Walkies!

Breeze and I went for a walk in the woods Sunday evening and she was a very tense snorting monster lol. Then I realised we hadn't been in the woods for a whole week and the last two times were quite interesting.

With this in mind I decided not to try and ride her but to just play. Breeze started out being a bit tense and ignoring me. The trees and bushes were far more interesting and edible. As we walked along she met a few thresholds and I respected them and waited for her. B offered to hop on the tree stump that lately she has been staring at and snorting! Around the next bend she decided I wasn't worth listening to so we had a discussion about who was the leader and from then on she was soft and light, eager to go in the log trailer without hesitation.

On the way to the top of the old woods we weaved the trees and played the driving game from zone 5. At the top of the old woods we found a small log the size of a jump pole and we got back up over the 'pole' a few times and I managed to take one in focus photo (see above lol) and she didn't offer sideways! Woohoo! We did some mounting simulation by the long log. Breeze is usually unconfident the minute I touch her back, even when grooming, so we did a lot of approach and retreat with that until she could stand still and not move away. I found if I leaned over her back, up came her right leg and she did her 'begging' behaviour thing. I totally ignore this when she does it on the pedestal at the yard, I wait until she puts her leg down before I give her a treat. Her lining up for me to get on is steadily improving and again I think I blew her mind by not getting on. It was nice to see how the shape of her back has changed and is becoming more flat and muscular. I am always struck by this view of Breeze. I spend most of my time either on the ground looking at all of her or looking from her back not at it.

On the way back I played with using my c/s to direct her as we weaved along through the trees etc in preparation for carrot stick riding. She was much softer and really listening to me. Even her desire to go faster to get home sooner wasn't that obvious and she was happy to go past the exit without getting snotty. As soon as she went forward I gave her a treat and we turned and left the woods.

Last night we played in the school for a very short time. I focused again on asking very very quietly for circle game. I praised her every time she came in but sent her again and we got change of direction too. She is becoming far less resistant now and I only saw the whites of her eyes once when she drifted backwards. I immediately took all the pressure off and it wasn't long before she came to me. This time she backed over a pole and didn't try to sideways too much and best of all didn't go intro when I ignored her. Progress.

I am sorry to say I am becoming very anxious about Sunday's sponsored ride. I hate this about myself. I don't know what I am frightened about, it's kind of the same as hacking around our woods and B has shown me her spooks and unconfidence and I managed it very well and preserved her dignity and built up our confidence. Perhaps I am doing my usual of mistaking excitement for anxiety. It will be ok. It will be fun and we can take it slow if I need to. Lydia is coming so there will be two of us 'rope wigglers' and Sandra will be there to babysit me like Lizzie and I babysat her and Bertie. As Sandra said last night, if B comes off the box a snorting RB nutter I can stay and play with her instead of riding. It's the unknown that unsettles me I think. This is B and I's first outing anywhere so I just don't know how she will be but I will deal with the horse that turns up no matter what.

This evening B and I played in the school again. After some hesitation and thinking about it we got circle game at a very relaxed but forward walk for three laps after her only being able to do one lap then come in! I praised her every time and asked again. It was hard for B because there were others riding in the school which she seems very sensitive to. We walked about a little and went and picked blackberries for Breeze to eat in between tasks lol. Weave around jump sides and a little fig 8. We tried back up over a pole and at first she couldn't but went around instead. She tried to give me sideways and I bumped her quite fast to stop her. She stood for a while licking and chewing and staring at nothing but she wasn't introverted, just really thinking. I asked her towards me then back and she went back over the poles! Hooray! I ended it there, grinning.

Hmmm interesting.

B and I played in the arena again today. We got some very soft circle game in walk with the belly of the rope on the floor for the first time! I focused on asking very quietly again, hardly lifting the c/s. We got back up over a pole which she couldn't do yesterday. She went sideways too so I ignored it which seemed to blow her mind and send her introverted.

We spend a lot of time resting with B going intro, head hanging low, blinking, licking and chewing. She is certainly giving me all her attention in between these 'episodes'. Claire the PP has suggested we don't ride for the time being. I took that as not riding in the arena as I really think Breeze is happy to hack out. Having said that, I really didn't feel like riding today. Breeze just didn't seem in the right frame of mind. The weather was windy and raining on and off which really is a feeble excuse but I have to admit I feel a little anxious about riding all of a sudden.

As is usual for a weekend we spend some time grazing around the yard. I have noticed Breeze is much more relaxed about me touching her/leaning on her. I managed to rasp her feet today with little resistance and she has been offering to get on both pedestals repeatedly. Suddenly her yo yo game has improved and my draw is getting better.

I remember telling Claire yesterday that when I first played with Breeze I was so enthralled with having a willing horse that we did some fab circle game, sometimes managing 10 laps each way... it is this that perhaps pushed Breeze too far, perhaps. Oh well. We live and learn. I made no assumptions when she came to me so just took things as they came and observed more than anything. I am trying hard not to look upon this as a retrograde step and feel bad about it. This journey is never an easy or straight one. I am sure it's full of wrong turnings, roundabouts and by-passes! The road zig zags and some routes take longer than expected.

I have been so excited about my Parelli lesson that I forgot to blog about the vets visit on Friday. Breeze has ulcers in her mouth where her teeth have been a bit sharp and rubbed. The vet really wanted B to be sedated but I didn't. The vet got the job done anyway. I really think the vet likes an easy life and would rather have all the horses doped for teeth floating irrespective of their willingness to be treated. I think B did really well and didn't resist too much, unlike Bertie who was sedated and still reared up! Maybe in future I should make the effort and spend the extra money on an equine dentist.

Wow! PP lesson and LOTS of thresholds!

My brain hurts!!

We had our lesson with PP Claire Burgess today and it was the most intense two hours I have had lately. Immense fun and I have learned such a lot. Claire is a great teacher, she has such a friendly smile and great sense of humour. In fact she was just perfect lol.

In my excitement I dragged all the toys I had to the arena and we didn't play with any of them! I was asked to take the green ball out later on...and the pedestal stayed by the fence lol.

This lessons focus was on being particular after Sandra and I showed what we could do with Bertie and Breeze. As expected B went very introverted when others came to give lessons in the arena. I was amazed later on when Claire said she knew B likes to nap by the way she couldn't circle!

I was very pleased to know that I am giving B exactly what she needs and that we are very well matched as partners. Made me feel very proud of myself, Breeze and our achievements. Also that I have taught Sandra and Bert well too. I had a real BFO moment when Claire pointed out how many thresholds B has! Of course!! Why didn't I see it too!? Just on the circle, let alone everywhere else! It didn't take long for me to get the idea of being particular about B doing exactly as I asked and rewarding the slightest try. I also have to try and ask even more quietly than I am, without even lifting the c/s more than a fraction. I have been working on this lately, just need to refine it even more. Maybe time to find the bell from the old L2!

Breeze went introverted quite often. I definitely blew her mind by letting her rest exactly when she needed it and not allowing her to deviate from what I asked but in a polite and passive way. Having pushed her to her limits in play over the last 5 months just to see how far she would go it's now time to help her get past her thresholds even more than I have been doing. I knew she liked to do sideways, it's her comfort zone where she feels clever and confident. She will offer this every time I ask her to do something she can't.

By the end she had just begun to relax on the circle so it was time to quit that. The look on her face was fantastic. She looked so soft and relaxed. I don't think I have seen that look before when we have played circle game!

Backwards over a pole brought up more thresholds and I need to do more with asking her to come to me i.e.draw. She could back up around the pole but sending her over the pole was too much to begin with. We did get it but as soon as she did this she had to try and side pass the nearby jump side. When I got particular and asked her to come in and not side pass it, she did but it blew her mind and she went introverted for ages.

This is how she stayed for ages while we three humans got together to talk about what we had learned. She kept blinking and licking and chewing and then she blew out really loudly, spraying me with snot lol. That's my little RBI!

Playtime!

I tried to take some photos of Breeze on her new pedestal but this was the only one of her actually on it and in focus because she kept getting off lol. She is developing quite a sense of humour.

This eve I thought we could go in the arena for a 10 minute play....which turned into 45 mins of great fun. I think we have circle game sorted. I find I can turn B's stopping and pulling back into falling leaf and in trot too! Breeze was snaking and tossing her head when we played this and turning very fast. I love to see her play like this and feel very honoured too. I discovered if I turned sideways to her when she pulls backwards on the line, she stops pulling and we carry on. Takes all the pressure off. We had weave the jump sides in trot too and some lovely jumping and turn and face me.

Breeze went introverted twice only and I wondered if it was because there was someone riding around us whom B hasn't shared the arena with before. I let her rest when she dropped her head unblinking to begin with and stroked her face and head. She is spending less time like this which is great.

At one point someone led their horse down the runway next to the arena and Breeze stared at them, ignoring me. So I crept up to zone 5 and tagged her butt with my c/s. She leaped in the air and turned 180 degrees to face me and gave me two eyes. Then she couldn't take her eyes off me!

We got circle game after that in all three gaits and then I walked around with her to cool her a little and we got some very nice stick to me without using the 22' line.

It has taken a while but I can feel our progress towards liberty is happening now. If I had taken the line off she will still have left but there is definitely a better connection between us now. I just pretended we weren't connected by a rope and used the c/s as back up to turn. Porky in zone 1 is getting better as B is beginning to take more notice of the c/s.

We finished with some backing out of the arena and a mosey to her stable. Don't tell anyone but B let me cuddle her tonight. She never lets me do that usually. She almost rested her head on my shoulder as I put my arms around her head and neck. Sweet.

Courage, being stubborn and learned behaviour.

I think B looks more relaxed these days. She is offering me LF!

B stuffing her face with apple after rope throwing and no fear

Chilled

B loves her new pedestal. I am sure she thinks it's her own personal drum!

Well! We have had some very interesting breakthroughs this week. I was very brave and after a short but pleasant play in the school yesterday I got on! I have to admit I felt a little anxious but B was calm. I put the s/s around her neck and managed not to whack me or her with the c/s as I got on! Once on it was clear B wanted out of there which was ok with me. Instead of just heading for the gate she offered me some follow the rail and managed to wait at the gate while I sorted my ropes and c/s out.

We left and I tried a little c/s riding but had to use the reins to begin with. B's head collided with the c/s more than once but she didn't get emotional about it. Need more porky in Z1 I think. We could go in and out of the little courtyard and around the back but we met thresholds elsewhere.

Sandra and Bert were ready to go for a ride in the woods but B couldn't get any further than just outside the courtyard. This where we had more of what I think is learned behaviour. . . napping and refusing to go forwards. I let B rest and wait for ages and we stood and talked to a friend by his car, who had his daughter in his arms. B amused herself by licking the little girl on the hand and making her squeal with delight. So sweet.

A few others had got ready to ride, one of whom was a young girl and I could hear and see she was tense and scared. I am sure B picked up on this which didn't help her to move, except backwards. When they all came out of the courtyard B pinned her ears back, trying to bite them all if they came too close and backing into them! We played the game of don't go back but give me lateral flexion and I was so proud that I stayed calm and knew what I was doing! The pair of us suffer from lack of confidence lol. She does have a 'Lizzie face' when she is being stubborn and it feels like familiar territory. I stroked her and praised her every time she stopped backing up and turned around. I really focused hard on going forward, smiling till all four cheeks hurt! At one point B backed up almost into the car and then offered, yes, offered LF!!!

By this time Sandra and Bert had come over to 'catch us' and B accidentally swung her head up and the two horses heads connected with a loud crack! Poor Bert! He is such a sweet horse and loves to help B out and that's the thanks he gets! No harm done though and suddenly B decided she had enough of this damn game and walked forwards to the road. It was a bit of a meandering 'I can't maintain direction' way to the gate but we made it and across the road into the woods.

By this time B had morphed into my partner and after one stare at the scary tree stump sprouting fungus, for the rest of the time she was calm, relaxed and happy. No stopping or spooking. Her breathing stayed quiet and slow. Sandra and I can both hear her when B is uptight because she does her steam engine impression. It sounds like she is too much on her forehand, but I am guessing here. Today I felt her really stretch into and relax along her back going uphill.

We only went around the 'old woods' but on the way we weaved every possible tree, sometimes circling or fig 8's. Then I had the idea to see is we could do circles along the bridle path. If I can't do this stuff in the arena yet we can do it in the woods! Breeze seems to really enjoy doing all this although she found circling as we go along quite difficult especially turning to the right. She got quite resistant sometimes so I got to really practice asking. We got it and she seemed to relax into it. That also gave us the opportunity to do some walk/trot transitions to catch up to Sandra and Bert some of the time. I am actually quite surprised at how direct line we teach our horses to be. Anything that deviates from the norm freaks them out. I realise that Breeze has big holes in her education and isn't a very rounded horse just yet. I am also surprised that I can manage to teach her all the stuff I have available within the Parelli program. That's what I mean about my own lack of confidence. I think I just have to trust my instincts and follow everything in the study packs. After all, this week I have managed to have B accept the rope being thrown over her head again and again and then back the other way to unwind it. How fabulous is that! It must be true that horses teach people and people do teach horses, that people being me!

We played in the school today after doing the chores. Breeze was stuck to me today and wanted to be with me, even when I took the water buckets to the tap and filled them. Sandra and Bert joined us and we even swapped horses at the end of an hour or so. I tried to teach Bert to side pass over cones but he just couldn't, not yet. And what did I say about him and the new pedestal!? He goes over it and stands on it like an old pro! Even Breeze has taken to it and likes to bang her hooves on it and scrape at it. She can stand on it with all four feet and walk over it leaving her back feet on it.

B was quite challenging again and went quite introverted when other people came to ride in the arena. She definitely cannot take the pressure at the moment. The highlight of today was we got weave in and out of four jump sides at trot! Been trying to get that for months lol. She can circle quite calmly for a few laps either way now and her c.o.d is getting quite snappy. But after a while she explodes and we have to play the going backwards game! I focussed more on Porky in zone 1 today, getting her used to the c/s 'in her face'.

Little by little we trust each other more and I find I have much more savvy and arrows in my quiver than I give myself credit for. This weekend I really think we will be quite ready for our L3 course next May.

In the meantime it's only six days until our lesson with PP Claire! I am still trying not to allow myself to get too RBI about it!!!

Backwards? Let me help you!

Breeze and I have been getting used to playing in the arena in the dark this week although the lights are pretty good. Tonight was our second play. . . I played with Bertie last night. B stayed out and I felt at a loose end and Sandra asked me to play with him. Bert was brilliant! I haven't played with him since April and it looks like Sandra has done a lot with him in the meantime. I have taught her well lol. Bert made me feel like a real L3 student and I secretly wished B and I could be like this. We will soon enough, we just need more time.

This evening I decided I was going to try and push B out of her comfort zone. I have tried to be very careful with her and her pulling back issues lately. Every time she has pulled back I have let her and either held my ground and waited or given her lots of slack and waited. She is definitely less extreme now and every time she stops pulling and comes to me she gets rests and treats which seem to be paying off. Tonight I felt ready to deal with whatever she threw at me and see if I could get her past this sticking point.

But. Circle game can be hit and miss and this evening Breeze decided to be snotty and try and resist my asking for circle game. So I did 'a Linda' and every time she refused to circle and pulled back I said ok lets see how far and fast you can go! First time we went most of the way around the arena backwards in trot then had circle. Second time not so far only she backed into a jump and knocked it flat. Third time she decided to go back with less energy and stopped nicely. Each time I gave her time to rest and think and asked for circle. She went a little introverted but no where near as deep as she has been in the past. Great!

Then she stopped backing up completely and we had a lovely calm circle both ways in walk and calm trot instead of ragged trot or canter. At this point we left the arena.

We had played with other ideas tonight. Weave was ok but she still has trouble yielding her HQ at the end of the line of jump sides. They are too high for her to side pass which gives her something to think about. Of course her side ways is very good and interestingly when I ask for half circles against the fence she gets emotional about that too.

Breeze saw the new pedestal for the first time this evening. She stopped, sniffed it and then stood on it! Bert would have nothing to do with it. Give him time.

I am looking forward to our lesson with Claire the PP in two Saturdays time. I wonder if Breeze will be sweet for her and make me out to be a liar lol.

New toy.

A friend of mine has made me a new metal pedestal. He painted a gold star on it. If I am to live up to being known as the circus trick person at the yard, at least I have the right toys!