Friday 20th

So, sorry i haven't posted for a while...my days have been pretty full!

Tuesday was all about fluidity. We also looked at the 8 responsibilities in the classroom, and about how fluidity was part of our responsibility. Pat and Caton came along with the dogs, and Caton did an awesome awesome fluidity demo with his horse. Pat was basically telling him what to do...flying lead changes, slide stops, spins etc etc. That was very very cool to watch.

Wednesday was jumping day! We jumped 4ft jumps! I'm kidding. We jumped very small jumps, and only at the walk! We had a classroom session, then a demo with a few people on the ground and ridden, and how we can create motivation to jump. We also had another campfire that night, and Pat came along for a bit again.

Thursday was about Leadership and the parelli formula...Rapport, respect, impulsion, flexion. We also looked at the elements of change, and what we had to go through as a person to be able to change. Finally we took note of what makes a successful student. We also did some cool things on the seat builders this week. I've had a tough time being able to round my back, and i finally got it, and we've been doing excercises at the same time to be able to multitask.

Last night Tim Sullivan was playing at a bar in town, so a big group of us ended up down there and had a really fun night dancing away. I had to dance to avoid the risk of old rather creepy men asking me to dance...:-s A couple of the girls had been asked and i knew i couldn't do it, so i found friends to dance with!

Today's topic was bits and bit savvy! We also looked at the fluid rein, and had an interesting simulation and session on the seatbuilders playing with that.

Yesterday afternoon has been the best day so far! I rode Dusty bareback and bridleless in a pen, and we got halt-canter-halt transitions, with a half spin to set off in the other direction. It was awesome...so light and i didn't even have to touch the string round his neck. After that we did some chilling out, munching grass. Then we went out for a trail ride. Avery asked me along. There were only 3 others on the ride, and we did mostly trotting, and lots of uphill, downhill, transitions...everything. I cantered downhill and it felt awesome! yesterday was just a brilliant day.

There's been problems on the ranch the past few days...there's a virus going round... It began at Pat's barn, and everyone was sick for 24 hours....now it's got up here and at least 15 people have been or are very ill....So i've been taking boatloads of herbal pill things to try and boost my immune system so that i don't get whatever it is.

Tomorrow a few of us are going on a hike to find some natural hot springs...i.e. ones we dont have to pay for. And on Sunday 6 of us are going rafting!!! I can't wait. Some people are off to the Denver tour stop, but i'd prefer to hang out with my friends here. It kinda seems wierd that the only way we see Pat and Linda is to drive for 6 hours to see them at a tour stop! But oh well.

I think that's everything for this week....

Take care ya'll, keep it natural!

xxx