So, how do you like the new look?

Do y'all like the new look?  I'm still messing with it buuuuut it should be done soon!  I'll post a post about the horses and life in general when I'm done!

Old Things Have Passed... And Behold New Things Have Come...

That Bible verse (btw WHERE is it in the Bible???  I'm horrible at memorizing where it's at :P) seems to be describing my life lately...  A lot of new things are happening and I'm having to let go of the old.  And I don't want to.  You see I have issues trusting.  Let me rephrase that I have *HUGE* issues trusting...  I won't tell you why because I don't even know.  Well, I kind of do but I don't need to tell the whole world ;).  Sarah knows what I'm talking about (I think!).

So, God seems to be having fun getting my family and I to a place where we can only depend on him...  And it's *not* fun getting there.  I mean, it seems like if something bad happens it happens to my family :'(.  And the bad stuff seems to be death or *almost* death (i.e. they are dying or *might* die soon).  It's not fun or cool...  But I think that's easily understood ;).

I'll give y'all the lowdown on my family's health and mental issues later after I do a post on our new puppy and cat. I did not say anything!  lol!  The puppy should be here Friday or Sunday and the cat in 2-3 weeks :).  Remember I didn't tell you ;).

Now on a less depressing note Sonny now rears pretty high and enthusiastically ;).  I haven't worked with them much due to school but I have done a little bit of riding with Sonny.  I've also taught Sonny how to lead by his mane and he now does it pretty much 100% of the time.  Now we just need to get the lie-down/bow working :).

I've also been 'kinda' starting Liberty with Toby.  I hope to get a round pen up soon and *really* start.  He's going to LOVE it.  I have this feeling that Liberty is going to be Toby's favorite Savvy...
~Shalom, Savvy Out, and God Bless~

P.S:I'm going to be re-doing my blog *again*. I don't like it right now and the name is going to be changed to 'Paths'. I'm working on the header right now and'll put it up once I buy these papers and things that I *REALLY* want....  But until I do I've made a 'stand in' header :).

Cantering, 45' line, and Awesomeness...

As you guessed by the title I've been playing with our riding :).  I've played with other things too but I've forgotten what I've done!  And I only remember one time of riding too ;P.  I know I've done more but I just can't seem to remember what!  Except for some 45' fun :).

Riding wise I worked on our canter figure-8's bridle-less.  They're coming along slowly but surely!  I still have to use a LOT of stick but I *hope* that I'll only have to use the string by the end of August, and even then only use it sparingly...


I'm playing with the 45' again!  YAY!  lol ;)!  Sonny, Toby, and I all *LOVE* the 45'.  It's insane awesomeness!  lol!  Sonny thinks it was sent by heaven for him to run around on and fart around with ;).  He's a goober.


Toby and I are playing with using the 45' as a cordeo* and leadline playing with him doing all 7 games with out having to touch the halter (just the cordeo) :).  I think I'll play with Sonny and that today :D!  And maybe next week (or month) I'll start trying a flank-rope on them...  Hmmmm *licks lips* that's some food for thought...
~Shalom, Savvy Out, and God Bless~

PS: I'm *hoping* to make a movie soon *plus* I have an awesome idea for a post so watch out! It has something to do with Rascal Flatts ;).

More Rearing and Fun!

Sonny now rears 100% of the time (when cued, of course).  He goes about 1-2 feet off of the ground :).  I'm ecstatic to say the least.

I've also decided to not follow Parelli full-heartedly (not that I ever did).  Instead I'm going to start using less pressure and not 'ask' for things as often.  But to instead get the horse to offer them.  I'll still ask for things but I want my sessions to be more play sessions than a work session.  Parelli focuses more on the maneuver than I'd like...  It also doesn't help that they are VERY focused on money ;).  I don't mean to be rude but they are a bit money hungry :).  But they are both VERYtalented horseman and women...

Trotting totally bareback and bridleless (no cordeo* or stick) is coming along OK.  I haven't had a ton of time to play with it.  But when I do play with it he seems to be doing well :).  He (Sonny) argues a little bit (OK a bit more than a bit) but he's starting to understand that it's much more fun to listen to mom ;).  And less annoying...

Toby almost laid down on me yesterday!  I was playing with getting him to bow and he decided that it would be better if he went down on 2 knees and lie down on mommy.  We decided it would be better to stand up and bow on just one knee ;).  He though that was cool ;).  I think I've also found his play button!  I'm still playing with it, though...

The Tobster's freestyle is getting better too :).  He doesn't buck anymore!  YAY!  lol ;).  But his go button is still stuck ;).  The brake is held down all the way and I'm not sure how to ease the foot off of it without blowing him up ;).  I have the feeling that someone's also pressing full throttle on the gas.  So, we're trying to figure out how to ease one foot off of the brake and ease off of the gas pedal at the same time.  Fun, eh? I think so (and I'm not being sarcastic).  But I love a challenge.  I know, I know...  I'm weird...  No one ever said otherwise.

On a side note, I'm watching Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull right now.  I watched it last night but my papa, on my mom's side, came over so we're watching it again :).  I love the Indiana Jones movies.  Night before last we watched Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.  Good movie ;).  I know, I'm a dork ;).  But hey, I love action/romance movies *grins*.  And Indian Jones is just that :).  It doesn't hurt that they're good actors too ;).  lol.  Well I'm going to watch my movie now ;). I don't want to miss anything ;).

~Shalom, Savvy Out, and God Bless~

Bareback or Saddled? Read this post and give me YOUR preference. And a note about Everlasting Peace and Happiness...

I personally prefer bareback :).  I can stick to a horse like glue if I'm bareback.  Put me in a saddle and I can still stick like glue BUT I feel 'unconnected' and not 'there'.  I feel 'behind' their movements.


Bareback makes me feel free and 'in-touch' with nature, myself, God, and the horse.  Also, when I'm bareback and galloping around I feel like I'm out-running all of my problems.  A saddle restricts me, and my horse, too much.  When I'm upset I can just grab a cordeo* (aka a dog leash or some sort of string to put around his neck) run outside, hop on Sonny (who I call Shalom now;) ), and run away from all of my problems...  Or I can just hop up and pour out my heart to God... and ... just ... cry ...  Being bareback helps fulfill that feeling of no longer being 'of this world'.  I feel like I'm from the past.  When not many people could afford a saddle.  It makes me feel like a Native American.


To me a Native American (way back when) encompasses all that is happy, carefree, and... just ... free.  Free from stress, pain, hurt, and the hectic lifestyle we all seem to strive for today.  The money, clothes, and toys we put as god instead of THE God, Yahweh.  Notice I put the first time I said god in lower case.  That is because money, clothes, and toys do not bring an everlasting happiness (and are not THE God, Yahweh.)!  Only Yahweh* can bring an EVERLASTING peace and happiness!  Do not put all your happiness, well-being, and peace in having money, clothes, or toys.  Don't put it in other people or even your horse!  They will all let you down sooner or later!  I have experienced this first hand (and still am), and I'm only 14 years old!  I was depressed, suicidal (Suicide is THE worst sin you can commit in my opinion.  You don't have the right to take your life!  It's YAHWEH'S*!), and just tired of living.  This is all because I based my happiness on people and things that WILL LET YOU DOWN!  I can not pound this in hard enough.  If you could only learn three things in your life these are it!  To Trust Yahweh*.  To Love Yahweh*.  And to NOT BASE YOUR HAPPINESS ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN YAHWEH*!  Give Yahweh* your life before it is to late!



I'm sorry I gave y'all a lecture but this is something that everyone needs to know.  It has also been laying on my heart lately.  I've been through putting your happiness on things and it is the worst thing I've ever done.  It's taking me a looooooong time to change where my happiness comes from and I'm *still* working on it...
~Shalom, Savvy Out, and God Bless~

PS: I have a post I'm doing in the works. It should be done in about a day or two :). I may make a movie to go with it :D!

Rearing, Bowing, and the Start of a Lay Down...

I'll change this pic out with one of him bowing when I get the time so be sure to check back soon!

This morning Sonny and I had a fun 10 minute session :).  I taught him to rear on cue :).  He only gets about an inch off the ground but it was a start!  And it's also upwards!  lol!  You should have seen the look on his face when he's like 'You mean REAR!?!?!?!'  It was priceless!

I then got him to bow *almost* all the way to the ground w/out a treat!  In 2 weeks I hope to have him lying down.  I'll make a video telling y'all how to do that *and* how to teach your horse to rear ;).  If y'all want, of course :).  But you'll have to wait until I feel the Tobster is ready to be taught all of this ;).  Or I could use Sonny.  He will have just known it all already ;).

We then played.  He was bucking, rearing, and wishing he was on a 45'.  I think I've FINALLY fixed our change of direction *pretty much*.  I just need a strategy for getting him to not do a roll back but instead coming in and then back out.  But for now we'll just play :).  Although I should probably start asking him to do certain maneuvers *sheepish grin*.  Playing is just WAY to much fun!

~Shalom, Savvy Out, and God Bless~

PS: I'll add a picture in a little bit after I clean up the house :)

Toby (with a *new* picture! Woot Woot!)

How do you like the new look?  I'm digging it ;).

Toby during our session today

Today I worked with Toby on our online and freestyle :).  His online was AWESOME!  I got 1-2 laps of trot and a half a lap of canter *bug eyes*!  That is amazing for him.  He doesn't like to move much ;).  His changes of direction were really light and he looked like he was having fun :).  A HUGE plus!

When I hopped up on him he OFFERED a canter!!!!!!  It was going towards Rambo but still IT WAS A CANTER!!!!!  YAY!  He also didn't buck once ;).  I can't believe how fast he's coming along under saddle!  He's going to be a super horse for sure :).
~Shalom, Savvy Out, and God Bless~