Horsing Around Naturally

I'm back . . . . . again !!!

2009-06-27T16:47:00.003+10:00

How time flies . . . . . I hear you ask, what have I been doing for the last 6 months!!!

In the horsey stakes, I organised and participated in the first Quantum Weekend in Camperdown. Mel Peacock, endorsed Quantum Savvy Instructor, came and spent four days with seven eager participants assisting us progress on our horsemanship journeys.

Here are some of the tah dah's from the weekend:

Keep Dallas out of my personal space
Blue’s hindquarter yield with a single rein
Phoebe’s “ride the rail” and circle yields onto the rail
Snappy and straight backups using contact and no contact
Max . . . soft hindquarter yield from phase 1
Dallas . . . . some nice indirect and direct changes of direction on the rail
Phases (timing) . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . 2 3 4!!!
If you get a good try first try, don’t see if you can do it again for the second and third times!
Having my horse trot towards me with energy
Make sure your horse knows the difference between your life up and life down. Our body doesn’t always “say” what we are thinking.
Blue and I trotted single rein and bent to a stop . . . . yippee!!!
Phoebe – short range flight test and jumped both ways . . . . . centred and stopped!!! (and bending)
Max sideways over the pole then soft sideways along the wall while I stood still . . . then lovely trot sideways!!!
To keep momentum when going sideways along the fence, make sure you don’t send them into the fence ‘cos it blocks their movement.
Rory went sideways over a pole and sideways down the wall.
Don’t leave the program . . . . you become rusty in your skills and forget things that are very important, like passenger lessons, one rein riding, use of all of the tools . . . . savvy stick!!!
Hurry up and slow down – make sure it is phase 1 you are offering first
Max . . . . the softest canter transition and canter!!!
Dallas follow my direct rein and focus
Blue and I enjoyed a session doing the full mounting procedure and he was completely relaxed, so we continued with single rein riding all on our own. I think I put it all together for once.
Blue and I survived our first ever passenger lessons and loved every minute of it.
Lots of head down during passenger lessons
Liberty work . . . . tentative, but just whetted the appetite!!!

It was an awesome weekend and since then, two have achieved their Level 1 Certificates.

Another way to accelerate your learning is to attend one of the camps run at QSEC from April to July each year. There are three Levels camps and the Ultimate Horse Course, as well as courses for the professionals. The UHC is part of agency training, but I decided that this was the course for me even before I decided to become an agent . . . . . why? The UHC covers more than just horsemanship skills; we learnt about ourselves, looked at our values and beliefs, challenged us mentally and emotionally . . . . and that was before we ever got on a horse!

It was the most amazing 9 days I have ever spent!!! I came home with renewed vigour, enthusiasm, a different outlook on so many things . . . . words fail me!

So, poor Max has wondered what has hit him . . . . . I have been out there doing gallop pattern as often as I can. Before UHC I was very hesitant about asking him to canter, let alone in a big paddock . . . . now I am asking for gallop!!!

Back home for a few weeks and I am now back at QSEC for the GO's conference and the Professionals Course (part of the agency training).

There are so many things that I want to achieve now . . . . . . stay tuned!!!

Cheers for now

So, where have I been for the latst 6 months . . .

2008-11-06T19:59:00.002+11:00

I admit it's been a while, but in the meantime, there's been lots happening . . . . not perhaps as much with Max as I would like, but otherwise I've been pretty busy. Work has kept be pretty busy (can't wait to go back onto part time . . . . been full time the last 5 weeks) . . . . I have been to Queensland to the GO's (Group Organiser) conference which was fantastic. It was a bit disappointing that there weren't a few more GO's there . . . mostly from Qld and little old me from Victoria!

It was a terrific conference and I took home lots of ideas and inspiration . . . . I also handed in my application to become a QS Agent . . . . . and it was accepted !!!!! How fantastic is that !!! Bit daunting, but a terrific feeling to belong and be committed to an organisation as exciting as Quantum Savvy.

My agency started on 1 November, just in time for Equitana and I am working on a website as well . . . so stay tuned.

My agency area extend in a 1hr radius from Glenormiston North (near Camperdown) so takes in Warrnambool to the west, nearly to Hamilton, north half way to Ballarat, Colac in the east and down to the Great Ocean Road in the south . . . . some territory when you look at it on a map !!! Somewhat daunting, but at the same time a great challenge . . . . and as I believe so much in what Quantum Savvy has to offer to all horse owners/lovers, I looking forward to the challenge.

So, as a new member of the QS Team, I will be helping on the QS site at Equitana, which is going to be an absolute blast !!!! There are QS members coming from all over Australia and a special breakfast has been organised on the banks of the Maribynong River for the Saturday morning . . . . all those QS people together . . . . what a Kodak moment!!!

So, in case you hadn't got the message, I am very excited about things at the moment. We have just had Shane and Meredith down for an RFT clinic which was terrific . . . . we all learned heaps and are, I'm sure, inspired to go on and achieve so much more.

There is a Quantum Weekend with endorsed QS Instructor Mel Peacock to look forward to in early February (7 - 10 Feb to be exact) and Mel has committed to coming every three months . . . so imagine the progress we can all achieve.

Well, that's enough of my ramblings for now . . . . soooooo looking forward to Equitana and seeing Shane participate in The Way of the Horse.

See you all at Equitana.

Okay . . . . I'm back!!!

2008-04-10T15:30:00.003+10:00

Well, a lot has happened between my last post and this . . . . and my post is long overdue. My Dad passed away in January and my sister was diagnosed with pre-cancerous cells in her breast, resulting in her having a mastectomy 5 weeks ago. So, between the tidying up of Dad's affairs and some sisterly support for my sister (in Townsville), the first part of the year has slipped past way too quickly.

Anyway, things are back on track now so some more assignment videos shouldn't be too far away.

Went to a QS RFT (Release Focus Training) clinic mid-February which was fantastic. Even though I hadn't done anything with Max really since last November, he was really good, light and responsive and reinforced (again) that the QS program is just the best and something that I want to follow through with.

I have committed (and paid for) a spot at the QS Ultimate Horse Course in May 2009 . . . yes, that's next year (there isn't a UHC this year). You really need to be Level 2 to attend the UHC so I have committed (yes, that word again!!!) to having my Level 2 by the RFT clinic I am organising for the end of October. Quite achievable . . . . I just have to keep at it . . . . no excuses.

A friend of mine who has been having some challenges over the last while, has made some life changing decisions and it has started me thinking, researching, thinking some more and . . . . . if she can do it, what's stopping me. Commitment!!! That's the name of the game . . . . it's one thing to say it, it's altogether another thing to follow through. Thanks Stubby . . . . I'm taking a leaf out of your book LOL

So, it's time to get started . . . . . and keep going . . . . . and keep going until it's finished (if ever).

Until next time . . . . .

Come to a screeching halt !!!

2007-11-29T08:55:00.000+11:00

Well, I'm disappointed in myself . . . . after having gone great guns and got the assignments in (and passed two :-)), I haven't done anything more! Reason: my 85 year old Dad had a fall, had to have minor surgery and I've had several trips to Melbourne for doctors' appointments. I'm trying to find accommodation for him somewhere closer (2½ hrs drive each way at the moment).
Christmas is looming all too quickly and I haven't started any Christmas shopping yet . . . and I've got extra hours at work so I'm going to wait until the New Year and pick up where we left off.
There are just not enough hours in the day!!!

Skills Check at Liberty

2007-11-09T10:10:00.000+11:00

This is my first attempt and Meredith's comments were that "it was pretty darned good" . . . . but just needed to get the sideways departure sorted out. Also, forgot to show contact up and down. This exercise really shows the importance of your position and belly button focus (that's why I had trouble with the hindquarter yields).

Second attempt . . . . Yeah!!! I passed

2007-10-31T15:00:00.000+11:00

Assignment 2 - Spirals

Assignment 3 - Loading

Assignment 4 - Contact Challenge

These are my first attempts at the next Level 2 assignments. It was great to put them in and get feedback . . . yes, I have to resubmit, but I was really happy with what Meredith had to say and some of the comments I expected . . . . watch belly button focus, more impulsion, watch phases.
Level 2 is all about positive reflex meaning only phase 1 or 2 (no stick!!!).
I have noticed a difference in Max since starting the Level 2 work . . . . he's more interested, yes we are getting some impulsion (not always consistent but at least it's coming).

Level 2 Assignment 1 - Short range yields

2007-10-18T17:42:00.000+10:00

This is the first of my Level 2 Assignments - Short range yields. I passed this one (which was a very nice surprise) with comments that I just need to watch my "belly button focus" . . . better focus and the drift in fore and hindquarter yields won't happen and I should now back off with the phases. Also, my sideways departures need to be snappier. Level 2 is now about building impulsion and positive reflexes.

Journey to date . . . .

2007-10-16T18:43:00.000+10:00

Well, Max and I are part way through our journey, having completed Level 1, so I'd better go back to the beginning . . . . .

I was first introduced to the concept of "natural horsemanship" when a friend asked if I would like to come and watch her ride in a PNH clinic (Parelli for the uninitiated). That was about 10 years ago and I found the concept of developing a positive relationship with your horse very exciting. I joined the local savvy group and progressed to Level 2 with my QH gelding Doc . . . . I thought he was to be my "horse for life", but there are horses for people and people for horses and it took me 12 years to finally realise he was not the horse for me, so he was sold, we did the seachange thing, and Max came into my life.

Max was a green broke 3 year old QH gelding . . . . very handsome, quiet . . . . but green. We puddled along . . . . . and then at Equitana in 2005, I met up again with Shane and Meredith Ransley, the principals of Quantum Savvy. I was very excited to see what they were doing (Shane and Meredith had been instructors with Parelli and I had attended a few clinics with them) and joined Quantum Savvy (check out the Quantum Savvy website . . . it's amazing . . . . the Forum addictive!).

I formed a QS practise group in the area we were living in and with my friend Adele, we started our journey through the Foundation Program in March 2006.

Max and I completed Level 1 in October 2006, moved again in February 2007 (back to the country and a bit of land) and have only really now started seriously working towards Level 2.

For those who are interested, I am posting videos of my Level 2 assignments with feedback (might be abbreviated though).