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................
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....:)
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 rid
es 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.......:)
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.....
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 wil
l 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.caWell....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!
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 upd
ate 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 furth
er 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!
and its getting closer.......one more road trip, and its time to blog.....:)
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. Sometim
es 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........
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..........
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!!!!!!!!
