Time to my self

Well, it does not happen very often....kinda like needing wild horses to drag me to it......but i am taking a day off of work tommorow.  Yup....trust me....i never miss work. never take vacations....someone literally must be sick or dying....and usually even if that someone is me....I still go to work.  I will have the house all to myself for nearly the whole day.  Hopefully it will stop raining long enough for me to spend a little time with my horses.  I just got 4 new dvd's from giddy up, so will have fun working on a few reviews.  Got some dennis reis, and another ray hunt benifit.  If nothing else, i will just enjoy the peace and quiet before my mom comes home from the hospital.  She has been there for nearly a month, had 3 surgeries, and we just dont know when she is coming home, or the level of intense care that she will need once here.  One way or another, we will figure out how to care for her until she is back on her feet, alive and WELL.  At the moment I feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders.  My work, my family, my mom and my neighbors who hate my horses.  Good news is that I am looking forward to applying for a teaching position at work.  Finally a job I was born to do, that doesn't involve a ton of paperwork.  Wish me luck!

Michelle

Another great horse commercial

THIS should have been a SuperBowl commercial!

Now I know what you are thinking, you should never drive anything while drunk.....that is why there is the back up plan.......Get your self some loyal and sober friends!

Parelli Connect is officially LAUNCHED!!!!!!

You can look for me there! Michelle Howard is thy name.

In case you aren't familiar with it, it is a social networking site like facebook, but for horses!!!  You can add personal pages for each of your horses, and also track your progress for each of your horses.  They have an online check list of tasks to do in each of the 4 savvies~Online, Liberty, Freestyle, and Finesse, and the task for each savvy is specific to the level of your study with each horse.  Pretty cool.  But what is really cool, is that they have made the level 1 video training series available to view online for free!  Not bad, considering you can become a member for a mere $10 a month and have access to thier million dollar video vault online.  It is a great value and a great resource and a great way to get support and meet new friends.

Savvy On
Michelle Howard

FREE tele-seminar tomorrow.....with....

Cynthia Royal.....and if you snooze....you can still not lose, as there is a way to get the audio for free.....check this link out NOW!!!  If you hurry you can even submit a question for Cynthia.

Run little ponies....RUN!

http://equineteleseminar.net/cr/


Savvy On
Michelle

gonna be a long day tommorow

Well, my mom is having her second surgery in 2 weeks tomorrow, and I will be there with one of my mark rashid books.  thanks to my moms accident and illness i have gotten alot of reading done!  I have spent way too much time in dr's offices and emergency rooms and waiting rooms and patient rooms and hospital rooms.......I forgot my book last visit and I was a little miffed as the chairs SUCK, and I had no cel phone service and was in a strange town.  Not tomorrow though.  All told I should be able to log myself about 4-5 hours of reading before the day is over.  Prayers for my mom that all goes well and her 'symptom' goes away.  Don't want to share the details as it is just too gross for words.  I feel bad for her, and really hope this surgery does the trick....I sure wouldn't want to be her right now.

On a lighter note, today was Cha'cote's 3rd time with the bareback pad and he did not shy away from it. He was concerned by it, but only for a second.  4 more times and I will switch to the saddle.  yee haw!

Savvy On
Michelle

DVD Review: ***** Cynthia Royal "live clinic" #2

Live Malibu Clinic disc 2 *****

Holy smokes Batman....'shazam'.....this disk was finally available when I turned some in at giddy-up.  this two set dvd is not to be missed.  Disk 1 really explains the "whys", it is continued on this disk....but this disk has alot of the 'hows'.  She has one horse that she lets 6 auditors come in and do 'walking in sync' or  in WHR....'companion walking'. Anyways, it was really cool to see how different the horse reacted to each participant, the youngest a girl of about 5ys old. But then she pulls out all the stops and brings in, not together, 6 horses, all new to her and her method and I was blown away.  Blown away.  What she does with so little, and the difference she made in each of the horses by just 'being' with them.  I am not kidding.....I called a tow truck to get my jaw off the floor.  The reason this, both she and resnick are so friggin fantastic is that they show you HOW.  If you want to see the difference you can make in a horse before you ever put a halter on....get this dvd set.  you wont regret it.  Take your Liberty play to a whole new level....and even better, your relationship with your horse.  It was 3hs long full of info not to be missed.  I gotta watch it again so I can take notes.  It is one thing to show you a method with horses that already know it, but to show footage of what we all want to see....ya know....how do you REALLY get the horse like that......that's what we all want to see.....the finished product is inpirational, and even somewhat educational, but we all know when you start a totally new program, you want to see what it actually might be like on day one.  Well here it is.  Run, dont walk to her website or giddy-up to get this dvd set.  I know I have paid a hell of alot more in the past.....for a hell of alot less......wish I would have had this 10ys ago.....NO......30ys ago!

Make sure to follow this dvd set up with  her "how" of the rituals 'horsetalk relationship'

I just discovered the coolest thing.....for a mere $9....yes...just $9.....you can download this dvd set to your computer. If that is not the coolest thing....I dont know what is. However, there is a glitch and they are not offering it till probably march of 2011, check back at her site until it is offered. Click here to download from Cynthia's site.


I can't wait for the sun to stay up just a bit later, and the weather to clear up......man I am gonna tear these rituals UP!  Look out video camera.....you gonna get used and abused!

Savvy On
Michelle

DVD Review:*** Karen Scholl 'cornerstone'

Cornerstone for communication.***

This is Karens intro dvd to her method.  Her having been a Parelli instructor, you will find her method in line with the Parelli program and for a new student it is a good dvd to get a different perspective on the techniques.  But you won't miss anything if you don't watch it. 

She talks alot in the dvd about the concepts, and for this upper level student it was too much....been there and heard all that before.  There was nothing in there that sheds any light to new techniques.  But it is straight forward and very informative and very discriptive on the details.  She is very light and very quiet with her horses, and one thing she doesn't seem to do is go to punitive phase 4.  BUT....in this dvd she is using a horse that is already well versed in the method and already very light and quiet.  She states in the dvd that her other dvd's use untrained horses and show more of what it might look like with a new horse or student.  However she doesn't say which dvd that would be in.

Things covered are the basics, such as:

desnsitzing (rhythmic motion), steady and rhythmic preasure

Skills covered in the dvd:

Friendly, Extreme friendly 'helicopter'
Rhythmic preasure: Backing several ways (yo-yo), turning the front end while leading in zone 2/3,disengage hind end.  Steady pressure: lower head, coming forward, backing from chest and nose, turning forehand, hind end, sideways.

I would have to say if you are a level 1, even a level 2 student, you might very well find this a really nice bonus to your journey.

Savvy On
Michelle

A few pics from our ride

Trail ride yesterday. Went around the neighborhood for the first time ever. Rose was intimidating my friend while we were tacking up. I told my friend she was likely looking for a cookie, didn’t make my friend feel any better though. she gave Rose a VERY wide berth, 20ft or so. Probably watching me saddle her did her in. Rose was horrid when I put the saddle on her, but it was the first time, she was fine with the girth. It is the second time I have used my new girth. Hmmmm, how interesting!!!!

This was only Rose’s 5th (i think) trail ride ever. She is such the LBE….she was in front the whole time, never spooked, at the crazy dogs, bouncing goats, galloping donkey….but that puddle…..was a no go! She walked at a strong pace and had to keep stopping for Snookie to catch up with out trotting. she stopped every time i asked her to. i chose to let her walk fast, then ask her to stop and wait as opposed to constantly holding her back to a slower pace.

All cars slowed to a crawl when I raised my hand. I very much appreciated that. so many people are just so stupid when it comes to horses and waving hands! It went so well that my friend is coming up again in a few weeks, and we will tackle that puddle that stand between us and the off road trails that i didn’t know existed……for 2.5ys of living here….just 3 blocks away! Rose was a good girl and I couldn’t have been more proud of her……

OH…..and I wasn’t scared at ALL!!!!!…in case you dont know the story, it took me a year to get over my fear of riding her when i got her….she can be EVIL!!!

Well I could not have asked more of my old friend than what she gave yesterday. She is 27ys old, and out of shape, but she enjoyed getting out yesterday. She kept a steady pace, unwilling to waver from her speed. Normally getting left behind will send her into a RBE panic attack, but not yesterday. She kept her head relatively low to gain the most power of that old body. She had the look of a baby sitter the whole time for my non horsey friend. We didn’t do too much as Snook just wouldn’t be able to. I dont want to push her to a point of struggling. She didn’t mind the goats, donkey, cars, dogs, horses, NOTHING…..kinda out of the norm for the ex-race horse city girl who loaths anything ‘country’. My friend feels very confident with the Snookster, which is good, because it has taken her 23ys to get to this place. She just walked along, and apeared to be saying……"I am just to old to give a @#$%^ any more, c’mon lets get with it" She was a precious angel the whole time, and allowed my and my friend to share some girl time, as we hardly ever even get to see each other anymore. Thanks Snook for being my best teacher, I love you.

I told you wierd things were happening to me, Right?

Ok, so some of the strangest things have been happening lately. I said I didn't want to talk about it and jinx it, but I just have to share now.....but don't think I am not knocking the hell out of my wooden desk as I type this.....

So I am not a lucky person.  Not being negative or anything, it is just my reality.  I have always been the person that is a day late and dollar short.  My best friend is the luckiest person and is always in the right place at the right time to get the deal of the century.  Any ways, ever since my lame settlement for my car accident....I won't go into details other than if ever a person could feel the pain of injustice, it is me over this. But it this three year ordeal is over now, I will have to live with my pain forever, and I am doing my best to just put it behind me, and put the scraps of my life back together, and just get on with life the best I can.

So back to what I was saying, ever since then, wierd GOOD stuff has been coming my way.  Now don't go crazy thinking I won the lottery or anything, nothing that exciting for sure, but good things none the less.  This week has been just another one to add.  It seemed like it wasn't good, as my mom has been in a terrible state.  Oh ya, my disabled mom lives with us, and last weekend had another horrible gall blader attack, and I had to to take her to the hospital on monday, she had surgery on tues, and she is still not well and may have another surgery.  We will know more tomorow.  So I had planned for my best friend (non horse person) to come visit me today and go for a trail ride.  It has been planned for over a week.  Well first my mom, then on thursday, my truck was having mysterious issues with the transmission that mysteriously went away, but I was still leary of hooking the trailer up to it.  Then it seemed as though my mom was to be discharged today with rain predicted for sunday.  We  found out last night she was not being discharged, so again I said 'whew'.  But then I woke up to husband saying "crap I have to go to work"....in his truck of course, and he got free tickets to the hockey game tonight and...he would probably be back in time for us to hitch up, and we would probably be back before he and my son need to leave for the game.  It would all be cutting it close though.  Then my friend was running late, and the stirrups were missing for my extra saddle, had to dig thru the tack room to find them, and time was just getting tighter and tighter.  Well it really seemed to me like there were just too many signs, one after another, pointing in the direction that I should NOT hook the trailer up and go the lake for a ride, and that I should just grow a pair, and take my friend around the neighborhood.....I have not in 2.5ys of living here, ridden the horses on the roads here.

Well I told my friend it felt like I was the person who had a gut feeling I should not get on the plane, so I dont, and then it goes down in a firey inferno and I was the one person spared by a 'feeling'.  She agreed. So off we went down the road, and I discovered that there are off road trails just 3 blocks away.  Both Rose and Snookie were GREAT.  We had lovely time....though I am in pain now....And I likely never would have had the courage to ride out my front drive way had there not been all these signs keeping me away from the lake today.  I am just tickled pink with the fact that my friend will be coming back again in a few weeks to ride again.  I may even have the courage to ride alone ponying Snookie from Rose.  Not an easy thing since my accident, but after having such a great ride, I feel confident that I 'could' if I so 'choose'.  Yet another wierd thing going my way in the last few weeks...almost like God is trying to appologise for letting me get screwed by someone else diving wrecklessly.  Hmm....now we will have to see if I jinxed my self talking about it.....just in case I don't want to mention the other mini-cool things that have happened....no need to push my luck!

Oh, and BTW....water hole rituals, Mark Rashid... strike again.  seems my new strategy is paying off with Rose.  While she was completely horrid when I put the saddle ON her, she for the first time did not make a face while girthing up!  2nd time I used my new girth.  She was annoying while tied....just being a nuisance....but I didn't let it bother me, and I didn't make a big deal out of it, and she was so much better.  I treated her like my FRIEND....rather than a means to an end....rather than getting MORE leadership....I became a better friend.....VIOLA.....Rose being a sweet horse again. 

Savvy On
Michelle

Would you want to be YOUR horse?

Or how about someone elses horse?  Thinking back on the Ray Hunt dvd that I watched, the FtWorth benifit.  Was the colt start with about 30-40 horses.  I stated in my review, that I was less than impressed with alot of what was going on with those colts.  But it really struck me this morning, thinking about being able to see so many being done at the same time with so many different techniques that I thought to my self......which horse would I want to be.  "Would I want to be the horse assigned to 'that' guy......or 'that' guy?"  I quickly got this flash......too many times I said to myself...."I wouldn't want to be that horse, or that one, or that one...." unfortunately I said it ALOT.  But I can say, I didn't say it about them all....so that is good news.  There were definately a few that I could say...."I wouldn't mind being that guys horse"

So what do you think your horse might say about you?  Do you think he sits there wishing he could be 'that' guys horse, instead of yours?  If you think he might be secretely wishing he was someone elses horse.....maybe you ought to think about why he might feel that way, and do something about it.  I know there have been times MY horses probably wished I wasn't thier human.  But I feel I am on the right track now, as I have ditched a few techniques, and added a few more, that the horses seem to appreciate...and I am seeing a difference.  What more can I ask of myself......never ending self improvement for sure.

Something to think about.
Savvy On
Michelle

Considering the Horse: #3 Unfixable Horses

Oh dear, this one educated me...BIG time.  Please read the whole thing, as the end will likely educate YOU big time too.  I guess with my success rescuing, rehabing and rehoming horses...via my success in the parelli program (and my previous knowlege) I just kinda assumed that all horses are 'fixable' by the right person.  That somewhere in the world there would someone with the right skill and personality to match each horse and could fix it, and that too many horses never have the good fortune of meeting that person.  Same theory on horses with hoof problems.  So this chapter and having just seen a few of Pete Ramey's dvds.....both Mark and Pete talk about the ones they couldn't save.  Both describe the account as VERY humbling.  We are not gods, no farrier or clinician is a god....we cannot save them all.  Some are just too far gone, and some the owner get in thier own way.  But some, a small number here, but some......no one can save.  He wrote some things in this chapter that literally made me cry, and all of this pain is man made. 

One of the causes is severe long time abuse....some horses just can't recover no matter how good you are.  you can help them, but you can't cure them.  Another is undiagnosed serious physical issues, such as ulcers.  But the one I had no idea about is in breeding.  I knew genetically you could have some huge problems......but I never really put much thought into it.  I know of MANY big time QH/Paint breeders who do what is called 'line breeding'....and have heard a few breeders state...."if the colt comes out great...I'm a genious....If it is messed up....I'm a moron".....

WTF???  What on earth could cause a person not to hear how incredibly stupid that is?  Maybe they were line bred?  I dunno....but the whole thing sounds REALLY stupid to me.  There are so many great horses to choose from, why on earth would you choose to breed in a way that could seriously comprimise your end product? One of the great phonoms that has always plagued me, is the breeding of Impressive lines.  So many horses have suffered the fate of death due to this human selfishness.  It is one of the reasons I will never buy or rescue a 'grade' quarter horse.  Too easy for someone to take a 'well bred' hypp positive horse to a 'sale' and not tell anyone of his breeding or his genetic problems, and just say it is 'grade'.  They buyer thinks they are getting a great deal, and when they get home, the horse has a siezure....hopefully not while riding, and is ultimately put down.  Pitifully sad and is a fault that only humans can claim. Selfish....and usually for the dream of some stupid ribon at some stupid show.  Thank god the AQHA has finally recognised this via the genetic testing discovered, and is no longer letting them be registered.  But it has not stopped people from breeding them.  IF the colt turns out hypp negative...they register it.....if not....it is sold as 'grade'.  I think they have now made a ruling that if one of the parents is hypp positive the foal CANNOT be registered, but dont quote me on that as I just don't follow QH news.  So to sum up, line breeding is only slightly less risky than in-breeding....which I hope we all know is BAD!!!

So apparently, what can happen is that horses just don't have the genetic make up, that makes them 'normal'.  They can display behavior that is highly dangerous to them selves for no apparent reasons. I have once seen a horse like this, but I don't believe it was the breeding, I believe it was from an accident that the foal suffered at one day old. The filly had run into the stall wall pretty hard head first and she was just never 'right'.  She had an infection that needed 3x daily care, and it took two of us to get the job done.  One to hold her, one to treat her.  One day I thought she was doing well, one arm wrapped around her chest, the other around her rump.  She was about 5dys old.  She leaped straight up and head butted me.  I saw stars and then everything went black....and then a thud as I hit the ground.  When I awoke, I was certain my nose was broken, though it wasn't, and I had two black eyes.  I became more than a little determined to help this filly. I spent several sessions a day with her for a month.  I did TTouch massages with her and every NH technique I knew of.  Every session ended very well, and every session began as though she had never seen me before.  it was the saddest thing I ever saw.  I was then, and still am, convinced something was not right with this filly and never would be.  Not long after that I wasn't working at that farm due to getting my furrent job with the government.  But I worried about her fate, and if I had to lay money on it.....I would bet she is no longer alive.  She, as with all TB's, was destined for the race track, and I can't imagine her 'fitting' in very well there, and if still alive, she would be about 6ys old now.  I think I will pay Donna a visit and see if she can remember this filly and knows what became of her.

Anyhoo, I need to quote something from the book because I swear it ripped my heart out.  It sent chills thru my whole body.  Through some of the things that have happened to me in my life, I can feel the pain of the horse in his story, and of her desperate cry for help.  Basically it is about this mare who was given to him by the owner with the stipulation he would try to help her before putting her down.  Her name was dusty....

"What I soon came to find out, was that Dusty had some problems that were bigger than both of us"
She was very unpredictable, some days she was great, others she would....."pull away, rearing and shaking her head violently".....after getting away, "she would spin and buck in place" and then "stop and look at me. The look of terror that was on her face slowly dissipated into one I can only call helplessness"

One day "at the end of the tantrum, she ran directly into the side of the nearby barn, scraping her head and shoulder before stopping.  To this day, it's hard to explain the feeling I got when she looked at me.  I swear that she was saying, "can you please help me?"......"I felt the mare was trying to tell me something"

"Less than week later, while grazing with another horse in a 5 acre pasture, the mare suddenly panicked for no apparent reason......she turned and began running as fast as she could.  When she came upon a 4 strand barbed wire fence that enclosed the pasture, she never slowed a beat and hit it full speed.
By the time I got there, she was standing quietly about a quarter mile away, being tended to by susie.  The injuries she sustained when she went thru the fence were so severe that there was no question that she'd have to be put down. I immediatly went to the truck and returned with my rifle.  As I approached, she nickered as if to say,

"There...that's what I've been trying to tell you all along.  Finally, now you understand"

One of my best friends has just such a horse.  She and I have talked at great lengths over the years about him, and last year he did something like this to himself.  He was retired in a 1000 acre pasture with a couple dozen other retirees, and for some reason also went thru a fence.  It cost her about a few thousand dollars to save his life, but I had let her know then, horses just don't do the things he does, and maybe she should seriouisly consider puttin him out of his mental misery.  He is over twenty now, and has been like this since she got him as a yearling! She has decided, if he ever again does ANY thing to himself, she will give the nod for the vet to grant is life long request.  Reading this chapter confirmed to me, that we have been right all along suspecting that he just isn't 'right' and never will be.  Is it fair to make a horse continue to suffer this way?

I hope all of you reading this will read the book and story in it's full and original form, as i just can't retype the whole thing for you and Mark of course tells it better than I do.

Please consider that when your horse acts out, he may not need more leadership, he may be trying to tell you something very important and as his friend you should at least try to figure out what it is.

Savvy On
Michelle

Considering the horse: Mark Rashid 2nd edition with updates.

Considering the Horse: #2 Problem Causes

This is a very important chapter as I believe it is a subject too many people forget to investigate.  PAIN.....that's right.....maybe your crazy horse is in pain.  There are a myriad of physical issues that will only manifest themselves into what appears to be a 'training' issue.  Limping isn't the only way a horse can tell you some thing is wrong with him.  Palpating his body will only yield you results for that body part and only for that moment in time.  There is nothing you can on your own do, to observe or palpate......what is going on with his insides.....without a vet's asssistance.  Sometimes, we subconsciously ignore the fact that we may need the vet, trimmer, dentist, chiropractor, acupuncturist, saddle fitter, etc......because our finances don't allow for it.......AND worse yet....because we think that our training method is so good, that we our selves can fix the issue.  He tells some really great stories about some horses whos 'training' issues were magically fixed with one visit from health professional.  Ulcers, teeth, feet and saddles, seem to round out the top of list for 'training' related physical issues.  So it is a great reminder for me as someone who rescues to never forget the possibilities of physical causes FIRST.....because there is ONLY one way for our horse to tell us he is hurting.....and that is to act it out.

A great human example of acting out from pain....is when a woman is in labor.  We have all seen it in the movies and tv shows.......someone says something stupid, with good intentions, to the 98lb woman trying to give birth to a 10lb watermelon, and the obcenities start flying out of her mouth.....often followed by a death grip to whom ever her fingers can latch on to......concluded with some sort of death threat.  When we don't feel good we get grouchy.....why should we assume it would be any different with an animal.

The other leading cause of 'training' issues is abuse.  The scars can be both mental and physical, and he gives some great examples of this too.  Unfortunately, due to a current owners lack of horse handlinig knowledge, or lack of knowlege in medical investigation......they all too often blame that a horse must have been abused in it's past, and the investigation stops cold in it's tracks.  They cannot see that THEY are the ones teaching a horse to behave in that way, due to ignorance of horse behavior....and assume the horse has been hit before.  The other unfortunate is that often they are right....as horses are abused horribly every day.  Thru cruelty and anger, frustration of a training method not working, lack of knowledge, and well meaning owners getting frustrated.  We have a bad day, the horse gets the brunt of it, and we say to our selves it was wrong and we won't do it again.  But why do we do it in the first place?  Why do we go there?  Something to think about for sure.  Have you gone too far?  Frustration, anger and abuse...start.....where knowlege ends.  Get smart fast as your horse NEVER deserves a phase 4 because you don't know what a phase 1 is.

The good part of the chapter is that it educates you to what may be ailing your horse so that it might be corrected....the bad part is that it leads you to the next chapter......'unfixable horses'.....a stark reality.

Savvy On
Michelle

Considering the horse: Mark Rashid 2nd edition with updates.

Considering the Horse: #1 Horse Sense

Mark Rashid is an amazingly talented writer.  Not that a cowboy can't be smart and philosphical.....but DANG this guy is gooood.  He is beyond intuitive.  His style of writing just sucks you in like sitting with a good friend over a cup of coffee.  The more I read, the more blessed I feel that he comes here close to me twice a year and I get a chance to meet what may well be the wisest person I ever meet in my life.  Some unusual things have been happening to me lately, all strangely good in the midst of one of the largest injustices ever to happen to me.  I am not known for having good luck.  For this reason, I never gamble, as the cards always seem stacked against me.  No pity party, just my reality.  The only part that makes it seem harsh, is the fact that one of my best friends is quite possibly the luckiest person to ever roam the planet.  My luck streak, seems to be just enough to keep me afloat.  No more, sometimes less.  So, this causes me to be somewhat superstitious about things, as I never know what kharma (assumedly from a past life) will throw at me next, and she is not routinley very nice to me. For this reason, I am NOT going to talk about these strange occurances, I will knock on some wood, in hopes I don't jinx myself.

So this first chapter is simply an introduction to the fact that we should REALLY consider the horses point of view when around them.  I of course cannot tell a story like he can, and while I do tend to see things very differently from the majority of folks, Mark sees things in the most ironic and metaphoric ways and tells these stories in such a way, that your imagination takes you right there to that place and time that he is speaking of, and causes you to have one epiphany after another without even realizing you are in the midst of changing your life for ever.  Problem is....trying to read two of books at the same time.  He talks of his mentor, and of the first time he ever saw a horse 'broke' and how it was the first time he was made to realize this undeniable fact, that we must always consider the horses point of view.  To be more patient, more quiet, and to never be on a time schedule as that is when you most assuredly run out of time and cause trouble for you and your horse.  Instantly I go back to my trailering issues with Cha'cote, and how they began, the day I filmed my OLL3 with him, and the next time with the trailer I was rushing to try to get him to a play day.  Cha'cote spent 6 yrs locked in a stall, if ever there was a horse that has no time table, it is him.  He waited his life away, and he is probably the single best horse at taking his time to get something done.  He has all the time in the world, and I best get me some more for my self, if ever I stand a chance to change his mind up about the trailer.

This along with watching a Pete Ramey dvd today, I am reminded, more likely taught, that is just when you think you may know it all, or have it all figured out, that life throws you a curve ball to put your insignifant self back into your rightfull place in the universe.  And that is.....a full time student of life and the horse!

Savvy On
Michelle

Considering the horse: Mark Rashid 2nd edition with updates.

Kawoosh!

That is the sound of my relationship going down the toilet if I don’t ‘chill’ a little more. I started with a new student this past weekend. I used it as a great opportunity to test out my ability soften, relax and BE the ‘quiet’ leader. WITH some new horses that I don’t have ANY ‘history’ with. To BE the leader that a horse likes and wants to be with, from the get-go, rather than being a dominant leader. Old habits are hard to break though, and I think I need to take it down a few more notches. Thinking about watching Mark Rashid on those two dvds as I reviewed them for a second time to write the review….I was able to reflect on the results of my new quietness. I am pleased with them. I really want to stress this…..it is amazing how much you can do, with so little. By not adding to the already existing anxiety of the horse, via jumping into assertiveness too quickly. By only blocking your own space, rather than intruding upon theirs, can tell a horse a lot about you, and if you are someone he thinks worthy of ‘trying’ for, rather than feeling intruded upon until he decides to submit.


One of her horses is an LBI, but is sweet and sensitive, so not too lazy of a soul. She was having problems with him turning his rear to her and occasionally offering to kick. After lessons in blocking and driving, we played a little blend of hide your hiney/taking territory. And in retrospect, I would like to use a little less energy. All was well, and he caught on quick, I just want to be mindful for myself, that I still need to take my energy down even more. Being an extrovert my self, my energy can be ON like a neon light, even though I am in neutral. I need to dig out my i-pod, and get my relaxing music on, and just chill in the quietness. MORE sharing territory. More sharing territory. More sharing territory.

Savvy On
Michelle

Cha'cote's first saddle...

Pad!...well bareback pad. We did it! this is his first time having the pad or anything on him. I played with a towel months ago.....a little rope around the belly....but just the one time. He was terrified if it approached him from the front with it. Better on the side, but it still took alot of approach and retreat before I could touch him with it. But once on him, he was fine. I was soooo scared to tighten the girth. On a scale of 1-10 my adrenaline level was about 1000. Afraid he would buck ontop of me, get loose then go thru the barb wire fence. Same fear the first time i led him out of his paddock....and just like that time.....nothing. NOTHING!!! he didn't care one iota. Like he was born with the dang thing on. he was more irritated he couldn't eat grass. I used my new phone to video this, and if I would have known I could get them OFF of there, i would have filmed more.

We also did some more zone 5 touch it, and he also didn't hesitate with that either. what a good boy.

I took those words of Rays to heart yesterday. No more handicapping, no more holding back. The past is the past....I am going to let go of it so i can grab onto the future!

Savvy On
Michelle

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DVD Review:**** Mark Rashid "Ground Work troubleshooting"

Groundwork Troubleshooting ****

The one thing that I think is SOOOO great about this dvd, is that it is a stark reminder about  PNH principle #2 Do not make or teach assumptions.  Both the horses in this dvd were assumed to have 'behavioral' issues....how ever by being quiet, and not ADDING to the horses anxiety, Mark is able to make alot of discoveries and help this horse with his REAL issues.

some of the dvd is repetative and a bit like watching paint dry, but it does offer the opportunity to explore horse behavior, and a simpler, kinder way to get some things accomplished.  We also get to see mark doing something similar to "WHR leading from behind", on a hard to catch horse.

The more I look, the more I see these rituals at the core of the most successfull techniques.....hmmm how interesting!

Lateral thinking demo at it's finest for sure.  Also goes hand in hand with some of the L&HB stuff....kinda cool.

It is also really educational to see how keeping things quiet, you can actually get so much done.  he takes a horse with purported catching problems and difficulty having his feet held, and at liberty, in a fairly large corral, works this horse thru his feet handling issues, all with out restraint.  Pretty awesome in my book and all the more learning that you don't HAVE to cause a a big fuss to get thru to a horse or to get them to yield and release to you.  Mucho Bravo....no lasso...no chasing....no big motions or gestures.....just simple quiet leadership.  LOVE it!

For sure give this dvd 4*s, as this is not to be missed at how much you can get, while doing so little.

Savvy On
Michelle

DVD Review:**** Mark Rashid "Ground driving 101"

Ground Driving 101 ****

I really like Marks style of it not being about "my way or the highway"

If you are new to ground driving or having problems or just thinking about getting ready to do it.....here is the one to watch.  Low key, lots of explanation, lots of reasons and techniques.

Also, if you want to see the how and why of having more than 'neutral' in your bag-o-tricks....you will get that here too.

He gives ALOT of instruction with rope work in regards to long lining, lots of tips and tricks to rope energy and management and it's effects on the horse...ie: a likely reaction to 'this' type of rope movement, or 'that' type of rope movement.

LOTS of getting prepared with communication before strapping on the second rope.  I would consider this dvd a VERY solid foundation in long lining/ground driving.  it is not the upper level, dressagy or fancy stuff though.  But since Level 4 really is just the foundation primarily anyways, it IS upper level parelli and will surely help you get well on your way.  Quite detailed.

He also give a lesson in making and tying soft cotton ropes.....kewl!

Savvy On
Michelle

DVD Review:**** Cynthia Royal ~ Horse Talk: Relationship

Cynthia Royal~Horse Talk~Relationship ****

This is the HOW of her liberty method.  The how of the 'rituals'. It is VERY detailed, and layed out in a methodical, easy to understand format.  This is again like the Resnick WHR's, but there is ALOT of details and video footage of the HOW to do things.  Lots and lots of examples from new to the method horses to seasoned experienced horses.

For all you upper level parelli students looking for some upper level support.  Here ya go, this stuff is sure to launch your Liberty into the next stratesphere. I am still waiting for the 'day two' disk to be available from her live clinic set, at the same time I am getting a new dvd from my que.

As I search for upper level support, I am noticing that there are few who DO upper level freestyle and liberty, thus making the parelli program a hard hard act to follow.  BUT...it is out there, you just gotta sort thru some rif raf to find it.  Lucky for you, am doing that, and sharing the results.  So there are few who do liberty, who have dvd's, that are educational.  So far, Carolyn Resnick and Cynthia Royal, are leading a VERY small pack, and if you have to chose, I would say you cannot go wrong with either of them.  As with the WHR's, if this is a direction you want to go, and you choose Cynthia, I would get her clinic dvd's first, so you can hear the "why's", and then follow up with this dvd for the "how's".

There is a difference between Carolyn and Cynthia.  Cynthia is a performer, who puts on a spectacular show....for Carolyn it is just a way of life.  Cynthia does not do alot of teaching, other than to new trainers in her crew for the show.  Carolyn teaches and trains to people everywhere.  Regardless, they are very similar, and if you want to REALLY understand how horses interact with each other, you can't go wrong with either of them, and would only benifit you twice as much to view both women educational material.

I think every person interested in horse behavior should watch these, so she gets a big fat 4*'s on this one!

Think, act and behave like the 'leader' and you can't go wrong.

Savvy On
Michelle

DVD Review:***** Cynthia Royal Live 2day Malibu Clinic

Cynthia Royal: Clinic Live #1 *****
Want to excel at Liberty??  You will love this.

I really like Cynthia's way of describing things.  Her basic philosphy is the same as Resnicks WHR's.  So if you liked that, this will be more of the same with a slightly different twist.  They go together well, and since i have yet to hear of anyone else that does the WHR type training, these two 'resnick/royal' will give you what you need to play with thes rituals.  This type of training is about creating that bond with your horse that makes everything else possible.  Becoming the "dominant" horse thru the 7 games will only get you so far....it is these bonding rituals that makes you the LEADER.  Otherwise you and your horse will just be arguing over the #2 spot.

This dvd is smart and the rituals well ordered and explained.

The first dvd is not alot, if any, of the HOW....but the WHY is what you need first anyways, and this is gonna tell ya WHY you should do it, and HOW it works....the other dvd's are for the "how to".  This is an excellent introduction to this type of training, and I can certainly say that if you cant get your hands on the WHR, get this and you will be just fine.
So what is the #1 need of a horse....A leader/herd.

The herd/leader gives them all thier needs....food, water, safety, grooming, play, and companionship.

You will learn plenty in this dvd about herd behavior, herd needs and herd culture....and most importantly how you too can join in and have an even better relationship with your horse, being the leader not just the dominant horse!

Iam still waiting for the second dvd in this series to be available when I am 'ready' for my next dvd to be shipped, so I will review the second one....when ever ya'all send it back to giddy-up!

Run, don't walk to your nearest dvd shop to pick this up.....5*s as you just gotta see and hear this if you want to truley be the best for your horse.

I just discovered the coolest thing.....for a mere $9....yes...just $9.....you can download this dvd set to your computer.  If that is not the coolest thing....I dont know what is.  However, there is a glitch and they are not offering it till probably march of 2011, check back at her site until it is offered.  Click here to download from Cynthia's site.

Savvy On
Michelle

In a Parelli Rut? Here's an idea.....

I posted this on a thread on the savvy forum in response to a L3/4 student being in a rut. 

"I would say....think back to your first day with parelli. what was the reason that drew you to it? was it a dangerous horse, fear issues in the saddle or on trail, just wanting a better relationship???


what ever it is....first ask yourself if you have accomplished it. now nothing is ever 100% so dont get too picky on this one. if you have...ie horse not dangerous anymore, your fear is gone, you are a good enough leader to go on trail, your relationship is great.....etc....

then put all that you have learned into purpose. i think that is what alot of us miss....the purpose....you are not alone, i hit a huge wall over a year ago.....but we are clawing our way to the top of it thru other avenues.

so if you like trail riding, maybe your next step would be to join actha and do some trail riding competitions. if it was the dangerous horse....and he no longer is....then get out there and DO something with him now that he is safe. take him to a play day, go on trail, join a new club and meet new friends, start going to local shows.....if it was your confidence and that is back.....then go do what ever it was you were afraid to do, that brought you here.....

you do NOT have to graduate level four to enjoy life and do things.

go rope that cow, hang out with a friend, or enjoy the vast open meadow.....

i think we get so caught up in the levels we forget why we are doing them in the first place.....and then dont recognise when we are ready to actually do them.


if you dont know why, or cant remember why, or never had any goals.....then start going to different types of competition.....cow horse, dressage, driving, trail, jumping.....long list....and see which ones intrest you....and then MAKE a goal and get out there and try things.


GO....BE.........ENJOY. "

Then it got me thinking more and more about the importance of what I said, in relation to my self and my own journey.  Hello!?!  Is anyone listening to themselves.....certainly I don't.  Geesh.  I think it was sparked by Ray Hunts surmon on the mount.  We do tend to hold ourselves back with labels and thus handicaping ourselves from doing the things that would enjoy. 
 
For me, this is going to be my come back year.  Things are going to change around here, and we are all going to have to persevere and push thru pain, fear, and hard descisions to get thru to the other side.  I myself am thinking of joining actha, cutting back on the herd and finding more time to enjoy my horses with no agenda.  Just enjoying each others company and the company of my friends.
 
Savvy On
Michelle