Stepping Back..

Lately, when I play with Solo, I've noticed that he doesn't look completely happy. He has the expression on his face like "I'll do it, but I really don't want to do it!" About 3 days ago, I decided to figure out what was causing that, because a year ago he didn't have that expression. We started out our play session with some Touch It on the 45 foot line. He had that sour expression, so I decided to bring him in and just wait, because he is an RBI. I think I waited for about 5-10 minutes before I finally got a lick and chew! YAY! After that, I knew I was on the right track. I asked him to go touch some other things, and then brought him in again and waited... and waited... and waited. Well finally he sighed a BIG sigh, then licked his lips and looked at me like okay, what's next? I had him go touch something else, and then I decided to be done, because when I brought him in, he blew out his nose, sighed, and licked his lips. After that his expression totally changed. His eyes were bright and his face just looked lighter, like he lifted himself out of the fog.

So could have really been that I wasn't waiting long enough for him, and he was beginning to feel like a robot? I hate to admit it, but I think so! After I decided to end our session, we just spent some UDT togethe, and I was thinking that I couldn't think of the last time I had really sat down and just hung out with Solo. I'm so ashamed! How did I get so caught up in being "great" that I forgot about the relationship? I was so focused on doing all these advanced things, but it doesn't even matter if my horse isn't happy! =( So, from now on, Solo creates the time line! DUH!

As I was sitting there with Solo, deep in thought about how right out stupid I was, he reached down, put his nose on my cheek as if to say thank you, and it was hard no for me to break out in tears! I love that guy so much!

Well, ever since I realized that, our play sessions have been completely different! Solo almost always looks happy, and we've progressed so much more now that I have the relationship back in mind! How simple! I'm so glad horses are as forgiving as they are! Sheesh!
Well, that's all for now!
Savvy On!

Love, Language, where's the leadership?

Thats what I asked myself the other day! I was thinking, out of the 3, (love, language, leadership) which 2 am I best at? Well, love and language, of course! My leadership has been lacking! This has been the missing puzzle piece in both of my relationships with my horses! Instead of leading, I've either been micromanaging, or taking something that's "good enough" but not quite what I was asking! So lately, I've been working on being particular without being critical, and already the relationships with my horses have improved! YAAAAAYYYY!!! :D It's so exciting that I've finally figured out what was lacking, because I knew something was!

On another note, yesterday I had a lesson with Cavallo! We been doing lessons every 2 weeks, and let me tell you, we have improved soooooo much! We started with working on a figure 8. Right away, Lori, (she's who I take lessons from) noticed that I was moving my feet too much, and that our draw was lacking. She had me sit on a barrel, and then continue doing a figure 8. Well guess what?! When I sent Cavallo, he looked at me like "Pshhh yeah right! You can't get me from over there!" So I was told to take my carrot stick and hit the rope until he moved his feet. The theory was that it would be uncomfortable when he wasn't moving, but the minute he moved, it would be comfortable! Next, because our draw wasn't so great, whenever I would draw him in before I send him in the other direction, I would bring him in for a few seconds, say hey, and then send him out. By then end, we were doing beautiful figure 8s!
Next, she asked to see our circle game, which she said was beautiful! The only thing we worked on with that was my send, because it was too big and my phases were too fast! After we fixed that, everything was wonderful! We also worked on lining up at the mounting block. We did this small circle where I was up on the block and there were two barrels set upright, one in front of me, one in back, with a big enough space in between for... you guessed it! A horse to fit through! So the game was that he could only stopped when he had me in his zone 3! This got him really relaxed! It was great to see!
Next, she wanted to see my zone 3 driving, which she said was also beautiful! yay!!!!
Lastly, we tied a cone to the saddle, just to simulate the movement of my leg if I were to get on him. Well, he responded to that really well! He wasn't scared at all! She said that he's almost ready to ride, and I feel it too!!!! (:

On thursday, my mom and I went for a trail ride! I rode Solo, and she took her horse Boomer. It was really nice! We had some nice trotting and cantering, and they are just wonderful on the trail! We even galloped once! EEEKKK! It's all so fun! (:
I love my horses! and Parelli!
Savvy On!