Riding among the Rockies!
That's right, Eli and I have been riding on the Parelli Ranch in Colorado for the past week! He FINALLY arrived, and he looks better than he ever has! Shiny, muscley, NOT FAT, and he's quite partnery lately! I almost like taking him to new places because he looks for me, rather than when he gets confident and I have to work hard. =)
We have started the 45' line thing, and it's going well! He had such a hard time with it being light in Florida, that I didn't do much after our panic session, but I got some sound advice on it, and am starting the program again in earnest. I can't tiptoe around his emotions--like Dan told me last winter, you have to push some of his buttons to develop him! He's really been doing well the last few days--getting lighter and lighter every day on the 45', and thinking more inside the circle, even out in the open 30' out! Sideways is going great--I'm just about ready to film the rest of my level 2. That task is all that's left on the ground, and as for riding...
...We've made progress! As long as I respect his impulsiveness as something that needs patterns, repetition, and the all-important TIME, he works through it and he tries so hard! We were doing both the figure-8 task I have left and the simple lead changes I have left yesterday. That's level 2 folks! He's not emotionally ok about it quite yet (with the cantering), but he's making HUGE strides (no pun intended)! I've gone to a Savvy String in his mouth to help him be ok with that--the bit makes my hands softer and him more responsive, but more emotional, and since I don't know if it hurts him or not (his bars are short), I'm gonna just treat it like an emotional thing and not hurt his mouth when I have to get firm. He sucks the string up just like he sucks the bit up when he's emotional.
Overall, he's doing SUPERBLY. I got about four compliments yesterday on how pretty he is--I was like, well handsome is as handsome does....but we'll get there! =) He really looks the best he ever has...and I know how much more he can improve! He has lots of room for muscle on his topline, especially his neck. His mane is even growing long!!! Amazing what nutrition can do! Now his bumps and bruises from herd dynamic changes just need to heal up...he evidently didn't move fast enough, or he lost the intimidation game.
We have started the 45' line thing, and it's going well! He had such a hard time with it being light in Florida, that I didn't do much after our panic session, but I got some sound advice on it, and am starting the program again in earnest. I can't tiptoe around his emotions--like Dan told me last winter, you have to push some of his buttons to develop him! He's really been doing well the last few days--getting lighter and lighter every day on the 45', and thinking more inside the circle, even out in the open 30' out! Sideways is going great--I'm just about ready to film the rest of my level 2. That task is all that's left on the ground, and as for riding...
...We've made progress! As long as I respect his impulsiveness as something that needs patterns, repetition, and the all-important TIME, he works through it and he tries so hard! We were doing both the figure-8 task I have left and the simple lead changes I have left yesterday. That's level 2 folks! He's not emotionally ok about it quite yet (with the cantering), but he's making HUGE strides (no pun intended)! I've gone to a Savvy String in his mouth to help him be ok with that--the bit makes my hands softer and him more responsive, but more emotional, and since I don't know if it hurts him or not (his bars are short), I'm gonna just treat it like an emotional thing and not hurt his mouth when I have to get firm. He sucks the string up just like he sucks the bit up when he's emotional.
Overall, he's doing SUPERBLY. I got about four compliments yesterday on how pretty he is--I was like, well handsome is as handsome does....but we'll get there! =) He really looks the best he ever has...and I know how much more he can improve! He has lots of room for muscle on his topline, especially his neck. His mane is even growing long!!! Amazing what nutrition can do! Now his bumps and bruises from herd dynamic changes just need to heal up...he evidently didn't move fast enough, or he lost the intimidation game.