Twosox: Time to advance.

April 22, 2011

This morning Twosox and I had a great session. It was kind of unexpected as I was planning on playing with Prince first and then Twosox but Twosox came over to me and I had to give him his supplements anyway so I played with him first. And then Prince and Ruffian left so I didn't actually get to play with Prince after all. But Twosox and I had a amazing session and had so much fun!

We played with Figure eights and those went really well. Twosox had the rhythm, relaxation and connection and maintained gait around the ends also. I was really impressed! Then we played with cantering on the circle and got some incredible canter transitions and Twosox cantered almost a complete circle more than once! It was a relaxed canter, the best that I have ever seen!!

I soon realized that Twosox was definitely in a learning frame of mind and if I didn't teach him something new he would loose interest and motivation. So I decided to try jumping barrels there where standing on end. We have done this before but Twosox wasn't mentally connected and it would just keep getting worse because Twosox felt way to much pressure. I didn't set it up and wait and I didn't set things up for success.

This time I was going to set it up for success. I started with two barrels standing up and one laying down in the middle. Twosox jumped that no problem so then I moved the two barrels that were standing up closer together and put the other barrel, still on its side, in front of them so there was a smaller gap but still a barrel there. Twosox jumped it so problem and actually jumped higher than the standing up barrels. I wanted to make sure that Twosox was truly confident jumping these barrels though so I set it up so that the barrels were in his way a couple more times and he jumped it each time.

So then I set up all three barrels standing up and off we went. Because I didn't want Twosox to think it was about the barrels I sent him on the circle and walked away from the barrel then slowly walked back towards them. Twosox calmly trotted up to the barrel and jumped over them with not even the slightest amount of hesitation! Of course Twosox got a long rest afterward :)

We basically ended there but we played with some ground tying and Twosox caught on really quickly. I had to go down to the house to get the camera and he stayed exactly where I left him and didn't move the whole time. He learns so quickly!!

Prince and Ruffian did end up coming back but I didn't have enough time to play with Prince as I had to get ready for work but it was really nice to be able to have a longer session with Twosox and we both had so much fun!!

It really is an amazing feeling when you set your horse up for success!!

Naturally,
~Keri

Prince: Trail riding fun and learning

April 19, 2011

First Prince and I played on the 12ft line and played with circles at the trot and jumping a single barrel, the same as we played with yesterday with Twosox. Getting Prince lined up and square, teaching him that being there is where the comfort is before asking him to jump the barrel. It worked really well and Prince caught on really quickly resulting in a beautiful jump from the stand still on a yo-yo (drawing towards me). Prince had a big lick and chew over it afterward.

After I saddled we did some zone 5 driving with two 12ft lines. This went really well and we played with walk - trot transitions, sideways and Figure eights at the trot which went very  well. Prince was a million times lighter than last day and I really felt that he "got" it. It was really an amazing feeling.

Then we played with cantering on the circle, changing directions every time Prince broke gait. This worked so well that pretty soon we got 6 laps each direction NO corrections!! It was mind blowing!! Prince put so much effort into it and his mind was definitely engaged!!

I didn't bridle today but rode in my hackamore. This went very well and Prince and I hurried up and did nothing, something of which Prince is very fond :) I was helping Mom with some something with Knightly so Prince got a nice nap in the mean time.

Then we rode down the hill, out the gate and headed out for our trail ride!!

We actually did a lot on this trail ride as right now this is the main place that Prince and I canter so we played with that a lot.  We also played with lead changes, cantering at different speeds, canter-halt transitions, leg yields at walk and trot, sideways, and towards the end (when going up hills and such) lead changes for fatigue purposes because we cantered a long way none stop and going up the hill at the end Prince was started to get fatigued so we switched leads and cantered the rest of the way to the top.

It was a great ride but towards the end I could tell that Prince was a bit tired. I think the next trail ride we go on will be for purely relaxing, enjoyment purposes and we won't focus on lead changes or anything... just have a fun, relaxing ride :)

We dismounted in a parking lot and I played with the man hole of which Prince is still scared. It took a while but in the end Prince was able to stand beside it calmly. We basically did squeeze games back and forth gradually making the gap smaller and smaller until Prince was okay with going between myself and the grate.


It was a great play session and ride for sure and the weather was beautiful!!

Naturally,
~Keri

Prince: Online and Liberty

April 18, 2011

This afternoon Prince and I started with Liberty. We high a couple really high points and a rather how interesting moment. We got some amazing circles at the trot and canter. Prince cantered about 20ft away from me and stayed connected. About half of the circle the fence was there but the other half there was no fence so Prince was fairly connected.

We also played with sideways towards me and away from me and close range circles at the trot. I was looking for Prince to put more effort into turning and into the circle. He did well and when we got a couple nice, close range, circles at the trot we ended.

While we were doing circles (long range) I had asked Prince to circle to the left but he changed direction and went to the right. He left at the canter so I asked for a transition to the trot before I was going to ask for a change of direction. Prince must have gotten confused and he ran into and through the fence. Fortunately he came away with nothing more than a small scrape on his side. I think what happened was that Prince felt the pressure of me asking for the downward transition and because he wasn't thinking "downward transition" it was pressure that caused him to jump sideways and go through the fence. Liberty in a round corral is hard for us because Prince feels pressure, even if it is as simple as walking circles, but because we do not have a round corral I can't help him through that. Next time I have the opportunity to play in a round corral I think we are just going to do undemanding time :)

Then we went Online and played with cantering on the circle and getting the rhythm, relaxation and connection, flying lead changes, jumping barrels while circling at the canter, and then we played with cantering up to the barrel and straddling them. This was a lot of fun because I didn't want to tell Prince the answer yet I had to support him and help him solve the puzzle. So there were a couple times where Prince would jump the barrels and then slow down, which was progress in the direction I wanted so we kept on going and eventually we got it. Prince cantered up on the end of the 22ft line and did it perfectly, all at a phase one!! It was amazing and the look on Prince's face when he did it was priceless!! He looked at me and ask a beautiful question :)

We also played a bit with Figure eights at the trot and canter and Prince is starting to getting more even on both sides. Which is really great because he still has a hard time cantering on the right side. We are getting there :)

Then we hung out for a bit, licking and chewing over our session :)

Naturally,
~Keri

Twosox: From problem solving to progressing!

April 18, 2011

We started out with doing figure eights around everything, tires, pedestal, barrels. We played it like a traveling figure eight which was really fun because Twosox found the rhythm, relaxation and connection so quickly and he was trotting around both ends beautifully!! He had a huge lick and chew afterward and then we

We are really moving from problem solving to progressing. I feel that I am starting to understand what he needs from me and things are coming together very nicely!!

Next we played with jumping a single barrel in the middle of the riding ring. I played around with waiting for Twosox to become straight/square in front of the barrel and being able to wait. We went back and forth from one barrel to the next until Twosox could line up square with the barrel and then I asked him to jump the barrel coming toward me, on a yo-yo draw, and he jumped, cleared it, from a stand still on the first try!!! I was blown away with how well it worked!! It seemed to make so much more sense to Twosox and he was willing to do it after he learned he had to stay square and straight. This is definitely a strategy that I am going to try with Prince!!  

Up next we played with spinning and go on the circle. At first Twosox wasn't putting much effort into it but once he figured out the pattern he started putting lots of effort and we ended when they got really smooth and quick!!

It really was an amazing session and Twosox was so willing to try and I felt that we really had zero brace. Now I need to start teaching him new things so that he doesn't get bored :)

Naturally,
~Keri 

Parelli Core Values

Put the Relationship First
*whether with your horse, spouse, family, co-workers, customers...
*use open, honest & respectful language (non-violent communication)

Be the Best Me That I Can Be
*pursue a positive perspective
*be impeccable with your word
*be solutionary
*don't take things personally

Get it Done, with a Little Fun ~ Create Fun with Individuality
*celebrate individuality - you are free to be yourself
*have fun activities outside of work without horses sometimes

Exceed Expectations
*aim to deliver more than the student or customer expects

Embrace Never Ending Self-Improvement
*for us individually, as a team and as a family
*nurture learning & change
*embrace imagination & creativity
*create support & promote opportunities for personal & professional growth

Do More Wish Less
*how can we be more efficient & effective
*work smarter not harder
*how can we best utilize the resources we have

Be Humble
*service above self
*values before our egos
*being authentic about helping the world from the 'spirit' of humility

Truth, Transparency & Trust
*honesty
*zero gossip

Keep it Natural
*it's a lifestyle choice

Five years and counting...

Yesterday, April 21, 2011, marked exactly five years since Prince came into my life. He was abused, neglected, and terribly underweight. He didn't see any reason to trust, love, or be with people.... and I don't blame him.

Five years later we are official Level 3 Graduates (aiming for Level 4), he is fat (trying to stay fit), and tries his heart out.

Here is a short video capturing just a short amount of our journey...



Naturally,
~Keri

Prince: More flying lead changes... these are fun!

April 15, 2011

 So Prince and I kept things short today as I was looking after Ruffian plus I had to go to work. All morning I didn't feel emotionally prepared enough to play with the horses so I spent the time with Ruffian and we worked our way from where he was in the bush to the riding ring. Ruffian can't walk forward but he can backup, and move both his hindquarters and forequarters fairly easily. So we ended up backing 90% of the way to the riding ring and then Ruffian was able to walk forward the rest as it was mostly down hill.

Thanks to Parelli we had no problems navigating our way through the many rocks, trees and hills. Ruffian took it all in stride and we made it to the riding ring alright. I was so proud of how well Ruffian handled it all and how he trusted me to guide him. I love this horse so much! 

Being able to do that with Ruffian and seeing that at least he could walk a little ways helped me to feel better and be able to play with Prince, who had been following me everywhere when I was up there, then look at me with his head hanging over the fence when ever I walked away :) 

So I ended up playing with him before I went to work. We had a lot of fun and played a bit with rhythm, relaxation and connection at the canter on the circle and then did some Figure eights at the trot and seeing as they went so well we took it up to the canter. Prince was still having a hard time getting that one lead so I decided to do circles and see if he would have an easier time getting the leads that way. He did. The first couple times he would canter through the change but he wasn't able to maintain the canter on the other lead so we kept playing with it and after a couple tries Prince got two beautiful flying lead changes in both directions!!! 

We took a long rest and then called it a day. Prince is trying so hard and I think he actually likes it just as much as I do!! I am also excited because this means we are one step closer to being able to do our Level 4 Auditions!!! Flying lead changes were really the last major thing that we need to accomplish. The rest is just refining the stuff we can already do, which we have been playing with already. It is all so exciting!!!

Naturally,

~Keri