Liberty breakthrough

Theres only one word I can say to explain how I feel... Gloating! I cant wipe the smile off my face right now!
I've been slowly doing more liberty with Bella, but when she left me I could never get her back again.. and I knew it was something I was doing!! It sure was because today sue helped me a bit in the round pen getting my body in a better position. Before the way I was, I was basically just driving her forward and she was blowing me off! Well I got myself organized and SHE CAME TO ME!!!!! The first time she ever has after leaving me! So I would start to go through the games(friendly and driving) and if she left I would start all over again. Each time it would take less and less for her to come back to me and then finally she stuck to me and we walked stopped and backed up! And all of this was one with a trailer entering the yard,and a new horse coming outside the round pen.
Today we also accomplished the tire, ball(on back, bouncing around, pushing, bouncing against), tarp, logs, backing up better and through things and probably more! There was SOOO many things we did today and she was amazing!
She is my dream horse even if it's taking me FOREVER to realize this!
Then to end the day off we had a mini tournament it went as follows!
1. Back up while weaving through 5 cones
2. Sit in a chair back your horse up send them out for a circle bring back
3. Stand in a circle and put the massive soccer ball on your horses back
4. Send over a tarp
5. Put a Hula Hoop over your horses head and spin it
6. 1/2 Back up a figure Eight pattern using barrels
7. Send over cavelleties
8. Walk through an 'L' shape then back up through it
9. Jump barrels laying down
10. Side pass Mini Barrels laying down while in Zone 1
11. Put one front and one back on two diffent mats on the ground at the same time
12. Finish

I DID IT!!!

I've been pretty sick lately Sunday I got out of bed only for a friend to give my horse 1 of the 2 shots she needed.
Today was the day to give her the second one, I've neveer really given a shot before. I've practised sticking them in there butt but never given on in the neck. But I've seen it MANY times, and since Im feeling betterish today I decided that I would go out and give it to her.
I was freaking out inside... Because I was scared I was going to hurt her more then I wanted or Kill her.
Well My lovely LBI Mare was with me today and slept as I stood there telling myself I could do it.. I stood there for probably half an hour :oops:
But finally I went for it but I pulled it out right away because I scared myself, she just kept standing there as I rubbed her.
I did it again and got half of the injection in and Im not sure what happend but I took it out again... :roll: SO I rubbed her again and I guess third times a charm cuz ther other half went in and she jumped a bit so I left it in for about 5 secounds untill she relaxed pulled it out and rubbed her and gave her some grain!

To know that I can give her a needle myself if I ever needed to makes me feel much better.

Just goes to show Prior and Proper preperation makes a big big difference!
ugh.. I love my horse to death! :mrgreen:

Good day

I stayed on :P haha
So kim and nicole were heading to the ring so I joined them to ride and see how bella would do. I had the horsemans reins and bareback pad and off we went. Because of some of her past episodes of 'attacking' passing horses I just walked for a bit smacked her once when i could feel her shift towards fonzie but that was it! They were loping by, we were walk, trotting and canter and NOTHING!!! I was so happy. I dont know what changed her from doing this, Maybe me being more of her leader now then I was before??? I dunno!
When they left, I asked her for another canter and I was going to be done but she exploded did a 180 and started to run! YIKES! She went a bit right brained on me. I softly turned her into a circle and brought her down to a stop and waited until she relaxed and asked for a walk. She started to trot and i could feel she was a bit tense. So I started playing the friendly game in zone 1 with the bit which we were taught to do at the clinic. I though this would make me completly relaxed get her to relax and in rythem together and it sure did. we walked a lap switched direction and I started to ask her to strech her head down and back out and she seemed to know EXACTLY what I wanted and did it and started to blow out and I could feel her whole body relax.
so I asked her to trot while still playing the friendly game and started to ask her to put her head down and again she relaxed herself not as much as the walk but I still felt it!

Now I cannot WAIT for the parelli clinic!

Level 4 Goals

ONLINE "Can Do":
-One foot on an object
-Bounce Ball on horse
-Swing rope or Carrot stick and string overhead, Standing in zone 5
-Play Friendly Game in Zone 1 to Zone 5
-Slap ground six times with carrot stick from zone 5

ONLINE "Not Savvy Yet":
-flying Changes of Direction at canter
-flank rope, 12 foot line
-Decreasing and increasing circles
-Lead backwards by tail using just a few hairs(min ten steps)
-Long reins, transitions between gaits.
-Select leadss at canter
-10-20 laps
-back-up 1-2 laps, 12 foot line
-Spin and go
-Half Pass
-Sideways towards you medium to fast
-Sideways over a barrel or log, yield away and toward
-jump upright barrels or double down barrels(according to ability of horse)
-trailer load from the rear tire
-Backwards under tarp
-Stop over log or barrel(halfway)
-Straddle a pole lengthwise

____________________________________________________
LIBERTY "Can Do":


LIBERTY "Not Savvy Yet":
-Horse comes positively to you at trot or canter
-Single spin slow
-Change direction at walk
-Sideways towards
-Sideways from zone 1
-Extreme Zone 4 and 5
-Close range 360's
-Games 4,5,6 and 7 with obstacles
-lead Backwards by tail, make turns
-Exuberant draw
-Draw backwards from zone 5
-Halt to canter transitions
-Transitions walk to canter
-10-20 laps(canter)
-Change of direction at canter with flying change(left and right)
-Circle close, walk or trot
-Backwards half a lap
-Trailer load at walk or trot
-Half way over barrel and sideways towards

________________________________________________________
FREESTYLE "Can Do"(*Done with Carrot stick and neck string):


FREESTYLE "Not Savvy Yet":
-Simple Changes
-Swing carrot stick or rope
-Drag something
-Carry a bucket
-Hold tail over shoulder
-Use fingertips to guide horse(walk)
-Seat to back up (no legs or stick)
-"Spin" two 360 revolutions, medium speed
-Canter and Back up with two carrot sticks
-Transitions: Walk-trot-canter-halt-back-up(2 sticks)
-Arms folded, canter for two laps
-Flying change
-Figure-8 (with one stick)
-Fast canter/slow canter
-Sideways bridleless
-20' sideways bridleless
-Jump Barrels laying down (min 3 feet)
-Butterfly
-2 sticks

_________________________________________________________
FINESSE "Can Do"

FINESSE "Not Savvy Yet"
-Soft feel at canter
-Leg yields at canter
-Jingle Bell Stops
-Slow-Medium-fast walk,trot,canter
-Rock your horse
-Small circles(6-8 meters), walk-trot-canter
-In and outs(sideways)
-Shoulder In, Haunches In(taverns), Renvers
-Half pass, 20 meters
-10 meters zig zags at canter with flying changes
-Counter Arc
-Half pirouette, walk

Level 3 Goals

ONLINE "Can Do":
-extreme helicopter
-stand on pedestal
-hind feet on pedestal
-Stick to Me
-one hind leg and one front leg over a pole
-'s' patterns
-falling leaf
-sideways along log or fence, keep your feet still
-sideways over barrel or log
-trailer load
-ball on horse
-one foot on a pole
-lead backwards by hind leg

ONLINE "Not Savvy Yet":
-rub and shake flag
-massage with clippers
-lead backwards by tail
-lead by chin
-simple change of direction at canter
-hold tongue
-lead by mane
-jump towards you, stop and back to obstacle
-walk, trot, canter transitions
-obstacles, hills, maintain gait
-forwards under a low hanging tarp
-trailer load from fender
-sideways towards you slow
-Drive from Zone 5 (one rein)
-back and draw towards you on 45 foot line
-lead by ear
-massage inside ear
-toothpick on neck, turns neck toward you
-point A to point B on 45 foot line
-6-10 laps at canter
-sideways fast
-jumps to 3 feet, multiple obstacles

____________________________________________________
LIBERTY "Can Do":
-move hind end
-draw at walk

LIBERTY "Not Savvy Yet":
-horse comes to you willingly
-extreme Friendly in Zone 1, 2, and 3
-lead backwards by tail
-Stick to Me at canter
-Stick to Me transitions (w, t, c, halt, back up)
-walk, trot, and canter on a circle
-3 laps with a barrel
-sideways slow
-single spin
-change direction at trot
-squeeze over barrel
-all 7 Games at liberty
-stand on tarp
-yo yo transitions (w, t, c, halt, back up)
-lead by ear, chin
-lead backwards by hind leg
-sideways over barrel or log
-6-10 laps (trot and canter)
-simple change of direction at the canter

________________________________________________________
FREESTYLE "Can Do":


FREESTYLE "Not Savvy Yet" (*most of these are with 2 carrot sticks, no reins):
-lateral flexion
-canter 4 circle laps with sticks on shoulders, with less than 1 correction per lap
-20' sideways without a fence
-jump a 12-18" log, turn, face, and wait
-passenger lesson at canter
-bridle and unbridle from horse's back
-trail ride
-canter, stop and get off
-back up and turn using string around neck
-refined direct and indirect rein
-transitions (halt, walk, trot, canter)
-canter 4 circle laps with casual reins, no less than 2 corrections per lap
-simple lead change, bowtie pattern
-walk, trot, canter
-full turn
-disengage hindquarters
-sideways over an obstacle
-sideways with 2 sticks

Level 2 Goals

Online Savvy:
-Rub hind legs with carrot stick
-Stand in Z3 and toss rope over head and back, front legs, hind legs, helicopter
-Scratch itchy spots around udder, sheath
-Massage Tail
-Move Sideways(keep feet still)
-Lift and lean by front leg
-Teach horse to stand on 3 legs(hold each leg up for 30 secounds)
-Pick up four feet from one side
-Lift tail
-Point A to Point B 22-foot line
-Stick to me at walk and trot, Zone 2
-HQ & FQ yeilds 360 degrees
-Back and forth from Zone 3
-Back into/out of stall, Put halter up
-travelling circles
-Obstacles and maintain gait
-logs/barrels look where you are going
-2-4 laps w/o breaking gait at walk and trot
-Sideways without fence
-through 3 foot gap
-Zone 3 next to trailer
-Ball; Move and bounce, while walking away
-Cross Tarp
-Over a pole
-Front feet on pedestal
-Sideways medium speed
-Sideways over a pole or log
-Jumps to 2 foot 6inches(barrels)


Online Not Savvy yet:
-Tap to lift feet
-Yo-yo up and down hills
-4-6 laps trot/canter
-Change Direction at trot
-Flapping rain coat
-Umbrella opening and closing
-Sideways to fence(for mounting)


Liberty Savvy:
-Horse Faces you and approaches you in stall or paddock
-Lower head
-Lift Tail
-Pick up feet
-Friendly with stick and ropes
-Lead with your hands on neck/jaw
-Move front end over
-Back horse away
-Drive backwards 12 feet
-Drive front end
-drive hindquarters

Liberty Not Savvy Yet:
-Transitions: walk,trot
-4 to 6 laps circling
-Walk and trot
-Squeeze 3-foot gap
-stick to me at walk and trot

Freestyle Savvy:
-Swing legs
-Rub horse with raincoat(put on and take off)
-Toss rein over head
-Swing carrot stick
-rub legs with carrot stick
-Passanger lesson at trot
-Mount fence
-Back up 10 steps(9 step back up)
-Bounce the rein to back up
-turn with carrot stick, walk and trot
-Lift, hold to stop and back up
-Transitions:walk, trot
-Circle with casual rein, 4 laps at walk and trot(right and left)
-Change direction at walk
-Ride through a narrow space(gate)
-Disengage with carrot stick as support(360 degrees)

Freestyle Not Savvy Yet:
-Back up using your legs
-Walk, trot over a small log(12-18")
-Turn, face and wait. Repeat
-Sideways 20'(facing fence)
-Open a gate
-Lateral Flexion, 1 stick

Finesse Savvy:
-Walk-trot transitions

Finesse Not Savvy Yet:
-Soft feel at halt and walk
-Leg yields at walk
-Back thru a corner
-Legs to support back up(barely visible)
-Large circles(20-25 meters), walk and trot
-Sidepass 10 meters
-45 degrees off fence, walk

Level 1 Goals- Completely Savvy

Online Savvy:
-Rub horse all over with carrot stick(hind legs optional)
-Toss Rope/carrot stick and string over neck and back 6 times, horse relaxed(no tension) and standing still
-Massage front legs
-Haltering with savvy
-Move forehand and HQ full circle
-Back up from nose(zone 1) and chest(zone 2)
-Lower head
-Point A to Point B, 12-foot line, zone 2
-Draw towards you, flowing hands on rope
-Backwards from chest
-Back and forwards through gate
-Walk, back up(keep horse out of personal space, teach to stop and yield)
-Slowly sideways with a fence, both ways
-Squeese through 4 foot gap
-Sniff the trailer

Online Not savvy Yet:
None! YAY!

Liberty Savvy:
-Horse faces up, stands still to be approached in stall, pen or paddock

Liberty Not Savvy Yet:
None! YAY!

Freestyle Savvy:
-Preflight Check
-Rub horse all over
-Lateral flexion, rub face
-Passenger lesson at walk
-Stop with 1 rein and get off
-Trombone
-Mount horse from both sides
-Lateral flexion, hold untill relazed
-Indirect Rein to disengage Hindquarters(360), Direct rein(90)
-Figure-8's at walk with casual rein

Freestyle Not Savvy Yet:
None! YAY!

Finesse Savvy:
-Soft touch with open fingers
-9 Step back up
-Open a gate

Finesse Not Savvy yet:
None! YAY!