Christmas Time

This isnt a particularly horsey post, just some thoughts I wanted to write down :)

Its that time of year. Christmas/New Years/Holidays. Ironically, a time of year usually associated with a lot of stress.

The norm for me is to feel the pressure this time of year. I am not really sure why, but it isnt usually a good time for me. This year surprised me though. I felt really good leading up to the holidays, and Christmas and all its kerfuffle ended up being a really joyful experience - Just like its SUPPOSED to be!!!!!

My family really likes Christmas - my mom and sister LOVE to celebrate and decorate to the MAX! I am basically the polar opposite. I have one snow man stuffed fellow who sits on my couch [all year actually, I just like him] and thats it. No tree, no extras, nothing. Too much is overkill for me. I like watching my specials on tv, I like my snow man, but for now, I am happy with my second decoration-less christmas :) I think it helped me be really happy and excited for everything because I wasnt 'done' with it before it even happened.

This year me and my sister went to do our Christmas baking at my moms on the Friday before Christmas. It was really fun! We decorated the tree, we reminisced over all of our old ornaments and school crafts, we colored - one of our traditions - and we baked EVERYTHING!!!! Soooooo many cookies and tasty things :)

It turned out to be a wicked snow storm day, so we ended up spending the night at moms, which made the whole experience that much more fun and nostalgic. Even driving home the next morning was really dicey - it was a lot of freezing rain, which is my ultimate winter nemesis!

The weekend after baking was spent mostly trapped indoors, as the rain continued for two days. Yuck! Ice Storm, mini version! The ponies were less than impressed, to be sure!

Christmas eve dawned sunny and COLD. -20ish. But still my FAVORITE part of Christmas. Cousin Christmas day! For the last nine years, since our families kind of stopped doing things together, me, my sister and our two cousins our age have made our own Christmas together. This year was no exception, and as always, when the four of us get together, things get epic! Christmas Intensifies, most certainly! The show stopper of this years shin-dig was certainly the present me and Tanya made for Crystal - we made her her own version of Monopoly - Crystalopoly! We worked really hard on it, and were really proud of it. I think she loved it as much as we did :) We all had a great time playing it, and then subsequently laughed our butts off playing Cards Against Humanity.

After a late night at Tanya's Christmas eve, we got up early to go to Moms for the super yummy Christmas breakfast, featuring my very favorite crepes!! YUM! Then, after a fantastic visit at moms, with Grammie and Grampie, Derek and I headed up to his parents for his family get together. Following the trend of awesome, the afternoon/evening there was also a resounding success and joy. We brought Varo, and he was a total doofus, as always.

We came home with lots of chocolate, treats and amazing thoughtful gifts :) Then on Boxing day, my dad came over with Tanya and we had another great adventure day. We tried to go to St Huberts for Lupper, only to find out it was closed :( Scores was a great second choice though, so it all worked out in the end and we all had fun!

Such was my really good Christmas marathon this year!

Now if only the ridiculous layer of ice could leave so the horses can walk over snow without hurting and I could maybe ride :)

:)
S

Pennsylvania Adventure

This past weekend a friend I headed south of the North Land to a small town called Altoona, in PA, to attend a series of workshops being put on by Jake Biernbaum [3*] and Dancin Pete Rodda[2*]!!

It was only about seven hours away, so really not that far in the grand scheme of life. To be fair, I drove that WITH Mo in June for the tour stop. So going without her [sad:( ] and getting to take Kara's bigger-on-the-inside teeny car [seriously, $35 to fill up.... are you kidding me??]  up into the mountains of PA for some Parelli fun.

I went with the intention of supporting Kara in her first long distance driving foray, and also to socialize and catch up with my friends. Turns out I got a whole lot more out of the weekend than I planned for!  I really am not even sure I am finished digesting everything yet, and about 70% of it isnt even horsemanship. Kara and I had some amazing conversations that have really caused me to think a lot, plus what we talked about with Jake and Pete and the others at the clinic.

We arrived Friday afternoon to our B&B - which was GORGEOUS! Full on HOLY WOW when you drove up gorgeous. This is it - http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/pa-tyrone-stonypointbedbreakfast.html?gclid=COaf6qGzi7sCFa9aMgod7i4Atg in case you are headed to Harmony Horsemanship Center and need a great place to stay! It was beyond beautiful, with so much character and a story! Apparently it was built in the 20's from timbers off of old rail road cars, when they were converting all the cars to steel! There was a connection to the Free Masons as well. Very cool history.

The house itself was just so welcoming. The carpets were plush, all the doorways were arched and inviting. Our rooms were luxurious and used RADIATORS for heat!! The radiators were inset into the window frames, so there was shelving on top of the one in my room - I laid my pjs and clothes there each day, and was rewarded with warm clothes to put on each morning and night! What a treat, because it was COLD!

After settling in on Friday, we headed over to the facility where there was going to be a demo and dance night. Getting to see Pete again was so nice! He was just here in September, but re-connecting with friends is always great. Its been much longer since I saw Jake [ 2011?] so it was great to catch up in person again too. Thank goodness for social media - really, it doesnt feel so long between visits with all my worldy friends thanks to things like facebook.

The demo was great. River - Pete's mare - is looking AMAZING - and she was pretty before! Lil Grey was adorable, and it was fun to see him 'live' after seeing pictures and video of him before this weekend. I always love watching parelli people - especially instructors - with their personal horses. Its one thing to get international instructors to come teach locally, but to see them interact with their own horses, where the relationship is the foundation, its just awe inspiring to me.

After the demo, we learned the 7 games dance. Ive learned it before, but it was tweaked a little since then, so I wasnt quite as comfortable as I thought I would be. Consider the silly bridge crossed. Surprisingly, it was quite 'warm' the first day - 13 degrees or so. We mistakenly thought that would set the tone for the whole weekend.... *sigh*

Saturday morning was COLD!!! The wind was picking up and snow was threatening! How rude. The arena at HHC is gorgeous - The whole east wall is open to view the mountains! It just isnt all that warm unfortunately. Though honestly, I am not sure anything could have kept us warm.

The first workshop of the weekend was about personal space. Jake and Pete presented their ideas surrounding 'Brick Wall and Feather' - are you the wall, or are you the feather? After the theory discussion they headed out to play with some of the ideas for the morning.

The afternoon was all about rein positions and leg positions - theory and then practical. I will admit to being so cold I bailed to the heated viewing room/class room, so I didnt hear everything, but saw most of it. The evening was finished off with an amazing lasagna and meatballs meal presented up at the house. The amazing and gorgeous house that had RADIANT HEAT FLOORING in the dining room. I was not the only one who laid out on the floor to de-thaw that evening!

The meal was delicious, the company was fantastic, and the time seemed to go to fast. It felt like no time at all before we were headed back to the B&B to gear up for the next day.

Liberty was up the next morning, after a theory session about the lines in a round pen. With all the snow the day before, the outdoor round pens were 'out of order' [aka - none of us wanted to stand out in the snow and wind] so we concocted one in the indoor arena made from barrels, jump standards and ropes laid on the ground to mark the boundaries. Then all the people stood around the outside to reinforce said lines. It worked out pretty well! It was a really interesting morning, if VERY cold!

At lunch time, there were leftovers so we all got treated to more hot food and warm floors!! Best invention ever! I thought for a minute there might be a schedule change to keep the afternoon session horseless, but the riders were brave and headed out after the theory discussion, ready to ride patterns!

Jake did a great demo about getting/building neutral on the figure eight that really dropped the last pieces in place from what I had learned from Pete on his last two Canada visits. It allowed me to come home and get to where Mo trotted two laps pf the pattern all on her own while I stood in neutral, in just one 15 minute session!

Right at the end of the clinic, one of the horses coliced - seemed very mild though. We quickly treated her with the red lights and essential oils, and she was up on her feet in about 45 mins - and I heard she was doing great the next day too. After that scary interlude, we all went up to finish off the last of the lasagna and meatballs and enjoy some more time on the heated floors.

We had more good times after dinner, playing Pete's board game called the Seven Games [all Parelli trivia] and then trying to learn how to juggle with lemons - I learned that if you drop a lemon enough times, you get lemonade! We had some pretty squooshy lemons by the end! Finally, late into the night we said our final goodbyes and headed back for one last night at the B&B. One more night of warm jammies and then we packed up to head home Monday morning.

It was sunny again, no more snow falling. The temperature rose steadily as we got closer to home - ironic, no? We got lucky and had great, easy travels in both directions. Great discussion and music, great friends and tons of learning.

The funny thing is, that if you were to ask me what I learned this weekend, I am not sure I could pin point it. I learned that I am on the right track with a lot of my thoughts. Everything that I have been playing with this summer seemed to get touched on, even briefly, at some point during the weekend. So thats good. I learned a lot about feel. I learned that I knew a lot about feel - which was kind of surprising.

I still have more to soak on, but it was a really great weekend that left me plotting ways to get to Florida so I can continue my education this winter....

:-)
S

Three of the BEST days Ever, in a Row.

Thats right. Three. THREE AMAZING DAYS all in a row, and I didn't even have to leave Canada!

Im going to start with Day 3, because its today, and because I PASSED MY L4 FINESSE AUDITION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep. That happened. All the gods and Karma's and Universes that be, Bless Mo, thy saviour horse, who ALWAYS pulls my S%$t together when I need her to, and teaches me every lesson when she needs me to learn. My goodness I LOVE MO! We are officially fancy enough to be Black String Bearers!! Much more coordinated with my fancy black pony, dontcha know ;)

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

So thats today. Now to try and focus on the rest of the amazing - because trust me, it was amazing!

I will go back to day 1 - more Mo amazingness :D [Mo-mazing...?]

Saturday when I woke up it was awful weather. I have to say, the day did NOT start out feeling like it was going to be an amazing day for the history books.  It was cold and rainy and windy!! None the less, Mo and I were going to be brave. We waited all week for this day!

What grand adventure were we off to? Fox Hunting of course! What more could you ask for, than some pseudo-British weather when we want to try our hand at a British sport!

With a pit stop in Russell to pick up Roxy and Tristan, we were off, in the thankfully-tapering-off drizzle! We pulled into the Hunt Farm and got ourselves all registered. I think we were the only ones out of the people who did sign up for the Invitational Hunt, to actually show up - because of the weather! I am so glad we did though!

After getting ourselves sorted out, we unloaded the ponies and tacked up in the windy drizzle. Mo was her usual self, eating grass while this went on, but when I moved her feet I could tell she was feeling some energy. Who wouldnt on one of the first cold days, with the wind coming and all the other horses feeling it too!

Once I got on Mo I could really feel her energy up! She was BUZZING! Responsive, but very aware of everything. We sat and had our Stirrup cup [I had lemonade instead of port :) ] She surprised me when the hounds came out by doing nothing. She was absolutely FASCINATED by them! Which was a trend that continued for the whole ride. Every time they were in view, it didnt matter which direction we were travelling, she was looking at the hounds. Let me tell you how good our shoulder in was by the end of the day.... Ha!

In Hunting there are 3 fields of horses that go - there is First field, which are the ones that follow the hounds closely, galloping and jumping everything in their way. Second field goes slightly more moderately paced, trotting and cantering, with alternate routes around the jumps. First field mostly walks and trots, observing from farther away. Laura, Roxy and I opted for second field. Speed, but options :) I like it. Second field is where we rode in the summer on the "mock hunt" trail rides too, so I knew what to expect... sort of!

Second field was perfect pace. I really enjoyed it. Mo was SUPER riled! Basically the most adrenalized I have ever felt her, but still connected and responsive. It was such an odd combination! There were moments when she just COULD not stand or walk, so we did a bunch of passage/piaffe but it was all without me holding her back.... It was outright odd! I would just sit in my body and think " you can do what you want, in this box, but dont leave" and she would trot on the spot, poll high, bum low, super rhythmic and nice.... but just very emotional about it. It was sooooo soft. Just not calm! I refused to hold her up/back with the reins, so she held herself, but she stayed and thats what happened....

I remember thinking later, that I should probably do something to interrupt the emotional pattern, but in the moment it was just SUCH a cool feeling that all I did was set it up and ride it.... whoops ;) So we bounced our little way around the hunt field. There was regular walking and trotting to of course! And cantering! And galloping!

Im pretty sure the big horses were not galloping.... but Mo for sure was! It felt like the fastest we ever went - and it was extra fun because it was in a group with my friends and through a big corn field :D

FLY LIKE THE WIND MO!

I had so much fun :D I kept smiling and laughing [and because of that, ate a bit more mud that I really wanted to] and poor Mo's little white face was fairly mud colored by the end!

After the riding part, Mo and Tristan got to go stay in Laura's very swanky new barn and get spoiled there while we all got spoiled with FOOD! There was a DELICIOUS supper provided and tons of dessert! We all went home happy, tired and full! What a superb day!

After such a great day, Mo and I came home and found out we lost Phyr.... how? I dont know yet, because I havent had time/daylight to investigate, but when we got home late and in the dark, Zephyr was no where to be found!! After much searching and calling she finally crashed out of the woods in the back corner from the WRONG FIELD! GAH! Phyr child.... what she did to get over there and why she was there, who knows.... at least she came back!

So one tired Mo was re-united with one slightly stressed out Phyr and all was happy.

Sunday morning dawned much brighter and nicer than Saturday! Sunday was to be a big day too! I had thought long and hard on Saturday about  what to do - I had scheduled a lesson with Farrah Green for my self for Sunday morning. After our ride the day before though, I didnt think it would be fair to take Mo into another physically challenging endeavor. Which meant Zephyr was nominated!!

Time for the little kid to grow up, go on a trailer ride all by herself and have a lesson in an indoor arena for the first time ever! OH BOYY!!!

Zephyr totally blew my socks off. I cant even say how proud of her I am! She marched herself right on that trailer, all by herself, came off DRY and calm, and waited while I brushed her all up and then walked right into a strange arena while the previous lesson finished up! WOW! WHAT A KID!

I was actually really glad we had some extra time to settle because as good as Phyr was being, she *was* tight for her. So we played touch it and explored the arena a little bit in the ways that we could without disturbing the other person. There was a mirror in one corner that made her go "WASSAT!" but other than that she was pretty brave once she touched everything.


When it was actually our lesson time, Zephyr was spot on. I decided I wanted help on how to figure out how to help her not feel like I was "making" her do everything - even at phase one! I got some great strategies - 1] breathe and release with every step on the yo-yo. Keep going, but time your breathing to one foot. This made an immediate difference for her! I was really surprised! She is such a sensitive thing, that such a subtle thought really affects her!

On the both the circle and the yo-yo we played with maintaining a rhythm. Not just blah blah blah, but the walk I would like to ride, or the back up I would like to ride, or the trot... etc...  Even just changing my focus to be looking for rhythm and doing in my body what I would do if I were riding really caused Zephyr to change!

The we played with maintain gait at the trot - every time she broke we would change direction and send again until it was her idea to keep going. Canter transitions, which have been sticky for us got much easier and clearer! Instead of a helpful drive [my thought] we changed to a follow the feel porcupine up into the canter, which my genius child got right away. Because she is a genius! Her transitions were also GORGEOUS and uphill - which is something she struggles with!

We talked about how not to expect her to maintain that until its easy to maintain the trot forever and the transitions come easy - going to neutral with Zephyr is always my challenge because she tends to get lost and emotional out on the line and then either comes up with naughty thoughts or just robots and runs... so that was really perfect to have Farrah see her and get input on it. We played also with a little bit of just can you canter and using the same change of direction strategy and then when the attitude [can you see me!?!?!] came out, I would just support it in a friendly way, to let her know I saw her and was still there.

We also played with a little spanish walk towards the end, but there was some kafuffle with another horse and Phyr was not about to focus on something so small and ignorable, so Farrah just did simulations with me, and I will play with it with Phyr this winter :)There was also some sideways trotting in there somewhere - first time I ever asked her to trot sideways, and voila! Ha!

Phyr spent the rest of the day while I watched the rest of the lessons, by herself in a little paddock [thanks Garry!] happily grazing. When it was time to go home, she happily loaded up and rode quietly home. She unloaded PERFECTLY, didnt even call to Mo, and walked back into the field all " Did you see, Mo? I got to GO today and you had to stay here :P " I could seriously see her gloating. It was so funny.

The biggest thing I learned yesterday with Zephyr was that I can stop babying her !!!! Farrah says we are close to a L3 audition - so my goal is to pull that out now :) I cant believe that, but YEY Phyr! In my head she is still my baby, but its true, I CAN stop babying her and expect a little more from her now :)

So thats my last three days. Both of my ponies blew my mind, and then I got the email that compounded everything time a million :D

:D
S

The Phyr Child is Growing Up!!

Somehow, over the past two years of having Zephyr in my life, she has been growing up... In the beginning, she was such a cute little kid. Last year she was kind of a funny looking middle sized kid - being all super downhill and such. This year she was still really downhill, but much bigger and starting to look more like a horse than a baby. She still has lots of growing to do, she is only three and three months old. But she is amazing. And wonderful. And SUCH a great teacher!

There are times when I forget she is a baby. The lightness of her responses and the quality of her tries, just blow me away. I and working so hard not to put anything into her that she doesnt need to know. Sometimes, that means I do less with her than maybe I could, but it all pays of, so I am not worried about what we maybe "should" be doing by now. We go at our own pace, and learn together with success!

Today was really a culmination of all that preparation for me. We have really been playing with building a stretchy trot online - because she tends to be rather stiff necked and bracy just about moving forward in general. Causing her to think down was NOT an easy task! I had to get very creative, because if I got in close to her and started trying to move her body around, I was likely to get an exuberant and playful hoof in the stomach. Not my cup of tea. I started with trying to influence her from a distance, but she just got confused and went faster, so it was time to think outside the box.

I would take her out into the hayfield, where the grass is long and delicious looking and ask her to trot until she really wanted to stop and eat grass. Then I would allow her to stop on the circle and eat grass. It was hardly any time at all before she was stretching her neck down for the grass, but maintaining forward movement. Today was the ultimate test! She carried the stretch for over a lap in the hay field, and then when we came back into the playground after saddling [during which she was a total champ!] I asked for the stretch where there was no tempting grass and VOILA! Stretchy Phyr! YEYYY!!!! My plan is working!!!

So online warmup was SUPER today. Just perfect. She is getting better at canter transitions in general, but still a little sticky once saddled. We played with it some, and it got better, but definitely still something to push to get better. Once I felt good online [only one squeal, and a half hearted buck!] I brought her over to the mounting block and hopped up.

She was a total PRO! Stood like a statue, and came around for lateral flexion pretty much when I thought about it! She is so sensitive when she wants to be! We walked off really nice and played with some point to point in the back with the barrels. Walk first, then trot. Lots of licking and yawning! I rode with the carrot stick to, which Zephyr likes I think, because I can be more clear without having to add more to her halter.

Then came the miracle moments. I went over and dropped the stick at the mounting block and thought "We should canter back to Mo" and POOF we did! It was only the second time we ever cantered before, EVER! Then we went back to our point to point barrels and continued the theme of canter departs. Really thinking about changing my picture from trot feel to canter feel [not just add speed for faster trot] and causing her to catch on to that, rather than "lets canter a whole bunch". Its not about the canter! Zephyr was amazing. Of course we had a few miscommunication moments, but nothing horrendous, and she was trying so hard anyways! The last two were PERFECT and she settled into a lovely forward canter !!!! Holy moly can little horsey canter BIG!

Overall, I could NOT be more proud of my Phyr. SHE ROCKED MY WORLD!!! I LOVE ZEPHYR!!!! She is so smart, so sensitive, so clever! Now, I just have to make sure I dont screw her up :D

SUCH a good morning!!!!

:)
S

Mo The Champion

[this was supposed to be posted before previous post, but it got saved as draft somehow]

So a few weeks ago, me and Mo went to a show called a Combined Test. I never really knew these things existed before hearing about this one, and since it was about five minutes away from my house, I was game to try. Essentially, you ride a dressage test and then jump a stadium course. Based on your scores from both, a division winner is decided.

I decided just a few days before the show to enter Mo. We chose the smallest division - an Entry level dressage test and a 2'3 jump course, because I didnt really leave us much practice time. It was the Friday of this weekend that I filmed my Finesse Audition, so I felt pretty ready to ride a dressage test.

The day before the show it rained non-stop. I am not kidding, it just rained and rained and rained some more! I was starting to think I would have to teach Mo the backstroke to get to X! Due to the rain, there was no practice on the day before. Luckily, Sunday dawned nicely.

We were pretty much the only trailer-in competitor, other than Jeanette and Toby. Which meant we had plenty of space to warm up and play. Warm up and online play went really well. Short but intense and focused. Then it was time to braid and saddle up! Mo looks so fancy all braided up and with her fancy white saddle pad! Our warm up ride got to run long because things were a little behind, but thats ok. We played with transitions and sideways and canter-walk transitions. Mo was really happy and confident in the bridle, and happy to move forward because it was a chilly day!

Then it was our turn!! We trotted around the arena a few times before we were called in. During one of our rounds the judge said hello and complimented Mo! How nice is that? :) When the bell rang [it was actually a duck call because the bell was being drowned out by the wind, ha!]  we were close to the gate and I opted to head in. Probably a bad move, because we lots rhythm and straightness suffered. Oh well!

Luckily, I had Amanda calling for me, even though I had the test memorized, because then I could just focus and ride :) Mo was great. I was and am SO proud of her! She was rhythmic and consistent and responsive! We broke our canter on the second circle, but otherwise I felt really really good about everything else. Snappy transitions, nice direction and circles and relaxation, most of all!

Coming out of the test I felt really happy. Thats what was the best part. I was so proud of Mo, and she was still happy! I took her to the sidelines to watch Jeanette and Toby do their round. They did great too! After both tests we headed back to the trailer to get the ponies some well deserved hay snacks and find ourselves some lunch!

While on lunch the results for our first class were released.... MO GOT FIRST!!!!!!!!!!! I was basically beside myself with pride! Mo was so amazing that even the judge noticed! In the comments section there was a note that said NICE HORSE in all caps :D What a nice judge! We scored a 71% on our test!

Mo got a big red ribbon and even a bag full of horsey treats :D She was obviously very tired after such an effort....

After lunch it was time to warm up for jumping. Mo did her classic and over jumped everything from the long spot in the warm up. It was ok, I am getting better at riding it at least. Then it was our turn!

Into the jump arena we went. It was a very tight twisty turny course, but Mo is good at that. There were lots of Mo eating flowers, which Mo wildly over jumped, but we lived. Because she was a little spazzy I opted to ride again, and the second time out was SO MUCH BETTER! I was just happy that Mo was able to maintain more rhythm and fowardness through the course !

Happy with our effort, but totally not expecting a ribbon [ I actually forgot our second round could still count] we went back to the trailer to untack and get many scratches. When I came back to watch the little kids go, the score keeper/ ribbon giver found me and told me that MO WON! AGAIN!!

Some how, Mo got the optimum time!! I didnt even know what it was, but somehow she got it! WAY TO GO MO!!

Mo got FIRST in both of our classes!!! Which means she was CHAMPION in our division!!! How cool is that?

Not only our first, first place ribbon, but there were two of them AND a fancy giant Champion ribbon!

Mo rocked my socks the whole day and it paid off :D YEY MO!!!

:D
S

Mo the Teacher

Mo has, and will always be one of my most influential teachers, but today was especially poignant for me.

This morning we had a great play online after a slightly mopey catch-me time. Yesterday I let them out in the very grassy back pasture, so this morning when I called them up for breakfast, no one was interested - surprise, surprise! It was pretty funny really. When I went down to walk them up, Zephyr came over from about 100 feet away, said hi and do you have any cookies, but left when she found out the answer was no! Mo was over behind her, and when I started to walk to Mo, Zephyr got re-interested, but when I ignored her she got offended and left [the indignity of it all!] As Mo figured out that I was talking to her, she came over and we walked together up to the barn for her brekky. Zephyr only noticed that Mo got food about 15 minutes later as I was brushing Mo. So she did get hers, just belatedly - silly goof.

So me and Mo headed out to play, on a 22' with some zone five driving, that is always something Mo seems to worry about. It is not my strong suit, and though I know we have enough of a foundation in it to make our L4 audition pass, I have decided it might be something I would like to refine a little more. I had the line draped over her back, and I was really looking for her to tune into where my belly button was pointing to direct her, and then I could support with the stick if I needed to. I kept it simple, just a few circles or a figure eight near to the barn. Something easy and confidence building. There was lots of licking and chewing, and even a few blow outs. I was happy with that!

From there I played with refining my communication with zone 1 in the send for sideways. Mo got really energetic about that and trotted and cantered sideways a bunch. Then we played with extension/collection on a circle. That was super interesting! She got some really cool extension AND in our collection portion - we almost got piaffe!!! just a half step or two, but it was almost there! Definitely something to keep playing with.

I decided that today would be bareback balance day. The last few times I have actively ridden bareback, things felt iffy, so I thought today would be a good chance to assess that and check out whats really going on. I got some savvy strings for reins - because I still want to play with lightness, and hopped up [from the fence]

We walked and trotted, I checked my balance point, I made an extra effort to check and make sure I wasnt gripping with my knees and everything felt great. Mo felt good, I felt in sync with her, I was really happy with that. When I felt good with everything at low speed, I asked Mo up into the canter and then she got all weird. I was really confused at first. She got her neck all curled up, she wouldnt move forward, it felt like she was bouncing on the spot, and she actually did buck for real at one point. I kept just using one rein to shut it down and asking her to go, but still trying to figure out WHY she was doing that. Something obviously wasnt good for her in the canter.

I tried to figure out if her back was in pain - but no, that should show at the trot more for the bouncy. Maybe my locked hip was blocking her? Again, no, nothing at the trot. And then it hit me - The canter transition had me gripping with my knees!! I told Mo that I wanted to work on my bareback balance, and here was her feedback! So up into the canter we went again, with me consciously trying not to grip with my knees and leg, and there was less of the 'cant go forward'. Excellent.

So we played with that, until we could transition and canter without my brain being useless. And then when I got off - the swirly hairs I usually find under my legs werent there! No brace-no rubs !

Once again, Mo has been my wonderful teacher. How I love my pony!

:)
S 

Road to a Finesse Audition

Well, I finally did it. Me and Mo finally got ballsy enough to try filming out Finesse Audition. And we had fun doing it! We did it in one shot, we smiled, I laughed, and Mo jumped imaginary things, just for fun.

If you want to watch it - the link is here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUVdXpo25Z8&feature=youtu.be

Mo was wonderful. A little slow, but it was actually the first hot day in weeks, so I dont really blame her! From 15 degrees to 27, with her partially grown winter coat! POOR MO! Other than slow, she was perfect. PERFECT!

Attitude is the number one thing I can cite as why it went well. Taping previous auditions, I really had the attitude of "OMG GOTTA DO THIS OR ELSE" - because of the deadline and what not. Yesterday, I literally woke up and thought "Hey, today would be a great day to film my audition for Finesse I think". I still had to go to work and do all that business, so it even had to wait until I got home. And I still had a great thought about it. I was actually really excited to film! That never happened before!

So I came home from work and Mo was in the shed, hiding from the bugs and sunshine. She and Zephyr got their tiny portion of supplements, and then I spent a whole bunch of time making Mo pretty! I brushed her until she shined, put a gallon of show sheen in her mane and tail, and even braided her mane a little bit :) She looked so pretty!! No that she doesnt always look, pretty, but she sure looked extra pretty :)

After saddling, we slowly made our way out to the shifty dressage arena I made. D was coming in from cutting wood by now, right on time to video Mo in all her glory :)

We warmed up online as usual. I went really slow, waiting for her to put some try in. Mo went really slow at first and then came out squealing and goofy, trotting and cantering.  When I mounted we just played around freestyle first. She was even slow freestyle, so at least I know it wasnt about the bridle! For reference, it was hot enough for ME, the eternally cold one, to be wearing a tank top! Poor Mo in her half winter fluffies, she was a little toasty. She got a ton of apples for her effort though!

After testing out our follow the rail and a few flying changes [HA! Who knew I would ever say THAT semi-casually!] I checked my pre-laid pattern in my head and told D when to start filming.

Turns out my pre-planned route would only take three minutes. Oopsy! So we had to improvise a little at the end, but I had semi-accounted for that, and had a sort of idea what else I would like to do, at least :)

It all went great. Mo jumped the log twice on our left to right changes, because she is a goober like that. Then one time, when we stopped, when I tried to go again she was all "WAIT!!!! MY NOSE IS ITCHY!" and it was really funny because she is so dramatic. I just laughed and let her scratch her nose, and then we went on.

Overall, I think it went very well. I dont know if it will pass or not, but hopefully :) At least I had fun doing it. Getting to this point has been a hard road. To be able to just let go and have fun and let the Audition Gods play as they see fit was a very hard thing for my perfectionist personality!

Black string, here I come!!

:)
S

Dressage Practice

This past weekend me and Mo headed out the the local Hunter Pace, and we had an amazing time. It was by far the best most connect event of this sort I have had with Mo. She was far more connected to my body language than she has been in the past, and even with the record amount of mud, we had a super day.

Yesterday I decided to enter a small fun show at the barn where I have taken lessons in the past year and a half, on and off. It is a dressage/jumper show, so we have to ride a dressage test and then jump a stadium course. Sounds easy peasy huh? Well, I hope it will be. I am quite excited about taking Mo, since it is such an affordable event and a fun way to get out and practice what we have been playing with.

Obviously I cant compete in a halter, so that means I have to re-introduce the bridle again, which is what we did last night. It was a very very interesting session.

My afternoon started when I got home from teaching, and jumped on Google to tell me how to make a dressage ring, and which test I would need to ride. I found both, and headed out with my trusty sharpie and started to lay out my hastily planned dressage test practice zone! It actually turned out quite well, and I am fairly proud of it. I used jump standards as my corner points, with jump poles to mark the arena lines vaguely, and small white barrels with the letters markered onto them as my letters for the pattern. Then I mowed the  whole area with the lawn mower [dont tell D... he hates when I do that! ]

The best part of the whole endeavor, was that Mo hung out with me for basically the whole time! Except the mowing part, which I understand ! But while I was moving poles and standards and barrels, she was with me, checking things out, probably snickering to herself as Zephyr chased around the new cows.  I thought that was rather nice. Mo being with me, not Zephyr chasing cows [though that really is just funny]

Once it was all set up, I fetched myself a Mo, which was really easy because she was right at the barn. She haltered herself in a lovely fashion and I set about making her purtyfull :) I wasnt sure if we would have to go fully decked out in show gear this weekend, so I tested out if my white sheet will work over my Smart Pad, and it turned out ok. Saddling was good, so then it was time for the bridle. Despite our bridle hiatus, Mo was eager to take up the bit again [yey!] and so we were ready to go.

I had her on a 12' line, with reins in hand, and my dressage whip instead of a carrot stick. It is easier for me to listen to her and not 'make' her at phase one with the littler stick I think. We turned to go and got about five steps before Mo said "hang on a second" and paused. I waited a bit, she licked and we went on, but it was really one step at a time. I was really trying to mirror her, and not just step off without her. We made it just past the red gate before she got stuck again. This time I accidentally kept walking a bit, because I was distracted by squirrels.

Now Squirrels. This might not be a big deal to the rest of the world, but it is a fairly significant thing in my life. For the last 14 1/2 years of my life, there have been NO squirrels anywhere near any house I have lived in. Why, you ask? Well because of Sable and Ajax. Between the two of them, the doggies kept small game to a minimum because they are apparently very tasty. So, the fact that I uncovered a nest of at least two baby [well, youngish] and one grown up squirrels..... well thats a sad fact because it means my amazing fluffy dog is getting older and doesnt want to chase them any more :( I think Varo is to too engrossed with chasing Orange Cat to take up the reins eating squirrels, so who knows? Maybe I will be over run with the little critters soon! Maybe then Jax will notice, and resume his squirrel hunting prowess.....

So, squirrels. I was so astounded to see them, that when Mo stopped, I kept walking until the end of the line and then noticed she had stopped. Oops. So I waited. I watched squirrels and waited until it was her idea to come up to me. And WOW. When she came up to me, all on her own, she power walked! And was SUPER enthused to keep going out to the field! Thanks, Squirrels. My mistake turned out pretty alright after all!

Out in the field I took Mo over to check out our new play pen. We checked things out and played a little with circles, stick to me and sideways. It was just amazing. I allowed her to offer what she thought was right with the energy I directed to her, and released when she matched my picture. She did TONS of thinking! Her sideways was some of the best its ever been, cantering from a standstill with loads of happy exuberance! I released way more often and was rewarded with way more try. How interesting! Im not sure I can even clearly express the easy happy back-and-forth that went on in that session. It was just so light hearted and fun! I ended up playing online for much longer than I had planned to :)

When I finally did get on and ride, I started with my reins on the halter. We played with some connection there and tried out our test for Sunday. It went really really well. We were both just so focused and in tune, it felt easy! Then I switched to the reins and tried out a soft touch, and it was still wonderful, then a little more of a soft feel to her mouth,  and it was still there! She got a little bit iffy with more feel, really wanting to hide in a stretch, but I tried really hard to keep it light and fun and giver her a release often. I must have done something right, because by the time we were done, she had NO frothy green [from cookies] stuff at all! I am pretty sure that is a first EVER! SUCCESS!!!

After playing around with our test a few times, we tried some different things too. Sideways, haunches in, shoulders in, just different shaping the body things. I tried a few changes, but I didnt set her up right, so we just got the front end - ALTHOUGH! A few times when we missed the hind, she did get extra elevated behind and fix it herself. THAT was cool, and also a first :)

I am really really enjoying the feel of playing with this new filter I have given myself. It is making a world of difference to Mo and even to Zephyr. I think too, it is giving me permission more to be where I am, instead of wondering why I havent gotten to X point yet. I feel like I am putting way more layers on what Ive got, rather than needing to DO new tasks..... if that makes sense?

Hopefully today I will be able to sort out some kind of a video.... if Zephyr will leave an unattended  camera on a barrel alone! Darn curious children ;)

:)
S

Interesting Things Pt 2

As promised, here is Mo's story over the last few days.

I would have written it sooner, but I really needed some time to digest and think/feel on it, before sharing it. Hopefully, I can do the story justice, because it has been very powerful to me at this point in time.

Mo and I have come a long way together. Loooonnngggggggg....gggggggg. When I got her, she was just two weeks old, and I was 16. I knew nothing about Parelli [or very very little] and I was about to embark on a gigantic learning curve.

Most of my first Parelli greenhorn mistakes were made with Dakota, but I have had to do my fair share of apologizing to my sacrificial lamb of learning, Mo, as well. As we rise up the levels together, I see more and more how much she has filled in for me and I appreciate her ever-more. Lately, with my focus being on passing my L4 Finesse, I have been trying to shift my thoughts towards really having her WANT to be doing this with me - WANT to be there, holding my hand, not *just doing it* because I said so. She is very obedient by this point. Mo, for sure, has a billion opinions, and frequently voices them, but she is also very obedient, in that if I say "Hey, lets focus for a bit and play later", she generally replies in the affirmative and ceases whatever goofballness she was pursuing.

This week has been a realy eye opener for me, in seeing what Mo REALLY wants, and listening to her. I recently was FINALLY, after literal YEARS of wanting one, able to wrangle myself up my very own Photonic Red Light [and if I was tech savvy, I would know how to make their name a fancy link-y thing, but instead, you will just have to google them] A friend of mine has been really starting to look into the therapy and practicing on Mo a few times, as well as getting her treated by Brian [company founder] twice in London - really opened my eyes to the positive effects this kind of therapy can really have. Mo would be a different horse each time after treatments. Much more free moving forwards, and happier to go sideways and that kind of thing. Listening to her, it really showed me that she enjoyed that. So now, with my own, I have really tried hard to listen to her in respect to WHERE she would like me to place the light. The last two times I used it on her, she was quite obviously trying to put it in certain places for longer, or making sure I hit a particular spot I might have otherwise glossed over.

So step one in listening to Mo came from treating her with the Red Light. Step two really came the other day after the Zen Ride. So Tuesday I guess, if that was Monday? I went out, really trying to chanel my energy into re-creating that amazing ride. we warmed up in a very similar way, and then headed over to use a tree as a mounting block. Thats when things got educational!

Quite often when I snap my reins on and head to the mounting block, I will ask my horse to follow me at Liberty, hop up on my perch and then they sidle over to pick me up, of their own volution. Things were going as they usually do, reins snapped on, we were walking over to the tree, I stepped up onto the tree, Mo sidled up about halfway.... and then went "Actually, not ready for that yet" And walked away! She just turned hard right, and walked just to the outside of the gate for the bottom field, and stood there.

Well dang. I could totally feel in the moment that it wasnt an attitude thing. It wasnt a play - I dont want to - thing. It was a total I cant. I KNEw I could go get her, bring her back and get her to stand, just by picking up the rein - not even holding her there, but just by having contact with her - but I truly want it to be her idea to hang out with me, and do the things *I* love to do, because she loves them too. This might be a stretch, but it is my focus right now.

So I waited. She wasnt going any further. She was maybe 60-70 feet away from me. She was standing with her tail towards me, head low, really introverted and processing. Hmmm.... So I waited some more, and she finally did turn to face me. But she placed herself in a such a way that there was a t-post directly in front of her, between her and I. Like she was trying [unseccessfully] to hide behind the t-post. Her focus was still kind of soft and dreamy and introverted, but she was trying to connect. It was like she was kind of daring me "what are you going to do? Will you come get me and MAKE me? " So I waited some more. I really wanted to see if she would eventually just come back to me on the mounting block.

I feel like she would have. At one point though, she put her head down to rub and her reins fell up her neck into a dangerous position, so I had to go save her. I didnt just march up to her though. I still felt out her bubble, I got her to turn towards me, I just fixed her reins and stepped back. She was willing to turn towards me [I like to think that she knew why I was coming in] but not to move her feet with me. So I backed off some more and waited some more. She was doing a TON of processing on this.

So was I. Lets be honest. This was HARD for me. It was SO hard, just to NOT get emotional [upset, frustrated, confused] when she walked away in the first place, and just go "how Interesting" and try to see what would happen. If I wasnt trying so hard to listen to her, to see if she is feeling ok, if there is anything ouchy, or if she is feeling like a partner today, I could have easily just caught the rein and mounted anyways and avoided this whole kerfuffle. Instead I let me horse dictate the timeline, and tell me where she needed me to be - which was not on her back yet.

So we played with waiting game, a little approach and retreat, a little bit of friendly game when something made a big banging noise in the sad barn and spooked Mo. Interestingly, she wanted to go over and check it out, instead of leave. She went about half way over, then decided it was kosher and came back to her original spot.  She looked fascinated that I wasnt just coming to get her. I was just as fascinated with her thought process and feeling for her emotions.

Finally I felt her really connect to me. She felt like she really wanted to draw into me, but she kept looking concerned at the electric fence that makes that gate. I know she is nervous about that kind of thing, so I backed off, to allow her lots of space to make it through without feeling like she would get trapped in the squeeze with the shock-y stuff. Just like that, she walked all the way up to me and blew out with a big lick and chew and started yawning.

Well holy cow. We just stood and I rubbed on her a whole bunch for a while. I snuggled her while she sorted out her thoughts. Then we went TOGETHER, to the mounting tree, she came to me perfectly, and I mounted and off we went. Our ride was really basic - we just went out in the hayfield on apple tree point to point. Mostly inconsequential after that ground session.

All told, that liberty plot line ran about 35 minutes from the time she walked away to the time I stepped back in the saddle. Thats a lot of waiting! I kind of wish she hadnt gotten tangled with her reins, and I could have stayed on my block to see what would happen, but I think what happened anyways was a fairly clear vision of her emotions.

So that brings us to yesterdays Liberty session.The day I rode Zephyr, Mo was all over me, but I didnt have time to play with both, so I just hugged her, gave her some cookies and promised I would see her later. The next day I went out with the intention to play with Mo, but after a quick friendly game she squealed and left! Oky doky then....! I caught Zephyrs attention and we played [see previous post] and the whole time Mo was watching us. grazing, yes, but sneakily keeping an eye on what we were doing and ever so softly coming in closer.

I didnt even notice when suddenly she was behind me as I was asking Zephyr to do something, until I accidently bumped her nose with my elbow! Poor Mo! She stayed though, just long enough to get a cookie, before spinning and trotting about 20 feet away. Goof. She did that twice more, staying closer each time until she was basically my shadow while I did stuff with Zephyr. I didnt ask anything of her though. When I finished with Zephyr, Mo walked with me back out of the gate and then trotted off to the barn when I asked her to turn, and she looked funny at the trot. ONLY because she looked funny at the trot, I caught up with her at the barn and tossed my string around her neck to bring her to the round pen. She didnt protest or try to escape or anything - but it wasnt her idea totally, or she would have stayed with me in the first place. If I hadnt thought she looked off, I would have left her to keep figuring out her own thoughts.

In the round pen I had her trot for me so I could see. She looked fine in there, so I have no clue what she looked funny about before. BUT !! Once in the round pen, she have me amazing close circles AND change of direction softly. We did that for maybe five minutes [just enough for me to check out her gait, go WOW and remember to get out before it gets bad] and then she stuck with me on her own plan as I walked back to pick up something and back to the barn. Even when I did transitions, she was right there. How interesting!

Which brings us to today! I was very curious to see what yesterday's liberty escapades would brew for me this morning. Apparently really good stuff! I fed the girls their breakfasts, and then haltered Mo. She was ALL about getting her face in the halter!  I brushed her and saddled her and off we went. Our little ground warm up consisted of playing with drawing the forehand to me. Mo was a little confused [rightly so] but got it really quickly. From there I went over to the mounting tree, and just thought "today, I would like to try mounting from the right" Guess which side Mo presented for me? I DIDNT EVEN HAVE TO ASK! She just read my mind! I was flabberghasted!

The amount of times I get on from the left, or just clamber up onto something and hope Mo comes over, I get the left side automatically. Today, by some magic, I got her right side. Wow. It was so easy! Here I was, thinking that we would be playing with our sideways towards on the right today. Boy was I wrong! It was just all right there! How cool is that? I went to mount, and the saddle slipped, but Mo didnt even move. She let me fix her up and try again, successfully this time - but the pad had tried to escape when I fixed the saddle and I didnt notice, so I had to get off anyways to fix it. This time, remounting, I thought, "Well, I will just get on the left this time" and POOF, again, like magic, over came the left side. Scary, no? My pony the psychic.

I mounted once again, and off we went. Something still felt different though. I couldnt put my finger on it. She was calm, connected and responsive as we walked out, but her body just felt different. The saddle was right, though, so I attributed it to the fact that I was wearing rubber boots and jeans, and just got new stirrup leathers. Off we went. Practiced our HQ yields from the walk and used them to direct our path instead of direct rein. Out into the bottom field where they are turned out right now, we started trotting. At first she was a little tight and looky [it was cold and windy] but then she relaxed and started stretching on her own. I was riding her in just a halter and finesse reins.

I eventually asked for her to come up to me, to collect her body and give softly to the halter and she did, soooo easily! This was only the second or third time I have really asked her this question in this way, so I was pretty surprised with how easily she answered positively.

And then we cantered. And I thought she was going to buck. But she didnt.

I was so confused that I bent her to a stop. Her canter hadnt felt like her normal canter. It felt much more UP, and suspendy. I didnt know what it was. So I thought she was going to buck! My general response to a bucking horse is bend to a stop, so thats what I did! Mo looked confused though, so we went again, and again she like this great suspendy upitty dolphin! Instead of beding her, I just checked in with her, asked for a touch of flexion [got it on phase one] and kept going.

And then I figured it out!

Mo was USING HER BACK! She was ENGAGING! She was LIFTING from her abs through her back! She was CARRYING herself! When I checked in with her, she was in beautiful vertical flexion! She was still soft, and responsive and super connected. As soon as I thought walk, it was there. I didnt know what she was doing, because I have NEVER felt her do it before!!!

NOW I know what people mean when they talk about suspension in the canter, and the 'up jump'! Riding Mo this morning was like riding a collected dolphin! It was amazing! I didnt push her much more than to confirm that she wasnt bucking, because I didnt want to ruin it. Even as I was rewarding it, I was wondering if I just rewarded her for bucking, until I figured out what she actually did!

My theory in-progress is that with all the nice red light treatments Mo has been getting, combined with the new supplement she is on that makes her muscles feel good, plus me finally getting smart and really being aware of her wants and desires has caused Mo to feel good, and really reach for the next level when I ask for it, even if I dont really know what I am asking for, preciseley! Really, exactly what she offered me today, is what I have been asking for when I ask for her to use her body playing with finnesse, and when I ask for suspension in her canter to make those flying changes. It really is the very COOLEST thing that she just decided to try it out this morning and see how it went!

Thats where we are at for now. Pretty cool stuff happening this week. I will have to post again later on MY take aways from it all!

:)
S

Interesting Things....

Over the last few days I have had some really interesting experiences. Both with Zephyr and Mo. I feel like I have really grown in my understanding of both of them, just in the last few days. I want to try and write about them to digest and fully understand them - but it may not be completely coherent yet, so bear with me. [Also, my fingers are cold, so my typing may not be the best...!]

I will start with Zephyr, since her story is a single event at this time.[ I lied, I just remembered part 2, but its still shorter than Mo's, so Ill keep on it]  On Wednesday I went out to play and Mo didnt really feel like engaging, so I picked the ever present Phyr Child, because she ALWAYS wants to play. I love that about her, and I hope I never do anything to dissuade her from that opinion. We started out Online. It was VERY warm. 35-40 degrees Celcius in the humidity. For contrast, Mother Nature has shunned us now, and it is a balmy [reads: frigid] 10 degrees currently. From Heat warning to winter jackets in three days. Welcome to The Great White North!

Whether it was because of the heat, or just because its Zephyr and she is a goober, she didnt really want to go anywhere. Her expressino was really awful relating to anything like a send. Ok. So we played with yo-yo instead. Really tiny, miniscule yo-yo, unless she got crooked [her habit] and then I got much bigger. Her interest COMPLETELY perked up when I started being thoughtful in that direction! I was so surprised that she didnt take offence to me picking a direction for her feet! Every time she got straight on to me, I would release, and she would have a BIG lick and chew, and blink, with sometimes a yawn. This was HUGE stuff to her! I couldnt believe it. This is not to say that we didnt have a functional yo-yo game before this, it just wasnt functional at this level!

When that was feeling pretty good, I decided to visit sticky game numero deux - her sideways. For whatever reason, when I got Zephyr, sideways was THE hardest thing for her. She just could not sort out how her feet were supposed to move in tandem, sideways away from me! Poor kid. She is hugely improved now, but it still isnt cantering sideways or anything like that. So I isolated just turning her front end over, from a straight on position [conviently provided by my now-fixed yo-yo game!] On just phase 1 from about 17-20 feet away, I was able to direct her nose to turn so she would face side-on to me. COOL! From there I could raise my energy and ask her to take a step or two before she would think forward. Luckily, with my yo-yo being so recently empowered, when she leaked forward, I just changed my energy focus and used a phase on yo-yo to back her up! How cool is that? It was all so slow and subtle, but it felt so light and airy and interesting! Zephyr was having brain explosion after brain explosion! Licking a ton, blinking hugely and yawning over and over! I thought she was going to lay down at one point.

I thought about asking for a circle after, but her expression just so snarly I just changed my mind - because things had been going SO well, and I really wanted to put some thought into helping that before I ruined our great session. We played with back and sideways a bunch before heading back up to the barn to tack up. I figured a nice walking ride would be good for us both. I was able to keep her happy and motivated on a figure eight after saddling. Before mounting I put a savvy string around her neck and picked up a carrot stick. Never to soon to reach towards bridleless riding, right?

Mounting was great, as were Zephyrs lateral flexion checks - which means her looking for cookies! Ha! We walked forward a bit and I played with some lateral flexion with the stick for the second time ever. She is a little iffy about that - she wants to go forward through the pressure, but thats ok, she figured it out and we will continue to play with that. The coolest thing was the first time I asked her to back up with the neck string. I just asked for a backup in my body, and supported it with *maybe* a phase two on the string, and POOf there was my super nice backup! Thank you, understanding of porcupine game, you make my life so much easier!

We played with those things as we moseyed around. Really isolating those core basics of lateral flexion, stopping with out reins, backing without reins or with the neck string, HQ/FQ yields and forwards transitions from a stop. Zephyr really impressed me that day. She is SO light. Mostly because I have been SUPER vigilant on myself to not dull her - but it still surprises me when she responds just like Mo in some things. The bonus of having gone the long twisty way in developing Mo [still on that path!] means I can find the straighter path with Zephyr, which means I can set her up right, right from the start, to the best of how I know, right now.

After our mosey and checking things out, we headed up to the gate to ride out to the apple trees. This was only the second time I have ever tried to open a gate with Zephyr, and it went pretty well. Opening was good, closing got messy and I had to bail and just toss it closed because Mo was trying to escape. Coming back though, it was better and we did it two more times to get it really good, and she was perfect! Our ride out was nice and easy. We just walked around the edge of the hay field, kind of point to point to the apple trees.

That was that session, and then yesterday I played at liberty for a little bit with her, because Mo was playing another game with me. It was actually really really interesting to watch Mo get closer and closer and closer to us, as I played with Zephyr, and finally start playing with us too - all her idea! Since Zephyr was all about playing - I decided to ask her to squeeze over the little log. This is something she does all the time Online and on her own, so I figured it would be an easy start. Except it wasnt!

When I would send her, she would try to go around the log. Hmmm. Disengaging brought her right back, but she wasnt understanding the the job was to go OVER the log. Finally, I got brighter and tried to draw her to me over the log, instead of sending her. This still took a long time, and a lot of rewarding the slightest try, but she finally sorted it out and came over the log to me! Lots of cookies and rubs, licks and yawns later, we tried it again. Similar length of time, but mission still accomplished. Same after effects as well. We continued that pattern a few more times, until she really got it and I sent her over once and called it the end!

The best part was, she was engaged and trying and happy for the whole mini session! Very cool stuff, and she learned, without really feeling like she had been taught - I hope :)


Soooo... not quite as short of a story as I had thought, but there you have it. Zephyr in a few sessions. The big teller was this morning when I went to feed them, Zephyr didnt even try to crowd or come up and push in for her food. Hmmmmm!!!! Such a quick study, my Phyr. Everything I do right means so much to her. And everything I do wrong.... means ten times more!

Ill finish this post up and post it on its own so that there is a sort of organization here.... Mo's story to come !

;)
S

Zen Mo

I am not sure what my soul would do with horses. Or my idle hands and mind, really, if I didnt have horses to occupy myself. But my soul most of all, would suffer, I think.

I cam home from work today kind of stressed. Not about anything horse related, or really anything in my control right now. Just not knowing the details and ramifications it will have on my life has got me a little on edge today. Knowing this, I wasnt sure exactly what would happen when I went out to see the ponies.

Sometimes things go really really well and I get fixed, and sometimes I am stupid and things are a catastrophe. Today, things followed the first pattern, and went really REALLY well.

Mo is my soulmate. In every sense of the word. She is always there for me, always ready to keep me company through the lonelies, or push me that little bit extra to make sure I *really* learn that lesson I needed. Today, she was, once again, everything I needed.

When I got home both ponies and cows were up at the barn. I think they were trying to figure out what the big tarped lump was - the round bales we baled and piled there last night. When I went over, they both came over, as is typical [dinner time!]. I started brushing Mo, just at Liberty, to get a feel for her today. Sometimes, if I am not *there* she says she isnt ready to talk to me until I get my ducks in a row. Today, she was more than content to stand around while I doted on her, and kept a certain pesky Zephyr out of her tail.

I got her all shined up. I love doing that. There is something soothing about putting effort into making her look so pretty. Sometimes I see riders with half-turned out horses and I wonder if they love them as much as I love Mo. Making sure every hair is perfect and brushed and shiny is something that I love to spend time doing. Letting her know how loved she is and pretty she is just makes my heart happy. I think she enjoys it too - who doesnt love a good massage and visit to the hair salon?

After she was all shined up and looking wonderful, I brought out the saddle pad. Mo licked it thoroughly, but when I went to throw it up on her back she kind of went |"yeah, but". Hmmm, how interesting. It made it up to her back, but she had turned as if to leave after it landed. She didnt leave all the way, but it was definitely enough that I noticed. I stepped back and tossed some energy towards her hind quarters and waited..... and waited ... and waited.... then all of a sudden, she yielded herself back into proper position and started yawning and licking! Whoa!

Im not really sure what that was all about, but it sure was interesting to watch! I went up and rubbed her, rearranged my shims and watched her continue to process that whole event. How interesting. That really set the tone for the whole session. I went slowly and gave her lots of 'good girl' and rubs, and she was super engaged and full of try. This horse is SO my mirror, its beyond my belief. The days where I have high energy and am ready to go-go-go, so is Mo. The days where I need to take some time, process, and meander, Mo gives me the green lights to do just that. Man, I love this horse.

When I brought the saddle out, there was no sign of the squigglyness, or any kind of hesitation about being saddled. She actually yawned again when I set the saddle on her. Well dang, I wonder if there have been some tiny thresholds that I have missed or something? Mo is so tolerant....  Finally got the girth and fly spray and then the halter [ yea, a little backwards, but it worked out, right? and I learned stuff!] Mo was ALL OVER the halter - which was SO interesting! The last time I went to halter Mo, I offered it to her and she kind of half heartedly tried, but allowed Zephyr to push her away and then she left. This time, she was the bulldozer, getting that nose INTO the halter NOW! How cool is that?

Sometimes I drive Zephyr away when I want Mo, since she is so pushy and always wanting to play, but sometimes I just wait and see what Mo will do - if she will really make the choice to come play, or if Zephyr can talk her out of it - whats more fun? Me, or doing nothing in the field? It is an interesting conundrum.

So there we were, haltered, with finesse reins on the halter. I am experimenting with a new thing for us - Finesse in a halter. I am not to sure where we are headed with it yet, I just know its something I want to try. Both me and Mo get emotional sometimes with a bridle - I get so worried about being in the wrong place/feel for her, and it causes her to get emotional about the bit and contact. So with the halter, we can play with lightness, shaping her body and steady feel without leaning - because I know I can be hyper vigilant about having her not lean on the halter, where with the bit, I am not really sure what is her taking contact and what is her leaning and asking me to carry her gigantic head.

We wandered our way out to the back field, playing with matching my walking intention and scooping her up if she didnt quite follow. It was a really nifty experience though, because I didnt have a stick - I tossed my dressage whip during picture day and hadnt picked it up yet. Since that was the stick I wanted to ride with, I figured I would just go get it. Of course, on the way to go get it, I get distracted and play with my super-pony. Point of my stick-less side track, was that I was scooping her up with just my focus. I would just look over my shoulder with the intention of her needing to catch up, and she would - either a faster walk or a trot, as needed.

That went on for a little while, I played with bigger and smaller circles, asking for more bounce in the stride a few times - one time got me this really cool tiny tiny super uphill canter for four strides. That was cool! And then I fetched my stick from its forlornly tossed spot and went ahead and mounted up. We played a whole bunch with friendly game while moving with the stick, because Mo has been getting a bit worried about me carrying a stick down like a whip. She keeps thinging she needs to yield from it - which results in some fantastic sideways stuff, but not ideal when I would just like calm confident forwards :)

I cant remember the last time Mo blew out so much on one ride. On one *focused* ride, I should say. She blew out a TON at the last OVH Trail Ride, which was A++ for her!  Today though, was a whole 'nother plane! She started out a little unsure - with the stick and what not - we were heading to the bottom field to ride there for the first time too. I played lots of friendly with the stick all over the place and really rode forwards with my energy and thought about my body posture -engaging and core strength -  and she started to relax. We just walked all over to start, testing out brakes and turning via HQ yields. That is getting really nice! When I first picked up the reins on the halter, Mo wasnt really sure what to do. We had played with it one time before, just at the halt and a bit at the walk, just asking for flexion and relaxation. I just played with the feel until it was right for her and she softened, then released and rubbed her. She licked a TON!

We continued this pattern until it made sense to her [ she licked a million times!] and then I tried it at a trot. She was really experimenting in her body, playing with different neck positions, different flexions, raising and lowering her withers at different times. It was really cool to see and feel that. It was really rewarding to know she felt the freedom to try all those things too - because with the bridle, I think we both still feel blocked. Gotta work on the one. My sort-of-plot right now is to make a go of Finesse in a halter, then transfer everything back to the bridle.

Everything was going so well at the trot, I decided to play with the concept that Farrah Green gave us during our lesson - canter/walk transitions through sideways. I can honestly say, I have never ridden such light, uphill, beautiful canter transitions as the ones Mo gave me today. Holy. Cow. She was just effort less. I could FEEL the up-jump in the transition from walk to sit to canter off. It was AMAZING! Coming down to a walk was a whole other story, but the walk to canter was just JAW DROPPING. Literally, out in the field, by myself, I asked Mo to canter the first time and out loud I said WOW. Lots of rubs for Mo!!!

Up into canter is easier for Mo to balance, we have yet to master the canter to walk part. We played with it a bunch to. It is getting better! The last part we did was a big figure eight, with walk transitions in the middle was waaaaay better than the first super sloppy one, so that was great! It is hard for me to figure out the right energy to keep a forward-to-walk transition. We can get an "our life dies and we dribble into a walk" transition no problem - this Finesse stuff though, its supposed to be pretty! Mo was just so positive and soft and full of try the whole time though! Not emotional at all - which often she will get when I try to get particular about downwards transitions.

We finished off with a check in the trot, just to make sure that I wasnt building any assumptions that picking up the reins meant canter. Nope, check. I picked up the reins, we walked, I picked up my energy, we trotted, she relaxed, she offered flexion, she offered stretch, she blew out again, we played with trotting serpentine's using HQ turns, more blow outs, game over! BEAUTIFUL!

I am not sure I can even express the joyous serenity I felt coming out of that ride. It wasnt the exuberant over-joyed excitement that sometimes happens when things go well. It was just this quietly overflowing joy in my heart - exactly what I needed today.

I know horses are sensitive to people and their emotions to an extent. It is days like today that blow me away with exactly how attuned our partners can be to our emotional needs - as much as we try to be to theirs. Today, my soul NEEDED that quiet, calm, joyful, light and airy ride . Maybe tomorrow I will need a good gallop through the field. Who knows? What I do know, is that Mo will be there to support me though, and that means the whole world to me.

I've said it before, and I will say it again [and again...!] MY GOODNESS I LOVE MY HORSE!

 :D
S

Labor Day Weekend

This past Labor Day weekend was particularly great. Why? Well! Read on my friend, and you shall see!

Saturday started out a little sad, saying farewell to Stumpy, a very cool horse who was here for training, and now has gone home. He made me absolutely proud with his new found trailer loading confidence though, and I have since seen and heard from his owner that he has loaded a bunch of times, perfectly for her! YEY!

The day progressed from there to Stella coming over to drop off my shiny new Red Light from Photonic Health! It has been literally YEARS that I have wanted to get one of these. I finally managed to squirrel away enough money this summer to be able to order. And so, dream achieved, light arrived, and Stella was able to give me a super tutorial along with a great treatment for Mo!

Sunday morning was spent teaching a few lessons, and then loading up to head to Jeanette's place in Luskville with the girls - Zephyr's first field trip!! She is so great, she loaded like a pro, her and Mo both ready to go. When we arrived though, Zephyr was pretty sweaty. She wasnt worried or emotional, she was eating hay in the trailer happily, and was in no rush to get out. I think the very bumpy road on the last leg of the drive concerned her a bit. We were able to skip that on the way home, and she unloaded dry on Monday night!

After getting the girls settled in their pen for the time being, Jeanette and I got the farm ready for what was our first time co-teaching! When that was all settled we both go ponies and had a great time. Mo was FEELING GOOD!!!!!! Whether a by-product of her new supplements, her red light session or a long trailer ride [or all of the above!] she was ON! Holy cow!

We walked into the arena and before I even asked her anything, she was dancing, squealing and trying to run around. Oh boy! So off we went, we played with the energy! Backing up at the speed of light - practically trotting, cantering sideways all collected like it was the easiest thing, and flying changes of direction over a pole. Chock full of vocals with squeals and grunts all over the place. What a goofball.

Once she was connected, I saddled and we had a great ride. She felt really nice in a soft feel rein, and we had lots of go. We played with nice HQ yields, sideways, and about a billion flying changes! She got quite a few clean ones over a pole - when she wasnt trying to jump the pole LOL! Silly horsey. We also played with the 7 strides exercise from our lesson with Grits, and Mo nailed it!

Mo enjoyed a really nice roll in the fantastic sand/pea stone mix footing after our ride. It must feel like a nice back massage:) I did the post performance points on her with the red light after we rode, just to see if/how it would affect her.

It was dark/dinner time by the time I finished with Mo, so Phyr didnt get to play on Sunday. I dont think she minded to much, there was grass that needed eating!

Monday dawned bright and sunny, and we were up early to get everything harrowed and set up before the students showed up! We had six amazing students for an online and freestyle session. Everyone was so great! I was on foot for the Online portion, but come Freestyle time, Mo was my chosen mode of transportation. Zephyr wasnt terribly thrilled, but neither did she panic. She made amis with other ponies.

Mo was pro in helping me demonstrate the topics we had chosen to share that day. She even helped another horse with his back up by driving him! At the end of our ride, there was a thunder storm rolling in, so I just pulled off the bareback pad and let her roll again. As she paused before getting up, I climbed aboard just for fun! It is such a neat feeling, to be on her as she stands up from laying down. All the muscles that are needed and such. Plus the trust! Love it :)

I put Mo back in her pen, but Jeanette was still playing with Toby, so I decided Phyr needed an outing before we went home, and what better time than with thunder rolling, and a storm coming...! We made our way back to the arena, and Toby was at liberty, so I suggested allowing them to play together. They ran and goofed of so much, it wore out Zephyr! She stopped cantering and galloping everywhere and started trotting ! Not in such great shape afterall, are ya kid? There were a couple of times where she had SUPER draw to me, and came in at a power trot, but then would leave again to gallivant with Toby. Which was absolutely fine! For her first shot at any kind of liberty outside of home, with another horse around, AND in a giant arena, I think we did great! At the end, when she really connected with me it was solid :) She got two feet on the pedestal and we played some tag/stick to me at the trot. Such a super star kid :)

The storm was really coming by then, with some big lightnings starting, so I put Phyr away and we took cover in the house to wait out the storm. There was one GIANT crack that we think hit in the field next to the arena about half way through - we could smell the burnt smell, thats how close it was! 

Finally the storm passed and it was time to load up and head home. Both girls loaded up like the road warriors they are/will become and we headed out. I was able to take a different way home, and avoid the crazy bumps. Zephyr unloaded calm and dry when we got home :) Mo is of course, used to the whole rigamoroll and was fine going both ways.

GREAT weekend, really proud of both ponies. :D I played a little bit more with the red light today with Mo, she really seems to appreciate it. At the end when I was trying to stretch out her front leg, she went all the way down in to a cat stretch, stretching both shoulders and her belly almost to the floor! I guess it felt good :) When I did Zephyr, she stretched out both hind legs, one at a time, after I finished.  Im still learning, but with responses like that, I think I can feel confident that I am on the right track.

:)
S

A Lesson With Grits McMullen

Today was kind of a big deal for me and Mo. Today we went to Sunset Farms [gorgeous] and had a jumping lesson with the amazing Grits McMullen. Locally, Grits is  renown as a fabulous horsewoman, and is a senior member for the Hunt in the area.  I hope I can remember everything we did, because she was fantastic. FULL of perfect little tid bits to chew on and mull over, and right on to what we all needed to do to help our horses.

It was a super funn lesson to begin with, because I got to share it with two good friends. Between the three of us, we were all having the same basic question, just presenting in different horsenalities! How cool is that?

Mo was feeling the introvert today. It was hot and humid, and she wasnt very go-y or particularly sensitive. Loading her on to the trailer took a little longer than usual, she was really curious for some reason. She wanted to poke everything and give the trailer a real once over before getting on - which is perfectly fine. Whatever floats your boat, Mo.

We stopped to pick up Miss Spotty Princess, Indy and L, and away we went, headed to Sunset [ten minutes down the road] We pulled in and met J, unloaded and got ready to warm up. We were purposefully early so we would have time to warm up and play a little before the lesson. I had brushed Mo before loading her, but she somehow still got dirty on the trailer. Go figure! She also had a few sticky spots on her sides from where she bit at bugs after eating some molasses last night... sigh.... so much for professional turn out... ! I brushed her up again, but even the no-rinse shampoo I used couldnt get the molasses off her sides...  Oh well. She still looked adorable. She always does!

We headed into the ring online. Got some feet moving, got a little focus, some bend, some HQ yields. Finished our ground time with some nice sideways trots with impulsion! We slowly made our way back over to where our bridle was and finished getting ready. Finally mounted and ready to begin, I just walked the rail with Mo, waiting for everyone else to be ready, and Grits to finish setting our course plan. I played with isolating the HQ freestyle, really asking her to connect to my leg. She did really well, softer than she has been, for sure. I played with picking up contact and asking her to stretch, just at the walk, and she did very nicely.

Grits gave us a great talk to start the lesson, and then asked everyones goals. We were all very similar, in that we wanted to be able to help our horses approach jumps confidently and find the right take off point in the canter. Mo has a tendency to take off WAY early, and I never knew how to help her find the closer spot.

Our first exercise was a simple but challenging one. Two poles on the ground, get seven strides in between[84 feet]. Sounds easy huh? I promise you, it isnt! Well, maybe to people used to doing stuff like that. The goal was an easy ten foot stride. Mo is about 9 feet I think, on average, when she is just mincing around. She doesnt really stretch herself out there. So the first time we did it, we got eight strides. I also had no idea we were GOING to get eight strides. Learning to see the distance is part of the exercise! Cool! By the end of the exercise I was able to ask her to hold her stride [instead of leaping over the pole] and extend a little bit more to create the seven strides. BOY was it a challenge though! Its not about faster, its bigger!

When we got the plan with the poles on the ground, in both directions, Grits added a teeny vertical where the second pole was. The idea was, that if you could control your stride, it should hardly matter over the jump because you would just land in the right place - the sweet spot - for take off. Some how we did! The magical thing I was learning was about guiding Mo and not leaving her alone when we got to where were going. My tendency is to get to the jump and go "your turn... I dont know now" and just say go. In order to help her figure out distance and not feel lost or dropped, I need to hug her a bit with my leg, keep her steady and convince her I am still there. When I got it right, and she believed me, things went perfectly.

From there we went to jumping on a circle. The exercise started with trotting the pole on the ground, then cantering the pole on the ground. This was to the left, which is harder for Mo, and she kept wanting to fall in after the pole. My goal became to really push her out straight from the obstacles and not allow her to just go over in a crooked heap. This also effected her keeping the correct canter lead.

After we all got the pole on the ground, it was turned into a tiny vertical with MO EATING FLOWERS under it! HA! We were going to trot it the first time, canter it the second. I had picked up a stick to help support my leg to keep her from falling in. She kept leaning on me, so a small shoulder tap to remind her to pick that big thing up helped out tons! Trotting in she was a little looky at the flowers, but nothing major, she had already tried to eat the flowers earlier in a different location. Grits said I hold my breath while jumping sometimes, which effectively lets Mo down, so I need to BREATHE!! I come in expecting Mo to jump badly and I brace for it, so she does. Crummy catch 22! So the next time we came through at the canter, thinking FORWARD. We had to RIDE THE OTHER SIDE!!! There is just a stick in the way, as Grits would say.

Id say things improved considerably! Of course we had many a spazzy moment, but overall better already! The final test was a string of three jumps, on a funny sort of serpentine-esque sort of line. The third jump required a rollback, which was really cool, and Mo did great at! The first time we jumped all three together, things went spectacularly! I felt really good about it! The second time was a little diecy, but the third time we re-organized and finished up on a great final jump.

I think getting to watch the other two girls really helped cement the thoughts and plans in my head. I really feel like I can start to see the intended distance a little better, and I can ask Mo to take a stride when she wants to take off so early. We still need to play more with impulsion to the obstacles. Mo wants to suck back and analyze instead of thinking up and over.... and, so do I, so we both need to think about the other side! Balance, Straightness, Impulsion!! and practice, lots of practice.

In other Mo news, she came home and positively GOBBLED up her new supplement, which she wouldn't even try yesterday. I soaked it mixed with some crunches and then mixed applesauce in right before giving it to her... bwahahah! BE HEALTHY MO!

SO much learning today, it was great!

 - S

A Year in Review....

It's that time of year again..... T's birthday, which spurs me to remember it will be my birthday shortly, which then spurs such thoughts as " HOLY COW, why am I getting so OLD?!" and "What have I done with this life of mine??"

So let's recap this past year.... *gulp*

This time last year, I was just fresh off of working full time in a less than enthusiastic environment that caused me an awful lot of stress. Yes it paid the bills, but no, it wasn't good for my health - mental, emotional OR physical! This time last year, I was also fresh back from picking up Mr Gambler! Mo was also just ramping up to her mystery illness :(

Luckily, Mo got better, and continues to BE better! Gambler has gone home, and its fairly quiet in the field without him gallomphing around!!

Phyr continues to amaze me :) I love that baby pony with my whole heart. She is brave, she is opinionated, she is cuddley, she is wonderful. We have had three rides in a saddle this summer so far. Her three year old year has started off to be a very relaxing one for her :) She had her first canter with me on her on that second saddle ride. She was perfect :) Zephyr will get her first field trip this coming long weekend when we head up to Jeanette's place in Luskville for an overnight and a workshop. I have no doubt she will enjoy herself thoroughly!

Mo has really stepped up this summer as my adventure partner locally. Looking back, we really have done quite a few things so far this season! We started off with an amazing clinic with Fawn Anderson, went straight from there to Horse Day, and from there right to London Horse and Soul! We also participated in just about every single Hunt Event held in the area that was open to the public. There was a Spring Hunter Pace[rode Gambler though], a Treasure Hunt, a Poker Pace and two Trail Rides. All of these were new to Mo, since I would usually take Indy before. Mo has more than proven herself a viable hunt-activity companion!

Indy has moved on to her new home. Thats been odd/nice. It is so fun to see her with someone else and having success, and its nice to know what advice to offer her new partner if she hits the same roadblocks I have overcome with her. I am glad she is still local, so I can keep up with her.

In a more broad range, I am almost 27 years old. Holy Crap. I thought I would have more stuff sorted out by now. I thought I would have figured out how NOT to hate doing dishes, or how to inspire myself to LOVE folding laundry, but alas, no. I still wait until I need a clean cup before doing dishes, and I still have a "clean basket" and a "dirty basket" of laundry. Why cant the stuff fold itself?? Why is it SO much more fun to roll polos and fold horse blankets than my own tshirts and jeans? Answer me that, Universe. My tack room? Immaculate - obviously in use daily, but clean. Organized. Tidy. Swept. My house... well, its clean..ish.

My house. Well. I guess that in and of itself is an accomplishment. Two whole years living my dream here on my very own farm. I am pretty much still impressed with that fact daily. Sometimes multiple times a day. I can guarantee you, EVERY single time I am driving up my laneway, I am feeling gratitude and love for my house. It is unbelievable, I know. How can someone feel that all the time?? But I do. I LOVE my home. It is my spirits true HOME. I have had a few houses and places to live in my life. But this IS HOME. Do you understand?

It is far from perfect. Varo dug some holes [ OH HEY! VARO happened in the last year! More later..] The kitchen isnt finished, the bathroom still needs drywall.... My indoor arena still isnt here yet [really beacuse the lottery people keep drawing the wrong numbers!] But it is Home, and it is MINE!! The sheer overwhelming joy I feel every single day when I remember that [ less so when I remember I have to pay the mortgage, but still] just makes every day brighter. When I can ride out into the hayfield - the same hayfield that makes me enough hay to not have to buy any! - and go eat apples from my very own apple tree while Mo grazes and snacks on her own apples blows my mind. How much luckier can one person be? I keep thinking "Oh, its the 'new house' thing, it will wear off"..... but it has been two years? Still feeling pretty amazing. I hope I always do. This place is not something I want to take for granted. I never want to lose this! Basically, I plan to die here. [way way waaayyyy down the line, to be clear]

So I still have a house. That's a bonus. My foray into self employment as a sustainable means of income has been an interesting one. Mostly positive. A little scary from Christmas time to March or so this year though! Terrible weather made outdoor activity basically impossible, so in January I was hired by my mom's store to do web work, admin and some fun graphic design stuff. I have done a multitude of things from build a catalog to fill out an excel sheet. Very exciting stuff, I assure you. Really, its the people who make the day. The work is work. There is a lot of it that I just nod and smile and fill out the form. BUT, it is my Mom's store, she is very proud of it, and so I get to spend time with her, and R. T's bf D works there too, and he is basically hysterically funny all the time, so he makes every day a good one. I still need to sort out the lighting thing though. The SADS still come, and I try to help it every year. The down side of the store is that it has no windows, so it is kind of dark. Ah well! Small things. I am grateful for the opportunity to be there anyways!

I feel very lucky to be able to do all that I do. I value being able to help out my family. I am also VERY lucky that when I call the night before and have a "you know you are a horse girl when" moment saying "Is it ok if I am 20 minutes late tomorrow? Theres a HUGE sale at the tack store and I NEED to pick up Mo a new blanket!" and I get the smile and "yea, no problem" response. I know that on the other end of the phone my mom is shaking her head, rationalizing as much as I am that Mo SURELY needs this new blanket. She must be used to this by now, but I still appreciate the understanding :) I cant say I have had that in every boss Ive known!

This summer has been a full one. Both of events and with teaching, and even a few horses here for training. I have truly enjoyed being so busy doing what I love. It is so nice to be able to take advantage of the weather while we can! It was a cold rainy start to summer this year. I felt like it would never be warm again. Finally warm came in the end of June and July though. I hope we have a nice long fall to make up for the crummy spring!

I havent yet achieved my summer goal. I want to tape and send in my Finesse Audition to Parelli so that I can finish up my Level 4 and get that darned black string. I know its not about the string, but at this point, I really just want it so it can be done! I think I might try and tape this weekend at Jeanettes. We shall see. I put so much pressure on myself when it come to finesse. I am silly that way. Everything we need to do for our audition, we can do bridle-less. Put reins in my hands and I forget how to ride. *sigh* Mo fills in for me a lot, so maybe, just maybe, we can muddle our way through and just get better from here!

So!

Things I feel like I have done well in the past year  - I feel very successful with maintaining a household and farm. We have done hay again this summer, and at one point had 9 horses living here, and I survived and still felt energized. We put up some new fencing to split off the field in three for rotational purposes, and are gearing up to move Blackcow and Browncow into freezer mode.

I feel good about my balance this year between a steady job [Mom's store] teaching, and spending time at events I want to play at - aka Hunt things, clinics, lessons for ME! Last year I felt so tapped out all the time because of work and trying to teach on top of it, it was just bad. This year feels much more balanced. Even on days I do work, I still come home energized, because I am enjoying it.

I am really enjoying just having two horses again. I really loved having four for a brief time, but it is nice to have two who I love with my whole heart, and who I feel that true connection with. I got outside and they both come over, both try to steal the halter, both clamor for cookies. I feel focused. I have a plan.

Things I need to improve for next year - this is a tough one! This year has been outstanding really. I probably should improve my house cleaning skills or dishes doing. Possibly finding more "couples friendly" activities with D would be appreciated by him.

Thats all Ive got on my mind for now :)

- S :)