Sue – How Do You Do -Still trying to Canter

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The round pen has fairly deep sandy footing.  That's why Sue canters in there so well. Sue doesn't canter in the arena with me riding.  Oh maybe a step or two now and then when I have a pole for her to lift up her front end. When I ride her, she is still nervous when I put pressure on her to go faster.  If we are trotting and I put pressure on her to go faster, we disintegrate.  (Sue does a lot of disintegrating.) Occasionally I'll get a couple of canter…

Sue – How Do You Do – Announcing a Scary Goal

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Two years and four months of emotional fitness.  "My personal craven coward to hero journey", Employing the practical purpose of natural horsemanship Using high level friendly games, bonding and leadership-with a "ruined" right brain introvert It is my thrill to announce: I will be showing Sue at the Fox Trotter All Breed Horse Show at Longview Horse Park on 8/9/08.  Riding from the trailer into the arena, Riding back to the trailer Long awaited goals! Occasionally, Sue and I will even be performing the gait as directed by the judge! If you…

Sue – How Do You Do after being with Nichole?

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I took Sue home 4/1/08.  She's been with Nichole all this time.  Our bond has slipped since Sue and I haven't been together for quite a time.  My job is to get her trust again.  I took her to a clinic today.  It's called a Liberty Clinic.  It's all about building a relationship and language so strong that your horse will sidepass, back, turn on the forequarters and hindquarters and circle around you and walk beside you...all while "loose".  They have no halter no lead rope.. I learned that this…

Sue- How Do You Do- No-Where Horse Back at the Park!

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Sue and I went on a trail ride at James A. Reed Park. It took us 14 months to get here. This park is the precipitating event of why she became my horse. When she spooked at this park and her rider (who was trying her out as a trail horse) fell off, Sue set herself up to come to me. Neither of us knew it at the time. She had no where to go after that. The no-where horse became my horse. After 14 months of slow fear recovery,…

Sue – How Do You DO!

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Susan and Sue at James A Reed Park - July 2007.Sue, a Missouri Fox Trotter, came to Pine Dell to be sold. Jenny told me, "I really like Sue! She's light, fun to ride and very smooth. "WOWSA", I thought. "I wish I could have her". I had a horse for sale then. Our pasture was being fenced and part of it was off-limits to horses until fencing got done. There was no way, I thought, that I could buy another horse. Of course the price was what Sue was…

Sue – How Do You Love Being a Trail Horse Again!?

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 It was a Sunday. We had 40 acres of downed trees, water crossings, shrubs, close trees and forest paths to traverse.Sue and I took our first real trail ride with Jenny and her horse on their property in Fair Play, Mo...down in the Ozarks. Later on, I realized that I forgot to be scared. I wasn't scared or nervous the entire ride! Sue lowered her head and relaxed before we even took off. What a miracle! We mounted the horses and off we went. Sue was anxious to go faster…