Not a lot of work with Dubln today although I was a bit more particular with him when I turned him out on pasture. Then took the camera out to get a few shots. I was hoping to get him galloping joyfully across the pasture but it was just too hot for that. I did get him to trot out a bit when I jumped up and down and flapped a fly mask at him ("Oh, fine, if you insist!").

and finally, a pic of him and his buddy Cowboy nose to nose. They are always trying to snag the same blade of grass, it seems.

Phone Conference Feedback

Had my phone conference with Julia this morning and got good feedback and good follow-up instructions on the video. Basically, we did well. I need to pay more attention to details, not think so far ahead that I lose focus on the present, and direct Dublin with the thought in mind that he will be getting instruction from the saddle soon. So I need to keep in position in Zone 3 (in Parelli-speak) where I would be if mounted, and use direct pressure on the rope rather than driving, since that's how I'd be using the reins.I also need to move my feet less and have him move his feet more--instead of walking around him to get from one side to the other, have him move his front end from side to side. I should also try saddling him from the right--it's a lot easier to manage the girths that way. And, good safety tip, don't hook the stirrup over the horn when tightening the girth! Very good way to get klunked on the head if it comes loose!

I'm also going to start setting up the video camera mid-month as I'm finding that watching those videos really lets me know where I could be improving!

I'll try to start getting photos in the blog. Marcie Lewis, who took the stunning head shot featured on the blog, is anxious to do some follow-up photos of the gorgeous boy, so there could be some good stuff coming up!

Video Day

Today was Video Day with Dublin, as I have a phone conference with my Parelli professional, Julia Bell, tomorrow morning to review progress. Some things we have been working on are my being able to move his forequarters away from me, using my energy as much as possible and the carrot stick as little as possible. That sounds easy but it hasn't been. It's surprising how a small change in position, speed, and assertiveness (vs aggressiveness) can make a big difference in the results you get. It's okay if the horse runs into the moving stick but NOT okay to actually hit the horse with the stick. And it can be pretty darned hard to figure out the subtle difference between the two. I found it was easier if I was moving the stick toward a point beyond his front end, rather than toward his front end. Then he has the option of moving away from the stick when he sees it coming, or letting the moving object run into him.

Our other assignment is a saddling exercise. Dublin has been saddled before but the objective is to get him really comfortable with it. Letting him touch it, rubbing him with the saddle pad and putting it on all parts of his topline, saddling with a "hug", then making sure he's comfortable and yielding to you once the saddle is on. Dublin is really quite a superstar about this. So the video was not much of a challenge. Except I did everything in exactly the wrong order once the saddle was on. The correct approach is to first make sure he has lateral flexion, then swing the rope over his head, around his body, slide it over his rump, and pull him around in a 360 toward you. Then send him out on a circle in different gaits and over a jump. So I started with the jump and ended with lateral flexion. Oh well.

We also did a little video using a carrot stick with a plastic bag tied to it, something he is surprisingly unhappy with considering how un-spooky he is. He doesn't exactly blow up over it, but he gets tense when the bag approaches him and strikes out if it touches his feet. I'll be asking for some advice on how to de-sensitize him to this and other potentially scary objects.

Links to the videos:
Dublin Saddling
Dublin Plastic Bag

In other news, I have sent off Dublin's adoption papers to Neighsavers! I'm not anticipating any problems getting approval and expect that Dublin will be a permanent member of the herd shortly.

Regarding my own fitness challenge, well, I have been doing some yoga and today I added Pilates. After watching the video, I think I need to add some exercise involving putting down my fork and pushing away from the dinner table. Way too much time spent in front of a computer the last few months!

Well, (sigh) it only took 3 days for the 31 days of Dublin to fall apart due to lack of time. Dublin has spent the last couple days living the carefree life of the neglected horse. Except for the fact he's been fed twice a day and today got an hour of turnout on grass. We will call this "Down time".

I didn't do anything related to my equestrian development yesterday. Tonight I did go to a Horse Council meeting, and then watched the latest Parelli DVD. So maybe I have met the 30-minute requirement of the Parelli challenge even if Dublin did get off scott-free.

I got back from the Horse Council meeting around 8 tonight. As I drove in the driveway, I saw a streak of black flying along in the pasture. Dublin was on the move. Hmmmmmm.....how interesting. Now what triggered that? After parking the car, I headed out to investigate. Dublin and Cowboy were playing Porcupine Game over the fence, with a lot of head-butting, gnashing of teeth, rearing, and kicking. As I approached them I whistled, and suddenly two horses swung around and gazed at me with ears forward, eyes bright, and innocent expressions upon their faces. Hey, I wasn't doing nuthin'! And if I was, he started it!

Carrots were dispensed all around, and things at least seemed to have quieted down for the evening.

Dublin got off easy today as I just ponied him around while riding Cowboy for a bit. Good for Cowboy too! And definitely good for me. Both boys did fine, and I just love that Cowboy is so steady that I can keep an eye on Dublin and take corrective measure with him if need by, and Cowboy will stay quiet and calm.

Afterwards, I put Dublin out on pasture next door where the fences are good, and turned Cowboy and Dexter out behind my house where the grass is long and lush, but the only fence is a string of hot wire. Dexter and Cowboy are familiar with the hot wire, while Dublin has proved that he will go right through it, so he doesn't get to hang out with the boys when they're in that spot. Because the grass is so lush, though, Dex and Cowboy don't get to stay out there very long since it could lead to horsey tummy-aches or worse, so after about 20 minutes I went to get Dexter. He was on to me and took off through the gate into the little pasture that Dublin and Cowboy share, and where Dexter lived before Dublin came along.

Dublin could see this from where he was, and apparently took exception to Dexter being in HIS territory! While Dexter avoided being caught, Dublin started trotting the adjoining fenceline, stopping occasionally to paw and toss his head, throwing in an whinny now and then. Finally, he took off running, and turned the 2-acre pasture into his personal racetrack. And it was impressive! He may have been retired from the track because he didn't like to run, but if his trainers could have seen him today, they may have reconsidered that decision. He probably made 4 laps around the pasture in the amount of time Cowboy and Dexter would have taken for a single lap. Dexter, of course, was also running by then, so there was a lot of activity going on (I don't think Cowboy ever lifted his head from the grass). Dublin stopped by the fence to give Dexter the evil eye, pawed and then struck out with both front feet, and launched off again for a few more laps.

Dexter finally got tired of all the running and allowed himself to be caught and led away. Dublin calmed down once the usurper was off his property and away from his feed tub.

Funny thing is, Dexter has seemed pretty cranky about Dublin taking over that paddock that used to be his. Who knew that little area with the simple shelter would be the target of an equine property war?

Day 2

Day 2 of the 31 days. Busy day but did get to work with Dublin for a bit. Today's scary object is a plastic bag on the end of a Carrot Stick. I wasn't expecting much of a reaction from this, since carrots do come in plastic bags, but he was surprisingly skittish of it. And when I touched his foot with it, he actually struck out with both front feet. Not the first time there has been an issue with his feet. So there is an area that needs work.

As for the Rider Fitness part of this program, uh, I read some excerpts from a Pilates book, and then had pizza and beer for dinner. Ah well. In the words of Scarlett O'Hara, tomorrow is another day.

Sonoma County Horse Journal article about Dublin

This is a bit delayed, but the history behind Dublin's journey to my home is in the Spring 2013 Sonoma County Horse Council Horse Journal, soon to be available at:

http://www.sonomacountyhorsecouncil.org/journal

Thirty One Days of Dublin

Well, this blog has gone nowhere as I have become some sort of accounting drone in the last few months. The silver lining is that Dublin has had a lovely few months of absolutely no pressure, growing new hooves, and learning how to be a horse again. His cranky attitude has largely turned around and he is learning how to be playful.

My attitude, on the other hand, has become grim and inflexible, to the point where I completely melted down. All work and no play makes Joanie a dull girl. But the Universe tends to intervene in seemingly mundane ways to refocus you.

I'm a Parelli follower, and the organization threw down the gauntlet in their 31-day challenge. Spend 30 minutes a day improving your horsemanship for the next 31 days. Work with your horse, watch a video, etc, just do something to further your horsemanship journey.

So spending 30 minutes a day helping Dublin move along in his journey to his new destiny seems like a no-brainer.

Then Parelli asked for submissions to their Fall issue of Savvy Times. Hey--how about documenting Dublin's 31 day journey? And I can get published!

And to wrap things up, I really really need to spend some time focusing on something besides work. Regaining some balance in my life can only help, not hinder, my work journey.

So I have spent a bit of time figuring how to make this work in an integrated sort of fashion. First, what is it, exactly, I hope to achieve with Dublin in the next 31 days?

Goal:  Get on the horse! Now, Dublin, being an ex-race-horse, has been ridden. I'm not entirely familiar with his history, but he was raced three times so obviously somebody has been on his back. However, the objective was to get on his back and go like *#(^#. That is not my objective. The slower the better.

So, following the Parelli philosophy, the next 31 days are going to be about getting the horse ready to ride. I have a lot of steps to follow as in the PreFlight Checkup, Saddling etc, and he has actually passed all those tests with flying colors. BUT, he did freak out about our local turkey population in a very sobering fashion, and I am not taking his mild attitude for granted any more. When that horse takes flight, "Flight" is really the word.

So first, thinking about what I am worried about when contemplating getting on Dublin, the worry is that he is going to blow up and be out of control. So, before getting on him, let's try to see exactly what is likely to blow this horse up.  I'll be trying out a myriad of horse-unfriendly items on him for the next 31 days. Today was an umbrella. He was interested and a bit intimidated, but he certainly did not blow up.

My age and fitness level are also a concern. So the 31 days will also consist of the 31-day Rider Fitness Challenge, where I change my slovenly ways to try to become fit enough to get a foot in the stirrup and swing up confidently and effortlessly, and to be able to do a really fast dismount if need be.

But what happens if, at the end of the 31 days, Dublin is not ready to ride? Is the project going to be a failure?

No. It will only be a failure if I decide to get on him anyway, even if he is not ready, because I have imposed some sort of deadline on this. Success will occur if I take the appropriate action to further the horse's progress at whatever stage he is at.