Tuesday

got on again today, this time with Jake. I decided I want to try to ride everyday this week. So this was the second day. I used Jake to give Raven a little break. I went over all the fundamental exercises that were feasible to do today. I didn't do round pen. But all the other exercises I went over to refine  them. I found I need to work more on moving his shoulder over. He keeps spinning like a coke bottle instead of pivoting on his hindquarters. That has to do more with my body position though. I rode about 45 minutes after a 1/2 hour of gw. It was good, but damp as it was drizzling most of the time. I also had to put Prinz up 'cause he just keeps after Jacob. While I was riding Jake really went after Prinz like a good cow horse goes after a cow. I would like to try him on that.

Monday

Hey, I was able to get out and work with Raven a little bit today. I have learned that I have to take every chance I get to work with them. It might be only a couple exercises, like backing up or leading by the muzzle, but every little bit helps to make my connection to the horse a little closer. I actually worked on those things to. I keep trying to refine other exercises too, like the lungeing for respect or c pattern or sending. It helps to have a goal of a few things to actually work on to keep you on track. I rode her around the open area at the walk once in each direction and then at the trot on a loose rein 2 x in each direction. She was trotting with a low head carry and a nice cadence. I also worked in a few rollbacks when I changed direction. then at the trot got her nice and soft by doing the bending exercises too. The wonderful thing about all these exercises is they can be incorporated into the ebb and flow of the training time whether in the arena or on the trail. We also did some cantering on loose rein and then collected by the time we were finished it was about 45 minutes and she was huffing pretty good so we went back on the power line and walked it off. It was all good and makes her a better horse and me a better horseman.

sunny day

got a short time in with Jake this afternoon. He did real good. Just keep working on the basics getting him soft throughout his body. It was just fun finally to get to work with one of them this week. The snow is starting to melt and so it isn't so deep in riding area. we went through several ground exercises with Prinz (germans shepherd) helping with the compulsion. When I am in the saddle Prinz settles right down. We sometimes chase him. I don't think he likes that though. We did the cruising lesson and both settled right into a nice trot. We then did bending and started two tracking exercises. At the end of the lesson we took a ride out on the power line and back. All of us seemed to like it.
I know I did.

Last day of the year ride

I worked both horse today. It was beautiful. I love my large area to ride in. The space makes the exercises easier to work on. I even had my dog helping with the training. He must have traveled three times the distance the horses did. It was mainly reviewing of cruising and bending. We even chased the dog making like he was a cow. It was great. HoPecully there will be lots more time to ride in the area.

ground work

I had a few minutes this evening. I have been clearing the area behind my house and now have a large open area. I burned a brush pile and decided to get Raven and work on Lunging stage 3 and backing angles among other things. So I brought her back and worked alot on lunging stage 3 on long line. It went well except that she didn't want to stay in a lope for me. She doing real well though, starting off fast and staying in gait until I ask for something different. She doesn't come up to me fast like I want, but I think that is because I haven't kept her going long enough and taught her how good it is to hurry up and get next to me when I give her the chance. This is the way it should be with me and the Lord. When I am wore out with life's issues I should crave getting close to Him in prayer and reading of the Word to be refreshed and get a breather. That is what I am giving the horse at those times. She is making fast improvements though. I also worked on her backup and Oh my, is that ever getting good in terms of hustling her feet. We even have room now to back 30 to 40 feet and then make a 90 degree turn.  I did some side passing and side passing toward me. Another obstacle was that my dog was out there with us trying to help out. He was a good distraction, but she kept most of her attention on me. I had to tell him several times to get away from her hind feet. I don't want him to get kicked, but he just might have to to learn his lesson. When it happens hopefully, it won't hurt him too much. I also did some driving on the long line and leg yields. It was quite a workout for her and was very profitable I think. I am going to enjoy having a larger area to work with the horses in. No I can really get some things done with them. I just have to get the area graded better and get the little shin killer stumps out of the way. Hopefully, I will get another chance tomorrow. We'll see.

Good ride

Worked with Raven today. I had her doing the lunge for respect 3 on long line going real good. Ten x around with no faults. Also worked on backing angles and lo and behold she was backing faster than she ever has. She also did good on those. We must have done gw for half an hour then I got on. We rode back to my clearing and worked on several exec uses there. That too was a great session. I am going to like having the larger area. I think I will get more accomplished. Plus I can set up an obstacle course for them. I was already getting her sweated up and I did not want that with it being cold. The last thing I need is a sick horse. I really worked her on backing and saw great improvement.

time with Jake

I got out with Jake yesterday for an hour. He did real good. I know most of the issues are me when it comes to something not working. I first got to a slow start, nice and relaxed with him. I find that if I don't just jump quickly into working with the horses, but take the time to just walk up and rub them all over they get more relaxed and are more willing to stay with me. After I got him ready we did a bunch of ground work, working on lunging for respect stage 3 on long line. I used a snow bank as an obstacle that seemed to put an added challenge into the mix, but he handled it smoothly. I also worked on the out/back exercise, Parelli calls the YO YO. I am trying to get real subtle about the cues with this one. It is simply asking him to back up to the end of my 25' line and then on cue come back to me. We also worked on backing circles.
When I got on him we worked through too many of the exercises to mention. I was merely trying to refine myself as to the cues, body, hand and leg positions so as to be subtle again in asking for a move. Both my horses do alot better than I do. I want to get real in tune with them so there is that close soft connection between me and them, whether I am riding or just around them on the ground.
It is the same kind of connection the Lord wants of me with Him. That I would know his mind and do it. It's called walking with Him. The struggle is to do His will as I am asking the horse to do my will. The parallels are so close. It takes getting to know the Lord and the horse. Read your Bible and read your horse.