natural horsemanship
Sue – How Do You Deal with Susan’s Fear?
It’s become apparent. It’s out there for the world to notice. Jenny noticed today and that’s a sad thing.
Yes, no longer can we talk about Sue’s fear. Her fear has abated to flinching and perhaps a few quick steps…or a head up.
Yes, we have to talk about Susan’s fear. It’s now greater than Sue’s fear. My latest fear came from being bucked off last year and breaking my collar bone. Boy Howdy did that hurt!
My brain flashes back to a horse bunching up and then bucking. My left brain knows that Sue is not going to swell up and buck. My right brain is not at all convinced.
Sue had a pretty good time in the arena today. She was so relaxed that she took a snooze while Jenny was talking to us. Of course I was on high alert for horses that might be coming to close to us and scaring Sue (and me!).
In the Level 1 Advancing Clinic, Sue and I got bunched in the middle of 2 or 3 horses. We try not to let that happen, but in an Advancing clinic, horses go everywhere.
Sue’s head came up and she started backing. Jenny told me that I pulled back on her too…a big no no. All I’m supposed to do is to get her head pointed at the source of her fear. Jenny told me to pretend to relax…fake it until I make it.
sigh
I also did a big No No again today. I told someone in the clinic not to get to close behind me. I’m supposed to be able to adjust to that myself…not tell another clinic person with a three year old mustang, not to get close to me.
So, I’ve had a big talk with myself tonight. Sue is fun to ride. She speeds up when startled, but calms right down. In fact today, I was pretty relaxed at one point when riding her. Something from behind made her nervous and she sped up for about 5 steps and then calmed right down again. My spook mechinism didn’t even have time to react and it was all over! KEWL!
That’s another thing that I like about Parelli Natural Horsemanship and me. I like fighting with my fear and winning. There’s nothing better than to conquor pure fear. It’s a rush!
My next rides on Sue are just going to be joyous events. I have given myself a directive to “Let the FEAR GO!”
Nova’s Notebook – The Beginning
Pat Parelli is always telling us how he’s got yearlings on up that have happily learned the level 1, 2 and 3 tasks. Since Nova is at Pine Dell boarding stable, I decided that she should become a level 3 baby. I’ve given Jennifer Vaught this task.
This is what she looks like at 18 months!
Jenny has fallen into the “I Love Nova” club. Jenny reports that Nova is bright and light. Nova is fox trotting and trotting during her training sessions. We’ve not seen any sign of the dreaded pace. She is doing great in her training. Jenny is going to have her ten year old daughter be the first one to ride Nova. She would like Nichole to start the experience in “starting horses” and Nova is the ONE. Jenny is going to lead Nichole around riding Nova. I wish I were going to be there to watch my baby take her first big step towards “Saddle Horse”.
I was chatting with a women yesterday. Her horse is in the same pasture as Nova. She told me that Nova was a sneaky horse. What? Well, when this woman goes out to get her horse, she’s walking along and all of a sudden she feels hot breath on her neck. It’s Nova. Nova has been following her.
Another couple who have a horse in the pasture have told me how they love Nova. She comes over to visit them. She’s sweet, pretty and friendly. Another person told me when they ride by the pasture, it’s Nova that runs over to meet their horse.
There will be more and more people in the “I love Nova” club as time goes on. The next one will probably be Nichole!
Jenny is Jennifer Vaught, long time friend and Parelli 3 star instructor for 15 years.