Saturday

Today I was frustrated--I too tired and that does not work well--but I did not want to neglect her. Nicky wanted attention and I played with her but it felt more like I was playing at her. Sorry girl.

1. Teaching response to subtler cues for games we know isn't going well. I am not getting the idea across and Nicky is just making assumptions. Hmmmm--need to rethink and get her attention.

2. Actually attention was scattered as it was a tense weekend at the barn with visiting horses and most of the mares in season--lessons/visitors, etc.

3. I moved jump into her pasture as something to play with. Circling to the jump she just stopped and put her foot on it. LOL. Next time I think walk together over the jump.

4. Go to regular 22 foot rope--my light weight rope doesn't provide enough feel for her.

5. Circling--trot and canter but hard to get a walk but I think that was because of the atmosphere around the farm.

6. Try continues to jump her ditch to come be with Nickers.

Friday

Dwell time for Nickers and me. Also Try was offering to be friends with Nickers over the fence.

Thursday

Nickers
What a cool, sweet pony. Grooming at liberty in her pasture and she stayed right with me and was sweet as any pony could be. Catching game: I leaned back from ?30yards and said Nickers and she RAN to me. She has already learned that I am her Rollover human. Also we played some Parelli games: backup, hide the hiney, sideways away AND towards and circling. We did that on line--her pasture is a bit too big for liberty with us just getting to know each other.

I wish I could have been with her yesterday but house renovations etc are demanding too much of my time and energy.

grooming: liberty is great rather than tieing
battery massage--rubbed her all over with it but didn't turn it on--next time.
clipping??

next time: how about yoyo life up and life down--will she halt and stay when I relax and take life down and wait for me to invite her in? Can I be more clear in my cueing?

Phone Coaching with Dawn Roth

I ran my plan by Dawn and we spent about 30 minutes talking about how to do my best for Nickers:

TOP PRIORITY

Yes grooming, tieing, clippers and grooming her face are first priority. We discussed methods and I like Dawn's suggestions.

Consistency, small pieces and bite-size chunks and release only on the improvement/relaxation/step toward the desired behavior.

LBE tendency to be bored and impatient with standing still. I want to increase the time she will happily stand tied. Good to ignore unwanted behavior and divert her attention--avoid getting into a fight. Be careful as smart as she is--if I release on the unwanted behavior I will only reinforce it.

Clippers--make them the sweet spot. (4.95 Walmart massage thing--use so the sound becomes associated with the good feeling.) Also consistency and baby steps.

Face: my plan massage and love her face and only lightly groom and maybe only a liberty out back as first steps. It is not fear but druthers.

Every day for progress. Hmm what is the weather report? Maybe go out about 2:00.

Other--see notes from earlier in the day.

More thoughts

As a confident pony, quick-smart and wanting to dominate as Sara has shared, my goal is to be fun for Nickers. It isn't important for her to learn PNH step-by-step. It is important that she be intrigued and that we form a connection. Also I want her to "get in shape" and brush up on what she knows so she can show what a lovely, special pony she is. Being able to relax and enjoy grooming while tied--and especially around her face--if I can figure out how to help her will be a gift I can give her.

So goals possibly for the next week:
1. think through the grooming issues and come up with a plan
     a. groom out back at liberty?
     b. her face?
     c. desensitization to clippers when she isn't afraid of them?
2. be very clear with her about coming into my space
3. be careful not to be direct line and LBI myself--Jim Carrey and mischief
4. take the time and remember to be pleased, watch my thinking--find the successes and celebrate them with Nickers.
5. how light is light and clarity are important--task is not

Monday

My plan for the day was variety, a sense of Jim Carrey fun, success for Nickers and help to settle in to life at Rollover.

We started with Nickers catching me in her pasture...love the draw she has. Then went to the ring...walking around it and admiring all the good looking geldings on either side.

Then looking for success with clearer, lighter cueing of HQ yields and backup. Just brushing up on things she knows. When we got a bit of success we went on to something else. Nickers was able to show me two front feet on the pedestal and then two back feet without any of the initial reticence Try might have shown.

Then to the barn for grooming...she got tired of it pretty quickly. Bethanna started pulling her mane and she was fine with it but not having her bridle path clipped or actually she wasn't thrilled about anything near her face while we were in grooming mode. This seemed to be left brain druthers not fear. I need to think about this.

Then we went out back so she could blow off some steam. Some circling and hq yield from a look and backup from a serious you-betttttter-do-it look from me. All good. Also for the first time...I thought she was invading my space so I kept making her stop six feet away until I invited her to come in. I kept reminding myself to laugh and make funny faces and let her know she was ok.

Then back to her pasture for some dwell time.

Nickers Parelli audition with Sara

Link to Sara's Parelli On Line audition with Nickers youtube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q20_FJH9nmE

Uploaded on Aug 20, 2009

Sara's comment:

"Parelli level 2 audition online with my 3 year old welsh pony cross.

Friendly game with umbrella, sideways over poles in L shape, stick to me(walk, trot, back), touch it-trailer (touching it with her foot was HER idea...super cute), sideways towards me, figure 8 around barrels to circling with change of direction, touch it-pool, leg massage with water to cool down(August in NC), trailer load from fender, yo yo back into trailer...DONE! She is a super smart and fun baby!

I passed with a 2++!! I was told that all I needed for level 3 is lighter phases and to use more of my 22ft line or go to a 45ft line. Very exciting!"

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NOTE: This is Nickers at 3 y/o! As I recall the Parelli staff member adjudicating the audition got really excited and went and found Pat Parelli and had him watch the video!!! Also if I remember correctly Sara had been studying PNH only about two years. Fun, very creative audition.