Extern: Day 30

Had a FANTASTIC day! Went out in a field and did follow the rail I really focused on my posting and got some good feedback on how to make it better. Annabelle matched me and it was a really good calm follow the rail! Then we did some exersises to help us get the correct canter lead by using just out body and weight the right way. Annabelle did fantastic! I had one of the best canters on her. It was so calm and she was really using her butt. She stayed calm and connected with me the whole time. It was very hot this afternoon so we watched a video of Linda Parelli talking a little more about huminality. I have always been told I'm a LBI, have LBI tendencies but never felt confident especially in myself so I couldn't understand that. After hearing Linda explain everything in depth I see the RBI in me and also RBE. RBE most recently and it's funny because RBE feels very comfortable. I am mostly RBE with my best friend. RBEs element was fire, and I feel a fire in me when it comes to inspiring people and helping people and changing their lives I get so excited about it. Which is main reason for making my videos. If I can do it, so can you! I want to help others believe in themselves. 

Extern: Day 29

It will be harder to post blogs as our internet is still not working but I will do my best. Really good weekend, had some awesome liberty in the big arena and played some with my halter around Annabelle in the playground and she put in a ton of effort to stay with me. This morning we sat in for an orientation for the course Western Performance. Pat showed a horse cutting the flag at liberty and finding relief in the flag. He was really inspiring about having ambition and going further after level 4. And to empower our horses. I'll leave you on that note. 

Extern: Day 25

Due to our internet at the house not working I will have to post my blogs the next morning when I am at the ranch. I will by typing them up the night before so for me right now it is 9:40pm on Thursday night. Just got home from dance class not too long ago. Feeling pretty tired and a little worried about Annabelle. While I was sitting on her today she went down to roll (extremely unusual). I got off asked her to get up as she was about to roll. She got up seemed fine- gut sounds. She has been ouchy on the gravel but ok in the arena when it's not too hard. I had her boots on, I took them off when she tried to lay down. I wasn't sure if (maybe she has abscess) and pressure of boots made it uncomfortable. Yesterday she had some heavy breathing we guess from stress because as I walked away she stopped and blew out. Today more heavy breathing, haven't been doing any intense work. So I gave her this morning off and kept an eye on her. No temp- 99.7° and breathing heavy doesn't last long. Still eating and drinking normal. I gave her electrolytes and molasses in her water to encourage her to drink. Seems a little lathargic but hard to tell if it is because of foot issues. Soaked both feet again tonight to help prevent any thrush or scratches since we have been getting a lot of rain. This afternoon I rode and kept it very light just a little trotting for less then a min. Even took my halter off and she was awesome. Going to continue to keep an eye on Annabelle will keep everyone updated. 

Extern: Day 24

This week I have felt more positive in myself. I have been dragging these first couple weeks as I come off of adrenaline to the lifestyle change. This week I finally feel like I'm in a groove. Have had some pretty crazy scary rains and big hail today. I felt so bad for Annabelle not being able to get shelter from it. I have also been sleeping a lot better this week. It's hard to believe it is week 4 already. I'm so excited for the horsemanship journey in the extern so far. My main reason for coming is not only to improve as an instructor but also improve my horsemanship. Since I have much higher goals now. This morning we played with liberty and I was pleasantly surprised with Annabelle. This afternoon the weather was too bad to do much with our horses so we watched part of the new levels pack: liberty. Some of the externs participated in Pats BBQ (the horsemanship side). Everyone did really well! 

Extern: Day 23

I had a flying horse this morning as I warmed up to ride. She was jumping all fours in the air from being lame all weekend and it was very cool this morning. So I let her run around more then she wanted until she decided she wanted to stop. Never got a chance to warm up once I got in the saddle and was asked for a backup. Wasn't very responsive at all but got some really good insight on how to make it a lot better. It was nice to finally feel her participate in backing up! I haven't felt her do that before, I was always telling her. We did some leg yields before lunch. Annabelle was starting to understand what I wanted her to do. After lunch some of the group decided to go watch Pat a couple hours away, they would be home late so I decided to stay back. We went on a trail ride searching for some cows. Before we left I had fantastic walk to canter transitions. She did really well on the trail, I am starting to loosen up more about these mountain trails! When we got back I played at liberty and I found it so interesting- really trying to keep what Linda taught me in mind. I added a little more game to it and Annabelle was awesome, one of the best liberty sessions we ever had. 

Extern: Day 22

Interesting morning working on having good focus and getting our horses to touch things with their nose by directing their noses with out legs and not our reins. "The more you use your reins the less they use their brains". Starting to struggle a little more emotionally this week. My emotional fitness needs some work, but had a really good talk with mom and mark tonight helped me remember to keep my eyes fixed on my goal. This afternoon we had a really good horsenality talk and review and practiced some roping skills. Overall good day, Annabelle's feet aren't sore anymore yay! Posting some pictures from the weekend on this blog also. 

Annabelle has hay fairies (wonderful peers of mine) so she gets a little but extra hay a day. 

Extern: Day 19

We spent our morning watching Linda film some advanced liberty lessons. It was really interesting and fun. I got to hold her dog Vinny he was so cute. He helped keep me warm. In the afternoon I saddled Annabelle up and she looked ouchy in trot while I was warming up gave it a couple mins but it didn't get better so I just grazed her. It has been raining here and so the ground has gotten even harder so I think her feet hurt. Going to try some boots and see if it's any better. 

Extern: Day 18

AWESOME AWESOME DAY! I am so inspired. Today I was filmed with Linda Parelli for a DVD on liberty that will be available (sometime) world wide! Pretty crazy and exciting! It lit my fire again, I love how Linda embraces her students. She is on a mission to change the world one student and horse at a time. That gets me so excited, I love that about her and about the Parelli program. It is the best feeling in the world to be able to change someone's day, their emotion or negative mentality about something. To help them exceed the limitations they have put on themselves or on their horses. I challenge you to help change someone's day. I love being able to help people see the potentional in themselves and their horses. Since I'm super excited I'm going to show some of the horses I have helped. "You may not be able to change the world, but you sure have changed the world for that horse" - one step at a time. 💗

Diesel - never ridden without a bridle 

Ariat 

This horse really taught me about play. He was completely misunderstood but his owners. 

Heather and her yearling Fenway

Day 5 & 6 playing with Chip 

Of course Annabelle, we have been through so much together. Now she can help me help others, and that brings me more joy then anything. 

Therapeutic riding 

6 yr old Olivia who was completely afraid of horses. (Even Annabelle at first) 

Be the change you wish to see in the world, bring joy to others around you. 

Extern: Day 16 & 17

Sorry! Totally forgot to blog last night, got home late and it didn't cross my mind. Some big news for tomorrow if everything works out well. Excited to tell you all! Yesterday we did some really cool exersises with soft feel. I haven't done too much with it so it was nice to do it and get some feed back. We also sat on some skeleton horses and did stuff with out balance point and then being off our balance point. 

Today we did some more with soft feel and having good focus for our horses. There was also a pig on the loose and some people were trying to catch it...no such luck though. Then we went on a trail ride to the famous scooch mountain it was very scary for me! We had to go down a very steep hill. Annabelle wanted to go faster, she had her ears up and was excited about it. Me on the other hand wanted to start screaming. But we made it down and I survived. 

One of my instructors Susan and her 4yr old..so pretty!