After adjustment - the stirrup is able to rest in a comfortable perpendicular manner!
Tenting the pad and feeling for shoulder movement and saddle contact in motion
Beyond moving the buckle: Adjusting western style fenders for rider comfort
Another example of why the particular style of horsemanship taught by Jody and Dave Ellis will always be what I hold in the highest of regard... opportunities to audit today and tomorrow!
(Leading in at liberty and standing at the gate nickering and hoping to play are pretty normal behaviors for Nala... her showing that enthusiasm after her first full clinic day is icing on the cake. How can you make learning and practice safe AND fun?!)
Often an old horse is just better than we can ever be at corregulating a young horse, and helping them learn how to self regulate and find comfort.
This level of attunement is critical to my work. Safety has to come first.
Notice Annie (buckskin) lift her right foot as she notices Nala (bay) start to experience nervous system activation and move towards shut down / internalizing her emotion. Nala responds by lifting her right foot, and then pawing. Annie swishes her tail to help interrupt the distress behavior, and moves herself in a way that encourages Nala to come find me as a source of comfort and relief. This marked the end of our session, and the removal of the saddle pad.
And yes, those are Nala teeth trying to eat the phone I was recording with 😅
(Also please note that I am mid barn clean out, and have some equipment put that could create a safety risk... I also know my horses and risk tolerance. Please set yourself up for success when practicing your horsemanship and don't have equipment where a horse could get tangled up!)
A morning musing on trauma-informed approaches to practice, approach and retreat, and building resiliency... with a gorgeous view 💗
On gratitude... over 3 inches of rain yesterday, the whole arena was underwater, and not only did nothing wash away, all footing is solid and usable today ... So, thank you to my parents, who have taught and supported me in building solid foundations before fancy finishes. And, for having helped and guided the planning and implementation of every facet of my farm.
It can be easy for me to become impatient at all the things I haven't done yet. For me, it's a part and parcel of having a vision and creating it. I'm working on letting that go.
I can get lost the mess of not yet adding the polish; the fresh coat of paint, the perfectly organized equipment.
And then there are days like today, where a bit of luck and and lot of intention of prioritizing the foundational things allowed us to navigate turbulent waters.
