Today Mark took the horses back to the big field, hopefully they will have 2-3 weeks more there before returning to the house paddocks for the rest of Winter. Mark rode Stormy bareback and lead Bella from him. They both were fabulous, calm, well behaved and happy to be returning to the space of the big field where they can stretch their legs, get exercise going up/down the hill for water and have more old grazing before it’s hay and snow for a while.
Mark riding down the track with our beauties
I got down there on the quad today and managed to walk Bella to her dinner bowl 😉
Bella’s off…come on Stormy
what are you waiting for 😉
Sun 15th Dec
Well it’s been over a week again since seeing the geegee’s but today I got out and had a great wee session with Bella. She was very happy to see me and I took her into one of my main round pens, we connected by doing some S2M together and a bit of other games too but only to get her mind/energy and our breathing connected and not to go fast or anything. She was fab and after a very short time I decided to take her headcollar off and put the rope over her neck and work like that with S2M. She was SO connected that I quickly decided to just see how we could walk at Liberty together….I was surprised and very happy that she stayed connected to me with only one run off but with a great draw back. She seemed very happy to play with me and I think she’s missing me as much as I’m missing her.
On a good note I am not using my ‘moonboot or crutches’ anymore and although my heel operation has been 6 weeks now it is still quite sore and my achilles and calf muscles aren’t working fully still yet, that will take quite a long time with some serious physio over the next few months…BUT I’m happy to potter about more than before and to make sure I don’t over do things.
With rope over her neck
At liberty, S2M and close circling
LOVE that DRAW 🙂
Here is a short video of us working for the first time on ‘liberty close circles’ 😉
Mon 23rd Dec
Today got out with the horses to take their rugs off and managed to have a small play session first at Liberty with Story in a roundpen and then online with Bella.
So LOVELY to see both beauties today…even the sun came out for us.
Happy to see me as I’m happy to be with them 🙂
I also managed to start working on some familiarisation, approach and retreat and treat training to help Bella start to tolerate and then accept the noise of Velcro. She really over reacts to it and it’s everywhere nowadays, on rugs, gloves, jackets etc SO I really need her to get used to it. We did a short video showing our first session…
Weds 24th Dec
Well it’s Xmas Eve and although we normally only bring the horses to the house when bad/snowy weather is forecast we decided that we normally have bad weather at this time of year and the horses have always been with us at the house by Xmas Eve so why change that habit. We really enjoy them being at the house and it makes it more Xmasy with them here with us SO we went and fetched them home this afternoon. Happy Xmas everyone….
Sun 29th Dec
Today Mark, Storm, Bell and I went for a wee walk in the grass opposite our house. We’ve often taken herd members across here for some walking in-hand exercise, some agility fun and to graze but this was Bella’s FIRST time over there and first time really ‘going out’ for a walk with us. She was a big sceptical at first but then her curiosity got the better of her SO I spent time walking when she wanted to walk and then halting and waiting when she needed to stop and look about.
She was happy and calm with me, didn’t worry where Stormy went and we managed to ‘play’ our normal games as we went about (which is how they’re supposed to used). We did S2M transitions, me being on either side of her, backing up, half circles through gaps, grooming (familiarisation), moving her hq’s when changing directions and moving her forehand when walking together for turns away. She was lovely and calm and it was lovely to take her out for an hour or so.
She didn’t realise that she could graze in-hand either and wasn’t really interested in the grass but when she spotted/smelled the heather sprigs she and Stormy tucked in big time 🙂
😉 And Mark had a good time with big Stormy too 🙂
Tues 31st Dec
For the last day of the year and decade we take the horses back to their big field. They get more exercise searching for grazing there and there has been no rain or snow to keep them at the house now…we will bring them back when that happens…but for now they can enjoy the bigger freedom of the 10 acres with hill stream to keep them happy 🙂
Mark riding Storm back to the field and leading Bella. They worked together very well, calm and easy. The whole field is open for them now including the steep hill, they will find some grass there.
Down on the flat part of the field in the glorious winter sunshine…and then eating hay together at dinner time 🙂
The end of 2019, missing all our horses that have passed, Fortune, Holly, Solly & Tara but looking forward to some new adventures in 2020 with Stormy & Bella 🙂
I’m out of action for a while after having heel surgery on Halloween but the horses needed to be taken back to their big field until Winter SO Mark took them back down there…Riding Storm bareback and leading Bella from him. He said they were very well behaved and really enjoyed a wee yeehaa when let off back into the big field. He also opened up the hill grass for Autumn, I’m sure they’ll really enjoy that 🙂
Stretching their legs in the big field feels GOOD…also having a lovely roll….mucky girl
Oh and a very muddy boy Stormy >
Weds 6th Nov
Am missing the horses a lot whiles not able to do anything at all for a while with foot out of action, even once I start to ‘walk’ again it will take quite a while to get my heel/leg back to normal SO Mark took me down to the big field to have some equine cuddles…..just what the doctor ordered 😉
They didn’t have any worries about my crutches, my wobbling walk or the plastic bag on my moonboot
Stormy wanted to check out the plastic bag on my foot….Bella was fine with it too but not so interested in it, well there was no food in it for her. lol.
Bella was fine with me ‘hand grooming’ her, getting the dried mud off her neck, side and bum. I held onto her withers for stability and she was a very good girl standing still for me to hobble around her.
Such a good girl AND Stormy didn’t bat an eyelid when I asked for a theraputic Storm-Hug with my crutches flailing over his back 🙂
And…last but not least Bella and I had some connection kisses <3 SO lovely to spend some time hanging out with them, it’s going to be some time before I can ride again but hopefully once I start to get a bit better I can do some ground work play whilst sitting down 🙂
Thurs 14th Nov
While still not being able to walk without crutches I’m not able to see the horses everyday but Mark took me down to them today for a wee visit. They seemed genuinely happy to see me and think Bella has missed me and her play sessions quite a lot. It was lovely to have lots of hairy hugs and kisses and it was also fab to see Bella hasn’t forgotten any of our training…she, and Stormy, were STARS.
First of all I groomed Bella and her ‘Ground Tying’ is coming along in leaps and bounds and made it possible for me to ‘hobble’ around her without her moving and without me having to hold her rope…
We then had a very very good play session with me sitting down on the mounting block and for the first time Bella had a 22′ rope on her, very proud of all she remembered and tried for me and how well our communication and connection was.
< Bella circling really nicely
She was good on moving out on the circle to go around a jump wing before coming back to me >
<FIRST ever backup on the 22′ line and she did it with smooth enthusiasm
Backup over a pole too went pretty well >
< Fabulous Fig 8’s and I stayed sitting down the whole time >
Bella went up on the pedestal with front feet no problem today (pic below)
Bella was also extra special in helping me to ‘hop’ back to the mounting block…..I held onto her neck/withers and mane and she wasn’t worried or spooked by my hanging onto her, the plastic bag on my ‘boot’ or my crutch…super star girlie 🙂
We also had some lovely ‘moments’ of connection and friendship today….with sweet Bella hanging out while I played with Stormy too…
< Storm backing over pole…Bella watching intently from both sides >
< Bella hanging out with me while I play with Storm
Bella being super sweet with me >
< Both horses were precious today, hanging out, playing and being so gentle around me
A very special ‘moment’ with sweet Bella >
Sun 17th Nov
Bella has only just been with us for over 4 months and I love that Bella and Stormy are now so bonded. When Bella first came she was very hungry, slightly underweight and orientated on feeding herself as if she had another baby inside to feed. We don’t think she’s ever had a bucket feed and we feed twice a day to give them something other than grass in their bellies so it’s taken a while for her to understand we won’t let her down on feeding and she can relax and not try to pinch Stormy’s food too. So it’s especially brilliant to see that our two beauties can eat together without fussing each other off the hay 🙂
Wed 20th Nov
Slowly our track system has been expanded to allow the horses all of the hill grazing. Tonight, at their dinner time, Mark opened up the whole acreage to the horses, the new bit not having been grazed on all year so what we call ‘standing hay’ really and they’re enjoying stretching their legs and eating the grass they’ve been looking at all year.
Thurs 28th Nov
Well today, after 2 weeks of not seeing horses due to recovery of heel operation and terrible wet weather I finally got down to see the dynamic duo for an hour or so and it was true therapy for my heart and soul. I found my SMILE again 😉 and I think they were pleased to see me too 🙂 🙂
As it had been quite a while since seeing/playing with Bella she was at first tentative but soon remembered all the good stuff she’s learned but often times with some excitement involved so we spent some time on each request finding relaxation for her and TBH she remembered and found it pretty quickly today. Was fabulous to be with her again, she definitely missed me as much as I’ve missed her <3
Some pics from today, first playing with Bella, then some hug time and finally a naughty bareback ‘sit’ on big Stormy….I could not resist and as my back, hips, leg leg etc are all sore from not walking properly due to wearing moonboot he really helped work those parts of my body to restore some semblance of harmony for me…thanks Big Storm 🙂
Draw & Drive and then some circling
Circles to right had some issues, she has got a bit sensitive on that side again and after some yeehaa moments she started to get over it quickly
Some fab sidepass circles with me pivoting today, she’s not done much of this but she did it with softness and a light cue
Fig 8’s remembered very well and in trot too
Ask for a draw towards off Fig 8’s and you can see she was ready to repeat left part of Fig 8 here but came back to me quickly once she realised it was a draw. With not being able to move much due to foot in moonboot/bag my signals/cues were more subtle….great way to progress 😉 lol
Storm wanted to do a bit at liberty with us so I asked for them both to back up together 😉
Sidepass along a pole, a first for her today >
Such flexible limbs/body she has 🙂
Sidepass other way great too
Circle and half circle over raised pole. She was okay going to the right but going to the left (with me on hard right side) was difficult, she got over sensitive and had a yeehaa but we stuck with it until she found relaxation and balance with that energy before we halted.
Trying to find relaxation and balance again.
Feet over the pole, sometimes 1,2,3 or all 4 forward and then back again 🙂
And sidepass off a pole a first today too
Huggles….
< Connecting nicely through play and relaxation >
< Teaching Bella to ‘hug’ me 🙂
Coming for treats >
< My two beauties
Stormy giving me a really BIG HUG here, he knows how to squeeze so nicely >
So a great afternoon for me, my heart and soul renewed with my beautiful big girl Bella but one thing remained…..to have a wee sit/plod on big Stormy. I am SO glad we’ve done tons of Familiarisation with plastic as my moonboot is in one at moment when out and about to save it getting dirty, he was fine with it. Am also really glad he’s used to moving/stopping/turning from my breath/focus/weight cues as I wasn’t going to use my legs as left one still very sore. He did brilliantly and as soon as I got on I realised how squint and sore I was on my left side due to hobbling about in moonboot for last month. My back, hip, leg was all very tense and achy but after just a few mins of just being a passenger on him I felt the benefits as I allowed his movement to move me and soften up my whole body. Thanks Stormy, you and Bella are the BESTEST therapy a girl could have 🙂 <3 xxx
Sat 30th Nov
Well Mark bought the horses home this morning not because of bad weather, although it was about -9 to -10 last night, but because both our quad bike AND our 4×4 car wouldn’t start (batteries we think)….totally gobsmacked but he walked the mile to their field and rode/walked them back home…at least I get to see them every day now which is a huge bonus as I’m just starting to walk about a bit now. SO for the last day of November Bella did exceptionally well walking back home with Storm and Mark and it definitely worked bringing them back earlier in the year as she was calm, quiet, happy to be in the paddocks and calmly using the bridge too 🙂
Here’s some pics of them coming home and in the paddocks….
Lovely to see them using the bridge calmly and happily
Breakfast at home, Bella ate hers then went and pinched some of Stormy’s too
And it was fabulous for me to potter about in the garden and see our two beauties watching me 🙂
Not sure if they’ll stay at the house for the whole of December but it’s nice to have them here for now 😉
It’s been 3 days since I last played with Bella so today I went down at breakfast to be with her and see if she wanted to play. At first she was sceptical and this made me realise that she needs some play or interaction every day with me….this is totally normal and once she has been here for longer and this routine is a good routine then skipping a day or two won’t make that much difference BUT this initial 6 months to a year is vital for our successful connection.
< Firstly we did some ‘mirroring’…this is where I walk the way she’s walking, at her speed, step for step and also then with the same energy and even breathing if we connect well. It really helps our connection and shows her I can ‘be’ with her in her world, we don’t always have to play or do something.
We then did some circles on a hill in w/t, moving circles w/t, circles over a pole w/t, draw & drive from a distance and sidepassing without a fence using Focus L&R 🙂 She did very well and our connection is back in tact ready for our next session.
Tues 8th Oct
After not doing much last week I now need to find my Connection back to Bella. It will just take some regular play and weather so won’t take long but made me realise how short a time Bella has been with us and how fragile the bond is. Today I managed to get half an hour between rain showers and we did some nice S2M including TROT 🙂
Weds 9th Oct
Today was on/off drizzle again BUT I managed to get out an hour before giving them their dinner and I’m so glad I did. We managed some nice play in the Agility area adding poles to the cone circle/weave which went well. Then I put her saddle on and we played around with circles in walk and trot with the stirrups down and she didn’t bat and eyelid. I then did some DHQ into LF on the ground both sides which went well and then stood on the mounting block and asked her to come over to it, relax and stand still. I then put my foot in the stirrup and put my weight on/off it to make sure she was okay with that sensation and then as it was okay I mounted and sat quietly in the saddle. She stood quietly and then turned her head to the left with a nice LF to smell my foot and then I got off. One small step but a big step. Hopefully next time we will do some walking and the saddle will help keep my balance if she decides to go up to trot.
< Cone circle/weave with poles
Ground tying >
Trotting with saddle on and stirrups down >
Sitting on Bella w/Saddle and Stirrups
We have made wonderful progress together. Now we need to work on our basic riding skills/techniques with the saddle on firstly in the round pen, then in a larger arena and then in a bigger area.
Sat 12th Oct
Today was the FIRST time riding Bella with the saddle/stirrups on. She did amazingly well and I’m so proud of her. I think I will make a bigger rectangular arena for us to work in now so that will encourage forward motion more for her. I have this session on video in the ‘Bella’s training video’ section and we also did a fab 4th Agility session also on video in the ‘Bella’s Agility video’ section >>>>
Sun 13th Oct
Today we took the smaller round pen down and made a rectangular arena for Bella to work in, the longer straight lines will help her walk out more in our riding sessions and we can also use this for her to follow Stormy to give her confidence following another horse. Today we just allowed both horses to work/ride in it for a short time. Here’s some pics from today including some of the fun ground work we did together:
< A ‘moment’ together
Managed one foot on the smaller pedestal >
< Sidepassing without a fence 🙂
Getting a nice ride on big Stormy today >
< Storm is now a ‘teacher’ for Bella
Nice ride on Stormy >
< And such a nice trot with Storm today working on the Corners Game
Bella’s Lateral Flexion on BOTH sides today was soft, light and easy >
< Managed to get more walk steps working in new bigger area today
Also walked out of the arena back to where I take the tack off, through the agility area >
Mon 14th Oct
Today I decided to try a new thing to help Bella’s confidence in being ridden…..asking Mark to ride Stormy with us in the arena. This really helped Bella, she followed what Stormy was doing and we managed a lot of just nice walk next to each other. It will take time for Bella to gain new muscles for being ridden and taking weight on her back but she’s doing really well.
Riding together is a lot of fun and I can see she and Storm will make happy hacking pals once we’ve done more training and then walked her out locally (probably next year now)
We walked companionably on both sides of Stormy, love that these two get on so well, no niggling, no kicking out or trying to bite each other.
Tues 15th Oct
Had a lovely play with Bella today and it turned out to be a play with her AND Stormy together a bit too. Stormy at liberty, Bella on line…some pics….
Playing the games with Stormy helped Bella feel more confident, allow her to see Stormy doing the same things and to make Stormy feel included more 😉
Draw and Drive over a pole went incredibly well with the two of them 🙂
Some treats for both for a good job done.
4 feet on the pedestal at last….well 2 of Storm’s and 2 of Bella’s…great to see how well they get on that they can be this close 🙂
Pedestal fun and then some solo circling with poles for Bella. She really engages her core when there are poles around so we will continue to build with the pole work to help her muscle up for being ridden 😉
After some play I went to do a bit of riding, Bella was good but very very distracted by something (farmer moving cattle probably, very noisy business) SO I decided that it would be easier and better for Bella if Mark rode her and I stayed on the ground with Stormy so she could follow me and be near Stormy. It went very well and Mark had a couple of really nice TROT’s on her which was great to see.
Good start and her basic bitless techniques are going well (LF. DHQ. FH and Walking on). She is still more confident with Stormy around when being ridden but that’s to be expected 😉
You can see she is thinking about something in the middle distance here.
Mark did a great relaxing job riding Bella today. Her trot ridden is as nice as her trot when she’s working online which is lovely to see.
Here she’s trotting well following Storm and me. We still need to work on left and right but am very pleased she’s got walk and now trot under her belt, we can progress slowly now.
I then spent some quiet time with Bella which was really bonding. She is really cuddly and I love being around her.
Tue 22nd Oct
Just back from a clinic in the Borders so have missed 5 days training with Bella this week BUT hopefully that has given her a small break to think and rest which is often a good thing for any horse. Went out to give them their dinner today around 5pm and take this opportunity to get ‘re-connected’ to her and Stormy.
Bella remembered everything we’ve done and we had some nice circling in both directions, realised we need to start working on a 22′ line now to help her trot circles be easier for her. Draw & Drive was light and polite and she did two very nice, light Lateral Flexion both directions. Lastly, after I took her halter off, it was lovely to have her follow me for a bit at Liberty 😉
Sat 26th Oct
Bella has had a slight swelling in her right udder so we decided to be able to keep an eye on her more to bring her and Stormy to the home paddocks. (at the time of writing this her udder is 50% smaller so looks like it is probably hormonal). It will also allow her to get used to the Winter turnout before they have to come up for Winter so it’s good in two ways. She was a bit sceptical coming out of the field she’s been in for 3 months since coming to us but not too worried that she couldn’t move and follow Stormy. Stormy is a great confidence giver as he’s been doing this run every Winter for 10yrs although this is the first time with Bella. Here’s some pics of our wee adventure.
Bella was quite unsettled to start with , quite sweaty too but I went and rubbed her down with some dry grass and that helped her, she also had to listen to Stormy with how to not worry about the wee bridge we have in the middle of the paddocks over the wee stream. She relaxed enough to watch and think about it and figure it out so that hopefully tonight she’ll know where things are and relax into a quiet night.
Wee video of Bella figuring out the bridge 🙂
Sun 27th Oct
We left the horses to just mosey about today, allowing Stormy to show Bella around the field more and all the nice tasty spots of grazing, find their resting spots and for Bella to get used to her new surroundings. She is on lookout a bit but nothing worrying, just her getting used to where all the normal sounds are now coming from as she is nearer the farm and road noises.
When I go and walk doggie Beau, Bella walks the fence line with me, she likes watching everything that is going on.
Bella also likes to follow us whilst poo picking, she like to make sure we do it properly. She is also mirroring Stormy often, he knows the field well so is a great help to give her confidence and calmness.
Resting together is lovely to see and also how calm they are coming and eating their 2 meals a day 🙂
Mon 27th Oct
Bella is really relaxing more each day she’s here in the home paddocks, this is going to help her so much when they come back for a few months over Winter, usually end Dec through to March. It makes it easier for us to feed and take care of them as often we can get snowed in here. She isn’t fully relaxed yet but it’s only been 2 full days so far and I’m impressed with how Stormy is helping her and being a good partner for her.
Today she followed me around while poo picking and that was even over the bridge but it was also lovely to see them both coming over for their breakfast nice and calmly and Stormy even allowing Bella to share the end of his bowlful…she is a cheeky minx, lol
Tues 29th Oct
Today I decided to ask Bella to have a wee play session and walk up the road by the paddock. This gives her the comfort of having Stormy int he field next to her but also allows me to see how she can respond and connect to me. Having her able to play will allow us to develop a deeper connection in a new place and for me to gauge her emotional and mental fitness. Here’s some lovely pics Mark took of us today….
Weds 30th Oct
This morning it was interesting to see the Storm and Bella following each other around. There was a bit of noise and movement around the estate with the farmer moving cattle around. Our two are so sensitive to changes at the moment but happy to be relaxed and calm around us.
Today was also ‘trimming hooves’ day, Bella’s hooves are so much better than when she first came to us 3 months ago, still some way to go with her back hooves but getting there. They were both pretty well behaved even though this was a new place to stand and hang out for Bella 🙂
