One week to go...

Sorry I missed a week!

I have been very fortunate that my Mum has very kindly helped out with my stable duties so I have managed to keep up working on my horsemanship and get my work in good order before I leave! Last week mum managed to cut the Cornia of her eye by having the leather popper of her rope swing into it! She had to go to hospital and was virtually blind but still managed to get my horse to the farrier! Wow!!

Paris was not due to have a trim until during the fast Track but he was moving in a way that was bothering me although I could not put my finger on it. I decided that the farrier should see him even if it is just to give me some peace of mind. Clive (the amazing farrier) noticed Paris had some mild flares and reduced them and did his break over. He said the flares were imbalances and likely the cause of Paris' odd movements. He also told me to go back to using the hoof hardener. Paris is moving brilliantly now! I feel much better about his ability to cope with the work ahead!

The saddler also came out with my newly widened saddle. He tried it on Paris and... perfect fit! It was amazing - I don't think I have ever felt so comfortable in that saddle! I went for a hack with Mum (and got in trouble for trespassing...), which we were very excited about. Mum's horse, Havewe, has had a pedal bone problem that meant she could not be ridden and we thought it would not be until I returned from France that we would be out riding together! So it was very touching when we realised we could ride together!

My friend and study buddy, Hayley, has recently started loaning her mare to an eleven year old girl called Georgia. Georgia adores horses but has had confidence issues with riding. As part of her loaning Gypsy, Georgia is learning Parelli and how to be safe and have fun on the ground so she can build a relationship and choose to ride when she is ready. It has been amazing watching Georgia quickly learn to be relaxed and have fun around horses. She is a natural at handling the rope and carrot stick and very observant! It won't be long and she'll be filming her level one audition for sure!!

On Saturday Georgia went to Hayley's and played with Gypsy. She then came to help me muck out Paris and watch me play. I decided to attempt a kind of "liberty demo" but explained that I would have the 22 foot rope ready and use it if Paris got emotional and needed me to help him through anything.

Paris met us at the gate of the field. He came out at liberty and turned and faced, waiting for me to close the gate. He then stuck with me all the way into the arena and did possibly one of our best ever liberty sessions! He was so calm and connected to me virtually the whole time and when his emotions came up a little I just sent him out on a circle at a fast trot until he came through and dropped his head - just like we have been doing on line. The previous Satuday I had a lesson with 2* PP Sara deVries and we worked on Paris finding true relaxation in motion and I have been keeping at it as a pattern in every playsession since.

After Paris had done some lovely side ways at liberty Georgia asked me if I can ride bareback and bridleless. During the winter I had had a couple of moments where I felt confident enough to ride Paris bareback and bridleless from the arena to the yard. As Paris was being so left brained and acting like a partner the thought had already occured to me so I walked to the fence and Paris side passed into position near me. He had a moment where he was not sure if he wanted to be ridden and stepped away from me so I got off the fence and sent him out on the circle game again. As soon as he had control of his emotions again I walked to the fence and this time he came over into posistion and acted like a partner as I climbed on board and tied the savvy string around his neck. We walked around, doing a few short point to points to get me focusing and then attempted sideways along the pole. We got a couple of steps and we played with our halt and back up transistions. I then decided to go onto a small circle and lift my energy. Paris offered a lovely soft jog and I was over the moon. I decided to call it a day as Paris had been an absolute star! I dismounted and Paris stuck to me as I walked to the gate but he paused before leaving the arena. We had been playing for a while but it seemed he was having as much fun as me and was happy to stay and play more. I smiled to myself because I knew he would be looking forward to our next play session. After cleaning Paris' hooves and applying the hoof hardener I turned him out and headed home.

On the way home I got a phone call from Hayley asking if I wanted to meet her at the pub for a drink. I was very surprised because she had told me she was on a kind of date and also she doesn't like pubs! I told her I had dinner plans and wanted to go home and get changed. I have been with my boyfriend, david, for 5 years and for most of that time he has lived with me at my parents' house. He moved out on Friday and so we were going to have a kind of "last supper" to mark the end of an era and the start of a new one.

When I got home David turned up and I showed him the almost empty bedroom that was so recently "ours". other people began to arrive but it was a nice evening and that is not an unusual thing in our house... I had a bath, got dressed and began helping Mum chop vegetables for the salad when even more people turned up. I saw Maisie, who owns horse at my Mum's old yard and who is starting out in Parelli. Then family friends Richard and Wendy arrived and gave me a card. Suddenly the penny dropped... this was not David's party, this was mine!

The door bell rang and five young people walked in - they were friends from my school days and I welled up and got a bit teary! It was such a wonderful surprise and I was thrilled that they had wanted to come and send me off! Chris, one of my best friends at school gave me a hug and towered above me even more than he used to! He must be at least 6 ft 6 inches and I'm 5 ft 1 on a good day! his girlfriend, Jess, was brilliant entertainment - turning corks and biscuits into personalities and performing her own warrior drum dance in front of the flaming chimera! Phred and Larry were a couple of real blasts from the past and it was great to reminisce about our shenanigans over the last decade! There was a lot of gossip to catch up on too! And it was great meeting Phreds boyfriend.

2* PP Sara de Vries came, armed with a bottle of rose wine. It was a real honour and pleasure to have her come to wish me well on my intensive horsemanship journey.

The atmosphere was so loving a friendly and I have the memory of an amazing night to take with me on my journey!  I knew I had support but to find out just how much was quite overwhelming and I was very impressed at everyone for keeping the party a secret!

I have spoken to the transporter and Paris is going to come home for a few days after the course at Stonleigh before he gets picked up and goes to France. Mostly he will just relax whilst I clean up and re-pack my gear.

Things to do:
call the phone company and check my coverage abroad
test the tent - it keeps getting so windy whenever I plan to do this
wash the horsebox/car
pack!
buy food for camping!
pay for the horse transporter

There's probably loads more I haven't even thought of...

Hopefully I'll get a chance to blog next week. I have a BIG party planned on my last day of work! I'm trying to work out how I can blog whilst I'm on the Fast Track - you may end up with a four week catch up all in one hit if I don't source an electricity supply!

I'm off to bed now... :) xxx