Playing with three

We had a high of 66 today! So I took the afternoon off. I had a hard time getting the horses in the arena. I had to halter Sparkler outside and circle her again and again before she agreed to step through the narrow door, since the sliding door is frozen shut.

As I groomed her Banjo kept watch at the door. Finally, Gilly couldn't stand it any more and he nosed himself past Banjo and came in. Banjo quickly followed suit.

I shut the door and had my captive audience. I haltered and tied Banjo, then finished grooming Sparkler. My main goal was feet cleaning and groundwork with Gilly and getting Hooflex on Banjo's feet. I tried to shoo Sparkler out when she was done, but she settled beside Banjo and wouldn't budge so I took Gilly next.

He was awesome. My previous attempts with backing finally paid off and he backed until the cows came home. I can tell he's never had Parelli-type training. Assuming the attitude and shaking the whip to make him yeild the hindquarters made no sense. I did have to snap him a couple time before he got it. I got him to stand with both front feet on the board. Picking up the hind feet is still not very good.

Banjo. I love you.

The Parelli yoyo game was hard for him. Getting him to come was tough, but eventually he got it. Backing up is still great. Yeilding the hindquarters very good. Yielding the front quarters is still tough. He eventually got it from the far side, but from the near side, he wants to back up instead of going around to his side. I had him walking over the tarp again, something I couldn't do last spring.