BFO with Feather Lines!

3-24-11 Today's focus was back to ground driving from zone 5 with feather lines. I still can not believe how light and responsive Lordy was! Wow all my hackamore riding with consistency has made all the difference in the world. It is actually quite fun and enjoyable to ground drive.... although I need to get in better physical shape to run through the arena sand and keep up... LOL. For sure I am working on my physical fitness!

Once I got a good tempo going - meaning I was running as fast as I could in my boots ready to cough up a lung after a few loops around the sandbox.... Lordy actually did fantastic. He maintained his gait and turned on the lightest line pressure. I also had a nice attempt at leg yield zig zags where I moved from side to side behind him to encourage the lateral movement. Of course after that I had to swallow my lung...... :)

Well - my BFO was Lordy stalls out when I just shuffle along behind him. I must maintain a good strong forward gait....... Not a BFO - I need to get in better shape!

I guess never ending self improvement rings in my head.... AGAIN!
Savvy On-
Dawn

Hackamore Game of Contact!

3-23-11 Today was warm.... Lordy is so not a summer horse... LOL Plus all his hair right now. Saddled up and headed for the sandbox (arena). Playing in the hackamore. I am amazed with the results..... I have been focused on freestyle riding in the hackamore. Always playing careful attention to lightness and feel. Looking for no opposition reflex to the rein. Appropriate responses to pressure. Today I had a HUGE BFO (blinding flash of the obvious). After a quick freestyle warm up at WTC I moved on to playing the game of contact and more finesse rein feel... WOW was I ever surprised at the lightness and ease of the contact. Numerous times Lordy stretched down and really come through his back. He followed my phases and feel it was so amazing. I came to realize today that all my freestyle riding had so much purpose and it is so paying off with finesse and of course the other day ground driving with feather lines from zone 5. I know one thing... I sure underestimated the power of teaching your horse their responsibilities through freestyle. Being a gal with tradition riding background... thank you Parelli program for teaching me Freestyle. Better late than never! LOL

Gates

3-22-11 Saddled up today and rode on the trails with good friend Kris and her partner. We laughed as we were challenged with quite a few gates.. today was the day for gate malfunction. Between the 2 of us or more like the 4 us we handled things quite well. Indirect and direct rein turns helped to line them up to easily open the gates. Principle to Purpose! Overall it was a good day and a fun trail ride. Rode in hackamore and Lordy was great.

Feather Lines

3-21-11 Focus of the day was 2 rein driving with feather lines. First a quick warm up on 22 foot line in the arena. A few games and then we moved right into driving with the lines. First let me say how nice and light the feather lines are. They ROCK! Then my big BFO was how light and soft Lordy was in the halter to the pressure on the lines..... WOW..... I have to say all my freestyle riding with the hackamore is paying off in more ways than one! I was very impressed and shocked to be honest. Never even thought about how it could impact our driving until I felt the difference! Lordy was so much more responsive, we got great moments at walk and trot. Figure 8's and also some beginnings of walk and trot leg yeilds in motion. He was just so much more sensitive and willing. I just had to lift my rein and off he would move in that direction. Amazing..... I am really psyched at the possibilities! Flying changes here we come! :)

Playday Challenge... Thoughts and Results......

HI Everyone-
Just a moment to reflect back on yesterday's event hosted at Triple Play and Follow Me Farms in Davidson. A huge thank you to the Batchelor Family and the Curry Family for opening their beautiful facilities to a wonderful group of folks! We had a great turnout of horses and humans. The weather was absolutely perfect and both arenas were full of new and creative toys to play with both online and under saddle. The day started with free play with free coaching to those that inquired for help whether it was at a new obstacle or just needing assistance with a task. I was honored to have fellow Parelli Professionals Marie Pruden from Sharon SC and Rich Miller from Sparta NC with me to assist and coach throughout the day.

I feel it is such a unique experience to work side by side other professionals where we are all part of the same "team" making the world a better place for horses and humans. We all share and assist openly. WOW such an experience! Thank you guys!!! You both ROCK!

The afternoon was busy sending horses and human partnerships through 10 creative mounted obstacles. Each obstacle had a few options to chose your level at which to attempt the task. Many folks were surprised with what they could accomplish when putting the relationship first! Speaking of First...... Lisa Rask and Duck came in First followed by Natalie Peterman and Tucker and Third place to Kristen Hamelink and Tango! Congratulations to all that took part in the challenge it was great to see everyone playing with such great partners!

Our next event will be an Expo and Playday combo on April 9!
Also a great opportunity to come and socialize and enhance your carrot stick savvy at the Parelli Patio Party on March 31.
Barn Yoga in May!
All information about events along with pre-registration and forms can be found on my website. Check often as new things are posted regularly!

PLEASE REMEMBER - Due to such an overwhelming response for you all..... we have to limit our events to 20 horse and human partnerships. Therefore you MUST pre-register and pay to secure your spot!!!! Almost half the spots for April 9 are taken.. dont delay contact me and info on website. Auditing is open with no limits! (at the moment LOL)

If you have any questions let me know and thank you all that came out on such a beautiful day to have FUN!
Savvy On-
Dawn

Savvy Spurs

3-20-11 Today was cool. Lordy I am sure enjoyed his day off watching all of his equine friends playing in the Playday Challenge. Michael and Emma came with me to the barn. We saddled up and headed out to the arena. Today was the first day wearing spurs since our dressage days..... I feel like it is time to win the Porcupine Game when needed. So I have committed to wearing my spurs. Lordy was overall light but a few times the Porcupine Game was needed to the message effectively to his feet. I could tell a few times during the session that Lordy remember his dressage days "making" him do things... therefore he got sticky to the maintain gait all on his own. I allowed him to realize the spurs we polite and fair. I do think it will take a bit longer for him to realize my attitude of justice with them. Overall he is so much softer in the hackamore and getting easier and easier to bend and keep bent on a circle off feel and body versus consistent reins..... His canter is a dream to sit so nice and soft and fluid. Best part was in the end my little girl who just turned 3 could not wait to ride Lordy back to the barn. She was so excited to put mommy's helmet on and get on up there. Even said giddy up Lordy lets go! Priceless.......

Freestyle on a Circle

3-18-11 Today was a beautiful and warm morning. Enjoyed some down time brushing him in the warm sun. His winter coat is beginning to shed. I saddled up and headed off to the arena. Today the focus was follow me focus and intention on the circle on the center of the arena around a jump at WTC. Freestyle no reins. We had some brilliant moments where Lordy followed my eyes and upper body. I really needed no leg or reins to keep him bent in the direction we were going on the circle. Getting a few laps of this at the canter is truly amazing considering our past experiences in an arena of being micromanaged. It was so easy.... I was humbled. We are continuing to build our communication without reins. One day we will be bridleless.

Undemanding Time

3-17-11 Today was a quiet day..... spent lots of quality time..... brushing,..... undemanding time is so important to the horse. Lordy enjoyed a flake of hay online as I brushed him and just enjoyed being with him. We then proceeded over to Triple Play to just hang. I played on the barrels.... Standing on the barrels tall playing friendly game and asking him to pick me up through the sidepass over even with me being way above him.... neat to see his perspective.......

Freestyle Responsibility

3-16-11 The sun was shinning today! How wonderful to enjoy the mild temps and sunshine. Lordy was sunbathing when I arrived. Coat all puffed up and warm. Saddled up the savvy way and headed out for the arena. Freestyle patterns...... Playing on hackamore riding still. I feel like we have some holes in our foundation that need fixing so I am taking the time it takes. We started on the rail. Doing better with maintaining gait, direction and watching where he is going. Played with figure 8 around 2 jumps. Nice smooth turns focusing on intention and following a feel. Not playing into any opposition reflex he might give me. Instead I held steady to being polite and positive in the proper position. I could really feel his bend when it was relaxed and true. He was soft in the hackamore and willing most of the time. I am also playing with his responsibilities under saddle to maintain gait. I am not using my leg at all to nag him to keep gait. Instead I am suggesting and allowing and then being ready to correct him when needed. He really wanted to stretch into the contact with combing rein motion. Spring boarding him forward with nice power and reach. We are making small step forward..... Able to get walk transitions from seat only. Halt and back up are coming along as well.

Freestyle Circles

3-15-11 Arrived to the barn to find tree construction still going on next door.... Heavy large equipment, lots of beeping and snapping of branches..... Not to mention it was early.. so Lordy had not had breakfast yet. Now mind you he is out on grass 24/7. You would think he was starving... LBI at his finest. We saddled up and headed out to the field for some freestyle play. Following intention and feel. Giant circles in the field. Once he got over the fact it was not breakfast time we had some wonderful moments. It is clear to feel with freestyle when Lordy will brace against my feel for a bend. I believe he finds bending to the left more difficult therefore he doesnt want to soften his ribs or the left side of his body easily. Being patient and polite gets amazing results. I just play with combing the left rein encouraging him to follow the feel. I dont give him something to brace against and then I find he softens. I am working hard on my own muscle memory to develop new skill and feel. Use my body more and my reins less. (hard for the ex-dressage queen. LOL)

Online beginnings of halfpass towards me!

3-14-11 Today was beautiful....... Farm next door was having some large trees removed and stumps grinder going... so needless to say it was challenging with some loud bangs and buzzing...... I elected to play on the 22 foot line in the field. Lordy always enjoys the field more... I think his years of play more like"work" in the sandbox have left him a tad on the sour side... so whenever possible I try to spice it up and play outside the arena.

Today was the first day of playing with sideways draw toward me at the trot. Very much a half pass move sideways and I use my body to draw him and I move sideways. We started from a circle in which I was traveling with him, then change my angle in relation to his body and start the draw. At the same time I use my carrot stick and string to encourage a follow the feel yield with string over his back in zone 3.

We really had some nice moments.... always careful not to over due things.... otherwise Lordy will start offering it when you dont want it and he ends up in your lap. LOL

I never get upset as he is trying so hard to do what he thinks I want. I love that he is so willing to want to please. It brings such joy to see him try harder because he "wants" to not because I am "making" him.

Spring Shots!

3-11-11 Today was spring shots.... Lordy was super for the vet. He stood like a gentleman in the paddock for his shot and coggins to be drawn. He partnered right up and it was so easy! Afterwards we played lightly online. The arena was a tad soggy and after shots wanted to take it easy. Played with the basics and some liberty as well. Lordy absolutely loves the pedestal. He can put front feet, all 4 and hind feet up. It is like a magnet for him... I really think it is his favorite toy. Although he did play all on his own at liberty with the ball and was trying to pick up and shake the hula hoop. For my LBI this kind of play is wonderful and inspiring to see. He used to NEVER play with anything.... Parelli is really helping him to unlock his mind, get curious and have fun! Whoo Hoooooo

Freestyle Responsibility

3-8-11 Today was a beautiful cool sunny day. Lordy and I saddled up and went off to play in the arena at Freestyle. First follow the rail. Making mental notes of how many corrections needed each lap. Always working to improve Lordy's understanding of his responsibilities. Something I used to never think about pre-Parelli! Lordy did a few great laps needing no corrections. We moved on to play on a circle approx. 20 meters. Looking for him to hunt the circle and maintain responsibilities at all 3 gaits WTC. He did super. His canter felt amazing - lifted for freestyle. I kept my focus and really tried to feel for him, with him and together. Slowly our freestyle is coming along.... After that we set out on a short trail ride around the farms. He was wonderful even when a deer literally jumped across our path approx. 20 feet in front of us.....Lordy was a wonderful partner today!

Neck Rope Play

3-7-11 The arena footing was wonderful today after the rain yesterday! Today Lordy and I got creative online. We played with the 22 foot line as a neck rope. Using the ring I threaded the rope through and around his neck. Mostly it stayed in the middle of his neck. He was super light and we played the 7 games with obstacles. His changes of direction were soft and I found him even more focused on my body language. He felt to follow the feel of the rope better than when in the halter.... How interesting. It was nice to play and have minimal opposition considering it was something so new for him. We have never done it before.... so it was very cool. Lordy is so willing to do things... I thank the Parelli program for that.... I can suggest and get with lightness responses I thought impossible pre-parelli..... LOL

Online Play

Today's focus was being effective on circle game at the canter 22 foot lead. Lordy had some great circles and I played with being very clear if I was asking for a disengagement versus change of direction and flying change. Body language has to be so clear to be understood correctly and effective....
After we moved on to playing with the 22 foot feather lines and some ground driving while following the rail first. Then we moved to serpentines around jumps. Changing directions behind him at both the walk and trot. Connecting the feel through the lines. Challenging at times. As always lots of room for self improvement!