Happy Birthday to me... And I worked with Toby...

Happy Birthday to me,

Happy birthday dear me-e,

Happy Birthday to me!

I'm fifteen (or my b-day was yesterday) and I feel no different...  But, I got an HP laptop computer, The Carolyn Resnick Method, Naked Liberty (a horse book by Carolynn Resnick ;}), 40$ Kindle gift card, some old earings of my great grandma's, a day out shopping, lunch, and movie with my dad's mom, money, iTunes gift cards, clothes (ugh), pj's, razors (a haha joke between me and my sister.  We have issues with others using our razors so she got me a purple one ;) ), air heads, a glow-in-the-dark puzzle, a water bottle, and beef jerky (yum!).  I love being 15 ;).

Oh, and as an afterthought, I worked with Tob's day before yesterday :).It started out I was just going to paint him with fingerpaints but then I decided I might as well play with him ;).  It started out bad (I only had a neckrope on and he took off and ripped it out of my hands) but once I switched to a halter and did loads of falling leaf till he was LB he was good :).  We walked across the pasture and I checked him to make sure he was still with me, he was, so I let him off.  He stayed connected but then I had to run to see what mom needed...  I'm glad I let him off when I did and didn't push him more :).  It had him confused ;).

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~

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~

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 ;)

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~

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~

A small update on Toby :)

Like the title says this is an update about Toby.  I have really been working on freestyle the past couple of days and he went from barely walking, not listening to the hackamore, and not listening to ANY cues to cantering for the first time, trotting with out doing point to point with treats, steering well, walking around the neighborhood for the VERY first time (and I was riding him O.O!), settling down a bit, and acting like a partner (FINALLY!)!  Woo Woo!  I'm sooo excited!  *screams*  Well I should probably get off of the computer and go work with the horses...
~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~

Undemanding Time with Toby

Sooooo I just got in from having some undemanding time with Toby and I had some fun :).  Me and my sibs were chattin' away and Toby was eating his hay :).  So peaceful!  I probably won't be posting much because I'm sick :(.  So I'll update when I feel better and am allowed to work with the horses!  :}
~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~

A Contest! WOO HOO! Check it out! You'll SO want to enter!

I've decided....  We're goin' to have a contest!!!!  Woo Hoo!  The prize will be a header and/or a blog button!  I have photoshop so I'll leave my email and if you'll just email me (if you win) some pics I'll photoshop (or picnik) them and, if you want, I'll make a header with a bunch pics, or I can make a collage, OR I can do something like what I did as my header...  Well enough of that.  Here is what y'all have to do~

1) Come up with a show name for Red.

I've already decided that his barn name will be Tobias, a Hebrew name which means Goodness of God, or Toby for short.

2) I want (need) Tobias to be somewhere in his show name.

3) The name needs to be original, fun, and appropriate

4) The name needs to fit him.

Look at his page to (About Tobias (Toby) ) to learn about him.

5) The ending date is November 14th

6) I'd like the name to mean something...  A hidden meaning, like words in a different language (preferably Hebrew but any would do :) )

7) Comment with your answer :)!
I may not approve any of them until *after* the contest ;)!

That's all!  Have Fun and go at it!

Here is my email (only email me if you win or need help :D)~

ltm1996@gmail.com

~Shalom, Savvy Out, and God Bless~

Tips: I like Z's as the beginning letter ;)!