Natural Horsemanship with my Haflinger!

Beautiful day, so absolutely no excuse not to get back in the saddle!

Sadly it was all a bit depressing really

Walked out in hand on the roads for 15 mins, she was sound on her feet and happy to go

Got back, and checked her out on the ground; she realy, really doesnt want to go on a circle on the left rein, happy to maintain gait on the right, but just kept stopping on the left

It's so difficult, I can see that genuinely the arthritis is bothering her, and as much as the vets say to get her moving, she is clearly telling me she is uncomfortable

So didnt do much, and hopped on, just walking in a straight line on the left rein, she is not wanting to go, and it's not that obstinate not wanting to go, but she just doesnt feel right, turn her the other way and shes much happier

I had hoped that the supplements and injections would have made more difference, and I know i need to fitten her up, but so very hard when she doesnt want to use her body

Got to get the physio out again, but today it's all feeling like a real uphill climb again

Anthropomorphising? Maybe or maybe not

Interesting revelations...

finally had a break in the weather today, so took Giddy out for a short walk in hand down the road. We were only out for 10mins or so; played with mirroring each other's speed at walk, slow, really slow, medium and fast and mixed it up; she was pretty interested in this little game

Brought them up this evening from the field, and for the first time in literally weeks, she walked up nicely; it has been a pretty dicey experience of late sloshing around in deep mud through a fairly narrow gap with the two of them, Giddy has seemed to think it great fun to try and squash me between her and lightning, and there is very little room to try and block her

It has given me great cause for thought that such a small amount of interaction made such a HUGE difference. It shows that it's not just about respect - a dominant left brain mare she may be, but clearly she does like, and respond to even just a little bit of focused bonding and relationship building. More than anything, I think its about doing things with her, rather than to her, or making her go through the motions of the seven games; especially when i fall into the trap of being over demanding and critical, which with her being short, left brain and very dominant is literally the worst way to be

I have to admit that life has been so demanding of late, that i tend to fly around the stables, muck out, feed, chuck them in the field, put them back in stables, pick feet out etc, but my mind is generally elsewhere and churning over work

Today though, i was totally with her, in the moment, and focused on doing something together, and the change in the way she came up from the field was dramatic

It does inspire me a little, as have lost some motivation with my parelli journey of late with the arthritis seeming to make it all such a massive mountain, but the principles of the programme, and what i love about it have really hit home today

Note to self, must spend more time with my horse and throw work out the window for at least a short period every day, otherwise really whats the point!!!!

As per normal, life is far too hectic, and no updates for quite some time

The weather here in cornwall is literally dreadful it feels like it has been raining forever

The horses are in at the moment overnight, and out during the day, not ideal, but the land is so wet, and I have so little of it there is no other options. Mind you, it is so bad, that most days they are more than happy to come back inside

Although starting off with enthusiasm at the start of the year, we have done very little, Giddys respect level for me has wavered a fair bit, and once again, she is managing to push her weight around. It is just so hard when its sheet rain and blowing a gale, but i am trying to work on little things like haltering with more feel when i turn her out etc

It's hard to tell how the arthritic hock is really, but must get her back into work asap

Good grief, cant believe this has been neglected since August, life has been manic

After making such good progress, I am absolutely gutted to say that Giddy has been diagnosed with Arthritis in her left hock. She has not been right since September, the vet saw her a couple of times and eventually suggested taking her over for nerve blocks as she looked lame in two feet.

On the day, it was clearly the hock and we went straight to x-ray which showed the clear signs of joint degeneration. I cried on and off for 2 days

While I realise it can be managed, just so sad for a 10 year old, and being a very short, left brain horse, she doesnt need any excuses not to use her body properly

So, she has had a series of catrophen injections, is on glucosamine, chondroitin and msm and we will see how she goes. am now building her up from 10mins a day of riding

She has also had a physio treatment today, and she was also very sore and tight in her back, right (opposite) hock and left shoulder. So she has clearly been compensating for being uncomfortable in her hock

So, just a case of plodding on really

We are haivng a great week. three times this week, Giddy has been through the electric fencing to get to the strictly off limits lush grass. three times I have brought her out with no halter, just a hand on the neck and asking her to come with me.... this would have been unthinkable in the past; a massive change in our relationship and a great feeling

Have ridden every day this week and she is definitely getting lighter, more respectful and the impulsion is better

Frank was here and cantered her last week, I was extrememly impressed, she was I think suprised, but she cantered both reins, and only one tiny hint of a buck. Afterwards, I have never heard her blow so much! I am a little wary of trying and not being firm enough, or able to maintain my position if she does throw in bucks or stops, so i think i will leave that til it is a little more established

Great stuff tho at the moment ;0)

Crikes, havent had time to update this for ages

Well, we just got back from the Parelli conference at the NEC, what a fantastic weekend!

There were 48 of us from Devon, cornwall, Somerset and Dorset all sat right at the front, great seats and great fun! 5,000 people there in total - absolutely brilliant

I am inspired to get back on track with Giddy again, have had terrible back trouble, so until last week had done very little, but am now riding again, and so far so good at bringing her back into work

more soon!

Finally felt up to a session with Giddy after the fall, bruising now much better and less painful!

Couldnt resist trying again, and went for another flying change, it wasn't a fluke!! Got a nice change although she bucked after she changed. Gave her a long dwell time, then had the confidence to try again as it seems sort of solid, got it again, although she dropped to trot when she reached the apex of the circle.

Tried the other side, no can do! Tried a change just at trot, and discovered that I seem to have lost my draw on the right rein, hmmmmmm. Played with this for a while, and it was pretty stuck, came together a lot better when I really broke it down, and moved with her before drawing. Called the groundwork a day when i finally got a nice one; I can see this one being an "issue" when it comes to mine and Kim's videoing session on Sunday!

Saddled up, bridled with hackamore from knees as havent checked this out for a while.

Went to get on, and found I was really quite tight; I am so very disapointed; I had turned such a huge corner with my confidence, it is so very frustrating to have it knocked. Giddy was stepping back a fair bit, clearly picking up on me being a bit tense.

Anyway, got on, checked out our flexion, tested out some turns and she is so much softer to turn now just with eyes, legs and far less rein needed. Had a walk around and a couple of short trots, felt OK, but felt a little bit bothered over by the hedge where the pheasant got us last time! I know this is silly, there is no reason to be worried, that unusual spook has absolutely no bearing on today!!

It then absolutely poured with rain so called it a day, all things considered, a good session

It's funny how horses have a way of bringing you down to earth

Giddy was life up today, and wanted to play the catching game, for weeks now she has wanted to hook up, and hasnt taken off across the field, seemed more like she was playing rather than escaping, and then just came to me ears pricked

checked out our new improved send, and she was having fun with the canter, so much so, after a couple of trot changes of direction, I thought i would try it at a canter...bingo!!! I was so very pleased, I was tempted to try again, but instead made a point of dwelling for ages

I think she sort of stopped in the middle, but only for a fraction of a second and then went on the other leg, it was really pretty nice

so saddled up, checked everything out, got on, had a thought about falling off, which i never normally do.....

walked about 40 seconds, big bird flew out of hedge, and she turned 180 degrees and galloped, saddle slipped and off i flew

very unlike her, normally her spooks are small and easy to sit, so very strange that I had a pre-emptive thought about it!

got back on for a couple of mins just to ensure the fear doesnt kick in next time i ride, but pretty painful, didnt feel nervy about it tho, so thats a great indication that my confidence levels really have improved

landed on pelvis, about 3 inches from spine, bloody hurts, especially when walking, but pleased not to have landed on my lower spine itself cuz that would have not been nice

so, a great, and not so great day all rolled into one

Have had some great sessions these week. I have reached a new level of understanding of putting feel into a rope and controlling energy and it has paid great dividends.

My send is so much improved and lighter, and its amazing how much Giddy is now picking up on the difference between asking for a walk / trot / canter depart, and that if you dont drop your life quick enough, how easy it is to get the wrong one. Makes me wonder what conflicting signals we send all the time, but also provides a new level of insight into how to really fine tune things

riding still going well, she is still showing willing to trot pretty nicely round the field, and i am so very pleased with the difference in my confidence, her lack of fighting me, and the difference all this makes

Totally lost my lateral flexion one day which was strange

Also got the 45ft line out one day, first time in a while, she finds it so much easier with a bit more space, I have no idea how people manage to get so proficient with so much rope!!

A bit of parelli magic dust seems to have rubbed off ;0) My send seems better than it has ever been today, the short session with ali on feel has really paid dividends

Didnt do much on the ground today, but hopped on, and rode for I think longer than I have done at home for about 18 months!!

Yesterday I drove the 4x4 around my riding area for half an hour or so to smooth out all of the bumps and put in a bit of a track, this certainly makes life a lot easier for us both. Anyway, she was so good today, trotted both directions, impulsion was ok, and she kept going. I have to be mindful that just because shes going forward more, not to keep her on mindless circles for too long, otherwise, I know I will run the risk of going backwards again.

So, mixed it up with walk, trot, circles around cones, trot the path, back ups, trot yo-yos, walk, then sideways, trot, then bend to a stop, and she stayed with me and seemed happy to play

A good day!