Yesterday was spectacular with Solo and Cavallo!!!
I played with Cavallo first yesterday. I brought him in the barn and clean him up nicely and it was a good time to spend some undemanding time with him! When I was brushing him, he cocked his hind leg and almost fell asleep! Also, when he turned his head and looked at me, his bottom lip was drooping! That was a first! He used to suck his bottom lip and it would make his mouth look REALLY small! This was his introverted "happy place." He barely ever does that anymore, even when he does get unconfident! We went outside and played around online with some weaving and figure 8s at the trot and then did some circle game at the walk. His problem at the walk is that he wants to turn and face me, which is great, but he needs to understand that I'll ask him in when he's done! Then we went in the round pen and worked on cantering on the cirle which went really well! He caught right on! He's so brilliant!!!! I thought everything was going really well, so then we played some stick to me at the trot at LIBERTY! It was quite the compliment that he stuck to me! He started get more interested in the grass than me, so I decided to hook him back up online before it fell apart! I was so proud of him! After that, we played with some jumping, and getting his confidence up with it. Then to end off the play time, I lined him up to the mounting block and rubbed him all over until his confidence showed, then I put him back out! It was a great day!
It was also a great day with Solo! We finished the weave and figure 8 pattern, so we moved onto traveling circles, which went really well for the first time! He even gave me TWO flying changes! Wahoo! We didn't play with too much online, because I wanted to go to liberty! Once at liberty, we played with our sideways towards and our draw from zone 5, which both are improving vastly!! Then we played with the circle pattern, which went really well! It was only our 3rd time doing it. After that, we saddled up and rode around! We did our last weave and figure 8 patterns which were perfect! Then I decided what the heck, lets try the level 3 figure 8! He did almost perfect simple changes and it was just beautiful! To end the ride, we did some point to point at the canter, and he got to eat grass at each point. Talk about motivation! We booked it to each point, and even did a roll back! What a great way to end the day! (=
Savvy On!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
SUMMER! (=
Finally, I'm on summer vacation, which means I get to ride all day! I'm so excited! I have so many goals and it's great that I finally have the time to just spend all day with my wonderful partners!!
So, which horse should I start with?
I'll do Solo! (=
He is doing amazing! He has gained a ton of weight and he finally looks healthy again! I think he lost about 50 pounds this winter! It was scary! Thank god for Equine Senior feed and Dr. Dan Moore's weight check oil! He is all shed out and his coat shines like the sun! As far as our progress as a team, we are forever growing a stronger relationship and he keeps proving to me what an amazing horse he is! It's hard for me to grasp the fact that he's 25, because he doesn't act like it at all! The way I see it, I'll stop riding when he tells me he can't do it anymore, but right now, he's always eager for me to hop on! :D On the ground, we've been working on patterns! They've helped with impulsion so much and now he's always willing to go! We're also working on getting his downward transitions onto his hindquarters, instead of tumbling onto his forehand. All of his games are looking fantastic, and we are about to start the liberty patterns! YAY!
Onto riding! Well, it's been fantastic! He's been using his topline so much it's hard to believe! He's got haunches in at the walk down, and it's time to move onto the trot! He really is fantastic! We've also been doing patterns freestyle and he's just awesome! I really don't think I could be any more please with my lil guy! I love him sooooooo much!
Now for Cavallo!
We had a lesson about a month ago now, and we were introduced to the flank rope! It has worked wonders! After the first time we did it, he was a different horse! Not jumpy, stood still, just completely confident and trusting! I had been looking for something to push his confidence outside the bubble without bursting it, and that was it. We also attached the 22' line to my stirrups and swung them around and flapped the line against my saddle and really desensitized him to all the noise going on! Now he looks like an old pro when I do it!
I've also been doing patterns with him, and he just loves them! He leaps around gets so confident and it's really great to see! It's crazy; I've had him for almost nine months! It's hard to believe he's even the same horse that I brought home labor-day weekend! He stands still now, which was almost impossible before! I'm so proud of him, and I really feel a special connection with him. He's going to be an excellent horse and I have a feeling that when he accepts me as a rider, our relationship will really take off! I can't wait to start doing some things at liberty with him!
He really is one special guy! I'm falling in love with him, a day at time!
Savvy On!
So, which horse should I start with?
I'll do Solo! (=
He is doing amazing! He has gained a ton of weight and he finally looks healthy again! I think he lost about 50 pounds this winter! It was scary! Thank god for Equine Senior feed and Dr. Dan Moore's weight check oil! He is all shed out and his coat shines like the sun! As far as our progress as a team, we are forever growing a stronger relationship and he keeps proving to me what an amazing horse he is! It's hard for me to grasp the fact that he's 25, because he doesn't act like it at all! The way I see it, I'll stop riding when he tells me he can't do it anymore, but right now, he's always eager for me to hop on! :D On the ground, we've been working on patterns! They've helped with impulsion so much and now he's always willing to go! We're also working on getting his downward transitions onto his hindquarters, instead of tumbling onto his forehand. All of his games are looking fantastic, and we are about to start the liberty patterns! YAY!
Onto riding! Well, it's been fantastic! He's been using his topline so much it's hard to believe! He's got haunches in at the walk down, and it's time to move onto the trot! He really is fantastic! We've also been doing patterns freestyle and he's just awesome! I really don't think I could be any more please with my lil guy! I love him sooooooo much!
Now for Cavallo!
We had a lesson about a month ago now, and we were introduced to the flank rope! It has worked wonders! After the first time we did it, he was a different horse! Not jumpy, stood still, just completely confident and trusting! I had been looking for something to push his confidence outside the bubble without bursting it, and that was it. We also attached the 22' line to my stirrups and swung them around and flapped the line against my saddle and really desensitized him to all the noise going on! Now he looks like an old pro when I do it!
I've also been doing patterns with him, and he just loves them! He leaps around gets so confident and it's really great to see! It's crazy; I've had him for almost nine months! It's hard to believe he's even the same horse that I brought home labor-day weekend! He stands still now, which was almost impossible before! I'm so proud of him, and I really feel a special connection with him. He's going to be an excellent horse and I have a feeling that when he accepts me as a rider, our relationship will really take off! I can't wait to start doing some things at liberty with him!
He really is one special guy! I'm falling in love with him, a day at time!
Savvy On!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Unstoppable!
Well, that's how I feel right now! Solo, Cavallo, and I have been making sooo much progress! It's really amazing and I am SO proud of both of them! I'll start with Cavallo!
Ever since I made the decision to just push riding out of the equation, he has improved tenfold! I've been working a lot on zone 3 driving, to simulate riding! The past couple of times, I was able to drop the carrot stick and do it! He is brilliant! Yesterday was the first time he really looked confident. He was blinking, licking and chewing, and looking at me like he really realized how much I care. I see so much hope for him and it really is heartwarming! His patterns are getting much better! We can now do a trotting figure 8 and weave with slack in the rope and lots of exuberance! (= YAY! At the end of our last session, I lined him up to the mounting block. He was very skeptical about it at first, so I remained passively persistent until he had a flash of confidence, and I released the pressure! Boy, what a difference! He came a little closer, and I gladly scratched his itchy spot, which is conveniantly on his back! Wahoo! I am falling in love with this guy! <3
Now for Solo, my ol' man (=
Well, he's doing great; we're doing great! When we're together, it feels like we're one and it's the best feeling ever! Impulsion isn't a problem anymore, he asks a billion questions, and is just the most amazing partner I could ever ask for! Our liberty is also better than I could ever imagine! As far as riding goes, I'm speechless. Ever since my clinic with Nita Jo, we've been having the rides I've always dreamed of! Right now we're working on the suspension rein, getting transitions snappier, and haunches in! He's doing really amazing, and I can't believe I've been honored with these two spectacular horses! (=
Savvy On!
Ever since I made the decision to just push riding out of the equation, he has improved tenfold! I've been working a lot on zone 3 driving, to simulate riding! The past couple of times, I was able to drop the carrot stick and do it! He is brilliant! Yesterday was the first time he really looked confident. He was blinking, licking and chewing, and looking at me like he really realized how much I care. I see so much hope for him and it really is heartwarming! His patterns are getting much better! We can now do a trotting figure 8 and weave with slack in the rope and lots of exuberance! (= YAY! At the end of our last session, I lined him up to the mounting block. He was very skeptical about it at first, so I remained passively persistent until he had a flash of confidence, and I released the pressure! Boy, what a difference! He came a little closer, and I gladly scratched his itchy spot, which is conveniantly on his back! Wahoo! I am falling in love with this guy! <3
Now for Solo, my ol' man (=
Well, he's doing great; we're doing great! When we're together, it feels like we're one and it's the best feeling ever! Impulsion isn't a problem anymore, he asks a billion questions, and is just the most amazing partner I could ever ask for! Our liberty is also better than I could ever imagine! As far as riding goes, I'm speechless. Ever since my clinic with Nita Jo, we've been having the rides I've always dreamed of! Right now we're working on the suspension rein, getting transitions snappier, and haunches in! He's doing really amazing, and I can't believe I've been honored with these two spectacular horses! (=
Savvy On!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
I did it!
Well, the title says it all! I finally taped my Level 3 Liberty Audition and it turned out exactly how I wanted it to! I hope it passes because Solo and I's relationship really shines through! He was a complete goof ball and so animated it was a blast!! (=
Hopefully I'll have it up soon! I'm not too savvy with video editing and all that jazz! (=
Savvy On!
Hopefully I'll have it up soon! I'm not too savvy with video editing and all that jazz! (=
Savvy On!
Progress, Progress, oh and MORE Progress! (=
Well, it's been a fantastic spring so far!!! Solo and I have made soooo much progress and are learning so much! It's almost overwhelming how proud I am of him!
For a while, our liberty was going downhill. I think because we hadn't played too much this winter, and then this spring I thought we could just hop right back into our usual liberty play, but that wasn't the case. So I decided I would just stop playing at liberty for a while and fix up our online and freestyle. Well, we were also struggling a tad during freestyle! Jeepers! I recently got some help from two things. 1.) The amazingly talented Nita Jo Rush.
2.) The Parelli Patterns.
Ever since starting the patterns, Solo has been so much more tuned in and enthusiastic about everything!!! He maintains gait at any gait, and asks a TON of questions! Oh man, horses really do teach humans! (=
Well, on Monday, I thought, what the heck, might as well try our liberty again! I went at it with a positive, fun attitude and guess what?! Our liberty was AMAZING!! Solo was so tuned in and we were dancing. It was the best feeling I've ever had! He was doing small circles at the trot and doing flying changes! Eeeek! He's so amazing I just love him soooo much! I'm thinking about taping my Level 3 Liberty, because we are so ready! (=
Savvy On!
For a while, our liberty was going downhill. I think because we hadn't played too much this winter, and then this spring I thought we could just hop right back into our usual liberty play, but that wasn't the case. So I decided I would just stop playing at liberty for a while and fix up our online and freestyle. Well, we were also struggling a tad during freestyle! Jeepers! I recently got some help from two things. 1.) The amazingly talented Nita Jo Rush.
2.) The Parelli Patterns.
Ever since starting the patterns, Solo has been so much more tuned in and enthusiastic about everything!!! He maintains gait at any gait, and asks a TON of questions! Oh man, horses really do teach humans! (=
Well, on Monday, I thought, what the heck, might as well try our liberty again! I went at it with a positive, fun attitude and guess what?! Our liberty was AMAZING!! Solo was so tuned in and we were dancing. It was the best feeling I've ever had! He was doing small circles at the trot and doing flying changes! Eeeek! He's so amazing I just love him soooo much! I'm thinking about taping my Level 3 Liberty, because we are so ready! (=
Savvy On!
Monday, May 3, 2010
My First Clinic!
On Saturday, I went to my first clinic! Well, actually, it was a workshop! It was with 4* Parelli Professional Nita Jo Rush! It was an amazing, fun-filled, positive learning experience! I learned a ton!
First off, Nita Jo told me that my stirrups were too short! YAY! That means that I'm developing a great seat! By the end of the day, I had lowered my stirrups 3 holes! WOW! It feels so good! Now, I'm leaning more towards a finesse seat when I ride, which is really exciting! So at the workshop, I worked on getting Solo's upward transitions really snappy! First, we did walk to trot, and instead of a jog, I wanted a TROT! I ended up getting a trot so big I could barely post to it! :D Next, we had to work on our whoa! Nita Jo told me that the reason Solo is downhill is because his downward transitions aren't fast enough, so he tumbles onto his forhand. We used a suspension rein to fix that, and by the end of the workshop, our downward transitions had definately improved! Lastly, we worked on haunches in. Solo really caught onto it! I was also informed that I am ready to begin finesse! All in all, it was a very positive and progressive day and I learned a lot of new and useful information! I'd like to thank Ms. Nita Jo Rush for all of the lovely advise and information! She is a wonderful, talented, sweet woman who I would love to keep working with!
Savvy On!
First off, Nita Jo told me that my stirrups were too short! YAY! That means that I'm developing a great seat! By the end of the day, I had lowered my stirrups 3 holes! WOW! It feels so good! Now, I'm leaning more towards a finesse seat when I ride, which is really exciting! So at the workshop, I worked on getting Solo's upward transitions really snappy! First, we did walk to trot, and instead of a jog, I wanted a TROT! I ended up getting a trot so big I could barely post to it! :D Next, we had to work on our whoa! Nita Jo told me that the reason Solo is downhill is because his downward transitions aren't fast enough, so he tumbles onto his forhand. We used a suspension rein to fix that, and by the end of the workshop, our downward transitions had definately improved! Lastly, we worked on haunches in. Solo really caught onto it! I was also informed that I am ready to begin finesse! All in all, it was a very positive and progressive day and I learned a lot of new and useful information! I'd like to thank Ms. Nita Jo Rush for all of the lovely advise and information! She is a wonderful, talented, sweet woman who I would love to keep working with!
Savvy On!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Spring Madness!
WOW it's been a loooong time since I've last posted! I apologize for that!
Well, a lot has happened! I'll start with Cavallo!
Cavallo:
Well, since my last post, I've realized that he really isn't safe to ride yet. I had only been doing things in zone 1, so how DARE I ride him?! Silly me!! So, I've quit getting on. I've been working on LOTS of friendly game with the big green ball, tarps, cones, barrels, just about any toy you could think of! I've also been doing a lot of zone 3 driving to simulate riding. Well what do you know? His confidence has grown so much, along with our relationship! I am truly in absolutely no rush to get on this guy. It'll happen when it happens. Until then, we'll keep enjoying online (and occasionally) some liberty! (=
Solo:
My main squeeze! (= Over the winter, he lost a lot of weight. Mainly because he is now 25, and because we have a bigger herd since last winter and he is at the bottom of the totem pole. He is gaining weight, though. In fact, quite well! We just recently got the Parelli Patterns, so we've been working a lot on those! WOW! What a difference! Our play sessions now have a purpose and riding has become so much more fun! I'm so excited! This saturday we have a Independent Seat & Fluidity Workshop with 4* Parelli Professional Nita Jo Rush! EEEEEKKKK! I'm so excited!!
So, that's what's been going on in my horsey life lately!
Savvy On!
Well, a lot has happened! I'll start with Cavallo!
Cavallo:
Well, since my last post, I've realized that he really isn't safe to ride yet. I had only been doing things in zone 1, so how DARE I ride him?! Silly me!! So, I've quit getting on. I've been working on LOTS of friendly game with the big green ball, tarps, cones, barrels, just about any toy you could think of! I've also been doing a lot of zone 3 driving to simulate riding. Well what do you know? His confidence has grown so much, along with our relationship! I am truly in absolutely no rush to get on this guy. It'll happen when it happens. Until then, we'll keep enjoying online (and occasionally) some liberty! (=
Solo:
My main squeeze! (= Over the winter, he lost a lot of weight. Mainly because he is now 25, and because we have a bigger herd since last winter and he is at the bottom of the totem pole. He is gaining weight, though. In fact, quite well! We just recently got the Parelli Patterns, so we've been working a lot on those! WOW! What a difference! Our play sessions now have a purpose and riding has become so much more fun! I'm so excited! This saturday we have a Independent Seat & Fluidity Workshop with 4* Parelli Professional Nita Jo Rush! EEEEEKKKK! I'm so excited!!
So, that's what's been going on in my horsey life lately!
Savvy On!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
A Proud Moment!
Yesterday was a big day for Cavallo and I. I got on him for the third time! This time, I was barely nervous, and he was SO calm! I didn't really plan on doing much when i was on him. My thought is, it took so long to get his confidence up with just standing at the mounting block and lining up, why rush it when I get on? So that's exactly what I'm doing. I'm just going to take what he gives me and go with it! Of course, still learning lateral flexion! We need a whoa before we can go! =)
So back to last night! I am so proud of him! He would turn and sniff my boots and then take a deep breath, almost as if he knew how much I cared about him. Then, my mom walked away with her horse, and Cavallo followed, and I could tell he was waiting for me to pull back like he was so used to, but I didn't! He took a deep breath a walked again! I think it was a big relief to him that he could move and not be held back! I am so happy and proud and I am still on cloud 9! (=
Savvy On!
So back to last night! I am so proud of him! He would turn and sniff my boots and then take a deep breath, almost as if he knew how much I cared about him. Then, my mom walked away with her horse, and Cavallo followed, and I could tell he was waiting for me to pull back like he was so used to, but I didn't! He took a deep breath a walked again! I think it was a big relief to him that he could move and not be held back! I am so happy and proud and I am still on cloud 9! (=
Savvy On!
Monday, March 15, 2010
I Love My Horses!
I had a great weekend filled with horsey wonderfullness! (= First of all, I am so impressed with how much Cavallo is learning! He can now do stick to me at the canter with slack in the rope! How awesome is that?! He barely ever had his little OH MY GOODNESS spooks anymore. Also, his skin used to twitch every time I would go to pet him (I think his previous owners would "pat" him any time they touched him) and now his skin stays still! All of this in about 6 months! He is SO brilliant!!
I also had an awesome day with Solo! When we started, I knew that we had to work on our send during the circle game because right now, it's not very snappy, which is also affecting his impulsion. Plus, when he has poor impulsion, he can't do flying lead changes. So first we worked on the send, which he fixed right up so that was awesome! Next we worked on our flying lead changes, which we have been struggling with for a while, mainly because we haven't been able to work on it much due to the immense amount of snow on the ground! Well after a few times of running into the savvy string, he sure got those flying lead changes down! After that, I let him have a break to graze. Then we worked on some long-lining which was pretty fun! I'm hoping tomorrow after school I will be able to get outside, since now its light til 7!! YIPPEE!! (=
Savvy On!
I also had an awesome day with Solo! When we started, I knew that we had to work on our send during the circle game because right now, it's not very snappy, which is also affecting his impulsion. Plus, when he has poor impulsion, he can't do flying lead changes. So first we worked on the send, which he fixed right up so that was awesome! Next we worked on our flying lead changes, which we have been struggling with for a while, mainly because we haven't been able to work on it much due to the immense amount of snow on the ground! Well after a few times of running into the savvy string, he sure got those flying lead changes down! After that, I let him have a break to graze. Then we worked on some long-lining which was pretty fun! I'm hoping tomorrow after school I will be able to get outside, since now its light til 7!! YIPPEE!! (=
Savvy On!
Monday, March 1, 2010
March Means Spring!
I'm so happy it's March! And what better way to start it out than a beautiful day!! I just wish I could play with my ponies today! Well, speaking of my horses, they are doing great! Solo is such an awesome partner and friend. We did some zone 5 driving with long lines yesterday and everyday we do it I can tell his confidence rises another notch! It was a good confidence booster yesterday too! My mom and I traded horses, and right away Solo lost his confidence, but he was trying so hard! I taught my mom's horse, Boomer, how to jump half-way over the barrels, because that's something they've been struggling with and it was cool when she finally got it because she started licking and chewing before her front hooves even touched the ground!!
After we played for a while, we took them over to eat some grass for a while, and I was sick of standing, so I jumped on Solo bareback. He then decided he wanted to follow our barn kitty around the driveway, so we went for a nice little ride with just our halter and 45 foot line coiled up! =)
Cavallo was pretty awesome this weekend! I can't believe how fast he catches onto everything!! He really is brilliant! My biggest challenge with him is keeping our sessions interesting and playful enough for him. He has definately brought out the extroverted side of me I didn't even know I had! He already understands stick to me at the canter and we've only worked on it about 4 times! The best part is how sensitive he is! I love that boy!
Savvy On!
After we played for a while, we took them over to eat some grass for a while, and I was sick of standing, so I jumped on Solo bareback. He then decided he wanted to follow our barn kitty around the driveway, so we went for a nice little ride with just our halter and 45 foot line coiled up! =)
Cavallo was pretty awesome this weekend! I can't believe how fast he catches onto everything!! He really is brilliant! My biggest challenge with him is keeping our sessions interesting and playful enough for him. He has definately brought out the extroverted side of me I didn't even know I had! He already understands stick to me at the canter and we've only worked on it about 4 times! The best part is how sensitive he is! I love that boy!
Savvy On!
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