Saturday, December 31, 2011

New Year´s Eve & Bomb Proof Milva

After spending all morning in the stable, letting Milva eat and talking to Anita, Patrica and Malin, I went back there this evening to play with Milva and to tuck in the horses for the night.
It´s a nice mild evening here today even though it´s very foggy, but hi, who is complaining, at least it´s not raining nor storming for a change.
I haven´t played anything with Milva the last little while - besides the liberty audition but I made up a plan now for the future and for how to build up to our level 4 liberty and online audition.
Anita gave her green light for me to use Orkan for my freestyle level 3 and 4 audition. How awesome is that! I´m looking forward to learn alot from him which will help me with Milva.
There are alot of fireworks going on around the stable but the horses don´t seem to mind that much. The foals of course were a bit spooked when I came there but soon did like the older horses do and chilled.
When I walked with Milva to the ridinghouse someone shot alot of fireworks and firecrackers of, she put her head up and looked like a true Trakehner but remained calm. I so understand why this horsebreed has been prefered by the military for so many centuries.
I started our little session with liberty. It always amazes me how reactive she is to my small body movements, now I just have to learn to tune them down even more.
Our liberty session was followed by our first longreining session since along time and then we finished with circling game on the 45´line. All my shorter ropes are broken - the 22´and the 12´so I´m forced to use the 45´ all the time.
Longreining we worked on follow the rail which is more challenging than I thought, but isn´t it always that way in the beginning. As soon as Milva understands what I expect of her it´s gonna be a piece of cake. I used my feathelines of the longreining and like them very much. We also did shoulders in for the first time on the long side of the ridinghouse and it worked perfectly. Smart pony!
In the Circling game I´m only planning on to ask her to walk for a while to build up her muscles and upper line and shape. I focused on to keep her engaged and to shape her body around me like Kristi said I should do. It worked pretty well for most of the time. Milva walked on the end of the 45´all the time and she kept up her responsibilities of maintaining gate and direction. 10 laps to the left and 10 to the right with some walk - stop transitions. Pure pleasure to play with the munsch!

WELCOME 2012!!


Happy New Year Everyone!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Scorecard For My Liberty Audition L3 - Passed With 3++


AWESOME lie down!!! You are well on your way to level 4. Keep building on Circling Game laps that include rhythm, relaxation and a mental contact For level 4 we will need to see your partner putting his body in the same shape as the circle. This is the most athletic way for him to use his body You are on the right track! You have to be touching your horse for your request to be a Porcupine Game. Lead by the tail is when your horse is following a feel on his tail, not a suggestion with your hand in the air.
Assessed by:
Kristi S. Smith


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD6A0PxX6TQ

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Night Before Christmas



It’s the night before Christmas, we’re out in the barn
Blanketing horses to keep them all warm
They’re eating their dinners, tucked in cozy stalls
Not aware that it’s Christmas or any special day at all

They can dream of spring pastures from their pine-scented beds
No visions of sugarplums dance in their heads
But we people are thinking of merry parties and such
Maybe feeling a little sad at missing so much

This season is special but the horses don’t know
We’ve got work to do before we can go
We finish the chores and head on inside
To get ready for dinner and our own yuletide

It’s nearly midnight, the carols are sung
I remember a story I was told when I was young
How at midnight on Christmas Eve
The creatures of the barnyard can speak to us with ease

I am called to the barn, I wade through the rain
I know I must go, I can’t really explain
I slide open the door, pause for a while
Then slowly walk down that dully lit aisle

A nicker from "Matey", a wink from "Lace"
Sleepy old "Laddie" waking to see
"Harmony" rustling her bedding, a snort soft and light
Each horse gave a greeting as I walked through the night

I thought about parties bright lit and warm
The ones we don’t go to ’cause we have the barn
And vacations and holidays that we don’t get
When we’re working long hours for bills to be met

Walking all the way to the end of the aisle
I stop to stroke "Mouse", it brings me a smile
She snuffles my face, hot breath on my skin
It starts me to thinking about my horses, my kin

could be at parties with laughter and mirth
But where I am right now is the best place on earth!

Author Unknown.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Too Many Days At A Time


TOO MANY DAYS AT A TIME

There are two days in every week about which we should not worry.

Two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension:

One of these days is YESTERDAY, with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains.

Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.

All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday.

We cannot undo a single act we performed.
We cannot erase a single word we said.

Yesterday is gone!!

The other day we should not worry about is TOMORROW, with its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise and poor performance.

Tomorrow is beyond our immediate control.

Tomorrow's sun will rise, whether in splendor or behind a mask of clouds. But it will rise.

Until it does we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.

This leaves only one day: TODAY.

Any man can fight the battles of just one day.

It is when you and I add the burdens of two awful eternities - yesterday and tomorrow, that we break down.

It is not necessarily the experience of today that disturbs one's peace of mind.

It is often time the bitterness for something which happened yesterday and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.

Let us therefore live one day at a time!

Author: unknown

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Raw Food For Cats


The first week of switching our cats over to raw food is succesfully accomplished. Or well, Moll Poll still has some doubts which kind of surprised us. Molly was the one that we found in the old stable. We think that someone had thrown her out of the car. The people that run the stable already had a cat there and talked about shooting the black and white kitten so of course we took her home. I thought that Molly had eaten mice and other animals before so she would adjust easier to the raw food diet, but nope, she did not. We are almost there though. You just have to try all kind of different meat to find out what they prefer.
Charly our little hoodlum grew up on chunkfood. He was never outside and never hunted or ate any real meat, except some flies and spiders he kills by squishing them with his nose. He was the one that started to eat the raw meat immediately and gets very excited about it. Also he eats all meat, no matter what we serve him.
We decided to switch them over because it didn´t feel right to feed them all that poisonous junk you can buy in the supermarket, at the vet or in the pet store.
When we lived in Canada they would have a huge selection of raw food for cats but unfortunatelly not over here - yet.
We only buy organic meat to them of course, everything else would just feel wrong again.
It still does kind of feel strange though, thinking about that we both are vegeterians, well Shawn is to 100% and mostly only eats raw food anyway. I stil can have an occassional burger when we are out though.
Now I only wish I could switch Milva over to hay instead of poisonous silage. Oh well, as soon as we have our own farm....

Saturday, December 17, 2011

For All The Girls...


For all the girls with the muckers, half chaps and gloves with a hole in a finger. For the girls who skip a party because they have to get up at 4:30am. The ones who will feed, muck, and repair a fence for the love of their best friend. This is for the girls who can drive a tractor before they can drive a car. For the girls who would rather jump fences than skip rope. This is for the girls who thi...nk bailing twine and duct tape are tools. For girls who spend more money having manes and tails braided than have their own hair done. This is for the girls who are excited opening a box with a leather halter in it. Who shovel snow to get to the barn. For the girls who filled a stocking for a horse. Who wear a bracelet or a belt with their horses name on it, not a boy. This is for the girls who dreamed of a pony for Christmas. This is for the dreams we hold and the memories we all share. We know how to love unconditionally because a horse has taught us. This is a lifestyle not a hobby.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Top Five Regrets Of The Dying

I found this today and would like to share it with you....



Top Five Regrets of The Dying

December 1, 2011 By T Kelly


By Bronnie Ware on November 30, 2011

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.

People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.

This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

Grey, Dark & Stormy


Despite the depressing weather down here in the south of Sweden I´m in a good mood and feel that everything is flowing right now. Some pieces are falling slowly in place and I proofed everyone wrong who said I was impatient. More patient person you have too look for ;).
My university courses are coming to an end - luckily, cause it was a bit more challenging than I first thought. Next term I´m only going to read one course instead of 4.
Level 2 is done and we are gonna film our liberty audition for level 3 tonight. I probably could tape freestyle level 3 too anytime. I think I will wait for it though until the end of february and refine some things before. Both Milva and Orkan are superstars and make everything so easy and fun!
This morning I took care of all 3 turnout stables and made the stables extra cosy and perfect. Did I mention that I´m a perfectionist when it comes to stable work. That´s why the other ones in Milva´s turnout stable have given up to muck out - they never do it good enough ;). It really felt good though to "sort out" the other 2 stables as well and the horses looked happy and laid down in the fresh strawbed as soon as I was done.
The old farmer - Sune, helped me with some things and I like very much to work together with him. He always does what I ask him for and he does it promptly *me like*.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Filming Patricia´s Online l1 Audition



Yesterday evening my film crew and I went to the stable to tape Patricia´s level 1 online audition. It´s still very cold, windy and rainy here. I sure appreciate our ridinghouse right now.
The audition went fine and I´m pretty certain that Pat and Tink will pass with flying colours.
Unfortunatelly we didn´t have enough room on our memory card for the camera. We only can film 15 minutes right now. That´s why we decided to film my liberty audition another time - maybe thursday or so.
I think it´s time now to figure out how our video camera works. Shawn bought one 2 years ago and it´s still in his box - we did open it though and looked at it...lol
Off to work now - very busy there right now, seems to be everyone is in a rush to cross over before Christmas.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Scorecard for my Parelli Freestyle Audition level2, passed with 2++


Marion, well, done, I loved your horse´s confidence with the tarp! Keep developing your Patterns and keep refining your phases - eyes, belly button, leg... the rein/stick. How can you help your horse have more positive flexion on your downward transitions? Can you turn your horse with your C stick?
Assessed by
Ashley Tippetts

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Marielle IV - Milva´s Granny From The Mother´s Side


Fam: Meldung
Milva´s bloodline comes directly from Trakehnen, meaning her ancestors attented the big treck.


ANDUC E.H. (DE309090151281)


FF: MARDUC E.H. (DE309090097477)


FFF: HALALI (DE309090007660)




FFM: MADEIRA II (DE309090731174)




FM: ANGELIQUE (DE309090180576)


FMF: IBIKUS (TAF 6701)
DV EK 01-01-1977: DH Trak. HK 31-12-1976: HT




FMM: ANGERAPP III (DE309090693673)




M: MARONE VI (DE309090060579)


MF: KOKETTEUR (DE309090042871)


MFF: MAHARADSCHA (DE309090015657)




MFM: KOKETTCHEN (DE309090308964)




MM: MARIANKA III (DE309090519670)


MMF: IDEAL (DE309090010663)




MMM: MARIELLE (DE309090326665)


Resultater:

Kåret i hovedstambogen både i Tyskland og i Danmark.

Hendes søn Mantaro har været udtaget til hingstekåring i TAF og i Herning hos DV, samt været kvalificeret til DSA finalen i dressur som 4 års. Han går nu dressur på højt niveau i Tyskland.

Tre af hendes døtre, Matschulskaja, Medusa G og Mondiva G er kåret i hovedstambogen og er udnævnt til præmiehopper, da de har bestået en endagsprøve med yderst tilfredstillende karakterer.

Desuden var hendes datter Mondiva G som 2 års udtaget til eliteskue i TAF på Broholm og var i 2008 placeret som nr. 2 i konkurrencen om skuets bedste 3 års hoppe på Roskilde Dyrskue og hun er i 2009 kåret med 56 point, reservefløj og udtaget til eliteskuet.

Sidste skud på stammen McLaren G gik fløj på følskuet med 56 point og er udtaget til eliteskuet 2009.

Saturday

Early morning in the stable to feed the horses, like every morning.
Then off to Malmö to do some shopping, well Shawn did, I didn´t find anything I liked. We had delicious supper at the Long Horn restaurang though - they even had vegeterian burgers.
Despite the storm Patricia and I played with the horses in the evening. Hopefully it stops storming tomorrow so we can tape our auditions.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Observe, Remember, Compare


Tom Dorrance once said, 'You can learn anything with these three words – observe, remember, and compare.' He said that beyond that, learn to adjust to fit the situation. That always meant so much to me. The last time I was around Tom, he said, 'Don’t treat them like they are. Treat them the way you’d like them to be.' At the time, I didn’t know whether he was talking about horses or people. Later, I realized that he was talking about both. I remind myself of that from time to time. Because sometimes, people might come into a clinic defensive, scared, upset, or emotional. The best part of the person isn’t gonna come out the first day. But if I do my part and help them along, I get an opportunity to see the best part of the person as time goes by." - Buck Brannaman

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Happy Birthday To Me!


Well, it was yesterday but I simply didn´t have time to write anything.
I was on a 2 day course about "Social Interaction & Communication" which was super interesting and informative. Another positive thing with the course was to meet all my working collegues, also the ones that work opposite to my shifts and I usually never see, unless one of us takes an extra shift some time. I´m really glad I went on the course, even though we all got put out of our comfort zone several times, but that´s the only place you learn something. So be it!
Yesterday evening I went to the stable after the course to feed the pony-munsch and Shawn fed the dragon-munsch. After my daily dose of Milva we went out for supper with the neighbour and then had birthday cake at home. I got some really nice presents which I´m very greatful over.
Today we finished the course a bit early and I could stay a bit longer in the stable and fed them their evening hay and tucked them in.
We are getting another stormy night with rain here in Skåne. Hope all the munsches can sleep inside in the night.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Food For Thought About Vaccines

Food For Thought



"Even if all the experts agree, they may well be mistaken."

~ Bertrand Russell

"In an age of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”

~ George Orwell

"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident."

~ Arthur Schopenhauer


Thinking Outside the Box

People who are open to feeding their pets a raw diet are already thinking outside the box. As we become more aware of how the atrocious quality of highly processed commercial pet food negatively affects our pet's health, this often naturally leads us to reconsider the conventional wisdom behind other widely accepted practices involving our pets; case in point being the highly profitable business of vaccination.

In order to begin to understand more clearly the concept of vaccinosis and comprehend the astonishing level of damage being done to many of our pets' health due to the administration of so very many vaccines, we have to be willing to open our minds and look beyond our ingrained beliefs.

Depending on how ready you are to break through the boundaries of conditioning to which we have all been subjected, it's possible that the information on this page may shock, surprise or perhaps even anger you.

But regardless of your response to this information, it’s hoped that what's presented here will compel you to do your own research on this subject, so that you can learn for yourself the real truth about the multi-billion dollar vaccine industry, and the outrageous untold damage that vaccinations are having not only on domestic pets, but upon virtually the entire population of the human race as well.



Conditioned Thinking

Just as most of us have grown up and lived in a society which has conditioned us to believe that it’s perfectly acceptable to feed our pets commercial pet food, so do the majority of people in the western world consider vaccination to be a perfectly acceptable, safe, and effective means of preventing the spread of infectious disease. Most all of us have been vaccinated ourselves at some point in our lives, and most all of the pets we have owned have most likely been vaccinated as well. Many people consider that making sure their pets “get their shots” is the absolute right thing to do – or rather - not just that it’s the right thing to do, but that NOT doing it is actually tantamount to negligence!

How a Properly Functioning Immune System Works

Put very simply, the way it works is this: when contagions, whether in the form of germs, bacteria or viruses, enter the body, the way they generally pass from the outside to the inside is via a bodily orifice. The body’s major first lines of defense lie in the form of mucus and the mucous membranes, primarily those of the eyes, nose, mouth, pulmonary passages and GI tract. When the body is exposed to pathogens entering into the body in this way, as long as the immune system is healthy and functioning properly, it will often automatically create an immediate immunity to that potential threat, thereby protecting the body from infection and fending off disease. If by chance for some reason the pathogen does manage to take hold to the point where it’s able to actually cause an acute form of illness, the body will react with certain symptoms, perhaps with such purging responses as fever, sweating or vomiting, inflammation, or an increase in mucus production etc. These sorts of symptoms are the body’s way of naturally ridding itself of the potentially harmful pathogen and restoring itself to good health.

Nature’s means of creating immunity sometimes means that a disease is contracted. This can have a twofold purpose. One purpose, although it may sound harsh, is that those animals that are not strong and healthy enough to either resist or survive such illness may perish, thus ensuring that the weak will not live to reproduce. The other purpose is that if one survives an illness, permanent immunity from that disease is generally conferred, and as a result of fighting off the disease the animal may well end up being stronger for having lived through the ordeal

Aside from the shocking list of ingredients used in creating vaccines, here are a few more reasons why we should all very seriously be reconsidering the wisdom of their use:



•Vaccines do not necessarily confer immunity! A certain percentage of those who are vaccinated will invariably contract the very disease the vaccine they were given was intended to prevent.
•Because the adjuvants contained in vaccines remain in the body indefinitely, they can continually stimulate immune-activating cells. Under normal circumstances, when pathogens are introduced into the body via natural routes, this stimulation happens quickly to overcome the infection, and once the infection is under control, the effect diminishes just as rapidly. But this chronic stimulation caused by the continual presence of vaccine adjuvants can cause the body to release a perpetual supply of free radicals, which are looking to kill a disease that is not present, and those free radicals have the potential to do perpetual damage on a cellular level.
•Attenuated viruses, which are the live viruses used in some vaccines that have been weakened to the point where they are not supposed to be able to cause disease, also remain in the body indefinitely. As a result of the presence of free radicals in cells and organs, these viruses can mutate into virulent, disease causing organisms.

Think Twice About Vaccines



•Find out what, if any vaccines are actually required by law for your pet where you live.
•Seriously reconsider vaccinating young animals whose immature immune systems are still forming and not yet fully functional.
•Never allow a sick pet to be vaccinated
•Never allow pets to be vaccinated right before or after surgery, including spay and neuter procedures.
•Avoid having your pet injected with multiple vaccines all at once.
•Avoid "boosters" which are potentially very harmful to your pet and are marketed heavily because they're such big money makers for drug companies and vets alike.



Vaccines - A Toxic Brew

If the unnatural mechanism of introducing various viruses and bacteria into the body via vaccine injections weren’t enough of a deterrent in and of itself, there are yet more reasons to avoid having your pets jabbed.

Besides bacteria and viruses, many of the other sorts of ingredients that are found in vaccines should certainly make people think twice about using them.

Here’s just a very short list of some of the toxic and potentially damaging substances that are commonly used as components in vaccines:



•Thimerosal - an organic compound containing the heavy metal mercury, which has been widely used as a preservative in vaccines. Mercury is a powerful neurotoxin. It is one of the most potent poisons known to man and has been shown to impair the function of many internal systems, chief among them being the brain, the central nervous system, the endocrine system, and the kidneys, as well as other organs.
•Aluminum - another heavy metal used in vaccines as an adjuvant. Adjuvants are often added to vaccines containing killed viruses in order to enhance, or boost the vaccine’s effectiveness. Aluminum is a known neurotoxin.
•Formaldehyde - classified by the EPA as a probable carcinogen, is used as a tissue fixative in some vaccines.
•Ethanol - can affect the function of the brain and nervous system, and is commonly used as a preservative in vaccines.
•Phenol - a highly poisonous, caustic substance derived from coal tar and used in the production of disinfectants, dyes, pharmaceuticals, plastics, germicides, and preservatives
•Animal organ tissue – cells from things like monkey kidneys, cow hearts and rabbit brains, as well as blood from sheep and pigs, are used in vaccines to culture viruses

An Epidemic of Chronic Degenerative Illness in Pets

Imagine the many different possible malfunctions that might transpire in the body and immune system of a small animal that receives multiple vaccines at one sitting. Then multiply that by the number of injections that may be given in the form of yearly “boosters’ over the life of that animal, and you may begin to see the scope of potential immune dysfunction that can, and no doubt is, occurring within virtually the entirety of today’s vaccinated domestic pet population. Just as with the toxic commercial pet food industry, there is no doubt whatsoever that there is a massive fortune being made by the mega-pharmaceutical corporations that are marketing vaccines the world over, both for animal as well as human use.

When you consider the chronic malnourishment from which many of these animals are already suffering as a result the utter junk most of them are being fed throughout the course of their lives, compounded with the additional affront of being repeatedly injected with numerous vaccinations, is it any wonder that what we’re seeing today in our pets in terms of chronic degenerative, as well as auto immune diseases, may well be amounting to nothing less than an all out epidemic?

Vaccines Bypass the Body's Natural Immune Response

Now let's explore what happens when Nature’s way is not allowed to unfold on its own because a pathogen, such as a virus, bacteria or heavy metal, is forcibly and unnaturally introduced into the body subcutaneously - directly into the bloodstream or musculature - thereby completely bypassing the body’s natural, innate defense mechanisms. This is the scenario every time a vaccine is injected via hypodermic needle into the body. The result is that the body’s natural immune processes are overridden, and in effect, short circuited. When this occurs, the body’s immune system is deprived of the opportunity to defend against that artificially introduced pathogen the way nature intended for it to.

Because of this short circuiting and the denied opportunity for the body to defend itself naturally, the way it was designed to, the potential outcome in some cases is that these artificially introduced pathogens can end up causing a kind of low grade, chronic form of disease – one against which the body cannot properly defend. In such cases the body is unable to effectively eradicate the bug and cure itself, because its natural ability to defend itself via the immune system’s conventional means has not been stimulated and activated via the proper introductory channels. In other words the body is effectively prevented from ever experiencing a full blown, acute case of the disease with the accompanying purgative symptoms.

Because the immune system’s natural defense mechanisms have been bypassed, short circuited and effectively overridden, in some cases the body becomes unable to properly rid itself of the pathogen and so the illness.

Looking at it from this perspective, it becomes clearer why multiple vaccines can, and often do, have the effect of dramatically impairing the body's natural ability to either maintain good health or heal itself.

Heart Of Gold





Principle #7
Horses teach riders, riders teach horses.

If you want to learn cutting and have never done it before, the hardest way to go about it is to get a horse that has never done it either and try to learn together.

An experienced horse can teach you a lot; he can fill in some of the gaps for you. Even if you don’t own this horse, see if you can ride him to experience how it should feel.

The same goes for when you have savvy. You’ll be able to offer the horse your skills, experience and confident leadership. You’ll be able to set him up so doing what you want is easy for him.

Don’t buy a green horse if you’re not experienced with horses. Green on green makes black and blue! Buy a horse that’s ridable and dependable. He’ll put up with your inexperience much better and you’ll enjoy your horsemanship a lot more.


We filmed my Freestyle Level 2 audition on Thursday. Orkan sure has a heart of gold and I´m totally in love with him.
He makes everything so easy and sure gave me my selfconfidence back.
I´m not 100% satisfied with the audition - no surprise there, ey.
I just feel I didn´t do justive to Orkan´s abilities, he actually can back up 9 steps on a long rein and sideways is way better than shown on the video. But for not riding for 3 years and only riding Orkan 7 times I guess it´s not that bad after all.
I could feel a big difference in my approach though. With Orkan everything was fun and I don´t take anything serious, it´s just pure play and joy.
While with Milva I´m more tight up and task orientated - which of course mirrors in her and she became this task "nazi". "Gotta do things, gotta do things". Of course she offers alot but never really relaxes either. Gotta change my approach to her a big time. Wow!
Also I didn´t take the audition very seriously with Orkan while with Milva I very much do so which of course makes me nervous and uncertain in times. With Orkan it was just,ja, ja...whatever, let´s do it. No retake in the filming and no warming up either - except on the ground of course.
Wow again, lots to learn and things to change.
After taping Shawn rode the goldenboy and rode the whole audition through. Too much fun for both of them!
And last but not least - thanks to Anita for sharing her golden boy!

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Trakehner Pferde - C. Lehmann


Trakehner-Pferde - ein Gedicht von C. Lehmann

Trakehner-Pferde

„Gott schütze mich vor Feuer, Wasser, Wind- und Pferd`, die aus Trakehnen sind!“ So spricht mancher gute Reiter, kam er mit Trakehnern nicht recht weiter.


Was ist dies für eine Rasse,
für die einen Mangel, für die andern höchste Klasse?
Was lässt sich über Pferde sagen,
die man aus dem fernen Russland hergetragen?


Kaliningrad war einstmals Königsberg,
Trakehnerzucht ein schwierig Werk.
Einst nur die Pferde für das Militär,
nutzt man sie heut`für sehr viel mehr.


Im Krieg stand alles unter schlechtem Stern,
der heutige Erfolg, der war noch fern.
Die Flucht, die schafften nicht sehr viele Pferd`,
auch dann waren sie nur wenig wert.


Doch es ändern sich die Zeiten,
nun hat man sie sehr gern zum Reiten.
Polarkreis, Insgeheim und Donauwind,
die Namen doch recht eigentümlich sind.


Padparadschka und auch Distelzar,
sind schon im allgemeinen Deutsch sehr rar.
Schwalbe, Schwarze Schwalbe, Schwalbenflug,
hat zu Pferden auch nicht recht Bezug.


Steht ganz hinten in der Ahnenreihe „Tempelhüter“,
zeugt das dann von einem ganz besond`ren Blüter.
Liest man Kostolany im Papier,
ist dies Pferd ein sehr begehrtes Tier.


Drosselbart und alter Fritz,
sind bei Züchtern Namen - und kein Witz !
Von and`ren Pferden farblich nicht zu unterscheiden,
mag man den edlen Kopf sehr gerne leiden.


Beim Reiten gibt`s den grossen Frust,
hat der Traki heut` mal keine Lust.
Manchmal stur aus purer Langeweile,
läuft er nicht mal eine Meile.


So manches Ding erkennt kein Mensch, kein Pferd -
Ein Trakehner findet`s sehenswert.


Und willst Du Pferde stets verstehen,
dann nimm` Dir keinen aus Trakehnen!
Der Fachmann nennt es eigenwillig,
zahlt für`s Papier nicht gerade billig.


Und willst Du reiten ein Turnier,
dann hüte Dich vor Schleifen-Gier!
Beim Traki kann man niemals sagen,
wird er Dich heute durch die Prüfung tragen.


Denn will er`s auch, ist er der Sieger -
nicht selten auch ein Überflieger.
Und fehlt ihm mal die rechte Lust,
Du auf den letzten Platze musst.


Doch liegt es in den Genen schon von alters her,
den Zauber zu verstehen fällt sehr schwer:


Will dieses Ross Dich auserwählen,
so ist er für Dich da, kannst auf ihn zählen!
Bist Du mit einem solchen Pferd verbunden,
dann hast Du einen wahren Freund gefunden.


Sind denn des Elches Schaufeln in dem Brand,
so hat`s der Kenner längst erkannt:
Es ist die Weisheit dieser Erde -
Trakehner sind die bess`ren Pferde!

Backing Up From Z5 At Liberty


We are all set for our liberty audition. The only thing that can be a bit tricky is going to the right at liberty on a circle. It´s not that she doesn´t know how to do it of course, it´s more her cute stubborness.
Change of direction is no problem though, the only thing is that she changes back to the left by herself again. She is just too darn funny!
I think we will film it next weekend, this weekend is my workweekend.
Tomorrow morning I planned on filming our freestyle level 2 audition - if Orkan is up for it.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Storm in Skåne and "Ancient Aliens"

Stormwarning class 3 here in Skåne - which is the highest warning you can get someone told me.
No audition filming tonight then instead we watched Christmas movies all day, baked saffran buns and drank lots of Glögg, visited the neighbours who had a come together for all friends and ate more Christmas cookies.
Now I´m stuffed, sitting on the sofa and gonna watch "Ancient Aliens" season 1 for the rest of the evening.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Mindfullness


-slowing down
-focusing on my breathing
-focusing on my energy and the energy surrounding me

Playing with Milva this morning and in the evening I helped Patricia to prepare for her level 1 online audition tomorrow.
Tinker and Patricia are doing very well and I have no doubt that they will pass with flying colours.

Starry Night


Rode Orkan yesterday morning and played with Milva at liberty late in the evening.
Audition filming tomorrow :)

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!


It´s easy to forget to be thankful for all the little things that make us happy or simplify our lifes.
Being thankful for being alive and not sick and still have all the people around me I love - horses are people too.

I rode Orkan this morning and played with Milva at liberty.
Orkan was doing awesome. He backed up by just moving my legs - long rein and sideways was going well as well. He is definitely a little superstar and up for everything. Typical lbe!
Mondays he always having traditional dressage training, wednesday he is trained in showjumping then he goes out for long trailrides and with me he is doing some Parelli there inbetween.
Variety is the spice of life!
Riding Orkan with a western saddle is a whole different experience in itself. He has large movements and sitting down in trot is... well, let´s put it this way - not so easy and posting in a western saddle is not so easy either. Canter would be our preferable gait - both his and mine.
That´s another thing being greatful for - having the possibility to ride Orkan. Who what have thought that he is so much fun!
I didn´t ride for 3 years now except the few times I rode Paulina, Orkan and Milva. It sure doesn´t feel so long though and Orkan makes it easy too. Now I´m actually really looking forward riding Milva again!
I didn´t miss riding at all in those 3 years but I think the spark came back now.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Saxon (Success) 2007/2008




It´s now three years ago that I had to put down Saxon.
Saxon was a Swedish Warmblood I bought when I moved back from Canada as a schooling master. As you can see in the pictures I abandoned Parelli for a while there.
I was horseless when I moved back to Sweden and was desperate to find a new horse. I found Saxon on the net, his owners where looking for someone who would lease Saxon. Their daughter had bought a new comptetion horse and had no use for Saxon anymore. Before that she competed him regularlly in dressage and jumping. So I tried him and of course leased him. After a few weeks the owners were talking about selling him to a ridingstable so of course I had to save him and bought him. Before I bought him he was allowed to go outside in the pasture for 1 hour a day - by himself of course. I changed that as soon as he was mine though.
Unfortunately Saxon and I made never the same connection as I have with Milva now. I felt sorry for him and that´s why bought him but there was no real "love" behind it.
Soon after I bought him I had to discover that he had Cushing Syndrom and he had to be on medication for the rest of his life.
Saxon was a right brain extrovert/introvert. I did lots of dressage and jumping training with him but he never thought it was fun really. Trailriding was almost impossible with him cause he would turn around and race home bucking all the way. No change to stop him or bend him.
Actually I think it´s because of him I don´t feel for riding anymore.It was simply not much fun and always a battle. He was a nice horse though and if I would have been doing Parelli then it probably would have been fun.
When I moved Milva and Saxon to the turn out stable I knew that there was a change that Saxon wouldn´t make it. According to the veterinary he wouldn´t have a long time to live anyway because of his sickness so I thought it´s better he lives his last couple of months to the fullest and as soon as he shows any signs of pain I will put him down and that´s what I did.
He did have a blast the last few months though and died as a happy horse at least. I think it was the first time in his competitionhorse life that he was actually allowed to live the life of a horse. No bad conscious on this end.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Cowgirl Way by Kathleen West



COWGIRL WAY by Kathleen West

Cowgirls are special and work hard every day
They feed their own horses, and stack their own hay
They know who they are, and where they are from
Their family comes first, but when the chores are all done

We get in the saddle in rain or in shine
It's not the destination, but the thrill of the ride!
On horseback all our problems just slip away
Just workin' and playin' the cowgirl way.

Weekend

It´s my workweekend this week so my stable time is limited.
I rode Orkan on friday and played with backing up and sideways and walk trot transitions.
Backing up was going super well, after a few tries he backed up 3 steps with only moving my legs - long rein.
Sideways will take more time though. It didn´t work from the sadle so I played with him on the ground instead, moving for- and hindquarters which will lead to sideways eventually. He is such a smart boy and he licked and chewed alot and blow out lots of air - too funny. A few times he tried to have some discussions with me. Which is good - it´s a two way communication right. I totally agreed with him and did what he suggested and then formed what he offered to what I wanted to do to begin with. The faces he made were priceless!
Left brain extroverts are fun! Trot walk transitions were very smooth and on a long rein.
I´m not sure about the NP though.I still have a hard time to find it comfortable and still don´t know how to sit right. But I will take of that next week and watch some Parelli dvds.
Liberty with Milva pony who is pretty jelous when I take Orkan out. The last time she went to the gate and started to call after us and continued to do so until we came back - heartbreaking, my little drama princess ;).

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Stabletime


I decided to be nice today and mucked out all three turnout stables today as well. I always muck out ours every day and wednesdays I take all three stables to give Malin some free time.
Rode Orkan for 20min in walk on a long rein, stop walk transitions without touching the rein and figure 8s as well. Backing up was going better today as well.
I shortened my stirrups today and it made a huge difference.
Milva got her hooves trimmed today. It´s 4 weeks ago that she got it trimmed the last time so there wasn´t much to trim - according to the ferrier. In Marion´s world he could have trimmed some more. Milva behaved like an little angel which made me very suspicious. She stood completly still for the ferrier and muzzled him softly. She didn´t move once and volonteered to give him one hoof after another.
After trimming I took her for a walk and she still behaved way too well for being Mischivious Milva, she didn´t even try to eat grass when we walked through the field which of course made all my inner alarm lamps going on.
Instead of walking for 30min we walked for 1 hour and I didn´t turn around before she pooped.
I don´t think it was a colic though, she didn´t show any colic signs anyway.
Maybe she just decided to pretend to be a grown up horse today - the stress is on the word pretend.
I´m gonna check on her again later this evening just to make sure she is ok.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Buck The Movie


inspired by Elisabeth I finally bought the Buck - dvd. Guess what I´m gonna do this evening :).

“Your horse is a mirror to your soul, and sometimes you may not like what you see. Sometimes, you will.” So says Buck Brannaman, a true American cowboy and sage on horseback who travels the country for nine grueling months a year helping horses with people problems.

BUCK, a richly textured and visually stunning film, follows Brannaman from his abusive childhood to his phenomenally successful approach to horses. A real-life “horse-whisperer”, he eschews the violence of his upbringing and teaches people to communicate with their horses through leadership and sensitivity, not punishment.

Buck possesses near magical abilities as he dramatically transforms horses – and people – with his understanding, compassion and respect. In this film, the animal-human relationship becomes a metaphor for facing the daily challenges of life. A truly American story about an unsung hero, BUCK is about an ordinary man who has made an extraordinary life despite tremendous odds.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Move Their Mind


Grazing with Milva and change of direction online with no problems.
Orkan: online, played through the seven games and focused on sideways and yoyo. Oh boy, was he thinking and chewing and licking and his face expressions were priceless. Lbe are sure fun to play with.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Sunday


picture taken by Johan

Fed the horses breakfast and did the stable chores this morning. It was quiete busy at the stable again though so I decided to go home and come back in the evening.
Liberty with Milva while Patricia practised for her online level 1 audition.
I asked Milva to sideways over three barrels at liberty, figure 8s, sideways away and towards and then we went into my homemade roundcorral - which isn´t so round. Walk, trot, canter and stop transitions and also backing up. The backing up at liberty when she is out on a circle is not constant yet - sometimes she decides to ignore me instead.
We also had a little discussion about change of direction tonight. Milva just did not want to go to the right and definitely not change direction for a right lead.
Instead of making a big thing out of it I walked with her a few rounds to the right and gave her lots of praise for it and stopped.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

All You Need Is Love - Short Video

http://www.youtube.com/user/marionprincic?feature=grec_index
now it should work

Saturday Evening Play



pictures taken by Anita

I rode Orkan this evening. Orkan is a lbe and loves new things. He was totally awesome, very attentive, positive and soft. With no doubt I could have filmed our freestyle level 2 audition tonight, with a little bit of practice level 3 freestyle shouldn´t be a big deal either.
I would like to get a little bit better response with the backing up and sideways, but other than that we nailed it. We cantered as well and walked over a plastic tarp and jumping is no problem.
I still love the Natural Performer but I still need some time to get used to it. I rode english my whole life after all and my last saddle - the Bated Innova was super soft to sit in so the NP feels slightly hard.
Liberty with Milva was awesome as well. I asked for trott canter transitions in my homemade round corall and she did it - of course. Such a super smart pony.
Liberty figure 8s are going well as well, she even trotted a few steps today while doing them. Her face expression is not the most positive I have to admit though, but oh well, we will get that fixed as well with the time.
After we fed the horses their evening hay another girl was in the ridinghouse with her big competition horse walking over the plastic tarp :) - lovely.

When I´m An Old Horsewoman


When I am an Old Horsewoman

When I am an old horsewoman
I shall wear turquoise and diamonds,
And a straw hat that doesn’t suit me
And I shall spend my social security on
white wine and carrots,
And sit in my alleyway of my barn
And listen to my horses breathe.

I will sneak out in the middle of a summer night
And ride the old bay gelding,
Across the moonstruck meadow
If my old bones will allow
And when people come to call, I will smile and nod
As I walk past the gardens to the barn
and show instead the flowers growing
inside stalls fresh-lined with straw.

I will shovel and sweat and wear hay in my hair
as if it were a jewel
And I will be an embarrassment to all
Who will not yet have found the peace in being free
to have a horse as a best friend
A friend who waits at midnight hour
With muzzle and nicker and patient eyes
For the kind of woman I will be
When I am old.

-By Patty Barnhart

Saturday Morning



Frida took those two nice pictures of Milva yesterday.
Jumping training this morning and lots of people in the stable. We had frost last night and the outdoor rings were a bit frozen. I took Milva for a little walk and went home again. I´m gonna go back there later to play some more.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Myth, Religion and Ritual


that´s what I´ve been studying this afternoon. I started this course at Gotland´s University this week - it´s a long distance studying course. I applied for it last spring just for fun and this week I got an email from the university letting me know I got in and that it started this week. First assignment was due today.
Gotta love Sweden for their free education system. Still hanging tuff with my other courses as well. Because I signed up for them and I got in I will finish them and it will give me a nice boost in my nursing degree. I have to admit though that I took the water a little bit over my head. Like jeez, what was I thinkin, I´m super woman or what? But stubborn as I am I will finish them, I will I will.... so those Parelli dvd´s have to wait in the shelf until it´s their turn.

Remembrance Day 2011 - Let´s Remember The War Horse


“I believe that every soldier who has anything to do with horse or mule has come to love them for what they are and the grand work they have done and are doing in and out of the death zones.” Captain Sidney Galtrey, autumn 1918



Naturally my thoughts go out to all the horses in war and specially to all the Trakehner´s who had to leave their country because of the Red Army approaching fast.
A piece of history not well known and not much talked about. For many Germans the loss of East Prussia is still an emotional issue, it sure is for me. Alot of the people who were forced to flee had lived over 600 years in that part of the country and in a few years all of them will be dead and no more witnesses will be alive to tell their story.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Minute Of Peace


One of the rare moments where Malin is sitting down. Kind of a how interesting moment.
Liberty with the munsch pony who behaved like a little hoodlum today - performing her own show.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Soulhorse


And then my soul saw you and it kind of went "Oh there you are. I´ve been looking for you."

Parelli November Shipment




November Audio CD
"Really Listening"
In this interview with Neil Pye, Linda talks about the importance of remaining calm and composed during moments of frustration, and how the phrasing of a question can make all the difference. She also discusses the responsibility of instructors and teachers to encourage open dialogue. Later, Linda stresses the fact that both horses and humans can bring emotional baggage to the table, as well as the importance of recognizing thresholds and not becoming stuck. She also describes her experiences in learning with Walter Zettl. Finally, Linda addresses the difficulty people encounter with the bit, which can often be explained by a lack of true communication between horse and human.

November Mastery Lesson
Pat's Lesson - Suppling for Success, Part 1: Elli Pospischil riding Aspen
Linda's Lesson - Steady Rein: Kris Fulwiler and her Friesian

November Savvy Times
This month's issue features articles on Magical Merlin, Motivation in Horsemanship, The Steady Rein and more...plus your stories from around the globe.