Breakthrough Day

This is what happens when PNH starts talking about LB horses after previously never mentioning them: Breakthrough!!


5 November 2006

Just wanted to share my good day. It's been a while that I can say I had a genuinely good day; for the past couple of weeks, things have been kinda lackluster -- you know, just *OK*. Cloud's been bucking again when I ride and he wasn't *playing* with me -- he'd do anything I asked, but he wasn't into it. I don't have the L&HB course yet (and won't for a while) so I wasn't sure what to do.. but the I got my Savvy Times and read and re-read the LB horse article and GOT it!! I knew Cloud was bored, but I didn't know how to fix it.. we were in a rut and we needed to get out - just didn't know how.

The article had a couple great things in it (I mean, the whole thing was great, but some things really *stuck*). One thing was that LB horses are really food motivated (which I knew -- gee, how I knew!) and it suggested using it to our advantage OK - that's easy enough! The other thing was that circles, arena work, routines, &c was NOT a good idea, and it suggested trail rides. Those two things really jumped out at me. (lick, chew) So what did I realize?? I was bored with the games, too! I didn't have any interest in "put your nose on" or in circling game or whatever. I was just doing it because that's what PNHers do! If my horse is my mirror (which he is) than no wonder he's bored!!

So I had my first attempt on Thursday: The first thing I did was break out the cookies!! The second thing was to set up the arena. (can't change too fast, you know) I put cookies on everything - then I got Cloud. We did the same routine, even though I tried to do it differently.. but that was all that was routine! We got into the ring and started playing. The game had changed. It wasn't the "put your nose on.." game we were so bored of anymore - it was "go find the cookie!" Cloud got so into it and we had a great time -- he was tuning in and asking questions and having FUN. We ended up playing at Liberty for a long time and he stayed right with me finding the cookies!! Then we rode and did the same thing from horseback till I ran out of cookies. It was a good day, but not the best .. and I was still a little discouraged.

But today was great!! He came to me in pasture, which he'd been doing.. but today he was interested!! We didn't go into the arena ONCE - not at all - even though I missed my routine!! We found a puddle in the driveway and played in that. Cloud's not a big fan of water -- he'll go through it if you make him, but he's never happy about it. But today was different -- it really wasn't about going through the water! I really understood the meaning of "separate and recombine"!! We worked one step at a time -- the goal wasn't to cross the puddle, it was to take small steps and put his foot in the *deep* parts -- instead of jumping or steeeeppping over it. We took it really slow. I felt like I was being direct-line a couple times, but for the most part I was reading him -- focusing with MY whole body and relaxing at key moments. I was interesting -- when he thought I was going to force him through, I relaxed and played Friendly -- or I gave him a cookie (I keep LOTS in my pockets at all times now) and he was TOTALLY FOCUSED!! His ears were up and he was constantly asking questions! What really surprised me was that we didn't spend a lot of time on the puddle. I'm really predatory like that -- when it's good I want to push it, but today I did a lot of retreating and leaving. We took 3 different "stabs" at it, and made HUGE progress!!

Then, to make things better, I even got to ride!! For the first time in a long time, Cloud stayed perfectly still when I saddled and even stood still when I mounted -- stopping and asking for directions!! I made sure I had a lot of cookies in my pockets and gave him one sometimes when I asked for lateral flexion -- and it made him more interested in giving it to me!! (Darn, Linda actually *knows* what she's talking about!) We rode all around - outside!! Not in a boring arena, but outside in strange places! And I was so proud of myself that I didn't ask for higher gaits, even though I wanted to. We really ended everything on a good note!!

Then.. I turned him out and we played at Liberty -- really playing! He ran around with me and stopped and turned and we were totally having fun!!! It was the best feeling EVER. More cookies and scratches and then I left.

I'm just totally happy to have gotten this far!! To be happy and in true harmony! One thing I noticed that was AWESOME was that Cloud and I have always gone through these "down" spots -- where we're not doing great, disappointed, dissatisfied -- and they've always lasted a while (a year ago, they could last upwards of a month!) but this "down" patch only lasted a couple weeks -- and it NEVER got as bad as some of the other ones have. It used to be so aweful that I'd consider selling him; he'd be attacking me and I'd be frustrated beyond belief. But the further we progress, the less often and less severe these spots are!! I'm just so happy!!!!!

Thanks for reading and letting me share!

Sarah & Cloud