Hanging Out

Milva and I were just hanging out today and enjoying each others company. I think I´m going to make wednesdays to a undemanding time day. It´s always the first day at work which feels kind of stressful and therefor nice if I just can hang out with Milva.
Today we went for a little stroll around the farm and grazed between the horsetrailers. It was pretty cold so I didn´t stay long in the stable.

Sitting On Milva Again

Anita helped me again to sit on Milva today. You can tell that Milva feels secure with her so it doesn´t bother her much when I sit on her. We also walked 10 steps while I sat on her.
Before that I played the 7 games again and concentrated on trotting the figure 8. She is getting much lighter in trott now and put actually some effort in trotting the figure 8. What a good girl.
Even trotting on the left hand was going much easier today.
What she didn´t like though was taking the bit. She was going backwards when I tried to put it in and all the carrots didn´t help *sigh*. I felt bad putting it on her.
Now I have to work my 3 days and will be in the stable in the mornings.

Another Decision Is Made

....and it feels so much better. From now on I will listen to my heart!

Feeling I have to distance myself from certain people at the stable but that shouldn´t be too hard. I´m not a herdhuman anyway and like doing being by myself and doing things by myself.

Of course I will still talk to those people - if needed but not more or less. There are still some people I like to hang out with - it´s not that those people are bad people I just feel they are too far away from my philsophy and I want to stay close to my principles.

I also have to be more aware of my right brain behaviour and my right brain decisions!

It doesn´t matter what people say and it doesn´t matter how long it takes. Believe in yourself and you´ll fly high. The only thing that matters is that you are true to yourself and that you follow your heart.

Honoring Connie Reeves

http://www.sptimes.com/2003/09/07/Floridian/A_cowgirl_s_final_ride.shtml

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P6aJ7h8uLc

What an inspiration! Connie fell of her her horse Dr.Pepper 2003 when she was 101 years old, three weeks later she died of cardiac arrest.

Connie started to ride when she was 5 and rode ever since.

"As long as I´m alive, I am going to be trying to ride a horse" Connie Reeves

Sitting On Milva

I did the 7 games in the ridinghouse again today - with the saddle on and the bit. The new cradle bridle fits her and she looks darn cute in it!
Anita held her while I hung on her for a little while and I was sitting on her for a short little while.
Anna couldn´t make it today which was fine with me. I meet her tomorrow though. Hopefully she can sit on her and walk with Milva a little bit. That´s the only thing I want her to do and as soon as she can sit on Milva in walk and in trott I can sit on her and don´t need her help anymore. I´m concerned that her methods are too far away from Parelli´s principles and it takes alot of energy from my side to explain Milva´s point of view - also because I can see that Anna doesn´t really undestand what I mean. Hopefully Milva behaves so I can take over for full again. It really does not feel good having someone else working with her.
I worked on the trott again. It´s going better on the right hand so we did a nice figure 8 in trott starting off with the right cone. Left hand trott she thinks it´s very difficult so I just did a little bit and rewarded her alots afterwards.

Handhorse Training

Yesterday I just took it easy with Milva. It was sunny but cold. I know we will spend alot of time in the ridinghouse over the winter so I thought I better stay outside with her as long as the weather is so nice.
Anita joined us down in the harvest field. I let Milva graze while Anita did some stretching with Orkan. It was a Yoga-Sunday for Orkan.
Anita took Milva with her for a little tour as a handhorse. Milva seemed to really enjoy it. She did try to eat sometimes - of course. Anyway they walked around a little bit in walk and in trott. I was pretty impressed by the trotting. Once Orkan got Milva´s leadrope behind is bum but fortunatelly he did not care. He shows alot of patience with Milva. Orkan is much bigger than Milva and has bigger steps than she does. When Orkan was trotting Milva started to canter - a lovely uphill canter. I hope she keeps that form when I´m sitting on her as well. I have noticed that uphill canter now several times :).
I´m off to the stable soon to prepare her for Anna´s session. My plan is to show Anna how I mount her - asking for permission, and do some trotting work with her before that.

Parelli 10min Tips

I found this link on another blog side and thought it was very helpful and intressting.
http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-exclusives/parelli-10-minute-tips.aspx
Perfect if you don´t have so much time to play with your horse or just compine it with your daily stablework.
Makes so much sense!

Trotting Work

Worked with Milva for half an hour in the ridinghouse. I concentrated on trotting which she really doesn´t like. For a little while it was getting worse - really bad punkgirl attitude. Ears back, coming towards me shaking the head and ears back. I guess she tried to threaten me...lol
Kind of funny. Anyway, we worked it out and by the end I just had to give her a phase 1 send and off she went in trott - not the fastest one but I like it slow more anyway.
It´s 1 a.m here now so I better go to bed.

New Bit And 7 Games

I put the new bit on Milva today. It seems to be a little bit big and thick but she didn´t protest and kept her mouth quiet. At least it doesn´t pinch her in the mouth. I wonder if I should get her the C1 for later on. What I like on the Myler bits is that they are not so thick.
After talking to Sue in Canada last weekend I played the 7 games in order today. She got the tip from Kate Vandergragt who studied with Larry Steward for 2 years. I met Kate 2 years ago threw Sabine. Sue told me to play the 7 games in order - I guess it makes sense. I did do that in the beginning but I don´t want the games to become a job that´s why I started to mix them up or just did a few of them.
Friendly game went fine. I did some helicopter from z3.
Porcupie game went ok. It´s still easier to move her forquarters to the left. Moving her to right is much more difficult. With the hindquarters I have to make her more spin - and not doing a circle. Sophie told me that.
Yoyo game is going well now - even on liberty.
I was surprised though that she had a threshold doing the squeezing game between me and the ridinghouse wall - must remind her on my fall I guess cause she never had a threshold there before.
Circling game in trott we still have to work on. Lbi what more can I say.
Sidewards game she is getting very hm...exuberant I guess you could say. She really really likes to do it - I think because of the carrots afterwards

More Undemanding Time

I was in a bit of rush today - had to look for wintertires before the snow is coming, so I decided to just spend some undemanding time with Milva.
Going to try the new bit tomorrow.
Also decided not to let Anna do more groundwork with Milva. I think it´s just going to confuse Milva and I want to keep her pure Parelli. 4 days on the ground with Anna are more than enough in my opinion. I anyway just wanted to have help with someone sitting on her - or actually riding her. Sitting on her I have done alots but it´s the actually riding part.
I also think Anna would push her too much with the trotting and I definitely don´t want that!
If Anna wants her do trott - I will do it with Milva.

Undemanding Time

I thought Milva needed some undemanding time today - and so did I. After brushing her we went to the harvested oatfield and I let her graze there. She really enjoyed it and I sware that she was smiling and having a happy face.
It´s getting cold here already. The weatherforecast predicted snow on friday and -2 tonight. Hopefully my little baby can sleep inside.
Before I left today she was laying down sleeping in the stable. It was too cute! Paulina was also inside - stealing silage from Magica´s herd. Orkan was standing in the middle of the door. He was blocking the whole door so the other two geldings couldn´t come in - I think he did it so Milva could sleep without getting disturbed. Awwwww
I´m going to try the new bit tomorrow and maybe put the saddle on her.

Herm Sprenger 2-Type Turnado KK Ultra Bit

That´s the new bit I got for Milva today.

Just hope she is going to like it. http://www.adamshorsesupply.com/browse.cfm/4,5545.html

Day 4 With Anna

I liked Sophie´s comment about Milva having a soft expression. Soft expression means she can´t be too much bothered by Anna working with her and not me, right??
I mean I´m still in the ridinghouse all the time to watch Anna doesn´t hurt her dignity or isn´t doing anything else wrong.
When I think about it - Anna is quiet patience with us. Being this strict dressage rider, working and riding for Jan Brink and now she has little spoilt princess Milva in her hands where she is not allowed to use all those traditional tools she is used to use.
She was reading some articles from the folder I gave her with the Parelli articles in it. But I don´t think she is really understanding what it all means.
Anyway I was more satisfied with the session today. Anna just used the longreins today and walked in zone4. She did alot of smootching with the tongue to make Milva go. I asked her why she would do it and the answer was that she wants Milva to move more forwards.
Didn´t make sense to me and I explained to Anna that´s what the personality of a lbi is all about. If you push them even more they soon don´t want to go at all and probably are making up evil thoughts sooner or later.
I kind of feel silly to tell Anna all those things but after all Parelli principles are more important to me than anything else!
In the second session I had to tell Anna not to clap Milva on the neck for reward instead pet her -like her mother would do. It helped - Anna is now petting her softly, she even brought cookies for Milva´s session today.
Anna said that she was satisfied with Milva´s reaction today and that she starts to understand the connection of the rein. Good!
To get more specific I put 5 cones in between A and C in the ridinghouse and Anna was directing Milva through it in weave patterns. I just don´t know how much the cones helped because Milva knows the weavepatterns by heart and usually walks them by herself. Oh well, they both looked satisfied so I didn´t want to mention it...;)
The next three days I´m going to work with Milva by myself - nice! I know that´s silly. It was me asking Anna for help and paying her it´s just hard to see someone else working with my baby.
Saturday Anna is working with her again. The plan is to put the saddle on, get Milva in trott and maybe hang on her. Saddle she is more than used to and the hanging shouldn´t be a problem either. The trotting might be another story though.
Anna asked me if it is ok to put some pressure on her. Thinking about L&HB course where Linda is putting some pressure on some of the horses to make them trott or not break the gait - I guess it´s ok. I know that you have to use some pressure but it just doesn´t feel good. But if I ever want her to do some trotting I guess there is no other way.

Pics With Anna Taken By Anita

Day 3 With Anna

I received my cradle bridle today and LOVE it! It is such a nice piece of work. The leather is smooth and very good quality. Before sending it someone must have oiled it cause it is still very oily - nice thought.
Anna worked with Milva again today. Already when she came I could see that she was irritated or annoyed. I assume it has something to do with her constant backpain. Whatsoever I cannot accept any bad mood or irritation when working with my horse!
I have to talk about that with her tomorrow. I will tell her if she has pain or is in a bad mood she can work with her another day.
Her 30min session looked like the other ones. Getting her used to the feel of the bit. First she walked in zone 3 - or kind of. I guess Anna doesn´t know anything about the zones.
I hope Milva doesn´t get to confused about working with Anna *sigh*
But if it doesn´t feel right I guess I shouldn´t do it........
Well anyway, first she put the reins in the bit and walked with her. It was change of direction and stoping.
The other half of the 30min she put the longreins on and walked more behind her - I would say in zone 4 - still not zone 5. She was doing the same thing there - change of direction and stopping.
Milva was as always yawning alot and also licking her lips.
Which means she is processing all the new things she is learning.
I still have a bad conscious about not starting her with a natural hackamore. But as soon as Anna gave her the first couple of rides I will switch over to the hackamore!

Day 2 With Anna

Another 30min session with Anna. Anna did the same as yesterday - getting her used to the feel of the bit.
It´s easier for Milva to bend on the right side. Her mane is on the right side which means that´s her weaker side. Left side she is still fighting against the rein.
Anna said she wants to do the same session tomorrow. Hopefully my cradlebridle has arrived by tomorrow so we can use that one instead.
Anna mentioned again that the C3 bit is more severe than other bits because of the tungrelease.
Intressting...going to do more research and watching more fluidity dvds.

Research On Bits

www.mylerbitsusa.com
I did some research on bits this morning. Reason for it is a comment Malin made about my bitchoice yesterday. She said that Myler bits were in fashion a few years back but all the professional riders don´t use them any more. She also said that they are very strong bits because they are so thin and some of them are gadget like.
Milva´s breeder Barbara gave me an advice about bits when I bought Milva. She told me to keep in mind that Trakehner´s have a very little mouth and not much space in the


mouth. She also said: "Even a gentle bit can be severe in the wrong rider´s hands."
To make more research I will order Myler´s book about bits. I do think I´m on the right track though.
I do like Sprenger bits with Aurigam in it. That´s the bit i used for Saxon but I think all their bits are pretty thick.

Day 1 With Anna

Milva had her first session with Anna today.
Anna goal for today was to get Milva used to reincontact. It seemed to work pretty well. Milva is such a smart girl and learning really fast.
I told Anna that the ssssss sound means stop. Anna was using the ssss sound and the reins at the same time to stop Milva. After a few times it worked very well.
Anna also tried to longrein her but the bit wasn´t stable enough in her mouth so she went back walking next to Milva.
She was working with her 30 min and Milva was chewing and yawning alot.
Malin came in to watch as well.
I have to admit it feels strange to have someone else working with Milva and Milva was looking for me all the time but Anna was doing a good work with her.

More Direct And Indirect Rein Training

I try to prepare Milva as much as possible on the ground before getting on her again.
Today we did 30 min in the ridinghouse. I used the leadrope as a rein and had the bid in her but the reins not attached to the bit.
We worked on change of direction and some emergency stops, walking in z3. By the end I attached the reins in her bit and just walked with her from zone 3. I moved the bit a little bit just to get her used to the feel and as soon as she reacted and gave a little bit after I released.
Doing more of this exercise tomorrow again.

Rein On The Bit

I did a short session in the riding house and worked on direct and indirect rein. First I just did it with the ropehalter, having my arm over her back. When she stopped I tapped her slightly with my fingers and she moved on. Change of direction with the halter worked fine after a while. I released as soon as she went in to the direction I wanted her to go.
"Close your fingers slowly and release QUICKLY". I always have Pat´s saying in my ears - especially the quickly part!
After a while I put the reins on the bit. First she thought it was awkward to have something hanging there so close to her mouth.
My initally plan was to get her used to the feel of the bit when changing direction. Softly directing her in the direction and releasing quickly as soon as she would give after.
But because she thought it was so weird I just let the reins hanging there and used the rope instead. I put a little resistance to the rein once - or well, the reins got stucked on her withers and she had a little bit of resistance. She didn´t like it much though.
Hopefully the riding house is empty tomorrow as well so I can continue.
I took her grazing too for 15min - cause I know she likes it so much and I think she needs some undemanding time too!

Driving Game From Zone 5

aka longreining. Milva was still tired today but not as much as she was yesterday. Still can´t tell if she is lame or not. It´s hard to tell if she is acting like a lbi and not wanting to trott.
Katharina was riding in the ridinghouse while I was in there. She roder her new horse and I think she wasn´t too impressed that I was in there as well.
I started with the driving game in zone 5 today. I put the 22 foot line on her and walked behind her. First she was confused what I wanted but smart as she is she figured it out real quick. We did follow the rail while I was going behind her. I think that was a good start for preparing her for saturday. Anna want´s to long rein her to see how she is reacting with the rein.
I also tried some figure 8s in trott again. But today she was really not up for it at all. I didn´t want to push her either so instead I quit and spend some undemanding time with her.
I took her out grazing for 10min after it. I think she misses our grazing time and so do I.

Cradle Bridle

Just ordered a Cradle Bridle and the Natural Collection + Lead Changes dvd.

Hope the cradle will fit Milva. I measured her cradle to a 40´ and the C3 bit to a 5´. She would use a smaller bit but the 5´is the smallest they offer at the Parelli page.

Tired Milva

My baby was incredible tired today. I think it must have been the storm in the last three days.
I was in the ridinghouse for 45min. I put the bit in her before going in and it´s going better and better every day. I´m still trying to convince myself that it is ok to start riding her with a bit...
As soon as I feel comfortable on her I will switch over to the natural hackamore though.
I did some travelling circles in trott. It was going fine on the right hand but on the left hand she was getting kranky and tried to switch direction and had her ears back. After watching her for a while it looked like she was limping a little bit on the left frontleg. When I checked all her four legs closly I couldn´t find anything though. Nothing was swollen and nothing was warm.
It could be the hoof - after the barefeet trimmer. I´m going to check again tomorrow and ask someone else to look at it too. Cause I always think all horses are limping - especially Milva.
We also did some change of direction in trott and figure 8s in trott.
First we had a little discussion though about doing figure 8s in trott but after being consistent it worked. As soon as she did it I stopped her and she was licking and chewing. Good girl!
It must have been a threshold for her to go threw. After all she is not used to trott so much - or not liking it very much and also she had the bit in her mouth.
I was satisfied with todays playsession though.
Trying to long rein her tomorrow to get her used to change direction with using the bit. I borrowed Anita´s long reins. Thinking about ordering Parelli´s ones but first I wanna buy the cradle bridle.
Oh and I booked the flight and hotel for the goldsummit today :)

Stormy Sunday

Milva and I went in to the ridinghouse again. Working on figure 8s in trott. She was so much fun today - very exuberant and the figure 8s were going smooth. She had her ears forwards and was sidepassing threw them.
In the beginning we had a little discussion about her attitude. She had her ears back in travelling circles in trott and was coming towards me saying - I do not want to do that!
Figure 8s made it better though!
Love the patterns!
I also had the bit in her again and walked around with her for 15min. She seemed to be ok with it.

Bit Training

Sinve I´ve started working evenings again I have to write my blog late in the evening after coming home from work - which means it will often show the date of the next day.
Today - saturday, I was a short time with Milva in the ridinghouse. I put the bit in her again. She still resisted and didn´t like to get it in but well inside she looked fine. Malin thought though that I´ve to shorten the bridle so Milva can´t push it so much around. I don´t agree though. I like the westernstyle more where the horses have no wrinkles in their mouthcurbe - so that´s what I´m going to use on Milva. Plus Parelli has their bits loose in the mouth as well.
Yesterday I was in the ridinghouse as well. Anita was so nice to help me. She borrowed me one of her bits - a black "malm" bit with toungerelease - like the Mylerbit Parelli is using. Milva seemed to like it as well.
We also did some figure 8´s in trott. It´s getting better and better :).
Anita and I had coffe and cake in the ridinghouse while Milva was hanging out with us *I like*

Bit & Handhorse

Milva had a busy day today. First she was trying to be a handhorse while Anita was riding Orkan - in walk and trott. Anita was riding Orkan with a halter and one rein without saddle - pretty cool! Everything was going fine and I think Milva thought it was funny. Orkan is such a good boy!
After that we introduced her to the bit. She was chewing alot on it but otherwise she was fine - unless she went catatonic and I didn´t see it. But I don´t think so...hm....
The bit I had was too big though - 12.5cm so we try a smaller one tomorrow.
I start doubting the decission I made about Anna... I have to talk to her more about how she wants to start Milva. I don´t want that she is lunged and I don´t want to have sidereins on her! Sidereins Anna wanted. But that´s so much against everything I believe in. It also doesn´t feel right to have someone else sitting on Milva...ahhhhh.....
Well, I talk to Anna again and take it from there. After all Milva is my horse and her dignity comes always first!

Decisions Are Made

I asked Anna for help today. I have mixed feelings about it but I have to be honest to myself and commit that right now I´m not getting anywhere with Milva.
I told Anna that I want help for 2 weeks and work with Milva intensive in those 2 weeks. The result I would like to achieve is to be able to ride her in walk and trott.
But what´s important to me is to keep my principles before the goal! Which means - no sidereins for example and no lunging... I agree to a bit though. I think it´s going to make me feel saver in the beginning and as soon as I can ride Milva in walk and trott I can ride her with the natural hackamore.
I also will print out some pages for Anna about Milva´s horsenality and maybe some other information she can have a use off. I´m not going to be an easy client...
Milva did some figure 8 in trott today :) - good girl. I think it was the first time we tried it!
I also put a bit into her mouth for the first time today - she wasn´t too impressed about it.
I will do alots of friendly game with it over the next week.

Barefoot

...doing some researching about barefoot...
www.barefoothorse.com
www.healthy-stride.com
www.equinepodiatry.net
www.hoofrehab.com
www.barefoottrim.com
www.thehorsehoof.com
www.hopeforsoundness.com

Frustrated

Today was not a good day. When I looked more closly at Milva´s hooves today I didn´t like what I saw. Over the last few months I tried to grow her hooves longer and wider. Trakehner usually have small hooves but Milva´s hooves were extremly small. They were getting much better though. I wasn´t quiete satisfied with the angle of her hooves but with the size.
Well, Ulla took alot away yesterday and her backhooves look strange now too. She cutted them very pointy - looking like an arrow, and the fronthooves are very small again.
She was already a bit sore today. I just hope it´s not getting worse!
Sometimes I think life would be so much easier if I would have her shoed, in a box and turnout by herself.
She would probably not be as happy but at least safe and sound.
Her backleg seems to get better though. At least something.
I took a little walk with her - up the dirtroad and back. She was very lbe/rbe. A few times she was bucking and rearing up. Not fun at all!
I think she was irritated because she wasn´t allowed to graze and had to walk instead.
Little punk girl!
Later I had her together with the new horse in the ridinghouse. Big mistake! He backed up to her and tried to kick her. It looked nasty. I´m so not feeling comfortable having him in the same pasture as Milva.
I will try to talk to Malin tomorrow and see if she can come up with a solution.
I don´t like and trust Rebecca either. She is one of those persons who knows it all and is mean to the horses. The whole situation just does not feel good!!!
I also could observe Rebecca in the ridinghouse today how she handled her horse and I don´t like what I saw. I so regret that I was in there with her!
Going to spend all afternoon with Milva tomorrow and try to fix what went wrong today.

Ferrier

Milva met her new ferrier today. I have decided to go with barehoof as long as it is possible and hopefully forever. Ulla seems to be a nice person, very patience and understanding. I have to look at the hooves more tomorrow to decide if she did a good work or not. I know I´m sometimes too picky but if it comes to hooves you shouldn´t make any compromises! I have to admit that I´m fully convinced about Ulla yet. I wish she would have some better education than she does. What I undestood she learned with a swedish guy. But I have never heart of him before...

Milva was a bit antzy today and didn´t want to stand still. She hasn´t met Ulla before and I think that´s why. Also Ulla took a long time to fix the hooves and Milva was getting unpatience. We did the hooves in the riding house which was also unusual for Milva. I definitely have to make some more research about barefoot hooves.

Before the ferrier came I worked on some direct and indirect rein.