Two in one day

Kate did the hooves this morning and the vet came out to do vaccinations in the afternoon. That is, all except Sparkler's blood work for her Coggins. She absolutely hates needles. We'll have to take her to Osseo again to get this done just like last year.

More playing

It was an absolutely dream of a spring day – sunny and warm – mid 60s. I spent the first part of the afternoon doing yard work. Then I gathered up the saddles, bridles and tools and set them up in the arena. Tomorrow, if its nice, I’ll oil up the leather.

It’s still too muddy to work in the loafing shed, so I opened the arena door but no one would come in. Sparkler let me halter her and lead her in. Banjo blocked the door so Gilly couldn’t enter. So after some ground work, I haltered him and led him in, leaving Sparkler tied up. She is such a princess (not in the good sense). She pawed the ground, and, something I’ve not seen her do before, stared chewing the lead rope. When that didn’t get my attention, she turned sideways and kicked the wall for effect. You can tell she enjoys the noise it makes.

Gilly was great. Cleaning his rear hooves is improving. Less stomping.

Banjo still would not come in. So I played his game. I showed him the halter instead of hiding it and advanced toward him. He shied away and I backed off. I’ve found if I stare at him and assume an aggressive posture, he will look away and after a short time look toward me. Then I’ll soften and avoid eye contact. We did this 3 times before I was able to halter him. Not bad!

I had thought maybe I’d saddle him, but the English saddle fits the best and I haven’t been able to find the saddle pad. Just as well, it was almost 6:30! I completely lost track of time.

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.

Playing with two

We had beautiful weather today! The nicest day yet this year--in the mid 60's. Yesterday, I hosted a baby shower for my daughter Lisa, and the house got completely cleaned. So today, I had the whole afternoon to play.

Sparkler first. She came right into the arena. Banjo came next so I shut the door on Gilly, since I only had time for these two.

Sparkler is pretty high spirited, but picking her feet is never a problem and she knows Parelli movements very well. I put a large plank in the arena and spent some time getting her to stand on it. She seemed to think she had done something pretty neat. She is good for me to rehearse on before trying these things with Banjo.

He was great with his feet! I got hooflex on all four. Banjo does not know Parelli so I started by throwing the rope around him. That agitated him a lot, but he settled after a few minutes. Yielding the hindquarters--since he is very sensitive, I only needed to wave the stick at him. It was very important for me to rub him to a stop with the stick. Backing up is very good. I am able to straighten him out easily.

One thing I'm working on is getting him to look directly at me. I've been thinking about this all winter. I've noticed he always wants to crane his neck one way or the other so he doesn't have to look at me. While grooming him, every time he did this I very gently pulled his head back. Eventually, I was able to stand directly in front, and brush his forelocks and keep his attention.

Moving the front quarters--this was tough. Tapping the air next to the head, then tapping the head only causes him to go backwards. So I backed off and just poked with my fingers behind the front leg, and pushing the head away by holding the shank of the lead rope, I eventually got him to step one front leg over the other. When we got this OK on both sides I quit. I had Banjo stepping on the board too.

Playing with Sparkler

After freezing in the arena last weekend, I was happy to finally get a nice day. I got Sparkler in the arena and started working on the wind knots in her mane. She loves the attention and the brushing. We did some yielding of the hindquarters, front quarters and longing.

She still gets a bit hyper when doing sends to the left and right, but I decided to do more anyway. I opened the arena gate which has an arch above. From the outside I would get her to come through the gate, then turn her and send her back in. This too had her sprinting back and forth instead of walking so we went back in and did the sending near the walls, playing the Parelli squeeze game. She finally slowed down. I think she enjoys the work.

March 1, so what?

We've finally gotten to March, the day I anticipate every winter. In my mind this marks the turning point-I figure you can't have below zero days anymore. Whitney called to say she wanted to mark the date by riding her horse-a promise she'd made to herself last year. So she asked to try out my arena. The temp was only in the teens, but I said yes. We froze.

She brought her buckskin Quarter horse, Cisco and her husband's Fox Trotter mare. I could not feel my toes so I said I'd pass on riding but walked the mare around a bit while Whitney got on Cisco and just reacquainted him with riding. The bay lights were not working so we had to quit when dusk arrived.