Jungen Pferde, sei mutig!
Friday I did a lesson in Dave and Marty's turnout. It has a good length to it (over 200'), but it isn't super wide (and it varies, wider in some spots than others) and has a large wash running through it plus trees. We used it to practice hills and also to work on a little novelty. My students were on Mac and Chewy, who appeared half alseep most of the time, but I chose to be adventurous and ride Tru-D.
Tru-D has never been in Sunny and Cinnamon's area and she felt a little overwhelmed. I did a little groundwork with her to get her thinking about me instead of the other horses and all the STUFF piled up next to the Ramos' fence (palets, chairs, wood, whatever). All very suspicious and potentially life-threatening for an underexposed baby. Plus Mac and Chewy were doing their thing and occasionally trotting and leaving her "behind."
I'm actually very pleased with how she did. While she was uncertain she never left. Her focus wasnvt 100% on me, but asking her to do things helped her settle. In the end we were able to walk through the wash and stand quietly while the other two worked, which was a win in my book. She actually wasn't too bothered being left behind, it actually made her slightly braver to venture after them.
I did work Jasper this week too. Some brief time on the long lines and doing a little trotting. I had to let out some holes on the surcingle and he is at the end of my crupper. I emailed Anita at Parry Tack about making another crupper as well as trace carriers and a training breastcollar because Jasper is outgrowing the one I used on Tru-D! He measured 15.3.5 when we sticked him this week.
I have a couple people coming out to look at Mac next week. If he sells we'll probably be looking at a Percheron instead of another Haflinger because if I can throw kids on it and have them walk/trot around I have filled Mac's space and am doubling up on backfilling Charm-N. Yes when Chewy goes I'll want another drafty pony, but I'll take it that she is still here and doing well. We probably won't really look until it starts to cool down again and, of course, Mac had to find a new home first.
Tru-D has never been in Sunny and Cinnamon's area and she felt a little overwhelmed. I did a little groundwork with her to get her thinking about me instead of the other horses and all the STUFF piled up next to the Ramos' fence (palets, chairs, wood, whatever). All very suspicious and potentially life-threatening for an underexposed baby. Plus Mac and Chewy were doing their thing and occasionally trotting and leaving her "behind."
I'm actually very pleased with how she did. While she was uncertain she never left. Her focus wasnvt 100% on me, but asking her to do things helped her settle. In the end we were able to walk through the wash and stand quietly while the other two worked, which was a win in my book. She actually wasn't too bothered being left behind, it actually made her slightly braver to venture after them.
I did work Jasper this week too. Some brief time on the long lines and doing a little trotting. I had to let out some holes on the surcingle and he is at the end of my crupper. I emailed Anita at Parry Tack about making another crupper as well as trace carriers and a training breastcollar because Jasper is outgrowing the one I used on Tru-D! He measured 15.3.5 when we sticked him this week.
I have a couple people coming out to look at Mac next week. If he sells we'll probably be looking at a Percheron instead of another Haflinger because if I can throw kids on it and have them walk/trot around I have filled Mac's space and am doubling up on backfilling Charm-N. Yes when Chewy goes I'll want another drafty pony, but I'll take it that she is still here and doing well. We probably won't really look until it starts to cool down again and, of course, Mac had to find a new home first.