Silke October 2011

It has been almost a year since I brought Silke home. We have had some great fun and we have had some challenges. I am very pleased with her progress. Thank you all for taking the time to listen to our blogging and commenting on our progress from time to time. I wanted a project horse, and it has been a wonderful experience. For those of you who have these horses, I have to say that the thing that has worked the best for me was to try to spend time with my horse every day. That seems to be the most important ingredient in her training. So be as consistent as your life allows!

Bear and I went to the beach with the Cascade Icelandic club last Friday and on Saturday Bear and I rode on the beach for the first time ever! It was amazing at one point I rode with the reins on his neck and my arms stretched out like the kid on the Black Stallion. I can't wait till next year, thank you Claudia for organizing all of this for us, you are a very special person. We got to meet new friends and we got to spend time with a wonderful group of women. The food was great and everyone shared in the cooking, cleaning etc.  We stayed at a house that sleeps 10, and has room for our horses in stalls or in stalls with a run, it was great for us and for our horses. Thank you to Seahorse Acres on the Washington coast.
 Today I spent time on the ground with Silke and then we walked around the property and then I put her in her pasture, I will get her out again this afternoon and sit/ride her.
Thanks for listening,
Cheryl & Silke

riding!

Hi All,
Silke is truly becoming a wonderful horse, she has taught me so much. she is still teaching me on a daily basis. I am riding her now and I have made a commitment to her, she is still being ridden by Mike, my trainer. she has learned to trust humans and she seems to like being played with. she is very laid back but she is also very sensitive. we are still working on her speed control and directional. Mike rode her outside the arena and up the riding trail, she seemed to really like it.
We are riding in a bosal, it seems to be what she likes and responds to best. I ride in a Spanish/Western round skirted saddle made by Don West, it seems to fit and is good for me too. I truly believe that you need to build a relationship with these horses and it is the foundation for trust and helps everything fall into place, naturally. If I ask her for too much she lets me know to slow down, If I don't ask for enough she lets me know that too.
Thank you for listening,
Cheryl and Silke