Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Wordless Wednesday
I don't think I ever posted these pictures from the Hunter Pace we attended back in October. Too cute not to share ;).
Monday, November 12, 2012
Phase 1, is that you?
Maybe I use horesnality as an excuse, but I don't feel like we always have a solid phase 1. As we continue to work towards level 4, that has to change.
I didn't plan on doing much yesterday; just a little jumping then off for a trail ride. The jumps were already set up and my focus was to work on me and my position more than him. He wasn't super excited about jumping (which makes me sad; I need an LBE!) so I didn't do much. Just enough to get a good feel.
I didn't plan on doing much yesterday; just a little jumping then off for a trail ride. The jumps were already set up and my focus was to work on me and my position more than him. He wasn't super excited about jumping (which makes me sad; I need an LBE!) so I didn't do much. Just enough to get a good feel.
The best part from yesterday were our canter transitions. He was being super unmotivated and was barely inching forward, so I applied the snappiness from my lesson with Juli. Before I knew it, he was canter from a halt from only phase 1. It was probably one of the most awesome things I have ever experienced. We were sitting there at a halt, I bought my life up and he would canter. I didn't do anything with my body, but smile with all 4 cheeks. How cool!!!
I really didn't think it was possible for him to be tuned into my body that much. I always felt like he could never really feel my energy through the saddle. Yesterday proved to me that he definitely felt something! I don't think he has ever been very responsive at phase 1 for an upward transition (in the saddle or online), but now I know yes, he can do it. I just have to have the arrows in my quiver to get them out of him. I am looking forward to playing more with high expectations of phase 1!
Friday, November 9, 2012
Follow Up Feeding
I realized that is wasn't very savvy of me to not share the articles that I am reading regarding savvy feeding. So here are a few I have found helpful. I think I might add them to the "links" section on the right.
Let me know what you think :). And please share if you have any good ones!
If you are interested and having your hay tested and analyzed, I highly recommend sending your results to Claire of Shotgun Ranch to have her analyze it.
Let me know what you think :). And please share if you have any good ones!
If you are interested and having your hay tested and analyzed, I highly recommend sending your results to Claire of Shotgun Ranch to have her analyze it.
Claire also has lots of awesome articles; here are a few of my favorite:
Patti, at Desert Equine Balance also has some really great articles on her blog:
Hope those help :)
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Savvy Feeding
You might call me "One of those crazy health freak moms that never lets their kid have taco bell" (or at least that's what my best friend calls me).
A few months ago I decided to have my hay sent out and analyzed, then had Claire Cox from Shotgun Ranch Nutrition balance Sonny's diet for me. Claire is an extremely knowledgable person and I felt like just balancing his diet and being done with it would have been such a waste. So I went all out.
I have been trying to learn as much as I possibly can recently (and I have Claire to thank for most of it) about feeds and feeding. I never knew there was so many important things like the ratio of omega 3 and 6, why you shouldn't feed oils, and the importance of Vitamin E. There is something about learning those types of things that I, all of a sudden, crave. It has become a slight addiction. I really, thoroughly enjoy the satisfaction of knowing I am providing to the best of my ability for my horse. As my knowledge continues to go I hope his health does, too.
I wish I had time to learn more, research more, and apply more, but for now Claire's articles are getting me by just fine! It has been so awesome to be able to relate to things going on in my Animal Science - Nutrition class at OSU (guess who was the only one i n my group to get the omega 3 and 6 question right on the pop quiz? This girl!) and to be able to apply what I have learned to the horses at the farm. I know a lot of people think I am crazy or going over-board, but I am extremely satisfied with what I have been learning and what I am able to provide for my horse.
In order to make the copper, zinc, magnesium, iodized salt, monosodium phosphate, iodine, vitamin E,and selenium taste a hair bit better, I have acquired some herbs! It started out with getting herbs that are immune system boasters for Sonny for when we have events at the farm, but of course I couldn't stop there. I also got a few herbs to spice up his dinner! Maybe I am doing a little overkill, but I bet you he isn't complaining ;).
A few months ago I decided to have my hay sent out and analyzed, then had Claire Cox from Shotgun Ranch Nutrition balance Sonny's diet for me. Claire is an extremely knowledgable person and I felt like just balancing his diet and being done with it would have been such a waste. So I went all out.
I have been trying to learn as much as I possibly can recently (and I have Claire to thank for most of it) about feeds and feeding. I never knew there was so many important things like the ratio of omega 3 and 6, why you shouldn't feed oils, and the importance of Vitamin E. There is something about learning those types of things that I, all of a sudden, crave. It has become a slight addiction. I really, thoroughly enjoy the satisfaction of knowing I am providing to the best of my ability for my horse. As my knowledge continues to go I hope his health does, too.
I wish I had time to learn more, research more, and apply more, but for now Claire's articles are getting me by just fine! It has been so awesome to be able to relate to things going on in my Animal Science - Nutrition class at OSU (guess who was the only one i n my group to get the omega 3 and 6 question right on the pop quiz? This girl!) and to be able to apply what I have learned to the horses at the farm. I know a lot of people think I am crazy or going over-board, but I am extremely satisfied with what I have been learning and what I am able to provide for my horse.
In order to make the copper, zinc, magnesium, iodized salt, monosodium phosphate, iodine, vitamin E,and selenium taste a hair bit better, I have acquired some herbs! It started out with getting herbs that are immune system boasters for Sonny for when we have events at the farm, but of course I couldn't stop there. I also got a few herbs to spice up his dinner! Maybe I am doing a little overkill, but I bet you he isn't complaining ;).
Monday, November 5, 2012
And the Winner is...
Congratulations to Emma (allaroundcowgirl), who won the $25 gift certificate to Parelli for her comment on Blogoversary Giveaway!
Also, congratulations to Jackie (Myhorsejourney), who won the pink savvy string for her comment on The Little Things!
Thank you to everyone who participated! I hope you all enjoyed the contest; I know I did! It was wonderful reading all your comments and I hope that you all continue to comment! If you enjoyed the contest and would like to see more in the future or have any suggestions, please let me know!
For the lucky winners, be sure to send me your address (my email is erodgers122@Gmail.com) and I will get your prizes off to you!
Have a wonderful day and keep it natural!
Also, congratulations to Jackie (Myhorsejourney), who won the pink savvy string for her comment on The Little Things!
Thank you to everyone who participated! I hope you all enjoyed the contest; I know I did! It was wonderful reading all your comments and I hope that you all continue to comment! If you enjoyed the contest and would like to see more in the future or have any suggestions, please let me know!
For the lucky winners, be sure to send me your address (my email is erodgers122@Gmail.com) and I will get your prizes off to you!
Have a wonderful day and keep it natural!
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Last Chance...
Today is the last day to enter the Blogoversary Giveaway! You have until 11:59 tonight (eastern time) to comment or share! Here is your chance to get an extra $25 towards Parelli or a pretty, new, pink savvy string :).
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Just What We Needed
Juli Piovesan came out yesterday for the first time since she got back from Colorado! I am sure she had an awesome time, but I definitely missed her a lot! So did Sonny ;).
I knew I wanted an online lesson because, for one, I wanted to play with zone 5 driving and for two, Sonny and I have hated it lately. We were stuck and neither of us ever wanted to play online. I knew that meant something was wrong so I asked for help.
We started out in our slow warm up, playing the touch it game to try to cause him to ask questions. He was touching everything I wanted, even with the leg I was aiming for. Then he touched the jump standards with zone 5 without any problem at all. I was pretty impressed; he is usually so scared to touch things with zone 5.
From there we moved onto figure 8s. Not to focus on the pattern but to see what it would take for him to ask me a question. He would perk up an ear as he came around the outside of the barrels but then go right back to his LBI face. We experimented with a few ideas, but none of them really influenced him to connect with me and ask me a question. We tried keeping his feet moving until he perked up an ear. It was a long, slow process of backwards, sideways, forwards, and again, and again, and again, without even a hint of a question! Then, he wasn't being responsive sideways so I made it snappy and tagged him and he gave me two ears and a big question :). So it seems like snappy might be the key to unlocking the questions and happy faces.
From there we went to play with zone 5 driving. We did a LOT of really awesome preparations. After watching the levels, I was left really confused and unconfident about Z5D. Juli isolated and separated the whole process so we could recombine smoothly into Z5D. I felt really left out in the dark after the levels and Juli really, really, really made sense of everything.
Sonny was an absolute superstar. He was even cantering beautiful circles around me in zone 3 with my featherlines on. He would even trot off with just my leading hand :). He was being so responsive I couldn't believe it! Even his expression improved! :) So we didn't actually get to Z5D but she put about a million arrows in my quiver and gave Sonny and I something really fun to play with! :)
Somewhere along the line in our lesson we were discussing playing online. She told me that we play online to 1. teach the human something new 2. teach the horse something new 3. for preparation (like trailer or farrier). Okay, I have herd those a bunch before and it makes sense. Then she made it clear that those are the only reasons we play on line. I have been playing online just to practice, but unless you are trying to develop a skill or prep for something, you shouldn't just be playing online. Lightbulb! That is why we hate it! It completely blew my mind and made sense of everything that has been happening lately. I think that was a huge breakthrough for me and I think it will really change a lot in our relationship!
Finally, Juli helped me with feeding. As you all know, now that Sonny is at the barn I manage I get the pleasure of feeding him almost every day. When I first started he was pushy and such a challange. All summer I have played the driving game to get him to back up and wait for me to dump his grain, then wait for him to ask if he can eat before I allow him to. He does okay with it but he is always a nervous wreck and super anxious. So I asked Juli if she could help me have him relax at feeding time. She asked me to put his halter on, dump his grain, and back him a consistent amount of steps. Then, once the butterflies settle and he asks a question, I can guide him to his feed bucket. So I did just that. Backing him wasn't too back but it took him a little while to let the butterflies settle (I love that analogy!). Once he seemed relaxed I guided him to the bucket, but he came to me instead :). That was a super, huge warm and fuzzy moment for me! He knew the grain was in the bucket and he came to me instead :). He came to me with this super sweet, soft face and it melted my heart. Definitely the perfect way to end our lesson!
Needless to say, I am so thrilled and excited to continue to play with the ideas that Juli gave me! I am so happy that she is back and so lucky to have her around :)
I knew I wanted an online lesson because, for one, I wanted to play with zone 5 driving and for two, Sonny and I have hated it lately. We were stuck and neither of us ever wanted to play online. I knew that meant something was wrong so I asked for help.
We started out in our slow warm up, playing the touch it game to try to cause him to ask questions. He was touching everything I wanted, even with the leg I was aiming for. Then he touched the jump standards with zone 5 without any problem at all. I was pretty impressed; he is usually so scared to touch things with zone 5.
 |
| Zone 5 touching the jump standards! |
From there we moved onto figure 8s. Not to focus on the pattern but to see what it would take for him to ask me a question. He would perk up an ear as he came around the outside of the barrels but then go right back to his LBI face. We experimented with a few ideas, but none of them really influenced him to connect with me and ask me a question. We tried keeping his feet moving until he perked up an ear. It was a long, slow process of backwards, sideways, forwards, and again, and again, and again, without even a hint of a question! Then, he wasn't being responsive sideways so I made it snappy and tagged him and he gave me two ears and a big question :). So it seems like snappy might be the key to unlocking the questions and happy faces.
 |
| Such a happy face ;). |
From there we went to play with zone 5 driving. We did a LOT of really awesome preparations. After watching the levels, I was left really confused and unconfident about Z5D. Juli isolated and separated the whole process so we could recombine smoothly into Z5D. I felt really left out in the dark after the levels and Juli really, really, really made sense of everything.
 |
| Better expression! |
Sonny was an absolute superstar. He was even cantering beautiful circles around me in zone 3 with my featherlines on. He would even trot off with just my leading hand :). He was being so responsive I couldn't believe it! Even his expression improved! :) So we didn't actually get to Z5D but she put about a million arrows in my quiver and gave Sonny and I something really fun to play with! :)
Somewhere along the line in our lesson we were discussing playing online. She told me that we play online to 1. teach the human something new 2. teach the horse something new 3. for preparation (like trailer or farrier). Okay, I have herd those a bunch before and it makes sense. Then she made it clear that those are the only reasons we play on line. I have been playing online just to practice, but unless you are trying to develop a skill or prep for something, you shouldn't just be playing online. Lightbulb! That is why we hate it! It completely blew my mind and made sense of everything that has been happening lately. I think that was a huge breakthrough for me and I think it will really change a lot in our relationship!
Finally, Juli helped me with feeding. As you all know, now that Sonny is at the barn I manage I get the pleasure of feeding him almost every day. When I first started he was pushy and such a challange. All summer I have played the driving game to get him to back up and wait for me to dump his grain, then wait for him to ask if he can eat before I allow him to. He does okay with it but he is always a nervous wreck and super anxious. So I asked Juli if she could help me have him relax at feeding time. She asked me to put his halter on, dump his grain, and back him a consistent amount of steps. Then, once the butterflies settle and he asks a question, I can guide him to his feed bucket. So I did just that. Backing him wasn't too back but it took him a little while to let the butterflies settle (I love that analogy!). Once he seemed relaxed I guided him to the bucket, but he came to me instead :). That was a super, huge warm and fuzzy moment for me! He knew the grain was in the bucket and he came to me instead :). He came to me with this super sweet, soft face and it melted my heart. Definitely the perfect way to end our lesson!
Needless to say, I am so thrilled and excited to continue to play with the ideas that Juli gave me! I am so happy that she is back and so lucky to have her around :)
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