Extern: Day 5

Wrapped up the week good, Annabelle only had about 5 gallons of water today. Made me a little nervous so gave her some electrolytes at lunch time and left her 15 gallons until tomorrow morning. She usually has about 10 during the day. She stood so nicely tofay for almost 15 mins! 

She's been a rockstar I feel I need a lot more work then she does! Again today did more footfall stuff today, learning to feel them. One of the exersises I felt I wanted to stop to let Annabelle process. But I decided to push on a little bit, it didn't get worse but it didn't get better so next time I think I will do what my gut tells me. Her weight is looking good still, been feeding her like crazy a lot more grain then she has been used to since moving to Colorado. But it will make up for less graze time. This week has been really about feeling our horses and not using our reins to move them where we want to go and that has been pretty cool. Especially to see Annabelle really relax into something new I am teaching her. Usually she's more bracy and worried when I am teaching something new or different. During one of our warm ups we did some cantering (to all people who haven't seen parellis campus the arenas are not flat they have slight down/up 'hills'). I first trotted down hill and it was good she gained speed a little bit and I just slowed her down and she did right away. Then I cantered the whole arena so I was going up and down hill. She keep the same rhythm really nice calm canter I didn't want to stop! I have also found that in the inside I feel more extroverted and wanting to go do more things with my horse. Where before I was a lot more worried about the learning process in general. This time I feel a lot more confident. In the next week or so in curious to know what my instructors think of my riding position...hmmm haha I do feel it is much better. But it is a big focus for this course especially to help Annabelle feel me better and me feel Annabelle much better. Might do some riding this weekend but no weekend blogs I decided. I'll catch everyone up about the weekend on Monday. 

Summer, our class mascot 

Extern: Day 8

I just realized my day 5 didn't publish, so it is now. 

Today was an awesome day, other then the heat. I don't like heat...especially when the UV is at a 11 (extreme sun). This morning we did a little bit of circle game problem solving. It was really good to see because we don't know what problem out students could be coming to us for. Then we rode and did a follow the rail pattern and feeling the feet. Following the rail was really interesting because I tend to micromanage Annabelle's speed trying to keep her calm being that she's an RBE. But when I allowed her to go her pace even though I was passing other horses a lot she really relaxed into it. And it was good for me to find the confidence to allow her to do that. After lunch we had free time to play and do what we wanted. I was getting a ton of exuberance on my circle game in the morning during my flying changes and I wanted Susan to see it to instruct me on what to do better. I felt like I was offending Annabelle. Later learned that she has been acting more left brained (SO HAPPY). I just need to read it better. Susan had told me it looked really good and not right brained so I really raised my energy after that and just had a huge play drive and she was all over it. Ears locked on going over jumps, when into the tiny trailer. Just had loads of confidence and it was so fun! 

I just love this expression ^

Extern: Day 4

Really cool stuff going on this morning, really focused on footfall and knowing when and where out horses feet were. Also used a technique that helped me get really good leadership and connection on our trail ride and Annabelle was content with me being her leader. I will try to post a video on YouTube of Annabelle being excited to see me. If I can get enough internet service to do it. In the afternoon we practiced our rope skills, I'm decent at getting it around the head, bad at getting it around the back feet of a cow. After the day I went to our ballroom dancing lesson lots if fun, it was light and simple. 

Extern: Day 3: Discovery

After some thought about what I wanted to make this blog post about. And by going through today's pictures for some ideas. I realized I had a really nice wonderful day with Annabelle. I found some itchy spots I had never found before. We had some undemanding time and I was sitting up on the fence and she came over to sleep by me. That meant SO much to me. I'm feel like I'm discovering her more, I am more ready then before to have that intimate relationship with her. It's awesome. I'm really excited to see where we will be at the end of the 3 months. Today we did some one rein riding, just with our 12ft and halter. I did some cantering following the rail. Our downward transitions were good except for one time and I cantered a nice circle until I got the downward transition. It wasn't crazy or anything is was really nice. This afternoon we took it easy, we got to watch an ancupuncture done on 3 horses the results were crazy! Then we helped get everything set up for Pats barbecue. 

Extern: Day 2

This morning we started off watching a demo from Pat. It was cool for me because in a lot of situations I evaluate how I would go about doing things and my ideas were similar to Pats so I guess that means I have savvy! Then we came back and talk about some knots. Annabelle called out to me when I came with more water for her. After lunch we played with our horses online and liberty testing each game and rating it 1-10. Annabelle was so awesome, offering a lot staying pretty calm and centered. Now I just want to be able to see if it's obedience or curiosity. I want to be able to see the difference in her. She gave me tons of try so at the end I let her graze. 

Extern: Day 1

Day 1 went pretty great, Annabelle has been amazing from the start. She is being very centered, connected, brave, and calm. She didn't want her grain which I thought was kind of weird. But the other day she didn't want it either. We started as a group at 11 we went through all of our stories. Generally I like to keep the fact that I've only been riding for 2 years more on the down low because I don't want to be treated any differently. I want the same challenges everyone else is getting and not to be "babied". Our group is very diverse, people from all of the world its awesome. I am very tired though and am thinking about going to bed soon. The only thing we did with our horses today was let them lead us around. To build their confidence in new areas, also a great way to see different horses do different things because of horsenality.

Extern starts tomorrow!

A later night then I wanted to have but that's okay. So happy with how the farrier did Annabelle's feet tonight, wasn't planning on having her done. But she got a massage in too and Annabelle loved her! First new person she hasn't tried to kill that was doing stuff to her lol. She even found a scratchy spot that Annabelle loved. I was really happy with everything. I'm feeling mostly calm about everything, I feel excited more then nervous. I know how hard it's going to be mentally learning everything and being out of my comfort zone a lot. That part scares me a little bit and I hate to admit it. I try to remember 'never ending self-improvement'.

 During a trail ride yesterday Annabelle had a squeeze game on either side of her and she was hesitant so I looked down to see if there were any easier paths. While I was deciding to get off or find a new way she decided to jump over these bushes/trees. It was over 4 feet, from a stand still. I was totally not ready, not balanced and fell off. Everything was fine she stopped and looked at me like 'did I do good mom, and why are you down there?' She had a very cute expression and loved it. So, with that said one of my main goals for this externship is to become a more confident and better rider, and I know everyone says it takes time to develop it, especially jumping 4+ feet from a stand still.... But I'm ready! 

Made it!

Finally made it to Pagosa, 7 hours later! Annabelle was happy to be out of trailer, she was very calm at the new place planning for an easy trail ride tomorrow. I always forget how pretty it is here. My condo and roommate, Lindsey are both awesome! I don't have much to say because I'm exhausted from being up since 4am, I will sleep good tonight! I am both excited and nervous for Monday.

2 days 19 hours

It's hard to believe my externship is finally here. I don't feel 100% ready but I don't know if I ever would. Giving Annabelle a break today because it's supposed to be 94° Since I've been back I see things that I didn't see before, that working with other horses helped me see. The first day doing a walk circle was impossible because she was so RBE but yesterday I was able to pull out my 45. I haven't been riding because of some muscle tightness and soreness from me not being there for 3 weeks. I am excited and I know it will go by so fast so I just want to enjoy it! Won't be using my Facebook much other then to post my blogs. Another post to come Friday morning when I leave! 

The Motions

I have been focusing on my riding position while I have been at Heathers. As most of you know I have only been riding for 2 years. Today we went to a jumping barn because that's I want to see what they had to say about my seat. Heather and I both thought it would be good for us since neither of us have much experience with jumping. It was HORRIBLE!! I had a really hard time with the people. But it was a good experience because it reminded me of my old life how I didn't have enough confidence to speak for myself and I just did what people told me and went through the motions. This felt that way but it was like I counqured it because I wasn't going to jerk on the horses mouth and make my reins as short as she asked me to. I was able to communicated how I was feeling effectively and that felt really good to say no! I won't be going again but I am glad for the experience because it just makes me even more grateful for the journey Annabelle and I are on. 💗