Weekend

After playing Saturday morning, shopping in Kenilworth and then some grazing today started off more low key.
I had plans to do some bridle and saddling practice with the help of some liquorice. I have discovered that B loves liquorice and it certainly helped with getting the bit in her mouth but not the bridle on her head yet lol.

We revisited circle game with a focus on relaxation for B with some approach and retreat with canter. Today we got a consistent 1/4 lap of canter every time I asked! Its a good start!

Saddling up was lovely both sides and I found the girth needed doing up an extra hole. At this rate I will need to buy a smaller one. Getting on took a while as B couldn't line up for me to get on from the left side. She was insistent that I got on from the right! I kept asking her if she was sure and she was. On I got and did absolutely nothing but friendly game and asked her to graze. She was wonderfully calm for what must have been 30 mins with only a couple of lateral flexions. So unlike Tuesday I stayed on. I was anxious to begin with but after remembering to breathe and scratching B along her neck until my fingers hurt I was soon smiling and relaxed.

I noticed today B is pretty ok with me being in zone 3, scratching all along her back. This is pretty huge for her I think. Also she is eating all her feeds now and really settling in.

I am still struggling to learn all I need for testing on Thursday. I am going to have to find some way of making the stuff stick in my brain somehow!

Tomorrow we are starting the riding part of the course so today has set both B and I up for success.
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I can't believe its Friday and a whole week has gone by! I really wish time would slow down.
And the week has just got better and better. Today was play day apart from a trailer loading demo. And some practical stuff about knots and assertiveness. I am very pleased to say I have learned the Bank Robbers knot! Woohoo, one down, one to go!
Later in the morning we played with a trailer which B and I have never had chance to do. Great to explore it and use it as a toy with no pressure or need to actually get in. After lunch we focused on the two things in our plan and by the end of the afternoon B had learned the Rock Slide in five minutes flat and she had done a whole lap of calm canter on the 45' line using the sundial.
The sundial is a hoot! It really helped B look at where she put her feet and watching her do the most exuberant canter over them made me think of the LBE Horsenality cartoon horse. She looked exactly like it!
I feel we have made huge leaps and bounds in our relationship and my leadership this week. Its very hard work physically for me. I keep forgetting I am not 25! But apart from feeling a bit achy and my feet hurting at the end of the day I think I am doing ok. Today all I heard from all the PP's was how well we did. I am glowing with pride and joy at having such a great partner in B. She is one hell of a stunning horse.

I was thinking today how I could carry on this level of play when we get back home. It will be very tempting to just slip back into my previous routine but I am going to try not to. I have found being more imaginative and provocative came quite naturally to me but Stoneleigh is set up for that purpose after all. I have learned more patterns in one short week already so there is a chance I will add them to our play at home.

I have made some great friends here. One lovely person lives not too far from me and we are planning to ride the woods together when we get back. I am very excited about this!!!
That will make for some great blog posts. Wait until you see the size of her lovely LBI mare.

We have plans for the weekend. More play, maybe even riding and lots of study group stuff. Bring it on!

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Hot water and circle game.

It has only taken me four days to work out that I need to run the hot tap of the sink in my room for at least 10 minutes for the water to actually be hot!

This morning we spent some time in the class room focusing on Horsenality in more depth. Then is was out with our horses for some Falling Leaf and reverse FL which is actually called S something but I forget what exactly.
B and I had a really fun time. We broke FL into its components and slowed it right down, then speeded up to trot. Loved it. Then it was expanding the 7 games so B and I had fun with sideways in trot, put your feet in the hula hoop and wear it around your neck amongst other things.
After lunch we had a tour of Parelli HQ and then a talk on Parelli Connect.
Followed by a demo on circle game and what to look for with the gorgeous Beau a huge 17 hand Trekhana.
We got absolutely soaked going to get our horses which made me feel quite fed up and a bit grumpy. I was probably just tired and it kinda worked in my favour because we went to play with circle game and I had little energy or expectation. It meant I was patient and focused on B and determined to get what I asked for without putting pressure on or getting emotional. B flipped from RB to LB by the second on some laps. She kept checking in with me but I simply asked her to continue. Occasionally she braced when she went LBE, snaking her head too. We built things up until I got 21 laps in trot in both directions!!! This has been my goal with B for a long time. It will really help our riding as it is building leadership, obedience and consistency. We are heading towards relaxation.
B offered canter but we didn't get a whole lap. We will, it's just a matter of time lol. This now means I have a lot more to ask of B when we warm up before riding next week. I think establishing more leadership will give me more confidence and less fear.
The days are passing by all too quickly! I really want time to slow down please.

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Day Three!

Where did the day go! It was a better day for us with lots of online play, vet/farrier prep. B was incredible and I have more arrows to use for a few little niggles she has.
Got test results which I felt pretty despondent about but with a low mark of 20% all I can do these two weeks is improve. A lot! It sent me to my dark and dismal place where my critical voice tells me how bad and useless I am. Not fun, so there were more tears for me.
B may have sideways as her default but I am the queen of negativity in these circumstances. Not a pretty sight.
Did some practice of tool skills and I made a lot of progress with my c/s skills. It appears I am quite ambidextrous.

We have a plan this week to work on canter on circle game by playing a million transit ions and with a goal of 2 laps of calm canter. Also sideways, which concerns me a little. B is almost addicted to sideways as her default setting when she wants to avoid doing stuff and when her brain is definitely not engaged. So the plan is to play with Rock slide pattern and sideways at increasing distances, which we have tried with great success today. I want to find ways to engage her mind and from then follows motivation and willingness. I saw that in her today and her expression made it all seem worthwhile. I had a very willing motivated B who tried her heart out and won every time. From feeling useless and less than level 1 am back to feeling happy that we had a great partnership today and played the 7 games with something approaching excellence.

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Day two.
I got the happy relaxed B I know back this morning! Just in time for our Online test!
But first we had tests on our rope skills, c/s skill, knot tying and putting a Parelli bridle together.
Then it was go get your horse and money to the playground and I chose the 22' line and not the 45'.
I was happy with some tasks. Jump the barrels, turn and face, wait and back over was great fun. Circle game - B offered canter, nice. Sideways to 20ft was ok. Weave from z5 was pretty good but it felt like I was more in z3! The pond was great! For some of the others but B couldn't put a foot near the water but was content to eat mud loo. Trailer loading? Forget it! We did get two feet on the ramp the. Fig 8 in trot without a c/s and stay on your say spot was absolutely fabulous even if I say so myself. Big green ball on B's back was ok after a bit of approach and retreat. I certainly didn't feel as bad as I did after the written test.
After lunch we took saddles then horses to the playground. B was focused and tuned in to me. Had a lovely warm up then a long graze for B just because she was so chilled. We were tested on saddling and B let me saddle her from both sides. Getting on was great and all was relaxed and happy until I got bud died up with someone who promptly trotted off on follow the rail and I never saw them again. I tried to find something to do and have a plan but that old fear issue arose and I started to feel that sickness in the pit of my stomach. B obviously felt me losing the plot. She stopped listening to me. Her leader had gone so she wanted to follow anyone and everyone. I thought perhaps things might go pear shaped quickly so I got off!
It took ages for my adrenaline to go down. I fought to stop the tears but when one of the PO's came to ask how I was I broke down a little. B, meanwhile carried on being chilled and happy eating grass and playing online.
In some ways that session wasn't so good but it was so good to have a relaxed horse and I really enjoyed being in our herd of two.
My feet hurt this evening. I bet I will sleep well again tonight!
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Here we are! What a day. The drive was ok but slow because of the windy conditions. Almost got lost.
Challenging day not just because of the logistics of getting here and settling into a strange place ice. Blackdown, but because we had a test! A written test!! Just to see where we all are but of course I felt like a failure because I couldn't remember the simplest things like the 8 Principles!

This afternoon we took the horses for a graze and play and as I expected B was switching from LB to) and really tested me. And of course I have to beat myself up because I needed help to get B focused on me.
She really enjoyed the playground and began to relax only to get) again because I wanted her in z2/3 and she wanted to stomp ahead back to the grazing field! I nearly got kicked as she kept turning z5 to me. She got very snotty but I kept my sense of humour, just!
I have teamed up with a lovely person called Jackie and we are almost next door at Blackdown. Nice to have company for dinner and excellent conversation from everyone here.
I am sure I will settle in pretty quickly. Have brought some home comforts and I found the power socket hiding behind the curtain in my room so I have music which makes me very happy.
B ate her dinner when we finished the day at around 6.30 and was happily munching hay when I left her an hour later. I wonder what horse will be waiting for me in the morning.
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Exciting!

Today was an exciting interesting day! It was really windy and B really didn't like it. We had a play in the arena to begin with and it took a while for B to stop being introverted and up her energy. I don't know if I should have ridden but I did after a very nice saddling up.

There has been a marquee in the pub car park for a couple of days so Sandra and I walked the horses past online. B couldn't allow me to get on until we had walked all the way to the top of the old woods despite me trying at various points. I don't mind tho, it is always up to her. Pretty soon it was clear she wasn't very relaxed. She was either tense and listening and looking for danger or tripping up. So we played zig zag and I matched her energy which really seemed to help. In any case we just did the old woods with some lovely trot up the straight with B happy to go in front until she actually was and then she wanted Bert in the lead. We did some weave around the trees and we got off by the exit. At least we got off the yard but it was odd not to be doing our usual Sunday marathon ride.

I got my rented horse box quite late so B didn't get to eat her tea til gone 7.30 but she doesn't know it's a Sunday and she gets her tea at that time during the week anyway. Then it was load up the lorry time and play with loading. I stayed really calm and just chilled while she sniffed and snorted as she explored the horse box. She immediately stood on the ramp and pretty soon she was in the box. Actually she got in four times in total so I am feeling confident about loading tomorrow. B may have other ideas so we will have to see lol.
i expected to spend ages puting her stuff in the horse box but it didn't seem to take too long. I must have forgotten something!?

It took me at least 15 minutes to back the horse box into my small driveway with the help of a neighbour. Never mind, at least I got it in the end without damaging anything.

This will be the last blog post from my computer for the time being. The next two fun filled weeks will be brought to you from my Blackberry so look out for crappy photos but lots of interesting stuff! I hope it's interesting! I think it has finally sunk in that this is rwally happening. I AM going to Parelli and it will be for two weeks. Oh I just can't wait!

Canter!

Excuse the crappy photo. I just had to post it because its B really cantering calmly although I was excited to see her lol.

We had another brilliant lesson with Claire Burgess and this time I was calm and in control of my brain. Now that B has settled even more her LBE side is to the forefront and I am loving it. It's time to focus on obedience and helping B's confidence in herself. How different from Lizzie the LBI. Very hard for me to not think 'is B bored yet'.

This week the horses have been allowed out for 5 days a week. B has been wearing her muzzle and seems happy. We haven't been doing much except for a lovely grooming session Thursday evening. The rest of the time she has been too focused on her hay nets. She can be very grumpy with me, so every morning I ask her to back out of her stable and we establish who moves who. The respect at meal times is going well and B is learning to be patient and wait until I give her permission to eat.

I have been working hard in preparation for the next two weeks of Parelli Heaven. I have had to keep telling myself that I am spending two whole weeks with B so time away from her this week is to be endured!

Two more sleeps and we are off to Stoneleigh. I have packed a million times...in my head. Time to do it for real tomorrow evening after some trailer loading play. I am so excited inside but really trying hard to show calm on the outside! LBI? Who, me? I guess it's pretty obvious now.

It's Sunday again.

We had a great play in the arena warming up before riding. Despite two others in there to begin with who usually get B's emotions going. I took the 45' but we didn't need to use it. B usually needs the 45' to allow enough drift in canter on the circle game. Today she offered canter on the 22'!!! Beautiful slow, controlled canter with slack in the rope! Both ways. I have never seen her do this. I have hoped for it and it has been the goal for us for months and months. How great to achieve it today!

Saddling up was fabulous again and B made me laugh when I went to get on. I usually stand on my steps and she positions herself  just right for me to get on. Today she started to set herself up then turned and stood at 90 degrees from me and the steps. Bent her head and looked at me as if to say 'come on then, get on'. I just laughed as I hopped off the steps, moved them nearer to her and got on.

We had a great ride despite me feeling a teeny bit nervous this morning before I got to the yard. I don't know why the fear has arisen again. Perhaps something to do with her trotting too close to Bert on Tuesday. One small threshold leaving the yard and then she was happy and polite the whole way down the mile and 1/4. Both horses ate lots but B was happy to move when I asked. Trotting the mile and 1/4 was relaxed but I noticed B was a bit 'footy'. The ground is very dry and stony so we took it easy. B did the loveliest slow trot and today stayed away from Bert's bum.

We met lots of dogs and people. Two girls especially, who wanted to stroke the horses which we really enjoyed. It's lovely to interact with people and see them enjoy the experience. We got passed by a few horses and B stayed calm. Wow. She is really beginning to understand that this is ok and nothing to be worried about. She let Bert lead most of the way and tried to lead one time but got unconfident. She stopped and waited for Bert to lead then went to really bite him on the face as he passed us. I must remember to give Sandra a savvy string next time we ride together. I don't want to tell B off because I know it's unconfidence and I need to support her but it makes me uncomfortable that she takes it out on him! She did happily take the lead trotting along the old woods because Bert trots quite slowly compared to B lol.

Leaving the woods there was quite a collection of brightly painted kids bikes propped up against the wall in the pub car park which B spooked at. This made her very wary and we had to trot over the road because she needed to move her feet! Once unsaddled B stuck to me while I finished up in the shed etc. I left her happily munching hay.

Online canter just got better!

We have been having some brilliant sessions in the arena this week after a few days of not much happening. Last night we had the whole yard to ourselves and B was very relaxed. I am still smiling about her canter on the 45' line. She has learned that canter is not so terrifying and relaxed enough for me to find neutral! Hooray. So much so that I got photos. Of her cantering.

Trotting.

And finally, I asked her in so here she is trotting to me.

How fantastic, eh?  Little old me has helped my horse learn to be calm and enjoy herself. Every time she came to me instead of her puffing and blowing and quivering she was a little out of breath but looking pleased and excited, as if she couldn't quite believe what fun it was. We had very little brace and I just left her to settle out on the 45'. When she came in she got a treat but she didn't drop her head or go introverted. Marvelous.

In between we did a lot of zone 5 driving and playing with sideways too. She can sideways to me and away, from zone 5 and zone 1. Great fun. And while canter has got better fig 8 has got a bit messy. I can only think I must be doing something in my body to put her off or else she just can't do that right now. I am not complaining!

Two rides in one day.

I forgot to post about last Tuesday when we had two rides. Unheard of, especially as we didn't warm up online for the morning ride. B and I were leaving the yard online when two others from the yard invited me to join them. B seemed happy to give me permission to get on and off we went.

B decided Eddy had to spend most of the time at the back and she felt confident enough to take the lead some of the time for the short ride around the old woods.

Later on we went out with our usual partners in crime, Sandra and Bert. We did a lot of trotting but B had trouble keeping her distance from Bert for the last bit of the ride. She got a little emotional so I gave her lots to do with zig zag and weave.

I got a sore on my left leg just in the crease behind my knee. Never had anything like that before!

We are mobile!

Ha! Finally I have sorted my mobile blogging. Looks like we are all set to write up my Flex Track course starting in 10 days.
B had her last flu and tet jab yesterday so she is fully vaccinated now. My friend Steph dealt with it for me as I was at work. She tells me B was very good and that the vet gave her some treats before and after the injection. This was fab as I totally forgot to do any prep. I think B is so much more calmer these days things like this are no longer an issue.
The grazing muzzle seems to be ok despite some loss of hair on B's nose. The vet said she was looking a bit round but when told how I was tackling it wasn't worried.
I have found I am looking at B now trying to see if she has lost any weight yet. I know it's too soon but I am hoping I will be able to see a difference sooner rather than later.

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Testing testing

123 xxx
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Buckethead Part 2

Well, I messed up. The grazing muzzle is a bit too snug and B has a sore under her jaw. Luckily, I have the day off work tomorrow and can go buy her a larger one. I think she did ok today though. She was her usual terse self this evening and wanted to be left alone to eat her haylage. Of course I will spend the next few weeks staring at her and wondering if she looks thinner!

Buckethead part 1.

I bought a grazing muzzle for B. Had to cut the hole bigger after a trial run with a slightly enlarged hole. She spent a while blowing snot around when she first wore it. I fed her all kinds of stuff she likes. First carrots so she would put her nose in it. Then some special heart shaped treats I bought which she would have bitten my arm off to get at. I am only going to give her these special treats when I am putting the muzzle on in the mornings.

We went off for a trial graze and it only took her about 10 minutes to work out that she could eat albeit slowly and deliberately. I really hate this but what can I do. Being overweight is far worse than having to wear a bucket!!! I left my phone at home so no photos of B modelling it until tomorrow.

Oops!

My little girl is getting fat!!! The barefoot trimmer came yesterday. I had to go to work but she left a report. Good thing too. Although I was starting to think B was a little on the porky side, Sarah sees her every 6 weeks and boy did she notice lol.

So B is on a diet. I have halved her hard feed although I was doing that already, she now get just a handful of high fibre cubes, a handful of alfalfa chaff and a carrot. I have mixed her haylage 50/50 with straw and unfortunately I have had to buy her a grazing muzzle. Last Spring/Summer Sandra had to start using a muzzle on Bert and it was very hard on her. So now I get to feel unhappy because it's our turn. We have had the hottest, driest spring on record so the grass has grown rapidly when we have had rain. The last few weeks we have had some great thunder and lightening rainstorms so I guess this has helped to make B fat. I am really trying hard not to feel guilty and beat myself up about it, consoling myself that she may be getting fat but I am doing something about it NOW.

B and I had the most fantastic play in the arena last night. She was energetic and playful and I was provocative and very interesting to her. We did a lot of falling leaf, stick to me, all sort of mirroring each other and trot and canter. Change of direction is canter was fantastic! Such fun, I cannot tell you! I think, secretly, I am fitter than B sometimes lol. She was worn out and panting but it was very humid so perhaps she was at a disadvantage in a fur coat! I took the 45' but we spent most of our play on the 22'. 

This morning the arena was full of riders so we went in tentatively just to see what horse had turned up. I didn't even use the 45'. B seemed happy on the 22' but upset by some of the energy from the others. We soon left and got saddled up. Sandra had taken Bert online in the woods which gave B and I a lot of time to just hang. We moseyed around the yard, stood on the pedestal and moseyed some more until Sandra and Bert were ready.  We left the yard together and I did say to Sandra I bet I have to get off and walk over. But after one little threshold B walked across the road happily.

We got into the woods and B got upset because a couple of the riders from our arena session this morning were just leaving the woods. One of these horses upsets B greatly and she couldn't stand still or move in a straight line. I managed to help her gather her thoughts and we trotted off to find Bert and Sandra who weren't far away.

It was a bit windy again today but the horses didn't seem too bothered. We trotted the whole of the mile and 1/4 and the horses ate whenever they felt like it. Bert had a couple of spooks which didn't scare B too much. But I did notice it takes her a while to relax when she does tense up.She took the lead for some of the way around the old woods, skidding to an emergency stop almost at the top. I think she can smell the pigs from across the road but I will never know. I ended up grabbing her neck to stop me going too far forward and maybe falling off! Bert had to take the lead after that! 

We met a couple of cyclists by the pink house which sent Bert scrabbling around and heading off back the way we came. B stood her ground and just watched them as we waited for Sandra and Bert to rejoin us and I chatted to the cyclists. 

We got back to the yard in no time and B and I stood on the pedestal again before I got off. B needed a cuddle and some scratches before I left her munching happily to go and buy the grazing muzzle, sigh.

A quickie!

Tuesday I had time to spend with B as I had a day off. I got to the yard late so thought I would just play. When I got to the yard Steph asked if I wanted company on a ride in the woods with her and Phoebe. For once I jumped at the chance. Had a quick play in the arena, B was very energetic and really wanted to play and really fun. It was very short and just a pre flight check really but it seemed to be just what B needed. Saddling up was fast and wonderful and for the first time in three rides B had no thresholds leaving the yard.

We went around the 'old woods' which took all of 25 minutes! Both horses were relaxed and happy. No pulling faces at each other like B and Bert do or any dominance games. we did the most amazing relaxed, calm enjoyable trot. It felt like we could trot forever. B was happy to trot in the lead all the way up the straight. Lovely, just lovely.

Scratch me!

I see I am getting behind in posts again. The other evening B decided she would like me to scratch her butt. For ages.

I think this was a bit of an honour because she hasn't really let me do this before.

Another day, different horse.

Last night I intended to just take B for some grass but she had other ideas and wanted to go into the arena. We had another fun play with B wanting to jump over a jump back and forwards and run to me! She just makes me smile all the time.

This morning our play was a little different. It was pretty windy but I like it like that as it keeps me cool. B was ok in walk and trot on circle game but asking her to canter made her explode. She got very unconfident so I took the pressure off and we concentrated on calm walk and trot. After being so RB and emotional this blew her mind when I asked her in and she went introverted for quite a while, needing me to stroke her head and give her a lot of time to rest. 

We ended the play session with some lovely sideways, over a jump towards me - we are working on back up to it afterwards and some lovely fig 8. She was calm and happy and very focused on me.

We saddled up in the courtyard and I got on. Again B couldn't leave the yard so it was jump off, walk across the road again and get on in the pub car park. I was aware that there were a lot of people around, watching us and I guess we do things a little differently to most people. B gave me permission to get on quite happily and we went to find Sandra and Bert. Entering the woods she made to go right but I knew Sandra and Bert would be grazing, waiting for us on the mile and 1/4 so we turned left. 

B was pretty relaxed for some of the ride and happy to follow Bert. She stopped when Bert did but didn't always eat. Some of the time I could hear her breath hurruph, hurruph, hurruph as we walked along. I know she is a little tense when I hear her breathing like that, even though I can feel it in her body too. She got emotional when two riders on ponies came past, so all of our ride was in walk. A bit further on B tensed, head up staring at some people the other side of the fence pulling their golf trolleys. She only relaxed when they walked past and we resumed our walk.
So, a different Breeze this day who needed me to look after her. Sometimes I wonder if on days like this I shouldn't ride. But, she gave me permission and if I only rode in perfect conditions I would never learn to deal with the horse that showed up.

Ist Anniversary!

Three hundred and sixty five days ago a somewhat dehydrated Breeze was led down the ramp of the horse transporters lorry and handed over to me on temporary loan. B was high headed spooky and no respecter of personal space. A year later we are partners. Most of the time!

Today we warmed up in the arena before riding and had a lot of fun. B was quite LBE and we had some nice change of direction in trot and canter on the circle game which turned into stick to me and made me laugh. Unfortunately I forgot to hold on to the 22' line when we reached the end and let go. Breeze, instead of circling, carried on in a straight line and tucked in behind a kid and pony having a first ride. I stayed calm and just called for him to keep clam and take no notice. B followed them to the corner, trod on the rope and stood still for me to pick up the line.

All was great saddling up and then it got challenging! B did not want to leave the yard. She trotted back to the arena after some backing up but as soon as we tried to go near the gate she would have none of it. Rather than keep on trying and get into trouble I hopped off, we walked across the road and I got on from one of the benches in the pub car park. We found Bert and Sandra eating grass a little way from the exit down the mile and 1/4.

Great ride with B trotting very happily. I seem to have solved the problems I had with trotting and am really enjoying how relaxed I feel. B even took the lead for the last bit of the ride. A great way to spend a special day.