It has been a long time since I have needed to write a personal blog due to my daily updates on Parelli Connect and my contributions to Parelli Central. However, it has been a while since I visited my personal space about my aspirations.....
The last few months have been quite a trial. Juggling family, work and of course my needs to achieve a dream of a career with horses. Not to mention to keep striving for improvement in my partnership with Jack, who has no room for inept humans that can't keep up with his endless energy.
After Fast Track last year, it opened a can of worms inside me that I had never addressed. I am very rightly a right brained extrovert just like the lovely
Jack, but I have never truly tried to understand myself let alone my wealth of emotions. When I started to look at my life and how certain things got in my way due to the barriers I placed myself things started to fall down. I stopped coping and I just about held it together in the 'real world'. When the doors closed I fell apart and through persuasion I sought professional help.
I have to admit I never thought psychotherapy would be for 'normal' people. I never knew how cleansing it would be to talk about my childhood, my alcoholic mother, the years of abuse from my step father, how I felt when my mum committed suicide, to name but a few of my trials ...... How it made me realise I didn't always have to be strong, how I didn't have to people please all the time, to have friends and be liked. It helped me find an inner strength and to push forward to grab what I want, be a little bit selfish every now and then, and of course aim high for my goal and be happy to chase my dream.
I am now at a threshold. I told Ian my husband that this is what I wanted and he was either with me, or I would stride out on my own. To have the confidence to say this, was an eye opener for me. It isn't that I don't place value on my marriage, but I needed to know he was behind me all the way. Of course he was, why did I ever doubt it?
So already this year I have signed up and committed a large sum of money, or rather credit, to become an instructor. I also invested in a horse box. One of the few items that I didn't own, but I needed to get over the obstacle of Jack loading, or rather not loading. In a short time we are making good progress. I also need to get my level three. So I have started to progress my riding with True and Josette so that I can have the nerve to jump again. That freestyle audition will happen! Liberty is where Jack and I shine so that is no problem. I am in the midst of my online audition but we both have a bit of stage fright, but we have a few weeks to get there.
In the words of my husband....'I am so glad you have had Jack, he makes you so happy'.......how lucky am I to have found such a special partner....or should I say partners? Sometimes you need to dust off the old to get on with the new....
Monday, 5 March 2012
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
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.
Monday, 11 July 2011
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)
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!
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)
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
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
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
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