7-28-12 The art of shimming a saddle.... Had a great time experimenting with the shimming patterns.... I think I finally got a good pattern. Of course the horse gives us feedback and my feedback today on the trail was great. First as we headed out through the meadow I could feel I was sitting on my balance point and I was comfortable. As we hacked through the woods Lordy was so willing to stretch over his topline and lower his head. On the steep grades going down he did not feel short and choppy... So I gather the saddle, shims and smart pad were doing a good job to disperse the weight evenly and encourage him to round his back up. I was very pleased with it. As for Lordy on the trail he was super..... He led for part of the time and was very confident. Had a great time with 3 other wonderful peeps. Belinda, Devanee, Pat.... FUN...... The weather was beautiful and views were stunning... photos coming....... XO

7-25-12 Wow what a fun PM session with the group of students in Arena Grande. We had a session of "Light Seat Changes" Another great new thing from Linda! We played with poles, small barrels and big barrels. Lordy was super both trotting and cantering everything. He was great with casual rein or concentrated. It was so much fun and it helped build confidence. Everyone in the class had fun at all levels. Did a trail ride at the end... sunset was beautiful..... Stunning...... Ended with a campfire, cookout and sing along! What a great day at the ranch! So many super horses and humans... a true blessing!

7-25-12 Had an early coaching session on the playground. All the students are doing fantastic! Rode in the bareback pad and confidence bridle. Lordy felt amazing bareback. We started out around the 50 foot corrals and then moved out to the meadow. Ended our session with following the rail of the 180 foot honeycomb on the outside. The new Relax rein technique of Linda's is awesome and helps so much!!! Lordy was super at walk, trot and canter. Even had some wonderful moments of stretching and roundness where he felt connected and powerful!

Today I tried a different foam shim pattern to help Lordy gain more suspension. Rode some FreeStyle patterns around the 50 foot round pens. He felt great. I felt as if my balance point was in a better place....... I will be curious to see after a few more rides. Weather is beautiful. Lordy is getting used to all the cows... They roam around which is great for him..... He will be a cow pony in now time! LOL

7-22-12 FLYING CHANGES Today was an amazing day for Lordy and Me!!!! The weather was beautiful and so I decided to ride out bareback. We headed out to the playground to play with follow the outside rail of the 50 foot round pen. Lordy was super. He was relaxed and I felt balanced and centered riding at the walk, trot and canter. After that we decided to mingle on the obstacle area and help a few students. We then headed for the Arena Grande.... Now I have to say it is huge and I love that but the slope in which the arena sits on takes some getting used to. You have to remember.... I am a dressage queen at heart and I am used to having a "level" arena...... LOL Overall Lordy didnt seem to really mind. I think it is more me that minds... Our ride bareback was so much easier than the saddle... I guess without stirrups there is really less ways to brace on the slow downhill grades... ROFL As we picked up the canter on the long straight lines I decided to play with the swinging of his shoulders from left to right and right to left. Nice and slow. Relaxation...... It felt so easy to just weight a foot/sit bone and he would go that way and then back to the other side. I could feel how soft he was in his back there was really no tension and it was comfortable to sit and flow with him. Harmony. At that moment I decided as his shoulders went right to ask for a flying change and he did it effortlessly!! It was so smooth and connected.. I just had to stop and release him in the moment.... I then set out to try it out again from the other side right to left change.... Again swinging the shoulders back and forth a few times and then I asked and again flawless.... and just a few strides later another swing of the shoulders and an amazing flying change.... It literally brought tears to my eyes.... All those years.. I "made" him change.... It was so easy this way... Walter Zettl's Lead Change Ladder really does work...... Lordy was so relaxed and willing it was a HUGE BFO moment for me.... to tie it all together. Am I looking forward to our next ride...... XO

3 Star Course Begins..... July 16. welcomes the Level 3/4 students to campus. The 10 participants in the course will be assisting Tina G in the 2 week course. We will be assistant coaches. This course is about teacher-man-ship and I am looking forward to learning as much as I can. I want to excel my teaching abilities and add more strategies to my toolbox. All the students were wonderful. They all arrived safely. Helped them get their stuff and settle into their pens. It was really wonderful to reconnect with some familiar faces... several people were in last year's Flex Track in FL that I assisted with. It is like a long distance family...... I have to say the family aspect is one of the best parts of "Parelli". Orientation kicked off at 11am. Students were tasked with spending undemanding time and the afternoon was free play time. Excited for what lies ahead........ XO

Sunday Special ~ Lesson with Linda Parelli July 15 - What an honor to have a lesson with Linda! I am so excited.... It was really a dream come true. Riding under her supervision in the Big Top on the Parelli Ranch! WOW... I had to pinch myself multiple times. Our session focused on her new "Relax Rein" concept. Her way to teach is absolutely amazing. I loved the experience and had wonderful results with her suggestions. Her teaching is truly an art form. Lordy was wonderful and he tried so hard considering our long 1800 mile trek. I could tell he was a bit tired but he really tried for me and for that I am honored. I can not wait to play more with the concepts. Plus we just found out we are getting another session with Linda on Wednesday night! WHOOO HOOOOOOO XO

On the Road to Colorado We left for Colorado on July 12 at 1:30am. Michael was making the trek with us to help..... Lordy loaded up like a pro. I was so proud of him in the dark. Poor Rudy was upset once Lordy was loaded up and we were pulling out of the driveway.... That little mini is going to miss Lordy for the next 6 weeks and I am sure Lordy will miss him too. We drove into rain in the mountains of western NC. It stayed in rain for the next 450 miles. We arrived in Jackson TN. Lordy settled into his stall and Micheal and I tried to get some rest in the air conditioning of the trailer. At 1am we were up again ready to hit the road. Lordy loaded up at 1:30am again like a pro I was so proud of him. I was a bit concerned since he did not drink as much water as I would have liked to see him drink. We continued on to Cromwell OK. We arrived around 10:30am. It was hot and dry in OK. 98. Lordy settled into his pen outside but it was in the sun. I was getting concerned since he really didnt want to drink and this layover spot did not have other horses.... only goats... LOL. Michael and I made a decision 3 hours later to load up and hit the road and just continue on..... If Lordy is going to stand in the baking sun it would actually be cooler in the trailer and we could get closer to Pagosa. So at 1pm Lordy walked right on the trailer. He didnt even turn around. I honestly think he wanted to leave the goats and find some horse friends... LOL We hit the road....... I contacted Petra a fellow Parelli Instructor in Pagosa Springs to see if she could accept us a day early and in the middle of the night. Literally. She was WONDERFUL! She welcomed us in at 4am on Sat morning. THANK YOU! Lordy seemed to settle and began to drink. I think being with other horses helped and there is something to be said about the energy of a Parelli friendly environment. I was so relieve to arrive at 4am. Micheal and I were exhausted. It is honestly one of the hardest things we have ever done. My eyes felt literally swollen.... we were up a good 60 hours with maybe 8 hours total sleep...... But I am thankful Lordy arrived safely! Sunday morning arrived and we loaded Lordy up to formally check in at the ranch for the 3 Star Course. So exciting it is such a dream come true to actually be an instructor studying on campus in Colorado with my horse.... WOW...... 1800 miles...... XO

Wow it has been quite some time..... time goes so fast and so much has happened..... I am inspired to return to my blog and make every effort to contribute regularly.... Stay tuned as I have so much to share on my journey to Colorado.....