The chiropractic work was wonderful. Salina had one big adjustment and several small ones, but she pretty instantly felt relief after the big one. It was as usual quite impressive to see how big a difference our chiropractor can make in only a few minutes' time.
Cody had a few small things going on.
Keil Bay had a few things - notably his right pelvic joint. Notable because it's usually his left. Just like it's usually MY left. But when I went to the chiro myself in May she found that in fact my left was fine - it was my RIGHT that was rotated. Once again Keil Bay and I align in the same ways. :)
Keil as usual was in bliss within moments of the doctor's arrival. When he came into the barn aisle and she put her hand on his back, he lowered his head, closed his eyes, and started licking and chewing. BEFORE she even did anything. He knows what's coming and when she'd done about half of her work on him, he turned his head to her and licked her hand.
Yesterday was the biggest and best day of the week because we had a very special birthday here. Rafer Johnson turned FOUR years old! I'm sorry I don't have a birthday portrait to share. My camera is broken and it's just been crazy busy here this week so I haven't had a chance to get husband or daughter to take one. I have delayed the birthday treats - it is so hot and so miserable out I feel like we should wait until the heat breaks to celebrate properly. But Rafer got to bring Salina and Redford into the back yard to graze last night and tonight, and I noticed that Rafer helped himself to some cherry tomatoes from the veggie garden.
It's so hard for me to believe he is already 4 years old. He remains a soulful, intellegent, loving donkey who never fails to bring not just a smile but a deep sense of peace and contentment to my days. Happy birthday, Rafer!
Redford celebrated by making a very clear and intentional jaunt down the lane to the cul de sac. I ran for halter and feed bucket but by the time I got to the driveway with them he and husband were already back, with just a lead rope around his neck. He is an adventurer but a sensible one.
We had hoof trims today and it was brutal in the heat/humidity. All I want to do is get through these next few days and the weekend and get back to the low 90s again!!
There is absolutely no riding going on here in this heat. I wouldn't ask a horse to wear tack or bear weight in these conditions. We're hosing and keeping them as comfortable as possible. And hoping for a break.
Hope everyone is staying cool and taking care of your horses!
billie hinton’s camera-obscura:
life and lessons on November Hill Farm
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
busy week in the heat
Of course the week we have the chiropractor coming out and then the trimmer the temps decide to skyrocket. My favorite way to spend the very hot days is with nothing at all on the agenda. And now the weather forecast has these high temps stretching into NEXT week.
Hopefully as July rolls out, a more moderate weather mode will roll in. At least that's what I'm focusing on right now!
The reward at the end of this week is going to see the movie Buck in my favorite theater - it's an old one, in a very horsey little town, and assuming I make it through the heat wave all week, I'll be spending an afternoon browsing tack shops, consignment shops, getting chicken salad at the ice cream parlor, and seeing what sounds like a terrific movie.
I'm sure I'll be blogging about Keil Bay and his chiropractic appointment. Salina and Cody are on for one too, but it's Keil Bay who will swoon when he sees one of his favorite people coming to the barn. I've been telling him this was on for the past month. I'm not sure he believed me. So I can't wait to see his face. Keil Bay LOVES getting adjusted!
Hopefully as July rolls out, a more moderate weather mode will roll in. At least that's what I'm focusing on right now!
The reward at the end of this week is going to see the movie Buck in my favorite theater - it's an old one, in a very horsey little town, and assuming I make it through the heat wave all week, I'll be spending an afternoon browsing tack shops, consignment shops, getting chicken salad at the ice cream parlor, and seeing what sounds like a terrific movie.
I'm sure I'll be blogging about Keil Bay and his chiropractic appointment. Salina and Cody are on for one too, but it's Keil Bay who will swoon when he sees one of his favorite people coming to the barn. I've been telling him this was on for the past month. I'm not sure he believed me. So I can't wait to see his face. Keil Bay LOVES getting adjusted!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
more nonsense from the Parellis!
For less than $150. you can now get a detailed report on your "humanality," your horse's "horsenality," and how the two of you match together! These two words describing our humanness and our horse's horsiness are so unique they had to make them up and trademark them!
Best of all, you need not submit yourself or your horse to anything except a questionaire that you yourself complete! Isn't it incredible that a mere questionaire can reveal so much?
Never mind that if you as a rider are confused about your horse's behaviors the answers you give will be useless. Never mind that your own biases about yourself might tend to skew the results a bit.
It's all there in your customized match report.
Does anyone really believe Linda Parelli has the knowledge and skill to develop this "tool?"
If the video of Linda and the one-eyed horse was still available on the internet, I'd link you to it so you could see for yourself. What was that match? Terrified blind horse and clueless woman?
Please. If you want to learn more about yourself and your horse, spend time together. Try getting quiet and really observing what your horse does in response to each tiny thing YOU do. Offer kindness and respect. Get quiet instead of loud. Spend your $150. on a few sessions with a trainer who uses humane training methods and can stand in the arena with you to offer suggestions.
Don't pad the pockets of the Parellis.
DIGITAL Horsenality™/Humanality™/Match Report
(Printed report version available. Click to view.)
If you’ve ever wished your horse came with an owner’s manual that took his quirks and unique personality into account, then prepare to be thrilled! For the first time in history you can generate a detailed report that reveals your horse’s innate Horsenality™ and gives you specific recommendations for success! This 40+ page personalized report is totally focused on your horse and will detail clear and concise training strategies based on his unique Horsenality™.
Humanality™ is the sum of your human experience compiled in a custom personality report which gives you action strategies that help you be the “best me that I can be”. By better understanding your Humanality™ around people from the perspective of a psychologist you’ll learn how they reveal your strengths, core motivations, and reactions to stress.
Developed personally by Linda Parelli, the Match Report will teach you how to flex your natural tendencies to become the leader your horse needs you to be!
Your custom Horsenality™ report will reveal:
*******
In response to Sheaffer's comment, I did a little more looking on the Parelli website, specifically for information about what they "give back."
Oh my.
Here are a few choice snippets:
The Parelli Horsemanship Fund will be supported in this way:
• A portion of proceeds from our new “Benefactor” Level of Membership.
• Donations from members, friends, organizations and philanthropists.
• Fundraisers. From bake sales to fun days, fundraisers bring the Parelli Community together for the benefit of horses and humans worldwide.
• Sales of Parelli Dream Horses. When the time comes to shop for your next horse, consider the Parelli Dream Horse Program as your first stop.
The reality of scale
Because of the impact Parelli has had on the relationships between horses and humans worldwide, many people reach the erroneous assumption that Parelli is a huge corporation with limitless pockets. In truth, we are a relatively small business with a very big dream to help create a better world for horses and humans!
Today, 1 in 200 horse owners use the Parelli Program worldwide. When we achieve our next milestone goal and 1 in 100 horse owners worldwide are members of the Parelli Program, we will automatically donate a percentage of all member revenue to the Parelli Horsemanship Fund (in addition to the percentage of Benefactor member revenue we are committing to TODAY).
Our ultimate goal, with your help is to reach 1 in 10 horse owners worldwide using the Parelli Program. When we reach this goal we will be able to not only educate but also donate significant funds to all of the causes we support. Can you imagine how that would transform the world?!
Like any small business, we have to carefully watch expenses and often have moments where we soldier on through in the face of doubt and economic downturn. Many might read the above aspirations and think we’ve gone a bit mad. Those individuals would make a critical misjudgment however by not realizing the transformative power love, language and leadership has with horses and humans alike and how that love can, and has, changed the world already.
So, are we crazy? Maybe. But who would have thought in 1991, when Pat and Linda coined the term natural horsemanship, that today it would be a household term in the equine industry? Who could have guessed that communication with horses could have changed the lives not only of a cowboy from California and a girl from Australia, but for a legion of horse owners worldwide who call themselves part of the Parelli Family? No one can guess, but we can get there, with your help, of that we are certain!
Interesting that the way they help rescues is by giving them "take-home education" about how to do things the Parelli way. I am also intrigued with the list of ways the Parelli Fund is actually funded. And the statement that they are a "small business." ?? I don't know - haven't seen any reports of their actual earnings but my understanding is that the business is actually quite large.
Whatever your inclination with regards to the Parellis, do some homework before you sign on with them. Don't blindly assume they have a clue. A lot of horse people think they don't.
Best of all, you need not submit yourself or your horse to anything except a questionaire that you yourself complete! Isn't it incredible that a mere questionaire can reveal so much?
Never mind that if you as a rider are confused about your horse's behaviors the answers you give will be useless. Never mind that your own biases about yourself might tend to skew the results a bit.
It's all there in your customized match report.
Does anyone really believe Linda Parelli has the knowledge and skill to develop this "tool?"
If the video of Linda and the one-eyed horse was still available on the internet, I'd link you to it so you could see for yourself. What was that match? Terrified blind horse and clueless woman?
Please. If you want to learn more about yourself and your horse, spend time together. Try getting quiet and really observing what your horse does in response to each tiny thing YOU do. Offer kindness and respect. Get quiet instead of loud. Spend your $150. on a few sessions with a trainer who uses humane training methods and can stand in the arena with you to offer suggestions.
Don't pad the pockets of the Parellis.
Digital Horsenality/Humanality/Match Report
(Printed report version available. Click to view.)
If you’ve ever wished your horse came with an owner’s manual that took his quirks and unique personality into account, then prepare to be thrilled! For the first time in history you can generate a detailed report that reveals your horse’s innate Horsenality™ and gives you specific recommendations for success! This 40+ page personalized report is totally focused on your horse and will detail clear and concise training strategies based on his unique Horsenality™.
Humanality™ is the sum of your human experience compiled in a custom personality report which gives you action strategies that help you be the “best me that I can be”. By better understanding your Humanality™ around people from the perspective of a psychologist you’ll learn how they reveal your strengths, core motivations, and reactions to stress.
Developed personally by Linda Parelli, the Match Report will teach you how to flex your natural tendencies to become the leader your horse needs you to be!
Your custom Horsenality™ report will reveal:
- why certain exercises and activities are more challenging than others for your horse
- how to set training and play sessions up for success
- how to understand your horse’s strengths
- how to solve problems with clarity
- the uniquely identifying factors of the four main Humanality™ types
- your specific Humanality™ profile
- tips on understanding and maximizing your core nature
- how different situations affect your Humanality™
- how to build upon your strengths and how to flex or modify your style around others for the best possible outcome
- the similarities and differences between you and your horse
- your relationship dynamics, challenges, partnership strategies on the ground and in the saddle
- situational stress behaviors you may exhibit around your horse and what you can do about them
- positive aspects of your match.
*******
In response to Sheaffer's comment, I did a little more looking on the Parelli website, specifically for information about what they "give back."
Oh my.
Here are a few choice snippets:
In helping the world become a better place for horses and humans, we are proud to officially announce the long-awaited launch of the Parelli Horsemanship Fund.
It is our vision that it will help to take the efforts of Parelli to the next level of influencing how horses are respected, trained and treated by donating significant funds into a vehicle by which we can “give back”.
Horse Rescues – to help give misunderstood or neglected horses a future. By providing training for rescue center personnel, donating take-home educational and equipment care kits to adopters and partnering with major rescue and animal welfare organizations, we will help create environments where rescue horses receive the best possible second chance.
• A portion of proceeds from our new “Benefactor” Level of Membership.
• Donations from members, friends, organizations and philanthropists.
• Fundraisers. From bake sales to fun days, fundraisers bring the Parelli Community together for the benefit of horses and humans worldwide.
• Sales of Parelli Dream Horses. When the time comes to shop for your next horse, consider the Parelli Dream Horse Program as your first stop.
The reality of scale
Because of the impact Parelli has had on the relationships between horses and humans worldwide, many people reach the erroneous assumption that Parelli is a huge corporation with limitless pockets. In truth, we are a relatively small business with a very big dream to help create a better world for horses and humans!
Today, 1 in 200 horse owners use the Parelli Program worldwide. When we achieve our next milestone goal and 1 in 100 horse owners worldwide are members of the Parelli Program, we will automatically donate a percentage of all member revenue to the Parelli Horsemanship Fund (in addition to the percentage of Benefactor member revenue we are committing to TODAY).
Our ultimate goal, with your help is to reach 1 in 10 horse owners worldwide using the Parelli Program. When we reach this goal we will be able to not only educate but also donate significant funds to all of the causes we support. Can you imagine how that would transform the world?!
Like any small business, we have to carefully watch expenses and often have moments where we soldier on through in the face of doubt and economic downturn. Many might read the above aspirations and think we’ve gone a bit mad. Those individuals would make a critical misjudgment however by not realizing the transformative power love, language and leadership has with horses and humans alike and how that love can, and has, changed the world already.
So, are we crazy? Maybe. But who would have thought in 1991, when Pat and Linda coined the term natural horsemanship, that today it would be a household term in the equine industry? Who could have guessed that communication with horses could have changed the lives not only of a cowboy from California and a girl from Australia, but for a legion of horse owners worldwide who call themselves part of the Parelli Family? No one can guess, but we can get there, with your help, of that we are certain!
Interesting that the way they help rescues is by giving them "take-home education" about how to do things the Parelli way. I am also intrigued with the list of ways the Parelli Fund is actually funded. And the statement that they are a "small business." ?? I don't know - haven't seen any reports of their actual earnings but my understanding is that the business is actually quite large.
Whatever your inclination with regards to the Parellis, do some homework before you sign on with them. Don't blindly assume they have a clue. A lot of horse people think they don't.
Friday, July 15, 2011
pony pony pony!
I had an entire blog post ready to write about how the pony, who is trying hard to step into the role of herd leader, and is a good example of everything we humans DON'T want to do when joining with our horses. He is bossy, pins his ears at the other horses, sneaks into their space and then tries to bully them out of it, has no qualms at all about nipping at them or shoving them with his nose or hind end, and basically, this summer, has been a huge pain in the you know what to his herd.
I've been watching him, curious about his methods, which in some ways remind me of humans engaging in bossy, demanding, I want to make you do this just because I CAN kind of behavior.
The real herd leaders here, Keil Bay and Salina, each have their own style of leadership. Salina tends to be a bit more punitive than Keil Bay, but all she really has to do to assert her role is to flag at the geldings and generally, they listen.
Keil Bay is incredibly benevolent. Although he will sometimes lunge toward one of the horses he usually behaves like a good friend. He will share his stall, his tub, his hay pile, and he is highly sought after by each of the other equines for company.
When I look at the herd it's Keil Bay I would most want to emulate. He has a presence that is based in respect and his good nature.
So of course today the pony shifted gears. It was his day to be on the near side of the barn. Instead of barreling in and stirring up Salina, he cheerfully went to the end stall and stayed put while I served breakfast tubs. He joined me as I carried out the empty tubs, doing his best to help clean them out.
He came up to help as I was cleaning water troughs, standing with me as I worked.
At one point when he decided to walk through the barn aisle, and was in fact halfway through the barn doors, I called out "No, Little Man, don't go through there. Stay over here!" He stopped, backed out, and walked a few feet away to graze.
Did he intuit my negative blog post and do a 180 just to throw me off track? Did he turn over a new leaf? I have no idea. I do know he was very happy to have his turn on the near side of the barn, and Keil Bay and Cody were so happy they stood together in Keil's stall on the other side and communed in the peace of three open stalls and no pony.
We were all very happy that the temperature was in the mid-80s yesterday and today. Next week when it hits the triple digits (why oh why did I look at the 10-day forecast?) we'll see how the Little Man's cheerful demeanor holds up. Today though, I enjoyed having a painted pony who seemed quite content with his role in the herd.
I've been watching him, curious about his methods, which in some ways remind me of humans engaging in bossy, demanding, I want to make you do this just because I CAN kind of behavior.
The real herd leaders here, Keil Bay and Salina, each have their own style of leadership. Salina tends to be a bit more punitive than Keil Bay, but all she really has to do to assert her role is to flag at the geldings and generally, they listen.
Keil Bay is incredibly benevolent. Although he will sometimes lunge toward one of the horses he usually behaves like a good friend. He will share his stall, his tub, his hay pile, and he is highly sought after by each of the other equines for company.
When I look at the herd it's Keil Bay I would most want to emulate. He has a presence that is based in respect and his good nature.
So of course today the pony shifted gears. It was his day to be on the near side of the barn. Instead of barreling in and stirring up Salina, he cheerfully went to the end stall and stayed put while I served breakfast tubs. He joined me as I carried out the empty tubs, doing his best to help clean them out.
He came up to help as I was cleaning water troughs, standing with me as I worked.
At one point when he decided to walk through the barn aisle, and was in fact halfway through the barn doors, I called out "No, Little Man, don't go through there. Stay over here!" He stopped, backed out, and walked a few feet away to graze.
Did he intuit my negative blog post and do a 180 just to throw me off track? Did he turn over a new leaf? I have no idea. I do know he was very happy to have his turn on the near side of the barn, and Keil Bay and Cody were so happy they stood together in Keil's stall on the other side and communed in the peace of three open stalls and no pony.
We were all very happy that the temperature was in the mid-80s yesterday and today. Next week when it hits the triple digits (why oh why did I look at the 10-day forecast?) we'll see how the Little Man's cheerful demeanor holds up. Today though, I enjoyed having a painted pony who seemed quite content with his role in the herd.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
heartbreaking story of ponies in Australia - please read and act
You can read the full story HERE on Billie Dean's blog.
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