WINTER VACAY IS OVER!
Spring has returned to NW Ohio. The crocuses have bloomed FINALLY (last year it was on the 2nd, this year the 16th), the weather is warm, the horses are shedding out in strange patches... and I finally got back to the barn to play for a change.

And it was AMAZING. Both of my horses remembered me and came right up to me for greetings and scritches. Shaveya's lameness is a bit aggravated, but she usually does that the first couple weeks of spring. They also need a trim.

Before I could play, I had to meet the latest arrival at the barn. On the 1st, the barn manager's mare foaled the most adorable little red dun colt. There is just something about that baby horse smell...

Because of the turnout configuration yesterday, we played in the round pen. I had no plan, I just wanted to see where we stood after a few weeks off. We played online first. Things were fine—good responses to Porcupine and Driving, very light but not anticipatory. Circling, good. Even Sideways—I got a few steps that looked automatic on his part—big change from last year.

Surprisingly, Extreme Friendly is broken. The moment I started thwapping, he went all RBE. I debated—do I hold onto the line during this and allow him to continue lunging himself into me; or do I release him and let him move his feet as required while allowing myself ample room to get out of his way should he explode?

I opted with Liberty. I might rethink that in the future only because I'd retain communication, but it was really a debate between communication and self-preservation and self-preservation won. I can drive him out of my space a lot better without the rope in my hands.

Hmm. Maybe I should pay attention to that. Maybe the fact that I can't communicate "Get Out Of My Space" as effectively WITH the rope in hand is something I should correct until it is as effective as driving him out of it.

He performed some very daring aerial acrobatics for me, but failed to unhinge me. (That's getting better all the time.) I've noticed the moment he sees that his attempts to upset me aren't working, he loses interest in trying, calms down, and does what he is asked to do.

This is interesting to me, and goes against the conventional RBE wisdom, which is raise your energy to match his. Had I done that, he would have jumped the gate.

Which means... maybe it wasn't RBE. Maybe it was LBE masked as RBE. Hmmm. Because matching his energy increased his—lowering mine or staying neutral diffused it. I should email an instructor about that.

Or do I have it backwards? RB, needs safety and comfort... retreat... release pressure... Hmm. I'll go rewatch the Savvy Club DVD with the four horseanalities and trailer loading to see what I had. I did the right thing, I think, but I'm not sure whether he was RB or LB.

Anyway. He settled down, the rest of it went great. I started teaching him to lead by the tail from Zone 5. We did a few S patterns. (I keep getting Falling Leaf and S patterns mixed up—one moves forward and the other backward.)

When he looked rideable, we saddled up and I got on and just sat there.

MAN it felt great to be back on the horse. Life just looks so much better from there.

Again, I had no plan, just see where we were. We walked a bit. Communication nice and light. Responding to my energy. His trot—it was smooth! Huh? Mr. Jackhammer? Mr. Pogo Stick? Smooth? I was posting to it nicely, and oddly, without even thinking about it, on the correct diagonal (when did I learn to do that?!?). Stops when I let out my energy, transitions better... and we cantered.

Know that I have never cantered in a round pen, because I once thought I needed to provide this big animal with plenty of room so he could pick up speed and plenty of room to slow him back down. Being in a 50-foot round pen is too small, plus it is, y'know, round. So I'd have to canter on a *gasp* circle.

He's not a jetliner, fer goodness' sake, he's an animal designed to whirl on a dime, bolt from predators, and slam to a stop. He doesn't need extra runway. What on earth was wrong with me?

Well, we cantered. He transitioned smoothly, it was a nice little lope, on the proper lead, and in a lovely circle. And it felt as natural as anything. It felt as though there had never been a problem before, never a threat to buck, never a nervous moment on my part.

For the first time I can remember, I felt like we were truly in harmony with one another. It's been eight years in the making.

More days like this, please.

I believe we are ready to tape our L2 auditions. For those who aren't completely in the loop, it's free until May 1, 2009. So get on it! See you there!

20 Questions
Today on Daily Parelli, we were asked:

What is your Ultimate Goal with horses? (hint: Write it down; extra-credit hint: write down answers to all of these questions)

To pass Level Four, get my black string, enter the Parelli Professionals Program, become a 4-star Horse developer and 3-Star Instructor, then raise and train good-minded horses of color (Paints, Appies, Buckskins) for the general public and run a horse rescue/rehab while educating the horse industry about the alternatives: PNH, AANHCP, Safer Grass, Perfect Pasture, Holistic therapies. (Just ignore the post where I whined that being a Parelli Pro was out of reach for me...)

Also, to get legislation passed so that horse trailers and live cargo haulers are given the same respect and consideration as school busses. Make it a serious crime to tailgate within X feet of any live cargo hauler; promote "red-light" traffic-style cameras on trailers to capture offenders; help develop safety equipment for use on trailers to assist these efforts.

Then write an autobiography about my experiences.

What is a step toward that goal that you could achieve within ten years?

Be in the PPP at the highest possible star rating I can achieve by then.

What is a step toward that goal that you could achieve within five years?

Pass Level Four. Spend more time in Ocala, ride in more clinics. Find a reining instructor and study with them.

What is a step toward that goal or a lesser goal that you could achieve within two years?

Pass Level Three Riding (both Savvys), get the green string; spend eight weeks in Ocala with my horse, ride in a couple of clinics. Get a PNH Mentor to work with. Become actively involved in horse-related legislation.

What is a step toward that goal that you could achieve within one year?

Pass Level Three at Liberty. Ride in two or three clinics and a Parelli Celebration.

What is a step toward that goal or a lesser goal that you could achieve within six months?

Pass Level Three Online. Receive blue string. Attend at least one clinic with my horse.

What is a step toward that goal that you could achieve within three months?

Pass Level Two, overcome fear of jumping barrels.

What is a step toward that goal or a lesser goal that you could achieve within one month?

Send in Level Two FreeStyle assessment submission

What is a step toward that goal that you could achieve within two weeks?

Send in Level Two Online assessment submission

What is a step toward that goal or a lesser goal that you could achieve within one week?

Get out and play with my horse a few times

What action could you take toward that goal within three days?

Get out to the barn tomorrow, Monday and/or Tuesday (and get on the AbLounge)! Pick out music to play to.

What action could you take toward that goal tomorrow?

Go to the barn! Play! Watch DVDs and catch up on the latest SC stuff. Call my friend to see if she's available to man the camera.

What action could you take toward that goal today?

Watch some DVDs to fire up my motivation; put my Boinks in the laundry so they'll be ready for tomorrow; get a good night's sleep. Start thinking about the soundtrack, music that means something to me.

What action could you take toward that goal right now?

Get the H off the computer and go watch SC DVDs. Make sure the batteries in the video camera are charged.

What information could you acquire that would improve your chances of achieving your goal?

Reread the new levels stuff so I have a better idea of how to prepare; watch YouTube vids of others' assessments to get ideas.

What's stopping you?

Obligations around the house. The need to find a job for income. Money issues, like how'm I gonna pay board next month, how'm I gonna pay for the clinic in June, how'm I gonna eat? How'm I gonna be able to afford the PPP program or the eight weeks in Ocala in two years?

Really?

Uhhh... well... yes and no. The house can be cleaned any old day. I have money in the estate and the other house that's for sale, when they sell, no need for a job for awhile... I've got money today, I could get more tomorrow, maybe I could get loans, maybe by the time I'm ready to go to Ocala I'll be ready to sell this house...

Do you see how easy it is to make a plan?

Yes.

Now, here's the toughest question of all: Once you have a plan... are you willing to change it if you need to?

Yes. It's already changed from my original plan four years ago.

Did you count to see if there were actually 20 questions?

Didn't have to. The person whose blog sent me to this link already did it for me. ;-)

Obamicon Me
It was -6 yesterday. My horses are on winter vacation. Therefore, this is merely a fun post in honor of our 44th President's Inauguration this week:



You can make one, too.

See you in the spring...

HAPPY 2009!
It just dawned on me—OMG, Cheerios is going to be 12 years old in March! Good Lord. Where does the time go? He was just a four-year-old snotty upstart when I bought him in 2001. We've come so far. I've been blessed to enjoy his company and all that he has taught me.

Shaveya turns 11. My horses, they are not babies anymore...

Not much happening with winter being here. The weather alternates from 25 below wind chills and cars with doors frozen shut, to a week later giving us a day in the 70s. Ohio weather—you don't like it? Wait a minute... but the year is new, we're on the upswing of the clock (days are growing longer now), and spring is headed our way. Only a few weeks from now, we'll be polishing the saddles, currying out the winter hair, and hitting the trails and paddocks again. Life will be in full swing.

Until then, we must endure. :-)

LIFELONG STUDENT
That'll be me. I'll always be a student of Parelli, but my dreams of becoming a paid professional? I think that's over now. Parelli just released the prospectus for the new Apprenticeship program, including pricing. My first impression is, unattainable unless I win the lottery. I know—that goes against my belief in the LOA and that with God all things are possible, but... let's be realistic. If one must become a Protégé before they qualify for 4-Star status and higher, and the cost to be a Protégé is $50,000 per year for TWO years, which is $100,000, which is more than a college education...

It's out of reach for me. I know... they say you don't need to see the whole staircase, just the first step, but... that's $100,000 on top of the previous levels, plus the mandatory two weeks at Ocala courses, plus travel, plus clinics up to Level Two...

It's for the most dedicated of students. I'm dedicated, but honestly? I'm not sure I'm dedicated to the level where I'd be willing to sell my house and a few body parts and live off of Ramen until I'm 60 in order to do that.

But to those who are, I admire you, I commend you, and I wish you every bit of luck you will ever need. And I hope you learn well, because you'll likely have me and my horse in a clinic of yours one day.

GOD BLESS MADELEINE PICKENS
Read this blog here. No further explanation needed. Mrs. Pickens, you are a wonderful human being. Thank you.

FREE
I went out to the barn—surprising how you think, "Oh, I only have two hours of daylight left, is it worth going?" Then you get there, and it’s like time... slows down. Expands. It stretches to accommodate all you want to do so you cram in six hours’ worth of stuff in two. I don’t know HOW that happens—it’s like the barn is in a reverse Bermuda Triangle. I love it. We had fun today. We established leadership in the pasture then went and got saddled up.

We did some of our patterns for a bit, then I dropped the reins around the saddle horn,

and let him go where he wanted to go, at whatever speed he wanted—passenger lesson—and for the first time, no fear. I wasn’t worried he might bolt because I knew I could ride it and I knew he’d listen if I said hey buddy slow down.

So... I rode with him, and... I allowed him to canter... and I threw my hands up in the air like I was on a roller coaster going down the first hill, and...

I rode it. And it was amazing. I felt... free. Free in a way I've never felt on a horse before. Now I understand. Now I know why it brings tears to my eyes to watch the more accomplished PNH graduates riding their horses in perfect harmony, bareback and bridleless—it's because some part of me knew what that freedom feels like, and yearns to have it for myself.

Sure, he was saddled, and I had the reins right there within reach in case I needed them, but seven years ago, the idea that one day I might be able to ride any horse, let alone Cheerios, bareback and bridleless (and stay alive) seemed unimaginable.

Today, we moved one step closer. It’s within reach. That I can canter him without holding onto ANYTHING... blows my mind. This might have been a tough year financially and such, but it’s been amazing horse-wise. He looks different, too. Softer. Friendlier. He looks more like Wildflower to me (expression, countenance) than the snorty devil horse.

I know... it’s really me that’s changed. But he’s changed, because of it.

I'd end on that note, but I have to post that after the clinic, life distracted me for a couple weeks to take care of estate business (good), and I just got out to the barn yesterday and today; and we've added BowTie to our repertoire. The oddest thing is, all of a sudden, since the clinic, I feel like I can really RIDE him now. His transitions are smoother, his gaits are slower, he's more relaxed, his trot—I keep looking around for the alien space ship that must've sucked up my horse and replaced him with this one because the jackhammer on a pogo stick trot is GONE! I dunno.

Something major has changed and it's wonderful. I hate to say it, but... could shortening my stirrups one hole really have made that much difference? If so, then, great. Thanks, Jesse, for fixing that.

BowTie went really well! He figured out really fast to change leads and canter after circling. We're doing simple lead changes already! Whoo-hoo!

I can't wait til spring. (Really. I can't. So I guess I'll have to keep riding through winter.) Have I mentioned that I love my horse? :-D

REMINDS ME OF MY HORSE
I wonder why. :-)

Home from the PNH Clinic
The clinic with PNH 2-Star Endorsed Instructor Jesse Peters last weekend in Columbus, MI, was AMAZING. I had some enormous insights about the holes in myself that needed improvement and I thank my horse for pointing them out so loudly, LOL! My horse had a megaphone with him, and on Day One I returned to the hotel feeling utterly incompetent because of it. (That was what my brain was telling me, despite the positive feedback I got from Jesse.)

Day Two was far better after a night of rumination and relaxation. Having time to dwell on the insights prepared me, and the simulations we did prior to playing with our horses helped immensely.

I'll write up the details later. At present, it's 4 AM. I'm only awake because I slept late, then had another migraine (second in two days, had one Friday after Clinic Day One) which resulted in a nap, then... well, that'll do it. More later...

Hey, I said I'd post the details later...

MUCH BETTER TODAY
Yesterday went much better than the previous two sessions. Although he gave me the butt when I went to collect him and Shaveya for feet trims, he quickly sighed and allowed me to halter him when he realized I wasn't going away anytime soon.

After trimming, I took him to the round pen for a bit of Liberty. No goals, no agenda—just see what happens. My only "goal" was to be far more polite, watch for his try, reward more, be softer, and if I get what I want, stop there—don't push for more.

The improvements were startling. (More after the jump.)

I played all 7 games with him at Liberty. He is still turning to the right when I yo-yo him back. I tried to remember what I'd viewed on a L2 or Savvy Club DVD (been watching a lot lately) from teaching Sideways—fix each part separately. So, I can't back him up AND correct position. Better to get him into position and ask for the yo-yo. If he starts to angle, stop, reposition, wait. Try again. Did that a few times and it began to click.

The segment I was watching in my head was Linda teaching Sideways Mounted without a fence. Horses will try to go forward, backward, left, right—anything but Sideways. So it's a case of "not there, not there, not there—there" in response to a step forward, a step back, a step turned—sideways.

I used this method all day and my goodness. Success is back. OK, so my problem is sometimes I get distracted by life or my own brain and get too quick, too pushy, too impatient. Got it. Slow down, be more step-by-step, be patient.

Big successes:

• my riding felt better
• he did Sideways Mounted without a fence
• Fig 8's Mounted are better
• transitions are better

I was being more precise in asking for transitions to the point where I wanted to see if he was listening to me or just reacting. I boiled it down to things like walk one step, stop, backup one step, stop, walk three, stop, trot five, stop, back up two. At first he was just on auto-pilot but pretty soon he was waiting to see what I wanted. Cool.

Worked on picking up leads. I practiced at the walk taking away one lead by bending, positioning for the next. Then at the trot. Then just getting the lead—not changing yet. Then when that was working okay, I tried Bowtie at the trot. Just bend to a walk, change direction, resume. That got to be automatic for him so we stopped.

Lots of FTR, a quick Cloverleaf, some random riding and PPL and a lot of sitting and meditating. It was a good day.

IT'S BECOMING A TREND
Euchh. Another bad horse day, the kind where you wonder, "can I really do this or am I just kidding myself?" To be fair, it's been a tough weekend due to reaching the two-year mark on Mother's death, so... maybe now that it's over (today's the day), I can finally move on, out of my mourning period and into a life of my choosing.

That life includes plenty of happy horse days, great friends, and a multimillion-dollar bank account.

I suppose two out of three ain't bad. ;-)

(Nothing after the break, so don't bother looking.)

MOTHER SAID THERE'D BE DAYS LIKE THESE
Progressing exponentially. Relationship rockin'. Things developing beautifully.

And then you have a day like Friday, and you wonder why the heck you even bother.

Yep, I had one of those days, where things regress, where old issues resurface, where you feel frustrated and revert to predator, when you get extremely sore from trying to deliver a truly effective Phase 4 Yo-Yo when someone insists on crowding you but he responds with the bat of an eye and "is that all ya got?", when you wind up crying because it's not working, crying because the sunset is SOOOO heartbreakingly beautiful and that's capitalized by viewing it from the back of a horse, crying because you realize it's been exactly 104 weeks to the date (two years in weeks) since you last saw your Mother alive and coherent and you then realize that you haven't been present at all during this session, you've been back in ICU watching your Mother decline...

Yep. It was one of those days.

Maybe tomorrow will be better.

FEELIN' A BIT LEVEL THREE
This will be a quick post (I hope) because I want to head out to the barn again. Two days in a row, woot! I've been managing every other day, which is GREAT for my riding and play. My riding is the thing that has needed the most focus.

I dug out my Savvy Club DVD collection for inspiration since September's hadn't shown up yet (their new mailing system, uh...) and found, can you believe it, one that was UNOPENED. The shame! (Well, it was one from my Mom's last few weeks of life, so, it's forgiveable. PNH was the last thing on my mind.) Haven't watched it yet because I have about 15 to rewatch dealing with lead changes and Finesse.

One of them was from Savvy Conference. Linda was demonstrating how to swing the shoulders over along the rail, as prep for lead changes and Finesse. It's kind of a Sideways movement. I watched, paid careful attention, and...

...yesterday, after playing at Liberty in the round pen and doing a little FTR in the hackamore to warm up and make sure he was listening, I put on the bridle for a little Finesse. (I tried to bridle from the saddle, but that was NOT working. To Cheerios' credit, he behaved admirably once the hackamore came off. He didn't take off and he listened to my requests from the savvy string tied around his neck.)

Well, we tried the Shoulders In swing thing.

IT WORKED!

I let him drift from the rail, then I moved my shoulders over and barely guided him with the direct/suspension rein, and OMG HE DID IT. Perfectly. Blow me away. We played with that at the walk, then the trot, then I spied a cone and decided to attempt the next exercise she'd done on the DVD, which is to trot diagonally toward the cone using the Shoulders In to achieve a forward/sideways at the same time feel. I am not a Dressage Rider, so forgive me for not yet knowing what this is called—half pass, maybe?

Anyway... that worked, too! It's like Cheerios has been waiting for ME to catch up to all of the amazing things HE can do, and he's excited to show me.

Oh, and Tuesday?

We jumped.

You read that right. Just a low jump, nothing more than two beams crossed over a pair of barrels on their sides, but it was a jump, it was on purpose, and it felt great.

We seem to be progressing exponentially all of a sudden. I'm feeling like we're in L3 in some spots. So, the time has come. I am headed to the L2 clinic October 10th, then I'm taping my L2 October 15th. I'm sending it in and assessing before 2009 so that I can keep moving forward. It's OK if I begin to assess L3 next year in savvies and find I'm still L2 in some. I'll have my blue string, and we'll be on our way. One string closer to Parelli Professional Time.

OK, I'm off to the barn...

OH—Shaveya is coming to me willingly again. I might play with her a little today.

Assessments
Recently, I've been comparing the L2 Assessments with the brand-new 2009 draft of the self-assessments, task-wise and for difficulty. I've also been comparing them to where Cheerios and I are at present.

We're looking pretty good so far. There are things we do so well already that it surprises me. There are things I thought would be "easy" that aren't. Here's the rundown:

The original L2 Assessment contained tasks that would prove daunting to anyone, mostly under the riding section. FreeStyle had you riding in the bridle (like most do), bridled but directing with one Carrot Stick, saddled for those, then there was a section that was done bareback with the Cherokee Bridle.

Bridling a horse from your knees is no biggie. We can do that already. He drops his head without my even asking.

But CS riding, trot a Figure 8 and do a Follow the Rail (FTR) at the canter with downward transitions? That's pretty advanced from what was in L1. Then, bridled, the rider had to trot Fig 8s, show changes of diagonal, show three drop to trot (simple) lead changes at the canter, then ease the horse into a gallop for 30 seconds and return to the canter in order to prove the horse is "settled" (as in, LB rather than RB). THEN the rider did FOUR flying lead changes through a series of S-bends with their wrists under the reins.

As if that isn't daunting enough, the first five FreeStyle tasks were to mount, trot a Figure 8, backup 10 feet, canter for 60 seconds, then do an emergency dismount. No problem, right?

Right. Except when you are riding BAREBACK and all you have for communication is having the savvy string looped over your horse's lower jaw. Yes, my friends, THAT is the Cherokee "Bridle".

Yikes.

You can see why so many people got trapped in L1 back in the "old days", and that isn't even including the Finesse section. So many people come to this program with profound fear issues that getting through L2 took years if it ever even happened. The Parellis listened, and revised the program to help students understand the horse by focusing more on psychology and equine behavior, and by addressing learning and fear issues. They've done a great job. The DVD versions of the program were better suited to the bulk of the clientele.

However, there were complaints from those who had successfully passed the "old" L2 and L3 that the new versions had been "dumbed down". My issue with the current L2 Assessment is that much of it appeared in the old L1 Assessment, which I've already passed. So yes, it's a bit redundant. But the option to pass the "old" L2 expired years ago, and I didn't have the horse to do it with anyway.

Now, the program is transforming again. In 2009, the Assessments will become more of an "Audition" to demonstrate savvy and will allow the student (as I understand so far) to be assessed at the level each task is at the time rather than just assessing the level as a whole. To get the string for the level, however, all of the tasks for all four savvies in that level must be passed, but one can be L4 in some stuff, L3 in others, and be official L2 overall.

I kind of like that. It gives credit where due.

But I'm not sure about the audition. Looking at the new assessment draft, which now includes L4, it seems that all of the levels have been adjusted to be somewhere between where they were originally and where they are now. L1 is "harder" than the current version; L2 is closer to the old version; some L2 stuff has moved (rightly so) into L3; and L4 seems like it's the advanced portion of L3 with some higher-level tasks.

And it is EXTENSIVE. That puppy is nine pages long with small print. They are raising their expectations of us, but it still looks accessible. I doubt anyone will complain about it being dumbed down; nor should they complain that it is too hard. Riding a horse is a skill. I think it's just fine.

For FreeStyle, I like that they've isolated the tools and re-introduced carrot stick riding. L1 is in the hackamore. L2 is in the hackamore, the snaffle bridle, and one carrot stick. L3 is bridled with two carrot sticks. L4 is neck string/bridleless, one carrot stick. The transitions have been adjusted to a more appropriate level. Most people can trot in L1. I'd say by L2, you should be able to canter. I'd say galloping is advanced because of the adrenalin kicking—it's been put into L4, and I agree with that.

Trailer loading is simulated in L1, actual in L2, from the fender in L3, and from the vehicle in L4.

These are just a sampling of the tasks. There are SO MANY. In addition to tasks, the new Patterns program has been incorporated in every savvy at every level, with each pattern being advanced through the levels. In Liberty and Finesse, there are no patterns at L1. At Liberty, there is only Circling in L2. By L4, five patterns should be do-able at Liberty. There are a lot of patterns in FreeStyle, all designed to develop the horse AND rider to a high level of competency.

The reason I'm comparing these is to see where we are now, and where we might be in the next couple of months. We have the option to assess L2 as is, or wait and do it the new way. That's my debate—do it now, or wait? On the one hand, if I do it now, that's one more level down, one more level closer to my goal. BUT it's the "watered down" version. Will I have more faith in my horsemanship if I wait? Will the wait delay our progress?

If I assess and pass L2 this year, will there be another kind of "new L2/old L3" gap as there is now? (The L3 assessment hasn't changed, because they didn't release a New L3, and the old L3 is a DOOZY. Everything in the old L2 prepared the way for L3; without the old L2 preparation, L3 is far more inaccessible.)

I suppose these are questions for my instructor. I'll just keep progressing, and ask in October. Time to go play...

TRANSITIONS
Walk. Canter. Walk.

Trot. Canter. Trot. Halt. Backup. Walk. Trot.

Indirect rein, direct rein. Sideways. Follow the Rail. Bowtie. Walk. Canter, left lead. Trot. Canter, right lead. Trot. Canter...

And so it goes. I hope I change it up enough that my LBI stays interested. Because we spent so much time on the ground for the past few years, my riding had suffered. Well, not anymore. That's all we've been doing, it seems. Oh, we're doing a bit online—transitions (surprise) on the 22', Sideways with a fence.

We haven't abandoned the Patterns (FTR and Bowtie are patterns), we're just focusing on Finesse and FreeStyle for a change.

I shimmed his saddle starting about a month ago. First it took three half-inch shims. Then it took two. Today, two made the saddle too high in front. I removed one. Level. He must be changing. I am really looking forward to the day I can order the Natural Performer saddle because there will be even more change.

I have no highlights—we're just plugging away, progressing day by day, and OH is it fun to be able to canter freely now. We've played and rode about four times this week. The weather is stellar, and life is good. :-)

Oh, and there are two new yearlings at the barn, and one of them has absolutely glommed onto me. *sigh* Someday...

RAIN RAIN GO AWAY
Cuz until you do, I can't go out and play. No big long post today. It has been raining non-stop for three whole days. Not just a sprinkle, we're talking full on downpours. I'm having horse withdrawal. Of course, I should thank my lucky stars we're up north in Ohio, not in Texas. But still. Thankfully, the prediction is seven straight days of sunshine and mid-70s starting tomorrow. I'll deal.

PS: There is no "rest of this post" so don't click over. This is all I had to say. Later...


I thought I told you there wasn't any more post. Hmph.

ONE BREAKTHROUGH AFTER ANOTHER
I've made it to the barn three times already this week—Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. It just keeps getting better and better with Cheerios. I LOVE CANTERING!!! It has moved from fear and trepidation to fun and anticipation. How can this be? Since I made the complete commitment to a life as a Parelli Instructor, everything is shifting. What amazes me is how fast things are progressing now. It is speeding up. We went from L1 Purgatory to full-speed ahead and we now LOOK like intermediate L2 on most things—even L3 on a couple of things! (OK so Figure 8 Online still bites it at L1, but it will come).

Then on Wednesday, I had ANOTHER breakthrough. MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR, after the break...


We cantered...

BAREBACK!!!

It was my first time EVER cantering bareback on any horse. I almost did it with Wildflower once. I wanted to. My friend had her online and we were in the round pen. I think perhaps we needed to be on the 22' line because she wouldn't pick up the canter at all, just trotted faster and faster and faster.

But this time, ON CHEERIOS, we cantered bareback. Not online—nope. I was riding for real. It was the most amazing experience. We were doing Follow The Rail/Million Transitions. I'd decided to ride bareback for a change and again, told myself I do not have to canter unless I want to. Trotting toward the gate. I'm debating about trying it. Cheerios must have "heard" me. He lifted into three beautiful cantering steps, then transitioned back to the trot nice as you please.

I was over the moon.

It took a few tries before I could do it again "on purpose". At first I was nervous. I'd ask, then tense up, pull back, and grab the handle on the bareback pad. Finally, with the barn manager as my witness, we did it. Probably 12 whole steps of a luscious canter.

No bucks. No problems. Smooth as silk.

It's as if Cheerios has been waiting for me to move past this issue and trust him. Now that I do, we're doing all sorts of things.

Yesterday, saddled, I got a Sideways! That was after doing it with the fence on the 22' several times. Going around to my left then Sideways right is great. Going the other way... argh. I think it's because I'm right-handed, so the stick is in my right hand going to the right and is more natural. In my left hand it feels very... awkward. My new goal, then, would be to switch hands and be more left-sided for awhile until it evens out, right?

Posting is getting easier. So is collecting his trot. FTR is going well. Million Transitions is going REALLY well. The transitions part is L3; what I'm using to communicate is still L1 (casual rein). When I can do it with one stick or two, that's what moves us up. But yes, we have a lovely communication now with walk-canter, canter-halt, canter-walk, walk-trot, trot-canter, trot-walk, halt-backup—all the transitions are getting there. I'm also developing a much lighter feel and using my legs better. Amazing how well he understands me when MY body does what I want HIM to do. :-)

What I'm having trouble with is Figure 8 online. It's drive and draw. But he'll do the next pattern, Weave, just fine. Head scratching, because the Weave is just an expansion on Figure 8... right? Hmmm. Well, now that I've conquered cantering saddled and bareback, I guess I do need something to get help with in the clinic in a month—so I'm thinking right now it's looking like drive and draw, and my own energy. Or maybe we can do a little finesse? I haven't gotten near that yet.

I swear I am almost ready to start cantering the Question Box. We're trotting it better. I'm grasping the concepts of what I need to do. He's getting more relaxed in the pattern. Since I've figured out that he'll pick up the lead I want, I think we can do it.

Flying Lead Changes, here we come!

QUICK POST
Not much to this one—I have a lot to say but no energy to type it all just yet. This is a reminder.

Wednesday: Big lesson for me about bossiness (from others), whether to listen to my agenda or that of another's, and how putting the relationship and PNH principles first should ALWAYS be my priority no matter how big the amount of peer pressure, and when I void that, things don't go as well.

Also learned that no matter how well someone rides or if they've dabbled in PNH, they may not understand Horseanalities and the intricacies of communication as well as one who has been studying L&HB seriously like I have, and that when I'm riding him through a challenging new task, the look on my horse's face that YOU feel the need to warn me means he wants to lay down might really be my horse entering the Land of Catatonia and you're misinterpreting it. So thank you for your opinion.

Finally got around to making my shims and trying them. BIG DIFFERENCE!

Saturday: FANTASTIC! Now that we can canter, we're cantering all over the place and IT IS AWESOME!!! I'm already comfortable enough that I can start a canter from a dead stop, not just work up to it from a trot. It's actually easier to start from a walk or stop. Who knew?

I marked his scapula with the L2 Equine crayon before and after riding. It does move. Amazing. I also took away one of the three shims because I'd over-leveled and was tilting myself backwards. Ooops.

Can't wait for tomorrow. :-)

GRACEFUL AS EVER
More news! Dismounts and clinics!

First I am embarrassed proud unsure of whether I should admit to it and to report that I performed a very smooth flying dismount the other day. First time in a long time I used the bareback pad rather than just going native. First day after freshly laundering my Boinks. Guided the horse up to the mounting block (because I am still developing the muscleage and trim figure necessary to be able to do it from the ground). All is good.



Swing the leg a few times, up and over... and... whoops! Off. Yep. I'm a gymnast now. I vaulted over my horse. My right leg went up to fork over, I flew over, and then my right foot landed on the other side of the horse. Because I had rein and mane in hand, I landed upright on two feet, none the worse for wear, but OMG. You should have seen the expression on Cheerios' face. "What are you doing?!?" Then when I recovered from my laughing fit, I tried again, and he looked back as if to ask, "Are you sure you made it this time?"

LOL!

Now for the second piece of big news. R offered us a trailer ride, so Cheerios and I are off to PNH Clinic #2 for 2008 in October!!!

Silly me. In a fit of enthusiasm over the then-pending sale of one of the properties in Mother's estate and the (pending) resulting cash influx, I was truck shopping and planning out a summer filled with clinics. I sent off inquiries about open rider spots to as many clinics as I could.

As it happened, I made it to the one that was most local in May. But I'd forgotten about the one in Michigan in October until I received word that payment was due.

Oh. Oops. Well, I thought in light of the lack of trailer, I should back out. That's when I found out about the cancellation policy and that unless I found a replacement, I'd be out a few bucks and not at a clinic. Whoops. I'm sure I saw that policy at the time of sign-up, I just never thought to pay attention because I was certain I'd have my rig by now.

Then the house thing all fell through, money wasn't as plentiful for awhile as I would have liked, and I couldn't see asking S to trailer us north of Detroit for a two-day clinic involving two overnight stays when she has a baby and a job to consider, nor could I even think of having her come all the way up there, then go back to Ohio, then up two days later to get us.

First, I explained my predicament to the clinic host. There was a ride offered from the host barn's owner, but the cost was prohibitive for my budget. My only hope was to locate one originating from close to home from someone who was either going my way with their horse or willing to audit for two days.

I wound up my courage and asked S anyway, prefacing my request with the words "I know it's a lot to ask and it might not be possible, but..." I said think about it and let me know.

Then I sent out a very big intention that I would indeed be at that clinic with my horse and that I'd have an affordable ride originating near my barn. I checked in with the clinic host with my update. I asked for a URL for the host farm if there were photos so I'd have a visualization tool handy. I got the photos, did a little visualization, and...

The very next day, R strolled up and said "I hear you need a horsey ride".

She's planning to take her horse along, find a public cross-country course somewhere in the area, and spend the weekend jumping. We'll share lodging, but she'll do her thing and I'll do mine. It happens to be fall break for her from college, and works out perfectly.

The clinic is a solid Level Two with Jesse Peters, same instructor as the last clinic. I am SO excited. Of course, now that I've conquered the canter, I'm not sure what to work on in the private lesson. LOL! Maybe galloping? Jumping? Cantering bareback? I'm sure Cheerios will come up with some challenge for us to solve.

I'm just SO EXCITED!

Now, to attract a winning MegaMillions jackpot, a rig of my own, and a spot in the four-week courses at Ocala next spring!

WE CANTERED!!!
OMG, it was amazing!

The day before, I let R ride him. She’s been riding hunter-jumpers for years—she can ride anything with hair and she's dabbled in PNH. I wanted her to see what I meant about his behavior in the canter and so I could see it from a different POV.

She said he has a lot of loft, which is great for HJ and Dressage. He has a lot of vertical motion, up and down, moreso than forward horizontal motion. That’s why his trot is like a pogo stick. But his canter is like butter, once he rolls into it, and the more we canter the better his trot will be.

What I observed was that when he transitions from the trot to the canter, he lifts up his forequarters with more emphasis than I've seen in other horses, then he launches into the canter. If he’s blocked in any way, via the reins or my tension or an obstacle like a fence, he snakes his head down and his butt elevates slightly, but it’s not a full-on bronc buck. R said he wants to go, he’s bored at the trot and he’s tired of being held back.

(Odd. That sounds just like ME. As in, life. Well, they do say your horse is your mirror.)



R cantered him awhile, jumped a couple low jumps (was very impressed with his jumping), and demonstrated a few dressage movements.

My little red roping horse can do dressage. Who knew?

I just learned that all I have to do is learn how to ask, and he’ll do. I realized, my God, I’ve been holding him back AND myself back, because we really ARE ready to do this stuff. He knows it. I just have to ask. I don’t have to spend hours perfecting the games, or making sure he’s in the right frame of mind before riding. He already IS. I get him OUT of it by boring him to death repeating the old stuff.

Yesterday was totally different. :-)

First of all, I got him from the pasture and started the games on the way to the gate. Here, CIRCLE! Pick it up! Trot! Now circle left no right no left (Falling Leaf). Now SIDEWAYS! FASTER! Stop. Scritch the itchy spots for a few minutes and swat a few flies. Back up! Wake up! Yep, he’s listening now. Put your nose on this. Step on that. Step over that. DON’T step over that.

Out of the pasture. Straight to the barn, where we... hung out for awhile. It was hot. I found a lawn chair in the barn in the shade, sat down, had a Gatorade, watched him standing there hovering over me watching me wondering “what the heck?” because we never did it this way. New routine.

Offered him a little Gatorade. He licked it up but seemed unimpressed. I saddled him up in the barn. To me, that equated as “right away”. He was fine with it. Grabbed the 22’, the bridle (for a change), and off we went.

Immediately on the 22’, circled him over a couple of oddly placed beams (watch where you’re going but keep going) then stopped him right on the beams and experimented with seeing how little it took to ask him to put one foot over and stop... two, stop.... back up with one rear foot over... he was thinking hard. He had one ear on me the entire time and seemed riveted.

I tried to do a very complex Sideways over the beams but it fell apart and I realized I was asking for something a bit too advanced, stopped, praised the effort, moved on. Circle a little.

Try Figure 8 around the barrels—SUCCESS—the send is fixed, the pattern is there, yes thank you for putting your nose on it and offering to stand on it, but that’s not today, today we’re going around them. Got that working well but not elegant yet, but that was good enough.

Traded up to the bridle. Rode around a bit. Was not getting quite the level of communication I desired, but it’s better than it’s been. My hands are lighter, but I’m still a little yanky and not as confident that he’s really listening. Swapped the bridle for the hackamore because I’m obviously not quite ready for the bridle. But we’re getting closer. I have to work on my body language a bit more. It was a good litmus test, like Liberty is for the Online stuff.

So, we’re doing Follow The Rail. I’m observing that I seem a bit tense, unable to really relax and get in harmony with him. As a result, his trot is choppy. He senses I’m thinking about the canter, but he senses my hesitation. He wants to go, but doesn’t, and that’s what his trot told me.

I decided to drop the reins completely (I know, counterintuitive, right?) so I wasn’t relying on them and yanking on them and just ride around communicating with my body. I relaxed and his trot improved. Bizarre, eh? You would not think, “I feel out of control, I’ll just let go”, would you? I had to stop thinking in terms of steering and start thinking in terms of riding and becoming one with him. Dropping the reins did that. I also relaxed when I told myself, “I don’t have to canter today unless I want to. It’s OK not to”.

R and S were in the arena at the same time doing their own thing. R was coaching S over the jumps. S jumped the barrels (laid down) for the first time ever! That was cool to watch.

The gate to the pasture was open. S’s other horse came strolling in. Jealous. He wanted to play. Shaveya and the young one (Aries) came in for a bit, then left. Then two of the mini’s came trotting in.

It might well have been me that said, “Hey, let’s herd mini’s!”, to which the others agreed. So we herded mini’s as if they were cows (poor things). But slowly. I was herding at a trot. Cheerios wasn’t tuned in at first until he realized I was focusing on the mini and he remembered he used to herd cows, and he perked up and became more responsive to my focus. It was cool.

We herded them into the next arena. I herded them by myself back through the gate successfully. R and S herded them back. I tried cutting one out separate. I was doing pretty well keeping one away from the other then the other squeezed in and I was herding them both.

By now, I’m really focused on the activity of herding, really focused on the mini’s, and not even conscious anymore that I’m separate from my horse. We’re a unit. I’m fired up. We’re trotting along. The mini’s, feeling the pressure, try to escape and pick up speed. They’re cantering.

I’m thinking, crap, we’re losing them! And all of a sudden...

I’m floating.

We’re catching up to them and his trot has smoothed out and I’m rolling along and I’m so focused on the fact that the mini’s are getting away that it takes a minute before my awareness checks in and it isn’t until R yells, “You’re DOING it!!!!” that I realize he’s transitioned so smoothly into the canter I didn’t even notice the change except for the relaxed smoothness of the ride.

At the very moment the big bold exclamation point

!

formed in my head (which is all I was capable of thinking at the time), Cheerios dropped politely to a trot and then a walk as we reached the edge of the paddock.

No bucks. No head tossing. No big lurch. Just trot, gearshift canter.... downshift trot... downshift walk.

Utterly gobsmacked.

The day was pretty much over by then, so after a little bit more gallavanting around the arena, the other two dismounted and went in. I decided I had to prove it wasn’t a fluke. I had to canter consciously. I rode him around for a few more minutes, transitioning from walk to trot to canter to trot to walk to stop and back up, and the canter was graceful. Amazing. Easy to ride. I was relaxed. He was relaxed. It was magic.

It felt like it used to with Wildflower. I can trust you. You take care of me.

We went back to the barn. He got cookies and a bath. It was HOT. I saw the sweat after I untacked him. So I hosed him down. He loved it. Then, as I knew he would once I set him free, he rolled joyfully in the sand, coating himself like a drumstick, groaning in pleasure.

What an awesome day.

I’m so sore today I took the day off. Tomorrow, though, I'll be back out there.

What worked was taking my focus off of the canter and putting it on the mini’s. I was so focused on them that I forgot to be afraid. When that happened, I trusted myself and my horse, and gee. It worked.

Here’s the funniest thing. As I was focusing on the cantering after the girls left, he kept heading for the jumps. I thought, “OH no, I’m not ready for that”.

Or, maybe I am.

And maybe he’s trying to tell me that I’m ready for way more than I think I am. But I’m not doing a jump until I am ready, and I will only do it with a helmet on, and with at least one person right there to call 911! (Those are the rules for learning to jump anyway.)

After watching the Level THREE DVD last night, I’m realizing that I’m probably more advanced than I’ve been believing myself to be. I don’t say that in a cocky way, mind you! :-) Caution still rules. But I think I can start moving forward more rapidly and stop holding myself (and my horse) back, and fill in the holes when I find them. I think we can stop trying to get L1 perfect (in him, because I've already passed it) and learn the upper level stuff. It’ll smooth out as we go.