Well, I just came in from working with Raven. Had to try out the new stuff I learned at the Reis clinic. I go to those to pick up little tidbits of info that have to do with the details that make things work or not work. For example, not using the rein unless you have to. So tonite I worked mostly on stopping Raven with my seat not using a rein at all and not using collection as a way to balance her. After umpteen tries where I had to just lift the rein slightly and using the fence as an added incentive to stop we started to make progress. So that now she is beginning to listen to my seat, when I quit riding she begins to stop. The incentive for her is she doesn't have to back up as far or as fast. I really tried hard to not use the rein much at all. It was just a calm ride. At the end of which I worked on getting her to kneel. She did well and is almost ready to start getting on her when she kneels. I still have to stretch the time she is down enough in order to put my foot in the stirrup and swing my leg over before she gets up. She is not there yet, but she will be. Tonite we even did some moving of Jake around from horseback.
I am praying and thinking about getting into doing sermons on the mount at different churches and places. I am going to meet with Chad Coppess of Paradise Ranch, who does this now, in October to discuss this. I will probably attend some of his sort of as an apprentice and there are a couple of churches that might give me an opportunity to do so.
As far as I know I still have the horse coming on Thursday to begin to work with.
gotta move on for now.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Trust
Had a good day riding yesterday. I am more and more pleased with my progress and the horses progress everyday. They both are responding some much better to soft pressure. The one thing I have trouble with is when something is distracting Raven so much that she will not listen to my cues. She hasn't learned to trust me totally when she is distracted by something that she is afraid of. Now she doesn't run off or anything. However, case in point, I was riding at the circle and things were going good, she was bridled up easily, shaped in the direction I needed her to be and she would move to a canter or down to a walk no problem. But then something caught her ear off in the woods. And she immediately became stiff, almost immoveable. I tried to keep her attention on me to no avail. So I let her just watch in the direction she was bothered. I knew something was there, though I could not see it. Finally, a man came out into the powerline and into our line of sight. Then I walked her up to him and chatted with him for about 1/2 hour. It those kind of things that really test if the horse is given over to the rider or not. It shows me that she will listen to me and follow me as long as nothing she thinks is more important comes along. I guess that is like a lot of people too. They are ok with following the Lord, the Bible, until something comes along that they think is too hard for God or is unexlainable, or just doesn't fit their idea of what it means to follow the Lord, then they are off in their own little world. Forget the fact that God knows a bit more than them or that He is working a larger plan than they have. Prov. 3:5,6 reminds us to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding; In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct thy paths." If only Raven would memorize Scripture and learn to trust me in that way. If only I would do that with God 100% of the time. O things would be easier. Well we finished the ride and it was really good. She is responding well to my seat and leg pressure.
Jake also did well. To start with, (I know that you are not supposed to start a sentence with a preposition) I had him kneel 4 x before he would stay down long enough for me to get my foot in the stirrup and get on. I an ovation from a group of headstart kids and their teachers across the way when I did this. He is getting real soft and easy to get into his gait. He will down right move out. We did a crash course in softening and leg yields and such. We didn't have alot of time. But again he is also doing well. I need to ride these guys as much as possible before the 1st because then I will be concentrating on Domino the Tennessee Walker that is coming for me to work with. Then I won't have near as much time.
Well I gotta alot going on today so I bid you Adieu.
Jake also did well. To start with, (I know that you are not supposed to start a sentence with a preposition) I had him kneel 4 x before he would stay down long enough for me to get my foot in the stirrup and get on. I an ovation from a group of headstart kids and their teachers across the way when I did this. He is getting real soft and easy to get into his gait. He will down right move out. We did a crash course in softening and leg yields and such. We didn't have alot of time. But again he is also doing well. I need to ride these guys as much as possible before the 1st because then I will be concentrating on Domino the Tennessee Walker that is coming for me to work with. Then I won't have near as much time.
Well I gotta alot going on today so I bid you Adieu.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
What a good day. I go to ride Jake a bit tonite among other things. He is getting really soft and to top it off I am learning how to keep him in his gait. I had him in it for at least a mile tonite and then some more at different intervals. He responds real well to the bit and to my seat. He actually will stop on a dime if I have him bridled up, when I sit down in the saddle. I also have been working on teaching him to kneel. Well he will do to that alright. But now I want to teach him to stayd down long enough so that I can mount him and then have him stand up. Tonite, I kneeled hime 4 times and finally had time to put my foot in the stirrup before he got up so I think I am going to start mounting him this way most of the time. I want him to get used to it. he has such a willing heart. He can be a bit spooky about things, I took off my hat and waved it around him and he didn't like it so I kept it up til he settled down. Thing is, I have done that before and he had no trouble with it. All in all he is getting to be a pleasure to ride. He was moving so fast tonite I think Raven would have had to canter to keep up. I need to work with him alot on this getting into his gait because next week I have a Tennessee Walker coming that is a 7yr old gelding. The owner has had him to a trainer before but I guess he just wants more done with him. He also has an Appaloosa that he wants me to work with after this one. So it looks like I have my next two months booked for training horses. Neither one of these are starting them, it is just that he wants me to ride them alot and get them good an broke as much as I can in 30 days. Sounds like fun.
Sharon is canning tomatoes tonite and enjoying dancing with the stars.
I guess I will go watch a bit.
Sharon is canning tomatoes tonite and enjoying dancing with the stars.
I guess I will go watch a bit.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Rest
Howdy!
glad to have some rain finally. It was dry as toast in this neck of the woods. It was so dry I had to stop working the horses in my round pen because it was literally a powder bowl. The dust would choke you right out of there. However, the was kind of a blessing because it forced me to look for some other place to work with them. I did find a place I call the 'circle' it is on a power line about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile from home. It gives me an opportunity during the ride there to warm up the horses, do some exercises with them that get them to be tuned to me even amid all the distractions of going down the road with cars passing, dogs barking, bags blowing, etc. It also gives me places, once I get on the power line to work on stopping with my seat, sidepassing next to a log, keeping their attention though there is grass stirrup high all over that they want to munch on. I also work on flexion with various exercises so that when I get to the circle, which I made by tracking with the horse dozens of times so that there is a distinct circle worn in the grass, but no dust. It also very peaceful there and the horses seem to like it and are getting used to going there.
Yesterday Sharon and I went on a nice ride. I am teaching her little by little how to be with Jake, flexing, getting her seat in the saddle so that she will have a comfortable ride. She seems to enjoy it. We have rode twice in the last week. That has to be a record for some time now, 'cause she doesn't usually ride. THe horses went nicely too. I was able to easily get Raven bridled up and do leg yields back and forth across the road. I didn't really work with Raven alot I just stayed out of her mouth unless I had to use a rein for something. We just had a nice hour long ride. The funny thing is that the more I ride these horses the less they go fast. They will walk fast, but even on the way back, and they knew were heading back, they didn't really get moving fast and almost out of control like they use to do. I think now they are thinking, 'I better not go faster than he is telling me because I don't know when I will be able to stop or slow down.' We have all seen Amish horses standing harnessed to a wagon in a field just standing there with no one around. Why don't they just run off? Because they have learned to rest when they get an opportunity. They don't know when they will get another rest. The same is starting to occur to my horses. That is a good thing. I think that is a good lesson for us all to learn. We need to take the time to rest when we can. Life can get so busy and we don't know the future anymore than the horse does so when given an opportunity to sit down and relax with family or out on the porch or just take a power nap do it. It is good for the mind, body and soul. That is the purpose of the sabbath rest that God gave us from Creation. Work six days and rest the seventh. It was given for us and our benefit to get back in tune with God and our own bodies and spirit to relax, debrief about the week, plan for the week ahead. Just like an instrument has to be retuned every so often so God has given us an opportunity to retune to Him and to all around us. To put things back into perspective. My horses need the retuning before every ride and I need it everyday and so do you. So before you step out the door each day take time to retune to the Lord, to take the time to relax and breathe deeply, exhale completely then go at the day.
take time to relax today because you don't know what is ahead.
glad to have some rain finally. It was dry as toast in this neck of the woods. It was so dry I had to stop working the horses in my round pen because it was literally a powder bowl. The dust would choke you right out of there. However, the was kind of a blessing because it forced me to look for some other place to work with them. I did find a place I call the 'circle' it is on a power line about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile from home. It gives me an opportunity during the ride there to warm up the horses, do some exercises with them that get them to be tuned to me even amid all the distractions of going down the road with cars passing, dogs barking, bags blowing, etc. It also gives me places, once I get on the power line to work on stopping with my seat, sidepassing next to a log, keeping their attention though there is grass stirrup high all over that they want to munch on. I also work on flexion with various exercises so that when I get to the circle, which I made by tracking with the horse dozens of times so that there is a distinct circle worn in the grass, but no dust. It also very peaceful there and the horses seem to like it and are getting used to going there.
Yesterday Sharon and I went on a nice ride. I am teaching her little by little how to be with Jake, flexing, getting her seat in the saddle so that she will have a comfortable ride. She seems to enjoy it. We have rode twice in the last week. That has to be a record for some time now, 'cause she doesn't usually ride. THe horses went nicely too. I was able to easily get Raven bridled up and do leg yields back and forth across the road. I didn't really work with Raven alot I just stayed out of her mouth unless I had to use a rein for something. We just had a nice hour long ride. The funny thing is that the more I ride these horses the less they go fast. They will walk fast, but even on the way back, and they knew were heading back, they didn't really get moving fast and almost out of control like they use to do. I think now they are thinking, 'I better not go faster than he is telling me because I don't know when I will be able to stop or slow down.' We have all seen Amish horses standing harnessed to a wagon in a field just standing there with no one around. Why don't they just run off? Because they have learned to rest when they get an opportunity. They don't know when they will get another rest. The same is starting to occur to my horses. That is a good thing. I think that is a good lesson for us all to learn. We need to take the time to rest when we can. Life can get so busy and we don't know the future anymore than the horse does so when given an opportunity to sit down and relax with family or out on the porch or just take a power nap do it. It is good for the mind, body and soul. That is the purpose of the sabbath rest that God gave us from Creation. Work six days and rest the seventh. It was given for us and our benefit to get back in tune with God and our own bodies and spirit to relax, debrief about the week, plan for the week ahead. Just like an instrument has to be retuned every so often so God has given us an opportunity to retune to Him and to all around us. To put things back into perspective. My horses need the retuning before every ride and I need it everyday and so do you. So before you step out the door each day take time to retune to the Lord, to take the time to relax and breathe deeply, exhale completely then go at the day.
take time to relax today because you don't know what is ahead.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Courtside
I love to be right up next to the action at a rodeo or horse clinic. I like to be able to see everything that I can. Don't you?
This is just a thought that crossed my mind while driving back from Holland this evening. I heard Chip Ingram speaking about perspective and he referenced Ps. 73:16, 17 " But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end." Life sometimes gets you down. But when you enter the court of God you get a different prespective of your circumstances. You get God's perspective.
Sharon and I like to get as close to the action at a rodeo or concert as we can. We like to see the expression on the faces of the performers. We once sat in the balcony, 3rd level, way in the back of the auditorium at a 'Lord of the Dance' concert. We could hear fine, but we couldn't see to enjoy the concert. We needed binoculars and even then it would not have been good. It would have been much better to be up close.
Celebrities puchase courtside seats at a Basketball game because it changes your perspective on the game making it more enjoyable.
The same is true with life. To the most out of it you need to get courtside with God. This verse tells us about Asaph's experience when he got courtside with God and it changed his perspective on people who are wicked and seem to prosper. It will change your perspective too. But what does getting courtside with God look like in real life?
You get courtside with God when you hear about the death of someone you knew and it forces you to think about and change the way you think about your own life.
When a close friend died several years ago it changed my perspective about what was important to me.
You get courtside with God when you have one of those close encounters with tragedy and you realize that your family is the most important part of your life. It is more important than working a few extra hours and instead attending your daughters recital.
You get courtside with God when you attend a wedding and hear and watch two people commit their lives to each other no strings attached.
You get courtside with God when you look up into a clear night sky and realize how big the universe is and how small you are and wonder how God could stoop to your level and want anything to do with you. But He did and He sent His Son to die for your sins so that you could get courtside with Him.
Getting courtside with God is seeing what He sees, hearing what He hears, and thinking what He thinks.
The disciples had courtside experiences with God every time Jesus performed a miracle, taught a lesson, settled an argument or washed their feet.
Read Ps. 73 for yourself and if you are down or discouraged thinking that life has given you a raw deal, get courtside with God. Sit next to Him for a while and like Asaph you will begin to understand God's perspective a little and it will change you.
The heavens are a perfect place to begin.
See you courtside!
This is just a thought that crossed my mind while driving back from Holland this evening. I heard Chip Ingram speaking about perspective and he referenced Ps. 73:16, 17 " But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end." Life sometimes gets you down. But when you enter the court of God you get a different prespective of your circumstances. You get God's perspective.
Sharon and I like to get as close to the action at a rodeo or concert as we can. We like to see the expression on the faces of the performers. We once sat in the balcony, 3rd level, way in the back of the auditorium at a 'Lord of the Dance' concert. We could hear fine, but we couldn't see to enjoy the concert. We needed binoculars and even then it would not have been good. It would have been much better to be up close.
Celebrities puchase courtside seats at a Basketball game because it changes your perspective on the game making it more enjoyable.
The same is true with life. To the most out of it you need to get courtside with God. This verse tells us about Asaph's experience when he got courtside with God and it changed his perspective on people who are wicked and seem to prosper. It will change your perspective too. But what does getting courtside with God look like in real life?
You get courtside with God when you hear about the death of someone you knew and it forces you to think about and change the way you think about your own life.
When a close friend died several years ago it changed my perspective about what was important to me.
You get courtside with God when you have one of those close encounters with tragedy and you realize that your family is the most important part of your life. It is more important than working a few extra hours and instead attending your daughters recital.
You get courtside with God when you attend a wedding and hear and watch two people commit their lives to each other no strings attached.
You get courtside with God when you look up into a clear night sky and realize how big the universe is and how small you are and wonder how God could stoop to your level and want anything to do with you. But He did and He sent His Son to die for your sins so that you could get courtside with Him.
Getting courtside with God is seeing what He sees, hearing what He hears, and thinking what He thinks.
The disciples had courtside experiences with God every time Jesus performed a miracle, taught a lesson, settled an argument or washed their feet.
Read Ps. 73 for yourself and if you are down or discouraged thinking that life has given you a raw deal, get courtside with God. Sit next to Him for a while and like Asaph you will begin to understand God's perspective a little and it will change you.
The heavens are a perfect place to begin.
See you courtside!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
out and about
Hi there.
had a busy last few days. We have went to the Allegan fair twice. Once on Friday for the rodeo. They have the best one in the area and this years didn't disappoint. THere were a couple of bull rides that lasted well over the 8 seconds 'cause the guy couldn't get his hand out of the rigging. We walked around afterwards and enjoyed some of the sights and smells and sounds. We went again last night for dollar night. We were going to eat the fair food, scrumptious, but had subway instead and then got some treats while were there. We had to have the staple Elephant ear with cinnamon. And then the good ole fries.
Tonite we got home from work and went on a six mile horse ride after supper. It was fun and relaxing. I have been working alot with the horses since Haycee left. I talked with her owner this evening and got the scoop on how she is doing. I guess things aren't the greatest. She has gotten some rides in but she seems real nervous Felice said. So I don't know what to with that but get on em and ride. When there are alot of distractions for a horse that gets nervous it just means you gotta get their attention by making their feet move backwards forwards sideways, anything but up, right? Well it will just take some work for them. I hope they will take lessons from me in the future so we can get them going in the right direction.
Well, gotta get ready for bed, long day tomorrow.
Adieu.
had a busy last few days. We have went to the Allegan fair twice. Once on Friday for the rodeo. They have the best one in the area and this years didn't disappoint. THere were a couple of bull rides that lasted well over the 8 seconds 'cause the guy couldn't get his hand out of the rigging. We walked around afterwards and enjoyed some of the sights and smells and sounds. We went again last night for dollar night. We were going to eat the fair food, scrumptious, but had subway instead and then got some treats while were there. We had to have the staple Elephant ear with cinnamon. And then the good ole fries.
Tonite we got home from work and went on a six mile horse ride after supper. It was fun and relaxing. I have been working alot with the horses since Haycee left. I talked with her owner this evening and got the scoop on how she is doing. I guess things aren't the greatest. She has gotten some rides in but she seems real nervous Felice said. So I don't know what to with that but get on em and ride. When there are alot of distractions for a horse that gets nervous it just means you gotta get their attention by making their feet move backwards forwards sideways, anything but up, right? Well it will just take some work for them. I hope they will take lessons from me in the future so we can get them going in the right direction.
Well, gotta get ready for bed, long day tomorrow.
Adieu.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
gone
Well for those who are interested Haycee left on Tuesday evening after a good training session both with me and then later with Felice. My estimation of this horse is that if Felice will keep up the lessons and use a bit more assertiveness Haycee might just turn out to be a solid horse for her. If she doesn't then Haycee will just revert back to her old pushy self. No fun to be around or ride. So as for me I am back to riding my own horses and what fun. It is like getting into a luxury car everytime I ride now. Both are making good progress in terms of lightness and betting away from using the rein so much and just using my legs and seat. The work at liberty rather than in hand is going good too. I can move both without lead rope from ground and get them to flow into movement whether it be disengaging, sidepass or leg yield or just moving the shoulders over. There really is nothing like having this kind of connection with my horse that it is almost like she can read my mind. I'm loving it.
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