my horse wouldn't do that!

Hi All,
I know it's been a while since I blogged about Silke. exactly one week ago on Wednesday morning I went out to play with her as we have always done, and she did all of her ground work nicely and she seemed to be OK about me getting on her but as we rode it seemed like she was not her agreeable self, she kept lowering her head and I kept bringing it back up. we were still doing OK but I could tell that it was going to be a little different. Instead of getting off to see why and try to "fix it" on the ground, I just kept riding, because it wasn't that bad. well needless to say as we rounded the next turn there was a loud noise we had not heard before from a distance away and Silke went into "Flight" mode.    I was riding it through sort of but I didn't try to stop her until she went one full lap. when I asked for the one rein stop that we had practiced numerous times successfully, she must have all of a sudden felt trapped and so she started bucking and we went another lap until I was successfully bucked off of my wonderful horse. I landed quite hard on the right side of my prideful Butt. I called out for someone to go get my husband and turned to watch Silke keep bucking another 60 feet to the other side of the corral and stop.
I have had some time to think about what happened and I have gone through all kinds of emotions from getting out of horses all together and selling them, but realizing that I just need to keep doing what I am doing and get more information and help from all my wonderful friends and trainers. I am back to working with Silke as of yesterday now that I am healing enough to walk and sit comfortably. she is doing well and my focus is much better I can't wait to see what this year will bring. thanks for listening
Cheryl and Silke

Thank you

Hi All,
Silke and I are having so much fun, we have been riding together everyday 5 days a week since October, and we have been very consistent since Silke came here one year ago last November. we have had lots of help and advice and support from all of you, Thank you ! today we are still going strong and I am going out this morning to ride her again. I have learned a lot about myself and my horse. I am especially learning that my confidence in myself is holding me back more than anything else so I want to thank all of you who have helped me through that process. this is a journey and it is the best horse journey I have ever been on. Happy trails to all of you I hope you who have adopted an Extreme farm horse can gain from these blogs as well as those of you who have other horses too. Our horses are our mirror. thanks for listening,
Cheryl and Silke

Silke and I have really come a long way. 

On Friday Silke was being a little bit testy, but I was very patient and just kept going until she had a good response. then the ultimate challenge happened:

My worker was trying to get the hose to work to fill water buckets and all of a sudden the water squirted out and shot Ice cubes all over the cement just a few feet from us, and up to this moment we didn't even know he was there! Well needless to say, Silke reacted and so did I it really startled both of us. My first thought was OK here we go... get ready. and you know she did go forward really fast, but I said Whoa quietly and bent her around, as we have done hundreds of times and Silke stopped. WooHoo! Then we just continued on with our ride and she didn't buck or panic, I feel like we have truly turned the corner. I can't wait till tomorrow morning. I am so pleased with our progress. Thanks for listening,
Cheryl and Silke

Silke's Progress

Hi All,
Well, Silke had a couple of days without riding her and guess what? She was right where I left her our ride today was great! she is doing wonderful, I guess all that consistency really makes a difference. It is 2 days before Christmas and we want to wish all of you and yours a wonderful Christmas and a happy New year!
Cheryl & Silke

Silkes Progress 1 yr later

Hi All,
I am so amazed, some of the things we have accomplished may seem trivial to some of you but here goes:
I can now pet my horse while she is eating hay and grain!
I can touch her butt when I am riding and she doesn't bolt or buck or panic
I can halter her in the stall and she lowers her head
I can call her in the pasture and she comes to me
I can pick up all four feet
I can touch her where the apples go in and come out teets too!
I can say whoa and she stops
I can play music while riding
I can ride her with the quad (4 runner) stall cleaner going off and on, very noisy.
I can get on her on one side and get off the other side
I can lower her head to the ground
Silke Ground ties for a very long time in the big arena while I sit on the bench
Silke walks calmly through all gates, without bolting
when I turn her loose in the pasture she stands to be petted or scratched
she stands still for mounting every time!

The list goes on and on, I had to touch her with a very long fishing pole when I first got her, she has tried to kick me and bite me and she has bucked off my friend and the trainer was bucked off at least 5 times and some times more than once in the same day, she had bolted at every opportunity.

Silke is my favorite Christmas present, She amazes me more each day!
Have a very wonderful Christmas a nd a very Happy New Year
Cheryl and Silke

riding,riding, riding

Silke and I have 9 good rides now and we are having the time of our lives! we are doing eights and stops and backs and turns and we are riding for longer times each day. We start every morning at about 7:00 and we are riding by 8:00 (she gets her morning hay first and I get my morning coffee) We are usually done by 10:00 and then she goes out to her pasture. We usually take Sunday off. After we ride I take her into the big arena and we play the I trust you game. She stands in the middle and I trust her to not leave and I sit on the ground a few feet away and each day I move farther away, today I sat on the bench about 40 feet away for a very long time, she actually closed her eyes and slept a little without moving. she seems to like what we are doing I always ask her to lay down with me and she seems to think about it, but she has only bowed a little and pawed the ground, its a start. I am not in a hurry. our journey is such a wonderful gift! I learned about ttouch today, I want to learn more so I can apply it to our program. I am so thankful for having the opportunity to help this horse, it has changed my life! here is a "sideways" ground tying picture from today! (sorry, I don't know how to turn it around)

Hi All,
Cheryl and Silke