Hi Everybody!! Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Winter is here now. Since about the middle of December, it has been snowing steady here (basically) until these last few days. I haven't done ANYTHING with Brizzee or any of our other horses, besides let them out of their little pens to get water, and feed them. Christmas was busy. It was snowing heavily, and the roads were kinda bad. My mom and I had to pick up my Grandmother and her friend, and then drive to my sister's house, where all our family was for Christmas. Then I went with my dad to my grandparents house. My brother (his picture is on here) was there too. He got me laughing so hard, that I couldn't breathe and my face started turning purple. lol. And then after we got home, my dad and I played Million Dollar Password. So yeah, it was okay. And I started a new book on Dec. 12th. As of right now it is titled; High School Sweetheart. But that will probably change to something else...I don't know.
Today: I was busy all day long. First, I had to feed the horses and our calves, walk my dog, take care of my dog, eat, clean my room, clean the landing upstairs, help my mom clean downstairs, etc. Bob's family came down today, and my mom was running all day long, trying to get the house clean. When I fed the horses this morning, I groomed Brizzee. She looks kinda green. I got the comb through her mane and tail. Luckily, she didn't have very many knots from the snow, wind, rain, etc. And after a few minutes went by, her tail was light again! She lifted it up, and relaxed it, instead of holding it tight!
Then, when Bob's family was here we were talking about horses and I bragged on Brizzee, a lot. I'm just so proud of her and everything she's come through to get to here. Especially when her owner isn't that savvy yet. lol. Brizzee is my first horse. Today, she scared me. I was putting the horses in their own seperate pen to feed them in tonight. I was standing in a corner, and Brizzee and another horse got into a kicking fight. I was right in the middle of it. I thought I was going to get kicked. Then all of them were kicking at each other. I was dodging hooves and everything. Plus, I was wearing my cowboy boots so I was sliding all over on the ice. I was holdign the gate open and they were still kicking at everyone and I yelled at them; "Somebody, anybody get in here!" I screamed it pretty loud. My voice echoed. Everyone stopped and kinda turned to me. Brizzee then went into her little pen, I closed the gate, locked up our Arabian, and then fed everone.
I was pretty shaken up when I was walking back towards the house, and that's when Bob's family pulled in. I had tears in my eyes and was shaking like a log. I kind of ran into the house. I hope they didn't think that was rude of me. I tend to get pretty shaken up with things like that. But then I was fine. Most of the snow here is gone....on the roads and drive ways, that is. There's still plenty of snow in the fields, but it's slowly melting. I just h0pe it stays warm like this, and doesn't snow again for a LONG time.
Well, I hope you all had a Merry Christmas! And HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Savvy On,
~Randa~ & ~Brizzee~
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Putting the RELATIONSHIP FIRST!
Hi guys, sorry I haven't posted for a while. I did play with Brizzee on Sunday...I wasn't going to write about it, and tell you what happened, but I think I will tell you what happened. I am very embarrassed about it, and I can't beleive I let it happen, but I did, and now I feel so ashamed. Like I said, I wasn't even going to tell you guys about it, but I should. Some of you (even though you understand your horse and everything) loose your temper or get frustrated once in a while, right?!? Gosh...I hope I'm not the only one!
Well, first of all, my mom got Simmer-On, and we had to keep moving the horses around. She then got him into the round pen, and started playing with him. Then, we forgot to bring the treats down, so I went clear back up to the green house (tack room) and got out the treats. Then put all the other horses in their little "pens" inside our big pen. THen, after I walked down to the second large corral (play pen) I handed my mom the treats.
In case you are confused, we live on what used to be a Dairy/diary. I always forget how to spell it. lol. Anyways. We have two really big pens. THere is one pen up close by the green house, which we use as the tack room. Then, on the other side of the fence towards the south, there is a second pen. We call that the play pen, because we have all the "toys" down there. Our green round pen is in the play pen. In the first pen, by the green house, it's really rocky. My mom and I built four pens up in the first pen, so that we could feed each horse what they need. So, I just wanted to clear that up.
So anyways, then I came back up, haltered Brizzee,took her down there, and started playing with her. First, we just walked around. Now, the night before I read over the Level 1 assessment AGAIN, and had everything planned out to do; Pick up all four feet, do sideways, circling game, figure eight, etc. So, I started playing those things. Things weren't going too well at first, so ethen I decided to play the Circling Game...cause she is really good with that. Well, she became unconfident, and wouldn't do anything. Then, I kinda got frustrated. After that, EVERYTHING I aksed her to do, she wouldn't. She would refuse...and be very LBI...
Meanless to say, things weren't going to well. i knew that she was confused, and I needed to slow down, and try to figure out what I was doign wrong, but I didn't. I knew I should have, but I didn't. I just got more and more frustrated. I wanted to get Level 1 done, so we could start Level 2. I wanted to, etc, etc. But when things didn't go right, I became frustrated. I knew I should stop, but I didn't. And I became mad at myself because I knew that she didn't understand, and I kenw that we should stop, and do Undemanding Time or soemthing, but I didn't. Well, me arguing with myself didn't help.
I got really, really frustrated. Finally, I unhaltered Brizzee. And after I became frustrated, she became very LBI and STUBBORN. She pushed me against me to get her halter off, and as soon as it was off, instead of staying with me like she usually did, she took off running. I watched her go, and tears came to my eyes. I knew I really screwed up. I don't know why, but it just seems liek I am the only person on earth where I loose my temper and patience so easily. Somebody will just say something to me, and it makes me angry. I've been doing really good with being patient with my horse but Sunday, something just...sparked I guess is the right word.
I think about our session that day, and tears come to my eyes. I feel so bad about what I did, and like I said, I am very embarrassed about it. When I saw Brizzee run away, I just stood there for a few seconds, threw down my halter, and ran behind a barrel. I sat there for a long time thinking, then I grabbed a stick. I think I wrote; "Patience earns Trust, Patient earns Trust, Patience Earns Trust," etc. 100 times. Then I slowly sat back, looked at it, drew in a deep breath, and stood up.
I looked over at Brizzee. She looked at me, then looked away. I sat down where she could see me. She kept glancing over at me, but then quickly looked away. For a few minutes, I was really scared that I blew something with our relationship...which, I wouldn't blame her if she didn't want to come up to me after what I did. I bet 30 minutes went by, and I just sat there. She then slowly licked her lips, turned and came up to me. She lowered her head in my lap, and just kept it there. I apologized to her numerous times. My mom then told me to halter her, because she was going to take Simmer-On outside into the play pen to play with the toys.
I wanted to end it on a good note, so I haltered her, wrapped the rope around the Round Pannel a few times, like it showed Pat doing on the...October dvd I think. I then groomed her. She was really relaxed. I groomed her tail, and again, after jsut a few minutes, she loosened it...a LOT. It was looser then it ever was before! After I groomed her, we then walked around the play pen. I then stopped by an orange tarp that we have. She sniffed it, then walked right over it. We walked all around the play pen, then after my mom turned Simmer-On loose in the round pen, we started to play Stick To Me. It was AWESOME! My mom got lots of pics. I would post them on here, but I can't find the cord that I use to download pics onto the computer from the camera, but when I find it, I'll put the pics on here.
And then, after Brizzee was really confident, and I was calmed down, mom gave me a leg up on her, bareback. Of course, she went to the gate. It was okay though. I stroked her neck, and we just sat there, then she moved around in front of the gate. My mom then told me to go over to a a weed pile down on the other side of the pen, and reward Brizzee for going there, by letting her eat them. I only had the halter and lead rope, but I did. It probably looked like a drunk driver, because for some reason it is really hard on Brizzee to go in a straight line, but I didn't want to try to keep her straight or anything. I just wanted to be someone on her back, that went whereve she went.
She went right into the weeds, but didn't eat them. She then turned towards the gate. We stood by the gate, did a little of trotting by the gate. Which I almost came off once! lol. But I didn't, so it was okay. Then, I ended it there. I dismounted, gave Brizzee a treat, walked her around and gave her a treat.
I feel really bad that I did loose my patience with her, and got so frustrated and aggrevated, but it taught me a lesson. ALWAYS PUT THE RELATIONSHIP FIRST! After Sunday, I watched a lot more of the Level 2 DVD's. Everything makes a lot more sense now. Of course, I always heard Linda talking about putting the relationship first and everything, but on Sunday, I just...I don't know what happened. But never again, will I ever do that. As soon as I start loosing my patience, I'll just sit down, and spend Undemanding time with my horse, or else groom her, and end it on a good note. We have come so far, and I don't want to do anything to ruin the connection we have now. I am really surprised she came up to me on Sunday after what I did.
And once I got frustrated, it just got worse, but that was because I was frustrated, my body was stiff, and Brizzee could feel that, so then she got that same way also. I made a vow (is that how you spell it?) to Brizzee that day that never, ever again, would I ever loose my patience with her again. And if I start to, that's the end of it. Like I said, we'll just either spend Undemanding Time together, or I'll just groom her. Something.
So, there's how Sunday went. Towards the end of the session though, after I calmed down, it went really well! So, always put the relationship first. That's a lesson I learned the hard way. Thanks for reading this. I probably won't post more on here for a while, because the weather this week is supposed to be really nasty, so I may not play that much with the horses. Oh, I was going to play with Storm (my uncle's Arabian) on Sunday also, but it was getting too late for that, so I didn't get to, but that's okay.
Savvy On,
~Randa~ & ~Brizzee~
"PUT THE RELATIONSHIP FIRST!"
Well, first of all, my mom got Simmer-On, and we had to keep moving the horses around. She then got him into the round pen, and started playing with him. Then, we forgot to bring the treats down, so I went clear back up to the green house (tack room) and got out the treats. Then put all the other horses in their little "pens" inside our big pen. THen, after I walked down to the second large corral (play pen) I handed my mom the treats.
In case you are confused, we live on what used to be a Dairy/diary. I always forget how to spell it. lol. Anyways. We have two really big pens. THere is one pen up close by the green house, which we use as the tack room. Then, on the other side of the fence towards the south, there is a second pen. We call that the play pen, because we have all the "toys" down there. Our green round pen is in the play pen. In the first pen, by the green house, it's really rocky. My mom and I built four pens up in the first pen, so that we could feed each horse what they need. So, I just wanted to clear that up.
So anyways, then I came back up, haltered Brizzee,took her down there, and started playing with her. First, we just walked around. Now, the night before I read over the Level 1 assessment AGAIN, and had everything planned out to do; Pick up all four feet, do sideways, circling game, figure eight, etc. So, I started playing those things. Things weren't going too well at first, so ethen I decided to play the Circling Game...cause she is really good with that. Well, she became unconfident, and wouldn't do anything. Then, I kinda got frustrated. After that, EVERYTHING I aksed her to do, she wouldn't. She would refuse...and be very LBI...
Meanless to say, things weren't going to well. i knew that she was confused, and I needed to slow down, and try to figure out what I was doign wrong, but I didn't. I knew I should have, but I didn't. I just got more and more frustrated. I wanted to get Level 1 done, so we could start Level 2. I wanted to, etc, etc. But when things didn't go right, I became frustrated. I knew I should stop, but I didn't. And I became mad at myself because I knew that she didn't understand, and I kenw that we should stop, and do Undemanding Time or soemthing, but I didn't. Well, me arguing with myself didn't help.
I got really, really frustrated. Finally, I unhaltered Brizzee. And after I became frustrated, she became very LBI and STUBBORN. She pushed me against me to get her halter off, and as soon as it was off, instead of staying with me like she usually did, she took off running. I watched her go, and tears came to my eyes. I knew I really screwed up. I don't know why, but it just seems liek I am the only person on earth where I loose my temper and patience so easily. Somebody will just say something to me, and it makes me angry. I've been doing really good with being patient with my horse but Sunday, something just...sparked I guess is the right word.
I think about our session that day, and tears come to my eyes. I feel so bad about what I did, and like I said, I am very embarrassed about it. When I saw Brizzee run away, I just stood there for a few seconds, threw down my halter, and ran behind a barrel. I sat there for a long time thinking, then I grabbed a stick. I think I wrote; "Patience earns Trust, Patient earns Trust, Patience Earns Trust," etc. 100 times. Then I slowly sat back, looked at it, drew in a deep breath, and stood up.
I looked over at Brizzee. She looked at me, then looked away. I sat down where she could see me. She kept glancing over at me, but then quickly looked away. For a few minutes, I was really scared that I blew something with our relationship...which, I wouldn't blame her if she didn't want to come up to me after what I did. I bet 30 minutes went by, and I just sat there. She then slowly licked her lips, turned and came up to me. She lowered her head in my lap, and just kept it there. I apologized to her numerous times. My mom then told me to halter her, because she was going to take Simmer-On outside into the play pen to play with the toys.
I wanted to end it on a good note, so I haltered her, wrapped the rope around the Round Pannel a few times, like it showed Pat doing on the...October dvd I think. I then groomed her. She was really relaxed. I groomed her tail, and again, after jsut a few minutes, she loosened it...a LOT. It was looser then it ever was before! After I groomed her, we then walked around the play pen. I then stopped by an orange tarp that we have. She sniffed it, then walked right over it. We walked all around the play pen, then after my mom turned Simmer-On loose in the round pen, we started to play Stick To Me. It was AWESOME! My mom got lots of pics. I would post them on here, but I can't find the cord that I use to download pics onto the computer from the camera, but when I find it, I'll put the pics on here.
And then, after Brizzee was really confident, and I was calmed down, mom gave me a leg up on her, bareback. Of course, she went to the gate. It was okay though. I stroked her neck, and we just sat there, then she moved around in front of the gate. My mom then told me to go over to a a weed pile down on the other side of the pen, and reward Brizzee for going there, by letting her eat them. I only had the halter and lead rope, but I did. It probably looked like a drunk driver, because for some reason it is really hard on Brizzee to go in a straight line, but I didn't want to try to keep her straight or anything. I just wanted to be someone on her back, that went whereve she went.
She went right into the weeds, but didn't eat them. She then turned towards the gate. We stood by the gate, did a little of trotting by the gate. Which I almost came off once! lol. But I didn't, so it was okay. Then, I ended it there. I dismounted, gave Brizzee a treat, walked her around and gave her a treat.
I feel really bad that I did loose my patience with her, and got so frustrated and aggrevated, but it taught me a lesson. ALWAYS PUT THE RELATIONSHIP FIRST! After Sunday, I watched a lot more of the Level 2 DVD's. Everything makes a lot more sense now. Of course, I always heard Linda talking about putting the relationship first and everything, but on Sunday, I just...I don't know what happened. But never again, will I ever do that. As soon as I start loosing my patience, I'll just sit down, and spend Undemanding time with my horse, or else groom her, and end it on a good note. We have come so far, and I don't want to do anything to ruin the connection we have now. I am really surprised she came up to me on Sunday after what I did.
And once I got frustrated, it just got worse, but that was because I was frustrated, my body was stiff, and Brizzee could feel that, so then she got that same way also. I made a vow (is that how you spell it?) to Brizzee that day that never, ever again, would I ever loose my patience with her again. And if I start to, that's the end of it. Like I said, we'll just either spend Undemanding Time together, or I'll just groom her. Something.
So, there's how Sunday went. Towards the end of the session though, after I calmed down, it went really well! So, always put the relationship first. That's a lesson I learned the hard way. Thanks for reading this. I probably won't post more on here for a while, because the weather this week is supposed to be really nasty, so I may not play that much with the horses. Oh, I was going to play with Storm (my uncle's Arabian) on Sunday also, but it was getting too late for that, so I didn't get to, but that's okay.
Savvy On,
~Randa~ & ~Brizzee~
"PUT THE RELATIONSHIP FIRST!"
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Yesterday - -
Well, guess what??? We didn't get to go to the Team Sorting on Thursday night. Which, there was no one there anyways. We had to babysit my nephew, and then we had to go into town unexpectedly (sorry, spelling error), and then we decided that we would just wait around in town until my sister got off. Well, she got off late, so we didn't get back to the house until 6. That's when we usually leave for the Team Sortings. The horses weren't fed yet, so we didn't get to go. We fed the horses, and then decided to go ahead and go to the arena to watch. We got there, and no one was even there, well, there was a guy exercising his horses, so, we just turned around and came back here. I was a little boomed, but the team sorting pens weren't even set up or anything, so we would've just rode if we had gone, but hey, it would have still been fun and good experience!
So then yesterday (Friday), I went out and played with Brizzee. That was really neat! At first, I went into the corral. Ute and Storm were out with Brizzee. Brizzee was way at the other end of the corral, with them. "Hey Girl," I hollered. She is usually up by the gate, so she is all ready there, and stands there and waits until I get into the corral, then she just kinda, slowly comes up to me, and I halter her. So, I didn't know if she would run up to me, or just look at me, or what she would do. Well, she was looking for soemthing to eat, so her head was down, and after I hollered. Her head came up, her ears pricked forward, and she took three long strides towards me like she was anxious, and then Storm moved, and she stopped like. I sighed, and just stood by the gate. Of course, Storm and Ute were no coming up to me. Brizzee stepped took a few more strides forward, then stopped, and just stared at me, her ears pricked forward. I sighed, and stepped forward. Brizzee still looked at me. Then, someone went by on the road, and Brizzee turned, looking at the vehicle. I hunched down, glared at her rump, and went running up to her. Brizzee turned around and then came plodding up to me. I was happy! She doesn't run up to me and meet me at the gate yet, but it's a lot better then turning her zone 5 to me when she sees me!
So, that started the day off good. Then, I tied her to the horse trailer and groomed her. She didnot move around, in fact, she even lowered her head, and half closed her eyes. She wasn't catatonic! I was grooming her, picked up her feet, and then I started grooming her tail. She turned her head, look at me, sighed, and put her head down again. I'm staring to groom her tail in zone 5, so I'm straight behind her, and can see the back of her hind legs. Her tail was still kinda tight, but it always is. I started grooming her tail, took my time. I bet you I was grooming her tail for at least 30 minutes. Then, after I got threw grooming her tail. I let is slide out of my hands, put the brush in my back pants pocket, reached out, and slowly lifted her tail. It was RELAXED! It felt like I was lifting up a peice of paper, it was so light! I slowly massaged it for a few seconds, then let it down, and then saddled her.
Then we went into the Play pen! As soon as we got in there, I walked her between two large cones, and then between two poles. Over a tarp, that had four cones on each corners, so it was like a squeeze game between the cones and over the tarp. Then, there was this little ball out there. We don't have the Green ball yet, so I bought a small ball. I slowly started bouncing that around. Brizzee became unconfident a little bit. I was bouncing that around a little bit, and she followed me, fairly close. I then turned to her, and bounced it by my leg. She looked at it, but the whites of her eyes weren't showing, and she wasn't stary eyed, she was watching the ball. She then started licking her lips, and put her head donw. Then I felt really bad. The ball bounced wrong, rolled, and hit her two back legs! Man, her ear tipped out to the side, and shied away from it. She didn't buck or anything, but I felt really bad.
So, then we did the figure eight, stick to me, and we trotted over a pole that was laying on two tires. We then went into the round pen, and I took off her halter. She wandered off, put her head to the ground, looking for food. Which I guess/hope that it is a typical LBI. I then hung the halter up on the fence, grabbed the Carrot Stick, and glared at her rump. There wasn't any food in the round pen, so her head was up. She looked behind her, sighed, licked her lips, turned and came up to me! I then played some friendly game, lowered her head, and then jumped up and down by her neck, friendly game. Then, we played the Circling Game. She slowly walked off, her head low, long strides. She was confident and relaxed. After a few laps, I slowly asked for the trot. She did that really good! She didn't go Right Brain like she usually does when I ask her for a higher gate then a walk at Liberty. SHe's been lounged a lot before I got her, so she's been "programmed" to do that.
She trotted really well, relaxed, calm, confident, etc. And, her ear was tipped to me!! We then switched directions, and she did the same that direction. I then asked for a canter... I was wondering if she would become unconfident with that, and if she did, I would have her come into me, and we'd play something else. I don't want to push her, but after how relaxed, calm, and confident she was, I felt that cantering her would be okay. And it was! Her head was low, it was like a "panic" run, it was a calm and confident run! And best of all, when I asked her to come into me, she stopped right then, and came up to me. I was so happy. I then sat down, she stood over me, and wouldn't leave. I'm trying to figure out a way where when I sit down, I can have her go away from me, and then do the circling game. When she's out on her circle, and I sit down, she's fine. But then after she comes into me, I can't her to yo yo away from me. I guess we'll just have to practice with it more online and in the round pen.
So, that went really well. I then put the halter on her, and mounted her. It was okay, except she kept going to the same spot. She goes to the side of the panel that is closest to the other horses pen where they are. Everytime we leave that place at a walk, she turns suddenly, goes back to it, and stands there. I got it where she went around the pen, and then when she felt relaxed, I asked for the trot with my body. She did it, but instantly turned and went back to that spot. The last few times I've ridden her, outside of the Round pen, she always goes to the gate, to be near the other horses, but yesterday was the first time she did it in the round pen. I was a passenger at first, but I kept having to ask her to go, because she just stood in that place. Then, after several times of this, I thought; Okay, you want to be here, then we will just stay in this area". We sat there for it seemed like an enternity. Her back leg was cocked, her head was down. She was just going to stand in that spot all day. So then we went back and forth in straight lines near that area. Then, Brizzee offered to turn away from that area, and I allowed it. Well, we almost reached the other side of the round pen, when she turned suddenly and went back to that spot...ugh!
I then dismounted, unsaddled, and played more on the ground. It's funny, when I play with her on the ground, she doesn't even pay attention to that spot. I then, lead her up to the fence, crawled up on the fence, and laid acros her. She was confident, so then I swung my leg over, and rode her bareback for a little while, still with the halter and one rein. Again, she kept going over to that same place. I just sat on her back, hand on her withers. After standing there for a little while, I brought my life up, asked her to go, she went, turned around, and went back to that spot. I kept my energy up, but she still STOPPED! Then my mom came out, and asked me to trot her. We slowly started walking around the pen, and she kept going to that same spot. I then, asked for a trot, knowing that she would turn and go back to that spot, so I was ready for it. Boy, it was fun for like 2.5 seconds, riding her bareback while she was trotting.
By this time the sun was setting, and it was near feed time, so I dismounted, saddled her back up, lead her out of the play pen. Then I put everything away, and turned her out with the other horses, and then we fed them. I didn't get into an argument with her, because I didn't keep trying to keep her away from that spot, because I didn'tw ant to get into an argument. When we are playing on the ground though, she is fine, and confident. She doesn't even pay attention to the gate or the other horses in the other pen. But as soon as I get on her back, she wants to go to the gate or that certain spot in the round pen. I wonder if she's just not confident with me riding her yet, or if she's just confused because I don't man handle her like her previous owner did. One thing that crossed my mind is on the ground, we are usually doing something will the barrels, poles, or just something fun and obstacle like that, but when I ride her, we don't play with any of that stuff. So I wonder if maybe she's bored, and thinks the horses are more interesting? Any ideas?
I just wish I could figure out what I'm doing wrong, if I am doing something wrong in the saddle, so then I can fix it. Because we have come so far, and our relationship has gotten better, and I don't want to ruin anything by doing somethign wrong in the saddle. She doesn't act up or anything when I ride her, she justs is more interested in the other horses. But she's not interested in the horses when we play on the ground, so what am I doing differently when I'm riding her, from when I'm playing on the ground with her? Any ideas?
It was a pretty good day though! Tomorrow, I'm hoping to play wiht her a little more, and start doing Transitions on line, change of direction, etc! Plus I'm hoping to play with Storm, and lay across Simmer-On, our Mustang. So, hopefully tomorrow will be a horse filled fun day, but it wouldn't surprise me if something comes up and I won't be able to play with the horses at all, but hopefully not. I'll post more when I can. Any ideas, or suggestions in the "comment" section will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Savvy On,
~Randa~ & ~Brizzee~
"Horses don't care how much you know, until they know how much you CARE!" - - Pat Parelli.
So then yesterday (Friday), I went out and played with Brizzee. That was really neat! At first, I went into the corral. Ute and Storm were out with Brizzee. Brizzee was way at the other end of the corral, with them. "Hey Girl," I hollered. She is usually up by the gate, so she is all ready there, and stands there and waits until I get into the corral, then she just kinda, slowly comes up to me, and I halter her. So, I didn't know if she would run up to me, or just look at me, or what she would do. Well, she was looking for soemthing to eat, so her head was down, and after I hollered. Her head came up, her ears pricked forward, and she took three long strides towards me like she was anxious, and then Storm moved, and she stopped like. I sighed, and just stood by the gate. Of course, Storm and Ute were no coming up to me. Brizzee stepped took a few more strides forward, then stopped, and just stared at me, her ears pricked forward. I sighed, and stepped forward. Brizzee still looked at me. Then, someone went by on the road, and Brizzee turned, looking at the vehicle. I hunched down, glared at her rump, and went running up to her. Brizzee turned around and then came plodding up to me. I was happy! She doesn't run up to me and meet me at the gate yet, but it's a lot better then turning her zone 5 to me when she sees me!
So, that started the day off good. Then, I tied her to the horse trailer and groomed her. She didnot move around, in fact, she even lowered her head, and half closed her eyes. She wasn't catatonic! I was grooming her, picked up her feet, and then I started grooming her tail. She turned her head, look at me, sighed, and put her head down again. I'm staring to groom her tail in zone 5, so I'm straight behind her, and can see the back of her hind legs. Her tail was still kinda tight, but it always is. I started grooming her tail, took my time. I bet you I was grooming her tail for at least 30 minutes. Then, after I got threw grooming her tail. I let is slide out of my hands, put the brush in my back pants pocket, reached out, and slowly lifted her tail. It was RELAXED! It felt like I was lifting up a peice of paper, it was so light! I slowly massaged it for a few seconds, then let it down, and then saddled her.
Then we went into the Play pen! As soon as we got in there, I walked her between two large cones, and then between two poles. Over a tarp, that had four cones on each corners, so it was like a squeeze game between the cones and over the tarp. Then, there was this little ball out there. We don't have the Green ball yet, so I bought a small ball. I slowly started bouncing that around. Brizzee became unconfident a little bit. I was bouncing that around a little bit, and she followed me, fairly close. I then turned to her, and bounced it by my leg. She looked at it, but the whites of her eyes weren't showing, and she wasn't stary eyed, she was watching the ball. She then started licking her lips, and put her head donw. Then I felt really bad. The ball bounced wrong, rolled, and hit her two back legs! Man, her ear tipped out to the side, and shied away from it. She didn't buck or anything, but I felt really bad.
So, then we did the figure eight, stick to me, and we trotted over a pole that was laying on two tires. We then went into the round pen, and I took off her halter. She wandered off, put her head to the ground, looking for food. Which I guess/hope that it is a typical LBI. I then hung the halter up on the fence, grabbed the Carrot Stick, and glared at her rump. There wasn't any food in the round pen, so her head was up. She looked behind her, sighed, licked her lips, turned and came up to me! I then played some friendly game, lowered her head, and then jumped up and down by her neck, friendly game. Then, we played the Circling Game. She slowly walked off, her head low, long strides. She was confident and relaxed. After a few laps, I slowly asked for the trot. She did that really good! She didn't go Right Brain like she usually does when I ask her for a higher gate then a walk at Liberty. SHe's been lounged a lot before I got her, so she's been "programmed" to do that.
She trotted really well, relaxed, calm, confident, etc. And, her ear was tipped to me!! We then switched directions, and she did the same that direction. I then asked for a canter... I was wondering if she would become unconfident with that, and if she did, I would have her come into me, and we'd play something else. I don't want to push her, but after how relaxed, calm, and confident she was, I felt that cantering her would be okay. And it was! Her head was low, it was like a "panic" run, it was a calm and confident run! And best of all, when I asked her to come into me, she stopped right then, and came up to me. I was so happy. I then sat down, she stood over me, and wouldn't leave. I'm trying to figure out a way where when I sit down, I can have her go away from me, and then do the circling game. When she's out on her circle, and I sit down, she's fine. But then after she comes into me, I can't her to yo yo away from me. I guess we'll just have to practice with it more online and in the round pen.
So, that went really well. I then put the halter on her, and mounted her. It was okay, except she kept going to the same spot. She goes to the side of the panel that is closest to the other horses pen where they are. Everytime we leave that place at a walk, she turns suddenly, goes back to it, and stands there. I got it where she went around the pen, and then when she felt relaxed, I asked for the trot with my body. She did it, but instantly turned and went back to that spot. The last few times I've ridden her, outside of the Round pen, she always goes to the gate, to be near the other horses, but yesterday was the first time she did it in the round pen. I was a passenger at first, but I kept having to ask her to go, because she just stood in that place. Then, after several times of this, I thought; Okay, you want to be here, then we will just stay in this area". We sat there for it seemed like an enternity. Her back leg was cocked, her head was down. She was just going to stand in that spot all day. So then we went back and forth in straight lines near that area. Then, Brizzee offered to turn away from that area, and I allowed it. Well, we almost reached the other side of the round pen, when she turned suddenly and went back to that spot...ugh!
I then dismounted, unsaddled, and played more on the ground. It's funny, when I play with her on the ground, she doesn't even pay attention to that spot. I then, lead her up to the fence, crawled up on the fence, and laid acros her. She was confident, so then I swung my leg over, and rode her bareback for a little while, still with the halter and one rein. Again, she kept going over to that same place. I just sat on her back, hand on her withers. After standing there for a little while, I brought my life up, asked her to go, she went, turned around, and went back to that spot. I kept my energy up, but she still STOPPED! Then my mom came out, and asked me to trot her. We slowly started walking around the pen, and she kept going to that same spot. I then, asked for a trot, knowing that she would turn and go back to that spot, so I was ready for it. Boy, it was fun for like 2.5 seconds, riding her bareback while she was trotting.
By this time the sun was setting, and it was near feed time, so I dismounted, saddled her back up, lead her out of the play pen. Then I put everything away, and turned her out with the other horses, and then we fed them. I didn't get into an argument with her, because I didn't keep trying to keep her away from that spot, because I didn'tw ant to get into an argument. When we are playing on the ground though, she is fine, and confident. She doesn't even pay attention to the gate or the other horses in the other pen. But as soon as I get on her back, she wants to go to the gate or that certain spot in the round pen. I wonder if she's just not confident with me riding her yet, or if she's just confused because I don't man handle her like her previous owner did. One thing that crossed my mind is on the ground, we are usually doing something will the barrels, poles, or just something fun and obstacle like that, but when I ride her, we don't play with any of that stuff. So I wonder if maybe she's bored, and thinks the horses are more interesting? Any ideas?
I just wish I could figure out what I'm doing wrong, if I am doing something wrong in the saddle, so then I can fix it. Because we have come so far, and our relationship has gotten better, and I don't want to ruin anything by doing somethign wrong in the saddle. She doesn't act up or anything when I ride her, she justs is more interested in the other horses. But she's not interested in the horses when we play on the ground, so what am I doing differently when I'm riding her, from when I'm playing on the ground with her? Any ideas?
It was a pretty good day though! Tomorrow, I'm hoping to play wiht her a little more, and start doing Transitions on line, change of direction, etc! Plus I'm hoping to play with Storm, and lay across Simmer-On, our Mustang. So, hopefully tomorrow will be a horse filled fun day, but it wouldn't surprise me if something comes up and I won't be able to play with the horses at all, but hopefully not. I'll post more when I can. Any ideas, or suggestions in the "comment" section will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Savvy On,
~Randa~ & ~Brizzee~
"Horses don't care how much you know, until they know how much you CARE!" - - Pat Parelli.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Team Sorting Tomorrow!
Hi everybody. Well, tomorrow night (Thursday) is Team Sorting practice. We are probably going to go to it. I'll take Brizzee, my mom will take Ute and Sugar. She'll probably just be ponying Sugar around, since she hasn't ridden her yet. I am excited, and can't wait for tomorrow, but in another way, I'm nervous. I can't wait to ride Brizzee and everything, I just hope that this isn't a too big of a "jump" in our relationship. I came up with this plan in my head, of what we are going to do when we get there. And I am prepared to change this plan, but this is what I am thinking of doing right now:
First, I'll walk her around outside, maybe play some Circling Game#5 to calm her down, and then tie her to the horse trailer, groom, and saddle her. Then we will MOSEY inside. And I'll wiat to go in until she is confident, and is "wanting" to go inside. Then, we will walk around a little (hopefully there won't be a lot of people there), and then start playing the 7 games, until she is calm, confident, and relaxed. We'll then play Stick to me, drive to a target, etc. Then, when she is really, really confident, calm, and relaxed, I'll mount her. At first, we'll just kinda walk and mosey around the arena, until she relaxes. If she doesn't relax at first, I'll dismount, and play the games again!
Then, after I'm riding her and she's calm, confident, and relaxed, we'll stand by the pen, and watch other people sort the cows. I'll pay attnetion to Brizzee, see if she is watching, or if startles her, etc. Then, if she feels good (if there isn't very many people there) we'll go in and walk around with the cattle (Friendly Game). If she feels tense, we'll leave, and depending on if she's still tense after we leave, I'll dismount, and play on the ground again. If she is feeling really good, we'll start to team sort a little, and see what she does.
I'm not going there to Team Sort...well, I would like to...but I am going to put our relationship first. I am not playing for today, I'm playing for TOMORROW! So, I am going to try to build her confidence (well, ours really. lol), and let her know that everything is going to be okay, and the cattle aren't going to eat her. lol. So, we'll see how that goes tomorrow. She might be really good, not tense, or she might be very tense and go Right Brain.
So, I'll just play with her, and see how it goes. I'll post more this weekend, and let you know how it went, if we do go. If NO ONE is there, we will probably just come back home, which I really don't want to do, but my mom is the boss. But I'll let you know how things go! I think that'll she be a little unconfident, and tense at first, but once we start playing the seven games, and get her to "thinking", I think she'll calm down. But I am NOT going to push her. Even if I don't ride her, that's fine. I'm just playing with her, and building our relationship and confidence.
So, I'll post more this weekend, and let you know how it went! I am printing out the Official Level 1, 2, and 3 assessments now. Just in case they take them off becuase of the new partners, I'll still have the papercopy! I'm also printing off the Level 4 tasks. Level 3 is where you start riding bridless!! I can't wait for Level 3! lol. We have to get through Level 2 together first though. It's been a fun journey so far, and it'll be even funner/SAVVIER!
Savvy On,
~Randa~ & ~Brizzee~
First, I'll walk her around outside, maybe play some Circling Game#5 to calm her down, and then tie her to the horse trailer, groom, and saddle her. Then we will MOSEY inside. And I'll wiat to go in until she is confident, and is "wanting" to go inside. Then, we will walk around a little (hopefully there won't be a lot of people there), and then start playing the 7 games, until she is calm, confident, and relaxed. We'll then play Stick to me, drive to a target, etc. Then, when she is really, really confident, calm, and relaxed, I'll mount her. At first, we'll just kinda walk and mosey around the arena, until she relaxes. If she doesn't relax at first, I'll dismount, and play the games again!
Then, after I'm riding her and she's calm, confident, and relaxed, we'll stand by the pen, and watch other people sort the cows. I'll pay attnetion to Brizzee, see if she is watching, or if startles her, etc. Then, if she feels good (if there isn't very many people there) we'll go in and walk around with the cattle (Friendly Game). If she feels tense, we'll leave, and depending on if she's still tense after we leave, I'll dismount, and play on the ground again. If she is feeling really good, we'll start to team sort a little, and see what she does.
I'm not going there to Team Sort...well, I would like to...but I am going to put our relationship first. I am not playing for today, I'm playing for TOMORROW! So, I am going to try to build her confidence (well, ours really. lol), and let her know that everything is going to be okay, and the cattle aren't going to eat her. lol. So, we'll see how that goes tomorrow. She might be really good, not tense, or she might be very tense and go Right Brain.
So, I'll just play with her, and see how it goes. I'll post more this weekend, and let you know how it went, if we do go. If NO ONE is there, we will probably just come back home, which I really don't want to do, but my mom is the boss. But I'll let you know how things go! I think that'll she be a little unconfident, and tense at first, but once we start playing the seven games, and get her to "thinking", I think she'll calm down. But I am NOT going to push her. Even if I don't ride her, that's fine. I'm just playing with her, and building our relationship and confidence.
So, I'll post more this weekend, and let you know how it went! I am printing out the Official Level 1, 2, and 3 assessments now. Just in case they take them off becuase of the new partners, I'll still have the papercopy! I'm also printing off the Level 4 tasks. Level 3 is where you start riding bridless!! I can't wait for Level 3! lol. We have to get through Level 2 together first though. It's been a fun journey so far, and it'll be even funner/SAVVIER!
Savvy On,
~Randa~ & ~Brizzee~
Monday, December 1, 2008
One Rein!!!
OH MY GOSH!! Today was perfect!!!!!! I read (again) the Level 1 Riding Pocket Guides last night. So today, I went out to play/ride Brizzee. I haltered her, and tied her to the horse Trailer. I then groomed her, and saddled her. She's fine with being saddled, from either side. I didn't have her tied tightly. Then, I got a few tarps and laid them out in the driveway. I then untied Brizzee, walked her around. She was kinda Right Brain, and kept going over to the FOOD!! I then started to play the Circling Game. She started to buck, and pull against the rope, so I switched to a 22 foot line. We were playing the Circling Game again, and she kept bucking, and was just feeling good, or as my mom calls it "feeling her oats."
After she calmed down a little bit, we walked over the tarp. She sniffed it, put her hoof on it, and then walked across it. Then, we started playing the Circling Game around it. She wouldn't walk over it, and that's when my mom took over. I didn't ask her too, but that's okay. She does that a lot, chip in to help. So, she got Brizzee to go over the tarp. Then, I took her into "the play pen."
We did the Figure Eight pattern, which wasn't too awfully good, but it's better then it has been, so I was happy. We then walked over the poles, she was confident. We played stick to me Game, and I stood in Zone three, using my Carrot Stick to drive her to certain things. That was pretty fun! Then we worked on Jumping. I squeezed her between me and the barrels, then squeezed her between the barrels, and got the hole smaller and smaller. She ALMOST jumped, and I decided to stop there.
And our friend, (we are playing with his two mares. More info on other blog) pulled up to give Sugar her medicine, as she has a breathing problem. She breathes fine, but it's really fast and...well it's hard to describe. I then decided to take things up a notch, and play with her at Liberty in the round pen. Our friend has this foal that I would LOVE to play with...even though I haven't seen it yet. lol. So, I wanted him to be "wowed". So, I backed Brizzee into the round pen, played a little bit, then took off her halter.
She moved away, and started sniffing things. I started playing the CIrcling Game, and as usual, she turned kinda Right Brain again, and started to go at a fast trot. She usually starts cantering, because she's been lunged in the round pen, but we are getting better with that. After she did a few circuits, I brought her in to me, no trouble at all!! I then sat down, while she was circling. When I went to change direction, she came up to me, and then just stood over me. She did this on Thanksgiving also. So I stood up, and we played the Stick to Me game at Liberty. I ran a little, and she trotted beside me for a few seconds, before slowly back down to a walk. I then worked on picking her feet up, massaging her tail in zone 5, and then worked on Later Flexion.
Then, I put my foot in the stirrup on her RIGHT side, jumped up and down three times, waited, asked permission, then swung my leg over. She stood still!! Usuaully, as soon as I get on her, it's "go!" See, I have this little leg problem, where my feet stick out to the side, and it hurts to keep them straight. So, it's really hard for me to get my feet in the stirrups when no one is around. So at first, we walked around, worked a lot on Lateral Flexion, and then I reached for my stirrups. We walked and trotted with the 12 foot line. It felt really good, and I was so proud of Brizzee! This was our first time with just the halter and lead rope. She bent to a stop, and we started doing the Indirect and Direct rein, all went smoothly. I looped the lead rope around the saddle horn, and just put my hands on my legs, so I didn't use the rein for some of the time!! That was a really good feeling. I was really half tempted to take off the halter, and ride her. lol. But we aren't ready for that yet...least I'm not.
Then, I used the Carrot Stick! That went really well too. Then, we went out of the round pen, and rode in a bigger pen for a while. Brizzee and I argued a little bit, becuase she wanted to go to the gate, where the other horses were, and I kept asking her to go AWAY from the gate. So she kinda tossed her head a little bit, but nothing else. Then we trotted again, and as soon as she went intno a trot, she spun around, and went straight for the gate. Then I switched to the Hackamore, and we still argued for a little while. Then, we followed the rail. She became calm, her stride lengenthed out, and she felt really good. That's when I made the mistake of asking for a trot, she then went right straight for the gate...UGH. I don't know how to get her out of that.
Our friend, of course, left before I went out of the round pen. After I dismounted, my mom talked to me. She was telling him about Parelli, and she told him that we went to the Montana Tour Stop. She told him that she was an Ambassador, and he asked what the difference was between an Ambassador, and an Instructor. She told him, and then she told him that I wanted to specialize in Foals!! She said his eyes lit up, and he said that I needed to come out to his place and play with his colt!! YES!! I don't know when I'll start playing with the foal, but I'm excited. It was born in June, so I think it'll be fun playing with him!! There's is just one problem though...we don't have a foal halter...at all. I would ask if we could buy a Parelli Foal Halter, but my mom said no, because it's not our foal...so I'll probably have to play with him using a web halter, but at least he'll start out on the right foot...for the most part.
I had a good day! And I am so proud of Brizzee. We just need to do some more riding with one rein, and work on our Driving, Squeeze with a Jump, and Sideways Game a little more, and then I'm DONE with Level 1!! I can't wait for that. We are starting to do some Level 2 things. One of these days I hope that my mom will come out and record me playing Level 1 with Brizzee, and then if it is okay, maybe send it into an Instructor!! I'm very excited! Thank you for reading my blog, and I'll be posting some on my other blog too, so be sure and check it out!
Savvy On,
~Randa~ & ~Brizzee~
"Once the halter is off, the only thing left is the truth." - - Pat Parelli
"Love, Langauge, and Leadership!" -- Pat Parelli
After she calmed down a little bit, we walked over the tarp. She sniffed it, put her hoof on it, and then walked across it. Then, we started playing the Circling Game around it. She wouldn't walk over it, and that's when my mom took over. I didn't ask her too, but that's okay. She does that a lot, chip in to help. So, she got Brizzee to go over the tarp. Then, I took her into "the play pen."
We did the Figure Eight pattern, which wasn't too awfully good, but it's better then it has been, so I was happy. We then walked over the poles, she was confident. We played stick to me Game, and I stood in Zone three, using my Carrot Stick to drive her to certain things. That was pretty fun! Then we worked on Jumping. I squeezed her between me and the barrels, then squeezed her between the barrels, and got the hole smaller and smaller. She ALMOST jumped, and I decided to stop there.
And our friend, (we are playing with his two mares. More info on other blog) pulled up to give Sugar her medicine, as she has a breathing problem. She breathes fine, but it's really fast and...well it's hard to describe. I then decided to take things up a notch, and play with her at Liberty in the round pen. Our friend has this foal that I would LOVE to play with...even though I haven't seen it yet. lol. So, I wanted him to be "wowed". So, I backed Brizzee into the round pen, played a little bit, then took off her halter.
She moved away, and started sniffing things. I started playing the CIrcling Game, and as usual, she turned kinda Right Brain again, and started to go at a fast trot. She usually starts cantering, because she's been lunged in the round pen, but we are getting better with that. After she did a few circuits, I brought her in to me, no trouble at all!! I then sat down, while she was circling. When I went to change direction, she came up to me, and then just stood over me. She did this on Thanksgiving also. So I stood up, and we played the Stick to Me game at Liberty. I ran a little, and she trotted beside me for a few seconds, before slowly back down to a walk. I then worked on picking her feet up, massaging her tail in zone 5, and then worked on Later Flexion.
Then, I put my foot in the stirrup on her RIGHT side, jumped up and down three times, waited, asked permission, then swung my leg over. She stood still!! Usuaully, as soon as I get on her, it's "go!" See, I have this little leg problem, where my feet stick out to the side, and it hurts to keep them straight. So, it's really hard for me to get my feet in the stirrups when no one is around. So at first, we walked around, worked a lot on Lateral Flexion, and then I reached for my stirrups. We walked and trotted with the 12 foot line. It felt really good, and I was so proud of Brizzee! This was our first time with just the halter and lead rope. She bent to a stop, and we started doing the Indirect and Direct rein, all went smoothly. I looped the lead rope around the saddle horn, and just put my hands on my legs, so I didn't use the rein for some of the time!! That was a really good feeling. I was really half tempted to take off the halter, and ride her. lol. But we aren't ready for that yet...least I'm not.
Then, I used the Carrot Stick! That went really well too. Then, we went out of the round pen, and rode in a bigger pen for a while. Brizzee and I argued a little bit, becuase she wanted to go to the gate, where the other horses were, and I kept asking her to go AWAY from the gate. So she kinda tossed her head a little bit, but nothing else. Then we trotted again, and as soon as she went intno a trot, she spun around, and went straight for the gate. Then I switched to the Hackamore, and we still argued for a little while. Then, we followed the rail. She became calm, her stride lengenthed out, and she felt really good. That's when I made the mistake of asking for a trot, she then went right straight for the gate...UGH. I don't know how to get her out of that.
Our friend, of course, left before I went out of the round pen. After I dismounted, my mom talked to me. She was telling him about Parelli, and she told him that we went to the Montana Tour Stop. She told him that she was an Ambassador, and he asked what the difference was between an Ambassador, and an Instructor. She told him, and then she told him that I wanted to specialize in Foals!! She said his eyes lit up, and he said that I needed to come out to his place and play with his colt!! YES!! I don't know when I'll start playing with the foal, but I'm excited. It was born in June, so I think it'll be fun playing with him!! There's is just one problem though...we don't have a foal halter...at all. I would ask if we could buy a Parelli Foal Halter, but my mom said no, because it's not our foal...so I'll probably have to play with him using a web halter, but at least he'll start out on the right foot...for the most part.
I had a good day! And I am so proud of Brizzee. We just need to do some more riding with one rein, and work on our Driving, Squeeze with a Jump, and Sideways Game a little more, and then I'm DONE with Level 1!! I can't wait for that. We are starting to do some Level 2 things. One of these days I hope that my mom will come out and record me playing Level 1 with Brizzee, and then if it is okay, maybe send it into an Instructor!! I'm very excited! Thank you for reading my blog, and I'll be posting some on my other blog too, so be sure and check it out!
Savvy On,
~Randa~ & ~Brizzee~
"Once the halter is off, the only thing left is the truth." - - Pat Parelli
"Love, Langauge, and Leadership!" -- Pat Parelli
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