The canter!

Brego is gaining a lot more confidence and control on his Circling game, there's almost no bucking anymore and he takes the canter transition much better.

He really enjoyed cantering some laps this afternoon, about a week ago he'd swish his tail and face me if I asked for the transition. So happy with him.

I'm able to let out all the 45' line and let him circle around. He's really happy and is offering a lot! :D

-Priscilla

Reaction vs. Lightness

Think of the difference between 'light' and 'reactive'. Brego used to be reactive, now he is light. Aha! Reactive doesn't necessarily mean explosive. A horse can have the right reaction, but it is still a reaction none the less.

You don't want a reaction, you want a light response.

Lightness: A calm and smart response to pressure.

Reaction: A horse moving out using it's prey animal instincts.

On the Fence..

When I fed the horses this morning, I sat on the fence next to Brego. This was huge for him to let me do because he didn't trust people to do this before. He used to swing around and face them without thinking. I sat there for about 10 minutes just stroking and massaging his back. He moved a little away after the 10 minutes but he was still broadside.

How often do you just sit with your horse? Do you know what a powerful affect it can have on your relationship and how he thinks of you?

As People, we tend to get very direct lined in our thinking about our goals. We want to "get there and do it". Horses don't feel that way. They want their safety, comfort, food and play. Notice in that list it doesn't really have any of our goals. How can we make the Horse-Human relationship work, not only work, but the dream come true? We have to meet them where they are. We have to use their priorities to motivate and encourage them to become our partners. We want them to be Horseman, just like we want to. Not prisoners or prey animals.

Today I was able to use his motivations to my goals. My end goal for what I did was to be able to mount from the fence, I can mount from the fence on Cricket but with him I need it more. I sat on the fence, in his comfort and safety zone, in his turnout, and accomplished something that had used to make him frightened.

Win-win! Another way that Parelli has made my dreams with horses come true.

Priscilla

I'VE PASSED!

I HEARD BACK FROM AUDITIONS AND I PASSED ALL MY LEVEL 2!!!!! FREESTYLE + ONLINE!!!!!! YEEEEEEEEEHAAWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Punk

Westu hal!

Abby and I went on a trail ride yesterday, she rode Jehu and I took Brego. Notice I didn't say "rode". Brego has been playing a lot Online (on the ground with a rope) with me and he's gaining a lot of confidence. Until yesterday's ride, I didn't quite realize just how much confidence he has. He's a former Right Brain Extrovert who was VERY reactive.

We walked with our horses for the first 1.5 miles, it was good and Brego was doing well and was doing some 'S' patterns. We got to the wash and that's where most of the "Ima Punk" kicked in. It was a scream. He was pulling upper level dressage moves such as Levade and Capriole! It was SO funny... He even went so far as to nip me a few times but I backed him off and he was okay after that.

When I actually contemplated getting on he switched to "Punk x10". I got on and got right back off. Left Brain Extrovert, Brego? Yeahhhh..

So the trail ride turned into a trail walk, I like that...

Being a Left Brain Extrovert myself, I think I've met my match in Brego! :D

-Priscilla

What am I?

When I fed the horses tonight I also played with Brego. We were both in the exact same state of mind. A little confused and slightly curious. It wasn't really good. I sent him out on a circle to help us both clear our minds, I stood there. He circled for about 15 laps, he was trotting. This is an easy feat for him, he likes circles, it helps him think. He slowly trotted around, he was connected to me. We're a lot alike, both Extroverts. Both physically active. We both think with our feet. We both need recess before school. 

I stood there and thought about where I was going to be in 3 years and 9 months, when I'm 18. When I'm getting ready to go the the Fast Track and enter the Mastery Program to become a Parelli Instructor. Where will I be? Will I have changed? Will I fail? My energy rose more and more, my thoughts raced. I got tense. Brego disengaged very quickly, approached me and gave me a look saying, "Hey you, snap out of it! It's going to be okay, calm down." He was so perceptive and thinking, it make me realize how much he was thinking and observing me. I settled down and stood by him, stroking him the whole time. We were both calm now. He's more mature than me sometimes. I moved on and played with the Green Ball a little bit then put him away. 

I was so much more calm with the future as I biked home. Everything will be okay because God is in complete control. I'm at peace.

-Elrohwen

It's been Announced!

YEAH! It's official, "Inheritance", the fourth and last book in the Inheritance cycle will be released on November 8th 2011! It was announced on alagaesia.com! 

I've been waiting FOREVER for it to at least have release date! 

Yippie!!

Priscilla