Farrier has been.

Played with Tia last night to get her ready for farrier coming. Still having problems with circle game and figure 8... I think she's testing my leadership! Do I need to be firmer and clearer or have more patience!!! not sure! 50 - 50 chance I know. I'm hoping to speak to Tracey to see how Tia was with her, and what she thinks is the problem.
Tia was a star for the farrier, but she did go introverted when he was doing the last hoof, I had to ask Mick to slow down and give her sometime, which helped a lot she soon picked her head up and started blinking again. I also noticed she went introverted when I asked her to put her foot on something.... I'm going to take it slowly but keep asking.

Lbi

Went to play with Tia on Sunday afternoon, we were playing with the circle game when it suddenly occurred to me that she was lbi, she couldn't see the point of trotting the circle!!! so I upped my phases, by tagging the ground 3 times and she was off with a shake of her head and a sod off look on her face, I laughed it was so funny. She was asking questions, so when she eventually did 1 full lap at trot we went off to do something else. I can see that I've got to go and study the horsenality dvd again! We also got falling leaf and sideways, with lots of rest and a few treats in between. A quick go at liberty, showed me yet again that she was lbi, head down to graze straight away, so the game of tag was on, it only took a few minutes before she latched onto me, following me around the field. I was happy with that, gave her lots of scratches and left her to graze.

First play at home

After spending the last 2 days doing undemanding time and playing friendly, I thought tonight we'd have a little play in the menage.
Tia was a star, she came trotting over then stuck her nose in the halter. She hasn't been in the menage before and there's lots of toys in there, so we took some time just getting her to put her nose on things. The pedestal was scary and the big blue barrels, but after the 3rd trip round she was touching everything especially when she realised treats were on offer! I asked her to pick up her front feet which she did with the lightest suggestion.... wow, this is going to be so much fun!

Monday morning

Lucky for us that Cathy could rearrange her day, to help get Tia home. On the journey there we came up with options, just in case Tia still wasn't happy. Leaving her there till we could sort out the problems, calling out a Parelli pro, using a bigger lorry, sedating her. ok armed with new options we started again.
It was a lovely sunny day, Tia was dozing in her stable and quite happy to see me I think. I asked her to go on the lorry which she did no problem, but always had to have her head facing out. Lots of on off till I felt my emotions coming up so Cathy took over. We played with the partition and realised pretty quickly that was making her even more claustrophobic, so we took it out completely. That was better but still not right. 1 1/2 hours later we took a break, had some lunch and decided what had worked and what hadn't. Tia had now got to the stage were she didn't want to come off because the ground was uneven and she knew she would be asked to go back on again. We started the next session with putting her in the lorry then closing the half doors, much like a stable, she was ok with that. Cathy went into the lorry with her and had me slowly lift the ramp, approach and retreat, only to about chest height. While I was doing this Cathy was holding the line and simulating what it would be like if Tia was tied, she couldn't cope with the pressure on the rope at all!. uummm how interesting! Cathy said she wouldn't be happy to travel with her untied so now it was decision time... I didn't want to spoil how far Tia had come so went with the option of having her sedated, just enough to get her home safely. Cathy called the vet who was happy to come and do this for us. When we got home Tia came off the lorry quite happy and started grazing straight away. We knew we'd made the right decision for her. Quick trip back in the lorry to pick up Bella and get the stables cleaned out, and off home again, unfortunately in the rush hour traffic! Wow! what a weekend!

This morning was great, Tia was waiting eagerly for me in the stable. We took them for a graze in hand, then straight into the arena for a play. It only took 45 minutes till she was calm, which was a great improvement on yesterday. We also managed to play in the scarey area with Cathys help, yesterday she was rearing in that area so Cathy had me keep a close eye on her to spot the first signs of unconfidence, head down, ears back, then her head and neck would bend round me and if blocked she would rear! lots of small circles, when she started bending, with a firm walk away is what helped. Oh and lots of space. Cathy said when riding, disengaging will be what is needed.
It wasn't untill half way through the session that I realised Tia hadn't needed to go to Bella, wow! she is looking to me for comfort already!
Donna had a migraine so went for a lie down in the lorry, while I watched the others play.
I wasn't going to join in with the liberty session but changed my mind last minute, why not, lets see if I've been doing things right. Tia is a little unconfident when we first go in but I set her doing figure eight and half circles while the others came in with their horses. Cathy was calling out instructions, whilst guarding Bella, because we knew thats where Tia would go for safety. I took off the line and started walking away, Tia followed but I soon lost her, when she realized she was alone she went to Bella but guarded by Donna and Cathy she was sent away, she cantered off doing bronco bucks, heading for the gates. It wasn't too long till she spotted me standing in the middle, as soon as she looked over and gave me both eyes I started walking slowly backwards then crouched down and she just wandered over. Love this little girl already! I walked away again but she stuck to me like glue! I didn't get to see donna and Bella's seesion because I was hugging and scratching Tia, telling her what a special girl she is. :o) Everyone took a turn, some really special moments. That was it for us I was so tired we just hung out for a little while then went to let Tia and Bella graze for a while.

Loading Tia was a whole new experience.... learning curve! We knew we'd pushed our luck the last 2 times she'd been loaded and now was expressing her opinion "NO"
She would go on everytime asked, but was not happy, when we tied her head, she started rearing! I couldn't watch and had to let Cathy get her out again. We decided to leave them both there and go back in the morning.

Tia is here

Tia arrived at lunch time on Friday afternoon. She is so big!
We very quickly put Bella in with her as they were checking each other out under the fence. They walked away together like old friends, even drinking from the water bucket together! great sign as they were both going to Broomfield today.
Cathy loaded them both in the morning, no real problems. Donna and I went in the car so we didn't have to drive the lorry back till tomorrow night. Tia came off the lorry quite RB which was no surprise as we know we're asking a lot of her. She wasn't happy in the stable, lots of kicking and little rears, but she settled down eventually.
Our first session frightened the hell out of me and I did think I'd bitten off more than I could chew! Cathy said that thought was normal, everybody did it! Maybe I can do this after all... so glad Cathy was there or I think I might have sent her back, lol.
We found that a lot of what I thought was her saying "NO" was actually "I can't" rearing, mini bucks and head shaking... disengaging helped a little but moving to a different place was what really changed things for her. We managed to play all 7 games in the morning, with lots of trips to Bella for comfort.
The afternoon session was different again... it was me that went RB when Marie was warming up her horse using lots of pressure, causing it to bronco buck, rear and gallop around. I wanted to hide behind Cathy never mind about Tia! Cathy suggested doing little things like getting Tia to put her head down with porcupine game. We also managed to find a few itchy spots which Tia really enjoyed and she even started to groom me as well :o) We spent the last hour hand grazing around the arena. I love the way she's starting to check in with me, just a gentle touch with her nose, think I love this horse already!
Mentally and physically I feel like I've done 3 days already... but I'm so looking forward to tomorrow.

1 more sleep till Tia gets here :o)

Bonny is doing well. I can see from the dust etc. on her back, that she is getting down so hopefully she is on the mend. They were all a little bit mad yesterday afternoon, running around, then grazing, then running again! I think it was Bella and Rocky mainly but Bonny was keeping up with them.

Back from hols

We've been back a few days now, Bonny is off the bute and now we're waiting to see how she does. Donna said she has been fine while we were away, so fingers crossed that she doesn't have to stay on bute long term. I've now decided to retire Bonny earlier than expected but she deserves it. Tia Maria, Tia for short, will be here on Thursday! Now that Bonny is looking better I can look forward to starting a new journey with Tia.
Went to The Festival of the Horse yesterday with Donna, Linda and Joy. I was quite disappointed with the Parelli event, not at all like the celebration. Pat did a lesson with a girl named Laura and her horse Reveal, that was very interesting how he dealt with the horses displaced behavior whist on the circle. But for me the rest of the day was far too advanced. Flying lead changes and game of contact.... which turned into a bit of a farce, rider having to leave to go into another competition and then the saddle being required as well. Fair play to Linda with all the disruptions, I thought she coped really well. But it would have been so much better if they had chosen a savvy club member to help with contact, there must have been someone that would have really appreciated a lesson with Linda on that subject.