Goals: Review & Refinment

JANUARY: Review & Refine

If you are reading this and live in California you know that most of the state is getting hit with rain and (depending on where you are) snow. We live in the Sierra Foothills right at the snow line so we have been betting BOTH. Yes, some days it is rain and some days it is snow and some days it is both. Add to this the simple fact that we took a much needed vacation over the Yules Holidays (spent Christmas in the Carolinas and New Years in Connecticut and New York). So, in short, between the weather and our vacation ALL the horses got a month off.

This last weekend everyone got new shoes (Ronan and Cearra) and trims (Argent). Then it was play time. The sun was out and the temps were chilly. We did some playing on and off the lead line and reconnected. Learned a couple new things and simply enjoyed the break in the weather and the soft loam footing in the “day pasture.” We had friends come up for the weekend so the horses got lots of treats and attention. Cearra “played” with some younger kids and enjoyed packing them around on the lead line.

Saturday was a “Two-fer” day. We did some round pen skills review in the morning and made sure all the major body parts were loose. We reviewed the “cues and control” of those body parts. Dealt with a “I just wanna cuddle” attitude and in realtivly short order got back in the working out groove. Later that day it was more time with the younger kids and doing some under saddle work (at the walk mostly because our riding area is REALLY muddy) around the trail/obstacle course. Cearra did well and retained 95% of what we had learned up to this point. Not bad for a month off. She was willing and actually eager to get back to it. Good time.

Sunday was more of the same. The expectation was that she would perform as well on Sunday as she did on Saturday. The goal was to try and get things “incrementally better” and this was achieved. Between ground work, riding and playing with the kids she had a great day.

Monday we added some “next level” exercises and expectations to Cearra’s performance. We took her out of her comfort zone a little bit (remember she had almost a full month off). A small (like really small) protest happened about a third of the way through the session but went away quickly with a clear correction. Then it was business as usual. Not bad at all.

Tuesday saw us at it again first thing after breakfast. This was a shorter session because of “life’s schedule) but very productive. We ended on some nice wins (because you never end on a bad note – ever) and had a good session. Treats and a vigorous grooming session was the reward.

Now we are facing another 5 to 7 days of rain and snow. Sigh.

The plan for January is to review and refine all that we have learned up to this point. Cearra is working with some new folks as a Teacher’s Aid in a horsemanship workshop on the 28^th. Should be a good time. February starts the horsemanship club practice season so we’ll be hauling to different places and exposing her to a variety of new experiences. She just needs miles under her hooves and the confidence that it brings. The process is not a quick one but the reward is very much worth it. We may start showing her to potential families in February as well. As we mentioned we are being VERY particular about her possible new family. We have given the “no thank you” to several already. You have to listen to your instincts sometimes. If the horse and the human don’t click then move on. Of course she has attached herself to our hearts so we may have to have a neutral third party help with the decision of who is the “right family.”

Review, refine and being as consistent as Life and Weather allow. That is the goal this month!