Before the snow fell.

Breeze cannot stay off the pedestal even when it's snowing and slippery! I love how Parelli enables us to go and have a play in the woods no matter what the weather is doing.

Breeze always seems to be able to find something to eat. We had a leisurely walk with a lot of driving game from z5. The ground is very crunchy and I could see B was concentrating on where to put her feet.

We stopped off at our 'log trailer' and even though it's still full of tyres she didn't seem to mind.

Past the exit she stuffed her face with freeze-dried nettles and we hung out marveling at all the golfers out in this weather. It had started to snow and didn't stop for most of the day. We are experiencing the worst winter for 25 years and actually I can't remember the snow being this bad here, ever. It was -6.5c last night as I drove home from the yard!

I have hidden carrots in B's hay nets for her to find while she is stuck in her stable. I am sure she won't mind being there. I found frozen sugar beet in the bucket in the shed and knocked it out for her to eat. She thought that was a great game but didn't eat all of it so I left it to thaw out in her manger for later.

I am worried I won't be able to get to the yard by car this afternoon and am contemplating walking the 2 miles which may take 45 minutes! It did last year!!! We have had about 4" of snow as I write this. I HATE this weather.

Horse of the Year Show.

I don't know a lot about any form of traditional horse sports, except that I dislike most of it. I kind of like dressage but only because I have seen it from a Parelli point of view watching Linda and Lauren Barwick. Watching those horses last night gave me a lot to think about. I noticed how some riders seemed kinder to their horses but it makes me cringe to see them slap their horses as a thank you after the tests. Some were allowed a loose rein and even a treat at the end! I hated to see the saliva dripping from their mouths and splashing down their chests and legs. It seems like a very strenuous few minutes for a horse to be involved in and requires a lot of time and training I am sure. Some of the horse did look like they were enjoying themselves and there was an obvious bond between horse and rider but all the same I am glad I don't do any of that to my horse.

These horses and riders are obviously athletes of the highest caliber and it was less uncomfortable for me to witness compared to the show jumping! Sandra and I could only watch a little of that because I for one cannot bear to see the horses mouths so harshly pulled all the time. I just cannot understand why they just don't give the horses enough rein for them to move naturally. I guess I never will.

Well, that's my opinion aired on that subject lol. I wore my Parelli jacket with pride and spent money I shouldn't have by buying Breeze a new stable rug and me some beeswax hand cream for my dry, cracking hands and some thick thermal socks. There was nothing else I could possibly want there, even if I could afford it.

Bad to better to brilliant!

Someone has dumped tyres in our 'log trailer'!

Along the 'old woods'

We had a very short but excellent pre ride play in the arena. In the rain. This was especially good in my opinion because it's been a weird week so far. Monday night B was in a very odd mood. Very very pushy and grabby and in the evening I went home having taken her mood personally. She did not want me to brush the mud off her or her feet but mugged me constantly for treats. I resolved to stop giving her so many and she wasn't very pleased about it Tuesday morning.

Tuesday evening I realised her mood was because she was obviously not feeling very well. She refused her evening feed and in fact kicked it all over her stable. She hardly ate any haylage or drank any water and she had hardly pooped at all. Most unlike her! I was so worried I went back later that night to find she had eaten some of her feed but still seemed depressed. I was wondering what was wrong and thinking it might be colic as horses seem to be prone to it or it was a virus of some kind.

Wednesday morning she had eaten all her breakfast and half her usual amount of haylage. Whatever was ailing her was passing and she was on the mend and I left her early in the afternoon to go to watch the dressage at the Horse of the Year show at Olympia.

We went 'off piste'. Breeze loves this and gets very curious.

So. Short warm up after saddling up without anything much beforehand except to ask her to put her nose on the saddle and have a bit of carrot. She stayed put and relaxed. Amazing. We left the yard the back way again, I peddled my feet and brought my life up so that she had no option but to follow my focus and we were soon in the woods with Sandra and Bert.

Breeze was very calm and I was back using my white Parelli reins. It felt like meeting up with an old friend and I was totally relaxed and happy. We only did the old woods and weaved and zig zagged around the trees giving her plenty to do. We got yo yo over a fallen branch for the first time which was brilliant. With all the circling etc we got behind Sandra and Bert so we had an opportunity to do some trotting. I have been getting worried about trotting because I have been too tense but this helped me relax and enjoy it. Another example of if I don't do things I begin to think I can't do them lol.

We went as far as the bottom of the straight with Sandra and Bert then turned for home. Breeze remained calm and we did a lot of walk/trot transitions. That way she gets to look out for trouble when walking and doesn't get RB and fast when trotting. She wasn't at all bothered by it being just us and this hasn't happened for a while now. She was quite happy to stop whenever I asked her to (so I could take photos) and chill. You know what's really nice though? I really appreciate riding Breeze because all I have to do is think about walk/trot/whatever and she does it. No argument, no phases, just a thought and she is there. Wonderful.

At the exit I asked her to carry on. We had a bit of a disagreement but I persisted and without too much unpartner like attitude we made it to the grass where I let her eat then, when she wanted to, turn and go home.

Back on the yard she wanted to explore everywhere and seemed in no hurry for me to get off. Breeze went ad stood by the old shed so I got off there and led her to the new one around the corner, unsaddled there and gave her some carrots.

This evening she was stuffing her face as is normal. She called to me when I arrived and again when I brought her feed. Nice. All is well in our world again.

Sunday success.

Tried out the old green halter I used on Lizzie and some black reins I made a while ago. Not a great success. Halter too small and reins limp and slippery. Oh well. It was worth a try. It's a shame because I think B looks great in green.

B is obsessed with bins and their contents! Sometimes I find this quite challenging when others leave mouldy food in them and B won't leave it alone!

Breeze loves the pedestals again. She happily gets up on them at every opportunity at liberty but then there is usually a treat if she does lol.

Enough of the cute photos. We rode today on our usual Sunday. Warming up in the arena was brilliant. I have certainly set us up for success all week. B was attentive and listening and very light so we didn't stay long. Just as well because I had got to the yard the latest I have ever been and Sandra was saddled and ready to go!

Saddling up was lovely and perhaps I should tick off saddling at liberty and your horse doesn't walk off in my tasks on Parelli Connect now. Woohoo! Getting on was lovely too and surprisingly leaving the yard was almost ok too! Breeze couldn't follow Bertie to the gate and after a bit of snottiness and some lateral flexion we met at the gate after going behind the 'pony block'.

I can't say we had a totally relaxed ride.The black reins felt really awful. Floppy and slippery. How quickly we get used to things we use and rely on them. I will be going back to my Parelli reins next time. We turned down the mile and 1/4 where B kept stopping to eat grass which I didn't mind but she alternated that with spooking at golfers. I was very pleased to see all through the ride that no matter what B did I automatically deepened my seat, either reached down to one rein to stop her or when we were chased by a dog, grabbed the front of my saddle! No matter what my little flower does I manage to balance myself and stay focussed. This is a major breakthrough for me which has been a long time coming. For years I have battled with my fears about the one and only fall I had which was nearly fatal. I sometimes think I mention it too much and for that I appologise. But it has been a big part of my horse life and having a new younger more RB horse was a big issue and I wondered if I was savvy enough not to fall off again! Obviously I am and long may it continue.

The ride started off ok but when a dog chased us I lost a bit of confidence, realised I was tense and holding my breath which doesn't help B much. By the time we got to the Viaduct there was room for B and I to play with zig zag and give her something to do rather than walk along in a straight line looking for scary stuff int he bushes. We did do some trotting along the first half of the ride and B was pretty balanced but did get too choppy and fast. Nice to have Bertie in front to slow her down just in case.

We led some of the way but B did try to bite Bert's butt when B hid behind him. I wonder if the high fencing along the mile and 1/4 is too much of a squeeze game sometimes. I have to keep praising and stroking her and asking for half halts but she does eventually stop and leave a decent gap.

We did some lovely weaving around the trees near to home. My hands were quite cold by then so it was great to be relaxed enough to stuff them in my pockets and ride without the reins. By the exit a boy and his younger brother, playing in the pub adventure playground, called to us to stop. I love to oblige people that want to be near horses. Breeze seems to like children and licked the little boy held in his brothers arms. I told then B thinks kids taste nice which made them laugh. Photos were taken and we wandered off. Breeze stopped in the exit, turned her head asking for a treat. She did this a few times today when I was particularly happy with our progress lol.

Back on the yard we mooched around again. Breeze seemed really happy to do this. We investigated the big blue bins and I put treats on them. We did some lovely back up too. That's getting really relaxed. When I got off B wanted to follow me everywhere at liberty so we walked to the container and I took her saddle off there. She put herself away in her stable, I think it was a little chilly for her liking to be out in the courtyard. I got on with my chores and she ate hay.

This evening she was happy to be with me which made leaving her difficult. Although I am not allowed to touch her while she eats her feed lol. I asked her to come to the muck heap again but left her ground tied. While I was throwing muck up she tried to sneak off which made me laugh. I swear she tries to tip toe away. My legs are aching a little. I am obviously not used to trotting very much as yet.

Saturday play and lots to think about.

Breeze and I played in the arena this morning on the 45' line. It's been quite a while since we did this and it was great fun. It seems the lighter I am the lighter she is. Who knew lol.

It didn't seem like we spent a long time there. I was short on time but aware that she would be in her stable all day and needed to stretch her legs. Actually B doesn't seem to mind if she is in her stable all day or out in the field. I really enjoyed starting off at around 22' and letting the line out so the belly of it laid on the floor as she circled. I still wrestle with the 45'. It's still stiff and coiling it isn't easy. It felt that I was being watched by Pat and was acutely aware of my fumbling lol. But it was an improvement on previous play with it so I am pleased all the same.

So, circle game is improving amazingly again and fig 8 on the 45' was nice. It made a big difference to be that much farther away. It gives me a different view if nothing else. Mostly because of how the 45' feels my attitude is different, it has to be softer and that has to be a good thing. I love it.

Later on, after work, I intended to only take B to stretch her legs again. I groomed her first because I didn't manage to get all the mud off her the night before. We played with porky to get her head lower so I could reach her mane and not have aching arms. She doesn't like it much and makes faces at Strawberry and Star across the aisle while they in turn bite the bars of their stable (Strawberry) or squeal like a piggy (Star).

Our session in the arena turned into a lot of fun. There were foxes off in the distance which scared B somewhat. This made her unconfident on the circle on the farthest corner and she would turn in and come to me for safety. I acknowledged this by letting her rest and stroked her briefly but found she wasn't RB terrified so sent her out again being particular about doing as I ask and maintaining gait. We played with trotting until she could trot without going RB in both directions. Interestingly clockwise was better to begin with but both ways ended up good.

Breeze got more exuberant as we played and we, (or should I say I because I am sure B like other horses doesn't laugh) had a giggle weaving around various obstacles at trot. She trotted while I managed to keep up lol. We had some lovely jump, turn and face. When she doesn't manage it and knocks the pole down I never tell her off and rewarding the try anyway blows her mind lol. I did think if I had had the presence of mind to close the gate on the way in we might have managed some connected liberty play. Perhaps we are getting near it now and one day I will remember to shut the gate 'just in case'.

We had some falling leaf in trot and lovely back up over a pole from 22' in z3 parallel to me. Seems I have taken things up a notch seamlessly somehow. Another example of 'upping the anti' all of a sudden without realising it. I was particular again about circle game and separating back up, send and allow to clarify it in B's mind. She sometimes tries to keep on backing up and then brace which then means she will make an assumption about which direction I want her to go in. So nice to hardly lift the c/s at all but instead ask just with a gesture. How can I explain this? Having watched Pat and Linda and lots of other pp's on video and in real time do this to perfection, it actually felt today like I had got it right, judging by the feedback from B. She really is a great teacher.

We did some driving game from z5 which magically turned from back up into sideways towards me without a fence! I thought I was imagining it after the first one, then I asked again and got it. Marvelous! That was the best time to end the session, grinning.

When we left the arena B seemed reluctant to let me go when I put her in her stable. She watched me and didn't touch her hay as I ferried the last bits of my belongings from the shed to the container....we are moving sheds! All of us from our small but loved old stable to a big container around the corner. I asked B to come with me earlier in the day to see the container which she seems to like. I also asked her along to empty her poop onto the muck heap this evening. I figure if I have to do chores she may as well get the exercise too lol. Plus I get to play porky with a purpose!

The cut on B's leg has a nice scab on it now but I noticed she must have knocked it this evening and it had bled slightly. I wish it would heal completely and quickly!!

Lesson with Claire.

I am in Parelli heaven right now! It was freezing today, -2.5 but sunny and the ground wasn't too frozen in the woods. The arena sand was frozen solid so I had a quick 'reccy' in the woods before Claire got to the yard and it seemed fine.

I am glowing inside with pride because of the compliments and feedback I got from Claire. She thinks B and I have made an enormous amount of progress and the difference in B is very noticeable. Her walk is long, low and relaxed. She just feels different.

There were a couple of cars parked in the woods but they soon left once we started walking about. The park rangers turned up at one point and I did think we might get moved on but they took no notice of us whatsoever. Excellent.

It never ceases to amaze me how much we can learn in just an hour and a half and it goes by in a flash. More focus on being particular which works very well with Breeze. I have learned how to move B's front end from z5. Was having a lot of trouble knowing how to do that! BFO moment indeed! She is quite unconfident from there and claustrophobic too.

Todays lesson has opened up lots of new things for us to do. It will build B's confidence even more I think. What a blessing the woods are for us. All that space to play in. My featherlight lines came yesterday and I think it wont be long before we are using them.

Confidence and sunshine.

We have been having some superb play in the arena lately and this morning was no exception. I saw B offer the most amazing soft collected trot on a circle over three poles.

Saddling up was lovely and leaving the yard not too bad. We did cheat a little and Jan walked us over with handfuls of high fibre cubes which Breeze loves. She couldn't walk fast enough and was very happy to go into the woods.

We rode around the whole woods. Breeze was pretty confident but very energetic. We met a few other horses and she was determined to be with them. We did a lot of circling and zig zag! She didn't spook but was on high alert a lot of the time. We haven't been all the way around the woods in about a month so it's not surprising.

Breeze wanted to be in the lead quite a few times and was trying to bite poor Berts bum when she wasn't. I kept stroking her and eventually she stopped. I could feel the B I know is coming back again. This injury had changed her more than I realised. Maybe we have both changed a lot lately because it certainly shows in our great play sessions.

Towards the end of the ride we wet ahead quite far and played with some turning around and going back to where Bert was walking along in his own sweet time. I was surprised that B was more willing to do this today. We play with these new ideas little by little and it seems to be paying off because she is willing to decide where we go and explore around the bridle paths. She no longer seems to want to just go straight home.

While we were ahead of Bert and Sandra I decided to ask for a little trot. I had to ask a few times. I think B had forgotten how to! I wasn't sure I could remember either. Although B isn't ready for faster paces I did want to see if she could be calm and I don't want to start to think I can't trot or canter because we don't, if that makes sense. It is very easy for me to lose confidence if I don't try things when I feel able. The more I don't do something riding related the more anxious I get about it.

B gave me a lovely smooth even paced trot without any hint of wanting to rush and then we walked again, past the exit and waited for Bert and Sandra. Then it was too much for B and she really wanted to be ahead of Bert and go home. But on leaving the bridle path she decided she would take me for a walk around the pub car park.

Back on the yard we mooched about (I didn't want to get off!) for a good half an hour. Breeze was very relaxed and we did some approach and retreat nearer and nearer the gate. Excellent. We did some back up and walked around the yard behind the 'pony block', saying hello to a couple of mares she likes and B had a really good inspection of the muck heap. We did some scratching and grooming and much stuffing of face with bits of carrot. Then it was time to get off and unsaddle.

I hope we have more days like this, weather permitting. It might take until Spring but we have a great summer ahead of us.