This monday was exactly four weeks before the Start of the Fast Track and eight weeks before I go to France!
Paris had his final booster jabs on Monday so I faxed all the apaerwork to Parelli UK ready for the Fast Track. I emailed my booking form to the horse transporter and phoned them to pay for the booking by credit card but they said they want to talk to the boss and get another quote! Now I'm worried I have eight weeks to get this sorted before Paris needs to go and I don't know how much they will charge me! fingers crossed it is in line with the previous quote they gave me.
Paris and I have been making a lot of progress lately - he had a rather poor friendly game and, whilst we still have plenty to work on, we are greatky improving and know how to keep progressing! Basically, whilst I was earning Paris' trust and confidence he learned to control his emotions at a halt but if you tried to combine friendly game with another game, or did friendly game whilst he was moving he would get emotional.
During a lesson with 1* Parelli Professional Sara de Vries I found out that my neutral in the friendly game was not good enough, as soon as Sara distracted me Paris dropped his head and relaxed! Although I still struggle to switch my energy off I am more aware of it and keep trying different techniques to keep my focus off of what I am doing which releases Paris from the pressure of my good intentions!
During clinics with 3* Parelli Professional Lyla I learned to be sure to only quit a game when Paris showed a sign of relaxation so that he starts looking for the relaxation quicker. It felt a lot like running him around until he was tired but Lyla pointed out that the difference is knowing when to quit. And it is making a huge difference - his canter has become more rythmic and relaxed and he is having more frquent moments of relaxed trot.
I also learned that Paris hides behind a little trot that is an immitation of calmness but he would not drop his head. It was no coincidence that I bought the horsenality humanlity match report which highlighted just how RBE Paris was and how much I needed to really embrace his need to move. So whenever he offers that little jog that he hides behind I send him into a bigger trot until he finds true relaxation. Slowly the jigsaw peices are coming together.
Last week was emotional for me, a couple of times Paris played hard to get with me... he hadn't done that for months so I was wondering if I had lost his trust with m new techniques. On Saturday we went to a clinic and Paris proved to me within minutes that our relationship is stronger than it has ever been.
Paris has never rolled at a clinic and never with me online. We have been in the most perfect conditions with every other horse at the clinic dropping like flies to roll and Paris would sniff the ground and do that bendy legged walk showing how much he wanted to roll but he just could not do it. On Saturday he rolled four times within the first 10 minutes! I was on cloud nine and nearly crying as I gave him a handful of treats whilst he was lying down.
Paris also showed how much he has developed in new fond confidence as he stood all four feet on a 3 ft high tyre pedastal and by staying calm and relaxed whilst I played at carrot stick tossing from horseback!
Sunday we had a play session with two other horses and their partners. Paris was calm enough that I even had a little canter inthe bareback pad. I practiced the partial disengagement technique to help him release his ribs and find relaxation in motion. As soon as he offered I nice relaxed trot I jumped off. He really blew out and licked his lips.
Last night I just spent some undemanding time with Paris and groomed him. He enjoyed the scratches and even did a bit of mutual grooming with me.
Tonight I decided to take Paris for a walk and explore the woods bordering our yard. We haven't done this before. The woods also border a sports ground and Paris was quickly far more focused on the cricketers than me. Thankfully I knew how I had to match the strength of his focus to gain his attention and keep myself safe whilst he found relaxation. The path was too narrow to do falling leaf so I walked ahead of Paris being careful to protect my space so he would not run me over. Paris was very good at ducking under some very low branches and soon his left brained desire to munch grass took over. We followed a wider path but soon the path got narrow and then the fencing changed and I realised that we were stuck down a four foot wide path with barbed wire on either side of us! I daren't try to turn him around in case he cut himself, I didn't want to back him incase he swung his quarters at the fence so I kept on - there was a gateway ahead into an open space and I thought if we could reach it we could turn around safely. Unfortunately the gateway was designed for pedestrians and despite Paris trying he could not cross. So I realised we had no choice but to back up all the way along the long narrow path lined with barbed wire! As we began I quickly noticed how the increased stakes and purpose caused my yoyo game to be so much more accurate! Paris really had to concentrate on his feet and seemed to understand he must not touch the fence. He quickly got left brained and started asking "can we stop going back now?" To help him I let him stop periodically and minch some grass before we continued until we found a wide enough space to safely turn around. Paris really walked out and, whilst I reminded him that I was in the lead, I did not want to get into a battle of holding him back. he had already done so well and to hold him back any more would only coil the spring and cause him to want to go forward more. So I began running, as fast as i could, then slowing to a jog, then running and Paris stuck to me beautifully.
We have the saddler checking the fit of his saddles this Saturday and I am starting to sort my belongings so that I am ready to pack.
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