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 Hi everyone!
My name is Shanellegant Ice, but everyone calls me Icee. And I’m dancing with excitement because the training season at the ranch is starting. And I’m finally old enough and mature enough to play with humans and become a coach!
While everyone was on hiatus (that’s my new word this week, and I like the way it sounds!) I got a lot of attention from Gayla and Tim and Lynn and Jean. My Mom, Shanelle, also taught me a lot! She told me to pay attention, keep my cool, and behave when I’m in the arena. She also said that when there are people around I need to try to be very grown up. So I figured out that if I’m in the arena, and there are humans in the arena, it’s time to be serious.
Gayla says my energy and enthusiasm can sometimes be overwhelming to people. So I’ve worked hard learning to control my exuberance (that was my new word last week). And I’ve had lots of training in coaching people. It’s been very cool because I really like people almost as much as I like other horses.
I felt really left out last year when all of the horses were busy training people and I had to just stand around and watch. They didn’t think I was paying attention, but I was watching everything the other horses did when they were coaching people. Sometimes they even played games with them. After the people left my mom would explain what they were doing and how it helped people.
But this year, I’ll be part of the action. I’m really good at being part of the herd, and it’s really way cool that my mom is the Alpha female. I get some special treatment by the other horses. I know how to follow and I know how to lead, even though I don’t get many chances to lead other horses. But I’m still me. And I’m still unique. I like my independence. And sometimes I still want to do what Iwant to do.
So now that I’m a real coach for equine experiential learning, when you visit the ranch we might get to play together. Tim says I’m growing up to be a very good coach, so you can be sure you are in good hoofs!
I hope to meet you soon.
Icee  
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