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 :).

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 :)