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Naturally Centered with Horses, Edmonds, WA (2025)

09/09/2024

Long time, no write. Lots of stuff going on at the Farm and off the Farm. We are riding, still slowly but going forward. Relationship is fabulous and we are having lots of fun. Sharon and Laura Wilsie were here and then Lucinda Baker came back last weekend for a clinic. Today I had to haul a horse of a clients so decided to play with Russ and Smoke with self loading. When I returned. They thought it was fantastic. In and out, staying longer. Russ switched sides. Smoke went in when asked. They would back out slowly, straight and calmly. All at liberty, no stress, no worries. And there were horses in the pasture next to the arena that they would go say hi to and come back to load into the trailer on their own. Fun day capped off with some yummy grazing ❤️

09/17/2023

Meet Franziska Seeger and her lovely dog Moksha. Franziska has been learning with Russ for awhile now and they love one another deeply. This has become a really wonderful relationship that has resulted in Franziska now being Russ's person!! She became his new owner Wednesday September 6th!! Congratulations to you both, love wins‼️❤️

04/27/2023

Second day on the pasture. Wash. Yesterday 20 minutes, today 12. Happy horses, Until I ask them to come in😁
Smoke and I have been playing together most days so getting in riding time without Russ with us. He still thinks that's not quite how he wants it but is really doing well. He is listening to my vulnerability buttons nicely for turns and staying present to things I ask for. I am listening to him and helping him understand my body. We play together in relationship and partnership. One of these days someone will be around to get a video!!
On another note,Russ is very close to all 4 feet on the pedestal!

04/14/2023

Trying hard to get back into the swing of things and finding some interesting situations. On Wednesday I finally got to take Smoke down to the arena and had the tack already there. I did not take Russ this time and it's been a bit since Smoke went alone. He was quite with me for all the brushing and moving together but when I put on the saddle pad he walked away. Ok, did go to p**p so I let it go, pulled off the pad and he came back over but walked away again. The last few times of saddling instead of taking so much time about it, I put the halter on and left the rope just on the ground. He saddled wonderfully but then when we went to go move a little he took off bucking . The cinch was not yet right enough for riding so the bucking actually moved the saddle pad back. There is another pad that stayed put so I just left him alone. He was yelling to Russ and expecting to get to leave the arena it seemed. Turns out it didn't happen that way for him. I just left alone to his running for a bit because it was totally different than bucking he used to do. He was just out of the arena and I was not in his world. So I walked around , had his back and would come check in but take off again. I just stayed with him, present and let him work it out. Finally he could come in to me, make a quiet circle both ways around me and we quit. He carried his saddle for a walk and a graze.
So today I took him down again, without Russ and the tantrum started right away. It was so interesting! He was just plain mad that he was there without Russ. He ran and ran, would come over asking to leave. I explained that was not happening and he was fine. He knew I was there but didn't care. It took awhile for him to come over, stay with me and then make the circles I asked for, without leaving before he completed one lap. Then we tacked up and amazingly he was quite happy in his saddle today, no bucking, and he could walk with me , make soft turns, and halts ( I was on the ground not riding). So we took our tacked up ourselves out for a nice walk and some grass. Tantrums are fascinating. I told him he was the bond part down really well, but the working bond needed a little work!❤️ We will see what we get next time.

04/06/2023

I ate my lunch in the truck and had some extra time because of a cancelled lesson due to rain. I went into the barn planning on bringing Smoke into the aisleway to brush him and play with the saddle since I have time before the next lesson. However, he was happily laying down in his stall so I am happily sitting with him sharing territory. What a wonderful thing to have his trust so can I sit right next to him, rub him, talk to him and just hang out together. We are still sitting here together, quietly, at peace with one another. Love this boy ❤️.

03/02/2023

Well, it's been an interesting first part of the year. Weather has been weird for sure, way too cold for here, although I like it, horse lungs aren't used to it. Then a really crappy cold , a trip, and now another trip. The great part though is that Smoke is fabulous. Monica was here for a second bodywork session this year and he was amazing. Both in his body and mind! He ended up totally just standing with us as I held Yogi for Monica to work on. He just stood quietly without trying to bother Yogi or Monica. It was a WOW moment for my busy guy.
Today I brought his tack down to the arena and then got him. For a few minutes he was running around because I didn't bring Russ too. Then he came over, got brushed and tacked up. I did put the halter on but left the lead on the ground. He stood quietly, and said to everything. We then moved a little walk, trot, canter, turns and halts un- side pulled. He put his nose right into the side pull and came to pick me up at the mounting block. Put himself in place nicely so I paid and went back to the block. He came back, lined up and I got on. First time in a while with the side pull. He had watched Yogi take me to the cookies a day or so ago so he took me there too. It worked. I got off and paid him. Then he picked me back up and I rode him for 10 to 15 minutes walking, turning, halting, backing. He was quiet, mostly very willing and when he wasn't he didn't do anything but allow me to help him understand what I was asking. A great day for sure and with all Monica has done we are now ready to really move forward. One more trip this month and then some real time to get things moving. Glad I am on a journey and not a destination!!!! He is an absolute delight!!

01/31/2023

It was quite cold today, for around here anyway. So we were fairly quiet when we got down to the arena. The boys, Smoke, Russ, and Yogi, had had their lunch before we went down. Smoke and Russ had lovely rolls then everyone found a sunny spot and stood. When I put out the bowls on the cookie bar Yogi strolled over. I jumped into the arena and paid him for his enthusiasm and quick check in. Then he left. And stood in the sun. I watched a bit. Did some hello check ins, reverse round pen and sat in the mounting block. Smoke checked in and walked off. It was nice in the sun so I did something I haven't done before. I got a long mat, laid it out in the sunny area and laid down on it. Smoke immediately came to check in, then moved to spot, cocked a hind leg and stood. Yogi moved closer to flank the other side and Russ took up the base of the triangle with me in the middle. And we napped. The four of us for about 20 minutes. We were not asleep but very quiet. They were very present. Smoke and Russ came out of Samadhi first and started grooming each other. Yogi came over, checked in and went off to the corner but came back and stood over me for another ten minutes. Smoke was bringing Russ closer but he would come all the way over with Yogi there. It was so cool to just be with them this way for that long. Once everyone was more ready for different things we played with a quick brush where they were, ba****ck pads and little riding for Russ and Yogi. Saddled up Smoke and let him carry around his saddle while I played with the others and then worked with Smoke on some things on the lunge line. It was a very fun day with the boys!!

01/28/2023

Blurry pictures but I just love how relaxed he is when he is laying down in his stall. I can go in and sit with him. We have lovely conversations about being together, share a cookie or two, just hanging out with each other. He never feels the need to move, other than to get his head closer and nuzzle. Yogi had come back into the barn and was in the aisle way while we were sitting together and Smoke stayed down with me. Love this guy. 🐴❣️🐎❤️💕

01/22/2023

My goodness, it's been awhile since I wrote anything. We have finally gotten back in the swing of things. The late summer brought lots of smoke with the forest fires that lasted several weeks. That cut down on things for sure as we don't play in that stuff. Got back to work some and then winter showed up. Could have more winter but the few days of 55 make me hope not.
So the horses are good! Yogi is staying with us at least for Amanda's first year of Grad School in Kentucky and he is lending his teaching expertise for students who would like to ride. So bringing our Horses Speak and Liberty into play, love looking for yesses from Yogi for choosing to go to the mounting block for people and his willingness to help them learn the softness of riding. He had some wonderful bodywork from Monica Uruchurtu and he is feeling much better in body. Wahoooooo for him!
Moon tells me when he wants to come down to the arena and play with everyone! If I don't just bring him and he wants to come, he starts yelling from his paddock so I go get him! He loves paychecks and is first to ask to do something. Last week they were all in the arena and we had played lots of things and had some good brushing. Moon is starting to shed so he really wants that scratching to happen! We were getting ready to be done and I went to toss the p**p out of the arena. On my way to get the fork I kicked the huge soccer ball towards the middle of the arena, well away from where it had been. Moon went towards it, and deliberately started pushing it with his and front end. That's not too special at all but he brought it back to me, to the place it had been before I kicked it! He totally knew exactly what he was doing. He got paid a jackpot!!
Russ is getting so solid in so many things and so much more relaxed about everything. So proud of him. He is really teaching and helping the students learn so much. He is interested in things, and has become curious enough to check things out and not just check out! Or leave, he is coming to things he used to run from. The other day Smoke, Russ and Yogi were vying for me when I stood on the mounting block. His participation has exploded over the last few months. He is standing happily and quietly to get tacked up. He is a delight to play with.
And Smoke. Wow, so much fun. He delights in his choices and having them. He thinks things through, is confident in his choices and believes he is right when he makes them. Sometimes he finds there are consequences to his choices! And he changes his mind. Last week he and Russ were in the arena and we had played many different things. When it was time to finish up they both put their sheets on nicely. I offered Smoke his halter and he politely declined. Wouldn't put his nose in. I asked a couple times and said ok. Left him and got Russ's halter. Russ came over and shoved his nose in. I offered Smoke again and he said no. So I put his halter on the arena rail near the gate and said I was taking Russ up and would come back. We went out the gate and as I turned back to hook it closed, Smoke had taken his halter off the rail, started right into my face and eyes and started to toss his head up and down holding the halter. He didn't want us to leave. So I went to ask him again and he shoved his nose in! Conversation, what a gift!
Smoke is saddling and not bucking. Looks relaxed and happy on the line at walk, trot and canter, picks me up at the mounting block and stands quietly when I get on. Now that things look like we have a good stretch of time riding will start in earnest. My goal!!!!
Looking forward to having lots to say over the next few weeks with my plans for the ponies and me!!

Naturally Centered with Horses

09/09/2024

09/17/2023

04/27/2023

04/14/2023

04/06/2023

03/02/2023

01/31/2023

01/28/2023

01/22/2023

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