A new Parelli student!

My sister, Chrissy, decided today to start the Parelli program. I'm really excited because I can help her get through things rather quickly and maybe eventually she can help me with my horse business. She is a soft-natured person who's got a ton of try and desire. She couldn't decide if she wanted to partner with Rain or Cowboy, so I chose for her. I chose Cowboy because Cowboy could use the time where Rain has been my sacrificial lamb for long enough - being the lesson horse for me when I need to coach someone. I also want to be able to ride Rain whenever I want to pony others or for trail competition. Where with Cowboy, as Chrissy progresses, I'll step out of the picture and she can be his sole human partner. He's also nearly a hand shorter than Rain, easier for Chrissy to mount.

We started with about a 90 min session learning the 7 games. I tried to not drown her with info, but I know it can feel like drinking from a firehose in the beginning. The learning curve is dramatic the first 6 mos. I'd like to see her truly stay in Level 1 for a couple weeks and move on and progress. I've watched so many linger and go stale and their horses become tortured. I'd like to help Chrissy avoid that if possible.

During Chrissy's coaching time, I had Nina. I've got to get her back in gear and start developing her some more. For now, she can do most things at a L1 level, but I need her doing more at L2-3. Our friendly game needs some time invested so we can progress with the other games. She's such an extrovert and she has some good tricks up her sleeve. She managed to get away from me 3 times before I got my act together enough to stop that behavior. She's learned some very non-partnership responses that we'll have to get through. I'll be getting her back on the trail soon, too.

Then, I haltered up Gem for some session time. I'm so proud of him! We had a nice, progressive ground-working session. His sideways has come along nicely and it's time to get farther away. His responsibility on the circle is better and we're now building his canter circles. He can barely canter a single circle right now. His change of direction looks fantastic going one direction, but we need to build changing to the right. Our transitions online are coming along very nicely, too!

I then mounted and used a loose ring snaffle for some arena time. We followed the rail, practicing walk/trot transitions. He was light, responsive and just generally in synch with me. I swear, I don't think he's ever felt that good. He was just willing and happy to provide a yes answer. We did a few trot/canter transitions and a few circles (me practicing counting the footfall). His down transition is sooo light and easy. I had a big smile on my face most the time.

Now, I want to start taking him off the property and teaching him to trust me away from the herd. I'm excited about the possibilities.

I trimmed his hind feet and made sure his feet were doing fine. I've got to get a few more trimmed this week.

But a simply fantastic lesson with Gemini!

Dressage with Loma

7Had a simply fantastic lesson with Loma! I got Z ready, warmed up and tacked up before Loma arrived so we could get right to it. We set up a circle so that I could work on getting my circles better. We started by just showing Loma how we're doing.

We talked a lot about correcting her on the circle sooner, using my reins to keep her on the circle. We worked on the trot and canter and eventually made it to transitions. She talked a lot about me keeping the outside hip slightly forward while my shoulders stay straight. I should lift and slightly swing my outside hip in to keep my horse's ribs bent and straight on the circle. We also worked on my down and up transitions and keeping them smooth. Here's where I got the golden nugget of the lesson...

Counting the footfalls! I've never, ever done this, but I can see where it could be the missing link to my ability to progress! So, on the circle, the outside fore is count #1. Then, 2,3,4 in the walk gait. For the trot it's a 2 count - outside fore again is the #1 count. The canter, a 1,2,3 count. Loma explained that I should only ask for something new when I know my horse is prepared. This is something that Ray Hunt taught with fervor. However, I've never learned this and it's critical. I was actually pleased as hell to have someone break it down for me. Actually, it took me some time to get the count right and I'll need to practice.

Loma said I have a great natural feel, so I've been able to get by, but to get really good I've got to get more technical. I'll need to know where the feet are to get great flc's. I'm excited to put this new info to use. I got some of the nicest transitions up and down by asking for the change on the #1 count. OHHH!! Asking your horse a question at the right time so he/she can give the right answer! Awesome.

Trailriding with Kendall

Today, Kendall and I took Rain and Cowboy on the trail for a quick ride. It was my first time taking Cowboy on the trail in quite some time. I knew I wanted to take one of the geldings on the trail (Gem or Cowboy) and I decided that I'd take whoever wanted to go. So, Kendall and I walked out to the far pasture to the herd and amazingly, both Cowboy and Gemini came trotting over! Kendall and I laughed and tried to decide who actually made it to me first. I thought Gem was a nose ahead of Cowboy and then he moved Cowboy away, so I thought he was the winner. As I went to put the halter on him, he decided to move Cowboy away with some energy. I decided to take Cowboy at the moment instead. Not sure why, maybe just didn't feel up for Gems energy. Cowboy was happy to be haltered. I also haltered Rain and Kendall and I led them to the barn for tacking up.

Of course, all the other horses wanted to come too! So, it was a wild horse frenzy on the track while Nina and Gem (mainly) monkeyed around behind us or in front of us. Deuce didn't help matters. Oh brother! So many antics and playful horses.

I gave everyone a bit of grain and tacked up Rain and Cowboy. Kendall grabbed a snack while I made sure Cowboy was in a good place mentally and emotionally. We did some groundwork and I pushed him just a tad, making sure he would have appropriate responses to the pressure. He did ok and I felt confident about riding him. We did some figure 8's, some circles (some canter circles, too), cavalettis, and some sideways.

We were ready to go. We mounted up and off we went up the drive to the road that leads to the trailheads. Kendall wanted to trot, so we trotted most of the first 1/2 mile. Cowboy was doing fabulously - softer than normal to the bit, willing to go and whoa, just a nice partner. Rain was also doing very well for Kendall, which was why KK felt confident to move out.

The sky was gray and looking like storms could hit and after my storm experience from the other day, I wasn't up for getting way out there on the trail to potentially get hailed on. So we only went a few miles. It was a nice short ride, but a very good ride! We played leapfrog - something KK and I have never done. She did a great job of taking Rain into a trot-speed gait and back down to the walk. She also kept Rain at the walk nicely when Cowboy and I trotted past. I was pretty proud of her and she was proud of herself.

Nice little ride with my girlie. Hopefully she'll want to ride again soon.