All dressed up in her lunging gear
The stage from the weekend dance party was still set up in the arena, along with half a dozen bales of hay in a line across the center. We lunged around these and walked behind the stage a few times. It felt tight to her, but she walked willingly, if somewhat cautiously though. Someone wanted to use the indoor, so we moved out to the grass arena. Well, that was a bit problematic, as allowing her to calm, slow and lower her head was just oh, so tempting! The footing wasn’t all that great either and she raced around at a big trot, so we had to take a step back. I walked her around to get back to the idea of slow… I was able to expand her circle just enough to get one round of nice walk and a couple of whoas. Then I called it quits.
There is a large mounting platform in front of the barn. I took her over, let her graze around it and leaned down on her back from both sides. She got some back massage too. Then I practiced walking her behind the mounting block. It is not too narrow, but enough to feel like a chute. I practiced controlling her movement step by step and matching her steps to mine. She did just great with that, with only light halter cues. I had done this last week in the 5′ aisle to the indoor. It is fun and hightens her awareness to where my body is and where her body is.
Wednesday – I saddled Bonita outside today, as the indoor was being used and the whole barn gets really dusty. It’s just too much for my asthma. At the outside hitch rail, we got to see the sun sink through the clouds as is made it’s way to the horizon. Bonita was distracted by someone with a .22 shooting at Nutria in the back pasture. She didn’t move a foot for saddling and we went on to have a very nice thirty minute lunge session. She carried the bit again quietly. I did lots of transitions and by the end she had some nice, soft walk-trot-walk-whoa-stand sequences. There were a few times where she took a full circle to come down from the trot, but overall, she improved a lot from the start of the session, and from last time. She seems much more comfortable in the dirt arena, rather than the grass arena with jumps. The footing is a bit better and it’s more enclosed. I think that we will stay working in there for a while.
Thursday – I worked late, so took Bonita out for a short walk and some simple grazing time in the grass outdoor arena. I led her up on top of the drop jump and let her graze for a while. Then I asked her to jump down. She did, after a brief bit of coaxing and got praise and pets. Then more grazing time. I did lunge her a little each way. This was in a loose, web halter, not the fitted cavesson I’ve been using. She was light and responsive, very nice! The lead draped and her downward transitions were on just voice and a light cue on the lead.
Watching Inky or the 'racehorse' look.
It didn't help that the other horses were turned out in the middle of our work session, including her pasture mate, Inky. Bonita's attention was definitely out there in the pasture more than on me. I ended up spending about 30 minutes getting her back to listening and some soft trot-walk-trot work. I was about to quit, but didn't want to leave with her thinking that the trot poles were evil. So I walked her back and forth and back and forth, until her head was down, she was snorting and relaxed. Then I put her on a small lunge circle at a walk. She stayed at the walk and went through the poles jumping the last one. Good Girl! We continued for a few minutes more with a few more circles at both walk and trot both ways over the poles.
She definitely showed me today that she needs new things introduced slowly. And that she needs time to think about them, before fully accepting them. She is still a young minded horse, even though she is five years old. It was definitely a week of mixed success. There were some wonderful moments and some challenging ones. I think the next week should be one of monotony and repetition for Bonita.
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Kindlewood was much like this mare. Luckily most everything Kidnelwood was asked had been coming at her all of her life. She still had sass and brass momnets and childish mental check out moments all the way up until she was 6 almost 7. She had just crossed that barrier the year I bred her for Pro.
I hope whoever gets this mare is not in a hurry to ride her alot. I would not do more than back her lightly at this stage in her life if she were mine. I’d be asking more of her as far as riding next year and only mild circling, straight aways, backing and short walk, trot, walk transistions. Just my take on her what I’ve read so far.
I agree about letting things get monotinous for her so she will be anxious for new things later on.
I really like this mare a lot… there I said it again! sigh….
It would be really nice to let her come into herself slowly over a couple of years of good work. She’s strong minded and that can be a good thing. She is also strong physically and will be a real goer when she’s ready.
If Lily were up for it, I would really like to pony her for a while. Let her learn and gain confidence from another horse. But that’s just not to be. It’s her and me for the next two months at least.
I like her too!