Slowly but surely...

Sharlie and I have slowly been working on our online and liberty. I am trying to get Sharlie to understand that not everything means go. I have had to use alot "savvy-string-draped-over-neck" but otherwise we are making slow progress. It would be interesting to see how Sharlie reacted in an arena with no grass. Online, we are working on preping for the trailer. Stepping over things, stepping on things, Squeeze game, etc...
Its coming slowly, but remember "Take the time it takes so it takes less time". That is Parelli.

I am also trying to write an article I can send to The Savvy Times team.

Bareback and the...trailer.

Bareback:
I have found it very fun to ride bareback now. I can walk and trot! Sharlie's trot is so bouncy, I can only go a few steps at a time. But I am working on slowly trotting longer and longer.

The Trailer:
You may know that Sharlie is terrified of the trailer. Probably abused or in an accident or something. We have been making steady progress with the trailer and a few days ago, Sharlie put both front feet into the trailer for 10 seconds! She turns extremely LBI around the trailer so I had to realllly motivate her. Unfortunately the barn owners have been using the trailer recently and now it is full of junk, so I will have to wait a few days or weeks before I can continue working with Sharlie with the trailer!

Playdate!

Hannah and I have been talking about arranging a playdate. I really hope we can do it soon because she is such an inspiriation! It would be like meeting a hero from a fairytale or dream. Well, it would be because I am living the dream, and she is my hero. And I think it would be amazing if she managed to play with Sharlie.

So I am praying and crossing my fingers. I really hope we get to have a playdate soon!

7/31/09-Level 1 graduated

On the last day of July, Sharlie and I passed our Level 1 unofficially. I don't want to send in a Audition for a while. I want to get my money's worth!

Future of Parelli

Lea created this video, of the Savvy Club teens that want to become Parelli Professionals.

Here is a link. Watch, it is amazing! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUGIKWXelqg

Its been over 2 years, and I did it!

Today was...intresting to say the least. My instructor decided that it was time that I start to canter. Hahaha..ha...ha...ha........
I freaked! I am now just starting to get used to Sharlie's trot. And...so now I am supposed to canter??!! It has been over 2 years since I cantered!
I almost fell of every time. I lost my stirrups a few times, but the last time, I managed to do almost 1 whole round of the round pen!!!! =]
So...today was interesting to say the least...

(Sorry, I wasn't expecting it so I did not bring my camera! =[ )

Level 3 here we come!

YES YES YES!!!!!!!!! Sharlie and I are only 3 or 4 tasks away from graduating Level 2 online!
YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!

I am so happy! I am currently working on our Freestyle, but I will start playing those tasks. Then I will be able to film my Audition!

Not the lonely 'natural' anymore!

I have know Marisa and Mariah for a dew months now. They leased a horse together at the stable. And now they just got their own horses! They are going to become savvy club members. And I will be able to teach them alllll about Parelli! I might be only Level 1/2, but I've been lonely WAY too long to let that stop me!

Until Now...

At the beginning of June, I set my sights on the Auditions. We were going away in about 2 weeks and I thought that I could pull it off. But a few days before we left, I decided to wait till we get back from California.
Our stay in CA was nice, but I was jumping in my seat to get back to Sharlie as soon as possible! (It didn't help that we missed our flight to Knoxville that night and had to stay in the Hilton)
So, now I am back. I am having lots of fun. I am able to ride by myself now! And enjoy it! So now I will start working on trotting in the big field, and working on my Level 1 Freestyle! :) =]

Dark and Sad Suprise- The vet's verdict and the hard weeks that followed Part 2

When she recovered and came home, I was happy to see her where she belonged. I made an extra effort to comfort her. She was severely out of shape, so I decided to do mostly Liberty work on her. Those days were hard, but I knew that the chances of her eye healing to some degree was now even more possible.

After Sharlie's catheter had been removed, it was time to start riding again. We set a date for the next week. Then, everyday of that week, I exercised Sharlie doing the circling game, driving game and squeeze game. Then the day of the riding lesson arrived. I was extremely nervous. The last time I had ridden Sharlie was in March and we were near the end of May.

But it turned out the lesson went extremely well. I had been reading up on Freestyle lately so I did try to do the Balance Point, etc...

That was the first good lesson I had with Sharlie in a very long time. The only pleasent ride before this one was when I went to go try her out. And that was when I started to enjoy riding again!
Somewhere in this mix, the vet came to visit and gave us 2 options:

1-All of Sharlie's medication wasn't working and the infection was starting to grow immune. Maybe if we just tried Bute, it will keep the swellling down and keep her out of pain.
2-If the bute didn't work, we would have to remove the eye.

*Dramatic Music* Just to let you know, I did NOT like option 2 at ALL!!!

Good news: The bute is working just fine now. Option 2 does not look like it is going to happen.