Day 1 + 2 with Ariana
I decided to start breaking Ariana yesterday. She's a gorgeous chestnut and white Arabian/Paint filly, about 3 years old, that lives on our farm. I'd meant to start her last week, and then the week before, but each Monday rolled around and one thing or another left me too "tired" to drag myself out there.
This Monday I decided that I would start her regardless of how tired I was. If I kept waiting until I had the energy, I would never start.
Yesterday I went out and caught her pretty easily. I walked her down to the barn and locked us both inside a stall. Lead in hand, I groomed her pretty well. She was a little wary, but settled pretty quickly to my brushing. When James got home a moment later, he came in to help hold her while I started working on desensitizing. I rubbed her all over with my hands and arms, patting, putting pressure on certain spots (her girth area, saddle area), and rested my arms over her back while putting a bit of weight on them.
Next we turned her in some circles in the stall, having her walk forward in a circle on the lead. We changed directions, and had to really drive her once or twice when she stopped, but she seemed to get the hang of it, though she was giving us this look that said, "What the HELL are you two doing?"
Day 2, today, we repeated the process. I actually pressed on her back with my hands and jumped up and down a bit, simulating someone mounting. She stared at me, but stood pretty darn still for it. She turned the circles for us easily today, and when we were done I gave her a couple small bites of carrot and turned her out. Even loose and without a halter, she followed us to the gate and seemed sad to see us leave. I think it's a good sign.
This Monday I decided that I would start her regardless of how tired I was. If I kept waiting until I had the energy, I would never start.
Yesterday I went out and caught her pretty easily. I walked her down to the barn and locked us both inside a stall. Lead in hand, I groomed her pretty well. She was a little wary, but settled pretty quickly to my brushing. When James got home a moment later, he came in to help hold her while I started working on desensitizing. I rubbed her all over with my hands and arms, patting, putting pressure on certain spots (her girth area, saddle area), and rested my arms over her back while putting a bit of weight on them.
Next we turned her in some circles in the stall, having her walk forward in a circle on the lead. We changed directions, and had to really drive her once or twice when she stopped, but she seemed to get the hang of it, though she was giving us this look that said, "What the HELL are you two doing?"
Day 2, today, we repeated the process. I actually pressed on her back with my hands and jumped up and down a bit, simulating someone mounting. She stared at me, but stood pretty darn still for it. She turned the circles for us easily today, and when we were done I gave her a couple small bites of carrot and turned her out. Even loose and without a halter, she followed us to the gate and seemed sad to see us leave. I think it's a good sign.