Today it was cold, icy and just a crummy day weather wise, so I decided to take advantage of the fact that I couldn’t play with the horses a whole lot to do their feet. I started with Blue as I knew he wasn’t going to need a whole lot and could ease my poor back into it. He was excellent as usual, standing perfectly balanced on three legs while I trimmed his front toes back. I didn’t have to touch his bars at all and just had to file down his heels ever so slightly, his frog is becoming so much fuller, can hardly wait for it to expand more at his heel.
Next was Chance, I had to get Anna to help me with him some because my back was KILLING me and he needed all four toes to be filed back a LOT. They grow so quickly I can hardly keep up with them. And even though I could probably take them back a lot further then what I do each trim I don’t want him to be uncomfortable or lame. So we took back his toes on all four feet back a fair way, will try to get him done again next weekend.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
My Level 1 Online Audition
I finally did it, I filmed my Audition. The weather was beautiful, the sun was shining, it was actually “warm” (and by warm I mean warm enough that I could wear jeans and a sweater, I got to skip the snow suit!). So Blue and I went out and played for a bit warming up and seeing what side of the corral he woke up on. I was very happy that he woke up on the very LBE side and wanted to do nothing but play and try new things!
So we began filming, I was a little nervous at first, but quickly got over it as Blue was an absolutle super-star! He was perfect! Sure he got a little stick here and there but that was probably him sensing my nerves a little bit. During the audition I got him to stand on some blocks of wood as a pedestal – originally I just wanted him to touch them with his hooves but he eagerly offered to stand on them with his front hooves! I was thrilled!
So after the filming was done I gave Blue a really good scratching and lots and lots of treats before heading inside to get the film ready for sending. I took a deep breath, filled out the forms, loaded the video to YouTube and clicked “Send”. And off it went. Now to try and breathe normally and wait, waiting is going to SUCK!
Here is a link to my Audition Video:
So we began filming, I was a little nervous at first, but quickly got over it as Blue was an absolutle super-star! He was perfect! Sure he got a little stick here and there but that was probably him sensing my nerves a little bit. During the audition I got him to stand on some blocks of wood as a pedestal – originally I just wanted him to touch them with his hooves but he eagerly offered to stand on them with his front hooves! I was thrilled!
So after the filming was done I gave Blue a really good scratching and lots and lots of treats before heading inside to get the film ready for sending. I took a deep breath, filled out the forms, loaded the video to YouTube and clicked “Send”. And off it went. Now to try and breathe normally and wait, waiting is going to SUCK!
Here is a link to my Audition Video:
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Confidence Snaffle = Love!!
Yesterday Blue and Tia’s new bits arrived while I was at work so of course today in the morning I had to get up and go try out Blue’s new Confidence Snaffle. We played for a little while but he was trying to shove his face into the bridle that was on my shoulder the whole time so I eventually put it on him, got him to give me a boost onto his back and we began to try out the new bit. Blue LOVES it! He was so responsive and light with it, we were yielding left and right, turning, backing up, and figure 8’s etc all with a feather light touch.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Short Ride - Short Post
Today Anna and I saddled up for a ride, Blue was a bit sticky at first when I asked him move away from the herd, but he eventually got over it. So we worked on some side passing, and yielding of his haunches, backing up, and circles before we went back to the part of the field where all the other horses were. We then worked on ‘cutting’ Lexi, and Blue got into it pretty quick and enjoyed it! So he might make a cutting horse just yet!!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Ride On Kallie & Blue
While I waited for Ripley and Storm to finish eating and was busy keeping Blue from trying to duck into their feeding stall I decided to try something new with him. So in less than 5 minutes I taught Blue to back up by following the feel with his tail at complete liberty and to back up when I lifted one of his back legs and guided it backwards. He caught on really quickly and there was really no hesitation! I was pretty happy that it took less than 5 minutes to teach my boy some Level ¾ skills!
~*~
Later on that afternoon I decided I wanted to play with Kallie again, we went through our Seven Games and she was much more responsive with backing up today, she wasn’t sticky at all. I even worked on drawing her into me faster by walking/trotting backwards away from her while I reeled in the rope and she quickly caught on and had no issues with trotting towards me. I was also able to play the Friendly Game with carrot stick and savvy string in all 5 Zones. I was very happy that she allowed me to stand in Zone 5 and toss the savvy string around her fore quarters, neck, back, and legs.
After I was certain she passed the pre-ride checks I got on, this time I asked for a bit more from her and would smile with all four cheeks, turn the smile into a squeeze and then smooch if I didn’t get a response. Within no time at all she was moving forward eagerly and easily with just the smile. Yawning, licking and chewing and being a really good girl. We worked on turning, lateral flexion and even did a few Figure 8s around the barrels! She was just perfect! After we road around the paddock a bit, going to new places we hadn’t ridden before I decided to end the wonderful session.
Next it was Blue’s turn again, I got him to give me a boost up with his neck onto his back and I really had no intentions of doing much more then just sitting there but I could tell that he was eager to do something. So I looked at his right hip and poked it gently with my finger and he did a near perfect turn on the forehand. We did this to the left and to the right, he would back up easily and many steps when I just shifted my weight back in the saddle as well as walk forward and whoa with the slightest suggestion. Next I’m going to have to work on some turns on the haunches, but he certainly has his turns on the forehand down pat and can do them very quickly!
Later on that afternoon I decided I wanted to play with Kallie again, we went through our Seven Games and she was much more responsive with backing up today, she wasn’t sticky at all. I even worked on drawing her into me faster by walking/trotting backwards away from her while I reeled in the rope and she quickly caught on and had no issues with trotting towards me. I was also able to play the Friendly Game with carrot stick and savvy string in all 5 Zones. I was very happy that she allowed me to stand in Zone 5 and toss the savvy string around her fore quarters, neck, back, and legs.
After I was certain she passed the pre-ride checks I got on, this time I asked for a bit more from her and would smile with all four cheeks, turn the smile into a squeeze and then smooch if I didn’t get a response. Within no time at all she was moving forward eagerly and easily with just the smile. Yawning, licking and chewing and being a really good girl. We worked on turning, lateral flexion and even did a few Figure 8s around the barrels! She was just perfect! After we road around the paddock a bit, going to new places we hadn’t ridden before I decided to end the wonderful session.
Next it was Blue’s turn again, I got him to give me a boost up with his neck onto his back and I really had no intentions of doing much more then just sitting there but I could tell that he was eager to do something. So I looked at his right hip and poked it gently with my finger and he did a near perfect turn on the forehand. We did this to the left and to the right, he would back up easily and many steps when I just shifted my weight back in the saddle as well as walk forward and whoa with the slightest suggestion. Next I’m going to have to work on some turns on the haunches, but he certainly has his turns on the forehand down pat and can do them very quickly!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Touch It - Touch Everything!
Today I practiced with Blue for my audition that I hope to film this week. We worked on the walk, trot and back up – getting him straighter and not wanting to go past me. We also played all Seven Games and he was Phase 1 for everything, easily yielding away from pressure. We even did some weaving around objects in the field and some Figure 8s around the barrels. Oh course pretty much this whole time Blue and I had a shadow, little Lexi decided that she wanted to be involved in everything that Blue was doing.
Next we played the Touch It Game and walked all around the paddock, getting Blue to put his feet on various objects; the barrels, a board, a log, a stump, feed pan, a pile of manure, a fence post, and even Lexi! She wasn’t too impressed with being pawed at though by Uncle Blue and quickly turned to face me. I was pretty happy with my boy and he really seemed to be enjoying the session! We played around a bit more before I took the halter off and had him follow me around the field while I collected the feed tubs.
Next we played the Touch It Game and walked all around the paddock, getting Blue to put his feet on various objects; the barrels, a board, a log, a stump, feed pan, a pile of manure, a fence post, and even Lexi! She wasn’t too impressed with being pawed at though by Uncle Blue and quickly turned to face me. I was pretty happy with my boy and he really seemed to be enjoying the session! We played around a bit more before I took the halter off and had him follow me around the field while I collected the feed tubs.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
20 Questions
Stole this from the Daily Parelli Blog and decided to fill it out, so here are my answers:
What is your Ultimate Goal with horses? (hint: Write it down; extra-credit hint: write down answers to all of these questions) I would someday like to have an all Natural Boarding, Training and Breeding Facility that I would run with my best friend. Doing everything the Parelli way. I would love to be an offical Parelli Insturctor as well someday but that realisticly won't happen unless I win the lotto
What is a step toward that goal that you could achieve within ten years? I would like to have a barn (with stalls opening to a large paddock so horses could come and go as they please) and an indoor riding arena. A few clients horses that would be started the Parelli way. And a broodmare band (about 4-6 mares all QH or Paint) and an APHA stallion well on his way in a showing career naturally.
What is a step toward that goal that you could achieve within five years? By this time I would like to have my Parelli Level 4 certification. And purchase a Homozygous Tobiano Paint Stallion with my best friend who would be used in our breeding program.
What is a step toward that goal or a lesser goal that you could achieve within two years? It would be wonderful that at this time I could have sand footing in my outdoor arena, more land cleared for more pasture. And be well on my way through the Parelli Level 4 tasks.
What is a step toward that goal that you could achieve within one year? I would like to be ready to send in my Parelli Level 3 Audition.
What is a step toward that goal or a lesser goal that you could achieve within six months? Continue to work through my self assesments and be preparing for my Parelli Level 3 tasks. Have a round pen built and a grass arena. At this time I will have my very own foal to work with daily to raise the Parelli way from the start.
What is a step toward that goal that you could achieve within three months? I would like to send in my Parelli Level 2 Audition tape.
What is a step toward that goal or a lesser goal that you could achieve within one month? Be well on my way through the tasks required for my Parelli Level 2 Finesse.
What is a step toward that goal that you could achieve within two weeks? I would like to send in my Parelli Level 1 Audition tape.
What is a step toward that goal or a lesser goal that you could achieve within one week? Have Blue trotting easily around the barrels in a Figure-8 pattern.
What action could you take toward that goal within three days? Practice, Practice, Practice!
What action could you take toward that goal tomorrow? If it isn't storming go out and work with Blue, if it is storming review my DVDs.
What action could you take toward that goal today? Work with Blue after lunch.
What action could you take toward that goal right now? Re-watch the Parelli Patterns, Online video (putting it in the computer now)
What information could you acquire that would improve your chances of achieving your goal? Well I've already got the L&HB, Success Series, Level 1 Pack, Parelli Patterns Online, Liberty, Freestyle and Finesse. Watch as much as I can through the Savvy Club membership and get down to a Parelli Tour Stop and to a Parelli Conference.
What's stopping you? My lack of confidence.
Really? Yes relaly, I have little to no confidence in what I can do, but am goign to work VERY hard to change that, starting NOW!
Do you see how easy it is to make a plan? A lot easier then I thought for sure! Kind of nice to see everything laid out!
Now, here's the toughest question of all: Once you have a plan...Are you willing to change it if you need to? Heck yes!
Did you count to see if there were actually 20 questions? Yes! This makes question #20.
What is your Ultimate Goal with horses? (hint: Write it down; extra-credit hint: write down answers to all of these questions) I would someday like to have an all Natural Boarding, Training and Breeding Facility that I would run with my best friend. Doing everything the Parelli way. I would love to be an offical Parelli Insturctor as well someday but that realisticly won't happen unless I win the lotto
What is a step toward that goal that you could achieve within ten years? I would like to have a barn (with stalls opening to a large paddock so horses could come and go as they please) and an indoor riding arena. A few clients horses that would be started the Parelli way. And a broodmare band (about 4-6 mares all QH or Paint) and an APHA stallion well on his way in a showing career naturally.
What is a step toward that goal that you could achieve within five years? By this time I would like to have my Parelli Level 4 certification. And purchase a Homozygous Tobiano Paint Stallion with my best friend who would be used in our breeding program.
What is a step toward that goal or a lesser goal that you could achieve within two years? It would be wonderful that at this time I could have sand footing in my outdoor arena, more land cleared for more pasture. And be well on my way through the Parelli Level 4 tasks.
What is a step toward that goal that you could achieve within one year? I would like to be ready to send in my Parelli Level 3 Audition.
What is a step toward that goal or a lesser goal that you could achieve within six months? Continue to work through my self assesments and be preparing for my Parelli Level 3 tasks. Have a round pen built and a grass arena. At this time I will have my very own foal to work with daily to raise the Parelli way from the start.
What is a step toward that goal that you could achieve within three months? I would like to send in my Parelli Level 2 Audition tape.
What is a step toward that goal or a lesser goal that you could achieve within one month? Be well on my way through the tasks required for my Parelli Level 2 Finesse.
What is a step toward that goal that you could achieve within two weeks? I would like to send in my Parelli Level 1 Audition tape.
What is a step toward that goal or a lesser goal that you could achieve within one week? Have Blue trotting easily around the barrels in a Figure-8 pattern.
What action could you take toward that goal within three days? Practice, Practice, Practice!
What action could you take toward that goal tomorrow? If it isn't storming go out and work with Blue, if it is storming review my DVDs.
What action could you take toward that goal today? Work with Blue after lunch.
What action could you take toward that goal right now? Re-watch the Parelli Patterns, Online video (putting it in the computer now)
What information could you acquire that would improve your chances of achieving your goal? Well I've already got the L&HB, Success Series, Level 1 Pack, Parelli Patterns Online, Liberty, Freestyle and Finesse. Watch as much as I can through the Savvy Club membership and get down to a Parelli Tour Stop and to a Parelli Conference.
What's stopping you? My lack of confidence.
Really? Yes relaly, I have little to no confidence in what I can do, but am goign to work VERY hard to change that, starting NOW!
Do you see how easy it is to make a plan? A lot easier then I thought for sure! Kind of nice to see everything laid out!
Now, here's the toughest question of all: Once you have a plan...Are you willing to change it if you need to? Heck yes!
Did you count to see if there were actually 20 questions? Yes! This makes question #20.
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