Special Moments

 July 1, 2013
Filmed freestyle level 2 audition. Didn't expect it, was just going to do a practice. Ride was soooo awesome, and is captured by the video.


June 30, 2013
Zaina, totally "zen" as I, mounted, pulled open the heavy half door, into the arena. Totally "zen" as I repositioned her to open it further. Me, totally amazed when she deliberately and calmly and effectively pushed it closed using her nose. The FEELING of her calmness was amazing. This is what it has been about, this Parelli development. 

January 22, 2013
"A" earned her red string! 1++, can't get any higher than that for level one. So very very exciting. Lots of scores in 2, 2+ (relationship, rapport, and obedience) and one 2++ ( friendly). Ashley Tippet assessed the audition. She commented positively on everything, especially noting how "A" waited appropriately for Z when she went RBI.
This feedback gives me a much better idea of how to help her progress. Since she's already level 2 in so many areas it means mostly helping her get comfortable with the 22' line, and now getting more particular (at a level 3 level) in her expectations of Zaina. Onward!

January 15, 2013
Sat on Zaina bareback, with the halter. No pad. Dismounted. Got back on, took 4 steps, disengaged, waited, dismounted. Amazing. She was as calm as could be. I was, um, sorta!


February 9, 2012 Loaded Zaina into a trailer. Despite her being skeptical she stayed left brained. Took 40 minutes of in and out, and she travelled untied. When we arrived at our new home, she was calm. Walked off, not a drop of sweat throughout the whole voyage.

Lesson with Fawn Anderson, June 9, 2010. Watching as Z displayed more and more confidence with trailer loading. Moving her to her new home, and her settling in sooo quickly. Parelli got us here!

Mounted, inside. Rode her in a halter. She was an angel. Who'd a thought???

I put the exercise ball at the stall door while I was grooming her. She touched it, it moved, she touched it again. Then she ate a snack off it. Then,on line, circling game at walk, inside, 20 foot rope. Z stopped at the pole on ground, sniffed it, then chewed at it, then after coming around the circle, stopped at the cone and touched it. My baby is getting confident!

On line, circling game at walk, outside, 20 foot rope. Z went toward the cavaletti and calmly walked over them as if she'd been doing it all her life. We did this a couple of times, then changed direction. 

Mounted, passenger trot, we got entanged in the cones. I expected her to panic, and I'd be off. While I automatically pitched myself into forward fetal position ( no savvy here!), I saw her left leg stretch out and around the cone! She was looking out for both her and me. 

I was mounted, and had been resting at the arena door next to a ground pole I had placed perpendicular from ground to the gate vertical. I was backing her and planning to turn her away, because she does not willingly go over obstacles unless they are on the ground. She paused, turned toward the pole, and stepped over it at the 2 foot level. It was a week before I could share this with anyone.