Joining up!

Yesterday both Big Mama and Hallaluyah had an awesome lesson.

I am yet to train Hallaluyah in the round pen as to protect her baby joints and 99% of the time - train her in an open field with no rope, halter or whip as aids.

She is ridiculously intelligent and so very, very sassy and a little ram rod that thinks she knows it all. 

But yesterday's training with her was FANTASTIC‼️

She was beautifully attentive, respectful and super willing while  using the thinking side of her brain. It was awesome‼️

                                                                         

Big Mama's lesson yesterday was just as beautiful.

She, too, was as attentive and willing. She trusted me and was quick to respond and peaceful.

It was a kind of day that you think for only a hot minute - "Wow, I'm pretty good! I should train horses for a living!"

Ha ha‼️

But TODAY . . .

Well, I'm sure you already have in your mind what I'm about to tell you‼️

Today, Hallaluyah was a ram rod‼️  She was not interested in being obedient and as a matter of fact at one point she pinned her ears at me as a response to me asking her to engage in her rear end. Which by the way she has a very nice one!

                                                            

What?  You pinning your ears little Miss Sassy Pants?

Uhhhh, I don't think so❗️ Well, she learned that there is only one alpha Mare on this farm - and it's not her.

Although, I left her session making sure that we both had a clear and peaceful understanding that "pinning ears" is never an option as a response.

She truly is one of the most intelligent horses that I have ever trained - thus ALSO making her the most challenging. She is learning body control and respect on the ground knowing her space is never allowed to cross over into mine.

Lunging is NEVER, never, never implemented on her. It breaks my heart to see draft or draft crosses trained aggressively at this age; therefore, I am on purpose about protecting her joints and tendons. She does weigh 1,500 lbs and is 16.1 and is only 20 months old. Protecting those joints from taking a pounding now will assure her a long and healthy body for life.  . . . okay rabbit trail there!

Get this - she will grow until she is 8 years old‼️ How crazy is that. It is so fun watching her mature and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she will be one of the most amazing Clydesdale x Friesian Sporthorse crosses. 

Sooooo . . .

Today I moved Big Mama's lesson from the round pen (a small 50 ft. confined area) to our yard (a 1 acre - less confined area).

Yep, you guessed it - her lesson was similar to Hallaluyah's.

Big Mama has gone through a lot of trauma before she came here. I recently contacted each of her 7 owners and got some of her story. My goal in her healing is to train her without restraint. Funny thing - she doesn't like the freedom. How crazy is that? Honestly, I don't think she was taught - that she could think. If you tie her up tight or get firm with her - she's like "okay"!  I want her to freely be in unity with me and use her brain. 

Oh, goodness!  It is a slow process!  Slow for sure - but honestly wonderful to watch her grow.

Soooooo, today's lesson looked like this. She had no halter or lead rope on - which is usually how I train.  She was able to leave me or stay with me. She was in our yard which is about an acre.  The goal was to repeat the same lesson in a bigger area - that she has been successfully doing - in a small area.

It was a whole new world!

She left me several times!  That in horse language means - "I don't see you as my leader and I am not respecting you or trusting you".

Mark was out messing with the weanlings calves and said - "Big Mama's sure not listening to you very good is she"?

Ha ha!

"Why, no, Mark she isn't. Thanks for noticing"!

She did end up joining up with me and working beautifully - but NOT without all her snorting and blowing and fussing. She joined up and relaxed and peacefully trusted me and obeyed.

This evening reflecting on both Hallaluyah and Big Mama's training sessions - I saw a parallel picture of our walk with the Lord❗️

Why do some days seem like it is easier to trust the Lord and 'join up' with Him in a trustworthy and faithful way?

And why when I asked Big Mama to do the exact same thing that she 'had already been doing' in a small area - but to do it in a larger less confined area - did she spaz out in fear?  She knows the safest and most Peaceful place to be is 'with me'.

Or does she?

Was she fearing me?  Or was she fearing the freedom? Or was she looking at her surroundings that felt threatening -  INSTEAD of remembering that I am her leader, I am trustworthy. And I am her 'safe place'.

You ever wonder 'WHY' - when you 'try' your own way in life without trusting God and then you spaz out in fear because things get all out of control and scary?

WHY would we choose our own way and not obey where and how the Lord was prompting us?

And, how many times when our surroundings - our circumstances - get wonky that we look at that in fear MORE than we look at God and His Promises and His Word and His Truth and His GRACE - OVER trusting the message that our surroundings want to scream at us?

Just as Big Mama and Hallaluyah's lessons demonstrate today - the BEST answer is to 'join up' with me - their loving leader!

Their leader that loves them and wants to teach them that they are absolutely positively AMAZING‼️ 

And that they are BRILLIANT and that they can TRUST ME‼️

And although Hallaluyah comes from the mindset of 'a baby' and is just learning.

And Big Mama's thought process comes from that of abuse and pain.

They both can and ARE learning that I am not out to hurt them. And I love them. And I want them to have a life that allows them to be the BEST that they were created!

Doesn't our Savior want that for us?  Isn't the BEST answer to 'join up" with Him - our loving leader?  Our leader that loves us and wants to teach us that we are absolutely positively AMAZING . . . with Him and in Him! And that we are BRILLIANT and that we can TRUST HIM?

Weather we are a baby Christian or a seasoned one that has been hurt and abused; either way God is asking us to 'join up' with Him and to trust Him.

He is asking us to allow Him to show us just how victorious we can 'be' in Him.

And that the safest and BEST place to be is 'with Him'!