Yesterday morning in remuda's our group did a lot of simulations with Trevor. It was really good fun, and very interesting too. We learned how to teach spins in the round pen as well as problem solving and practicing things like change of direction. We also played a very large circling game, where everyone in the group was a horse and trevor was the person in the middle. Everyone felt very different things from him doing the same thing. Very interesting.
Classroom session, aka demo session was all about sideways and squeeze. Megan went through that with her horse Nexus, and then we had problem solving with Terra. Megan came in again to do a inspirational demo. Her horse loves to jump, and boy can he jump high!
In the afternoon there were a couple of workshops set up, one of which was swimming! Well....getting your horse in the pond really. A few horses swam, but not many. Dusty went in, turned and looked at me, and said 'What now?!' He's definately been there, done it and got the T-shirt!
Just after dinner a few of us noticed a loose horse out in the meadow, and went out to investigate. Turns out that loose horse was Allure, and he was following Linda and Remmer up to the lodge. So, we all went and talked to Linda, and thanked her many many times, for loads of different things. Everyone got frisked by Allure...he's a very funny character. I think Linda will be around more in the coming week to do demo's etc. At least she said we'll see more of her next week!:-D
After that i decided to go to the hot springs again with a few people....it's heavenly! I wish i had one of those at home!!! hehe
Today is the final day of the first 2 weeks! It feels like we've been here for so long, but that time has passed so quickly! We have remuda's, and then what they call the finale! No idea what that will be like.
El xx
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Thursday 29th
This week is going SOOOOO fast! Last week was very slow, but i don't know where the days have gone this week. Crazy!
Anyway, yesterday was a good and exciting day. We had remuda's, and had trailer loading demo's. After that we went to the small coverall to get lessons on the circling game. Kristi demonstrated with her horsey Olay. Then John did problem solving with 3 different horses, so that we could get some more arrows for our quiver.
After lunch we had a VERY exciting special guest......Pat Parelli and Casper! Pat gave us a talk on the circling game, and used Casper for demo, and of course did some inspirational stuff too! It was fab. Apparently Pat doesn't do those kind of demo's anymore so that was really cool. And it was cool to see Casper seeing as he doesn't go out on the road anymore.
That was followed by our play session with our horses. I had a great session, apart from the fact i got a learn burn. I had a 50% chance of being right, and i was wrong! Oh well. The rest of the session was great though. Played circling at liberty, and sat on a barrel in the middle. We did transitions, and change of direction whilst i was on the barrel, that was SO cool. Then we had a little play with increasing his confidence with zone 5 driving, and we managed to canter and come back to a back up from zone 5. Dead chuffed!
Also, i didn't have a lot of respect out in the meadow field, so i had to make a game out of grass eating. So, i sent him on a circle, and every time he thought about eating grass i'd change direction. He soon got the idea it was much harder to try and eat than it was to just maintain his responsibilities.
Last night was cool too. We had a campfire with Pat. Megan(faculty), Sam(ranch crew), Nicole(tour team) and Jake(tour team) also joined Pat on guitars. We had a evening of sing alongs, and general fun. I really enjoyed that.
I'm gonna scoot now. Remember i need to know asap if you want that discount to come here!!!!
Take care,
Elle xxx
Anyway, yesterday was a good and exciting day. We had remuda's, and had trailer loading demo's. After that we went to the small coverall to get lessons on the circling game. Kristi demonstrated with her horsey Olay. Then John did problem solving with 3 different horses, so that we could get some more arrows for our quiver.
After lunch we had a VERY exciting special guest......Pat Parelli and Casper! Pat gave us a talk on the circling game, and used Casper for demo, and of course did some inspirational stuff too! It was fab. Apparently Pat doesn't do those kind of demo's anymore so that was really cool. And it was cool to see Casper seeing as he doesn't go out on the road anymore.
That was followed by our play session with our horses. I had a great session, apart from the fact i got a learn burn. I had a 50% chance of being right, and i was wrong! Oh well. The rest of the session was great though. Played circling at liberty, and sat on a barrel in the middle. We did transitions, and change of direction whilst i was on the barrel, that was SO cool. Then we had a little play with increasing his confidence with zone 5 driving, and we managed to canter and come back to a back up from zone 5. Dead chuffed!
Also, i didn't have a lot of respect out in the meadow field, so i had to make a game out of grass eating. So, i sent him on a circle, and every time he thought about eating grass i'd change direction. He soon got the idea it was much harder to try and eat than it was to just maintain his responsibilities.
Last night was cool too. We had a campfire with Pat. Megan(faculty), Sam(ranch crew), Nicole(tour team) and Jake(tour team) also joined Pat on guitars. We had a evening of sing alongs, and general fun. I really enjoyed that.
I'm gonna scoot now. Remember i need to know asap if you want that discount to come here!!!!
Take care,
Elle xxx
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Wednesday 28th
Hi everyone,
Sorry i haven't posted for a while...been busy. The weekend was pretty relaxing...i was SO tired. Sunday night a few of us went to the hot springs which was amazing. I could have stayed there forever, apart from the fact i was turning into a prune!!!
Monday's theme was the principle games, so games 1,2 and 3. We played with these, and played with giving them purpose, and also playing at liberty. I realised a lot of things that day. Some things were about me, and some things were about my relationship with a horse at home.
Yesterday was all about the yo-yo game. We also had a chance to play zone 5 driving with 2 reins in our remuda's with conga horses, which was fun. Again, we went out and played with giving the yo-yo game a purpose. That is the main theme for this whole week- purpose!
I really learned about 'Cause your idea to be your horses idea, but understand their idea first' yesterday. I kept thinking about stopping Dusty from eating grass, then Terra suggested i try switching sides and driving him back where i wanted him, so that he found my idea much easier than drifing off to eat grass. Obvious really, but isn't that the same with everything!
We also played volleyball on monday night...hilarious. I really cannot play volleyball....... However, i have another 4 weeks to get good at it!
Finally, we had a Q&A session yesterday with John Barr, faculty head, about anything to do with Parelli other than horsemanship. At the end of it, we were all given gift certificates which gave us a discount to a 2 week course, a 4 week course and a 6 week course. This doesn't happen often, and I would like to offer these discounts to anyone who wants to come to the center this year.
The discounts are
2 weeks- $738
4 weeks-$1475
6 weeks- $1991
These gift certificates are only valid until May 31st, so please contact me straight away if you would love this chance to be where i am...at the centre of it all...for less! You need to let me know before the 31st so that i can hand the form in!
Gotta go to remuda now,
Take care,
Elle x
Sorry i haven't posted for a while...been busy. The weekend was pretty relaxing...i was SO tired. Sunday night a few of us went to the hot springs which was amazing. I could have stayed there forever, apart from the fact i was turning into a prune!!!
Monday's theme was the principle games, so games 1,2 and 3. We played with these, and played with giving them purpose, and also playing at liberty. I realised a lot of things that day. Some things were about me, and some things were about my relationship with a horse at home.
Yesterday was all about the yo-yo game. We also had a chance to play zone 5 driving with 2 reins in our remuda's with conga horses, which was fun. Again, we went out and played with giving the yo-yo game a purpose. That is the main theme for this whole week- purpose!
I really learned about 'Cause your idea to be your horses idea, but understand their idea first' yesterday. I kept thinking about stopping Dusty from eating grass, then Terra suggested i try switching sides and driving him back where i wanted him, so that he found my idea much easier than drifing off to eat grass. Obvious really, but isn't that the same with everything!
We also played volleyball on monday night...hilarious. I really cannot play volleyball....... However, i have another 4 weeks to get good at it!
Finally, we had a Q&A session yesterday with John Barr, faculty head, about anything to do with Parelli other than horsemanship. At the end of it, we were all given gift certificates which gave us a discount to a 2 week course, a 4 week course and a 6 week course. This doesn't happen often, and I would like to offer these discounts to anyone who wants to come to the center this year.
The discounts are
2 weeks- $738
4 weeks-$1475
6 weeks- $1991
These gift certificates are only valid until May 31st, so please contact me straight away if you would love this chance to be where i am...at the centre of it all...for less! You need to let me know before the 31st so that i can hand the form in!
Gotta go to remuda now,
Take care,
Elle x
Friday, May 23, 2008
Friday 23rd
Hey guys!
This morning i woke up and saw frost on all the trees just higher than the ranch. That was cool. It was hella cold at night, but in the morning it was a lot better. However, weather got worse during the day-it snowed all of today.
So, we started off with goup remuda again, and then we did a classroom session on human horsenalities, and we tried to figure out where we ended up on the chart. That was very interesting, and also a bit difficult for some people, me included. After that we had a trailer loading session in the big coverall, followed by a workshop which focussed on assertiveness. The aim was to see if we could go up our phases, and not get aggressive. Also just to see what happened. We also had some rope skills tasks to try out, which were pretty fun.
It was around 5 by the time we finished that, so i got Dusty out and took him for some grazing, and to dry off in the big top(the big coverall). Woah! I am totally changing my mind about this horse. He is very LBE, and it is so much fun! He rears, strikes, jumps through the air etc etc. It's awesome!
I've also got some new card games to show you guys when i get home :-) They are very fun, a little dangerous at times though.
Apparently the weather might get better on Sunday. We're off to go do laundry, shopping, and visit the hot springs tomorrow i think. We can also get a bit of a lie in...woohoo! Though i wake up around 5.30 whether we have alarms or not!
In answer to your question Shells, we have a few different areas. There is the savvy park, which is a few acres and has obstacles, and a LARGE pond, then there is the small coverall, which i guess you can fit 2 or 3 50ft round pens in... Then there is the playground, which is pretty big, the big top, the grande arena, which is the huge sand arena you see in dvd's and such, and finally 'the meadow' i think they call it. That's pretty big too. So, there's lots of space, and we can use all of it. I will try and take some overview pictures to bring home. I will try and remember to take my camera with me this weekend!
Have a great playday everyone who will be at Bankhead! I look forward to hearing about it.
It's a little cold to be staying in the pc room for long, so im gonna head back to the lodge. Take care,
Elle xxxx
This morning i woke up and saw frost on all the trees just higher than the ranch. That was cool. It was hella cold at night, but in the morning it was a lot better. However, weather got worse during the day-it snowed all of today.
So, we started off with goup remuda again, and then we did a classroom session on human horsenalities, and we tried to figure out where we ended up on the chart. That was very interesting, and also a bit difficult for some people, me included. After that we had a trailer loading session in the big coverall, followed by a workshop which focussed on assertiveness. The aim was to see if we could go up our phases, and not get aggressive. Also just to see what happened. We also had some rope skills tasks to try out, which were pretty fun.
It was around 5 by the time we finished that, so i got Dusty out and took him for some grazing, and to dry off in the big top(the big coverall). Woah! I am totally changing my mind about this horse. He is very LBE, and it is so much fun! He rears, strikes, jumps through the air etc etc. It's awesome!
I've also got some new card games to show you guys when i get home :-) They are very fun, a little dangerous at times though.
Apparently the weather might get better on Sunday. We're off to go do laundry, shopping, and visit the hot springs tomorrow i think. We can also get a bit of a lie in...woohoo! Though i wake up around 5.30 whether we have alarms or not!
In answer to your question Shells, we have a few different areas. There is the savvy park, which is a few acres and has obstacles, and a LARGE pond, then there is the small coverall, which i guess you can fit 2 or 3 50ft round pens in... Then there is the playground, which is pretty big, the big top, the grande arena, which is the huge sand arena you see in dvd's and such, and finally 'the meadow' i think they call it. That's pretty big too. So, there's lots of space, and we can use all of it. I will try and take some overview pictures to bring home. I will try and remember to take my camera with me this weekend!
Have a great playday everyone who will be at Bankhead! I look forward to hearing about it.
It's a little cold to be staying in the pc room for long, so im gonna head back to the lodge. Take care,
Elle xxxx
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
May 21st
Today was a very full day... I am pretty brain dead, but i guess that's a good thing!
This morning started again with our Remuda's, where we talked a bit and did some more games. We played the communication game. That was a lot of fun, and involved a lot of giggling. We also did some classwork on strategies for the different horsenalities, and then had demo's following on from that.
Mark Weiler came to talk to us today after lunch. A few of us already chatted to him last night, but the whole group had a chance to ask questions today. It was very interesting to listen to him, and also very exciting! There is going to be some cool stuff happening this year. Sadly i can't tell you, but be excited!!!
After that we went out and played with our horses. It was a pretty windy and dusty day. The dust flying around is not a lot of fun i can tell you, but hey, nevermind. I discovered i thought i had a LBI, but actually had a mostly LBE today, which was really cool. He reminded me a lot of Frankie today.. hmm how interesting! In the good ways though. I seemed to be able to get him pretty motivated, which was really cool. I think i will try the 45ft line tomorrow and see if we can progress to getting more respect on longer lines. This week is still observation, and i'm trying very hard to observe, remember and compare everything. We have been asked to determine our horses horsenality in different situations, i.e. learning situation, herd situation, new environments etc.
That's it for today folks! Take care and keep it natural!
Elle xxxxx
This morning started again with our Remuda's, where we talked a bit and did some more games. We played the communication game. That was a lot of fun, and involved a lot of giggling. We also did some classwork on strategies for the different horsenalities, and then had demo's following on from that.
Mark Weiler came to talk to us today after lunch. A few of us already chatted to him last night, but the whole group had a chance to ask questions today. It was very interesting to listen to him, and also very exciting! There is going to be some cool stuff happening this year. Sadly i can't tell you, but be excited!!!
After that we went out and played with our horses. It was a pretty windy and dusty day. The dust flying around is not a lot of fun i can tell you, but hey, nevermind. I discovered i thought i had a LBI, but actually had a mostly LBE today, which was really cool. He reminded me a lot of Frankie today.. hmm how interesting! In the good ways though. I seemed to be able to get him pretty motivated, which was really cool. I think i will try the 45ft line tomorrow and see if we can progress to getting more respect on longer lines. This week is still observation, and i'm trying very hard to observe, remember and compare everything. We have been asked to determine our horses horsenality in different situations, i.e. learning situation, herd situation, new environments etc.
That's it for today folks! Take care and keep it natural!
Elle xxxxx
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
May 20th
So today i learned a few things...
Dusty is what they call an Appendix horse, which is a thoroughbred x quarter horse, so that's cool. He's also 21 years old!!! He doesn't look it, or seem it.
This morning we looked at horsenalities in the classroom, and had a couple of demo's and simulations relating to each horsenality. It was very interesting to simulate what to do for a RBI and RBE...and what not to do! :-D
Pat and Linda came home last night, and Pat and Caton came in to the classroom this morning to say hey! That was hella cool. He told us a bit about the ranch, how it started and got to how it was today and all that.
This afternoon we had workshops. Basically we had 4 different stations, with an obstacle at each, for example, a ball and a tarp. The faculty were around to help us read the horses and find out what strategy to use to help us. I had a really great afternoon with Dusty. We didn't really do much, but what we did, i was able to observe and remember, and compare to previous days. So that was cool. It's very difficult really making myself just observe...and to not ask too much of him. The point is not to go through the games this week, it's to observe his behaviour and really understand his horsenality. I also hung around to watch some of the faculty play with their horses, which is, of course, very inspiring.
That's about it for today! If there is anything small that anyone would like from the parelli shop, email me privately, and i will see if i can get it organised :-) They still have some iron on logo's. They are quite large...the 'Savvy' one and the parelli with horseheads one. Anyway, let me know. Saves on postage.
Elle xxxxx
Dusty is what they call an Appendix horse, which is a thoroughbred x quarter horse, so that's cool. He's also 21 years old!!! He doesn't look it, or seem it.
This morning we looked at horsenalities in the classroom, and had a couple of demo's and simulations relating to each horsenality. It was very interesting to simulate what to do for a RBI and RBE...and what not to do! :-D
Pat and Linda came home last night, and Pat and Caton came in to the classroom this morning to say hey! That was hella cool. He told us a bit about the ranch, how it started and got to how it was today and all that.
This afternoon we had workshops. Basically we had 4 different stations, with an obstacle at each, for example, a ball and a tarp. The faculty were around to help us read the horses and find out what strategy to use to help us. I had a really great afternoon with Dusty. We didn't really do much, but what we did, i was able to observe and remember, and compare to previous days. So that was cool. It's very difficult really making myself just observe...and to not ask too much of him. The point is not to go through the games this week, it's to observe his behaviour and really understand his horsenality. I also hung around to watch some of the faculty play with their horses, which is, of course, very inspiring.
That's about it for today! If there is anything small that anyone would like from the parelli shop, email me privately, and i will see if i can get it organised :-) They still have some iron on logo's. They are quite large...the 'Savvy' one and the parelli with horseheads one. Anyway, let me know. Saves on postage.
Elle xxxxx
Monday, May 19, 2008
May 19th
Hey guys,
So today was our first day! It was hella cool. Had a lot of fun.
Oops, rewind. Yesterday afternoon we met our lease horses....
We were split into 2 groups, one of 5 and one of 4. Each group was sent into a roundpen, with the equivalent number of horses in each. I went in and sat down, and immediately 3 chestnut horses came over to investigate me. They stayed for about 5 mins, checking me out, nibbling me, sniffing me etc. Then this big grey horse walked over and the others buggered off... The grey horse stuck. I found his itchy places, and we were told that if the horses followed us if we walked away, we could halter them up.
When i had him out the pen, Avery came and introduced me to my horse. His name is Dusty. He is the same Dusty as many of you will have seen in DVD's. Anyway, he's fab! I love him to bits already. He whickers when i walk towards his pen, and loves to stand and chill out with me, preferably with grass.
This afternoon we spent shadowing our horses. Dusty likes to eat....a lot. He doesn't have many other ideas apart from eating... At least i have found his motivation! I was just getting to know him today basically, so i'll post more again when i learn some new things or whatever. Right now we're being told to mainly observe the horses.
So, that's it for today. We have a lot of free time, so i might end up posting everyday...we'll see.
Elle xx
So today was our first day! It was hella cool. Had a lot of fun.
Oops, rewind. Yesterday afternoon we met our lease horses....
We were split into 2 groups, one of 5 and one of 4. Each group was sent into a roundpen, with the equivalent number of horses in each. I went in and sat down, and immediately 3 chestnut horses came over to investigate me. They stayed for about 5 mins, checking me out, nibbling me, sniffing me etc. Then this big grey horse walked over and the others buggered off... The grey horse stuck. I found his itchy places, and we were told that if the horses followed us if we walked away, we could halter them up.
When i had him out the pen, Avery came and introduced me to my horse. His name is Dusty. He is the same Dusty as many of you will have seen in DVD's. Anyway, he's fab! I love him to bits already. He whickers when i walk towards his pen, and loves to stand and chill out with me, preferably with grass.
This afternoon we spent shadowing our horses. Dusty likes to eat....a lot. He doesn't have many other ideas apart from eating... At least i have found his motivation! I was just getting to know him today basically, so i'll post more again when i learn some new things or whatever. Right now we're being told to mainly observe the horses.
So, that's it for today. We have a lot of free time, so i might end up posting everyday...we'll see.
Elle xx
Sunday, May 18, 2008
May 18th
Hi everyone!
I'm finally here!!! It is absolutely amazing. I was lost for words when i arrived. I almost cried too, no idea why though.
I've pretty much settled in, my cabin is pretty cool, and i'm sharing with Alice, a swedish girl and an american girl. There are approx. 65 people on the first 2 weeks. I had a chat with Kristi, one of the faculty at lunch. There will be 10 instructors! I think we'll get our fair share of attention!
We have orientation in around 30 mins, and after that i think we meet our lease horses. Yay! It's pretty warm here, and i can be pretty sure of getting fitter! I have a hill to walk up to get to my cabin lol.
I spent lots of money in the shop already....whoops. But i think that's me pretty much done. I've still gotta get the things for people back home, but i can do that later. If there is something you would like me to get, email me, and i can buy it, as long as you promise to pay me!!! :-p Actually...as long as you pay mum!
I reckon i'm gonna have an absolute ball here:-D
I'll post again maybe in a few days when i have more to report!! (apologies in advance if i sound american when i come home.............)
Take care!
Elle xxx
I'm finally here!!! It is absolutely amazing. I was lost for words when i arrived. I almost cried too, no idea why though.
I've pretty much settled in, my cabin is pretty cool, and i'm sharing with Alice, a swedish girl and an american girl. There are approx. 65 people on the first 2 weeks. I had a chat with Kristi, one of the faculty at lunch. There will be 10 instructors! I think we'll get our fair share of attention!
We have orientation in around 30 mins, and after that i think we meet our lease horses. Yay! It's pretty warm here, and i can be pretty sure of getting fitter! I have a hill to walk up to get to my cabin lol.
I spent lots of money in the shop already....whoops. But i think that's me pretty much done. I've still gotta get the things for people back home, but i can do that later. If there is something you would like me to get, email me, and i can buy it, as long as you promise to pay me!!! :-p Actually...as long as you pay mum!
I reckon i'm gonna have an absolute ball here:-D
I'll post again maybe in a few days when i have more to report!! (apologies in advance if i sound american when i come home.............)
Take care!
Elle xxx
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
May 14th
Don't you always find the day before you go somewhere incredibly pointless....You're packed up and ready to go...and you just have to draw the day out before you can actually go. That's how i feel right now, it sucks. As far as i know, everything is packed. I'll probably get on the plane and realise i've forgotten something, but oh well.
Had a look at the weather forecast...Looks pretty warm! :-D
I'll try and get to a pc when i've arrived, let you all know i'm safe blah blah blah. If i don't then I will post when i'm at the center.
Take care, and keep it natural!
Elle x
Had a look at the weather forecast...Looks pretty warm! :-D
I'll try and get to a pc when i've arrived, let you all know i'm safe blah blah blah. If i don't then I will post when i'm at the center.
Take care, and keep it natural!
Elle x
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
May 6th
Welcome to my blog! This time I will be keeping notes from my experience at the ISC in Colorado!
It's now only a week to go, and i'm finally getting excited! 6 weeks in horse heaven!!! I will be busy packing and watching the Liberty and Horse Behaviour pack before i go! I hope to post maybe once or twice a week. It just depends on when i get the chance to get onto a computer. So, i hope you enjoy!
Pictures may come, but that's not a promise.
Elle x
It's now only a week to go, and i'm finally getting excited! 6 weeks in horse heaven!!! I will be busy packing and watching the Liberty and Horse Behaviour pack before i go! I hope to post maybe once or twice a week. It just depends on when i get the chance to get onto a computer. So, i hope you enjoy!
Pictures may come, but that's not a promise.
Elle x
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
