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....!!
No comments:
Post a Comment