#7

Half way! Although today was a short ride in the ring. Cici didn't really want to walk around like yesterday. Maybe I wasn't as focused as yesterday. Definitely more of "Don't touch the reins, which moves the bit" going on. Hmmm how interesting. I've been soft and quiet and gentle. Think I need to do a bit more of what Avery had suggested the first time I rode with her. Lateral flexion and disengagement until she softens.

She stops at the slightest lift of the reins. She stops when I stop riding. But even with the stop comes a moment of brace and then chewing. When I ask her to keep moving but to bend or stay on a circle and am lifting the rein for minor corrections I am getting the bracing in earnest. Today she was putting her head up - the place I don't like her to do - and then putting her head down - that's okay. Guess she is trying all sorts of things.

So that is the true benefit of blogging. I am not on her and I am thinking about what went on. Oh boy - I see things differently here in front of the computer. Not on her. She is experimenting. Great. Trying different things. Great. I just need to hang in there. Quiet persistence in the proper position. Hope my position is proper.

Today I think I was definitely in straight line thinking more. Get one more ride. Get one more ride. And Cici was thinking, oh not again. Just hanging out in the ring. I am ready for the trails. When will she be?

#6

A reprieve - only need 9 more or total of 14 rides before going out on trails. Cici's ready, working on me. So with today that is 8 more. A little more than a week if I can get on everyday. Here's hoping.

I've been trying to come to terms with the western saddle. Finally dawned on me how different is is from the Keiffer dressage I've ridden in for the last what 14 years! At first I was thinking its the twist but its way more than that. The Keiffer put you in a position and you stayed there. No place to go. It didn't have the knee blocks, but the saddle itself held you. The Parelli western saddle it like sitting bareback. More depends on you! or me!

As I learned when I started riding Jeepers with a rope halter that I was balancing with my hands, well now I'm realizing how the saddle kept me in position. At least we are not balancing with our hands LOL. But need to relearn how to sit. Balance point. Balance period.

#5

I had my hands on the back of Cici's knee - I was squatting down while I kept my hands still. Casey came over to me and lifted his nose to my face - for kisses! So I'm holding her knee, and madly kissing Casey as he just holds his nose up. Cici looks down at all the kissing going on and she lowers her nose to my face so I can now kiss her! And then she and Case kiss!

Boy the loving just keeps going on in the paddock. LOL.

Our Anniversary

Today is Cici and my First year Anniversary. It is also Rob and my Thirty-nineth year Anniversary.

My present to Cici was just to hang out with her today. No plans, no agenda. She came to me at the gate and I just smoothed my hands over her, stopping where they wanted. Her present to me was she stayed with me soaking me in. I stood in one place and she moved around me. She licked, chewed, gut sounds increased, lifted her tail to pass gas (oh how wonderful) and yawned and yawned and yawned. What could be better?

I am noticing she likes the energy work better than scratching or even massage. And quite often after she chews and sighs she will turn her head to me and want to put her nose in my hands, which I offer cupped to her. She will then wiggle her nose in them and lick.

#4

Cici seems to enjoy the meridian points I'm doing. She will bend her head and inspect the point on her side sometimes. She even puts her nose to my face and breathes me in. She relaxes and I melt.

Had the indoor to ourselves. She managed to scare herself on the circle while cantering. She missteps in the footing, struggles to regain balance and away she goes. But now even when she is most worried she will look in to me and turn in as if to say, "Save me". Comes directly to me and licks and chews.

I'll admit I get a bit worried when she gets like this. And wonder if she is going to be able to focus on me and can I get on. Today Mary came into the ring with Violette and PJ. She was having Violette get on and I was not going to do anything that might cause PJ to take one misstep. So I stood for a while quietly with Cici, asked her to do figure 8s around the barrels and then more waiting. During this Cici came back to me and licked and licked and chewed and got soft eyed and nosed me.

Figured lets saddle up and see where that goes. Once Mary, Violette and PJ left the ring I had Cici on the circle again. And she was soft and moving with a lovely trot. Couple of change of directions and we were ready to mount up.

Today she was willing to walk around the arena on the rail. I wanted to just be walking and not worried about walk two steps and stop. She was responsive to rein but still has a brace about the bit. Braces and licks and chews. Its kind of funny. The don't do that - oh okay. I am trying to be supper light. But holding until she gives. So there was lots and lots of slurping as she chewed the bit. And I was able to figure out how I'm sitting in the saddle. Still not completely one with it. But then again had 12 years in my Keiffer. Not feeling the overwhelming fear. I'd say I feel a bit cautious. But that good. Progress.

I can reach out and touch her poll and she drops her head in a beautiful arch. Playing with that especially on the dismount, as she will throw her head up when I lean forward to dismount. Hmm how interesting! Mary said she got that it is old muscle memory. Guy's saddle pinched when he shifted his weight to dismount.

#3

Was away for a couple of days. Yesterday just hung out with Cici. Margaret gave me new points to check on her. Some are relaxation, some are letting go, some are dealing with stuff. Sounds like points for me.

Today did the points, groomed, then played on the ground. Mixed things up. It interesting that right now Cici does not want to leave me and go out on a circle. I have to bring up my energy and drive her Zone 2. Keep the pressure up in front of the drive line.

Saddled her and back on circle. She seemed calm and quiet. Then got a little worried so change of direction and asked for canter. Whole circle going to right and half a circle going to left. Go figure.

I got on and found myself calmer, able to focus on my position in the saddle. Cici was very nice. She would walk a few steps and stop. I thanked her and then would have to ask her to go. She would walk a few more steps and stop. I thanked her and then would have to ask her to go. Still getting resistance when I ask for any bending. But she will quickly give and then lick. Cici was certainly taking care of me! So we walked around the indoor in a big circle a few times, she stopped and yawned and licked and I figured as I was boring my horse it was a good time to get off.

#2

Today I practiced mounting and dismounting. Realized with western saddle I hesitate about dismounting. At mounting block I got on and got off, back onto the block. I also had been thinking Cici might not stand still. Need to get over this and practice up and down. Each time I waited for her to lick. And then dismounted. Boy was she confused. Then I asked for a few steps forward and asked for a halt. And dismounted. Breathing again. Just taking the time.

I've been playing on the ground with lots of different things. And when we play circling game I realize that if I keep her engaged by either change of direction, 4+ times on the circle, or even getting her to canter, she will come in and immediately chew. If she is not with me it takes a lot longer for her to chew. For her to process. Hmmm how interesting.

When I was circling her with the saddle she gave several bucks. I thought oh no where are they coming from, and then she was soft and listening and had a really beautiful trot and even maintained the canter for more than half the circle.

Ride #1

Rode Cici today. Took lots of time with her in her paddock, then played all the games and then some in the indoor. Backing is coming along. I played yo-yo and got a nice lick and chew. Figure 8 around the cones. Working on developing this at the trot. Sideways - at one point I was driving from zone 3 and heading toward the wall. She turned to face the wall and then sideways the length! Her hindend is lagging a bit but nice cross stepping.

When I got on her she was quiet and focused. Quickly licked and chewed and rode with loose rein around the ring. I didn't do much of anything and she stayed on the rail and walked quietly. Not big so it was very comfortable for me. When I asked for a halt after a little while it was there and again a quick lick and chew.

This is the first ride of Margaret's 21. Will keep track and see how things progress.

An observation about the circling game. I am coming to realize that the more I ask her to do the more I get her listening. So I can let her go around 4 or 5 times and then ask for change of direction. Change of gait to canter. Today she held the canter almost the entire circle. And it was correct lead. But I need to work her for a while. Longer than I think I was doing.

Before I was afraid to do too much because then she would become unconfident. And then I would become unconfident. But both of us growing. Our emotional fitness is developing. Oh she will still get a bit frantic out on the line but I can bring her back.

Today I noticed that she was a bit spooking at the carrot stick. Her in place startles. I've been using it more with backing and sideways and to get her out on the circle. So worked a while on friendly vs intention. Will need to keep this going. I thought hmm haven't done anything with the tarp, if she is a bit spooky with carrot stick - but tarp was a total none issue. How interesting. My goal is for the carrot stick/string to be a non issue.

This is fun. Have some tools and can use them. Not all the answers but getting the questions. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Energy points

I'm placing my hand on the points Margaret suggested on Cici's sides. Its interesting to see if she readily accepts the energy from me and how quickly she can release - lick and chew. Sometimes it takes a while and sometimes its almost immediate. I've placed my hand on her side and felt a tingling. I've watched Cici feel the energy and start to breath rapidly and then sigh. And of course the right and left sides evoke different responses.

When I do this with Casey he bends his head all the way back to nose my hand - hey what are you doing?!?!?!

I have noticed that Cici seems, well I guess I'd say calmer. More connected. When she startles it is just in place. Like a little wakeup call. Hmm maybe that is when she is not paying attention. I'll watch that. I learn a lot by processing what happens by writing about it.

Yesterday I played the 7 games with Cici on the ground. I was thinking we haven't done much real movement for a while and she will usually porpoise and express her high energy by going straight while on the circle - you know pull me out of position. But yesterday she seemed to be listening to me. Walk, trot, canter. Well working on the canter. She willingly picks up both leads but only holds it for about 1/4 of the circle.

Lots of change of direction to start out to get her thinking. She even started to turn in at the spot I kept using a couple of times when I had decided to let her stay out on the circle. Hmmm how interesting.

Backing is getting better. Can string together several steps now. And sideways is moving along slowly. Her hind end is lagging. I think I am not in the proper position as I visualize what it looks like-will check that thought out latter today. Doing sideways along the indoor arena's wall and when she stops she stops with her forehead and face touching the wall as I wait for her to lick and chew.

Ended with a nice long grass eating session. Long enough so when I asked her to pick up her head she was soft and when we walked back to her paddock there was no grass diving.