By the way from now on i'm calling you riding school G.P.R.S ( G.eoff P.annel's R.iding S.chool )

omg! that has to be like 1.05m! I sent my form in today. so you should get it. Unfortunatly, i cant afford to get in this year, i either go to the R.A.S or your Riding school. I decided to go to your Riding School because i enjoy that a hella alot beter. i was very disapointed to not see you ride ): But i just cant afford it. ( tear ) and i wanted to be your strapper. ),:

Mika

Thanks for that Geoff. Are you competing this year at all?

When you say BIG ones, how big do ya mean? ( nervous chuckle )
Who is in my group? okey. i hope i can come and watch!

Mika xx

Hi Geoffrey - haven't done much with Ben in the past week (we had a death in the family - an auntie of mine). Anyway, really enjoyed your photos! But, I do want to tell you that I'm feeling much much better about Ben... I think we may have (or I have) gotten past our little tiff or whatever it was. I feel more joined with him again. Yayyy. Yeah I had heard about pea size but never marble size whatever it is. Poor guy. Have fun at the show...............

do ya know what time you are on at the R.A.S? Or just the date? And you know i will be the loudst one cheering for you? hahaha. i'm pretty loud...... Who is riding in the section 4's??

Mika

i hope so!!!!!!!!!!! That is sooooooo soon! i dont know! how is the school. i have just been soooo busy. I would come this Saturday, but mum has this instructers day, you know to get a qualifaction to be an instructer at G.D.P.C. And i cant come on Sunday because i have G.D.P.C!I dont know about next week. I will talk to mum. It's just been more than full on......By the way i went to a show ( .G.D.P.D. ) and i got 2 champs, 1 reserve, 3 blues and these are for novelties i got a 2nd and a 3rd. For the school in Sept, will we be riding at your place? I miss jumping a reasonable height. I havent jumped high for ages.

Mika xx

Hey Geoffery!

I havent seen you in AGES! How's life? Any thing new happening? When and what time are you on at the R.A.S?

mika xxx

yes yes i can!! he LOVES your place!!

umm not well!! im not allowed to do it! cos mum and kathy dont want me to do it and unfortunatly if mum doesnt want me to do something i cant cos she has all the money!!! ahh money power sucks!!!!! sorry but i can come for the first week of holidays and hopefully mia too!!

Awwwwwww Geoffrey ... it was too wet for your Birthday bonfire??
I'm sorry :(
so will you just have it later then?? .. Or did you d something else to celebrate the day??
... this from you made me laugh and laugh ----> "My horses gave me a gym membership!!!!! trying to tell me something?"
And Huge THANKS for the reminder about "sweeping away "negative" dust" (it was JUST what I needed to hear!!)
~ Barby

Hey Man, is today your birthday. Many many happy returns to you! Have a great one.

Wendy
X

Wishing You Stardust And Moonbeams and Dreams Come True
On this special day that celebrates you!
Brightest Most Sincere Birthday Wishes Geoffrey!!
~ Barby

Hi Geoffrey ( I just wrote you a comment, but it disappeared ). I'll do it again. Yep, it's me again (sorry).

Today it took me awhile (about 25 tries) to catch Ben. He shares an acre paddock with my other horse Hank. When I go to get Ben, I walk in the paddock in a round about way (not directly to him), but when I get close he walks away and goes to Hank. He moves around Hank as I move around to get him. Finally, he'll stop and let me halter him with no problem. I'm thinking of separating the two horses hoping that if he doesn't have Hank to rely on, he'll be easier to catch.(?)

Anyway, our schooling session was fantastic today. I saddled him up and schooled him in a different area of our property to see if he would listen to me and he did. We worked on flexion, stop and go, and I dropped the lead line, asked him to whoa, and not only was I able to walk around him, but to also run around him without him moving. I was very pleased.

I'm getting closer to feeling like we're catching up to where we left off earlier this summer! Yayyyy.

Hello Geoffrey,
Yesterday I worked with Ben (groundwork) with his saddle on. I worked on stop and go. I was able to drop the lead line on the ground and have him stand in one place as I walked around him (both directions). We worked on flexion - he did great. We worked on backing up.... great at first then he was tossing his head and it took more pressure to get him to move. I'm wondering if maybe I'm too much of a perfectionist because I'll work with Ben, he'll do great, but then if he misses one thing I feel that the training is a failure. Stupid. I've gotta work on that....

Anyway, this afternoon I'll work with him again and let you know how it goes.

Cheers to you!

By Stop and Go exercises, do you mean get him to move his feet when I want and not move his feet unless I ask him? Yesterday what I did was I'd make him stop then I'd face him and put up my hand (palm facing towards his face) and say ho. Then I'd back up to the end of the lead line and would not allow him to move until I asked him to come to me. Is that the kind of thing you mean?

Hi Geoffrey, this is what I did with Ben this afternoon in between rain showers! I brought him in the from the paddock (took a few minutes to get him to allow me to put the halter on); we worked on flexion on both sides, dropping his head, turning on the forehand, and standing still when I dropped the lead line. He was great! My other horse was calling him, but he was focused on me. It built up my confidence again which I've been needing. My plan is to do this a few more times over the next few days, then get back into lunging him. I'm really wanting to back him, but I don't feel 100% sure enough.

Take care.
Wendy

Hi Geoffrey - we've had torrential rains here for the past few days, so not much has been accomplished. I'll definitely keep you posted though. I think the rain should be stopping in a couple days (fingers crossed). Thanks for asking!

I just took a look at your web site and I just got such great feelings about it. It looks like a really great place for body and soul of people and equines. Congratulations on making the world a better place!
Shirley