I think that today was one of the most significant ever in terms of learning, breakthroughs and crossing thresholds (me that is not Giddy)!
Two specific things happened during the day, that gave me some real confidence that we do have a connection and relationship - something that it is easy to doubt with such a left-brain confident horse! Whilst doing a bit of liberty in the pen, Giddy clipped her fetlock on the fence (metal), she turned straight to me and came to the middle, I went to her side and she lifted her foot for me to look at it... this is pretty significant, incredible in fact, I think that's the first time she has turned to me in a "moment of need" as it were.
After we had dinner, we walked down to the field, and there was Giddy, head up, watching us approach; I commented on this, and then thought for a moment she was watching Star in the top field, I said to Kim how nice it would be if she neighed to me... we walked on, and she was walking forward tracking us, and then there it was, she actually said HI! Fantastic, nice to know that in a strange place she was looking for me ;0)
Trailer loading in the morning was a massive BFO for me, as ever, once her initial confidence is built, she has sniffed the trailer, checked it out, remembered it's hers, had a good old paw on the ramp, the normal Haflinger games proceed. She ALWAYS swings out, so she is facing me head on, front feet on the ramp, and at a right angle to the door, I ALWAYS back her off, send her around, disengage, line her up, try again. Well there we were, looking at each other, and suddenly I saw quite how defiant and dominant this position is, she is using zone 1 and 2 against me, and any number of times of repositioning has never won the game. So, I played with zone 1 and 2, and let her work out that she put herself there, and it's her job to get herself lined up, after a very short time, she realised that I wasn't going to try the normal tactic, and started going in and out with ease... how interesting; more on this when I come to the journey home
So despite my quite considerable worries about our longest trailer journey ever, and the significantly steep hills on the A30, we made it, and it was much easier than of course I had dreamed up! Parked in the field, and got an immediate example of quite how confident and left brain Giddy generally is... despite a brand new place, two horses running the fence line, and a great big field, she came out, had a quick, but calm look around, and then her head was down eating - unbelievable!
Took her down to the round pen to let her graze for a bit and settle while we had coffee, Kim let Star and Shamrock out... I had expected lots of running, bucking, tails high, etc etc, as it was, the other two came running and prancing, and after some initial greetings through the fence, there she was eating again!! The next 5 mins or so was utterly fascinating, both Sham and Giddy are dominant mares, and their interplay was not what I expected; whilst Sham, danced around and even nickered for Giddy's attention, Giddy frequently turned her bum and grazed, but of course they were watching each other intently all the time. After a short while, they were grazing right next to each other, almost nose to nose through the fence. At one point as they were chatting, Sham made an almighty squeal and struck out, Giddy did not even move a muscle - a very valuable thing to see, gives me some idea of quite how effective and clever I need to be when communicating with her, and gave me confidence that the long journey we have had is not just because I am totally incompetent ;0)). It was hard for Sham to get her attention, and she's a dominant horse, clearly still a lot to learn!
Took a little while to get her to connect with me and the halter, being more interesting than grass and another horse in a new situation - quite a challenge, but it didn't take as long as I thought, and soon enough she was happy to have her halter on. We played with lots of obstacles, a big blue ball, (slighty scary, but only just), cones, tarpaulin, jumps etc, and she was fairly responsive and tuned in, made a big effort to give her lots of breaks to chill and enjoy some grass. Played again with the change of direction when she changes gait instead of asking her up again, I think this is going to make a big difference in a short time.
Before dinner, we did a bit of liberty, and considering we haven't done anything for months, I was really pleased, my bring back was pretty solid. A couple of times out on the circle she came in, and thankfully I now know to reward this and connect with her, I know I have been very guilty of sending her way at this point and being critical and domineering. she is asking questions a lot more, and even better, I can now see them, I even got some transitions, one side was really sticky on the circle, so finished on just a 3/4 circle, and asked her in. Our sideways, driving etc all checked out ok, but just did a short session to keep it interesting for her rather than my normal "drilling".
After dinner, OH MY GOD, horror of horrors, time to go hacking; I really was very worried about it, we haven't been hacking for months, let alone with another horse, and in a big open space, well we have never done that. Being a sensible Parelli student, I walked a long way in hand, and she was pretty happy; she did have a couple of small thresholds, that not so long ago, I would have perceived as "Stubborn" or unwilling.... but as she had another horse to follow, I knew she was slightly worried and needed a bit of reassurance. She had to stop and look at the first big bit of scenery we got to - she has never seen open moorland in her life, she took it in and was then happy to go on. So after moving closer, staying longer for quite some time, there was that feeling - oh for gods sake this is stupid, get on your horse!! To help my confidence, she had both a bridle and hackamore on, and to start, I had hold of both, not on a tight rein, but not quite casual either!! Had two small spooks, no big deal, got off for a short period when we came across some horses in a field, but got straight back on at the next easy place, after a short while, tied off the bridle reins and started to breathe!!! Realised the balls of my feet were sort of sore, so there was clearly way too much tension in my body, so peddled my feet all the way home
I was so proud of her, she really didn't put a foot wrong. Without the calm, confident lead of Kim and Sham a) we would have never gone there, but b) I think this also gave her confidence for her first ride out in a big unusual place. Kim was so patient with me, that she made the whole thing as easy and comfortable as possible, thank god for friends and fellow students who support our journey!
I couldn't have been more pleased with me and my horse, EXCEPT, she went straight on the trailer on the first ask (from a grassy field no less - this in itself is totally unbeleivable), backed off again, but just a minute or so later, she did the best load i have ever seen, total commitment and confidence and a really soft ask, both back feet went right in, not a sign of that half a hoof hovering on the entrance ;0) and not once did she line herself up at a right angle, although she did throw a shoulder at me once. A perfect ending to a perfect day
It is hard for me to express quite how much I feel we progressed, such a big day for us both, and so much learning, I was way out of my comfort zone, but it went so smoothly, I must learn to put my trust in her more, cuz I just know the more I do that, the more she will give me back
Things are slowly but surely changing, the bond is growing, and we are finally on the up; now just need to decide where to go next weekend!!
