Rain, sun/rain, work and walk.

Zone 5 driving.

The title should take care of Saturday, Sunday, Monday and today! Saturday it rained and rained and rained and rained! It turned out to be almost a washout. My riding buddy and I waited until we knew for sure the rain wouldn't stop and abandoned our plans. I got to spend an hour earning lots of Breeze brownie points by giving her all the scratches she wanted in all her inaccessible places. We did manage some play in the evening, which although short was marvelous until the rain became too much. I saw an entertaining side to B and if horses could smile I think B would have been grinning.

Sunday we had a lovely warm up in the arena, although B was unsettled by other horses and riders in the arena. She was happy to canter on circle game but for now we aren't progressing and getting many laps. I am just happy to see her less excited and emotional. We just keep on trying and rewarding the try.
Saddling up was ok but I am sure I saw a grumpy expression on B's face. Perhaps I should take more notice of that face because after getting on and having a rest and then a mosey B refused to leave the yard. It wasn't RB at all, very much that old familiar 'I don't want to and you can't make me'!!!! Reminded me so much of Lizzie, she used to do this a lot and actually it makes me smile a little.
Sandra and Bert had crossed the road and were waiting for us as we did a lot of the usual approach and retreat and wait. I had to concentrate very hard on zero brace so that B had nothing to fight about. All the same it was quite hard for me to stay happy, she really tests my patience. Luckily another rider was leaving the yard and although B wasn't too keen on following I used this horse for B to focus on while I began to peddle my feet, swing my arms, then shoulders, then whole body rhythmically to ask for walk. It worked and we were over the road and joining Bert and Sandra.
Lovely ride all in all, although B still will not leave enough distance between her and Bert's butt even when trotting. Holding her back or doing constant half halts/lifting the rein and asking for her to stop just winds B up and makes her tense. In the end I lent Sandra my blue string and she swung it in B's face which helped. I had to apologise to Sandra because she got a bit annoyed but I don't know what else can be done while sticking to Parelli principles.
Bert had a few slow-mo spooks where he could not go forward and would then slowly turn and hide behind us. Then B would turn and hide behind Bert. We wait for the horses to be confident again and move on. That's just one of the things I really appreciate about Sandra. She may not be a committed Parelli student, just does a few things online but she shares the same principles. She's natural.
We had a lovely relaxed time for the rest of the way. I asked B to do a few things to keep her mind occupied and she was quite light and happy about it. Turning, weaving, playing touch this and point to point until we reached the exit.
I don't know if asking her to go past without Bert upset her but as soon as we got out of the woods and into the car park she tried to bolt, heading across the busy road. I very quickly bent her to a stop which resulted in her trying to brace and turn circles until she calmed down. I remember how loud the clatter of her hooves sounded on the tarmac as I got into the power position and held on to that rein firmly.
As soon as she relaxed I released and we resumed our walk across the road as if nothing had happened.
Monday I was working so didn't get to see B very much either in the morning or evening. Even so I think a day off and not doing much is good for both of us.
Tuesday, as seems to be the usual lately, the arena was being leveled so b and I went for a walk in the woods. Great zone 5 driving, until we did some different things. I think B makes assumptions and I have let her get used to just going on one direction, turning and going back. This time I asked her to turn back then turn and carry on. She wasn't very happy about that and tried to doge me but I am getting very savvy at knowing where, why and how to be in the right place to block her (politely) and ask her to carry on, all from zone 5.

Love this expression.

I dropped my phone AGAIN and had to retrace our steps to find it. It's happening too much lately! Then we headed past the exit and B had a bit of graze, then back to the yard.

Pedestal love

Breeze loves being on the pedestal so much she sometimes eats her haylage while up there. Very sweet.

Go away!

I went to get B in Monday eve and there she was squirting for brown Bertie and generally telling me she was busy. The pair of them left this field going into the next. I followed them where B decided she did want to be caught after all.

We had a great walk in the woods this morning with a lot of zone 5 driving game. I focused on being particular and polite about B doing as I asked and being in the proper position all the time. We also got some lovely sideways in trot. Plus some circle game in the empty car parks in the woods.

This evening she didn't want to come in. Brown Bert stays out at night so I guess B wanted to stay with him. It is after all how horses live naturally but it really does feel strange for me to leave her out in the field. How conditioned I am!

Learning to go with the flow.

I think I lost the plot this weekend. That's the joy of depression, it creeps up on you and before you know it your word has turned into a very ugly place. I don't like to talk about it, certainly not on a horse blog. I try to keep my personal life out of it but occasionally it gets so bad it creeps into my horse life too. I realised a few days ago that things were about to crash and burn and I was heading for a big downer. Sure enough it hit me Saturday.

Lately I have learned to listen to what I need instead of trying to carry on and get worse in the process. Happily I have equine therapy!!! I spent hours with B. We played for a couple of hours in the arena. I can't even remember if anyone else was there. It was like being back at Stoneleigh but totally on our own to do as we pleased. Then I just knew I wanted to ride. We saddles up nicely and I got on for a mosey around the yard. B took us into the arena and we did some fig 8 and weave around cones. B didn't want to stay in there and made it quite clear she wanted to leave, so we did. We went for another mosey and then I asked her to go to the gate but she refused.
We spent about 30 minutes playing approach and retreat with B trying every trick to refuse to go. I had to bend her quite often and when she napped I asked her to go backwards in time to the music playing on my iPod. She was so LBI! I kept my sense of humour and just persisted politely that we do what I asked but I didn't push her too much to go to the gate. When we got as near as I thought she would go I gave her a treat and we went back to the courtyard and then had another tour of the yard and I got off.

It chucked it down with rain in the evening so B and I hid in her stable and chilled out. I did some grooming and scratched B in her favourite places.

Sunday we had our usual ride with Sandra and Bert and B was a different horse. Pat says we should ride/play for tomorrow and it looks like we did because B was fabulous. She took the lead for a lot of the ride and trotted ahead up the hill although she was quite slow and considered. She was taking care of both of us and looking out for danger.

I never get tired of looking at photos of B taken from the saddle

Although I think B looks a bit googly eyed from this angle. She usually cranes her head round asking for a treat or a scratch which can feel quite unsteady sometimes. Horses and Parelli, best therapy in the world!

Saturday/Sunday.

I had the whole weekend to spend time with B. I get every other Saturday off work for the time being so we made the most of it. Great warm up in the arena. We got Fig 8 trot/canter transitions, circle game relaxation, over a jump towards me then back up to it. Tried some lead by the leg which is improving.

Followed by a great relaxed ride. I really noticed how much focus B needs sometimes to help her concentrate and not look in the bushes all the time for beasties. Here trot was really nice and she responded well to being asked to keep her distance from Bertie. We got to lead some of the way too.
This day she decided she didn't want to turn right out of the old woods. Usually I will let her turn and we rest, but this time I wanted  her to focus on what I was asking her so this time I immediately bent her and waited. This seemed to have a really good effect and with only a little hesitation she turned and we caught up with Bert and Sandra. I am hoping this was a good example of doing less sooner so as not to do more later!

Sunday was another hot day and I seemed to be all over the place. Left my yard keys at home but the shed was already open. I got completely sidetracked playing with B in the arena. We did a lot of driving from zone 5 playing follow the rail, weave and Fig 8. I lost track of time only to see Sandra already tacked up and ready to go. It was only then I realised I needed my keys after all to get my saddle! So I had to drive home for the keys after arranging to meet Sandra down by the viaduct.

Saddling up was lovely and B and I played all the way to the top of the old woods. More zone 5 driving with stops to eat stuff. B was very calm and happy when I got on. She happily walked forwards but as soon as I asked her to turn right to meet up with Sandra she didn't want to and 'dug her heels in'. Like the day before I immediately bent her to a stop which again worked really well. Just as Sandra and Bert came into view. Breeze went to turn before them but I asked her to keep going and fall in behind. She must have hoped we were going home but again we turned away to go down around the old woods. She hesitated but seemed ok to go on. Not far ahead again she tried to turn and I bent her again. No hesitation after this and we went for a lovely ride.

I am trying now to ask B to do more as we go for our rides instead of just tucking in behind Bert. And not just zig zag to calm her. I understand she needs to follow where Bert goes to a certain extend, through puddles and stuff because it must be obvious to her if he went a certain way it must be safe. But I am thinking if she is more amenable to following my leadership out in the woods this might transfer to riding in the arena. 

Later on we went for a graze around the yard then for a quick play in the arena. It was even hotter and muggy so I kept it low key. Lots of falling leaf and s pattern in walk. More zone 5 driving and we got some superb weave and fig 8 around cones. Breeze was nice and cool while I sweated all the time, it was so hot!

Thursday.

 I had time before work for a play in the empty arena. I have worked out that I can set us up for success by starting off with some games that B likes to do... rock slide, falling leaf, s pattern, leading on to fig 8's and then circle game. It feels a lot like slowly bringing her life up and engaging her mind.

 B didn't seem as relaxed as usual so I didn't ask her to do too many laps, instead I asked for change of direction and then canter. Wow! What a good idea that was! She gave me four laps! Nice calm canter for four laps! I asked her in and gave her a lot of praise, rest, then sent her to try the other direction. B didn't quite maintain the gait but it was good enough for me and I ended the session there.

After work, when I got to the yard Sandra was getting ready to ride and suggested we join her and Bertie. I thought why not? B and I went to warm up in the arena after saddling, which didn't take long. I started out with friendly game, then picked up B's feet and then did some wrap around. Pre flight warm up was good and didn't take long. As we left Sandra and Bert were going into the arena so B and I hung out for a while before I got on. She seems to need this sometimes.

Very small threshold as we left the yard and B likes to grab a mouthful of leaves from the bushes at the gate. Sandra and I decided to just do the big loop of the woods and set off down the mile and 1/4. We let the horses eat as we went along and B was a great partner, eating and moving on. Bertie wasn't and wanted to stop. Further on he dug his heels in and refused to move. Something up ahead was bothering him and we had no idea what it might be. After a few approach and retreats he decided it was ok to carry on. We trotted a while along the muddy bridle path until we came to a bigger puddle. Bert splashed his way through, B took me totally by surprise, scrunched herself up her head rising up in front of me and bunny hopped the puddle! I lost a stirrup and had to stop, gathered myself together, started breathing again and we carried on in walk. Just as well we did because to our enormous surprise what was coming towards us along the path? A car!! I kid you not! A car!!!
I have shown in photos how narrow the path is? Barely enough room for two horses to be side by side but here was this car scraping along the fence and grinding to a halt, blocking our way. Poor Bert couldn't stand still while B took this opportunity to stuff her face! Every time Bert turned so did B but she easily turned back again when I asked. Eventually the driver, having hopped out to appologise and open a gate to reversed back far enough to let us past. I gave him some advice/directions about retracing his tracks and we left him to get on with it. I noticed some damaged fencing further on and how the car didn't slide into the stream I will never know.

B seemed unsettled by having to wait and get eaten by flies and I found it hard to relax after this. Perhaps I just got annoyed, I don't know, but it took a while for both of us to get in sync again. We got to go in the lead for a while which seemed to help B settle along with some zig zag until we were far enough up the straight for us to have a trot. I was a bit anxious about it but as soon as I asked for trot I relaxed and we both enjoyed a nice slow trot. I seem to be happier if we are in the lead, don't know why, will have to lick and chew on that one. Maybe it's a control thing lol.

We got back to the yard without anymore excitement with Sandra and I chatting and having a bit of a giggle about it all along the way. Amazing what happens sometimes!