Tru-Ds Fähigkeiten
I don't know if I ever mentioned it, but when Tru-D got stomped on by Charm-N the other month we did some soaks with warm water and Epsom salts. I was so proud of her. We started out with a big rubber bucket, but the water wasn't enough to cover where it needed so I got a much smaller plastic bucket I had been keeping bits in and used that. She let me shuffle the bucket around and position her foot in it and then stood there like she'd been doing it all her life. We soaked it three or four times and she did great.
On to more recent things:
I pulled out the bit hanger and put it on. While I don't plan on using the bit until she has a full mouth I want her to be used to it so it isn't a big deal. That's one thing Cinnamon missed out on was just wearing it around and learning to ignore it. Zetahra was great because I would throw the bit hanger on her for 20-30 minutes and let her deal with it. I was afraid Z would stick her tongue out while riding because she'd stick it out for attention all the time loose (she even had a "button" on the side of her mouth that you could push and she'd do it on command), but she only did once after she started training and that was because she got bored standing around, never as an evasion.
Tru-D was confused why it wasn't just falling out of her mouth when she opened it. She took it really well and I only had to adjust the cheeks one hole up from Bud. It's just an old English bridle that has since parted ways with its browband and cavesson because they don't fit any if my fat-headed, short-jawed horses. I plan on popping it on her now and again and see how she does.
I've taken a few walks around the house. The first one she got really excited in front of the house because of all the borders across the street and we did many circles and direction changes as she charged about. The last time her eyes got wide and she walked a little faster, but that is about it. Once she's chill around the house we'll start venturing a bit further.
Today for the Horsemanship 102 class we worked on lungeing on the line and Tru-D got to be my demo pony. She spent a lot of time tied to the fence while I helped students refine their technique, but she did really well both times. Almost too well for demonstration purposes! I actually traded her for Chewy at one point because the little mare was being a bit over responsive to what the student was asking and he had a much better time with Tru-D. How far she has come from the little wild hare she was!
On to more recent things:
I pulled out the bit hanger and put it on. While I don't plan on using the bit until she has a full mouth I want her to be used to it so it isn't a big deal. That's one thing Cinnamon missed out on was just wearing it around and learning to ignore it. Zetahra was great because I would throw the bit hanger on her for 20-30 minutes and let her deal with it. I was afraid Z would stick her tongue out while riding because she'd stick it out for attention all the time loose (she even had a "button" on the side of her mouth that you could push and she'd do it on command), but she only did once after she started training and that was because she got bored standing around, never as an evasion.
Tru-D was confused why it wasn't just falling out of her mouth when she opened it. She took it really well and I only had to adjust the cheeks one hole up from Bud. It's just an old English bridle that has since parted ways with its browband and cavesson because they don't fit any if my fat-headed, short-jawed horses. I plan on popping it on her now and again and see how she does.
I've taken a few walks around the house. The first one she got really excited in front of the house because of all the borders across the street and we did many circles and direction changes as she charged about. The last time her eyes got wide and she walked a little faster, but that is about it. Once she's chill around the house we'll start venturing a bit further.
Today for the Horsemanship 102 class we worked on lungeing on the line and Tru-D got to be my demo pony. She spent a lot of time tied to the fence while I helped students refine their technique, but she did really well both times. Almost too well for demonstration purposes! I actually traded her for Chewy at one point because the little mare was being a bit over responsive to what the student was asking and he had a much better time with Tru-D. How far she has come from the little wild hare she was!