Other things to do when it's raining...

Haven't been sleeping well, so have been hoping to catch up a bit in the morning hours on days off.  Thus, I wasn't going to make myself available for todays trail ride at 10:30.  I headed out to the ranch at 11:00 (never did sleep, but sat on the couch in a daze from 7:30 to 9:30 and pretended to sleep).  The girls were gone and I started with a nice groom on each of my horses.  Jeff was first and I was just starting to work up a sweat when it got dark and a low rumble slowly became more audible and I realized we were getting ready for a really strong weather event.  It started hailing/raining/sleeting and kept growing to a deafening roar.  Now, mind you, I'm in Jeffrey's little 12x12 stall with his little 12/24 ft paddock off it.  I had just tossed him a flake of hay and when the weather hit, I stopped grooming, cocked my leg and just rested my hand on his shoulder (I was on his off side so wouldn't get trampled if he careened out into his paddock like all the other horses were doing.)  Needless to say, he didn't even lift his head from his lunch pile.  :)  I just stood by calmly, with my hand carressing his shoulder, talking softly and slowly to him and he never moved an inch.  I could feel his 1200 pounds of muscle flexing under my hand, but, he stayed calm, as did I with my foot cocked, massaging his shoulder.  It was a truly amazing moment for my Right Brained Introvert. 

After the hail stopped, I haltered him, hopped on, and we had a really nice session in the arena.  I was riding in his halter with his lead line turned into reins.  I dropped the reins onto his shoulder and went about our lesson - just using my body and suggestion for everything I was asking.  I got beautiful backups, just with my seat alone and some slight leg - change of direction, bow tie pattern, sideways - anything I could think of - all bareback w/no reins in my hands.  Long story not so short - I was very happy that I decided to sleep in and miss the trail ride this morning!

Next came my little Beauty.  Earlier in the morning, Kimberly had turned her out with Jeffrey and told me over the phone "she is in quite a mood.  Just getting her to the arena was an interesting feat.  Don't get on her until we get back, cuz I want to get it on video!"  What are friends for??  :)  She wanted to make sure if I was going to crash and burn, it would be well documented!  After my WONDERFUL session with Jeff, I was feeling confident and haltered Beauty and headed for the arena (on foot - I'm not a fool).  At the gate however, I spurned kimberly's advise and turned her halter/lead line into reins walked her to the mounting block, and with abondon, hopped on.  :)   She was great!  It could have helped that I had a pocket full of cookies, but I think she would have been the same w/o.  We rode for about 30 minutes - very light direction by me on the reins, stopped, backed up (with seat & legs only), side passed, anything I asked.  I love this girl!  I hopped off and decided to see if I could teach her to touch objects with her feet like I taught Jeff.  I swear, it took all of about 3 seconds.  I pointed to the first object - sent her to it, she sniffed it and started to come back to me and I stopped her - sent her back and lifted my foot and kicked in the air.  She lifted her foot - kicked the object - looked at me - I gave her her "ding ding ding" signal that she was right and that was all it took.  First try.  We did it to about 20 different obstacles for the next 10 minutes, and she got faster and had more fun each time.  I was bursting with glee by the end. 

Anyway - a solid, fun filled arena day today in the middle of this nasty weather.

Tomorrow both of my horses are headed out on the trail.  A friend will ride one, and I'll ride the other.  I'm so proud of them and so happy to have found this natural horsemanship method.  Happy, Happy, Happy!