Yesterday Tuesday Oct 6 I played with and rode Twosox. It was SO much fun!!!
After I had haltered him we went over to the tractor tires and we just spent some time together. I was talking to my mom too. It was really nice just to hang out with Twosox and let him really relax. I don't really know how long we spend there because my watch broke :( That makes two in less than a year!! I really need to just buy a really good quality watch. Oh well for now I am going totally horse time ;) I rather like it. Even though I always seem to be late for lunch..... hehe
I was kind of waiting for Twosox to lick and chew. Finally he did and boy was it a big one!!! His head was really low, a perfect picture of left brain!! Then we went up to the riding ring. Before we started playing up there I took out all of the knots in Twosox mane. He sure gets them in there good!!
I had so much playing with Twosox!! We did circles, transitions, Sideways, Touch it, Figure eights at a walk from 22ft away, jumping, stick to me [walk and trot] plus we started some cutting!! That was fun!! I also picked up Twosox's feet. He did so well!!!! It took him a while before he licked and chewed though.
After we had played for a while I got on bareback and rode. I am re starting the Freestyle Patterns with him because I really want to build his confidence and I wasn't consistent enough when we did them before. So we did Follow the rail. Twosox did really really well. I was so proud of him!! He was very confident and relaxed the whole ride. At the end he started yawning, licking and chewing, his head was really low too. It was a very pleasant sight!!! I couldn't believe how much more comfortable Twosox was also!! The last time I rode him BB it was awful!! This time it was wonderful!!
~K
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
I am speachless!!
Monday Oct 5 2009
I am totally speechless right now!! Prince and I had a wonderful play time today. My mom and I had to go out and find the horses. I love going and finding them!! Because that means we can play on the way back!! This time the horses were in the field. Prince and Twosox came up to see me. I love my horses!!!
I don't know why I decided to but I decided to play at Liberty with Prince for a bit. Just to see how it would go. Let me just say IT WAS TOTALLY AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean we were in a 2 acre field with no fences around us [other then the property fence that keeps the horses in ;)]. Prince and I have NEVER done that before!!! Prince left twice but came back. We did stick to me, sideways away from me and towards me, Touch it, leading by the tail, close range circles and lots more!! One time when Prince left me he want galloping off but then got about 100ft and turned around and looked at me. I backed up a couple steps and he came trotting the whole way right up to me!!!!! It was SO cool!!!
It all seemed like a dream!! I mean Prince could have run off through the bush with the other horses but he stayed with me and was amazing!!! I think that why Prince and I don't have fun or success when we are in a round corral is because Prince doesn't want to be with me and I loose ALL of my imagination... poof.... gone!! But when we play in the field or in the corral where Prince can leave I know he can leave any minute but he doesn't because he wants to be with me!!!! So we both have way more fun because we both want to be with each other!!!!
Then we ran over to my halter and I haltered Prince. Then I sat of the ground and we spend some time doing nothing for a bit. After that we started going home. Prince was so in tune with me!! It was so much fun!!! When we got to the corral I saddled Prince and then we went up to the riding ring.
Prince cantered 4 laps on the circle with only 1 correction!!!! It would have been five but the basketball that was in the riding ring got in the way, the rope got caught on it and Prince stopped and looked at me and asked a question. It was really cool though because when Prince was cantering there was LOTS of slack in the rope. The belly of it was dragging on the ground for most of the time!!! Then we did some transitions. Canter to walk, walk to canter etc Prince was SO in tune with me!!! It was wonderful!!
After we had played for a bit I got on. My mom video taped me. Every month [starting now] she said she can video tape me playing for about 10 minutes in each savvy [Online, Freestyle, Liberty and Finesse] that way I can watch it, see what I need to improve on and also see our progress. Should be interesting!!
We did sideways, Follow the rail, transitions, extreme friendly game, dragging and carrying the bucket, opening the gate [a first for us and Prince did SO well!] Weaving, and Figure 8's. It was a pretty good ride. When I was watching the video I saw a lot of things that I need to improve on. One major thing that was Prince looks really bored. one other thing was that I think I do not stay with the task long enough. What I mean is that I do something like follow the rail but I don't do it until I see a change or something gets better. So that I will have to be aware of the next time I ride. A couple months ago I went through the same thing when we were doing transitions and change of directions Online. So it isn't something new ;)
After I had unsaddled Prince I picked up his feet. I put my gloves on so it was something different. He did really good. He was a little tense with his back legs though. One thing that really helped was that I had to wait until Prince relaxed before I started doing anything with his foot. If there is still tension in his leg and I start picking it out he will just pull his foot away. It was pouring rain by this time. It rained on and off when I was riding but then it really started pouring. So I let Prince go. He did really well!! I am so proud of him!!
Tomorrow [Lord willing] I am hoping to play with Twosox.... if it doesn't rain ;) Should be fun!!!
~K
Confidence building in Freya
Friday Oct 2 2009
In my last post I mentioned that after I had played with Poncho I played with Freya. We played with jumping and crossing the tarp..... or more like getting anywhere near the tarp ;)
We started with some friendly game because she was a little worried. Nothing bad though. So after that we went to the jumps [barrels]. At first we just did some simple squeezes between me and the barrels, until she could confidently walk through the space. Pretty soon she was doing that well so I make the gap smaller... then smaller.... then smaller till she had to start thinking about jumping the barrels. After a couple minutes Freya jump the barrels! She wasn't 100% confident but it wasn't bad. Right after I disengaged her she started licking and chewing.
After we took a short rest we walked over to the tarp. Freya is really scared of that!! She has gotten better but she still jumps every time something hits the tarp. At first I was just asking her to go in between me and the tarp, that was going well but we weren't making a lot of progress. Freya would still jump sideways when my savvy string hit the tarp, even if it was just a little bit.
So I decided to try something a little different. I walked onto the tarp and started making a lot of noise. I was hitting it with the rope, jumping on it, etc etc. Every time Freya stopped and stood still I would stop and stand still. Then I would start up again, each time Freya got more and more confident with it making noise. It got to the point where I could hit it really hard with my carrot stick and string, jump on it, twirl the rope and have the end hitting it over and over, lots of stuff and Freya just stood there. I think that she wasn't afraid of the taro but the noise and once she realized that the noise wasn't anything to be worried about she was fine.
Then the next step was to see how she would deal with coming closer to the tarp. We took it one step at a time. Then I would start making noise again. She was fine! She then it got to the point where she was right beside the tarp and I could make some noise and she would just stand still. Then I asked her to take another step forward, this time she had to decided whether she would put her foot on it or not. She put like 1 inch of her on the tarp!! Success!! Before she wouldn't even smell it!! Then I asked for the other foot, she put that one on a little bit. So I gave her a rest. Then I asked her to take another step forward and she did!! She put her whole foot on the tarp!!!! Like Mr. Parelli says "Nose, Neck, maayyybe the feet"
We ended there. It was so much fun!! I love problem solving!!!
~K
Sunday, October 4, 2009
By popular demand....
So by popular demand I am typing this. Well not really ;)
Friday was a Parelli meet up. I played with Poncho!! I actually have a picture of him to post here....
I don't think I have posted one before. Anyways. This is Poncho. Handsome eh?
So lets see where do I start.....
Poncho was a little hard to catch. But that was okay. Once Freya was caught he was lot easier. He is way more respectful of my space now. So that is nice. You don't get that feeling like any minute you could get run over ;)
I put a little bit to much pressure on him at the beginning and he got a little worried. That is when I first really noticed that he is a RBI. Or at least right now he it. Once he gains confidence I could see him being more of a mild LBI. It just goes to show you that what Mr. Parelli says is true.... that RBI horses are the hardest to read. They look calm and confident but they really aren't.
So once I noticed that I backed right off. He is getting better with the carrot stick and savvy string. So that is progress. I decided to pretent that we have just started our session and so I sat on a pile of tires and just waited.... and waited...... and waited. Then finally he started licking and chewing!! Then he relaxed and lowered his head. Man he reminds me of Twosox when I first got him!!!
After that we did some Friendly game on both sides. The right is harder for Poncho but he realized that it was just friendly and soon relaxed a little. Every little success, even if it was that he lowered his head 1 inch was still a success.
Then we did some Touch it and Figure eights. He caught on REALLY quickly!! We did a couple complete Figure eights then stopped. He was so light. At first he was a little bit confused but that was because I but pressure in the wrong zone but after that he was great!! After that we went and checked out the tarp, poles, barrels, and tires. He took it all realy well. I could still see that he was a little bit unconfident but he was trying really hard. After that we went and did some squeeze game between me and the barrels. At first he would get scarred when he was going through the squeeze but after a couple squeezes he was fine and started walking through. Once he ever half jumped the side of the barrel!!
After that we went and I sat on a barrel and just had some undemanding time. Poncho started really relaxing and licking and chewing. Even yawning!! That was a really nice thing to see!!! We did a little bit of stick to me after that. Poncho was SO in tune with me!!! It was amazing!! All I had to do was think back up and pick up my stick a little bit and he would back up!!! We only did walk, stop and back up but it was still really cool!!
After I had finished playing with Poncho I played with Freya but that will have to wait for another post. I have to go now!
~K
Friday October 4 2009
Friday was a Parelli meet up. I played with Poncho!! I actually have a picture of him to post here....
So lets see where do I start.....
Poncho was a little hard to catch. But that was okay. Once Freya was caught he was lot easier. He is way more respectful of my space now. So that is nice. You don't get that feeling like any minute you could get run over ;)
I put a little bit to much pressure on him at the beginning and he got a little worried. That is when I first really noticed that he is a RBI. Or at least right now he it. Once he gains confidence I could see him being more of a mild LBI. It just goes to show you that what Mr. Parelli says is true.... that RBI horses are the hardest to read. They look calm and confident but they really aren't.
So once I noticed that I backed right off. He is getting better with the carrot stick and savvy string. So that is progress. I decided to pretent that we have just started our session and so I sat on a pile of tires and just waited.... and waited...... and waited. Then finally he started licking and chewing!! Then he relaxed and lowered his head. Man he reminds me of Twosox when I first got him!!!
After that we did some Friendly game on both sides. The right is harder for Poncho but he realized that it was just friendly and soon relaxed a little. Every little success, even if it was that he lowered his head 1 inch was still a success.
Then we did some Touch it and Figure eights. He caught on REALLY quickly!! We did a couple complete Figure eights then stopped. He was so light. At first he was a little bit confused but that was because I but pressure in the wrong zone but after that he was great!! After that we went and checked out the tarp, poles, barrels, and tires. He took it all realy well. I could still see that he was a little bit unconfident but he was trying really hard. After that we went and did some squeeze game between me and the barrels. At first he would get scarred when he was going through the squeeze but after a couple squeezes he was fine and started walking through. Once he ever half jumped the side of the barrel!!
After that we went and I sat on a barrel and just had some undemanding time. Poncho started really relaxing and licking and chewing. Even yawning!! That was a really nice thing to see!!! We did a little bit of stick to me after that. Poncho was SO in tune with me!!! It was amazing!! All I had to do was think back up and pick up my stick a little bit and he would back up!!! We only did walk, stop and back up but it was still really cool!!
After I had finished playing with Poncho I played with Freya but that will have to wait for another post. I have to go now!
~K
Thursday, October 1, 2009
You don't want to not watch this!!!!
Isn't Hannah amazing!?!?!
Hannah you are an amazing inspiration to us all!!
~K
Hannah you are an amazing inspiration to us all!!
~K
Wow 4 horses in 2 days! Not bad!
I think that is the best yet! Yesterday I played with Twosox and Ruffy and today I played with Prince and Knightly!! Not bad if I to say so myself!!
I didn't get to play this morning but this afternoon, right after lunch my mom and I went out to find the horses. I was excited to play with Prince. Ruffy and Twosox were in the field but we could see Prince and Knightly at first. So we called them and they came out from the bush. At first they were just being normal LBI and walking ever so slow so I called Prince again and he started to trot and trotted right up to me with the most wonderful look on his face!!!!! It was such a priceless moment!!! I love Prince to much!! I am so very much blessed to have him!!!
Of course he got some oats for that ;) Normally he will come to me then leave once he has gotten his treat but today He stayed right with me and didn't seem to have any intention of leaving. I put my halter on him then went and got the 22ft line. He came with me. Ruffy came up while I was putting the 22ft line on Prince's halter so I had to send him away but Prince just stayed right with me even though he could have left!!!
We just spent some time hanging out together for a little bit then we went and Prince offered me some totally amazing stuff!!!! We did some half passes from zone 5, spinning, leading my the tail [which was REALLY light] and zone 5 driving. I was breath taken by the spinning and half passes!!! Prince was incredible!!!!
Then I went and sat on a rock and played "don't make me get off this rock". We did some really cool transitions. Prince cantered two laps, then I relaxed and he started walking, we did some change of directions [I stood up for those ;)] then I brought him in. Prince took forever to lick and chew so I just waited then finally he did it.
After that while I was still sitting on the rock I sent Prince over to a smaller rock that was about 22ft away and asked him to put his foot on it. It took a couple minutes for Prince to figure out to keep his foot on it but finally he did. It was really interesting to see the look on his face change. At first he wasn't really trying hard but then he started to get interested and really try. It was neat!!
We then did some stick to me. Prince got SO in tune with me that we could walk, trot, stop and back up and Prince would do exactly what I did. Even later when I would take a step forward to pick up my carrot stick of something Prince would do the same. It was cool!!!
Then I sat on the ground and we took a rest. Then I asked Prince to pick up his back leg. He did it BEAUTIFULLY!!!!!!!!!! He was so soft!!! He let me hold it, pick it out, look at it etc then I put it down put wanted to see something again so I picked back up again, no problem!!! I was not expecting Prince to be that light!!! I am so proud of him!!! I think we are finally back to where we were at the end of August/ beginning of September!!!
It was really funny because I lied right down on the grass [or what is left of that grass :)], the other horses couldn't care less expect Knightly who was with my mom. They were maybe 50ft away and he couldn't stop looking at me!!! He was so funny!!!
After that we started back to the turn around. Since the path is really narrow and you either have to walk infront of your horse or behind I decided to walk behind Prince. So the whole way to the turn around we did zone 5 driving. Prince did SO well. Even when I stopped to wait for the others to catch up all I had to do was relax and he would stop and stay straight. One time we had to stop in a little clearing and I was about 5ft behind him. He just stood there. Normally he will start to turn around. So it was really cool!!!
Then when we got to the logging road we did some trotting and trotted into the turn around. After that I asked Prince to back between two logs and then go sideways over the one log. Prince did really well but I didn't set it up just right so he missed the log but still went sideways while I kept my feet still.
Then we played around with straddling the log. Prince did really well. We haven't quite got it but he will stop over the log when I relax. So we are going to keep playing with. To get him off of the log I would ask him to come sideways towards me. At first it wasn't truly sideways, his hind quarters were lagging, or his forequarters were running a head [which ever way to want to put it ;)]. But then the last time he did it perfectly!!! It was beautiful!!!
After that since we had already playing in the field we went to the round corral. At first we just did some Porcupine games, stick to me, leading by the tail etc then Prince left. He went right for the gate and tried to go through it. Fortunately I had already taken that into account and tied the 22ft line around the gate also. So Prince couldn't get out that way. Before he has just broken his way out so now he things he can do the same. He came back. I knew he was expecting me to send him on the circle and even though I really wanted to I didn't. I know that our circles are not the best and I really wanted to play with them but I knew that it would mean more to Prince if I didn't. So we did other things like jumping, stick to me, drawing backwards from zone 5, extreme friendly game, drawing to me at the trot, sideways towards me, leading by the tail, and Touch it. Prince did so well!!! He was wonderful!!! Oh and we also did a really cool spin!!! Prince is now adding speed into it!!! Hooray!!!
It was so much fun!!!
After we were finished playing my mom wanted me to play with Knightly. He was being extra dominate. So I did. He was SO cool!!! Yes he was being dominate on the circle but I think it was just because he expects us to do things to him and not for him and with him. So I started with asking him to put his foot on a small stump. He tried so hard!!! That really got his brain engaged and he started asking questions. Then we went and did some Touch it, and different kinds of squeeze games. Then I went to the circles. He would almost charge you while he was circling. He would go out nicely but then spiral in and pin his ears. So I had to catch it when he was still thinking about it. That worked really well. This was just at the walk but once that was going better I moved over a little bit and put in his path a hill. It was small but kind of steep so he had to really watch where he was going. Then I asked him to trot about steps and then come back down to the walk. I didn't want him to wear himself out or anything!! hehe :)
My mom has done a really good job with him. He is light and responds.... even though he has a awful look on his face ;) Pretty soon he realized that I wasn't so bad and he started to get a better look on his face. So then I disengaged him and he turned to me with his ears pinned. So I drove his backwards a couple steps. Then the look on his face totally changed!! He was looking and asking a question. So I brought him in after a little rest. He would come part way in then walk off. I think it was a little bit of unconfidence so I just softly asked him to disengage his hind quarters. Once he was able to walk into me I let him sniff my hand and he kind of had that look on his face like "fine just rub me" but he didn't look like he was going to enjoy it. So I let him sniff my hand and then I went and rubbed him on the shoulder. He didn't expect that! :) Then I just let him be and talked to my mom.
She asked if I could try a traveling circle game. So after I waited for Knightly to lick and chew [it took a while] we were off. He wasn't to bad. Then he saw something over in the bush and started walking off, so I took it and asked him to go sideways for about 10ft. Then we stopped right by some nice grass and vines. He enjoyed them!! I let him eat for a bit then brought him in and let him go.
I was surprised how light Knightly was. It was really cool!!! I had a lot of fun too!!
~K
I didn't get to play this morning but this afternoon, right after lunch my mom and I went out to find the horses. I was excited to play with Prince. Ruffy and Twosox were in the field but we could see Prince and Knightly at first. So we called them and they came out from the bush. At first they were just being normal LBI and walking ever so slow so I called Prince again and he started to trot and trotted right up to me with the most wonderful look on his face!!!!! It was such a priceless moment!!! I love Prince to much!! I am so very much blessed to have him!!!
Of course he got some oats for that ;) Normally he will come to me then leave once he has gotten his treat but today He stayed right with me and didn't seem to have any intention of leaving. I put my halter on him then went and got the 22ft line. He came with me. Ruffy came up while I was putting the 22ft line on Prince's halter so I had to send him away but Prince just stayed right with me even though he could have left!!!
We just spent some time hanging out together for a little bit then we went and Prince offered me some totally amazing stuff!!!! We did some half passes from zone 5, spinning, leading my the tail [which was REALLY light] and zone 5 driving. I was breath taken by the spinning and half passes!!! Prince was incredible!!!!
Then I went and sat on a rock and played "don't make me get off this rock". We did some really cool transitions. Prince cantered two laps, then I relaxed and he started walking, we did some change of directions [I stood up for those ;)] then I brought him in. Prince took forever to lick and chew so I just waited then finally he did it.
After that while I was still sitting on the rock I sent Prince over to a smaller rock that was about 22ft away and asked him to put his foot on it. It took a couple minutes for Prince to figure out to keep his foot on it but finally he did. It was really interesting to see the look on his face change. At first he wasn't really trying hard but then he started to get interested and really try. It was neat!!
We then did some stick to me. Prince got SO in tune with me that we could walk, trot, stop and back up and Prince would do exactly what I did. Even later when I would take a step forward to pick up my carrot stick of something Prince would do the same. It was cool!!!
Then I sat on the ground and we took a rest. Then I asked Prince to pick up his back leg. He did it BEAUTIFULLY!!!!!!!!!! He was so soft!!! He let me hold it, pick it out, look at it etc then I put it down put wanted to see something again so I picked back up again, no problem!!! I was not expecting Prince to be that light!!! I am so proud of him!!! I think we are finally back to where we were at the end of August/ beginning of September!!!
It was really funny because I lied right down on the grass [or what is left of that grass :)], the other horses couldn't care less expect Knightly who was with my mom. They were maybe 50ft away and he couldn't stop looking at me!!! He was so funny!!!
After that we started back to the turn around. Since the path is really narrow and you either have to walk infront of your horse or behind I decided to walk behind Prince. So the whole way to the turn around we did zone 5 driving. Prince did SO well. Even when I stopped to wait for the others to catch up all I had to do was relax and he would stop and stay straight. One time we had to stop in a little clearing and I was about 5ft behind him. He just stood there. Normally he will start to turn around. So it was really cool!!!
Then when we got to the logging road we did some trotting and trotted into the turn around. After that I asked Prince to back between two logs and then go sideways over the one log. Prince did really well but I didn't set it up just right so he missed the log but still went sideways while I kept my feet still.
Then we played around with straddling the log. Prince did really well. We haven't quite got it but he will stop over the log when I relax. So we are going to keep playing with. To get him off of the log I would ask him to come sideways towards me. At first it wasn't truly sideways, his hind quarters were lagging, or his forequarters were running a head [which ever way to want to put it ;)]. But then the last time he did it perfectly!!! It was beautiful!!!
After that since we had already playing in the field we went to the round corral. At first we just did some Porcupine games, stick to me, leading by the tail etc then Prince left. He went right for the gate and tried to go through it. Fortunately I had already taken that into account and tied the 22ft line around the gate also. So Prince couldn't get out that way. Before he has just broken his way out so now he things he can do the same. He came back. I knew he was expecting me to send him on the circle and even though I really wanted to I didn't. I know that our circles are not the best and I really wanted to play with them but I knew that it would mean more to Prince if I didn't. So we did other things like jumping, stick to me, drawing backwards from zone 5, extreme friendly game, drawing to me at the trot, sideways towards me, leading by the tail, and Touch it. Prince did so well!!! He was wonderful!!! Oh and we also did a really cool spin!!! Prince is now adding speed into it!!! Hooray!!!
It was so much fun!!!
After we were finished playing my mom wanted me to play with Knightly. He was being extra dominate. So I did. He was SO cool!!! Yes he was being dominate on the circle but I think it was just because he expects us to do things to him and not for him and with him. So I started with asking him to put his foot on a small stump. He tried so hard!!! That really got his brain engaged and he started asking questions. Then we went and did some Touch it, and different kinds of squeeze games. Then I went to the circles. He would almost charge you while he was circling. He would go out nicely but then spiral in and pin his ears. So I had to catch it when he was still thinking about it. That worked really well. This was just at the walk but once that was going better I moved over a little bit and put in his path a hill. It was small but kind of steep so he had to really watch where he was going. Then I asked him to trot about steps and then come back down to the walk. I didn't want him to wear himself out or anything!! hehe :)
My mom has done a really good job with him. He is light and responds.... even though he has a awful look on his face ;) Pretty soon he realized that I wasn't so bad and he started to get a better look on his face. So then I disengaged him and he turned to me with his ears pinned. So I drove his backwards a couple steps. Then the look on his face totally changed!! He was looking and asking a question. So I brought him in after a little rest. He would come part way in then walk off. I think it was a little bit of unconfidence so I just softly asked him to disengage his hind quarters. Once he was able to walk into me I let him sniff my hand and he kind of had that look on his face like "fine just rub me" but he didn't look like he was going to enjoy it. So I let him sniff my hand and then I went and rubbed him on the shoulder. He didn't expect that! :) Then I just let him be and talked to my mom.
She asked if I could try a traveling circle game. So after I waited for Knightly to lick and chew [it took a while] we were off. He wasn't to bad. Then he saw something over in the bush and started walking off, so I took it and asked him to go sideways for about 10ft. Then we stopped right by some nice grass and vines. He enjoyed them!! I let him eat for a bit then brought him in and let him go.
I was surprised how light Knightly was. It was really cool!!! I had a lot of fun too!!
~K
Online & Liberty with Twosox and a super fun Liberty session with Ruffy
Yesterday I played with Twosox and after him Ruffy self selected himself for a play session. It was so nice out side. It was a perfect fall day. A little rainy but not bad. My mom and I took the horse to the turn around to play. I was pretty sure that Twosox would be a little bit worried because we haven't played there in a while so I was prepared. He wasn't to bad though. The other horses came with us so that helped. He was still a little right brain so I made sure to give him a job right away. It was SO much fun playing in the turn around. There are hills, trees, logs, wet spots, etc lots of fun!!!
The only thing I had planned on doing was some Liberty and traveling circles. Our traveling circles were really good. Twosox didn't break gait [he was trotting] and even when I sent him up hills, over logs/trees, went through squeezes he was find!! It was really fun!!! We also did some circles in a smaller space. Twosox had to really watch where he was going. It was interesting!!
After we had played a bit Twosox really started relaxing. It was a wonderful sight to see!! He even fell asleep! Then we went over to the round corral and did a little bit of Liberty. Nothing to big because Twosox was a little bit unsure of what to do. A couple times he got "stuck" and didn't know what he should be doing so we spent a lot of time just spending time together. Our draw has gotten a lot better!! We took it really slow because I didn't want to push him over a threshold. After a little bit we went back Online and did some Stick to me at the trot. Before Twosox would stick with me but be about 4 ft away from me instead of beside me. So we played with that. Twosox got really good. One this that was interesting was that when I put my hand on his neck he got a lot more confident!! Hmmmmm..... How interesting!!
I played around with him feet a little bit. There was a small log in the round corral, I asked Twosox to put his foot on it. He put his toe on it and just left it there. I then went and looked at his foot. It was interesting that is for sure!! I am now seeing things that I never saw before!! So that is good!!
After I let Twosox go Ruffy came up and was following me around so we went into the round corral and played at Liberty for a bit. It was SO much fun!!!! He is a blast to play with because if I put to much pressure on him he will get unconfident but then sometimes he will be really playful. So it was a lot of fun!!!
We started with some Friendly game and driving game. I was just assessing what he could do. Our draw was a little sticky but I can understand that because I am just not my sister whom he adores... despite the fact everyone thinks we look alike ;)
Ruffy was being really playful and I have learned that it is better to go with him then hold him back. So I took want he offered [which was run away] and I asked him to jump the tree that is hanging over the side of the round corral. It fell there sometime in the summer and has been there ever since. It was a fun obstacle!!! Ruffy [being the LBE he is] picked the highest part to jump. It was SO cool seeing him jump!!! He is so athletic!!!!! Ruffy flew over it then turned and face me and asked a question like "did you see that!?!? Aren't I so good!?!" He came right with his ears forward. Another we played with because Ruffy would come in with his ears back... big no no for left brain horses!! :)
Then we did some circles. Ruffy had so much energy. We did canter sends, change of directions, jumping the tree again, and sideways. One time I put a little to much pressure on Ruffy and he got unconfident. So then we played with that. I could tell it immediately because Ruffy started looking out and couldn't give me two eyes when he was coming in. Lots of approach and retreat. Ruffy had a lot of trouble circling to the right. Not sure what but we played with it anyways. He slowly got more confident but he was still having a lot of trouble circling to the right. He had a threshold right near the gate, which I had noticed when my sister was playing with him at Liberty but I didn't recognize it for some reason. So just before he got tot he gate I would disengage him and bring him in. Slowly but surely he started going farther and farther then he was able to walk up to the tree and paw it etc. So I brought him in. He was so good!!!
Then we went back Online and I asked Ruffy to jump the tree going to the right. As soon as he was Online the normal LBE Ruffy came back. It was so cool!! I have never seen him switch back and forth so much!! He was totally fine jumping it to the right.
Then I let him go. What a neat horse!! It rained on and off while we were playing but that was okay. It never really down poured so that was nice. It did snow some this morning!!!! It didn't snow long but just enough to make me realize that winter IS coming!!! Whether we like it or not!! :)
~K
The only thing I had planned on doing was some Liberty and traveling circles. Our traveling circles were really good. Twosox didn't break gait [he was trotting] and even when I sent him up hills, over logs/trees, went through squeezes he was find!! It was really fun!!! We also did some circles in a smaller space. Twosox had to really watch where he was going. It was interesting!!
After we had played a bit Twosox really started relaxing. It was a wonderful sight to see!! He even fell asleep! Then we went over to the round corral and did a little bit of Liberty. Nothing to big because Twosox was a little bit unsure of what to do. A couple times he got "stuck" and didn't know what he should be doing so we spent a lot of time just spending time together. Our draw has gotten a lot better!! We took it really slow because I didn't want to push him over a threshold. After a little bit we went back Online and did some Stick to me at the trot. Before Twosox would stick with me but be about 4 ft away from me instead of beside me. So we played with that. Twosox got really good. One this that was interesting was that when I put my hand on his neck he got a lot more confident!! Hmmmmm..... How interesting!!
I played around with him feet a little bit. There was a small log in the round corral, I asked Twosox to put his foot on it. He put his toe on it and just left it there. I then went and looked at his foot. It was interesting that is for sure!! I am now seeing things that I never saw before!! So that is good!!
After I let Twosox go Ruffy came up and was following me around so we went into the round corral and played at Liberty for a bit. It was SO much fun!!!! He is a blast to play with because if I put to much pressure on him he will get unconfident but then sometimes he will be really playful. So it was a lot of fun!!!
We started with some Friendly game and driving game. I was just assessing what he could do. Our draw was a little sticky but I can understand that because I am just not my sister whom he adores... despite the fact everyone thinks we look alike ;)
Ruffy was being really playful and I have learned that it is better to go with him then hold him back. So I took want he offered [which was run away] and I asked him to jump the tree that is hanging over the side of the round corral. It fell there sometime in the summer and has been there ever since. It was a fun obstacle!!! Ruffy [being the LBE he is] picked the highest part to jump. It was SO cool seeing him jump!!! He is so athletic!!!!! Ruffy flew over it then turned and face me and asked a question like "did you see that!?!? Aren't I so good!?!" He came right with his ears forward. Another we played with because Ruffy would come in with his ears back... big no no for left brain horses!! :)
Then we did some circles. Ruffy had so much energy. We did canter sends, change of directions, jumping the tree again, and sideways. One time I put a little to much pressure on Ruffy and he got unconfident. So then we played with that. I could tell it immediately because Ruffy started looking out and couldn't give me two eyes when he was coming in. Lots of approach and retreat. Ruffy had a lot of trouble circling to the right. Not sure what but we played with it anyways. He slowly got more confident but he was still having a lot of trouble circling to the right. He had a threshold right near the gate, which I had noticed when my sister was playing with him at Liberty but I didn't recognize it for some reason. So just before he got tot he gate I would disengage him and bring him in. Slowly but surely he started going farther and farther then he was able to walk up to the tree and paw it etc. So I brought him in. He was so good!!!
Then we went back Online and I asked Ruffy to jump the tree going to the right. As soon as he was Online the normal LBE Ruffy came back. It was so cool!! I have never seen him switch back and forth so much!! He was totally fine jumping it to the right.
Then I let him go. What a neat horse!! It rained on and off while we were playing but that was okay. It never really down poured so that was nice. It did snow some this morning!!!! It didn't snow long but just enough to make me realize that winter IS coming!!! Whether we like it or not!! :)
~K
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