Skittles @ Fultonvale - take 2

Another spectacular fall day, so I didn't want it to go to waste. My original plan was to take both Indy and Skittles to Fultonvale and spend several hours working with both. But I ended up only taking Skittles because I couldn't get both in the trailer. I know Indy will load into the front with the divider closed, so I practiced loading Skittles without Indy there, but with the divider closed (less room for her to stand or turn around). She would stand in there with her front feet up, but would never step up with her hind. So then I loaded Indy to see if that would help Skittles. It didn't. So I took Indy out once more, then loaded Skittles a few more times into the whole trailer. Then tied Skittles and went back to Indy. In the end I just took Skittles because, well she needs the most work. And because she exploded while tied to the trailer (while I was working on loading Indy) and pulled herself right out of the halter. It was after that when I decided I should just take one -- and obviously it had to be Skittles... there was no way I was going to put her away after that incident. She needed to work through it.

She actually loaded just fine after I caught her again. And she let me catch her up pretty quickly too. So even though she can be explosive, once she comes down again, she's back to being "good" pretty quickly (looking for a silver lining!).

I invited Tania, but didn't know if she'd be there until I got there. And she was (yay!). I wouldn't have rode Skittles without Tania there. It makes such a difference to my confidence with Tania there. If for no other reason that I know I'm safer with someone around, so I'm less up-tight. So it also helps my horse!

Anyway, while Tania was riding, I worked with Skittles on line -- trying to get her attention and focus on me while playing the 7 games. One thing Tania noticed that I didn't was that when I stand in zone 3 and drive zone 1 away from me, whenever I stopped, Skittles would turn into me (drop her shoulder) and move her hind end away. I didn't notice, but Tania did, and told me not to let her do that because it's a dominance thing (and it's true, whenever she does that, I move away!). The next couple times she did that to me, I whacked her with the carrot stick to push her shoulder away again and it worked! Didn't happen again! AND she was way more respectful, with lots of bobbing her head as she approached, and lots of licking and chewing too. This also really helped me to build my confidence as the leader. The explosion with Skittles earlier made me apprehensive and afraid of her again, so naturally I'm more wary and tend to move out of her way when she moves into me... the opposite of what I should be doing. Having Tania there to point that out helped me immensely!

I had her jump some barrels -- both before and after I saddled her. I think she really enjoys jumping... she approaches the barrels with lots of energy and a positive look on her face... plus she gets lots of "GOOD GIRL" and scratches from me after :-) She really jumps them well too with plenty of room to spare.

Another thing she does really well is move up beside me when I'm sitting on a fence. We worked on this a lot in the round pen last year and she's remembering it really well... she never fails to position herself exactly right when I go sit on the fence. Makes mounting easy!

I took my time saddling her and again, Tania helped me with some suggestions while saddling. She suggested I work on lowering her head before, during and after saddling. Her tendency is always to pop her head up, so this was a great suggestion and it made a huge difference. I made some commotion with the saddle a few times on both sides of her before putting it on her back and every time she popped her head up, I asked her to lower it. By the time I put the saddle on, she was keeping her head pretty low. It was the best saddling session I've had with her yet. THANK YOU TANIA!

I mounted from the fence (since she's so good at that) and just let her walk around. I only used the halter and lead rope today, and practiced flipping the rope from side to side and even turning her without flipping the rope over (eg neck-reining). She did really well. I didn't bother her much at first... just let her drift around and check things out, but once she was settled and relaxed, I did some more with the steering with one rein. She did really well.

So despite the disastrous start, we ended on a pretty good note. I just need to do more with her more consistently (a common theme on this blog!).

Parelli Ride at Blackfoot

Yesterday was the last Parelli ride of the season, held at the Blackfoot. I decided to take IndyAnna rather than Gypsy. I already know Gypsy is good on the trail, plus Indy needs more miles and more experience.

I took lots of time to walk her around and play with her at the staging area before we started off. I arrived an hour before the scheduled departure time. So she was relatively settled once I got her saddled and ready to go. This time there were LOTS more horses around for her to watch and "talk" to, so she never really completely settled down, but enough to feel OK about getting on.

There were about a dozen or so riders in the group, so it was a good test to see how Indy would do in a large group. There were a few faces I recognized, but there were also quite a few new ones I hadn't met yet. To start with we all kind of rode grouped together on the first part of the trail before we got to the fields and so Indy had a group of horses in front of her as well as behind her. I could tell she didn't quite know how to handle that and she was feeling pretty uptight. She started prancing a bit and glancing backwards and side to side to look for an exit. Luckily the riders directly behind me backed off a bit and we got to the gate fairly quickly and were soon in the fields, so she was able to relax a bit and figure out where she was most comfortable in the group.

Several horses took the lead and I held Indy back in the middle group. She wasn't sure she liked that much as she seemed to want to catch up to the lead group, but at the same time kept checking back on the group behind us! So many choices! We stopped a few times while waiting for others to catch up, which Indy also didn't like. She crow-hopped a bit and gave me a couple of her "tantrum bucks" (kind of like a rocking horse) while I was trying to keep her still, so we did some circling and disengaging and she started to settle down. It took her about an hour or so before she was comfortable just walking. I never really felt -- even with her prancing and crow-hopping -- that she would do anything dangerous or unpredictable though. She was never afraid - just impatient. She was always responsive to my cues, she just didn't agree with me all the time! After a couple more stops to wait for others, she began to realize that stopping meant she could graze! And Indy isn't one to pass up on the opportunity for food! Once she settled into the group, and got comfortable with the other horses, she was perfect. I had absolutely no issues with her at all.

We mostly walked, but did some trotting while we were in the fields as well. We stopped at Running Dog picnic area for lunch at 1:30. We were all pretty hungry by then!

The pace on the way back was significantly faster. Mostly trotting. It's amazing to me how the horses all seem to know when they're headed home! We were in the lead group on the way back and Indy continuously seemed to want to take the lead. So I let her try a couple times and she'd get to the front only to back off as soon as she was even with the lead horse. So she wanted to be out front, but really wasn't QUITE ready to be the leader. She was happy to share the lead. I was thrilled with that -- It's pretty good when you consider she's only 3! Just before we got back into the fields, a few of the lead horses picked up a canter and Indy followed. I wasn't planning on cantering exactly, however since the opportunity presented itself, I just let her go to see how well she'd do, and she did great. We only cantered a half-dozen strides or so, but it was nice and even and controlled and balanced. Wow, our first canter! Granted, it was short-lived, but it was perfect! Again, I'm so impressed with this horse!

When we were heading back through the fields, I let her wander off the main trail and explore a bit to satisfy her seemingly unquenchable curiousity. She didn't seem the least bit concerned leaving the main group. She'd check back and see where they were headed, but didn't feel the need to be right close to them. Again, another great sign of her confidence.

We got back to Waskahegan at about 4:30 (5-1/2 hours later). Indy had barely broken a sweat all day, so another clear indication she was in no way stressed during the ride. She got lots of treats and lots of love. A really successful day. And what a pleasure it is to ride with Parelli people! So much good-will, helpfulness and calm patience. I really enjoyed it.

Indy & Gypsy get a "float"

Yesterday Indy and Gypsy got their teeth floated. This was new to me... I've never taken any of my horses to have their teeth floated. I know, my bad. In my defense, it was always my understanding that if a horse wasn't having trouble keeping weight on (which is true of ALL my horses), then not to worry about the teeth. However, I've recently been hearing more and more about the importance of equine dentistry and how -- even if they're eating OK -- it can affect how comfortable they are carrying a bit, or how easily they respond to pressure. So I decided to give it a try. Gypsy -- at 12 years old and never been done -- definitely needed to be looked at. And Skittles had her wolf teeth removed at a year old when she was sedated for a completely different reason, so that left Indy and Jake. Since I'm just starting Indy and hadn't put a bit in her mouth yet, I decided to have her teeth done. I'll definitely get Jake done as well, but need to spread out the expenses, so will get his done next spring.

So I loaded up Indy and Gypsy yesterday morning (first time I've taken two of my horses in the trailer!) and took them to the vet. Initially I was planning on having a well-known licensed equine dentist come to my place and do all 4 horses (as well as my boarders and a few others), but it turns out he needed a barn to work in (which I didn't know, having never done this before), so we ended up cancelling. So instead I made the appointment with my vet.

We got there a bit early so I could give both horses a chance to walk around and settle down (Indy, especially, was pretty wound-up). Gypsy went first since I felt Indy needed more time to settle. She never really did; when I put her in a stall while we worked on Gypsy, she neighed and pawed the whole time. In hindsight we probably should have done her first since she would have been sedated! Anyway, Gypsy - in true form - was great. She walked calmly into the stocks, took the needle like a true Parelli pro and stood quietly through the entire proceedure. Turns out -- despite never having her teeth floated -- her teeth are in excellent shape. The vet only had to grind off a couple sharp points and a "ramp" at the back and she was done. No wolf teeth to be removed.

Indy had wolf teeth, so she got the sedative as well as some novacaine (sp??) freezing around her teeth. Indy did extremely well considering how new this all was to her (trailering with another horse, being brought into a stall, then into the stocks and sedated, and having a grinder vibrating in her mouth!). She pulled back a bit and tossed her head a couple times, but really she accepted everything really well. I was so proud of her! Her wolf teeth were so tiny... it's hard to believe something so small should be a concern. But they're out now, so she's ready to try a bit once she's all healed up.

Indy's teeth -- like Gypsy's -- are in pretty good shape. A bit more of an overbite than Gypsy, but still working OK. Good to know! I guess, if my kids haven't inherited my good teeth, then at least my horses have! :-)

The vet's assistant assured me both horses did extremely well... I guess they've had some serious struggles with some horses and have needed multiple doses of sedative. The whole process was really low-key and calm. I was worried... as I always am with something I've never done before... but it all went really smoothly. I credit Parelli with that. I'm so glad I've learned to "take the time it takes". And my horses are so much better for it.

Christening my neighbour's arena

Sunday I rode Gypsy over to my neighbour's place to help "christen" her new arena. They built it last year, but only just got all the sand in and rocks removed recently, so I helped her break it in. It was fun. She's got barrels and cavalleti's, jump standards, and some solid jumps as well. Lots of stuff to play with.

For the first while, I just let Gypsy explore and relax about all the new stuff in the arena. She snorted and tried to run away from the barrels and jumps in a couple of the corners. We did the "squeeze game" back and forth by each of the corners until she was able to go up and put her nose on them. Once she decided there was nothing to be afraid of, I moved the barrels into the center of the arena and started riding the cloverleaf pattern. I've done some of this at home around my pylons, so she settled into it fairly quickly. She's starting to bend nicely around the corners and is actually starting to move off (turn with) leg pressure better and better. She really is starting to understand that leg pressure doesn't always mean go faster. She still does occasionally, but it's less and less, and I can tell she is really starting to think more now than just react, which I love. The Patterns really do work!

We also did some figure-8's and simple changes. Then we did some trot-poles and jumps as well. At home I've jumped her over the barrels plenty of times, but always at a trot. This time we approached the jumps a couple times at the canter, and WEEEEEE... she LEAPED over them. Wow... lots of air! Plus it's been about 20 years since I've actually "rode a course", so I was feeling pretty loose! She refused a few times coming off her right lead, but eventually made it with patience and persistence. After the first refusal, I went back to just trotting her up to it, then approached again at the canter. It took about 3 attempts, but she made it. Off her left lead, no problems.

She seemed to have fun too. She was nice and soft and was doing lots of blowing and licking and chewing. Plus her ears were forward most of the time. Something different! A good day (although quite chilly!).

Doin' my HAPPY DANCE!

I passed Level 2!!! Yay!!!

I sent in my DVD with the L2 tasks last week and Don phoned yesterday to let me know I passed all the tasks!!!! My husband took the message, so I didn't get a chance to talk with Don about it, but it sounds like I must have done OK. It was WAY quicker than thought it would take. I was expecting maybe a month or so before I'd hear back. So now I just wait until my shiny new blue savvy string and Level 2 certificate comes in the mail from the Parelli Center. I can't tell you how relieved, excited, thrilled, and HAPPY I am!!

Woohoo!! Doin' my happy dance! :-)

Indy's First Trail Ride!

Tania and I met at Blackfoot this morning for Indy's first trail ride. The day was gorgeous - bright and sunny and warm and the fall colors were spectacular!

When we arrived, I just wandered around the parking lot with Indy letting her sniff things and get a good look around. Then after I put her saddle on, I circled her a few times and then played "put your nose on it" around the parking lot, the picnic area and grassy area until she was calm and unconcerned. She's naturally a very curious horse, so it doesn't take much to get her to put her nose on stuff. I also yoyo'd her to the tie rails and up a grassy bank.

Eventually, I felt she was ready to ride and so I got on and walked her around the staging area. There were a few other horses arriving by this time, so Indy was calling out to all of them and had to watch them all. So much to see and smell!

We started down the trail with Jack in the lead (which Tania also wanted to work on -- Jack being the leader -- so this trail ride benefitted both of us!). For about the first 200 m or so, Indy was trying to look at everything at once with lots of weaving and snorting, but mostly in a curious "holy cow there's a lot of new stuff here" way, rather than fearful. In no time she settled into a nice steady walk. She tried to trot off a few times when we got to more open areas, but I checked her back to a walk and she listened.

We stopped to take pictures here and there and Indy managed to wait almost patiently and had no problem with being re-mounted the couple times I had to get off (I was expecting her to walk off like Gypsy always does when she's agitated). She listened to my leg and the reins really well. She also took the lead a few times and managed it like a pro.

A couple other horses passed us on the trail and Indy wanted to follow them and jigged a bit and tossed her head when I held her back, but other than that, she did amazing.

At the end of the ride just before we got off the trail, Jack spooked at a squirrel and wheeled around to go back down the trail. Indy, being right behind him, also had to turn quickly to avoid him, but she didn't get upset or take off down the trail, she just stopped as if she was just trying to get out of his way. I was so impressed!

What a spectacular day! Indy is impressing the socks off me. She did fantastic for her first time on the trail!