Stick To Me - Awesomeness

Milva and I played and grazed for 2 hours today. A little while ago I started to let her go free outside the pasture when we do our grazing time. She always comes back to me when I call her or when I engage her hindquarters. Which is pretty cool I have to say myself. So while she is off doing her thing I often read, work on my suntan and if no one is looking I do some yoga.
Today there were people riding in the paddock though so I couldn´t do any yoga and it was too hot to read. Milva grazed in the big field and out of boredom I started to walk around. Obviously Milva must have thought I got too far away cause she started to talk again and came trotting after me :). Luckily the 22-foot line stayed on her back. I always put it on her back while she is grazing, if it falls down and she steps on it she figures herself out which hoof to lift to move forwards. She is never freaking out about having the line between her legs or if she gets all tangled up. Anyway isn´t that just the coolest thing that she came trotting after me??? When I kept on walking she still followed me - ignoring the lucious grass around her!!!
After walking around for a while and having her following me like a dog I sat down again and she started to graze around me, getting farther and farther away. Instead of calling her back to me again I started to walk in the opposite direction to see if she would come running again - and yes, she did :))).
I have to say that was the best undemanding time we had so far :).

Milveroni At Midsummer

Shawn filmed Milva coming to say hi to me. She is always like that - even without the carrotbag in my hand.

June Shipment

June DVD: "Lots of Learning with Linda"
Kat and her horse Gruly, a Left-Brain Introvert, have a lesson with Linda on ground skills, psychology, fluidity, and saddling.

Mastery Lesson
Lesson 1 - Energy Management Through Time and Space
Lesson 2 - Ask Linda: Taking Care of Remmer

Audio CD:
"Horse-Man-Ship"
Pat discusses the definition and the deeper meaning of the word "horse-man-ship."

Summer Summer Summer

It´s beautiful out today. Finally summer has arrived in Sweden! The horses are doing fine in the pasture. Not giving them any extra hay was such a good idea. Milva is finally loosing her babybelly.
So today we did 1 hour of undemanding time. I had her loose outside and was reading a book while she grazed around me. Everytime I thought she got to far away I called her and she came back - sniffing me and wondering what I want, then she blows out air and off she goes again to graze some more, same reaction every time. How wonderful isn´t that??
I wonder how many people can have their horses loose like that and call them back any time? Especially Trakehners... I read alot in the german Trakehner Forum lately and it seems to be that a lot of people have problems with their Trakehners....hm..... I wish it would be possible to transfer Parelli into their brain. It would solve so many problems...
Oh well, when the student is ready the master will appear.
We also did a very short session in the ridinghouse. Circling game in both direction - walk in snailspeed. But she did give me 3 laps in each direction and waited for me to call her in so I was satisfied with that.
Well and then we played a bit with the spanish walk and kneeling down. It was alot of chewing and yawning for her - nice!

Back To Work

After having 9 days off I started to work again today, therefor just a short playsession with Milva. We worked mostly on the spanish walk and kneeling down. I can see some progress coming :).
Malin offered me a lovely mare for trial. I have to think about it some more though. I´m not sure if I really have the time for a second horse right now.
It´s kind of tempting though cause the mare competed in high classes in dressage but after a while the owner couldn´t handle her anymore because of her bucking - especially in the canter. She is checked from several veterinarians, x-rayed and nothing is physically wrong with her. My guess is that she is just another missunderstood horse with a strong character - typical mare I guess.
Well, we will see...

Back In The Game Again

I think I slowly get out of my depressive phase. Phuuu...it takes alot of energy to be sad so I didn´t had much energy for anything else. I´m not saying I´m totally through it but at least I see some light at the end of the tunnel.
I played 40min with Milva today.
Lately she always comes trotting towards me as soon as she sees me and talking alot. She doesn´t whinny one time but several times. It sounds like she is telling me a story - or complaining because I´m late. Too funny! And the trotting is a big thing. I mean she always comes but in a lbi walk - not too fast.
We played with figure 8s in trott and the circling game in trott. She was really putting effort in it and stayed foccused and engaged all the time. Another big thing for a lbi. Seems to be we are making progress on that front.
Lets see how it goes with the riding now...

Borrowed from Elisabeth´s Blogg:

Another easy way to use the law of attraction for your benefit is this:

Every night before you fall asleep, replay in your mind the good moments of the day, and give heartfelt thanks for each one of them. Think about the next day also, and intend that it is going to be amazing, that it is going to be filled with love and joy, and that all good is coming to you. Intend that it is going to be the best day of your life. Then when you wake in the morning, BEFORE you get out of bed, declare your intentions again for the day and give deep thanks as though you have received them all.
May the joy be with you,


Rhonda Byrne
The Secret...

Undemanding Time

Tinka, Milva & the Baby

Ali Riding Orkan

Anita was so kind to let Ali ride on Orkan after her jumping training :).

Auntie Ali From Texas Has Arrived :))

Milva´s auntie Ali ;).
It´s super fun to finally have met her in real life! Facebook really does bring people together. Even though I´m not so often on there anymore it does have it´s advantages.
After picking Ali up from the airport we went to visit Milva and let her graze outside the pasture for an hour. I also showed Ali some Parelligames - which she really liked :). Milva knows her jobb and did a really good work today!

Ponying Milva

I took Milva as a handhorse with me today - but just for a very short time to try how it works. And it did work well. Orkan is very patient with her ;)

Approach And Retreat

I had a very intressting morning in the stable today. When I came there I saw a message on the whiteboard from Malin: "Can someone try to put the halter on Mandrick again?" Mandrick is a lovely two year old gelding out of Magica The Witch - and a whitch she is indeed.
Mandrick is a right brain extrovert I would think. I haven´t played with him, it´s just from the observations I made watching him in the pasture. Mandrick lives in the turn out stable next to Milva. He is super shy and doesn´t trust people very much. Those times he gets handled are for deworming, putting on the halter - whenever he has lost it again, and usually it looks like that - someone is cornering him and forcing the halter on him. Oh yes, he also gets handled for the annualy shots and he was in the ridinghouse a few time for free jumping.
Oh but don´t get this wrong now. I´m not blaming anyone for handling their horses the way they do. Everyone of us has a different view of things and everyone of us thinks we are doing the best for our horses.
So I gave it some thoughts. Shawn is very fond of Mandrick and whenever Mandrick sees Shawn he is actually coming towards him and following with his eyes all the time. Knowing Shawn likes him so much I thought giving it a shot.
Well anyway. I called Milva and gave her some breakfast outside the stable.
I took the halter and moseyed over to Mandrick.
Thinking: It´s not about....the halter.
Approach and retreat.
Observing thresholds and retreat.
Take the time it takes so it takes less time.
No direct line thinking...
If you get no for an answer, you asked the wrong question or the question
wrong.
Make your idea his idea.
Never knock out the curiosity of a young horse - or any horse!
The dignity of the horse comes first!
Thinking of his point of view.
Putting the relationship first.
With all that in mind I just hung out next to him. Actually outside his stable cause I know how intimitaded he can become when people are in his pasture/stable.
After a short time he became intressted in me and sniffed me everwhere. I started to carefully find his itchy spot on the neck and head. And after a while I could scratch him all over his head and behind his ears!! I started to play with the halter and put it halfway on observing his thresholds. I kept doing that for while and whenever I scratched him behind the ear, which appearently he loved, he would stretch out his neck and oh see there, the halter would be there - him stretching in to it. It didn´t take long and I could put it on with no signs of fear or suspicion. Just to make sure I took it off several times and put it on again - all the time scratching and sweet talking. No problem at all. Sweet!
Not to mention that Parelli works in the civilian world as well. Meaning outside the equestrian world.
Milva and I spend some more undemanding time together. I will start playing with her again after Ali is going home.

You Know You Are Doing Parelli When....

You Know You're Doing Parelli When...

* You constantly seek never ending self-improvement.
* You study in all four savvys (online, liberty, freestyle, finnesse).
* You put the relationship with your horse before anything else (principles before goals).
* You understand that Parelli is way more than riding.
* Your horse actually thinks you're brilliant and fun to be around.
*You understand that science is nature explained and you are working through the laws of nature.
* You communicate to your horse through understanding and psychology rather than force, fear, and intimidation.
* You considers the horse's point of view.
* You don't use artificial aids of restraint.
* You are natural with horses.
* You think like a horse before you think like a human.
* At the end of the day you can ask your horse “Was it as good for you as it was for me?”

Quotes To Keep In Mind

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
So watch your thougts".


“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind" (Dr.Seuss)

“We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly". (Sam Keen)

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” (Maja Angelou)

"Don't wait. The time will never be just right." (Napoleon)

1 hour undemanding time with Milva - grazing and enjoyin each other companies.

Summerbreak

Ok, I might as well put Milva officially on summerbreak ;). No, we are not getting much done - besides undemanding time, some small walks and short playsessions in the ridinghouse or in the outside paddock.
I have to admit that I have lost some inspiration and daily life just keeps me busy - or my priorities are just not focused on Milva right now. Not that she suffers. She loves undemanding time and our grazingsessions.
I´m not going to put any pressure on myself or on her. Sure I wanted to finish my level 2 freestyle this summer but if not, what does it matter. The important thing is that we are both satisfied.
Over the last few days I got to the stable in the afternoon or evening which Milva thought was way too late. She is so funny. She greated me with a big loud whinney and wouldn´t stop talking until I had put the halter on her. You just gotta love her!
Next week we are getting visit from Texas :))))).
My dear dear friend Ali is coming for a week visit. We have never met in real life so it´s going to be super fun to finally meet!!! Ali is a veterinary, has three own horses and lives on a beautiful property near Houston. I can´t wait to visit her this fall!
I have planned some horse activities with her - if the weather is kind to us and I will show her Skåne and Helsingør.
And Milva of course....

Finally Summer

+20 and sundshine! Finally!
My kidneystone still bothers me alot therefor Milva is getting undemanding cuddling time.
Tinka and Milva seem to get along now. Today they were eating out of the same bathtube :). Tinka is such a fairy tale horse! Super pretty!
Basse has moved. Everyone was quite surprised and no one knew that he would move.

Balance

Sailing definitelly improves one´s balance! It´s like sitting on a bucking bronco and you try to hold on for your dear life. Ok, maybe not that bad, it is very pumpy tough. Super fun though!!!! I love it!!!
It´s alot to learn for the theory, all those sailingterms are not so easy and I´m a little bit slow when it comes to the wind and how it influences the sails and bla bla bla. Doing it is much easier ;).
Milva is getting alot of undemanding time, scratches and grazing time. So much to my big planes from last week....
My stupid kidneystone is back as well which restricts my movement quit a bit. Gotta go and get it fixed!

Ferrier Time

I was at the stable twice yesterday. I fed the horses in the morning and checked if they were all ok. When I got there all of them were grazing on the far end of the pasture. Tinka was grazing pretty close with the other ones as well. But when it was feeding time she was not allowed to eat with the them so I gave her her hay farther down. But then Basse decided she wasn´t allowed to eat there either so I gave her an extra pile of hay even farther down and that worked.
Helene came in the afternoon to do her hooves and it worked out pretty well. She got there a little bit earlier and saw me walking up to the stable with Milva following me - without the halter or leadline attacheched and Helene gave us a nice compliment about that. Well, Milva always follows me around like a dog. Stick to me is surely not a problem ;).
Helene started with the backlegs this time which was a good idea. Milva is easier to trim on the backhooves. This time it wasn´t that bad with the fronthooves either.
It think now she is getting more used to Helene. Helene also found out that it´s easier to trim her if she doesn´t hold the legs to tight or strong and that she has to hold them in a special way. What is Pat always saying - horses are claustrophobic, ...
Like when I clean Milva´s hooves I often kneel down and just put her leg on my knee without holding her much and Milva just keeps her hoof up there until I´m done cleaning.
It´s too funny how different she is treated compare to other horses in the stable.
I´m so glad Helene has such a big understanding for my Parelli pony and she really tries to find ways to cooperate with Milva.
We also had a good conversation about routines. It´s all about routines for horses. She mentioned that when she is working in Flyinge - the swedish national breeding station, they all have to treat the horses in a certain way and for exampel everyone opening the doors to the stalls in the same manner.
Milva´s hooves looks good now and Helene was very satisfied with her hoof quality :). Nice!
When we were done Milva started to chew and lik her lips alot. Lot to think about and to diagest. After the trimming when we were standing there talking, Milva walked over to Helene and stood in front of her, just looking at her and giving Helene permission to touch her neck and scratch her. Milva is really too funny, such a personality!