Today I started by bathing Kai in the new wash rack mat. He was a little skeptical about the rubber mat but readily walked on it after just a little of approach and retreat. I then spent a while grooming him. His mud fever is almost gone so I decided to wash his legs with antibacterial soap for one last time. I scrubbed away the very last bits of mud fever hopefully for the last time this season. We were waiting for the arena to be free and also it was very hot. Later, we went to play in the outdoor arena. I decided to test all the seven games. After running through them all I found that we needed to work on the sideways game, porcupine game, and circling game.
I positioned him on the wall with me on his left as that side is better and asked him to move sideways. Kai disconnected and went on auto pilot down the wall. Near the end of the rope he turned his HQ to me. I put a feel on the rope very briefly before tagging his bum. Kai decided to run away instead of turning and facing me, resulting in him running into the end of the rope. He spun around and licked his lips. I brought him in and asked him for one step sideways. Kai ignored me when I brought my energy down so I bumped the rope. He asked me a question. I smiled and asked him to step sideways again.
I practiced asking him to stop and keep his nose on the wall. I then asked him to go out all the way and asked him to pause halfway and then to continue. Kai made a great effort and listened to my energy. I brought him in and gave him a rub and a rest. I decided we will not do the left anymore and work on the right side. The right side is much harder for Kai.
I practiced the same thing as I did on the left and asked him to go out halfway. He did turn towards me without me asking him but he was connected so I took that. I decided to quit so that he could think about it.
I played some circling game with him and brought him in because he dragged the rope all the way around. I then asked him to cross the wooden bridge, walk over a tarp and a pole and to touch the barrel with his nose. As he was walking towards the barrel he arched his neck, extended his walk, paused, and offered to leap over the barrel. Granted, it was not very graceful but he actually offered to jump, which is something he very much struggled with before. I praised him lots and gave him another break.
I decided it would be a good idea to practice porcupine game. I asked him for a FQ yield on his left. Kai all of a sudden forgot how to pivot. I persisted for almost eight circles and he still didn't pivot. I continued asking him. After a few more messy circles I picked a step when he was light and gave him a moment to untangle his feet. I then got right back to work asking him to yield politely. Kai turned his head away from me and moved his bum around instead. I tagged him on the shoulder and then asked him to turn around lightly. We spent about half an hour on it nonstop. I knew that if I stopped Kai would get the wrong message and think moving his bum is what I wanted. At the end he turned half a circle while not moving his HQ and being pretty light. We were both tired and drenched with sweat when we finished. We went to get a drink and after Kai drank he yawned a couple of times. I let him roll and then I hosed him off so that he was comfortable and cool again before I put him back in the paddock.
I positioned him on the wall with me on his left as that side is better and asked him to move sideways. Kai disconnected and went on auto pilot down the wall. Near the end of the rope he turned his HQ to me. I put a feel on the rope very briefly before tagging his bum. Kai decided to run away instead of turning and facing me, resulting in him running into the end of the rope. He spun around and licked his lips. I brought him in and asked him for one step sideways. Kai ignored me when I brought my energy down so I bumped the rope. He asked me a question. I smiled and asked him to step sideways again.
I practiced asking him to stop and keep his nose on the wall. I then asked him to go out all the way and asked him to pause halfway and then to continue. Kai made a great effort and listened to my energy. I brought him in and gave him a rub and a rest. I decided we will not do the left anymore and work on the right side. The right side is much harder for Kai.
I practiced the same thing as I did on the left and asked him to go out halfway. He did turn towards me without me asking him but he was connected so I took that. I decided to quit so that he could think about it.
I played some circling game with him and brought him in because he dragged the rope all the way around. I then asked him to cross the wooden bridge, walk over a tarp and a pole and to touch the barrel with his nose. As he was walking towards the barrel he arched his neck, extended his walk, paused, and offered to leap over the barrel. Granted, it was not very graceful but he actually offered to jump, which is something he very much struggled with before. I praised him lots and gave him another break.
I decided it would be a good idea to practice porcupine game. I asked him for a FQ yield on his left. Kai all of a sudden forgot how to pivot. I persisted for almost eight circles and he still didn't pivot. I continued asking him. After a few more messy circles I picked a step when he was light and gave him a moment to untangle his feet. I then got right back to work asking him to yield politely. Kai turned his head away from me and moved his bum around instead. I tagged him on the shoulder and then asked him to turn around lightly. We spent about half an hour on it nonstop. I knew that if I stopped Kai would get the wrong message and think moving his bum is what I wanted. At the end he turned half a circle while not moving his HQ and being pretty light. We were both tired and drenched with sweat when we finished. We went to get a drink and after Kai drank he yawned a couple of times. I let him roll and then I hosed him off so that he was comfortable and cool again before I put him back in the paddock.
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