lessons learned....

So much learning happening lately. I need to keep a log of it , just a check list.
*sideways with head  down, fluid movement, self carraige.
*bump not pull , correct without stopping your question asked.
*When you pour water in a vase the water becomes the vase, water in a glass it becomes the glass.....become the water my friends.
*deal with it!
*reward as much if not more than you correct
*Tip wrist downward, no pull just hold. Watch where you have it. what do you want to move?
*one step at a time
.....clinic coming up for 5 days... ill be addng on for sure.

Reba...5/18/10

Had kind of a busy running her and there day today so dint do anything with her this Am but put her in paddock.  as I hd time free up in afternoon i had her on grass and toyed with trailer.
 half way on after a couple tries, no issue at all.
Had to run out again so popped her in grassy patch and on my return  played trailer again.
 if i say she ate her dinner in it ...Need I say any more!

5/18/10 Reba

yesterday proved to be another revealing day for Reba. AM turn out in arena showed some spunk and grace. OMG what a floatng trot. A few strides of canter and a sassy buck. Good girl!
She was in her paddock all day and had a chance as it was to meet face to face(over fence), the rest of the (big guys) herd. Some noise but not unreasonable. I was told she was an agressive paddock mate.  little by little we will see. I love the fact that when the others leave stabel area to go to big field , out of signt she is happy to remain on her own. worth a ton.
Later in the day I moved her to the grassy spare paddock we made  as a treat area for our little guys and now Reba. Heaven. Just a little at a time, half hr max. There she was able to meet the little guys, 2 minis and a shetland (who is now a TV star on PBS).
then in to play with suringe and molassas , dinner, and stall.
It is tme consuming to tend to her needs as she is not 100% but it is really rewarding. I know she appreciates it. Its funny when i have to get in her face, so to speak, to remind her of  her spacial respect lessons, she sulks. gets all quiet and sulks.
Doesnt take much to teach er but she is pig headed just the same.
In time I look fwd to her tuning in a bit faster when needed.
 we worked on Circles the other day, yesterday while in arena i was intending to do the same. and found NO, just get the back up  and the to and from good. back is not a fav for her. Push thru has been her motto i believe.
after about 15-20 min or so she was backing with a minimum of effort on my appart, and coming back.
Sulky,  yes a bit but once i released her from the task she licked and chewed.
Lesson learned.

Reba

5/16/10 had a good roll today in arena . all the way over this time.
She left quite an impression in the dirt. back bones!
after we grazed a bit  then i decided to turn her out . She was great and out all day it was a great day. Im sure she will sleep really well tonight. Meds all done but played with suringe anyway. no problem! some resistance but its more play now, "You cant get in my mouth....Oh darn yes you can!...... Yumm molassas!"

***We had PBS here today filming for "Martha speaks, kid show.  Kind of exciting.  Twin boys, 6 yo,  who ride with me played the roll of the boy, Ted, and Mr. Bill (our pony) was his long lost friend, Sam. Too cute.

5/15/10 reba

Tired tonight had a great day at DRHC Obstacle challenge.
prior to leaivn g this Am took Reba out and lead her to arena for her first tme. hand walk up till now. Our arena is special. its side are not closedin . even in winter we drop down our curtains and have natural light and the outdoors to view.
Anyway, I lead her aroudn both way sas i have odds and ends obstacle in there and didnt want her to meet them alone. Figured  id introduce her to the atmosphere first then let her off to explore.
first thign she did after i unhooked line ...find a place to roll. Oh it did my heart good.
She got up and walked a bit  came back to me . we walked  bit she walke don , explored came back. too cute. it will really tug on my heart stings to send her off to her forever home at some point.
They will have to be very special people.
 after my return  in afternoon. I took her out on lawn to graze. kids were playing ball , it was nice.
 after about 20 min took her to arena again. free  time. she was happy to exlore and push my big green ball.
she walked came back to me walked came back. always happy to check in. we had a really good face rub!
She had to have another roll around. when she gets all the way over Ill know for sure she has gained weight.
later on before feed time I administered last of worm meds. piece of cake, less tie than even yesterday.
 lots of  suringe play after  the deed was done.
 before i fed her dinner i took her for a short walk and graze, get the yucko meds taste out of mouth if molassas wasnt enough.
I got fingers in mouth no notice at all.Played with her lips too .
great!

reba 5/14/10

Well today I was heading out with trailer early so I pulled it up to barn and parked it. before i left i took Reba out for a walk and grass. had some things to put itin traler etc so brought her along iwth me as i know (heard) she doesnt trailer load ride anything! well you would think it was Godzilla, she saw it and froze and eyes bulged and she did the Arabian pose. you know the one. Anyway, I ignored her and once we got the feet moving again it wasnt about the trailer it was about me getting my tasks done.  When I was done  she was touching it and sniffing it ,all fine.
later in the day on my return after i cleaned it out. i took her for another waalk . Now it wa iin a different spot! OMG! Arabian pose! so i had sweeping to do etc so i had her n tow whilei did it. after i was done i asked her to acknowledg ethe traile and stand to face it at ramp. I could see she was nervous and curious at the same time. fear took over and she couldnt jsut stand there. so we took it a few seconds at a tiime  till i thoguht i could ask for a bit more. each time we woudl walk away and take a short break. upon th llast presentation of it to her all i wanted was for her to stand perpendicular to ramp and just stand. nothing else. we chilled and curiosity got he best of her. she took two steps up ramp to nibble hay on floor. We were their for about  10 seconds and i backed her out and back to grass. Not about the trailer.
Later on i still needed to give her her meds. Honestly  under 30 seconds i was in and over with.  I sucked up molasses in suringe and continued to  play yummy with her, squirting molassas in instead of meds. not a lot just a squirt.
  later on again i played rubbing head and got fingers in mouth with no issue.
huge changes.
Well done Reba!

Reba 5/13/10

Made huge progress today. meds in in record time, not that i was going for a record.  Some resistance sure but in half the time we were done and getting the suringe in her mouth both sides  like a bit .
Face rubs are her favorite thing. its allowed me to get close to her mouth with hands without the threat of putting anything in or on her.  I did sneak a finger in today when i could and it never phased her. I rubbed the suringe along her mouth too and popped it in and out the side, long after meds were done.

We had a bit of a discussion as we took our first walk of the day.  it was cool and she is feeling better. she wanted one way and was a tad bit disrespectful. we discussed it and it was over. later  in the day she was a bit reluctant to greet me at stall door to have halter on.  a game more than anything I think.
She has marks on nose from halter being on all the time. porb left it on so they could catch her.
anyway, no real issue we walked and ate. my last walk with her today she was willing to greet me and was very respectful of my wishes  as to where she should be etc. her backing was better etc. slowly i have been introducing  some things to her . back is not one of her strong points , more like blow thru you or go up(not a norm but you can see the potential).
anyway, she is a great girl and will be even better tomorrow.