March 31, 2005

It was suppose to rain in the PM and I didn't get out to the barn in the AM so I thought I'd missed my chance to work with the horses. The sky was cloudy all day and the air got damper so all thoughts of trailering to the Horse Park were gone. However, I did go out to groom and once there wound up being able to work with all 3.
Felice: Worked again on her picking up her feet -- used the PNH method of phases on her chestnuts and hocks. She got pretty good with her front -- walked off when I was asking for her back feet. I persisted though and she did give them to me. We still need to work on this -- also time to drive her again.
Kukie -- Tried to get him to follow me again by leading with his chin. He would go up the the swale but not over. So I got the halter and lead -- he left me the first time I tried to put it on -- also tried to bit the halter -- but actually put his nose in himself the second time. I tried sending him across the swale and after a little reluctance he went. We did this approx. 4 times then back to the barn to groom. He stood ground tied for that and then I saddled him and did some driving, leading and a little circling. Took him over to the tree stump to mount. The first time he walked away. I did some hq yields and tried again. After 2-3 times he let me mount. I did a PPL since I haven't ridden him for some time. He walked along fairly well. Then did some follow the rail. He did try and trot once but come right back when I lifted the lead. I need to remember not to pull when I am trying to ask him back to the rail. When I dismounted he nickered as usually.
M - Had to go get her from the pasture but she did let me lead her with her chin. She kept moving off while I was grooming her but I just brought her back to where we were. She stood while I went and got the halter and lead. Didn't saddle her today. Did some leading, stopping, backing and a little driving. Then asked for the circle game. Started with walk, then trot and then canter. She still gets excited when I ask for canter. She kept stopping and trying to come in to me. We will continue to work on her and I staying calm when we do this. Will try doing it for 7 days (5 more left!!)

March 30, 2005

Beautiful, sunny, warm day -- temps in the 60's. Went out in AM to clean barn. Walked out to pasture to be with horses. I was petting Felice and M laid down about 15 feet from where I was. I slowly walked over to her and she let me scratch her ears and pet her. She still has a bit of a problem with me touching her right ear. Kukie laid down while I was with M. I went over to him and he let me scratch his ears and pet him.
In the afternoon I walked Felice in the development. I just had a Strasser hoof professional out to do their feet 2 days ago and I'm suppose to walk Felice since she had a lot of heel taken off and needs to stretch her tendons. She only wanted to stop and eat grass so the going was very slow. When I got back I went to brush Kukie. He walked away from me and went out into the field. I followed him and tried to get him to let me lead him back by his chin but he wasn't having any of it. I finally had to go get the halter and lead and bring him back. He did come up to me when I went back out holding the halter and put his head in for me. I brushed him off and tried the baby oil in his sheath for the first time. It looks like it will work well. Then I did some driving with him using the halter, lead and carrot stick. He did great! Finished up with a little circle and sideways game. He did really well for not having been played with in a long time. I tried to lead him with chin -- he resists but will lead with just some mane. He then followed me around -- very connected. I tried to get him to go out into the pasture again but he wanted to stay with me. Next I called M to come but she ignored me so I walked out with the halter and lead. When I was about 15 feet away she came over to me!! I lead her back up to the barn and she stood really well while I brushed her. I put the saddle on her and asked her to do the falling leaf in both directions. I think it went pretty well. She tried to resist and go beyond me but I used that carrot stick to stop her and then she went OK. I then put the 22 ft lead on her and asked for some circles -- started at walk and then asked for trot and then into canter. She gets upset at canter but she did pretty good. We did both directions -- I think with doing it a few more times she will learn to relax. Afterward I to a pushing passenger lesson -- just at a walk. Also tried to throw in some lateral yields since she tends to brace. At the end I asked her to bend to the left using leg, belly button, lead and then to right with leg, belly button (lead was still on left). She did great!! I got off and told her I had the best pony in the whole world. Led her with her chin back to barn and gave her a treat.