Play in the Dark!?

So, I didn't get to playing with my girls until after midnight (2/27/11). We have a flood light so it's not pitch black but it's not exactly bright either. Here's how it went:

I played with Brenna first (change things up a bit). She did very well and the forequarter and hindquarter yields. We had a bit of an adventure with the short distance driving game. When she gets confused/ excited/ scared her reaction is to face me, rear, and then attempt to trot on top of me. She also got excessively exuberant when we went in front of the garage where Kate couldn't see her and Kate was calling. By the time we were done we were doing ok at the the game but nothing I'd say we're done with yet.

Kate has MAJOR separation anxiety when she can't see me or Brenna. She's fine if she's the one out with me, go figure? Kate did wonderfully! She was able to do everything including the short distance driving game like she'd done it a hundred times. She makes me feel much safer, though she does start to get just a little antsy if she can't see Brenna.

All in all a good night, and it looks like I'll be doing a dark run again tonight, maybe tomorrow we'll try a daytime run.

On the pregnancy front no lost meals today!! Maybe things are getting easier.

Too snowy and too cold

OK, I admit it, I wimped out today. We got a bunch of snow so all I did with my girls is give them their meal and assure they had water.

Also I passed out this morning so I was forbidden to work with the girls when no one was up. Stupid pregnancy.

I'll do better tomorrow.

Snow Day

So, we got dumped on a bit and high winds to boot. Which begs the question, why was I in the middle of the pasture working on the porcupine game with my girls? The answer: I love them and am dedicated to making this work, well, that and I'm a bit concerned at the dominance that Brenna's been showing lately.

So Kate was an angel and did everything I asked politely (thank gods some of this stuck in there after five years!), until I took the halter off and started to play with Brenna. Then I had to drive her away just to be able to play safely.

Brenna took the snow today as a cue for amazing amounts of play drive, energy and dominance. I got to the point where I had to accept a 1/4 circle of porcupine (after she tried to run me over and when that didn't work she tried running away) as a success because I just plain didn't have the energy or body heat (BRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!) to keep at it. This wouldn't be so galling if it weren't for the fact that this horse has done old level 3 ground work and old level 2 riding skills before (see what six weeks vacation does to a young dominant horse). But we came to an agreeable stopping point. :)

They were happy to see me bringing out their grain buckets when we were done. I use a big blue sled (the plastic kind with sides so I don't have to carry feed and hay. It may weigh more than 25lbs, but it doesn't pull back more than 25lbs.

Pregnancy side note- nails grow fast, cut them before they get so long you pull one by stepping on a snow bank. Also, avoid eating right before playing with horses, morning sickness strikes at the worst times, like in the middle of backing your horse (thankfully it was Kate).

Starting out

So, this should be interesting. I am Cheryl and I am 26 years old. I've been doing Parelli off and on since middle school, but i'm finally going to have the luck (point where time, desire, preparation and ability meet) to do something with it (I hope). :) I'm thirteen weeks pregnant and allowed to ride 'as tolerated' by my OB/GYN. I have a 25lb lifting limit (those of you that ride western know the issue with that), that has taken me off work very early in this pregnancy. This does a couple of things. It makes my finances "interesting" because I get disability and disability insurance (if they ever decide to send the check). It also means I suddenly have 48+ hours a week that I don't have an obligation for!  I do have some medical complications, but for now things are under control.

As for the horse end of this, I have 2 horses I've had since each were yearlings. Kate is a calm 6yr old quarter horse that has (sadly) less than 500hrs in the saddle. Everything she does, good or bad, is our fault together. She is the first horse that was ever mine. I trained, leased, and rode horses most my life. I was even in pony club. But Kate is the first horse that won't be sold out from under me because she's mine. What can I say life gets in the way and while my horses get cared for excellently I've dropped the ball on the training end a bit. The good news is she is very sweet and well mannered.

I also have my darling Brenna. She was an engagement present from my husband. I adore her, she is energetic and fun and athletic. She's also 5yrs old now and has less than 300hrs in the saddle. She's gotten into her pushy "I don't want to." phase and is getting on the verge of dangerous. I've decided to deal with this now before I have a real disaster on my hands. She has never done anything but Parelli, nor has she been ridden or trained by anyone but me.

So that brings us to now. I'm back in the savvy club (free 30 day trial, then we'll see how the finances go). I'm loving the tasks on Parelli connect (I signed up yesterday). I've got all the time anyone could ask for and two wonderful horses that I at least have the relationship 'right-ish'. The love is there, now let's work on language and leadership.

I own two old Parelli systems and feel they have finally reached something where the support and skills are presented in a way that will work for me. In the incarnation of level one before this one I actually reorganized it to get through in a logical manner. I am now going to try this the way it's presented, though I may do ground work levels before getting to the riding part. I will eventually be forbidden to ride so it's good to plan on ground work anyway.

I am working through level one (lightning speed, as we have all done it) hopefully before the free trial ends. I am then planning on renting the online patterns and level 2 from Giddy Up Flix. I just don't have the money to buy yet another incarnation of the Parelli levels. I have the chart for the online patterns (thank you internet) and I'll worry about the rest later.

Well, time to go play! See you later!