New Beginnings

Well, folks, this is the end of the line for this blog.  If you have just discovered it, I would encourage you to please start reading at the beginning of our story back in 2008! (See Blog Archive listing to the right of this display.)

After divorcing and moving to town, I gave Guinness to my close friends who love and cherish him to this day. Thank you all for following our progress over the years. I will always treasure this diary of my horse-baby growing up!

To catch up on my horseless adventures as a mid-life athlete,

please see my new blog INDY Fitness.

"BE the horse!"

Visiting the Vet School

Today, Guinness visited our regional veterinary teaching hospital for the first time.  Fortunately it was a non-emergency!  We were there to be seen by Dr. Funk, an equine chiropractor.

The trouble with a "thinking horse" is that they sometimes take things into their own hooves.  About 3 weeks ago, Guinness was locked in the paddock for the night, so as not to trouble our new boarder, Zoe.  Guinness apparently grew tired of the situation and decided to jump/climb the 4 ft. gate into the pasture.  Apparently he didn't quite make it since he had dings on both hind legs and bent the top of the gate.  Fortunately, he didn't appear to be lame, just perhaps a bit stiff as the moved about.

About a week later, I took him on a 12.4 mile trail ride on the NR Trail.  It was long and flat and he had plenty of time to loosen up.  Along the way, I offered to allow him to trot and canter, but he wasn't his normal enthusiastic self.  Instead, he wanted to GAIT of all things. (Normally I have trouble encouraging to hold a medium-speed four-beated gait.)  Very odd.  At the walk he seemed to be moving fine.

The following week, I took him horse camping at a different spot along the NR Trail.  Although he would take up a canter when requested, it felt very flat and strung out.  Not at all his usual rocking-horse self.  Again, he was fine gaiting and walking.

Last weekend, I attended a Gaited Dressage clinic where a couple of ladies mentioned that they had recently had Dr. Funk of the VMCRM come out to work on a horse and that they had been very pleased with her.  My awesome vet of the past 9 years has just retired and I've been intending to renew my relationship with the VMRCVM as an "equine field services" client, so I decided I needed to have Guinness adjusted!

I decided to haul him to the vet school, rather than have her come out to my barn for two reasons:
1.  A bit less expensive
2.  A great opportunity to desensitize him (and me) to the clinic environment

Dr. Funk was very personable and did a handy job working with Guinness.  He was a bit right-brained (head up & staring intently into my eyes), but didn't move his feet much.  He was the most distressed over a drain cover in the center of the large grey-toned exam room floor and kept snorting at it.  I clicked him for getting near it which seemed to help.  I also clicked him for touching the big foam block that she climbed up on.

She waggled and twisted him around and he seemed ok with it, but kept expecting her to mount!  She showed me how to effectively get him to hump his back to strengthen his abs, which I've never been too successful with, and encouraged me to start to stretch him a bit.  Apparently, his neck is very flexible while his back and pelvis were pretty stiff.  She said that usually a horse's neck and pelvis are roughly the same in flexibility, so I'm thinking that this may have been a consequence of the gate-climbing episode.

The entire appointment took about 1/2 hour which was enough time to him to lower his head a bit and quit bugging his eyes at me.  (I had to remind myself to breathe!)  However, he had a big shake in the parking lot while waiting to load onto the trailer, so apparently he was still pretty wound up while inside the building.

All and all, this was a very valuable learning experience for both horse and human.  We have a better idea of what to expect if, God forbid, we ever need to come here in an emergency with him in pain.  Dr. Funk advised me to ride Guinness tomorrow to see if his will to canter comes back.  If not, she recommended a return visit in 2 weeks.

Return to the River

A view from the Hiwassee bridge over the New River.

The end of summer is rapidly approaching!  With that in mind, my friend Sierra & I decided to take advantage of the gorgeous weather and ride the NRV Trail.

Our favorite ride is to park at the Draper access point (with good parking and a conveniently located vault toilet, plus a convenience store).  We then ride from there to the Hiwassee boat launch area, play in the river, then ride back.  Round trip is approximately 12.4 miles and takes about 4 hours at a medium pace, not including play time.

Parlay, Sierra & Bella

Sierra rode her mare, Parlay, and brought her dog, Bella, along.  (The same mare that I had a big accident which prompted me to search for a horse like Guinness!  Fortunately, Sierra has brought the best out of this girl and given her a wonderful home.)

The most exciting feature of the trip, aside from the opportunity to swim, is usually crossing the long wooden-decked bridge over the New River.

This time we had another thrill: we encountered a RATTLE SNAKE stretched across the trail between the bridge and the boat ramp!!

Bella was first to spot the snake as she trotted up ahead.  It had been a cool night and it was out sunning itself near two recently-cut logs.  Sierra called Bella back and we watched from a distance as it slithered off the trail and out of sight.  After waiting a bit, we edged closer, while staying at the far edge of the trail. 

Rattle Snake between two logs!

Here is a photo I snapped as I passed the point where the snake had left the trail.  It had stopped and was looking back at me over his snakey shoulder!!  It appeared to have about 5 rattles but I wasn't about to stop to count..

Guinness on the trail.

Without further incident, we made it to the river.  For the first time, Guinness willingly immersed his belly in the water.  He actually swam his first few strokes and we made it to a little sandbar.  (Could it have had something to do with the PB sandwich I was holding?)

We didn't see the snake again, thank goodness, and made it back to the trailer safely.  It did get us thinking about what we would have done if the snake had bitten a horse.  We decided that we would first tie a tourniquet around the affected leg using whatever we had at hand.  Next, we would call the vet school.  Then one of us would have stayed with both horses, while the other hitched a ride back to the trailer, and came back to pick up the horses.  Finally, we would have driven straight along the highway to the vet school!


One weird thing about this ride:  Guinness was disinclined to trot or canter (his usually default) and willingly gaited instead.  Strange.  Got me wondering if he had hurt himself climbing over a gate a week or so before.  I thought that he had emerged unscathed.  However, he felt totally sound at the walk..?

Cody Needs a New Partner

My friend is looking to place her RMH gelding "Cody" free to a good home - preferably practicing some variation of natural horsemanship.  She is in her mid 60s with health issues and is motivated to find Cody a partner that will do fun things with him.  He would love to do mounted search & rescue and competitive trail.  I'm hoping that you guys might know someone who needs this fellow!!

Cody is around 12 years old (no papers since he came to my friend through a rescue group - he was found abandoned with other exotic animals).  She has had him 6 or so years.  Cody is a classic left-brain horse with a bit of a cynical "what's in it for me" attitude.  If make things fun for him, he will relax and respond with enthusiasm!  He loves any variation on clicker training and really enjoys performing tricks and working obstacles, and of course hitting the trail.

Cody's issue is that he has two club front hooves and very upright conformation in his front legs.  He has been diagnosed with high ringbone which is believed to have fused.  (He is now 100% sound according to his vet.) He has mostly been ridden in a halter at a fast walk, but lately has been in training with a dressage rider who has taught him to collect himself using a snaffle bit.  He gaits in the field, but not yet reliably under saddle. He is barefooted.

Cody loads easily onto a trailer & backs off quietly, bathes, stands for farrier (see photo below), ties well, and respects electric fence.  He loves other geldings - will play all day long with his buddies - but distrusts mares and is likely to kick at them.

Here is a link to the post where I describe Cody's success at our local fair horse show a couple of years ago.

(There are lots of other details and photos about Cody throughout this blog site too!)

http://happytrailsnaturalhorse.blogspot.com/2009/08/newport-fair.html#links

If you know of anyone, please feel free to share my blog.  To contact me, please comment on this blog with your email address and I will see it but not post.  Cody resides in SW Virginia.

Thank you!

Clare

 

Advancements

I had a very interesting week this week..  Lost electrical power at home for 7 days due to a "derecho" storm!  Somehow between hauling water and sweating, I managed to find time to play with my critters.

While playing with Guinness (asking him to change direction from side to side, and then to back rapidly) he began to offer a small rear.  I treated him for it and then refined it to having him do it when I crouch and then "rear up" myself.  This is something that I've always wanted him to learn, but I've been afraid of creating a monster.  I'm trying keep very clear the difference between when I want him to back and when to rear, and to keep him a safe distance away from me..  Reminds me very much of the perils of teaching a horse to move sideways toward the handler.  One must always be sure that a counter cue is firmly in place first.  ;-)

Rode Guinness for an hour and a half this morning at our local recreation area. We rode out alone for the first time in ages and he did great.  Used his new EasyBoot Glove hoof boots.  They seem to fit well, and are MUCH easier to get on then other boots I've used.  However, I didn't get one gaiter tight enough and he wound up with a gravel and small stick on one boot. Also, they held creek water so I will need to drill some small holes in them.  Lucky for me he didn't freak at the squelching sounds coming from his feet.

I'm still riding him in the Abetta Endurance saddle.  It is a cheap saddle, but light weight and with the Theraflex pad, he has a perfectly even sweat pattern with no rumpled hairs.  Yippee!

Speaking of saddles, I need a second one for use when both horses are being ridden.  Have been planning to buy a second Abetta, but am balking at paying $550 for the style that I want.  Today, I ran across a 17" Derby Originals synthetic dressage saddle for around $100.  It is very light and was comfy to sit in - at least on a saddle stand.  I have NO idea how these saddles are sized or how they are supposed to fit, but it seems ok when placed on Guinness' back..?  I may try riding in it tomorrow to see how it goes.  I would love to have this saddle as an alternate for ring work and in case I ever get into the sport of Working Equitation.

PS - I decided against purchasing this saddle.
Just too small for both of us.. However, I am now looking to purchase a Wintec Pro dressage. Anyone have a used 18-19 inch for sale?!

Home Again

Hi folks,

Just wanted to let you know that Guinness (now 5 years old) and I are doing great.  Re-married (yup) my ex-husband this spring - 6 months after our divorce - and moved back home!  It is a long story..

In the process, I purchased a horse for my husband to play with!! (Any excuse, huh?) Stormy is a 3 year old, black, Rocky Mountain Horse filly. Like Guinness, she was bred by Coop's Rockies in KY, but she isn't closely related to him.

 Paul meets Stormy for the first time.

Coop's Ebony Storm, two year old Rocky Mountain Horse mare.

Life Changes

Hi folks. It has been a really long time since my last post. I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm alive and kicking - and so is Guinness.

First, I took a full-time job last summer which dramatically impacted my free time. Then, in January, my spouse and I decided to separate. About three weeks ago Guinness and Cody moved to a friend's boarding barn in town, and I was blessed to rehome Smokey to "horse heaven" (80 acres, a mare for company, and owners that don't want to ride him)! My son & I will be moving to a place in town - hopefully next weekend..

Guinness turned FOUR last week! It is hard to believe how time flies. It was just yesterday that I brought him home at 18 months of age. He is so smart and steady that I feel as though I could ride him anywhere. It was only a year ago I was just really starting to ride him at all.. I don't think that he will get much taller (now around 14.3), but I'm sure that he will fill out some more. (I'll post a photo of him in his new digs as soon as I take one.)

He is now in a pasture with 7 other horses, including 2 mares that he is fascinated with. Happily, he isn't herd bound and I can easily bring him out to play with. His pasture features a wooded grove with 2 large run-ins, plus a grassy hill with a view to several other stables, and a huge "back pasture" that runs down a steep slope and then 1/2 way up a mountain! Just by being there he is getting himself into riding condition, which is a blessing since my time is so short.

I console myself that I'll have Guinness for the next 26 years, so having him lounge out in the pasture most of the time right now is ok. He seems very happy (like a kid on a playground with his buddies). I miss seeing him every day. But, he is starting to really value it when I come to visit. He ran over to see me twice while I was with him today.

It is all good.

Guinness at four years old.

Farewell, Bandit

On December 31st, my pony-friend Bandit lost his battle with cancer. This isn't a sad story though. We estimate that Bandit was probably close to 30 years old! (He was rumored to have come from the Tennessee mountains, and had been owned by at least three others before me. He had battle scars to prove it.)

My relationship with Bandit (aka, "Frito Bandito") began in late 2002. One day, a year or so after my low back surgery, I announced to the universe (and to my husband) that therapy and a gym membership just weren't cutting it - I needed a horse back in my life! (My previous horse having been given away in 1989.)

The next day, I was on a totally unrelated errand when I was killing time talking with a stranger and spied a field full of horses. I said to him, "I'm looking to buy a horse." He asked, "What are you looking for?" and I replied, "A middle-aged gaited gelding." He looked over at the field and said, "Well, my neighbor is selling one of those two" and pointed out Smokey & Bandit. Within days, we had negotiated to purchase both Smokey and Bandit. (I never was one to shop around for a horse..) Bandit was the first gaited horse that I'd ever ridden.

I had fallen in love with Smokey's studly attitude and looks, but multiple folks kept telling me, "That is the pony you need" while pointing at Bandit, so he became my "husband's horse." After fencing in our back yard, we brought them home early in 2003.

By late spring, I had allowed Bandit to founder - probably not for the first time in his life. A local vet advised me to sell him at auction or to give him away as a pasture ornament. Fortunately, I refused to listen to him, changed vets and found a good farrier (and eventually an even better farrier using Natural Balance methods). With ongoing attention to diet and hoofcare, he recovered completely.

By late in 2003, due to my fear and frustration with Smokey (who I've since learned is an extreme RBI with baggage), I had discovered Parelli Natural Horsemanship and attended two "tour stops." By early 2004, I had started riding Bandit to get my confidence back up, and even took him to our local fair to compete in a trail class. Here is a video of him with friends from 2004.



In 2005, I won my first blue ribbon ever while competing him at the fair! See the photo at the top of this post. According to a local gaited horse trainer, he had "an incredible overstride." Knowing virtually nothing about "gaited" horses, I had never appreciated this! Over the next two years, we went on to participate in all sorts of events including parades, fairs, play dates, jousting, and best of all, trail rides.

Turns out that this pony was a die-hard trail horse. When I got the courage to take him on our first gaited group ride, I was shocked and amazed! These folks were hard-core, fast-riding, and totally on adrenaline. Many of them recognized Bandit from before I owned him and weren't surprised when HE TOOK OVER THE LEAD HORSE POSITION for about 15 miles. I was pretty much out of control of the situation, but he knew exactly what to do. Apparently, his job was to show everyone the trails and how to take each obstacle. I gave him his head and kept calling back to the group to figure out where to allow him to turn. He became locally known as my "go-go" pony.

I have more stories to tell about Bandit than any other horse that I've owned. (Guinness may be catching up, but not quite yet..) Here are just a few:

• When I purchased him, I was warned that he had a tendency to lay down while crossing water on trail rides. I wasn't concerned since he wouldn't dare do that with me. Hah! I learned the hard way during our first hunter pace (where he was the only pinto, not to mention the only gaited horse). Our task was to walk a short distance down the creek bed, and when the water reached his knees, down he went. I was wet and embarrassed. After that, I made a deal with him that he seemed to take to heart: If he crossed water politely during our rides, I would untack him later and allow him to wallow to his heart's content.
  
  
• Bandit *loved* watermelon and would become obsessed when he detected it nearby. I once had to struggle to keep him from walking through a campfire to get some.
  
  
• Although he was small, sweet-natured, and willing, he a wasn't a "push-button" pony. Once when a nine year old girl came to visit, Bandit was happy to let her sit on him. But when she tried to make him do what she wanted, he had other ideas. Despite her years of lessons at a local stable, Bandit would "get stuck" in the corners of our pasture! She would patiently dismount, lead him back to the center of the field, and then start over..

Bandit was my perfect partner except for one thing - his age. He was so easy to play with that I neglected to deal with my other two troubled critters (Smokey & Parlay -a young rescue). I decided that if I were to place Bandit, I'd be forced to progress with others. It was a no-brainer whom I wanted Bandit to be with. My farrier's wife, a veterinarian, was feeling a bit unconfident with horses. She was/is small, athletic and sensitive, and would become Bandit's new perfect partner! In 2007 (?), Bandit went to live with Deb and Dave. They had many more adventures together, before retiring him from riding last year when his age really began to show.

Here are just a few photos of Bandit and his new family, in his later years:










Thanks for the memories, Fritos. I hope to someday meet you in Horseman's Heaven.

Christmas Eve Update

I'm shocked at how much time has passed since my last post. At least I'm spending (slightly) more time with my horse than I am blogging. :-)

I was just outside removing blankets (sunny & 25 degrees) and feeding. While waiting for Smokey to finish eating, Guinness & Cody instigated a clicker training (CT) session with me. Cody has finally learned his first behavior taught entirely through CT. He can now "smile" on cue and is very proud of it!! He is well on his way to "shaking hands" (lifting his front leg) and next will be picking up a glove.

Guinness had two triumphs this morning:

1. I can now stand on the other side of a fence, tip my head in the direction that I want him to turn, then raise my opposite hand and make a spinning motion with my hand and he will spin in that direction and return to facing me. It works in both directions!

2. I can gesture at his front foot and tap his hind leg and he will lift his left forefoot high and right hind at the SAME TIME. This is the beginning of a piaffe on cue at liberty!

He will alternate lifting his forefeet depending on which side of his withers I tap. (I need to remember to play with asking him to lift alternate hind feet with a hip tap.) I think that I'm going to expand my cue for the forefeet into snapping my fingers and reaching with the arm that I want him to mimic, while facing him. Then I'll turn and teach it to him while facing the same direction that he is. This should allow us to morph it into a "stick to me" game with extension and/or elevation of the forelegs. How fun!!

While Guinness was smiling at me, I noticed that he has lost one of his lateral incisor baby teeth and another one is very loose. I think that he was showing them to me.

For more information on young horse dentition, visit this website: http://www.rrrhorseranch.com/howtoageahorse.htm

I've heard that it is supposed to warm up to near 50 degrees next Thursday, so I'm going to plan to spend the day playing horsey!!

Slo-Mo Passenger Lesson

This morning, Guinness and I went for a walk away from the other horses down to my septic field - where the grass is still green. He was overjoyed. There I spent a half-hour or so closely observing his halt-walk-halt transitions, shutting my eyes, and trying to work out where his feet were and how things felt. It was really educational. This is the second time that we've done this and I figured that I'd better blog about it while I can remember what I was thinking..

- It seems that when a hind foot is loaded with weight, that hip rises - and when it is unloaded, it drops. This is totally counter-intuitive to me!

- However, when a front foot is unloaded, the shoulder rises.

- If the rider's weight is back and we are trying to encourage the horse to use his hiney more, shouldn't the rider synchronize MORE with the horse's hind end?

- It seems that the rider should avoid "falling into the dip" created when the horse unloads a hind foot, since it seems that would tend to off balance the horse?? Should the rider strive to keep her own hips even - say at the trot?

- I tend to sit more on my seat-bones, and to stay off of my crotch, while riding. To do this, I tip my hips up. This is ok, except that I had a L4 discectomy after rupturing that disc during a sit-trot lesson about 10 years ago, so I can't over-do that position. In this position, it is natural for my thighs to move somewhat forward to compensate for me shifting my cheeks under me and my weight a bit back.

- To keep my thighs aligned under me, I have to tense the muscles at the juncture of my hip and back of my thigh. This is not pleasant and makes me feel stiff. Thus, my "chair-seat." (I admit that I have chunky thighs and short legs, and this may be a factor!) I can allow my lower leg to hang straight from my knees without having to tense any other muscles..

- If I squeeze my upper thighs a little, it tends to roll my legs from a pidgeon-toed position and my toes will point a bit more straight forward. Is this good? I probably do this without knowing it.

- To cue a HQ yield, I can easily bring my inside lower leg back behind the girth and point my toe downward. To cue sideways, I could use a neutral leg with pressure at the girth. To cue a FH yield, I could squeeze my inside thigh/knee and allow my toe to point a bit in toward the horse which results in pressure a little in front of the girth. Is there any reason not to do this?

I would greatly appreciate your feedback.

It is snowing here.

But, I don't WANT to... (in a whiney voice)

I just read a very good blog post: http://central.parellinaturalhorsetraining.com/2010/11/expect-the-unexpected/

It got me thinking about how our over-thinking can box us in. Here are two of my current mental blocks:

1. I still feel distinctly uncomfortable with the thought of riding in my tiny back field (basically my back yard). Why?? Because about 7 years ago, Smokey threatened to run away with me. Did he? No, 'cause I got off. Since then, I've ridden Bandit back there a little, years ago. I've also ridden Guinness there about 4 times (with someone else nearby giving me moral support). Come to think of it, it may have something to do with my high-school horse running off & dumping me while in a field with his buddies. But, even when the other horses are confined, I get sort of anxious! I guess that I need approach and retreat. I'd really love for someone to bring a horse over here to ride with me!! I'm going to try to rope some friends into coming over. Perhaps I should host a playdate or try bribery?

2. My horses CAN NOT do the Figure 8 pattern. When I send them, they go the the barrel (or whatever) and try to climb on it (mostly Guinness). I get my rope tangled up and knock things over. I feel stupid. I've been half-a**ed playing with this pattern for a YEAR. I hate it!.. However, I used to feel that circling was impossible too, and breaking it down and rewarding each component is solving this. I suspect that what I need to do is to start circling around cones, then using the cones to mark changes of direction, and mixing it up to finally develop a Fig. 8 pattern. Any other ideas?

So what are YOUR mental blocks that are preventing you from progressing? Fess up!

Nitty Gritty Plan

Guinness and I are enrolled in Carol Coppinger's L3 camp in Bristol next May. Although she has already approved us to participate based on our performance last year, it seems only reasonable that we strive to officially pass L2 prior to the event. I'd like to have both auditions submitted by April 1st, at the latest.

Online Level 2 Try using a feather-light line or the equivalent to prevent "noise" in the line

We should be able to knock these two tasks right out:

• Teach horse to stand on 3 legs (hold each leg up for 30 seconds)
  
• YoYo back and forth from Zone 3 practice stick-to-me
  

Patterns: Break down into components, CT to teach/reinforce each component, then chain together with emphasis on giving Guinness responsibility for each pattern. study the Patterns!

• Figure 8
• Weave
  

Sideways: Guinness knows this behavior, but I need to allow him more responsibility in the execution! I need to focus on getting quieter in my body.

• Move sideways keep feet still
  
• Sideways without fence
  

Circles: Guinness has learned to circle me up to 4 or so laps at a time at a walk, but it needs to be reinforced in and out of the roundpen. Trotting is a bit newer to him. I need to help him to differentiate between my requests for walk vs. trot vs. canter (cue words) and to teach him to maintain the gait until requested otherwise, understanding that this is a *challenging* task for an LBI unless a game is made of it! (Break gait/change direction/tag where he was with a laugh. Jackpot when he "wins.") Once he masters the cues for the three gaits and the "game" and then all four of these will be achievable.

• Circling 2 – 4 laps without breaking gait at both walk & trot
• Circling 4 – 6 laps trot/canter
• Circling with obstacles and maintain gait at a trot
• Traveling circles
  

Freestyle Riding Level 2

• Passenger Lesson at trot
  We are ready to play with this NOW! I'd like to do this in Julie's small arena the first time and work up to doing it in my back field. Even if he canters a bit, he is so "short" that I should survive.. This is mostly about MY confidence, 'cause I don't intend to use the reins!!
  

• Circle with Casual Rein, 4 laps at walk and trot
  Should be a cinch after mastering circles online, but need to exit the roundpen for trotting.
  

• Sideways 20’ facing a fence
  Practice traveling up to 20' feet with subtle cues.
  

• Freestyle patterns: FTR, Fig.-8, Weave, Transitions, Question Box, Obstacles
  I have a vision of creating a Question Box in the center of my roundpen and leaving both gates open. This would allow us to ride within the roundpen, just outside the perimeter of the roundpen, and in large loops from one entrance to the other. I have plenty of barrels, logs, poles, etc. to provide variation & amusement - I just need to take the time to set them up. Our practice with this will probably be at the walk/trot due to the likelihood of slippery footing. When the roads are ok, I could haul to a friend's place with a large outdoor arena and firm parking area.

We have 4 months to prepare, but they tend to be rainy/cold months, so it will take perseverance. Michelle's husband gave me advice about lighting my roundpen/back field with two 500 watt halogen fixtures mounted to the rail of my deck, which should help a ton. Thanks, Rick!

I should probably plan to enroll in "lessons" at my local indoor arena in Feb/March, just to have a back-up place once per week to practice (provided that the roads are passible).

Time to git 'er done.

For the Record

To date, here is my inventory of Guinness' and my remaining L2 & L3 tasks to master:

Online
Level 2

• Patterns: Figure-8, Weave, Circles
• Move sideways (keep feet still) - need to test
  
• Teach horse to stand on 3 legs (hold each leg up for 30 seconds) - we're so close!
• YoYo back and forth from Zone 3 - need to test
  
• Circling 4 – 6 laps trot, canter - we have 4 laps at a trot, on a good day
  
• Traveling circles - sort of
  
• Circling with obstacles and maintain gait at a trot
• Circling 2 – 4 laps without breaking gait at walk, trot - how does this differ from above?
• Sideways without fence - needs to be straighter

Level 3 (we haven't done anything with the 45' yet)

• Massage with clippers - need to test, ok with messager
  
• Lead backwards by hind leg -usually
  
• Point A to Point B, 45-foot Line
• Drive from Z5: one rein - great on the trail, but in an open area?
  
• Back and draw towards you (45-foot Line)
• Jump towards you, stop, back to obstacle
• One hind leg and front leg over a pole - straddle?
• Circling 6 – 10 laps at canter
• Circling walk, trot, canter transitions
• Simple change of direction at canter
• Obstacles, hills, maintain gait
• Sideways fast (on 22 or 45-foot Line)
• Along log or fence, keep my feet still

Freestyle Riding
Level 2

• Passenger Lesson at trot *very soon!
  
• Circle with Casual Rein, 4 laps at walk and trot
• Sideways 20’ (facing the fence)
• All Freestyle patterns, except Follow the Rail

Level 3 (I haven't tried riding with two carrot sticks yet)

• Passenger Lesson at canter
• Bridle and unbridle from your horse’s back - I bet that we can do this now
  
• Canter, stop and get off - with the sticks?
  
• Refined Direct and Indirect Rein
• Lateral Flexion, 2 Sticks
• Disengage with two Carrot Sticks
• Full turn - with sticks?
  
• Transitions: halt-walk-trot-canter (2 Sticks)
• Circling carrot Sticks on your shoulders, canter 4 laps, with less than 4 corrections total (1 per lap)
• Circling simple change, bowtie
• Circling with Casual Reins: canter 4 laps with less than 2 corrections per lap - is this correct?
  
• Sideways with 2 Carrot Sticks
• 20’ Sideways without fence
• A log (12”-18”), turn, face and wait, 2 sticks

Liberty
Level 2 - Done!
Level 3

• Lead backwards by hind leg - most of the time
  
• Lead by ear, chin - most of the time
  
• Stick to Me at canter
• Stick to Me Transitions: walk, trot, canter, halt and back up - most of the time
  
• YoYo transitions: halt, walk, trot, canter and back up - not sure what this means
  
• Circling 6 – 10 laps (trot and canter)
• Circling walk, trot and canter - transitions?
  
• Circling change of direction at canter with simple change
• Circling 3 laps with a barrel - what does this mean?
  
• Circling single spin - working on it!
  
• Circling change direction at trot

Finesse

• All Level 2 and up - I'm not planning to ride him in a bridle until he will follow my feel without reins

A lack of impulsion is our main obstacle in many of these tasks. Looks as though we need to let go of the roundpen and to focus on practicing the Patterns, both Online & Freestyle, in our small pasture. It is time to truly let go of my historic reluctance to ride outside of the roundpen at home. Funny - I confidently ride him everywhere away from home.

* Please post a comment if you can offer me insight into any of this! *

Our Second Anniversary Together

On November 21st, Guinness (my cookie-monster) and I celebrated the 2nd anniversary of our partnership by going to visit our friend Julie for the first time.

Julie, who has lots of dressage & eventing experience, and her partner, Shadowfax, are playing somewhere in L2/L3. Julie recently purchased Karen Rohlf's study materials and is busy integrating it into her studies. She encouraged me to watch some of it with her, and I admit that I'm captivated too! I'm now trying to figure out how to wrangle her Everything Pack for myself for Christmas (probably wishful thinking..).

In several of her videos, Karen plays successfully with young LBI horses (often bareback and using only a halter) as she laughs and coaxes them along. I find these both instructional and highly inspirational. (As I have found those of Linda P. and her LBI, Remmer, to be.) I had held the mistaken belief that I wasn't "worthy" to study Karen's materials yet since I'm not even close to being a L4 student, however she offers strategies for issues that I am having this moment with Guinness. I'm especially appreciative that her philosophies mesh perfectly with those of PNH.

Julie, the horses, and I played with driving game on a circle. The focus was to see if the horses were able to match our energy to make appropriate transitions. It was totally different from anything that I've played before with Guinness and I could see the wheels turning in his brain.

We played at liberty including the catching game (which I find incredibly helpful to set the tone for a playdate). When Guinness showed her his new behavior of holding each leg folded up high on cue, she commented that Karen R. uses tapping on the side of the withers as a cue for the same behavior. In a couple of tries, I was able to morph the cue from tapping the point of his shoulder to tapping his withers and he got it! He was even able to figure it out for each foreleg while mounted. :-))

It was tons of fun and I hope to do it again very soon. Thanks, Julie!

**************

This past year has been very eventful for G. and me. (The photo is of the two of us this past January. Note that we are still on a leadline.)

To recap:

• I began seriously riding him in April, utilizing a local indoor arena
• We participated fully in a Carol Coppinger L2 clinic in May
• We attended two informal trail competitions this summer, and he placed in both
• We successfully rode in two 6-mile American Competitive Trail Horse Association rides
• He went "swimming" in the river several times
• I rode him in our local July 4th parade
• We've hauled all over the place to visit friends for playdates and to ride the trails

In a mere 8 months, he has met all of my expectations for a horse partner (unlike my previous partner, Smokey - age 18 - who still couldn't handle all of this after 8 years with me & PNH). I attribute this to his outgoing, friendly, rock-solid LBI temperament and to the use of marker signals in conjunction with treats in his Parelli Natural Horsemanship education.

Guinness is now about 3 1/2 years old. He stands about 15 hands tall and weighs about 850 lbs (compared to our other Rocky who is 12, about the same height, and weighs about 1100 lbs).

This photo is of us at our second ACTHA ride on October 16, 2010. Note how much he has grown in 10 months. Wow.

I can't wait for 2011.

Guinness' Full Sister

Here is a video of Guinness' full sister. She was born in 2006 and is almost exactly one year older than him. Apparently, she is for sale:




Click here to find out more about "Raven". If you buy her, please let me know!

Musings on Equality

My Parelli Play Group is currently discussing the "Six Golden Principles" outlined by the founders of Cavalia in their book, Gallop to Freedom.

I wanted to blog my reflections on Principle One:

Foster a more equal relationship, based on trust and respect, in which we learn from each other.

"I believe we can forge a new kind of relationship with a horse based on a greater degree of equality than most people have thought possible. Horses themselves form very close relationships that can last a lifetime. I want the same: I want to reach the stage where they don't drive me from their space and I don't drive them from mine. I have to convince them that the space belongs to both of us."

- Gallop to Freedom

What this idea means to me:

Allowing natural pauses in my "conversation" with Guinness (ie; make a request of him and then allow him to chew on it a moment before responding). Expecting snappy everything all of the time feels like me yelling at him. He can tell how urgent something is by my energy - I don't have to always be loud and demanding. Threatening him doesn't work. I can use a cue that appears to be a driving game, but I know that unless he agrees with my idea, it would take a h*** of a lot to phase 4 him when he is in LBI mode. (You guys should see what he takes from the other horses without giving an inch!!) I'm saving the true driving for resolving safety issues such as "get out of my space NOW." The more polite that I am with him, the more polite he is with me.

Being open to communication and exchange of ideas with my horse. Not monopolizing the conversation. Exploring different ideas of what communication can look like: marker sounds, verbal cues, gestures, energy, body language, breath, imagery, etc. Sometimes *he* chooses our topics of discussion - where he would like me to scratch, where he would prefer to graze, when he rather me ride than lead him, what object he'd rather play with, and more.

Treating him like the sentient being that he is. Not that he could take care of himself in the artificial environment that people have contrived, but neither is he a slave that exists only to do my bidding. His thoughts and feelings have value too.

Taking the time it takes - we have plenty of it. I plan to have this horse for the rest of his life and Rockies can easily live 30+ years..

Riding from the Ground

I've recently viewed two inspirational online videos that I'd like to share.

The first is of Ein Parelli-Schüler auf dem Philippe Karl Kurs in der Schweiz. (I'm not sure what this means, but I'm very impressed!)



And with a young clicker-trained mule:



There is hope for us - Guinness included! :-)

Preparing for L3 Riding

It is time for me to become more conscious of the cues that I'm using while mounted.

I tend to ride intuitively - more from 15+ years of pre-PNH muscle memory and reflex then from any systematic awareness of what I trying to achieve and how to go about helping my horse to succeed. This has been ok for puttering on little trail rides in L2 style, however Guinness & I seem to be progressing past this despite ourselves.

This evening, after playing liberty porcupine & driving, I decided to tack G. up with a bareback pad and halter/rope. We played with trying to figure out what I was asking him to do with just my shifting focus, my weight, and using my thighs to cue him. (I didn't pick up the reins at all except when I needed to help him to figure out that I was asking him to back up.) Wow, how revealing..

He was very eager to earn his treats (Blue Seal hay stretcher pellets) and acted just like a kid playing charades. Turns out that when I stop to think about it, I'm not all that clear about the cues that I'd like to teach him for certain behaviors. I intend to use the Parelli system, especially since one step builds upon another to form a comprehensive, well-thought-out whole. I've absorbed most of the overt cues over my years stuck in L1/2 limbo, but my vision of how to progress from here is muddy!

My intent is to go back to the pocket guides for the old PNH video packs to get clear about what I am trying to achieve. (I realize that some of this information has been updated, however they are still excellent well-written resources.) I'm going to aim to teach 1 or 2 behaviors at a time as a continuation of what we are playing with on the ground in short, sweet sessions. I'm also going have some L3/4 friends watch me ride in order to help me sort things out.

Tonight, my homework is to read "Chapter 12: Working Under Saddle" in the clicker training book, Getting to Yes by Sharon Foley!

4/4 Time

Over the last four days, I've somehow managed to play with Guinness a little on the ground four times in a row. This is truly amazing since it has been months since we've had time together. During one recent stretch, I sat on him twice (once on a trail ride, and once bareback for 15 min. in the rain) during a 5 WEEK stretch of time.. I'm pleased that we made it to the ACTHA ride last weekend and survived. ;-)

Here is a little of what we've done over the past few days:

10/21: Intended to play with Fig 8s, and instead played with circles on & off line. Once at liberty, Guinness left on the send, but I waited and he came around as if nothing had happened. ;-) Walking was good. Tried changing directions with he broke gait at a trot and darned if it didn't improve his motivation! Also played with sideways toward & away, the pedestal, and jumping. It was a good session.

10/22: I visited with two friends, and then arrived home around 9:30 pm. Played with Guinness' "energy bubble" while we watched Smokey finish his dinner. I can see the wheels in his brain turn as he works out how to move his body sideways toward me from either side. He can easily do it when I'm to his left, but has to flip everything mentally when I'm on his right and it shows! Too funny. We also played with spins at liberty while in the run-in (close quarters).

10/23: Went out into the back field (more like a dry lot) to goof off for a few minutes. No halter or rope. Just a stick & treat pouch. Played with gesturing and then waiting for G. to figure out what I was asking for - with treats to reinforce "yes." Oh what fun!! He circled at a brisk walk with changes of direction. He sidepassed over objects both toward and away from me, with just a gesture of my near hand over his back. He backed up like a champ with me 20 ft away in Zone 5 with me lifting my hands high to wave him back. Slow spins are merely an extension of what he already knows..

Afterward, when handling Smokey & Cody, I really realized how differently Guinness responds to me. There is almost no resistance to my requests to change direction, to move specific parts of his body, or to slow down or stop. Plus, only one time *ever* has he offered to walk a few steps away from me as I approached him (when Smokey was telling him to avoid me in order to keep eating some yummy grass in my front yard). However, he does sometimes think twice before following me into "danger" (ie; the river) and he doesn't respond much when I ask him to go faster (probably due to operator error).

My level 3/4 buddy Alyssa has agreed to play with us to give us some feedback in these areas and to help me to progress my riding. I am now officially in uncharted territory in terms of my knowledge and skills. It is simultaneously intimidating & liberating..

Our 2nd ACTHA ride & sideways toward!

Hi folks. I'm so happy to have a chance for a blog update! Life has been NUTS for me since starting my new job full time..

Last Saturday, Guinness and I participated in our first *judged* American Competitive Trail Horse Association (ACTHA) ride at the Horse Center in Lexington, VA. (The first time that we rode in an ACTHA ride, it was an unjudged "buddy ride.") We rode with our friends Diane & Ivan and Joanne & Noble.

Here is a list of obstacles & how we did:

• cross a deadfall of logs & pause straddling the last one - G did great!
• dismount on the off-side and remount from the off-side using a bench - great!
• cross a small shallow pond - per the rules, I didn't allow him to nose the water, so he said "forget it" and we maxed out our time without him setting one foot into it..
• walk up an embankment and then down again - G went RBE over the sight of some horses on a ridge line about 1/4 mile away. I still got him up the embankment, but had to dismount after that to help him work through his feelings.
• weave at a gait through a line of pumpkins and halt at the last one - G did fine, but I forgot to halt until a horse length past - oops.

He nicely trotted in-hand for the final lameness check. Then I gave him some "tea", brushed him, and put him loose in the trailer to munch hay while looking out of the windows.

After lunch, I put him on a 22' line and reapproached the water obstacle. This time, I clicked/treated (with mints - a first) as he neared the water and within 5 minutes he was willingly cantering circles through it to earn a mint! He was energetic but didn't spook at anything (seemed more LBE at the time). I allowed him to graze a while, then we loaded up and headed home without incident. Loading is a complete non-issue. :-)

I've inserted some photos of the event. Plus, click here for a slideshow! (Photos 269-273+ depict Guinness refusing the water obstacle.)

Almost as fun, was the opportunity to play horsey in my own backyard this evening before dark. It has been MONTHS since I've done this..

I went out to the roundpen with a fanny pack filled with Guinness' dinner. I stood in neutral until Guinness "found" me, than I closed the rope gates to keep the other horses out. Guinness looked hard at me and looked as though he wanted to play circling game, so I gestured for him to circle. He eagerly walked around and I strategically clicked to tell him that he was on the right track. Once he passed my shoulder on the 2nd lap, I brought him in and fed him a little feed from my hand. We repeated this on the other side. I was *really* impressed because it has been almost 3 MONTHS since we played with this at liberty!! Click here to read about the last time.

Next, I decided to play with a very light driving game - more like gesturing to him and him interpreting what I meant and earning periodic treats after a series of multiple clicks. So awesome!

I decided that it was time to try something new: Sideways toward me. Easy as pie with clicker training; it took all of about 5 minutes!! All I did was to stand parallel to him facing the same direction as him. I started by crossing my legs and stepping sideways toward him, as he moved sideways away from me.

Next, I draped the string over his back near his flank, and stepped away from him in the exact manner as before. I could see the wheels turning in his brain. As his front end moved toward me, I clicked/treated. Then I gestured a tiny bit with the stick on the off-side at the flank and his rear stepped toward me - click/treat. After about 3 tries, his whole body was moving sideways toward me! We repeated this about 5 times and ended with a jackpot in his food bowl.

Guinness was very pleased with himself. I will be sure to never reward this behavior without my having cued it first, since I don't want to teach him to crowd me. This is why I've waited until he was really responsive to teach it. Yippee!

Guinness has now been seriously "under saddle" for about six and 1/2 months. It is so easy to take it for granted now that we are riding.

I am so grateful to have him in my life. Rockies Rule!!