Bonita - Week 6

Monday – I worked late, so we had a short ground work session in a simple web halter and long lead. I worked again on backing and coming forward, yielding the hind end. She started to anticipate the yielding, so I asked her to wait at times for my cue. Backing was calmer and lighter, so improvement there as well.

I also lay over her back quite a bit. This was the first time without a saddle and she was pretty calm about the whole thing. A couple of times she walked off. I had her turn to me when I slid off.

Wednesday – I rode Bonita today! It was a big day, as you may have read in my last post. Pam came out and stood by her head and helped her walk out. We just walked a few times around the indoor bareback. I am glad that this milestone is past though! Whew! We just did a few turns of the arena bareback. She was very good, turned and stopped fine. She needs to get the feel of balancing. I may use a saddle next time, as her back is really flat. It’s comfortable, but there is not a lot to hold onto.

Sunday – It’s been raining quite a lot, so there was no chance to work in the outdoor ring. And the indoor was set up for a dance this weekend. I also had to take time dealing with some fencing issues, as Bonita found a way to get through one of the cross fences. What I’m trying to say, is that today is the first work session I’ve been able to have with her since our short ride on Wednesday. I did get a proper lunge cavasson yesterday and it fits! So I tried her in that and she went well. At first though, I think that the extra brass rings on the noseband startled her. She had a few plunging bucks that I pushed her out of. Once I had the long lines on her, she settled down well. I did see improvement in her overall carriage using the new cavesson. She got softer, rounder and stretched more often. We even had a few full circles of walk and started yielding her hind end in and varying the speed of her walk.

It was a very good week for Bonita. I just wish that I had had more time to work her.

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