This morning, Julia's mom was coming. I was slightly anticipative as to how her visit would go, and also a bit nervous. I wasn't sure what she would want to see us do, or if she would want to talk about uncomfortable subjects for hours on end... But I ended up really enjoying her visit. It's funny, I get nervous every time somebody is coming, but once they get there I seem to be able to melt right in.
I had Cherish's halter and 12' line out. I began to make my way out of the gate, secretly hoping that I would have some time to walk around with just her and me before the others came out. I realized that my hope was not going to come true as Julia and Sharlie began to quickly make their way down the hill. Oh well. I enjoyed their company anyway. Hope and my mom came out just after they did.
I watched across our whole back field on the ground, letting the other four girls ride with each other. I didn't care to get on just yet, and I knew that neither of us were ready to ride with each other. I decided that I would wait.
Some time down the gravely pathway, Julia turned in her saddle and asked me if I was going to get on her yet. I had to look away from he land of particulars and small beauties that I had been staring at and puzzle for a moment over what she had just said. Finally coming to realization of what she was asking, I promptly said no and continued walking along my way. I think she found it slightly comical, that I would go on a trail ride and then walk on the ground for part of the way. But I think she found it fairly normal for me. No matter, because I enjoyed it.
Just as we were rounding the turn, I saw some beautiful feather grass over to the left. I whole heartedly led
Showing posts with label trail ride. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trail ride. Show all posts
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Day Nine
This morning, Julia and I had a hard time waking up. When I finally did wake, it was from my mom beating on my window - I would be worried if I hadn't woken up then. Sleep was gone from my mind by the time I got out the door. My heart searched for the feel of the ride before we were riding, and I saw several glimpses of us riding.
I will list only my favorite parts of the trail ride- so here we go.
We walked along the trail, down a slight hill through the valley. Cherish, being who she is, wished to walk off of the path - I obliged, and actually enjoyed being on the grass rather than the dry dirt. A ditch and a giant briar patch was coming up, so we sidestepped off of the grass and onto the trail fairly easily. After a few moments, I felt a slight hitch and awkward movement in her gate. I was able to pinpoint it immediately, but waited a few seconds before actually getting off to make sure that it was actually a rock. She let me know that there was a rock there, and that it was very uncomfortable. I hopped off of her back, picked up her foot, and began scraping at some dirt next to her frog. My mom conveniently had a little carry on hoofpick that unfolded, so she let me use it. As I got the rock out, she continued to try and step away to eat grass. I began to get so frustrated that every time I asked her not to, she would continue... So, I popped her face by taking the line and pulling on it. At the moment, I was so frustrated that I didn't notice the guilt that sat at the bottom of my stomach.
I was able to easily hop back up onto her back, but she was a bit irritated at me from that pop. I started to
I will list only my favorite parts of the trail ride- so here we go.
We walked along the trail, down a slight hill through the valley. Cherish, being who she is, wished to walk off of the path - I obliged, and actually enjoyed being on the grass rather than the dry dirt. A ditch and a giant briar patch was coming up, so we sidestepped off of the grass and onto the trail fairly easily. After a few moments, I felt a slight hitch and awkward movement in her gate. I was able to pinpoint it immediately, but waited a few seconds before actually getting off to make sure that it was actually a rock. She let me know that there was a rock there, and that it was very uncomfortable. I hopped off of her back, picked up her foot, and began scraping at some dirt next to her frog. My mom conveniently had a little carry on hoofpick that unfolded, so she let me use it. As I got the rock out, she continued to try and step away to eat grass. I began to get so frustrated that every time I asked her not to, she would continue... So, I popped her face by taking the line and pulling on it. At the moment, I was so frustrated that I didn't notice the guilt that sat at the bottom of my stomach.
I was able to easily hop back up onto her back, but she was a bit irritated at me from that pop. I started to
Monday, June 6, 2011
Day Seven
This morning, when I went out to play with Cherish, I didn't feel one bit bad for leaving Finale in her pasture as I have on previous days. I decided that I would get as much time to play with both of them as I good, and that would be the time that I ended up spending with them.
I was able to get Cherish to do a slow figure 8 at the walk without actual obstacles to guide her, because I was going mainly off of body language. She was able to do it just fine, but she had this look on her face that stated simply that she was not stupid, that she could do the same thing by herself, but that she would never do it by herself because it was completely boring. I have never truly liked the patterns, which is why I changed their names to "Abstract Designs", only to be done once you and the horse are already connected and focused and able to do such a thing.... with flow and lightness and expression and ease and a chance that at any moment you will completely abandon the thing at hand and go on to do something far more freeing if it becomes more of a task than a... possibility.
After playing for a bit more, I wanted to try and see if Cherish would mirror me... We started out with mirroring walk steps, then trot steps, and finally rounding of the back. Cherish did round her back with some effort, and at first her face expression was strained, but once she realized that there was far more lightness and ease when there was a rounded back and she began to soften, I let her feel it for a few more steps before dropping it and going to eat grass. I thought that this was really neat - the problem is, her top line is very weak. Today, I started the Journey to Roundness. We went up and down tons of hills under saddle and later trotted around on hills on the ground. Her back had improved within today and yesterday,
I was able to get Cherish to do a slow figure 8 at the walk without actual obstacles to guide her, because I was going mainly off of body language. She was able to do it just fine, but she had this look on her face that stated simply that she was not stupid, that she could do the same thing by herself, but that she would never do it by herself because it was completely boring. I have never truly liked the patterns, which is why I changed their names to "Abstract Designs", only to be done once you and the horse are already connected and focused and able to do such a thing.... with flow and lightness and expression and ease and a chance that at any moment you will completely abandon the thing at hand and go on to do something far more freeing if it becomes more of a task than a... possibility.
After playing for a bit more, I wanted to try and see if Cherish would mirror me... We started out with mirroring walk steps, then trot steps, and finally rounding of the back. Cherish did round her back with some effort, and at first her face expression was strained, but once she realized that there was far more lightness and ease when there was a rounded back and she began to soften, I let her feel it for a few more steps before dropping it and going to eat grass. I thought that this was really neat - the problem is, her top line is very weak. Today, I started the Journey to Roundness. We went up and down tons of hills under saddle and later trotted around on hills on the ground. Her back had improved within today and yesterday,
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Day Four
Today, I ended up not getting out to the barn until about 7 am. The sleep in left me very refreshed and ready to go. I went and got Cherish, ignoring most of the details that I would usually pay attention to as I was remembering everything that we had gone over last night. I was planning on teaching Cherish the Parelli Patterns, which I now call Abstract Designs, with ease and flow. I reminded myself of this as I walked out to the barn.
When I brought Cherish into the arena, I went straight for the cones. We did some figure 8 around the two cones, with little success on the "flow" part. I was not using my body language, nor was I employing lightness, nor was I really mentally into it. Both of us were extremely bored. I went over to the barrels, to try figure 8 there. Cherish walked one Figure 8 around. For one moment, I thought "Wouldn't it just be so much more interesting to do Touch It? The moment after I thought that, Cherish stepped forward, put her hoof on the barrel and chewed on the edge. I had to laugh at her sense of humor. "So can we stop the Figure 8s now?" Cherish asked. I shrugged, and decided that that was fine. If we weren't enjoying it now, why would we enjoy it in a few minutes, after we had already worked on it for a while? What was the point of doing something if, at the moment, it was completely boring? I made a note to myself to figure out how to make it exciting.... energy!
In order to bring both of our energies up, as we were both lagging slightly by now, Julia and I went to smack the carrot sticks on the barrels... we had seen Linda doing it before, but I had never actually tried it. The harder I smacked the carrot stick on the barrel, and the more times, the more bored and tired I became... I
When I brought Cherish into the arena, I went straight for the cones. We did some figure 8 around the two cones, with little success on the "flow" part. I was not using my body language, nor was I employing lightness, nor was I really mentally into it. Both of us were extremely bored. I went over to the barrels, to try figure 8 there. Cherish walked one Figure 8 around. For one moment, I thought "Wouldn't it just be so much more interesting to do Touch It? The moment after I thought that, Cherish stepped forward, put her hoof on the barrel and chewed on the edge. I had to laugh at her sense of humor. "So can we stop the Figure 8s now?" Cherish asked. I shrugged, and decided that that was fine. If we weren't enjoying it now, why would we enjoy it in a few minutes, after we had already worked on it for a while? What was the point of doing something if, at the moment, it was completely boring? I made a note to myself to figure out how to make it exciting.... energy!
In order to bring both of our energies up, as we were both lagging slightly by now, Julia and I went to smack the carrot sticks on the barrels... we had seen Linda doing it before, but I had never actually tried it. The harder I smacked the carrot stick on the barrel, and the more times, the more bored and tired I became... I
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