Eliana’s Natural Horsemanship Journey

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Eliana’s Natural Horsemanship Journey

Join me on my journey to becoming a horse trainer, as I learn from different natural horsemen and wo

16/01/2024

Hi again everyone!! It’s good to be back! Life has been crazy and amazing, I just haven’t had time to post!
I’ll be doing more monthly-recaps so that I can go over more time and not have a ton of posts… but feel free to ask any questions!

The rest of February was fun, I learned a lot with Scout as I helped him gain confidence with the saddle, me and learning to stand tied calmly. He is super smart, but gets distracted easily so it was neat to see his attention span get longer as he learned to stay focused on me more! I also gave him a bath - he is GORGEOUS! I also ride-tracked my first ride on him!! We just walked around the pasture, and he tried really hard to relax and soften and understand!
I was able to work with Iceman as well, but I’ll be posting on his account for that! I also rode Skye, which was fun, and Mae as well.

Do you use a ride tracking app?
How have all of you been???!!! Let me know the most exciting thing you did last year!

09/11/2023

WOW!!! What an AMAZING day! God is so good!
I love you so much ! I am so amazed by how the Lord has brought us together and led our relationship and I know the rest of our lives will be so wonderful! You are the love of my life and my best friend and I can’t wait to marry you!

I still can’t believe you surprised me - it was the most perfect proposal ever! And then to get to see a mating pair of bald eagles flying together right after… it was such a special blessing on an already-perfect day!
🤍 11-06-23 🤍

(And Thank You Nili Guillory Stewart and Ben Stewart for somehow following us and sneaking up the trail behind us (without me having any idea) to take pictures!)

22/02/2023

Friday was farrier day! Scout wasn’t sure about being up by the house, so I asked him to yielding and bend and he stood nice, then our farrier was late so I put him in a stall with hay. He did really good! When the farrier came he did my sister’s horse first so I asked Scout to do some some yields, walking and backing, and then he stood really great for the farrier! I was really proud of him! On Saturday and Sunday I just spent time with him at feedings.

17/02/2023

On Wednesday it was pouring rain all day, so the horses got to have the day off. Scout likes to be out in the rain so he got nice and muddy.

Thursday was AWESOME! It was the first time Scout really relaxed with me on him ba****ck! I started with asking him to walk and trot with me right next to him, and asking him to step over every few steps. He was super soft and relaxed, followed the halter nicely, so I decided to work on mounting some more. I asked him to yield his hindquarters, then stand next to the bucket while I leaned over him, then progressed to laying across him, then sitting on him! I really love how his first thought is to lower his head and try to relax! He even took a step or two to rebalance himself and he didn’t freak out! I finished up with brushing and rebraiding his mane, which took a while (it’s so nice and thick)

I’m deliberately “non-carefully” getting on him, like leaning all over him and bumping him slightly and “climbing” onto him so he can learn to relax in case something accidentally bumps him eventually.

Does your horse stand to be mounted? How about climbed on 😁

****ck ****ckmounting

13/02/2023

On Tuesday it was still super slick and Scout may have been a teeny bit off when he tried to trot, so I put the ba****ck pad on him, and we went for a walk! I walked him around in our cow pasture, we met the cows and followed one for a bit, he did really good! I asked him to one line ground drive/walk out ahead of me, to help build his confidence similar to when I was riding. He started off easily distracted but by the end he was nice and relaxed, curious and walking nicely! I finished with having him stand tied while I groomed him. Then Skye came over and wanted to be near me, so I haltered and tied her and then spent a looooong time grooming and detangling and braiding up her tail, picking hundreds of burrs off and getting started on detangling her mane.

What’s the worst tangle/burr/mess you’ve had to brush out?

****ck

13/02/2023

On Monday I had a great, short session in the morning, asking Scout to soften to the halter and yield, he was really relaxed and soft! It’s so neat, as he really is understanding what I’m asking he is staying soft and relaxed more and more of the time! I also got him more comfortable with me being up against him while he was moving.

After lunch I put the longer line on and asked him to walk and trot. The ground was really slick and he slipped a few times, when I was just asking him to walk (he wanted to jump around a bit). He was super relaxed but I wasn’t sure if he was just slipping on the ground or if he had hurt his leg so I decided not to saddle him, just in case. I didn’t notice him do any trips or anything, so he may have just done something in the pasture or it could just be the ground. So we practiced tying while my sister and I groomed him and detangled and braided his tail. He did really good, a little impatient by the end but stood pretty well.

I had a really good, slightly frustrating but interesting ride on Mae! I started with playing with her, no stick just line. She was good, soft, relaxing, cantered great, just threw in a few extra hops. I brushed her, saddled her and did a pre-ride check, then got on. I should have checked yielding from my hand, she was pretty stiff at first and buddy sweet to my sister’s horse (who she has never even shared a pasture with. I asked her to trot and turn and change directions when she “took over” and she stretched down and blew out. She was really soft bending wise, which has been a struggle with us!

I let my little sister get on behind me and we went on a trail ride in our cow pasture. Mae was pretty easily distracted and had where she wanted to go, and where she didn’t. She got pretty bracey, and then reactive, but we finished with her softly yielding off my leg, backing with head down without reins, and standing relaxed. I let my sister ride her to the trailer where I unpacked. I asked Mae to lay down and just petted her.

Does your horse get buddy sweet?

09/02/2023

I got to play with Scout on Friday as well, and he was great! I basically just went through the different yields from the halter and the flag, and he was SO soft and relaxed! He is doing good about moving what I’m asking, but he wants to keep walking forward or just keep moving a bit, so I worked on just getting one step of something, nicely. He did good! I did some running around him, asking for lateral flexion, and asking him to walk then bend to a stop. Going from no motion to motion (and the other way around) is harder for him to keep relaxation in, but he’s doing a lot better! He lowered his head nicely too. He stretched down and licked and chewed a lot.
Over the weekend I just stayed with Scout while he ate his breakfast and dinner.

09/02/2023

Thursday - Scout’s First Saddling with me! He did so good!
I played with him out in the big pasture, I started with asking him to stay soft and walk and trot with me next to him, since he needs to be used to someone cueing him up close. He was staying relaxed, so I decided to saddle him. He didn’t love standing tied while I got my tack out, so we’ll work on that.
I did a lot of approach and retreat, waiting for him to accept what I was doing. Since he’s been saddled before, I can’t make his first saddling go “perfect”. But I can help him relax with each step so that he doesn’t build tensions. I asked him to trot a circle with a rope around his leg, then with it around his hindquarters, then around his belly and asked him to walk and trot and stay relaxed.

Then I saddled him! I put it on and off a few times then tightened it up and asked him to walk. He did great, just walked along until I asked him to hurry, he hopped a couple of times (nothing big or crazy) then settled down and trotted relaxed! So I did a pattern of asking him to trot, then stand while I stepped up and down in the saddle. He did great, I didn’t get all the way on this time though. He licked and chewed and relaxed a bunch so I stopped there and unsaddled him. I’m so proud of him! It feels like it’s taking a while, but he’s getting better every time I play with him, and I’d rather take a little longer and him not be tense or worried.

I also had a short session with Mae and my baby brother, at liberty! They both did so good, I pretty much just put him on Mae and asked for a few things. She was pretty responsive, I asked her to back, come to me, and yield a few different ways. She got a bit confused but tried hard and my brother sat so well! She yielded her shoulders, hindquarters and sideways, and backed with her head down nicely. I finished with asking her to lay down. She stayed laying down really nicely and for a while, with my brother sitting on her and even after he got off! Later I just did a bit of liberty, playing with matching my steps, and asked her to lay down and lay flat. She did good!

08/02/2023

On Wednesday Scout did SO GOOD! I started with playing with him as if I was going to ride, I asked him to soften and bend and relax following the halter, and he did really well, especially to the left. I used an empty feed bag to help him get used to things - he just wanted to lick it at first. I was able to flap it around him, standing was okay, while walking was harder but he’s been doing better about relaxing quicker and finding that soft mental state, which is great, because then he can learn! I stepped up on the bucket and leaned over him - he lowers his head and relaxes within a second or two now!

So I repeated that pattern and continued leaning, petting, patting, jumping, and climbing on him, then I laid on his back and then sat on him and he stayed soft and relaxed! Even with my sister’s horse playing with/flapping the grain bag near us! He got distracted a bit with our pony chasing our neighbors cow along the fence, but focused on me pretty quick, and then when I got back and laid along his back he stretched down and yawned and sighed, it was awesome! So I got off there, unhaltered him and gave him a treat.

I also had a pretty good session with Mae! We practiced some leading and sidepassing, then worked on spin. She was really enthusiastic (I haven’t played with her in a while and it’s been so cold none of them have been doing much) and she accidentally hit my hand with her hoof when she was jumping around, but calmed down after a few jumps and bucks around on a circle (I just let her get them out for a few seconds before asking her to lope nicely and then stretch down at trot). She was really soft on the line and at yielding her shoulders on a circle, I was really happy with that! Sideways was nice too. We finished with asking her to lay down and stay there a bit while I petted her and gave her some alfalfa.

How does your horse show that they’re relaxing? Yawning can be a big one, I was really happy that Scout was able to relax that much with me on him!

****ck ****ckmounting

04/02/2023

We had some pretty crazy weather this week! On Monday I did two short sessions with Scout, both were really really good! I started working on liberty leading, teaching him the pattern of staying at my shoulder with slack in the line. He was pretty good with the flag, confused at first and leaned on the rope and pulled and tried to trot away, but when he got it, he got it pretty good! I didn’t have him do a ton of moving around, I just let him rest next to me and he stretched down and licked and chewed!
When I went back out, he relaxed right away with the flag, and kept his head down for SO much more of the session! We did the same thing on the other side, asking him to come towards me, asking to bend on a circle and then jumping near him and running at him waving the flag. He got tense, but relaxed more and more! I’m going to work on helping him get relaxed at a halt or walk, and eventually trot, since he wants to walk off when something is “happening”. But he stretched down and licked and chewed both sides while I was jumping and bumping and patting and flailing and then leaning on his HQ and his withers, the right side was harder but not as big a difference as it has been. He’s also getting better at focusing on me and not getting distracted. I asked him to bend his neck softly, and we finished with braiding his mane while he was ground tied, he did walk off a few times but then stood and licked and chewed.

On Tuesday it was pretty cold so we gave everyone extra hay, and I didn’t do any training with him, just to pet him at the feedings. I spent a few minutes (literally) with Mae, I brushed ice off of Bit and put her blanket on, then brushed Mae’s mane while she was in the barn. I then set up my phone and then hopped on her and rode her to the hay pile for a picture (it was 26 degrees and sleeting). I asked her to back and turn a bit, but that was it. She did good!

Did you have crazy weather? We had an ice storm, snow, and now it’s all melty everywhere.

01/02/2023

On Friday I was able to play with Scout again! I mainly continued building on what we did on Thursday, helping him understand the answer quicker. He’s doing really well! I also asked him to stretch down while walking, he started to get that, and we started working on me walking next to him and leaning on him and asking him to move off of my “leg” while he’s walking. We finished on some really nice, soft lateral flexion which was nice, and he stretched down and yawned!

On Saturday and Sunday I only spent time at feedings, brushing him and petting him and loving on him. Sometimes I’ll do things with the horses on Saturday, but they get Sundays off. We got a lot of rain, so the ground is really muddy, I’ll probably have to change plans for next week on what we can work on. But we’ll figure it out!

It’s really nice to see Scout releasing and relaxing more and more each time! Does your horse relax easily or do they tend to stay “up” a while?

Don’t forget to follow Iceman_the_sandwashbasin_mustang for updates on my new mustang!

31/01/2023

On Thursday I was able to play with Scout, but it was still pretty slick so we didn’t do anything crazy or big. I’m really looking forward to getting our arena finished so I don’t have to worry about the footing as much, but I’m glad the pasture does drain in some parts better than others. I had such a good session with Scout!

My main focus was helping him understand Energy versus Intention, as Ryan Rose calls it. He tends to react/respond to every movement I make, instead of reading whether I’m actually asking him to. He made some really nice changes this time though, and spent most of the session relaxed and thinking with his head lowered! He still tenses up at first but is getting so much faster at relaxing and softening, it’s really nice!

I was able to use the flag to get soft yields and I could flap it crazy and he’s starting to lower his head, which is the goal. I’m doing a lot of different bending and yielding things to help him relax through his whole body for when I start riding him. I finished with ground tying him and brushing him and braiding his tail. He yawned and blew out and licked and chewed, it was awesome!

I know the pictures aren’t “posed” great, but I am SO HAPPY that Scout can stand with his head down and relaxed and hold it like that! That’s been a struggle and he’s doing so good!

Does your horse “pose” for pictures?

30/01/2023

On Tuesday it was muddier, and then we had a snowstorm overnight! Tuesday morning I played with the flag, asking him to relax and respond to what I was asking, and then relax with me flapping it, continuing what we were working on yesterday. He learns really quick how to “do” what I ask, so I’m working on building relaxation as his first response in what I ask. We also started working on sidepassing towards me, sidepassing away was pretty good but he was concerned about the flag on the other side of him, so we were able to work on that!

My goal was for him to yield and step away from the flag without tensing up or flinching, but instead to bend and soften. He’s especially defensive with his sides, so I worked on asking him to yield, and petting him, until he understood the pattern. He did a LOT of licking and chewing, and his head is staying down for longer and longer each session! We finished with me standing on one of the fence panels and petting him with the flag and asking him to stand relaxed next to me.

On Wednesday I didn’t train Scout because it was SUPER muddy and slick, and cold, and I didn’t want him to slip or get hurt. So I just spent some time with him, brushing and petting him, and building our relationship. It’s not fun to be with someone who’s always demanding things, so I try to add in “nothing” time when I can.

We lost power on Tuesday night, and didn’t have it all of Wednesday either!

How is this for training-type posts? Is there anything I can explain better?

Don’t forget to follow Iceman_the_sandwashbasin_mustang for updates on my mustang!

****ck

27/01/2023

I had a fun session with Mae on Monday! She stayed soft and relaxed during my pre-ride check so it was really short. I got on and rode near the mustang pens - my new boy was SUPER worried about her, so we didn’t get close. Mae was pretty responsive, I was slower but did tap her a few times. She only got confused a couple times and overreacted, I kept things a bit slower and she did really good! She licked and chewed and stretched down, it was nice! I asked her to yield laterally and bend on a circle and that was a struggle, we were just doing it around my sister who was on her horse. When she got it soft both sides we stopped. I really focused on only using a soft ask first and she did really good! Backing got REALLY good - a nice halt and smooth backup without bracing! I ended there. She was trying to lower her head a lot more which was nice. And then I just took a bunch of pictures of her 😄

How does your horse do with other horses being ridden around them?

27/01/2023

Apologies for the late posting - we have power again!
Monday was a fun day with Scout! And - I SAT on him for a few seconds! Twice!
A lot of what I’m working on with Scout is helping him relax and not be tense or worried when I am asking something of him. Today I used the flag to help with that. He “tolerates” it when I’m petting him with it while he stands. But if I move it fast or ask him to walk, he gets concerned. We were able to work through that by flapping it and then when he showed a sign of not ignoring it/zoning out or of trying to relax, I would stop, slow down or pet him with it. I also asked him to bend on a small circle and step his hindquarters out as he walked. He was good at that when I wasn’t moving the flag, but by the end he could stay relaxed and soft while I flapped it!

What I “released” him to (what I would do in between the different things I asked him to do) was me standing on the mounting block (upside down bucket). I started with petting him, then leaning on him, then hopping and leaning over him, then sliding my legs so I was laying along his back, and then finally sitting up on him! The first time I sat on him he was good for a few seconds, then he turned to look at the opposite side and my leg touched his flank and he got tense and started to move so I slid down, asked him to yield his hindquarters and then started again. He relaxed more and more as he understood the pattern, and when I sat on him the second time (not quite as long) he didn’t move. We finished when he chose to relax and put his head down as soon as I hopped up and leaned over him!

Overall I’m really proud of him, he’s really trying to understand what I’m asking of him and he’s getting so much more relaxed and soft. It’s not always a big deal to sit on a horse ba****ck, but for us it was!

Any questions?

****ck ****ckmounting

24/01/2023

We left on Wednesday afternoon to go pickup my new mustang - I’ll be sharing about him soon!
We had quite the adventure of a trip, but made it safe home. I mostly spent time loving on and petting everyone over the weekend. Can’t wait to share more about my new boy!

Make sure to follow Iceman_the_sandwashbasin_mustang for more updates on him!

23/01/2023

On Wednesday I had a really interesting session with Scout. Me and my sister and one of our friends are going to Louisiana to pick up my new mustang, so my plan was to put Scout in his smaller pen to make it easier for my brother to feed him (we’d be back the next day). Well, Scout wasn’t too happy about that, nothing too crazy I just didn’t want him to slip since it was storming pretty big. So I brought him to our big barn for our morning session, and then turned him out into the pasture when I was done.

My main focus for this session was for him to respond to me as well as if we weren’t in the barn, with it randomly pouring, thundering or gusting wind. That took a little while, he was not sure about being in there and needed to move his feet to feel comfortable. So we worked on leading, lowering his head, backing, yielding from steady pressure on his shoulders, hindquarters, nose and from the halter. He got more and more relaxed, and finally blew out and licked and chewed a bunch.

We also did a little one rein driving, and some sideways along the fence. I didn’t get onto him, but did ask him to stand next to one of our stock tanks (upside down) and I stood on it and leaned on him and petted him and he relaxed much quicker than yesterday! We had quite the adventure on our way home on Thursday, but we made it safe.

Over the weekend I spent some undemanding time with him, brushing and grooming, braiding his tail and just doing “nothing”. I’m really excited about next week and getting started on riding prep!

How does your horse do indoors in the rain?

22/01/2023

On Wednesday I had an amazing ride on Skye!! She was covered in mud but it had dried so it wasn’t TOO hard to get off. I saddled her did a short preflight check which she did great! I ground tied her while I ran inside to get something (the first picture) and she hadn’t budged when I got back!

I rode her in the big pasture, we started with working on speeds within trot. She was thinking canter but after a bit we got a bigger trot and smaller trot with just matching my seat! We did a little walk to canter which we struggled with, but got a few good ones. I adjusted how I was sitting (I realized I braced in the stirrup) and she straightened out *magically* 🤦‍♀️
She was a little bracey in her shoulders, but once we worked through that and a bit more softness in the bridle she did really good straight loping and even a bit of pushing her shoulders over!

Then we did some Ride and Guide around the pasture at a trot - it was SO fun to just have the reins loose and her just jog along, ignoring the barn and the horses and everything without speeding up! So we tried it at the lope as well! She picked up the lope pretty good, but was getting tired. It’s so much fun to have the lope be a “useable” gait where she doesn’t change her emotional state or get distracted! We worked a bit on backing at the end.

I’ve got some EXCITING news coming soon!!

Can your horse ground tie?

18/01/2023

Session Two with Scout! Scout enjoyed being out in the pasture today! He remembers things really well, which is fun, but also means I have to keep myself accountable and not get “sloppy” in how I’m asking things of him. I’m still learning what he is comfortable with and what he isn’t sure about. I am trying to find all the things that make him tense or unsure and help him relax and realize it’s okay. I practiced jumping next to him to prep for mounting, and we worked on standing next to a mounting block (bucket). He was fine next to it, but got tense when I first got on it. So far, when he gets tense, he “ignores” what I’m doing and stares off at something else. When I get his attention back and then wait without doing anything “more”, he’ll start to relax. And then I try again.

I also practiced flapping the saddle pad around and on him, which he was pretty good with while he was standing still, but didn’t like when he was walking. But he tries to figure out what I’m asking. He’s really good at responding to my intention, which is great, we’re still working on yielding from steady pressure. I also tested some of the different things I want him to be able to do before I actually ride him. We finished on me jumping and leaning over him from the mounting block and him choosing to lower his head and relax on his own!
Thank you to my sister for the pics!

Which of the last two pictures is better? 😂😂

17/01/2023

Today I had a fun ride on Mae! I brushed her and saddled her, then we did a short pre ride check of asking her to lead next to me walk trot canter, backing, bending, sidepassing, and trotting stretched down with slack in the line. She did pretty good! When I first got on I let her go where she wanted, and I just picked the speed, walk (passenger riding). She did pretty good, went to the barn and by the trailer a few times. I asked her to trot and did a little steering, and waited till she relaxed more. Then we worked on some canter transitions and staying not bracey. She got much better!! It was fun! I didn’t get to do anything with Skye, but I plan to tomorrow!

Do you find upward transitions or downward transitions harder?

17/01/2023

Today was my first actual session with Scout! I didn’t get to do much with him on Sunday, just petted him a little. In the morning when I went to feed him he spent over 5 minutes licking me, it was funny (and sweet) Since I haven’t worked with him before I mainly focused on learning what he knows and doesn’t know, and how he responds to the way I ask for things. I was really happy with how he did! He was easily distracted, but when he was focusing on me he was super responsive. I tested a lot of things I check before riding, and he did really well! He is more comfortable with me on his left side, and doesn’t like me jumping around, yet. But he’s pretty light at yielding which was nice! He got a lot more relaxed by the end, lots of licking and chewing and some yawning and shaking his neck, and I didn’t do anything “big” so that was cool. I let him out into one of our pastures and he got to run around a little which I think he liked. He has my sister’s gelding as a pasture buddy for now. I’m excited to see what all we can do!

What all do y’all want me to post about him? Like a journal, or with more training-type posts where I explain what I’m doing?

17/01/2023

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT: Introducing Scout! Scout is a 6 year old gypsy vanner I have in for training! I’ll be posting about him on this page! I will be sort of restarting him under saddle, hoping to help him gain confidence, have fun and be a relaxed, safe riding partner! He is super super sweet and cuddly, and has so much hair (so you’ll probably be seeing a bunch of braiding in the future). His owner brought him on Saturday.

Do y’all have any questions about him? I’m excited to share his journey with y’all!

17/01/2023

Over the weekend I just spent a little time with the herd petting and loving on them. They had some fun when they met my training horse (introduction post coming soon!) and Mae got all excited. Brighty doesn’t like him, it’s kinda funny.

How does your horse do with a new horse? Do they want to be friends or keep their distance?

16/01/2023

Thursday was cold and windy, so I didn’t “do” as much with Mae and Skye. I did a short session on line with Mae, practicing an idea I had. She did good, got a little confused and tense but figured out what I was asking and how to stay relaxed.

I spent a while brushing and detangling and braiding Skye’s mane and tail, then sat on Mae in the barn and did some studying. We did a little bit of backing, but I didn’t ask her to do anything really.

Do you ever use your horse as a reading chair? It’s very comfy 😄

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Videos

I can not say enough amazing things about this girl - just look at her!! 😍😍😍 Loping calmly, bridleless, correct lead, steering, relaxed and stretching down... and that Stop!!! I am so so thankful to be able to have her!

Skye and I trotting around bridleless! In the same arena I first saw her in!!

Skye’s first bareback and bridleless ride!!! I played at liberty with her and Mae together, then after riding Mae I decided to try bareback and bridleless - literally hopped up on her and tested what we had! We just walked, but it was SO much fun! I just love her so much!! (03/16/22) Have you tried bareback or bridleless? Or both? What part of the video do you think is the “best” part? #Skye #barebackandbridleless #blmmustang

Since y’all liked the video of Skye at Liberty, here’s Mae! I’ve been working on her staying down longer (and yes, I’m biting off pieces of an apple to give her, sorry 😄) She’s doing so good!! Have you taught your horse to lay down? Any tips on how to help her stay down longer? I learned how to teach her the lay down from @rosehorsemanship’s Patreon! #QHMae #liberty #laydown

Skye at liberty! (iPhone 13 pro) I’d love to hear any observations you have! It’s really hard to film with one hand and have the correct positioning and cues, which is partially why she gets confused and offers hindquarter yield toward me (and no, I didn’t hit her, I just shushed the flag at her) I also love her over exuberant leaps, she always keeps me safe, and if I ask she’ll calm down. (I just put a little too much upwards inner energy/intention into my ask 😄) I was really proud of how connected she was to me, gave me vertical flexion and longitudinal (stretching down) when I asked, with just body language/stick cue (as you can see) and she was interested in but not too scared of the flag! Should I post more/longer videos like this? #Skye #blmmustang #liberty #libertyhorsemanship

❤️❤️ Cinnamon!!!! ❤️❤️ Cinnamon is an adorable 8 year old mare, just started under saddle and doing AMAZING!! I’m really going to miss spending time with her!! She is one of the amazing horses that was a part of the Ryan Rose Colt starting course at the Best Friends Animal Society Horse Haven, that is looking for a wonderful home! She is quiet, sweet, and once she trusts you she will try anything for you!! She did amazing in the course, some of the highlights were starting to get backup without reins, shoulder yields, and sideways towards me on the ground! If you are looking for an awesome horse with a great start, please consider adopting from Best Friends. For more information email: [email protected] Thank you Ryan for the video of her!! #coltstarting #rosehorsemanship #Bestfriendscoltstart #bestfriendsanimalsociety

Yesterday was a non-horsey day, but still fun! I got lots of hiking pictures, and a video from yesterday (thank you Mrs Lisa) of Cinnamon being a little... too relaxed with me on her for my comfort 😂 (she’s literally only had someone on her twice before, and while it’s great that she’s yawning, the almost bowing and shaking was a little concerning since I didn’t know if she would spook herself. Thankfully, she didn’t). What’s something odd your horse has done while you were riding? #coltstarting #bestfriendscoltstart #rosehorsemanship

02/04/21 Skye did so good today!!! She did everything I asked - picking up her hooves and holding them longer, relaxing while yielding her shoulders, cantering on a circle both ways, and letting me mount bareback! Then she did awesome while I was riding, turned pretty softly, stopped with “whoa” and backed the best yet - once even without the reins! Then she did the best trailer loading yet, and clearly chose to stand in the trailer, while I jumped inside it, tapped the walls, the ceiling, stomped (to get her used to different noises). She even stood all four hooves in, and relaxed! Video of her smelling something odd - not sure why the camera angle makes her ears huge 🤷‍♀️😄 #mustangtaming2020 #Skye #magnolia

Saddling Skye! #mustangtaming2020 #Skye #magnolia

Skye and Mae at Liberty!

I tested out Liberty with Skye and Mae... let’s just say Mae wasn’t exactly teaching Skye what to do. 😁 Thankfully Skye did what I asked, and more! (I had my phone videoing on .5 zoom out, which is why it looks like Mae didn’t come all the way, and why Skyes ears look weird 😄) #mustangtaming2020 #Skye #magnolia

Skye’s first ride outside the round pen!

Skye’s first ride out of the round pen!! She did AWESOME! This was from the end of the ride, I got off right after the end of the video. Also - although perfect timing, Skye did not neigh, that was Little Bit, our family QH, standing right behind the camera 😁 (calling for Mae, her buddy, who was tied by the round pen) #mustangtaming2020 #Skye #magnolia

Skye relaxing under saddle

01/12/20 Today was great! In the morning she was all excited and hopping around, so I played at Liberty with her a bit, she bucked and leaped around but connected back to me pretty quick, and calmed down when she was next to me, and walked and trotted with me. In the afternoon I went out and petted and brushed Skye until she relaxed, then I picked up her hooves (she did good). I haltered her and put on the 22’ line, and we did some leading and I asked her to back from the halter-yield her shoulders-back from her nose, in a pattern, until she relaxed and did them a bit more smoothly. She got a bit bracy, and tried to walk forward, especially when yielding to the left, but we figured it out. Then I brought her out and saddled her, and she did great even though there was a Fedex truck that drove by, stopped and backed up towards us, then made lots of noises while the person opened the back, etc. Then we went to the flat area, and I asked Skye to Send back and forth, and she did good, then I asked her to circle at the trot. She did 3 circles with me in neutral, after a couple tries! I asked her to canter, and she did, but slowed down coming downhill (it was slick) then sped up on her own, slipped, almost caught herself but slipped again, and fell! She got up, held up her right hind leg, tested it out a bit, then walked no problem, and offered to trot. I was so relieved! I asked her to walk a circle, which she was confused about a bit, and offered to trot, but licked and chewed when she figured it out. Then we did some sideways along the fence, then went back in the pen and I switched to the 12’ line and 45’ lariat. I practiced some more of my rope-handling, asked her to turn around with the rope around her, bend her neck around, and then I got on! She was less willing to walk, but once we got started she did better. I did have to tap her twice I think, but she started to walk with just my energy! She turned with the stick nicely, both sides! She blew out and relax

Skye’s first trot session under saddle!

First day of trotting, circle to the right! (The best we did all day) #mustangtaming2020 #Skye #magnolia

Riding Skye!

12/15/20 Today was awesome!!! (even though it was cold) In the morning I brought her to the front of the barn, since where we normally go is pretty slick. I asked her to walk, stop and back up with me. Today my focus was more on Lightness, asking her to respond quicker. I asked for yields, especially her shoulders, because that wasn’t as good yesterday. I asked her to lower her head from finger pressure, instead of halter pressure, and that was a bit confusing for her. She backed nicely, but offered to back too much, so I was a little more particular about where I “parked” her in between asking. She did great with walking in front of me and yielding to change directions; with me walking forward and backwards! She’s also doing better about backing away from me, and coming to me, really light! I asked her to trot a couple of circles with me in neutral, and she was doing okay, but not great, until I remembered to be super clear about how fast I wanted her to go, and to increase the pressure until she responded the way I asked (she knows how to trot by now). Then she did 3 laps! We did some sideways not along the fence, she wiggled around a bit, but did pretty good. Then we went to the trailer, and practiced loading. She walked in pretty easy, so I looped the lead rope through the top tie-places, and held the end, from outside the trailer. She leaned on it once, then stood there! I started closing and opening the door (not all the way) and when she showed any sign of relaxing, or not standing so close to the door, I opened it and petted her. When she took a step forward from the door pressure on her hindquarters, I stopped and brought her out. In the afternoon I tied the lead rope into reins, brushed her off, tested backup with the reins, tossing the rope over and around her, bending her neck both ways, then some leading rein starting, and continuing to walk. She did great! I asked her to yield her hindquarters with her neck bent, which she did good. She has bee

Walking and trotting together at Liberty!

12/08/20 Today was so much fun! In the morning I started with just petting her and spending time with her while she ate hay in the pasture, then I haltered her and asked her to yield her hindquarters faster, then stop and let me hold her hoof up. We got to almost a minute probably, it was easier for her on the left. I asked her to yield her shoulders, then I asked her to do the 3 circle game, until she stopped pinning her ears. I worked on some leading and backing, then I brought her out. I started with asking her to walk the Weave, pattern, then trot it, until we got a nice smooth trot and turn. We did some circling, and some sideways, alternating a step of hindquarter yielding and shoulder yielding, without the fence. I asked her to bend her neck, and yield her hindquarters, shoulders and back up with steady pressure, then I asked her to practice walking forward by leading. She did great! I also focused on her facing me better, and then we did the sending back and forth pattern, at the walk and trot. She did get startled when she saw someone come to check our energy meters, but focused on me when I asked her to yield and wait. Then I brought her back in the pasture. In the afternoon I started at Liberty, asking her to walk with me. She left me a few times, but wanted to come back to me pretty quick, after jumping around a bit. I asked for a few yields with steady pressure, and then we walked together, then I asked her to Touch the barrel, and come back to me, then asked her to circle and come back, but she offered to change directions when she wanted, so I asked until she went around without changing directions. I asked her to Touch the other barrel, and for some driving pressure yields, then we finished up with walking and trotting together! I put the lead rope on and tied it into reins, which she wasn’t sure about the ropes under her chin, then I asked her to circle better, asked her to bend her neck each way, yield her hindquarters and back up, then circle an

Skye ride 11/30/20

11/30/20 Today was AWESOME! I went out after breakfast and Skye walked right over to me, and I haltered her and brought her out of the pasture. I started with asking her to walk next to me, and we did some walking stopping and backing practice, and she did really nice! It was muddy, so I didn’t ask her to trot. I was setting up a barrel for her to go around, and our alpaca came by, so I shoo-ed him away, but forgot that Skye hasn’t been around me moving other animals away. She got startled, and jumped forward, then stopped and faced and waited! She didn’t even pull the line out of my hand! I practiced stepping forward quick and tagging the ground, and she relaxed after that. I swung the string around her, and then asked her to back up 2 steps, then yield her shoulders, then back 2 steps. This will help her put more weight on her hind end, which builds muscle and makes her easier to turn. Then I asked her to Touch things with her nose, until she asked a question (looked at me with two ears and waited to see what I wanted. We also started a Weave pattern, where I have 4 cones/logs/barrels/markers and ask her to weave through them, come around the end and weave the other way. We started with just Figure 8 (which she knows) then added the other two, and she did great! She backed really softly by the end, and licked and chewed a lot. I asked her to yield from steady pressure from the lead rope and my hand, and she did really good! In the afternoon I got two more barrels and put them in the pen, then went in with the halter and 22’ line tied into reins. She came right over, I tied her to the fence and brushed her, then untied and trimmed a bit of her hooves, then I tossed the end of the line around her, and swung it over her. Then I checked steady pressure yields, hindquarter and bending her neck and moving her shoulders, lowering her head from the side and by her shoulder, tested taking a step by starting with the reins, turning, and did some sideways along the f

Skye bareback mounting, yielding, petting

11/19/20 Today was awesome! Skye followed me back into her pen in the morning, and went through the gate and turned and faced me after that! After breakfast I started with brushing her, and swinging the end of the rope around her a lot, until she relaxed. Then I asked her to yield to steady pressure, shoulders and hindquarters and bending around, just a few steps. We check lateral flexion (bending her neck to the side) and vertical flexion (lowering her chin and raising her neck), and I asked her to back and walk and trot. Then I got a bucket, hopped next to her, leaned over her, petted her, then got on! She did great, I asked her to step her hindquarters over and she did, then I asked her to take a step. I used the rein to guide her nose, and if she didn’t move, then I clucked to her. She did a lot of small turning steps, but we got a couple straight ones, alternated with petting and bending her neck and relaxing. I got off, petted her and let her think about it for a few minutes, then brought her back to the bucket and got on the other side! She did even better, we got all the way to 5 steps forward, calmly! She also stepped on, in, over against and knocked around the bucket, no problem. I got off and just sat with her after that, and petted her. In the afternoon I went out and started by saddling her, which I did with the rope just tossed over her neck, she didn’t budge! Then I asked her to walk and trot anc change directions, then I put two lines on her and we drove around the pen. She did really good, she got stuck a few times, but didn’t freak out! We walked and trotted, and ended with her stopping without facing me! We went to the flat area, and did some Figure 8s, which she did the best yet, then we did some trot and canter transitions on a circle and she relaxed and blew out a few times. She did much better, didn’t hop around or try to run off, even with the saddle on! Then we went on a walk! She did great, she got startled once but didn’t jump.

Skye’s First Saddled Ride/Sit!!

11/11/20 Today was AWESOME! In the morning I was able to spend 2 hours with Skye (none in the afternoon though). I fed her alfalfa in the trailer. After breakfast I brushed her, and we did a few steady pressure yields, I am working on getting a little longer with her ears forward, so I reward once she’s kept them forward for longer. We also did some backing, and she is getting better at backing farther away. Then I saddled her, and then brought her out of the pen! I asked her to touch some things, with me leading from her shoulder, then asked her to yield from driving pressure, and she did great, so I asked her to walk and trot in a circle, with me tossing the end of the 45’ line over the saddle. She wasn’t sure about it, and tucked her hind legs under her, but relaxed after a couple minutes. Then I tossed the rope over, and pulled it off, over the saddle, which made a weird noise and moved the saddle, and it was against her back legs. She was unsure about that as well, but licked and chewed on both sides after a bit. Then I asked her to canter, she did okay, not the best she’s done at actually cantering, but she didn’t take off either. When she cantered when I asked, and came back in great, I stopped. I asked her to move around me with the stirrup, she yielded her hindquarters, shoulder and bent around me, it was great! Then we walked back to her pen, and I tossed the end of the line around her, tested her bending her neck and relaxing, then flapped the stirrups, wiggled the saddle, patted it, and made noise and motion, then I hopped near her and leaned up and over the saddle on her right, got down, came around to her left side, got up and leaned over, then got on!! Her First Saddled “Ride”!!!!!! She did great, even with distractions and noise, she kept her head bent on her own most of the time! I petted her until she relaxed, then got off and spent a half hour just sitting with her and petting her. #mustangtaming2020 #Skye #magnolia

Skye’s Canter under saddle!

Skye’s first saddling - she didn’t buck or freak out at all! She did sooo good! She actually kept wanting to stop and come to me ❤️❤️ #mustangtaming2020 #Skye #magnolia

Sitting on Skye!!

11/03/20 Today was awesome! I got up early, and went out to the barn, and Skye was sleeping in her pen. She neighed at me, but didn’t get up, and I walked over to her. She stayed laying down, even when I climbed over the panel (about 3 feet away from her) and let me pet her for 10 minutes! It was so sweet! After breakfast I focused on her expression during yields, and released when she relaxed and stopped pinning her ears. We did steady and driving pressure, and she is doing a lot better! She doesn’t start off pinning her ears, it’s usually if I ask for a little more, or if she is getting “stuck” and I tap her. She has been hopping up a bit to move over, but since she’s just trying to find the answer I just keep asking until she does it calmly. She did really good! She’s super soft and light, once she knows what I want. She bent her neck around both sides, backed nicely, and we did some One Line Driving, which she did the best yet! We did some walk and trot, and she was super calm about it! She did great with ropes around her, and turned around with the rope wrapped around her! She is really learning to pay attention to what I’m asking, and thinking through things she’s not sure about, not just freaking out! In the afternoon I asked her to yield and move while standing on a bucket, so it was a different setup for her (good for me too, since I didn’t realize how much I move my feet without realizing). I started with petting her and tossing the stick and string over her, then I asked her to back and yield her shoulders and hindquarters, while I was standing in front of her. She did really really good! I asked her to lower her head while I was farther away, and she figured that out too! I asked her to walk and trot, and change directions, then come to me and rest. I asked her to yield her shoulders and hindquarters from steady pressure, and she did really good! She’s working on standing right up against the bucket, but is doing better. I got off t

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Skye and Mae at Liberty!

Skye’s first ride outside the round pen!

Skye relaxing under saddle

Skye’s first trot session under saddle!

Riding Skye!

Walking and trotting together at Liberty!

Skye ride 11/30/20

Skye bareback mounting, yielding, petting

Skye’s First Saddled Ride/Sit!!

Skye’s Canter under saddle!

Sitting on Skye!!

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