Unfortunately I didn't manage to get on my computer again whilst I was on the Fast Track so I will cover the last three weeks....
On the Monday of week two we really got into learning... we had regular sessions on learning how to tie different knots, practicing skills for using our tools. We had workshops in which we had a choice of three or four focus topics that we could choose from or move between. I used the oppertunity to get used to playing with the 45ft line. we had demos on saddling, saddle fitting, introducing and advancing liberty, using patterns, zone five driving, long reining, change of directions and more. On the second friday we had our second coaching session and were given our "midterm" results - the scores we had been initially awarded on the various qualities we would need as professionals. I was pleased with my initial results but wanted to improve them, especially for social skills and team-ma-ship. I needed to give my RBI self a kick up the backside. On the Saturday we had the Parelli Games.
Paris walked out to the play ground looking slightly bored at first but soon sensed that this was not the same as every other day! I took him for a walk to see all the new sights in the playground and help him settle down. He was remaining calm and didn't seem bothered by the Parelli Gazebo at all but tow miniature shetlands went past and Paris froze. He grew another couple of hands, arched his neck and was fixated on the ponies. I stood with him and soon his curiosiy got the better of him and he wanted to meet these horses that looked like they'd shrunk! The Parelli Games included timed tournaments in freestyle riding, online and liberty tasks. I decided to give Paris' back a rest from riding as we don't normally ride that often at home and I was concerned about doing too much and making him sore. The online tasks quickly had massive queues so we headed to the honeycombe for the liberty tournament. We were given three minutes to pick up all four feet from one side, show stick to me all the way around the arena, do a 3 ft squeeze, sideways along a carrot stick and yoyo between some cones. I didn't expect too much because Paris was rather RBI and I had initially planned to do the online tasks first. Paris was so sweet and I we flowed through the tasks gently and before I knew it we had completed all of the tasks! I cheered on a couple of other people and walked over to the online area and waited my turn. we had to back over a pole, stand on a tarp for 7 seconds, do 4 laps of circle whilst standing on the pedastal, squeeze each way over barrels and sideways both ways along a fence. Paris was a trooper and i was enjoying the day and decided to put my self forward fo my first ever spotlight. I chose to try liberty and five minutes later I was in a round pen, music playing, doing extreme friendly, stick to me and lead by the tail. before i knew it our song was over and the heavens opened up. Paris stuck his bum into the wind and refused to turn and the audience headed off toward the precision pen to watch the last soggy spotlights in finesse. it was a sudden end to a fun morning.
That Saturday evening a large group of us went to the cinema and watched Pirates of the Carribean 4. It was a nicefun film and a bizarre encounter with "normality". At the end of the film Captain Jack Sparrow said "it's a pirate's life for me..." turns to the camera and says "Savvy!" - we all burst out laughing! It was sooo appropriate!
Sunday I spent quality time with Paris and went jogging in the evening.
On the third week we continued with a similar set up as during week two - workshops, demos, class room sessions and tool savvy. On the Friday, Saturday and Sunday Paris did not cease to amaze me. He was doing flying changes on line, canter stick to me at liberty and trailer loading from the fender!
On the final week I had a couple of days where our progress was not so amazing. I was wracking my brains thinking of what was different - was he just tired? had I asked for too much? I spent more undemanding time with him, asked less during our sessions and made a game of proving that i knew where the best grazing spots were. On Wednesday morning we had our final theory test and tool testing in the afternoon. On Thursday we were tested in all four savvys.
On Friday we played Can You?s before getting our results for the course. I scored 70% overall which was enough to qualify me for the 1* course but I want to do an externship after I have completed my 6 month working student placement. I attained level 3+ in my online, liberty and freestyle so earned my level 3!
The journey home was slow with heavy traffic on the M1. Paris came off of the horsebox a little right brained, looking magnificent with his head held high and ears pricked. he was not sweated up and had travelled well. (We were unable to use our horsebox to pick him up so Brenda, who was also on the Fast Track, stepped in and saved the day by giving us a lift home in her trailer.)
I went to the Parelli demo at Ingatestone saddlery on Saturday whilst Paris enjoyed a day unwinding in his field. I gave Paris another couple of days off so far and spent undemanding time in his field reading a book.
I have been offered the oppertunity to play with another horse for a couple of weeks until I head to France on the 18th July. She is an Irish sports horse mare that belongs to the yard owner. She was apparently unpredictable and dangerous to ride and caused the yard owner to lose confidence and has spent many years as a pasture ornament. Today was my first play session with Gemma...
I thought that I would start with confidence and relationship building - I set up a variety of touch it obstacles a.with the plan of playing friendly game and touch it. I headed to the field and played the catching game.
Immediately Gemma knew I wanted her and began wondering off. I passively persisted in the proper position and it took a while for Gemma to think about coming to me then she suddenly realised i had treats and was instantly with me! hmmm interesting.
We walked to the arena and Gemma did not seem to care that the usually empty arena was full of buckets, barrels and tarpaulin. she walked around and performed touchit with no trouble at all. she walked over the tarpauline calmly and stood still whilst i did the friendly game. she apeared slightly less confident from zone four so i spent time hanging out there, scratching her and rubbing her. She has a strong preference for keeping me in her left eye.
I soon found that it was her natural tendancy to crowd me, she kept bringing her shoulder into my bubble and even shoved me with her nose so I had to be very clear about protecting my personal space. I began to tech her the driving game as I figured it was most important from a safety filter and that I could teach her porcupine once i was able to move he out of my space. As it was when I tried driving her from her right hand side she went quite right brained. she is inately leftbrained but gets fearflu and her first reaction was to try running me over. It was hot today and Gemma had be doing a lot to protect my space. We spent most of the session playing with helping her understand to yeild from rythmic pressure, not into it! I ended the session when she gave me a nice forequarter and hind quarter yeild from driving game in both directions. she has plenty of draw and hung out with me for a little while in the field after i removed her halter, which i view as a good sign. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's session with this smart and interesting little horse!!
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