Stefanie's Blog

Hackamore Y Garrocha La Isla...

2012-01-25T10:51:00.000-08:00

Well, after a week of -25 and high winds left little time for anything other then survival and keeping everything warm and working, I am finding myself finally back with more pictures and stories of last summer...and remembering T-shirt weather...Remember???????

So the next clinic was on Vancouver Island, at my long time friend Deborah Flynn's Twin Creeks Facility. Twin Creeks is such a beautiful location and Deb the consummate hostess, and it just set the tone for a great three days of Hackamore and Garrocha fun.

Laurel and Fancy looking well....Fancy!

As you may know, the hackamore is the the first stage of Bridle Horse Development and very dear to my heart, and of late, there has been a substantial amount of interest in what on earth I am doing with all this gear and what my point is and where does it go and why....sooooooo in answer to all these questions and more, the first Hackamore clinic was put on. Ironic to me that it took place in my old back yard, put on by me yet, when I would have given my eye teeth (whatever they are....:) to have had this opportunity 20 yrs, or even 10 yrs ago.....so fitting somehow...
Vicki D and Falemma...cantering:)

With a Garrocha segment as well, and BOY! has this proven to be an unexpected big hit addition to clinics. (I actually decided that there will be an entire Camp up here devoted to Garrocha just to give it the time it deserves....but more on that later....:)

The first morning of the Hackamore Clinic was devoted to going through the gear...sizes, diameters, cores and fit of the hackamore and mane hair mecate, and why they are made of the materials that they are. This is a very fascinating part of Bridle Horse development and crucial to allowing the horse the time to develop the Feel necessary to eventually carry the spade. It is a SIGNAL based philosophy, and as such demands a great deal from us as horsemen. Timing, Feel, release, balance, position, and weight all crucial to having the horse understand what we are asking. For me, I think the biggest contribution that the hackamore does in its brilliant design is that we humans simply cannot make a horse do anything in the hackamore, as they very quickly can get dull to it, bracey like you can't imagine.

Alexa and Diva...just look at that drive, collection and Alexa's position....

So, happily this really compels us to become increasingly aware of their feedback...watching, feeling, sensing what they are doing and indeed releasing BEFORE the maneuver happens allows them to be willing participants and empowered in their learning as well. Think of the implications of connection, rapport and confidence building. Every time I ride, I find new places of softness, ways of being that are more in harmony with my horse and it is pure magic.
So, after a great am of show and tell with the gear, it was off to fit everyone and get started with experiencing some of this for themselves. All the participants were so curious and open to what was been offered and the horses responding in the typical way...Whoa! What's this heavy thing on my nose? And seeking that place of least resistance, vertical with that full neck arch, not just at the poll. And of course, therein lies the challenge....how do we help keep this carriage and respect with our guiding and active riding, soft hands and body awareness, because they very quickly give us brace feedback if we get it wrong....aaahhhhh! LOL...!

That afternoon, I introduced the Garrocha...on the ground first, going over the basic 'rules', why and how it is is used and the extremely beneficial rewards of integrating this oh so simple tool into our regular riding program. Everyone was dead certain that they would not be cantering with it by day three...and of course, all were.

Laurel and Fancy sorting it out and looking fine...

This single wooden pole is almost magical in its abilities....and is the most effective way of encouraging correct equation and seat, connection and focus, softness and Purpose! Virtually every aspect that we strive for is compressed into this artistic and fluid art and it seems to happen all by itself with far less struggle and tension. Its like the Spanish music and the very act of dancing somehow distracts us from all the 'technical' stuff we always think we need to learn and just Let Go, Flow, become absorbed in the Moment and Movement and learn almost in spite of ourselves. And the Horses....? They LOVE this thing....!

Meredith and her Good mare...and only their first day! See how everything is just lined up?

All in all a simply marvelous three days, and as you can see from the pictures, everyone who rode achieved beautiful moments full of grace and togetherness with their mounts.

And again...This gives tremendous focus for both, having the rider stay centered and not over or under steering, gives a point of reference and just causes both to be in line and together...or its not going to work....

Add in an each participant's individual routine performed for us all to Spanish music, perfect weather and I for one cannot wait to do this again....!

Vicki executing the Inside Turn...

Which reminds me, yes, there is another Hackamore y Garrocha planned for June 8-10 of this year, the location on the Island is not yet set, but please, feel free to contact myself, or better yet, Alexa Linton at alexa.balanceworks@gmail.com ,my Island Clinic Organizer.

Alexa and D. Wish you could have seen their routine to the Spanish Music...Muy Beuno, Girls ! ~

What I Did This Summer

2012-01-02T20:37:00.000-08:00

Alright, here it is. The What I Did Over Summer Report...:) Every year that goes by, I seem to have more and more fun with you all that come up to ride with me in this glorious place. I think its a combination of the sage/pine/river/crazy blue sky magic, the crazy, cool, fun-loving, willing to stretch your minds people and my own growth....What ever it is, Here's to a fabulous summer and I simply cannot wait for this years Camps to begin....some will be the same, some new and different....dates are set, but not in stone, so just bear with me a bit....:) So I started the year off with the Road Trip to Californios Ranch Rodeo and Stock Horse Show. Well, actually, it was a plane trip, with Dan and Becca in cahoots...and what an amazingly perfect, hitchless trip( Thanks, Dan!:). I cannot over recommend going to see this extraordinary display of Horsemanship, Camaraderie, kinship and fun...oh...and the Gear!!!!!!!!!!!! ahhhh...where to start~where to stop~where to look! I think the thing that most stood out throughout this amazing weekend was the level of class, sportsmanship, and just simply 'showing' what their horses and selves could do. Very, Very Cool....Highlight? Oh yeah, the Medicine Bull Roping to the first place 3 teams...!!

Next was a private Clinic up at Windy Hills with on of the most wonderful group of curious, willing and hospitable folks! Huge thanks go out to you all, particularly Miranda for spear-heading this clinic for the love of the horses in your care, and of course to Joyce...hostess with the absolute most-est.

The next day,Ian and I did our first joint clinic and colt-start and thoroughly enjoyed mixing our skills, learning new skills and of course that ole personal growth lessons as well...lol! Thanks to you all who came and shared with us all that is happening and were so keen and did such huge leaps of progress over those 2 days...

One day of packing, and Sage and I headed out to Colorado....Why? To ride with Bruce Sandifer. This trip was supposed to include a horse or two, but due to the herpes scare at the same time, I left them at home, and instead was fortunate to ride Bruce's horses. For those of you unfamiliar with his name, trust me, you may not be for long. He is a purist in the Californio Bridle Horse Tradition, and is exploring levels of balance, weight, feel and communication with his Bridle horses that is very akin to my heart. Featured in the movie Tapadreo (also Highly recommended btw) and determined NOT to be a Clinician, he is nonetheless a brilliant,humorous and if hard to track down teacher. I had the time of my life at Wally and Karen's in Kiowa, Colorado and have fallen even more in love with this style of riding and the people it attracts... The Grace, awareness, softness and care that so empowers their horses is self evident....everywhere in their lives. What a treat to call them friends....Over 6000 k's round trip, the extrodinary scenery and of course the Haener....all added up to one of the most special times of my life....This one's for you Mom...

Home and a week off before Ian and taught the daunting Stock Horse Encampment in Armstrong. 5 classes a day, 11/2 hrs each of 4-h kids and their horses and ponies, 32+ temps, great supportive parents and leaders, and tons and tons of laughs throughout had those 3 days fly by, exhausting though they were. For me it was sooo odd to be on the other side of the 4-H fence so to speak. With years of 4-H as a kid coming back to me with a vengeance, I was asked to judge the horse judging portion, and mark all 250+ cards was an exercise in focus to be sure! To watch all those kids hanging out with their horses, playing, learning and having the time of their lives in the heat of the summer was such a pleasure..We switched it up a bit by riding IV and Kid through Armstrong at night and having as much fun as all those kids....we'd do it again in a heartbeat....!

I skipped out a day early to head over to the 71/2 Diamond for the first Camp there, and got everyone settled in for their 4 days of sun, trails, horsemanship, saloon, cattle, andlog cabin experience. The 71/2 Diamond camps are so much fun for me, and feel a bit like days off....lol. Jeanne, her 2 daughters Kathy and Anna, and their good friend Elaine got some great rides in, were introduced to cattle in the wide open spaces and in the pen. They did brilliantly even though they never did make it up to the lake for a swim.....:) My biggest joy? Watching Jeanne and Gumby (yes, my old friend Gumby the Mustang) work cattle, ride out on unfamiliar trails, canter and be all connected and relaxed for the most part...wow! What a long, long way you have both come, Jeanne...what a gift....Anna and Scout's connection was a sight to behold in the Waiting Game. I have honestly never seen a horse so clearly adore and watch over a human as Scout was doing with Anna that day... Kathy's progress with her new boy Carson, the feel she is developing and softness she is guiding Carson with evident in the trust he shows her, relaxed and confident. Fire so definitely and honestly taking care of Elaine, their long standing relationship dynamics one of those mixed blessings that we are all so familiar with with our horses...:) Both learned and taught something new, and that is something that becomes a very big lesson for me as well. Some horses and their people are completely happy with where they are at. Especially the horses it seems, those Caretaker types. and who am I to interfere or even infer that something should be another way. If it works for them....leave it alone. I have found this very interesting of late, and wonder at the bigger lesson hidden in there....hmmmmm.

Well, the Ole Dial-Up Tin Can uploading of this is blog seems to be intent on continually crashing this Computer, so, the next intallment should round out the years activities, and then onto the next....and some more philosophical/whacked ramblings again. The website is undergoing some changes and updates right now as well, so wait to see whats up the sleeve...and who knows? Maybe I'll get to see you up here this year...

Sneak Peak and Sweet Treats...

2011-12-15T21:35:00.000-08:00

When I mentioned it was a busy year this year................oh boy! Where to start!

Me and IV. She took over the Main Horse Role this summer as Indy was lame from Feb til last week...

IV made the transition to 2-rein this summer, roping, nice start on cattle-tracking them like a fiend, evening rides through Armstrong....and oh! The best part? She is happy, quiet and brilliante any place. Been a journey for us both....:)

Here is a bit of a sampling and stay tuned at this friendly neigh.....borhood station for some more amazing, funny, emotional stories/pics of all the Summer Camps...
Indy about to box Blondie, the Charlois-x

2-rein horses in Kiowa, Colorado this June.

the trip to Colorado, how the Bridle Horse stuff that I have privately been pursuing for my own advancement/passion/delight for the last few years has now apparently come out of my closet and folks are so keen to learn about this beautiful old Art and Tradition and so have begun sharing what I know. Look for details soon on the Jaquima to Freno Program ....soooooooooooo excited to share this stuff....
And Garrocha! How this seemingly simple pole has been the surprise tool of cool....it is actually way beyond cool in what it exposes/ assists and is just plain FUN....Thinking about doing an entire camp on this one as well....

The blessing of the trailer...woo hoo!

The appearance of a 'significant other' in my life....yes, folks, that's a MAN and yes he rides....brilliantly.

Ok, well that will do for a brief tease....:) OH! Except I am currently re-working the website and (finally)updating the Schedule for 2012....Summer is so short, and those Camps are really stating to fill up. Well...their small so I guess that's not too hard, really...haha!

To say I'm looking forward to them and those glorious Sage and Pine scented, looong hot days of summer again would be a tad understated....which reminds me. Best chop another tree down and fill the woodstove for the evening, feed the hounds their evening cookie and call it a day....

Begin Again

2011-11-27T13:15:00.000-08:00

Well, it been quite some time, hasn't it?

If I could count the number of times I've signed into my Blog...............and then left it.

Only just today do i understand why. Writing this first entry after my Mom's story has proven to be one of the most difficult and challenging transitions of my life. It's like finally admitting that life does indeed go on....

Oh, and Life has been so unceasingly busy this year. Go Figure. That I have perhaps orchestrated it that way is not lost on me. With no time to pause and reflect, to sit with the pain and emptiness that comes on Sunday mornings when I call her to share... hand frozen on the phone as I remember. When I have to make trips back to the Island on that ferry and the pain crawls in close then as I usually miss a boat and am left with no choice but to sit quietly for 2 hrs surrounded with decades of memories. As randomly as grocery shopping...Chocolate....Lilacs...The screwy hour hand on the clock in my kitchen......my mohair hand knitted mittens.

Christmas...........

I have been for the most part able to carry on as if she may soon be coming back....But like her dear Soul Dog, Toby, I have finally begun to get that she is just not coming back.

Ever.

I had a visit with him last time on the Island, and he was just done waiting and so, off he went off to find her. Another piece of her goes as well for us, and yet, life goes on...

Don't get me wrong....I love life and understand its ebb and flow and rhythms that color it and shape it and mold it to be always perfect, balanced and natural intellectually and spiritually. But Emotionally?

It hurts like hell and I miss my mom so much it staggers me sometimes.

I will heal. I will allow the pain to come in and pass thru. I will be still enough to feel. I know that she has never left me. I see her in every Red Tailed Hawk that flies so often in my path whenever I am unsure or question.....

This grieving process is a first timer for me and my compassion for those who have lost one so close knows no bounds now...I get it. Hiding in buckets of work is what we Travers's like to do, and feeling the bad stuff sucks, but better out then in. So I learn a new ability. I feel the tender raw new sensations and the dirty, gritty, rotten old ones as well. The sweet taste of memories running down my face, the empty ache inside that I simply just need to allow myself to surrender to. Odd I suppose that it has taken so long for me to really feel this, but then again, I guess not. I am the past master at not feeling, and well well well...don't old habits die hard when the chips are down.

The most beautiful thing about all this though? The only thing I need to do is also the hardest thing to do. Feel and feel and feel and feel and feel and then...

Let Go...

and begin again.

One Last Time.

2011-02-27T11:28:00.001-08:00

Mom.....

Ever since I was elected to write your obituary, I have squirmed under that name. It just makes me cry....

And I just cannot plunk your life in some stereotypical, generic box, some glanced over section in back of the local paper. From the moment you were born on October 12, 1935 to the day you left us on Feb. 22, 2011, you were anything and everything BUT!

One of my favorite things ever was writing you notes that would bring a smile and a lift to the heart...so that is what I am going to do one last time....

You were born to Hans and Elisabeth Wolf in Kassel, Germany on Sat, the 12th of October, 1935. Along with an older brother, Uwe Jens (now living in Alamo, Texas), the family of four survived WW2 in Germany, and immigrated in 1955. What you experienced in those dramatic years growing up, you only shared tiny amounts with us, enduring circumstances we could never imagine. It was the pressure and flame that tempered you into such a strong being, and yet you maintained that indefinable Grace and gentleness...

I remember being told that you had an apprenticeship on a big Oldenburg Stud Farm, and so did not want to move to Canada...we sure are glad you did, though! Raymond, Alberta sugar beet farm was where it all began here, then on to Vancouver and finally Victoria. Working in the Royal Bank as a Teller left you little escape from a devil-may-care deep sea tug sailor by the name of Richard Travers bound and determined to make you his wife. And so he did. On Aug. 16, 1965 you were married, and had us three kids. Chris first, followed quickly by me, Stefanie, and then Colin, every bit as determined as his father, came along as well. The next couple of decades were full! With Pop building houses as fast as you could decorate and landscape them in the South Island and your wish for your own farm finally coming true. With one of the few Commercial Goat Diaries in B.C., you gave us all so much. Some of the fondest memories and deepest friendships have come from your dedication to your dream. Avid supporter of 4-H, exhibitions and fairs (even if you did worry a bit too much sometimes:), raising us kids to have a deep abiding respect for the country life, morals and love of animals. To Chris you gave your crazy work ethic and deep well of care and devotion. To Colin, your dignity, determination and independence helped shape his life.To me, well, sometimes to your dismay, I took your love of animals to the next level, and certainly did with the horses. Your support, patience and interest allowed me to fully realize my hearts desire. Teaching me to never sell out, never give up my soul. Words will never be enough to Thank You for this very, very special link and gift we share....

Chris, together with Vicki, were the ones who brought you your two wonderful Grandchildren, Christie and Todd; the family still close by in the Cowichan Valley

With your opera's playing in the barn, hanging baskets galore, those long skirts you adored, your grace, elegance and class that all who knew you admired. Iron lady when you needed to be, sensitive and deeply caring for her family and friends. Watching the farm, your incredible flowers and yard bring you such peace and joy right up to the end was such a thrill.

Sitting on the back deck with coffee and you in the early mornings, the scent of all those spring flowers and our easy conversations is one of my most treasured memories...Fresia's your favorite flower, coffee black with a dab of sugar, your Value Village excursions with Shirley and the dogs, Vivaldi and Giselle, Christmas rolladen....and how am I ever to make your special French Toast?. Our shared love for potato pancakes, you cursing the smell in the house for hours after...:) Oh but they were soooooo good.

Watching how Chris and Shirley's tender care gave us all so much more time, at home where we all wanted you. Even at the very end, mom, you had us all gathered together, our family.....what a gift.

Now, we all know you wanted no ceremony, but we just can't help having a gathering, at home at 1770 Koksilah Rd., on the Saturday, the 26th of March....It'll be spring then, and some time will have passed, so we can maybe smile again and remember the joy with a little less of the ache of losing you. Nothing fancy, I promise, but you touched so many lives we would love to share.

I love you so much, Mom....for Everything....Thank You.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,; I am not there, I do not sleep.; I am in a thousand winds that blow,; I am the softly falling snow.; I am the gentle showers of rain,; I am the fields of ripening grain.; I am in the morning hush,; I am in the graceful rush; Of beautiful birds in circling flight,; I am the starshine of the night.; I am in the flowers that bloom,; I am in a quiet room.; I am in the birds that sing,; I am in each lovely thing.; Do not stand at my grave bereft; I am not there. I have not left. ~ Mary Frye

I have been overwhelmed with all your gentle words shoulders- to- lean on and support for myself and my family over the last few months, weeks and especially days......a Million Thank Yous and Hugs....:) I couldn't have done it without you...

Sunday Sermon....

2011-02-06T12:33:00.000-08:00

"Horses don't need you. Horses already know how to do everything that they need to do. With the exception of the first day, they can already, walk, trot, canter, gallop, stop, stand still, gait, go forward, back up, move their hindquarters, move their forequarters, side pass, sliding stop, piaffe, passage, round their backs, vertically flex, laterally flex, spin, etc. They were born with lightness in their bodies. So if they can do all of these things without you, what is it exactly that you are trying to 'train' them to do? You are both two beings trying to learn together how to communicate. You don’t know more than the horse and you never ever will. So stop trying to train and teach and begin learning together." ~ Unknown

"For lack of a better word, I've taken to calling this the horse's spirit. The older I get, the more I have come to believe that this aspect of the horse is the most important and the most overlooked." ~Tom Dorrance

"The soul is the same in all living creatures,although the body of each is different." ~ Hippocrates

“Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves."
~ Henry David Thoreau

"The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness."
~ Lao Tzu

"Pulling out the chair
Beneath your mind
And watching you fall upon God–" ~ Hafiz

"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." ~ N.D. Walsch

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide where to go.
~Dr. Seuss

"A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves." ~ Lao Tzu

"You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them. " ~ Michael Jordan

"I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. " ~ Lao Tzu

"Ask your question, Stefanie. Feel the answer.

Ask, feel. Ask, feel. Ask, feel. " ~ Notes from the Universe

Yeah,so? What's wrong with the floor?
~ Vita Dane-Hickey

Just a bunch of photos from today, and a sprinkling of quotes that I store as I stumble upon their pearls of wisdom in a file I simply call.."Good things to Remember."

Well, ok. The one above, that I may title..."Danes Hold Furniture Hostage". That was taken last Saturday, when Vita, Kim and Jordan FINALLY came to visit and boy! Has she grown! 8 monthes and 85 lbs....Thanks for blessing Kimmy and Jord's life, Vita! :)

On the Road Again...

2011-01-30T21:01:00.000-08:00

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

...Robert Frost

So, um, yes. That IS the ocean as a matter of fact. As seen through the car deck railing on the Coastal Inspiration ( hmmmm....how appropriate!) the Big Fancy Shmancy new BC Ferry, from Dude Point to Tsawassen, 5:15 boat. On the return trip back home from being with family for a couple days.

Now, while I think its becoming abundantly clear that I am officially no longer an Island Girl...I mean with their complete lack of Sagebrush, Pine trees, snow and bluebird blue sky in winter it does rank Vancouver Island, er, shall we say just a teeny tiny bit less favored on my list of Dream Places to Live...:) However, this simply cannot take away form its own special beauty, smells, sounds, feel and of course where we grow up always holds a tender spot in our hearts. Being with my Mom, Chris, my brilliant older brother, and my Soul Sister Inet (YAY! Dog Talk Walks!:) are all very cherished times when I come back to some deep roots and feel connection with those close and dear. And as much as I am so happy in my true home of ("Why? Its too damn hot and too danm cold, no regular services like internet, Costco, and rain, ((tee-hee!))" the Interior,(( Its the rocks:)), there IS something simply astonishing about when the ocean shows off with the sky, when all that dang moisture mixes with the atmosphere and ...Arg!There are just simply tooooooo many semi trucks in the way to take a proper photo while driving and attempting to tell Sage to keep the truck on the road while I'm snapping pictures...OH! oops! Sorry, um, right. Well there sure are some truly beautiful things about EVERYWHERE in this world, aren't there?
It is also a great opportunity to try to catch up with some of you very patient folks waiting for lessons right now, and I managed to stop in and see Janel and Kestrel's little guy, Rune. As you may remember, Kestrel is up for refreshing, and her baby Rune is apparently quickly outgrowing any attempts to hide his hide in a blanket (lookin' a bit Speedo-ish, Janel:). Janel thought to play with liberty a bit, so I started, just explaining a bit about my philosophy on..yep, you guessed it, Less is More, flight zones and balance points, draw (oh treasured draw!) taking space and here's a surprise...Feel! we switched after a bit, allowing Janel to play with what it all feels like, and experiment with getting feedback from what she was doing. At some point along our time together, we decided it would be cool to have Rune go over the cavelleti....at liberty....hahaha! And so the lesson went , Rune getting up, then coming back to us, him unsure about this odd turn of events, and how the heck did we KNOW!!!( we hide the owners manual deep in an inside pocket)and really starting to stick with both of us at different times well. So there we were chatting away at the far end of the arena, just to the South of Mr. Cavelleti, and for all intents and purposes, ignoring Rune for we were "done". Not so Rune......
He sniffs the rail, nudges it, paws the ground, scratches on it, trips over it as he noncommittally plays with his plan, ambles over and visits,then goes back to the cavelleti...and steps over. All on his own. Janel and I are standing there in wonderment knowing that our creatures are intelligent, thinking, feeling beings, same as we are, yet somehow astonished when he so clearly KNEW what we were after and was trying to the best of his baby confidence to do for us.He had no lead on him at anytime in this session...
That's Liberty! That's connection. That's try. That's Awareness. That's........well, it was pretty darn cool, and why oh why do we forget they "get" it? Just because we are to dumb to read them doesn't mean for one second they aren't reading us at every level, at every second, and it sure causes me to wonder when they don't do what we we ask....why?

Todays "Deep Thought" Brought to you By Canines Concerned about the Safety Of Driving With Wacky Humans, Ginger Molasses Cookies, and the letter M.

Just Gotta have Faith.....

2011-01-23T15:12:00.001-08:00

The best way to gain self-confidence is to do what you are afraid to do. ~Author Unknown

Whether you think you can or think you can't - you are right. ~Henry Ford

Every now and then a horse shares with me a powerful lesson, yet another piece of the Grand Puzzle of Life....Ok! Ok! That's EVERY horse, I know, but this is Quill's gift to me, and handily enough, my gift back to her... Quill came to me as a 'Fixer-upper'. She is a sporty model, being Anglo-Arab, a little to touchy on the gas with hair trigger steering responses that could get you in the ditch quick as you like. At 12, she was a bit was rusty in spots and needed some good ole TLC. So, she spent her first couple months gaining some weight, having her teeth done and just hanging out, my time still to occupied with other 'paying' customers, and she sat on the back shelf for a bit. Very respectful and easy in the pen, sensible, quiet and a bit shy, great ground manners, every inch a Lady. So it was with curiosity, anticipation and a fairly high level of, er..........assumption, that I brushed her off and prepared to ride. Well.......... Well Well Well! She shortened in length to 2 feet, grew in height by 4 feet, sounded like a bull elk, and looked like I had just hit her with the full strength cattle prod; eyes pooped out, skin trembling, legs spread askew, hair all on end. Well, huh! I glanced down to see if I had brought out the Killer, Sabre Toothed Saddle Pad, but noooooooo, it was till on it's shelf, this was just one of those ordinary, smelly wool pads... And so began a long process of back tracking and simply ( simply!) restarting her from ropes on her body( check), bareback ( Huge fear response, no matter how slow and approachy/retreaty I went, bolting off a constant threat..or ejecting me) , 'sacking out' (ok), and back to saddling( same electrified cat response). So. Well. By now, I am seriously scratching my head, as colts are WAY easier then this and this horse was supposed to have been ridden lots, and even if she was green, it ought to be ok by now.....huh, huh, huh. what to do what to do....... Well, Fate took a hold, and she was now living in the Big Herd, and decided that 5 days a week work was getting a bit old, and decided to run around for a spell (sticking her tongue out, waggling her hooves behind her ears I swear:) with no intentions whatsoever of being with me. Very INTERESTING Feedback, very interesting.So after do a splendid job of warming herself up, she finally trots over, and and tie her, brush her, tack her ( electric cat!) and get on.( ever been on and electrified cat....hahahaha!) And this my friends, is really where our tale with the moral begins. What did I do when I climbed on that Grey rocket launcher? I took that energy inside, and took that mecate rope in hand and as the cowboys have been known to say." Give 'er a good over an' under" ( GASP!) and lined her out down the road. And Quill? She just threw down that head and trotted out the prettiest long trot you ever did see, blowing and sneezing, smooth and elastic. Gone the tight balled up tiny steps, crawly skin, and rounded up spine. We had a tremendous ride that first day almost a month ago, and now almost a month later, Quill is finding relaxation with me, confidence in herself and rider and although she is not where I would like yet, the change is significant. You see the interesting thing that happened was a place I think alot of folks get stuck in their journey with horses, especially those who LOVE them...:) As you my have noticed, I am all about the allow, give trust first to gain trust, respect is a two way door, etc. and It all fits in here with Quill's story.
"Confidence can be a self fulfilling prophecy as those without it may fail or not try because they lack it and those with it may succeed because they have it rather than because of an innate ability."

Faith and trust are synonyms of confidence.
What's perhaps a little different is the order, and being flexible with how we approach things. Its sort of like approaching her fear from the other end, and seing it through to the beginning again. ( That's the nice thing about not having a 'program', I can mess with things to my heart's content:) You see Quill had no confidence. In Me. In herself. In a mutual relationship. She either had a bad experience/s in the past, was sore ( she had chiro and teeth done, saddle fit checked) or just figured out that if she acted scared, she did not have to engage with folks....and it did not make her feel good to be with us anyway, for her why even want to? Quill had way more Fear then Faith. So, remembering that our horses are never the ones that really chose to be involved with humans and my role in being the leader is to show her what it can feel like, and supporting her with what she needed allowing her to feel basically good about being me. So with all the slow work, all important 'doing nothing' , combined with the ground work, it was time to step it up. I had to be the one with Faith enough for both of us. Faith in her ability to trust and Faith in my ability to be a place of comfort, trust relaxation and connection, not to mention stay with her...:) So what happened and still is happening is I am allowing her to build confidence and trust in me by having Alot in her and myself. "Fake it til you make it" so to speak. I am the crutch she needs, and to NOT be there, to Not be focused strong and clear would leave her still lost and scared, feeling she was right and could only depend upon herself. By ALMOST over-exposing her ( and let me tell you, kids, it was a stretch for my confidence!) and really asking a lot of her, emotionally physically and mentally, and being able to be what she needed allowed a huge break thru. By having more Faith then Fear, I was able to ease her over from her place of more Fear then Faith.

In mulling all this over during the last few days, I stumbled upon a terrific saying that said exactly that ( how very odd! *) "Where there is Fear, there is no Faith" Oh BoY! mmmmm yummy! course now I get apply that quote ointment all over my life and horsemanship... And then when I was sitting here compiling my random blathering thoughts for this tale, I found all those great quotes on Confidence and the definition of confidence was a real epiphany for me as well. By the way, when Quill first got the name Quill, Inet thought it was bad..."Like a porcupine quill? Ew! but now, I can see that what it really means is ' a very elegant writing tool from the outer wing feather of the swan' somehow that seems just so appropo... .

Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. And lo, no one was there. ~Author Unknown

I Give Up.

2011-01-16T19:57:00.000-08:00

Part of my goals for this year for myself include allowing myself to release judgment.
Judgment to me means " what I perceive to be 'right' according to my opinion". My awareness of judgment includes that of myself, what I believe others think of me and my actions, what I see in others and their actions, daily events including weather, random occurrences, un-planned changes ( well, ANY changes, really)right on up to how my life is unfolding....

I know, I know. At first this seems like a BIG thing to decide to chew off, and Let Go of, but actually, therein lies the secret. I am beginning to explore the concept of Letting Go ( ack! Surrender, Faith....et al) . I am rolling it around in my being and have done somewhat since the Old Clearmind Days...( Personal Growth exploration I did a few eons, er, years back clearmind.com if you are curious about yourself and your tickings and are either brave or stupid....:) but for some reason it is really starting to become in earnest.

For example.....having chosen to follow my dreams and pursue what I love doing as a career, and essentially had only myself to rely upon, I have found myself to become rather ATTACHED to the out come of events in my life. I have worried and fussed and stayed up late far to many nights, anguished about decisions on how to go about developing my work and living in abject fear that no one would care, apprectiate or "get" what I am passionate about. ( Note....do you see alot of jugement in those thoughts???????????) .And then one day I just got so overwhelmed with Everything, I up and decided that if everything Failed, I would just happily go back back to some grocery store job, and ride my own horses to my hearts content and never worrry about it all again and I went OH! OH! But that's giving up!....................................And then.............
It hit me.

Give up. Give up.... For those of you familiar with my fascination with words hidden meanings are probably rolling your eyes, but...When we say I Give up, I believe we mean without maybe knowing, that we are surrendering ourselves to....a Higher Power. We Give UP. Wow! That realization hit me bango! right between the eyes and I got it! I really, really got "it"! THAT is what Faith is. That is what Trust is. That is what Surrender is. (Please note, that while I am not a particularly religious person, I am on a quest of my higher spirituality)(( hahahaha! Am I judging myself? Or worried about You Judging????)) And a stunningly beautiful peace descended on me and I went ' wow! What ever happens will be ok. It just will. It always HAS worked out, so what am I worrying and fussing about, and REALLY! haven't you noticed that things usually work out better then you could have hoped for anyway??????????? Or planned for? Or wished for? Why oh why do we think we have such a big say in what happens in our lives, that we are so powerful that we can Control everything and everyone and shape ourselves into any number of twisted shapes to try to conform, when really....our deal is just to be ourselves, do what we love, show love and be happy. Stop all that confounded control stuff...that word could happily be dismissed from life I think.....and this leads me back to my point. ....

Judgment and release from it. Ah. So how many times have we passed judgment on something/someone only to find in the end it was different then what we thought. We got more information, learn more bout it, things changed, and everything is different and....we judge again. But if we start to maybe just allow things to be as they will, they get to be as they are....! And we stop trying to be the Lords and controllers of all we see, because darn it all if I haven't noticed that those thing we think are "Bad"? Well, now aren't they always....ALWAYS the biggest blessings down the road? And things we try so darn hard to control seems to pop apart elsewhere? How dare I be so arrogant as to assume that I can see other peoples stories? What other people see and feel? How dare I try to pigeon-hole a horse into what every other horse has done in that situation...maybe this ones different and needs it presented just a little different and to respect everyone's uniqueness? It seems to me that if I do judge, I put up blockages in the path of the Universe that is really conspiring for me to my my biggest benefit, and I think I know What is really juuuust around the corner?

What I aim at allowing to come through me with letting go of judgment is a greater ease and softness, a flowing with life, horses, people and myself instead of the friction of going against the flow..............I am aiming at is trust, faith and joy. And don't we just need to be with our animals to see and feel what no judgment and pure being-ness could be.........

PS photos that I didn't take, are courtesy of Inet Sladecek...and although she isn't here to ask, I am certain that she withholds all judgment and knows I love her pics....:)!

With Gratitude and Vision, a New Year Begins...

2011-01-02T20:18:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, and Welcome to 2011!

I wonder at what all the different things you may or may not do on this significant date, and thought to share some of what I like to do.....feel free to comment on any neat things you'd like to share about your 'rituals' for the start of a new chapter, I would love to here them!

New Years Eve is usually very private for me, and I sit and write all the multitude of things that I am so Grateful for over the Passing Year....Amazing people that have graced my life, all the horses that have shared their time, souls and knowledge with me, my family, the dogs, this beautiful land we get to call home, the sage, the pines and the rocks, my truck and trailer, all the beautiful tack, the sage, my health, my crazy cat , Taos, ( Yes! I have a cat!) for her snuggles, those great guys who keep the roads plowed, and starry nights with hot chocolate....and dreams.

Then I write out Goals for this fresh New Year....and these are very special and I highly recommend this little practice, because, just like training logs, it helps track where we have been, where we wish to go and just how often we DO achieve our goals, and to give you a little hint?

Dream Big! The Universe and everything in it is UNLIMITED! And in case you hadn't yet noticed, it LOVES to show off, grant wishes and generally express in a Grand Way all it can be. Think of it this way. You know how great it feels (!) to give the just right, most hoped for, long wished for PERFECT gift to the one you love? yeah. It's kinda like that! Now think if you had NO idea what to give your most loved one because they never asked, or they just said what they didn't like or they kept saying, no, no I don't want anything, not little ole me! Well how much fun s that to give too?????? Get my point? To me, the Universe ( God, Source) IS love and therefore expressing Love is it's Pure Nature....so give her a hand! :)

I would also like to share with you one of my most cherished poems. It is actually a Navajo Blessing Prayer, and it says all that really needs to be said, and is a large part of my personal goals for this year..........Enjoy and be Blessed beyond your wildest dreams...

Walking in Beauty

In beauty I walk

With beauty before me I walk

With beauty behind me I walk

With beauty above me I walk

With beauty around me I walk

It has become beauty again

Today I will walk out, today everything negative will leave me

I will be as I was before, I will have a cool breeze over my body.

I will have a light body, I will be happy forever, nothing will hinder me.

I walk with beauty before me. I walk with beauty behind me.

I walk with beauty below me. I walk with beauty above me.

I walk with beauty around me. My words will be beautiful.

In beauty all day long may I walk.

Through the returning seasons, may I walk.

On the trail marked with pollen may I walk.

With dew about my feet, may I walk.

With beauty before me may I walk.

With beauty behind me may I walk.

With beauty below me may I walk.

With beauty above me may I walk.

With beauty all around me may I walk.

In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, lively, may I walk.

In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, living again, may I walk.

My words will be beautiful.

( The photos are of Sage in the Sage, Becca and I at the Martin Black Clinic in September, my drive home at Christmas (( Sage took the photos whilst I drove):) and Indy in the two-rein.)

A Day in the Life...

2010-12-16T18:48:00.000-08:00

I usually get going at first light, so these days its about 7:30 when I have piled on whatever number of layers seems appropriate as I peer out the windows at the awakening day. First its off to feed breakfast and pick frozen pony poo, which will take me to my own breakfast time of 9:30 or so. The dogs usually make it out to help with the last load of manure destined for the pile, and I mock them for their (very sensible) laziness and we all head in for coffee, toast and dog food ( You decide which gets which....:)

Then its back out again, glad for the warmer day at -5 and I can wear infinity safer riding boots as compared to my snow boots as I catch up my first victim, er, training horse. Meet Lennie

He belongs to the Larsen's here at the Dot, and is a three year old Warmblood they have asked me to start for them. Today marks the 10th time I have been on him with the saddle, and to celebrate, Lennie graduated to tacking, and hop right on. Then its up to the arena, walk trot and canter a few laps, criss-cross and then stop at the gate (well, those of you that have been here know that there IS no gate on our arena) because that is one of my rules....we always stop at the gate, and then we head out, picking the dogs up as we go.
Lennie is much happier out then in the boring arena, but has never been further then the Y in the road, except his ponying journeys out with other horses. This is when I really start to LOVE my job. I focus softly yet strongly and line him out at a good trot on up the gravel road, and we cover the ground. At the top of the hill, I hesitate for a moment, thinking of safety and elastics, and then decide. On we go, Lennie! So its the ravine trail, and all its steep hills, trees, rocks branches and assorted other horse traps and I am astonished at the change in my brave little bay boy! He manages the hills with uncertainty, yet trust, me helping balance him and keeping my weight where it least interferes, picking his feet up nicely over everything, unconcerned with the scraping branches on my coat, and we trotted for a good 1/2 of the journey through the bush, even down the long grade back to the road. Whatever I asked of him, he did and calmly. As we untack, I slid him a carrot and realize that he barely broke a sketchy bit of sweat on his neck, and seems every bit as pleased as I am....what a good boy!!!!

I pop Lennie back into his field and go and gather up Kestrel. Now Kestrel has been with me before and has a good start under her belt, but has since had almost 2 years off while she gained other life skills as a mom. She had the most GORGEOUS Bay colt named Rune ( For Sale, btw...and if you are into Warmbloods....this guy is exquisite:) and then I picked her up for weaning and a refresher class in riding last Friday. She Had a fair bit to say about the proceedings on the journey up from the Coast, but has settled in brilliantly, winding all the Geldings around her pretty chestnut hoof. Today was our first real outing, as I ponied her off Carson the other day, but just wearing the halter, so saddling and riding were an unanswered question. How much of our foundation had actually stuck from 2 years ago??? As you can see, she was actually really keen to get going, and came right up the steps and into the tack room behind me, so I hazarded a guess at how it all would go, and popped the pad up, tossed the saddle on, cinched her up, moved her around, then up to the arena for some on line work. I let her drift around me on a circle at the trot, checking the whole place out, jumps, all the horses in the fields around her, and getting a feel back for the saddle. She quit moving and humped her back twice, so I stood and waited for her to settle, then move out again, ask and release watching her for tension and not pushing her bubble too far, too soon. Ask her in and hang out til she blows and out again. Small bits, small successes, build back that confidence in the experience, herself and me. Up into a canter and she humps up again, this time I push her on, working off some of the confidence we built, and leaning on some leadership now. Back to trot, and back up to a lovely smooth canter circle...Nice! ok, ok....that's enough of that! We get the snaffle from its spot a willing jump standard, and softly bridle her, check cinches, and swing up. Stand a moment and scratch and pet all over, then its out and down the road....We just ride to the first slipwire and through the big meadow, and loop back around onto the road, barely 10 minutes, but she is soft and out of shape in lots of different ways, so this is just right. We untack (yes, she tries to sneak back in the tack room again!) and slip her back beside her bestest pal, Carson. Now here's an interesting thing....Whenever she and Carson loose sight of one another in the stalls/pens , the other calls and gets a bit frantic, but both horses were completely relaxed and chill, although Carson did call once, it was just a hey! You're back! call. This is some positive feedback for our relationship, and it feels good...
Next! Gumby circles his brother Nash in hopes that I will notice how bored and fat Nash is looking so that I will choose him today, but nope, sorry Gumby, its you my wily mustang friend!
Gumby and I had a rather er, complicated last ride that involved a fair bit of riding back in forth in front of the driveway, a couple fast trips back up the road to the Hwy, and one loooong afternoon tied to Mr.Fir Tree Across the Road a Piece.You see, Gumby is fairly emotional guy ( don't let the Big Guy looks deceive you) and he has been emotional of late, and this needed to be sorted out and eased for him, and we all know it can be very emotional sorting out emotions....:) Anyway, He patiently waited for me while I snuck in the house for a Mango and a cup of Bengal Spice tea ( FABULOUS if you haven't tried it!) for lunch, tuck the dogs in, and then we head out over the meadow, across the snowy field and up the sage hills. We canter and trot to the base of the steep climb, and Gumby never fails to amaze me at his sure footed confidence in any terrain that I can get us to. He easily makes the climb, and we stop to catch our breathe, and he kindly poses for a nice photo op and off we go, loping though the Sage and snow back to the road. Now here's the test. All this fast high energy has been on purpose. I wanted to help set things up for both successes and a test. By leaving out at high energy, with real purpose and challenge I set the tone of my leadership, and support him all the way with guidance and rubs of reassurance. It also brought his emotions up at the same time, just got that blood moving around a bit so it was with interest and genuine hope that he would choose to stay 'with' me as we turned left out of the slipwire and onto the long hill home on the road.....................and he does! One correction, and a few checks on myself to 'dis-connect' from him ( yes, there are times you need to dis connect!) and we stroll in to home just a sweet and mellow as you please...YAY Gumby the Brumby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Done I am with paying members of my Equine herd for the day, I have been wrestling with who the last one of the day will be.....No to Cita, she just went out on Tuesday so she'll live. That Grey mare needs to gt out again, as I still have alot of unanswered questions for her. Espada....oh mare! How I love you and owe you a good ride, but Indy it is! He hasn't been out all week, and really needs his sharp shoes on, but I keep forgetting to order borium, so I can only do arena work with him today, but that's enough...we are happy! As you can see, he is like a mink, and is in his 'Winter Phase' right now, bay. We play around with leg yields, half pass, shoulder in, spins, backing and canter departures from a halt, saving fast canter work for a safer day. I love how all the gymnastizing and lateral work brings in that beautiful full body flexion and self carriage. He is beginning to become so soft and we have moments of lofty carriage and cadence and I cannot believe how much I love this horse as I abandon 'schooling' and opt instead to bury my face in his plush toy coat and inhale his Indyness.....Sorry Bud..no ride out, we can barely get you up the driveway on those regular shoes....so we untack, toss him and his herd a carrot, change boots back into clumpy Sorrel's and head back out to do evening chores. Feed and poo pick, feed and poo pick for another hour, still happily amazed at how being 2 horses less makes such a difference! ( Bella and Joey went to Kathy's new home up at Pooley ranch yesterday, and How the Great Grey Dodge got Stuck is a Tale for some other time, that may never be told...:) I finish up, chop a whell barrow of firewood for the evening, snap a couple photos of the Gingerbread Barn, and head in......feed the dogs, cat, me and here I am!

It sure may not be for everyone, but I LOVE the life I get to live, and every single day I learn, question myself and what I know, celebrate what seems to be working, ponder what is eluding me, and remember, remember, remember to give Thanks.....*)

Seven Half Diamond, 2010

2010-12-05T21:01:00.000-08:00

Ok. Ok....Apparently I cannot help sharing some of these great photos from all these Camps. Each one I swear was my favorite, each one special and full of the best kind of people....Enjoy! So these are from the Seven Half Diamond Camp in August, and what a blessing to be at a higher altitude during the hottest week in Merritt in the summer! In town was 36 degrees Celsius, up at 7.5, a balmy 30....MUCH more conducive to hanging out and learning with horses.. The Cabin was cool and such a focal point, with its lake views, shady porches and all the comforts of home in a beautiful, lovingly hand made way. With enough privacy, yet camaraderie, good food, laughs and tears (yes, all the really good camps have tears, don't they?)were in definite abundance, it was one of the best parts of this week. Four good friends, 2 from the Island, 2 from Pritchard came together to meet and re-unit with their horses and I left the theme of the week up to them to dictate, and I suppose it really should be no surprise that it ended up being all about Feel...hahahaha! It is simply inescapable and insistent in being brought to our full awareness....... So...what better way to start then with the (soon to be infamous:) Waiting Game? Once again peace descends upon the area, as horses await they time to come in at free choice to be with their human. Each one different in their methodology of the approach, yet each one intensely focused, almost in a microcosm, unsure, curious, seemingly indifferent at times, certainly unsettled at the turn of events and checking out what every other being is doing, until they all, horse and human alike reach stillness and presence....and that wondrous magic occurs yet again.....This is truly an exercise that will effect you like no other. We ended the first day with a casual trail ride up the pipeline, enjoying the shade and quiet time to be 'with' our horses.... and oh ok! And a really good loooong gallop up the grassy hills...:) Long trotting out brought some interesting reactions from both species, horses adapting somewhat quicker the the humans to this seemingly innocent enough task and we dwindled to 1/2 the group rising with the sun to repeat the next morning. And what a treat! The cool, sweet smelling pines and damp grasses swishing as our horses hooves beat out a regular cadence as we rode the grassland trails, up and down hills, through stands of aspen and finishing up by the misty lake and the call of the loons...almost a surreal morning. The last day was a competition of sorts involving a course with certain requirements and obstacles that participants had a bare exposure to at the outset. As well as being timed, marks were added for exceptional feel and awareness of their horses individual needs. To watch everyone get so soft and connected with their horses was astonishing! To see the expansion of Consciousness; for the slightest try, the softest ask, the most generous allow and the grace of knowing when a threshold of confidence had been reached.
What a group!

One last ride out , experimenting with ponying and all it entails which is such a powerful lesson and boy! It sure allows us to be clearly the leader and how it can give that all needed focus and intention to our riding, not to mention exercise to that second horse always left at home.... moving a few head of cattle, a splash in the lake and then the sad packing up, cleaning and loading all our toys and memories up...and off to our respective corners of the world again.... Thanks Roma and Keeper, Tracy and Mesa, Deb and Topper and Cheryl and Magic !

Camp Update...Part One.

2010-12-01T19:51:00.000-08:00

Well, not being one to rush things to much, to allow them to unfold as they best see fit, I hereby present the Official Summer Camp Update.....ta-da! :)

Part of me thinks I should do a blog on each camp separate since there are SO many cool photos and experiences to share, but then I decided that if you really want the whole picture that you will just have to come and do a camp yourself, if you weren't there this year, this is all you get.....hahahahaha!

This opening shot is of Indys sexy ears as we overlook Lundbom Lake on the Pre-ride ride that Jeanne, her daughter Cathy and I did.....what a view!

The Connecting at the Dot Camp........ June.

Four brave, devoted souls and their Equine partners explored greater depths of Connection through exercises in developing finer awareness and presence. These photos are from the Waiting Game....a fascinating meditation and reveals so much about ourselves.... I am honored and infinity thankful to be able to watch everyone , seeing into a deeper world, another piece of the mystery of this ethereal link we share with horses. It is a very personal and moving experience Vicki D. and Julio ( Cita's Father by the way, happily enjoying his new Gelding-dom)Mark and Sirius , and Laurel with Fancy .....Jeanne and Gumby joined us a day later....

Encouraged to Journal feelings, thoughts, and set a clear written intention and mantra for the weekend and the future, everyone began to soften and relax before my eyes. We played in the Obstacle Field; Complete with the ever popular Water Jump. Even Arab's can be allowed to find the joy in water...:) as Vicki found out. We rode down by the river, and played with lots of Human simulation games that really allowed us to feel "feel".... and ended with a Fabulous dinner in a very eclectic restaurant in Spence's Bridge...(YES! Spence's Bridge!) I loved this Camp for the fantastic desire in everyone to find a way to look deeper, ask ourselves how we can allow room in our life and schedule for connection to grow; how by simply being 'with' our horses somehow, magically, allows them to be with us.

Grace and Sue's Custom Camp....August

Two of my all time favorite Ladies and there very good mares, Velvet and Sue's new mare Misty, returned for another intimate camp. I LOVE this special time I get to have with these to friends, exploring the edges of their knowledge and passion for their horsemanship. With just the two ladies, we really get to delve into what the next piece is for them and how best to have it unfold and become a part of their being. Slow paced, free formed and every bit a vacation, this week is not without its growing moments. ( that's polite talk for emotional turmoil and what the heck am I doing here? moments) but that is what we love about our life with horses right? RIGHT????:) Although we had too cool a week of weather to allow us to swim like we did last year, none the less, I think the ladies and I had a GREAT time together and am so looking forward to having them back next summer....Thanks Grace and Sue...!

and so...now I am pooped and will have to finish this report another day,,,which happily, since I am the author, boss, chief pooper scooper, head feeder and hay pitcher,maid (well, kinda)and Editor in Chief....I can do that sort of craziness....!

From Ignorance to Bliss....

2010-11-17T05:56:00.000-08:00

It doesn't really surpise me that I have not taken any photos of her.

She just has that effect on the world and has just as little expectation back of it.

Just a small bay mare, not quite a horse, not quite a pony, plain face and body( complete with the hyper-vigilant ewe-neck) with 16 yrs of calloused indifference to life and humans. She had zero pride in herself, scruffy and unkept, and would roll in the muddiest, urine soaked corner of her pen. Add to this a developing tendency to extreme reactions when asked to do the simplest things and as a result was beginning to hurt people. At an age when most horses are starting to become labeled as "dependable","steady" "Broke" she was just broken. Embittered, resentful, hard and ill- mannered. Somehow this small, unremarkable mare managed to bring out the very worst in those around her, and anger was the main emotion. My first week working with her, " Ignorant" was the word I found myself mentally using on her................

I would try all the usual methods I have developed to connect in the first week, and met with absolute failure. I sat in her pen, took her grazing, brushed with super soft brush, played the 'waiting game', moved her around on-line gently establishing lines of respect and communication, looked for her itchy spots.

Nothing.

She would allow me to catch her, but that reaction of running off/rearing/turning away/focused on her buddies/flinging her head in the air was a constant presence and to be honest, I felt myself becoming just as triggered as everyone else had handling this mare...."Ignorant Cow" I would mutter under my breathe as she flew backwards for the 6th time as I attempted to brush the crusted filth her mane......

And then I got MAD!

MAD, MAD, MAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't even begin to tell you how p-d off I was! Here is this little horse, hard, calloused, ignorant and ugly struggling with me for her survival, and all because SHE was the one treated Ignorantly by Ignorant people. Ignorant in every meaning of the word to be sure, but the damage was done. This horse could wear pressure in some places (on her sides and mouth) like crazy, and had zero tolerance for any (on her sides and mouth) in other places. And those crazy reactions? Simply her capacity for being treated 'ignorantly' had been reached,her intolerance to engaging in the simplest of tasks reflecting it. She simply would not bend to human will any longer. This ended up being her saving grace, and thus she ended up here with me. Having lived with emotional distance as protection, and trust a trigger word, I could relate when I finally allowed myself to feel her.....

What I found under the hardness was a gift of tenderness. Like a freshly exfoliated callous, there is super sensitive new tissue. And raw fear, of course. Lack of trust knowing what would be the point in it anyway, as it must have brought confusion and (to her anyway) a threat to her very survival.

For me, it was the tiny moments of pure relaxation, when her erratic breathing calmed ( and this was just standing with her folks), when I felt her surprise when I acknowledged her slightest try with a certain degree of consistency, when I told her she was beautiful and very clever (and truly meant it) when we figured something out together......When I felt her begin to enjoy (even for a few strides) our rides together, when she knew that she was right with me and I would completely leave her alone, loose rein and rubs on the neck..."Good Girl"! blow blow blow....
When she would challenge my leadership with a couple bucks, and attempts to return to home and I would emphatically correct her....then leave her alone, trusting her to chose comfort with me, and then yesterday.............

After a new trail along the river complete with bridges, cows, and torrential rain, we sauntered in, loose reined and low headed completely tuned in to one another and unconcerned with any horse on the property, with eyes that followed me as we untacked and such softness in her body as I brushed the rain soaked hair best that I could, and felt such incredible tenderness well up in me towards this little brave mare for showing and reflecting yet another piece of the puzzle .........of horses, myself and life.

I believe no one means to harden another soul on purpose, it happens from ignorance, lack of awareness, low level of consciousness. How often does force come into play when knowledge runs out? Or simply the willingness to connect and pay attention to that whom we are interacting? To slow down and feel, and see, and hear, and be present? How often do we attempt to attach blame instead of simply trying to understand? I come away feeling we are all trying the best we can, but hoping that we all have the courage to seek a change for the better as our heroine of this tale did...

Thank you, beautiful little bay mare............

The Aftermath....

2010-10-26T20:33:00.000-07:00

Well. I give one last cough and sneeze in the settling dust of the whirlwind Mane Event weekend now behind me and give pause to reflect upon it all..........

First and foremost, I would love to Thank some very special ladies for their help above and beyond..... Joan, Erin and Becca. Becca and Erin have been constants in my life since working with me as very capable apprentices and it seems I have yet to scare them off, and they still amaze me with their dedication...:) And Joan, Erin's mom has been a source of support and friendship that is deeply appreciated as well. Joan and Erin for all the elbow grease setting up and tearing down, astute decorating tips, food, breaks and dog walking! Becca for the astonishing Scrapbook she pulled together with all those heartfelt and moving testimonials for clients as well as feedback and spring boarding ideas with me. Thank You Girls! Also EC for being such a tolerant pack horse at the end, and being gracious with a tired cowgirl... and of course, Jeanne and girls....for keeping me from sleeping on the sawdust of my trailer by going the extra mile and lending me the grand ole Kustom Koach! :)Without you guys, this whole, impromptu shenanigan would have been sooooooo much more challenging and the belief you have in me is humbling......

Next I would like to say it was an absolute blast!
Seeing old friends, new friends and meeting so many great new folks was just fabulous! This was a big stretch emotionally for me, putting myself out there so much and being proud of what I do, and seeing such positive feedback made it all ok. I have a saying that I like to stick with and it is " Do something everyday that scares you" and boy, this sure did! It was very last minute and require alot of focus and timing, confidence and belief, and I know the person I was five years ago would never have done it which I find somewhat astounding.....hmmmmm belief in your dreams.........

For all of you who stopped and said Hello, chatted and expressed interest in Training or Camps, and swapped tales with me....I sure do appreciate the time you took and your consideration. I love what I do, and am blessed to share it with interested folks like yourselves. I am passionate about 'Do less, Feel more and be conscious' I love everything around Feel and bridle horse development. As some of you know, I suddenly become Chatty Cathy about these topics...hahahaha!

So on that happy note, I am leaving you with this great picture of the infinitely patient dogs, who deserve every bite of the extra big welcome home supper they got!

What a team! What a weekend! What a great, great bunch of people we are, us Horse People! What a Life! :)

Testing........

2010-10-15T21:17:00.000-07:00

Testing.....................

Testing.......................

Anyone still out there??????????????

eeeesh! Its been a 3 month dry spell for no writing and I am missing it and looking forward to getting to blab on and on again...!

BUT! hahahahaha Not tonight! But, I would like to share and invite everyone (all 2 of you....:) to come and visit me at the Mane Event this year!

YES! I will have a booth, #606 or alternatively, just look for the dogs. I am very excited/nervous, and look forward to trying something new and different again....because you can't hardly do too much of that growing and learning stuff!

So swing by and have a coffee/tea and we will get the chance to catch up face to face....Happily, this event is also causing me to set some Camp Dates for 2011 (2011!!!!!!!!!) very early (especially for me!:) and just as a sneak hint, the 71/2 Diamond ones will include COWS!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your support, patience and love, see you soon!

PS the pics are of Carson in the water jump, me holding the camera and lead rope out of the water, and Indy, Cita and Ivy teaching him how to splash, play and do the Can Can......... Why I am the one who gets paid, I'll never know................

Finding a Feel

2010-06-24T10:25:00.000-07:00

So....we did it! Just fresh back from the Island and the Finding a Feel Workshop with Alexa Linton in Duncan....! What a weekend! And Twin Creeks is such a idyllic spot to hold the workshop, with the weather co-operating perfectly as well it unfolded as 7 brave folks explored a new frontier of Feel...and broke the ice on some very fascinating depths and challenged themselves to slow down, breathe and gently enter their horses world, on their terms. A challenging topic to teach historically ( and for real, I might add!) but intensely important and the next piece for a more complete picture of our horsemanship journey. I for one, again became a student as the the roles are constantly flowing between student and teacher; horse and human.

Feedback loops of soft tries, hard spots, awkward moments, judgments, raw spots, tender connections, belly laughs, and surprises of insight. Touching the places in stillness where we so often shy away from with our busy minds and allowing the space for our horses to come to us....

This certainly was a different clinic lots of meditation, exploring our senses and beliefs, becoming open to new possibilities of interactions with our equine partner with things we take for granted such as bridling and leading, and how they can hold such learning and connection for us......

Alexa's work with body talk, energy reading and intuitive readings was truly remarkable with epiphany's everywhere all weekend. She did a great job of leading us through the fascinating Meditations and being such a pleasure to work with...the scope of Alexa's knowledge and feel, dovetailing perfectly with my exploration of awareness and sensitivity of the horses......blending into a uniquely personal journey for all.

I loved the 'Feel' of this weekend.

The easy camaraderie, laughter, questions raised, and support shown for all of that are us fascinated in raising our understanding of this horse/ human connection, with all its rewards, mirroring, interweaving of lessons and deep truths. It was a pleasure to witness and be a part of and Heartfelt Thanks to all who participated and allowed Alexa and myself to be both student and teacher alongside you and your horses..... There is still a couple spaces available for the Squamish Feel workshop in September if this causes any interest to raise up in you......:)

This Phenomenal series of photos were taken once again, by my unsung Best Friend and support Crew Chief of Staff.......

Inet Sladecek!

Thanks, Sister!...without your insight, talents and friendship, I would sure not be where I am....:)

The Girls....

2010-06-23T20:48:00.000-07:00

Meet Khali and Khassidy....Half sisters, half Arab and with me for 3 months of Equine college education....:) The girls are from Metchosin, B.C., and have been with me for a month and a half. They are as different as sisters can be (or so they tell me, as being sister free, I lack first hand exposure:) and loads of fun!
They are here for mostly ground work thanks to their wise and long seeing parents, Lesley and John, and are building that solid foundation for a future of long happy rides and sensible behavior...

If all young horses were to get this good a start, exposing them to new sights, sounds, dynamics and experiences, I am supposing there would be a lot of confident horses around that took new things in stride....It is an investment in their and YOUR future, and pays off for years and years to come...

K & K have dragged tarps, logs, feed sacks full of cans, had ropes on every part of their body, around their flanks and under the tail. They will lead from their legs with a rope, and had it dragging alongside. They will stand untied for brushing and foot trimming, bath and trailer load.
Backing through the low narrow alley of the old log barn is a YAWN....as is backing out of the horses trailer. Bathing clippers, ponying out on the hills and thru mud creeks and brush, walk, trot and canter, with crazy Danes galloping in and out of view. Sitting on them bareback, bathing and fly spray.

So.... Inevitably, tacking was next, even though they still need some size on them to ride much, we made a group decision, Khali, Khassidy and I and up went the saddles....YAWN!
Whatever......

They did not move a toe, and were as relaxed as if they had done it 1000 times before....and THAT is what makes me happy. no stress, no fear, no rushing...no sweat. Nothing to un-do down the road..........So, as things were so casual and they felt relaxed, they went for a short ride alongside Carson and Gumby yesterday and in the play field today, walk, trot canter, play in the water jump, and untack like a pros..... and that's that.
Nice work Girls! A +'s for you both and hats of to savvy Owners that want the best for their 'kids' future......it makes me so happy and what a great thing to be a part of.....

Thanks Lesley and John.......:)

Cita's Blog

2010-06-09T21:46:00.000-07:00

This would be Cita saying

"Thanks for allowing me to spend my life with Stef, Papa Terry and Mama Vicki! I love it here, I love Indy especially, and the dogs, and my big grassy field, and going for walks in the hills, and playing in the water jump and in the river, and splashing Espada (....she HATES getting wet:) . I Really like it when Stef brushes me with the super soft brush and
sprays Conditioner in my mane and tail so that I look as pretty as IV(....well, I AM actually WAY prettier then that cheap floozy with her wavy mane....and she's such a pale washed out Palomino, too!) and I even like standing tied like the grown up horses do....but I am sooooo good at just standing quietly while Stef puts that heavy saddle on my back and I even kinda like that, because I think maybe I get to spend more time with her. Especially since she actually got on the saddle on my back and I was SO Proud and Indy was so surprised! and I just can't WAIT to get going and doing cool things that all the other horses seem to get to do with Stef.....So Thanks Vicki and Terry! I LOVE my life and my human....and I am pretty sure she loves me, too....:) "

Cita is apparently quit chatty tonight, and has suddenly learnt the unusual Equine Talent of typing, which I can take no credit for........but she has made a heck of a mess out of my keyboard typing with her big ole hooves.....

...Bit of a Blog

2010-06-06T15:01:00.000-07:00

Beside us here is a photo taken 4 days ago, on the road to the river and Yes, it is Merritt! Yes it IS green! Even the Sage is ridiculously green.....(well the OTHER Sage is still black and white, although she HAS come back green from finding something that smelled suspiciously like bear poop, smiling and all pleased with herself....:P) The river is over its banks in some places, and no one can remember seeing it this high before and sure am glad I moved a couple Camp dates around, as there will be no swimming in this river in June!

OH! Yes! Please check out the updated Schedule page as The Connecting at the Dot Camp has moved to July, and the Feel Like a Kid Camp has moved to Last weekend in July. There are just two spots left in the July 7 1/2 Diamond Camp, and August is full, so if you are thinking on maybe you'd like to explore one of the prettiest areas I have ridden in, and enjoy the gorgeous Log cabin and arena for refining your feel, delving deeper into Conscious Horsemanship.......and tons of trail time and relaxation....Saloon anyone?

My good friend and riding buddy Kimberly, rode around the place on Monday, and were just so blown away....and the wildlife!!!!! And that looooong grass covered pipeline that just screams..." GALLOP!!!!!!!!!!"

Oh! and now that I am able to sit and Blog..........Suddenly no photos will upload.... well, huh!
And so much has happened...! I,I, I have Pictures and and everything....!
Oh well, Better luck next time.....

It looks like The Collaborative Workshop "Finding A Feel" with Alexa in Duncan at Twin Creeks June 18-20 is in a couple of weeks! This should be a fascinating, revealing and deep journey into the interconnectedness of ourselves and our horses....THIS is what I have been searching through and with these last couple of years and it excites me and intrigues me the depth of relationship and connection possible to ourselves and those in our lives, animal or human. Truth, congruency, softness, power, humility and presence......zooooeeee! Next chance to do this ground breaking Clinic will be in Sept in Squamish at Lauren's www.goodhorsemanship.ca

Well....this is just no fun without pictures, and its bed time again....busy week, Vicki D coming to see her boy (who happens to be the now gelded father of Cita), Griffy's sister's are visiting...Jazz with Vicki, and Zoe on Weds. Thursday its Summer Turn out at Quilchena ( I am sneaking in with the cowboys, and maybe they won't notice my big roan horse.....:), Friday off to Pritchard to do feet and lessons.....oh and ride 8 horses....

yep, its a pretty amazing life....:) Follow your dreams, kids....follow your dreams....

ok....I'm gettin' off the soapbox.......hahahaha!

Cita's Sunday Ride.........

2010-05-30T20:49:00.000-07:00

So Much has happened since I have last been blogging.AHH! Where to start! so many very, very cool things have happened, new horses in, clinics, road trips.........and here it is past my bedtime again.................

So, an offical update will have to wait another couple days, but I HAVE o have to share today......

Cita is my often "Left to Last, and Then Run Out of Daylight Girl", so I surprised each other today, and brought her out and spent some time with her.

I have been getting on bareback, and noodling around a bit, untracking her and getting some basic steering operational, as well as standing for mounting and of course the actual bit where she gets used to having me up there....hahahaha! She has been a pretty typical mix of confident and cocky Teenager and nervous and un-confident Teenager so far, but feels to me like she is happy and ready to do more soooooooooooooo....

Without any further ado, may I present, Under Saddle for the First time ever, wearing her very flashy coat and learning the basics of 'how to steal grass while wearing a saddle' ( I get this started RIGHT away, so's they can practice this and have it firmly in place when I start to ride...hahahahaha)

La Vida Cita!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I know Lauren will tell you that a good Andy Knight saddle will make ANY horse look good, and I am the very proud Mom, but, seriously!

Is she amazing or what!!!!!!!!!

Did she care? hmmmm, well she had the pad on and off three times and was ok with its first visitation, on and off bareback and move hind end and front end abit, and then up with the saddle, tighten cinches slowly, place her gently back the one step she took and VIOLA!

I um, did tighten that back cinch a teeny tiny one hole tighter then I ought to have straight away, and she was fine till we walked a bit, and blew up......! Three big crow hops and felt for my ask and settled beside side me. Rub belly, neck, flanks, disengage softly and repeat a few more times and she has completely relaxed. Slapped the stirrups gently to ask her to move on, and out the driveway, up and down the ditches, and back.... easy off with the saddle, and extra grass snack for Sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The only deep meaningful thing I have to say is....it sure can be easy on them if we go easy and have rapport, trust and feel for them. Softness with confidence in each other can really go a long way and just watching for those tiny little changes.....

Oh and Indy wanted to show off his new Sarah Hagel Mecate......

He and i are getting very excited about our road trip to Nanton Alta with Lauren and pony to do the Richard Caldwell Clinic....Yippy!

Its About Time.....!

2010-05-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

and its getting closer.......

one more road trip, and its time to blog.....:)

The Look on Their Face

2010-04-03T08:45:00.000-07:00

Saturday night I headed to Kamloops to give my good friend Danielle a lesson and have dinner, and since her husband was on a boys 'road trip' picking up irrigation pipe, that left us with free rein to talk ceaselessly about horses....alas! Dan sent Larry to me a couple years ago as a just backed mature horse ( a woman never tells her real age!). And yes, Larry is a mare and a fairly accurate photo of her is at the top of the page. Well, accurate THEN. As you may be able to tell, Larry was a wee bit, er, suspicious of pretty near everything, especially us vertical beings. Difficult to catch, completely indifferent to any attempt to connect, mentally and emotionally resistant. It took awhile and some real commitment from us humans first, but Larry is a changed girl. I wish I had an operable camera ( hint, hint!) so that I could have captured her expression the last few times I have seen her. Soft, soft, soft. Comes right up to visit. Full on eye contact. Completely engaged, all cylinders firing, hi how are ya doin'. I'm Larry! Dan tells me this is Larry's new default setting, and we got to visiting about that and she said after our clinic last weekend, that she learnt that the only thing she had to do was figure out how to keep that look on Larry's face.

To Cool! Wow! Zoowie! and B-I-N-G-O!
How true is this! Remember horses are our feedback loop, and Dan hit on a clear barometer for herself and her horse and if she keeps this in the back of her mind as she engages with and learns from her girl, she will find her way. THIS will be her teacher, her guide and 'Feel-meter'. If Larry glazes over, becomes difficult to catch ( and yes folks, that means if you have to look at their bum first!), tilts her head away or up, pins her ears, slashes her tail, crawls her skin.....and that is where it starts. Even less really. Brace, over or under sensitivity, buck, bolt, cinchy, bad bridler, balker, 'disrespectful',blah blah blah blah.

Really! Did any one ever actually take the time, invest their awareness and slow down enough to perceive the creature in front of them? Now, I am not saying we never rattle their cage so to speak, but on the other hand, there we be a whole lot less cage rattlin' goin' on if we all slowed down, observed what our actions were doing to cause what reaction in the horse and play around with adjusting them.

I guess here is where I will share my Short Mantra for myself and Lodestar....

Do Less........Feel More............Be Conscious.

What I mean by this is almost without FAIL if something is not working with your equine relationship, the answer it not to do more.....DO LESS. This will mean stopping what is obviously not working and considering the next move.

Notice I did not say think about your next step. I suggest Feeling your way. How would YOU like to be treated in the particular situation?...hmmmmmm. What are you feeling? Chances are pretty good that your horse is feeling the same darn thing. Ask again and FEEL the slightest try and quit. Sometimes this means for the moment, minute, session, week. Just like they were intelligent beings, they know how to do everything already anyway, its just doing things with us that is the tricky bit...............! If you are in doubt about trusting your feeling on when to quit and was that a small try and when does it get better.......just wait and watch. It does and will, and you will see more and feel more....:) All this becomes easier with desire to see.

Becoming conscious of what our horses are doing really just requires us to want to see it. Slow down and pay attention. Yes that ear flick was because you shifted in the saddle...just imagine what that means! Really! Try quietly, absently shift your weight in the saddle and see what happens where. Anything? Ears, body, tail, nothing? what about a leg on and one off....when you pick the reins off the neck....Now, try Less!

This is perhaps a new skill, or one that can always take more polishing and, yes with practice it becomes much more second nature and FUN! It certainly leads to more mutual understanding and connection....which leads to greater trust and relaxation.....which leads to deeper relationship and happy horse, happy human...... And the look on their faces tells it all........

The Muse

2010-03-30T19:10:00.000-07:00

There are moments in our lives that are monumental.

Moments when we realize the true meaning of Magic and the miracle of this thing we so casually call life............

Moments when all we can do is stand in wonder and let ourselves be overcome with emotion....

Moments of pure joy, bliss and peace.....

Moments that become memories eternal and unforgettable, every color, every smell, every word said, every feeling.............

There are moments in our lives we wish would go on forever and ever and ever....

But they don't.

Which is why now is called the "present". It is a Gift.

Scratch that favorite itchy spot just a liiiittle longer on your horse........... That them out for a special walk, just eating that delectable spring grass............ Sit in the field with them allowing them to thoroughly check you out and really be with them............. Go someplace new and exciting to walk your dog. Buy them that WAY to expensive treat.......Take your Dad a bunch of flowers and a bow of chocolates...........Fix that drippy tap your Mom has been frustrated with for so long, and then sit on her deck in the sun and share a glass of wine with her.......never hurt to bring her flowers either....... Call your Uncle living in Texas...........MAKE time to spend with friends....ok,ok....:) ALLOW yourself time to spend with friends,......and be a friend to yourself........

Love them deeply, and when it is time......

Let them go..........

This blog is dedicated to Jeanette and Percy.
Thank you for a million treasured moments..........

The Spaces In-between.

2010-03-18T20:22:00.000-07:00

In my quest for a deeper understanding of myself and striving for self guruing ( is that even a word?...hmmmm. It is now...:) I swim constantly through a sea of spiritually inclined books and dvd's ( no regular t.v. here at Chateau Dot Ranch) Philosophy and the concept of Consciousness fascinates me. Quantum physics showing us once and for all what the great spiritual teachings have long said, that we are all linked, all connected, and matter as we know it really does not even exist, it appears to us essentially as a hologram - a kind of consensual reality, if you will.

I mean really! How cool is that? Everything is 'the spaces in-between.....! And why, oh why do I even bring this up here in my horsey Blog? Well, as we all know, life is also a constant metaphor, and...... let's just apply this to our horses, shall we!?

It is one of my more challenging routines. To spend at least a few moments in the day in mediation....... and no, not just scooping poop. I mean being still, quiet, centered and receptive. I have read some about the truly phenomenal benefits of meditation, and I wish to allow it more into my life, but a few things here have grabbed my attention. They say ( they? I really want to meet 'them' one day) that meditation is getting into the gap between thoughts. And when we are nothing short of a constant stream of often nonsensical ramblings, (and often of such an old stagnant variety they are on the old 8-track tape.....) this is actually quit a feat. The spaces in-between..... I love the saying that prayer is talking to Source and meditation is listening.....hmmmm And what are we all so much better at?

So..................what do you suppose we are so much better at with our horses? Bingo! Talking to them. Telling them where to go, when to do it, how fast, what not to do, what foot to pick up, go over there, stay on a circle, trrroooot....and on and on we go.And not only that, but we come to our horses with our brains just a yammering away in our skulls, a million random thoughts firing out like on the 1st of July. You think for a moment that the horses aren't aware of our 'busy brain'? And that we are not present and available for mutual conversation ( that means both ways folks...:)? And we have the nerve to say...." Oh Blaze just isn't connecting today!" To what! a static machine.....? There is no space for them to be sometimes.

I really am getting fascinated with listening and watching for and allowing the spaces in-between. That's where mindfulness comes in. Awareness. Being-ness. Quietness. Feeling. Shaping up what is presented. This entire concept has such far reaching implications and happily dove tails right into our Allow concept.

Allow me to expand a bit.....The spaces in-between are everywhere. Literally and figuratively, they are the precious spots where magic unfolds and the real juicy life happens...:) When we are working towards a goal and things just are not happening fast enough for us...it is a space in-between. This is where we learn things like Patience. Grace. Acceptance. Disappointment sometimes; but always leading to more growth. When Lauren 'hit the wall' with Chief, and allowed him whatever time he needed to just be.....no plans, no training, no responsibilities and now he is a changed horse. The spaces in-between. ( You simply HAVE to share his story one day LF!)

When I am asking for a maneuver when riding, I try to allow a space for them to find. A kind of air pocket, that they just slid into, almost a feeling I have for them to find. I do this through tiny ask and releases, encouraging them with clues of comfort. It also happens when they give their all and after a whopping 3 minutes in the ring, a beautiful piece I have been searching for appears for a moment. We quit for the day, and guess what? Some how, in the space in-between then and the next day, it has gotten bigger, better and more visible. The space in-between when you ask for the downward transition and softly hold that space and allow it to flow down, and then into the other lead. No tension, no brace.....Magic!

Sometimes on a long journey to a heart felt goal, things can get boggy and frustrating, tied up and knotted and we just want it so bad.... this is when I am learning to just Let Go and allow the spaces in-between to just be. It will all work out perfectly, and even better if I can keep my sticky little hands off the controls (!) for awhile. This seems to be especially true of things that are yucky, and difficult to deal with. Likely we are trying to hard ( never a good thing - try soft) and need to back off. Wait. allow. Be still. Nature works in a rhythm of ebb and flow, active and inactive, give and receive. We seem to get so insistent on gettin' er done. About achieving and completing and getting the result and the goal. Considering that death is the ultimate result, I say we opt for the spaces in-between and the glory of the journey.

I guess the spaces in-between means to me that we are allowing the universe a place in which to come. A place in which to flow through. A place to be. A place where we are able to listen........at least for a few moments a day.

Dedication...

2010-03-11T11:19:00.000-08:00

" Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
St. Francis of Assisi

For so long in my life, I had always felt a much stronger connection to animals then humans. I felt safe with them, free and understood. Humans were much more challenging to relate to, and to be honest, I felt very little desire to even try to have a deeper connection and relationship with them. " I am an animal person" was firmly my belief. So for me it was easy to quit everything on the Island, and move up to a Ranch in the middle of nowhere really and live only with the animals....happily training away on my own.

Imagine.

Imagine my surprise when I discover the joy of sharing with other humans the wonders of their horse. When I see the love they have for them, their determination to learn, grow and challenge themselves to get it better for their horses. When I share the heart ache of fear, indecision, self-doubt and lack of confidence (in themselves, their horses and in their horses) When folks make the supreme effort to just "show-up" in life, with their horses and up here, 100's of miles from home and offer up the dedication and sometimes fragile belief in their choice to continue with their horse and a horse dream. I became humbled, and surrounded with a depth of feeling that really allowed me to accept the inevitable truth.......I am a 'people person' AND an 'animal person' and really, they are the exact same thing, linked by an unfathomable desire to grow, love and face the very things that can scare the $#@*& out of us and be able to receive the immense gift that that will bring. Imagine....... I want to share with you an e-mail that Angela sent a couple days ago, because it really sums up the courage and desire never to give up on a dream and the rich rewards that are just awaitin' us to find them. Angela and Ace have been together for 9 years, and I first met Ace as a pale, cheeky weanling in Metchosin. Angela had high hopes and skills enough to set the stage for a great partnership, but as life would have it, Life happened. Marriage, kids, homes and all the rest put Ace on the back burner...never given up on, yet still barely started and then......

An all to frequent story with often a much sadder ending of a dream forgotten.

But Ace ( cheeky, clever devil that he is) apparently took matters into his own hands ,er, hooves and fixed a deal with the Universe and set a chain of events into process that led to his coming to me for 3 months and Angela for a week..... he has been home since fall and well, it has still be a journey of finding time for self and the inevitable green horse dilemmas, but Angela and Ace are well over the 'hump' and on their way.... Enjoy...:) And Thanks for permission to share this great story Ang!

So Mr.Ace and I went for a ride. It has been well over a month and I told him each day "on Sunday, it is our day" Sunday came and he was ready, snuggly and following me like a puppy. Funny how they know. We tacked up (saddling... arggh) took the bit like a carrot and we were off. I kept him between my legs, and 15 mins in we came across some hikers I knew. He stood, square and still for 15 mins while we talked only gently nosing a kid once for attention. We had our picture taken a few times, he was oohed and ahhhed over and on we went. What a gentleman. I heard some motors, that were not being "normal so off we go to investigate... a couple of quads trying to get under a fallen tree. PERFECT! lets go see the scary stuff! We wove in between the running quads, struggling helmeted guys and wiggling tree to go and step over the low end of the tree , oh -one spook- you are fine, on he goes past the other running quad and up the trail (suckers!). The they caught up (I had no intention on going up this trail but since they "let me go first" instead of standing there staring at them I carried on. They then came up behind and passed me on the narrow trail. Not even an ear flick as they rode by close enough to touch. Awesome! Okay they are gone lets go find more! Found a couple of LOUD dirt bikes tearing down the trail, Monte ( the dog)was ahead to slow them down (safety crew!) and before they could shut it down I walked by the first, then by the second shut off one (why is he shut off, not sure!... it's okay I am here. Walk on) After passing he fired it up and opened the throttle BLAH...BLAH! Whatever ;) Nice ride, center of trail, puddles easy... ahhhh this is the life. A couple of dart up the hill (on the way HOME, with me having to pick up the reins -oh yah reins?!) When we got back we even did a trot up the top driveway relaxed and nice. My fears addressed: trotting and encountering bikes. He is such a trooper and so connected. I have made it an appointment each Sunday we go out, anything else is a bonus. Rain or shine, we beat the rain this time, but I had my oilskin done up like a bedroll on the back of my saddle just in case ;) a good ride after a month + off?! Willing and soft?! I imagine summer when nights are light and we can get out more how great he will be :) It is my solace, my stress relief when all seems hopeless, my meditation.......

For all of you who have had the courage and faith to never quit yourselves or your horses. Those who have been assailed by nay sayers and negative self talk tapes and done it anyway. Those who just kept trying, found another way, gave it their best shot when everything else said to find another passion or horse or be 'sensible'! For all those that have passed through my life and enriched it it with your presence and strength........Thank you.

As Buck Brannaman would say............'And you know who you are!'*)

Why is it ?

2010-03-07T11:53:00.000-08:00

Why is it that the smallest things are so often the biggest things?

Like the other day with Carson. He spends his day in a (albeit large) paddock or with me, and never really gets to do his crazy leap, buck, fart and gallop madly aboutthat he is famous for. So after we had tacked and gone to the ring, I changed my mind (generally accepted behavior for a girl, after all) and stripped his work clothes off and let him have a good play. Our ring up here is surrounded on all sides by the fields with horses in them, and I was expecting him to go bonkers. Well. He DID run and Piaffe, and prance and visit with everyone quite quickly and then..........he trotted over and put his head on my chest, ignoring all his horsey buddies to be with.....me.
I was wonder struck for a couple reasons. Firstly there was NO bucking, no spirally, twisting, cavorting, just straight running and prancing. And secondly, his desire to be with me was deeply touching. This is a guy who tends towards 'explosive' behavior and it just wasn't there. Very, very interesting....My sense is maybe he is like a kid after school who no longer acts out by spray painting the neighborhood, but just plays hockey with his buddies, and then heads home for dinner on time. Small little thing, but the underlying change in attitude feels huge.

Like when you realize that your horse may not be swishing his tail because he's being rude, but because maybe YOU are being rude.........

Like when regularly worked horses come to be haltered from in the field......

Like when horses sidle on over to you on their own when you get on the mounting block?

Why is it that our horses are such a direct reflexion of us?

Like when we are strugging so hard to figure them out, and why, oh why are they doing something, and how oh how can we change it? Stop, feel and look at what we are doing. Like me and Indy, say are like an old married couple ( sorry to those that are....:) that have spent all that time together and for various reasons are real easy to trigger into less then shall we say optimal behavior. And now that I am trying a different approach in our relationship, and he STILL HAS THE NERVE TO ACT THE SAME WAY!!!!!!!! and I get all triggered back, and and and....oh....geez! What am I feeling.... resentment? ( he should know this by now) what is he feeling ....resentment!(I so DO know this, can we move on now?)hmmmm
What am I feeling?......confusion? ( oh what am I going to do if this doesn't work, rats I forgot to get dinner out of the freezer, I thought the farrier would be here by now, I wonder if I should go back to the snaffle, oh, there goes Lynne...oh! she's coming in here...oh dang) What is he feeling? Confusion!( Oh this move again, Hey! there's Mango!, I think I heard Cita calling, I wonder if she remembered to pick up more hay, hey, who put that pole on the ground under that tree three fields over...)
What are you feeling? Bliss... what is he feeling? Bliss...you are both in the same place at the same time...which is now. hmmmmmm

Like when we can't get them top pick up that darn right lead for anything and we have a sore back and go to the Chiropractor and he tells us " Boy, are your hips ever locked up right now!' ahhhhh

Why is it that whatever we believe to be true is?

Like when we think we are on a true path for ourselves, and feel inner guidance and strength and everything flows smoothly that day, from horses to banking to even smiling through a flat tire...?

Like when we are assailed by self doubt, evil internal tapes full of trapdoor thoughts and we allow others opinions about ourselves matter more then our own do we have terrible timing, rotten feel and inevitably the cheque bounces?( like we are having a terrible time, feel rotten and are emotionally bankrupt)? hmmmm

Why IS it that the littlest things mean the most???????

Like frogs in spring?, Like eating four pounds of hair a day as they drop the winter woolies? Like knowing dear friends feel what you are going through and are just there, having faith, trying to just allow? Like the gentle nuzzle from a horse that has never reached out before? Like just riding like my horse and I are one and allowing it to happen instead of trying to make that shoulder lift up? Like seeing a dog lick a scared, new horse's nose? Like finding five bucks in the truck and spending it on a super yummy White Spot Milk shake....and sharing with the dogs? Like sitting down for a few minutes with the horses as they chomp away on dinner, the sounds of the gentle mastication of all that hay, slowly turning into tomorrows poo....and they gaze at you out of the sides of their eyes, wondering about you, too?

For those of you that may be wondering about the dull lack of photos....there is apparently a 'Glitch' in the system somewhere, but......that would be a small thing as well:)

Fun....!.It isn't a four-letter word

2010-02-24T19:38:00.000-08:00

Lauren and I were yackin' on the phone the other day ( something we are quite good at, truth be known...) and she was telling me about her ride the other day with a friend and how it was just a side show comedy act. The two horses were basically galloping down the trail with a vague level of direction maintained, bareback, halters and big Sugar Eatin' Grins on their faces, laughing all the way home...I loved it! What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon! No proper
flexion, probably no collection, more then likely not a shred of roundness..............But were the horses having fun??????? And were they having fun together????? Hmmmmmmm...

I think we all to often seem to forget about actually having FUN with our horses....forgetting about 'proper' form and function. As well and fine as it is to have our higher horsemanship goals, places we aspire to go, and activities we participate in from showing to trail riding, I believe it is vital to just have fun and be with our horse friends in a silly, casual and non-structured way. Whether it was as Lauren and her pal were doing, madly galloping bareback, howling with laughter at the freedom of it, swimming at a great spot on the river on a HOT summer day, or maybe just sitting and hanging out with your horse, soaking up the moments of stillness and peace, without trying to make (!) anything happen...just allowing each other to be together.......

Part of the slippery deal about having fun as a grown-up is remembering how to be like a kid again and it can take a conscious effort on our part to Let Go of control, be in the Moment, let loose the child in us, Let Go of our fears, and just allow ourselves to relax! We so often want this for our horses, to relax and trust us, so imagine that! We have to be willing to do the same thing....and often we have to be the one that does it first.....

Be creative, be off the wall, be zany, be curious, be INTERESTING to yourself and your horse! Take your buddy for a walk or bike ride and actually allow them to graze to their hearts content ( ok, maybe not THAT long......:) Sitting around with your friends in the field, or in the evening at a clinic while you unwind, hanging out with your horse....and watch them become engaged with your ridiculous and highly unusual behavior...They love it! My horses and dogs share a very special relationship, and Indy and Sage totally have a rapport....they tease and taunt one another, and nuzzle and completely enjoy one another's company. Sage will bark at Indy's face while he is trying to catch one of her exposed body bits, both loving the game. At camps, to help people slow down and just be with their horses as well as actually allowing their horse to be the one that decides to connect, and do something completely different. I have people sit at the end of their 22ft. ropes, with their backs to the horse and...............wait. Always, always, always this is an amazing thing to do. What crazy thoughts go thru our heads, and how it teats our patience (hmmmmmm maybe it is like mediation.....) but the gift of connection it brings is sooooooooo worth it. (I also do this with the training horses, to help establish rapport and trust...both ways!) I do suggest good weather for this little experiment, or fun it may not be......

So. Maybe play (!) around with having some silly, non-structured fun......go ahead! embarss yourself! Be a silly-ass and laugh til your belly hurts! Do something so off the wall, your neighbors stare and then look the other way, the cat hinds under the stairs, the dog thinks you are the wackiest, coolest thing ever (well, he probably already does, so your off the hook there..........) and your horse just might get to thinking he wants to be with you, too. Not because you made him , but because you guys are having FUN !

And besides, its just darn near impossible to have a bad day when you lay backwards, bareback on your horse, with your arms folded across his beautiful bum, eyes closed while the rhythm of his eating lulls your worries away and peace and bliss enfold you...........

Rope on a Hope

2010-02-22T06:43:00.000-08:00

I am busy enjoying the last couple of weeks before a fresh crew of training horses descend upon us, riding my beasties as much as possible, and the weather just makes it oh so easy to do as well. Truth be known, some of it is avoiding vacuuming, dusting, and paperwork, but I am forced to wait for a rainy/snowy day, and alas, it's been weeks since that's happened (ok...no one visit me right now, or I WILL be forced to bung out the house:) The bottom field of my neighbor's the Stolfus's is drying out enough that we can ride in there, and since this is where the small group of runty calves over wintered and they have (unbeknowst to them) donated their little brown bodies to furthering the education of cattle work to us all, I have jumped at the opportunity to do just that. Unfortunately, I have yet to figure out how to work cattle and take pictures, so these photos are older, some at Quilchena, some at Kuiper's.
A couple days ago, after an amazing short ride in the ring, Ivy and I headed down the hill to try her out following and being in with the calves. The dogs of course have hedged their bets and opted to (wisely) stay on the outside of the pen, away from what obviously are large, fang-toothed and drooling critters with a weakness for Dane steak. (have I ever mentioned that my dogs are a wee bit, er, Cautious?) Ivy on the other hand is thrilled to be actually inside the pen with those weak kneed, doe eyed fraidy cats, and heads them down the fence line like an ole pro. Two slackers hung back, and then scooted up behind us, normally a sure way to spook a green horse, but not Miss Ivy. Stop, rollback and scoop up the two and then lope out to stop the mob from heading into the creek. Tail them back where we started, and stop and settle. Back off and head home, Ivy all puffed up and proud, blowing and low necked...her price tag sky-rocketing as I sit on her, awed and smiling from ear to ear....What a Gal!

And then yesterday was Indy's turn......all the talk about how he would make a fabulous rope horse, all big and stout like he is, an me packin' my 50ft. rope everywhere, catching weeds, logs, dogs and fence posts finally have to step up to the plate and catch a live critter......Gulp! Now as the universe is always conspiroring for me, I had just finshed tacking up when the Stolfus family rode by and Wendall cruised up and asked if I had my rope horse ready...'yep, sure do' ( Oh crap! there is no escape!) and away we went. Wendall and Leanne have been doing this for a living for, well, a long time. Their two girls, Madi and Reese were raised up in cow camps at Douglas Lake and Stump Lake, and are serious contenders in cutting and rodeo competitions, and are no stranger to cattle work. So Wendall catchs up our first victim with a nice head/front leg shot and settles the critter til it is standing quietly, weighing out her options of escape. Fortunately for her, neither of us are serios threats to her having those hind legs snatched out from under her. Madi goes first, which is perfect. This gives me plenty of time to feel me ego squirming around, self-concious fears, pride ( I am a HORSE TRAINER, I ought to know this, right?) and shyness all scrambling for attention. Well. I hear them all, but the opportunity is just to cool, and if I have learnt anything over the last few years, it is how to ignore my egoic fears; allow them to get stomped in the mud and gore of learning something incredibly cool and new, and watching how my soul grows out of the decayed mush of my ego......(sorry, bit dramatic, but, essentially, you get the picture). Sooooooooooo now is my turn. Happily, I can no longer even build a loop, forgotten the terms for the rope (oh!, right! THAT"S my slack...) and Indy has turned into a blowing, high tailed Arab, who has never seen a cow before ( well, never seen a cow on the end of a fishing line before!) and is adding to the entertainment value by trying to leave me to my crazy shenanigans alone. Wendall is a great teacher, never citicizing or laughing (out loud, anyway........) and we get things sorted, Indy tracking up proper, one reprimand for biting (2 demerrits) and soon I am twirlin' and aimin' for a set of moving back legs and wondering how it is even possible to do this and why do some people make some things look just so easy and oh, its Madi's turn again. Watching her style and Wendall's tips to her about follow thru and hand position, then me again. Realizing that I am throwing my rope like a girl (!) and this is sorta because, gee, what happens when I actually catch something....and ....suddenly I do! Both hind legs in a snappy little trap shot, and I dally (thumbs up, brother!) and back my boy up. He is an ole pro! And oh, Wendall is telling me not to stretch her out, and get that dang rope off her and try it again, this time with more finesse. I get her again! Wow! Nothin' like some positive action to suddenly change your outlook on things!
Madi's go again, then me, and we catch her again...just on leg this time, and for fun I dally backwards, and of course Wendall sees (cowboys see everything!0 and laughs and says other way.....
And so it ends.
Am I proud of my big roan horse? Hell Yeah! He is keen, keen, keen, works with me, figures out his job just like that, those turnarounds we've been working on getting speed up on? He just about lost me twice he spun so fast!He stayed ultra soft and obedient, yet totally connected. All in all, humbling yet totally positive feedback on everything we are trying to accomplish and experience. I love having that real work with our horses, it bring out the best (and sometimes worst!) in us.... As we split up at the gate and head our separate ways home, Sage and Griffin demanding for a complete description of what the heck we were doing, Sage barking at Indy, giving him what for, and my happy little family wanders home under blue skies and a plan for practice roping sawhorses.......hmmmmm

La Vida Cita y La Traileria

2010-02-18T21:23:00.000-08:00

With that ridiculous sunshine and warm weather out, making the horses drop their hair like there is no tomorrow, ice melting under the frozen poopsicles so I can finally pick up all 43 loads of it out of the fields, new training horses and feet to trim, and riding, riding, riding, I have been a wee bit slack about posting a new blog (as some of my more drill sergeanty type friends have pointed out..hahahaha)
So, since sleep is optional and surely the dogs get enough for all of us, I am going to share a nice little 'Allow' story with you. This is Cita. For those who don't yet know my future diamond, she is 1/2 arab 1/2 Quarter horse, almost 2, and just beginning her next phase of education. And, like most most teenagers (or so I am told) she can have some pretty cheeky moments and others when she is real unsure of herself and runs back to Mommy Indy (much to his dismay, sooooo bad for his Ultra Cool Guy Image!) We have been playing around, refreshing her ground skills, and adding some new ones. Its funny to watch the herd watch us work, they are all so very interested and concerned that I get it right (yeah, no pressure, guys, thanks!) Mostly though, Cita thinks this is pretty ok, and is happy to be growing up and doing big Kid Stuff. I had her out and was brushing the mud off, and attacking her with the spray bottle, trying to squirt Toxic Palomino Death Juice on her...no! Wait! That's just mane de-tangler! Oh, ok, go ahead......, picking feet (cause that what us Farrier type folks do once every six months, weather they need it or not), and getting in some good positive tying practice. (Oh! remind me to expand ad naseum on tying on day, and I will). And.......one of the all time Favorite things to Avoid Until the VEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRYYYY Last minute...The Trailer!

Happily and (not so) oddly enough, right after my little awareness kick on Allow, I am presented with one of the most triggering of all horsey related situations, designed, not as you may think, too haul your horse around in, but to bring out all the very worst traits and habits and truths in both horse and human. Here we have the opportunity to really get tight and tense, impatient and all pressurey. " Make the outside uncomfortable, and the inside the good place" ( Make?) how many times have I heard that line? So, here I am standing outside of said aluminum torture chamber on wheels, wondering how this was going to unfold. You see, Cita has no real opinion yet on a trailer (short of when she was 4 months and hauled up here from the island, but two winter's up here will have frozen that memory outa her head) and is a clean slate. And I sure don't want to end up 'making' the trailer be an issue. So what happened was this. I decided to just allow her to get in the trailer.

Allow her all the time in the world. Allow her to just stand here and fall asleep while I brushed her with her nose in the trailer. Allow her to check it all out. Allow her to scoot backwards as she made the bum bar rattle. Allow her to paw the ground. Allow her to fall asleep for 5 minutes. (Gee, says human....wonder if I ought to be making (!) her do something now, dozing can't be getting us closer to in...hmmmmm I should be doing something...hmmmm). Allow her to put a foot in and bring it out. allow her to go for a short walk around the patio furniture. Allow her to put two feet in. Allow her to rattle the barriers....and NOT come out this time, brave girl. Allow another calm back out and wander around the lawn furniture...... And allow her to just get all the way in, blow and happily take a mouth full of hay, calmly looking back at me standing outside the trailer door. Allow her to calmly BACK out and go for another stroll, and right back in.

Total length of Trailer Loading time? 13 minutes. hmmmmmmmm very interesting. All that was required of me was... presence, patience, softness, awareness, and feel.

I was so curious with MYSELF thru this process, as I wasn't really sure that she was knowing what I was looking for (duh!) as she seemed almost disinterested, but, oh, she knew! So hard to not want to get in there and get all busy and make (ah) something happen! I also became aware of just how little we need to do to make our requests clear, and how often we screw it all up by just doing TO MUCH! When I asked her to move, I literally lifted my hand an inch, and quit as she went "Yes?' So everything was just so small and relaxed and low key... what a neat experience, and another level again of just how subtle we can communicate. If we just get out of the way, they find the way we have shown...............easily, calmly, confidently and together we allow one another respect.

The Eclectic Mailman

2010-02-08T20:29:00.000-08:00

I read the following Quote on the Eclectic Horseman website forum, and thought to myself, "wow! what a great analogy!" So here it is for your viewing, reading and digesting pleasure.

Basically the question was about a horse that only acknowledged a girl's presence when she brought food. Now I know that alot of us have established a stronger rapport with our horses, but really............If you keep this in the back of your mind the next time you haul Blaze out of his field after an insanely busy week or two away at work, and find yourself getting wound up at his disrespectful behavior.................

"Do you have an acquaintance, maybe your mailman, that you like well enough, but don't really have much in common with. He's there to drop your mail off, but whether you talk to him or not, you know he will bring the mail. That's the extent of your relationship.
Today he stopped by, came in the house, and said he wanted you to clean out your kitchen cupboards. Oh, and he wasn't asking, he was telling and ready to back it up with force. And he did get you to do it, and stood there and watched you the whole time., and whacked you when he thought you weren't cleaning fast enough.
I bet tomorrow when he pulls up, he has your full attention and focus. Maybe not in a good way!
Now think of your mare. She is alone. A lot. Now the mailman pulls up, and he has an amazingly interesting puzzle, and he asks if she might help him out with it. They have a great time, her mind is stimulated, she has some laughs with the mailman.
What do you think her reaction will be tomorrow when he pulls up?
You can put any spin on it you want. I think we need to be more in a boss type relationship, but we have all had great bosses and not so great bosses. Think about your reaction when a boss you really respected and liked walked up to you.I bet you were not bored or indifferent.

Think about a boss who changed his mind a lot, got overfly upset when you made mistakes, and never said thanks when you did a great job, and was wishy washy in his or her direction? And gave you jobs that were meaningless. Your job was to clean a mirror that was already clean. Wait, only clean the top of the mirror!! No! I mean the bottom half!!
Think about your reaction to that boss."

Enough said...........

If you haven't discovered Eclectic Horseman yet, I highly recommend a subscription.
eclectic-horseman.com

Making Allowances

2010-02-07T05:20:00.000-08:00

Its an odd fringe benefit of endlessly picking horse poo, that it becomes a sacred time of meditation and introspection. I suppose its the repetitive action that slows my brain down into this state of contemplation, proving once again how everything we do with horses is Zen and compels us to be in the Now.
The other morning I was reflecting on my life and the inevitable ups and downs and how relationships come and go through our lives, always effecting us, always changing us in varying degrees, when I stumbled upon the words, 'Make and Allow'. Now this pair of words have been around in my life for sometime now in the context of horses, but I had somehow missed placing the filter over my own life. Hmmmmmmmmm That was a VERY revealing and interesting poo picking morning!

Make and Allow......try this little exercise today...see how often you say/think/use the word make in your life. Become aware of how often we are inclined to want to 'make' things happen.. We make the bed, make lunch, make our work on time, make do, make much of the traffic, make plans, make decisions, make the coffee, make sure everyone is ok, make the light, make next years budget, make sense out of the instructions, make up for the day you took off, make copies, make a list,make the feed store on the way home, make sure homework is done, make allowances for, make dinner, make a couple calls, make time for loved ones...........make time for a ride.
Now, I sure noticed a whole lot of 'make ' in my day to day life, and then I like to believe that I am not like that with my horses, but, truly, it begs the question of 'How could I NOT be with all that make in the rest of my life?'

So I thought and felt about the word 'Allow' and tried to come up with my own description of its meaning. For me it has such a potent combination of leadership with permissiveness. There is a sense of willingness to experiment with freedom, but with a connection to responsibility. hmmmmmmmm very interesting! I then tried to see how often I allowed myself during the day....sadly the answer was strong feedback for me and I have begun a shift of perception. Make comes from a base of Force, and Allow from a base of Power........Allow has trust in it, trust of self, trust of horse, trust of life, trust of the Universe. Make has control in it, control of self, control of horse, control of life, control of the Universe (hahahaha)

As this whole concept applies to horses, Make and Allow enables me to continue to refine my awareness and response-ability to the slightest try. It allows (!) me to be more forgiving. It allows for greater lateral thinking. It allows for error. It allows for greater self expression and exuberance. It allows for establishing boundaries and clarity of intention. I find as soon as I begin to shift into even the teensiest bit of 'make'....a fight begins. If I continue along these rigid lines of thinking its 'my way or the highway', emotional sweat starts, relaxation is forsaken, tension escalates, learning halts as survival begins to kick in, and ultimately the relationship is damaged. The level of reaction tends to be in equilibrium with the amount of make force applied, but make (!) no mistake, a certain amount of callous will develop, rapport lost. .... Something as simple as not being aware enough to realize that the hoof you wish to pick up is weighted, and you apply more force to 'make' Mr. Un-cooperative to pick up his dang foot not only dulls his respect for you, but teaches him that you do not have a clue and simply allowing him the moment to shift his weight allows everyone to be respected and working together....(Thanks for the example, Lauren!)
Some horses, depending upon their innate personality can deal with certain amounts of make and adjust, but I guarantee you that the trust level has been lowered and you are on your way to becoming a tyrant 'force' leader. The horse may have a great deal of respect for you, but it is beginning to blend further into fear, respect's closest neighbor. The horse is a holistic system, as we all are, and if make goes on long enough, and the horse has learnt how to "wear" the pressure, we begin to see health and/or behavioral issues. Plenty of sore backs, lameness, respiratory issues, cribbing, weaving can likely be traced to tension, fear, uncertainty and lack of trust because they were made to do something they were not comfortable with, confused about, not allowed the time to think about, or given any option for choice.

When we interact with a horse,I believe our goal is Balance, as are most things in life, and I have also discovered that allowing and indicating a thought/direction/movement and shaping it gently, taking what is offered and having the flexibility and imagination necessary to not criticize, to allow a sense of rightness in the horse, they begin to turn more and more loose to use, and allow us to shape their behavior into our goals, as long as they are allowed expression, comfort, freedom, positive responses and respect. As we allow our horses to accept responsibility, and relinquish trying to 'make' them, startling things begin to happen to us................ Just think about allowing a lead change. Allowing a balanced stop. Allowing a horse to tie well. Allowing them to have a good trailering experience. Allow yourselves to experiment. With your selves, your loved ones, the guy in the car cutting you off, your fears, your goals, and of course your horses. Allow yourself to screw up, get it all wrong. Allow your horse to get it wrong, and then allow him the chance to find the right answer and allow him to feel good. Allow forgiveness and humility, allow patience and generosity of time. Allow yourself to be present with your horse. Allow softness, collection and grace.........

What on earth do WE have to learn to shift our perceptions and methods to enable this to happen????

How fascinating........

....My Favorite Part !

2010-02-02T20:30:00.000-08:00

At five to ten this morning, I honked good-bye to a very dear friend as she got on the bus for home. Becca has become a great source of joy in my life, and I am honored to be a small part of it. She is kinda my pseudo-niece, since I have known her since she was a baby, and her mom is every bit as special to me as well, and it has been such great fun to have had her working with me for the last two summer's, not to mention incredibly helpful....in so many ways. You see, not only is she a young, gifted horsewoman, truly talented photographer ( most summer pics I have were hers), very self motivated and tireless worker, but she possesses a fine gift for hearing. Now I don't mean in the normal sense of the word, but in the sense that she has an ability to listen and absorb what is being said. She can then reflect back some very startling truths and perceptions, that apply to life, horses and relationships of all kinds. How this talent for being empathic, thoughtful, caring, wise beyond her years and bright as hell will unfold and develop will be very special I am sure.
So she came up to visit her Merritt home for a few days with my brother, Chris as he came with his Semi to pick up another load of good Interior hay. In December, Chris (in true Big Brother form:) made a special delivery for me. -25 and an impatient horse wrecked havoc on my unassuming wheelbarrow, which had been minding its own business in the doorway, and got shattered into a million small, green plastic splinters. As you can see in the picture, overloaded he wasn't! I can only imagine what the other truckers said about his 'payload', but it's safe to say he would do about anything for his sister! Course I DID help load 31 odd tons of alfalfa in exchange, so maybe he has this all figured out better then I think......hmmmmmm.

So Becca is one of those people who 'get' why this place is so very darn cool....its the Rocks! And the clay banks and the rocks and the sage and the rocks and the river and the rocks.........We had a pathetic covering of snow while she was here...Coast snow, truth be known....:(, but we made the best of it, and got some good riding in. Becca took Ivy for a spin (sorry Lauren.....to bad you couldn't make it the winter Cowgirl Reunion.....:) and got to experience some foot-stompin' hair tossin' cussin' Ivy-isms.....hahahaha! Helped ride a couple training horses, catch up my training logs, solve the worlds problems, and of course get heaps of attention from her best face lickin' buddy, Griffy. We finally got over to check out this crazy deserted homestead on the other side of the river, and I decided that it was the most amazing piece of property ever....now how to get it out of the Reserve? The view from the top of the plateau was crazy, seeing the Swimming Hole from a new perspective with the entire valley stretching behind it and slip sliding on the sneaky clay, pushing/dragging/carrying Griffin across the trestle,and then hopping up, down and on Cita's Back for her third time with a human on her back, all made for a thoroughly well rounded day.......

The dogs are snoring and chasing Dream Rabbits, worn out, but happy from Another grand adventure.......
Exploring new trails....My favorite part!
Having fun with good buddies......My Favorite part!
Riding horses in snow storms.....My favorite part!
Hard/soft Tacos......My favorite part!
no, wait....
Tai peanut noodles with Prawns.....my favorite part!
Long trotting horses out for an hour...........my favorite part!
Looking at dream properties...my favorite part!

Being blessed with the company of great friends, great animals, loving family an amazing job and home?.........DEFINITELY my favorite part.........:)

Thanks for the Great Visit Bucka!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hot of the Press!

2010-01-29T21:55:00.000-08:00

Well, after thinking about this since last summer, and thinking about accommodation, and thinking about offering variety, and thinking networking with like minded folks........its booked!

This is a cabin at the 7 Half Diamond Ranch just the other side of Merritt. It is an amazing spot, with over 800 acres of GPSed trails, massive arena, two lakes (fishing and swimming) a salon, and the sweetest cabins ever. Fully furnished, sleeping 4-6 with decks over looking the fully shaded and treed horse pens....it is custom made for Fun with your Horses!I have two camp dates booked, July 5-8 and August 20 -23, and size will be limited to 4 people giving the maximum attention and ability to really focus in on specific tasks without getting lost in the crowd. As well, I aim to keep it relaxing...with trail time mixed with learning....no burning out allowed!
Everything is included, except you will have to provide and cook your own meals in the fully equipped kitchen, and bbq in the 'Saloon' last night. 5 nights, 4 days.....price not yet confirmed, but approximately $800.00, plus GST
Check out their website www.guestranchbc.com

And for those of you who came and loved last years Dot Ranch Camps....with its soon to be Infamous Swimming Hole.....no worries! I am currently organizing dates for those as well and as always, if you and a couple friends want some serious one on one, small scale fun and horsemanship, custom camps are totally welcome as well. Earlier booking will help me better serve both our needs and woooooo-hoooooo! With this fabulous weather it is so easy to be thinking about summer again!

I will update the website and keep things freshly posted as I firm up the details here.....