Today I began by doing some stick to me to get connected with Kai. After practicing a little he rocked his weight forwards and backwards mirroring me. Then we did some more changes of direction at the trot and walk. I then gave him a grooming and picked his feet and checked for bot flies. I only found a couple even after inspecting every leg twice.

I then set up two cones and a few poles before mounting up. I asked him for lots of lateral flexion to improve the time it took for him to soften. Then we did the bending exercise around the cones and trotted over the poles. We also did the serpentine exercise between the cones and poles.

Then we played the corner game until Kai no longer predicted if we were going to stop in the corner or keep going. Kai also was impatient, waiting in the corners. He would wait for a few seconds and then turn around ready to walk forward again. It was as if he was saying ''okay that's long enough, lets go this way!"

When he finally trotted into the corner without any noodling to the right or left and waited in the corner, I immediately jumped off and began to groom him. As I was massaging him with my rubber curry, Kai began to yawn repeatedly. I think he has finished processing and released tension about the corner game.

When I was done massaging him I hosed him off and brought him back inside to roll. I waited for some time on line and decided that taking the line off would prompt him to roll sooner. Instead he got disconnected and trotted off to the other end of the arena before trotting right back and connecting again.

We played with liberty circles and stick to me and mirroring. Then I sat down to make a rope halter for someone while Kai explored the arena in great detail. Interesting how even though I always let him inspect everything before starting our session he still needed to nose everything again. Kai would walk away and come back to check in with me repeatedly. After a while he finally rolled. Then  I let him wander around a little longer. He was at the other end of the arena when I stood up and called to him. Kai looked over and turned around connecting again. He was quickly walking over to me. I stepped back with more energy and he broke into a trot. I was so pleased! I gave him some cookies before heading back to the paddock.

Today when Kai saw me enter the paddock he pretended not to notice and slowly wandered away. I knew very well that while he appeared to be grazing he was watching me with his left eye. He had his fly mask on, so I couldn't see if it was the stink eye or not. As I approached him he turned to face me but didn't want to catch me. I decided to try something different. I walked right past him and sat down on a branch about 20' away. Kai was too curious to not come over to see what I was up to. I heard him amble towards me and I listened to his breathing when he was close. He nosed me all over and then he stood next to me. I gave him a cookie before haltering him. When we scrambled out of the muddy part of the paddock I hosed him off and went to the indoor arena.

I asked him to go on the circle like usually so that I could observe his movement and work on our cues. Kai trotted a circle or two. I looked away for one second to see if the arena door was closed and then I glanced back at Kai. He dropped on the ground so fast that I didn't even yet realize that the rope stopped being carried around me. I have never seen a horse lay down to roll so fast. I praised Kai as he was rolling so that when I teach him to lay down on cue he already feels comfortable laying down on line. I feel that if I got after him for laying down, he would loose a lot of trust in me and our relationship would suffer. In fact, it is an honor that he will readily roll next to me after only three months of playing together.

Anyhow, he got up and continued trotting. Awwwwww Kai. When he connected we quit and had a break as it was hot. We reviewed stick to me, working on walking forwards in unison and stopping and backing up. He did so well that there was almost no need to keep doing it. I then dusted him off and mounted. As he was pretty damp and dirty from rolling I decided to get the seat of my pants dirty instead of my bareback pad. Yes, I know, my logic is funny sometimes.

We worked on guiding with my body and practiced a few emergency dismounts so that we are prepared WHEN, not ''if,'' I ever need to do one. Then we trotted on the rail until he lowered his head, evened out his gait and blew out in relaxation. I asked him for more lateral flexion before dismounting as it was this hot. I had funny ''helmet hair'' that happens when your head gets sweaty under the helmet :P  Kai and I drank from the hose and went back to the indoor. We quickly did some trotting changes of direction to end the session. Kai did such a good job today! I am feeling very happy after this session.

Today we worked on trot to back up, leading Kai behind me in the indoor arena. Next we did circling game. We kept practicing until he did one downward transition from trot to walk to halt when I brought my energy down. Then we went to the outdoor arena and tested out sideways game.  Since it was better we moved on to figure eights and weaves. I discovered that his draw was broken. Interestingly, when he was standing still it was great but not on the circle and the figure eight. I spent the session working that out with him. After getting after him he did one nice one and we quit.

Today Kai and I started off with some stick to me. I asked him to be responsive to my energy. Then we worked on connecting during the circling game. Kai is connecting quicker and quicker every time we do this exercise. Next I groomed him and tacked him up. I then asked him to trot on the circle. He felt connected and listening so I mounted up. After doing lateral flexion I asked him to do FQ and HQ yields. We quit when he pivoted nicely. I also did the nine-step-backup. I tested if Kai would back up with just my seat and he did two steps. Then we walked on the rail while I asked him to stop. Kai was ignoring my light phases so I bumped him on the nose. After this repeated two more times I decided that the next time I would get after him much harder as not to nag him. Of course the next time I asked Kai to stop he stopped dead when I exhaled.


I asked him to trot on a circle. What was interesting is that Kai kept breaking gait. At first I just asked him to trot again thinking it was my riding. However after he did it one more time I realized that he just did not want to put effort in. I tied his extra halter to the bareback pad handle to use as a ''motivator'' as it is called. I didn't want to get after him with my legs so I thought that the halter was a better option. The next time he broke gait I tagged him ever so lightly on the bum with the halter. Kai was surprised but he started to trot again. The next time he broke gait I tagged him a little harder. Kai sassed  little and did a tiny little jump. Soon he understood and maintained gait and was bending pretty nicely to the inside without dropping his shoulder. When the foals entered the arena he remembered an earlier session when I bumped his neck with the carrot because he was drifting towards them and respectfully turned when I asked him out without drifting. I then gave him a rest.
After he was done eating his grain I jumped on him again just to sit on him.  He let me fool around a little while I sat sideways on him giggling. I even sat backwards on him. What a good boy!


Later I took him to the outdoor arena and worked on our audition tasks.
He had a very rushed sideways game. Pretty much the same as before. I asked him to wait and then go sideways. Kai tried to predict which way I wanted him to go and was not paying attention to my core. He tried to run away but didn't jump as much as last session. After working through our miscommunication we filmed a few dry runs.

Today we played with obstacles as they were already set up.

After crossing the bridge and exploring the barrels, cones and poles, we began to review porcupine game FQ yields. Kai was very light but he needed reminders to not lean on the halter and to put his weight back and pivot. He has the tendency to "bottle spin" as Pat Parelli puts it- when the horse moves both ends during yields. Soon Kai was putting very nice effort into his yields so we moved on to sideways game. Kai gets disconnected when going sideways, almost like he is on auto pilot. He bends away from me and completely ignores light phases. He also gets emotional when going to the right.

I asked him to go to the left first as that is easier for him. I exhaled and went to neutral to ask him to stop and then bumped the rope. He stopped when I was neutral on the third try. I then moved on to the right side. Kai got emotional and tried to burst through my bubble to the left. I tagged him on the shoulder which made him jump up, fart in mid air and take off to the right. We were playing with the 22' line so I had plenty of drift. As the rope ran out I held onto him with the power position. Kai tried to go the other way but I blocked him. He did another jump in the air and started to run circles around me while pulling on the rope. I just stood there in the power position trying to be as neutral as possible. When I felt Kai slowed a little I asked him to disengage his HQ. Then I calmly positioned him back on the fence and he did a nice sideways to the right and stopped when I asked him. Then I breathed out and Kai mirrored me and breathed out also. I decided to have a rest so that I could think things over and so that Kai had a reward for doing nice sideways.

I think he reacted this way because he was trying to avoid me and he also had a  bit of anxiety. I am also pretty sure that it is not going sideways that is the problem. The problem is that he is a bit more wary of things in that eye in general and being up against the wall makes him feel more trapped.

He did react rather mildly and he calmed down quickly. This is the only right brain thing he has done so far.
Pat Parelli was right once again, some horses can move forwards, backwards, left, right, up and down all at once!
Sorry Kai, you do not qualify to do Lipizzaner airs above the ground. No matter how well you try to imitate them.

Then mom filmed a video of me playing so that I could watch it and critic myself. Next I tied Kai in the arena for a while so that I could get his breakfast and help Kaila a little. When Kai finished gobbling I pulled myself together and filmed another video. It was a big achievement for me as I get very tense if someone is filming which hinders my horsemanship. Hopefully when I film my auditions I will be more comfortable with the camera.

Today I discovered that bot fly season is here. I picked every little egg off that I could find and even hosed Kai's legs so that I could see the eggs better. I was a bit disappointed as we just finished battling the mud fever.

I took Kai to the outdoor to play with the obstacles that were already set up. I asked him to go over a bridge, push a ball, weave through the cones and squeeze between a larger cone and a barrel. He did everything I asked him but still felt disconnected. So I took him to the indoor arena and we began to play circling game.

Last session he stayed bent to the inside for one full circle, so I was curious to see how he’d do today.
I allowed him to trot around for a few laps until he connected to me. At first I was happy for three or four steps to help him get into the mindset and then I asked him to connect for a circle while I turned with him. Finally I asked him to stay connected all the way around the circle without me turning with him. This is the first time he has ever done this! I let him have break and moved on to working on the Spanish walk.

Kai is getting more and more coordinated and was doing a really nice walk. He is understanding to do one foot then the other and to make nice high steps.

However today he got increasingly pushy during the exercise. I tried to remind him softly not to push but he ignored my warning so I tagged his shoulder with the stick pretty firmly. I asked him for three Spanish walk steps and then quit to end on a good note. Looking back, I think when I ask him for this exercise next time I will teach Kai to respond with me positioned next to his shoulder instead of more in front of him.

Next I asked him to jump a barrel both ways. Kai was so sweet and willing!

I then went for a little ride to work on our cues. I asked him for many different transitions. Kai sometimes likes to ignore me when I ask him to stop so we need to work more on that.

I jumped off and tied him to the wall while I tidied up. When I was done I let him loose and sat down on the mounting block. Kai walked down the rail, sniffed the barrel and came back to me. I let him rest for some time simply enjoying each others company. I then asked him to yoyo back at liberty. As we played, I slowly increased the distance I asked him to back up. We got to about 15 feet at phase one so I invited him back and quit. I remained siting on the mounting block the whole time. I brushed him and put him back in the paddock.

Later, I also got to play with Mya! I played yoyo game with her going through the phases. We worked on porcupine game and a bit of friendly game with the wash stall, and the saddle pad and saddle.

I have been thinking about bits lately. I wonder which one will be best for Kai.
He seems to have a shallow palate and a bigger tongue so a single jointed snaffle would not work as it would have a ''nutcracker'' effect and hit him in the roof of the mouth and pinch his jaw. I also considered a double jointed snaffle bit. To me it seems like it would be hard for Kai to ''hold it'' and have control on how it lays in his mouth. I really like the idea of a bit that is one piece, made of rubber and very flexible- so much so that I could easily bend it in a circle if I wanted to. I feel that the benefits of such a bit are as follows: it will not have a nutcracker effect but will conform  to his mouth jut enough for his comfort, and will be much lighter than other bits therefore resting much more comfortably on the tongue and bars and, as it is one piece, he will have increased control over it which will encourage him to salivate. I also like the idea of the bit being softer and making it even more gentle for Kai.


The only problem now is that I have to find a bit like that. I know they exist!  We went to Equestrian Closet and found a 5'' snaffle bit covered in rubber. I liked it because unlike other rubber coated bits this one was not chunky at all. It was only 10$. I will still be looking for the bit I described but this one will do for now. I will not attach reins to it as not to make it pinch but I think it will work great for friendly game.

Today I noticed how loose Kai was. Esther’s massage was still having an effect!

From the start I brought him inside and checked him all over before starting our session. I did some porcupine game, slowly building up the number of steps he can pivot without moving. So far he can do a nearly full circle both ways on the HQ yields and about a quarter of a circle on the FQ yields.

We then did some yoyo game which was very nice and light before asking him to go in the circle. I waited for him to connect for three steps and then I brought him in to rest. He licked and chewed and I sent him in the other direction. I waited for him to connect and then I turned with him asking him to stay bent to the inside and stay connected for half a circle. I then invited Kai in and showered him with praise. I gave him a big rest and then asked him to go on a circle the other way.

This time when he connected I asked him to hold it for a full circle. I brought him in just a moment before he would have disconnected. Kai has never stayed connected for a full circle before! I was so happy with him. I then put him on the wall and tested my sideways game ''breaks''.  

Next I tacked him up and asked him to jump a barrel once in each direction. As he seemed to be able to jump comfortably with the bareback pad on and he put effort in jumping I brought him in and let him rest while I put the barrel back in the corner.

I then mounted up and asked him for lateral flexion. I then asked him to walk on the rail listening to my body. Kai was ignoring my body so I reinforced it with my carrot stick. Kai still has the issue of feeling offended when I use my stick. As we were walking I asked him to cut across the middle of the arena and he completely ignored me and continued to drift. I asked him with the stick for two steps and then I bumped him on the nose. Kai responded by turning and jumping forward. I brought him to the middle and asked him for yields until he was light and responsive to the carrot stick. I then asked him to trot on the rail until he relaxed. After that I dismounted and untacked him. He was not sweaty so I simply ran my curry comb over him and did his feet before putting him back. Overall I was very happy with this session.

Today was a long day for both of us. Kai was soft and willing during the beginning of the session so I tacked him up, did some pre ride checks and mounted. I asked him for some lateral flexion and waited for him to soften. I then did a little of “hurry up and wait”. I asked him for lateral flexion with the carrot stick. Kai was not making any effort to bend even though I gave him a long chance to respond, so I thumped him softly on the nose. He was surprised but he bent his neck more than he ever had, but with an attitude of sass. We repeated the exercise until he was bending more than before and decided to play “follow the rail”. As Kai was very tense I just trotted him around the rail waiting for him to relax. After some time trotting he snorted and I felt him soften his back underneath me. I breathed out and he stopped. I asked Kai to back up a step or two and went to neutral. I gave him a rest and then did some FQ yields.

Next we did more follow the rail while waiting for him to relax and it started to take him less time to soften. I dismounted and did not let him eat his grain until he asked me a question. I started doing this so that he is more respectful around his food and it is our new ritual now.

As he was eating I noticed that he was chewing slightly differently than he had before. We made an appointment with the vet to look at his teeth. After Kai was done I untacked him and hosed him down before letting him back in the paddock.


I returned a few hours later to groom him and get him ready for the massage therapist. I groomed all the dirt out of his coat and picked his feet.

We then hung around while he grazed waiting for Esther to come. I brought him inside and did some Spanish walk for fun to help pass the time. I then taught him to walk next to me with his head lowered in preparation for Straightness Training that I hope to do in the future. By then Esther came and started his massage. Esther is a Masterson Method practitioner and a very awesome one at that. Esther showed me how she was testing Kai for soreness and then got right to massaging him.

It was a very hands on experience and she let me do some of the techniques. Kai loved every minute of it. He was holding tension in his left shoulder, in his poll(mostly on the right side), his TMJ, and his left hind leg--especially in the muscles on the inside of his thigh. Esther showed me how I could release tension in his TMJ—this wasn’t covered in the Masterson course that I took last month with Susan Ross.

Kai also had an unusually cold gelding scar which indicated poor circulation.

After his treatment Kai was so loose and happy. As Esther was about to leave it started to rain so hard it was difficult to hear each other. Mom and Esther left the arena while I stayed with Kai. I just did some liberty stick to me with Kai as we waited for the rain to at least slow down.

Today was a wonderful experience for us and we will definitely have Esther back whenever she is in the area.

Today Kai and I played with the obstacles a little to warm up before testing out his FQ yield. I asked him to yield his HQ first on both sides.

I asked him to yield his FQ and discovered he was trying the same tricks he tried yesterday all over again. I persisted and persisted while Kai kept on trying turning his head away from me. I kept tagging his shoulder every time he moved his bum. He did one nice step and then I took a break. Kaila helped me by encouraging me that I was doing the right thing. After persisting some more Kai finally did another half circle without moving his bum. I gave him a long break and asked him again to make sure he understood. I asked him very slowly with my hand on the halter to guide his weight to his HQ. Kai gave a full pivot without moving his feet while staying light. I sopped there and took him outside to let him have some grass.

After the break we played some yoyo game in the outdoor arena and did the weave. We also filmed a little for me to look back on. As it was hot I hosed him off to end the session.