Extern: Day 11

Sorry for posting my blog so late, didn't feel well last night and got to bed early. Today (Thursday) I had a very confident horse, she was throwing a fit on our group trail ride because she wanted to eat grass. At one point we practiced our trot to back up in a field and where our group was standing there was no grass to eat. So then she really got mad and wanted to go forward to eat the grass in the center. Then we did some team building that was really interesting. 

Extern: Day 10

Today we got to watch Linda do 4 private lessons. They were all really good, she had some awesome stratagies for the horsenalities that was really good to see. 2 were on the ground 2 riding, the sun was very hot. I didn't feel good afterwards because of the sun. That took up until lunch time. Then we came back to ride right away. Did a little bit of what Linda suggested in riding. Mainly about how much your body effects your horses movement. Still processing everything from Linda's lessons. Annabelle saw some cows today and no reaction. She was more concerned about grazing. At the BBQ Linda and Pat danced for their 19th wedding anniversary. 

Extern: Day 9

Again a really awesome day, finally getting in the groove (other then getting no sleep). Today we did sideways, which on the rail was not very good. Then later we had the other rider help us out with our sideways off the rail and that went better. For so long I've been focused on Annabelle being calm, but not non-responsive! She hasn't had much go in the arena. After our break we worked ok patterns and it was great because I was able to work on my canter position. I love getting feedback because I want to get better. This time I feel I am in a much better place for learning and growing. I am putting my fears aside. 

I forgot to post a picture of Annabelle on my blog of what she did this weekend. She jumped this fence from a trot with awesome confidence. I am so proud!

 We also got to see Linda today which was an awesome treat! 

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.