I just got into Colorado Springs and my flight was great! :) I'm so looking forward to my course, I'm checking in Monday morning!! :)

I rode this evening...

...And it was wonderful! Aravis was well behaved and we were bareback. She trotted out beautifully and even thought of cantering.

Her transitions online have become wonderful! Her sideways both toward and away has also much improved and progressed. :) Her circles are better and her connection is stronger.

I ended up riding her back to Bobbi Sox and she wasn't trying to run, she was calm and trusting.

Aravis is ready for trails and clinics in my opinion. Trails anyone?

-Priscilla

PS. SO excited about Pagosa!

I'm simply bubbling over! That fact that I'm GOING to Pagosa springs- to the Parelli ranch is just mind blowing!

(*insert major happy dance*)

I'm SOOOO excited!

pictures that I forgot to post! :)

I cantered Aravis for the first time!

More like she cantered herself.... Phew! Incredible, I know! :) She was amazing and we were bareback. She trotted two laps of the round pen with a lovely trot and then offered to canter and I took it.

Boy, she has a rolling, huge canter!

Packing like a crazy women for Pagosa!! :)

So nice! :)

Lovely ride today... 

Started online, we worked with our sideways towards, transitions, and our good laps. She was so good. 

Then I got on and we started doing some passenger lesson first at the walk and then I asked for the trot. At first she had the "poopy face" and then she brightened up. I would allow her to break into the walk but then the second after I would ask for the trot again- you have to wait for the mistake in order to correct. After doing that for about 15 mins she trotted a whole lap of the round pen and then I stopped and praised her like she won the Kentucky derby. 

-Priscilla

PS. ONLY 4 DAYS UNTIL MY COURSE?? Yikes! 

Onward and upward....

I think I can stop saying "Aravis day __" in the blog post title as we're over this go issue. The last I rode her she was tired so I gave her two days off then played with her on the ground. I will be riding her tomorrow and we'll see how she does... probably fantastic.

Must get to bed as I'm off to work tomorrow! :)

-Priscilla

PS. Sheesh! Only 5 days 'till I leave for my course!! This is scary.... but so stinking cool!

Aravis day 4

Great session. We're focusing mainly on a million transitions at the walk and trot. It was very good today, I had more balance and fluidity and she had a better expression.

Rene' helped me so much and now I can be more independent! :)

-Priscilla

PS. Rene' is letting my borrow her amazing balance saddle!

Aravis and Rene' day 3

Great session both on the ground and riding this morning.

:) So I'm going to be riding, riding, riding for the next two weeks and then OFF to Parelli!! :)

Aravis is really getting through this bucking/rearing thing with "just go!"

I'm going to ride tomorrow after work! Rene' is kindly letting me borrow her saddle... I don't know what I'd do without her... hehe..

Anyways... have a wonderful day...

-Priscilla

Rene's is coming again tomorrow!

Yes! Another lesson... phew! Then on through the rest of the week I'm on my own. We'll see how this goes. :) It'll be great I'm sure, I'm set up for success. 


I'm getting up early tomorrow to take care of the ponies and warm up Aravis because Rene' is coming at 8:00. 


So! This will be interesting and no doubt great! 


-Priscilla


Verse on my mind:


"But he was pierced for our transgressions, 
    he was crushed for our iniquities;the punishment that brought us peace was on him,    and by his wounds we are healed." -Isaiah 53:5


Chapter on my mind: Psalm 119... I want to memorize it. 

Things I need to memorize before my course

7 keys to success: (which I already know)


1. Attitude
2. Knowledge
3. Tools
4. Techniques 
5. Time
6. Imagination
7. Support


10 Qualities of a Horseman (3-1/2 for the Horse and 6-1/2 for the Human) (which I already know) 


1. Heart and Desire - Horse and Human
2. Respect - Horse
3. Impulsion - Horse
4. Flexion (lateral and vertical) - Horse
5. Attitude - Human
6. Feel - Human
7. Timing - Human
8. Balance - Human
9. Savvy - Human
10. Experience - Human



Eight Responsibilities: (which I already know) 

The Human:
Don’t act like a predator
Have an independent seat
Think like a horse
Natural power of focus

The Horse:
Don’t act like a prey animal
Don’t change gait
Don’t change direction 

Eight principles: (which I need to know better)

1. Horsemanship is natural
2. Don't make or teach assumptions
3. Communication is mutual
4. Eight responsibilities of a Partnership (see above)

5. Attitude of justice is effective

6. Body language is universal
7. Horses teach riders, riders teach horses
8. Principles, purpose, and time are the tools of teaching


It's great to know this stuff but I need to know it forwards (check!), backwards (nope..), and inside out! :) Soo.... now for backwards and inside out!

-Priscilla

Aravis and Rene' day 2

Aravis did GREAT today! She had a few moments where she felt blocked and one moment where she reared but we pushed through it and just said "Go!" :)

She was great and Rene' has helped so much. It's wonderful when you have someone on the ground telling you to do what and when.

I have a lot more I can do and some better strategies for better leadership. Rene' will come and help me Monday which will be awesome.

-Priscilla

Aravis and Rene' day 1

I was going to go to Rene's clinic with Aravis this weekend but it was canceled because a few of her horses got sick.... Then she offered to give me a private lesson instead.... It was wonderful and we eventually got Aravis moving nicely with walk trot transitions. It's great what you can do when your horse feels heard! :)