Updates for the Week

Ok, I have been majorly busy for the last week with school and many other things, so I haven't updated my blog in a while. I have had about 3 sessions with Woody, so I'll tell you about those.
Session #1
Woody and I played again with the trailer and I tried the whole thing of "make the trailer a place of rest, and make the other places work". So, he would circle and when he stepped on the trailer ramp, showed interest in the trailer, or anything like that, I would stop making him circle. That went pretty well and once he understood that concept, I started circling and having him pointed toward the trailer with an opportunity to go in. He went in partially pretty much every time, but he would always back right out like he wasn't confident about it. So, I kept taking him away and approaching it again and again and again until one time he offered to go ALL the way in, get the piece of cookie that was waiting for him, and then back right out. I was happy because it was progress. So, we took a little break, and practiced a bit of Sideways (#6), and then came back to the trailer. I stood on the ramp this time and sent him towards it, he would go in and back out, I would take him away and then bring him back. We did this for a while, but it didn't seem to really be getting anywhere. So, the next time he went in and he started to back out, I put a little feel on the rope to walk forward again. He did and then he stayed there! It was really cool and I don't know why he felt safe enough to stay there with me putting a feel on the rope, but he did, so I was happy! I scratched him a bit while he in there, and he seemed to like that a lot. I pretty much ended the session there and sat to watch Charlotte go in with Mom and let Woody graze. I haven't played with the trailer since because we had to unhook the trailer from the truck (we needed the truck) so we parked it on our concrete pad. We have posted on the Parelli Forum about if its safe to play with the trailer while it is unhooked (its stands are down and the wheels are chocked), and so far we've only heard no. Hope that changes!
Session #2
I went out the following day and decided to play some 7 games with and obstacle. I picked the cavaletti as our obstacle and began! I did Friendly Game (#1) next to, Porcupined the front end over the cavaletti, drove Woody's hindquarters around the whole pole, Yo-Yoed him back over the cavaletti, and Circled him over the cavaletti (which went really well because he trotted a whole two laps without any help from me or breaking gate!). The next game was the biggest success. I haven't really done Sideways over an obstacle with him except for once with barrels but we both got frustrated so we walked away. Anyways, I decided to set it up for success and do Sideways really well along the fenceline. Once that was going well, I put the pole in his path along the fence, and guess what? He went over it like it was no big deal! Perfectly Sideways over the pole.. it was awesome! We did a bit of Squeeze afterwards, and then that was it. I also tried to be aware of something I usually forget about which was letting Woody have time to think the games over. So, especially after the Yo-Yo which he was a little resistant of at first, and the Sideways pole, I let him sit and didn't go on until he licked and chewed or did something else to let me know he had processed it.
Session #3
This time we worked in the round pen. I put him in there while I went to get my halter, ropes, etc. When I came back he was ignoring me and eating grass. So, I played the Catching Game with him and it didn't take too long for him to become intrigued and follow me around. I went to the halter with him following, put it on him, and then just sat and waited for him to lick. He did so we moved on. I have been watching the L&HB over again, so I have been hearing alot about retreat and thresholds and all other kinds of things, so I wanted to pay extra attention and watch out for any unconfidence in him. We played a 12ft line traveling circle game, and rather than just telling him to go more when he asked me a question to come in, I let him, rubbed his face, Yo-Yoed him back, and sent him out a bit stronger. That really seemed to work because he didn't feel like a loser for having me constantly remind him to go forward, he used his brain more, and it became a game! That is something I really need to remember: it is a GAME. After we had a circle going well, I started walking around and happening over a cavaletti propped against the fence, a row of barrel, a tarp, and a pedestal. He didn't have an issue with navagating around these obstacles except the barrels. He came to them at a trot, stopped right in front them, sniffed them, and asked me a question. Rather than pushing him through I Yo-Yoed him back, and sent him again. He jumoed them fine, licked a chewed and kept trotting around. I was so proud of him, I brought him in and gave him a cookie. That was the highlight of our play session because I think it was really important I didn't push him through it. After that I jumped on with the halter and leadrope and practiced some figure-8s for a bit, then got off and called it a day.
Woody is really doing well and the info I'm getting from the L&HB DVDs are really helping me and him take it to a whole new uderstanding of each other. It rained yesterday so its really wet and cold outside, but I am going to go out later once it's dry and play with him some more.
Oh! Also, my mom bought Parelli Celebration tickets for the FL stop next year... and I am so excited! I am especially excited that Linda is bringing BOTH Allure and Remmer... that'll be awesome to see her work with them. And Walter Zettl?! It's gonna be an awesome weekend!
~Eden