A Wonderful Challenge

Today, my mom gave me a wonderful challenge. She spotted it before I did, and I'm glad that she did!
I made a new video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo7pOUC2XO8
On my new Youtube channel. Keep an open mind. I like the words I put in, and the thoughts I stimulated, but there was a whole lot of pnh circling game. Here's a overview of what circling game is Parelli:

"The Circling Game is really fun because your horse has to be responsible! In playing this game, your horse learns to stay in one gait and go in one direction—without clucking at him or snapping a lunge whip behind him. In fact, you don’t move at all even though your horse is going around you! It’s important to know that this isn’t sending your horse round and round in circles (like lungeing) which can become boring for you and the horse! And it’s not about exercising, either. So why do we play this game? Have you ever wished your horse would maintain a gait without constantly squeezing your legs to keep him going? This will help!"

Well, we didn't do it that way, I was still moving. But it's the same concept. "Go out there are run around!"

So mom said, do no circling game! And I was ever so glad that she did! I have found myself going, "Well, now what?" At liberty. When we play, I run out of things to do, so just go circle! Wrong!

There are things that I want to get better at in me and Eddie's relationship.

Number 1 is our riding.

And number 2 is being able to do things together with him wanting to do those things and going into a deeper level of softness.

Anyway, (maybe I'll talk about the circling game and how it's pretty backwards in another post.)

Here's what Eddie and I did, without any running around!

First we did some advanced sidepasses. We did it at a fast walk and at a trot. That was really fun! He thought it was pretty cool too! Then we did some chase me game and we had fun running around. To top it off, he almost laid down with my cue. We're so close!! :-) All in good time though. :) But it gets even better! I had him wait at one end of an arena, then I 'connected' with him and he came cantering over to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yippeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And all I did was think it - he did it! Woohoo!! Peelin' back another layer of softness and connection!!!!!

We finished with some more connection games, and then I let Scout and Eddie run around together. It was so much fun, and I'm so glad that mom tested me with this challenge! You do so much more together and as a team when you don't give the horse 'responsibilities.'

50/50 partnership all the way!! :-)

~Lea & Eddie~

Hebrews 10:35-36

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise