Today was a slow day for Bailey and I.
The wind was howling outside and Bailey was a little tense about it. I lounged Bailey in both directions, as Amanda was riding and I wanted to keep my eyes on Bailey at all times. We practiced changes of directions a little bit. Bailey likes going to the right more than the left. She sends much easier and maintains her gait easier to the right. I found the send to the left a bit harder and I had to get to phase 2 (which was very little with her--lifting my carrot stick). She listened, but she would glance in the other direction and was less willing to send. It would be interesting to see how she is in the next few sessions. Another thought is that it could be my lunging skills, because I prefer holding my carrot stick in my left hand and get a bit less dizzy when I'm going around in a circle with her when she's going to the right.
We did one more thing that session. I started teaching her the driving game backwards. She already knows how to drive backwards with me moving into her space. I'd like to teach her to move back without me moving my feet, just with my energy. The goal for now would be 12' without the carrot stick.
She was getting lighter and lighter with the back up during the session. At the end of our session Bailey would back up two steps at phase two driving game. I think I will teach her the falling leaf pattern next.
When I put Bailey back in her stall I put some chopped up baby carrots on her feed bin. Then I asked her to wait politely until I allowed her to eat them. She was excited and tried to find her way around me. I blocked her with my arm. When she waited politely without barging into my space I allowed her to eat the carrots.
The wind was howling outside and Bailey was a little tense about it. I lounged Bailey in both directions, as Amanda was riding and I wanted to keep my eyes on Bailey at all times. We practiced changes of directions a little bit. Bailey likes going to the right more than the left. She sends much easier and maintains her gait easier to the right. I found the send to the left a bit harder and I had to get to phase 2 (which was very little with her--lifting my carrot stick). She listened, but she would glance in the other direction and was less willing to send. It would be interesting to see how she is in the next few sessions. Another thought is that it could be my lunging skills, because I prefer holding my carrot stick in my left hand and get a bit less dizzy when I'm going around in a circle with her when she's going to the right.
We did one more thing that session. I started teaching her the driving game backwards. She already knows how to drive backwards with me moving into her space. I'd like to teach her to move back without me moving my feet, just with my energy. The goal for now would be 12' without the carrot stick.
She was getting lighter and lighter with the back up during the session. At the end of our session Bailey would back up two steps at phase two driving game. I think I will teach her the falling leaf pattern next.
When I put Bailey back in her stall I put some chopped up baby carrots on her feed bin. Then I asked her to wait politely until I allowed her to eat them. She was excited and tried to find her way around me. I blocked her with my arm. When she waited politely without barging into my space I allowed her to eat the carrots.