Covering New Ground

I rode both Can Do and Gizmo and we graduated to the bit. I had bought the Parelli Country Bridle when I attended the Rendevous in Jacksonville. I always wondered when to switch from the hackamore, which I love riding with, to the bridle. My favorite clinic girl, Kelly Sigler, told me not to stay in the hackamore too long or the horses learn to brace on it. Overall it went pretty good. Can Do has been in a bit forever so she was probably good with it. She behaved and thats all I have to go by. Giz played with it alot. Can Do and I played FTR, cloverleaf, point to point, direct turns, indirect turns and corners game, all with the carrot stick. I'm going to have to get used to riding with that stick. It is like there is too many things to think about. However, I was really soft with my phases before I used it. Gizmo had a short lesson because I was running out of time so we only played FTR. I'm having trouble with wasps hanging out on my arena fence. I actually think they are stinging the horses faces sometimes. Not sure what to do about that. How do you kill wasps that don't have a nest and are just flying around randomly? I'm sure the horses will love to follow the rail tomorrow and get stung a couple of times!

Sandy came over on Wednesday and we played online. I tried to help her with things we learned in the clinic. It went well! At least her horse loaded up with no problems. Once we get these play days going I think great things are going to happen. I want us to film each other so we can go home and see what we look like. It will also get us used to being in front of the camera so that our auditions won't be so nerve racking. The first time someone filmed me I freaked out. It was like Pat himself was watching me. That is so silly! My sister filmed me since then and I did okay. I tried to ignore her and the camera.

Kelly Sigler's Clinic

Tomorrow is the big day. My friend Nancy and I will be taking off around 9:00 am to Pensacola, FL for Kelly's clinic. My best friend Sandy was supposed to come, but had to cancel at the last minute. We will miss her so much. I will take notes for you don't worry. You will be there in spirit. I cannot begin to express how excited I am. My mom has been working her tail off sewing my name on all of my lead ropes and halters. She has also embroidered some cute little boots on my new towels for my new horse trailer. I will styling and profiling!! Oh, she also put the boots on my pillow cases. It really looks good. Thanks a bunch mom! You always put the icing on the cake for me and appreciate you more than you know.
      I feel like I am at least getting my foot in the door with PNH. I get so frustrated sometimes because my journey is moving so slowly. Lately I have been reading a lot of blogs and I am learning that if you do not attend clinics you will have missing pieces in the program. In some of the blogs I have read, I came across "clinic notes". I have almost the entire set of DVDs and some of this information isn't on them. Why not? I have paid for the goods. I know why info. is left out, but I don't have any Parelli Professionals nearby to have regular clinics with. This is the first one that is fairly close in two years. Anyway, I felt the need to vent on that one. I just want to be in the 'know', ya know!
     We are packing up and bathing the horses today. My poor husband doesn't realize what he has signed up for driving us on a five hour drive. He will be driven mad, I'm sure, by the time we pull up at Forever Sky Ranch. I will hopefully get to meet Mirka Pitts at the clinic. Evidently she trains at the ranch. I have been watching her videos on youtube and she is awesome. I could watch her for hours.
        Okay, my coffee cup is empty, so it is time to get my butt in gear. Lots to do today. Wish me luck!
                                                                                            Savvy Sam
   

A good laugh!

I finally got a chance to play with horses again after some wicked weather. I wonder how the folks up north deal with snow and cold when I live in south Louisiana. Our weather is so mild in the winter, usually. Gizmo cut the back of his foot and he is out of commission, so that means Can do was the center of my attention. Yesterday I tried to find a high spot to play so the yard wouldn't get chopped up. It got chopped up anyway, oh well. We worked on trying to walk a circle on a 12' line. We have had to back track lately because of right brained behavior. She could not walk one lap without breaking into a trot. It took about ten laps before I got it then we changed sides and that one was worse. We did accormplish it though. End of session! Today I started again and we were back in the same boat. We were eventually successful. I got some good laughs playing with her. Being dominant, she pins her ears when I suggest she go a certain direction. Well that doesn't sit well with me. When I'm being provacative, however, she turns into a clown. She tries all kinds of stuff not to do what I ask and looks at me to see my reaction. This is so funny! She does it in a fun way. I hope when I go to Kelly Sigler's clinic that she behaves this way so others can see her horsenality. It also makes me realize that I need to be more interesting and not so boring for her.