Day 3 - Doing the Happy Dance

Doing the Happy Dance. Walking on Sunshine. On Cloud Nine. I'm still smiling about my session from yesterday.

The plan was to work on catching and if that went well to go back to Touch It at the popper of the 22' and then some circle game. Under saddle, I wanted to continue Follow the Rail and begin some CS riding at the trot.

The horses were up in the runs so no need to work on catching game. Cricket was nickering to see me. Of course I'm also the one who feeds so I won't read too much into it.

I put the cookies out and Cricket was pretty good about going to the obstacles and getting her treat. I'm using the same three obstacles in no particular order. I'd like to see her asking, "which one?" before I increase the complexity. That went fine and we did some Z3 close range circle game working on transitions. She was completely unfocused, trying to return to the obstacles for treats. And then I got mad. I moved to the middle of the arena and asked her for circling on the 22', walk-trot-canter. She was pissy in the send, sloppy in the transitions and unmotivated to maintain gait. It wasn't a total disaster but it wasn't good. I quit before it got too bad.

I saddled her up, using tons of cookies to change her tacking up behavior. Knowing her as I do, it's not a saddle fit issue. I've also started a homeopathic treatment for "tummy trouble" and that may be part of the solution. Her attitude for mounting was much improved. After checking lateral flexion, a habit I'm trying to rebuild, we started with follow the rail. We're having some trouble with leg = forward so I focused as much as I could on solid halts and clear FQ/HQ yields. She was better.

We started some transitions in the walk and trot. While at the walk, I asked her for a totally freestyle sideways on the rail and she gave me two or three great steps sideways. We actually managed to trot three continuous circuits around the arena with no change of gait. Oh, and we were totally freestyle. I picked up the CS and with a bit of a "do or die" attitude, asked for the trot. Cricket and I have some emotional baggage about CS riding and this is a huge release of "control" for me.

SHE WAS PERFECT. ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.

We did a couple of bowties with the stick, again still at the walk and trot. Not perfect but it's the first time and she was relatively responsive. I'll take it!

Then I got brave. I secured the rein and asked for the trot with nothing but the CS. I don't know how many trips around the arena or how many transitions we rode. I was totally hands free on my horse and I was ecstatic. Even when she got a little fast in her trot, I was able to post with her, stroke her neck and ease her back to a slower trot.

When we turned to go to the left, my PF (pucker factor) went up. I'm less confident in this direction - goes back to my broken arm. Cricket was rushy and non-responsive to my seat. I used the CS to push her nose into the rail for downward transitions. Even when it got a little wild, I stayed off the reins. During a dwell period, I realized I'd set us both up for failure by not trusting her and assuming things would be worse. I started off again with a "no worries" attitude and she was right with me. After a soft trot and a soft halt, I dismounted.

I don't think my feet have touched the ground yet. I just cannot believe this is my horse. I cannot believe how far my confidence has come. I feel so balanced in my body and my seat - thank you Tina and Pilates! I feel cantering is not too far off. Still some emotional bridges to cross but we're on the way.

Day 2 - It Starts When Your Horse First Notices You

Any session with your horse starts the moment he first notices you. Linda Parelli advised us, during the 2005 Freestyle course, to use a unique call when getting your horse's attention from the pasture. So when Cricket is out grazing, I use a sing-song voice to call "Pretty Girl." This is the only time I use this call phrase.

After Monday's session when I had to drag her in from the field, I decided I needed to take a moment to check in with her. Where she was, not where I wanted her to be.

As I walked up to the barn I called to her. She lifted her head, looked at me and almost immediately returned to grazing. Okay, today's plan for playing and riding went out the window. I armed myself with treats and a curry comb and headed out to the field.

I found a dry place to sit and spent about 15-20 minutes watching my horse graze. She drifted closer to me but never actually approached me. One of the other horses - a more RB mare - came up to investigate. I gave her a few cookies and brushed her with the curry, hoping this might pique Cricket's interest. Nope. Nothing.

I found a new place to sit and spent five more minutes watching my horse. Okay, I thought, maybe it's turned into a friendly game. So I started wandering around, trying to avoid the marshy spots (she's grazing in the absolute lowest part of the field) but still get close enough to her so she feels my intention. Still nothing.

So I stood and talked to her, calling her "Pretty Girl" and waiting. Nothing.

And then the opportunity came. She reached back to try and scratch under her belly, a very itchy spot that she simply cannot reach. I called to her again and asked her to come to me so I could get the spot. She approached and smelled cookies and tried to nudge me for treats. I held my focus of scratching her belly. Once I found the itchy spot she was enraptured. Of course once Cricket was interested in me, the rest of the herd came up. I defended her space and gave her a cookie and proceeded to groom her, finding more itchy spots.

Just as she was at the height of enjoying it, I walked off. She followed. As Carol would say, "Shampoo, Rinse and Repeat." Cricket wasn't putting much effort into it so about the third time, just as she was about to get to me, I took off again. That was the ticket. She trotted after me with a "hey, where are you going?" attitude. We did this about three times, each time her trotting after me.

When her attention wandered, I just turned and left. I really didn't care if she followed me or not. I kind of figured she would but decided not to be emotionally vested in her decision. Without looking back, I walked up one of the runs and when I got to the gate, I turned and saw Cricket leading the entire herd up to the barn.

I prepped the feed and moved everybody around so they could eat dinner in relative peace.

I'm not really upset that Cricket won't come to me in the field. It's not that she doesn't enjoy our time together. She is a strong, self-confident independent mare. It takes an awful lot to be the alpha for that kind of horse.

Tonight's plan - more of the same. If she comes to me then we can play and ride but if she doesn't, more taking time.

Day 1 - Aren't Beginnings Exciting?

Yesterday was DAY ONE of my 30 day commitment to do something with my horse everyday. I have to say it went exceedingly well.

The idea is to have a plan - an blueprint of the session I would like to have with my horse. The plan can be adjusted based on the horse that shows up. But I have to start with a plan.

So here is the report for the first day:

PLAN:
Ground - L2 Online Patterns: Touch It; Z3 Driving walk-trot transitions
Riding -L1 Freestyle Patterns: Follow the Rail; Bowtie at a walk-trot; HQ disengagement with the CS

ACTUAL SESSION:
Cricket did not want to be caught. For her, that means not coming to me when I call her. I trudged out in the field and haltered her. I was not happy. It did not seem an auspicious start to my grand endeavour. I dragged her in. Literally. She is so bad about putting slack in the rope when I lead her. I gave her a long time to figure it out on her own before adding some driving to reinforce my request. This is something to go on my "Holes" list.

I kept the ground session brief. Cricket is very solid in her ground work and my goal for on-line is to bring back her enthusiasm. I played Touch It at the popper of the 22' line, using cookies on obstacles to motivate her to put forth effort. I tried to keep my "encouragement" to a minimum. After four or five touches, she offered a soft trot with just a hint from me. I consider that a win. Next we played with Z3 driving, using a single smooch for an upward transition and life down/CS in front of the drive line for a downward transition. I think I need to work on my energy. Cricket wants to match my feet and I don't want her dependent on me moving for her to move. To the left she was good but to the right she was ignoring my downward transition. I was pretty strong with the lead line and she quickly figured out that the stick was the best deal and gave me some lovely transitions.

I saddled her up. She's started ear-pinning during saddling and I'm not sure why. I've started treating her for ulcers. I also used lots of cookies during saddling. Her opinion changed rapidly. But the ear pinning returned at mounting. Hmm, something to work on in a future session. After a quick tune-up on "stand for mounting," she was happy to pick me up. After a quick check of our lateral flexion, we started with follow the rail at the walk.

Cricket has started equating my leg with "go forward." This is something we need to fix. Now. So Follow the Rail became Corners Game. I asked her to stop in the corner and I waited for the lick and chew. Then I moved either her forehand or her hindquarters and asked her to stay in the corner until she could relax into the halt. In one corner we got some amazing "follow the feel to shift the weight." That will come in handy later.

Then it got interesting. The barn owner's horses started running and that stirred up the boarder horses. Cricket became very concerned. I could feel her RB kick in but I could still feel her LB in control. First I turned her to face the thundering herd so she could see what was happening. When I was sure she wasn't going to blow, I started asking her for HQ disengagement. Then follow the rail with turns into the rail. Then some walk-trot transitions. I was exceedingly proud of myself for staying on her. Not out of silly bravado. I felt she was still with me and my thoughts about getting off were "if she escalates one iota, I need to get off." I never felt scared or unsafe, even though she was pretty "alert."

After some easy transitions on the rail, I asked her for a Bowtie Pattern. My plan is to build this to a point where I can safely ask her to canter and still feel in control. She was FANTASTIC! After a few repetitions she was giving me the softest trot and the sweetest downward transitions.

We ventured out of the arena to talk with the barn owner. I took her back in to unsaddle her but her brain was still outside. I decided to use some CS Lateral Flexion to HQ disengagement to refocus her. She is absolutely convinced leg = go forward. After a few attempts, she figured out it was not about forward. I dismounted and gave her a cookie.

She stood tied while I prepped the food and waited like such a lady until I took her to her stall to eat.

What an awesome session! I wonder what today's session will bring. The plan is more Touch It and some circle game followed by Follow the Rail and some CS riding at the walk and trot.

A Leader Has A Plan

A leader has a plan. How many times have we heard that? How often does it fail to sink in and truly have an effect on our play sessions?

And it's not just about having a plan, but acting upon that plan. I'm pretty good at figuring out what I need to do - at least in broad strokes - to get where I want to be. I am not so good, however, about planning out the steps that take me through those intermediate milestones to the final goal.

I need a plan. I need a plan that is fairly consistent so I don't have to think too much. I need a plan that is consistent and gives me visual reference to my progress. I also need accountability for sticking to the plan so it becomes a positive habit.

So here is my grand plan: It's time to do something with my horse every day. The initial goal is going to be thirty sessions in thirty days. Weather is no excuse as I have a covered arena in which to play and ride. Some days will be designated undemanding time or just bonding sessions. Unfortunately the fluctuations in my workload will impact the amount of time I can reasonably spend with Cricket. Regardless, I will do something.

My basic plan includes the patterns, the self-assessment sheets and the Parelli 10-minute Tips. I'm also going to revisit the books that came with my Patterns program. If I remember correctly, in the very back they have an overview of what to do if you have 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 1 hour or more than 1 hour. I want a basic plan that can expand and contract but remain fairly consistent.

The Parelli Patterns are essentially a plan in a box or "play sessions for dummies." Not only does it give me something to do but a map to record my progress. I took my maps and laminated them and then mounted them on a a tri-fold presentation board. Turning the board lengthwise, so the sides fold up and down rather than out, I mounted each patterns map on the board. I can fold it closed, secured with binder clips, and put it anywhere I want. I started following the patterns a few months ago but it fell apart with Cricket's returned headshaking and my total emotional breakdown. But the slate is clean and we're starting over.

The self- assessment sheets, according to Carol, are supposed to be "living documents." Something you keep with you and utilise to measure your progress with your horse. It's not about sitting at the kitchen table thinking, "yep, I can do that . . . and that . . . and that . . ." So I'm going to print them off and put them in a binder that I can keep at the barn. Each session, I will pick a few tasks and see where we are on them.

Finally, I will have a repertoire of "ten minute quickies." When work or other commitments steal more time than I prefer, I will have something I can do to build my relationship with my horse.

I have some organizational things to do this weekend so I have the rest of my life ordered enough to spend the time I want with my horse. How does the saying go, "failing to plan is the same as planning to fail?"

So Monday is the start day. We're beginning with the L2 Online patterns but the goal is everything at the very end of the 22' line. This will better prepare me for the L3 and L4 patterns using the 45'. For riding, we're starting back with the L1 Freestyle patterns but the goal is to start using the Carrot Stick and weaning myself off the reins. My accountability will be right here. Except that I have no real Internet access on the weekends, I'll post each day's activities and results for the next thirty days.

Here's to having a plan!

Requiescat in Pace, My Beautiful Moose

As I started typing dates into a spreadsheet for work, I was struck by the date on the page. Today is the sixth anniversary of the death of my beloved Moose.

The photo above was taken just a week and a half before I lost him. I had taken the day off to give him a bath and get ready for a local fun show. The weather was a tad too cool so I decided just to hang out with him. I found a spot in a collapsing round bale and just lounged while he ate hay all around me.

Moose was my first horse. He was difficult and he is responsible for bringing me to Parelli. He was with me for only fourteen months. He brought me through Level 1 (back when it was a VHS pack). He loved me in a way no other horse will and I loved him in a way I will never love another horse.

I miss him terribly, at times. I have finally laid to rest the guilt of loving Cricket. I understand that Moose was here for a reason and nothing I have with Cricket would be the same if it weren't for him.

Six years ago I said good-bye to the love of my life. He waits for me across the Rainbow Bridge. It doesn't matter how many other people owned him for I know he belonged to me. Just as a part of me belongs only to him.