APRIL 2011

APRIL 3 2011

(On Line, 60 mins) Lovely day for a hack up the road. Snow is gone, bit windy, so it was like a new place for Z, but she did very well, and I was able to help her out when she got worried. Back in the yard having new grass (her), I practised lots of carrot stick/string friendly game, she's still worried about Z4. Temperature seems to stay warmer, so off with the stinky stinky stinky blanket and on with the nice clean sheet. Oh - was clean for the two minutes BEFORE I put her in her paddock. Sigh.

APRIL 4 2011

Zaina's confidence and trust continues to develop. I've been riding her in the halter. She's bracey on turns, but I'm reviewing dvds to help, and have learned that I need to ask with a lighter touch. Practiced this on-line today and after waiting patiently she relaxed and bent her head, both directions!

Interesting friendly game with rope on Z4 today. Still skeptical, but when I put the rope under her neck and over Z4 she walked away from me instead of becoming frantic. I followed her, and it took her awhile to stop and look at me. She was able to then turn her self out of the rope with just a bit of pressure on her flanks. Harder for her to keep LB with the rope on her left flank and me on her right (vision?), but she did it. After each unwrapping (which was  a bit emotional at the end), she stretched her neck to the ground and gave big blows and licks. It's coming!

She worked hard to keep her emotions calm when I asked her to squeeze through the arena corner between the walls and mounting block piled with my saddle etc. Lots of retreat and approach, but she kept bringing herself back to trying. Then went to the corner, and stopped (like a trailer!). Mope retreat and approach and she went through the corner - bit emotional again at the end. 

Lead by the leg was super, both legs, no worry about the rope. One step each!

Teeth floating day. She had a light sedation but was soooo calm all round. What a difference. She was worried at first walking toward the vet, but he's so calm and patient that she quickly settled.


APRIL 6 2011

(On Line, 60 mins) Picked up poop and gave Z carrots when she came over. She got LBE when I gave one to her neighbour horse, came over for a carrot, left and gave us both repeated head swings! Later went moseying for grass and played friendly game with carrot stick and string over Z3 and 4. Still stressed, but a wee bit better. She's very agitated if I ask her to move while the string is over her - and she has on a sheet, so it's quite a sensitivity.

APRIL 9 2011

(On Line, 30 mins) Short session to prepare for riding. Circles to get her focused - so interesting how after she gets her energy up, goes a bit right brain at the canter, I trot and have her change directions, that she does Big tongue licks and chews. A fascinating transformation to left brain. She was hesitant to walk over the ground pole, but today I focused forward instead of on her, let her pause, then gently asked for some energy and over she came with ears forward. Had a big rest, then went the other way, another big rest and did not repeat.

(Freestyle, 30 mins) Nice ride! Lots of passenger lesson with mirror-me, before walking on the rail. She needed reminders to stay on the rail - she preferred passenger lesson today, but after a few reminders she did well. Good stops in the corners, but not willing to back up out of the corner, turned around instead. Afraid of something. Very good halts. Attentive, responsive. Then trotted - for 15 minutes!

Did a circle pattern. Nice how, because I'm not drilling a circle, but using it in a relaxed way to relax her, that she stretched out, and blew, and gave me a rhythmic trot. Slowly worked up to going down the rail. She's bracey to turn in the hackamore, but I just held and didn't worry about it. She let me know when enough was enough, went into a walk to the middle! This was a really nice time, I'm feeling more confident.

APRIL 12 2011

(On Line, 90 mins) Long on line sessions waiting for vet's arrival. Z was introverted unconfident today. Did not want to be away from me, so circling was impossible. Finally, managed one complete walk so asked her to come in. Worked at refining figure 8 at a trot, and friendly game with the ground pole, and rope on Z4. Success with both after lots of retreat and approach. Worked at refining lead by the leg, ear and mane. Had a very interesting and successful squeeze game through the arena corner, and between the mounting block that had my saddle etc on it. High noisy winds, she came, paused, stepped back, tried again, further in. Back, further in. Back, further in. Then right to the corner (aha - like a trailer). Then back, and then through the corner (bit emotional coming out). She was clearly working on her emotions, trying to be calm. What a gal!

APRIL 13 2011

(On Line, 30 mins) Moseying along with refining tasks outdoors, as we waited for the natural hoof farrier to visit. She did a beautiful job relating to Z - of course, she's a Parelli person! Once Z realized she wasn't going to ride her, all was well - and the treats helped. Thanks, Susan!

APRIL 16 2011

(On Line, 45 mins) Lots of time spent moseying and working off RBE tension while in the area of horses being trailer loaded. Eventually settled into enjoying the grass. Then inside for riding prep, lots of go today. Tried to eat the ground pole, then walked over it calmly - if you bite it it's okay, I guess!

(Freestyle, 30 mins) 30 minutes passenger lesson at walk, including sitting up and moving around to work on balance and confidence, swinging arms, in and out of stirrup. Proud of self. Then worked on dismounting, up and down, in and out of the saddle. Z was a rock, I was more confident than I expected.

Received the Humanility Match report today – and it is incredible. I’m familiar with personality assessments through my work as an educator, and gotta say that find many to be shams, so I was skeptical. But this one is in a class by itself. Plus the report provides detailed information about relationships with humans based on the assessment, and strategies for improvements. Priceless. 

Then there is the Match with our horsenality assessment – I was in tears. It brought front and centre issues that I have been recognizing, but not dealing with, plus new revelations. Not always easy to accept, but if I didn’t want the truth I wouldn’t be doing Parelli. Invaluable strategies for change. Beyond priceless.

The assessment: I'm an RBI - pretty close to the outermost ring. Avoid conflict; disappear; don't like social events (that I don't have control over), etc. etc.

Biggest application: have to up my energy in order to be the leader Z needs.  I have KNOWN this, but as the report reminds me, as an RBI I'd prefer to not have a confrontation, and am uber-comfortable when things are going well. Sooooo, gotta challenge myself and Z by taking this extra step. Can't use her issues as an excuse for mine,  sigh - more's the pity....

APRIL 19 2011

(On Line, 30 mins) Z had lots of mixed energy today - 4 horses left the facility on friday, she and the remaining mare are in uber-heat, high winds, spring! Applied the info from my match report to up my "presence" - doesn't take much to be effective with Zaina - and kept telling myself that what she was telling me was, "I need you to help focus me." Worked like a charm. So, online asking for better responses by keeping my energy up, rather than asking in a dawdling kind of way and accepting the smallest try. We are past that for tasks that she understands. Result - travelling circles at the trot, and a better yoyo!

(Freestyle, 30 mins) Mounted, refining lateral flexion and disengagements - slowing everything waaaaay down. Lots of passenger lesson at the walk, and some at the trot. But should have moved earlier to trotting on the rail, or bulls eye as she became too emotional after awhile given Sophie's screaming for her! I'm starting to feel how I come forward with tension, so its a start to being able to consciously stay on my balance point.

APRIL 22 2011
 Momentous Day! 1) Zaina RAN to the gate to great me. 2) After our session I let her loose and was picking up toys, turned around AND SHE WAS RIGHT BEHIND ME (scared the bjs outta me). 3) Kept picking up toys, she went to have some grass next to a guy friend, when I picked up her halter she SAUNTERED right over and invited me to put it on her.
Smiling and crying at the same time; 15 months of parelli - worth the time it has taken, every single minute of it.

 (On Line, 60 mins) First time playing outside (aside from while moseying for grass) since, mmmm, winter - ie, ages ago. Came out despite the wind so as to leave the indoor to a nonparelli rider (can't push things too far!). It forced me to be more "there", and man did it work. Only an inch more is needed, but despite the wind, enticing grass, and neighbour boy, Z was with me for the most part. WALKED through the cavaletti lengthwise then OVER the cavaletti in 2nd position (how come inside this is toooo scarey????).

Then back over and through the narrowed end, just a bit of hesitation to double check, I checked too, and through she went. Mmmm, confidence. Travelling circles (after lots of prep), trotting to the left. Going right was scarey today, needed lots of support, ended well - not travelling. Trotted the weave with her right side to me.

Can't do this on her left side, I don't think she can see me so gets worried. Major accomplishment: walked confidently through 4 foot high construction/parking thingees, plus she would halt when asked part way through, and yo yo, then come back.

It was a delightful play doing this, as she got into the stopping and starting as a game, rather than feeling she had done something wrong. I've written on my wall the major "attraction" breakthroughs that happened today. Had to give her EEE and Tetanus today (why oh why these combinations????) Tomorrow she'll be sore, despite the bute, so it will be a lurching for grass day.

APRIL 23 2011

(On Line, 60 mins) Yesterday's savvy time. Yesterday's EEE/Tetanus vaccine has left Z a little sore, didn't run to me but lurched, no rolling, but a brief (and pretty) run in the outdoor to evade going back inside. Then stopped, watched me, and when I moved came to me. Had grass time, yoyos and squeeze games over cavalletti, but nothing too mentally or physically demanded, then more grass time, and stretches.

APRIL 24 2011

(On Line, 120 mins) Beautiful on-line hack, down the road and into the woods/field. Much more confident and curious in the wooded area, and not too pushy either. Played touch it with feet on a white painted board - not too shabby - willing to try to do what I asked and managed to hit it with her foot by accident/on purpose two times. I was blown away by her try. Oh - and she keeps coming to me! I'm just so honoured by her desire.