Beach Bums

We have had several sunny days in a row so i decided to go play on the beach. This is a continuation of the driveway game except now its on the beach. It also give me the opportunity to check out several things.

1. What does my horse look like when he is bored/curious/emotional/afraid.

2. As the drive to the beach is a short one, i can check out float fitness, what
knot to know.

We had the whole beach to ourselves and Buzz was very calm and enjoyed the walk along the beach. Patterns are wonderful because its gives me a plan, i can fig.8 around rocks, pools, shells, there is a little fence we can jump over and a concrete pad to stand on. I have to add he put his little hoofs on first ask and it was about 3 foot high.

We had two RB issues. On was a beautiful big black horse in a paddock beside the beach. Buzz did this floaty trot, head up, tail up. It lasted for only maybe a minute and looked beautiful. I did not read it that he was afraid more he was displaying his dominance over this beautiful black horse. The second was a large rock which to him looked like a "horse eating rock" and he was afraid.

Both reactions were RB reactions. With the 2nd we just played with approach and retreat. With the big black horse, i did nothing, i just stepped back and watch the beautiful display, fortunately he came back very quickly and we continued our walk. I was glad we were on line. But it made me think "what would i do if i was on board". Listen to the little voice that says "get off" and how important not to get tight he will not stay RB for very long. It was interesting how quickly Buzz went back to his LB self.

Covers on the Boys tonight. Brrr its cold.

No rain and lots of wind = dryish paddocks

Yea no rain today.

Day 5 of the driveway game. Leading from the mane, forward to go, swinging back to halt plus my energy and rope for safety net. I need to remember hands close slowly and open fast, and remember my phases. Put the dates on the fences posts and of course Buzz had to check out each fence post in case it had a date.

As the paddock is fairly dry went and played OL with poles and fig.8 anything we can find. Some of the poles are quite big and Buzz really enjoys jumping over them also because he gets g&t.

Decided my nice new Parelli saddle was not in danger of getting wet would have a ride.
Played with the poles and fig.8 anything. Rode around the paddock and up the driveway. Buzz really enjoyed riding up the driveway checking each post for a date.
Sadly he had eaten then all but i had a couple in my pocket.

He seemed to enjoy it we only had one tiny drama when the BGB rolled down to the fence and then the wind was blowing it from side to side. Just head up ears pricked so played a lot of approach and retreat. Also discovered he does not like his ears touched while i am on him. So will have to add that in to the program.

Driveway Date

Day 4 playing down the driveway. Thanks to Vicki for the idea i put dates (thanks Jane for that one) down the driveway. So we played point to point, Buzz thought this was a great idea and had to check out every post in case it had a treat. He managed to knock one date off the post three of four times, he is such a doofus he knows its there but keeps knocking it off but has not made the connection that its on the ground.

As he was in a learning frame we played with leading by the mane and trying to use phases which is still very clumsy.

Went into the paddock for a little g&t, not a gin and tonic, grass and time. Put out three poles and did some traveling circles and by the way watch out for those poles. I got a little particular that i would like him to jump all three which he did and then we went up to the barn for tea, massage and UDT.

Driving Game

Day 3 of the Driveway game.

Only spent a short time on this game today as i was becoming frustrated with Buzz's focus which is still on leaves, poo and going into the paddock for a snack. Somedays playing with a LBI is like pushing a wheelbarrow full of concrete uphill. I hope this is hump day and tomorrow will see a change. Thanks Jane for the advice re putting my hand on the little dip in front of the withers although i don't think that it is a confidence issue its boring, which is why we only spent a short time on this.

Mounted up with the bareback pad and rode up and down the driveway great to see how many things you can fig.8 around.

When i win lottery i will have the entire driveway put into ashphelt its very hard on a barefoot horse all those pointy stones.

A Groom with a view

Day 2 of the driveway game. I have changed the name of the game. We are still going up and down the driveway with a rest at the gate end and a nibble of grass at the other end. The game is now leading by the mane which is one of the Liberty games. Its quite interesting because there are many things going on. Interesting how Buzz takes over when he wants to eat leaves, walk on a certain side, smell horse poo even though its his own, or stop at a threshold. He takes over leadership about 60% of the time. I think i might need to be clearer on what we are actually doing and hopefully it will be clearer each day that we play with this. I also need to be careful with my phases when holding the mane, hands that close slowly and open quickly.

Read on the Parelli Tips forum about people getting hooked up on the horn of the saddle when dismounting. I am so glad that i have sorted out my dismounting problems. Basically because i was riding in the Balance saddle i was unable to dismount by standing up in the stirrup before getting off, the saddle would slip. Because i could not stand up in the stirrup i was getting off like a sack of potatoes. With the western saddle i would rate our dismount a 10/10 Buzz waits patiently while i dismount. This is really great as i was getting very worried about him making such a fuss. I did hear what my horse was saying but struggled with the answer.

Not surprising really that because i can now dismount i feel much safer riding. Now have to build my horses confidence in me as a leader in the saddle.

Sunny Sunday

I had an interesting conversation with Ian yesterday and he said a good way to build a relationship with your horse is to walk alongside him with your hand on his withers. In other words play the mirror me game.
So to get out of the mud we played the #2 game up and down the driveway. Its quite a long driveway and at each end we stopped until he realized what game we were playing, it was also a very long point to point. There was lot of licking and chewing at both ends. I am going to make a program for the next 7 days to do this. Too cold to sleep out and need to change from UDT. Grade 1/10.

As it looked like it was going to rain decided to have a quick ride. Rode with one rein and lots of fig.8s. Challenge to walk between poles on a straight line not easy with one rein. Lots of backup and sideways.

Darn it started to rain. Don't want to get my nice new Parelli saddle wet.

Cold and Wet

It was too cold and wet to ride. Just a quick play with a couple of patterns for no longer than 10 mins.

Brought the book Animals in Translation by Temple Grandin.

It's Riding Time

Another great horse day. Today i decided to ride as Buzz was over his spookiness. I am not sure what fixed it as a tried several things including limiting the amount of fresh autumn grass and a touch of Savvy on my part.

He use to be good at standing still while i get on, but as i am putting the relationship first i had a wait a little while for him to stop being unsure about which side i was to get on. So i made sure we did a lot of nothing once i was on board. I get on the side he says is most comfortable for him.

We spent at least 3 or 4 songs by Keith Urban just riding the rail. He was taking over so i worked on my lift the rein, ask, quick release, i do tend to hang onto the rein for too long. "The more you use your reins, the less he uses his brain". Funny how those little Parellisms come into your brain. We did some nice sideways, they seem better when i lift my supporting rein which stops him from creeping forward. His backups have always been good so i am progressing to just thinking and asking with my legs.

Brought some dates today (suggestion from Jane) and used them as a reward. Although i think the boys prefer my homemade horse cookies.

2 grated carrots, two grated apples, cup of molasses, cup of flour, 1/4cup of oil. Mix together and bake in the oven. Not sure how long but until cooked. I cut them into very small squares and store in the fridge. Warning be sure to tell your husband that they are horse cookies.

Great ride hope its nice tomorrow as will ride again.