Huge Learning

Well today was a huge learning curve for both Freya and Me. I have a wonderful teacher. Not only helping my horse understand but helping me feel and sense more with Freya. So much progress where to begin.

After i got my baby boy on the bus, i hooked up the horse trailer in hopes of being able to take Freya to Sue Solf's house tomorrow. We spent a lot of quality time at the trailer and with our front feet in and there came a point where i had to step up and say enough is enough this isn't an issue and its ok i am here....come on in and eat. So as soon as i stepped up with my leadership she come right in with all 4 feet. *sigh* big breath and relax. After playing with this for a few min i had my " friend,brains of this operation, my teacher/ dictionary" Sue L. walk around at the back of the trailer and Freya with no surprise reacted, the only difference was she didn't have to get off, which is huge progress. The next step was to wiggle and move the back door, this she did not like so off we got. We played touch it with the door and wiggled and moved the door until it was a non issue. Then we took a grass eating break.

The next step was a little bit of the squeeze game between me and the back door of the trailer. Today was all about being particular. I wanted her to stop in all of the zones, she did it and did it very well. The main goal in mind was to have her back into the door. We didn't quite get there but with the help of my dear friend, were inches away from touching the door with zone 5. AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH. Enough trailer work for now, onto some driving.

Sue had a turn with Freya which was huge cause i got to see some more magic and have a better understanding of the leadership i need. I have a very hard time understanding my phases and how much is too much or how much is to little. Sue has a wonderful understanding of this and was being particular. Freya is so reactive to everything, and am now realizing that she is reactive cause i am, lol. When i can step out of my comfort zone she wont be so reactive, to new things. I think when my imagination comes everything else should fall into place. Sorry went a little off track. Sue worked on zone 3 driving with a walk, halt transition, and of course not turning to face you at the stop. By the end of the 30 min session Sue had her doing it on both sides. I had a little difficulty doing it on her right side, And then frustration and not knowing really what to do set in, so Sue had us do it on the fence and it worked well, then when i ran out of fence just carried on and we were good. Sue also played at the yo-yo game with being particular it was amazing also playing at yielding the hind with a little more pression. I know this is where my leadership lacks or should say did lack. This is for the most part the end of play session and i just let her graze, however i only wanted her to graze away from me and with me in zone 3, that was a bit of a challenge, trying to keep her nose away from me. We ended on a very positive note and as frustrating as it is cause i have the truck and trailer, we will not be making it to Sue's house tomorrow. Little bit more playing and consistent playing before i will be confident enough to do it on my own. The most important part of this session and play times to come is that my confidence and leadership is growing every time i play with her.

2 play sessions in one

Well now, i missed an entry for Wednesday's play day as well as Sue and i played today, so here goes 2 in 1.

Wednesday we had play group at Sue L. house. Everyone had the GRAND tour, and it really is grand. It is going to be a lot of fun over there especially come Spring and definitely when i can get my girl over for play days. It was a bit miserable out and rainy, but we had a bawl. Sue Solf played with her appy named ....get this Bling. Love that name and so suits him. Sue had a lot of fun playing with him. He is definitely dominant. I think they ended on a pretty good note, but like Lidlebit, can be a handful. Everyone else like Myself, Shelia, Sue L. and Miss Keri all had a turn with Lily, wow, such a nice mare. I only played with her for a few minutes. I really wanted to see where i will be with Freya in due time. Lily is so very light and has such a soft look about her. Its really different watching how a horse gets along with other people. Fascinating.

Today now. Yet another amazing day with Sue and Lily. They walked over again, and we hung out with our girls and had a coffee for aprox 30 mins before we headed over to the play area. I truly believe now, that the undemanding time is so worth it. I can now say that it is fun to just hang out. Once we made it over to the rings Sue went and did her thing with Lily and i worked again with circling, and she was awesome, there was no stopping behind me going counter clockwise, however going clockwise she was getting a little excited, wanting to canter and pull just a little, so instead of staying in the big ring we backed through the gate and decided to play in the round pen. I decided instead of worrying about the rope i took it off and we did some liberty stuff. She was fantastic, and then when she was ready, she came to me, ( big sigh), i have waited a long time for me to feel that my horse really wanted me. and i felt that. I had her, she is now becoming a bff. After my girl and i were connected it was time to groom and saddle. I did it all without a rope on, pretty exciting if i do say so myself. Put the 12 foot on and did a little of stick to me and the connection was still there. Time to get on you say. Well ok then, that is what i did. I was on her for about 10 mins or so and didn't have any fear, in fact my confidence grew and is growing so quickly. We played a little of your idea my idea and follow the rail. After the 10 mins i had to get off and hand over the camera. I guess i like to have the proof of me riding, lol. Without hesitation i was right back on for probably 15 mins. I really didn't want to get off, but knowing i should end things on a good note.....it was time. Besides this is just the beginning.

Another Great Day

Every day seems to be more and more successful with both Sue and I. She has made it past a few thresholds with Lily. She walked with Lily across the highway and made it here to play. Wow. I look forward to the day where i too can make it down the driveway and cross the highway, big success. As for Freya and I we had some success, i hope. I am concentrating on her being not being reactive, and i think we are getting there. We played again at circling and Miss Freya didn't really like my leadership in the beginning. She has a tendency to stop when behind me and of course i would turn around and re send. Now anyone who knows Freya knows she can do more then 1 circle at a time lol. Sue had me instead of turning facing and resending just put the pressure on from behind, well Freya thought that was a horrible idea because she had to listen. By gees it worked. I had her circling and connected. It was wonderful. I did get on her today and ride a little not as much, the weather was kind of windy and blowy and then the rain started and it got a little cold, and well enough with excuses right. I had anticipated riding her in the big ring, but just didn't feel right about it, so i got on her in the round pen, we walked to the gate, lateral flextion, got off and did that again, this time when i wanted her to. I asked her to walk to the gate instead of being a passenger. yeah, A wonderful day with success all around.

Sue and I

I am so thankful to have my new neighbour she is a breath of fresh air. Its nice to have Sue come over. She thinks that i am helping her, but i know its the other way around. The amount of play we have gotten in is wonderful. I can see how addicting this is coming. Back in the day i guess i felt on top of the world, working with Ian Millars horses and all, always felt a little sad for not owning my own, but it was ok. Later on in life, much later on it was time to own my own. I felt i was ready for a young green horse, so that is what i got. We have had our ups and downs and yes i am sure there was a couple of times where i thought i was in over my head however this last week has proved the parelli program for me and i am hooked. I am like a little kid calling Sue to ask if she can come over and play, its awesome. Sue has been trailering Lily over which is nice cause then i have a chance to ask Freya to load up. And after the second attempt she loaded herself, something i have been worried about for awhile.

More great news Sue came over again and we had that much more fun. Sue did a lot of follow the rail with Lily and as always i did a lot of friendly, porcupine and we did a bit of zone 4 driving, or i hope that is what you would call it. I tried to use my imagination but boy is that hard. I cant think outside of what i know. The little jump i have set up is a lot of fun. I tried to get her to just have her front feet over, if i cant do it i guess it is a sure sign of my energy, i have to learn not to be so excited every time she does something that amazes me. Freya and also played at circling and we are at the beginning stages or walk trot transitions, again i have to be more aware of my energy lol. After Sue had finished i let her play with Freya, we have both come to the conclusion that she is just way too reactive to things, another area where once my leadership becomes stronger i am hoping it will all fall into place. All in all it was another wonderful play session. I rode her again. and longer then i have in over a year. I have noticed that my balance is coming which is definitely a positive, and not so fearful when on her, my confidence is building, i almost went into the riding ring......almost but i don't want to push myself or have more expectations of her.

October 26th

Play day at my house. Was so much fun, Rose and Miss Keri, Sue Solf and Sue Lanthier, Myself Shelia and My mom, (i think our group is getting bigger lol) We had so much fun. Sue and Keri brought over there horses Kalief and Prince and of course i had Freya and between Shelia and Sue L. they had Lidlebit, the wild one. We had an excellent playday. Sue and Keri practiced what they had learned from the Ron Pyne clinic did some riding and hung out, Sue L, who was pretty benifical to Shelia helped her to understand and have a better grasp on her own horses playing with Lidlebit. I played with Freya who i hadnt played with in months other than being friendly while i was feeding.

Everyone did so well. I had Freya who was a little hot and excited to have so many friends to visit and want to play with, it was a little difficult to get her focused on me however she came around and our relationship is that much stronger. We played at our friendly, porcupine and sideways. Porcupine off the nose, hind quarters and fore hand is really good, i know we need to work at the chest area a little bit more, but all in all she was fabulous. We also did some circleing which was hard without the round pen and again we made it through. After that i decided to ask her to jump. AAAAHHHHHH she did it. Not any hesitation at all, it was just something that was in her way. What a feeling.

Novemeber 10

What a wonderful day. Horsey group was at my house today and it was the second time i had Sue Solf bring a horse. She brought Kalief with her and of course i played with Freya. Sue Lanthier was here as well, she watched us and coached quite a bit. Sue Lanthier's way of describing things is phenomenal, she knows how I can understand and grasp the information. So we just did a whole lot of online play and my horse was wonderful, and wow did i surprise myself as well as i am sure Freya was a little surprised as my leadership is coming and i feel like i am finally getting it. We played at circles and figure of 8's which wasnt terriable, we did some extreme friendly with the carrot stick and she was so good. I can also say that she is offering to do so much. Yes she still asks a ton of questions but i get why. She is offering to jump now. AAAAAAHHHHHHH it was so nice to ask her if she wanted to and pop there she goes over the jump. wow. Once Sue Solf had finished it was my turn, am i going to get on or not. What do my fans think...............I did i got on my horse. I did pushing passenger and we would walk to the gate which is maybe 30 feet, do a lateral flextion and then get off, i did this 4 times. I was so happy.