Wellington Parade 7-4-2010

The cattle drive went so well, I thought we should ride in the Wellington Parade. It was a little country town parade so there were old tractors, loud cars, fire trucks, American Flags, whistles, little kids running all over the place and rail road tracks.

Mark rode Bo, his mustang and I rode Calypso, we were getting ready for the parade to start when all of the old tractors started popping, cracking, and grinding into gear. Bo got a little excited so Calypso really got excited and did fast little crazy circles. I thought, Oh gees what have I gotten myself into. But as quick as he got excited, he calmed down. The rest of the parade was a breeze. We walked across the rail road tracks while others had to get off and walk their horse. Calypso acted as if he had done parades his whole life. He walked calm and proud down main street of the little Colorado Country town. Mark was explaining to the crowd how wonderful the mustangs are and we would circle around so everyone could see the freeze marks. It did not matter what I asked Calypso to do, he was already two steps ahead of me. I just know he can read my mind.

I am so happy that I was able to keep Calypso, he definitely has my heart!

Cattle Drive, June 12

We were invited to go on a cattle drive and I thought it would be a great opportunity to ride Calypso away from arena's. It was only one weekend after the competition.

We started after the first group of cows and Calypso acted like he had done it his whole life. He picked a straggler and stayed right behind her as she went down the steepest rockiest part of the mountain. When we got to the rest of the herd, cows and horses were charging toward us. Calypso was calm and focused. We opened a gate and fell behind the rest of the herd, no problem. We just cantered up towards them and slowed to a walk. He followed the cows, put his ears back and nipped at stragglers as if to say " get up there, little doggy." No matter where we needed to go whether it was straight up, or down, or boggy or streams and trees. Calypso went where we needed to go with ease.

We stopped for a break at lunch time while some of the riders were taken back to trailers. It took them a while to get back since the truck broke down. We just hung out with our horses as they munched on the grass, with out a care.

We finished the 11 mile drive on a beautiful mountain side.

Calypso had to make four trailer changes before we headed for home.

I could not be more proud of my wild Mustang, Calypso.

The Competition

I did get to keep Calypso. He made huge progress the 4 days we were at the competition. Two weeks before the competition, Manuel Trigo helped me do my first ride in the saddle. He gave me and Calypso a boost of confidence and we were on our way. Calypso quit bolting because I was able to give him the feel of my confidence in the saddle. Even though, the pain of a broken pelvis from two years ago was still fresh in my mind. I really believe that we gained confidence together. Noises still frightened him and quick movement behind him still startled him, but he stayed with me. No more panels to fix or fences to mend.

He did flip out in the trailer the day we arrived at CSU to check in. He reared up and went down under the divider and somehow, got up and did it again. He got some cuts and bruises on his face and hip bones, Calypso and I were both crying and upset but we survived it with no broken bones. What a way to start a competition, huh?

Actually, we were not ready for any competition but the journey was a great one. Several Trainers commented on the huge progress we made during our 4 days. Calypso actually seemed to enjoy the whooping and hollering and commotion of the competition. There were cowboys charging towards us and guns a shooting. We had a few really nice spins, not choreographed, and a couple of bucking sprees, but I did not feel the fear and I rode it. Now, That is Progress! I did not feel my 58 years, I felt like a kid again! What a ride!

When it was time for the auction, we had to tell all of the great things about our horse so people would want to buy them. When they handed me the microphone, I started to say how much I loved Calypso and enjoyed the journey, but instead just broke down crying as I rode him. Of course, many others cried with me. My husband stood up and announced that I was his wife and he was buying this horse for me. Everyone applauded and I rode my horse out of the arena to the many hugs of my friends and Trainers.

Cantering

I have only been riding Calypso since May 23rd and he is doing awesome! He seems to enjoy the ride as much as I do. I ask for a trot with one kiss and a canter with two kisses, he responds nicely. Each day, we have more confidence with each other. Today we did figure eights with a drop to trot lead change in the middle. It was not perfect circles but I was very impressed. When I asked him to stop, it was immediate.

We also worked on an obstacle pattern. He is a little tentative but tries to figure out what I am asking of him. We walked across the teeter-totter and opened the rope gate today.

We only have one more day at Spirit Dancer Ranch and then it is off to CSU for the competition and auction.

I am so happy with Calypso's progress in the last week.

Ditch ride

It was time to get out of the round corral to see how much control we really have.

Calypso was thrilled to go for a ride without panels and gates. His ears were pricked forward and his walk was eager. Mark was riding his mustang, Bo and Lizzy was riding her mustang, Alto. We rode in the irrigation ditch which was sandy with a few water puddles along the way. Water does not bother Calypso, he walks right through the mud, into the water, takes a few gulps and we are on our way.

Calypso was looking ahead as if he was headed back to his mountains of Utah. He started trotting and before I knew it, we were cantering. It was our first canter and I hardly knew when it was happening. It was such a smooth transition. I slowed him down to a stop with my body. It was awesome! I was so excited, I thought we would try it again. Into a trot we went, then a nice slow canter. He looked ahead as if he saw his mountains, his canter got faster and faster and I believe that he forgot all about me on his back. I asked him to slow down but he just went faster. I had to reach down the right rein for a one rein stop, he just pulled his head away. I calmly reached down the the left rein and brought him to a halt. It was not easy but we got-r-done. My heart was racing and I am sure he felt my body shaking. After all, it has only been two years since I broke my pelvis while training a horse.

Mark and Lizzy caught up to me and we turned around and headed for home. Calypso was really not interested in going back to his small home of 35 acres and round corrals. We worked on walking and stopping as we headed home.

I did not get a second ride in as planned, I just sat and recuperated.

I only have a few days left before the competition and auction and I am thoroughly enjoying the journey.

Calypso & Zorro

Calypso did not want to get into the horse trailer so I loaded Zorro and Calypso walked in. We went to CSU but there was so much commotion that I decided to go back home. It was a good trip for both horses.

I worked on a trail pattern all afternoon and then rode Zorro through it. When we had finished, I was just sitting on him when Calypso walked up to us. I think he was feeling left out. I got off of Zorro and he zipped off to the pasture. Calypso just stood there waiting for me to put his halter on. It was the first time that he has come looking for me. It was as if he wanted to try out the pattern. We walked through it and he seemed to enjoy the new games. He is so smart and willing to try new things.

I took off his halter and we walked and trotted to his pen for alfalfa. I don't close his pen door any more, he just seems to enjoy having his special place to eat.

Another fun day!

CSU arena, second trip

It took a little time to get Calypso in the trailer for our second trip. He did stay in place, looking out of the window.

When we arrived, every thing went smoothly. We walked around the arena, no toys to play with or spook at. I got on his back and we walked, with out a lead horse. We went from one side of the arena to the other keeping Calypso between my hands and walking straight forward.

Then I got behind Connie and asked her to trot and walk so I could follow her and give Calypso some confidence to trot. He was hesitant of trotting in that huge arena. Much different than in my round corral. After a few times around the arena, he relaxed and trotted at ease.

We hung out for a while, then loaded up and headed back home.

Another nice outing.

CSU arena

We were able to get some time at the in-door arena at CSU. Calypso loaded fairly easy if I walked in first. It was the first time to travel in my 4 horse slant load. I closed the first stall so I could slip in to it if needed. He always wanted to stay right beside me, so I went under the first stall, and around to the back to close the door. I used a Clinton Anderson clip so it would come free if he got excited, which he did. I had only driven a few feet when he whirled around to face the back. I stopped and moved the clip to the back of the trailer and he traveled the rest of the way, fine. When we got to the arena, there were 5 other people and two more mustangs. They were calmly riding around playing with a barrel, a bridge and a tarp and some poles on the ground. Calypso touched the tarp and flipped out. He was so quick that I lost the rope. I was sure he was a goner because the arena garage doors were all open. I talked to him calmly and within a few seconds of running crazy, he stopped and waited for me to walk up to him. I was so thankful that he stayed in the arena. And I was also very thankful that the other riders in the arena stayed calm. They were wonderful!

I introduced him to the rest of the arena and it was pretty scary. We survived without another incident.

He was calm when I got on his back. We walked over the poles, around the barrel and over the bridge while we followed a calm, Jack Brainard horse. Shannon was trotting and cantering his mustang, Patty was trotting and cantering her mustang and I was real happy to just walk calmly while following Connie on her horse.

Calypso loaded up nicely and we headed home. He was still facing his window when we arrived.

It was a great day at the arena!

Riding May 23

Manuel Trigo came to Spirit Dancer Ranch for a "riding in lightness" clinic. He did private lessons through out the day. Calypso and I hung out at the arena to watch. I sat on the four wheeler and Calypso closed his eyes. I started it up a couple of times and we moved to different places, he did great!
When it came time for our class, we put the saddle on. As usual, that was not a simple ordeal, but he finally settled down and accepted it. Every day it is the same thing, but we will get better.
Manuel checked out Calypso's ground games, which were great except for when something moved behind him. He still has a great fear of anything behind him. We do work on that, but it is just going to take time.
When I got in the saddle, Calypso walked around the circle as if he had done it a million times with me on his back. Manuel had him on a lunge line and I just held on to the cantle and horn of the saddle. A first for me. The saddle felt foreign to both of us, but pretty soon we were walking and trotting and having fun.
The next class, Manuel took off the lunge line and handed me the reins attached to the side pull bridle. We walked, trotted, did turns and stopped with such lightness, I am still on a high.
Manuel donated $110.00 to my "Buy Calypso" fund. He thought we made a great team. Thanks Manuel!

Calypso & the 4-wheeler

I started out the day auditing Buck Branaman's colt starting clinic. It always makes me want to run and play with my horses, so I did. When I got to the pasture, Calypso let me watch him run across the pasture as if saying " look how beautiful I am." Then he walked up to me and stuck his head in the halter. I rubbed him all over, then we went for a walk up on the ditch road. Every once in a while we stopped so he could eat some lush green grass, then we walked or trotted together down the road. Pretty soon, Mark came along with the four-wheeler and we ran behind him to check it out. At first it was pretty scary but after chasing it for awhile, it was no big deal. When we headed back towards home, I rode on the back and Calypso followed behind. When we sped up, he trotted along side of us as if he had done it his whole life. What a great day!
Now, Calypso enjoys following the 4-wheeler and just hanging out with it.

May 19th

I had a wonderful day with Calypso.
He was grazing with the other horses when I got there, but came right up to me. We walked side by side to his pen where I fed him. I rubbed him with my hands, the rope and the saddle pad while he ate. Then I put the saddle on his right side with no problem. I could not put it on his left because my wrist is still sprained. I led him around new sights and sounds then took the halter. He trotted down to the other horses who were laying down, enjoying the sun. I just sat on the hill watching them for awhile. They all looked so peaceful, I just had to take some pictures. As I was taking pictures, Calypso just walked right up to me. No halter, just a saddle on his back. We walked back to his pen, took his saddle off and he trotted back to the other horses.

Backing Into the Round Corral

Calypso is doing so well going through gates that I thought I would try backing him into the round corral. He is so light and responsive that it is fun to play with him. He trusts me enough to always give things a try. I started by asking with a touch for the first step then I started driving with rhythm and fingers. As soon as he had a idea what I wanted he backed in nicely.

The Bag

It was another windy day and if I wait for a calm day, I may be in trouble. Calypso is still not fond of grain or pellets but will nibble on them while munching on alfalfa. He welcomes the halter by turning his head towards me. We walked towards the rounds corral with a few stops to play friendly games, swinging the rope over his back. He''s a little flighty , probably from the wind. We got the feed bag with the hay in it and headed to the sand box. I drug it in front of Calypso while we walked, he kept a leery eye on it but stayed with me. When we arrived at the sand box, I tossed the white feed bag filled half way with hay, on the ground and asked him to put a front foot on it. He jumped when he touched it but stayed fairly calm. After a few tries, he caught it with his front hoof and flipped it in the air. He very gracefully jumped over it looking at me for protection. I calmed him and he relaxed immediately. I was so thrilled, we just stood there and looked at the bag while I rubbed him.
We walked together dragging the hay bag. He still kept a leery eye on it but it is getting better.
We got in the round corral and I sat on the rail while he sidestepped over to me. I sat on him and flexed him and rubbed his whole body.
I finished off our day with an Equine Touch session. Then I took off the halter and we walked side by side back over the hill to his pen.
I put his hay in the pen and close the gate so he can eat in peace. Then Moses, the mule will come by later and open the gate so he can join the rest of the herd.

Now it is time to teach Belly Dancing Class.
What a great day!

Calypsos Progress

Calypso did not want the saddle on today. Every time I got near him with it, he got the crazy look in his eyes and jumped away. I put him to work and let him rest at the saddle and about the third time, he let me set it on.
I put hay in a feed bag with a rope on it and let him follow it around, then I asked him to step on it. It did not take long before he was stepping on it with his front feet and stepping over it with his hind. Then we went for a walk with the saddle on him. Through the bushes, over the logs, into the pond and to the pinwheel. When I flicked the rope over the saddle, he panicked but I was able to calm him and keep him from escaping. That was a first, yea! At the pinwheel, he walked and trotted over the logs then sidestepped over to me resting and closing his eyes. I rubbed the rope all over the saddle as he stood relaxing. We went up the steps and back to the round corral where I got on and off of the saddle and flexed him both ways. I was so thrilled that he stayed calm. I took the halter off and he walked beside me all the way back to his pen which is about 400 feet over the hill.
I'd say that was a pretty good day.
I really want Calypso to stay with me. He has taught me so much and I am so in love with him. Beside the fact that he is one beautiful horse.

Equine Touch

Thank Goodness for Equine Touch. www.theequinetouch.com. I am an Equine Touch Practitioner and probably would still be trying to halter my mustang if I had not used it. I have used it on all of my rescue horses and the before and after picture looks like two different horses. Equine Touch is myofacial release and Basic Body Balance for the whole horse. A few touches on the face and my horse relaxed enough to calmly put a halter on. The muscles on his neck that were like guitar strings started relaxing as he took a deep sigh. He finally let me near his right side after a few sessions from the rail. I sat on the rail, out of the way of his quick feet and sideways kicks. He quivered and squirmed as I did the Basic Body Balancing, but soon he was yawning and dropping his head. When I touched his tail, he panicked and left me, but after a couple seconds he came right back where he started and we continued. It took several days to get him to loosen his tail, but it gets better every day.
Every day is progress and everyday is a new challenge. I can not imagine having to let this horse go. He has so much to teach me and I have so much to give him.
But of course, who is going to bid on him if I am not yet riding him? Me!
I love this horse!

About Jock and Ivanna and Equine Touch

Jock Ruddock pioneered the Equine Touch, and with his veterinarian wife, Ivana Ruddock, has turned the Equine Touch into a discipline that is now recognized and applauded by all who see or use it, including veterinarians throughout Europe. The Equine Touch, a rebalancing, retraining, and some would say healing modality for the horse, is the first non-diagnostic, non-invasive, energy and connective soft-tissue discipline in the worked to be awarded national accreditation status in the United Kingdom. www.theequinetouch.com You can read articles about them in "The Natural Horse" magazine.

I love Equine Touch and what it has done for my rescue horses. Each time I attended a clinic, I wanted to learn more. Then I wanted to help more animals than just my own so I became an Equine Touch Practitioner. Horses love me and my touch, and I love them!
Contact me if you would like more information. CLspiritdancer@aol.com

Calypso Energy

As for Calypso, We are not ready to ride. He is too unpredictable. I have worked on grounding him. I know it helps him but just yesterday we were playing on the jumps, just walking and trotting and he panicked and cleared the 16 foot water tank again. I am very leery of being on his back when he panics and blindly flies away. He is fast and beautiful and I love to watch him run, but definitely need something else to happen before I feel comfortable riding him out in the open. He has finally taken a treat out of my hand and will nibble at the grain. Many would have sent him back by now, but I am in love with this horse. Cindy

I had an energy worker come to see him. This is her response:

When I came to meet Calypso, it was clear he needed to release some old past experiences. Negative emotions flooded the horse. The main emotions that I understood from him were: fear and not understanding his purpose in being a domesticated horse. Sadness ruled several parts of his body. Calypso's energy was above him and pushing behind him, ungrounding him the whole time. He was living in flight mode. When a horse is not grounded, it is very easy for them to be spooky and bolt. When the root chakra is out of balance this pattern happens. Calypso's solar plexus was muted and felt deficient. This governs his confidence in how he presents himself to the world. Lack of confidence and a lack of grounding easilly give rise to a state of stress and unpredictable behavior. Explosive behavior can often be rooted to simple energy imbalances that the horse will clearly show if it is in his highest good to help him rebalance. We do not fix or heal anything, we are just the facilitators of the horse's own process.
Lizzy
My contact info is www.wholehorseconsult.com and horse_shrink@yahoo.com 970-556-4691

Saddle and Games

4-21 Great Day! Calypso sees my car and heads toward me. We walked to his pen together, I put his halter on and go to play. I put the saddle on him with just a slight hesitance on his part. Then we crossed the bridge, got up on the sand box, went over the teeter totter, down the steps and around the pinwheel. He does everything at a walk. It is quite a stretch because the steps are about 24" high. We went to the pond and he stood in it until I asked him to leave. We were doing so well, I decided to try the bushes and trees with low hanging limbs. Absolutely no problem.
When I asked him to trot and do a small jump, that was when he got scared and wanted to buck. I just calmed him down and all was well. I stood in the stirrup and leaned over him out in the open. He is so calm when he is calm, but loses it when he panics. We are working on that one. We finished off the day with an Equine Touch Session.
'Dance with your horse & your horse will dance with you"

Trailer Loading Calypso

MOSES THE MULE




















MARK AND MOSES

When it come to teaching a new horse to trailer load, Mark's mule Moses is my best help. All you need to do is back the trailer up to the round pen and turn Moses and the untrained horse loose in the pen. Moses will do the rest. Moses will go in and out of the trailer until the horse gets the idea. In no time Moses and Calypso were standing in the trailer calm as can be. When he got excited and came out too quickly Moses showed him how to come out one step at a time then he backed out the same way. Calypso is not the first horse Moses has taught. Moses has loaded him self and five horses in my four horse trailer.
One night I did not secure Calypso's gate on his pen Moses let him out after I was gone. Next morning Calypso was in the pasture with the rest of the horses. When he saw me he ran to me then followed me to his pen where I haltered him. Now this is standard practice. When he sees my car he heads to his pen and waits for me there. I just hope Moses does not teach him to open gates.

Fifth Week With Calypso

I decided to play with obstacles and look for a saddle that was more to my liking and fit him better. He is willing to try anything I ask crossing bridges, the teeter toter and entering the water with out opposition even rolling in it . He runs free with the other horses and meets me at his pen when he sees me drive in. The laying down has help his attitude and made him more calm

Forth Week With Calypso

The forth week we worked on saddling as you can see it was not well accepted. When we did the saddle on I again worked him from the ground and from Cricket. He move nicely and his feet were free. A few tests of the stirrups, some trail mounts and dismounts and my brother Shannon was on. He walked nicely by Cricket and seamed calm. Wrong! His other self was back and he went into a buck. Shannon reached for the night latch missed and lost parts of two teeth an other jump and he was off. Got back on took a few steps so we could end on a good note but a new whistle. The next day we put the saddle back on and laid him down for some imprinting. He stood calmly while we saddle and re saddled changed cinches and removed stirrups.

Third Week With Calypso

My third week with Calypso showed signs of hope. I was able to approach and rub his Right side. I was able to have him come to the rail for mounting bare back and work him from above. I used Cricket to move him around the pen and he began freeing up his feet. I Began rubbing him with the saddle blanket. His response was light for the most part but for no apparent reason he would throw a fit and be out of control. he even went over and out of the round pen.

First Week With Calyspo And the Entities

In several pictures of Calypso the first week and before the Clearing we noticed light streaks across body mostly on his left side. This was indeed a sign he had some entities. They appeared in different angles and different locations in different pictures from different cameras. It was determined he had been carrying them since birth. Some were located in his spine which interfered with his control of his hind quarters. He would walk forward with his front feet until he was so stretched out that his hind feet had to move forward like the last car of a train. At times he would check out but when he came around all hell would break loose. After the clearing we have seen no more light streaks and his hind quarters move more naturally and his attitude became more consistent.

First Day With Calyspo in His New Home

I picked up Calypso on February 5, 2010 in Canyon City, Colorado as a contestant in the Extreme Mustang Makeover to be held June 11-13 at the CSU Equine Center in Fort Collins. Calypso is a 4 year old untouched gelding like the 41 other horses in this event. Each trainer is to use his own approach mine is slow and gentle. The first day Calypso would sand on the far side of the pin. A 24 X 24 with 7 feet high walls any approach and he would try to climb over. He would strike with all four feet. Rearing and strike out with his front and cow kick to the side with his hind. That was with his good side the left. On his right there was no approaching at all. After two week of this with little progress we can call a friend Cheryl Reynolds that works with entity clearing and an other friend Tonya to help with the clearing. It was discovered he had 8 entities present. The process took the better part of the morning. The energy of the entitles leaving him were so strong I was over come and it left me weak for several days. His recovery was slow and less than I had hoped for but it was start.