Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Quick Thank you
Just wanted to say thank you to Mr. Bell for all of his support with my writing, and for being such an amazing teacher!
Sharlie & the Arena
Hey All!
So let me get straight to the point because I want to say quite alot and I honestly don't have time to write it all. So on Sunday I lost my temper with Sharlie and she lost hers with me. Very simple very plain. I am ashamed of it, but I cannot change it. So let me tell you what happened today.
I decided to ride Sharlie bareback because we are both much happier that way then with the saddle. We are both naturally tense when it comes to the saddle. I am tense because it reminds me of my past as well as Sharlie being tense. Sharlie is tense because I am tense. So its a vicious circle.
So yes, we were bareback. I was very determined to work on my fluidity when Sharlie is trotting. So we went to the round pen and we walked around while practicing steering with the carrot stick. I need to ask some of my NH friends what they suggest when it comes to steering Sharlie's blind side. Sharlie is doing good with the carrot stick. She lets me rub her all over when I am on her back and her lateral flexion is good.
Finally I worked up my courage to ask for a trot. I made sure my legs were like wet towels hanging around her sides, my shoulders were relaxed... I sank my seat and moved my hips in a figure 8 pattern with her motions and guess what? I didn't bounce an inch out of my seat!
I was so happy that I stayed on as I opened the gate to leave the round pen and rode over to the arena. I chose to sit as a passenger and let Sharlie relax again. (Sharlie, myself and the arena are not on good terms.) It was very interesting- Sharlie does not stop in the arena unless I ask her to. She keeps walking from one exit to the other (both closed) non-stop. It is not in a RB sort of way, just "Ugh...I wonder if I can get out here..." Eventually, she did something I did not expect. She walked away from the fence and crossed to the opposite side of the arena, her head hanging so low her nose touched the ground. Then she blew out over and over and over and over again! She snorted and blew and sighed. It was a wonderful feeling to have her relax so much. I don't think she ever has done that before. It was even better when she arched out her back (the good arching, not the bad) After a bit of playing with stop-start-stop-start, I decided to end the session there. I was very happy with the results.
I managed to find a couple of minutes to go say hello to Casper and to spend a bit of undemanding time. He came and met me at the gate and enjoyed when I stroked his ears, neck and face. He almost fell asleep right beside me! His head just drooped lower and lower... :)
Stay Savvy
Still writing the novel... Julia, Sharlie and Casper
So let me get straight to the point because I want to say quite alot and I honestly don't have time to write it all. So on Sunday I lost my temper with Sharlie and she lost hers with me. Very simple very plain. I am ashamed of it, but I cannot change it. So let me tell you what happened today.
I decided to ride Sharlie bareback because we are both much happier that way then with the saddle. We are both naturally tense when it comes to the saddle. I am tense because it reminds me of my past as well as Sharlie being tense. Sharlie is tense because I am tense. So its a vicious circle.
So yes, we were bareback. I was very determined to work on my fluidity when Sharlie is trotting. So we went to the round pen and we walked around while practicing steering with the carrot stick. I need to ask some of my NH friends what they suggest when it comes to steering Sharlie's blind side. Sharlie is doing good with the carrot stick. She lets me rub her all over when I am on her back and her lateral flexion is good.
Finally I worked up my courage to ask for a trot. I made sure my legs were like wet towels hanging around her sides, my shoulders were relaxed... I sank my seat and moved my hips in a figure 8 pattern with her motions and guess what? I didn't bounce an inch out of my seat!
I was so happy that I stayed on as I opened the gate to leave the round pen and rode over to the arena. I chose to sit as a passenger and let Sharlie relax again. (Sharlie, myself and the arena are not on good terms.) It was very interesting- Sharlie does not stop in the arena unless I ask her to. She keeps walking from one exit to the other (both closed) non-stop. It is not in a RB sort of way, just "Ugh...I wonder if I can get out here..." Eventually, she did something I did not expect. She walked away from the fence and crossed to the opposite side of the arena, her head hanging so low her nose touched the ground. Then she blew out over and over and over and over again! She snorted and blew and sighed. It was a wonderful feeling to have her relax so much. I don't think she ever has done that before. It was even better when she arched out her back (the good arching, not the bad) After a bit of playing with stop-start-stop-start, I decided to end the session there. I was very happy with the results.
I managed to find a couple of minutes to go say hello to Casper and to spend a bit of undemanding time. He came and met me at the gate and enjoyed when I stroked his ears, neck and face. He almost fell asleep right beside me! His head just drooped lower and lower... :)
Stay Savvy
Still writing the novel... Julia, Sharlie and Casper
Friday, September 10, 2010
Small Circle at Liberty & Auditions
Hey All!!
Last night I took Casper and Sharlie on a walk out to the hay fields. I love the smell of freshly cut hay!
Casper has been limping a few days now so I am a little concerned, but it is very odd. When he has been standing for a few minutes, when he starts to walk he limps quite visibly and badly. But if he keps walking nonstop for several minutes, its almost unnoticable. Very strange....
Sharlie is hating her diet. It has been 2 days and she is very grumpy and very hungry. She had a bit of a overweight spell over the last week but she is back on the diet.
So after our walk I played with Sharlie in the arena, online. She was being very dominant in a playful sort of way. But she DID come intruding my space, trying to push me over. After some porcupine and driving game, she finally connected with me. We went over to the round pen so she could run her heart out. (She is in a small paddock, with very little movement. She was about to burst around the seams...in more ways then one) She cantered, bucked and had a blast...in about 2 minutes. Then she came back to me and told me she was done for today.
I've been riding Casper on trailrides these last few days. He loves it and so do I. He is running up to me in the field and is happy to see me. It has taken a while to heal his heart from the problems from other people, but we are finally having fun. I don't look forward to starting him to the saddle & bridle again though. He hasn't reacted very well to either, going extreme RBE non-stop no matter what you do. We arre going to take it very slow, change bit, maybe buy a bareback pad...well we shall see what is needed but something will have to change!
I know I need to take some photos of both ponies very soon because it has been a while. I am also considering filming an audition or two this winter (hopefully Christmas money) It would either be Online or Liberty. Sharlie and I are still struggling with Freestyle, especially with her bucking when I ask for the canter. I hope to get my blue string however before spring.
That is all for now. I will keep you posted. Stay Savvy!!
Julia, Sharlie and Casper
Last night I took Casper and Sharlie on a walk out to the hay fields. I love the smell of freshly cut hay!
Casper has been limping a few days now so I am a little concerned, but it is very odd. When he has been standing for a few minutes, when he starts to walk he limps quite visibly and badly. But if he keps walking nonstop for several minutes, its almost unnoticable. Very strange....
Sharlie is hating her diet. It has been 2 days and she is very grumpy and very hungry. She had a bit of a overweight spell over the last week but she is back on the diet.
So after our walk I played with Sharlie in the arena, online. She was being very dominant in a playful sort of way. But she DID come intruding my space, trying to push me over. After some porcupine and driving game, she finally connected with me. We went over to the round pen so she could run her heart out. (She is in a small paddock, with very little movement. She was about to burst around the seams...in more ways then one) She cantered, bucked and had a blast...in about 2 minutes. Then she came back to me and told me she was done for today.
I've been riding Casper on trailrides these last few days. He loves it and so do I. He is running up to me in the field and is happy to see me. It has taken a while to heal his heart from the problems from other people, but we are finally having fun. I don't look forward to starting him to the saddle & bridle again though. He hasn't reacted very well to either, going extreme RBE non-stop no matter what you do. We arre going to take it very slow, change bit, maybe buy a bareback pad...well we shall see what is needed but something will have to change!
I know I need to take some photos of both ponies very soon because it has been a while. I am also considering filming an audition or two this winter (hopefully Christmas money) It would either be Online or Liberty. Sharlie and I are still struggling with Freestyle, especially with her bucking when I ask for the canter. I hope to get my blue string however before spring.
That is all for now. I will keep you posted. Stay Savvy!!
Julia, Sharlie and Casper
Sunday, August 29, 2010
The Empty Arena Challenge- Part 1/4 & 2/4
First let me explain the 4 sections of this challenge, as I forgot to mention it last time. I have 2 horses, to I divide it into 2 sections already. But then I have to play on the ground and riding with both horses, thus splitting each horse's half in half again. I hope that makes sense. :)
So yesterday I played with Sharlie in the empty arena and completed her half of the challenge. I started with Sharlie because we are more advanced (playing Level 3/4) so it was much easier to get creative with an empty arena.
So we began with online, on the ground. I have started to use the "Tag" method to get Sharlie engaged. But not willing to over-use it, I have also started to do the Falling Leaf pattern with some stick to me, and a bit of Sideways game for flavor. ;) It went very well and Sharlie is doing great online. I think I'll start working towards my Level 3/4 Online, and use the money I get for Christmas to pay for it.
Then came riding. Now on Friday night I rode Sharlie with a saddle and did some walk, trot and a bit of canter, though the canter didn't work out because she bucked. We are slowly going to work through that, bit by bit. But Friday night did not count, because there were poles in the arena! So even if I wasn't using the poles, the arena was not empty. So Saturday is the freestyle I am counting.
I rode bareback, in a halter and lead rope. For those who have been following our journey for a while, you know that riding Sharlie bareback at a gait faster than a walk has been difficult. But yesterday we trotted in circles, figure 8's, ovals, turns, curves, etc... We did a million transitions and ended with a fun back up out of the arena. It went quite well, despite Sharlie's ears being back.
Another piece of information is that SHARLIE IS ON A DIET!!! :D No grain for ms. FAT-FAT-FATTY! The vet said she could easily lose 100 pounds...I think more. But she is looking good! Her fur has become a soft fuzz and her neck isn't marked with fat wrinkles anymore. :) I'll keep you updated on her diet.
Thats all for now! Stay Savvy!
Julia, Sharlie & Casper
So yesterday I played with Sharlie in the empty arena and completed her half of the challenge. I started with Sharlie because we are more advanced (playing Level 3/4) so it was much easier to get creative with an empty arena.
So we began with online, on the ground. I have started to use the "Tag" method to get Sharlie engaged. But not willing to over-use it, I have also started to do the Falling Leaf pattern with some stick to me, and a bit of Sideways game for flavor. ;) It went very well and Sharlie is doing great online. I think I'll start working towards my Level 3/4 Online, and use the money I get for Christmas to pay for it.
Then came riding. Now on Friday night I rode Sharlie with a saddle and did some walk, trot and a bit of canter, though the canter didn't work out because she bucked. We are slowly going to work through that, bit by bit. But Friday night did not count, because there were poles in the arena! So even if I wasn't using the poles, the arena was not empty. So Saturday is the freestyle I am counting.
I rode bareback, in a halter and lead rope. For those who have been following our journey for a while, you know that riding Sharlie bareback at a gait faster than a walk has been difficult. But yesterday we trotted in circles, figure 8's, ovals, turns, curves, etc... We did a million transitions and ended with a fun back up out of the arena. It went quite well, despite Sharlie's ears being back.
Another piece of information is that SHARLIE IS ON A DIET!!! :D No grain for ms. FAT-FAT-FATTY! The vet said she could easily lose 100 pounds...I think more. But she is looking good! Her fur has become a soft fuzz and her neck isn't marked with fat wrinkles anymore. :) I'll keep you updated on her diet.
Thats all for now! Stay Savvy!
Julia, Sharlie & Casper
Monday, August 23, 2010
The Empty Arena Challenge
Hey All!
Its been a while, I know. School has started but it has been excellent! Sharlie and Casper ran to me today, Sharlie wearing a wonderful mud face mask. I did a figure 8 at liberty with Sharlie, as well as stick to me, small circles, and cantering on the 12 foot line. I rode Casper around and had some fun walking around.
All this is fun and wonderful, so I am going to challenge myself and play in an empty arena for 1 play session with both of them. They are 2 opposite horsenalities so this should be interesting! I'll let you know how it goes.
Stay Savvy!
Julia
Its been a while, I know. School has started but it has been excellent! Sharlie and Casper ran to me today, Sharlie wearing a wonderful mud face mask. I did a figure 8 at liberty with Sharlie, as well as stick to me, small circles, and cantering on the 12 foot line. I rode Casper around and had some fun walking around.
All this is fun and wonderful, so I am going to challenge myself and play in an empty arena for 1 play session with both of them. They are 2 opposite horsenalities so this should be interesting! I'll let you know how it goes.
Stay Savvy!
Julia
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Long Morning + extras
This morning Kara and I woke up at 6:30 (Kara is over for a sleepover & yes it IS amazing we woke up at all at that hour) We were down at the stables by eight. We left just after midday. Let me give you a summary of what happened in these 4 hours.
We caught Sharlie & Casper and began playing with them on the ground. I played with Sharlie, and Kara played with Casper. Sharlie was being very LBI so I tried to tag her. The first time she was RB, but then she started to play. She spinned and twisted and leaped and bounded. She got engaged so quickly that we did several patterns in a matter of half an hour! Kara played with Casper on sideways, circling, turning, porcupine, driving, friendly with the flyspray bottle and figure 8 pattern. Then we mounted up! I got on Sharlie first. She was great! Except that she chipped one of her hooves several times :/
Casper was spooky. He still needs alot of work with being mounted up on...not just riding. We tried a trail ride when he calmed down, but something spooked both horses violently so we decided to turn back. I rode Sharlie into the pond, and Kara wen into the water with Casper (on foot). Both horses had a good time in the pond and afterwards we turned them out. We decided to retire back to the air-conditioned home, and called mom to pick us up. :]
A few additional points...
I have a new tumblr account. http://savvyingthrulife.tumblr.com
Enjoy!
There are some new occurring events happening in my life at the moment, I will keep you posted but be ready in case of another companion joining this journey.
Also, it was brought to my attention that my blog gives the impression that I lead a perfect life with my horse and we have no problems. That is NOT the case. No partnership between horse & human (or in any case..human&human, dog&human...whatever) but anyway no partnership is perfect, and mine is far from it. I may post more of my positive play sessions with Sharlie because honestly I am ashamed of the bad ones. My relationship with Sharlie is a dream come true, but it is far from perfect. Luckily, every day we get a step closer. We learn, we remember, and we don't make the same mistake twice. If I do...Sharlie reminds me.
So please don't tell me my life with Sharlie is perfect. Because it isn't.
Stay Savvy
Julia & Sharlie
We caught Sharlie & Casper and began playing with them on the ground. I played with Sharlie, and Kara played with Casper. Sharlie was being very LBI so I tried to tag her. The first time she was RB, but then she started to play. She spinned and twisted and leaped and bounded. She got engaged so quickly that we did several patterns in a matter of half an hour! Kara played with Casper on sideways, circling, turning, porcupine, driving, friendly with the flyspray bottle and figure 8 pattern. Then we mounted up! I got on Sharlie first. She was great! Except that she chipped one of her hooves several times :/
Casper was spooky. He still needs alot of work with being mounted up on...not just riding. We tried a trail ride when he calmed down, but something spooked both horses violently so we decided to turn back. I rode Sharlie into the pond, and Kara wen into the water with Casper (on foot). Both horses had a good time in the pond and afterwards we turned them out. We decided to retire back to the air-conditioned home, and called mom to pick us up. :]
A few additional points...
I have a new tumblr account. http://savvyingthrulife.tumblr.com
Enjoy!
There are some new occurring events happening in my life at the moment, I will keep you posted but be ready in case of another companion joining this journey.
Also, it was brought to my attention that my blog gives the impression that I lead a perfect life with my horse and we have no problems. That is NOT the case. No partnership between horse & human (or in any case..human&human, dog&human...whatever) but anyway no partnership is perfect, and mine is far from it. I may post more of my positive play sessions with Sharlie because honestly I am ashamed of the bad ones. My relationship with Sharlie is a dream come true, but it is far from perfect. Luckily, every day we get a step closer. We learn, we remember, and we don't make the same mistake twice. If I do...Sharlie reminds me.
So please don't tell me my life with Sharlie is perfect. Because it isn't.
Stay Savvy
Julia & Sharlie
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Playing at Kara's
These last few days I've been at Kara's house (I'm here now) and I have been having so much fun. I really hope that bringing Sharlie here for a playdate/mega-sleepover will be possible soon.
I have learnt so much here too. It is so nice to be able to watch Parelli DVDs with people to compare and reflect on it. I have been riding Hope, Brita's horse. Hope is a mild RBE/LBE and sometimes snotty LBI. She has been very good to me though. I think that I could learn alot from here.
We have been playing with the pond alot. Hope is...no WAS scared of the water but this morning after a long sweaty trailride she went in with Kara riding Cherish and lay down 3 times! Cherish lied down several times with Kara on his back. This evening Hope amazed us more by swimming across the pond!
I am having so much fun and I really wish I could stay. Oh well...
Stay Savvy!
I have learnt so much here too. It is so nice to be able to watch Parelli DVDs with people to compare and reflect on it. I have been riding Hope, Brita's horse. Hope is a mild RBE/LBE and sometimes snotty LBI. She has been very good to me though. I think that I could learn alot from here.
We have been playing with the pond alot. Hope is...no WAS scared of the water but this morning after a long sweaty trailride she went in with Kara riding Cherish and lay down 3 times! Cherish lied down several times with Kara on his back. This evening Hope amazed us more by swimming across the pond!
I am having so much fun and I really wish I could stay. Oh well...
Stay Savvy!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Camp- Day 2 Tuesday
Tuesday was the first full day of camp. Bright and early during breakfast, Hannah made my day! I saw her trailer pull up in the driveway and I had this sense of relief. My idol is here.(!) We had our horses fed and tacked up and took them to the big back field that is full of toys. I couldn't wait to take Sharlie out there. I was hoping she would like several of the obstacles such as the tires, the big rings and the logs. We ended up spending a lot of time at the tires. I wish we could have had more time back there. There is not enough time for playing with everything.
Within a few minutes we were mounted up in the arena working on Follow the Rail and cantering.
That afternoon we worked on trailer loading. Sharlie got to the point where she trotted into the trailer! I was so happy!!
Then riding in the arena, we had the sprinkler on (IT WAS SO HOT!) We did figure 8's around the whole arena. Several times I could let go of the reins...Wow.
Within a few minutes we were mounted up in the arena working on Follow the Rail and cantering.
That afternoon we worked on trailer loading. Sharlie got to the point where she trotted into the trailer! I was so happy!!
Then riding in the arena, we had the sprinkler on (IT WAS SO HOT!) We did figure 8's around the whole arena. Several times I could let go of the reins...Wow.
Camp- Day 1 Monday
When everyone arrive, Jennifer took us over the rules and schedule. After that we went out to go get our horses to play the 7 games with them in the arena, so Jennifer could see where we were with our horses. I learnt a lot that morning because we got so deep into the Seven Games. Unfortunately 2 girls passed out so the morning was eventful. By the afternoon, we were riding. I was prepared for Sharlie being very Right Brain and Extroverted. What I got surprised me. She was introverted. She was flipping from LBI and RBI but at least she didn't try and run away with me.
So I was surprised about the difference already apparent in Sharlie, and excited to see if Hannah would come the next day.
So I was surprised about the difference already apparent in Sharlie, and excited to see if Hannah would come the next day.
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