We get some help

This week we had some coaching from a Parelli instructor Niki Hardwick, who came over to France to stay with a friend, who also does Parelli. As there were only the two of us as students, it was virtually private lessons which was brilliant. We did one day with my friend Claire's horses, then on Friday they came here. In the morning Claire played with Lucie and I played with Fina. It was the first time, apart from the RWYM clinic, that I have had been able to partner Fina under instruction.

I had several ideas of things I needed help with, in the end most of my items were resolved by improving my phases and timing and reading of the horse and getting her in a place where she started offering more. Niki asked to see my short range yields and driving, my yoyo (backing and draw towards) and circling, and sideways. Each of these Fina knows how to do, so we were not teaching, but when applying the criteria we'd discussed, you could see that she was going through the motions, not really offering or enjoying. Sometimes I needed to be more assertive, sometimes I was too critical and asking too much too soon. I need to be careful to release when she offers what I want, to recognise and reward the thought. This might not be that obvious, might be just the flicker of an ear or when she looked at me and asked a question, when she offered a flexion, etc. I found that the sideways game gave me most reward in this way which then carried over into other areas. By the end of the day we had a wonderful softness and connection, I had learned to invite her in a much softer way, my phase 1 became very subtle and as long as necessary, which Fina was obviously much happier to respond to, and she was attentive and involved and asking questions. I hope we can keep this going and I will be videoing my next sessions and hopefully have something to show and move on from there to the same level of connection at greater distances and when riding.

Using the touch-it exercise

I ordered some new flexi-buckets and decided to give Fina the new scary purple one. Of course I should have prepared properly, introduced her to it & put it inside the old one first time but by the time I thought of that, it was a long way back to the house, and who would have thought it would be such a big deal. It was quite funny how suspicious she found it even when she could smell the food, she turned away and ran off. However, as that afternoon we had been doing Touch it (sending her to put her nose on objects) I was able to send her to the bucket - just shows how useful all these ground games are! Must say they are nice buckets, wish I'd ordered more than two. Her expression says it all here - still looking slightly offended, sensitive little soul. (Photo to follow)

Another recent purchase which I haven't yet done much with is a big green ball; I got it out the other day and introduced Fina to it, also part of our Touch it games. It wasn't nearly as scary as a new bucket! She had a good lick then followed it around and we got as far as her kicking it before I realised I was going to need a flat, enclosed area until I had trained her to go fetch it from the bottom of the sloping field.

Some frosty day photos