Fancy Parelli Level 4 Free Style (Bridleless) 1

IMG_1226: Note:  I write with humor and self sarcasm. Today I was going to ride without the bridle as a backup. However, when I was actually in the arena after our ground play, myself was frightened. So, I left the halter on and anchored the lead rope to the saddle horn. I felt safe.I discovered a mounting problem when I couldn’t use a rein to guide her to the perfect mounting block position. Oh my, mounting is an audition task. It didn’t take long to get her in position, but…

Airs Above the Ground

42 Degree Group Lesson Day     I wore thick cotton jodhpurs/breeches, long sleeved medium weight shirt, sweatshirt and my new coat.  Fancy gave me quite a workout early on and my glasses steamed up.  I put them in my new coat pocket.  How cool to have a big enough pocket! We were doing a new pattern today to get flying lead changes (my 20 year passion goal) and it was working!  The pattern was much like another pattern we had used a few times earlier this year except my lead…

I’m So Angry (at myself) and Sore

I’m in a horse development program something like Karate.  It’s called Parelli Levels Program.  We are given tasks to do in four different areas:  Finesse, Free Style, On-Line and Liberty and we get different color ropes when we pass a Level.  I’m working on getting my black rope with Fancy.  It’s the highest level for a non professional.   I have passed L4 Finesse with Fancy. Because I am a self confessed bragger, I offer you the video of Fancy and my Level Four Finesse “Swan Lake” audition: https://youtu.be/_Luz9CkYjO4?si=bSMFRwgk-yhLht9r Hint,…

Fancy Heat Chuckles and More

Most non horse people don’t know what HEAT is.  Mare owners know what that word means.  It means Fancy’s body wants a Stallion! (Mare cycles generally last 21 days with them expressing signs of heat for 4-7 days. Estrus is expressed outwardly by; raising the tail, frequent urination, “winking” or eversion of the vulva, squealing, and posturing.) The wetness on her legs was from her “heat”.  Oh Lordy.  I feel a chuckle coming. I’m riding in a lesson taught by great trainer, Erin Patterson. Fancy doesn’t want to obey my body…

Fancy Lost Her Domination and Slid into #3 Dominate Horse

 When Tenor arrived there was heated exchange between Sonny and Tenor.  Fancy also played a big role in the domination battle.  Tenor has ended up with a few teeth marks on his back, I believe most are from Fancy.  Sonny is so powerful, he snarls and runs at the new horse and instantly wins. The horses tell me where they are in the domination determination by the stalls they inhabit at feed time.  Sonny is always #1.  Fancy has been #2 as was she was at morning’s feed time. The…

Tenor Receipt Day

Today, Tenor came from Florida and returned to me. Long, long ago, I gave young Tenor to Kevin from Florida when his horse, Delta, became allergic to Florida. Tenor was old enough to "start." I bought Tenor as a weanling and took him to Jenny and Tony "Parelli" colt starts and young horse clinics as he developed. Tenor is a left-brain horse, exceedingly friendly, always begging for attention. Kevin revisited Missouri with his horse trailer. He successfully rode Tenor and soon took him back to Florida. It was a happy…