Best laid plans. . . .

B and I were out in the woods just as the skies opened and the rain fell at an astonishingly fast rate.
I had planned to go into the arena but it was being levelled off so instead we went for a play in the woods. I am a little focused on circle game at present and want to concentrate on B's relaxation and canter. There isn't space in the woods to really get going but we utilised the car park areas for some trot.
Plenty of sideways and rock slide today plus driving from zone 5 which was really good. B was really connected to me and was responding to just a thought which must be challenging for her in the woods with all the distractions.
We turned for home when the rain started and made it back to the yard to the crashing of thunder, pretty dry considering. When I checked the time we had been out for a good 45 mins!

I had moved this pallet off the bridle path. B went a little intro and I wonder if she was also listening out for brown Bertie who was out for a solo ride but went the other way...

Taking care of Ms B.

 It's been an interesting week. After Tuesday I have been busy at work so all B and I have done is chill out when not going to and from the field. Saturday I had a chance to play before and after work which was pretty good. B has been settling and relaxing on the circle game in trot and fig 8 in trot has been super. It never gets boring to see how B connects with me when we play. I am always blown away by playing the 7 games and feel very glad I found Parelli. I am constantly smiling about how far we have come as I watch B doing her 'job' and being a partner. Especially as it's only been one year and she has gone from being a head shy, scared, unconfident youngster to a calm, happy, usually confident adult. Best of all I realise I have done it myself, with the support of the Parelli community and Instructors of course. Stunning.

Saturday evening I was exhausted after work but I find lately, no matter how tired I feel, as soon as B and I are together I find enough energy to play. I wonder how I do it sometimes lol. But I guess I just love being with her and being a Parelli student. There's always something to do. We had a great play focusing on 20+ laps in trot on the circle game. Fig 8 as usual along with rock slide etc in between. I tried a little stick to me and we carried on with the fig 8 together too. Then I thought I would give B some time offline and see how our liberty might look.

Liberty has been quite difficult for us given B's cusp horsenality. It gets better though. This time she didn't try to get away from me fast like she usually does. She did leave which gave me the chance to play catching game. We did get one little bit of stick to me then she headed off in front to the gate but when I drew her to me she came with such a sweet look I ended it there and we went back to the stable.

Which brings me to today, Sunday! And the title of this blog post. First we had a great bit of cuddle time with B resting her head between my knees. I was sitting on one of the pedestals outside her stable, and I scratched inside both ears very gently and rubbed her head around her eyes. She closed her eyes and really got into it. Marvelous! You can't beat that level of trust and bonding between horse and human can you. It made my day. When she had had enough we went and had a great play in an empty arena before it got too hot. It was really a pre-flight check, not a full session to focus on stuff. Today we got one walk to canter transition on the circle game! B gave me three calm controlled laps in canter too. Very nice. Well done B. She really is progressing well, isn't she. We got calm trot and B looked very relaxed. Everything was set up nicely for saddling so we went and did that and I got on. 

One little threshold leaving the yard and when we got into the woods B went in the lead. We had a great relaxed ride in the dappled shade of the woods. We stayed out of the sunshine and let the horses eat. All was wonderful until we got near the bottom of the straight and B slipped, the ground was very greasy from all the rain we had, and pop went one of the cable ties I have had on my reins since Stoneleigh. B scared herself and needed to move so we trotted to catch up with Sandra and Bert. We let the horses graze for a while in one of their favourite places until two riders from the riding school came past. I know them and we have seen them and their uptight ponies quite often. One of them is the one who always calls me the mad rope woman, as her pony jogs sideways past us. 

Today B was very upset by their approach so I took her to meet them, then turn and follow them the 50 meters or so back to Bertie and Sandra. Off popped the other cable tie on the reins as I had to bend her to a stop! B was still not happy so off we trotted and did a little circling and then lateral flexion while Sandra and Bert caught us up. B didn't settle so I spent the next bit of the ride helping B get calm while Bert calmly plodded on. I am so pleased that again I stayed calm and not at all scared or worried! B needed me to support her and keep her mind on the job. The job was a lot of zig zag, even in the lead. I stroked her and made sure I had zero brace and by the time we got to the top of the old woods she had lowered her head and her breathing had gone quiet, instead of the huff, huff, huff all the time.

We weaved the trees and I found I hardly used the reins so that's getting even better now too. It was lovely to plod along in the shade on a now relaxed and calm Breeze again. I am thrilled.

Back on the yard I unsaddled and hosed B off to cool her because it was about 28c by then. I left her in the cool of her stable eating haylage. 

That was interesting!

The lovely Frances and Kayleigh were due to come and visit today. Frances had to cancel and spend time putting her relationship with Kayleigh first so I decided to ride alone and meet for lunch afterwards.

B and I got ready and left the yard without any thresholds. B was happy to walk next to me for a short while. We came to the first turn where the tree stump is and she had to stop, then hoped up on the stump. I didn't give her a treat because it was obvious she wasn't relaxed lol. We carried on farther this time, instead of our usual mounting place at the top of the old woods. I asked her to do some rock slide and sideways and some driving from zone 5. All the way down the straight to the viaduct. B found some nice stuff to eat then wanted to turn into the old woods like we usually do when we ride. Instead I asked her to carry on to the bottom where there is a sturdy enough fence for me to get on.

I climbed up, a little wobbly and asked B to line up. This took quite a while with B turning again and again. I did my best to be calm and patient and in the end I just laughed at how she was testing me. B began to stand for longer until  man appeared offering to hold my horse. I declined and politely told him it wasn't about holding my horse still, but waiting for her to give me permission. He must have thought I was crazy!

Soon enough I was on and B stood nice and still while I tried to tie up the lead rope while juggling reins and c/s. This took too long for B who decided she had had enough waiting and stomped off up the hill. I got into a right state trying to ask her to bend to a stop, tying up the wrong bit of rope which got tangled in her mane! So we jogged a bit/stopped a bit, until I was organised and could give B more support. We did a little bit of trotting just so she could move her feet. Then she was happy to walk and begin to relax. Phew. I wonder now if I could have done things differently, easy to think about alternatives now, sitting at my keyboard. But I did the best I could and I think it was ok. I sound unsure, don't I. That's because in an ideal world B wouldn't have jogged off, she would have been a partner and waited for me to be ready. Perhaps I should have jumped off but I felt safe and I always think if B does calm down pretty quickly it's ok.

She did calm down and I got to focus on c/s riding which I am very rusty at. We walked quite briskly and we tested trot again which made the c/s bang my shoulder. I remember that happening when first I rode Lizzie with the c/s which seems like an really long time ago now.

We weaved some trees and did some zig zag to focus B's mind. All too soon we were by the exit which surprisingly B couldn't go through. Usually nothing stops her leaving the woods lol. The bags of sand and a plank of wood that looked so safe on the way out now scared B who had to retreat and approach three times before we could go past. I praised her for being brave as we crossed the car park and then the road.

Back on the yard we had a mosey around and I played friendly game with the c/s and had a try and steering and stopping with it too. Stopping was really easy but steering needs a little work. I am sure we will get used to this quite quickly.

This evening when I went to find B, the second she saw me from halfway down the field she stopped eating and walked towards me. Looks like I did ok today then!

Happy horse, happy human.

I thought it would be fun to show the trails in the sand of the arena from our play this morning.  As you can see in the above photo B's left turn on the fig 8 is wider...

...than the right turn. I was standing (and running) on the other side of the cones from where the photos were taken. It's certainly starting to look fluid now. You can see in the background the circle left in the sand from our 20+ laps in trot both ways on the circle game. Very nice it was too.
I keep finding I am smiling to myself a lot these days when we play. I smile because I know how good it's getting. Can't help myself lol. We played for about 30 minutes, interspersing each game with a rest/scratch and sometimes a treat. Great jumping which seems like it makes B happy. I love to see 'that' look on B's face. Eyes bright and I get both eyes and ears.
We left the arena to get saddled up and all of a sudden B seemed to have gone introverted and didn't look bright and happy. I had a brainwave and took her back to outside the arena to graze and just chill while Sandra and Bert warmed up in the arena. Turned out to be the best thing to do and pretty soon her attitude changed and all seemed well in her world again.

I got on from the right side for the first time in weeks. I think B is getting used to the idea. She didn't have any thresholds leaving the yard and wanted to eat quite a bit at the beginning of the mile and 1/4. Having spent the week since my lesson with Claire thinking things over about my fears really helped it turns out because I stayed calm and didn't let any bad thoughts creep in. Consequently we had a great ride and I really thought we had a great partnership. B hardly spooked at all. She maintained gait and direction and when the horses needed to move their feet we had some great trotting. I was almost tempted to canter which is a good sign Best of all B led the way for a good part of the ride and we got so far in front we didn't see Sandra and Bert for ages. B stayed calm and just kept going. Brilliant!

Since I re-shimmed my saddle pad I noticed my hip and leg have stopped hurting. Woohoo! B seems happy with it too. Everything just seems to be falling into place.

Tuesday someone I became friends with on the Flex Track course is coming over to come play/ride in the woods with B and I. I am very excited about this. Blog and pictures to follow!

Playtime and successful riding!

My extrovert horse after riding

We had an amazing play in the arena this morning before Sarah the trimmer came. I think I read B right this week and gave her some space and time to be a horse.

She seems so easy to teach things to these days. Claire had given me some arrows for fig 8 in trot which I tried today with great success. So much so that B offered canter around the cones. I really enjoyed being energetic and expressive and bringing my energy up to match B. Made me laugh a lot despite being a little out of breath. Hardly noticed the rain as we carried on playing, we were having so much fun. I got to stay in neutral while B cantered a lap or so in both directions. So pleased.

I was having a few doubts the last few days about what was going on with B and I. I should really try and trust my own instincts eh? I knew she needed some time to think things over and I needed time to be a human. Looks like it paid off too judging by her great attitude today.

After the visit from Sarah the barefoot trimmer I just felt like riding so I saddled B and we had a mosey around the yard then went into the arena. Sandra kindly marked out a circle for me in the sand and we tried some follow the rail around the circle. I don't know but it seemed like a lot of corrections to keep her on track. I wonder if it's me lacking focus but actually I don't think I feel I know how to focus to ask her to follow a mark in the sand! We stopped in the middle a couple of times for B to rest and stay calm. We did a bit of fig 8 then some follow the rail of the arena. I took B to the gate but she turned and headed away so that earned her a rest in our circle and some scratches. I think she did really well considering there were a couple of teenagers in with us trying to get their ponies to jump. Lots of predator noises but B stayed calm and almost ignored them completely.

We tried some back up over a pole and then we attempted sideways but I don't think B understood what I was asking. More practice needed on that one, meaning I need to learn how to ask the question properly lol. It will probably have to wait for my freestyle lessons with Claire in August. But I am so pleased with the pair of us. I worry so much sometimes about losing the calm I have worked so hard to find. I have in my mind how it feels when we play on the ground and I want to feel that normality when we ride too, no matter where. We are still taking it slowly to counteract B's negative start in life and my residual fears with lots of approach and retreat. It felt really good to ride today, like it was just another ride. I have had a tendency to think of riding as a big important event for such a long time. I am relieved to start to feel its a nice, easy, 'normal' thing to do.
I dream about B and I riding in the arena. We do all kinds of things like clover leaf in walk, trot and canter. In my dreams B has the most beautiful slow, collected canter and I always feel relaxed and very happy. One day I hope that will be a reality! Claire has suggested I bring my camera to our lessons and she will film me playing and soon enough riding. That is really something to look forward to and cherish.

Its a mare thing + 1001 uses for an old 22' line.

The weather has been rotten this week. So much for 'flaming June' instead its been raining. A lot.
We haven't done much at all since our lesson this week. I have been feeling really tired and B has been pretty grumpy. I have had to reassert my personal space more than once or twice and we have been doing a fair bit of yo yo and backing up. Out of her stable, round gates etc.
I have been noticing changes in her attitude and the way she has been with me and the herd. Lots of mare posturing, squirting and peeing. She has been rounding up 'her mares' and snaking her head at them and every other horse around. Coupled with not wanting to be touched, groomed or even listen to me at all lol. Probably usual for two weeks after the Flex Track and settling back in at home. I am sure she is changing too because our relationship is changing as in growing and deepening. I guess too, I have been upping the anti and asking more of her and she of me since we got back. Never a dull moment!
It feels like time to really embrace being a level 3 student. A very scary but exciting prospect for me and although I am up for moving on it will be hard for me to leave the safety and familiarity of L2.
I am typing this in the relative comfort of B's stable at past 8 pm. No one else is around. All I can hear is B and other horses munching, occasionally a pigeon flapping around etc and the incessant drone of the rain. I am soaking wet having spent ages wrestling a 100kg bale of wet, slippery, plastic wrapped haylage into my shed on my own. That's where the old 22' line came in very handy. I looped it around the bale and heaved and shoved the thing into place. Phew!
It did mean B got to finish her feed undisturbed and now I get to have some undemanding time with her. She has parked her butt against the inner stable door, cocked a back leg and is dozing.
Time to go I think. Sarah the trimmer is coming tomorrow. We will see if she says B is any thinner lol.

The bad, the good and the lovely.

I thought it would be a great idea to give B a change from Follow the Rail in the arena today and saddled up for a walk then ride in the woods. Breeze didn't get calm enough to ride so it turned into a walk in the woods.

She usually settles by the time we get to the top of the old woods but not today. I had to up my game and be extra provocative to try and get B to focus on me and not try to find scary stuff in the bushes. It turned into a great opportunity for me to be a benevolent dictator and be the leader she needed.

I kept her busy all the way to the top of the old woods and back again. Other riders passed us and B stared at them but didn't want to follow. I asked her to do a lot of sideways, yo yo and weave around trees. We stopped for some circle game by the Rangers yard and popped in the 'log trailer' going there and back. I found a spot where her favourite 'sticky buds' grow and I fed them to her and saw her relax a little.
I insisted she walk next to me with zone 2 next to me, something we worked really hard on at Stoneleigh. It didn't mater that I didn't get to ride. What mattered was i was the leader and she could trust me.

Later on, after work we went for a graze near the arena and then play in the arena and it was marvelous. I started off with friendly game and then extreme friendly game which B really hates at the moment. She gets very energetic and right brained which brings her life up too. This is actually quite good to start B off on some circle game and she settled into trot on the circle game for 20 + laps and tonight I noticed she blew out by lap 11 and lowered her head. We got some canter and when she blew up I asked her to go back to trot. Nice. All in all she did a few laps with a few stops. Fig 8 in trot was interesting with B being able to go left well but got sticky on the right side. I really tried to use my body more and not the c/s which helped a lot.

We got some lovely falling leaf, rock slide, sideways, diagonals, all the 'usual' stuff we play with. Great fun. Oh and travelling circles and over a jump, turn and face, wait and over again. I am now thinking I need to add other things to our repertoire but right this minute I can't think what lol.

We did some more lead by the leg which kinda blew B's mind. She is really getting to understand it now. Ended the session there and went back to the courtyard where Sandra and Bert were. We had a bit of a play with both horses up on the pedestals, Sandra holding the lines while I took photos. Bert stood like a rock but B hopped on and off so I had to be quick with the photos. I think they look pretty good side by side.

B did a lot of yawning after I asked her back into her stable. She also chewed on the 22' line as I held it after taking the halter off. I love this side of her coming out. Curiosity is a good thing.

Oh! Ok.

Thursday morning was Day 4 of Follow the rail and we had one of the best warm ups. Breeze was very happy to circle more than 20 laps both ways. We had Rock Slide, sideways, nice driving from zone 5 all kinds of lovely games. We got falling leaf in trot and travelling circles.

Saddling up was nice but I did notice B had her ears back after that. I knew being in the arena in the morning might be challenging as all the horses get put out and B can see them out in the field. We managed 8 laps one way and had a rest in the middle because B wanted to break gait and I had to bend her to a stop. On the right rein we only got two laps and again B needed to be inside the circle because someone was calling their horses loudly to bring them in. B is very sensitive to shouting, it really upsets her. I have thought about how I could do some approach and retreat but I don't think shouting at her is a good idea!

It was obvious B wasn't calm or relaxed so I just decided to get off. The sky was rapidly darkening and it looked like rain was imminent. I really didn't fancy getting wet. We unsaddled back at the shed and I turned her out in the field with her herd. The only thing I have to think about is that I hope I have preserved my confidence. Sometimes even little incidents like this can start the evil thinking lol.

Breeze wasn't very friendly Thursday evening. Sometimes she is like this and I know when to give her some space. Today I did very little both this morning and this evening. She has spent the last two days just being with her herd or in her stable munching haylage. We will see what happens this weekend because the weather forecast is for rain. Lots of it.

Woohoo!

The plan tonight after work was to do day 4 of Follow the Rail. But I was very tired and it was gone 7.30 when I got to the yard. So instead I thought we might have a play. I am so glad we did as we had a fabulous session.

Started with slow things like sideways and Rock Slide, fig 8 and lead from zone 5. Then it was on to circle game and I am delighted to say it was fabulous. We got 20+ laps in trot both ways with B relaxing so much towards the end that she was stretching her neck with her nose near the ground, blowing out as she went round. We wound it up after that and I asked for canter. We got two laps!! The elusive two laps! Brilliant. Same the other way and then we did some canter/trot, trot/walk transitions to calm her down. We still need to do a lot of this.

On to some walking around and driving from zone 5 to cool off. We got near a nice jump so I asked her to squeeze over it, turn and face both ways. Very sweet. It was just like being at Stoneleigh all over again. Our communication was great and we just played together like it was a conversation. Just perfect.

Day 3 of Follow the Rail

I reckon I am getting a lot better at setting up the circle already. Takes less time too as no one seems to be disturbing the cones or jump sides.

Today our warm up was accompanied by Brown Bertie being ridden in the arena and it made B very erratic. B Bertie is B's beau. She adores him and is part of his mini herd of five when they're out in the fields. That and all her herd mates being out in the field made for an interesting time. Unsurprisingly when Bertie left the arena B was a different horse.

We did some Rock Slide, sideways, just general play and warm up. It all flows nicely these days. Circle game was a bit erratic, even on the 45' until Bertie left when B gave me some lovely relaxed trot for 10 laps both ways.

Time to saddle up and get on. Interesting follow the rail today. Three laps in on the left rein B decided to not follow the rail so I bent her to a stop and when she was calm we set off again. She blew out after that and actually went round with her head down, her nose just above the ground and I sensed she really was getting the idea of things. The other way she needed a few more corrections and very oddly, I noticed, when I looked down I saw something that looked like a sock. On closer inspection it was! One of my socks...one I wore yesterday lol. It must have been hiding in my jeans and worked its way out! I am a little ashamed about this but as I can never resist a bit of humour especially if it's at my own expense I decided to share this.

Our laps done I asked B for some fig 8 which was nicely done, stopping at the barrels for treats. Although this is a little problematic as every time B went to eat the treats she blew them off with her breath lol.

Feeling relaxed and brave I asked B to trot the follow the rail. This was an oh boy moment because although she managed two laps on the left rein, the other way she just couldn't do it. We got about a 1/4 of a lap and B got so unconfident I had to let her stop. We went into the middle of the circle to help her chill and I ended it there and got off.

I unsaddled B and let her loose in the arena. She had a roll and then went to the corner nearest the fields to look at the herd. I let her catch me, left the arena and turned her out with her field mates. Then it was time to put everything away. It's funny carrying my saddle to and from the arena. It reminds me of Stoneleigh, only its a much, much shorter walk. I thought about this as I put all the stuff away. I thought about how my main concern at the moment is how to maintain the impetus and momentum I have brought back with me from Stoneleigh and the Flex Track. I am also keen to maintain the feeling of contentment and self confidence I came back with. I guess I am worried that the dreaded fear will overcome me again and I might lose all this that I have, it seems magically, gained. I hope not. I will do my best to be progressive and not lose sight of what I would like our future to hold. Savvy on!

Day 2 of Follow the Rail.

Here's a photo of the improved circle for Follow the Rail. I tried hard to pace it out and get things as round as I could and I seem to have done a good job.

We had great fun warming up. Rock slide pattern, sideways etc and then circle game in trot for 10 laps each way, only B became excited at seeing her field mates out in the adjacent field and the 22' line slipped out of my hand. Well, she went bonkers for a while, bucking and farting around the arena, the 22' snaking along with her and not helping lol. Sandra and Bert carried on playing and I had the presence of mind to close the arena gate while she was in the opposite corner and let her burn off some energy. She caught me quite nicely and we resumed circle game to get her calm. It was obvious she wasn't ridable just yet so I let Sandra go ride the woods without us. Seemed like the best plan as at that point I didn't know when she would be ridable.

It actually didn't take long for B to be calm and relaxed so we saddled up in the arena and I got on. Despite B's exuberant bucking I felt the now usual calm in my guts and smiled at the change in me.

Today we were accompanied by someone lunging their horse in circles and over jumps with lots of hissing and whip cracking. B and I took little notice, but just enough to stay away from them if they got close to our 'rail'. A great way to desensitize both of us again.

We had a few corrections mostly on the right rein and a little blowing out. It will be interesting to see at what point B learns the pattern and really relaxes.

Before our session today I had a play around with the shimming on my saddle. Now that I have more idea about balance point for saddles, as well as riders, (we had a shimming demo on the Flex Track) I did the old 'lip salve' test and shimmed accordingly to make the saddle more balanced. B is a bit 'downhill' and has obviously changed shape lately. It made a big difference along with dropping the stirrups back down a hole. No pain at all and no numb feet. Woohoo! Perhaps I have saved myself quite a few hundred pounds?? We will see.

Did I say I bought a Country Bridle? Yes, a black one, is there any other colour? Unfortunately the bit was out of stock so I am trying not to gnaw my fingers to the wrist waiting for the bit to arrive by post. I keep trying to remember to bring the bit I have left at the yard home, so I can assemble it all.

Day 1 of Follow the Rail

I had a Saturday off so it was horse time. We warmed up in the arena and had a lot of great play with very light asks. Looks like B and I really have our communication going on very well. I set up a circle of cones and jump sides for some Follow the Rail and went and got B saddled up. I really noticed how all the time and care spent at Stoneleigh saddling up has paid off. B is even easier to saddle up now as I just play it like a friendly game.

After all the years I didn't ride in the arena, this day I just got on with it. I set us both up for success despite lots going on around the arena...there's a public footpath bordering two sides and groups of loud noisy people come and go all day at the weekends. The yard teenagers were jumping right next to us too but B and I took no notice. It really is a great way of desensitizing us both. I let B spend lots of time in the middle of the circle to begin with until she was ready. We set off and did 10 laps one way, rest in the middle and 10 laps the other way. She needed a lot of corrections and I really tried not to nag and to release the minute she moved back to the circle. I didn't feel any brace from her and she gave a few little out breaths. Not bad for a first try.

We left the arena and tried to follow Sandra and Bert across the road for a ride in the woods but B wasn't having any of that. I tried a lot of bending her but it didn't calm her. So, I got off and we walked across the road and I got back on from the benches in the pub car park.
We found Sandra letting Bert graze a little way down the  mile and 1/4. B was happy to walk past them and we led them all the way along the mile and 1/4 in trot.

 

The photo shows just how food obsessed Bert is and how he certainly isn't worried about things around his head. I think he was trying to eat the whole bush!

We had a great ride. Even when B decided to run away from something Bert spotted and couldn't walk past. I bent her to a stop, waited and then she just carried on like nothing had happened. It seems I have conditioned myself over the last 4 years to feeling fearful when I ride. Something wonderful happened to me at Stoneleigh and I have begun to look at things, see the pattern or problem and look for a solution! I realised today that I usually rode with my butterflies zooming all over the place. Today I got them in formation by thinking of how I would feel if I was walking in the woods on foot and how relaxed I would be. So I transfered this feeling to being on B and then I was relaxed and all the butterflies lined up! Now instead of thinking I wish I wasn't scared and my stomach feel weird, I just feel the same as I do when I am not riding. How cool to be able to bring up that feeling to replace the ingrained one of fear.

Just marvelous!

On the last day of the Flex Track I got the surprise of my life. I never expected this. Along with a whole bunch of us I got my Level 2!!!! Still can't quite believe it. Four years ago I started my Parelli journey with my lovely old mare Lizzie who really wasn't the right horse for the physical demands. In just over a year B and I have got to this level and I am so happy.

It was very sad leaving Stoneleigh. Two weeks of being in the company of like minded, thoughtful horse people is a joy and a rare thing for me. The first time I did a course there it was a real shock to go back to Normalsville. This time it's different. I think it's because I have my own Parelli bubble that I've been living in for a while. What I do miss is the constant company of my horse and the friends I made. I don't think I have laughed so much for a whole two weeks! 

I have been wearing my blue string around the yard feeling very proud of myself and my wonderful horse Breeze. I am definitely a different person than the one that went through the gates last month.

Brilliant day.

So. The theory was ok. I was very nervous, so nervous my hands shook. I didn't answer all the questions completely and I know some are wrong but I am sure I will get a higher score.

Online was stupendously good. Better than I expected especially when Breeze loaded into the trailer while I sat on the wheel arch. I am told that's Level 4 lol!!!
We did circle game in trot with a few changes in direction, squeeze game over barrels, pick up all four feet from the right side, sideways to the end of the rope and yo yo.
After lunch we had Freestyle. I really enjoyed it and although B did everything I asked I found she got quite unconfident several times. When she did this we played move your feet or had to retreat back to the honeycomb having ventured all the way to the paddock. I noticed she didn't have any itchy spots today but I still did a lot of friendly game.
So. Saddling from both sides. Mounting from both sides. B didn't give me permission to get on the right side so I told the instructor I wouldn't push it. I would rather preserve our relationship.

When I got off we went and got a drink. I had a cup full of water that I poured in little bits into my hands for B to lick. She is a sweetie.

I have noticed lately that I keep getting sciatica down my right leg. Raising the stirrups hasn't helped much. I may have to look into getting a treed saddle but not a Parelli one. Way out of my price range.

So there we are. Done. Tomorrow we have Parelli games and out final remuda's then home. I am so tired I am looking forward to getting home but I will be sad to leave. I am already wondering how I can afford a course next year!
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Phew!

Its Thursday already. We have theory testing today and I don't know it all but I am going to give it a damn good try. I have definitely learned a lot and I am sure I will get a much better score. I got great pleasure yesterday from showing that I have learned the knots. There was I thinking last week that I would never learn them!

It has been an extreme week for me. If it wasn't for the support of my fellow students I don't know how I would have done so well. But then I have had a lot to work out about my emotional fitness and fear issues. Had a complete meltdown Tuesday morning, probably because all the previous week my anxieties around riding had been building, I had a panic attack and had to leave the class and go and hide. I howled and railed against it all and I think, finally 'let go'. Four + years of terror and un confidence lifted and floated away like a big black cloud.

Once again I got to improve my leadership and support Breeze when she needed it most. We have had a great time riding the honeycomb. I am learning how to help her feel safe when she is un confident. We have got Fig 8, Follow the Rail and Clover Leaf set up. By Tues afternoon we trotted the Clover Leaf.

Our warm up play had gone so well we got one lap of calm canter and she came in with both eyes and ears fixed on me. Lovely.

Wed was more low key with B seeming to be very left brained and I was the Ambassador of Yes so she could relax and eat grass.
B had one big spook which I calmly took care of. By bending her and when she was calm enough took her back into one of the round pens in the honeycomb where she felt safe.

I think I have the confidence to transfer this to arena riding back home as long as I can maintain focus and a plan.

Wish me luck for the theory test today?

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