Yesterday, when I visited with Harley at Melissa's it became even more evident just how much he loves his new home. He has a new girlfriend. They pine for one another. I guess he paces the fence, leaves to get a bite to eat, she calls, he returns and paces the fence (which adjoins her paddock). She is about 5 or 6 years old and went into her first "real" heat upon being put next to him.
One of the great things about being at Melissa's home and not some fancy commercial establishment or something, Harley gets exposed to all kinds of things that are just life. Melissa's daughter rides her bike around, the dogs romp all over, the cats, the goats, and other horses, including mares are everywhere. Harley gets to learn in an environment where lots is happening. This makes me feel that much more settled. I see how focused he can be even with a mare hanging her head over the round pen fence (a distraction for him typically).
I know that Melissa plans on taking him on trails where cows graze. I know that he is fearful of cows, so it will be another great exposure for Harley. She used him to teach lessons from a week or so ago...and he was able to cope with all of that. Wow...my Harley, a "clinic horse!" LOL! (I know I shared this with you all before, but it just floors me and pleases me to no end.)
My time with he and Melissa yesterday was filled with lots of learning. It was so powerful to connect what I saw at the Ross Jacobs clinic on Saturday, with practical application with Harley yesterday.
He was relatively willing to go with us out in the paddock and I love the way Melissa has worked on encouraging softness when the halter is put on.
We then headed to the round pen. This was my first time of working with him specifically in the round pen. I had to cue Harley that I didn't want him crowding me. This is something I have allowed in the past. I know that I must do this with all the horses to be consistent now and when Harley comes home.
In the round pen, I worked on applying some of what Melissa had shown me she was doing with him the week before and much of what I saw at the Ross Jacobs clinic. Using my life to ask Harley for a transition...boy, this really took a lot of concentration for me as I have to play with what my body *does* exactly that is increasing my life or energy. Harley is pretty sensitive, too, so it doesn't seem to take much, but it is the way in which I do it that seems to matter as well.
I felt that the way he was dialed in to Melissa when I watched them together previously, he offered to me. This is new. The things that she has done were transferrable (so far), though he did display a bit of worry with me a bit later in our session.
We saddled him and I enjoyed having the time grooming him and...gasp...saddling him. (It was very surreal to saddle him as it has been at least two years since *I* did that with him.)
We worked a bit in the round pen at liberty and he dialed in to me as he has Melissa (well, from where I sit)...again Melissa asked me to focus on asking him for transitions smoothly and without troubling him...hopefully. When we got to a canter, he got very concerned a couple of times and bucked quite a bit. I needed skills I didn't have...It would have been good to know how to help him through that without "buying in" emotionally. I hope to ask more questions about that...things that have come up for me since it happened (typical).
We spent over an hour and a half with Harley...closer to two hours, really. I do wish now that I had the time to work a bit longer to help him feel good about those trouble spots. Maybe it was fine, though I had to get to an appointment a long way away. It was definitely something specific to my presence (or something) in the round pen. He doesn't have the same trouble with Melissa. this doesn't make me feel badly exactly, just earnest to understand how to better help him.
One of the stunning things in a physical "empirical" sort of way is a muscle that Harley had that formerly bulged on his neck...the Feldenkrais practitioner had tried working on it yet had just begun to make headway a month or so before Harley left for Melissa's...for whatever reason...it is gone now. It was literally an extra bulge much of the length of his neck. It wasn't slight either. It was obvious. Now it is, simply...gone. Kathleen Lindley once spoke of a brace starting in the mind and then translating to the body. It results in using the body less efficiently to resist a great deal. Extra muscles are used for movement, movement, if it is offered, is mechanical. Harley's mental brace had translated into a physical brace that had literally affected his physical appearance even when he wasn't being asked to do anything.
To see the difference in him physically now indicates that something has changed...big time...some softening has gone on in a big way. To see him move--even under saddle--this is obvious as well.
If anyone in California ever needs a trainer who is a Mark Rashid and Harry Whitney devotee and who really is amazingly talented, I would recommend Melissa Pelletier in a heartbeat. Her price is also incredibly reasonable.
I am so happy that Harley loves his temporary new home.
Hey Webmasters! New Photo Album Service Launched - Check it out!
I've missed you and haven't heard from you in awhile. I just wanted to pop in and say hi. 
. Have a good one! 
..was just blog hopping and came across yours..very nice journal you have...take care...have a nice day. 
Bravenet Blog 
Blog Community
Get a Free Blog
Manage your Blog
bravenet.com