As Satin learns and understands, I also must become more particular.
I spent every day for the week after my lesson playing with Satin. Sometimes it was just driving from zone 3 from the barn to the pasture. Sometimes I met her in the pasture and played "hide your hiney." But I was focusing on the basics - friendly (especially on the right side because she appears to have issues with looking at me with her right eye), porcupine, and driving games. I was rewarding the slightest try.
She gets it now - she understands when I approach her hind end and apply pressure (with my posture, my stick), then she should swivel and face me, just like she would to an alpha horse. I was very particular with her "walking through me" and kept her out of my bubble, knowing she would try to take that extra step into my space if I allowed it. So I didn't. It was hard because she is constantly taking that extra step and suddenly her shoulder is in my space. I have to be so vigilant!
We had our third lesson on Thursday and it was amazing!
Karen said she noticed an immediate improvement in my horsemanship from the moment I unloaded Satin from the trailer. I was disengaging that hind end left and right as Satin attempted to ignore me. But Karen made another observation right away: it was time to take my assertiveness up a notch. I was being sort of a pushover. Sometimes when I would apply pressure to disengage the hind Satin would look the other way, pull on the rope, and lead with her shoulder away from the pressure. We would walk in the lazy circle until she finally would give up and turn toward me half-heartidly.
What I learned:
1) ALWAYS offer a suggestion first.
Example: Leading from zone 3. The suggestion is: bring up your life, lift the rope.
2) Neutral, neutral, neutral! Satin does not yet understand the concept of "keep doing what I'm doing when my human partner is in neutral". She would move her feet before I asked her to do anything, and usually she would move into my direction.
3) Correct immediately. I may be asking for hind-quarter disengagement, but if she starts to move forward - correct her. Make the suggestion first (stick in front of her chest or head), then increase phases as needed. But she needs to know that when I ask for hind-quarter disengagement, that I don't mean "move your feet where ever you want". I get very direct-line thinking and I focus on "hindquarters hindquarters hindquarters" while she's moving her feet forward and thus we're defeating the purpose of the game. I have to correct that immediately, then go back to the hindquarters and ask again.
4) Satin tells on herself. This was a funny comment from Karen. She said, "Satin tells on herself and on you. She's honest. She doesn't hide her emotions. This makes her much less of a challenge to teach!" Satin pretty much wears her heart on her sleeve. She tells you how she feels and why. She's honest and straightforward. I'm not peeling away tons of layers to try to find out why she does what she does. If she doesn't like pressure, she pulls away or blows through it. If she is disrespectful, she walks into your space. She's a banana, not an onion.
5) The "Driving Line" is real! Karen took Satin to demonstrate how I can help Satin understand the beginnings of the send. You suggest with your "lead it, lift it"... and if you need to help them move forward all you have to do is get your pressure behind the drive line. It was like magic!
6) Satin lacks impulsion. Impulsion and flexion are connected/intertwined. Sometimes gaining one will bring along the other. Satin's lack of impulsion might be the root of several of her issues. She doesn't want to go forward when driving from zone 3, so if we gain impulsion, this issue might become obsolete.
7) Becoming particular. It's time to get more particular. When I ask something that she knows, expect an answer. She needs to be a partner and I promise not to be a predator. I give suggestion, phase 1, phase 4. By the end of my lesson Satin was behaving like a different horse. She was actually responsive. Karen thinks she is a sensitive horse (really? Satin!?) but has fallen into these cycles of dull and bored and lacking impulsion. When I step up to the plate as an alpha, Satin perks up and puts a smile on. I need to be particular with my questions now. I asked you this, this is what you should want to do. Make the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
One plus one equals...
One plus one equals?...
Sounds like a question for a elementary school child, right? Well, that's how I am to perceive Satin right now, as a pre-schooler. When I ask a question it should be basic, simple, and clear. And my expectations for her answer should be as lenient as they would be for a 5 year-old kid.
What happens when you ask a child a question that they are unsure of the answer to? They get a little unconfident, don't they? What would happen if you asked the child a question they coudln't answer and then yelled at them, "Tell me!" They probably would not be in a learning frame of mind anymore. Rather, they would feel quite insecure, and perhaps frustrated. Why would they want to learn from you or show you respect?
Satin is a pre-schooler mentally. She does not understand steady pressure, rhythmic pressure, patterns, or anything besides the habits she has had drilled in to her brain all these years. Not only are we starting from scratch, but we're also breaking down old learned behaviors and hopefully replacing them with new ones.
We are working on "hide your hiney". I ask "Satin, what's one plus one?" Rythmic driving pressure. Pressure, pressure, pressure, tap the ground, tap, tap, tap... But I never raise my voice to the child. I can get more creative, more interesting, even more annoying, but I will not raise my voice (or my energy in such a way that makes me appear to be "yelling"). This is severely testing my patience! I love it!
And Satin is really enjoying our sessions! She starts to look proud as if to say "Hey! I think i figured something out! Teehee!" And then when I go to disengage her hindquarters a third, fourth, or fifth time, she responds, "Ooo, I know, I know! I go like this!" And she just looks so interested in me! All I had to do was ask, ask, ask, ask, ask, ask, ask, ask.... ask, ask.... and release as soon as she gives me those eyes, making my draws extra exciting - so I briskly go backwards when she turns to me.
This simple stuff is so important, so much fun, and so rewarding!
Sounds like a question for a elementary school child, right? Well, that's how I am to perceive Satin right now, as a pre-schooler. When I ask a question it should be basic, simple, and clear. And my expectations for her answer should be as lenient as they would be for a 5 year-old kid.
What happens when you ask a child a question that they are unsure of the answer to? They get a little unconfident, don't they? What would happen if you asked the child a question they coudln't answer and then yelled at them, "Tell me!" They probably would not be in a learning frame of mind anymore. Rather, they would feel quite insecure, and perhaps frustrated. Why would they want to learn from you or show you respect?
Satin is a pre-schooler mentally. She does not understand steady pressure, rhythmic pressure, patterns, or anything besides the habits she has had drilled in to her brain all these years. Not only are we starting from scratch, but we're also breaking down old learned behaviors and hopefully replacing them with new ones.
We are working on "hide your hiney". I ask "Satin, what's one plus one?" Rythmic driving pressure. Pressure, pressure, pressure, tap the ground, tap, tap, tap... But I never raise my voice to the child. I can get more creative, more interesting, even more annoying, but I will not raise my voice (or my energy in such a way that makes me appear to be "yelling"). This is severely testing my patience! I love it!
And Satin is really enjoying our sessions! She starts to look proud as if to say "Hey! I think i figured something out! Teehee!" And then when I go to disengage her hindquarters a third, fourth, or fifth time, she responds, "Ooo, I know, I know! I go like this!" And she just looks so interested in me! All I had to do was ask, ask, ask, ask, ask, ask, ask, ask.... ask, ask.... and release as soon as she gives me those eyes, making my draws extra exciting - so I briskly go backwards when she turns to me.
This simple stuff is so important, so much fun, and so rewarding!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
My Lesson with 2-star PP!
I finally was able to reschedule my lesson with Karen Woodbury, 2* Parelli Professional! I couldn't make it to the lesson I had scheduled weeks in advance because my job scheduled me to work that day from 4:00am-8:00am. No one was available to take my shift and there was no way I would have been able to get home, feed 5 billion animals, get Satin and drive to Micanopy by 10:00am. So I opted to try for another day and I finally made it!
On Thursday I loaded Satin onto the trailer - she's the least claustrophobic horse I've ever met and will climb into anything. Just the other day she was eating hay from an open stall piled high with orchard/alfalfa hay bales when I approached and said her name. She knew she was supposed to back up but instead she literally climbed onto the massive bales until both front feet were two feet of the ground and she had no where to go. She gave up and backed out. Could her lack of claustrophobia be her innate left-brain horsenality, or perhaps all the time I spent playing with her as a foal in the horse trailer, in the shed, the barn, the woods... ? Is confidence a learned behavior or innate? Or can it be both? Hmm.
I got off on a little tangent there. More about the lesson!
We arrived at Karen's farm right on time. Satin unloaded and immediately buried her face in the tall, green grass, filling her mouth as if it were her last supper. She wasn't phased by the new environment and rarely took a moment to check out the surroundings. The grass was so much more important. I let her "adjust" to the new scenery while Karen and I discussed what Satin and I had been doing since our last lesson - our relationship has changed in leaps and bounds due to the simple change of keeping Satin out of my personal space.
We started with the driving game from zone 3 and Karen noticed a few things immediately:
1) Satin had a very difficult time leading
2) I need to mean what I say and say what I mean!
3) Satin has a tendency to "throw" her outside (right) shoulder out - setting herself up to "leave"
4) No impulsion
So what we are to work on for this week:
1) Hindquarter disengagement!!!!!! This is critical since Satin (currently) is constantly thinking about ways to "leave" or pull away and take off running.
2) Point-to-point driving from zone 3 - make sure I don't start walking before Satin. Satin needs to take the first steps. Tap-tap-tap-TAP for impulsion. Mean it when I ask her to "stop"
3) Lots of undemanding time on the right side of Satin since she has trouble looking at me with that eye.
Karen noticed that Satin is a "good learner" as she would literally absorb new information immediately. We licked and chewed at least a dozen times during the hour-long lesson. Lots of blowing and sighing. And Satin fell asleep 3 times! After we would go point-to-point and then stop, she would lick/chew/sigh, then shut down and close her eyes. Karen playfully called it a "thinkity bink", in other words, she was doing some serious digesting! If it were any other trainer they would probably accuse me of drugging Satin - it was pretty bizarre!
We have lots to work on! Our next lesson is scheduled for next Thursday. I have 5 lessons scheduled in advance. So excited!
On Thursday I loaded Satin onto the trailer - she's the least claustrophobic horse I've ever met and will climb into anything. Just the other day she was eating hay from an open stall piled high with orchard/alfalfa hay bales when I approached and said her name. She knew she was supposed to back up but instead she literally climbed onto the massive bales until both front feet were two feet of the ground and she had no where to go. She gave up and backed out. Could her lack of claustrophobia be her innate left-brain horsenality, or perhaps all the time I spent playing with her as a foal in the horse trailer, in the shed, the barn, the woods... ? Is confidence a learned behavior or innate? Or can it be both? Hmm.
I got off on a little tangent there. More about the lesson!
We arrived at Karen's farm right on time. Satin unloaded and immediately buried her face in the tall, green grass, filling her mouth as if it were her last supper. She wasn't phased by the new environment and rarely took a moment to check out the surroundings. The grass was so much more important. I let her "adjust" to the new scenery while Karen and I discussed what Satin and I had been doing since our last lesson - our relationship has changed in leaps and bounds due to the simple change of keeping Satin out of my personal space.
We started with the driving game from zone 3 and Karen noticed a few things immediately:
1) Satin had a very difficult time leading
2) I need to mean what I say and say what I mean!
3) Satin has a tendency to "throw" her outside (right) shoulder out - setting herself up to "leave"
4) No impulsion
So what we are to work on for this week:
1) Hindquarter disengagement!!!!!! This is critical since Satin (currently) is constantly thinking about ways to "leave" or pull away and take off running.
2) Point-to-point driving from zone 3 - make sure I don't start walking before Satin. Satin needs to take the first steps. Tap-tap-tap-TAP for impulsion. Mean it when I ask her to "stop"
3) Lots of undemanding time on the right side of Satin since she has trouble looking at me with that eye.
Karen noticed that Satin is a "good learner" as she would literally absorb new information immediately. We licked and chewed at least a dozen times during the hour-long lesson. Lots of blowing and sighing. And Satin fell asleep 3 times! After we would go point-to-point and then stop, she would lick/chew/sigh, then shut down and close her eyes. Karen playfully called it a "thinkity bink", in other words, she was doing some serious digesting! If it were any other trainer they would probably accuse me of drugging Satin - it was pretty bizarre!
We have lots to work on! Our next lesson is scheduled for next Thursday. I have 5 lessons scheduled in advance. So excited!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Blind??
Dr. Bob was out on Monday morning to evaluate Satin's eyes for any sign of progressing loss of sight. His forst comment was, "She has mild uveitis, which is the precursor for blindness, but her eyes look healthy and sighted."
Whew. The uveitis is likely to cause of her "night blindness", or congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB), which she's has since she was a foal. However, there is another condition often called "moon blindness", different from CSNB, which is also caused by uveitis (the technical name for moon blindness is Equine Recurrent Uveitis). Satin's night blindness could be caused by either of these conditions.
The good news is aside from the mild uveitis her eyes appeared otherwise healthy. Uveitis can eventually lead to retinal detachment due to the pressure of the swelling vessels behind the retina, causing loss of vision. This is not uncommon in the Appaloosa breed and something I have been watching for for years.
She does appear to have less vision in the left eye than the right - exactly the eye I was concerned about.
The vet simply wants me to watch for signs of discomfort (progressing uveitis) such as rubbing, tearing, etc.
All in all, Satin can see! So no excuses, silly girl.
Whew. The uveitis is likely to cause of her "night blindness", or congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB), which she's has since she was a foal. However, there is another condition often called "moon blindness", different from CSNB, which is also caused by uveitis (the technical name for moon blindness is Equine Recurrent Uveitis). Satin's night blindness could be caused by either of these conditions.
The good news is aside from the mild uveitis her eyes appeared otherwise healthy. Uveitis can eventually lead to retinal detachment due to the pressure of the swelling vessels behind the retina, causing loss of vision. This is not uncommon in the Appaloosa breed and something I have been watching for for years.
She does appear to have less vision in the left eye than the right - exactly the eye I was concerned about.
The vet simply wants me to watch for signs of discomfort (progressing uveitis) such as rubbing, tearing, etc.
All in all, Satin can see! So no excuses, silly girl.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Continued Growth
Satin and I have not scheduled any play sessions into our (my) busy days, but I seize every opportunity to test my savvy. When I am taking her in and out of her stall, feeding, or just brushing her off, I try to use some technique to keep us both mentally challenged. Just the other day I backed her 12 feet from me from outside the barn to inside the barn, until her back legs touched a wooden box. She was so polite and responded well when I was particular about her backing straight.
Unfortunately, due to my work schedule at the vet school I had to reschedule my lesson (which I had planned for many weeks now!). I am only pushing it back a few days, but I am itching to get a lesson from Karen again! I am SO ready for the next step and I need a more experienced horseman to give me that little push.
The good news about moving my lesson is that John (my DH) will probably be available to film my session. Super!
Unfortunately, due to my work schedule at the vet school I had to reschedule my lesson (which I had planned for many weeks now!). I am only pushing it back a few days, but I am itching to get a lesson from Karen again! I am SO ready for the next step and I need a more experienced horseman to give me that little push.
The good news about moving my lesson is that John (my DH) will probably be available to film my session. Super!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
From Rivals to Partners
I don't even recognize our relationship anymore. I am responding immediately and consistently to Satin's behaviors with savvy and Satin, in turn, is responding with respect and willingness. How interesting!
Before Parelli:
Me: "C'mon, Satin. Do as I say!" *push and pull*
Satin: "No! I don't wanna. Why don't you do as I say?" *tug ignore*
Me: "Augh. Why are you such a brat? Why won't you just behave?" *angry face*
Satin: "Augh. Why are you so demanding. Why can't we ever have fun?" *dull*
Now, with savvy:
Me: "How are you feeling today?" *analyze smile*
Satin: "What are we going to do today!?" *asking questions*
Me: "Let's see what seems fun... "
Satin: "What can I do for you!?"
Gotta love the positive change!
When it's been super hot these days I've been re-watching Liberty and Horse Behavior course. It is fantastic! I am surprised that I am learning new things a second time around. How interesting!
Before Parelli:
Me: "C'mon, Satin. Do as I say!" *push and pull*
Satin: "No! I don't wanna. Why don't you do as I say?" *tug ignore*
Me: "Augh. Why are you such a brat? Why won't you just behave?" *angry face*
Satin: "Augh. Why are you so demanding. Why can't we ever have fun?" *dull*
Now, with savvy:
Me: "How are you feeling today?" *analyze smile*
Satin: "What are we going to do today!?" *asking questions*
Me: "Let's see what seems fun... "
Satin: "What can I do for you!?"
Gotta love the positive change!
When it's been super hot these days I've been re-watching Liberty and Horse Behavior course. It is fantastic! I am surprised that I am learning new things a second time around. How interesting!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Seeing the Change
I had one of those wonderful moments yesterday when the change in both myself and my horse was revealed. A scenario that has occurred a thousand times before where I want to move Satin from one stall to another and I don't use a halter.
Seems simple enough, right?
Well, my bipolar left brain introvert/extrovert was happily munching her hay and did not want to move her feet (Introvert). At first she just planted her feet and resisted my pressure on her cheek, chin, main, and even the pressure on her cribbing collar. I didn't want her to think that this was going to turn into a fight where I get annoyed and say "C'mon! Roar!" like the direct-line-thinking-predator I am trying not to be. So I left her to retrieve my arm extension, the carrot stick! When she saw the stick she perked up, "I guess mom means business." said her expression as she quickly responded to me asking her to side step in her stall. I tried her cheek again and surprise, she responded! But as we started to walk out of the stall she got bratty (here comes Miss Extrovert)- she was annoyed that I was leading and she stepped on my foot. Now I have been around horses my entire life, many of them young and disrespectful, but the only horse that has ever stepped on my foot is Satin. She literally aims for your feet, no doubt in my mind. And even though I am keenly aware of this fact I still sometimes forget just how clever she is. She stepped on my foot as I was about to step out of the stall so that she could keep walking and I would be stuck under her weight until she got in front of me and... off she went! She left the barn at a lazy trot.
The good news is she got the side of my boot and completely missed my actual foot (Haha, Satin!). I let her leave and took a calming breath to make sure I was focused on being positive. I went out to find her standing just 20 feet from the barn waiting for me. She was mostly turned away from me. So I asked her for her eyes by putting a little pressure on zone 5 with the cs. She turned zone 5 away and swung so her side was facing me. I stopped and relaxed even though she still wasn't looking at me. I let her think for a few seconds, then put pressure on zone 5 again. We were in a weird spot with a tree between us, so she kept considering escaping by backing behind the tree and spinning around. I was able to keep pressure on zone 5 from behind the tree, so she felt this wasn't an option. Then it came - she looked at me! Neutral, dropped my shoulders, hip, cocked a knee. She stared for what seemed like an eternity. I was smiling at her. She finally looked away and I immediately put very gentle, rhythmic pressure towards zone 5. She looked. By the third time I was putting pressure on her she turned to face me and without hesitation came right up to me. I flung the string over her withers and she licked her lips and blew out her adrenaline. I loved on her then asked her to walk with me to the barn, this time without leading by anything physical. She stuck to me right up to the stall, stopped at the door and waited, and went in when I allowed. She didn't go right to her hay but instead wanted some cuddling.
A few months ago... even a few weeks ago, I could have predicted that Satin would have taken off across the farm with no regard for my leadership. Yesterday my horse waited for me. Yesterday she responded differently than that disrespectful mare I know so well. She responded like a partner!
Our relationship is really strengthening. I can see the change in both me and her.
Seems simple enough, right?
Well, my bipolar left brain introvert/extrovert was happily munching her hay and did not want to move her feet (Introvert). At first she just planted her feet and resisted my pressure on her cheek, chin, main, and even the pressure on her cribbing collar. I didn't want her to think that this was going to turn into a fight where I get annoyed and say "C'mon! Roar!" like the direct-line-thinking-predator I am trying not to be. So I left her to retrieve my arm extension, the carrot stick! When she saw the stick she perked up, "I guess mom means business." said her expression as she quickly responded to me asking her to side step in her stall. I tried her cheek again and surprise, she responded! But as we started to walk out of the stall she got bratty (here comes Miss Extrovert)- she was annoyed that I was leading and she stepped on my foot. Now I have been around horses my entire life, many of them young and disrespectful, but the only horse that has ever stepped on my foot is Satin. She literally aims for your feet, no doubt in my mind. And even though I am keenly aware of this fact I still sometimes forget just how clever she is. She stepped on my foot as I was about to step out of the stall so that she could keep walking and I would be stuck under her weight until she got in front of me and... off she went! She left the barn at a lazy trot.
The good news is she got the side of my boot and completely missed my actual foot (Haha, Satin!). I let her leave and took a calming breath to make sure I was focused on being positive. I went out to find her standing just 20 feet from the barn waiting for me. She was mostly turned away from me. So I asked her for her eyes by putting a little pressure on zone 5 with the cs. She turned zone 5 away and swung so her side was facing me. I stopped and relaxed even though she still wasn't looking at me. I let her think for a few seconds, then put pressure on zone 5 again. We were in a weird spot with a tree between us, so she kept considering escaping by backing behind the tree and spinning around. I was able to keep pressure on zone 5 from behind the tree, so she felt this wasn't an option. Then it came - she looked at me! Neutral, dropped my shoulders, hip, cocked a knee. She stared for what seemed like an eternity. I was smiling at her. She finally looked away and I immediately put very gentle, rhythmic pressure towards zone 5. She looked. By the third time I was putting pressure on her she turned to face me and without hesitation came right up to me. I flung the string over her withers and she licked her lips and blew out her adrenaline. I loved on her then asked her to walk with me to the barn, this time without leading by anything physical. She stuck to me right up to the stall, stopped at the door and waited, and went in when I allowed. She didn't go right to her hay but instead wanted some cuddling.
A few months ago... even a few weeks ago, I could have predicted that Satin would have taken off across the farm with no regard for my leadership. Yesterday my horse waited for me. Yesterday she responded differently than that disrespectful mare I know so well. She responded like a partner!
Our relationship is really strengthening. I can see the change in both me and her.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
She's a whole different world
It is incredible how animals have such individual personalities. My zebu steer is super curious and playful. He's bold when he wants to be but cautious when he needs to be. He is very vocal, voicing his opinion in chuffs and grunts. My blind heifer calf has suffered in her early life on the dairy farm and her personality expresses her lack of life. But she has begun to develop an adorable personality, and now at 7 months old she's learned that experiences can be fun! She's bonded deeply with me and I feel a connection with her almost more than any other animal I have had the privilege of caring for.
Satin, by default, is my very good partner. I accept her quirks like I would my child's. But Dancer is so different from Satin. She's a bleeding heart, desiring only to please the alpha. I don't know if it's because I can read horses better now than ever or if I truly have never met another horse like Dancer, but she is so unique! Where Satin would look for something to push my buttons, Dancer tries her heart out to make me happy. It's humbling to have such a loyal friend. And to think she was "this close" to becoming dog food. She was loaded into a deteriorating trailer with a truck bed containing a huge pile of halters. The "buyer", a brash, heartless woman, was taking Dancer for free, claiming that Dancer who was backed only a handful of times was going to be a child's lesson horse. Dancer willfully loaded and was taken to the transport facility where there were dozens of horses in multiple small paddocks. The next day the previous "owner", with much pressure from her horse savvy friends, changed her mind and wanted Dancer back. She had to pay money to get her back and came to pick her up. When she arrived at the facility there was only one horse on the entire property this time: Dancer. The only soul saved by grace. After that Dancer was abandoned at the boarding farm I managed. We bonded quickly and I knew she was a special girl.
Yesterday I hopped up on her bareback with a halter and rope and she didn't flinch. She could have told me to f*ck off since I had not been on her back for months and months. But she just said, "Okay! Now what? What shall we do?!"
Sometimes I wish Dancer would rub off on Satin, but honestly I like my girls just the way they are.
Satin, by default, is my very good partner. I accept her quirks like I would my child's. But Dancer is so different from Satin. She's a bleeding heart, desiring only to please the alpha. I don't know if it's because I can read horses better now than ever or if I truly have never met another horse like Dancer, but she is so unique! Where Satin would look for something to push my buttons, Dancer tries her heart out to make me happy. It's humbling to have such a loyal friend. And to think she was "this close" to becoming dog food. She was loaded into a deteriorating trailer with a truck bed containing a huge pile of halters. The "buyer", a brash, heartless woman, was taking Dancer for free, claiming that Dancer who was backed only a handful of times was going to be a child's lesson horse. Dancer willfully loaded and was taken to the transport facility where there were dozens of horses in multiple small paddocks. The next day the previous "owner", with much pressure from her horse savvy friends, changed her mind and wanted Dancer back. She had to pay money to get her back and came to pick her up. When she arrived at the facility there was only one horse on the entire property this time: Dancer. The only soul saved by grace. After that Dancer was abandoned at the boarding farm I managed. We bonded quickly and I knew she was a special girl.
Yesterday I hopped up on her bareback with a halter and rope and she didn't flinch. She could have told me to f*ck off since I had not been on her back for months and months. But she just said, "Okay! Now what? What shall we do?!"
Sometimes I wish Dancer would rub off on Satin, but honestly I like my girls just the way they are.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Is it July already?
On January 1st of this year I made a resolution. I'm not the type for new year's resolutions, but this time it felt right and I went with my gut. Well, July is here!
I said that I would be at Level 2 with Satin and Dancer by July. The good news is I am self-assessed Level 2 with Satin! I could be there with Dancer in a snap if I had a little more time.
Since January I have bought and watched all the old levels 1 and 2 and the new levels 1 & 2, Liberty and Horse Behavior and On-line and Liberty Patterns. I have watched everything in the vaults, which is a ton of videos, and have taken a lesson with a 2* Parelli trainer.
Looking back I can see that I am on the right track. I am attempting to do whatever it takes to better my relationship with horses, especially my two girls.
After my 3-hour session on July 18th with Karen Woodbury, 2*Parelli trainer, I am going to turn in my video to officially graduate Level 1.
I am saving every penny to go to a 4-week course next year.
Happy July!
I said that I would be at Level 2 with Satin and Dancer by July. The good news is I am self-assessed Level 2 with Satin! I could be there with Dancer in a snap if I had a little more time.
Since January I have bought and watched all the old levels 1 and 2 and the new levels 1 & 2, Liberty and Horse Behavior and On-line and Liberty Patterns. I have watched everything in the vaults, which is a ton of videos, and have taken a lesson with a 2* Parelli trainer.
Looking back I can see that I am on the right track. I am attempting to do whatever it takes to better my relationship with horses, especially my two girls.
After my 3-hour session on July 18th with Karen Woodbury, 2*Parelli trainer, I am going to turn in my video to officially graduate Level 1.
I am saving every penny to go to a 4-week course next year.
Happy July!
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