Parelli lesson pics, and video update:) HUGE updates:)

On 4/23/13 I had Steve Andrews Parelli Professional out to play with Kaspin for me for 1 hour:) I will be having Steve out once a week for the next 6 weeks, or more, for once a week. I am trying to keep Kaspin in shape and continue Kaspin's everyday Parelli learning play. Steve and Kaspin did great together! I wasn't sure what Kaspin would think of a different person playing with him, but Kaspin took it like a charm. I was very happy to see! Steve started Kaspin in the outdoor arena first and later Steve and Kaspin went out to the back 40 acres to play around out back. Kaspin had a great hour and I am thankful for Steve's help in my area:)  Here are a few pictures from that day.

 Kaspin giving Steve some love:)

 Out in the back 40 acres:)

 Steve putting Kaspin back into his pasture. 

 Kaspin enjoying a great roll after his play time with Steve.

 Ahhhhhhh, feels good.

My shoulder is doing well. My surgeon wasn't sure If I had torn cartilage, or a loose shoulder joint/slight dislocation. I ended up having the loose shoulder and they did a capsular tightening procedure on my shoulder. Unfortunately  that procedure has a longer recovery time of 5 to 6 months. Instead of the original 4 months back to 100% I was told. Nothing I can do now but take the time it takes to heal. Here I am hanging out with Kaspin 4 days after my surgery. My boyfriend was nice enough to drive me out and get Kaspin for me. 

These videos below are nine days after my surgery. My doctor gave me the OK to move my hand and elbow. The shoulder is allowed to slightly move, but I am not to supposed to move it on purpose, or lift my arm up, or outward. So of course, I had to take Kaspin out and see what I can do with him?? Yeah, I am sure my doctor would kill me. 

This is how I get Kaspin on my own. I have a horse collar that I can get onto Kaspin by myself with 1 arm. 

 Kaspin grazing with the collar on. 

You see in this video I at first pulled on Kaspin neck. Kaspin was pulling too hard on the rope. You see Kaspin was better after that. Then if I felt Kaspin was pulling a bit on collar. I would then yield Kaspins hind quarters to bring Kaspins front end to me and then I would basically send Kaspin forward again. It worked great! I also got 5 blows of relaxation from Kaspin! I know passing the rope over my head isn't the best, but I have no choice with 1 arm. I just make sure to not hold the rope tight and to let go if Kaspin takes off running in another direction. So I won't hurt my other arm. Also if you noticed I turned a lot with kaspin to watch his every move of his head and body. I only played with this for 5 mins. Since I was not sure how much my arm was going to hurt after doing nothing for 9 days. I figured I better quit! 

My sling update. 

Enjoy the warmer weather, 1 arm bandit J9, Healthy Kaspin, and the late and never forgotten Enzo! I miss you and love you Enzo! 

I AM HOME FROM SURGERY AND MY NEW SURPRISE FOR KASPIN AND I.

I AM ALIVE! I WILL TRY TO NOT WRITE TOO MUCH. IT'S HARD TO TYPE WITH ONE HAND, THUS THE CAPS. I HAD 2 THINGS FIXED IN MY SHOULDER. I HAD TORN CARTILAGE AND MY SHOULDER JOINT WAS LOOSE. SO THE DOCTOR HAD TO TIGHTEN IT WITH ANCHORS AND SUTURES. NOW THAT I HAD 2 THINGS FIXED. MY RECOVERY MIGHT BE LONGER OF 4 TO 6 MONTHS(I'LL NOW MORE THIS COMING THURSDAY AT MY RE-CHECK APT). INSTEAD OF ME BEING HEALED AND 100 PERCENT AT 4 MONTHS. I AM SOOOOOOOO VERY BUMMED, BUT NOTHING I CAN DO NOW. AND JUST TAKE THE TIME IT TAKES FOR ME TO HEAL. YES, I LOOKED VERY DRUGGED. DRUGS EVERY 4 HOURS, AND LOTS OF ICE.

BUT HERE IS MY SUPER GREAT SURPRISE I GOT THE NIGHT BEFORE MY SURGERY. A NEW USED PARELLI FLUIDITY SADDLE!!!!!!! I HAVE BEEN WANTING ONE FOR SOOOOO LONG NOW AND I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO VERY IN LOVE WITH IT. I FEEL SOOOOO MUCH MORE BALANCED, SECURE, AND SAFE IN THIS SADDLE. I EVEN CANTERED KASPIN 4 LAPS THE NIGHT I TRIED THE SADDLE. I HAVE NEVER CANTERED KASPIN SO LONG. SINCE I ALWAYS FELT SO UNBALANCED IN MY OTHER SADDLE. 

HERE IT IS, I AM SOOOOOO HAPPY.

 KASPIN GETTING HIS PEDICURE BEFORE I TRY MY NEW SADDLE THAT NIGHT.

 KASPIN STILL GETTING HIS PEDICURE.

 KASPIN WITH HIS BEARD ALL SHAVED UP. HAD TO DO IT NOW BEFORE MY SURGERY. 

 GROOMED HAIR AND BEARD CLIPPINGS.

 1ST TIME THE SADDLE WAS ON KASPINS BACK. 

 I WILL HAVE MY PARELLI TRIANER OUT ONCE I AM HEALED, 

 TO MAKE SURE MY SADDLE IS SITTING FINE ON KASPIN'S BACK. 

 PLAYING OUTSIDE WITH SADDLE ON.

 KASPIN THESE DAYS LOOKS SO NICE AND SOFT ON LINE. 

 GOOD BOY KASPIN.

 1ST TIME I AM SITTING IN THE SADDLE, WOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!

 KASPIN IS NOT MAD. LOTS OF TIMES HIS EARS WILL BE BACK TO LISTEN TO ME.

 OH I LOVE THE BALANCED FEEL!

 I FEEL SO SAFE AND SECURE.

 I AM A HAPPY GIRL!!

HAPPY, JANINE, KASPIN, AND THE LATE ENZO. 

LEFT SHOULDER SURGERY HERE I COME!

BUT, I plan to do as much as possible with Kaspin while I am down and out! I have plans! And will keep you updated, but tomorrow is my surgery. Today a big surprise is coming for Kaspin and I! I cannot wait to see it, or try it tonight. I will get pictures and post more when I am feeling better. This Sunday I will try to go audit a Parelli clinic in South Lyon MI. With Meggie and Steve Andrews Parelli professionals if I am feeling up to it!! Then this Tuesday ,I am having Steve Andrews out to play with Kaspin for an hour for me! I plan to get some pictures as well:) Ok, think spring and happy healing shoulder thoughts for me!!

Common spring, down and out Janine, Kaspin, and the late Enzo.

A+ for Parelli Saturday with Kaspin(1st place) & an F for Kaspin with trailer loading again:( Pictures too!

Well another early morning of 4:45 am start and and off to the barn. Today was Parelli Principals with Meggie Andrews (9am to 12pm) and Kim with Mobile Confidence Course(1pm to 4pm) in South Lyon MI at Foxcroft Farms. Afterwards a small competition on riding, or walking our horses through the course and prizes given to 1st and 2nd. Kaspin always seems to load ok with 2 people in the morning. Takes us about 5 to 8 mins. I want Kaspin to load by himself and me not having to always have 2 people to load eventually. Anyway, we did show up on time and actually a few minutes early, yeahhhh! Kaspin got out of the trailer and was worried of where he was, but he never does anything stupid. Kaspin again didn't want to walk into the barn. The nickname for Kaspin now is Chickenlinger!!!! Instead of a Haflinger, LOL. Anyway, we had to get another horse in front of us and slowly let that horse lead the way. Kaspin slowly followed. Once in the arena  Kaspin moved very slowly and cautiously and checked everything and I mean everything out. Once the clinic started we all (7 of us) started playing with our 7 games. Some horse were trotting really fast and the arena was small! Kaspin was really right brain introvert and really couldn't handle the claustrophobic space, all the horses moving, and that he was just stressed on a trailer ride to this scary place! So basically I didn't get to do much but wait for Kaspin to lick and chew. If I put any energy on Kaspin it was just too much and Kaspin ears would go flat and Kaspin would move like a snail. So I just had to bring out my patients and go SUPER S L O W and be relaxed. Either way, it was great for both me and Kaspin to experience this and get through it together. Once 12 noon came it was time for lunch. This place was nice enough to offer a stall for lunch if we needed. I needed a stall for sure. Kaspin won't tie well. Well he will if a horse is next to him and even then he spooks and breaks the tie. So a stall is much better. Well of course, Kaspin screamed the whole time and paced the stall. I couldn't tell if he ate much hay. Since it now was all over the stall and I know he hadn't drank. Oh well. Then 1 pm came around. Time to get Kaspin out for the 2nd half of the day with the Mobile Confidence Course!!! We walked in the arena and I already noticed a different horse. Kaspin was calm and perfectly fine. I played a bit with my 7 games and kaspin could move again and his ears were not flat either and he was much more confident!! My Kaspin was back and doing super!! We went through the course on the ground by hand with flying colors. Kaspin even walked through the water obstacle  Which I was surprised about. Since sometimes I cannot get him to walk through a puddle at times!! Then it came to riding and Kaspin just rocked the obstacles even the car wash. I thought that might bug him, but it didn't. Some of these items I have at home and I try to expose him to lots. Then the little competition started. In my head I wasn't there to win and never thought we could anyway. So I just realized to have fun and to take care of Kaspin! The first 7 obstacles riding through went great and all my things were done on a loose rein always, yeahhh! One obstacle I had to take a rain coat from Kim, ride over a wooden bridge, then put the rain coat in a mailbox with balloons tied to it. Kaspin aced this one and all the other ones. At the end there was 3 of us left that couldn't get out. They kept asking us to do things and see who could do it correctly? Then came the pool noddles. You had to now back your horse through the pool noodles within 15 seconds. The 1st two horses couldn't do it. Then Kaspin was up. He did it and he backed it up in 4 seconds!!! We were done yeahhh! Later they handed out prizes and informed I had won 1st place!!!!!!!!! WHAT?? I thought I was out?? When they kept giving us things to do. There was one thing they asked us all 3 of us and we couldn't do it. So I thought we were done. And we were just kind of figuring out 3rd place, or something?? Really I had no idea what we were doing?? I was just doing what they told me to do, LOL LOL. Well since all 3 of us couldn't do that one thing, we were all in the same place at that time. Either way, I was soooooooooooooooooooo very thrilled!!!!!!!! We even won a brand new green Parelli ball!! How very cool!!! This is my 4th time out with Kaspin and 2 times were small fun competitions and both times Kaspin won me 1st place. I am sooooooooooooooo very proud of you kaspin!!!! Then I put kaspin back in his stall. While I put all my stuff back in trailer, helped Kim clean up the obstacles, and get ready to leave. By then Kaspin was freaking out and screaming in his stall again, poor boy. Plus, Laz left. Kristen and Laz (http://sweethorsesbreath.blogspot.com/) came to this event also!!! It was great to see them out! Laz and Kaspin were the only 2 right brain horse freaking out and they bonded by there stress, LOL. We had stalls across from each other. When I was cleaning up. Kristen started trailer loading with Laz. Now Kaspin was all alone in the barn and really freaked out that his friend was gone!! Now it was time for me to start trailer loading. Probably didn't help that Kaspin was already super freaked out and Kaspin always loads worse going home. I started to try myself, but later Meggie came over to help. Kaspin offered his best moves! Bolted to his left a lot. Tried to rear! Using his shoulder to move my space, etc. It was probably at least half an hour before I got him on the trailer with Meggie coaching the whole time. After Kaspin got on the best and stayed on the trailer, I shut the door, etc. Wow, Kaspin blew a nut in there! Stomped his feet, throwing himself, maybe even kicked. I just jumped in and got the trailer moving!!! Later at a red light I heard nothing bad. Once I got home, kaspin was still very upset, sweaty all over, and hadn't eaten any hay. Nothing I could do now. Once he was off he settled immediately and already ate grass. Well the day went super and trailer loading not so good. More work with the trailer after I am back from my shoulder surgery!!! Here are the fun pictures for the great day!! 

Waking over a mattress.

Kaspin and Laz love!

In water before water was added. 

Hanging out. 

Eating the mailbox.

Pool noddle walk through.

Flags!!

Yes, kaspin ate flowers too!

Kristen and Laz!!!!!

Kristen and Laz flags!!

Riding the car wash then to back up 2 steps.

My first place prize!!!

Riding the water.

Kriten and Laz with a big smile!!

Getting the rain coat.

Trotting through bottles at a trot, loose rein!

Putting my rain coat in mailbox. I love this pic of Laz watching!!!!

Over bridge!

My HUGE smile!

The group!

Yes! Kaspin eating the pool noodles too!

Peek-a-boo!

Kristen and Laz sooooooooooooooooooo cute!

 The end! Janine, Brave Kaspin, and the missed Enzo.