I'm very proud of myself :).  My timing, feel, and patience levels have skyrocketed all of the sudden.  I don't know what triggered it but I'm glad something did.  It also has helped me feel happy and content when I work on the ground.  Not uptight and tense.  Whatever's working better keep working ;).

Sonny has had two sessions since I last posted.  One was last night and the other was the day before.  I'll start with the day before's.  I'm going to try writing in a more 'story' style because I think that that might help me get my feelings and what was happening down better :).

The air had a bit of a chill to it, which I was reveling in seeing how I live in Southwest FL.  My feet bare crunch on the shale driveway.  Children are playing on the trampoline and our two dairy goats are staring at them from the other side of the fence begging to be let on with them to play.  I walk into the barn, nab a featherlight and let myself into the first stall and open the back gate, calling for the horses.  Horses, goats, dogs, and cats come running.  I lean down and give the dogs a pat.  Sonny walks up asking a question.  I loop the featherlight around his neck and reply to his question by saying, yes he can go into his stall.  I open the stall door and step out of the barn.  Sonny immediately starts diving for leftover hay and I think nothing of it and just keep plowing ahead.  I get out by the trampoline and volleyball court (Lexi's a volleyball junkie) and ask him to circle around me at a nice connected walk.  At first he fights me and eats grass every chance he gets (aka every time I go into neutral or semi-neutral) but then I go, Hmmmm, how interesting!  I start to play a game with him.  He understands that when I point he should get with the wind and when he doesn't I know he's slackin' himself off.  So, every time he would stop I would point, then tag where he's standing.  He comes around again and grass dives.  Facing him I point, then tag the spot.  He jumps about 10 feet in the air and picks up a trot.  I want a walk so I pick my stick up, wiggle it in front of him and he walks.  Throwing a look my direction of wonder and just incredibility he stops and grass dives checking to see if it was just a fluke what I just did.  I point and just as I raise my stick to swing he takes off at a trot believing me that he'd better get out of there.  I ask for a walk and he starts licking and chewing.  I go into neutral and see what he was going to do when he got to the best 'grass spot'.  He pulls and looks like he might just nibble that grass but decides against it.  He starts to walk along with the funniest look.  It's a look of just pure amazement that I could make it so he wouldn't eat that grass...  I'm standing with a smug look on my face and I ask him to come in, and he obliges.  Dad starts yelling for me to milk the goats and feed the animals.  So, Sonny and I head towards the barn.  Much to his happiness...

That session probably only lasted around 5-10 minutes but it turned out very well and I think he had fun 'cause the next time I came to get him he came right up and bent his neck around (the way my horses accept being haltered.  I halter from the shoulder so they bend into me so it's easy for me to put the halter on.  Both Sonny and Toby will bend their necks if I do.  Sonny even does it from the saddle :} ) for me to halter him :}.  I'll post about my other session tomorrow...  I have to leave to go home b/c I just finished my drug and alcohol online test so I can go in and get my permit :).  Hopefully I'll get it next week...  Yay!  lol ;).  Oh, and when I find my camera charger I'll post some pictures :).

P E A C E....

     Ahhhh....  I had the best, most peaceful session ever night before last...  Since the barn isn't quite up, yet, I brought him onto the back porch for a nice grooming session, some stretches, and UDT...  I feel so bad because I can't remember the last time I had just 'hung' with him and groomed him :(.  I had some music on too!  It was mostly Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Jonny Diaz, Classical, and some really relaxing Scottish music...

     We played with stretches and he loved them!  He caught on really fast!  I think I'm glad I did that session...  I think I'm going to *try* to do it every night...

     On a different note I'm redoing my blog, again.  It's going to stay 'pretty much' the same I'm just putting the NavBar in it's own column, messing with the header a bit, adding a special watermark to about everything, and just playing around with it a bit :).

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~

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 :)

Video and a LONG overdue update *cringes*

I'm so so SO sorry!  I've been busy and life's been CRAZY!  But I'll give y'all a quick update on everyone!


~Sonny~
Sonny and I have been going through ups downs and in-betweens ;).  Pretty much out of the blue one day he decided that changing direction from left to right was NOT cool.  I've tried everything to fix it!  But I was looking at the whole and not seeing what part of it was wrong...  I think I've figured it out now, though.  He's always been bad about his forequarter yields and I've been noticing that he flicks his nose when you ask for a back up or forequarter yield porcupine game...  So I'm fixing out porcupine game and *hoping* that'll fix his changes of direction :).  So far it *seems* to be helping.  I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

I can now, also, ride him w/out ANYTHING at a walk and he listens 75-85% of the time!  Now we're focusing on our trot then we'll work on cantering bridle-less again ;).


~Toby~
Toby and I haven't been doing much besides lots of falling leaf ;).  I'm also playing with our bridle-less riding :).  He's doin' good.



~ME ;)~
I'm good and I just got back from the movies ;).  I've decided to merge most of my blogs together (on a separate blog) and merge this blog and my 'normal life' blog together.  It's easier that way.  I saw Toy Story 3 in digital 3D.  It was *pretty* good.  Lex and I went by ourselves and g-ma, Aunt BJ, Maddie, and Hailey went to Marmaduke (sp?).  We had lotsa fun ;).  This weekend we'll probably go and see 'The Karate Kid'.  We all know my dad'll love it ;).

Now here is a movie I made a LONG time ago~


~Shalom, Savvy Out, and God Bless~

PS: Look out for some MAJOR changes on this blog ;). It'll look a TON better and cleaner when I'm done ;)

Colic...

I was up till 3am last night dealing with Gas Colic and Heat Stroke in Sonny!  UGH!  But we both lived through it ;).  I had to sleep outside, though...  So in other words I didn't sleep!  So I'm going to sleep after Lexi and I's babysitting duty is over ;).  Mom and dad are out meeting a prospective pastor for our church :).  Better go and watch Anna Grace!
~Shalom, Savvy Out, and God Bless~

Z5 Driving, Cantering, Riding around w/out so much as a stick or string, and being Idiots ;) OH, It's also Wolf Spider Season *WIDE eyes*

Sonny and I had TONS of fun yesterday!  We played with Flying Lead Changes, Z5 Driving, riding around w/out so much as a stick or string, being Idiots (Our personal favorite ;-}), running around, lying down in the pond (he then decided to roll *rolls eyes* scared me about to death as he went totally under *eyes go SUPER wide*), spanish walking, bowing, getting him to lick his lips LOTS, and getting him to 'What she gonna do next'.  Which I accomplished ;).  I know, I'm goooood ;).  lol!  I'm on a bit of a LBE streak right now :P.  Can you tell?

I also think I might put my 'normal' blog and this one together...  It would be a TON easier!  I'm still mulling it over...  Btw how do you like the new look?  I LOVE it :).  It's a bit 'cleaner' than the other one ;).

Back to Sonny...  His Flying Lead Changes were SUPERB (nothin' new there ;) ), Our Z5 driving was a bit hairy (I haven't done it in FOREVER and it was also only his second or third time) and scary,  it was a TON of fun riding him around COMPLETELY naked he was SUCH a good boy about it too :).  Being Idiots was soooooooo much fun 'cause we were running around screaming and the guys working on the barn (all of which, except for 1, I've known since birth) were looking at me like I had three heads and then would laugh (that ain't cool Mr. Bill, Mr. James, Papa, Dad, and Mr. Adam!).  *Sighs* Men!  But I don't think me and Sonny have had that much fun EVER!  We'll have to do it more often ;).  You want to know something funny though...  I was originally just going to catch him, saddle him up, and then work on our finesse...  That is the opposite of what happened!  We were complete and utter goons!

I did get him to lie down in the pond (he refuses to do it on land.  Only in the water... Weird horse) and then he rolled and about scared me to death.  He, and I, are alive as you can ummm see?  hear?  I don't know!  Dad then had me show everyone Sonny's repertoire of tricks...  Before that though I worked on getting Sonny to lick his lips (hard for a LBI) and wonder what in the world that human of his was gonna do next!  I accomplished that quite well with all of my tricks I have stored up my sleeves ;).  At the end he was bolting one way, and then the other :D!  FUN!  He was also licking his lips every 5 seconds!  lol!

(Click on pictures to view bigger.  Do it!  The pics are pretty cool!  Really!) Now on to the next part of my title...  The dreaded Wolf Spiders are back!  AGH!  I think I'm going to die (literally).  I have this thing against spiders (particularly wolf's) especially when they jump on you, come in your house, chase you down the hallway (everything I have and will state HAS HAPPENED to ME!!!!) torture you, and are big ugly brutes!  SEE!  They are FREAKY and HUGE.  HUGE I TELL You!  I hate 'em.  I think you would too if one had jumped on you!  I mean, like, who WOULDN'T!  Well, I know someone who wouldn't but he's a bit of a freak...  OK a LOT of a freak.  Here are some facts about them...

Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae, from the Greek word "λύκος" meaning "wolf". They are robust and agile hunters with good eyesight. They live mostly solitary lives and hunt alone. Some are opportunistic wanderer hunters, pouncing upon prey as they find it or chasing it over short distances. Others lie in wait for passing prey, often from or near the mouth of a burrow.

There are many genera of Wolf spider, ranging in body size from less than 1 to 30 millimetres (0.04 to 1.18 in). ^[1] They have eight eyes arranged in three rows. The bottom row consists of four small eyes, the middle row has two very large eyes (which distinguishes them from the Pisauridae), and the top row has two medium-sized eyes. They depend on their eyesight, which is quite good, to hunt. Their sense of touch is also acute.

EWWWW!

Wolf spiders are unique in carrying their eggs along with them in a round silken globe, or egg sac, which they attach to the spinnerets at the end of their abdomen. The abdomen must be held in a raised position to keep the egg case from dragging on the ground, but they are still capable of hunting while so encumbered. Also unique to wolf spiders is their method of infant care. Immediately after the little spiders hatch and emerge from their protective silken case, they clamber up their mother's legs and all crowd onto her abdomen.

Their eyes reflect light well, and one method of finding them is to hunt at night using a flashlight strapped to one's forehead so that the light from the flashlight is reflected from their eyes directly back toward its source. This is also especially helpful because the wolf spiders are nocturnal and will be out hunting for food, making it easier to find them.

Because they depend on camouflage for protection, they do not have the flashy appearance of some other kinds of spiders. In general their coloration is appropriate to their favorite habitat.

Hogna is the genus with the largest of the wolf spiders. Among the Hogna species in the U.S., the nearly solid dark brown H. carolinensisis the largest, with a body that can be more than one inch long. It is sometimes confused with H. helluo (pictured below), which is somewhat smaller and entirely different in coloration.

Some members of the Lycosidae, such as H. carolinensis (Carolina wolf spider) make deep tubular burrows in and around which they lurk much of the time. Others, such as H. helluo, seek shelter under convenient rocks and other such shelters as nature may provide. They may wander from place to place, and are therefore more likely to be the ones attracted into human habitation when the weather starts to turn colder in autumn.

There are many smaller wolf spiders. They patrol pastures and fields and are an important natural control on harmful insects.

Wolf spiders are capable of defensive bites, and some South American species may give bites that are medically significant. However, in general their presence works very much in favor of humans wherever they are found.

Wolf spiders can be found in a wide range of habitats both coastal and inland. These include shrublands, woodland, wet coastal forest, alpine meadows, and suburban gardens. Spiderlings disperse aerially and consequently wolf spiders have wide distributions. Although some species have very specific microhabitat needs (such as stream-side gravel beds or montane herb-fields) most are wanderers without permanent homes. Some build burrows which can be opened or have a trapdoor. Arid zone species construct turrets or plug their holes with leaves and pebbles during the rainy season to protect themselves from flood waters.

EWWWWW!  Did I mention I HATED wolf spiders?  They are kind of cool, though!  Hope you learned something about my least favorite favorite spider ;)
~Shalom, Savvy Out, and God Bless~

I broke my wrist :(

Wow!  I'm gonna post twice in 1 MONTH!  Crazy, huh?  I'll do a more 'detailed' post about what Toby did to himself at a later date ;).  It's pretty graphic ;).

I've been working with the horses broken wrist and all.  Rambo and I are becoming good friends :).  PLUS Sonny and I are *pretty* much ready for our L3 online and freestyle auditions!  YAY!  I also hope to do my L3 (or 4) Liberty audition in 3 or 4 months :).  I'm REALLY excited!  Sonny and I are becoming REALLY good friends and Sonny starts out at the beginning of a session a LBI and not much of a partner but at the end he is a mild LBE and a fairly good partner.  Even with all that yummy spring grass ;).  We have sooooooooo much fun now :).  Our circling game is stellar.  He is REALLY connected and keeps TONS of slack in the rope.  We go on trail rides all the time and canter fast ;).  We're also working on our circling game at Liberty in the middle of our arena!  YAY!  His Liberty is doin' good too ;).

Toby and I are working out his bucking kinks Online and Freestyle ;).  He's *pretty* much over them now ;).  He's a lot of fun and likes to follow me around at Liberty ALL THE TIME!  LOL!  I try to work with another horse and he's ALL in my face!  lol!  Well, I should probably head outside ;).
~Shalom, Savvy Out, and God Bless~

Good, Better, Best...

Never Let It Rest.  I'm learning how much I NEED to apply that to my work with my horses.  I've also been working on getting him ALL the way to the end of the 22ft.  I can't use the 45' very much b/c I don't have anywhere I can use it :(.  It's too long :(.  BUT I do use it to do my Z5 driving!  I went to a new 4-H group tonight and we're (me 'n Hailey) joining it :).  I'm also doing a trail camp with Sonny through the 4-H camp.  Fun!  I'm in the middle of making a website and when it's up I'll give y'all a holler...

I've also been studying the Native American way of training horses.  It's really cool!  Y'all should research it!  It's pretty awesome ;).
~Shalom, Savvy Out, and God Bless~

Trailer Loading...

Well...  Today Sonny, Toby, and I worked on our trailer loading.  They both gave NO FUSS!  :(.  Boo Hoo ;).  JK although I do LOVE a challenge ;).  Sonny, if you so much as THINK trailer, trots over and hops in...  And to think I haven't worked with a trailer since I moved (so 2 YEARS!).  lol!  Toby was good too!  He loads well and stays in without freaking out ;).  I'll videotape it later and post it to youtube when I get a chance.  But besides that it's been BEASTLY out!  I have a horrible sunburn now :(.  I don't tan, I burn...  I JUST started riding/working with the horses since I got kicked b/c I was still in some pain.  But I'm good now.  So how has everyone been?  I'm in the process of learning how to knit lace (I'm bored and my mom wants us to ALWAYS keep our hands busy ;P) and finish my L3 TOTALLY.  When I get home I'm going on a walk (probably.  I'm not sure about that one.  I feel a little woozy from sun poisoning...) and then probably working on my Liberty...
~Shalom, Savvy Out, and God Bless~

Ooops!

I forgot about y'all *hangs head in shame*.  I'm sorry!  But I have been working with the horses :).  I'll give y'all a more detailed post later this week if I can ;).  Sonny can smile if you have a carrot now :).  Toby trots under saddle too.  I might join a 4H club nearby where you bring your horse with you.  The only problem is that the lady is a little weird...
~Shalom, Savvy Out, and God Bless~

I'm starting 4-H and Sonny went EXTREME LBE during last nights play session!

So I FINALLY found a 4-H horse club in the area!  Woo Woo!  But you probably don't want to hear about that...

~SONNY~


~Online~
When we first started he was good.  His porcupine and driving was doing good.  And then we did the circling game with emphasis on the send :).  Well when I sent him he did EXACTLY what I wanted him to do and then he when TOTAL LBE!  AHH!!!  Bucking, striking (the air), running, playing, collecting himself, and just having fun.  It was so nice to watch him 'let loose'.  But when he took off like that he almost killed the dogs :}!  Levi and Jake like to herd the horses if they run and then when I got them to stop Sonny started to start jumping them O.O!  AGH!  Once he calmed down we played with a new way of how to changed direction that was on the new L3 online DVD.  After that we played with our...


~Freestyle~
We played with jumping, circle, and follow the rail.  I probably only rode for like 15-20 minutes?  He did good.  The only thing I can comment on is that he thought it was dinner time so he kept trying to go to the POD to get fed :}!
~Shalom, Savvy Out, and God Bless~

My Play Session The Other Day (2-24-10)

G'Day Mates!  How are all of y'all?  Well I hope!  I haven't been working with Sonny and Toby much because I was grounded from doing anything but feeding for a while :|.  I was really behind in school...  Like a month in some subs *cheeks flame bright red*.  But I got caught up in like 2 days (but was grounded for a week or 2)!  And I'm in, like, 10th grade!

~Sonny~

~Online~

I played online with him by trying to get him *almost* to the end of the 45' while maintaining a connection.  He did pretty good if I do say so myself...  He was able to go and stand on whatever he decided I *might* want him to stand on with confidence :).  Ever since I taught him how to get onto the pedestal that's ALL he wants to do!  If he can stand on it stand on it he does :}!

Then I did some extreme friendly.  He was, of course, GREAT at it :}!  After that I let him off and we played at...

~Liberty~

I'm SO SO SO SO SO SOOOOO happy Sonny and I are finally at the point where I can play at Liberty in the middle of our property (wothout a round-pen mind you!) with my little sister playing with Rambo!  I got him to do a spin!  Woo Woo!  I can't even get him to do that online so I was excited to put it lightly!  I played around with our circling and driving and porcupine...  He did everything I asked him to at a phase 1 or 2.  Woo Woo!  Then we played with our...

~Freestyle~

I didn't do much besides hop on and work on our figure 8 WITHOUT a stick or string!  He did pretty good so after 1 figure 8 we quit and just sat watching and coaching my little sister with her *new* gelding, Rambo (for all of you new to this blog we've had Rambo for a while ;) It's only that he JUST got gelded Tuesday) :D!  If you want to hear about his gelding check it out here.

~Toby~

~Online~

We worked on NOT bucking during the circling game and getting a TROT no matter how slow while circling!  That took a while to put it lightly!  Then when I worked with him yesterday he did the same bucking thing but it was an 'I'm scared' type of thing so we had to figure that out...  Sounds like fun, eh?  But other than that we've been doin' good :).

~Freestyle~

I got him to walk by barely touching him!  YAY Toby!  Since he's still only 2 we haven't been doin' much Freestyle work besides putsing around the property...

~Rambo~

~Online~

We worked on our touch-it game, our porcupine, our driving, and our yo-yo games.  It was fun!  And hard!  I never understood Rambo before now.  I first had to understand Sonny, then I had to understand Arby, then I had to understand Toby before I could even begin to understand Rambo!  So I worked on his confidence :).  He is definitly a RBI.  To the max!  So I've been figuring him out lately.

~Arby~

~Online~

We played with getting LB and getting caught.  Tons of fun!  NOT!  lol!  But at the end Hailey could get her LB and *most* of the time catch her without too much fuss (as in no running around for 30min instead only trotting a couple of yards before stopping so you could catch her).  Then we let her go roll and torment the poor boys... *Sigh*

I *might* do a picture post sometime this week :).  I just have to get someone to take them for me :}!

~Shalom, Savvy Out, and God Bless~

L4 here we come!

I just looked at the self assessment and Sonny and I are now playing in L4 in Freestyle and Online!  YAY!  Dad and I put in the floor for our 'feed' shed ;last weekend and we'll put the walls up this weekend.  Then we'll put the the roof on, then the round pen gets put up!  Woo Woo!  I haven't been able to play THAT much with the horses b/c of school :(.  I've had a bunch of finals.  But I did ride Wednesday after school!  We jumped and played with Finesse.  I got him bringing his back into the saddle!  Pretty cool, eh?

Toby and I have been playing with our freestyle and online.  We are *almost* done with L1 (finally).  But other than that not much has happened.

~Shalom, Savvy Out, and God Bless~

Bad Me!

I have really been neglecting y'all!  Well I did come up with some New Years Resolutions!  Here they are~

Pass Level 1 & 2 officially

Pass Level 3 Online and Freestyle officially

Get Sonny and I's Liberty to a Level 3 standard

Post WEEKLY on most of my blogs if not all!

Get Toby to a Level 3 standard on the ground and a Level 2 standard in the saddle

Work with Sonny AND Toby DAILY!!!!!

Work on my barefoot trimming

Keep researching my homeopathy and herbology

Become a certified family herbalist by the time I'm 16

Get my students at a Level 2 standard

Get Hailey to a Level 3 standard

Make our camp better than last years!

Learn to love the piano and my new piano teacher

Convince my mom that co-op is too easy for me

and a WHOLE lot more!

What do y'all think of them?  I think they're pretty good ;)

So on with the update, eh?  I haven't worked with them much because of how insanely busy I've been.  But I did work with him the other day and he did pretty well!  What I am going to start doing though is working on our driving, yo-yo, and sideways games ;).  Our friendly, porcupine, circling, and squeeze are really good but our driving game is a little bit 'stuck' not much but still not phase 1 like I'd like it.  Our yo-yo game is REALLY bad a) because of his stifle when it locks and b) because his stifle locks and he isn't in shape he doesn't back up straight.  And our sideways game is bad beacuse I hate it so he hates it and I don't know how to ask for it properly.  So for 15 minutes EVERY day I'm going to work on those 3 games for a couple of months.

I'm also going to start cavelletti and hill therapy with Sonny to get him in shape.  He doesn't have much muscling ;).

Toby and I have been sorting out who is in charge ;).  We decided that I was the head honcho.  After we got that sorted out he was good as gold!  I've been spending some undemanding time and playing at Liberty with him and the bike.  Fun!  Well I better get back to school!

~Shalom, Savvy Out, and God Bless~

Pictures, Update, and FUN!

Wha'z up?  Sorry I haven't posted in FOREVER!!!!  I've been extremely busy :).  I'll update after I post some pics from a photo shoot mom did with Red and I the other day...

As you can see I've been editing up a storm.  hehe!  It was a lotta fun though!  Okay, I'll update now~

Sonny and I have been working on our finesse a lot.  It's been going pretty good if I do say so myself!  The only thing I can complain about is his immune system :).  He has an overactive immune system so he is allergic to *3* types of flies!  I'll post a vid in a couple of days...  I've been working on the online patterns and he's doing pretty well with them.  I've been sick lately so I haven't done a WHOLE lot.

Red and I have been working on our freestyle and a little online.  We now have him moving off of a squeeze or light bump!  YAY!  I've been more particular about him being shoulder to shoulder to me so he now does a partly energetic walk.  YAY (again) !  We had to have the vet out twice in a week for him though...  He had an impaction colic Monday night and Friday morning he ripped his nose open on our neighbors barbed wire fence and had to get stitches...  Poor guy!  So it's been kinda stressful!

In a couple of days I'll make a post of when my old trainer, Jamie, came down!  I don't have time right now but it was soooooo FUN!!!!  gtg!
~Savvy Out and God Bless~

I'm ALIVE!!! And I made a movie! lol!

I'm Alive!!!!!!  Sorry I didn't update like I said I would but things have been SUPER busy!  Well I made a video of me and Sonny messing around that I made a couple of weeks ago but JUST got around to uploading!  Well here it is~




I hope y'all liked it!  Ok now I'll update~

Sonny and I have been working on our changes of direction and they have gotten TONS better than in the vid!  Last time I worked with him I got a couple flying changes!  YAY!  He also now does rollbacks as his changes of direction!  lol!  Oh and GUESS WHAT!  As y'all know Sonny and I haven't been able to do much liberty because we don't have a round pen...  Well we STILL don't have a round pen *BUT* we can do the circling game at liberty!  So far we only do it at a walk but we can also do changes of direction at the walk too!  YAY!  I'm SOOOOOOOO excited!  lol!  I am also, starting Monday, am going to, till the end of October, at least, work on our extremely broken sideways game for 10min each and every day to see if I can fix it :).  So pray from me please!  I have an extremely hard time sticking to schedules!  So please pray!  Thanx!

Red and I have been mostly just hangin' out.  I've hopped on him a few times while he was eating grass and he was *bbb!  This is the horse that just a couple of months ago would BUCK and try to attack you if you jumped on him or next to him :O!  I never blogged about when he was doing that because its kinda embarrassing...  lol!  Actually that is why I never really updated about him in the past because he scared me!  Now we are having a WHOLE lotta fun!  lol!

I've gtg!  ttyl!
~Shalom, Savvy Out and God Bless~

*Bareback and Bridleless

SONNY WENT IN THE POND!!!!!!!

Sonny JUST went into the POND!!!!!!!  He went in rolled then came out!!!  We were like, Whhaaattt??  I may just go swimming with him later ;)!  lol!  It was SOOOO AWESOME!!!!!  Then Red followed suit:)!  My horses are fearless little fellas!  I can't wit till tonight when I get back from Bible Study so I can play with him and the pond ;-)!  hehe!  I'll also, if  Red does well when I work with him, play with Sonny and Red together!  FUN!!! I'll edit the post later and put the pics I got when he was getting out!
~Savvy Out and God Bless~