Ground Training and Pic Spam
Yesterday I put the western saddle on Phoenix (four year old 1/2 Percheron 1/2 Paint PMU gelding) and ground drove him in the hackamore all over.
We walked and trotted down the long neighborhood drive and walked all around the lower lawn area. On the lower lawn he started giving me attitude which was great because since I was on the ground I had the leverage (and confidence!) to kick his butt into next week and remind him who was in charge. Last week I was trying to use him as a riding lawnmower on the lower lawn and when he gave me attitude I wasn't ready for it (stupid girl riding her young horse bareback!) and he dumped me off. I needed a rematch with him so he could remember that I may be little, but I am MIGHTY!!! Roar!
:)
You would THINK that after getting his ass kicked into next week several times yesterday that he would be disgruntled with the whole training thing. OH NO. Not this horse. ;) Today when he saw me coming with the saddle he nickered at me and trotted to the gate. XD
Those people who claim that "kids want boundaries" are definitely talking about Phoenix. I believe his nicker at seeing the saddle is proof that he wants to know how to be a good horse.
He was really really good today when I ground drove him. I didn't get any attitude from him and I only had to push him to walk faster a few times (for being such a huge horse he can walk AMAZINGLY slow sometimes!).
I am thinking about asking my co-worker Julie (who co-owns a boarding stable with indoor and outdoor arenas) if her stable allows people to trailer in for the day. I think Phoenix is ready for a day of arena work and his sloped paddock would be too hard for us to trot and canter up and down while he is so green. I know of a public stable that I can use if Julie says no, but it would be more fun to go to her place so I could see all her horses as well. :)
Phoenix is a bit downhill conformation-wise right now but horses can't seem to grow taller in an evenly-horizontal manner. ;) It is funny how they see-saw with their rumps shooting up one year and the front end growing the next. He is pretty close to balanced though, he is only a few inches taller in the butt right now.
I have to take profile shots of him through the fence because when I go in the pasture with him all I get are VERY close-up shots of his nose. ;)
Wow, what a DIRTY horse! You'd think his owner never groomed him!
That's better! A nice shining clean Phoenix. Except he wouldn't let me get a profile shot of him this time because he kept turning to face me if I moved. :| Sheesh, it is so difficult to have such an attentive horse! ;)
The closest profile picture I could get, and he is in the shadows. Ah well, maybe next time.
We walked and trotted down the long neighborhood drive and walked all around the lower lawn area. On the lower lawn he started giving me attitude which was great because since I was on the ground I had the leverage (and confidence!) to kick his butt into next week and remind him who was in charge. Last week I was trying to use him as a riding lawnmower on the lower lawn and when he gave me attitude I wasn't ready for it (stupid girl riding her young horse bareback!) and he dumped me off. I needed a rematch with him so he could remember that I may be little, but I am MIGHTY!!! Roar!
:)
You would THINK that after getting his ass kicked into next week several times yesterday that he would be disgruntled with the whole training thing. OH NO. Not this horse. ;) Today when he saw me coming with the saddle he nickered at me and trotted to the gate. XD
Those people who claim that "kids want boundaries" are definitely talking about Phoenix. I believe his nicker at seeing the saddle is proof that he wants to know how to be a good horse.
He was really really good today when I ground drove him. I didn't get any attitude from him and I only had to push him to walk faster a few times (for being such a huge horse he can walk AMAZINGLY slow sometimes!).
I am thinking about asking my co-worker Julie (who co-owns a boarding stable with indoor and outdoor arenas) if her stable allows people to trailer in for the day. I think Phoenix is ready for a day of arena work and his sloped paddock would be too hard for us to trot and canter up and down while he is so green. I know of a public stable that I can use if Julie says no, but it would be more fun to go to her place so I could see all her horses as well. :)
Phoenix is a bit downhill conformation-wise right now but horses can't seem to grow taller in an evenly-horizontal manner. ;) It is funny how they see-saw with their rumps shooting up one year and the front end growing the next. He is pretty close to balanced though, he is only a few inches taller in the butt right now.
I have to take profile shots of him through the fence because when I go in the pasture with him all I get are VERY close-up shots of his nose. ;)
Wow, what a DIRTY horse! You'd think his owner never groomed him!
That's better! A nice shining clean Phoenix. Except he wouldn't let me get a profile shot of him this time because he kept turning to face me if I moved. :| Sheesh, it is so difficult to have such an attentive horse! ;)
The closest profile picture I could get, and he is in the shadows. Ah well, maybe next time.