Home...

Made it home yesterday afternoon. 6500 km and almost ran into a traffic jam less than 100km from home! Fortunately I hear about it on the radio and managed a scenic detour around it.

Catcher is doing well and is at Back of Beyond being pampered by Cathy and her crew. It sure was weird not seeing him yesterday evening and this morning.

Winter (the wild cat with kittens) was here to greet me looking very skinny and hungry. She's been stuck to me even though I know she has kittens hiding out somewhere under the house. The kittens should be 5 weeks old now but I haven't seen them yet. Anyone want a kitten? : )

I'll post some photos soon. Today is dedicated to laundry, unpacking and cleaning up the truck which turned into a bit of a mess over the 5 day trip.

The Weekend Off

Drove to Durango yesterday for some shopping and rafting with Brenda and family. Bought some nifty boots and jeans and had a 2 hour float down the Animas River. In the photo it looks like the water was rough but 90% of the trip was just floating along. We even had the opportunity to get out for a quick swim.

Catcher is doing OK in his latest temporary home. I think he's wishing that he was in the big 15 acre ravine with the other two horses but sorry Catcher-roo it's just not safe for you.

He's being kinda bad due to his constant desire to be with the other 4-leggers so I need give him some reminders today that even though he'd rather be else where he still can't step on his human.

Today is pack up and organize the truck day so that we can get an EARLY start tomorrow. Not doing a full 500 miles but creeping up and over the pass will take a LONG time.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Pagosa+Springs,+CO,+United+States&daddr=CO-196+to:colby,+Kansas+to:Williamsburg,+Missouri,+United+States+to:US-421+N%2FS+Michigan+Rd+to:White+Pigeon,+MI,+United+States+to:Stratford,+Ontario+to:45.265886,-79.212284&hl=en&geocode=FcqvOAIdHimf-SlJtAebbts9hzF_FfhBzBaGew%3BFTiURQIdpl7j-Q%3BFf0hWQIdJxD6-Skfeqn058sKhzE2OZbkFHCnCw%3BFX7gUQIdyb6I-ikTippPn2bchzECnby_MNvfBA%3BFZR6YgIdHqLb-g%3BFdrJfQIdxS_l-ikl10aeh_4WiDFXHl0M-comhA%3BFbXClQId9FIs-ymzl7SR-a0uiDHQHSPHKHsDBQ%3B&mra=dme&mrcr=4&mrsp=7&sz=14&via=1,4&sll=45.256764,-79.224472&sspn=0.042474,0.073557&ie=UTF8&z=14

Monday: 452 miles
Pagosa Springs to Colby, Kansas (back over Wolf Creek Pass)
http://www.tinacres.com/

Tuesday: 534 miles
Colby, Kansas to Williamsburg, Missouri
http://www.banbarenterprisesllc.com/

Wednesday: 504 miles
Williamsburg, Missouri to White Pigeon, Michigan
http://www.circle-j-horse-b-b.com/

Thursday: 334 miles
Border Crossing
White Pigeon, Michigan to Stratford, ON

Friday: 205 miles
Stratford, ON to Back of Beyond!
End of Catcher's trip.

Level 1 achieved

Last day was yesterday. Sigh. I would have liked another two weeks. Or four. I did acheive my Level 1 and got my red string.

Catcher loaded up and we moved to Hartland Ranch for the weekend. We'll start home on Monday Early.

Monday night we'll be in Colby Kansas, Tuesday in Missouri just west of St. Louis. Wednesday night in White Pidgeon Michigan. Thursday in Stratford (maybe we'll take in a play) and Friday night we'll be home.

See Facebook for more photos...

Last Full Day of "school"

Catcher-"roo" had a great day yesterday. He was the demo horse for the circling game and showed his true playful character giving everyone a great show. They called him tigger for a while due to his bounce but then came up with Catcher-roo.

Another funny thing that happened was that when I finally got Catcher to stand with his two front feet on a pedestal he reached down and grabbed the end of my belt. Then pulled upwards. I was laughing but also in danger of getting lifted off my feet. He did finally let go but it was a good laugh.

He and his next door neighbour (see photo) have been playing little escaping games. The Curly horse next to him has discovered how to undo the chain and rope that block Catcher's exit point. So far Catcher has only gotten out once but Twasi spent most of last night wandering about.

Off to play!

Almost done : (

I've been very bad at updating my blog! Days are long and I'm pretty tired by the time I get home.

Catcher ended up with a mild case of pneumonia due to the wear and tear of travel combined with his existing cold. I had the vet in last Friday because Catcher was running a fever and had a VERY low energy level. The vet put him on antibiotics and by Monday he was tearing around like his normal 3 year old self. He may have over done it a bit because yesterday he was a bit quieter.

I'm delaying my trip home by 3 days to give him more recovery time and have found a nice (but expensive) place for us to stay over the weekend.

The course has been like an immersion into horsey language and I know I've learned alot. I'd love to be staying for another 2 weeks but reality calls!

I'll try to post some photos soon! Off to school now.

Day 4 of the course

Is it really day four already? I *think* it's Thursday. Time has become some weird thing that I've lost track of but seems to be flying by. It's wonderful to be so immersed in something that you really have no idea of what day it is.

Catcher and I are having some interesting times. He is still slightly under the weather. His cough has not cleared up but his runny nose has. I've gotten lots of support and we're currently taking his temperature twice a day to make sure he doesn't have a fever. He's eating and drinking well but if he doesn't stop coughing soon I'll need to call a vet in to have a look at him. Other than the cough and slightly lower energy than usual he's bright eyed and happy to do what's asked of him.

We're doing what most people do as they learn. Two steps backwards, one step forwards. We fix one thing and break another. One thing that is very clear is that it's ME that needs to do the learning. Catcher already knows how to do all this stuff if only I can learn to communicate it clearly while maintaining his trust.

Weather has been great. A bit hot and dry for us but clear blue skies. The ride into the campus takes about 30 minutes in the morning. 15 downhill and 15 uphill. The first day or two the altitude (7000 ft) really bothered me but I think I've gotten used to it!

For those of you who really aren't clear on what I'm doing here perhaps Pat Parelli's 45 P's will help:

Pat Parelli Proudly Presents his Provocative and Progressive Programs and the proclamation that Prior and Proper Preparation Prevents P-Poor Performance, Particularly if Polite and Passive Persistence is Practiced in the proper position. This Perspective takes Patience from Process to Product, from Principle to Purpose. The Promise that Pat Plans to Prove is that Practice does not make Perfect, only Perfect Practice makes Perfect and, isn’t it Peculiar how these poor Prey animals Perceive People as predators prior to practicing the Parelli Programs.
© PARELLI NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP, INC.

Day 1 of Horse Behaviour and You (or me) : )

5:45 Rise and shine. ohhhh, nice sunrise over the mountains!
6:15 Off to the centre
6:20 Feed and Water for Catcher
7:00 Feed and Water for humans
8:00 - 9:00 Groom Catcher
chat with the humans of neighbouring horses
9:00 - 11:00 Class room learning
pep talk by Pat
Horsenality discussion and videos
11:00 - 1:30 simulations
demos of different horsenalities with horses
1:30 - 2:30 lunch
2:30 - 5:00 Different play stations with Catcher
Big green ball, tarp and pylons.
Tried to teach Catcher to fetch a pylon
Jumping up and down off raised land
going through scary things
into the pond
And most important learning how to teach Catcher to respect my space!
5:00 - 6:00 free time, water Catcher, rest
6:00 - 7:00 feed the humans
7:00 - 7:30 dinner for Catcher and tuck-in
7:30 - walk up the big long hill to the truck

My condo is very nice although a wee bit Christmassy for June. It's like the people who own it were here in December to decorate and haven't been back since. I can't complain though as it has everything I need and then some. AND it's only 3 miles from the centre. Tomorrow I'm going to ride my bike there which may be more work than I anticipate due to the 7000 feet of elevation.

Catcher is doing really well. Some of the horses have changed their personalities due to the new environment, etc but Catcher is his normal self and making all sorts of friends with his playful extroverted nature. He doesn't seem to have lost very much weight on the trip but does seem to be suffering from some dry skin. As are all of us who aren't used to this climate. There have been lots of sunburns on both human and horse already.

I'll put a few more photos on Facebook today.