Another Good Day in L2/2006!!

Posted on 4th January 2006...

"I went out today skeptical that Cloud would come right up to me, now that he has a buddy in his pasture. However, he proved me wrong!!! And came right up to me when I wistled - leaning over the fence to great me !!!

Then we went inside - through a NARROW door with roosters squacking and a farrier clanging around - and he didn't spook or anything. I took the time it took and yo-yo'ed him in and out until he was completely confident.

Then I groomed him a little - not much because the snow is keeping him clean. He did well for not having been groomed in several weeks (I *AM* a bad horse owner, aren't I..)

Then I left him (tied) and started setting up our play equipment. Barrels, cones, a tarp, and a plastic pool. I set it up Parelli Tournament style - a circle around the tarp, &c - like the DVD a few months back. Cloud did well, but he REALLY wanted to be there with me. (Awwww)

We started playing. He was totally glued in to me, asking me questions left and right. If you were in my shoes, you'd have seen this:

() ()

* ~ *

O_O

Looking right at me, asking questions! YAY!

We finished with the stations very successfully and then played the Circling game. I wanted him to jump the barrels - which he's never done before. Nothing happened. So we started real slow and I let him mess up - tried not to push on him or get mad. Finally - IT HAPPENDED !! he jumped the barrels!!! A REAL jump, too, not a hop or a step!!!

So, things were going well. Then we started playing "stick to me" on-line (12') and that went really well. In fact, his FQ and HQ yields are really improving now that we've started playing stick to me. He was really stuck on me.

Then we started "mirroring" eachother at varying gates - also on the 12' line. Basically, I asked him to speed up from a walk, then I took what he offered and mirrored him. So we trotted (and even CANTERED) together. Not to mention HQ yields and sideways. He's lazy as heck, so for him to canter with me is a HUGE deal.

Then we went back to the tarp and I put it over him. He had it on him for almost 5 minutes - even draping over his ears, so he couldn't see anything. AWESOME.

At some point, I dropped the line and tied it around his neck so we could do some liberty stuff. In a 60x120 arena with open walls, doorways and food just around the corner. We played "stick to me" and some squeeze and circling games. I even sent him to a tarp and had him put his foot on it (which he did!). SO COOL!

Then we quit for a little bit. Spent some undemanding time sitting on a barrel. Drank some hot chocolate (it was cold) - he wanted to drink it with me, but I didn't think that was good for him. Spent some more undemanding time and then quit. I put him in his pasture - shooed away the other horse - fed him some cookies and then left to clean up.

Sorry this was so long, but I HAD to share. I am SO EXCITED. Our relationship has grown by leaps and bounds and he is really starting to respect me!!

SO EXCITED!!!! I'M SO HAPPY, I'M GLOWING!!!!"

**ah** -- I love good days like that!!