Day 12- Fast track midterm day....

Ended early today, I had my midterm grade which was a 62. 75 would be like 100, I have to have a 75 to pass but my coach seemed enthusiastic said I was doing well and to keep it up. I held Annabelle's tongue today we did liberty jump over the barrel and played with our circling game. She was good so she ended early too, already cleaned my pen and fed her dinner. I'm thinking about showering now so that after dinner I can crash into bed lol. Another long week and my brain is fried from learning but it's good!!

Day 11- fast track

It hard to believe that week 2 is almost over. I'm having a blast, I'm learning so much. I'm trying to not put a lot of pressure on myself and just focus on the good things we have going. Im excited to get some quality horsey play time this weekend because we have learned so much I feel like I haven't been able to keep up with everything. My instructor told us a great story today about good horse psychology that really made sense to me. They are always playing a game with us. I got my lease saddle finally. It looks good on her but I think I like the lighter color the best. We had a pretty crazy storm today and I've never seen clouds so weird.

Day ten- fast track

Feeling tired and sick today. Annabelle is doing great we learned more rein positions. NO MORE TWO HANDED RIDING (for freestyle at least)!! The simulations are awesome it really shows me how we act like predators and don't even realize it. Now that I finally have a 'slow down' on my gaits I love cantering! And we jumped over a log today it was fun. I cantered down hill (just a baby slope lol). But at least I did it. We saw Linda today and my gosh her horse is beautiful and huge! Also it's bonfire night so Pat was playing guitar and singing. I miss everyone at home..but I love it here. I also got to see one of Linda's students riding Pat's new stallion. My jaw dropped, he was the most beautiful horse I had ever seen.

Day nine- Fast track

Last week it was going by too slow..this week it's going by too fast. I'm having so much fun getting emotionally fit. Really starting to learn and get it. I get this stuff so fast I don't have to try hard to understand it. We did simulations today on rein positions and WOW! Huge difference on how little you have to use your reins you can feel so much in your body and horses are much more sensitive then we are. Just from turning my thumb up instead of keeping it neutral she did and indirect rein. Got to use a friends Parelli saddle today and I tried a little canter in the big arena and it was BEAUTIFUL! So relaxed she was hardly bracing I felt like I was floating on a horse straight from heaven. I put her back after that. So exciting to keep on learning and get better. When I saw Pat today I froze, I smiled but I couldn't say hi and I have been so extroverted since I've been here. Best week and a half of my life so far. I'm so grateful to be here. Link to the saddle video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSVLpgpb_tk&feature=youtube_gdata_player
I tried to keep this post a little shorter since my other ones have been super long. :) A picture of Annabelle with the darker saddle (I think I like the lighter one better) and my cabin.

Day eight- Fast track a crazy day

Wow what a day! Learned a LOT about my horse and most importantly my relationship with her. Turns out Annabelle had a serious injury either on the track or at the kill barn numerous vertebrae were out of place her pole was out of place her jaw was out of place (explains the dropping of food) the chiropractor couldn't even check her pelvis because when he was touching her back in her sore spots she was bucking and kicking and in a lot of pain. I was skeptical of him at first but I heard that someone who works here at Parelli was using him for his horse I felt a little better. As he began to fix her she was in a lot of pain and then as soon as it was done for that spot she would lower her head and lick and chew and yawn so I knew it was relief. He asked me if she has trouble with lead changes or riding and I said no...she tries to bite when I saddle her but when I get on she is good and he goes "your horse must really love you" I'm very proud of her and hate myself for not getting her looked at sooner he told me I will have a different horse by the time he is done (don't they all lol). He didn't want to do it all today since she was in so much pain and she was trying to kill him haha. So he will be back next Monday to re-evaluate and finish the rest free of charge. Also the Parelli saddles were here and we test rode one. Annabelle's mane by her withers flipped back as I was riding I was amazing and will never ride her without a Parelli saddle again. Leasing one for the rest of my time here then working my butt off to buy one. The chiropractor told me a lot of horses are thrown off the track because 'all of a sudden' they can't run fast anymore which is due to an unknown injury. He said its very possible that in training or while people were mishandling her she could have flipped over and landed on her back then the training and events that followed (kill barn) didn't help. Thank goodness that she never bucked me off in pain because I know she has been ouchy since I can remember. Excited to see the moves she has when this is all over. He even told me her gaits can feel different because she wont be bracing. Videos on YouTube of the test saddle to come :)

Day six and seven- Fast track

Well had a very emotional weekend. One of my friends horses died from colic which lead to infection, when someone found her rolling her gut had twisted and hours later her colon had burst. My friend had been fighting to keep her alive for 3 days and nights with little sleep. One of the instructors stayed with her and the vet did everything they could. On the last day her tongue was purple (because of infection and burst of the colon) no money in the world could save her. My friend had no choice but to put her down peacefully. She was buried next to Pat's horses with one of Pat's blankets over her, she was only 12. It was so sad for all of us to watch it happen the past couple days. (She passed yesterday). I went to breakfast with her today and I wanted to take her to lunch so we decided to invite everyone, 20 people came and one stood up and gave her positive happy thoughts by the end we were all crying. Wishing her the best of luck on her journey home and her journey after. On a happier note I am having a lot of fun. I never knew I loved people so much. I can tell that this fast track will be life changing. Instructor goals are still in the back of my head, but improving my horsemanship has become my #1. Annabelle's horsenality has become comical to me now, very left brained today. I give up lol as long as I can tell in the moment what she is being and read each moment like it is. I will be more like a horse and a better horseman. As far as living on campus goes...not a fan hate being in the bear infested woods at night with no electricity and no lock on our door.
Overall very excited for the weeks to come. I miss everyone at home I'm sure Annabelle does too.

Oh yes and a couple questions for Lori, DM, Lisa and Tara since you know Annabelle better then people here. Cinching..she's still trying to bite. When I add pressure there with no saddle on she tries to bit me, ulcers? How can it still be that she doesn't want me there? Also on her top line she has been sore to the tips of my brush and I haven't been riding much, less then normal. Her mane is flipped there and a chiropractor is going to be out tomorrow. I have noticed more relaxed gaits bareback so it could be the saddle. Leasing a natural performer the last two weeks. We are both more relaxed bareback. I have heard ulcers can lead to back pain, but also to loss of weight and abnormal stool which she doesn't have. What are your thoughts?

Day five- Fast track

TGIF! Not as exciting learning things today, review on stuff I knew. But I'm starting to really see my relationship with Annabelle. I move way to fast and have too much pressure for her horsenality. I have finally completely settled on RBI I have been through this battle with myself for months because I couldn't see it. Is it possible that her obedience has gotten the best of her. She will push the barrel but is it playful or because she knows I will stop pressure and give her a treat or that she knows it makes me happy. She leaves me in liberty because I am creating too much pressure that she can't handle so she has to leave to escape it, but she comes back when I ask because she knows I will wait for her. Worked a TON in zone 3 trying to get her more comfortable with me there. Trying to make it a sweet spot, with much friendly game all around her body I put her to sleep today from zone 3! I was amazed. She loves undemanding time she loves cuddling when I have established a good connection and trust from the moment I walk in her pen. The hardest thing will be to slow down, and really work on her RB. We backed to the end of a 45, liberty circle game and had a slow calm relaxed canter at the end of my 22!

First picture is the cover-all
Second is Annabelle sleeping from zone 3
Last is reflection of cover-all in Annabelle's eye