So Much To Do So Little Time

"Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted" - John Lennon
I can wholehearted say that yesterday was a completly wasted day! I will never ever go to a meeting again that starts before 12.00! Unless I get paid for the hours between.
Anyway, I went to the stable early in the morning and gave the horses their breakfast. Cuddled Milva for a little bit and had to leave again.
Today I was still tired after a 13hours day at work yesterday.
We still played for 40min though. Longreining with transitions trott - walk - stop - backing up. Circling game and figure 8´s with a small distance between the cones.
If the weather is ok on the weekend I will take her out for walks instead of going into the ridinghouse. It will be busy with dressagelessons anyway.
Monday and Tuesday I´m on a workrelated course and can first go to the stable in the evening.
I need more time to study and play with Milva *sigh*

Busy Week Once Again

I have to work 5 days in a row now and attend a work related course on monday and tuesday. I already feel stressed about it and just wish march would be over.
Milva and I played for 30min. As they recommend in the Horsenality Report I didn´t lead her to the indoor arena and drove her their instead from z3. I really did change the look on her face. Ears forwards :)
We played with some squeeze game over a cavaletti in walk and trott. Before I stopped she actually asked a question - ears forwards and listening to me. She trotted over the cavaletti once - don´t wanna overdo it with my lbi ;).
We also did some falling leaf patterns in trott and walk, circling game in walk and trott. Or well, she trotted one lap without breaking gate so I brought her in and finsished our session.
We also visited the stable for a few minutes. The white in her eyes is still coming out and she is getting her worried face. Well if she hasn´t changed her attitude about the stable until the ferrier is coming the next time I will strongly suggest to her to trim her outside. Milva´s dignity has to come first!!!!

No Permission Yet

Played 50min today. Longreining, circling and putting my foot in the stirrup. Didn´t get any farther cause I had to take care of her threshhold. Taking care of the little problems will pay off big times later.
I don´t know where this threshold is coming from - or well, I do, it´s her lbi behaviour. I take it with humour though. After alots of approach and retreat with my foot in the stirrup she quit her evil thoughts and when she did I stopped. Silly girl.
I have to leave ealier to work tomorrow cause Jessica has a meeting and I hava a meeting early thursday morning. Tomorrow I still will have time to play some but thursday I won´t. Stupid!

Milva´s Horsenality Type - out of the horsenality report

Milva´s big red dot shows that she is an extreme left brain introvert.

About Milva

Milva´s result reveal that in general, she is a Left Brain Introvert. Welcome to the land of ´Why should I and what´s in it for me?´ Left Brain Introverts like Milva read people like a book; she knows what you want and she´s not going to give it to you unless you treat her right. Even though she appears lazy, she´s not at all lazy in her mind! Reverse psychology is where it´s at...you´ll learn a lot about this later on.
Note where Milva´s big red dot fall on the chart. The further out from the center that her score plots (se above), the higher her spirit level is. With high spirit level, all of what I tell you about Left Brain Introverts will be aplified. With low spirit, the less challenging these traits will be.
Knowing that Milva is a Left Brain Introvert should help you understand that, by nature, she is a thinker. She´s not given to sustained movement and energy. She may also tend to be quiete argumentative at times, preferring to call the shots(or just eat grass!). Milva´s best suit is out on the trail, that´s where she´s happiest and naturally motivated because she´s going somewhere. It´s when you get ot the arena or round corral that she´ll test your savvy because you have to give her a reason for putting in more effort. The key is to learn how to bring out her play drive and have her want to offer you more.

Summerpictures From July 2009

Slow And Right Beats Fast And Wrong

30min of longreining again with walk - trott - stop - backing up transitions from z5, still with 1 rein.
Well and then there was this thing with sitting on Milva today. It was definitely not the right time today. I still tried it but stopped just in time. Just when I was about to get on her, Malin was coming in with one of the ponnies she wanted to longue and one of the twins was about to train one of her jumping horses. They were kindly enough to wait outside until I was done. Which was really really nice of them! But the jumpinghorse was jumping and bolting in front of the ridinghouse and of course Milva could hear that and got all upset. When I was hanging on her she started to back up. I asked her to stop and when she did I jumped off.
I didn´t really had her permission to get on either. Her head was up and she was listening to the noises from outside.
I have to start planing my time better. Maybe go to the stable very very early so I can play with Milva while the twins are still mucking their stables.
Going to read the Horsenality Report now :))

Fast Track Course And Planning Ahead

My innitial plan was to attend the fast track course in Ocala next winter/spring. After doing some more research I think it might be a better idea to wait until next summer/autumn instead.
Which will give me more time to study theory and get my horsemanship up to level 3.
I´m planning on taping my freestyle level 2 before the summer which will give me the blue string and will make me to an official level 3 student. After achieving level 2 I will try to get as far as possible with my level 3 before going to the fast track course.
I´m also trying to purchase the Parelli Dressage saddle this year. I still love my Bates Innova but my mind and heart are set on a Parelli saddle. I better don´t tell Shawn how much they are though... I´m going to check with the duty as well. It might be cheaper to send it to Ali in Texas and pick it up there or ask her to send it over to me.
Milva and I had a 30min playsession today. We just made it before the dressage training started again.
We did trotting on the longrein from zone 5 - when I write zone 5 I mean that I´m 2 - 3 meters behind Milva, with one rein. It was the first time and super fun! I just wish I would be in a better shape! Milva reacted immediately on my tongueclick when walking and started to trott. Pretty good for a lbi!
We also did some circling game and sideways in a circle.
While she was eating I had the green ball out again and she had to move it to get to her hay :)
Last evening at work!!! It´s going to be soooo nice to be off now for 2 days. As I mentioned before I shouldn´t complain about my workinghours cause I couldn´t have it any better and I do love my work. But it´s still going to be nice to be at home and relax and study!

Just Hanging Out

As always on saturday mornings the ridinghouse was once again occupied. Even though I went there at 9.00 a.m.
We played with the stone pedastal for a while. Milva just loves putting her front feed on it. I started with asking her to make a step forwards to put all four feed on the big stone. It´s not going to be any problem for her doing so. She almost offered it today but I rather take it slow.
I also did a lots of extrem friendly game with the carrotstick while she was eating. Slapping the ground and helicopter.
I have to do some more research how to teach the spanish walk as well. She nicely took up her legs when I touched her chestnut with the carrot. So that´s a start.
The horses have started to eat on the fence and on the wooden walls in the stable. I have collected alots of brenches over the last weeks and went again today. Usually they are all chewed up shortly after.
One more evening at work and then 2 days off :)).

Green Ball And Tractor

I played with the green ball around Milva today - while she was eating. My goal is to be able to put it on her back. She is not scared of it but I wouldn´t say that she is very comfortable with it either - not on her back anyway. She doesn´t mind though when I roll it around and she is trying to bite it as well.
We helped Sjune with the tractor today. I say we because Milva was trying to help as well. Sjune was doing the ridinghouse - even it out with this big machine behind the tractor and when he was done he needed help to put this big thing back up. I had Milva with me and while the tractor was running I helped him to lift that thing up from the ground and of course Milva was trying to help as well. She really is not scared of too many things.
We did some longreining in the ridinghouse and figure 8s.
Also visited the stable for a short while again. Her tension was a bit less compare to yesterday but still not gone.
Also managed to wash Sam today. I had no idea how dirty he was. Sam is my SUV.
Off to work now. 3 more days and then I´m off!

Another Cold Winterday

Even though I LOVE snow I think it´s enough now. We have march now and it´s still -10 during the nights. Milva started to fur now. Soon she is going to look like a horse again and not like a polar bear.
We went for a little walk around the stable area today and payed the inside of the stable a short visit. She was still getting tensed and worried. But if you see it from her point of the view I would be worried too!
The only time she is in the stable is when she is getting a shot from the vet or getting her hooves done. Both experience are not very pleasurefull.
I fed her with carrots again while she was standing in the aisle and left the stable before she was getting too tensed.
It´s hard too believe it´s the same horse that I can groundtie everywhere outside - I just drop the rope and there she stands, relaxed and not worried.
I try to change my attitude about the stable as well. Milva is truly my mirror and she can pick up all my emotions and feelings. Me not liking being inside the stable doesn´t help the whole situation *sigh*.

Psyllium Seeds

I´ve started to give Milva Psyllium Seeds today. In swedish it´s called loppfrö. Now when the snow is melting and the horses are starting to graze I´m concerned that Milvs could get a sandcolic. Feeding Psyllium seeds should prevent that.
Milva wasn´t too happy about it though and I had to handfeed her.
It´s a sunny day here today. I decided to play outside today and Milva just loved it. We played touch-it on a long line and she put her nose on all kind of things like a blue sledge, garbagecan, horsetrailers, stones, shouvels,...
We also went for a short time in to the stable. I put her in the same aisle as last time when the ferrier trimmed her hooves. As soon as getting there I could see how tensed and worried she got. Even the white in her eyes came out. I fed her some carrots and left again. Going into that stupid stable has to become a daily habbit now for us I guess. Milva has my fullest sympathy though. I hate being in there as well!

Horsenality Report Has Arrived!!

A nice fedex guy rang on our door this morning and delivered the package. The first 500 hundred gold and silvermembers got it for free. As a goldmember we also receive a personality and match report. Don´t know when that one is coming though.
The Report contents:
Part 1
The Parelli Horsenality Profile

Part 2
The Four Horsenality Types

Part3
Milva´s Horsenality Type

Part 4
Strategies for Success with Milva

Part 5
Do´s and Don´ts for Milva

Part 6
Powerful Communication Keys

Part 7
Constructive Exercises for Success and Advancement

Part 8
The Right Balance between Variety and Consistency

Part 9
Design your Session for Milva

Part 10
Situation Specific Behaviors

Part 11
Adjust to fit the Changing Situation

Part 12
Strengths, Positive Characterisitics and Aptitudes

Part 13
Resources and More

Sounds intressting, ey? Can´t wait to study it!
Milvs and I had a 30min longreining session in the ridinghouse today with transitions in walk, trott and stopping. Rest of the day I did housework, cooked a delicious Chile for Shawn and did the laundry. March is going to be a busy month at work. But I will make time for my studies and of course for the Milvs!

Horsenality Raport

Can´t wait for tomorrow when I finally get my horsenality raport!!
It´s going to be so intressting to see what they write about Milva.
Off topic - Shawn just played with Charly, our 10 month old kitten and he started to breath like a dog that is sweating. I read on a catforum that cats can´t sweat either and that they do breath like that when the sweat OR it could be water in the lungs or a heartfailure. *me hate* I guess I better call the vet to get him checked. We got him castrated last fall and they did check his heart and other stuff at that point and there was nothing. Poor little baby boy. Well, being an indoor cat he is not used to play so hard either. I´m still going to get him checked though.

Another Blizzard

Another Blizzard striked the south of Sweden. Milva and I spend 2 hours of undemanding time together. I protected our herd of two and gave her a lots of scratches.
My horsenality rapport arrived today. Unfortunately I missed the fedex guy, hopefully I will get it tomorrow instead!
Going to watch the mastery lesson one more time now :)

Thanks Caro!

A big thank you to Caro, my dear friend from good ol´ Austria for solving the mane puzzle! It´s very helpful to have a future veterinary as a friend :)
Milva´s mane is on the right side which makes it easier for her to bend to the right. Side of the mane - "shorter" side, easier to bend. Left side must be the stronger side then. Shawn just tried to explain it to me as well but it didn´t understand it - now I do though :)
Thanks Caro and Shawn!

Long Reining

I forgot to mention a thing about yesterday. When Milva was loose in the ridinghouse she came trotting towards me a few times :) while she was at the other end of the ridinghouse. Cute little babyboo!
Today we played for 45 minutes. 30min longreining, first from z3 and then from z5. It seems to be easier for her to do it on the right hand. It´s no problem for her to stop when going on the right hand or to back up from z5. On the left hand she seems to be a bit more confused or not comfortable enough. When I walked in z5 and stopped her she turned around. To make her feel more comfortable I walked in z4 and did transitions from there which was going fine.
She really is the cutest. Always when I stop her she is turning her head around and asking a question.
After longreining we did some circling game. The same there - she rather goes on the right hand and tries to change direction by herself. I wonder if she has pain on the left hand - it doesn´t look so, or maybe she is just more stiff on that side.
Oh, I remember Anna mentioning something about on which side the manes lays is the stronger or weaker side. I have to look that up!
Instead of doing circled to the left she turned around and offered trott. To even it out I asked her to trott the other direction as well and it was going ok.
When I left the stable she was calling after me - like a mare calling her foal. It sounded so soft.
I wish I would have more time to spend in the stable or having my own stable so I could go out there whenever I wanted to.

I´m Back!

After a week of spending undemanding time with Milva I started to play with her again yesterday.
Last week the weather was just miserable here! Snowstorms and freezing cold. Shawn had the stomache flue for a few days. Even though I didn´t catch it I could feel my body fighting against getting it which made me even more tired.
Milva enjoyed our time together though. She happily tried to share her hay with me while I was sitting next to her watching her eat.
Yesterday morning I watched the first part of the mastery lesson online. As a goldmember we receive a mastery lesson every month this year. Last year it was the mastery manuals. The lessons are very informative and it´s super fun to see Pat´s private barn and watch the mastery students. In the first part Sam was playing with Brooke (after Casper out of River). The lesson was about maintaining gate, direction and look where you are going. By the end of the lesson Brooke got more engaged to Sam and had a nice bend towards him - instead of looking outside.
I tried that with Milva as well and realized how much work we have left to do. As a lbi she finds the circling game rather boring and doesn´t put much effort in it. Smelling poo or a leave is much more intressting than paying attention to me.
I did alots of change of direction and transitions. At the end she could do 2 circels in trott with a nice bend towards me. I left it like that - you certainly don´t want to overdo it with a lbi.

Lack Of Energy

Milva and I haven´t been doing anything except spending undemanding time together.
I was sitting with her everyday for 2 hours while she was eating her hay - even when it was the worst snowstorm. So if anyone had any doubts about me maybe being normal I definitely have erased all hopes for it....lol
Milva loved it though.
I guess it´s time to start taking vitamines, iron and minerals as well. I´m good with buying stuff for Milva but for myself...not. I hate to be so tired all the time though. Shawn got the stomachflu yesterday. Hopefully I won´t get it!

Week Of Short Playsessions

Circling game in walk and trott - nice expression and bend towards me
Longreining one rein - back up from z5, change of direction, throwing the rope over her head from z5
Squeeze game - over cavaletti in walk and trott, have to work on the rope handling
Sideway game - without the wall or cavaletti, had never been a real problem, she is always going sideways easily
Liberty - over the cavaletti, draw to me, definitely have to start working on our liberty

Growth And Change

I had another short session with Milva today. Short because she put so much effort in it - again.
We did perfect figure 8s with a slope in the 22 foot line, no carrotstick and just a soft, litte point to show her the direction, a little step back to draw her to me and change of direction again.
It was all about how little does it take to get the result I want. Very little when the horse is mentally connected to you.
Learning requires growth, growth requires change and both require vulnerabilitiy.

Short Play

We worked on our circling game today in walk and trott. Circling is not the most exciting thing to do for a lbi but Milva was doing her best anyway. And because she put in so much effort our playsession was not longer than 15min today.
I also worked on tossing the rope over her head again.
Oh and I did had the saddle on her while playing with her.
Talking to my menthor Sabine in Canada yesterday. I soo miss them all!!!!

More Riding Preperation

We had a nice, mild winterday here in the south of Sweden today. I let Milva eat with the saddle on again. Poor pumpkin was really hungry.
We played for 45 min in the ridinghouse. Mirroring, she is really paying attention to my steps and lengthening and shortening them as I do. I didn't try the spanish walk though. I want to do some more research on it before trying it again. It's funny to watch her watching my steps. She is also picking up the speed. When I walk very sloooow and put my foot down sloooow she is doing the same.
We also worked on longreining with one rein walking in z5, stop and walk transitions and backing up from z5 with one rein, which is working again.
Squeeze game over a cavaletti in walk and trott, turn around and face me. Sidewards game over cavaletti and stepping over with one front leg and backing up.
I'm pretty satisfied with todays session. Especially with the backing up from z5 which is a level 4 task.
Milva is such a fast learner and so incredible smart. If I wouldn't be so slow we would be much farther by now. I have to work on my imagination and on the being progressiv part.

Saddling With A Hug

I watched the freestyle dvd of the new level 1/2 program this morning and decided to focus on saddling with no resistent today. Milva didn't had any saddle on since november. She didn't show any resistance whatsoever.
Since I started saddling Milva I always kept Patg's word in my mind how to put the saddle on with a hug and a swing and not like a Grizzly bear trying to kill. I'm always cinching up in at least 3 stages as well.
Saddling a horse is a very intimidate moment and should be done with awareness. I have to admit that I'm pretty proud of my little girl. She is standing still when I saddle her and not trying to go anywhere even though she is not tied up. I don't even need to have the rope in my hand.
After I saddled her today I let her eat some hay. I don't want that she thinks oh saddle on means let's go.
After eating for a little while we went to the ridinghouse and played for a little bit. We did change of direction in trott, tossing the rope over her head while standing in z3, yoyo, some circling game and we started with the spanish walk. She raised her left leg up to the spanish walk in one step so I stopped it right there.
In the cicling game in trott she started to canter behind my back with a squeeky sound and when she was in front of me she trotted again, coming behind me same thing - squeek and canter. That was too funny! She has never done that before!

Building Up The Relationship

After the ferrier incident I have the urgent need to build up our relationship again.
But I think it's more my feeling than Milva's. Probably it's my bad conscious to let such a thing happen to her.
Anyway, saturday evening I went back to the stable. Shawn suggested I should end the day on a good note and do something short and nice with her. When I came to the stable it was already dark but all the snow made it still light enough to go for a walk with her. First I took her to the big hayball so she could eat a little bit and then we went for a 15min walk.
When I came to the stable yesterday she left the bathtube full of hay and came to me instead. So I assume our relationship is not that much demaged after all. I took her out to let her eat outside instead and gave her a big scratch. I also started to give her some oats and minerals and herbs again. Helene said it was ok to give her just a little bit and I want to make sure she is getting enough vitamine b for her hooves.
I took her for a little walk again and put her on the big rock and yoyo her into the ridinghouse. I rewarded her alots and gave her carrots. I know that she loves doing those 2 things and I wanted to make her feel good and smart.
I'm leaving to the stable after lunch today. Not sure yet what to do with her. It depends on how many people are going to be there if I can use the ridinghouse and start riding her or not...

Ferrier Time

Helene our vet came today to trim Milva's hooves.
I failed on proper and prior prepertion which prevents poor performance. Helene insisted on trimming the hooves in the stable on hard surface. Which makes perfectly sense if you wanna have a perfect trim. And of course that's what I was looking for - a perfect trim.
Just I failed on preparing Milva properly. We are never in the stable cause I always brush and saddle her outside the turnout stable. I just have to drop the rope outside the stable and there she stands. Well, things are different inside the stable. Unfamiliar environment makes her sometimes right brain.
Make a long story short - she did not want to stand still and was just right walking over me. Well, she was clearly expressing her opinion which was to get out of there.
We decided to give her sedation so Helene could trim her.
Guess we are spending some time in the stable now over the next few weeks...
On the good note - the trim is perfect! Exactly what I wanted and a big difference to the last ones!
Now I'm going to watch the Olympic Openings in Vancouver on TV and after that I will go out to the stable again and start playing with my punkpony.

Will This Crazyness Ever End?

I kind of expected things to slow down after last weekend. But no...still going on. The appartment is almost fixed though so hopefully I´m going to have a relaxed weekend where I can concentrade on The Milvs!
As every morning I fed them again today. I love going there early in the morning!
Milva was already waiting at "her" bathtube - bathtube nr.3. As soon as I put the hay in she stepped with her two front feet in the bathtube. It looks so funny! I think she wants to make a statement to the other horses that it is HER bathtube...lol
I was sitting with her for an hour watching her eat. The snow sparkled in the sun and it was very cosy to sit there and listen to Milva eating.
I called my vet Helene today. She is going to trim Milva´s hooves on saturday :)))
Perfect! Now I don´t have to worry anymore!
Malin is trying to talk me into taking on the little brown ponny - or buying it.
I don´t know though. Sure she is cute and seems to have a good temper. But she is not a Trakehner... When I bought Milva I decided to just go with Trakehner´s from now on. Well, I will think about it. There is also the time factor though. Milva takes a lot of time - or I like to spend a lots of time with her. Not sure if there is any spare time for another horse yet - unless it would be Milva´s foal.
Lot´s to think about....

Crazy Busy

It is still crazy busy here with the moving, work, Milva,...
On the good note - we passed our level 2 online audition :)))))
I´ll scan my audition sheet later and will post it here.
Milva is doing fine. We just cuddled the last few days and spent undemanding time together - which she loves.
As soon as things have slowed down - hopefully this weekend, we will play again :))

Busy Week

This week has been crazy busy. I was in the stable every day as usual. Feeding the horses in the morning and doing the stable chores and hugging Milva. But somehow there wasn´t time for anything else!
Malin had birthday today and I offered her to take care of her 2 turnout stables as well. Taking care of 3 stables is a lot of work but so much fun!
We still have alots of snow here! And surprise - I still completly LOVE it! Finally a real winter!!
Tomorrow it´s going to be another busy day. Going to Ikea after feeding the horses, stablework and work. I have to go to work a bit earlier tomorrow because of a meeting.
Hopefully things slow down after we have fixed our new place! Planing on riding my babygirl next week :)
Off to bed now...

Information About Trakehner

www.americantrakehner.com/The%20Breed/history.htm

Connery

What a super smart pony I have! I did some longreining with one rein today. Backing up from z5 - which is magically working again ;). Going over obstacles, change of direction by tossing the rope over her head standing in z5! Sideways over cavaletti - working againg too!
We did the same yesterday as well.
Anna came in with Luxus her stallion and walked with him. Milva was very intressted in the boy ;). I could convince her though to listen to me - for most of the time.
Anna told me that Milva´s dad CONNERY is going to be used in Flyinge (swedish breeding station). Anna said it is a real good thing and I should be proud of it.
Having the only Connery offspring in Sweden right now I think they should have at least asked me first *joking*.
The only thing that concerns me is Connery being a Trakehner and Trakehner being very special. Trakehner are not a horsebreed for everyone. I know that sounds maybe arrogant but that statement is not coming from me. Just read about Trakehner and you will understand what I mean.



This afternoon a really bad blizzard came in over Skane again and it´s still going on. I drove out to the stable one more time to give the horses their evening hay. I´m truly glad I have a SUV! Sam feels pretty secure to drive even in the worst winterstorm!