Sweaty Girl

From a horsemanship stand-point, this was not my best training session with Xena. I asked too much of her, to the point that I unintentionally stressed her.

The Mounting Block Game and Circling Game℠ with obstacles are both new games, and we’re still learning the weave pattern at the trot. Playing these three games in one session was just too much for Xena. As a Parelli™ student I should know better, because this very situation is mentioned in the educational materials. If I need an excuse, I guess I was overly enthusiastic at seeing her for the first time in a week. What can I say, I miss her when I can’t get to the barn.

Amazingly, even though I asked too much of Xena tonight, she never once panicked and did absolutely everything I asked. I actually didn’t realize she was stressed until I heard her rapid breathing and stroked her sweaty neck and chest. Fortunately, Janis lent me a cooler blanket and Xena and I walked the arena for 15 minutes while she dried off. Thank goodness I’d taught her blanketing last summer!

I’m planning to buy Xena a cooler this weekend.

What We Did Tonight
8:05 to 10:15 p.m. = 2 hours, 10 minutes  Counting the Minutes

• Greeting, Friendly Game℠ and a bit of undemanding time.

• Grooming her face and played peek-a-boo with the towel.

• Sideways Game℠, Falling Leaf Game, Yo-yo Game℠, Circling Game℠, Porcupine Game℠

• Mounting Block Game
  I showed Xena our new plastic step stool / mounting block. I did a bit of step up, step down while she watched, as she is usually hesitant when I’m in an elevated position. We played a close ranging Circling Game℠ around the step stool, but in future I’ll use my 12′ rope rather than the 22′ as the longer rope is in danger of tangling on the step stool legs.

• Weave Pattern at the Trot
  I used 4 plastic jump standards, placed about 12 feet apart. Xena needs a fair amount of space to drift when doing the weave pattern at the trot because she is often nervous and prone to rushing.

• Traveling Circling Game℠ with Obstacles
  I arranged 5 objects randomly on the arena floor — three yoga balls and two plastic jump standards. Xena appears to do quite well at this game as she really concentrates on where she’s going, and as a result trots more calmly.

Friendly Game℠, Sideways Game℠, Yo-yo Game℠, Circling Game℠ and Porcupine Game℠ are service marks and Parelli™ is a trademark of Parelli Natural Horsemanship, Inc.