Friday, Me and my parents, and my brother, Elijah, went to Tennessee to look at some houses, and visit a church that we Plan on going to if we can move up there. it was a fantastic adventure, I haven't been to TN since I was 10. we Visited some family, and I also got to talk to the Pastor's wife at grace church, she has 5 Horses and wants me to teach her when we move to TN, Crossing into TN felt like home, I wasn't born there, but I know it's where we're meant to be.
Here is our TN trip, I got allot of funny things filmed.
we Got home Sunday night around 1:30 Am, Annabell, (our 6 month old Pup) got Pregnant a few weeks ago by a neighbors dog. we got to the house and she had 5 girl pups that was born that day. she is a fantastic mother, considering her age, she is better then most mom's I've seen. Pretty neat that she had them on Resurrection day huh? here are some photo's of her puppy's
Monday, I went to work to find that my C2 Cradle bridle got here. that night, got home and tried it out and Blaze Loves it! he doesn't want to chew on it, or grind so to speak. he was perfect and very light for the matter, super glad I bought it, here are some photo's
He looks rather dashing, don't you think?...Things have been great, I got some new footage with Blaze today and found the time to make a new video, he was fantastic and is offering all kinds of great things, super proud of my handsom boy! here is the video, enjoy.
well, I better get in bed, it's very late and I should have been in bed a long time ago but had somethings to do now I can finally sleep.
one last thing, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D Naturally Hannah & Blaze
Blaze, has been progressing really nicely these past few days, we both are really starting to communicate with each other, unlike before.
Blaze, now, has a beautiful little western Pleasure trot, and canter, he is just as prepared to 'stop', as he is to 'go' which is fantastic. every time he stops, I ask him to back up, which, has really began to improve his slid stops, tho he still stops on hos for hand, at times.
Tonight, I played with Blaze, first started on the ground with yo-yo in zone 3, and got some great stops so, that was our little "warm up" to get ready under saddle.'
I got on, and started Playing with our stopping, and backing, he didn't comprehend what I was asking at first, but I just took the time it takes til he understood it. I asked him to trot, he did really well with stopping and same with the canter. I Played a little bit with spins and got some really nice half spins, and then played around with some finesse.
We did some things like Haunches-in, Flying lead changes, shoulder-in, walk, trot, canter, etc. I think Blaze in a few weeks will be ready to assess Level 4 finesse, I just want to level out his whoa and Go, before I think about sending it in, also, improve his flying changes.
I trotted Blaze in a straight line and he didn't try to speed up but once, and I asked him to stop when I felt him speed up. played a little more with spins and Blaze offered and nice little spin, and then I got off.
Just to see how it was, I asked him to lay down, took a few attempts but he then laid down, what a smart fellow!
Overall, his progress is really fantastic, better then I thought it would be coming along, I am very very proud of him!
Sunday, for the first time, I got help from a Parelli Professional. Mr. David Lichman, I agreed to do his video-coaching, I sent him a video of Blaze's "Cantering Problem" Basically Blaze just canters to fast, and at the times that he is cantering slow if I put my leg on him to ask him to turn more he just speeds up. Mr. Lichman Called and just gave me 3 things to try, for now.
1 Yo-Yo Game from zone 3. he said walk with Blaze along a fence, and me lift my left hand, stop, and go straight into a back-up, and if Blaze didn't do the same to Tap him on the chest and ask him to back to where you are.
2 Once Blaze has got that, he said do this, Play the same game, just combine it to the to the circling game.
3 (Under saddle) If Blaze sped up when I put my leg on him, (on a circle) turn him sharp though the center of the circle then turn him back on the circle.
I Got blaze really Good on his first exercise even got to where I could do it at the canter and stop and blaze would plant his QH's and back real quick with me.
I can do the second exercise on a circle and Blaze will stop, and back up fast, (we haven't got it at the canter yet, but he is doing really good and then once we get walk, trot, and canter, on the 12 then I'll move up to the 22 foot line, and then 45 foot line.
Now, Today I got those really good, and then I put my hand on Blaze's chest and the other hand on his wither, and Blaze laid down! so awesome. I got on and asked him to get up, and he did. And I started playing with the third exercise, got Blaze pretty good at the walk, Kinda had to remind him that it was the same thing as on the ground.
I Thought "why don't I try the trot...." I asked him to and Guess what? SUPER SUPER slow trot and he was RELAXED!!! and then I asked for the canter and it was VERY slow too!!! I realized HELLO!! David knew that it would make it better under saddle, and that it has been a "Communication" ISSUE not a control "problem" I remember before Pat Parelli saying "He wants his horses to ALWAYS be thinking back up when they stop" he was saying when he stops his horses he wants them to think "back up" I have forgotten all about this, I am Truly Glad I decided to go ahead and do this video coaching. me and Blaze still have a long ways, (work things up to canter slow on a straight line) But I am ready for the process. anyways after I was done I just sitting on him rewarding him and Blaze just laid down!! and I didn't even ask him to! it was so neat. Blaze is starting to offer things, he even offered a little passage! I can't wait to keep progressing!
also, we are visiting TN in 2 weeks, to look at some ranches and visit a church up there, I can't wait!
also I have put up quite a few videos on YouTube since my last post! here they are Enjoy!
This video I made the other day with Blaze, Amour, Joy, and Angel.
That is all for now! if you need any help on your horsemanship Journey I would really suggest contacting David. get this YOU chose how much David's advice is worth, and then you send it to him, if it isn't helpful info you don't have to pay anything! But believe me it will be helpful!
I've been Super busy This week, working, Playing with Horses, studying, etc. I have been saving for a C2 Cradle Bridle and I have $107 saved! that means I have $200 left to go, which, I "should" Have the money either this week, or next week.
Ms. Jennifer Mcinvale wants me to teach at her Parelli Summer camp this year, (in June) I will not be participating But, she wants me to be her assistant Instructor. I am Pretty exited about that, next week I will be going over her house so that we can com up with some lessons For those 5 days at camp, looks like this year will be more focused on finesse, which she wants Me to help allot with that sense I know a pretty good bit about finesse, it is my Favorite savvy. this be a Good way to test my savvy, and not only that, it'll be a Good teaching experience.
I haven't played with Blaze in few days, but I have been doing some 'UDT with him and he has been enjoying that. However, I have been Playing with Ms. Amour, she is a Making Fine Progress! she has learned how to back by the tail, circling pattern under saddle, sideways game, and some respect. The other day I had a very fun 3 Horse liberty session in our 5 acre pasture with Angel, Joy, and Amour, it was one of the best Feelings to have 3 horses running after you and jumping around kicking and having fun, it was neat when I ran up to this Fallen tree and they all jumped it and came with me, it was just so great.
Hopefully tonight I will be able to Play with Blaze and do some liberty or Finesse.
The other day I played with Ms. Amour. Her sideways game has been very sticky. She is a dominant horse, so you can imagine that her porcupine game is kinda hard at times. the sideways game makes where she has to move her FQ's and Her HQ's at the same time, she does not like that at all. I asked her to walk and start moving sideways and she was very confused and I helped her and she started having a tantrum. I asked her to go again and she turned real quick and kicked and hit my right hand, it hurt pretty bad at first but I didn't stop to check on it.
After that, she started doing a real good sideways game to the right, and even started doing it without a fence.
Something around where we were started spooking her and she almost ran other top of me a few times, and all I was hearing in my head was Pat parelli saying "If you are the leader of the herd, the horse will try to avoid running over you." It wasn't said exactly like that, but just for an example. Obviously that means that Amour does not look at me as her Leader, but just another member of the herd. I need to fix this, because it is very Dangerous for any horse to run over you and turn around and kick you.
I have some things I can play with, I know I need to get her respect with the porcupine game better she is real hard to move at times. She has learned allot of LBI Behavior in her 5 years on this earth.
I first Played with Mr. Blaze on-line, I started out just getting our sideways toward me a little more refined, he tends to lag his QH's allot. after I was done with That I taught Blaze how to do Haunches-in From zone 5, with 1 rein. he was really good on one side, But the other wasn't as good. since he can do Haunches in to the left under saddle and can't do it AS WELL to the right, but we're getting their and fixing it on the GROUND first, (Thanks Fran for that Advice.) so I have decided to play with our circling more, Blaze is Pretty good, but I haven't asked him to really circle in a long time, so I will be asking for more laps at the canter with me in Neutral-no nagging. I tend to catch myself clucking allot, I know that must get SO annoying to Blaze. so any how, that is what I am Playing with.
so anyways I asked for the circling game and he tends to pull on me going to the left so I played with that til he stop ed pulling, then I went to 2 reins-zone 5 driving and played with weave with simple lead changes, Hopefully before long we'll be able to get flying lead changes, just need to get those haunches in better and we'll get there quickly. tho I am taking the time it takes, no rushing! I was finally done with that and figured how about I play with our Draw at liberty, and he was really good I was really focusing on my energy and my belly button, I was trying make sure I wasn't driving him away, and he did awesome, and we played some stick to me and he was fantastic! and also did some zone 5 driving at liberty, he was REALLY good.
I then put the bridle on Blaze and got on bareback and did a warm up Walk-Trot-Canter each way-RELAXED! and then started with our finesse session. Blaze was really good with his canter walk transitions so I asked him to do some flying lead changed over this small log and he did FANTASTIC!!!! was so balanced, hopefully, we will be able to do it without the log in a few weeks, I also played with Haunches-In and he did REALLY great to the left I didn't even ask for it and he offered it so I was like NEAT! and we got a few steps to the Right. it was super! then I asked it without the fence to the left and he did great! then I angled my body and had a suspension rein, and supported with my right rein, and got a Fabulous side pass. he was really listening to me we can't so it to the right yet without a fence, but we're playing with it! after all that we had a very nice and relaxing ride around the pasture, did follow the rail and played in the lake some since it was perfect weather out side. and ended it after all that. It was so awesome, I am really learning allot and now saving for Karen Rolf's Book and Walter Zettle's DVDs. I am seeking more Knowledge about Finesse!
well after a Long Great day I think it is time for me to hit the hay ;) Got rain comming in tomorrow...Not looking forward to more rain, Hopefully I will be able to Play with Blaze again Once it drys. anyways Goodbye till next time!
first off I was Going to bring Blaze, Amour, Joy, and Angel, up to the round pen, and since the round pen is on the other side of the lake now, I didn't want to make 4 drips, tho it would be some nice exercise. me being lazy I haltered all 4 and had 4 lead ropes, and on my way I went. of course, Blaze wanted to lag behind and so did Ange, and the 2 good girls- Amour and Joy stayed close to me.
skip onto what we did. started out I Played a little with 4 horse liberty, that was fun! everyone did great. then I Taught Joy to lay down, she did fantastic! what a smart little girl, I can't wait to teach her everything Blaze can do. then teach Blaze to Jump over her (tho I will be VERY careful with that)
Then rode her a little, and then rode Amour Bridle less, and bare back and Angel to. and we played with our freestyle, and they both did pretty good. Angel bucked a little and so did Amour, silly girls. then I got off and started teaching Angel to bow, which, I have to be EXTREMELY careful with Angel, since she is a RBI, she can go catatonic very easily, so I taught her to bow. and almost taught Amour to bow.
after I was done with that I Practiced My level 4 online audition! with Mr. Blaze. he did FANTASTIC!! Tho, Our Flying lead changed were um a little rusty! tho we are working on them, his trailer load was awesome! got him to trot into the trailer from 45 feet away, then we went on long line driving and he did fantastic simple lead changes, and weave and learning haunches in! we'll get there. then I hoped on and went for Freestyle and he was FANTASTIC again! we are almost ready to Film L4 freestyle, just need a little more control at the canter!
everything is going so Great with all of them. I am Having so much fun learning new things, and tomorrow I'm Gonna play with Finesse, and flying lead changes, and possibly shoulder in-Haunches in. and side passes. and play with some patterns with the girls, maybe Online for Joy...Freestyle for Amour and Angel and some online for them both.
So I have been having a BLAST with this snow! unfortranily it is almost all gone but I got some Great videos and pictures today of be Blaze and Hope playing in the snow! I hope everyone enjoy's it!
OK yeah so I've been absolutely terrible lately at keeping This Blog updated! My my apologies to all my Savvy friends!
so As usual The rain has been preventing me from being able to play much and it drives me Crazy! I think we've gotten more rain in 2 months then we did in 2008 and 2009! which is crazy!
OK so The other day I FINALLY got to ride Blaze and for our warm up I ride him bridle less and asked him to walk trot canter in bother directions then some simple lead changes and then we did some spins and some roll backs and all that good stuff.\
so I got off put the bridle on him after making a couple of adjustments to the bridle. got on and we played with a soft feel at the walk trot and canter, Honestly I think Blaze HATES the confidence bit. because he was chewing on it and yanking on it allot! time to save for the cradle ay? any who then I played with haunches-in and he did it perfect to the left! I mean PERFECT!! we're still working on going to the right tho we got a couple of steps! I did a few other things with haunches-in which I really think if I keep at it that haunches-in will help our lead changes well actually I know it will help them! But anyways I hope to film my level 4 Finesse audition soon, once I have the lead changes and the haunches in. and Hopefully I will have a new video of all our progress in a few days here.
well it's sunny out side so I'm going to go play with my wonderful horses!
so Yeah The tittle says it all...I WANT TO PLAY WITH MY HORSE!! I haven't been able to play at all for almost a week! O.o and I have barely got to play with him for a month. first it was rain...then Freezing cold...then snow...then more cold...then rain some more! I would have played Monday Tuesday and Wednesday but yeah Monday went to work. Tuesday had to go to work because we Go skating afterwards. and Wednesday I had youth group and today my dad needed me to work.
so Yeah I am Hopping that things will get back to normal. Not being able to Play drives me Crazy! not to mention that the weather is PERFECT! besides the rain.
Hey savvy Friend of Mine! been a while since I've posted anything! I've been very busy with Horses, skating with family, working out, and Hanging out with my 2 wonderful brothers Aaron and Elijah. and This year has started out Great! Parelli went ahead and officially Passed me as Level 1 and 2 since I already Passed Level 3 and Level 4 liberty. Speaking of Level 4, I should be filming my Online audition in a few days! just Gotta get my dad or brother out there to film, But the wimps say it's to cold ;) he he well It is Pretty cold But I can handle it!
My mom got me this Book Called "the circle of trust" By Walter zettl. and I have been enjoying reading it, it is helping me allot, and I'm learning allot of new things about Horses and the horse business such as Breeding and training etc. I Think everyone should get this book! very helpful indeed.
Besides that I have been playing allot online with Blaze and he is doing very well with everything! we've got simple lead changes from zone 5! hopefully to have flying lead changes before you know it, also got my confidence snaffle bit and Blaze seems to like it allot better and I've Been playing around with finesse! he is doing really good! all we need is about 3 things and I'll be able to audition! hopefully to pass But if Not that's fine with me! hehe.
The other Horses I haven't played much with lately! Trying to get some Goals for each horse and start working on them, I do Think That Hope will take me far in the Parelli program, she is such a talented Horse! and very smart.
Angel has been a little different Lately, like extreme RBI and acting crazy if you ask her to do something new, not sure what;s going on! but we will get though it together.
But Really I have a question.....WHO TURNED ON THE FREEZING COLD!!!!?!?!!?!? OK I may seem like a baby But I miss my 40s/50s in the day and 30s at night! But now 30s in the day and 15 at night!? that is not right! I feel for y'all up north, because i couldn't live any were that was below 0! I mean WOW way to cold! I would like have 5 jackets on and 7 pairs of pants LOL but anyways Just felt like saying that he he.
well anyways I have some Goals I have for 1010! and Btw HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!!!
anyways here is some
2010
1. Pass Level 4 before My 16th birthday
2. Possibly start gieving lessons
3. Buy a farm that has arena/barn pretty much everything we need
4. Go to my first clinic
5. Bring Hope and angel though Level 3 and 4
6. teach blaze piaffe and passage
7. This summer Go down to Mirka's farm with Blaze for the summer and learn as much as possible from her
