Cricket is soooo good!

(Liberty, 30 mins) I played with Cricket Online in Preparation for Liberty (it’s all prep for liberty… Right?) and she was fantastic! She was putting effort into everything. Well, not everything, but a lot of things!

I sent her on a figure 8 at the walk and she usually is a bit lazy about it but she went out…… Slow…. but coming around the cone she pricked her ears and trotted back to me! Yes! SO cool! Effort!

Later, I let her go and gave her some hay and right after I put it in the bin I ran and picked up the halter and 22’ line. I turned around and she was looking at me with her ears forward and her butt to the food!! What? Me over the food! Amazing! I love her so so so so much!

I’m really putting the relationship first. I can see it now.

Yes.... another Brego update!

Played with Brego again this morning and he was really good! I played with sideways with zone 5 against the fence, that went okay...

I also played with his transitions and staying relaxed. He's starting the recognize my "go" and "whoa" hands which is really cool! He's getting the meaning of my phases but I'm wanting to keep them low and keep slack in the line.  If he gets his transitions really good, that'll be a dream come true! :)


Priscilla

Brego

I played with Brego this morning and he did beautifully! He didn't react to anything but he was still light and motivated! We played mostly with upward and downward transitions, they're getting better but they're not good yet.

Priscilla

A Pattern to the 7 Keys to Success and my Personal growth.

Hello! 
In our study group, Tina Giordano had asked us to look for a pattern to the 7 keys to success in the book, "Natural Horsemanship". There was the general pattern for on the ground and riding but today as I woke up I noticed another pattern that I had found mostly in the levels pathway and my personal growth. Here goes! 

Level 1: Is where my Attitude had to change the most. I was so caught up in everything being my horse's fault and there was nothing natural about my outlook. 

Level 2: This is where, once I had a changed Attitude and outlook, I was able to gain Knowledge of his behaviors and start to know what happens before what happens, happens! I learned to most about my Tools in Level 2 because I had to change to a 22' line, it was a reminder that everything had to stay positive and progressive. 

Level 3: Is where I've become very aware of my Techniques because I'm starting to Refine them, a lot. My Time has been essential to my leadership, you have to have great Timing to get a snappy response later! I've had to become much more Imaginative in Level 3. You're learning all the principles, concepts and games in Level 1 and 2, it's all the same stuff in Level's 3 and 4 but you have to have more Imagination or your horse will get bored with you. 

Level 4: Although I'm not here yet, I've imagined that Level 4 will be where all the other 6 keys come together so that you and your horse can Support each other, especially in a competition. Specialization can look pretty stressful but if you put the horse first and his cake before his icing (or foundation before specialization), everything will hold together fine and you will be Supporting each other instead of you being white knuckled, babying your horse along all the while hoping he won't spook at the banner on hanging on the rail. 

What do you think? 

Priscilla


PS. 
The 7 Keys to Success are:
Attitude
Knowledge
Tools
Techniques
Time 
Imagination
Support

Abby and I went to a Parelli Playday today, it was great! I took Brego but I didn't ride him because we're not ready yet. Even though I didn't ride, we still managed to have a great time. To top that off, we were even able to get high points on what we were able to do! Brego sparkled! I also got to play my first game of horse soccer (I 
rode somebody else's horse for it), now THAT was fun!


Please forgive me if you think I'm only blogging about Brego. I know it's what I'm doing but it doesn't mean I'm "forgetting" Cricket! Cricket is my girl, I'll NEVER forget her. 


I'm developing Brego right now and he's going to be my higher levels horse. Cricket and I passed Level 2 and that was amazing! But Brego and I can really go further, I'm planning on specializing with him, going on to competition. Becoming an instructor with him and Cricket as my partners and super horses... Please understand that Cricket is still very much a part of me.




-Priscilla 

The progression is mind blowing!!

I played with Brego this afternoon and he was perfect! We played with our sideways with and without a fence, did super well.... He offered a Piaffe and Passage (two fancy dressage maneuvers)!!! That's way to advanced for him but I was happy he was trying for me... He can back out and come in at phase 1 on the 22' line! I asked for a change of direction at the canter with a simple lead change and HE DID IT!!♥

My Lesson Homework

Here's the homework from my last lesson with Tina Giordano:

Brego:
Tina said I'm doing all the right things, I just need to do more of it.

Cricket:
Tina says we're doing fantastic and I need to start refining things and getting more particular. Cricket looses a lot of motivation when I'm critical, it's good that it shows so I know when to change. We are doing point to point in the arena (walk, trot, canter) and refining the indirect and direct rein. Right now the focus is to lengthen her impulsion (whoa and go), she's more whoa right now and a lot of straight lines will really help motivate her. Tina also asked that I send her a Liberty video of things we can do, that'll be fun!!


Priscilla

You've just gotta LOVE the ponies!!

Cricket all over!!!