Bella – Our Journey

Sun 1st Sept

Been doing daily play sessions with Bella but decided to give her a wee break today so just checked her feet (familiarisation with the foot stand) and took her for a short walk into the long grass part of the field for some hanging out together while Mark rode Stormy.

After a nice walk around the field I did a short session of familiarisation with the mounting block and having my weight on her back. She moved away from the block a few times when my weight went on her back but I think this was more about her not having the saddle pad on and me being balanced on that on her back so my weight was more on the inside so she moved away from that pressure. Anyway, because she was moving about a bit I took more time than I thought we’d need to just keep getting off, asking her back to the block and putting my weight back on her until at the end she did two nice standstill’s for me when I did it. Her reward for standing still was to be taken away from the block, head collar off and a nice big herbal treat.

I will work on this often from now on to get her ready for saddling and being ridden later on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thurs 5th Sept

We’ve had a bit of rain this week so today was the first day in a while that we could play with Bella and Stormy so we decided to do a bit of agility first (check Bella’s Agility Video’s category for her video) and then take them both out onto the long grass part of the field. Bella is becoming more used to this area and settles quickly even when Stormy trots around away from her, so she’s trusting me more which is great.

 

 

 

 

 

Fri 6th Sept

Out for some more agility fun with Bella and Stormy, today we had the flapping curtain up too, a first for Bella 😉

 

< Bella waiting until she feels safe to  be able to go through the archway >

 

 

< We’re getting such a lovely connection now, trotting together with ease and working with techniques with obstacles is fun now >

 

< Really lovely transitions together from walk through the narrow lane to learning to pick up the energy for a small jump >

 

 

< Working on her right side is constantly getting easier for her.
Waiting for her to feel confident about the curtain >

 

 

< Pulling one side of the curtain back for her…then asking Stormy to show Bella how to do it >

 

 

< Storm at liberty showing Bella how the curtain is done…then Bella confident to do the curtain too >

 

 

 

Great agility fun with B&S today…loving our light cues and connection, really enjoying helping Bella figure things out with me, our partnership is growing beautifully 😉

 

Sun 8th Sept

Today we did some more agility and this time we did some different tasks on some of the obstacles which will help Bella learn it’s about our connection and trust and we can do any game with any obstacle SO she will start to look to me more for direction as we progress to riding.

We started off working with reins loose over her back as I wanted to make sure the Familiarisation of flapping reins wasn’t going to freak her out…all went really well 🙂

We then played with some obstacles and did transitions through the narrow scary gap, weave and fig 8’s around the cones, in and out of the jump wings/poles, rope around spins, nice jump, three feet on the pedestal (I helped her put one back foot on it but it helps her understand what I’m asking for), and nicely under the curtain.

 

 

Also Stormy by himself decided to show Bella how the curtain can be done easily…..Stormy has become the teacher 😉 🙂

 

Tue 9th Sept

 

Well today Bella and Stormy were on their toes, heads up and running around a bit but once I haltered Bella and started to groom she settled and we had a lovely play around the agility obstacles and when Mark rode Storm out in the long grass field we accompanied him in-hand and played with some S2M, weave, fig 8’s and sidepass.

I then put a bareback pad on Bella and whilst in-hand with me at her head Mark sat on her for the FIRST TIME 🙂 SO happy she has been good about having someone on her back, we saw previous owner trotting down the road with her but have never been sure if she’s had any proper training or been backed/started at all. Hopefully now with the ground work Mark and I will continue her bitless ridden journey too.

 

 

Before Mark sat on her I lay on her with the bareback pad on, she moved but I managed to stay on and the rein turned her in a small arc around my legs, when she stopped I jumped off rewarding her for standing still. What a good girl she has been for me and Mark.

ALSO we did some lovely play with the obstacles, on the long grass area and she was really good with our connection which was lovely.

 

 

 

 

We even upped the energy with the flag….yeehaa 🙂

 

Weds 11th Sept

Today we managed a small play session after dinner in the new round pen. She is quite good orientated/motivated so the long grass helped to give her rewards. Here’s what we did:

S2M around half the arena. Half circles in and out of the pen. Circles in walk x 2 to the left, COD, 2 x circles to the right, COD, repeat in trot. Fig 8s in calm walk. Tossing rope over her head and doing a ‘rope around spin’. Sidpass using feel/touch and then focus/intent. Backing out of the arena. S2M around other half of arena. Half circle in calm walk back onto grazing track.

Fab play with a calm, willing Bella and a very happy me 🙂

 

 

Thurs 12th Sept

Great afternoon of play with Bella, lots of games played with obstacles and then some fab ‘ground tying’ practise while I held Stormy as Mark trimmed his hooves.

< We started off playing familiarisation with an umbrella as it started to rain.

But then played and got 3 feet on the pedestal today. Bella really thinking to her feet >

 

 

< I also did some more Lateral Flexion, from the ground and then from the mounting block.

Standing still by the mounting block, making that a sweet spot to stand is a great exercise to teach her halt and not be afraid of the block >

 

 

 

< mounting block wait

Tried on her new light weight rug…fits great >

 

 

 

< AND…..sat on her today for the FIRST TIME…felt great. Mark walked me in a circle in-hand and she was super cool >

 

 

 

Fri 13th Sept

Did a short play session after their dinner in the afternoon today.

 

< Trot half circles with pole.

Sidepass along fence >

 

 

 

< Sidepass to the right is awesome.

first time for Fig 8’s with a pole >

 

 

 

< Fig 8’s with pole >

 

 

 

 

< Fig 8’s

Hanging out with a new mounting block in a different place…no problem with it 🙂 >

 

 

< Nice calmness between games >

 

 

 

 

< Rope around spins going well including tossing the rope over her head 😉

 

 

 

< Halter off and the beginnings of Liberty play with some S2M and a big head hug and kiss for being such a good girl >

 

 

We also tried on her new lightweight rug today, it fits really well, nice length and tail section and a lovely deep neck line so she’s comfortable and able to still graze 😉

 

 

 

 

Sat 14th Sept

Today we managed to get out and make a new Agility course for us to play around with AND also put up a round pen in the Agility area too so that I can start working on the beginnings of Bitless Riding after a few more times sitting and walking in-hand. Exciting times coming up 🙂

 

< Flag

 

Bunting lane >

 

 

< Arch

 

Curtain >

 

 

< Sidepass

 

Sidepass >

 

 

< Tarp trot

 

3 feet on ped >

 

 

< Jump

 

front feet in hoop >

 

 

< Sidepass

 

Sidepass >

 

It was a lovely session, lots of thinking, calmness and connection through the agility course. We ended at the mounting block with some rest, leaning on her back and helping her find her ‘stand still and rest’ sweet spot at the block 😉

 

 

 

Mon 16th Sept

Weather was a bit in the way today but managed to find a dry patch at evening feeding time today so took advantage of it. She was willing and relaxed, had a bit of a hoolie going into circles to the right (her hard side) but I kept my energy neutral and invited her mentally to join me in that and she soon asked to come to me and relax which is a huge difference from last week, she is starting to look to me for direction. Here’s some of the things we did…

 

< S2M on the right with loose rope

S2M halt and back up with pole and loose rope >

 

 

< Circles to the left, nice and calm and Bella looking to me for direction.

Circle to the right, slowly getting straighter in her barrel >

 

 

 

< Soft, calm fig 8’s >

 

 

 

< Really nice sidepassing both ways today

And sit on her again >

 

 

 

< Bella doing a great job taking my weight and standing perfectly still for me

 

Bella & Stormy >

 

Tues 17th Sept

Today was a big milestone in our journey together….I sat on her and asked for walk. She had quite sticky feet and we got backup and moving her hindquarters and then I asked Mark to sit on her and be a passenger with some directions whilst I helped move her into walk using the cues I use for circling. It worked really well and  we now need to do this in small bouts to help her figure out her balance with a rider and also we need to start playing with the ground work with her wearing her saddle so that we can start using the saddle to start her ridden work more. Really enjoying backing her, she reminds me so much of when we did Stormy 12 years ago 😉

Here is a short video of my first time asking her to move with me on her back:

And some pics of Mark doing a good job directing her while I got her walking out more:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fri 20th Sept

It was way too hot to do much with Bella or Stormy today SO the best thing I could think of to do in the hot weather is to wash Stormy and give Bella a wee clean up.

 

 

Managed to give Stormy a full wash, his mane and tail are now back to being white 😉

 

 

 

 

Bella after a small clean up next to a very white Stormy.

I did manage also to do a small play with them together, some S2M with me in the middle and weave together, both online…it was fun 😉

 

At least he was mostly dry before he decided to roll and at least he’s cleaner than he was this morning 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Sat 21st Sept

Today I video’d Bella’s 3rd & 4th lessons. Lesson 3 is online and Lesson 4 is our first Backing/Starting Riding video…both are on the category ‘Bella’s Lesson Video’s’ which you can find on the right of the blog >>>>>

We’re going to start playing most sessions with her saddle on and soon with the stirrups down, huge familiarisation with the energy/motion/noise of those around her body and once we’ve done that for quite a while I’ll know I’ll be able to use the saddle to continue her backing/starting riding sessions.

Here’s a few pics from today:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AND some from the ridden session….

She did well, took some time to figure out how to move forward with the new weight of me on her back but she was super sweet and tried her heart out 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mon 23rd Sept

Today I played with Bella and then rode her again, she did so much better today moving forward, still a way to go but much more movement some LF, DHQ and FH moves with backup too 🙂

 

Tues 24th Sept

Today I decided to do something a bit different, it’s been drizzing most of the day so for me riding was out as the ground is wet and so is Bella’s back SO I went and started in the round pen with the thought of some Liberty…here’s some pics of what happened….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sun 29th Sept

Had a lovely play with Bella today and a  better sit on/ride too. Her ridden walk was very slightly faster, more steps and started quicker so I was very pleased with our progress.

< Play with saddle on and getting her used to stirrups and weight in the too . Once she’s okay with it all I’ll be able to ride her in the saddle >

 

 

< Standing at the mounting block nice and calmly and still is really good now and moving off isn’t too bad either. Today Bella offered to go to the right >

 

< And she offered Lateral Flexion to the right too today, this is great progress. She’s managing to take quite a few steps before stopping >

 

 

< Very happy with our ridden connection and I feel I’ll be sitting in a saddle soon too which will really be good and give me more confidence with my own balance if she decides to offer trot and then we can start working in a bigger area too 🙂

 

 

 

 

Mon 30th Sept

Today I had a very short play session with Bella, my brother and nephew are up on holiday and they always come and see the herd when they’re here. Lovely to see my family with our horses, they’ve met and ridden a lot of the members of our herd over the years so it was lovely to see them with Bella for the first time today 🙂

 

 

< Brother Paul and Bella getting to know each other 🙂

Bella, Mark, Paul, Storm and nephew Alex >

 

 

 

 

 

• Shelley – HorseSavvy

 

 

Weds 1st Aug

Working away at the first lesson games, today we worked with poles too so that she can see what the games are for. Here is how things are going….

1. More steps happening now

2. Lighter cues

3. Games working around obstacles

4. Upping energy and noise with familiarisation of stick/string

5. Understanding ‘stay’ after backing up

6. Back up wiggle is slowly getting lighter

7. Moving forehand is getting there

8. S2M is going well and she’s slowly allowing me in her right more

 

Sat 4th Aug

Well today we worked on playing some games with POLES and also playing them whilst Mark rode Stormy away from us. Bella was a star, she kept an eye on where Storm went but was able to connect to me and play nicely too which is great. The pole work we have started on is:

1. walk over 4 trot poles without hitting them
2. walk over one pole just front feet and halt
3. back up off pole with front feet

We tried backing up over pole with back feet but she really doesn’t get this…yet 🙂

I also did a huge amount of Familiarisation with our bareback pad, girthed it up and then played some games with her wearing it….it went very well, very pleased with her progress today, here’s some pics from the bareback session….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tues 6th Aug

I’ve been continuing with the basic HS NH games over the last few days with Bella, introduced some half circle trot with calmness and also some Feel sidepass moves L&R which I was very surprised with how well that went. She’s getting used to me being on her right more and I’ve also started asking her to lower her head with some ‘manic butterfly’ focus games building that more and more so that her face familiarisation is getting better. She can raise her head as if startled when a hand comes near her which isn’t bad but I want her to be fine with hands near her face and to learn to lower her head instead of raising it and she is learning that lowering her head is good, brings about relaxation and that the worrying thing goes away when head is down…this also helps relieve her of any unnecessary negative adrenaline (-E) being around and so she falls in love with relaxation/head down and the endorphins it produces, just like the endorphins that are produced when grazing.

Today we also did more familiarisation with things on her back…..a sweat rug and a saddle with pad. I’m not sure at all if she’s ever had these things on her or if she has whether it’s been a positive experience BUT she took to both nicely and am going to build up time with these and a bareback pad and treat her as if she’s a youngster being backed for the first time…better to be safe than sorry, for her and for me 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thurs 8th Aug

 

More Familiarisation for Bella today with a visit from the farrier.

She did very well but we realise she’s not had this done as often as she should have and was feeling a wee bit unstable at times, even though farrier was quick, calm and kind and gave her LOTS of scratches.

SO…our job is to put her foot up on a stand every day for longer and longer periods, to make sure she feels happy and secure with her foot in the back and forward positions ready for her next trim.

 

 

 

Fri 9th Aug

Well the heavens have truly opened up today and Storm and Bella were getting soaked SO it was a great opportunity to Familiarise her to a rug. She was a bit sceptical but took it well, she was ok walking around in it and still happily in it a few hours later when we took it off as the rain stopped. By winter she’ll be used to one no problem 🙂

 

Sun 11th Aug

Its been raining on and off for days and its been hard to try to get out with Bella and Storm for any length of time SO today when I went out to feed them their dinner at 5 o’clock and it was still drizzling I decided to put together a new Agility course and it was lovely that both of them came over to see what I was up to…a great start to a short play session I thought 🙂

First was a really nice liberty play with Storm, it is lovely for Bella to see me playing with him, he’s so confident and calm with all the obstacles that it gives her confidence. Bella’s online session was very good but it showed in our familiarisation with the stick and string over her back that I’d not done it for a while…..we need to have much more consistency doing this so really hoping the weather behaves itself soon. Here’s some pics from today…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mon 12th Aug

Today we had some nice weather during the day so Mark and I got ourselves together and out to Storm and Bella for some fun. I started out grooming Bella and then playing with the Agility obstacles online. She did really well and is starting to really understand my cues now…and my cues are able to get lighter now too 🙂

 

< Foot in hulahoop

 

Bunting lane >

 

 

< Draw through bunting

 

Bunting backup >

 

 

< Over tarp

 

Over tarp >

 

 

< Fig 8’s

 

Fig 8’s >

 

 

< Labyrinth

 

Labyrinth >

 

 

< 2 feet easily on ped

 

Back feet on ped >

 

 

< Trot poles

 

Trot poles >

 

 

< Fig 8’s

 

Weave >

 

 

< Circles

 

Beginning sidepass >

 

 

< Sidepass

 

Touch it…>

 

 

 

It was a lovely session of Agility. We also walked in-hand up the field and hill while Mark rode Big stormy. She was calm, attentive and responsive to my breathing transitions, backing up off a light cue on the halter/rope and didn’t worry or try to catch Stormy up no matter what gait he did or where he was in the field 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

And in between Bella showed she can have a yeehaa when she doesn’t understand something….but what a lovely yeehaa she had, engaged in her core and not in a nasty way at all…

 

And last, but not least, we had a lovely calm session at the mounting block…here, most of all, I’m looking for her to find relaxation with me here. I will do this more and more and ask her to rest with me at the block…our ‘sweet spot’ 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a nice day, great that the weather allowed me to catch up on Bella’s training today

 

The 13th Aug

Bella and I need to do more undemanding time so thought we’d try to do more today. We went into a round pen for some ‘together time’ but I didn’t realise how bonded Storm and Bella have become because as soon as Mark started riding Stormy round and about her total attention was on him and where he was! how interesting! LOL

 

< distracted Bella

 

took 20 mins she lowered her head >

 

 

< Bella watching Storm’s every move

 

Mark and Storm >

 

 

I think I need to do our ‘undemanding time’ when Storm is close by next time! LOL

 

Weds 14th Aug

Today I thought about trying some ‘hanging out time’ with Bella as tomorrow I’m away to teach a clinic in Dumfries & Galloway for 5 days SO it’s time for some hugs 🙂 We started off at liberty in the round pen with me sitting in the centre but she just started grazing as there is quite a bit of grass in it SO…..I took her out on line and stood on the crate to give her some hugs and get her used to me being at her saddle area, on both sides. She was quiet and attentive and I loved our quiet time together today….must do more of it 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Dynamic Duo

 

 

 

Weds 21 Aug

I’ve been away teaching over the weekend so today was my first day back with the herd, 6 days without any contact. Bella yesterday at dinner was sceptical if me like when she first came but it only took 5 mins to be back in her ‘bubble’ so today was as if I’d not been away 🙂

We started off with a bit of play in the agility area but with a bareback pad on, I need her to get used to moving with it on her back and a girth around her ribs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also made sure her new 7′ rug fits well…

 

Both the pad and rug are familiarisation games which she took too well 🙂

 

 

 

 

Next Mark went out and rode Storm in the long grass of the field and Bella and I went and walked and played in that area too… She has not been out here yet so it was interesting to see if she was ok, which she was and we had a nice time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fri 23rd Aug

Today Mark played with Bella, their first official play session together. She wasn’t sure what was going on as Mark is the food man and I’m the play girl so at first, at liberty, she was a bit unsure of it all, but online she understood and they had a good, calm, quiet session which included half circles in a relaxed walk over the pole corridor, through the labyrinth, behind the flapping bunting which had a raised pole nearby, onto a pedestal and over the noisy tarp.

 

< pedestal

Relaxed 1/2 circle over pole corridor >

 

 

 

 

 

Weds 28th Aug

Today we had a couple of firsts but before that we did some nice S2M, circles, fig 8’s and weave in the grassy part of our field, this is not where the horses graze regularly but our winter grazing section so Stormy is used to being out there being ridden but it’s only Bella’s 2nd time.

 

 

< Circles >

 

 

 

< More shape through circles >

 

 

 

 

 

< Fig 8’s >

 

 

 

 

< Fig 8’s >

 

 

 

< Fig 8’s

Circles >

 

 

 

We also had a FIRST with the start of flag familiarisation, I’ll need to do a lot more to help her relax around it but it was a good start today 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2nd FIRST today was teaching Bella to learn how to jump, nothing big but for her to learn how to get her weight onto her hq’s and lighten her forehand to get over it and work her fronts and back legs together.

Final try jumping which worked out nicely

 

 

 

AND the last FIRST we did today was for me to put my weight fully on her back 😉 So pleased with her 😉

 

YEEHAA 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

Thurs 29th Aug

Today I played with Bella after her dinner because it had been drizzly all day up to then and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity of a play session with her. We got some nice relaxed S2M over the poles with halt transitions on a breath out and the pole under her belly, we also got some nice half circles through the poles and some fig 8’s around the tyres 🙂

 

Pole Transitions

 

Half Circles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fig 8’s

 

 

< Getting our Connection

 

Following me >

 

 

 

Friday 30th Aug

Today it wouldn’t stop drizzing so we decided to try to keep the consistency of a bit of daily play…the rain started becoming heavier as we were playing but I didn’t stop and ended on a good note. Today we did some regular games that she is getting used to but also put in some flag play which is new to her. I’ve helped this play by putting up a couple of flags in the field so that she can get used to their movement and noise 24/7 and as Stormy isn’t worried by them he can help her become familiarised to them….AND because it was raining we also did the beginning of umbrella familiarisation, again with Stormy showing her how to be ok with it 🙂

 

 

< Storm keeping dry

 

Bella learning from Storm >

 

 

< More familiarisation needed for tossing rope over head >

 

 

 

 

< Helping Bella learn familiarisation of the rope so we can do a spin later on >

 

 

 

< Circling to the left

 

Circling to the right >

 

 

 

< Familiarisation with flag…she isn’t sure of it on her body yet >

 

 

 

< slowly getting there with the flag, she’s starting to learn that it goes away when she halts >

 

 

< following the flag goes well >

 

 

 

 

< flag familiarisation and she’s finding some curiosity >

 

 

 

 

< Flag curiosity >

 

 

 

 

< Feet familiarisation with the pedestal, only 2 feet so far but working on all 4 as we go

2 feet in hulahoop >

 

 

A couple of moments of bonding between games 😉

 

 

 

 

 

Sat 31st Aug

LOTS of heavy rain this morning but we managed to get out and play with Bella in the afternoon between showers and I’m so glad we did, we filmed her 2nd Lesson which shows her progress nicely and the video is up on the blog category ‘Bella’s Lesson Video’s’ 😉

 

• Shelley – HorseSavvy