A Huge Breakthrough (Part 1)

Two weeks ago. No photos from today.

It has been a challenging month. We’ve been dealing with a major heartbreak in our family. Not a death, but something that feels very much like a death.  We know there will be light at the end of this tunnel, because we have been down this road before. Yet, there are many unknowns. Scriptures like this one in Matthew 6 become extra important in seasons like this.

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

As we take life minute by minute, day by day, around here, trusting that good will come out of bad, we also keep up the daily routines. For me, that includes working with Tumbleweed. 

I think I left off at the point where I was riding on a loose rein and only picking it up if Tweed moved off the line. We did a lot of that work, and it was very helpful. He liked it and it helped us build a stronger partnership. When I go out to the pasture to get him now, he will come to me and want to be caught or petted. He did that before, but not with the same intensity. Now he thinks of me as his person, and he’ll run the others away, especially Cowboy. So, I have to always go out with a halter and lead rope.

He has also become used to lots of different horses working around him at the park. They come and go, and he cares less and less. 

Photo taken a couple of weeks ago.

I had a lesson today with the trainer who helped me with Leah when I was starting her. Regina is one of the most respected trainers in our city. She has been teaching pony club snd 4-H for twenty years or so.  Probably much longer than that. She has a way of seeing what’s happening and breaking down training (from her perspective on the ground. She doesn’t ride them for you) that is unparalleled. 

She asked me what was happening. I told her about the trail ride where Tweed wanted to shake off the reins and run back home, the dropping to roll, and the rooting at the bit. 

She told me to do what I usually do, and she would watch. 

In the round pen I worked on yielding and bending. Then I asked him to move in a circle. Right there she saw an issue. She saw him look to the outside and cut into my bubble. It was very slight, and I hadn’t corrected it. But she said that’s where it all begins. She told me to point my flag at the knot on his halter until his attention was back, and then put the flag back in place, pointing at the hind, keeping him moving the whole time. 

Well, that little tweak made my boy a bit miffed, and he started to pull back. She told me to stay with him and keep asking for forward. He then chose to trot, even though I’d asked him to walk, but she said that was fine. Soon, he was moving with intention, really coming under and taking responsibility for himself. Very beautiful to see. I stopped him. He took a step toward me. 

Do you allow him to do that? She asked. 

No, not usually, but maybe I have become lazy about it. I’m not sure. 

He needs to stay where you stopped him. 

I told him to move back. 

We did those things for a while longer, and soon there was a complete change in Tweed’s body language. It was like everything was right in his world. Life was in the proper order. He was relaxed, attentive, soft, and responsive. 

It was like some weird horse magic trick! 

Time to mount up and work on the same thing in saddle. 

(To be continued)

Here are a few fun photos to leave you with.

My mom bought me this amazing horse orb for my birthday. 

Some flowers at the equestrian park.

A field on our daily walk.

Starting to tear the barn apart.

Listening to the symphony play at our local winery last Tuesday. The sun came out after a monsoon.

Time with my sweet grandson. 

Comfort food yesterday morning. The banana bread version of making lemonade from lemons.