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.
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.