​2019 was a great year for me and the girls, Jalila and Shiraz. The no pressure, what-can-we-do-today approach to working together proved rewarding, treats for them, happiness for me. Shiraz’s confidence has increased to a point of near bravery, and Jalila remains a delightful force in my life.
I’m looking forward to new adventures and expanded horizons in 2020.
​This short (1 minute) video is festive and I love the way you can see that the girls absolutely understand what I am asking them to do. A lot of thinking in a minute's time!

​Taking the Show on the Road/What Happens outside the arena?
I’m grateful for the Connection Training (Positive Rewards/Clicker Training) Club for setting forth monthly challenges to inspire me to get out and do something and document it. Here are the results from our autumn All Terrain Challenge.
Due to visiting horses and much hysteria in the paddocks, we couldn’t go out of sight, so I set this course on the berm in my front yard. I transplanted the flag, a plastic bag, and the pinwheel from the arena, threw in some poles to encourage thoughtful stepping, and went straight to it.
 (Shiraz) The footing on the hill is steep and soft. This is a moderately trimmed video of a 4-minute session with Shiraz. Shiraz would rather not have to cope with scary things, as evidenced by the snorting and buckling knees, but she does it, and is proud of herself after.
When I think back to a couple of years ago when a plastic bag would send her reeling and shaking, I am ever grateful to Connection Training de-spooking instruction. As you can see, she now thinks anything that shows up should be touched!
(Jalila) In this final video documentation for 2019, you can see how wonderful it is that a horse who should probably not be ridden due to coordination and/or neurological issues, landed squarely my lap, a woman who no longer has a desire to ride. The relationship I have with this mare takes me back to when I was a kid.
Shiraz takes the CT All Terrain Challenge (2:46)
Jalila takes the CT All Terrain Challenge (4:07)