Riding day!

Hi,
Today we woke up to lots of snow everywhere, but I decided to play anyway. Silke is so easy to catch now that I love getting her out to play. today was no exception, we did our groundwork and she followed me everywhere so I put my bareback pad on and climbed all over her I got on from the left and then again from the right side I want her to be balanced. I jumped up and down a lot from each side. I videotaped with my flip video camera on a tripod. I am still trying to figure out how to show it on my TV. I did a lot of bending and turning on the ground and on her. she was just taking it all in. I had my friend ride her first so I could watch her reactions, then I got back on and rode her around at a walk we did lots of turns and bending laterally. she was moving off my legs nicely with just a soft squeeze and cluck. If she got stuck and wouldn't move I would turn her and then squeeze and cluck if needed. we ended on a very good note. I can't wait for tomorrow, we are expecting a bad storm so it may be a day or two before I can play again, thanks for listening,
Cheryl & Silke

Catch me!

Hi,
The catch me game. Silke has really turned the corner, she is now catching me and I can't believe the change in her, she finally gets it! I am so tickled, I have been waiting for this day for a while now and thought it wouldn't be here till late summer. She is consistently coming to me and she genuinely wants to be with me. she followed me all over her stall and run and then we went to the oval pen and she did the same, totally off line.
then the really exciting part was when I put her back in her stall, she allowed me to scratch her head neck and ears while she ate her grain and supplements, normally she would move away or turn and posture to kick because of the food issue. she seems to have accepted me in all areas of her new life with me. She stood while I groomed her with out a halter and lead rope on she is also shedding a lot. What a great day I finally feel that I can put her out with the herd instead of just beside them. she is very much a lead mare so I am going to put my mares together and put my geldings separately until we have more grass growing and they are ready to all be together. I will have to wait until the weather is more consistently warmer. I hope that happens soon, thanks for listening,
Cheryl & Silke

Silkes Winter progress

Hi,
I haven't posted in quite a while, Today it is snowing chunks! If the weather would change, we would be testing Silke in a larger area with Feather. I will wait until this weather gets a little more consistently warmer with less mud! I certainly can't wait until summer, I think we should just skip spring if it is going to just rain.

 talk to you soon
Cheryl & Silke

Silke's blogs

Hi,
Today I rode Feather (Vaka) It was wonderful. by the end of the ride I was riding without reins and guiding only with a small crop we had a blast we rode inside the big arena and then we opened the gates and rode outside too, I just lay the reins down and used only the crop. she is so smooth we even cantered without reins. today was a very good day so I removed the saddle and rode bareback for a while, I am not very good at it yet, but I am getting better. It is starting to rain so I think that is a good time to break for lunch. Silke is so easy to catch now, she comes up to me and waits for me to halter her, it is wonderful, I rode Silke yesterday it went very well, she is moving with such light contact and she is accepting me getting on and off both sides now.

If you want to hear more about Silke go to her blogspot and read everything from the beginning. http://silkesprogress.blogspot.com

Cheryl and Silke & friends