Savvy Friends

Abandoning Ship!

Partial disengagement - I am in love with it

Green Ball Day

Partial disengagement

Walk up the road in the wind

Maraschino rbI - thats capital I

Garbo Mr Garbo

Aamira - Full of Life, Prosperous, Princess

Coco update

Back to my horses

Adding to what we have been working on

Latest Month

Nov. 28th, 2009 at 6:34 PM

http://katiehufton.blogspot.com/2009/11/abandoning-ship.html

This blog is pretty much abandoned. I don't have time or the wish to continue with it, but for those of you who are curious about how our Journey is coming along, feel free to ask. (:

Happy Holidays!

Katie.

Nov. 27th, 2009 at 7:36 AM

scfvicki

http://ourparellijourney.blogspot.com/2009/11/partial-disengagement-i-am-in-love-with.html

Oh this programme just gets better and better. I had great success with this today with Garbo - it worked just like Linda said it would and it was easier than I thought too!!

Went to a very cool grass arena today (and on that note yay that finally I have found an arena I can use anytime I like - no need to book and basically no one else ever uses it in the day. It's surrounded by trees but not on the edges of the arena - around the property boundary fences so the whole place is really sheltered from this annoying wind.

I was supposed to meet Bronwyn at the top of the driveway at 10am. I played with maraschino and loaded the float with my saddle etc, and then at 9.45am went to load Garbo. He must have picked up I was a bit nervous (new place etc), and he decided he wasn't going to load. It shouldn't have mattered but of course I knew Bronwyn was waiting on the road so was in more of a rush.... and he knew it! Then the neighbour teenager came down to the fence-line to go through the gate and into the paddock where he has a smoke I think - in his camo gear and hoodie. I said Hi since he was like right there but then he decides to chat and then after the chat was finalised by moi - he decides to just stand there and stare. He was kind of between bushes so it was a bit annoying - shouldn't matter I know - but it did. Today anyway. I finally asked him to move. "Do you mind NOT standing there?" I said. He goes "oh' and wanders off. Felt a bit bad but heyhoo.

So - Garbo not wanting to put Zone 5 in the float for some reason....at one point he turned on the ramp so I was real quick and backed him in there heehee. I tried to relax - I texted Bronwyn to take the pressure off - that was at 10.03am.

We were on our way by 10.07. Garbo still wasn't 100% but I decided to work on that when I have more time - I know - I can hear you saying "take the time"...but you all know what it's like when someone is waiting for you.

So - we arrived at Jools place and it has a very peaceful feel to it. Garbo had lots of long grass and carrot weed to eat while we were saddling up. I untied him to out the hackamore on and he wandered off after that while I was talking to Bronwyn - leaving Critey and us and going off to visit the other horses no less. I got him back and then he did it again....so I had to pry him away. Garbo seems very relaxed there - as do all the horses actually.

So - we had proper rails - post and rail all the way round and a line of tires on the ground down the middle of this lovely flat spongy arena (weedy kykuia grass).

We started at walk following the rail - I tried the partial disengagement at walk and we did loads of follow the rail both ways with a few corners thrown in for good measure. At trot though he was a bit more emotional - he was a bit tense (head down grabbing reins, looking like he would buck and he did buck twice so I did the partial disengagement - OMG - I AM IN LOVE WITH THAT!!!!!!!! It was really easy and here we were feeling like we were doing fancy dressage around the arena with him facing out 45 degrees. At trot!

It turned him into this amazing lovely calm horse - and any time he got a bit tense again or rushed I just popped him back onto 45 degrees - instant results. I we made a few patterns of follow the rail at trot and he was really getting into the pattern - I was really pleased. In fact he was so calm and going so well I felt confident to ask for canter - and you know what - we cantered round the rail for about half a straight at a time - on both leads and on all sides!!!!!!!!!!!!

But BEST of all - for the first time ever I had a TRULY loose rein. I could sit back and feel relaxed, didn't grip with my legs and I didn't come out of the saddle. Relaxed - hah - it's actually a lovely gait when you relax!

Bronwyn got some of it on video for me....that's her doing the commentary lol.

Well I still have a grin on my face - I had just been saying to Bronwyn that I have not had the chance to really practise my position in canter feeling relaxed - and voila! Now I have this arena to use I know we will advance in leaps and bounds. I am going again on Sunday and then on Wednesday too.

Garbo was pretty hot afterwards so I hosed him down (I have water in my float) and we came home again - loading wasn't fabulous but an improvement (only about 5 asks).... Bronwyn kindly said she wouldn't leave till we had loaded.

Got home and the boys were waiting patiently - I had made up some food to give them as I left but in the rush I didn't - I sneaked it to Maraschino when the other two were back in the paddock. He was happy.

Nov. 26th, 2009 at 8:00 AM

scfvicki

http://ourparellijourney.blogspot.com/2009/11/green-ball-day.html

Jane was talking about having some holes in her Levels self assessment sheets and I have to admit - I have never addressed Garbo not liking the green ball (unless it's still and on the ground) but it can't touch him anywhere - not even the foot, and you definitely can't lift it up, let alone above my head height!!

So today - starting with Maraschino I worked with the ball with both of them. I actually took Garbo for a walk first because while I was playing with Maraschino - Garbo took off at a great pace from his yard where he had been watching, when I put the ball on top of Maraschino!

So I had some treats and this made Maraschino very confident very quickly - first I rolled the ball on the ground around him and then touched his legs with the ball - slowly at first, then kind of bumping the ball into his legs, then rolled it under him. The biggest reaction he had was when Garbo took off!

So funny - scared of the carrot stick but not the green ball (not much anyway).

Then I bounced it while walking forward and asked him to follow....

Then I lifted the ball up and touched his sides, then rolled it up (cue Garbo taking off), - he was soooo good.

Here's the video to prove it!

I played with Maraschino first for a reason - I wanted to take Garbo away for a bit - since we are going out to ride tomorrow.

So - Garbo and I went up the road with no dramas

and we only had one threshold along the way - Garbo spotted the neighbours kid walking up the driveway (a long distance away) with a silver back pack on - the back pack of course nearly bigger the the kid). It only lasted a few seconds and off we went again - today on the 22ft.

He's quite confident walking out ahead of me so I leave him to it when he can and catch up and overtake if he stops.

We went a little bit further today but not round the blind corner.

When we returned Maraschino was calm - just looking out for us and wondering what goodies like carrot weed I had brought back for him. Garbo stood waiting while I closed back up the tape I had to move to get out the gate.

So - then we started with the ball with Garbo - he was not sure at all and when just following the ball being rolled around he had this big worried look - wrinkles above his eyes...

He would move to avoid the ball rolling into his foot (maybe I need a ball on the end of my carrot stick for the 45ft circle lol), and when I picked it up he tried to leave the building.

So - for you lucky ladies who have a horse that doesn't worry about the green ball - check this out...

I persevered playing approach and retreat and tried backing up to him with me holding the ball - that worked but it was not allowed to touch one single hair on his body! Maraschino was watching from the outside of the wash bay.

Then I lifted it up and put it on top of my head. I had read the article in the Savvy Times about the guy that spent ages and ages with the friendly game over the horses head or back - sitting on a fence. Garbo had a complete RB moment and tried to leave but stopped when he felt the rope - good Garbo.

I kept it on my head and Garbo just stared - wide eyed, wondering what on earth was in front of him. It sounded like me - BUT - didn't look like me.

Well guess who just could not contain his curiosity - Maraschino came bowling up and sniffed the ball on my head! I set the camera up and did it again so you could see. The wind blew it over!

Coco was never far away...

Nov. 25th, 2009 at 10:06 AM

scfvicki

http://ourparellijourney.blogspot.com/2009/11/partial-disengagement.html

In the Savvy Mag this month there is an article by Linda about Partial disengagement to make a horse more relaxed and less tense. I am going to try that on Friday when we go out. Seems like a good idea and I have been thinking alot lately about how I can relax Garbo when we are riding with other horses and they get tense. And then he picks up on their emotions.... (emotionally scattered??).... It's something I have not really dealt with yet (just avoided the situations).

Quite often he will get tense and try and toss his head (grab the reins) or go faster (jig jog), I usually pull on one rein (or sometimes both in a moment of auto predator reaction) and he hates it (and normally bucks).

So I am going to try it on Friday as I think his sister will be tense being that it will be a new place for her.

I'll let you know how I go. I'll read the article a few more times first.

Nov. 25th, 2009 at 6:56 AM

scfvicki

http://ourparellijourney.blogspot.com/2009/11/walk-up-road-in-wind.html

This photo was taken the other night after they had finished their dinners - waiting for me to open the gates. Very patiently!

I took Garbo out for a walk today - since we are going out on Friday.

We went further than we had before - I didn't do much - just had the 12ft line and kept him at the end of it - he walked on the grass - I walked on the gravel. I asked him to stop and back up a few times. When we got to the point where we had not been before it has really big tall pines trees - it's still windy here so they creak a bit - he was a bit on edge but a couple of back ups later to some really long grass and he was fine.

On the way back we trotted and walked and backed up - with me in Z3 on the end of the 12ft - which was quite cool - not done that before.

Maraschino had had a poo by the fence while waiting but other than that he was calm - I brought him back some long grass and carrot weed.

Nov. 24th, 2009 at 5:14 AM

scfvicki

http://ourparellijourney.blogspot.com/2009/11/maraschino-rbi-thats-capital-i.html

I played with Maraschino today - oh my goodness - it doesn't take much for him to get that falling asleep look and become still, head down. And I mean HARDLY anything at all. I have a major job on my hands with that one. Luckily he's not a Complete opposite of Garbo - at least they are both introverts so I am in tune with that side of things.

Treats seem to work well with him to keep him from going too inside himself.

We started with touch this on the 22ft, and then figure 8. We didn't even do circle today. We did instead lots of swinging of the carrot stick and a little bit or porcupine and some driving.

He gets this glazed over look in his eyes like he would fall asleep if nothing else happened. Funny.

You know what else is funny - I can put the halter on and walk away and he follows. That's how sensitive he is (no rope attached to the halter). His head down is going well - a little too well - sometimes he uses it as a head in the sand technique. If it ever stops blowing I might get the tarp out again.

Nov. 24th, 2009 at 6:47 AM

scfvicki

http://ourparellijourney.blogspot.com/2009/11/garbo-mr-garbo.html

It was really windy tonight and later than I realised it was so after a quick play on the 45ft with Garbo, and it not going so well - I decided to ride.

I saddled up and took him into the round pen. I got on and things seemed fine but he started doing something he has not tried for quite some time. It's the whole "I cannot POSSIBLY do anything - it's dinner time, limp limp, hop hop, pretend to spook, threaten to buck", every time I ask for an upwards transition.

So instead of follow the rail I said ok we will go backwards over this pole - something we hadn't done in saddle. and he did it - so then we did sideways off the pole and I got off, took him up to the drive way where there was grass, and I got on again, and played seperation training with Maraschino and eat grass with Garbo - with me on board.

OK - not what we planned but hey.

I got off and it was 6.45pm!!! No wonder!!!

Then I attached the 45ft rope to the fence and practised swapping hands with the carrot stick and rope (up until then I was always getting very tangled.) After a while I saw a good improvement. The boys didn't know WHAT I was doing and were looking at me very oddly.

Then I fed them - 7.15!

We are going for a ride at Jools on Friday and maybe Sunday - then next Friday we are going to the beach!!!

Nov. 22nd, 2009 at 9:16 PM

scfmariah

http://mariahpnhelms.blogspot.com/2009/11/aamira-full-of-life-prosperous-princess.html

We have welcomed into our herd, another family member! Aamira, she is an 8 month old silver bay Arabian filly. I was visiting a friend of mine, who is a chicken and cow farmer, and saw that they had this baby. They are not horse people, but this baby had been given to their very young daughter as the breeder did not want her. She was bottle fed, as an orphan as there was something wrong with the mother. She had not been properly socialized, imprinted or halter broken, she has stayed in a field with a much older Arabian gelding that is not touchable. They needed help with her, as they could not do anything with her. So Sunday, November 15, 2009, I trailer loaded her, it took about 1 hour, I was so proud of her! She will be here a while, and I do not think Aamira should stay and live with her previous owner, as they are not used to training horses and have younger children, Aamira, at such a young age and a high strung bloodline, could hurt the children. I will be talking with them, and see if I could find them an older horse that is trained and does not need much maintenance for their children.

She has been here for 7 days, today, and is doing VERY well. She is VERY smart, at the moment she is a Left-Brained Extrovert. As for now, she has had all wonderful first experiences. She now...

- Loads on the trailer

- Clips

- Leads on ground and ponies from saddle

- Ties

- Accepts hooves being touched and worked on

- Plays at liberty, stick 2 me et cetera

- Stands on pedestal

- Accepts pads on back at stop and walk

- Accepts girth simulation on barrel and flank

- Accepts humans on her back, one of my younger smaller students have ridden her whilst I hold her

- Leads by the legs, front and back

- Yo-yo game

- Porcupine game

- Accepts handling all over

- Squeeze game

I plan on going on a trail ride and ponying her this afternoon after I get done with some paper work. I have big dreams for her! She has ended up being the baby I have always wanted, start from scratch, no work done, mold the clay myself. I plan on giving her the foundation levels, and start her under saddle myself between 2-3 years old, which by far seems like it will be a non-event! I will teach with her as I travel, she should be perfect. She should last me a good while too as an equine traveling partner, because she will start at such a young age. Sundance won't be young forever! I am hoping that she will stay small too, I hope she does not exceed 14.2 hh, I love small horses. She has the sweetest little features too, I hope she keeps her silver also, wouldn't it be wonderful to have a silver bay? She is a gift, from God, just what I needed at this time of my journey.

She is so precious, I keep her with me in the arena any time I play or teach, she is my teaching assistant! Everywhere I go she is right behind me, no matter what, breathing on my hand or trying to figure out what I am writing on my papers. She is such a joy, such a gift. She looks for me for protection from the big bad horses, but is slowly accepting them. She is staying with Sundance in a separate pasture, they have gotten along very well. I can't wait for my Healthy Stride farrier to fix her feet too, we've got to have her developing correctly and to the best of her ability. I am going to make sure she has the best start a horse could have on life. I plan on taking pictures of her every week so we can watch her grow!

Here is our future superstar, Aamira! Look for her on the road with me next year...

Posing with Cathy, best friend and student!...

Playing with a hula-hoop, NO problem Mom!...

Tying, like the good little angel she is!...

Stealing mommies food, while I attempt to teach!...

Snuggling with Beth, a new savvy student... (Note, silver in her mane!)

I ordered my New Level 4 from Parelli yesterday, I am pretty much done with Level 4, but it will be VERY nice to have some structure and reaffirming of what I am supposed to do. I am going to take a look at the Level 4 Online assessment sheet and decide if I want to go ahead and send that in, instead of waiting... I know we're ready, I think it's a good time to do this.. Sundance and I are keeping a daily journal of what we are playing with, so we can watch our progress and make sure we are on the right track. Here is today's entry...

November 22, 2009

Sundance

Level 4/5 Online - Halter, 12 ft line, Carrot stick and Savvy String

- Circling game backwards at end of 12 ft line

*He is understanding the long distance backing much more today, I think he has it. He understands is at a 4-6 ft diameters, just needed to understand it at a longer distance.

Level 4/5 Liberty - Carrot stick and Savvy String

- Circling game backwards at 12 ft diameter

- Sideways at 22 ft distance while I sit on barrel

* Did very well! I am very proud!

Level 5 Online - Long lines, halter and carrot stick

- Trotting sideways

- Sideways over obstacles, jumping obstacles

- Canter circle with trot change

- Intro #3 to cantering sideways

* Everything is easy for him, except the cantering sideways. He is honestly trying very hard to physically do this, as it is very challenging! He just needs to learn to stay straight and it will make it easier for him. This task is physically challenging for him, so it will take consistent repetition, but I know for a fact that he can do this. Once he gets it, it will be a no-brainer for him.

Sundance and I are having a blast together, sparkling all the way. He is such a good boy. Life has been SO busy, but VERY rewarding. I love my job and my life, I would not trade it for anything. You know you have found your passion for your life when you can't wait to get out and do it, and it feels like the first time all over again. When you get up at 5 AM, so you can get it done right, and have no problem doing it. I am so blessed to be on this journey, and the best is yet to come.

We have not heard from Parelli about Reina, all we know is that she is doing well and Ryan, a student there, is working with her consistently and successfully. Lauren said she will email us with her current progress, but that was a couple weeks ago, so I am going to call Pat's office again to see if we can get an update of some sorts.

Please pray for our family, my father is working hard, and we all see this future equine facility as a family job and passion, the door has opened up for us to buy the property we told Pat Parelli about. Where we will build the Parelli "Home Away from Home" Center. The economy is bad here in America, and it has affected everyone. Please pray that somehow we can afford this land, we see it all mapped out in front of us, and it looks clearer and clearer every day. We may start acquiring in as little as 6 months, but it takes faith and good friends. I know I have both, so your support would be very appreciated by sending prayers and positive thoughts our way.

It was great catching up with all of you, I apologize for the lack of posting the past couple weeks, but I hope you enjoyed this one.

Yours Naturally,

Mariah Helms

mariahhelms@hotmail.com

Nov. 20th, 2009 at 5:35 AM

scfvicki

http://ourparellijourney.blogspot.com/2009/11/coco-update.html

I wanted to update everyone on the progress I have been making with Coco. Today for the first time I rubbed him all over, all four legs, under his belly, his neck, and head, and he was calm. YAY.

Got it on video too.

I have been practising running with Maraschino where he trots behind (and eventually beside) me. At first he was very scared and just stopped and braced. But he is getting better. It's lots of fun. There is an in-hand all breeds show on at the bottom of our road soon - it would be cool to take him along. I would have to get a babysitter for Garbo as he would not cope being left behind!! And I would need to do some float training with M. Wonder how he would be alone. Just fine I think.

Nov. 16th, 2009 at 8:23 PM

momevans

Well, I got home from Africa on Friday. Saturday I came down with a nasty stomach ailment. It was Wednesday until I could eat any real food.

I went out to visit the boys as soon as I could move. I can't say they were happy to see me but they did remember me, they went right for my treat pocket. They were pretty unhappy that I didn't give them any.

Over the weekend I participated in a Parelli Natural Horsemanship Clinic at our barn. I had a lot of fun and Johnny showed a side I didn't realize was there. He was his usual bratty self (looking for ways to test my patience) but he entertained everyone else who thought he's such a character. I don't disagree, it's why I love him, never a dull moment.

On Sunday we were learning to ride with one rein and a carrot stick (long orange stick used as an extension of your arm). Johnny did his best to ignore me but I won in the end. I felt safe enough on him to try a canter. I started out really well, his canter is really easy to ride. Unfortunately he came up on an obstacle and decided at the last minute to swerve around it. I wasn't able to swerve with him and ended up on the ground. As soon as Johnny felt me come off he put on the brakes and stopped immediately. My pride hurt more than anything. But by the time I got home my ribs hurt, a lot. My usual remedy of Ibuprofen and beer didn't help much. I took a hydocodone and my sleeping meds and went to bed early. Today Ibuprofen is working pretty well. Doc is being a sweetheart and helping me a lot. Things like helping me get up out of a chair or doing things for me so I don't have to get up.

I've been in contact with the rescue organization that I foster bottle fed kittens for. They have their hands full with a lot of kittens. I brought home a litter of 4 that need socializing. They were with their mother longer than most and are pretty scared of people. I plan on spending time with them and convincing them that people are nice to have around.

That should be enough to keep me busy for a while.

Mood: sore

Nov. 16th, 2009 at 8:56 AM

scfvicki

http://ourparellijourney.blogspot.com/2009/11/adding-to-what-we-have-been-working-on.html

Today I played with Garbo again to see if we could keep working on getting things better at further distances, getting him to back up confidently and not assume I was going to send him, and to get him to be confident coming in again.

I had noticed that since I started tagging him and being insistent about backing away from me and not coming in too close - he was getting a bit unconfident when coming in, and so would come in too close and then when I would ask him to back up a little he would turn sideways to me and put me in Zone 3.

So today we started with a really slow back up - really soft phases and really slow phase one. He was riveted. When I asked for a send - big long slow phase one - he sent well to the left, and stayed on the circle - and went over the pole (he loves going over the pole now). I tried some changes of directions by dropping the carrot stick like Linda did - that seemed to work well. Still not as smooth and easy as Linda's but better.

The 22ft line seemed so short today - I kept looking at it thinking it must be the 12ft by mistake - but no.

We did some more slow back ups before each send and when I asked for a send to the right he tried to go left - well he thought about it so I just did a little tug on the rope and kept my arm out and he went right.

When I asked him in and he crowded me I just stayed in Zone 3 and patted him - his breathing slowed down and he seemed less anxious. Like a big Phew.

I keep thinking back to the one and only clinic I have been on - Jackie's Clinic in 2007. I basically had the same problems - too much draw not enough drive, Garbo standing right over me when he came in. Jackie used him as a demo horse and she had him cantering all over the place. But he was a bit anxious about it still - I could tell even then. Fast breathing, worried look. It's such a hard one to get over or through I find. Because deep down I feel bad for making him feel even just a little bit worried or scared (at the hands of myself or others).

I had to play hide your hiney alot today because Garbo insisted on not backing up straight - now Linda says that's a confidence thing...giving you two eyes....or in his case, not. I tried tagging his hind end just softly (more like just twirling the savvy string till it touched him) and just doing it really slowly and standing up quickly when he faced me. That worked quite well. I have to admit trying the other way just made him kick (using the savvy string to tag him), and he has ALWAYS kicked out at whips when people use them - fair enough I suppose. Another thing I have yet to get my head around - using the carrot stick to be a horse bite. To me it still seems like using a whip.

Anyway - bad me - when he kicked I tagged him again out of frustration and he he didn't go "haha - got ya!", he went "oh no" or "oh darn" - not really sure which....

At that point I decided to play a different tack and just slowly porcupine him with the handle of the carrot stick (tapping) on his hind end till he got to move it over, then I stood up.

We played lots of friendly in between with the carrot stick and I think in the end I got a good balance. Still insisting on a back up - even if it was slow (but it must be straight) and giving him ample opportunity to miss the savvy string (phase 2,3,4)... or the rope or whatever.

Each time he came in I just stayed in Zone 3 and gave him a carrot and patted him, he shook his head finally and started breathing more slowly.

Then I took the rope off and we did some wonderful liberty - at 45ft most of the time - and I got some of it on video.... not sure why he was cutting the corner going down hill - thats the side he curves his body towards the centre as you will see - always in that quarter of the round pen.

Then we did some stick to me, and he was really good at that too.

Then we finished and he followed me out, waiting while I opened the two gates. He's so good. And so patient with me. Just hope I am not boring him!

Then I had a wee play with Maraschino - he is getting better with Friendly Game with the Carrot Stick.... and we had some nice non RB trot circles today. He always looks so sleepy - I think that's partly his introversion. He wasn't eating grass in this photo he was snorting at the carrot stick - I was waiting and relaxing on the grass while he processed.

November 2009