Journals & Quotes

For years now I've "journaled". I have a personal journal (which doesn't get nearly enough attention), book journal, equine "studies" journal, favorite quotes journal, loads of now closed journals & a Kisia journal. I've attempted to document Kisia's & my progress over the years & actually do study that little book to see how we're coming along as well as pick up on patterns in her behaviour. On the back of her journal I've written quotes I've come across that struck me as something I may want to keep on the tip of my mind while working with her & thought to share them here. While most are from Pat or Linda Parelli, I've not kept a good record of who said what so please forgive that oversight & don't "quote" me on who they are from.

Think could rather than would or should.

Only sustain something your horse willingly offers. *Karen Rolf

It's not about the obstacle or the task, it's about the quality of your communication with your horse.

Am I willing to do what it takes to be good enough for this horse?

To whom much is given....much is required.

If you knew it was lack of confidence, would going up your phases be the right thing to do....or would you stop & pat your horse & let him know that he's okay?

Begin with the end in mind.

When you & your horse can get lost in a world of dance, this is the art of horsemanship. This is when it is totally humane to ask your horse to perform at the top of his ability because he is enjoying his performance. You have increased his life's experiences. *Carolyn Resnick

Pics from Lipizzaner show...

Not sure why my slideshows here are always off-center. Click the pics to be taken to the link for centered pics. :)

Sometimes making a plan works...

When I submitted my paperwork & DVD for my level 2 Online audition with Kisia we had one task yet to accomplish, jumping online. Every time I approached it, she just wasn't getting it & needed way more pushing at the time that she could tolerate. So, I listened to my horse & decided to hope everything else was good enough without that task. It's not like I'm interested in jumping anyway. Now that things are dry enough for some fun, we've really stepped up our online work progressing well into Level 3. She's had some tension with riding so my goal for that has been to be a quiet relaxing ride at the end of our more taxing online play. So after a few weeks of this, I placed a nice line of barrels in the round pen thinking we would just play around them. I set it up where she would have to see & think about them but didn't have to go over. The plan was working nicely..we made our way near them..she eyed them one good time & just popped over them!...couple trot strides she did a "bull fighting horse" turn on the hind end & popped over them the other direction...couple trot strides...& repeat! Now I did not ask for this. As a matter of fact I stood there stunned with images of trick riders standing on galloping horses, jumping through hoops of fire then jumping their bold mounts onto the backs of moving vehicles! Surely I'm not enough woman for this much horse!?! How could this happen? She not only took those barrels from near standing still like they were the smallest anthill but did it 3 times! of her own choice! OK, she didn't see my moment of fear...we continued our play...WELL away from the trouble causing barrels. Bareback pad & bridle on...move to the mounting block & it happened. My fire breathing stunt horse turned into a sweet quiet backyard filly. Our ride was relaxed but forward & she did everything I asked without the least bit of tension. Appears the famous Andalusian ON/OFF switch is thus far intact...whew.
*jumping pics coming soon*

Fluidity Dressage

For my Parelli friends out there...a few pics of my new saddle. The Fluidity Dressage Saddle. I was lucky to get a nice discount as this saddle was one of five already made & ready to ship. Thankfully one of the 5 was my size. These saddles are fundamentally different from others as they are designed to fit the horse's back in motion rather than standing still. As you can see here Kisia moves very freely & is quite comfortable in the fluidity. She also didn't fuss when girthed up, which was a welcome surprise. Was also pleased that the saddle didn't slip with her bucking or when mounting as she is of a round type & I don't girth tight! It's very posh & comfortable to sit. I was a little worried about the seat being slick. After years of riding a Wintec with equisuede which is pretty much like having velcro on your bum, I wondered if I would slip around on leather. So far I've felt very secure & really love this saddle.

Progress!!!

I've posted previously about helping Kisia become more comfortable being handled & touched. Riding seems to come natural to her. She left her trainer having ridden seemlessly through training level test 4 after just under 6 weeks of training! She did seem to develop a few undesirable behaviours, primarily in the area of tacking up & being touched in certain areas. She became quite cinchy, tossing her head, reaching around as if to bite & backing up when cinched. She also tossed her head, clinched her jaw & evaded to avoid bridling. Rude behaviours on a good day. Dangerous on a bad. So over the last 3 months we've used the 1st of the 7 games, friendly game, to help her relax & become more accepting of being handled & tacked up. I used approach & retreat as well as well-timed rewards (rest or treat) to improve her tolerance of being touched on her head, face, sides & girth. She followed the same pattern she did as a foal with her feet & legs being touched. Turtle slow to no progress to the point that I'm thinking "She's never gonna get this". Then out of the blue, perfection! She's got it. She's actually now offering a "friendly" petting session. I normally let her out of her stall to roam while Foxy finishes eating. Rather than her normal explorations (going in every empty stall & knocking over anything I've not put up) she began to plant herself in front of where I sat, nearly putting her head in my lap & staring intently at me as if to say..."Pet me, I'm ready! & don't forget the treat!" She will now quietly ground tie for saddling & bridling. I should get this on video as bridling goes something like this; ask her to lower her head..reins over head..hold up the bridle & watch your fingers because....Chomp! she takes the bit totally of her own volition...slip the headstall over her ears...buckle up & Voila! she practically bridles her self now! It's really a shame some performer or trick trainer didn't get this mare. When she decides something is worth doing, she does it with such gusto! *pic is of our barn-cat Salsa*

January Notes

It's raining & cold as of this writing. Foxy & Kisia are in their stalls & knowing those two are ready to go out regardless of the weather. While winter is still most definitely upon us here, I'm feeling spring around the corner. Foxy is looking more glorious every day. She's a "mother earth" look about her as she nears the end of her pregnancy. I've noticed some behaviors that are typically uncharacteristic for her....pinning her ears at Kisia, nipping at Kisia, generally being annoyed with Kisia. Of course none of this phases Kisia in the least. She must be the most persistent horse I've ever encountered & certainly won't be thrown off her path by a little face making or a bite that doesn't even break the skin! Foxy & I are heading to Olive Branch next week for her last appointment with our wonderful vet there. We've put the finishing touches on the "foaling paddock" recently. I'll move Foxy there in a couple of weeks. While it's been too muddy to ride, Kisia & I have worked on the uh-uh spots she developed while in training. I've also put the halter on her several times & mounted up bareback to slosh a bit in the mud. Bareback with only a halter on a green broke 3 year old?!? What's life without a risk here & there? At least the mud makes for a soft, if messy, landing.

Winter Gifts

Cold; pretty much sums up the start of 2010 as well as the end of last year. I have no memory of snow that doesn't melt by lunch time. Not only did we have a bit of snow but it's still out there several days after it fell. The ground is frozen. Ice that's been dumped from water buckets retains its shape. I've even nearly tripped over a perfectly preserved pile of rock hard frozen horse apples! Needless to say, doing much of anything with the horses isn't possible. Kisia & Foxy aren't bothered by the cold. They do have a bit more pep in their step in the mornings but overall seem to like the cold. They are both plush & wearing a goatee. I on the other hand am transformed every time I step out the door into the stay-puff woman. I hate the cold! & prior to horses entering my life did anything to avoid it. Well, I have no choice now. As mentioned in a previous post, Foxy is pregnant. She entered her last trimester on Dec 1st & is due to foal the end of March. Foxy isn't one to be super interested in people. She prefers to stand back & let Kisia be the princess of every one's attention. Not that she is fearful. She will tolerate being touched, petted, vetted & just about anything you ask of her. She just doesn't offer up contact too often. So when she stopped across from me one morning & gave me the one-eyed come over here look, I was curious to say the least. Not sure what she wanted, I scratched her withers & shoulders only to run my hand down her side to feel what must have been her foal doing back-flips that morning! As I turned to look at her laughing, she put her head on my shoulder. She gifted me with a beautiful moment as well as the knowledge that she doesn't just feel safe sharing her experience with me but that I've been invited to share it. If all goes well, I imagine her foal just might be as special as it’s precious mother.