Demo and more......

It's been a busy month. Lets see what's new since last post. I went to my first Parelli demo.....It was awesome!!!!! The 2 weeks before the demo were kinda rough. Chiclet came in from turnout with his hind leg looking like a tree trunk. It was a week of cold hosing and poulticing his leg. It was fun stuff.....finally got the heat and swelling down by the end of the week. Ok now I have a week to practice for the demo. The demo is on sunday Chiclet comes in from turnout on monday morning without a shoe....Oh crap! Farrier came on wednesday. 3 days to practice yay! It all turned out just fine but it was a little stressful for a little bit there. The demo was so much fun. Chiclet was really good a bit tired by the time we got to the demo part but 200+ people and our first demo I didn't mind him being a little tired. I thought he was going to be more up with the loud music and people.

Rode the rail in the field for the first time. That was interesting....I'm still not feeling that he is totally soft and responsive without a circles there and there yet. I know it's just me that why I need to push through it was start stepping outside the box. I was happy with that ride and he needs that. Other then that not much to report. I'm having fun with Chiclet I love that horse! =)

Learn Bern

Interesting last 2 days. Thursday played in the outdoor ring then practiced more bridless riding. Didn't go as well as the other day. Stopping was broken so did walk trot walk trot a hundred times then trot halt another hundred times. Phase 4 was used a lot that day. Chiclet was just in a I don't want to do that mood. We ended with a really nice halt from the canter.

Today I got a major wake up call. I was playing with getting Chiclet to keep the loop of the rope touching the ground at a circle.  Oh boy that was hard for both of us. We got some really nice circles and some really bad circles. It was change direction every time the rope lifted off the ground a few time it was ever few steps then change. When I got a good ones he could come in. He would think for a really long time when I let him come in. I just waited for him to finish thinking and then let him eat grass for a while. Ok here's when I got my wake up call, I asked for change of direction but he ran through it and I tried to plant myself to stop him but he was quicker then me and I got a pretty good learn bern on my hand. I should have been quicker to respond or let go sooner. Chicle was perfect after that. Even riding he was awesome. Cantered the question box with stop in the box with just using my sting and carrot stick. I stopped with that.

The roller coster ride with Avery continues...... I swear she's in my head sometimes. I was at work just thinking about things and where I'm at with Chicle. Thinking maybe I'm ready for another horse. Something to change things up for me and not focus all on Chiclet. Maybe it would make me better if I had another horse to study along with Chiclet. These are all just thoughts of course going through my head while I'm at work. So I get to the barn and out of Avery mouth not 10 mins being there is......... I found the perfect second horse for you......I said I wasn't looking for a second. She said I think your ready to start studying with 2 horses. I take a deep breath what are the details of the horse.  It's a 5 year old Lusitano gelding with a really bad bad top line from being broken under saddle. He was imported form Portugal and is worth a crop load of money but most important he needs a year to learn how to play and be a horse again. I said I would go see him if the owner is giving him away.  Oh Boy her I go again.....More to come on this one.

Best ride ever....

Sooo excited about my ride yesterday. Played and rode in the field just thinking is was going to be like any other day with Chicle. He was his usual self on line. Funny thing happened when I took his halter off to bridle him.....he left me.......he really left trotting and I had to go get him to catch me. It took about 5 minutes. I thought it was a little strange because I've been using fruit roll ups on his bit and he's usually grabbing for the bit when his halter comes off....not this time. After we got back in sync he was like oh yeah I love my fruit rolls ups on my bit. The riding was really soft and he was following my feel turning with the string around his neck and the carrot stick not using the reins at all. Avery was watching and she said things are going good take one rein off your bit and hook it on one side but don't use it unless you need to. So here I am riding with one rein not really anything new I have done this a hundred + times but the difference between those times and this is I'm not a passenger I'm the leader. I'm telling him where to go and what to do when we get there. WOW!!! I was so happy we did figure 8's stop back up trot to halt and I didn't touch the rein once it was awesome......Until he tripped and last a shoe.....all the fun came to a screeching halt. It was the best ride ever even though he lost a shoe.

Good news

I was in a funk today when I got to the barn. Saddled up and played. Chicle spooked at everything then Avery's horse got loose and ran back to the barn. Chiclet got himself all in a tizzy went right brained and everything. I got him back pretty quickly to my surprise. Sent him over some jumps not paying attention almost ran him into a jump....Ops my bad luckily he was looking were he was going for once. Got on trotted for 20 mins and then I just was not 100% into it so took him grazing. I have a lesson tomorrow....Well....I'm in a lesson tomorrow Avery puts me in lessons so all her focus is not on that student. I guess some people can't handle to much pressure.

Good news....I'm going to be in a demo on August 15th at a breed expo. Avery is taking some of her top students and we are honored to be one of them.

Updates

Lots to report since my last post......Went on a trail ride a few weeks ago and I really felt like Chiclet was following my feel and waiting for me to ask him what to do....I've been doing more riding with one hand on the savvy string using it to steer. I can't say how awesome it feels to have my horse follow my body. Hopping to be riding bridless very soon.

The last few weeks have been very hot "90's + and humid as all hell. So I have just get some play time in here and there when it feels cool. Chicle doesn't do well in the heat. It's funny because he was begging to be played with after a fews off even though it was "100 out. We spent a lot of time in the pond.

Played and rode a little mare named Vonna at my barn. One of Avery's horses. It was fun she has a lot to offer being a level 3 horse. I got a mini lesson on contact with her. She was so easy it was a nice change. I realized how much I like my horse and how connected we are.

Miss Vonna

I used what I learned about contact on Chiclet under Avery's watchful eyes for the first time. He was trotting so slow and my first thought was to move him forwards. Avery said don't worry about the forwards  you'll get it when he's engaged. At first I just ask for a few steps. Wow what a amazing feeling his back comes up and his hind end come under. The best part was he was like lets keep trotting. It was a fun ride.

Halfway there

I've been on a few fun trail rides the last few weeks. Played and rode in the field also. Just the fact that I can ride in the field walk trot canter is amazing to me. I can remember just 6 months ago Chiclet was not safe to ride in the field. I watched some videos I made this past winter when I just moved to Avery's barn. Chiclet looks so much better now. His top line is awesome. Together be have come a long way.

We have had some major breakthroughs the last few weeks. The past 2 days I had the best rides. Yesterday Chicle just wanted to canter with no bracing it was perfect. Some lady at the barn said to me you must be having a great ride because your face says it all. Today was the first time I rode the rail without circling. Chiclet was relaxed and stretching down I couldn't believe it was my horses. All the circles I had to do over the last few months are starting to pay off and my horses is finally getting it............. And maybe I'm getting it too. =)

Anew friend

Fun and interesting week.......Played and rode the beginning of the week with Chiclet. Played and rode Akiss yesterday then went on a trail ride with Avery and a horse there in training. Today Avery rode my horse and I rode Akiss. Chiclet was very brasie and Avery said I'm to nice. After she rode him a bit she told me to do a figure 8 with Akiss and only move my ribs to turn at the canter with a flying change in the center. I started just trotting and doing the turns a few times then went to the canter.........I love that feeling of not using anything but my body to control this huge 17 hand plus horse. It was awesome Akiss is so soft and responsive now I know what I need to do with Chiclet to get him to that place. I want that for my horse.

My friend Akiss