I had a ground work session with Bailey.
The plan was for me to muck out her stall then play with her in the arena. When I first went in the stall with Bailey she greeted me politely by touching her nose to my outstretched hand. I haltered her and put her in the spare stall so that I could muck out her stall. As I went to get my wheelbarrow and fork, the plan changed. As I am not allowed to be by myself in the arena with Bailey, someone has to be working their horse at the same time. Donna offered for me play with Bailey while she played with her horse Zaina.
I got my rope halter and the twelve foot line and went in the stall with Bailey. I normally ask her to take a step back or porcupine her head down to get a connection. But today she connected with me the moment I came into the stall. Her eyes were soft and she lowered her head for me to halter her.
I had led Bailey up the ramp before but she usually rushed up in a very tense way. However today she went up the ramp just as quickly as before, but her head was lower and her eyes were soft. She had a good lick and chew afterwards.
Since no one was riding I thought it was the perfect opportunity for Bailey to explore.
Together we went to explore the windows, the pile of grit in the corner, the door, the barrels, the wheelbarrow, the cavaletti, the little seating area in the other corner, basically everything there was to see in the arena.
Next Bailey and I worked on the friendly game. I smacked the ground I little harder and a little faster and dragged the string on the ground between her legs. Bailey was so relaxed.
Next we did some stick to me, working on our halting. My cue to Bailey was energy down and exhale--making it very obvious for her. She got so much lighter and more responsive.
Next, I asked her with my energy to step back. She didn't, so I moved my carrot stick ever so slightly. Then she took one step back, and licked and chewed briefly, then offered two more steps!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was amazing, I didn't even expect so much from her so soon.
Next we did some circling game. My method of teaching her circling game was to start to lounge her then stop my feet and allow her to walk around me. The first time Bailey stopped behind me so I turned around and resent her. On the second try she walked all the way around. Her disengage was lovely and the draw back was even better.
By then Donna was about to take Zaina down the ramp and suggested that I get Bailey busy so that she wouldn't get worried that there was no other horse in the arena. I thought it would be fun to see if Bailey would go sideways on the ground. I took her to the wall and asked her to go sideways. At first she took one step with her front feet then one step with her hind, then she put them together and took one beautiful step sideways!!!!!!!!!
To finish the session I hang the rope over her withers, inhaled, brought my energy up, and took our first ever step at liberty together.
The plan was for me to muck out her stall then play with her in the arena. When I first went in the stall with Bailey she greeted me politely by touching her nose to my outstretched hand. I haltered her and put her in the spare stall so that I could muck out her stall. As I went to get my wheelbarrow and fork, the plan changed. As I am not allowed to be by myself in the arena with Bailey, someone has to be working their horse at the same time. Donna offered for me play with Bailey while she played with her horse Zaina.
I got my rope halter and the twelve foot line and went in the stall with Bailey. I normally ask her to take a step back or porcupine her head down to get a connection. But today she connected with me the moment I came into the stall. Her eyes were soft and she lowered her head for me to halter her.
I had led Bailey up the ramp before but she usually rushed up in a very tense way. However today she went up the ramp just as quickly as before, but her head was lower and her eyes were soft. She had a good lick and chew afterwards.
Since no one was riding I thought it was the perfect opportunity for Bailey to explore.
Together we went to explore the windows, the pile of grit in the corner, the door, the barrels, the wheelbarrow, the cavaletti, the little seating area in the other corner, basically everything there was to see in the arena.
Next Bailey and I worked on the friendly game. I smacked the ground I little harder and a little faster and dragged the string on the ground between her legs. Bailey was so relaxed.
Next we did some stick to me, working on our halting. My cue to Bailey was energy down and exhale--making it very obvious for her. She got so much lighter and more responsive.
Next, I asked her with my energy to step back. She didn't, so I moved my carrot stick ever so slightly. Then she took one step back, and licked and chewed briefly, then offered two more steps!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was amazing, I didn't even expect so much from her so soon.
Next we did some circling game. My method of teaching her circling game was to start to lounge her then stop my feet and allow her to walk around me. The first time Bailey stopped behind me so I turned around and resent her. On the second try she walked all the way around. Her disengage was lovely and the draw back was even better.
By then Donna was about to take Zaina down the ramp and suggested that I get Bailey busy so that she wouldn't get worried that there was no other horse in the arena. I thought it would be fun to see if Bailey would go sideways on the ground. I took her to the wall and asked her to go sideways. At first she took one step with her front feet then one step with her hind, then she put them together and took one beautiful step sideways!!!!!!!!!
To finish the session I hang the rope over her withers, inhaled, brought my energy up, and took our first ever step at liberty together.
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