Saturday, June 28, 2008 was the first official meeting of the South Charlotte Savvy Club.
With our wonderful hostess Mariah Helms and family providing their beautiful Patch of Heaven for us to play and relax on, It truly was heavenly.
There was even music provided for the attendees to listen to as they played; the oh-so-soothing sounds of the one and only Taco Sinatra(pictured above).

There was swimming, fruit salad, trail riding, and the day even included a fascinating game of "Spot Spike the lizard!" Held by the highly talented Christian Helms.
All in all it was a wonderful day with great fun, food and delightful company and I can not wait for the next play day which is set for July 18th.
Thanks 'Riah!

Naturally,

Katie Hufton

Well, this morning my alarm didn't go off and I woke up an hour late for feeding time so I rushed out to the barn and there she stood; TOTALLY mad at me and insulted. So I gave her breakfast, tried to rub her and it went a little something like this:

" Don't touch me. Just give me my food and go."

" But I looooove you!"

" Fine. But give me my food and get out!"

It was pretty funny and I'm beginning to notice how well I can pick up on her body language and I am *so* glad that I viewed the L+HB before starting L1.
I probably won't be posting again for a bit since I'm keeping my little cousins for a few days then going to stay at my Aunt and Uncles for a while. But I will try.
Nighty night!

Naturally,

Katie Hufton

Things are starting to really progress with Lady. Our session today was a good one and I think it was because we were both relaxed and feeling good! We played lots of Friendly game at first and we were both so relaxed she actually fell asleep.(!)
When I stopped she woke up and looked at me all " Huuuh?" and I asked her to move backwards by using Porcupine on zone 1 and she responded with a few sleepy steps which was good. And when we finished yielding the FQ and the HQ using Porcupine with the same great results, We continued on to Driving game. I started with step 1 [moving her backwards by tapping the lead line with the CS] and she backed up each time! This was big for us! :] Then we went back to Friendly and I let her sleep some more in the sunshine. Wonderful session.

Naturally,

Katie Hufton

Mornin' guys! I'm sorry that I haven't posted anything lately; I've been sick and I wasn't up to doing anything other than resting. But I'm feeling better now so here is an update on how things have progressed in the past five days. :)
Since Lady and I did something really provocative and new on the fourteenth, we spent the next two days hanging out and making sure the relationship was still great, if not better and I am *very* glad I took that time.

June 15, 2008
To start our morning, I gave Lady breakfast in her stall and stayed in there with her while she ate. She was tense and stand-offish and didn't want me to touch her at all so, I gave her some space.
When she was done eating she came straight to where I was standing in the pasture, sniffed at me and walked a few feet away to graze.
Yesterday when she walked away from me and ignored me, I read her body language as dominant since she was relaxed, casually swishing flies, blowing and generally tension-free. But today when she did the same thing, I read her as unconfident because of how tense, bracy and nervous she was.
I focused on being calm, confident and relaxed without any tension in my body. Within the next five minutes she had edged back to my side. She lifted her head to sniff me and I offered her my hand, palm up, which she sniffed then she rested her nose in my palm and sighed really big. We stayed that way for a few seconds(felt like hours!) and then, I tested to see if she was okay with my touch on her withers/back and she seemed to accept and enjoy it. She went back to grazing but she didn't leave my side for the remainder of our time together.

I think that in our relationship, the time I spend with her just doing nothing is key. Especially after a session when we're doing something that may cause her to lose confidence in me or herself. I realize that after our session yesterday, I may not have spent enough UDT with her. I don't feel like I failed, I feel like I experimented and I'm one step closer to finding the right combination of teaching and comfort for her.

June 16, 2008
On the sixteenth, Lady and I started the day the same way as we did on the fifteenth but with a big difference in how she responded to me.
While she was eating, I rubbed her neck and back and she was totally relaxed with no tension and sporting that beautiful soft look that I love so much. We walked together out to the pasture with no lead rope, and she kept with my pace.
The gate that separates the pastures is only big enough to allow one of us through at a time and she being the Lady she is, stopped and waited for me to go through. Our rapport was amazing so I decided to try a little something with her.
When I got through the gate, I turned and invited her through by walking backwards slowly. When she was about halfway through, I lifted my hands, changed my posture and used rhythmic pressure with the intention to back her through the gate. Her ears were flicking back and fourth and I could tell all her attention was on me, once I got to phase 2, she understood what I wanted and responded by backing through the gate. Then I relaxed, she stood there licked her lips and then I invited her to me, rubbed her and walked off into the pasture with her following behind me.
I knew it was something we could do because she is confident with Driving and Porcupine games when I use my hands. It was a little something to keep us both interested and I was very pleased with how it went.
We spent the rest of the time just being close, grazing and scratching each other. :) WONDERFUL session.

June 17-18, 2008
I was really sick on these two days and only went outside to do the daily barn chores. She nickered when she saw me which made me feel tons better!

Now that I am feeling better I'll be updating regularly (hopefully).
See ya later!

Naturally,

Katie Hufton

I have had a very interesting morning!
I went out to spend some Undemanding Time [UDT] with Lady before her breakfast and she was just totally all in my space, nosing me around or paying no attention to me whatsoever. Just total LBI snottiness! So we were out in the pasture and I felt like it was time for some good ole' Hide your Hiney.
When she decided I wasn't interesting enough and mosied off, I made my way around towards her zone 5** with my carrot stick in hand and my best Schwiegermutter look.. I slowly creeped up and started making noise with the stick, soft at first which she ignored [of course] then progressively harder.. and then came phase four.. *SWISH, SMACK!* Right in her zone 5 and off she went, tossing that head like you wouldn't believe! She trotted in a circle and then came back to me, ears forward, blinking and licking her lips. I walked backwards with my stick held out in front of me, she followed, gave the tip of the stick a nice sniff and that's when I stopped walking, gave her rubs and scratches. I think I did it twice more and by the third time, all I had to do was change my look and move towards her rump and she'd whip right around and look at me, ears forward like.. " I know what you're up to, missy!" The best part is neither of us lost our confidence. Not ONCE. I was assertive and she understood me. Afterwards when she approached me and started getting pushy with her head, I'd lift my stick just a bit, wiggle it and give her that look and off she went, head tossing all the way. She is such a SNOT. I love her so much! Ha ha.
Today was a perfect example of:
"Do as I say, but don't be afraid."

In other great news; I got my Tickets for the Parelli Tour Stop in Jacksonville, FL in the mail today. I'm going down on October 18 and staying a while for my birthday and I am so excited! I also found out that a friend and fellow Parelli enthusiast might be coming with me! :) What could be better?

More cool news! I ordered my Parelli DVD binder last night so soon, I'll have a place to keep my Savvy Club DVDs and keep them nice and organized! I also ordered some cow-flavored barrel covers ( am getting barrels this weekend!) and Pat Parelli's book, Raise Your Hand If You Love Horses. I'm very excited about my purchases and my session with Lady today. :) Looks like I've got a wonderful Father's Day weekend coming up! Maybe I'll have some time to post in between the motorcycle riding and the horseplay!
See ya later!
** For more information on the zones of a horse, click here


Naturally,

Katie Hufton

Today was thankfully cooler than the past few have been. Lady was pretty disinterested in me.. that is, until I started ignoring her.
- Grin.- She was following me around everywhere within five minutes! It was then that my beloved had her very first Winnie's Cookie. And while she was busy frisking me for more of those tasty treats, I snapped a few pictures. Tricky, tricky! :]] Hopefully I'll get a 'real' camera soon. My cellphone doesn't take the best pictures.

Anywho! Since it's so wonderful outside, I'm heading back to the barn to play. Later!








Naturally,

Katie Hufton

In the May issue of Savvy Times magazine, Pat Parelli issued a challenge to his students. The challenge was to memorize the Eight Principles of Natural Horsemanship. What are the Eight Principles? Katie Drake offers a pretty good explanation in the article:

" Pat considers the Eight Principles to be the founding philosophy of the Parelli Program...."

"... Truly knowing and understanding the Eight Principles gives you a blue-print to follow. Now you can hold everything you do up to this ideal and know where you need to improve as a horseman."

To take it one step further, Pat suggests you score yourself on each principle on a regular basis. This helps you to keep track of which principles you truly 'get' and which ones need more work.

I have decided to accept this challenge! I am going to memorize these Eight Principles and work hard to understand them and let them be my guide in hopes that one day I can think with the same process as Pat Parelli, a true horseman.

The Eight Principles
1. Horsemanship is natural.
2. Don't make or teach assumptions
3. Communication is two or more individuals sharing and understanding an idea.
4. Horses and humans have mutual responsibilities.
5. The attitude of justice is effective.
6. Body language is a universal language.
7. Horses teach humans and humans teach horses.
8. Principles, purpose and time are the tools of teaching.
© PARELLI NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP, INC

Wish me luck!

Naturally,

Katie Hufton

Just got back in from the barn. It has been a lovely, foggy morning! Lady and I had a great time just hanging out, grooming each other and grazing. I always carry my carrot stick with me now, to help her get used to it and view it as an extension of my body. She loves it when I scratch her itchy spot with it or randomly help flick flies off of her front legs and tummy. :] We also played small amounts of the Porcupine game with my hands to keep her out of my personal space. She is still responding well, with phase 1 or 2.


Just making sure that I remember: Slow and right beats fast and wrong; slow and right builds fast and right..

My biggest challenge at this time is my predatory "gottagetitdone", but I am conscious of it now and that is making a huge difference.
Going to post more later today!



Naturally,

Katie Hufton

Introductions! This is where you get to meet my beautiful partner, Lady. She is a retired racing Thoroughbred, who turned nine on April 27, 2008. She is very intelligent, sensitive, playful and curious. She loves peppermint treats and rolling around in the dirt is one of her favorite activities..

Her Horsenality profile has changed dramatically since I bought her. Here is what it looked like at first:

(click the thumbnails for full size)

In the month she has been here; she has gone from that to this:

The tricky thing about her Horsenality is that when she gets upset, she flips sides of the chart and goes to this. The green dots are when I am teaching her new things and going too quickly for her. She loses confidence very quickly and goes introverted. The orange, when she is forced into a situation or she feels trapped ex; trailer loading, holding her too close/ too tight, new people handling her without respect or handling her legs. etc. She is very claustrophobic. But she will develop more confidence over time. :]

That's it for now! Off to get some schoolwork done and hopefully some lunch!

Naturally,

Katie Hufton