Playing with Circles

Playing with circles I have learned a valuable lesson which I wish to share. We often recite the values of Parelli, and we know we should take the time it takes, and we are looking to out principles to purpose, and it is often said that most do not spend nearly enough time on getting things right. We are probably all guilty at one time or another of being too direct line, putting our needs before the horse and not looking after the relationship as much as we should.

One afternoon I was excited that I had a whole afternoon free. No rush, no other plans, completely Jack time. I had a structure of what I wanted to play with. Went into the school and set up some blocks to practice my weave and change of direction, a nice big jump for jack to do some squeeze and be a bit more provocative. A hula hoop to play some games with. Prior and proper preparation….tick!

Brought Jack in from the field, and headed for the school. He was high headed and snorty, but I figured I would be provocative and get his mind in no time. Well I set off with my play session, jump this, squeeze over that, go round that….well he was doing everything I asked. But something was missing. Yes he was listening, yes he was doing, but he wasn’t connected with me. That is another analogy you hear about the seven games. It isnt about doing them, it is about why you do them. Can you ask yourself why you are asking your horse to do something. What really is that purpose in your mind? As I delve into a deeper place within my horsemanship this is something I keep asking myself, and if I don’t know, then should I be doing it?

As I was DOING the seven games, I stopped and remembered something I learned in the fast track. How much value Pat puts on the circling game. Not just to give the horse responsibilities, but to show things up for what they are. Just like everything I do now, I am striving for excellence. In some places it goes well, in others we have a really really long way to go. I didn’t have excellence. Jack was distracted, and just going through the motions. So what was missing? What was I looking to achieve and how was I going to achieve it. Well my initial plan was to get my weave and change of direction better. But what MUST the horse have to be in a learning frame of mind? Jack wasn’t particularly calm, he had no standstill whatsoever! He was being obedient, but not motivated…..

So, my decision was that I was going to put him out on a circle to see what showed up. He maintained his responsibility ok, but he was very distracted still, tense through his back, head high and looking to the outside, he wasn’t circling, it was oval. Then I looked further. His nostrils were flared, his breathing fast, his mouth tight, his footfalls erratic. Not the picture a student seeking excellence would accept. So I decided that he would stay out on the circle until I got what I wanted. I set trot as our gait and I remained neutral. I wasn’t going to be particular about him breaking gait, this was about a picture I had in my head about how I wanted my horse to look. I knew what I was doing and I knew why.

Bracing, looking to the outside of the circle, mouth tight, distracted, no harmony

How long do you think? How much patience does it take? Jack, stayed out on that circle for 90 minutes. He probably came in a handful of times, and changed his own direction twice, and nearer the end he broke to walk now and then. But otherwise he just stayed out there……I closed my eyes and assessed him not with my eyes, but with my senses. I could tell when he was bracing to the outside, when he was tense from the sound of his breathing and his footfalls, when he changed……

Lovely positive expression, still have tension in the line, body now curving around the circle

My picture was finally complete with the circle, slack in the rope with no brace, regular breathing and footfalls, stretching through his back and neck with swinging shoulders and neck stretched down, mouth relaxed and ears cocked to me listening and waiting for the signal to come in, and for him to blow out his tension which I waited and waited for even when I had the rest.

Relaxed, head down, even footfalls, no tension in the rope

So often I will circle and not get excellence…..but I will from now! I want my horse to find rhythm and relaxation in every thing we do, so that we can climb the ladder of success and he can know I will nurture the relationship and ensure I will always put him first. I am starting to realise the importance of what we are told…..no matter how long it takes. So I didn’t get much fun today, but I think I learned a very valuable lesson, and I realised how much my horse needs to be able to find relaxation. I hope this is another breakthrough for us, so we can move further away from the place of stress that he can still get to so quickly. If he truly learns how to find relaxation, then before long he will find it quickly and in the end seek it, rather than going towards his RB behaviour which he is prone to do.

A RENEWED NORMALITY

Lisa Trowse said After a wonderful three days at the GOC course with Linda Parelli, I was pleased to finally have my first 'normal' day with Jack after our return from Fast Track. He is now settled nicely in the herd and is used to coming into the stable. We have made it a sweet spot bringing him to it daily for a feed, having no other expectations, giving him scratches and turning him back out.

Today he spotted me when I got to the gate, and although he didn't meet me there, he wandered up to me as I walked down to him, he was of course at the furthest point away in the field! Took him to the stable and he seemed happy to be out of the heat. His new stable is really well insulated and is lovely and cool. Whilst I groomed and checked him over, he dozed and so I sat with him whilst he caught forty winks. It was just nice to see him totally relaxed.

When he woke, I decided to show him around the new school. He was curious rather than scared and just took it slow. We wandered around playing touch it, and in the school we explored all the corners from both sides. He took a lot of interest as we went round. Then it was time to play. Really pleased my naughty LBE came out to play. He was cheeky and a bit sweet on the gate, but it was nice to be playing again.

Josette turned up and had a bit of a play. She saw a different side of jack today that she has seen before and I had to smile as he quickly changed direction when he was supposed to be maintaining gait, and when asked to change direction, he shot past.....he is so naughty!! Josette had a jumping lesson booked so couldn't play long. I played with him trying to be particular about my circles. Managed a good six laps with him focused on me rather than the outside and we quit.

Yay we are back ;0)

GAME OF CONTACT WITH LINDA PARELLI

What an amazing day at the UK GOC course. Classroom and theory this morning including simulations. Then horses and watching the riders put it all into practice this afternoon. The weather held out for us too. I have learned so much I think my head is going to explode. Taken down loads of information.

Linda is just such a wonderful teacher and puts everything into simple terms, even when it is quite a complex action. It is broken down and spoon fed, so that you can understand it and suddenly it doesn't seem to be out of reach to people like me who can struggle, as I have to work at things, they are not natural for me.

The horses made changes even through such a short space of time, and the calm and relaxation found was inspiring. Wow wow wow. Can't wait for tomorrow.

In addition it was lovely to catch up with so many people and put faces to names from PC. Had a number of people say hello who had read my fast track blog. How cool is that? Off to grab some food now. Nursing a rotten cold and need to feed it, that is my excuse anyway!

JACK MEETS HIS NEW HERD

Lisa Trowse said Well I bit the bullet today so to speak. No point in putting it off. I took jack out into the large field and let him go. The herd spotted him and what followed was quite harrowing. One good thing was when they chased him, he was faster than all of them by a long shot. I had to just cringe as he turned and out in challenges. I had had a chat with him beforehand and asked him to not be too dominant but he didn't listen.

There were squeals, at times there were lots of teeth and hooves flailing, and then it seemed to calm down. He picked up one litle follower who was obviously low in the pecking order, and then for subsequent challenges he picked up more confidence to stand ground. Very very interesting to watch the seven games really unfold before my eyes. If my horse wasn't being integrated I would have enjoyed it, as it was fascinating.

After a couple of hours it was more or less back to normal. When I left he was grazing in a little clic of four. With the rest of the herd nearby. Jack will be sleeping outside at night for the first time, and is now officially out until the winter. My heart is now back in my chest and I am really glad I took the step. Even though he had a difficult afternoon, he is now chilled and I am sure he will love herd life. As for me, I need a glass of wine, and tomorrow for the first time in five weeks I am going to have a lay in :0)

LAST DAY ON THE FAST TRACK

Lisa Trowse said FAST TRACK FINALE!!!!!!!!
Well everyone. What an amazing and fantastic day. I started really early packing away my stuff from my little room that I have lived in for the last month. Then a quick drive to fill up with petrol so I have nothing to worry about when my hired trailer came to collect us to take us to a new yard and a new start.

It was an absolutely beautiful morning, the sun was shining and I didn't even notice any flies today! We all moseyed out to the playground and had a very relaxed and happy morning. We were asked to pair up and played can you? We each had to give the other a challenge....Can you yoyo over the tyres? Can you out two front feet on the cone? You get the idea. Music was put on and we played. It was so much fun. A wonderful morning and very memorable end to our play with the horses. We horseshoed up for some pics before heading off to our coaching groups for our results........

I had Carmen as my coach for the last day, which pleased me as she has been totally inspirational and has helped so much to fix and tweak everything. All the instructors have been fantastic! Well, I had to have a wry laugh when I got my results as I knew I flunked my online. But I got a 2+ which was actually better than I thought as we were sooooo bad!!!!!

However my tool savvy was 3+ and I managed a very proud 100% in my theory test. I passed the professional attributes required for instructor status. But I have to say when I got my ridden marks It hit me how well I had done. Riding Jack is not my strong point. Jack is wilful, argumentative, and spooky, sharp, and difficult. One of the freestyle assessments was to trot the cloverleaf one pattern in each direction with a couple of corrections with rein or stick just to give you an idea. Well we managed to get a Level 2++ in Freestyle (Four weeks ago I couldn't get Jack to follow one lap around the rail without coming off or fighting me). That was me gone....I cried with happiness. We also got 2+ for Finesse so I cried even more. I can't tell you all how proud I feel of Jack and me.

As part of the coaching we had a chat about the future. At the moment I want to concentrate on settling Jack into his new home and taking all my new found knowledge and taking our relationship to another level. I need time at home, time to soak, and time to think about what path my journey will take me on.

All of the fast trackers then went back to the classroom for the graduation. Lots of memories, lots of smiles, lots and lots and lots of success. It was a room that was buzzing from the wonderful happy energy of us all. We have made friends that will last long after today. Everyone has supported each other brilliantly. We will all take home huge amounts of savvy that has come from a lot of hard work. I would recommend anyone to take this course. It will challenge you to the hilt on so many levels and infiltrate right into your soul. Would I do this again? Certainly. Without a doubt, even though it may be one of the hardest things I have done, mentally, physically and emotionally.

At the end of the day, there were farewells, good lucks and tears, but happy ones as we all start on our new journeys to new places. For me....Jack loaded with no hassle :0) he travelled quietly when usually he bangs the trailer all the way. At the other end, he usually barges and strikes and runs out....he unloaded at his new yard like a gentleman! He was high headed, but I took my new found knowledge and made sure he couldn't get distracted and looked to me. He calmed nicely. We played friendly with his new stable and he decided it was quite nice. Four weeks ago in a new environment he nearly seriously injured me due to his lack of confidence. Has someone stolen my horse? Or did he find a new herd leader?

Thank you Parelli...I love you x

FAST TRACK DAY NINETEEN

Lisa Trowse said Fast track - Assessment Day - nearly the end! What a day. So tired my bones and muscles ache. My brain is fried and my feet don't belong to me. There were lots of lows, but lots of highs. Jack came out of the stable unfocused and our first couple of online tasks were bad. We actually did much better in the first lot of assessments and they were pretty bad too. Parelli student ....what student lol!! I don't think me or my horse had done Parelli before in our lives by the display we did. I felt a bit tearful, but I gave myself a talking to and said get on with woman. We slowly improved and then it was time for the dreaded trailer.

Every in my group took their turn. We had to trailer load from various positions depending on level in three minutes. Well just as it is was my turn a horse had got loose and came galloping round the corner. Jack put his tail up, snorted and started prancing and I figured that I was a t a slight disadvantage! Horse returned to owner. I tried to focus Jack and we managed to load in under three minutes :0))))))) not bad for a really REALLY bad loader!

Freestyle tests were better than online surprisingly, and I was quite pleased though not ecstatic. After lunch we had liberty testing. I was indecisive about what tact to use, fast and provocative or slow and gentle. He had been quite RBE so I tried slow and gentle. We did ok at first and then the little so and so left me and I couldn't get him back. Not a patch on how we have been playing the last couple of days, but I had to laugh, because he kept watching me out the corner of his eye, saying nope not coming to you!

Onto the finesse tests and at this point Jack was really really good. Bearing in mind he is wilful and spooky and argues sooooo much. He was a poppet. Completed all the tasks reasonably well for us. The one I was dreading was the precision pen in SPOOKY corner. As it was we did really well and jack even offered canter on the first 20m circle, so I accepted it for one and a half circles then which was calm and relaxed and then I brought him back to trot as we approached the scary end. He argued once or twice, he spooked a couple of times, but I was really pleased with him.

A lovely end to a long and tiring day. I honestly don't think I made the grade. We were all over the place this morning. But I am really happy that we have learned so much that we can take with us and continue our journey. Six years ago jack was a skeleton, was unrideable due to his physical and mental condition. I never thought we would ever come so far, and that is only from when we started the programme 3 years ago. Before then we were going nowhere, except to hospital occasionally. This last month has shown me that there is more hope for the future of what we may be able to achieve. We have grown in many different respects and learned so much.

Thank you all for your support and for taking the time to read my posts. I will let you know my results tomorrow good or bad x

FAST TRACK DAY EIGHTEEN

Lisa Trowse said Fast Track Week 4 Day 18 - Jack is such a funny one. He came out of the right brain side of the stable today. Head high and surveying every scene we came across. I had to keep distracting him to get his head down and listening! With that it was a long day.

Firstly we had to sit our theory test. I think it went well. They have set us up for success so fingers crossed. We then spent some more time in the classroom after the exam to make us think about where we want to go on our journey and give us some leadership strategies from within ourselves that we would like to take with us when we leave.

Jack was still RBE when we came into the playground. He spotted that by the bridge there were some changes. Those being I had placed my saddle and stuff there. He noticed it about 100 yards away and grew ten foot high and started snorting. Great opportunity to work on my approach and retreat so I used a combination of falling leaf to move him away when he got unconfident and s pattern to move him slowly closer. It was interesting to see him come down off his adrenalin. We did some really nice stuff online, great at maintaining gait in canter now.

Then we went into the round pen and did some fantastic liberty. Stick to me in 3 gaits and back up. He is now getting the spin more consistently. Good squeeze too. By the end of the session he had to process for ages and he was licking and chewing and yawning for about ten minutes. It was huge so I sat on the ground and he put his head near my lap as he let it all out!

This afternoon we had another team exercise on the precision pen. Much more organised today but didn't beat our last time...now did that happen? This afternoon I had planned to ride but Jack had different ideas. We started well, and then I put him on the 45ft rope. Got a couple of lovely canter circles and then BHAM. He went really RBE. Bucking, snorting, spinning, changing directions, rearing up. Good practice on the old power position, but at times my 45 just didn't seem to have enough drift!!!!!!!! I tried to really throw some energy down the line which would stop him for a second or two and then he would shoot off again at full gallop. I tried getting him to jump the log, but that was small fry. He went down once when his back legs slid out from under him too, but that didn't deter. One of the instructors noticed I was having just a little trouble. I needed to get him into the falling leaf pattern, but i had a dilemma that I needed a shorter rope to be effective but he was not controlled enough to be close to me as with his direction changes tip was conscious of too much rope. Anyway, we got there and slowly but surely he came down off his adrenalin enough for me to give him some focus on a task once I had his mind again.

We played some nice stuff on the pedestal. Some good squeeze over the logs into the honeycomb, and then did some more lovely liberty but not quite up to this mornings standard, my draw was lacking. Every bone in my body aches and my joints have been slightly stretched!

I almost forgot to mention we also had our tool assessments. My knots were fine :0) except my barn knot at which point the easiest and one I do daily, I completely fluffed by not leaving enough room to hang my rope through. I just had to laugh and said that my halter had been shrunk! 45ft line was ok ish. Definitely a huge improvement from the first lot of assessments!!

Well savvy assessments tomorrow, big day, and with my special little orange horse I have absolutely no assumptions and will only do my best with what we have on the day, because it isn't about how high we score, it is about how much we have learned to use the best strategies to get success and mostly to keep that relationship where it needs to be. Not to mention enjoy it, as we have had such a huge opportunity to learn and grow over the last month.

FAST TRACK DAY SEVENTEEN

Lisa Trowse said Fast track week 4 day 17 - well today jack well and truly tested my leadership on every level. He tried it on from the moment I walked in the stable. I had to reestablish my space in the stable when skipping out and at the door. I had to reestablish my space at the water trough and leading. Then he didn't want to go back in the stable so we had to have a discussion about that too.

We started this morning with some fantastic simulations in the precision pen. It was great fun but also really good for learning finesse and precision riding, with focus on separating your body to work in different ways to influence the movement of the horse and communicate effectively. Excellent.

Jack then came out to play. He was full of head tossing and shaking. LBE for this session. Managed to get cooperation online with some strategies I have learned, but when he went onto the 45ft he knew he was out of reach and was lightning fast at spinning and running in the other direction, or snatching grass and then shooting off. So we went back on the 22 to give me more leadership.

Into the saddle and I warmed up much stronger today and he stood for mounting. Started off really well and he was really thinking backwards. BUT then he decided he didn't want to play anymore and wouldn't move or fought to come off the fence. Spent ages doing hindquarter disengagements and trying to get his mind. Had to be effective with the carrot stick in the end, which takes his confidence a bit, and mine as he gets all worried. We went off to play with the bullseye pattern and finished relatively intact.

Classroom sessions and preparations for the exam tomorrow were followed by an afternoon playing on the bits you need to polish with your horse. Jack was soooooo argumentative. If I sent left he would go right, if I said stop he would go, and when I was saddling and warned him about eating grass and got into my position to enable me to be effective a slow, targeted front hoof was aimed sneakily in my direction. Little so and so!

However when walking over to mount, he had a scare as he went to bite a fly on his chest and he bit the savvy string and it caught in his mouth and as he lifted his head he got trapped. Thank goodness for him learning not to fight pressure, as I put my hand on his neck to calm him I was able to flex his head to remove it from his mouth nice and easy.

Managed some reasonable point to point , and at one time there was a bit of a commotion as a horse got loose and came galloping our way, and he remained calm though I did dismount for safety. Remounted and finished what we were doing.

When we returned to the stable yard the highlight was me managing to back jack in through the door. He was not overly happy and I had to balance his I don't want to, with his confidence as he went a little RBI too. But he did it and after quite a challenging day it set us up for tomorrow. I have had enough of these tests to know that we are likely to play better the next day as it is his way of keeping my measure as leader. Tiring though it may be it usually means we are about to make a breakthrough and move forward. Just in time for the assessments on thursday would be good....!!!

FAST TRACK DAY SIXTEEN

Lisa Trowse said Wow today was a test in itself. Over 30 degrees and about a million horse flies! By eight am I had cleaned the stable, filled hay and taken all the stuff out to the playground and I had lost half a stone in sweat and was exhausted! We started the day with a review of our knots, which I am pleased to say I now know finally, and also throwing out and coiling our 45ft line.

Then we went out into the playground with the horses. I concentrated on the 45ft trying to get a change of direction. I still struggle as Jack comes into me so quickly, but my technique is definitely improving.

Saddling and bridling went well and jack had lots of energy on the warm up. I don't think I warmed up strong enough though even if he was covered in sweat. Being an extreme extrovert he needs to move lots and when I came to try and mount, he had the fidgets and wouldn't give permission by standing still enough so I could get on. Although I had been moving his feet, Carmen helped show me how to really get him moving enough by the place where I want to mount to really make it a sweet spot. There was no quarter as soon as he made a step, it was move, move, move. It took a while, but I should have warmed up stronger when he showed up with lots of energy.

Once on, I worked on getting his mind by using the bridge as a focus point for me, and putting him on a circle correcting when he drifted off the pattern. We then moved into the paddock and did more of the same, but around a barrel using the bullseye. He really connected in to me after lots of repetition.

Due ton the extreme heat late morning we were treated to an amazing piece of footage of Linda playing at liberty with Remmer. It was a great example of how to get the horses mind and make it FUN! Such exuberance was shown. Very inspiring. We were all treated to an unexpected ice lolly too, which was welcomed very much.

We were also treated to an outside BBQ for lunch in the sunshine to set us up for the
afternoon. Had a lovely demo on precision riding, and showed what can be done progressing into finesse. Very well shown and presented by all involved. We then had a fun session on the seat builders showing what we should and shouldn't do to get a more secure seat, and also played simulations on our supporting rein.

Back out with the horses for a play, and had some great fun with Jack. So much coming together. Liberty draw slowly, is really working and he is connecting with me lots, with exuberance and play too. Trailer loaded within a couple of minutes again. And what is really coming together is my canter circles. If I put him on the 45ft rope he can run easier because he has room and as a big horse it help him, but on the 22 he has to really think and engage and not look to the outside or pull. Today he was just perfect. Maintaining gait really well, with no opposition reflex to the outside. Just great.

Such a tough day in the heat, and the rain is just starting now. Roll on the storms to clear the air to make tomorrow more pleasant. Written exam weds and assessments thursday...Best get some revision done....!

PLAYGROUND SUCCESS

Lisa Trowse said Couple of hours inn the playground today. Decided to be focused and spend a good amount of time getting the trailer loading right, thinking about preparing for our home trip next week. One point in my strategy however went wrong.....Jack took under one minute to go in. Thought it may be a fluke so tried again, and he sent straight up the ramp and in the box....So had to go and find some other stuff to do :0)

FAST TRACK DAY FIFTEEN

Lisa Trowse said Fast Track - Week 3 - day 15 - good learning morning again today, particularly with our freestyle and transitions. I have been really struggling with Jack as always to maintain his responsibility on the rail. Now he is following the rail most of the time, but our transitions downwards are struggling. No problem upwards as he is impulsive, but trying to halt is so difficult. I have been playing with all four phases, life down, lift the rein, hold and bend into lateral flexion, but even then he moves in little circles until finally coming to a halt and he isn't getting the idea that he needs to stop. Enter Carmen and Raz!

Carmen got me to follow her on the rail and then halt into back up. Raz backed into Jack to get him to stop. My phases were to go life down, sit deep and look up and think south, lift the savvy string, pull on it if necessary, and use legs for back up. Well jack decided to dive left instead. At which point I was told to do a hard indirect rein, get him back straight on the rail and then repeat. It wasn't easy but we got it. We were then going for several steps back and then trot to back up. It was difficult to keep him straight but there was definite and obvious improvement. Another savvy arrow for my quiver in the battle against jacks wilfulness!

Liberty was good again today, with lively jack playing stick tome. Played with some other stuff in the playground too. Had a demo on soft feel as a prep for finesse, excellent learning occurred and put into into my coaching plan for next week. So many BFO moments have occurred recently, including one subtle moment at the water trough when jack went to go through the gap between me and the trough. With all my recent savvy I realised I went to step back and let him through, when I stopped and said no, I am the leader and I don't move my feet, you want out, go round me! Later on he indicated to do the same thing and stopped and thought better of it :o))))
In all the six years I have had Jack I have never really seen him relax properly.....and in the last few days I have a horse with a droopy lower lip and he is also relaxed in his male counterparts!!!! Actually an occurrence that has happened only probably twice in all that time, but is regularly occurring here. He is also whinnying to me lots. The bond is definitely stronger and he is starting to be a chilled horse. Wow!

This afternoon we had our coaching sessions and got some nice feedback and some good strategies for the last week. Need to make some serious decisions about what I want to do about becoming an instructor. Tough stuff. Finished the day with us all going out for a meal and a drink. Let our hair down and really the only opportunity for us to go out now before the end of course.....only one week left :0(

FAST GRACK DAY FOURTEEN

Lisa Trowse said Fast Track - week 3 - day 14 - the days are so full I really can hardly remember the stuff we learn. Introduced the fourth savvy today,so now we are trying to get all four into one day succinctly and successfully. We started with tool savvy this morning, tying the knot in the hackamore and then trying to get handy with the carrot stick playing games.

Out into the playground with focus on getting into the saddle. Jack once again saddles very nicely and bridled with feel from my knees with no opposition reflex. One big thing I will take away from here is that at home it is so easy to think it is not working or having the patience to really be consistent about stuff. Being here there is no ...oh well ok then....you can be disciplined enough to carry on being passively persistent. I cannot believe my grass monster as learned his partner responsibilities in a field of lush grass to stand and not even attempt to eat it until I have finished saddling and bridling. It really does mean that you have to be consistent, not 100 but maybe a 1000 times until it filters through. But it will....in the end and then you will get the result you want.

Practised follow the rail in trot and figure 8. Jack is still arguing some but is starting to accept his responsibility so much more. Playing online beforehand he was circling lovely with a steady gait and no brace on the line. I have taken to leading jack by the chin in the playground when he is bridled and he is really good with that too. Porcupine is soft finally and getting subtle movements with little pressure. Another success.

We had a team task today of marking out a precision pen, including measuring it and painting in the lines on the field. It was good fun and only what I would describe as organised chaos, but we got the job done!

This afternoon I practised my liberty and it was perfect :0) jack did everything I asked and didn't leave me once. He got a little exuberant at times with stick to me in canter so had to keep a bit of distance, but he was so good and we had FUN! Really got my draw as well with great indicators taken from the demos we have seen. I used two elements which really worked and I was so pleased.

We then then to the stand on a spot (or frisbee) workshop. How to get your horse to stand on a very small marker....and then we went to the workshop on soft feel. Jack rounded nicely and took up the contact. We even managed a canter in the scary paddock. At one point I asked for a leg yield and he gave nicely, and then probably mistakenly asked for sideways, and then he braced. I did not want to release on the brace and had to wait for him to step under, but he tensed up and though he did finally give, I maybe asked too much of him at that time. But lesson learned. We walked around on a casual rein and found relaxation before the end of the session.

Gave him a lovely massage at the end of the day as he really worked hard today. I know he appreciated it from all the faces he was pulling as I rubbed his back and neck. Can't believe we are at the end of week three tomorrow!!!!

FAST TRACK DAY THIRTEEN

Lisa Trowse said Fast Track week 3 - day 13 - brain is actually going a bit fuzzy! Trying hard to remember what we did today....mmmmm! Oh yes, I started with doing some circling. Stood on the pedestal to keep my feet still and jack was very good at maintaining his responsibilities. In fact he didn't argue at all! We then played with the porcupine making it more provocative getting him to move one feet forward or back, then two feet, and so on using his chin, face, chest. He is getting light now finally. I actually tend to lead him by the chin as we go around now when he is bridled, as a technique so no pressure is put on him when bitted. We then did some timed events playing seven games at liberty in the round pens. Did quite well at this but took it slow. Only seemed to manage six games though before time ran out.....what happened there?

Today I was very pleased with my saddling. For the first time Jack stood still and didn't even attempt to eat grass through the whole process. Yay, he was my partner!!!!!!! Then we managed to bridle from my knees! Double partner bonus :0)

The morning riding was based on fluidity. We also had to keep all our horses on the pattern either trotting or cantering. Preferably for up to 20-30 minutes with no stopping to get relaxation. I felt very proud of Jack as there were horses everywhere going in different directions and gaits and although his ears were like radars at times, he didn't react. This time last week he took off with me because one horse came up fast nearby...huge improvement.
After ten to fifteen minutes jack was pooped! Bless him he has never been worked so hard and the daily regime is wearing him. Luckily for him we came into the centre to do some work on my position. I then asked for some more trot and gave me a lovely collected canter with him sitting right back and lots of impulsion.....but Jack I wanted trot (sigh!) at which point he decided he had done enough of that for one day, refused to follow the rail and all I could was smile as he was really objecting and after all the lovely things he had given this morning I found him really funny. He is such a character and he is so expressive. If he had a nasty bone in his body he would have really bucked me off and dumped me, but he was passively persistent in the improper position, so I could be passively persistent in the proper position and we did a lovely zig zag new version of follow the rail!

We had a lovely liberty demo to end the morning which was fantastic and inspiring. Then back to the classroom after lunch to have a question and answer session. Liberty was the flavour of the afternoon and we formed human circles and let loose our horses and played stick to me making their human the sweet spot and all the other humans the sour place. It was really interesting to see the dynamics of the people with their horses and the way the horses reacted. And of course to see how you and your horse did. Jack was good up to a point and then wandered off to eat grass. I found I was probably not as provocative as I can be, and I found he walked through me quite a bit, which comes back to respect and leadership. But he is getting his lessons regularly and we are steadily improving. It was a lovely afternoon finished with some grazing in the evening sunshine.

Got an email tonight with the info on the GOC course with Linda in a couple of weeks. Got all excited about that too......Greedy I know!

FAST TRACK DAY TWELVE

Lisa Trowse said Fast track - week 3 - day 12 - well after the successes of yesterday I think Jack was sitting in his stable last night plotting to see what he could throw at me today. Started playing with change of direction and was sensible in using the fence to try and gain some control, but one large orange LBE was quicker, stronger and certainly was outdoing me. At one point I thought he was going to jump straight over the fence! One of the instructors got me to break it back down to the porcupine. And gently reel him in and draw to me to stop his brace. I have been told to do it a hundred times if necessary to try and get him soft off the feel.

Into the saddle and I stuck to my plan to go out of my comfort zone and we headed to the large paddock to practice transitions on a pattern. We started with the bullseye and Jack was very good and got sweet on the centre nicely. One of the other students with an impulsive horse also came in so I moved on to follow the rail so she could use the bullseye. It was interesting as we went to the bottom end of the paddock Jack reached a threshold and went from confident to unconfident. Head high, eyes wide and feet planted. So I kept his and of course my confidence intact and turned and went back. We just stayed on the piece of the rail he was comfortable with, and every now and then we would go to the threshold and try to get a bit further. We did some trot on the rail and I tried to repeat my downward transitions but .jack just doesn't seem to get it. I follow the transition all the way down to lateral flexion every time. He will get there hopefully and halt will come good.

We then headed to the classroom and looked a bit at humanity and the way we can influence our horse and how we may have to change to be better leaders. We had a real laugh as we played a game to help our understanding.

After lunch we had a demo on advancing freestyle patterns, and then we divided into our humanality groups and had to try and change our behaviour and see what showed up. Well, I tried to slow every down a bit as I am a bit frantic and busy. We did well at first and then I was getting Jack to yoyo over the ramp bridge and asked him to back up slowly and he shut down. Eyes staring, head down and really still. Released the pressure off him and felt guilty for too much ask. We went and did a few things in the comfort zone, and the he changed again. He put his donkey face on ( apologies to all donkeys! ) and went total LBI. NO. DONT Want to! Won't! AAARRRRGGGHHH! Not to mention, grass, grass, grass!!! It then tried to make it interesting without being too busy, but I was on the 45ft and he knew it. So I shortened up the rope, and we did some touch it point to point, and circling with stop and stand on the pedestal. I did after much too much effort get a lovely circle.....really he couldn't have trotted slower! And rest.....

Then I decided to saddle up. Took forever and a day. But I just kept putting stuff down and trying again. Did feel a bit frustrated and smiled at him through gritted teeth! Finally up and mounted and managed one walk around the outside of the honeycomb and it was end of day. But we finished on a nice note, he gave a lovely follow the rail, even if the walk was a bit snail like! Possibly my energy levels rubbing off. My feet really hurt today and I think the continued long days of hard work and not a lot of sleep are really taking their toll. Not a spring chicken anymore! Hey ho....

FAST TRACK DAY ELEVEN

Lisa Trowse said Fast Track - Week 3 - Day 11 - So much packed into one small day! Started in the classroom with a bit of debrief from the weekend and some theory practice. Then off to play in the glorious sunshine with our horses. First challenge was playing the 7 games with your horse without moving your feet from a spot. I played lots of porcupine with jack moving his feet one step forward, one back, nice and slow off his nose and chest as this is where most of his brace is. Then head down and head up too. Managed some nice sideways from my spot. My yoyo is really refined now so that wasn't a problem. Friendly was not so difficult standing still, but I had a challenge with circling. Doing less and bringing him to me for a better send if required managed to get some nice circles going though.

Time to saddle up and Jack is now maintaining his responsibility and only tried to eat grass the once. Then he stood still for me and allowed me to saddle and bridle with no fidgets. Onto riding and we made a huge breakthrough. Jack has not been maintaining gait at home with follow the rail, he breaks into canter and then argues off the rail as he out focuses me. Today I was given a small but very valuable piece of advice. When I ask for trot and he breaks into canter as he gets impulsive do partial disengagement, then ask again straight away. Again and again and again until I got the response I wanted. I also needed to keep my body in the two beat rhythm to help him, and ensure I maintained my focus. In the end he gave up and decided to trot for a quiet life and we did really well. I finally managed to out focus Jack!

I really used my body to turn so that I could keep my hand on the wither, and it didnt have to use the rein much at all. It is amazing the results you can get when you really out yourself out there and trust that this will work, but I can really see the importance of neutral and keeping your hand down and your body in time with your horse.....I got FEEL, I got TIMING, and wow did I have BALANCE!!!! I felt solid in that saddle and I didn't feel I had to hang on to Jacks head as we were together. Really good boy today.

After lunch we had a fantastic demo on changes of direction and driving from zones 4&5 and two rein driving. Then it was our turn. Managed to get my first canter change of direction with a simple lead change ever without any break of gait at all :0) technique is everything!

For the zone 5 driving I had a really fun time learning how to throw my rope over his head from zone 5 without it getting stuck on his ears. He was very tolerant bless him, and then we had to do it while moving!! We definitely needs lots of practice here. Jack needs to learn when I am driving and when I am just doing friendly with the rope, so I also need to damp down my body energy to help him with this. Otherwise our driving gets a bit wobbly and straight lines disappear. Had a really lovely afternoon and again have lots of new things to do. So much, so little time........

THE UK PARELLI GAMES

Lisa Trowse said Had fun at the Parelli games and Jack didn't run over anybody so that was a bonus. Today however was just the best. It was a hazy sunny afternoon at Stoneleigh and we had three hours in the playground. Managed to do some really great stuff. Trailer loaded Jack for the first time on my own ever, in 5 mins flat!!!!!!!!!!!! This is HUGE! Got some fantastic trot sideways, and some amazing canter circles on the 45ft with drag in the rope. I played the yoyo game over the tyre stack, and got him standing with all four feet onto the top tyre and then reversing backwards. I even managed to get him through the car wash for the first time, although he did shoot through it a bit. For the rest of the time we chilled out and enjoyed the sun. What a lovely Sunday afternoon :0)

FAST TRACK DAY TEN

Lisa Trowse said Lisa Trowse said Fast Track Week 2 - Day 10 - My goodness half way through where is the time going..? Lovely end to a frantic week. We had a knot tying session first thing and it put my mind to rest about getting my knots right. Mind memory is kicking in and I found that they were working...miracles do happen.

Today I had attitude adjustment. All the learning was kicking in and Jack and I reached a new place. It is called RESPECT. Not sometimes, not most of the time, but all the time! If you wish to be Curious then fine, enjoy. If you are distracted or ignoring me, then you are going to be reminded every time you look away that I am not an annoying fly on the end of the rope, I am important and am not to be ignored.

Instead of hiding in the middle or end of the herd, we led today. I said come on Jack you are with me in the front. If he got distracted he got told it was okay, he was with me. We did good and made it all the way, with only one slight hesitation. We then played online in the playground and warmed up for riding, and I continued to use my strategies to keep his attention, first warming up and then slowing things right down to make him think rather than go into overdrive.

It was amazing when I got into the saddle. He just felt different. More connected with his ear cocked to me instead of looking off into the distance or wondering what all the other horses were doing. Got some good cloverleaf and follow the rail and figure of 8. Mostly using my body and focus rather than the rein with very few corrections. Did a few strides of trot, but I kept it slow to get it right. No point in rushing.

Morning ended with a lovely demo from Terri Martinus showing preparation to liberty and the 7 games at liberty. The relationship was so clearly presented and was lovely to watch how they were so together. Pumpkin clearly adores Terri and vice versa. Very inspiring.

After lunch we had a talk on PC. Lovely to see Beth and catch up. She did a great job showing what there is on here and how useful it can be as a tool! I had no convincing being a complete addict. Then we had feedback from our first two weeks. I was exactly where I thought I would be and was quite happy. My first week was very challenging, and I feel I have steadily progressed this week. My leadership with jack is really showing through. I know I am weaker in my riding due to confidence issues, but I am working to change this and next week I really want to try and step outside my comfort zone to make some leaps forward. I think my coach will help me do this. We had a couple of hours free this afternoon so I read Stephanie Burns book to look at fear. Very interesting and worth a read.

A load of us went out for a drink tonight and had an absolute hoot. Lots of blowing out I think, to release tension after a hard week. UK Parelli Games in the morning..........

FAST TRACK DAY NINE

Lisa Trowse said Fast Track Week 2 day 9 - this morning started with our group playing the hunker down game on buckets. I was quite pleased as I was not moveable (mainly from playing the game with Jack on the end of the rope! ( there is a photo on Ruth Carlyle's wall). It was really good fun and a good exercise to assist with that power position and control and feel of your rope.

I bit the bullet today and went out on my 45 line with Jack. I don't feel comfortable with it still but I will not learn if I don't step out of the zone. And I am so glad I did. Our initial circling went well and I managed to get a good trot going maintaining ten laps in each direction. I then figured I should go along to the change of direction session online to try this on the 45ft. Jack found that I could not move quick enough and decided grass eating was more interesting. Then one of the instructors came to help and my what a gem of knowledge I got. I am aware that jack is often to quick for me, and I find it hard to maintain gait with him especially on the 45ft as he knows I can't get him. But what I learned was that he is off looking at everything else because I just go blah blah blah to him and I lose his respect. Now I have been really working on my neutral, but now I had to be provocative. Every time jack took his eye off me, I had to DO something. Disengage his HQ, tag him and so on. Well the change was almost immediate and his face changed. Mum has teeth and they bite. Once he was listening I could ask for the change of direction but I had to make sure he was tuned in to me, or we would go nowhere. This is something I am using in everything now, I MUST have Jacks focus, ALL the time so that I become his universe.

As I had practised my online I didn't have time to ride this morning and then it was time for the trailer loading demo....and guess who starred!!! Oh yes, let us being in the horse who doesn't like trailers.......Jack!!!! I was excited to watch this with my not so little orange poppet and he did not disappoint. He showed every quadrant in the horsenality chart to the spectators and many different strategies to enable him to have the confidence to go in the trailer. There were many important learning points used and he showed the fine lines that can push him from LB to RB and vice versa. He was handled brilliantly and I was so glad I let him be used as a demo. It took just over an hour for him to finally walk up and get all four feet in being sent from outside. Bless him.

This afternoon we had another session on the seat builders working on relaxation and finding points on our body that tense. Was quite pleased with my movement, and balance point, but it is something I practice with Jack every time I ride in case he has one of his moments.

Onto the afternoon session and I was looking forward to working on my freestyle patterns but it was not to be. We were having a great warm up session practising everything from this morning. I was ecstatic as Jack and I managed ten canter laps on each rein on the 45ft line, and then introduced a log too which he jumped happily as he was cantering round. Whoop di dooo!!!! I was told that this is probably a level 4+ online the way he was going. Anyway, I went to do one more to finish off and scale down and Jack just exploded on the end of the line. RB monster kicked in. He took off at the speed of light and I was a bit concerned as the grass was wet and slippery. I tried all sorts to calm him from pattern interrupt sending energy down the line, he would only disengage momentarily before shooting off again. On the upside I managed to use my power position quite a bit to put into practice what we learned this morning. His back legs slipped out from under him once and he went down, but flew back up and continued to be silly. Finally I got a spark of sanity and was able to implement falling leaf to calm him down off his adrenalin. Decided maybe I wouldn't be riding today!!!

Went off and played with my trot sideway once he was back with me, did some touch it and then saddled up just in time for everyone dismounting. Bit disappointed I didn't get to ride today, but very pleased that I had the explosion on the ground. He appears to lose his confidence out there on the end of the line and if anything triggers then he just goes as he feels on his own. What I need to do is work him past his emotions so that they stabilise and he will have more confidence in himself. Sad to think he still gets so frightened, but it good to know the thresholds so that I can expand them so he doesn't have to go there in the future.

FAST TRACK DAY EIGHT

Lisa Trowse said Fast Track week 2 day 8 - roller coaster of a day in one way or another. Our morning sessions started with no horses practising our dexterity with the 45ft line. Lots of laughs out on the field as our human ponies tried to outwit us! Then to progress the circling game. Got some great canter circles today with jack going round and dragging the rope along the ground as he was connected to me. We have a good standstill, with don't eat the grass reminders and the bridling with feel is getter better. It is almost like we are having a cuddle when I bridle, it is so gentle, so unlike the battles we used to have.

Practised the cloverleaf pattern this morning in the honeycomb. Jack was very good and relaxed and we again had a few strides of canter before returning back to trot. Still repeating the full lateral flexion stop for calmness and getting the pattern established to stop.

We ended the morning on an emotional note when we had a lesson on leadership. I got a lump in my throat trying to explain what I needed to give my horse to make me an effective leader. We then did a very powerful exercise which I won't go into detail here. However it made me feel quite raw and touched on some emotions I wasn't expecting. One of the nicest things was that I wasn't alone and there a quite a few hugs and tears shared.

In the afternoon we had a tour of the Parelli office. In the shipping department it was better than being a child in a candy store! I want that one, AND that one, AND that one!!!!! Onto practising our horse mans bridles......getting better!

This afternoon was an opportunity to practise our freestyle patterns. I didn't feel ready to venture out into the big field yet which was a wise decision. We had been doing the cloverleaf and follow the rail, in walk, trot and again a couple of canters. Then was walking quietly around the rail when I heard thundering hoof beats! Then was the realisation the hooves were Jacks and we had accelerated like the speed of light and were no longer meandering along the rail. I lost my stirrup, had that oh no moment, then my brain switched on, one rein stop. Followed when I had control of Jack, my emergency dismount. Phew! Thank god for Parelli! Heart was going like mad and I was a bit shaken, but so many people commented including the instructors about a textbook emergency one rein stop!

Decided that my racing pulse was not going to be a good combination for jack at that time, so went off and played online for a while, before coming back and hopping back on. Kept things slow practising rein positions in the smaller honeycombs. Trying to remain positive and see how well we are doing and how it didn't end in a fall, but in a controlled stop. But I do ask myself whether I should get a less challenging horse.......! Then he looks at me with those big brown eyes :0)

We ended the evening with a fish and chip supper at the barn with everyone and played this silly game which had us in fits of laughter. A good end to the day. As I said a bit of a roller coaster. Trying not to think too much and to stay positive. Have a special something to look forward to tomorrow..... Should be very very interesting....!!

FAST TRACK DAY SEVEN

Lisa Trowse said Fast Track Week 2 - day 7 - can this get any better? Thirteen and a half hours later from leaving this morning I have returned, exhausted but on cloud ten ( cloud nine isn't high enough)! After the routine morning chores, we started out with our coaches playing the circling game. I went straight out on the 45ft today which was a mistake. Jack wanted to eat grass and took every opportunity to eat it, and played every trick up his sleeve. I was too far away to be effective and he knew it.....in comes the instructor. My did I have to run!!!! Really struggled to keep up with jack and he went ultra exuberant. Had too much line and just wasn't quick enough for the little so and so! Lesson.....warm up on the 22ft get the respect there before putting on the longer line :0)

Second session was sideways at greater distances. OMG I got so excited I squealed and jumped up and down. I was shown how to really focus and use my energy and my neutral to walk into Jacks space and move him. In the end we had a perfect sideways with us both trotting, me forwards, and him doing a fancy trot sideways with collection and rhythm. He looked amazing!!!!!!

Into the saddle, with focus on mounting, and bridling with feel. Learnt how to take the halter off from under the bridle by putting it through the mouth and under the bit. Felt pretty pleased about that :0) Then did some lovely trotting following the rail keeping the knuckle on the wither and using focus to steer, and not pick up the rein.

We finished the morning with a demo on saddle fitting, the balance point and shimming, all fascinating stuff and good to know from any horsemanship point of view, thinking about the position of the saddle and the amount of movement the shoulder needs.

Onto the afternoon, in the glorious sunshine we watched the instructors show how it is done, with using patterns in freestyle and how they are effective and for which horses where. Even more determination to push myself as I sooooo want to ride like that!

We then went back into our coaching groups and back into the saddle. I had a little issue with jack bracing when I asked him to move, and my coach stayed with me for a while teaching jack to stop bracing and how effective I need to be to get him light off his chest and nose. Makes sense why he used to bolt as he was really pushing back, and even my coach had to hang on in there as Jack wasn't budging. Very interesting to watch, and of course in the end he was backing and light off the pressure. Need to do LOTS of this...!!!

Back into the saddle, pushed myself to ride with the carrot stick instead of the reins and did well, lots of friendly with the stick swinging it and rubbing jack with it. I put the stick down to trot as I need some more practice. Great follow the rail, and barely picked up the rein to correct. Some good indirect and direct rein too, with jack really stepping under. Stopping is still slow, but I am being particular about going through all my phases to get halt, including the lateral flexion at the end to ensure the brakes work and he knows the pattern. Actually managed a few steps of canter without picking up the reins. Back to trot. Repeated twice and quit on a huge high!

Yard duties again, and then we had a demo on the photonic torch...a type of acupuncture using light instead of needles, for humans and horses. All interesting stuff. Poked my head over jacks door before coming back and he was dozing away...don't think he has ever worked so hard bless his little white socks.......:0)

FAST TRACK DAY SIX

Lisa Trowse said Fast Track - Week 2 Day 6
What an utterly fantastic day from start to finish. So many breakthroughs. Firstly jack was calm on my arrival and was vocally very pleased to see me. Managed to give him breakfast and skip out without defending the door space and we then had an itchy spot scratching session and he kept trying to groom me.

We we're the first out onto the field this morning. I haven't managed to take him out on his own before as he gets separation anxiety from the herd. He went out for a full ten minutes and had a roll, before he started calling and getting upset, so we wandered back to the yard and hung out there instead until more people were out with their horses.

We started in a small group with our individual coaches. First session was to improve the circle game. At a higher level, I had to be particular about not really getting to slap the stick. I had to gently lead the nose to follow the feel, and then use the stick to support driving the nose if required. Then to up the gait, keep a porcupine on the nose and put pressure behind and release as soon as you get the gait you want. For the first time I had a fantastic relaxed canter like you see on the DVD rather than the whirling demon I usually have as I up my phases. Didn't need to up my energy, just needed tounderstand the communication, the release and the timing of it all.

Second workshop this workshop was warm up strong for riding. Jack was really connected, rope dragging on the ground, blowing out and relaxed, so my warm up was good, I then had to saddle. I managed to get my stand still but had issues with grass eating. I was then given a technique to stop the grass eating....I had to be effective!

Managed to join the last fifteen minutes of the ridden group this morning and got on jack. He felt quite nice, but didn't manage to do very much. However, he had been so good I was excited for the afternoon. We finished the morning with a talk on the history of natural horsemanship, saddles and bridles.

This afternoon the sun shone :0)
We started with playing on the seat balancer or Mighty Bronco. It was great fun and also a great way to see how you are with your focus and balance. Lots of laughs were had! We then got the horses and had an afternoon session with our coaches playing the seven games.

I played with extreme friendly in game 5, then my coach gave me some great direction in my porcupine...again I needed to be more effective. Jack doesn't know what had hit him. Cuddly mum has turned into a LEADER!!!!! Managed to drive Jack from zone 5 for the first time on a follow the rail pattern using one rein, not two. Usually he turns into me. Again, I had to watch, read him, and move real quick if he came off. He tried twice and then gave up!

We then had to warm up strong for riding, and again Jack was amazing. With his trot he had his nose on the ground he was so in the zone and just kept maintaining gait and direction. He saddled well with my new anti eating grass technique, and had a perfect stand still for mounting. Practiced lateral flexion, direct and indirect rein lots. We were put in the honeycomb so we only had a small space....with the 'naughty' ones to keep them in a controlled environment. In the end I was only lifting the rein, and jack was offering lateral flexion and holding his head there on his own!!! How cool is that!!!! follow the rail was also great and we were particular that the knuckle does not come off the wither unless giving direction. He was sooooooooooooooooo goooooood!!!!!! Felt proud of him today. Really proud. Fantastic day!

FAST TRACK ONE WEEK DOWN

Lisa Trowse said One week down. It has been a combination of long days, and hard work, emotional, mental and physical fitness tested. I have had a roller coaster of a week from being injured on the second day, feeling like I was out of my depth, hoping my horse would calm down as I wasn't able to ride him. We have been told that if we think this week was hard wait for next!! I have tried to stay really up and positive but today I think I had a wobble.

Just asking myself that maybe I should get a nice little manageable pony that I can have fun with, and then I look at Jack and give myself a slap. He is so lovely when he is good, and when he is scared he is horrid :0) Everyone headed out for a meal this evening but I was still taking the time it takes. He needed to stretch his legs and have some exercise and then refused to go back in his stable, and then was all antsy when I tried to skip him out, and everything takes sooooooo long. So I smiled and waved everyone off to have a nice evening and cursed him a little! Quiet evening in on my own with some study is in order.

We had a nice play today in the playground and I got some great liberty in trot, calm and maintaining direction with a bit of help from one of the instructors. And I managed some nice figure of 8. I practised the s pattern first getting jack to really follow a feel, and then gave him some sharp education about eating grass when I haven't given permission. Then we got some good figure 8 in trot. We also played with the tyres,and he just loves to stand on them and watch everything going on. We also got his head through the car wash. I didn't push it and retreated as it was quite breezy and he did a really good try. Had a couple of free hours today so got some shopping for food next week so I don't have to think about it.

Time for study now ... Xx

FAST TRACK DAY FIVE

Lisa Trowse said Fast Track Day 5 - What a week and I can't believe week one is over already. It has been an absolute roller coaster but one that I do not want to get off! This place tests you mentally, emotionally and physically and I have truly found it amazing so far. From having to push outside my comfort zone dealing with Jack and his extreme behaviour, to feeling battered and bruised from my injury, but still doing hard physical 12 hour days, to trying to mix with new people, learn new things, being assessed and knowing I was not doing well, to missing my home and family. It has made me realise something about myself, that I have more stamina and willpower than I believed, that I can be a better leader for my horse I just need to learn the techniques, that I can be put under pressure and even though it went badly, come out the other side still smiling with more sheer determination to do it better next time. Wow!

We had specific workshops that we could choose today, and I worked on my figure 8 and my yoyo. My figure 8 is still not that good, and it didn't really get better. My yoyo on the other hand is fantastic. I decided to push out and go onto the 45ft. I hadn't before as jack had been difficult but that can not remain an excuse. We continued where we left off yesterday on the 22 and I tasked myself to get a straight back up all the way to the cone with impulsion to the end of the 45. First time we did it it was crooked and I probably overdid my phase 4 as he went off like a rocket when he lost his confidence. Good learning curve, as I tried to read and give him more time to keep him with me, and I go it. Fantastic. Phase one and backed up all the way :0)

After lunch we had a classroom session and then had a one to one session with our coach to set a plan to work on for the next week to give us strategies and focus. I chose with my online to maintain gait in circling particularly in canter as jack gets distracted. I want my porcupine to be soft and light and zero brace and with freestyle we are going to tackle the figure 8 with just using focus, and that demon follow the rail, where jack argues with me. Of course we will work on other things too, but that is my plan.

It was great to talk to the coach about how you feel, where you are going and so on. I had a lump in my throat when Jarno said I had a very challenging horse. I don't why, but it really meant something. I often feel inadequate because I know I lack the leadership he needs and it helps to know that he isn't an easy horse and actually I do ok. He went on to say that they had kept an eye on me, but I had managed to handle him in difficult circumstances and done well. I couldn't help but make a joke about how I had learnt an early lesson with my accident....but sometimes you need a bang to make you wake up and realise you need to do things differently.

We then had some down time. Jack is really bonding with me. And I mean really bonding. Just in these few days. The watering programme is great and I would like to try and continue it when I get home when he is kept in. We already have a great partnership but he is looking to me now more than ever and is leaving the herd to come with me.

We also had all our assessment results. I did well at my theory and my liberty. My online was just ok. I only did one of the ten riding assessments so of course that was minimal. Although I scored low I was actually really pleased. Jack had been all over the place, I had been all over the place, and so to get any score was a bonus and I sat in the low middle of the field.

The weekend will be slower paced but I have things I want to practice. Also have some study to do, and get some things down properly of where I need to improve....and there are so many. But for now a load of us are going to the bar for our first drink and unwind :0)

FAST TRACK DAY 4

Lisa Trowse said Fast Track Day 4 - what a relief to have some time in the classroom this morning. Spent an hour giving Jack some exercise this morning beforehand and skipped out. He is now settling and I am seeing my horse return to normality. I look upon the last few days as a learning experience. He was very challenging and I needed to have strategies to do even the most basic tasks and ensure I had extra time to do everything and still get to the sessions on time. I have learned how important matching the horses energy really is matching it. And then some if necessary.

Today was fantastic. We started with a session in the classroom on horsenality. We then went out to the playground in small groups with an instructor to play with and improve the first four games. With friendly I did the usual extreme stuff but came with an idea to put my coat over jacks head to cover his whole face. I was given a great idea to combine the porcupine with the friendly. Jack still at times throws his head when bridling. The game was to start to cover his face with the coat whilst putting downward pressure on his head. Then when he put his head down, give the release and take the coat away. The idea was to make it his idea to want to put his head into the coat to get the release. After about 5 times he was getting the game and within minutes I managed to put my whole coat over his head. Cool! We played porcupines all over bits of his body. The LBE was appearing as he kept trying to nip me. He is quite bracy still and needs refinement.

For driving I played trying to keep him on the fence and then turn him 180 degrees. Very hard, but fun. I was told my yoyo was very good at phase one. I only think with my energy and he knows to back up. So I was tasked to get him to back up quickly with just my energy. I had to do the initial ask and then go straight to phase 4 and keep it goin walking right into his space. Not too long and you see him thinking bugger, I'm backing, I'm backing!! Need to be consistent with this now and not let it go.

Preparation to ride was interesting. Couldnt quite read jack as he appeared exuberant when I got him to move his feet, but it could have been some RB snorting with tail up and fancy footwork, or maybe some of both. So moving his feet lots was not calming him, but upping his energy, so I was advised to use objects to slow him and make him think. He did some fantastic jamos but he didn't slow, so I was then directed to try to keep him in walk, and then squeeze him over the jumps or get him to stand on things. This worked and he came down off his adrenalin. After a while I was able to circle him and get a nice relaxed gait.

We then did vet prep. Can you, hold your horses tongue, play with his mouth, lift his tail over his back, pick all four feet and hold and place without any brace. Can you get the horse to relax his muscle in his neck for the needle.

In the afternoon we played with squeeze. Jack lost his confidence in the smaller gaps and I had to really concentrate on my neutral and he had to slow right down. We then tried squeezing at trot or canter and get the turn and face, or use longer distances. Interestingly when I asked for the higher gaits jack got really playful, and shot off in the opposite direction on my send. He really enjoyed them.

The sun shone down on us all afternoon and it was a really really great day. Jack was exhausted today. All the excitement has caught up on him I think, and 8 hours work a day has suddenly taken it's toll. He was glad for his dinner, hay and bed, and finally he was calm enough for me to safely groom. He had missed it as he stretched his neck right out whilst I massaged him and scratched his itchy spots.

Absolutely great day. Tomorrow we get out assessment results. I will probably be level one in most of them due to jacks challenging behaviour. I am prepared for that. Makes me very determined to work hard over the next three weeks to get my better best. I can't wait for tomorrow but the time is flying so don't want to wish it away either!

FAST TRACK DAY 3

Lisa Trowse said FAST TRACK DAY 3 - Day started with taking Jack out to graze and just let him take me where he wanted. Spent an hour exploring the paddock, walking, looking, trotting with me shadowing behind. Liberty testing this morning. Whilst waiting we had time in the playground and we managed some really good stuff. Got jack up and over the tyre tower will all four feet, over the ramp and some great log jumps. As the morning progressed I saw glimpses of mr LBE come out to play and he kept catching me unawares.

Was pleased with the liberty testing. Wasn't near what we do at home, but then we are not at home. He threw a few surprises in there for me too. In the afternoon, exuberant Jack came out to play. At one point his tail went up, he was snorting and blowing and we played, and I ran, and he was totally connected with some fantastic direction changes and draw! My poor little legs are going to wear out!

Finess testing this afternoon. I sat out of most of them as jack is still not really rideable, but I managed to get on for one task at the end as it was quite controlled in a small environment. When I mounted it felt like I was sitting on a power fuelled rocket and he accelerated forward a bit too quick. I do so love my one rein. Once he was listening, we walked into the pen and completed our tests very nicely indeed. I jumped up confidence intact, and happy that I had got into the saddle.

I am setting up some good strategies to handle the stable and finally mucked jack out today. He has never had his nose bashed so much in his life, but I learnt a good lesson yesterday about safety. I am lucky that I am only sporting a black eye (it is very fetching), it could have been a lot worse. I am making new friends and settling down too. Exhausted. I had a 12 hour day today and we finished early! And very physical, although with Jack I have been really challenged and every bit of me hurts. I have never run so much in my life. I have been wet through to the skin and cold, though the hot chocolate was very welcome. It has been a really good day. One instructor has said some lovely things about jack and I secretly glowed like a proud mum should. Looking forward to tomorrow soooooo much.

Fast track day 2

Fast Track DAY 2 - (high emotion warning) ok so this morning started with a bang. Unfortunately a bit too literally, as my head connected with the Solid metal stable door when Jack went RB. Another horse went out of it's stable and he suddenly got into his head that the herd was leaving. At the same moment I was entering his stable and was just behind his door as he went to charge through it. Next thing there was a horrendous bang, lots of pain, and I was seeing stars laying on the floor. He didn't knock me out so my head must be good and hard. It must have given him a start as he actually stayed in the stable, but I did let out a bit of a squeal! A large egg, covered half my forehead and was looking A bit Munster family like. My eye is slightly sore, but I think I have escaped a shiner. Have a multitude of bruises all over including a very impressive lump on my thigh, which I found in the shower!!!

Anyway, I then couldn't get jack out of the stable as his energy was too up. As he was banging the door down someone ran to get an instructor as I was out of my depth. However, I learned that I am so not hard enough. Jack came storming out the stable, completely not thinking and I saw a proper phase 4....wham! He got several as he was rearing and trying to run and couldn't stand still. By those standards I probably only get to a 2!!!!! I then got instruction on how to deal with him and not allow that focus to go off me. It was only 9am and my arms were falling off.
My head was throbbing and I was feeling quite strained. I was awake at 3.30am as I just can't sleep. My dinner went in the bin last night too as I couldn't face it. And anyone who knows me, knows how much I like my food!

The rest of the morning were assessments and more assessments. Firstly on knot tying and then online tests. Some of which I did ok on, particularly any involving moving the feet!!! Others which usually are not an issue, just fell apart....and some which I thought had no hope with, we did really well ...principle 2!!!!! We also had our attitudes tested as the rain clouds came over head and the heavens opened. We were all soaked through, but the sun did reappear.

Jack decided he really did not want to go back into his stable as he had enjoyed the grass and freedom too much. Quite quickly an angel appeared and put him in. The instructors were super with me today, constantly checking to make sure I felt all right and helping me with jack when needed.

When we broke for lunch I hung back at the end, and waited for everyone to thin out. At which point I went and sat in the car and sobbed my heart out. I think it was me releasing huge amounts of tension from the last couple of days and probably longer. But part of this course is emotional fitness and I needed a good clean out of pent up fear, stress, worry, and much more...out it came and then I felt a whole lot better. Went and washed my face, smiled and went for lunch.

The afternoons session was freestyle testing. I didn't ride for obvious reasons, but I wasn't alone. We did well however in bridling from our knees, except I went first in my group. I headed over to what I thought was something for us to kneel on as the ground was wet, only to be told...er...that is the instructors coat! So my cheeks were now matching my forehead in colour!

The blub had obviously improved my attitude. All I kept thinking was how I want to be a better leader so that my horse can feel safe with me no matter what. At the end of the afternoons tests I managed to put my horse away and keep him under control in the stable, with a new game called you stick your head out the door when I am asking you back and I will bop you on the nose. Hard. No mercy! New version of don't make me pick up my stick. It was very effective. I actually managed to muck him out for the first time since we arrived and tie up his hay net and do nice things, rather than throw it all over the door! Ok, so he was tired, but I felt that I was being progressive.

I finally got back to my room @ half 8. I left at 6 this morning, I am exhausted but it has been a good day...yes, really!! I learned tons, I got frightened half to death about how much we are going to learn over the next few weeks, and I didn't realise how ill prepared I was.....my goodness it is going to be tough.............

Fast track day one

FAST TRACK DAY 1 - The day started with heavy rain. Was so stressed and worried this morning I was ill! But jack loaded in about 10 minutes, thanks to some helping hands. I didn't go near him as I was too all over the place. He travelled well and even the M25 was kind to us and we arrived at 11am. Jack wasn't overly enamoured with his stable and took a little while to decide that outside I would hassle him, inside he got left alone. He wasnt interested in any food or water, and proceeded to try and bash the door down, making a huge racket. But this wasnt the first time he has been this way, so I tied some rope to the door to make it more secure and walked off. It wasnt too long before he realised attention wasn't coming and quietened down. Got some basic yard rules, found out where stuff was and unloaded all the feed and bits into the store room then went to find my room.

Stoneleigh park is very confusing, and at the end of getting lost, confused and driving around aimlessly for an hour,I managed to get some landmarks and orientated myself round quite well. I am staying the The hostel, Blackdown Village. The room is ....er.....small! But it is clean and dry and warm. And has WIFI :0)

After lunch, 24 nervous strangers congregated in the classroom for our induction. Some people brought their horses from Switzerland, and Sweden....puts into perspective my 3 hour journey! We then had the written exam, some of which I knew, and some of which I didn't have a clue! So learning WILL occur ;0)

We then headed out to get the horses and look around. Jack did his usual RB move his feet business, and snatched grass. He is great at making me feel totally inadequate, but I got him into a falling leaf pattern and managed to get his energy under control. We did some moseying and looked around the huge Parelli playground. I did some very basic touch it but jack took nearly an hour to blow out, so we kept stuff low key. Plenty of time....but can't wait to go under the car wash!!

The sun shone this afternoon and it was lovely to be out with all the horses. Jack managed to let the side down when we went into a lovely horse shoe, all of the horses standing grazing nicely and he decided it was as good a time as any to have a roll. His stand still was a bit lacking too ...now there is a surprise!!

Once jack was tucked up with his hay and his treat ball I realised it was getting on for 8pm. I said goodnight, microwaved some dinner for me, and finally managed to relax after a long day.
Tomorrow, assessments.......

MY JOURNEY TO FAST TRACK

I can't really remember at what point I wanted to be totally immersed in Parelli, and help to change the world about people and horses. When I started rehabilitating Jack, at the time I was too wrapped up in ticking off his bad habits list and trying to not end up having accidents. About 6 months after starting the programme, I had a nasty incident in the school, where Jack spooked. My old habits kicked in and I tried to hold him with both reins and he ended up exploding and bronced me off. I injured my hip quite badly and was not able to ride for weeks. I think at that point I knew I needed to stick to everything and get it right. I wasn't able to ride so ground work was the only way forward.

From then I tried to get my hands on everything there was, to be able to learn. The principles soaked into my life outside of horses as well. It made sense. Jack changed and he became everything to me. I knew this is what I wanted. But I have hang ups. I never feel good enough and doubt my abilities. In the world of horses there is no half way. The horse will speak to you and show you up for every blemish you have. Jack was forgiving, but he would make sure that if I was not doing something right he would show me. But on the other hand when I got it right he would reward me tenfold with his progress and the strength of bond in our relationship. He wanted to be with me. With people I always felt I had to seek their approval, and if I got it I would always doubt their reasons. With Jack I knew there were no underlying reasons. It was a relationship that was honest and based just on friendship and trust.

Last year when I went out to clinics I hit an emotional wall, this was a turning point. My self doubt crept in and I really wondered if I could be brave enough, emotionally, to take this to a higher level. After my first day, and lots and lots of soul searching I had to make a leap of faith. A leap of faith in myself, in my horse and in Parelli. I had some fantastic support from Beth and Terri and I went back. It wasn't easy but we progressed and I had a strong focus that I would do it, not for me but for my horse, who had so much fear at times that I needed him to feel safe and happy. Through the winter I wrote, I reflected, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone. I dealt with my fears. The first time I sat on Jack bareback with just a halter and rope and rode him around the school, I had tears of joy running down my face. I never ever thought I would feel the closeness of being at one with him and totally totally trust him not to hurt me.

The beginning of this year I drove down to James Roberts in Wiltshire for a workshop, and once again I was inspired by the amount of knowledge and brilliance of the Parelli Professionals. I think a seed had been sown. A couple of weeks later I went to another Terri Martinus clinic to spectate, and I remember sitting there listening and I think a bit of water and sunshine was sprinkled on my seed and it started to grow.

A few years ago I was fortunate to become a project manager funded by comic relief to help to raise awareness of the abuse of older people. I worked tirelessly for 3 years, and during that time, I wrote and implemented training which was used throughout every care home in the London borough of Kingston, every hospital, police, social services, London ambulance, home care agencies, victim support and more. My training sessions had waiting lists. I assisted victims and their families and older domestic violence victims to change their lives. I spoke at the house of commons and submitted reports on the abuse and helped to get laws in place to protect older people. I was interviewed by the National Guardian newspaper, shadowed by the BBC and worked as an advisor on a drama with Kevin Whately and Richard Briers called DAD, and was presented a National Award for the Prevention of Abuse of Older People. A proud moment. As all good things, however, the funding ended and I moved on though it is still part of me.

However, with my planted seed, I know how Parelli works to change the world for horses who are abused and emotionally and psychologically damaged. My horse has healed me. So surely I could use my ambition, my drive, to heal horses and help humans to do this. I could be a Parelli Professional. Financially it would be hard, but if I waited and saved for a couple of years I could do it. My little voice inside though said you are not good enough! Then Beth was heading off to fast track, and I made a little comment, of which her reply to me was, 'never say never'.  I think at that point I went on the waiting list with a view to try and follow my dream and go to the fast track in 2012. So, if I wasn't good enough then at least I would be trying.

Then of course I got my phone call 8 weeks ago saying that there was a place in June that was available. It was completely unexpected. Threw me and my plans to the wind. Ian, my husband, just said go. I figured work would stand in my way, but my boss said life is too short to stand in the way of things people want to do. He gave me the time off.

I am now standing at the threshold of something big. Two more days and I am off to Fast Track. I am going to work so hard and focus so much to do this. Not only for me, but for all those horses out there like Jack. Frightened, neglected, scared and with people not understanding why they react like they do. To teach people to change the way they are with horses to make horses happy. I want to teach children at the source. So that they grow up learning how to behave with horses and to have fun with them. At the same time, I want to find myself fulfilled and knowing that I have found true happiness. Horses mirror your soul. I want to look in my horses eyes and see me standing there smiling in the reflection....together!

L3/4 Clinic with Terri Martinus

My first clinic this year was with Terri down in Sussex. Lots of nervous build up after last years antics having a scared right brain horse running about on the end of a rope, wondering at what point he was going straight over the top of me, and not to mention trying to get him into a little cage on wheels to get him there.

Well we got there with no stress, and when the snorting orange monster came out of the box, puffed up to ten foot high, it was seconds before he came off his adrenaline and listened to me and walked reasonably calmly to his stable.

I have to eat my thoughts. I underestimated jack and the progress we had made. He was so well behaved and responsive I felt proud of us both,and I certainly don't give credit to me easily! We were given tasks on the 45ft line, travelling circles, can you get your horse to back up 45ft to a cone, then do it sideways (at which point I was making a good impression of a flapping chicken to try and communicate down the line), and do a 180 degree turn with all the other horses in synch on a fence line. I liked that one!

We were then tasked to do follow the rail with two 22ft lines, driving from zone 5 behind. I have never used 2 lines before so just getting hold of them and then get me behind jack without getting all tangled was a mission at the start. Then I had to get him to move forward, but we have been doing a lot of backwards from zone 5 so he just kept reversing bless him. Terri helped me give a slightly different command and voice cue and finally he got it and we were off. Loved it, and jack took up contact and did everything beautifully, except eat grass. Well he probably ate grass beautifully, but he wasn't supposed to be munching and I had to develop a knack of getting his head up and moving him forward without getting the ropes stuck under his legs whilst standing behind him. Glad no one had a video camera!

Long reining on 22ft feather lines

In the afternoon we played at liberty. There is nothing like slipping off the ropes and knowing that your bond with your horse is so special he stays at your side. We are good at this at home and get very playful, but how about taking off the halter in a very large field with nine other horses and owners there?  I have to be honest jack is so nosey and social I figured that as soon as that halter came off he would be off to say hello to the other horses. What he did melted my heart. He stayed with me by my side. What an honour. Even with all those other distractions he stayed with me. He did some beautiful work in the round pen, and I could see no tension in him, working properly through his back and having amazing self carriage.

Circling close at Liberty

Stick to Me

Circling in the roundpen at Trot

Home time came all too quickly and I actually felt no worries about loading he was so chilled.   BUT as I approached the trailer a herd of cows appeared behind in the lane. Jack has never seen a cow before. He grew tall, snorted, grew taller. I tried to explain they were black and White horses, but no he wasn't having any of it. Then he had to move his feet. 100 miles an hour (ok, maybe 30 but you get the idea!), around me on my little rope. At one point he jerked my shoulder as he went to rear and he broke my rope. I quickly disengaged his hindquarters and got him to come to me, thank goodness for our relationship, and I tied him back on, then moved away quickly as he was not in the right frame of mind where you want to be standing right next to him. Thirty minutes later I got some element of calm. He was sweating tons and certainly not in the right frame of mind to get back in the trailer.

Terri came to my rescue.  I knew I would need help or have to get a tent out for the rest of the night.  My shoulder hurt, I was tired and the last thing I wanted to do was lose my patience after such a lovely day.  He was still hyped and took a while to get into the trailer, but she managed him very nicely.

Note to self - add to task list - introduce Jack to cows!