Sue – How Do You Spell Bareback Riding?

December 2, 2006Posted inSue - How Do You Do!
We had a fluidity clinic. I rode JR bareback for an entire day. I posted bareback. I was so sore, walking was a big problem. Filled with confidence one late night. I saddle Sue up in the Parelli bareback pad. I got on. We both felt the situation. I made the slightest of signal to move. She moved one step and froze. I rubbed her gratefully for at least a minute. I made another signal and we moved one step again and froze. We sat in solitary splendor for another…

Sue – How Do You Do at Horse Play?

November 30, 2006Posted inSue - How Do You Do!
Jenny called me today to give me a report about Sue.  Sue isn't in any kind of training program. She's just a boarder at "For the Horse" Ranch. Jenny reports that when Sue was turned out yesterday, she ran, bucked and even got all 4 feet off the ground. Sue was playing. I marveled. Jenny marveled. Sue's normal mode of operation when turned out is to be invisible. She stands on the fringe of the group and pretends to be invisible. I've never seen her buck and play. I've never…

Sue – How Do You Do at Seeing My Heart on My Hand

November 27, 2006Posted inSue - How Do You Do!
Monday, November 27, 2006Sue How Do You See the Heart on my Hand It was chilly and late. I stopped at "For the Horse" Ranch to play with Sue. We played our right brain/left brain games for a while and she is staying in her left brain more and more. Translation: I up my body language and ask her to do things faster. She gets scared (right brain). I slow my body language and she calms down (left brain). She's starting to understand that being scared isn't the end of…

Sue – How Do You Do Plateau?

November 5, 2006Posted inSue - How Do You Do!
Yep, we've plateau'd. Of course that's not a real word. Sue has spent her first week at the boarding stable, called "For the Horse" Ranch. A small amount of her fear came back and I spent two riding nights with her completely on the ground. I managed to ride her the third night. After a couple laps around the arena, we stopped and I breathed again. That fear is there waiting.... We had two clinics on Saturday. One was with Jenny Vaught in the am and the other one was…

Sue – How Do YOu Do with an Uncoordinated Clod of a Rider?

September 7, 2006Posted inSue - How Do You Do!
My personal life got in the way again of riding and time has passed. I also haven't reported on the great rides Sue and I've had in the Monday nite lessons...She knows the other horses now and is very relaxed. So, I've taken off work and riding during the day all this week (except, I got interupted again by my personal life). Anyway. There are three horses being rode in the arena. One of them is standing still. The other one is zipping around. I decide today is the new…