Learnaholics Anonymous

To inspire, encourage, challenge and support fellow members of the group on their individual journey of never ending improvement.

To study, learn and apply the theory and practice of Parelli Natural Horsemanship and complimentary methods.

...oh yeah and to have some fun doing it !

Questions

Does it matter if you have a plan then don't necessarily stick to it?  That was the question buzzing around my head after my time with  Bea. Then I considered this, had I lost my way, had Bea's reaction deviated me away from the goal I was/am trying to achieve?  No I was just going a different way about it a different way.

First Playtime of the Year

I can't remember the last time I played with Bea, probably before the onslaught of the winter weather.  So today with the first brief showing of some sunshine plus Bea sporting some brand new shoes we set out to play.

Ice on the Hoof

Minus 4 with a sprinkling of snow and one little mare who looked like she was walking on high heels.  Well one anyway the front.right. 

On inspection snow and ice had impacted itself into a mass that was a solid as a rock. Bea has had problems with her front right leg before which ended up in her being lame for months so not wanting a repeat performance I decided that the offending ice had to be removed besides I didn't know what kind of pressure it might be putting on the shoe. 

Question Box

Bea, being a predominantly LBI hates being ridden in a school....what is the point and its BORING.  But its necessary to save my grazing taking a pounding now winter is upon us so I set my mind to thinking how I could make things more interesting.

Buslte and Brace-ometer

Early on we learn that horses push into pressure.   It is a fundamental reaction they have.  When exploring and developing our natural horsemanship one of the first things we do is to teach horses to respond to pressure.   We learn to teach them to move away from the merest hint of pressure on air, hair or skin.

Leadership....

Today was a day of being particular, being a leader, defending my herd of two and having confirmation that I am on the right road.

We did the trailer first.  Bea was straining at the leash to get onboard.  I insisted she be calm then gave her the cue to load.  It took all her control not to run in, once in she stayed until the meagre supply of HorseHage was depleted.  Time, I think, to put the next stage of my loading plan into action.

Trailers and loading alone!

It has always taken two people to load Bea. She is unable to stand in the trailer alone whilst the ramp is being raised.  Smacks of a lack of confidence and something that should be addressed so I can get to the stage where I can take her out alone.

Changing the Game

Gemma has been a willing participant online and at liberty for quite some time now.  So it came as no surprise when I sensed a change in the game.  To begin with it was just the tiniest of changes at liberty, she'd stay with me for the most part but odd times she would walk with me then stop watching me get further away only when I beckoned to her would she come to me.  I could see by the look on her face that she was contemplating something.

Grazing Muzzles

I've never really liked the idea of using a grazing muzzle but as Bea is somewhat physically challenged it is a necessary evil.  I never realised, until now, just what at asset limiting grazing without the need for small paddocks can be.

Actions Confirmed

Today confirmed my past thoughts, its only taken three years to prove I was right to listen to my instincts...

Firsts

Today I watched Gemma try.  I saw every step she took mentally, it was amazing.  I even saw her say, 'I know I shouldn't be doing this but I just can't help myself!'

Learning to walk not run...

Gemma, as I've probably mentioned somewhere before, is implusive.  So I didn't rate my chances of getting stick to me at a canter, not for a while anyway.  Speed tends to make her anxious.  So imagine my surprise when I asked and she cantered without getting all right brained on me.  Yes she got a little ahead of me but she has four legs I only have two and I was a bit slow.  She was calm, she did have her ear on me and her head was level with her withers.

Don't make me pick up the rope!

Gemma is getting more comfortable with the 45ft line.  I am experimenting with how little it takes for me to communicate from 45 feet away.

Already we have a change of direction from that far away, even at the canter, all I have to do is make sure I catch her eye.  She will circle, maintain her gait, be relaxed...and travel.  To cause her to jump from 45 ft away all I have to do is point and focus. 

I've Got A Feeling....

Tenatively I have started to exercise Bea in hand, vets orders.  No tight turns, no turning on the forehand, definitely no jumping, avoid hard ground, a little trotting, say six or so strides, no circles or sideways, also vets orders.  So what do you do with a horse you can do almost nothing with, she stiff on the hind, striding shorter of the right fore sometimes pottery...nightmare.   Then I remembered something I saw at the FOTH something Pat said about having a horse at your shoulder, not behind you and not in front.  You have this then your horse is acting like

Confidence

Confidence is an interesting word , we want our  horse to be confident,I want to be confident , I sometimes pretend to be confident when I am not to get my self through something and I have thought Dundee is confident when he is probably not there yet . 

Trailer Loading and doing his feet has brought this home to me , I realy need to be confident in what I am doing and am getting there having lessons with Max and studying is helping me do the right thing at the right time .

Being complex has its simple side.

Starting Level 3 online with Gemma is turning into one of the most fascinating things I have done in a long time. 

Do I Want To Do This Anymore?

After two plus months of watching a lame horse go from bad to worse, then having no definitive diagnosis from the vet. I have been questioning if I want to stay in horses at all. In part I still am asking myself that question as the prospect of searching for yet another partner seems too hard to comtemplate.  I know the fat lady aint singing yet and the lameness issue with Bea is far from over.  When the splint she is now suffering from heals we could still be paying yet another visit to the vet if the lameness remains.

Thresholds

One of the topics of discussion during the savvy club UK summit meeting with Linda and Pat Parellis was Thresholds.

Comfort Zone !

Today I moved out of my comfort zone again !

Its that time of year when the grass is much more interesting to Dundee than myself . So rather than DD having  the game of getting me moving I decided to experiment with him .

Weight and balance

Pat Parelli tells us that horses are nature in its finest form.   James Shaw tells us that horses are perfectly balanced and respond to the shift in balance of the rider.   They can only move in accordance to the balance they feel on their backs.