The Ups and Downs of Rehab

As many of you may know Damo had her 120 day ultrasound at the beginning of February. I have been pretty quiet about it because the results were not quite what I had imagined :(. The tear in her LF flexor tendon didn't show any additional damage.... But it also didn't show the rate of healing we would have liked. Sigh!! 

So! We have readjusted her rehab plan.... I'm able to ride her and hand walk her, but still NO trotting. And she now gets to be in a bit bigger space so she can move more consistently on her own. We are giving this plan 30 days and then will re check her again in hopes of some more stimulated healing. 

Being an extravert the JUST walking is tough for her, and I am continually impressed by her emotional fitness. She was especially super for the recent video story by the Salt Lake Tribune, where despite not having done anything but her therapy walks, she pulled out all the stops and showed Parelli in a beautiful light, even though we ONLY walked! :). We stop and graze, walk different places, and visit the cows in order to keep things as interesting as possible. It has been such a learning curve to play with Damo and attempt to keep her calm and connected without having the usual arrows at my disposal; as there are many things we CAN'T do in order to not re-injure her tendon. Having strategies taken out of my arsenal has made me more compassionate to students when they lack the correct technique with their horse to get the desired result; I now know what that feels like!! 

A huge thank you to the team at Horse Lovers Haven who have taken great care of us, Dr Karen at Elite Veterinary and Jeannie Parkinson for walking Damo when I'm out of town teaching. I couldn't do it without this super support structure!

Thank you yo everyone who has been sending love and healing thoughts and prayers our way! We will keep receiving everything we can get! 

What's Apt to Happen?

Well, it's been a long time since I have been hurt by a horse. And as such, I thought I would take this opportunity to share what I have learned from my experience with all of you. Because we all know that it's only a mistake if you don't learn from it!

From years of being around Pat at his barn I have taken away a few things regarding safety. First of all ... as a Parelli Instructor, my FIRST priority with all of my students and horses will ALWAYS be safety, its Level 1, its the foundation of this program ... your progress ... actually comes second. This is tough for some students to understand, and sometimes that means I'm not the correct instructor for them. But it also means that I walk away from every lesson feeling like I did the best possible job I know how to.

After that one of the things that Pat has shared is how important it is to be constantly aware of "What's apt to happen?" especially around horses. He teaches us when we look at different situations to really analyze what is it that is APT to happen with your horse? For example ... when you dismount after riding and your reins are around your horses neck ... if they put their head down to itch their front leg... what's one of the things that is APT to happen? One time while traveling with Pat and Linda as their groom to an event with some dressage trainers in Wellington, FL, I learned another such valuable lesson. Pat and I were leading two of his best horses through a very narrow and semi twisted squeezey area. I was going first and I assessed the situation and thought that sending the mare through the gap and then following her would be smartest. Pat said, "Think about what's APT to happen! Just walk through ... swiftly, keep her back at least six feet and then let her have as much line as she needs, and let her decide where to put her feet." I thought I was doing the "correct" thing by squeezing her through, but I didn't look at the fact that that would reduce my leadership by causing me to stop and change my plan, and it would also give her less ability to take care of her own feet.

In yet another situation I had a Level 4 Student helping me to halter three young and very pushy horses. They were in a pen where the barn blocked their view of the road. As we were haltering, I noticed that she had positioned herself with the horse between herself and the road ... So what's apt to happen? As a noisy truck and trailer came around the corner of the barn, right behind the horses Hindquarters he spooked and she was in the way. Luckily she was just fine ... but it's another lesson in  "What's Apt to Happen?"

How about horses tied long enough to put a foot over the rope? Opening trailer doors before horses are untied? Going through open gates when they are opened TOWARDS you as opposed to away? Circling your horse with your saddle girthed too loose? Leaving halters tied to arena rails?

So what was my recent story about what's apt to happen? Well ... When you have a 2 and a half year old horse that's been in the trailer all day ... and a year and a half old puppy who's been in the car all day ... You may learn a lesson! I had arrived at a barn I was staying at for the night after a full day of driving. I had taken Merrida (a two year old warmblood filly I had with me for training for a few months), out to allow her to move around in the arena a little bit before putting her in her stall for the night. I had also let Laila (my year and a half old Boxer puppy) out to have a run around since she had been in the car all day. As I led Merrida down the barn aisle to her stall, Laila ran up behind her, spooked her and she jumped forward and landed on my foot. OUCH!

Now, besides thinking about "What's Apt to Happen?" in a situation ... the other thing that Pat would always ask is "What'd ya learn?" I took away a few things from this injury. First off horses are prey animals and when they get scared there are lots of things can happen; however, I KNEW that I had a missing link in the respect piece of my rapport, respect, impulsion, flexion puzzle. This is because when the chips were down, she didn't respect my personal space like she would have with the dominant horse. She jumped INTO the herd, or in this case me, instead of putting effort into avoiding me. The cool thing though, is that this happens din the first week that Merrida was with me; I would be willing to put money on it that if you put her in the same situation today, she would avoid me, But I'd prefer not to test it! The other thing I learned was when you have a young and energetic horse ... and a young and energetic puppy ... and a tired human ... probably best not to try to divide the few brain cells you have left!

By reading this you shouldn't start walking around over-analyzing every situation that you and your equine partner are in. However, you SHOULD start to look at all different situations and pay attention to "What's Apt to Happen."

Merrida Looks For a New Home ...

Well, it is time to make a little announcement ... as not all things are always meant to be, Miss Princess Merrida, who has been with me on trial since November 23, will be returning to her home in California in just a few days.

She is a WONDERFUL and very talented mare, and I have had an amazing time developing her. In the spirit of truth and transparency, I only had two hesitations with this horse, one of which will settle out in time Im sure. My first hesitation is her size, she is just a BIG mare, some people love that ... I really have enjoyed it, and have realized its not quite for me. The second is that she is slightly environmentally unconfident when left alone. She is great with another horse, and great if you are playing with her ... and if you turn her out by herself she gets emotional. As I said, Im sure that this challenge will dissipate with time and training, but with my lifestyle it didn't seem like a fair hurdle for her to jump in the rapid time I would need her to do it. 

As I mentioned she will be returning to her owner in California for the time being ... However, her owner would love her to find a perfect forever Parelli Home. She is a Selle Francais X Thoroughbred, and so far a Left Brain Extrovert, but more Left Brain Introvert under saddle. 

She LOVES to learn and she LOVES people. She has traveled with me from Reno, NV, to Pagosa Springs, to Phoenix, and back to Salt Lake, and next week she will head back to the Sacramento area.  Rhett Fincher also put 4 rides on her for me over Christmas, an we filmed our "Level 1" video just for fun, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO-fg21pGsQ . She has had many great experiences while she was in my care, and I can't wait to help her owner find her an AMAZING Parelli home. 

I wish that I could keep them all ;) ... I just know in my heart that she is someone else's 100% perfect partner! PLEASE feel free to email me if you have any questions about her, or might be interested, and I would be happy to help! lillanroquet@hotmail.com

2015 Schedule!

Hey everyone!

Here is my schedule of clinics, workshops, lesson days between now and As far as I know! I have availability in most of my clinics and lots of flexibility to travel to places near by to where I am teaching during that time as well! So wouldn't you like to join me if I'm coming to an area near you!?

Please contact me if you are interested in  TRANSFORMING your horsemanship in the upcoming year.... Would love to help you achieve your dream and attend a clinic!

I also travel NATIONALLY AND INTERnationally, so contact me if you are interested in setting something up. I'm excited about creating a curriculum that fits with you, your horse and/or your group! 

Schedule- 2015

April 2 - Private Lessons, South Jordan, UT
April 3-4 - Level 1 Clinic, South Jordan, UT
April 5 - Private Lessons, Park City, UT
April 7 - Boulder Spotlight Series, Boulder, CO
April 9-11- 10 Qualities of a Horseman Clinic- South Jordan, UT
April 13 - Private Lessons, Albion, ID
April 14 - Private Lessons, Mountain Home, ID
April 15 - Private Lessons, Boise, ID

Apr 17-19 - Idaho State Horse Expo, Nampa, ID

April 24-26- 10 Qualities of a Horseman to Practice, Oregon City, OR

April 27- Private Lessons, Oregon City, OR

May 2-4- 10 Qualities of a Horseman to Practice Clinic, Reno, NV
May 5 - Lessons, Reno, NV
May 6 -  Lessons, Portola, CA
May 8 - OnLine and FreeStyle Workshop, Parker, CO
May 9 - Boulder Spotlight Series FINALE
May 11 - Level 1 with Level 4 Feel 1 day Clinic, Highland, UT
May 17 - Horsenality Through Savvys, Pennsylvania

May 22-25 - 10 Qualities of a Horseman to Practice Clinic, Belton, SC
June 5-7 - 10 Qualities of a Horseman to Practice Clinic, Mountain Home, ID

June 12-14 - Western States Horse Expo, Sacramento, CA
June 26-27 - Level 1 Partnership Clinic, South Jordan, UT 

Sept 11 - 13 -Savvy Summit, Colorado
Oct 5-30 - Teaching Fast Track, Perth Australia

Nov 24-28 - Savvy Dunking with Carmen Smith, Adelaide, South Australia

Sidedness ... and a Blinding Flash of the Obvious ...

This morning while playing with Merrida, my young 2.5 year old Warmblood, I had a thought about a challenge that many of us face with out equine partners, sidedness. This is our horses sometimes natural and sometimes created, preference for humans to be on one side or the other; their tendency, because of bi-lateral vision to be more comfortable with humans, more responsive, etc on one side or the other.

What I was noticing is how our tendency as humans is to be really HAND centered. When Merrida continued to want to put me on her Left side, my instinct was to block her nose, or yield her nose over with steady pressure ... All of this obviously is staying with our human tendency to be direct-line. Which we all know tends to kill our attempts at creating a relationship with our horses.

So, after my session as I began to do my usual de-brief of what went well and what I could have done better, I thought about what might be a better tactic. I realized that when my horse doesn't want to give me her right eye, that actually means that often times my LEFT Hindquarter yield is broken ... (because when they are preferring to have you in their Left eye ... they also are not yielding their left hip!). I know right ... Blinding Flash of the Obvious ;). Needless to say, Merrida and I spent a while playing with our Left HQ yield ... asking her to OFFER me her right eye, instead of being made to yield it to me. AND .. Things kept getting softer and softer.

Adventures with Merrida!

Well- last night I had my first really challenging play with Merrida. I have been constantly doing little things to try to increase her emotional fitness as I know that is something I need with my horses. They travel with me, they have constant environmental changes, herd changes, etc etc. I really want horses that are confident, stable and relaxed emotionally. 

So! I often do little things to stretch her. There is a round pen near her pen, and adjacent to a small arena that is used for turnout. So I turned her out in the round pen and a young LBE that I have been riding for a client out in the small arena. They played over the fence and hung out while I walked Damo, and prepared feed, etc. 

Then I returned Jaden to his stall, but left Merrida in the round pen.... Knowing that this feeling of being "left" is tough for her. Sure enough she ran, and bucked and paced the fence. Recently while assisting at a Dave Ellis clinic he talked about what he says when a student asks him, "why do you allow the horse to do that?" He said, "that horse could literally do ANYTHING he wants right now, and he is choosing to do that. This is natural horsemanship.... I'm allowing him to do what feels natural." 

Now- there are often ways we can help horses to have the tools or the emotional stability to be able to just relax in situations that they are finding stressful. However! Not letting them experience this, is not the way! That's what Pat says is being an "avoid-a-holic." 

So- Merrida lost her marbles and ran around for a while. I continued to go about my business, then when she made a slightt change I went over to see if she would connect with me. It took her a little while, but she came over, then followed me to the middle of the round pen and allowed me to halter her. We had a great play on the 22'.

In the spirit of "observe, remember and compare," I now can see where she hadn't come ALL the way off the adrenaline, I didn't get a true blow out, or a shake or those other signs I should have looked for. And, she was connected and soft and focused. 

We have only had about 4 rides, all of witch have been very progressive, so I decided that last night I wanted to just remind her that this is going to be a journey about both of us... So I thought I would just sit on her, bend a little, maybe walk around, and then get off and we would be done. Who can see where my mind set had slipped back into a right-brain horse? Bad idea!! Lol! 

We have also been playing a lot with her "go" button, which has been pretty sticky. Turns out I have fixed that problem too! Last night we had PLENTY of go! And I unfortunately did not have the confidence to ride it! So we did some bending, and walking.... And a bit of hopping :). I focused on preserving my confidence, in balance with attempting to do the right thing by her... And we found a couple of good walk steps and a bend to a stop. Phew!! Never a dull moment! 

Next week she goes to Rhett Fincher for four rides over the holidays :)! So excited I have made this choice to invest in her and my relationship.... By making sure she has one of the best in the colt-starting business to help her through these pivotal first few real rides! 

2014/2015 Schedule!

Hey everyone!

Here is my schedule of clinics, workshops, lesson days between now and As far as I know! I have availability in most of my clinics and lots of flexibility to travel to places near by to where I am teaching during that time as well! So wouldn't you like to join me if I'm coming to an area near you!?

Please contact me if you are interested in  TRANSFORMING your horsemanship in the upcoming year.... Would love to help you achieve your dream and attend a clinic!

I also travel NATIONALLY AND INTERnationally, so contact me if you are interested in setting something up. I'm excited about creating a curriculum that fits with you, your horse and/or your group! 

Schedule- 2015

Jan 23-25 FreeStyle &Finesse Clinic w/ Ryan Pfouts (South Jordan, UT)

Jan 26 - Session 2 of Spotlight Series, Boulder, CO
Jan 29 - Private Lessons, South Jordan, UT (AM) Erda, UT (PM)

Jan 30 - Winter Inspiration #6 (South Jordan, UT)
Jan 31 - Private Lessons, South Jordan, UT

Feb 3 - Winter Inspiration #7 (Heber, UT)
Feb 5 - Private Lessons, Tooele, UT

Feb 6 - Winter Inspiration #8 (South Jordan, UT)

Feb 9 - Session 3 of Spotlight Series, Boulder, CO
Feb 11-18 - Lessons & Workshops, Northern California

Feb 20 - Private Lessons, Ramona, CA

Feb 21-22 - Ride Well Clinic, San Diego, CA

Feb 24 - Session 4 of Spotlight Series, Boulder, CO

Feb 26 - Winter Inspiration #9 (South Jordan, UT)

Feb 27-28 - Level 1 Clinic, South Jordan, UT

Mar 1 - Winter Inspiration #10 (Heber, UT)

Mar 3 - Session 5 of Spotlight Series, Boulder, CO
Mar 5 - Private Lessons, Tooele, UT

March 6-7 Level 1 Clinic South Jordan, UT
Mar 12 - Private Lessons, Tooele, UT

Mar 20-22- Utah Horse Expo, South Jordan, UT

March 27-28 Level 1 Clinic South Jordan, UT
April 9-11- Special Workshops on FEEL - South Jordan, UT
April 13 - Private Lessons, Albion, ID
April 14 - Private Lessons, Mountain Home, ID
April 15 - Private Lessons, Boise, ID

Apr 17-19 - Idaho State Horse Expo, Nampa, ID

April 24-26- 10 Qualities of a Horseman to Practice, Oregon City, OR

April 27- Private Lessons, Oregon City, OR

May 2-5- 10 Qualities of a Horseman to Practice Clinic, Reno, NV

May 22-25 - 10 Qualities of a Horseman to Practice Clinic, Belton, SC
June 5-7 - 10 Qualities of a Horseman to Practice Clinic, Mountain Home, ID

June 12-14 - Western States Horse Expo, Sacramento, CA

Sept 11 - 13 -Savvy Summit, Colorado

Nov 24-28 - Savvy Dunking with Carmen Smith, Adelaide, South Australia