yoga4ann's blog

Another beautiful day!  Africa doesn't have his blanket on anymore so he was covered in mud again.

It felt like spring today.  I wore a down vest rather than my Carthart to the barn.  The sun was shining and the sky was a bright blue.

What a dreary day here! :(  I'm tired of the snow, ice, and clouds. And now it's a wet mist filling the air with haze.

Now that I have complained about the weather, I must say that when I go to the barn to spend time with Africa, the gloom seems to disappear.

It's not horribly muddy yet, so with his blanket on he stays clean.  Like always when I call his name, he head comes up to look at me.  When I go into the pasture, walk toward him and then wait, he comes to me ready for a rub and the halter.  I love that!

I've had a week bout with flu, so barely got out to the barn to say "hi" to my handsome boy.  Went out tonight after work and gave him free run of the arena.  When snow is on the ground outside, the horses don't run around very much.  So Africa loves the time in the arena to shake off all the "buggies".  He played with the big green ball today, too.  He pushes it with his head and front legs.  Sometimes he'll use his neck to give it a shove.  Today he tried to jump on it with his front legs, but it rolled out from under him.  He wa

I just read Linda's blog entitled Finesse Breakthrough, dated 02/11/2010.  She was talking about a lack of confidence when Remmer got stronger.  When she watched the video, Remmer was "fantastic".  So the next day she came back with a different attitude and more confidence.  Her comments about doubting herself as a student really spoke to me.  Just as Linda was explaining, I can feel out of my comfort zone and get disillusioned.

Africa and I are working on Sideways game for Freestyle.  He does a great job on-line, but I think I'm not using the right cues.  Africa gets agitated and acts like he doesn't understand.  We try a couple of times with direct and indirect reins, moving forequarters and hindquarters alternately.  At this time, when he gets one step each way I praise him and we stop.  Maybe I need to try and increase the number of times he is successful before we stop.  It is a fine line between frustrating him and getting practice.  He is amazingly forgiving, so m

Africa, my handsome RBI, is so amazing and tries so hard to do what I ask him to do.  Today while reviewing the figure 8 pattern on-line, he would stop and ask a question about what to do next. Steady pressure and quick release helped Africa move forward and complete the pattern.  We continued until Africa made four passes without hesitation.  What amazed me was how calm and relaxed we felt.  There was no impatience, frustration, or fear for either of us.

I'm learning to play the flute and have had a dream to play it while horseback riding.  Well..... that dream may become reality.  How exciting!  This summer I am attending another clinic with Jesse Peters (3-Star professional instructor).  During this clinic we have the opportunity to present a Saavy Spotlight.  Another clinic participant had an amazing idea to incorporate my flute playing, liberty, and freestyle.  So today I decided to see how Africa would respond to the sound of the flute.

Will I ever figure out my Right-Brain Introvert?  I feel like I'm starting over with him.  Today we focused on standing quietly while being groomed.  I held the lead rope loosely when he was standing still and corrected when he wanted to wander.  Lots of "good boy" and rubbing his neck.  We even played throw-the-towel-over all zones.

It is amazing how synchronicity falls into your life.  I decided, after writing my blog yesterday and thinking about those raging thoughts inside my head, that I would start my meditation practice again.  I have let it go by the wayside.  Meditation quiets the mind and encourages being in the present. 

Been to Florida and back, but not to the Parelli Center.  Helped two friends drive back to Michigan for their move back here.  Africa's and my journey had just begun when I last wrote.  It was a rocky road at first.  We didn't have much time to play together that first year because he was boarded at a lesson barn and I work full-time.  By the time I got to the barn, only an hour was left before lessons began.  I also misinterpreted his Horsenality.  I thought he was a Left-Brain Extrovert.  He was pushy, mouthy, and running into me, which I thought wa

Africa and I have made astounding growth in our relationship, especially after we started the Patterns.  I could see the difference in our language.  He is thinking and understanding more.  For example, before the Patterns, I was having trouble getting Africa to understand the Sideways Game.  After working with the On-line, Level 1 Patterns he was able to follow the wall in Sideways Game.  Our communication was opened up.  I'm totally commited to Parelli.