2011 in Review

This past year was one of the greatest years I have had with horses. Sonny and I got to do amazing things and meet a lot of wonderful people!

Jesse and I playing the circling game with Sonny.

2011 had a slow start. Winter and Spring quarter of school were awful; I was taking really hard science classes that left very little time for anything else.

I decided to take the summer off school, which turned out to be an excellent idea! It was really time to focus on my horsemanship and start progressing, rather than being stuck doing the same things over and over. With Sonny being an LBI, he really needed me to set up my game.

June flew by. It was my first quarter not in school since the summer before my senior year, so I was trying to do as much as possible! I spent a lot of June playing with Sonny, trying to improve our freestyle and of course our relationship.

June 23rd

July 6th was the first time I heard from Melissa. Little did I know that she would be the greatest thing of 2011!

Melissa and her horse, Rydel.

In the middle of July I went to see my past horse, LaBelle for a week. What a great time that was! It was so fun to be able to play with dressage again.

The horse that started it all, LaBelle.

August 5th I moved Sonny to a new barn. It is so close to my house and they are okay with all of my parelli stuff, so it has worked out great!

Sonny's first time at the new barn. He loves
his privilege of a stall guard! 

A few days later, on August 9th, I put the bridle on Sonny for the first time since October of 2009!  Almost two years! He has some issues with bits, so this was the beginning of lots of friendly game.

This video was made on August 21st. Sonny's first time loading at liberty!

One of the greatest days in 2011 was on August 28th; Jesse Peter's playday. This day ranks way above others for a multitude of reasons, but mainly because of the effect it had on Sonny and I. After our lesson with Jesse that day, Sonny and I completely changed the way we view each other. I finally understood the meaning of being a leader, and he finally started accepting me as one. What a HUGE accomplishment! Along with that, Melissa and I had a great time overall and met so many people and did some many amazing things!

Rydel, Melissa, Me, and Sonny at the playday!

September 20th was another amazing day. This was our first lesson with 2* instructor Juli Piovesan! Juli is truly an amazingly lady and has done so much for the four of us! So thankful to have her in our lives!

First lesson with Juli.

My Parelli saddle came on September 26th! Oh how lucky I am to own such an amazing saddle!

Although it may not seem substantial enough to bookmark as an important date to an outsider, November 8th really sticks out to me. On this day I really felt a change in my relationship with Sonny. I was finally understanding how to let him have his own opinions and use his ideas to my advantage. 

Finally, on Christmas Sonny and I got a whole bunch of new parelli things that are sure to make 2012 even more interesting!

It has been such an amazing year for Sonny and I. I can't wait to see what 2012 has in store for us; it is sure to please! 

What's New?

First of all, have you noticed I updated the header of my blog? I have been meaning to put a picture by the title (which is why there was a huge blank space), but never got around to it. Finally I did. I like it, but I think I want to change it. I am thinking I want to change my blog colors to purple. But, it has to be simple! So look for a new design in the near future?

Here is what Son and I have been up to:

Emily Rodgers with Sonny, (Freestyle, 30 mins) Rode Sonny in a bridle for the first time in over two years today! Since I got the cradle bridle for Christmas, I figured I should start getting him more comfortable with the bit. I am not sure what happened in his past with the bit, but it must have been traumatic since nothing bothers him and he shuts down when you put a bit in his mouth. Lately I have been putting the bridle on him and doing easy things, like leading him to the pasture, so that he doesn't associate the bit with negative things. Today I put molasses on the bit (which was super messy) and rode around for a little while. I didn't do anything challenging and I never touched the reins. He let out a few big signs and seemed to realize it might not be so bad! I am very pleased with how it went and can't wait for him to experience the C3 bit!                                                                                                                             Tue 27 Dec 2011 at 08:49PM

Emily Rodgers with Sonny, (Liberty, 30 mins) Had a simple but fun day! Didn't have time to do much so just played at liberty. had some really great stick to me and he out a ton of effort into trying the Spanish walk! He also gave me some really happy faces :).

Wed 28 Dec 2011 at 06:41PM

I seem to be catching a cold, which has put a damper on my horsey time. Hopefully I will get out there today, but I doubt I will do anything. Sounds like a perfect day for some undemanding time!

My blue-eyed beauty. <3

Christmas in July

Yesterday was so beautiful, I could have sworn we just had Christmas in July.

It is hard to believe that yesterday, being the day after Christmas, was SO sunny and 45 degrees. Who would have ever imagined that? Sonny and I played on line for a while. I really focused on rewarding the slightest try. I talked to Juli over the weekend and she mentioned that is going to be the key to making him motivated. Makes perfect sense, I just don't think I had put the effort in myself to reward him for the slightest try no matter what. When we play with something new, I always stick with 'expect a lot, accept a little, reward the slightest try'. BUT...I don't think I always reward the slightest try on things I believe he knows how to do. I I guess in my mind if he knew what to do he should, but that is balanced out by expect a lot...I still need to reward the slightest try!

After some sidways game, I got on and played with a lot of carrot stick riding. Then we went on a  trail ride down the driveway and along the road. The grass is still super wet so we couldn't ride through it, but the driveway/road walk was fun enough. It was my first time using my carrot stick out on a trail ride. It went so well!  He still listened to my eyes, bellybutton and legs, making the steering part easy. He was also very in tune to my body for transitions, both up and down. Considering that was a challenge just a week or so ago, I would say yesterday was a huge success! I can't wait to be able to go on trail rides with only my carrot stick and savvy string! 

A Very Parelli Christmas

Not only was my Christmas merry, it was filled with Parelli!

My dad got me:

-the cradle bridle! 
-a purple carrot stick!
-black featherlines!
-a parelli headband
-True Unity by Tom Durrance
-Think Harmony with Horses by Ray Hunt

Does it get any better than that? Don't think so!  :) I am a very happy girl!

Merry Christmas!

Is your horse Naughty or Nice this year?

Through Parelli, Sonny is always on the nice list! Your horse can be, too!

Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!

Winter Blues

Its official: we have set a record for the most rain in one year. That's one record I am not happy about. The fields are flooded, the horses haven't been out in weeks, and its starting to take its toll.

The fields today.

Yesterday I went out with intentions of riding, only to find out Sonny was not having it. He pinned his ears and wrinkled his nose at me all night. This was not a grumpy face, this was an extremely unhappy face. I could not for the life of me even get him to unglue his ears from his head, let alone make a happy face. I am not sure if it is just the fact that he is tired of being stuck inside, or maybe it had something to do with his buddy Rydel being in season. Whatever it was, that was by far the nastiest I have seen him in the two years that I have owned him.

Today was much better. I didn't have any plans and we spent a lot of time not doing anything. Right away he came up to me with both ears forward, which made me so happy! We played with sideways towards me on his bad side and it was going really well. He made a couple nasty faces when we were walking together, but he always had a happy face when he was walking towards me!

I really hope the ground freezes soon so he can go back out, which I believe will get him out of the winter blues.

Updates

Although it may not seem like it from my lack of posts on here, I have been really busy lately!

Tuesday was my birthday so I was pretty busy for that. I got my first massage, which was so much better than I could have ever imagined. I also got a Keurig coffee maker! AND...Melissa got me the Parelli Celebration DVD! Can't wait to watch it!!!

Last night Sonny and I had a great time:

Emily Rodgers with Sonny, (On Line, 60 mins) I was plesantly surprised last night to find a little play area already set up! Someone had put three poles down in a row, then enclosed the open ends with two more poles. This was obviously designed to just trot over the three ... more(On Line, 60 mins) I was plesantly surprised last night to find a little play area already set up! Someone had put three poles down in a row, then enclosed the open ends with two more poles. This was obviously designed to just trot over the three main ones, but opened up so many more oppertunities for us! We were doing all sorts of fun things like walk over the first pole, sidepass around the corner, then go touch a cone! He was asking all kinds of questions! It also pointed out that even though he was backing onto the pedestal a few days ago, he is lacking some confidence in zone 5. Along with playing with the set up, we focused on sideways. I applied the same attitude to sideways as we did with the back up: I want to get to phase 4, but if you don't want me to you should move on phase 1. He got it really quickly! I would really like for oursideays game to be much more snappy than it has been. Lots of fun things to play with!

With Christmas just around the corner I am sure things will only get busier, but back to play time after the holiday!

The First Key To Success

If you know Parelli’s keys to success (which can be found on my Parelli Principles page), you’ll know that the first one is attitude. I have always believed that I have a good attitude with Sonny because I love him and enjoy being with him. I usually just left it at that and didn’t pay much more attention to it.  

I played with Sonny for a little bit last night and it was okay. He gave me ugly faces, didn’t want to do anything I wanted to do, and overall the relationship just wasn’t great. I ended it on a good note and decided it would be best to try again tomorrow.

Today was outstanding! Sonny was happy and willing; he kept coming in to me with happy faces and even gave me two eyes and two ears while backing up. I was blown away! What a difference from the night before! I proceeded to hop on bareback even though I didn’t have a 12’ line with me and didn’t want to mess with using my 22’ line while riding. He was the best he has ever been and I only had my carrot stick (which I barely needed to use!). We have been having minor difficulties with turning his forehand without him moving his hind end. I played with it a little bit Wednesday night, but had to keep resorting to my rope instead of being able to do it with just my carrot stick. When I got on today and it was like everything just clicked! He was moving his forehand around his haunches without taking a step forward and I BARELY had to use my stick!! I couldn’t believe how well he was paying attention to my body. I could even do indirect to direct rein (I am not sure if they are still called that if you don’t have reins?) turns on the rail with just my carrot stick! What a HUGE improvement from just a few days ago when we couldn’t do them with reins! WOW!

I am so very thrilled at what a great day we had today! I couldn’t stop thinking about it and wondering how so much had changed overnight. The more I thought about it the more it made sense. I had an awful day yesterday…one of those days where you can’t get anything to go your way. Even though my night had gotten better before I went to see Sonny, I was still filled with the remnants of a bad attitude. I took all that negative energy with me into the arena with him. How could I expect him to look at me with a happy face when I am radiating negativity? This makes me think of the movie Buck, when he says:

Your horse is a mirror to your soul.  Sometimes you might not like what you see… sometimes you will.” ~ Buck Brannaman

Last night Sonny was just mirroring what he saw in me. Therefore, the lesson of the day is the reminder that attitude is the first key to success. There is no way I can expect Sonny to have a great attitude about things if I don't myself. The bad things that happend yesterday morning were done and overwith and there is no reason to carry them around with me. I needed to move on! Sonny sure wasn't going to dwell on the past and feel sorry for me, so I shouldn't either. He is the best teacher I could ever ask for!

Updates

Emily Rodgers with Sonny, (Freestyle, 60 mins) Last night I re-watched some of the level 2 freestyle DVD. This really refreshed some things in my mind...like playing with indirect to direct rein turns. So Sonny and I played with some foundation things and it went so well! We had wonderful transitions today, including walk to trot and trot to walk transitions from phase 1! Then we worked on indirect to direct rein turns. He is great at indirect, but tends to just round his whole body and walk in a circle rather than do a direct rein turn after an indirect. I made a few mental notes about Pat's turns: really watch where your weight is bend your elbow for the indirect then straighten it for direct. I played with that then really broke down the turns. I went slow and paused after the indirect, straightened him out, then asked for direct. WOW what a difference! They might not be as fast and spiffy as Pat and Vision's, but they were a million times better today! Going back to the foundations for a refresher always helps us get our good better and our better best!


Emily Rodgers with Sonny, (On Line, 30 mins) Didn't do a whole lot with Son today since we have been doing so much riding lately...wanted to make sure he had a chance to breathe! We played with the spanish walk for a while. He knows my command to bring his leg up, now I am focusing on the walking part. It is a slow process for both of just who are just learning!


Well the wedding is over, so one less thing to worry about! Our riding has been going MUCH, much better! But, I don't want to push it. I would love to play with carrot stick riding everyday, but right now I don't think we know enough to play with it everyday and him not get bored. So, yesterday we mixed it up with some spanish walk! Considering tricks are one of Sonny's favorite things, I am hoping to teach him lots of fun stuff in the future!  

He looks so dashing in our Parelli saddle.

Parelli - Ohio!

Are you from Ohio? Are you interested in attending clinics, lessons, or playdays? Would you ike to share ideas and interests with other people from Ohio? Join the Parelli - Ohio! facebook group!

Parelli - Ohio! on Facebook

What Happened Before What Happened Happened

Yesterday was my first time focusing on carrot stick riding. I have played around with it before, but mostly just experimenting and nothing major. Last night was one of our first times trotting with the carrot stick and it went so well! He really listened to my body, and if he didn't he responded nicely to the carrot stick. We played with the question box and even did some trot figure 8s. I might have moved a little to fast though, so I will be sure to slow it down in the future. Anyways, he did great!

When I got home from riding I saw that Samantha had commented on one of my old videos, asking whom the horse was. The horse was Icon, my last dressage horse. He was very talented and was supposed to be my Junior/Young rider horse. He was trained to Prix St. George, so he knew a ton and was very obedient, but he had no desire to be with me or me with him. We didn't have a relationship at all. Every time I rode him it was like training someone else's horse, not my own. We were just coworkers.

The video she commented on was this one:

I had actually forgot that it existed! This was back in June of '08, and I didn't start parelli until Sonny in October of '09. Here I am riding bridless without a carrot stick, savvy string, or any foundation. Last night I was thinking "Well that doesn't make sense. I am playing in level 3 with my parelli horse and we are just starting carrot stick riding and I could get my old horse that I didn't get along with to do figure eights without anything!?" But the more I thought about the more it started making sense. I know I have heard Pat talk about obedience, but what came to mind is one of Linda's recent blog posts: "Yes, they are safe and obedient, but they are not necessarily exuberant". That is what I had with Icon. I could ride him bridless because he had been micromanaged and was taught that he had to listen to everything I did with my body. He did not care about me, about being with me, or anything like that. He only did what he did because he knew he was supposed to.

Considering I want to start dressage naturally more than anything in the world, I would give my left arm to have my dressage horses back. Never ever would I regret Sonny or trade him for the fanciest dressage horse. After watching that video, I have never felt so good about my decision to sell them. Icon was a great horse, but we didn't have any sort of relationship and neither of us cared to. It would be hard to put the relationship first when I didn't care to have a relationship with him. And even if we managed to get past that point, bridless riding would have been cake. But probably not because our solid foundation and excellent relationship, it would have came easy because that is what he was trained to do.

I miss my dressage horses all the time. But, I am so grateful to have a fresh start with a horse that hasn't been micromanaged to obedience. I may have breezed through bridless riding with Icon, but how would I ever teach it to another horse if I didn't teach it to my first levels horse? At the same time, I am also grateful for my outstanding dressage horses! They taught me so much about using my body first, then my legs, and then my hands. They had already made me sensitized to everything that I need to excel at now in order to teach Sonny bridless riding. I am so lucky to have the background that I have, and the horse that I have now!

Icon and me at a show in 2007.

Busy as a Bee

This week I have finals, a doctors appointment, work, and a wedding to go to. I probably won't get to see much of Sonny...which means I probably won't have much of anything to post on here. 

But, after this week is winter break and I will have plenty of parelli time!

While I am gone, here is a little something to keep you entertained! 

Making It A Game

Our lesson yesterday with Juli Piovesan was so wonderful (as always!). Going into the lesson I was pretty disappointed with myself because I hadn't played with freestyle as much as I should have. I have been very LBI about it and thought I wouldn't have any improvements to show Juli. From the time of our last lesson, I knew our relationship has improved drastically. Although that is of course my biggest goal, I was worried that I wouldn't have anything to physically show her.

We started with playing online. She asked if there was anything I wanted to focus on and I knew I wanted to ask her about backing. Sonny backs so slow and puts little effort into it. Although that 'little effort' is a lot more than what it was before our lesson with Jesse, he is no where near where I would like him to be. This task turned into an idea for our whole lesson: making it snappy! In order to make our yo-yo snappy, we made it into a game. Very, very subtle phase 1... almost as subtle phase two... more apparent phase three... then QUICK PHASE FOUR! I have already heard long phase one, quick two, three, four. But Juli gave me a whole new perspective on this. I need to turn it into a game. I want to get to phase four, but if Sonny doesn't he needs to move before then! I have always had the thought that I don't want to get to phase four, but having the intentions of going there makes it a game for Sonny not to let me go there! I would have never thought of that on my own, but it makes perfect sense!

We applied the same theory to our circling game. Almost invisible phase one... a little bit more phase two... almost visible phase three... QUICK PHASE FOUR! Within two or three times Sonny was doing upward transitions with the very slightest effort on my part!

We played with a few more things, like how to get on a barrel (:P) and I showed Juli how much better Sonny is about going over the ball! Then she let me try her cradle bridle. I knew Sonny has never liked the bit, which is why I haven't rode him in one in the two years I have owned him. I have been trying to use my bridle more lately to do things like walking him out the the field, so he doesn't associate the bit with riding and whatever horrible things he has experienced. When we put the cradle bridle on him he got really stressed out. He was tossing his head, wouldn't let us touch his nose, and when we took it off he yawned so much. I hope to get a cradle bridle for Christmas, then lots of friendly game with it!

Then I got on and started with some direct/indirect rein. Apparently our turning has improved! Yay! Then we applied the same 'make it a game' concept to riding. Sonny caught on so quick, and before I knew it we were doing phase 1 transitions! Awesome! I feel felt a change in the way he was responding to me, and that gives me so much motivation to start riding more!

Then Juli introduced me to the question box. Of course Sonny loved it! After a few transitions he put effort into getting there. How cool! That also gives me something to look forward to playing with :). She also mentioned that I should do more carrot stick riding. I have always felt that I wasn't 'good enough' for it yet, so it was reassuring to hear that I can start playing with it!

We had such a great lesson! So much accomplished and so much to play with! She has 'rekindled' my desire to ride; maybe the next lesson we will really have great progress to show her!

I am so looking forward to the future!