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March 5, 2010 at 1:41 pm |
3-2-10
I am coming around. LOL. She is a trip this one, A regular little actress. You ever seen a child after a fit? Kinda breathing raggedy and sniffling. That is what Rainey is acting like. I am starting to think it is a little funny, instead of getting so angry. Last fit she had I just put her in the round pen and let her throw her fit all by herself
She did not get to play with her buddies and she still had to get on the trailer and go work out!
How is that working for you horsey??
March 5, 2010 at 10:49 pm |
pretty well I guess. She pulled the same today. Bruce had to caome to us.
March 31, 2010 at 7:41 pm
really tired of the trailer loading bull. First she tugged the rope, then she started nipping, then rearing, now charging. Glad I read Stacie’s post, I would not know to kick the shins LOL. But what to do Alpha when they charge???? I have no tool for this behavior. HELP!!! all you alphas in Natures world, let me hear it……I have never struck a horse, but if she charges again, I may have to 2×4 her across the head
April 2, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Just remember, Alpha is applying the pressure that your horse tells you to apply- what ever that may be. Kicking in the shins may be a good alternative in many situations, but if your horse is charging, not the time to try that one. KEEP YOURSELF SAFE! Remember rule number one and rule number five. As hard as the yelling may be for you, use it, and all of the other tools that you learn in the round pen to carry over into these outside situations. The round pen tools that you learn in sessions build upon each other so that you CAN use them outside, whether is is for the trailer loading, or spooking on the trail or anything else. Using the kicking of the shins may be what you want to use for eating grass when you are asking her to stand still, or situations like that; using your voice may be more appropriate for an “on the trail” episode so that you don’t get physical while on the horse’s back. Again, remember safety- for yourself and your horse. If your horse is charging at you, pull out all the stops- that one is life or death!
April 2, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Rainey has been nipping a bunch and I did not know what to do until I read about the shin. I am laughing thinking of kicking Rainey as she charges, that would not be a good thing. Actually did jumping jacks waved my hands and yelled. Mares…………..
But Bruce will have me reacting properly before he cuts me lose.I trust Bruce and that is the reason we have gotten so far. I might not like everything, sometimes do not do everything, but I know when he says something that he means it and I can take it the bank. That is rare in people. I have NOT been afraid ONE time during our sessions together. He never pushed me to do something I was not ready to do. Rainey and I are so much farther along than I ever thought possible. Bruce is the man and Natures View is the way….
March 8, 2010 at 3:58 am |
Another sling shot into to orbit- It’s amazing to be a villager in Alpha-ville.
March 8, 2010 at 4:06 am |
Had a dream about Bruce the other night. Thought it was interesting and I would share. I was surrounded by a group of what I would called naysayers or those who are quick to condemn. I was blasting them b/c I realized they were trying to drown Bruce. They were not successful but they were successful though at throwing his school bus with animals – goats, cows, horses – tied to it into a black hole that appeared to be an ocean. It was dark there. I condemned their act of murdering the innocent and attempting to silence Bruce. The animals had done nothing to them. Then I turned around and saw that behind me were border control cops and they had arrested Bruce and handcuffed him. He had survived but was in custody. Their charge: “crossing the border”. When I ponder the school bus I see “school of thought/mindsets”, we go to school to learn and are trained by this environment. The animals our view of nature. Bruce being arrested and kept from crossing the border is the confirmation that many do not want him to share his message and method of truth. In the naysayers mind he has “crossed the border/line” that they have created. They do not want him in their land – the land led by tyrants b/c the tyrants lead by fear and intimidation. He stands for truth and freedom from oppression. Let’s continue to spread the good work of Bruce Anderson and the truth he brings to set people free. What do you think the dream means? Written by: Jessica
March 8, 2010 at 4:53 am |
Have you ever shot a sling shot or pulled back a rubber band? Well I have in a different point of view. No punn intended.:) I have been given the oppurtunity to work with Bruce for almost a year now. I have two young horses I’m taking on this journey with me. Jr- class clown and Flirt- sensitive yet strong with past baggage like most of us.
Flirt is who I would like to share with you – Almost a year ago, I had a filly commited to a 10 as a tyrant. She could break stall boards in a single rear-up and sit back,front leg strikes at lighting bolt speed, and sit on you while trying to clean her back feet. Her ears remain a challange today, but she has a good head down understanding.
Today sling shot pull #1-Image this… Two horses in the round pen at once. Our picture is to stand still. While the second horse works around us. No,Flirt was not paid her weight in carrots. She stood. Not only well but like a halter horse at a world show.
Sling shot pull #2. I’m asked a picture of walk,trot, canter both directions. Understanding of this we move on…..Both horses are now released …some choas, possible circus acts in the future. New picture of both horse and owner work your horse indepently of the other. Using strong alpha , and being in the moment made this possible. Flirt and I had one view. She showed me our self worth, respect and commitment. I was also able to call her to me … away from the second horse(cowboy).
Big sling shotpull #3- No small clown cars yet, but real pressure that goes way past the normal round pen stuff. Flirt is already tacked. I have been on her back before. Snap….Snap of the stirrup leather, and up in the saddle.Off I go. Cowboy needs a little more understanding of this pre mounting exercise. The owner goes out. Bruce comes in. I, all the while remain on Flirt. Bruce works on the saddle mounting excerise with Cowboy. At some point – Cowboy is sent away to work on the rail in Bruce like fashion. The rope remains on the wall so the pressure is now voice and Bruces hat. My neg- pole is good. I did think of dismounting if needed. Flirt in her own cutting horse like fashion turns to always keep Bruce in front of her. Never a tail swish, buck or wrong movement of a foot. There is understanding with Cowboy, and I remain on my filly. The mind set was supreme over the pressure.
What if we all could ..no wait… we all can surrive that much pressure created in our world, but get the feeling of being shot out of a sling shot. To find ourselves in an Alpha set of mind……Permentaly!!!!!!!!
PEACE- Remember an Alpha a Day …..Keeps the Tryant away!!
-Kelly DuPree
April 13, 2010 at 1:12 am |
Kelly, I was there and it was amazing to watch. I was inspired and hopeful. Hope you girls are doing well and we’ll cross paths again.
March 13, 2010 at 4:25 am |
Today is my two month anniversary of working with Bruce. I just wanted to say Thanks Coach.
Reading through my journal reminded me of how amazing the last two months have been. So much has changed. My horse is becoming an unbelievable partner, more so than I ever imagined. I am a stronger person. My relationships with family and friends are blossoming. There is still a long way to go but…Bruce, you are right, this truly is an amazing journey.
March 19, 2010 at 6:47 pm |
It has been a week since my last post.
After I posted on the 13th, I shut down. I slept after I posted. Slept Saturday. Got up long enough Sunday to ride my other horse with a friend came home and….slept. Called Bruce to arrange an at home visit Monday. Monday came, called Bruce and told him I could not deal with him that day. Who could I not deal with????? Bless his heart he did not push. Tuesday came and I felt a little better. It was a dark dark hole that I had gone in. So Bruce and I arranged to get together at Red Bank on Wednesday.
Wednesday comes and out I go to grab my filly. Well the trailer loading was bad. She would get on but not stay on. Plus it was a fight from the pasture, 3 nips! Even the walk through the woods did not help. Actually got her shut backwards, but she got out while I was trying to turn her around. Call Bruce to come out AGAIN. Damn why can’t I load my own horse?
I put Rainey in the round pen and let her stew awhile.
(What mind set was I using?)
Then I go out and she is steaming all over, so grab brush and comb and groom her. She is very relaxed with me?
Well…. done with that, she leaves. Decided to pick up rocks while I am waiting for Bruce. Next thing you know Rainey is with me and stays with me until Bruce arrives. Wait. It is NOT ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT SHE LOVES ME…Her fits do not mean anything other than she does not want to do what I am asking. She does not want to go to work/school. l I can relate to that LOL
It really opened up my eyes. That one moment.
But…. for her not loading
But….. for Bruce having to come out again
She and I would not have had that moment
We finally get loaded and head out to Red Bank. The whole day has changed for me.
As dark as it had been for me, it made the light of knowledge that much brighter.
March 25, 2010 at 11:31 am
Tuesday’s lesson from my journal:
Back in the round pen and Bruce barks orders as NC girl watches
Finally getting the kinks out of my long lining (pun intended)
So NC leaves and Bruce says to unsnap the lines and do you know why and I said yes
Mounting exercises, both sides
Before I know it I am in the saddle and still working
Bruce just keeps it coming, no time to think, just listen to him
It actually took the pressure off me. I just did was I was told. There was no decision making on my part. So I could not make a mistake!!! The only time I really thought I might get a little action from Rainey was when Bruce entered the round pen. He was problem solving Rainey’s inability to move from one side of the pen to the other. It worked; she finally left the comfort zone and I was riding her!
Rode her in the round pen for a hour or more
Who knows? I did not wear a watch
What I do know is that it was more time in the saddle with her than ALL the other times put together.
When we finished it was 4 pm!
WOW
PS
It is Thursday before I am writing this
March 25, 2010 at 11:18 pm
Thursday
Long lines on the bit in the round pen today
Much better. She had her moments, but I just
Bump bump walk on and she did
Not much on the mounting exercise
No on here today to supervise
We did snap the stirrups stand still
Disengage both sides
Then snap foot in disengage both sides
She did very well for that
Tomorrow we will try again
March 31, 2010 at 2:51 am |
The darkness is back. Despite the fact that today ended well. I was unable to simply load my horse this morning. Of course after Bruce arrived, things got better, as they always do. The tyrant within just will not go past my failure from this morning. Why? Because, it was just me and the horse and nothing I tried worked for her. Bruce will not always be around. I know it is not about the trailer and that is the reason it hurts so badly. It is a pain that will not ease. Why is it always such a struggle to load? Should it matter?
In the end she loaded. She was tacked up with long lines on the bit (our first time outside the round pen), and drive her into the trailer. She fought hard, rearing, bucking, kicking both barrels and even snorting. It upsets, frustrates, angers me (in that order) that she is soooo determined not to do something. Bruce reminds me that this is good. I do not FEEL that. It is what it is.. and that is fearful and disrespectful and to me there is nothing good about that. Maybe that is how much farther I must go. Now the question is…do I really want to go there? Is that the person I want to become? I do not like pressure, I do not like applying pressure. Is this the way I want to teach and learn??? Progress is being made, but at what cost to me and Rainey? Would not she be better off with someone who knows more that me? About that: Why did my friend give me this horse? She says because I needed a young horse for endurance riding. Now I think it was just pure meanness that made her bring me Rainey. Boy she must have been committed to put me in a grave. She drove a long ways to get this horse and bring it back to me. How much do you need to hate someone to do that?????
Pity party…yes
do I feel better…some
March 31, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Okay today is not as bad as I expected. I am going to finish this. Like it or not this works.
Just can not fathom why I am unable to load Rainey.
I make an appointment and when we don’t load, it disrupts Bruce’s schedule and that is pressure whether I want it to be or not. Then I am flustered because I can not do the simplest task and the session gets bad then. The yelling is so much pressure. If I could think, I would say to myself, just do what he says and he will shut up. LOL…but the object is not to think and I loose it under the pressure. It is so very difficult for me. Wish this was just way easier, but the reality is….it is hard work. When did I become lazy????
April 2, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Anna,
I know how hard this day was and I agree- pressure is so hard! I don’t like it either, but life is about pressure…in almost everything you do! If you can get past each pressure threshold and make yourself stronger, how much more can you deal with?!! And just look at your ride yesterday…did you think that you would get that far that soon? What a gift!
March 17, 2010 at 3:50 pm |
Hello I just wanted to send you my email so if you wanted to post my stuff you could. I have not written in awhile no excuses just haven’t.
March 27, 2010 at 7:18 pm |
Well what can i say? Alpha mind set is really hard to do when you have someone attacking you all the time. I am learning how to work with my horse on this, Cowboy and I have grown together, recently i learned how to help him to not nip at me and wiggle so much, i was told kick him in the shin, when Bruce told me this i looked at him like your crazy but it works. I made cowboys idea uncomfortable. Now i tell my kids im going to kick them in the shin.lol…. The one thing though that is really hard for me to still not act on is when someone starts attacking me mentally, you know when someone tells you peopple dont like you or want you near them. i want to kick them in the shin…. I know that i still have a long way to go before i can move to that compound moxy……
April 1, 2010 at 9:30 pm |
What a glorious day for a ride. Especially a first trail ride. Yep, that is what happened today April 1, 2010. It came with a suddenness that I really did not expect. I know, it seems like forever, but once I quit thinking about riding the horse and taking the journey, it came fast.
It was not easy to get here. Not from me, nor for Rainey, and bless his heart it was difficult for Bruce. I am afraid I raised his (blood) pressure to new heights and for that….. well it WAS a learning opportunity for all of us.
Looking forward to the rest of the journey.
April 2, 2010 at 12:41 pm |
Congratulations! Each of these “firsts” will be so exciting for you!
April 2, 2010 at 3:54 pm |
April 2, 2010
Pressure Threshold versus Tolerance Threshold…
A couple of weeks ago Bruce and I discussed my Pressure Threshold versus my Tolerance Threshold. I have been thinking about this since then and really just letting it sink in. I wrote previously about the amour that I wear; and, bulldozing through the things that are difficult. These statements are very true. However, now there is more to the amour that I originally thought.
The amour is my Tolerance. The Pressure Threshold is indeed very low. I liken it to the center of the round pen. How do you know you are in the center of the round pen? You feel balanced. You give up control to the walls of the round pen. You give up the control to get the control. Okay, well that sounds really simple. When I first started working with Bruce, I thought well these are really dumb questions. Now, I’m really starting to understand these questions are very important.
How do I know this? Well, Sunday my mother went with me to work at Roxanne’s farm. Mom came in the round pen for a few minutes at the end of the session. I realized watching her in the round pen, KNOWING you are in the center is indeed the first step to understanding your negative and positive poles and how to achieve balance. When this crucial bit of knowledge is understood, you can really begin to understand what balance feels like. Your brain can definitely process this information quickly. It’s yet another thing to live it.
Okay so how does this relate to the Tolerance Threshold??? Well when Bruce asked mom to take 2 or 3 steps back in the round pen, she did. When he asked if she was in the center, she said she thought she was. He asked her to take a few more steps back. She did. He asked her again if she was in the center. She said she wasn’t, but, that wasn’t a big deal, she could deal with it. AH HA! We can deal with it! How far out of the center of the round pen would my mother have to move in order to say “NO! I’m not in the center of the round pen!” One might think this is showing her Pressure Threshold. However, her body language was showing that the pressure was getting to her after the first couple of steps. So, how much would she tolerate before she took her life back???
More on this later…
Kris
April 3, 2010 at 5:10 pm |
Iunderstand that:) Thanks for sharing
April 13, 2010 at 1:22 am |
Well said Kris. I will ponder this for myself – Tolerance Threshold. I tolerate things I shouldn’t at times. Lack of self worth – yes, maybe, not sure sometimes. I’d love to see what my family members would do if asked to go to the center of the round pen and asked how do they know that is the center. Simple question deserves a simple answer. It’s amazing that we are changing the appearance in the mirror. Our parents are our mirrors when we are young but with these new truths we can see the real us in the mirror and let truth tell us who we are. Blessings to you.
April 8, 2010 at 1:16 pm |
Well I have been looking at the “four agreements” a book that Bruce recommended and I love it. Even as a Christian, these 4 truths do not conflict with my faith. Upon reading it, you will think Bruce wrote the book. So much of what he has been teaching me is in the book. Maybe because the scales have been removed from my eyes, i can now see so much clearer and farther. It is a bit like getting glasses for your vision. Wow, it just clears things right up! I am so very glad that I have worked with Bruce… life is better. My confidence is back! Welcome home!
April 8, 2010 at 10:50 pm |
Thurday April 8
So we do a nice loop in the woods and she is steering so very well. Another gust of wind and bam! down comes a limb, she spooks a little. The trees are swaying and cracking my pole is up (8), Rainey is doing all she can to take up my slack even though her negative pole is up (6). We break into a clearing and the wind now hits us so hard my line is bouncing against her right side. Home is to our right. We manage to get our direction back and pass back into the woods. We are really working as a team now. This is another trail we have never been on, but it heads back towards home. Then we are out of the trail at the pond heading back to my father. As we get up to him the winds hits a new high, we have a dust storm in our path, the trail sort of tunnels and the wind is driving dust right towards us. My dad is saying “you picked a bad time, you have everything against you” This is heard loud and clear. I say “good” and smile. I change course to take us away from dad and home and back towards the first loop. My parent’s driveway crosses this loop, so I make a left at their driveway and head to the main dirt road. COWS….Rainey is hesitant, but she listens to me and we get past them. A few more yards and we are at the “tunnel”, but the other side. So I turn her into the “tunnel” which is lined with dad tractor attachments and we head back towards dad and the pond. We get through that with some work and I turn around to go back again, this is the original direction before the wind storm. Once again the wind picks up at the very moment we head back through. No lie. And my dad is still talking….but he is surely seeing why I am not on her back.
So here is what happened. Rainey has been following me around for the last two days like a puppy dog. We were breaking from our routine for her spring shots. So this evening I get her and take her up to the trailer where I tack up and put the long lines on the bit. It is nice and cool with a breeze. I have mapped my route to include some previous pressures and some new pressures.
Off we go…past the well into the woods, across the drain ditch and towards MY FATHER who is cutting up a tree, He says “everything but riding huh?” Something like that, because the wind has really picked up and it is hard to hear him. I smile and continue on, but my negative pole is up. So we continue on towards a trail Rainey has never traveled. She is doing really well by the way. Even when dad cranks the chain saw up as soon as we turn away from him
So through the pressure created by the tunnel and the wind and the tractor attachments and left to head up the road and home.
The last pressure is Dad’s shed and the gated entrance to his farm. We had traveled there previously and I was interested to see how this time would be. She rushed it a little, but we turned around and did it again and again to go home. I remembered to use my voice the whole time and made a big fuss when we got home. We had been gone an hour.
Not only did Rainey face her pressures so did I, and it was a very good session
April 11, 2010 at 11:51 am |
Problem solved!!! After a 2 hour journey and a 4 hour trail ride and lunch we are heading for home. One of the trailers in our convoy of 4 is experiencing some trouble. We get off I-26 and find a station to pull into. Seems a trailer tire has lost some tread. The owner is saying “you can drive on that you have 3 other tires” The driver is saying “you were not driving and it was shaking the truck apart”. So off comes the bad tire and the axle dropped. Some are trying not to laugh as the driver is right and the owner is wrong. But I am actually NOT saying a word. Bruce you taught me how to shut up!!!! It came in handy for sure, cause that was not the time to start yapping.
Jack up the axle and use the chain to secure the axle to the trailer. It actually worked. Granted this is one of those very small 2 horse bumper pull, but by golly we got that back on the road and everyone including the horses arrived home safe and sound.
Trial and error, the conclusion is reached that if somehow we can get the axle back up to its original position then secure it we would be okay. Let me stop and tell you the horse has a slot on another trailer.
I grab the biggest chain my truck has, which is pretty big. Takes two people to carry it
As for me personally, I managed to be around someone I really do not like. (4 agreements). Star rode 1st, last and in the middle. (Nature’sview). I was able to keep Star from tailgating
:):):):)
And I drove my rig 5 hours. When I got home, I was not grumpy because I had been a good Alpha all day.
April 12, 2010 at 9:12 pm |
Monday 4-11-10
Lessons learned:
when long lining your horse, do not drag your lines through a fire ant bed.
No matter how old and ratty a pad looks, if the horse don’t mind then you shouldn’t.
Patience practiced is patience learned
read that again….
and I CAN!
Ta ta for now
April 13, 2010 at 1:32 am |
Bruises…… yes bruises on the sides of my legs. From what? beating myself. Beating myself with the rope to increase the pressure on Boo who sometimes needed more pressure and other times not. When will I find the balance and listen to the horse? I know when I have and it feels good. Alpha feels good. So Bruce says – how about “throwing the rope”. I thought about that and quickly decided I didn’t want to handle the pressure of coiling it back up while trying to get or keep movement, direction, rhythm and track. Committed to tyrant, yes I was. Rather beat myself. That seemed to be what yesterday was about. And, who cares whose fault it is, it’s nobody’s fault. I have still come along way since 12/31/09. Thanks Bruce.
April 16, 2010 at 11:25 pm |
4-16-10, yes that is the date. Bruce came here and Rainey and I started in the round pen all tacked up, with free lunge at the walk trot and canter. She starts humping at the canter and I must keep her cantering until the humping is finished. (giggle) We do this a couple of times in each direction and Rainey is smoothing out. Next a little stick work to calm her and settle her nerves. This consists of me asking Rainey to stand still as i fling a rope over her around her, slapping the ground with the string and cracking the string. Amazing that a horse will trust herself enough to trust you and stand still with all this going on. Then follow me still with the stick and string. That was so interesting. She would go away and my job was to get her to come back while still using the stick and string. Once she looked at me I stop with the ss and she came in. That just boggles my mind. The pressure that drove her away (the stick and string) was the same pressure i use to bring her back. Hummmm. IT is safe with me
You are telling the horse that no matter what happens out there (in the real world) you are safe with me. Once Rainey and I were both okay with her following me around while I snap and slapped ground with s/s, then came the mounting up exercises. I was so ready for that and so was Rainey. On her back and walking around, she begins to free up and walk nicely doing her figure 8′s all by herself. Next add some turns with leg and nice, Rainey is still my partner. Next Bruce asks me to for hindquarter yields. We are still working together as a tem. But next comes the leg yields. This is tough for me. Bruce is very patient and talks me through and OHHHH, that is it A few more times and we are ready for our adventure.
Now I have been ready nay wanting to trail ride Rainey here for a very long time. Today I was ready! Out of the round pen, out of the pasture and into the front yard. Up I go and my picture is the trails I took last Thursday only backwards. So down into the woods past the well and the pressure created by the cover being up, btw Rainey doesn’t care, and down the hill oh boy oh boy this is finally it. Across the little drainage ditch and around some trees and to the burn pile that was so much fun last week. Long story short, Rainey was awesome, we did not do the tunnel or the cows, but we zigged and zagged everywhere we could between my house and the creek. All those days of long lining her are paying off like hitting the jackpot!!! Bruce was sometimes in sight and sometimes not. But I did not care; I was in heaven, on the back of a horse that I started myself. Not by myself but myself and Bruce’s patient help. There is very little to narrate about the ride, because Rainey was just fine; alert, ears forward, careful where her feet went and not too jumpy. I really believe she was enjoying herself. Now people, to me, that is all that matters.
April 21, 2010 at 5:20 pm |
An honest to goodness trail ride. Yeee Haww!!! Rainey and I are just about free. It is wonderful. Monday was just great. Everything I had hoped for.
So why is the Tyrant within rearing its ugly head?? Tuesday at work, I could not get my picture. So much was wrong, it was difficult to start. My job is basically researching books in the courthouse for land records. It is like a puzzle, all kinds of puzzles, jigsaw, crossword, and jumbles scrambles. I could not get direction, could not get movement, could not get track, and there was NO rhythm. I asked a respected colleague for help and she agreed that the job was a mess. She helped me get my direction back. Maybe that is not tyrant; maybe I trusted myself enough to trust her to help me? The picture did get done, although it took much longer than most projects.
Now it is Wednesday and everything is wrong. You ever have a day like that? My father has a backhoe rented and is all over the farm playing. I have put a bad picture in my head. How are Rainey and I to ride here now that that big ole monster is here making noise and in the way and changing the landscape. Oh and the round pen comes down next week. Not all of it, but five panels that I borrowed are leaving. That will give me a 40 foot round pen. Not large enough for the work we are doing now.
See! The darkness is still trying to get me. Instead of Tyrant with my horse, I am tyrant at work and home. Got to get it together and keep it together. Pleasent pictures and all that is good. Bahh.
April 22, 2010 at 10:45 pm |
opps, tyrant rearing again. Expecting the back hoe work to be a problem is the wrong mind set. It is an opportunity!!!!!!
April 24, 2010 at 3:53 am |
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 I had my third session with Bruce, and I am realizing what I have allowed to do around me.
I was in the round pen with one of Bruce’s beautiful horse (there is something about this perticular horse that feels like I like to choose him, he always comes to me to check me out. He also stays with me). Going back to the story in the round pen, the horse (sorry for his name) lifts his head and perks his ears up letting me know something is going on in the near by forest, of course instead of putting my arms up which would tell him to step off, I make three steps back. Quickly I learned that I was dishonest to the horse I corrected my position and stepped the three steps towards the horse, I moved my arms up just a little and the horse knew that it is in his best interest to step off and give me my comfortable personal space ( the negative pole was first raised and then the positive pole was raised after the horse gave me back my personal space.
Here comes my personal story that happend to me which is very similar to what happened in the round pen.
I went into a grocery store that has self checkout which I choose to pay for my item that I liked to buy; however, a lady with her pre-teen child approached the checkout that I was working on and started to put their groceries on my checkout stand, I looked at her and said nothing. I was hoping my look should have chased her off but I quess it was not mean enough. The price that was shown as a check out price was incorrect and i had to ask a store associated to please check the price, after several tries the associate was not able to fix the price and I started to get inpatient becasuse that lady and her child were breathing down my neck and they would not back off instead getting closer and closer, the associate could not accomplish the price correction, I finally said that I am no more interested in the item and I left. My negative pole was way up and I released the negative pole temporarely when I left the store, instead I should have been honest and told that woman and her child to step off and demanded my personal space back which would have created a permanently raise in the positive pole. When I walked away from the situation I did the same thing as when I stepped those three steps back in the round pen. Now I wished I would have asked the lady and child to give me my personal space back and to be so kind to wait until I have completed my purchase.
Bruce showed how not to be tyrant and how to be an alpha. The alpha would ask for his or her space back but the tyrant would have done exactly what I have done walking away.
Well, in my next lesson I will be more an alpha then a tyrant I know I will learn every time a little more.
Thank you very much Bruce for your lessons.
Thanks
Didi
April 24, 2010 at 12:15 pm |
Okay all you “Naturals” out there I have two thoughts to share:
One: This training works wonders in many ways. My retired endurance horse Star actually thanked me the other day for FINALLY communicationg with her. The thank you was a physical release of tension under saddle
Second: I realized that I have been programmed to think before I react. That has been beat into me over and over again. I actually hear the words being said even now…..” Anna you have to think before you……”
This is the freeze I experience with Rainey.
I need to react before I think
That is how much more work I have left:)
Anna
PS lovely long trail ride to the River yesterday me riding Rainey and Bruce on Winston and Bruce brought the gun…….
April 25, 2010 at 2:11 pm |
portion of Friday’s session:
4-23-10
Friday
I actually woke up ready to go this morning
Cranked the truck and called to Rainey and she looked at me
Leave it Red to steer the mares into the woods.
So I walked on out and caught her pretty easily
Stopped her forward movement and asked her to
Stand still and that was all it took.
Then the long walk out of the pasture
Another opportunity for timing, patience and problem solving
As she began to go in front to stop my forward movement, I just casually swung the other end of the rope in my right hand, more like a propeller motion and that kept her from coming across my path
Ignore the nips and continued through the gate and to the trailer
Walked with purpose directly to the ramp and paused and asked Rainey to load. No. Okay. Great. Got a long lead line hooked it on the halter and ran it up front and around for leverage. Okay let’s try this again. NO? Okay great, increase the pressure, Rainey hauls back and I let the rope out. Again, and she hauls back, not as much rope this time. Again, she hauls back, even less give on the rope. Again, she hauls back, no give on the rope. Again, and on she goes!
Well, we get to the RBF and we unload, graze, and pull out the tack.
I bring her up to the trailer to tack and she is dancing. This is new.
Pad and saddle are on and Rainey is side to side like a pendulum on the trailer. I stay safe and use my voice and keep the saddle on. Next, reach under and get the girth and she goes to kick and I kick her.
Again and again and again until duh I use my voice. See I kept kicking the same each time, never increasing the pressure until my voice and she stilled. Ohhhh I think. Tighten the girth and she rears back on the bungee cord so hard it gives a bit. I am just standing there, frozen. Then I react with my voice, but so late. This is my problem. Thinking before reacting. With horses you have to react and not think and that is the programming that I am dealing with
Into the round pen and await Bruce’s arrival.
I have the power, and then lost the power. I never tightened the girth the whole way. So pleased to have lived through the saddling and befuddled as to why she was so tyrant I forgot my picture!
When Bruce arrives he asks for the walk trot and canter both directions. Rainey is humping and not a happy camper. At one point she rears and takes off. I froze, Bruce screams…….Rainey are I are going around so much that I am dizzy. We move on to the mounting exercise and go to tighten the girth and the flippin saddle is on her neck! All that time wasted because I lost that picture earlier. Fix the saddle send her out and still not tight enough. What is wrong with me? Back to mounting and Rainey goes tyrant and is moving while my foot is in the stirrup, so I am hopping and asking Rainey to be still and she nips, I kick and she goes to kick and I release. Damn I learn good don’t I? Well, you know what happens next. Bruce let me know that that is the time to beat her ass and he keeps increasing my pressure that I just up and mount. Me being tyrant! Rainey took up my slack and let me stay on. This is how much more work I have to do!
We head for the trails and have a lovely ride down to the river and back
April 25, 2010 at 10:50 pm |
Today Rainey and I took our first solo ride here at the Farm and it went well. It was filled with opportunities. I made mistakes and did not die. Rainey saw some new things today that allowed us to practice leg yields
April 26, 2010 at 1:32 am |
This is my first time to leave a message or blog. In order to find out this work I have to experience trial and error. I left the same comments a few days ago but did not find them so if this blog shows up more than once then have fun reading it twice
As I will blog more often I will be getting better with this, please be patient I will eventually master this blogging, ha ha ha.
I had my third session with Bruce, and I am realizing what I have allowed to do around me.
I was in the round pen with one of Bruce’s beautiful horse (there is something about this perticular horse that feels like I like to choose him, he always comes to me to check me out. He also stays with me). Going back to the story in the round pen, the horse (sorry for his name) lifts his head and perks his ears up letting me know something is going on in the near by forest, of course instead of putting my arms up which would tell him to step off, I make three steps back. Quickly I learned that I was dishonest to the horse I corrected my position and stepped the three steps towards the horse, I moved my arms up just a little and the horse knew that it is in his best interest to step off and give me my comfortable personal space ( the negative pole was first raised and then the positive pole was raised after the horse gave me back my personal space.
Here comes my personal story that happend to me which is very similar to what happened in the round pen.
I went into a grocery store that has self checkout which I choose to pay for my item that I liked to buy; however, a lady with her pre-teen child approached the checkout that I was working on and started to put their groceries on my checkout stand, I looked at her and said nothing. I was hoping my look should have chased her off but I quess it was not mean enough. The price that was shown as a check out price was incorrect and i had to ask a store associated to please check the price, after several tries the associate was not able to fix the price and I started to get inpatient becasuse that lady and her child were breathing down my neck and they would not back off instead getting closer and closer, the associate could not accomplish the price correction, I finally said that I am no more interested in the item and I left. My negative pole was way up and I released the negative pole temporarely when I left the store, instead I should have been honest and told that woman and her child to step off and demanded my personal space back which would have created a permanently raise in the positive pole. When I walked away from the situation I did the same thing as when I stepped those three steps back in the round pen. Now I wished I would have asked the lady and child to give me my personal space back and to be so kind to wait until I have completed my purchase.
Bruce showed how not to be tyrant and how to be an alpha. The alpha would ask for his or her space back but the tyrant would have done exactly what I have done walking away.
Well, in my next lesson I will be more an alpha then a tyrant I know I will learn every time a little more.
Thank you very much Bruce for your lessons.
Thanks
Didi
April 26, 2010 at 1:12 pm |
Didi,
Excellent story, I can sooo relate to these situations. I have a couple of questions, if you are okay with that.
When you stepped away from the horse you say you where being dishonest….but with whom? and why did you step away from the horse? and what were you telling the horse when you stepped away?
The lady and her child made your negative pole rise…why?
I hope you do not think me too forward to ask you these questions, but I am curious as to your answers
Thanks Anna
April 26, 2010 at 1:54 pm
HI Anna,
I was dishonest with me and with the horse, because I did not told the horse that he is a little too close to me. At the moment I stepped back to my old point and rose my arm up I become honest to the horse and asked him to step away to give me my personal space back.
I stepped away from the horse because he told me by his body language that something is going on back in the forest and that he may take off running and I felt I was in his way.
The Lady and the child made my negative pole go up because of two things, first she invated my personal space, second the energy that came from her was not a kind energy, ( I know that sounds corney) but I got some kind of negative feeling from her that I did not like. I just felt like I wanted to push her and her kid far away from me. Today, if this would happen again to me I know I would approach the situation the same way as I would do with the horse, tell her and her “ankle-biter” to step off.
Thanks
Didi
April 26, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Hi Didi,
Thanks for answering. I have done the same thing in the round pen, there is so much pressure in there.
Look forward to hearing more training stories from you.
The lady at the store…I KNOW that vibe you are talking about. We are made up of atoms, and I bet those things vibrate and create an energy all their own.
I appreciate you writing back, it helped me more than I can say.
It sounds like you are doing a good job and learning the mind-sets. Keep up the journey
Thanks,
Anna
April 26, 2010 at 12:52 pm |
Hi Naturals,
I have a question for you that are now riding.
The Boykin Spring Fling has been rescheduled for this Sunday May 2.
I have a big picture that has me and Rainey participating. The small picture is getting together a group of us Naturals. If enough of us are able to do the ride, Bruce will ride out with us to be our mirrors.
This is an excellent opportunity for us to all ride together and support each other on trail. Please let me know if you are interested. When we have 2 or three riders I will call and get us a time.
Thanks
Anna Williams
my email is will6801@bellsouth.net
cell # 803-420-0081
April 26, 2010 at 11:36 pm |
Hi Anna
I do not at it as pressure when I am working in the round pen. For me it is like a way of learning how to be a good partner to my horse which I hope one day I can take and convert this experience into my work place one day.
I only get pressure when I have to deal with “stupid” people such as the lady and her kid in the store. I do not feel good when I am cornered.
However, now I learn how not to get cornered and hopefully one day I am able to turn opportunities like this into a good and positive way to help people and animals to become better leaders like i will learn to become.
Anna, hang in there and find a way how to put your pressure into a positive light, I know that is not always possible but anything is possible when people want to do it. Many years ago I learned that when it rains it is nasty outside and most people perceive rain as a negative thing, but in real it is a good thing for example when it rains the flowers can grow, people have more water avaiable, it cleans the air from pollutions such a pollen or industrial pollutions. Here is my question why are people not happy when it rains? I believe they should be happy.
When I do a mistake it is perceived by most people as a negative thing, but in real it is a good thing, because I learn something from my mistake, again I see it as an opportunity (got that from Bruce) to make something better out of a mistake.
I better stop here other wise this comment becomes the size of a book and I have to write my term paper, ha ha ha.
Thanks
Didi
April 27, 2010 at 3:47 pm |
Perfection
Our material world demands perfection on many levels. In tests at school there is always the possibility of a perfect score. The athlete is often striving for the perfect game. Technology has made it possible for more and more accurate calculations to measure ourselves with and against. Perfection and the drive to achieve it surround us in our daily lives. We can easily become driven by perfection and then self-reject on the basis of not being perfect or not meeting the impossible standards we set for ourselves. A more healthy approach to this perfection overload is to remind ourselves through our horses that IMPERFECTION is a precondition to being alive. If we were perfect we would no longer need to be here on this planet participating in this school of life. Our life with our horses gives us th opportunity to to come face to face with aspects of ourselves that are less than perfect and to make choices about them – alpha or tyrant for example. Simply being present to this possibility makes us more gloriously alive in our imperfections.
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April 27, 2010 at 4:20 pm |
From the book Taking the Leap, by Pema Chodron
Shortly after 9/11, a Native American grandfather was speaking to his grandson about violence and cruelty in the world and how it comes about. He said it was as if two wolves were fighting in his heart. One wolf was vengeful and angry, the other wolf was understanding and kind. The young man asked which wolf would win the fight in his grandfather’s heart. The grandfather answered, ” The one that wins will be the one I choose to feed.”
So, back in the round pen.
Bruce- Why did you add more leg?
Me- Because he was slowing down.
Bruce-Was he not trotting?
Me-Yes.
Bruce-So he was already doing what you asked of him?
Me-Yes.
Bruce-So was that fair to him?
I have asked myself isn’t that what we do to each other? The people we know and those we don’t? Thanks, Bruce, for helping me feed the Alpha Wolf.
April 30, 2010 at 7:41 pm |
Carole,
I only add that I actually do this to myself , others and my horse. Not as much as before Bruce~ Thanks
Boy….You have hit that nail on the head
April 30, 2010 at 12:23 am |
Thursday
In preparation of the Spring Fling on Sunday, I decided to take Rainey out one her own here at the farm. We tack up at the trailer and attached the long lines with the hope of riding after a while.
Remembering to keep it simple stupid, we take a well known trail.
All is going well as we go down the first trail and wham the smell…..death….on the trail. Rainey all of a sudden rears and wants to come back. Narrow trail and me kept her moving forward. Only after finishing this evening did I find what had bothered her. A dead possum mostly decomposed….uggh.
The encounter sent her pole up to 10. I am encouraged because she did not take me off my feet or pull the lines from my hands. We pushed on and Rainey is trying her best to go home. We get our direction back and we cross the little ditch that leads to the pond and she starts tyrant. There is another fire going, dad has been busy clearing the land with a backhoe the last couple of weeks. There are some trees gone and some stumps lying around and the trail is kind of messed up from all the work. We move on through this area, it takes some work, she wants to go home. We do some backing through the bad areas and then turn around and go through them again. Next we are back on trails that are familiar and we are both settling in. I check to see if I can mount but she is still wanting home. Another trail later she is ready. I disconnect the long lines and mount up Rainey is a 4 and I am an 8, so hard without Bruce there. On the ride home, we came upon a man behind a tree with a shovel and a lady waving a watering can, my mom and dad. They are amazed that I am on her back because they witnessed the show at the new clearing. To tell you guys the truth, I am amazed that I got on.
That was the scariest adventure I have had with her since I had to trailer load her with the long lines.
But we survived and are stronger for it. It took me all day to psych myself up for this, but I am so glad that I took the time to do this today
April 30, 2010 at 9:53 pm |
What a session!!!!. I feel prepared and ready for Sunday and the Spring Fling.
The pasture walk and the trailer loading were non-issues today
Once at Red Bank we off-loaded into a mass of opportunities.
There were children laughing and playing; some weird bicycle contraption the kids were riding around in. One young man had a BB gun and was shooting Martins. I took Rainey away to graze. My pole was up! After a while I settled down and took her back to the trailer to tack up. Minor problems with the girthing process, kept it slow and steady with breaks so I could get the girth snug. We did some more walking around and grazing so I could tighten the girth one more time. Bruce arrives and I go into the pen to begin the walk, trot and canter portion of the warm-up. She did so well, I congratulated my self for finally getting the girth tight! Mount up and begin the rail portion of the warms ups. Out of the pen and ready to ride. Grab the water bottle and put in the pouch and Bruce asks why did I not work with the bottle in. Just did not think of it, although it sure makes sense. So back in the pen and sure enough, the bottle made a difference. This time I come out and my hubby was waiting Bruce is mounted and ready to go, I mount Rainey and she wanted to buck so I disengaged and she stilled. I should be thrilled by this, Aaron was, but I am afraid to feel good about this. You get the power and then you lose the power. This has happened to me over and over again. It did not raise my pole and that is because of all the preparation and pressure training I have had for the last three months. The pressure I felt was not that great and I was able to respond appropriately. Thanks Bruce for raising MY pressure threshold.
Away we go down the trail, Rainey and I are leading with Bruce on Marley following and little Jackie running along with us. The wind is blowing and the sky is so clear and Jackie breaks into the woods and there is loud rustle, I hear Marley move and feel Rainey start to move away. Again, the pressure of the situation did not cause me to lose my picture and we got our direction back.
Now we are moving along the field headed toward Red Bank Road, we are talking and I can see that the road is clear so proceed to cross. Oh boy. Bruce lets me have it, we have been here before and he has told me to stop before I cross. So stop, relax and cross…good. Now we are in the filed with the irrigation connectors and that big ole thing. Time to work on leg yields, but we are in the corn filed tearing it up so just get forward movement back on trail and try again. Now I will tell you leg yields are not easy for me for whatever reason. Thinking about it to much probably, but this is new to me. Bruce knows this is hard for me so everything is an opportunity to work on this. It raises my negative pole. The frustration of not being perfect gets me every time. That is how much more work I have to do…
Back to the woods and up the ditch to the dirt road and we take a left, walking along nicely not really having to work on anything and we come upon the wooden bridge. I am thinking okay we can do this. I focus across the bridge and ride up to it when I hear in my head “some horses react funny when they hear their hoofs on a bridge the first time” I stop look at Bruce and told him my pole was up. Bruce…How do you solve that…Me…get down and walk…Bruce, goood! So I walk Rainey across, back and across again and mount up thinking Bruce is on his way. He says good ….ride on over to me and I do and back over again. Now I am thinking to myself that this is good ride, she is doing what I ask, when I know what I am asking. Next we head back into the woods and there is a puddle the size of a hoof print on the trail and Bruce and Marley tackle the puddle. My turn easy enough, well I’ll be damned, not so easy. Hum, confounded by a little water puddle. Bruce is again increasing my pressure. Rainey is fussing, Bruce is fussing and I am just trying to get my horse to step in the stupid puddle. Major frustration on my part. After some time, he says to move on and I can not believe it, we are quitting before the picture is done. Bruce says, but aren’t your reactions quicker now, where you more aware of your horse and what she was doing. I nod. So we move on. I am still thinking about the puddle when Bruce makes a right into this swamp ditch water crossing. He and Marley are stopped in the clear water about belly deep and he says if you would like to then come on. My learned trail manners tells me to wait until he is out before I get in, but that is not Bruce’s picture, he may have thought my hesitation was due to fear, whatever he hollers at me to come on and I do and we are through before you know it and up to the other side. On we go through a field and back in to the wood and another puddle only this one is a normal trail puddle; 2 feet across with limbs, frogs and tad poles. Again Bruce asks me to take Rainey in and again she refuses, we battle and battle, Bruce yells and yells more leg, more pressure. I am kicking my horse forward so hard I am crying, she is bucking and I do not care about the buck, I just want Bruce to shut the hell up. I hate kicking a horse. “It is not the kicking but the pressure created by the kicking and who told you to kick and how hard?????” This is my Alpha trying to reason with me, not Bruce. I have on great sunglasses, so he does not know I am crying yet. The kicking has resulted in nothing but some bucks and me no longer afraid of those. Grab a limb and make a stick, great, now I am wailing on my horse with a stick. Can this get any worse? You bet! Bruce is still hollering and asking me to do impossible things and it all becomes too much. My threshold is not rising fast enough to catch up with the pressure level. Now Rainey is still bucking and alternating with kicking out at the stick. I have not really missed the point that I am still on her back, but the moment is lost as I try to complete the task before me. Finally she steps in the water. Bruce reminds me to make a big fuss, because I am lost at this point. Another step, another fuss and then she walked right through. Good job Rainey good job Anna! On down the trail we go and Bruce is talking to me about the mud hole. I tell him I hated using a stick and start to cry openly. He tells me it is not the pressure of the stick but the pressure created by the stick and whatever it reminds me of.
We now head for home, we are back in the field with the big ole thing and Rainey is back in the young corn rows. Get back on the trail and start to ride past the big ole thing on track, getting closer each pass. We have had a big training ride and it is way past time to be back. We chat about the experiences of today, hitting on the positives and we talk about the Spring Fling. I can tell you as hard as today was; Sunday is not as scary to me as it once was.
After today, anything is possible. My horse was under me the whole time. She could have bucked me off if she really wanted to, but she chose to be my partner this morning and what does not kill us makes us stronger. My pressure threshold has been raised again. Thanks Bruce. I remember to stop before we cross back over the road…good. We are close to home now and I see the blue tractor coming towards us and point it out. Thankfully the tractor stops and we turn left for the last few yards back to the round pen and Bruce’s next client. What a trail ride!
May 2, 2010 at 6:47 pm |
Success at the Spring Fling
May 7, 2010 at 4:41 pm |
Just another high pressure day in the round pen. Cory is doing well, and my Tryant/Alpha – Alpha/Tryant reaction time is improving. Half way through our session, the brain freeze kicks in and Tryant sends in her favorite henchman, “ubiquitous anxiety”, that dreadfull feeling of being lost in a void of the unknown. She brings along her favorite trolls of Self
Doubt and Self Blame that leave me blank and blinking in the sun. We all take a much needed break and the harpes are put back in their cages. Tryant is in her appropriate place again. Alpha mindset returns bringing her gals, Reason and Trust. Trust is a big dog. She has Patience with her. Patience is a puppy, but the paws are huge. All are working together again to help Cory not only to survive in this world, but to thrive as well, and that’s what it’s all about.
Bruce, thank you for feeding Trust and Patience so well. The Alpha pack is growing!
May 9, 2010 at 5:08 pm |
What a Mother’s Day present!!! Took Rainey for a trail ride after church. My girlfriend rides very slow and was kind enough to ride with me. Rainey went to a farm she had never been
Florabrook Farms on Longtown Road. After a few minutes of orientation, I tacked up and lead Rainey to the trail head. Mounted up and off we went. Mostly walking but it is a vigorous trail. Rainey was just awesome. I am so happy. Thank you Bruce for making my dream come true!!!!!
BTW Rainey and I had done a tack and go here at home earlier this week as preparation for today
May 14, 2010 at 1:55 am |
Finally!!!! I’ve made that turn Bruce kept talking about…… Yesterday I took Rainey for a ride here at the farm. I have been told that riding at home is the hardest. That is good! I found myself looking for opportunities. What else can we do? Half bogs, huge stumps dumped on the side of trails, overgrown trails, limbs, logs and briars. Every trail ride is a new and exciting adventure for us. I ask myself each time, am I upping the pressure for both Rainey and me and I can answer YES. I used to be so careful about where I rode. I did not want to put myself in a situation that we could not handle. Now, I ride through anything, or anyone, that I think is a training possibility:) It is so much fun. Guess what, my horse thinks so too…She is so forward and brave on trail now, she does not see threats either, only opportunities to prove what a good partner she can be. There is also a difference in our relationship. She seeks me out in the pasture; she is ready for a halter when I come. She practically falls asleep while I tack her. She has been out on four different trail rides with four different horses in the past 10 days. Sometimes I miss her being tyrant as it helps me become a better Alpha, surly I will see it again, but right now…life is good and I am enjoying the ride……
PS Anyone wants to go for a trail ride let me know. Rainey and I are up for an adventure. Here, there, anywhere!
May 14, 2010 at 1:56 am |
* that should read “or ride with anyone” not “through anyone”. LOL
May 14, 2010 at 2:08 am |
PPS
There is a pace in event Saturday in east Camden if anyone wants to go. I need a partner
May 15, 2010 at 2:35 am |
Got someone to ride with
Thanks
May 16, 2010 at 8:13 pm |
Saturday’s pace event with the Endurance girls……..
Boy o Boy I could never have imagined what a great ride today would be.
Which is a point Bruce has made over and over. Don’t let the past interfere with the present. I know I have turned that corner. I welcomed tyrant with open arms and showed it Alpha and it was so goooood!
I arrived early to let Rainey get a good look around then proceeded to brush and tack. I practiced Alpha during the tacking and again when we walked away from the trailer. She was bucking while I was leading her, so I got the reins and disengaged both sides. Tricia says ”oh boy here we go” and I am grinning like a fool because I know that I can handle this. Up into the saddle I go with 5 people watching and waiting for a show. Well Rainey lets me up and I disengage both sides and start walking her, she is stiff, but I keep my grin and my focus and soon she is moving freely and everyone has lost interest in us.
To the start we go and the other two Arabians are leading, they are spooking at anything, so Rainey and I practice leg yields. Then I ask to go first. Rainey is braver than the other 2 and goes down the trail nicely. We get a couple of miles down the trail and began the passing training. A horse passes her and she stops. Interesting, I ask for movement and we move on, note to self, may need to increase her pressure, use more leg, when a horse is passing, and that did indeed work! The positives are that she did not move over to cut off the approaching horse, nor did she try to kick out, nor did she try to keep up. Her first attempt at passing another horse was tentative at first but improved as we rode on…same thing more leg.
One point early in the ride I asked my fellow riders to stop. My stirrups were now too long. Rainey’s trot is lengthening and not so gaited as at first and now I need my feet under me. She stands quietly as I adjust each stirrup. Snap the stirrup and up I go she feels good!
Further down the trail we begin the canter training, oh my, Rainey discovers her canter and I am hard pressed to get her back to a trot. I make a note to self that we need to work on this at home; however I am very happy that she enjoys herself, as the canter is my next favorite gait. My favorite is the gallop; I have a need for speed. HUM….We spent the rest of the ride alternating the lead and passing and cantering, and trotting, stopping, standing, and lots of walking, it was hot!
Well that 10 mile ride flew by. We were done in an hour and 15 minutes. That is an average of 8 mph. WOW. I sponge Rainey off then use my friend’s water tank and hose and bath Rainey. We have worked with the hose and sprayer at home and Rainey enjoyed a nice refreshing rinse off.
Lunch is being served, so my friends tie their horse to the trailer, but Rainey has broken too many bungee ties for me to do this. I had decided to use an over head line. I run the line from trailer to tree and clip her onto it and away to lunch. See we were in an enclosed area and I figured that even if she got off, she would either stay close to the horses we rode with or if she ran around she could not go far. Opportunities everywhere!!!! About an hour later we head back to the trailer and Rainey is still there. The line is intact, and she has not hurt herself, the tree or the trailer. Amazing ride, amazing day and I am happy, very happy.