I Didn't Know I Did This

Ever since I started to ride horses, back in 2002, I  always looked no further than their head and ears. while in the saddle and cueing the horse.

 I wanted to make sure the horse  willingly was walking and moving forward.  I guess I couldn't believe this ride was accepted by my horse.   I had to make sure i was walking....straight not crooked.  Do horses walked crooked? They walk without direction but not crooked.

Do not ride a horse and focus on the top of their head looking down at their ears.  Why?  They need a leader and they need to know you have a direction and plan to take them on this ride they are allowing you to take.  I came upon this statement from a a a facebook friend who just came back from a riding .clinic in Winnipeg.  Her professional horse trainer told her that   "You'll do great just keep looking ahead!" The horses ears are not going to fall off. (got it).

I rode my horse the other night and I did not  look down, I did not ride with my eyes focused on her head and ears.  I kept looking ahead, to our next step,  the next corner.   It was a very solid paced ride because I was telling her what I wanted to do.  Her ears are always attached to her head they will not come off so I do not need to watch them.  lol!  what a good teaching statement!

This sounds so silly!  It's so important.  I can't walk down the street looking at a sidewalk or the ground all the time.  I can tell if I am in trouble just with my quick glances and peripheral vision. Same with riding.  It's important to read the ear position but not to constantly stare at them like the ears are coming unglued.

• must always look ahead 
•  observe as you ride
•  horse's ears communicate
• pointing forward
• or pointing back
• or straight up
• do not focus on the ears as you ride
• look ahead and the horse will know you are looking out for him 
• you are a leader.

Horses often rely on their ears and eyes to communicate with each other, according to a recent study. The animals' eye direction and their large, mobile ears can be used to tell another horse where to direct its attention, which can be beneficial in locating food and avoiding predators.Aug 5, 2014

watch for these angles

VISION

Horses were believed to have poor vision and be short sighted but they actually have very good binocular vision with a tendency towards long vision. It's logical to think that given a horse's wide vision range, they are able to see a rider on their backs however a rider is in the horse's blind spot.

This is going to make my rides more in control and my horse Gracie will know I am the "director" and she can trust me.  When you understand the horse and what their messages are in the pasture then once you saddle up that horse needs to understand your cues and working as a team is what it is all about.

My week of 63

My son (Tom) and I visited Gramma and Grampa on Friday.

They are both turning 90 years old this fall.

Birthday cake day at College Park.

Every Friday from 4 - 5 pm there is dancing with a keyboard player

and Tom and Gramma were rockin' it on the dance floor.

(Gramma has to watch her heart though, because she likes to move and jive!)

one, two, three...

turn and jive!

Gramma was sooooo happy her Grandson danced with her, because Grampa doesn't dance anymore!

Here are....
Tom's budgies/parakeets!
I was attempting to teach them to say "hello" but they have not
spoken that word yet.  Actually I think they are scared of me.  Tom is their
Master and friend so he can pick them up and talk to them.

A new visitor came home yesterday.  His name is Midnight and he is a 3 year old Paint!

Hubby's friend Morley owns this little colt and he is letting Brian do some horsemanship training with him!  He is a cutie!

Here is a video of Midnight!

Looking forward to more riding again and to watch Brian
work with this young rascal!


Also had a birthday lunch with my sister Barb and my friend Ilona
at Eastside Marios!  My niece Brenda was at this lunch too but I didn't get her in this photo.
I really enjoyed this time we had.

This is the end of my birthday week.  (I'm now 63)
I have connected with 3 really good friends this month.  Two from
Vancouver Island and this one in Regina.  I am very glad we can still
be friends and laugh and share the good and bad times.

lessons + celebrate

This is a blog to document lessons I have been aware of

and celebrations and energy therapy and horse relations, etc.

Read if you want:

(shoulder tendonitis prevention)

foods for my inflammation

gifts of the type 3 (energy profiling)

woman with Carol Tuttle and her Healing Centre

now here is a chart system for

planting your garden with the appropriate

companion (hubby's the gardener)

A hornets nest appeared unnoticed on our corral fence
for a long time ..until we did notice it this fall.

this is the first quote that we accepted in September

and are still waiting for them to come and paint!

I am waiting on our second painter's quote that I

had done 2 weeks ago!

this Christmas I came upon a lovely

desert for large crowds

here is the Trifle ingredients I made for Christmas Day

I had to pick up a Trifle bowl at Superstore

my other one didn't make it here in 2014 (could not locate it)

Christmas tree I purchased is huge and I enjoyed that

it was tall and perfect with so many lights on it.

Christmas is HUGE for me and the tree is VERY IMPORTANT!

We all enjoyed the extravagance that enriched our living room

with vibrancy and uplifting beauty.

Tom bought fireworks to celebrate his success with his youtube channel

Tommy's Puppet Lab of over 200,000 subscribers.

even this horse that manifested into being owned by us is
HUGE  for me and VERY IMPORTANT to my balance and energy
Just when I get her in my control with the riding techniques,
she goes and has a bad day or she doesn't like being around other horses
in the arena, you know, just like humans, it is a process to maintain balance.

Enjoy the last 3 days of 2018!

Horse Wiser

Friday I started my 3 day horse riding clinic! I’m done now and I take with me more confidence and love to share with my horse and others. Keeping my words to myself and to my horse only for gentle learning and letting the hard days of learning move me forward along with doing just a little ; doing less will show doing more, trust the process of each bit of time.

I took photos and these are all of them.  Videos were not allowed and when I and Brian were both

in the  same class it was impossible to get any riding shots.

it's okay.  You can laugh at my hat.  I never wear a cowboy hat.  However, this

weekend it was pouring rain and we were hauling saddles and boots and horses in and out

of the riding arena in pouring rain  This hat was awesome for keeping the rain off my face

and head. Otherwise I wear a ball cap style head gear.

 Bottom of this picture is me in front of the pickup and it reflected a squished photo

of me (cool, real cool)

I knew I would be slow, slow,... getting my horse tack on Grace (previously named Bruschetta).

A slower process when she was very anxious and hard to keep standing in one place.

Next time I will be more "savy" at putting the bridal and bit in the mouth.  Tightening up

the cinch, chest band in place (that is my next goal)

My horse has a beautiful thick black mane.

This is the pen that Mr. Z and Bruschetta were in for 2 nights.

Mantracker and I went home and came back in the mornings. (a 35 min drive)

Mr. Z really wanted out of this pen on the last day,

Grace (Bruschetta) shared the pen with Mr. Z

She is 10 years old and Mr. Z is 4 years old.

This is my horse with the clinician.  A buckskin mare.  He had

to work with her quite a bit to settle her down.  She did not like

being around all the horses and pinned her ears back constantly the whole

time we were in the class.  Made me nervous;so double anxiety going for 

the first day. Once he explained her situation and got her hind legs moving freer

and me letting her move with much looser rein and directing her; was the winning ticket!

This is John Tilley.  He was our clinician and lives at Leroy, Sask.

He was easy to be around and complimented riders whenever it was 

necessary and earned.  I was very relaxed with his lessons.

Ride on. Ride on.

fall switch-ups

I had fun changing my cowgirl boots from all black

to this!

Brian and I bought a horse.  Well we bought out the other

co-owner's share.  We spent all spring and summer attempting

to sell this buckskin called Brushetta; but I knew deep down she needed to be my horse (well 

Brian's horse too.)  So we done did it! and now can take her out and feel

comfortable with a good solid and mild tempered riding horse.

 As a 10 year old she is young enough to enjoy

rides with her for a good many years

T

Horses are not always what you hope for

so we have sold one colt to a trainer outside Melville

This young one, (Tuko),  showed he liked to buck for no reason... really?

He has had lots of rides on him and trained thoroughly

by both my husband and his partner.

He is at a good home now though as this trainer was

looking for a project horse. (perfecto!)

(fare thee well Tuko!)

I bought some clothes in Utah at my Dressing Your Truth

weekend retreat and I am attempting to get an outfit

together.  I bought this long forest green open sweater.

(so comfy)

Here's to stylin' it up and enjoying your pets!

last month

June was chilly

so kept writing in the mornings

splattered color on my painting

the bottom right corner has to be improved

colours brighter

its the movement of the brush

and texture I find I like

concert

 a special grad

June is usually about family

and some art stuff

.....and horses

This horse is going back home' 4 year old mare

has some issues we are not going to be able to

deal with in 4 weeks

owner advised and explained our concern

(Brian and Brushetta moving Ally around the arena)

Wishing for warmer weather this month

as we all are I am sure!

video on my blog..yay

Bruschetta warm up

My first rose bloomed in full today

have a happy rest of the weekend!

my feelings with a horse

A mood-lifting 30 minutes for myself

is to just work with a horse

on the ground;

and when hubby and I play with them

together or I am assisting with a bit

of the training

it is a great way for us to do something active

together.

I couldn't get Tuko across this new

bridge Mantracker built to add to

his horse training props .....

aha...but I got on the bridge so

Tuko trained me as he wouldn't step on it (horses are smart)

Mantracker got him across it of course

because he is always with a horse

and knows this horse's course
yadayadayada..

anyway... horses are a therapy to me!

Being around them, especially if it is 

one on one, whether riding or just playing with 

them on the ground; it seems things make sense for

the rest of the day and big problems get smaller, daily irritations

go away.  It is a beautiful feeling.

other colts over the years

Dixie 

Whisper

 Leroy on the left and below

Brooks

 Cody

Walker

Walker

Fancy

Bruschetta (Coyote Flats)

Grace (previously named Bruschetta

Thunder