Well, I went for a great ride on Tuck today! I think it was a bit of a breakthough for me. Within the first 5 minutes I realised what a slacker of a leader I am in the saddle. On the ground we are progressing, slowly but steadily forward. In the saddle I can't seem to get my brain to function, or to carry over all the Parelli principles I've learned. While I've been playing in Parelli for 2 years now, I just recently started riding, thanks to Tucker Boy. So my ground skills don't quite match my riding.
Having realised that, I was able to do something about it. Since I have a LBI I knew he was playing games with me, and had to figure out how to put that play drive to good use without smashing his dignity(which I had done before with Avery). And I think I've been a little afraid of turning him into a grouch like I did the Averyboy. So I picked a pattern, follow the rail. Anytime he thought of going faster(or slower) I said, "Cool!! Me too!" And went with him. "Cause your idea to become his idea, but understand his idea FIRST!". So I played with his idea of going faster and slower, and started using it to make full circles, half circles, stops and back ups. Eventually I got a nice walk ON the rail! That's where I hopped off and gave him big scratch and a treat. We finally felt in harmony!
It's no joke that you MUST have a sense of humor with this horsenality, because I have no doubts that they like watch you squirm with frustration. However, I've learned that they absolutely love to have somebody to laugh with ;)

Got my Savvy Times today and found a ton of great information in there. I'm sure I'll be reading it over and over for awhile. I was encouraged to find a section titled "How to Succeed with Patterns"! Just what I needed. And my answer was so obvious I could have slapped myself...JUST DO THEM! duhhhh. I even said in my last post that the Patterns are a checklist, meaning they were designed to go in order, left to right, making checkmarks in the little boxes provided, and then move ON! Sooo, I'm on my way to post them up on my wall and start making those check marks! Can't wait to track my progress. That was the BFO I needed!

I've realized i've been having a hard time with the patterns, not because I don't like them, but because I think I have more wiggle room than I'm used to having! When I used to take lessons with my horses, I felt that I could never even ride my own horse without having the instructor there. I didn't have a full view picture of what we were doing, so was afraid to mess things up.
So it was difficult starting level 1 and not have somebody telling me if what I was doing was correct! But it was a step by step process, and I progressed.
Now the patterns are more of a checklist...which can be step by step. They really are fantastic and have me thinking much more creatively and for myself. But I feel scattered. I need to create for myself a plan each day(isn't that what I try to do for people I teach?) to begin with the end in mind, and be ready to adjust to fit the situation. I know these things, just need to put them to practice.
The boys are doing well. Although I'm getting frustrated about Tuckers weight situation. We started a new hay this week which is supposed to be a weight builder, so we'll see.

This summer has been a roller coaster of camp, and drama, and cousins, and road trip, and hot hot hot days. It's all been fun...and a bit nerve racking at times. It's definitely stretched my emotional fitness, in a good way. I can be very right brain introvert, but am innately left brain extrovert. So as much as I love getting out and doing stuff, it's hard for me to be in new situations especially with people I don't know very well. So it's been an interesting summer, but I've loved it.
With that being said, it actually hasn't left much time for the ponies. I just started picking things back up again around here, and am happy with how smoothly it's going. Tuck is doing great with our level 2 riding and trailer loading. I am hoping to continue riding through the week, and start filming my level 2 riding potion by next week!
Rascal is thinking MUCH more like a partner and less like a prey animal. With nearly 3 weeks off, he was a little skeptical about heading over to the roundpen, so we stuck around the pasture playing lots of extreme friendly. Quit on a good note and he followed me back over to Tucker licking his lips all the way.
Twistie has been feeling great with her shoes, and even gave a few mini lessons the last couple weeks.
That's pretty much it for now!
Savvy!!