head, but I expect that from my grouchy left brain introvert(dull, snotty, clever). We walked a few steps, and he pinned his ears and tossed his head again. Not wanting to get into a fight in a heavily wooded sloping area, I quickly decided it was best to quit there.

I am so excited to have come SO far with these 2 horses. And I know we still have so far to go! I can't wait to continue to learn and make progress!

keep it natural

a bit of an intro

A few months ago I started with Parelli Natural Horsemanship. With how far I've come, and with what goals I have, I thought it would be fun to start a blog. Maybe it's only fun for me, but I'm more than happy to share with those who are interested in what I'm up to.

I'll start this entry by telling you about what all this is about.

I have 2 horses. One is a real sweetheart, but has been through a lot, and is quite unpredictable when ridden. The other I bought as a 2 year old, and through a matter of events, he is still rather green.

I aquired an extream fear of all horses the last couple years. And it's been very difficult to deal with. When we brought them home for the first time in about a year, I had trouble leading, and managing my horse let alone riding. I was ready to give up horses all togather. It wasn't worth the fear, frustrations, and feeling like a failure, to keep them.
It was then I saw Pat and Linda for the second time at the horse expo, and was fascinated. Not just by them but by their students. I knew if they could do these things with they're horses, then I could too! I decided to be dedicated to the program, and knew I would get results.

I got Level 1 last Setember for my birthday, and have now moved on to Level 2. There are 3 levels to complete at home. After that I can go to the Parelli center in Colorado.We haven't started riding yet, but I look forward to that very soon. But I know I can do anything with my horse, and cause him to WANT to do it, because of understanding the horses psychology!

I've learned about how the horse thinks, and about his body language. It's REALLY cool, and super helpful. I hope someday to be on the Savvy Team, like the students I saw that day, and help people help their horses, and feel GOOD about it!

keep it natural