Focusing on Focus

I went out yesterday to play with Archie- with the key idea of working on my focus. At Chris' clinic she kept saying he's fantastic at taking my focus away. So I've been half heartly trying to work on that for the last few weeks- but to be honest its only been this past week that I started to really think on it. I was driving to work and I decided to work on focusing on one thing as I drove towards it and then changing my focus to another object. Simple task- it was SO hard for me! I couldn't do it! My mind was wondering everywhere from the flowers on the side of the road to the power-lines. I was taking in everything and focusing on nothing! It hit home how I do that every day. So Driving to work this past week I set myself a goal- learn to focus; and it worked! I can now drive to work focusing on any object I want as I drive along. SO when I went out to play I took this with me.

We started out online- I noted that he's not not paying attention to what it is I'm focusing on, he's trying to distract me as we drive or circle towards it. Everytime I look away from the object he's getting a point- like he's saying made you look at me! This really tested my focusing ability as I have always look at him when I'm playing with him. I think I did OK- its definitely something that I'm going to need to be aware of for some time- Conscious Incompetence!

In the afternoon I put the bareback pad on Archie- just as a test I called Archie down away from the other guys and we padded up at liberty. He was in a very Extroverted mood nipping at everything- but he had the choice to stay or go and he chose to stay and play. I then thought I'd test a few more things- I jumped up on to the gate with the intention of mounting from the gate; then I thought- that's pretty direct line- so I yo-yoed him away from me- what a reaction! He chewed and yawn and chewed and yawned! He then come over to me himself, I asked him to move over and I slid on.

Let the games begin! I focused on the Tyre- Archie was sure I meant the tarp, stand on the tarp, paw the tarp- almost lay on the tarp- but I keep my focus the whole time on the type and didn't make him feel wrong. He was offering something- cause your idea to become their idea, but understand their idea first- and I gently asked for him to move towards the Tyre after each attempt to do something. it took about two minutes before he moved off towards the Tyre. The change in him body was amazing- he felt so soft. He did this over and over until I felt the change coming sooner, then we moved on. Over the afternoon we played with the weave and follow the rail, and a million transitions. All in all it was a great day- Using the power of focus has definitely gone a long way to create more leadership for me while on his back

So Much News!

I passed my Online Audition Level 2! I couldn't believe it! The advice I was given was to work on our circling game to build our mutual responsibilities. Very true! That's something I really realised at Chris' clinic!

Last weekend I had the trimmers out to do Syd, Archie & Diablo. I didn't post that I finally found a trimmer to do Diablo's feet. She's fantastic! She practices Parelli Natural Horsemanship. She is not taking any new clients, but when I called and talked with her about Diablo she agreed to come a trim him. Watching her with my horses has been an amazing experience. She can read then so well! It's just fantastic to have someone you can talk about your horse with in a way that you both understand, at a deeper level than you can with other horse professionals. This is the first time I've found Savvy away from my small community of PNH friends. I was so happy watching my little guy develop not only confidence but trust and curiosity for another human that was there to 'do' something to him. I was so happy I almost cried! Frances come to trim Syd & Archie- Archie gave her the usual grief & Syd was her beautiful self. Frances said it should be OK to start bringing her back into work & seeing how she goes. I'm planning on getting someone out to look over her, and I'd like to do some hill therapy with her before I asked too much. The problem again is finding someone who is going to realise and understand that yes my horses have an opinion and yes if you hurt them they will tell you! I had a therapist almost punch her in the nose for going to bite after they worked on a very saw spot on her neck- they didn't get to come back!

Over the last week I've had a couple of sessions with Syd, working through the Level 1 online patterns. She's such a sweet heart! I'd forgotten, or maybe I never really appreciated how much love this girl has to offer. She is just so different from Archie. He doesn't need a leader- I'm still trying to convince him I can be one! But Syd, she just constantly looks to me for comfort and reassurance, its a really nice feeling. I think that earlier on in my journey that use to really scare me, I didn't really want to lead, but now thanks to Archie, I have so much more confidence and I think I can be the leader she needs. It's a nice feeling!

Its been How long since my last post???!

Two weeks! Its crazy how time flies! Well, still waiting for my results. I've been busy playing with Archie every chance I get. We've had some great changes in us both.

I've just finish a clinic with Chris Corbidge over the weekend, FANTASTIC as always! This was Archie's first trip in the float since I brought him, and everything went great! I've really learnt a lot about using my energy to match my horses- Just received the April Manual, Audio CD & DVD, so can't wait to sink my teeth into that & learn even more!

Planning to attend another clinic in May, then fingers crossed for a camp in June, but maybe pushing it! But I'm feeling very confident about floating for the first time, and I'm already planning some short trips in the coming weeks.

I'm also thinking about filming another audition this week or next- with everything I've learnt over the last two weeks- I feel like we are at a much better place now

How to become an Outlier??

Just finished listening to the Outliers Book- it was fantastic! It really has me thinking about how much luck comes down to prior preparation and the right opportunities presenting themselves. So when someone puts in the time that allows them to get really good- and then they look for open doors- there’s really not reason in the world that someone should ever fail at what they want to be or do.

This got me thinking- how many hours have I spend with my horses? No much when you consider that it takes 10,000 to master a skill, according to the book. I spend about three hours on average a week with my horse. Not nearly enough! I've spend about 470 hours since I started Parelli with my horses- give or take a bit. I've spent about 35 with Archie- not much when you look at it like that, hey? That's one weeks worth of working hours to me. One week! That's nothing! If I want to be really good with horses, then I need to get 10,000 hours. That's 3 hours a day, seven days a week for ten years; Or 8 hours a day for 3.5 years. Interesting hey? How good would I be if I spent THAT much time with my horses? How good would my horses think I am? I think I need to evaluate a few things in my life- at the moment I'm moving towards my goal of becoming great with horses at the speed of a snail! Yes I can see huge changes in myself since I started- but imaging how different I'd be if I spent hours and hours a day with my guys... Imagine how amazing our relationship would be!

Audition is Off!

I sent in my audition today and I am a little nervous!

If there is one thing I have learnt from this whole experience it is to look after Archie's needs and to not get too focused on my own things. As soon as I started to film my auditions I got focused on a task & that has reflected in is attitude towards me- yesterday I went out and played with him again. The key word being played!

Practising Patients!

Well its been a week since I filmed my audition with my new camcorder! One would think it would be easy, record to DVD- put DVD into computer & Upload video to youtube... Nope. Apparently camcorders are not simple!

My DVD's have gone off to reformatting by an expert & I'll have then back today. I've now done three audition tapes, trying to work it all out! So I had a very cranky Archie by the end of the third film. I try to be provocative during the filming for him, but I'm a RBI (especially in front of the camera!) and I was going very slowly through my plan... We'll see how we go! I'm still very happy with where we are at! We've been together 6 months, and he was so so cranky and uninterested in communicating with me when he first come, we've come a very long way!