Recent weekend rides

Great connection between Regalo and me lately. 
Going over the bridge by ourselves.
Squeezing between trailers
Stepping on pedestal
Liberty and the stick to me
Riding around the back of pen
Able to get on with mounting block

I cannot believe that it has been 6 months since I wrote on this Blog.  so much has happen in this time.  Second hip surgery completed and a recovery is excellent.

I can now mount Regalo alone and get off alone.  (big step)
We gate around the woods and some in the big field.
He is now loading so much better in the trailer.


Liberty is quiet good.  I will be working a larger area soon.  He will stick to me in the round pen and in a larger horse pen.  (need to work on it in his pen)

Catching game is really improved.  He does turn and look at me and them comes over.


The biggest improvement in six months is the trust.  I have a true partner. 
We went down the drive way and across the bridge for the first time.  No other horse.  He was
very brave.  Didn't even stop at the bridge.  

Had a great ride yesterday and enjoyed the sunshine.

It's been awhile

The heat has been a pretty good factor for now riding.  Along with not able to get on by myself. 

Last night it was hot as usual, but I decided to do some work on the ground with him.  Started in the arena and we did some sideways, squeeze and circling games.  Then out to the round pen for some liberty work.  stick to me and come back to me.  He did very well in this.  After 6 months I do have a partner.  He wants to be with me.

Went out the pen to eat some grass and then over to the wash rack  (oops, I lost my partner then)  I can't decide if its the concrete or the hose with water.  He kept pulling back and rearing.  It's funny once he figures out that he has to get on the concrete and stand.  He does it, but this is a true fight all the way.  Can't figure out what it is.  I finally did the squeeze game with the concrete and me.  He was able to get back on the concrete and stand.  All of this for a hosing down.  quite a challenge.  He is that for sure, but a lovable kind.  LOL  I try very hard not to be the German Captain.

Parelli things to remember

Mary Lou Johnson, 2 Star Instructor told me, “You get off your horse when you have lost your connection. You get on the ground, reestablish the connection, then you can get on again.” What a simple way of presenting such a complex idea.

While I was attempting to trailer load my horse after we had established confidence and he was no longer emotional, Cezanne DeCristoforo told me, “Only play the Friendly Game when your horse is somewhat IN the trailer. Bring him out, then put him right back in there with ENERGY.”

“When he’s somewhat in the trailer and he goes introverted on you, play the Friendly Game on Zone 5 until he wakes up.” – Cezanne

“When taking a gate apart, undo the bottom first, and the top second. When putting a gate together, do the top first and the bottom second, so it doesn’t fall on you and kill you.” – Pat Parelli

“A lot of horses can’t look at you with both eyes, and they have a huge problem changing eyes. Work on this until you can skip to them from 22 feet away and gently touch them on their foreheads while they keep both eyes on you.” – Tina Giordano

This weeks ride

After showing puppies and working, riding is really getting put to the side.  I wanted to ride this week, missed last week. 

He was so good, very quiet and we rode for at least 25 minutes.  He listened,  was not the least bit worried and we made it down into the grass and around the arena several times.   See vidoe

Tonight

I had a great time with Regalo, we hung out together and did some liberty in the round pen, worked on the friendly game  in the woods.   He was able to go sideways over the ground pole.  Went over the jump in the woods.  He was bvery calm and hapy tonight. 

He is getting so much better. 

Lesson

Regalo lesson with Jerilyn on Monday.  He was upset from the beginning.   First he didn't like being near the wash rack while someone used it.  He was upset with the fly spray and anything else that was going on.  I took him over to the other side of the arena where we wait for our lesson to begin.

His lesson begins with going through the arena gate calmly.  He is very nervous and rushes through the gate.  She makes him go back and forth through the gate until he does it one foot at a time.  Then he goes over to the water and she sprays his mouth so he feels the water on his mouth.   After a little while he is clam and the water is not a big deal.

Back out to the arena and she is asking him to go forward on the circling game.  He can't do it calmly.  His feet are moving in all different gates and he is whizzing around the circle with no control.  When he turns and wants to come into the center he is allowed and she pets him.  Then sends him out and this goes on for a long time.  finally he is calmer and she stops to put his hackamore on. 

He walks away from her and she has to chase him to make him stay in the arena, then out to the front pasture.  He runs a little and then turns and stops.  She then takes the time to readjust the bit and hackamore then she gets on and the ride out in the pasture.  He does great up and down the pasture walking and gating easily.  It is amazing to watch him goes so nicely under saddle.

After he is finished riding she puts the destin on his nose and he is a little difficult but submites quickly.

Alot to work on.  

Wash rack, gate, and fast circling game.