Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Love love love

It has been so Hot Hot Hot and HUMID that I've just cleaned the paddock and hand grazed Cici and sometimes Casey. No play no riding no games. For weeks! Guess its been lots and lots of love.

This past weekend July 24-25 Amelia's here for a workshop. And I decided for Sunday instead of bringing the horses to the workshop I'd just bring the workshop to the horses! So piled 20 people into a bunch of cars and caravaned from Solstice Healing Center to Mary's Castle of Friesians. Amelia started with a pairs exercise where one person closes their eyes while their partner guides them through the world experiencing smells, sounds, touch. I brought Cici into the outside ring and we stood and waited. The guide would bring their person gently to Cici and the "blind" person would have their hands out in front of them.

Amelia had asked Cici if she would mind. I told Cici the people where coming to love her. She stood perfectly still. Strange hands reached out to touch her neck, mane, her cheeks, her nose. She blew gently on them. She turned and blew gently on me. She nuzzled me while they touched her. I nuzzled her and kissed her soft nose. I closed MY eyes and breathed her into me. And Margaret thought we had Woodstock before. This was a time of love - flowing love, healing love.

My magical energy horse turned to some of the people and put her nose in their hands. Others she gently turned her face away but did not move away. She was a willing participant.

Then everyone sat in a semi circle as Amelia guided them in a medical gestalt. I walked Cici around in a circle, while they were meditating. We played quietly, change of direction, a bit of turns and then I looped her lead around her neck and we walked as one.

This day Cici was the most demonstrative she has ever been in her love to me. She constantly nuzzled me, blew in my hair, put her nose to my mouth so we could exchange breaths, gave me her nose for kisses.

Amelia payed us the highest compliment - that we look so alike. Two blond girls. She said Cici absolutely adored me. I know I absolutely adore her. Tears. Sigh.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Day after

Cici was focused on me today! Still tuned up from Avery on Wednesday. Backing I still had to go to Phase 4 but after the first set of 3s she would anticipate the rope swing and get moving backwards. I will have to be really attentive to maintaining this lightness. Can see how I fell into nagging last time around.

She didn't do as much anticipating. And was much faster to stop when she did. Still came in a lot more than I thought, but got to practice our backing again. Overall she was a lot softer and quieter and listening. Not zoning out in her own world. So everything took less time. Now this was interesting as I hadn't done anything with her yesterday, took the day off and Rob and I went to Ogunquit for a beach day. And today I was going out with Vivian for a trail ride, so got to the barn earlier to have lots of time to get everything done before our agreed time. That adage have an hour it will take 15 minutes, have 15 minutes it will take an hour certainly held true today. Allowed extra time and didn't need it.

We also worked on sideways, and especially sideways as part of change of direction. Both of us were working on this!

Saddle her up and played some more. She cantered on the 22 foot line with slack in the rope! Soft trot with slack in the rope. We were ready almost a half hour early! So I got on to see our pattern. Only two loops and she stopped on just a lift of rein and my exhale. Ready for the trails!

Oh how nice to have her right there for me. We walked down to the barn and waited outside for Vivian to finish tacking up. Cici just stood quietly. On the trails she was still occassionally grabbing for leaves either in the trees or on the ground. Avery had shortened my stirrups and today for the first time in a long time I felt my hips swinging!!!!!! Had this when riding in the ring also. But on the trails awesome!!!

One more thing. Last night was watching Rick Lamb on RFDTV and he was interviewing Pat and Linda. A viewer asked a question about head shaking. And they both said, well if a horse does not want to move its feet they will move their head! Light bulb moment!!!!! Also it is or can be a dominance thing. Ya think! Cici - backing. Yup does not want to move her feet. Well that changed today. I didn't pay any attention when she did try the shake, and it didn't come back. Now hmmm how interesting! Oh Boy!