Saturday

Nickers let me know she would like some attention. We groomed and then played ground games.

Wednesday - some Nickers pic

Nickers pics w/my camera--She looks so cute--shedding out. BA pulled her mane and she stood tied for it so nicely. Also great in the washstall--BA and I double teamed her giving her a bath so she would shine. Then while BA and I rode etc Nickers dried off in her stall and was extra sweet about being inside. Also Nickers and I played games today. More pics and video to come.

Pictures in the barn in the process--

Monday

Bethanna and I both played with Nicky on the figure 8 game getting awareness of maintaining shape and distance and maintaining gait. It was fun. Played other games as well before BA came out.

Then BA rode Nicky and Nicky looked great walk, trot and canter laps around the big ring--brave and maintaining a relaxed, mostly steady rhythm. Then I rode Nicky walk and trot and realized that Bethanna was making her look more advanced than she is! I don't feel I am at the stage where I want to concentrate on teaching (with BA's help of course) as I feel I am still in the learning stage of developing a horse physically.

Wednesday and Thursday

Wednesday I just chilled out and de-stressed.

Thursday I had a riding lesson with Kathy Glielmi and Try. I then got a chance to introduce the lovely, sweet Nicky to Kathy. We did a little ground work then circling so Kathy could see her move. Kathy gave me some suggestions to improve her trot which was on the lazy side today. Neither Kathy or Bethanna have seen the trot I saw Sunday--not just tracking up but gorgeous suspension. Kathy commented that Nicky's canter looks like it would be comfortable to ride. Kathy commented on how tuned in and responsive she is to cues. Also that she is a pony that could use a job--that she is happy moving. Try will move and do all sorts of stuff--but she does it to please me or get a cookie--she is not ambitious to do it for herself. Nicky feels like she really WANTS to do things!

Tuesday - Miscellaneous Thoughts

Today is a rainy day and happily a day off from the barn to catch up on stuff at home etc.

Anyway I woke up thinking about Nicky:

What is the perfect, ideal life for her? Would that be pursuing level 4 Parelli? Would that be excelling at a sport and is she that ambitious? Could that be fun for her or would that just be work? Would she prefer to be a weekend trail horse? Could she enjoy being a backyard pet?

What is realistic in providing a home? upper level Parelli students/instructors who are looking for a large pony as their levels horse? lower/mid level small adult Parelli students who want to play with some Parelli but mostly trail ride? A hunter career?

If I asked her what SHE wants, I am sure she would like to spend her life with Sara.

I think she would be happiest with someone with a lot of horsemanship from what I have seen--she needs good leadership and understanding--finesse. Yesterday was our best day and I think that is because she had BOTH Bethanna and I. Bethanna is so good with leadership and I understand horsenalities and Parelli games that Nicky loves.

Eventually I think she would love being at Rollover--almost all horses do. I remember the time I moved Try to another barn to be with Amy Haire so we could study Parelli together. Try NEVER settled and I had to move her back to Rollover where she was immediately happy again.

Then the next question is--is adding a second horse to improve my horsemanship in bringing along a young horse the best thing for me--a huge commitment I do not take lightly. Do I want an accomplished older horse to teach me instead? What is the best thing for my journey??? I don't know.

Break through day!!!!

This was the day I had been waiting and hoping for--sensitive and responsive on the ground--starting to feel so much more of a connection. BA watched today and was impressed with that and her lovely relaxed quality trot.

I felt this was the first day Nicky really relaxed. Because BA was going to rode her (and she said right off that Nicky is safe for me to ride), she watched my warmup ground Parelli ground play and was very impressed with how much Nicky was watching me and responding i.e. circling game responding to my energy.

We played most of the games and explained them to BA: extreme friendly, porcupine to move the FQ, and moving HQ from a look. Also BA thought her backing was great--and it is better. Circling--Nicky would make walk/trot/canter transitions up and down from the lightest of cues and maintain gait nicely.

BA asked if she would sidepass and yes Nicky goes sideways away and toward and as brave as she is squeeze game is truly one of her best games.

Then BA rode her walk trot canter just a bit and then trotted around the ring. She loved how relaxed and pleasant that trot is--guess that is big for a hunter. BA did not even see the gorgeous suspension I saw yesterday.

Then we finished with a nice shower in the wash stall and treats.


Sara--please always feel free to comment. I am not sharing this blog with anyone but you and Dawn Roth, 3* Parelli instructor with whom I am doing phone coaching.

Sunday and Nicky

I like Nicky as a nickname as it sounds so friendly.

THE PLAN:

No more than 20 minutes. Use regular 22' rope--Try's rope to light for the feel Nicky and I need. For me remember positive thoughts, Jim Carrey sense of fun.

1. Catching game
2. Sticking together 101 to create draw/connection
3. Backing from a look. What will cause her to care enough to figure out that the game is learning not a task but more subtle cueing?
4. Circling on line: can I cue gait changes?
5. The little jump??
6. Grooming??

WHAT HAPPENED:
1. yes the 22' rope was a good idea and I was proud of my ability to quickly change from "tiger mode" to "best friend" and the sense of fun and "pleased" with what a darling girl Nicky is.
2. She and all the horses were frustrated with being indoors this first day. She just really felt upset when I took her outside on line so decided to go to the ring as I thought that would help her focus and because a couple of Joey's horses were in an adjoining paddock to provide some sense of company.
3. She wasn't listening and was rude on one occasion so I figured I am just not getting the connection I want. What to do??
4. Off to the small paddock behind the barn. Tried grooming at liberty and she quickly walked away. She did not understand or care to do the sticking together 101 either so GAME ON!! We played for perhaps 30 minutes circling at liberty alternating with stopping from looking at her HQ and then inviting her to come 1/2 way to me and stop and wait to be invited in. We have worked this out between us. I am guess there is a lot she knows from Sara that she doesn't do for me because of a lack of connection. Anyway she has a beautiful trot--tracking up, suspension and even straightening front knee before stepping. She does not really want to canter. Each time when I would invite her in if she would "leave" me then game on again.
5. I did feel the beginnings of a different kind of respect coming.
6. Yikes. Hope this is the right thing to do. Interesting to see what tomorrow may bring??
7. Is this the need to dominate coming out? Is she miserable and missing her life with Sara?