Sagebrook Farms, Wrong Turn Ranch, Arianna progress and flu!

The past 6 weeks since I came back from France have flown by!!!

New job at Sagebrook Farms
I cannot tell you how happy I am with my new job. It's been quite a while since I've done any proper teaching and it didn't take me long to remember how much I enjoy it. It's easy to enjoy work at Sagebrook though, the horses are super nice, the clients are keen, happy and love the horses more than anything, and Julie who runs it and keeps everything running smoothly and the horses in tip top condition, is possibly one of the nicest people I've ever met.

Handsome Brody

I've become particularly fond of a little bay quarter horses called 'Brody' who's only been with Julie for less than a year but he has so much try in him it makes your heart melt!

Wrong Turn Ranch
I've made several trips up to Santa Inez every couple of weeks to spend time with Seth and Angie of " Murray horsemanship" to see how Arianna is progressing.

Seth and Angi's place is, no word of a lie, like a small chunk of horsey heaven! I absolutely love it there and as well as working with Arianna, I've been able to work with some of the other horses Angi has in for training.

Happy Horses

The View from Seth and Angi's veranda is stunning and so peaceful and serene..(apart from the odd "he haw" from the donkeys!)

Angi has so many interesting things to expose the horses to and groundwork is an integral part of every horses training. Most of all I love their attitude and passion for their work, and how the horse always dictates the speed at which they progress in their training. Often, Angi will detect holes in the horses understanding or an area of fear and the training may even go off in a new direction depending upon that individual horses needs at that moment in time. They truly are both amazing trainers and to top it off, just awesome people as well!!!

Out of trail (American for going on a hack) aboard Stella

Doing the "wocket woy" western style aboard Stella

Cecilia is about 3 months under saddle and we worked on softness to the inside leg, she's super smart and sensitive and learns things very quickly...

"Bug" is full of character and this was his first time in the bit (other than just wearing it over the halter) and he did so good! He likes to "hop" when he gets excited but thankfully he's not very good at it!

Seth's little arab 'Ghia' has bags of talent and could turn her hoof to anything, we did a bit of dressage training (in just a halter!)

All horses are ridden in a halter before they ride in a bit, which is a rare concept to us British but actually it makes huge sense, and even without the bit, they are trained to incredible levels of lightness. Horses are also started in a western saddle which I'm pretty comfortable with now, even if I have on more than one occasion, got off too fast and hooked my clothes (and even one time my bra!!!) over the saddle horn and had to detach myself with much haste!!!!

One horse I'm crazy fond of is Freddie, who's a 14.2 gelding who's in for training through a charity called "return to freedom". He's got a super attitude and amazing paces (technically he's a mustang as he came from a feral herd) with great hind leg action but also huge cuddleability.

Freddie loves cuddles....

....and kisses

check out the size of that stride on a just broke baby!

Arianna
Arianna is doing great!. She's much calmer and more confident generally and is clearer to say when something worries her than trying to hide it or pretend it doesn't exist.

She's done obstacles including the "teeter-totter" bridge, huge blue hanging tarp, fake green grass, inflatable crocodile and huge fluffy monkey whilst she's been there. She confidently learned to wear a rug, the western saddle and we tried the English saddle for the first time also which she took all in her stride. We've taken her up to the arena and Seth has led her up and down some scary steep slopes! And she's been mounted bareback and with the stirrups!!!

The giant hanging blue tarp....

Practising with rugs....

and rugs that make crinkly noises....

working in the Western Saddle....

and the English saddle.

Working in the arena with Mummy....

and playing the "forwards and backwards one foot at a time over the pole" game!

Over the wobble bridge!!!

Down super steep slopes!!!!

and even under a huge flappy blue tarp with a giant fluffy monkey over her back!!!!!

All aboard!

She's going to stay with Seth and Angi until I return fro Europe in the new year to continue her training.

Flu
This last week I've been a bit grouchy as I've had flu the last three days! I'm not a very good patient either and I've been moany and leaving trails off tissue everywher I go and now I think I've given it to David also! I've only 48 hours left until I fly back to France for Christmas so I'm trying my hardest to recover fully before then, or I will feel sorry for who ever gets lumped with sitting next to me!
 

England, France and a new job!

So a whole month has gone by since my last post! Where does the time go!

Arianna made the trip up to Santa Inez to stay with an amazing trainer called Angi Murray whilst I returned to Europe. She's an incredibly talented trainer who has huge experience with wild and rescue horses and is totally tuned in to the need of each individual horse. Plus, she has so many different things to expose horses to including a wobbly bridge, giant hanging tarp and a huge fluffy monkey to name but a few! She's been working with Arianna on the ground to build her confidence as I've since learned she actually pretends to be ok with things when actually she is not.... so it's been back a few steps to teach her to actually look and process thing rather than pretend they aren't there. Just goes to show how different each horses needs are and that they never stop teaching us new things!

I returned to England and had a one night stop off before going on to France. I managed to find time to see Kevin at Highclere farm and go for a hack on the lovely William (who I used to ride twice a week before moving to LA) and have a catch up with my good friend Christine who rode Harley out with me. It's amazing how quickly it feels just like normal, riding through Hodgemoor in the autumn and splashing through all the puddles!

I got stay with bestie Bex overnight and it was perfect to just chill and catch up and then we spend the morning at her yard, which is where I used to keep Guinness. So many happy memories in this place and although in part it makes me sad because I miss him, it still reminds me of all the fun we had there together. Good timing meant I also ran into my friends and previous clients Louise and Martina Gardner, and Sophie and Sarah Lacey. Although we all keep in touch on facebook, it's lovely just to be face to face and hug the friends you've missed.

Joshua and I flew on to Toulouse where Dad and Chloe were waiting to pick us up.
France feels like my second home now, and everything is so familiar and so beautiful. It's lovely to have time to spend with Joshua just doing normal things like going to the supermarket, cooking together, walking the dogs and watching movies. Joshua is so grown up now and he will be a teenager next year, but I love the fact he's still happy to just hang out and spend Mum time with me, telling me about friends and girls and skateboarding and all things young boys think about. 

My 2 year old gelding, Peroni is looking great and everyday we did a little groundwork and he just picks it straight back up again even though he hasn't practised it for ages. We went on some nice walks together and as usual, he was a superstar! Pedro, his little field buddy is so attached to him and they really are best friends so althoug I miss him loads, I know he's very happy where he is.

Taffy my 32 year old welsh pony is still going strong and is fit, happy and healthy, proving this by pulling Chloe's arms out her sockets when we went cantering around the french countryside together! Hero got his winter clip and Beanie is also well and enjoying life in France.

My cats are also in seventh heaven, enjoying the mild french autumn and catching lots of french field mice! I'm so glad I moved them to France and didn't bring them with us, as they would not have suited a life living in an apartment here. My only worry now being that I don't think my family are going to ever want to give them back!

We spent time with my Auntie and Uncle and my Nanny and had a lovely lunch in nearby Saint Guardens. The food and wine was amazing it's so special to have these times with family when you get the chance. It was all over too soon, and before I knew it was time to come home again.

Now back in LA, I've started a new job, teaching riding again! The barn is called Sagebrook Farms at the paddock riding club in Burbank and although I've only done a few days there so far, I'm starting to feel very much at home. The other instructors and all the clients are lovely, and the horses are very well cared for and happy in their work which is so important to me. I'm feeling a little rusty and I'm not used to having to share an arena with other people also having lessons, but I'm starting to get the hang of it!

Saddle practise, friendly game on steroids, back on board my girl and Reining Clinic with Pat Wickenheiser

Arianna saddle training Day 28 - 31
Over the course of the week, Arianna and I continued to work on relaxation with the saddle. This involves a lot of rubbing her with it, moving it around on her back, walking away from and back towards her with the saddle on my arm in different positions etc until there is no 'brace in her body. One thing that has really helped this is playing a bizarre version of the friendly game with her.
By this point I was putting the saddle on and off without issue but I was aware I was being very delicate about things. Delicately laying the saddle on her back, slowly untying the sinch, gently lowing down the girth etc. So I remembered learning about 'big love' with my trainer back in England, Sue Edwards and something we worked on especially with a horse I rode called 'Big Lady'. We used to wave our arms around and jump up and down, practically skip up to her and fling our arms around her neck. Like friendly game on steroids!

With Arianna who can be super bracey when something is new, I started my leading her around and letting her following me and gentling slapping the stick and string on the floor in front of me, side to side as we walked. This is a great method because, even though it's scary at first, Arianna is still walking towards it. Gradually I made this bigger and bigger until I was making a full arch over my head and even 'helicoptering the string above both our heads (which weirdly she was totally unphased by from the word go!). In other sessions we did jumping jacks, just arms at first, then legs also. After the initial shock of "What the hell is my Mum doing now?!?!" she watched me with a bemused but relaxed expression. We've done bunny hops and high knee skipping around the arena with Arianna trotting behind me.

I didn't realise I had an audience one day until one of the other boarders at the facility called to me asking if I was doing some new kind of keep fit!

Incorporate the saddle in to all these fun and games and now I'm throwing up the saddle western style (but never dumping it on her back obviously) and letting the girth chink and twang and bump her leg a little as I do up straps etc. 

Back up, walk and trot in the saddle have been going great and we've even cantered in it. She still spooks herself every now and then and does usually 3 rodeo style bronks but gets over it super quickly.

Day 32 Feet trimming
Tommy Roland (aka Super farrier for Lifesaver Wild horse rescue) came to trim Arianna's feet. I have to say, she was unusually stroppy that day and the give away was that before Tommy even arrived, she didn't want to stand still at the tie rail. She was pretty good to have her feet trimmed but we need to work on her keeping her foot on the stand (especially the back ones).

Seeing as she was in such a sassy mood, I turned her loose in the round pen where she had a mad 5 minutes of canter circles before she came back to me and we played at liberty. I can now skip around the arena and she 'skips' along behind me (well, I skip, she trots but it's close enough!)

Day 33
More friendly game on steroids, walk trot and canter in the saddle and figures of 8 and I had a good feeling about getting back on board.

Day 34- Getting back on the horse!
Cindy, my awesome friend at Shadow Hills came and helped me and I made sure Arianna was really relaxed in the saddle on the circle and with ropes and sticks thrown over her back. Cindy came in as extra hands, and moral support to remind me to keep breathing and just kept chatting to me the whole time which was great. We practised weight in the stirrup. No problem. leaning full weight over the saddle. No problem. Leaning over, getting off, leaning over, getting off etc etc. Arianna didn't move her feet once and so over my leg went over and I was on!!! 

Beaming away inside, Cindy and I chatted away like it was just a normal day with Arianna wondering what on earth we were blabbing on about! I'm not going to lie, there were lots of carrots involved!! Slowly dismount, praise, remount, carrot and so forth. Arianna hadn't moved her feet at all and I had a feeling we were a little stuck. Cindy took one step back and Arianna took one step towards her. Follow lots of praise and standing and rubbing. 
I dismounted and we repeated the whole process. On and off, on and off.  One more step. Repeat, praise and rubbing. Then we went to take a couple of steps and Arianna almost quarter yielded herself but very quickly and scared herself. She did 3 little bronk/buck things and I just sat super quiet. Cindy drew the line slightly and she turned and faced her as if she was as in shock at what just happened as we were! 

Cindy and I continued to chat as if nothing had just happened and Arianna just stood. After a few minutes and Arianna having a good lick and chew, Cindy took a few steps back and took a carrot out her pocket. Arianna reached out but couldn't quite get it. She thought for a few moment about her predicament. Then she tentatively took 2 steps towards Cindy and got the carrot. Such a good girl. We did this a few more times before I slowly dismounted. I was so proud of my girl and she looked proud of herself!

Tomorrow we are taking part in a clinic with 3 star Parelli pro Susan Nelson!!

Reining clinic with beautiful 'Rain'
Last weekend I was extremely privileged to take part in one day reining clinic with Pat Wickenheiser. My good friend Tina not only helped prepare me but let me ride her wonderful horse "Rain" and even took us there!
I was so excited and gave Rain a lovely bath the night before. 

She was the perfect pony the whole day. From the moment I arrived at the venue, she was 100% focussed on me like I've never experienced before. We practised supple-ling and lateral movements and I was surprised to learn how similar to dressage reining actually is with the exceptions of stops, spins and roll backs.In the afternoon, we learned roll backs which is basically an abrupt stop (without using your reins I might add) and a 180 degree spin and blast off in the other direction! We also practised spins which are different to pirouettes as one foot stays planted in the ground and the horses literally spins around it. It was one of my best days and I'll never forget it!

So much to catch up on!!

Sorry it's been a while since my last post and now I have a lot of catching up to do!

Last day at the rescue
Firstly, long story short, I had to leave the rescue I was working at. I have a tripped planned to visit my family in October and my holiday request was denied. It's a real shame because I'd totally fallen in love with the horses and so many of the people. This was the case for myself and the other part time trainer and were given very little choice. However, I've made some amazing friends I will most certainly keep in touch with and the whole experience was a valuable and very rewarding one so I have no regrets! I'm going to miss my little munchkin 'Gemma' so much.

Learning 'reining'
My friend Tina has been teaching me how to ride western on her reining schoolmaster 'Rain'. It's very different to what I'm used to and it takes a while to get your head around the idea of riding with such long reins but I'm starting to get the feel of it. We've been practising the last few weeks as I'm taking her to a reining clinic this weekend! I'm so excited and feel so lucky Tina's has taken the time to teach me and given me this opportunity! I've even learnt for to spin this week!!!

Beautiful 'Rain' out on the trails

Arianna training day 16
Arianna and I worked on our porcupine game and mirror me but it was such a hot day, both of us weren't really feeling it so I gave her a bath instead.

Day 17
Cindy, who is a parelli instructor at my stables, kindly game me a lesson. As I suspected I needed a bit of a kick up the backside and Cindy politely did this, encouraging me not to be afraid to go to phase 4 when necessary. Arianna became more and more confident being further away from me and we practised backing up to the end of the 12ft line in different directions. We also worked on keeping her attention, and reminding her that, even though other things are interesting, Mummy is the most interesting! By the end I was full of confidence and so was Arianna!

Arianna's first platts!

Day 18 and 19
In the following sessions we continued to practise what we had worked on with Cindy. I used blocks to give me a visual aid and practised backing Arianna up between them in different directions. We also started to work on changes of rein in the circle game.

Day 20 
Arianna and I went for a walk around the neighbourhood and investigated some new driveways and mail boxes together. As even she was so well behaved and un-phased, even when 2 large dogs ran right up to the fence next to us and barked loudly at us.

Day 21 and 22
Arianna and I played the squeeze game with a line of blocks laid out with a gap in the middle. We gradually made the gap smaller and smaller until there was no gap left. First time she stopped and looked confused and then kind of stepped over the blocks, dragging some of them with her. Second time, she stepped over them cleanly and third time she added a little more effort and trotted over. We played at this on both reins practising our changes of rein at the same time.

Day 23 and 24
Now we had our changes of rein going pretty well, I started to work on the figure of 8. At first Arianna was over reactive each time I asked her to change direction but she very quickly worked out the game and by the second day, would calmly switch direction just with me pointing the other way! I will try to get some video next time, but mostly when I'm there, there is no one else around!

Day 25
I introduced the saddle to Arianna. She spent ages sniffing it and looking at it. We used a saddle pad first to practise putting it over her and taking it off. Once she was really relaxed about me flapping the saddle pad over her neck, back and butt, we moved on to the saddle. This went very smoothly and it wasn't long before I was putting it over and off of her back. Once it was securely tightened, we went for a walk together around the arena. All was going swimmingly and then she moved quickly and the feel of the saddle scared her and she did a few laps of the arena before she slowed down and caught her breathe. I went over to her and made a big fuss of her and then we did some more walking, side by side until she was calm again. We played some of our usual games, keeping it really simple and I gave her lots of praise before we finished.

Day 26
Today I had David to help me and we spent the best part of an hour, using the saddle pad and then the saddle and putting it off and on, playing a lot of approach and retreat and reading her body language accordingly. David was such a super helper and it was so nice to work with Arianna together. Once Arianna was wearing the saddle and the girth was securely fastened, we played a few games just in walk and Arianna was superb. I even encouraged a few steps of trot on the circle and when this felt strange to her with the saddle on instead of running off, she just stopped. I was so proud of her.

Day 27
It was pretty windy this day but I'd arranged to take Arianna for a walk with Jackie, who recently adopted Junior from the rescue I worked at. This was the first time she'd taken Junior out of the ranch. Both Arianna and Junior were perfectly behaved, wandering along beside us like dogs, taking in the scenery, matching the rhythm of our feet whilst Jackie and I chatted away. It was lovely.

Day 28
Arianna and I played in the round pen with the saddle again. She was so much more relaxed and it took about 15 minutes of putting the saddle on and off before she was truly relaxed with it. We didn't have much time this day so after a few quick walk exercises, I encouraged her to have a little trot. Again, with the strange feeling of the saddle, she stopped after a few strides. I encouraged her back to trot each time she walked, and gradually she became more confident until she was trotting a couple of circles both directions in a more relaxed way. Very proud Mummy!

Arianna training day 14 & 15

Day 14

Monday I had a great day with Arianna. She was super focussed and calm. We played in the round pen first.I really feel we've got a great rapport and communication now through the parelli games. We practised at the mounting block and Arianna stood quietly a patiently whilst I leant over her and rested my leg over her neck, wither, back and on her rump. Then we cuddled and I scratched her all over.

I love my girl so much!

I decided to investigate the trails around the stables although I hadn't planned to go to far. To leave the stables we can go through the neighbours facility. I thought I would walk through the yard towards the road and back as I'd been told there are lots of things to see at the yard next door.

We walked through the yard and came upon lots of curious other horses and then a peacock which walked directly past us only 4 feet away! Arianna was amazing!! She walked next to me like a puppy, with a big smile in the rope. When we turned around to come back I realise an electric gate had closed behind me and I didn't know the code! So we ventured out on to the road and I followed my sense of direction home.

We ended up being out for around 40 minutes and on the way we encountered barking dogs, lots of dustbins and even a couple of very large lorries past us! I could not fault her! She mirrored my feet the whole way, never breaking her rhythm or getting tense once. Such a good girl!

Day 15

I'd got it into my head that today was the day to finally actually sit on Arianna and I brought my good friend Lisa with me to help. We started with our usual groundwork first and then played at the mountain block as we'd done last time. She was a little less inclined to let me stay in zone 3, but then she settled and I lay on her and lay my leg over her again. Lisa came in to be near for back up and I slid on.

Such an awesome feeling!

I was grinning from ear to ear!! She stood and turned her head right around to both shoulders investigating my boots!! I scratched her a loved on her and she seemed super calm about very relaxed about it. The next bit is a bit of a blur but I think I was sat there for a few minutes and we took some pictures. Next thing I knew I'd face planted in the sand!

I was a little confused at first but when I focussed again Arianna was looking down at me, nuzzling me obviously worried at what had happened. I'd split my lip and had a bloody nose so I cleaned up in the bathroom but I was still pretty confused so we put Arianna away. I'm so thankful Lisa was there with me! Once I was feeling  a bit better I went back to the paddock to check on her. Bless, I think she was genuinely sorry and followed me all the way up the steep hill back to the gate. Then she game me a big kiss through the bars! 

I felt so bad, I felt like I had totally let her down, as I so badly wanted her to have a great first experience with me on her. I beat myself up most of that day, trying to remember exactly what happened and blaming myself, trying to work out what I must have done that had upset her. Today I'm feeling embarrassed more than anything! I'm pretty sore and my lips and nose are still a bit swollen but my pride is bruised more than anything. I hate falling off and haven't come off in ages so it was a healthy reminder to be careful and always wear my helmet!

Arianna training day 13

On Saturday we were blessed with a nice breeze and a more comfortable temperature of 82 degrees F (a very pleasant 28 degrees C!). 

Arianna stood calmly at the hitching rail whilst I brushed her all over before heading over to the round pen. 

She naturally carries her head quite high as we walk through the yard, looking and checking everything out on the way. When we first entered the round pen she called to her friends and started to fidget. Instead of sending her out on to the circle this time I kept her in close range and practised yielding her nose around to her shoulder. At first we moved around quite a lot, but then she remembered and stood with her head almost touching her shoulder without me having to do anything to keep it there. We practised this 3 times each side and she already seemed much more relaxed and focussed.

Next we practised friendly game with throwing the rope over her neck and back from both sides. There is almost no brace in her body now and she didn't flinch at all and I was able to encourage her to lower her head simultaneously to throwing the rope over her with rhythm.

Now I really felt that she was a) relaxed and b). focussed on me, and we practised quarter yields, forehand yields and the yo-yo game.

Even when another horse walked along the path that goes right past the round pen, she looked over but didn't loose her focus on the exercise we were working on at the time.

We played a little circle game and she was far more comfortable being further away from me on the circle than she has previously which was very pleasing.

To finish I stood on the little mounting block and gave her lots of love, getting her more used to me being higher than her. I used driving game to position her so I was in zone 3 without stepping off the block and proceeded to scratch her over her shoulders, back and rump. She was so relaxed and we probably stood for at least ten minutes. Her head was low and I leant over her back then wrapped my arms around her flanks with my head resting on her croup!!! It was magical. We finished with bringing her head around to both shoulders with the lightest of pressure whilst I stood on the block.

I was very, very pleased with how much more relaxed she is becoming and she really has no worries about me laying on her!!!

Arianna training day 8-12

Arianna training day 8
Monday morning I'd kept my diary free to watch the individual final of the Olympic dressage. At 6am I was in bed, armed with a supply of tea and biscuits ready to watch every test! I was so proud of all our British riders, with their very subtle light aids and all demonstrating the true harmony with which I believe all dressage should showcase! I cried tears of Joy when Charlotte nailed her test and took home the gold once again!!
In the afternoon I worked with Arianna. First we spent time grooming in the tie up area where she was very calm and stood quietly to be brushed and fly sprayed. Then we went to round pen. We played a bit of the friendly game but she seemed very distracted and was calling to her field buddies and seemed to want to move her feet so I let her have a run around on the 22 ft line to burn off some of her energy. When she was ready, I noticed her ear tuning in to me and then her eye, and then I yielded her quarters and let her come back to me. We went back to the friendly game but I still felt quite a bit of 'brace' in her. We practised a few things and finished on a good note and went back to the tie up's. At first she stood quietly but once she noticed another horse in the main arena she had her first little melt down, dancing on the spot, scraping the floor and I had to untie her. All her calm had disappeared and she appeared wild eyed and full of energy and even pushed in to me at one point (which I made very clear was not allowed under any circumstances!). I stroked her and talked to her but she didn't calm until the other horse had left the arena. It wasn't until I was driving home that it occurred to me what had caused the melt down. The horse in the arena was a stallion and now I was thinking she may be in season!

Arianna training day 9
Later in the week my friend Lisa came to visit Arianna at her new home. We again, spent time in the tie up area and she was much calmer and stood like and angel to be groomed. We had a little play in the arena, just practising quarter yields and then doing a lot of leading. She's very happy for me to be out in front of her and to follow but she's far less comfortable with me in zone 3 at her shoulder and girth. We made it fun by playing mirror me and just using forward, halt and backing up to keep her attention on me. She's getting very good at the halt now and I can breathe out as I stop my feet and I can feel her let go and halt next to me in harmony.
Before I put her back in the pasture, Arianna wore her fly mask for the first time! She didn't mind at all! Clever girl!

Arianna training day 10
On Saturday David and I had jobs to do around town, so we stopped by to check on Arianna in the middle. It was nice just to go in to her pasture and hang out without any pressure. We cuddled and scratched and socialised with her and all the other horses in her pasture. It was nice to see her come up the hill when she saw me arrive.

Arianna training day 11
On Sunday I had a bit more time and I worked her in the evening when it was much cooler. Again she didn't much want to stand still to start with the friendly game so I let her out on to the circle to burn off some energy. This was the first time it was cool enough to let her have a canter around which was nice to watch. She came back to me in the centre much more quickly and we played porcupine game with backing up, quarter yields and forehand yields. I also started teaching her to bring her head around to her shoulder. 
This is something that is a fundamental part of western riding. The safety mechanism to stop the horse when riding western is to bring the horses nose around to the riders knee. Seeing as I would like to ride her in her halter before I introduce the bit, which is fairly common here, this is part of the ground training to prepare her for that. As always, the aim is to use the lightest of pressure. I'd already taught her to lower her head with a feather light pressure on the loop at the bottom of the halter but this seemed to confuse her much more. We went around in quick a few circles before she understood, but then she licked and chewed and we practised a few more times both ways to finish.

Arianna training day 12
Today I practised a little more of yielding her head around to her shoulder and really worked on throwing the end of the 12ft rope over her neck and back without any brace in her body. It didn't help to start that our new area to tie up is right next to a large hay barn which has 15ft of draping tarp which flaps in the breeze! Actually this was great and once Arianna faced it and took the time to look at it, she was more intrigued than worried. We investigated it together and she sniffed at it and even poked her nose through! I'm very pleased that she isn't afraid of new things and I'm looking forward to nurturing that curiosity!
Then we went back to throwing the rope over her neck and back until there was zero brace anywhere in her body.

To finish, I gave her a lovely bath, with shampoo for the first time and scrubbed her all over and washed her mane and tail. She loves water and even let me wash her face! Such a good girl!

Arianna training day 6 & 7

Day 6
On Saturday I had to wave off Chloe and Joshua at the airport, so in the afternoon I spent a little time with Arianna to take my mind off them leaving.

It was a hot and muggy afternoon. We stood in the tie ups and I gave her a good brush all over. I can tie her to the railings now and she might fidget a little but as soon as she realises she's tied she stands quietly. She loves to watch all the goings on around the yard and especially people riding their horses in the arena.

After lots of tlc and cuddles I took her to the wash bay and gave her a spray down with the hose... again, a good opportunity to practise being tied and she loves the water. I sprayed her all over and she's certainly not worried about bath time.

Day 7
On Sunday we had a bit more time to spend together. We started with the usual routine of grooming and cuddles in the tie up's. Then Cynthia loaned me her bareback pad to try on Arianna. This is the first time she's worn any kind of pad.

We practised laying on her back, taking it on and off until she was really settled about it. Then we started to attach the girth, first extremely loose, then gradually a little tighter to the point where it was stable enough for her to work in it.

She was so un-phased by it all! We worked in the round pen with the bareback pad on.

First we played the circle game and practised our quarter yields, then we practised backing up and draw with the yo-yo game. We still need more work on leading. She's super happy to walk behind me and getting better walking with her head next to me, but she's still not confident when I'm in zone 2 or 3....
I couldn't have been prouder of her though today, we played a little a squeeze game between the mounting block and the edge of the round pen for the first time today and then I stood up on the block and played friendly game and leaned over her again to finish.

Arianna training log day 4 and 5 and a busy day at the ranch.

Practising with her back feet...

Leading practise... and then posing for the camera!

Farrier day at the ranch
On Wednesday I was at the ranch, which is always busy as it's farrier day but I feel between the staff, volunteers and Tommy the farrier, we've got the routine down now and everything went very smoothly.

I was super proud of little Gemma. It's obviously a team effort, gentling a willd yearling to the point when they can stand for the farrier, but I feel a little extra proud of her as I was the first to halter her and teach her to pick up her feet. Last week we trimmed the fronts which was pretty incredible as I'd only picked up her front feet twice before! This week we did fronts and backs and she was super behaved!! I felt like a proud Mum! I even had a little time to teach her to walk forward to a little pressure and before you knew it, we were leading all round the pens!!!

I also managed to fit in a little time to work with my friend Sarah's horse 'Little Fawn' and we took her up to the trailer for the first time. Little Fawn is such a character! In her pen, she's in your face and all over you like a rash! Last week we learned her leading skills left a lot to be desired when she nearly squashed Sarah a few times in the alleys and we consequently did a lot of work last week on personal space. This week she lead like a dream so it had obviously sunk in that running over people is not acceptable!

Little Fawn's first time in the trailer!

Trailer practise was divided in to 3 clear parts. Part 1 at the beginning when Little fawn was interested in the trailer, and was touching, sniffing and chewing. Part 2 where Little Fawn's attention had run out and she was now bored, so decided to make her own entertainment by trying to sneak round the side of the trailer, rearing up, spinning, stamping and generally having a paddy. Part 3, where little Fawn realised she would not get away with such behaviour and was much better off focussing on the trailer again! Lol! I do love her though, after she'd finished having her strop, she stepped up in to the trailer easily and was totally at ease in there. We loaded and unloaded once more and she looked positively chuffed with herself after!

All in all another great day at lifesavers wild horse rescue!
 
Arianna training day 4
I left Arianna to her own devices on Sunday (thank you Cythia for checking up on her for me) and on Monday I went back down to see her in the morning. It was very busy at the yard that day.

Horses were being ridden in the arena, horses were getting ready in the tie ups and some children had a made a ramp with chairs and a piece of wooden board and were playing with toys cars and trucks on it! This was a lot for Arianna to take in. So we spent quite a bit of time in the tie up area, just brushing her and chatting to people and every time she moved I politely asked her to step back to where I had left her. This is going to take a while I think as mentally she's in to everything all the time but I'd like to get her to where she will stand in the tie up area without being tied at all but stay where I left her.Then we went in to the round pen for the first time.

Arianna did a lot of snorting and blowing as we walked over there as it's kind of secluded and out of the way but thankfully most of it was in the shade in the morning.

I began as I normally do with the friendly game, rubbing her all over with the stick and string, but her head was up like a giraffe and her eyes were popping out her skull in this new place so we quickly moved on to something to get more of her attention.

We practised porcupine game to do quarter yields, forehand yields and backing up using just my hand or the stick. This definitely helped to get her attention back on me and then we were able to do quarter yields and backing up without actually touching her which I was pleased with.

We did a lot of practise of being able to stand still further away from me. At first as soon as I took off all the pressure and let the rope lie on the floor and looked away, Arianna would seem confused and would start to wander off to investigate somewhere else. I just kept correcting her with wiggles of the rope and asking her to yield her quarters and then taking off all the pressure again as soon as she stood still. She still seemed a little confused, but gradually she would stand and look at me, lower her head and lick and chew without moving, with the rope on the floor! Such a clever girl!

Next we played some yo-yo game and I love how Arianna is equally happy to back up on a light finger waggle as she is to draw back to me with just a smile and a soften of my body language. This is one of the things she finds easiest.

Now we came back to the friendly game and I encouraged her to drop her head and relax whilst I rubbed her body with the stick. This was probably the most relaxed I've had her in the friendly game and even managed to throw the rope around her neck and back without her flinching from both sides.

Then I gave her a scratch and stood on a little mounting block whilst doing so to get her used to me being higher than she is, ready for backing. She was a bit suspicious at first, but once she understood, she stood very relaxed with me at her wither, and let me wrap my arms across her back in a bear hug! What a clever girl!

Arianna Training Day 5
A couple of days later, Arianna and I continued our practise in the tie up area. It was much quieter on Thursday evening but she's still a bit of a fidget! We took our time and Chloe brushed one side whilst I brushed the other, which took Arianna by surprise at first! We brushed through her mane and tail and I put in a running braid in her mane to help keep her cool. This was Arianna's first time being plaited!

In the round pen Arianna wanted to move her feet so I let her move about with a bit of circle game in trot to let off a bit of her energy. Walk and trot circle game seem to come easily to her but she is far less inclined to canter in the round pen yet!! The quarter yields in the circle game are getting there but were not perfectly square on yet so this is something I'm definitely going work on more next time. She backs up nicely now and turns at the should either direction well.

It was very muggy and I was getting hot, so we practised some porcupine game and the forehand yields are getting not only lighter but slower and more controlled from day 4. Then we just had cuddles again whilst I stood on the mountain block and Chloe leaned over Arianna's back whilst I scratched her.

 After her short work out, we un-braided her mane to find she now had a perm! Joshua my son and Chloe gave her lots of kisses and said their goodbyes as they go back home on Saturday and it got me thinking.... I wonder what Arianna and I will be doing next time they come to visit.....?

A New project..Introducing Arianna

Hi everyone,

It's been a long time since I updated this blog, mostly because I was writing all about my recent move to Los Angleles in my other blog ( www.anenglishgirlinla.blogspot.com) but seeing as this new adventure I'm undertaking is more about the horsey part of my life and hopefully the start of some more work for equal equestrian, this seemed like the most logical place to write about it!

Through my work as a trainer at Lifesavers wild horse rescue near Lancaster, California, I had fallen for a 5 year old bay mare called Arianna. Her back story is vague, but we do know she can from the fallen feed lot auction (an auction where horses are sold for meat, before being transported to either Canada or Mexico for slaughter!) and that she had a chestnut foal last year called Cosmo.

Cosmo was since adopted but Arianna was still at the ranch with some 200 other horses, still being cared for at the Lancaster site. I fell for her or farrier day when she refused to have her wormer and I stepped in to help and she ended up closing her eyes and resting her head on my chest!

Since then I've spent a little time grooming her and leading to and from different pens. We had one short session in the round pen (it was very hot that day!) and we even taught her to go in the trailer before the big moving day. The trailers here don't often have ramps as they do at home but the horses just jump right up in to them.

Arianna is a quick learner and takes everything in her stride so far. Her give away when she's nervous is her head goes high and she tucks up under her tummy whilst taking everything in. and she loves to do a load shout out to her friends in her paddock, usually right next to my ear hole!

She had her vaccinations, her feet trimmed, her teeth floated and then a few days later, we were ready to move her to the new ranch nearer my house. 

Day 1
Tommy my farrier, very kindly transported her his trailer the 75 miles to "Shadow Hills Equestrian Centre" where I'd be keeping her going forward.
She stepped straight up in to the trailer without hesitation (whilst munching on a few carrots) and we tied her up and closed the partition, something that was new to her, closed the doors and we were off. As we passed Tommy and Arianna on the free-way, Arianna looked remarkably calm, enjoying the breeze through the windows of the trailer. When we arrived at Show Hills she wasn't even sweaty, although I think her legs were feeling a bit wobbly as she almost face planted coming off the trailer!

She spent the afternoon and first night in her own pen to acclimatise

Day 2
Chloe and I spent a bit of time brushing and fussing over Arianna before I took her for a little walk to get a closer look at her new home. We went into the big arena which was a first for Arianna and just to make it more interesting there was another horse already in there. Arianna was a little distracted, but she still was polite and walked with me and we played a bit of the friendly game. Then Chloe and I gave Arianna a wash down. This isn't something I think she's ever experienced before, but she seemed to very much enjoy it, even a little in her mouth and on her face!

Then we put her out in the big pasture where she is going to be living with 4 other horses. She kept herself to herself mostly whilst assessing her new room mates!

Day 3
Today we took Arianna in to the tie up area to groom her for the first time. We didn't use the cross ties but just practised being tied to one side and standing still. She was very good with her fly spray and even let me spray her face whilst I covered her eye with my hand!

We did a little leading practise in the area as well. She's learning to walk next to me now, instead of following behind me or walking on top of me! Then I put her back in the pasture to have her supper with the other horses.

She's already my little star and I'm loving have that one on one bond with a horse again.....