Here is an example of some of the playing around Paisano and I do. He is getting pretty good at these tricks. Jumping on command with no side rails is the latest. We are working on it in the larger arena with the jumps away from the rail too.
The rest is getting familiar enough that he sometimes gets tired of it. It is time to add to our repertoire with lay down and moving toward Spanish walk. It all comes pretty slowly, as I don't really push anything. We just play and add new things as I feel like it. For instance, he has been free leading for a while now, matching me step for step at walk and whoa. We've added turning away from me at a hand signal and more recently trotting and coming back to whoa. He gets much more animated off the lead at the trot and it is nice that he still listens to come down to whoa again.
August 5, 2006 - click for a larger image.
All photos and text copyright 2006, Simrat Khalsa. Do not use in web or print without express permission.
