Doing our homework!

This has been a week of lots of homework for Skip.  Gail has given us an outline of each step that needs to be taken on the road to saddling and riding.  We have a list of tasks to work on in order of difficulty, and Gail has given us until our first private lesson with her this Friday to complete the first section.  Most of it consists of things that we have been working on all along:  haltering, the 7 Parelli games, exposure to unusual things, small jumps, crawling on him, etc.  But it has been really good practice for Skip and I to go through each item on the list and make it "just right."  We are "taking the time it takes" now so that it "takes less time" in the future (Pat Parelli).

So far this week we have dramatically improved the things that he already knows, and filled in several small holes that I have inadvertently left in his training.  For example:  one of our tasks is to play the "extreme friendly game", which you know I have been doing in my own special way.  But I also had to play it with a flag.  I didn't have a flag, so I used a plastic bag tied to the end of my training stick.  WELL!!  Let's just say that we had to go waaaay back to the basic friendly game before we got to use the bag as a flag.  I am proud to say that I am now able to dance all around him and throw the plastic bag up into the wind without him flinching.

Today I took him across the road and had him jump over lots of different sizes and shapes of logs.  Then we used the logs as mounting blocks where I taught him how to "honey up" to the log so I could crawl on him.  After a few times of practicing, Skip now turns sideways almost every time I stand on a log!  I was also able to actually lay my whole body along his back lengthwise.  This was the first time that I have done anything besides drape my body over him like a flower sack.  Of course, he stood still like a perfect gentleman... unrestrained!

This afternoon was time for "Bath Lesson #2."  Sprayers are still a big obstacle to Skip.  For some reason, he just can't seem to get past his fear of being sprayed.  I did all of the techniques:  approach/retreat, follow me, friendly game, etc., but the fear is still there.  If any of my Parelli friends have suggestions, please chime in!  Bath day wasn't a complete bust, however.  He does just fine if I keep the sprayer in contact with his skin while I drizzle the water slowly.  I can even back the sprayer away from his body about an inch before he shies away... This is how we went about accomplishing our second bath, ever!

All clean!

~Jackie