7th key to success...

Pat says there are 7 keys to success, I found out I have a lot of the 7th, support.
I was feeling frustrated and like I had failed with my horse. I had let my emotions get out of control to a point of being no good for me, but my wonderful savvy friends were there, offering the support I needed, when I most needed it. It's amazing how that positive encouragement can lift me up and keep me going. I felt like I was stuck in a rut and they were there reaching out a hand to help me out. I realized that even though we are all on our own journey to personal excellence, we are also in this together, and it's a great feeling to know I am not alone.
I went out today and just spent time with my 2 mares. No expectations. We did lots of grooming and grazing and only for a few minutes Moon and I practiced some sideways over a small jump. I feel better and am happy to have finally gone back out. I will keep working at improving the relationship and also go back to my material to keep improving my savvy as well.
Thank you to everyone who offered help, support and someone to talk too, it really means a lot. My success will be because of you!

Take the time it takes...

After playing for a short time today, I realized I might have been getting ahead of myself thinking we're more ready than we actually are. At first it was pretty depressing. I ended up finishing what we were doing and taking Moon to graze, there's no point trying to do anything when I'm feeling frustrated like I was. I'm really bad for letting negative thoughts, people etc. get to me and that's really not helpful.
That was a few hours ago. Thinking on it more, I don't know why I was in a rush all of a sudden. I also realized I haven't actually spent very much time on some of the tasks. So I really shouldn't be focused on a video immediately but instead just be happy with where we are. I'm still going to have that as a goal this month, but now I'll go out thinking about progressing towards it, rather then thinking we're still not good enough. Maybe if I would take the time it takes, then it will take less time...
Where have I heard that before?!

Inspiration

I love it when I find a video or something to get me re-inspired to continue in my journey. Today I was watching some level 2 on line auditions from fellow savvy club members. They were great to see and got me excited to try making one of my own! I think with some practice, Moon and I might actually be able to submit one this spring. Who knows if we would pass level 2 but it would be good feedback I'm sure.
I went out with that in mind today. I had some obstacles in the arena and played as if we might do our audition, trying to include what was needed and checking out where we are. I don't think it was too terrible, and am even thinking of having a video done tomorrow just for fun and so I can see what it looks like. She's skeptical around the tarp so I only asked her to check it out once and then waited, she looked at it, hesitated, and then on her own crossed it slowly, no nervous rushed leap. I think in the past I was causing that panick by not realizing her horsenality and pushing instead of giving her time. Now it seems to go much better. She even offered to put a foot on the stump without me using a rope to help. We also got some sideways over a log both ways. I tried some figure 8's at a trot. It was ok except she was very full of energy leaping and flying around on the pattern! She doesn't have lots of room to move around where the horses are kept right now so I can understand that.
I'm surprised to say I feel more confident in our ability to do our level 2 online audition, and possibly this month too! Now that I seem to be doing better knowing her horsenality and with some more play time, this might just work! Level 2...how exciting!!

Paint day

I had some good "firsts" with both paint horses today. I saddled Shadow for the first time. She was good and didn't seem bothered so we went around the yard checking things out. We did some touch it with the logs and she even offered to go over one for me. She did it nicely too, slow and careful, not rushed. Last time we were near there she was a bit nervous but today it was better.
Copper wore the saddle again today. I've been using my old saddle but it doesn't fit the horses too well so I'll probably get out my natural performer soon. Can't wait to see how that looks on them! We tried our figure 8 pattern. This time I used bigger objects instead of my little cones. Maybe it will help him get the idea better. He can go right over the cones so it might seem pointless to him. I also paid attention to my communication, trying to be clear. It wasn't amazing, but it was better than our first attempt! He was also willing to check out and touch everything I asked. He put a front foot on, and was confident around the tarp. I liked that confidence so decided not to push for a crossing today. I went through some more ride preps. putting the end of my 22ft. through the stirrups and flapping them around. I played approach/retreat with my foot in the stirrups, hopping up and down, standing in one stirrup, rubbing opposite side etc. No problems there. It was going so well I ended up getting all the way on him! Just long enough to settle in the saddle, rub him, think "yay!!" and get back off :D I did both sides, he did well and that felt like a good place to quit. I've finally sat on my lovely paint, and it was great!! :)

Preparation is the key

It's still mucky but if I let that stop me I won't play until July! Last week I spent a little time with the horses. Some highlights were getting Buddy to cross the water in the ditch confidently, doing a slightly more extreme bag shaking around Shadow with her confident and starting to teach Copper to line up beside me standing on a log so one day I can mount.
Today I had a saddle, some cones, and a few other things out. I want to eventually ride a lot this summer and thought I should start some riding prep. now. I've had saddling issues with Moon in the past but we've done well in overcoming them. For some reason after winter I still expect them to come back. I thought she might get tight and explosive, but she stood fine while I saddled her. Once saddled she can become very right brain especially with things touching her. I rubbed her with the bag and stick and she did ok, I watched to see that she wasn't standing frozen, she blinked which was good. I think I was wrong when I pegged her as right brain extrovert, she seems to lean more towards right brain introvert. So now I'm learning how to play with that horsenality and I think it's helping. A big thing is to wait and I make sure to do that a lot. After saddling and rubbing her I stood back and just waited and sure enough eventually she licked and sighed. I think I might be on the right track now. We'll see how it goes. She was still a bit tight so I drove her to a couple obstacles for something to focus on and we did some figure 8's at a walk around cones which felt pretty good. They were nice and light and she pivoted away from me and around the cones nicely. They almost felt like the best we've done. I let my horses graze a lot when I take them out, and I was using that to see how relaxed she was. When we started she wouldn't eat when I knew she would have if not saddled, but after our figure 8's she did. We made our way to a log which I stood on and asked her to line up as if I would mount. I've done it from the left but not the right. Today I tried the right and she kept defaulting to the left! She also kept putting a foot on the log beside me! We did figure it out eventually and that was where we quit for the day. I feel much better knowing things aren't as bad as before and that my preparation is paying off with improvement. Now I can spend this year moving foward even more with her.
I played with Copper too. He's been a lot of fun, I really enjoy his company. I saddled him for one of his first times. I think I've saddled him once before. He did well, I'm happy with how well he accepted it. He wasn't bothered with me rubbing the stick or bag on him or moving stirrups around. The grass was more important than being worried about that! I got him moving around, we checked out some obstacles, then tried a few figure 8's. We definitely need work there! But I know where to improve our communication to help with that for next time. I want to continue what I started with teaching him to position for mounting, so we also went to the big log. I stood on it and got him to come over quite nicely to the left again. Both horses did well today. Doing a lot more preparation is really going to help them and me keep confident about everything we do.