Lesson with Terri

Great lesson with Terri but every bone in my body aches.  She took one look at me today and said that she was going to be particular...with me!  We set off to get Jack more responsive to his porcupine.  He tends to brace and fight pressure and push against it, and this needs to change.  We started off with some simple pressure and release on his face, and chest, and moved on to the more difficult areas like his chin and ears.  He needs to learn to follow a feel.  We progressed quite well and I was given techniques to get him more responsive.  Terri also showed me how to start Jack off with getting the lead by the tail backwards by threading the rope through his legs and using the rope pressure of a yoyo on his nose, whilst pulling him back.  He got a bit confused, but after hanging in there we managed to get a step.....and quit.  Now time for him to think it over and digest his learning, so tomorrow we get two steps.

Moved on to improving my draw, by using a slide and grip technique with using a stick and string slapped hard on the ground to increase the pressure. Terri expected Jack to get 'emotional' and he didn't disappoint but wasn't unmanageable, though I did take a little sand skiing trip!  I found this quite difficult. Definitely got some improvements but I need to think about my body position and my timing is not great.  Another porcupine area was the figure 8, falling leaf and 's' pattern.  Terri gave me a technique of crossing my arms putting the stick under the rope to disengage the hindquarters, and then following the feel through and across. ......difficult to describe.  It was awkward at first, but once I got it, it was great and Jack responded well.  With the figure 8 I need to push Jack out wider on a circle so he has room to move, and push him in zone 1/2, not 4/5 like I was doing.  Then as he comes into his figure 8, I need to move directly backwards and get him to follow the feel through and take up any slack in the rope so I don't allow him to drift.  All complicated stuff in higher gaits!

Moving onto my freestyle, I had my first carrot stick ride.  It all went quite dandy until I upped it into trot and Jack started to want to come off the rail.  The stick, reins, horse, and speed all seemed too much and I got in a muddle, then Jack started to lose his confidence and got faster, and then I started to lose my confidence.  But, that aside it all was fine, and in the lesson I pushed myself.  I can now go back to my comfort zone, now the learning has taken place and practice and refine.

A Day of Fun

Spent a lovely day with Josette and True.  He really is a funny pony.  So different from Jack.  I found I could really connect with him in play.  Got great stick to me, and then we played at liberty.  Got him snorting and really moving his feet with a new game, basically asking him to stop and go.  He loved it.  I also had a lovely ride getting him to canter round the school.  Got a lovely flying lead change in canter as we changed direction.  He is a poppet and a credit to Josette.

We are going to Parelli School

Something happened last week that I really wasn't expecting.  I had a plan in place, and I REALLY like being organised.  My plan was to work really hard this year and progress to the point where I would be ready to take the Fast Track course as a prerequisite to become a Parelli Professional in 2012.  The courses were full this year with a good waiting list, so chances were slim.  I could deal with that, and in the longer term plan shorter term goals.

But last week, I got a phone call from the Parelli office.  I was told that due to cancellation I could have a place on the Fast Track in June.....JUNE!!!  Like 10 weeks away and just round the corner.  So after my initial shock, I put my feet back on the ground,  and said....'Ha, no way will I get time off work and they like need an answer tomorrow, no chance'.  But figured, don't ask don't get and sent an e-mail to my boss with a leave request for a month off.  Guess what....oh yes, I got the time off!

I then had to consider the financial implication, but Ian, my poor suffering husband, said sod the money!  I didn't need to be told twice.  I have accepted the place, I have booked my accommodation for the month, just need to find a lorry to get Jack up there, and we are set!

I then had a lesson with Terri, my instructor, yesterday.  Realised how much work I have to do.  Every bone and muscle in my body ached after a 3 hour training session.  But I am going to work hard.  Go miles out of my comfort zone and do the best I can.  I know that if I am not good enough this year, I can still return next.  But hey, I will try!

MY FIRST BAREBACK RIDE ON JACK!! WHOOP WHOOP!!

MAJOR NEWS!! Well for me anyway!!

On Monday, I rode my mad, bolting, dangerous, spooky, horse in a halter with rope reins bareback properly for the first time. I sat on him once just before christmas, but I was too scared to continue. Today, the sun was shining. I had no saddle. I wanted to do it. IT WAS AMAZING.

Mounting only took 5 jumps with the help of a mounting block. 5 times for a middle aged lady and a 16hh warmblood is good let me tell you!! I think I kicked Jacks bottom a couple of times getting my leg over, and I can only be thankful there was noone watching………it wasn’t pretty!!

Once up though, I tensed a bit, and he looked at me as if to say what’s up? So I took a deep breath and went through my parelli checks. Lateral flexion, brakes working. Back up, have communication………and breathe and breathe. Felt a bit weird. Bareback is soooo different. Used pushing passenger to get myself in a good position.

1……..2………3 and walk on. Well I survived. Not only did I survive, I did the mostAMAZING circles, and figure 8’s. Perfect sideways. Wonderful Follow the rail. He was totally and I mean totally in tune with me. And then it hit me!!!! MY DREAM CAMETRUE!! And I burst into tears. Totally overwhelmed. So much hard work, so much heartache and now we totally trust each other. I feel so proud of us both :0)))))))

FUN IN THE SUN :0)

Had an absolutely lovely day.  Josette came to play with Jack and learn from a different horse.  Started off on the ground online and Jack was very attentive and relaxed from the start.  We played some circling game and yoyo.  Josette loved the way Jack asked questions all the time.

We then worked on maintain gait, maintain direction and look where you are going without being told.  Jack was a poppet.  No problems here so Josette popped him over a small jump.

We then moved on when Jack was ready.  I asked Josette if she would like to ride him, and was met with a huge grin and a 'Yes please'!!!!  I offered to ride him first  so she could see him.  Started as always with my pre-flight checks and lateral flexion to make sure my brakes were working properly.




Brakes were in good order, so we started with follow the rail.  Lovely and relaxed with no tension in the walk.  He was so chilled his nose was on the floor.  I know I want calm, but I would like awake!!

We then did a bit of trot work.  Good follow the rail which I was pleased with.  Jack didn't deviate, just needed minor corrections to keep his nose on the rail and reminders to maintain his direction.  He did however look a bit tense in trot today.  We have been getting some lovely impulsion and engagement from his hind, but I didn't feel any lift today at all.  That is why we have tomorrow..........

It was then Josette's turn to ride. She remembered that I was struggling to get my sideways in the saddle so she tried first while I watched from the ground and then helped me get the correct position to communicate what I wanted.  He was trying so hard to get what I was asking, and then when he got it, he kept offering it over and over.  Such a trooper!  We also tried it with the back up, and we experimented with the tummy crunch idea we had from the recent club DVD, and the result with Jack was instant.  He couldn't back up fast enough bless his little cotton socks!


Here is a very short video of my first sideways in the saddle !!

Have had an absolute brilliant afternoon, and really enjoyed sharing the learning with someone else.
I Love this picture of Josette and Jack having fun.  The smile and the ears say it all really!