Weekend recap

What a wonderfully productive weekend!!! April 17-19, 2009

It started on Friday when I got off of work. I decided to lunge the girls. Yeah, call me crazy. I figure I’ll start on the lead line, just getting them to walk and halt around me. Things don’t go as well as I’d hoped, but neither horse has a hissy and I don’t get trampled. Adiva’s biggest problem was she would turn to me every time she stopped. Anni was too interested in grazing to work very well, so I called it a day. They both handled the new experience well, and I didn’t want to push them. But OMG, they were so cute when I put their protective boots on! High stepping it like they were circus ponies!!!!

Saturday K came out to help. I had planned on working them in their paddock - three nice sides of fence and good ground - so K suggested we bring the lunge line and use that. Uh, too soon, too soon! As I led Adiva out, she automatically starts running around me at the end of the lead. OK, maybe the lunge line will work. I switched leads, and let her drift out a bit. She obviously has done this before because she was an angel. Walk, trot, halt both directions and when she stopped, she stayed out on the circle and faced direction of go. Didn’t turn to me at all. I couldn’t believe how well she did.

Then it was Anni’s turn. She wasn’t sure about the lunge whip, and we spent some time just getting her used to it. Not sure if she just used it as excuse to act up, or if she’s never seen one before or what, but she quickly realized it wasn’t anything scary and we set to work. She’s a lazy little bugger, but did well to the left. To the right, however, we had a typical 3 year old tantrum. She was working ok at the walk, but at one point in the trot decided she was done and tried to turn and go. When she turned to the left tho, she got the lunge line over her head. She then proceeded to finish the turn left so she was facing me, and started to back up. Into the fence. The electric fence. When she realized where she was, she tried to rear, but the lunge line was right over her poll (lucky break for me) so that pressure stopped her. So she stands there, kind of wild eyed, and I just talk to her. I still have the lunge line, and I’m just waiting for her to turn to look at me before I approach. A few seconds later, she lowers her head and takes a step towards me, so I move in quick to untangle her. She’s not stressed at all, so we resume training. She’s not wanting to bend to the right - she just keeps swinging her hindquarters around and that’s causing me to have to get more behind her to drive and it’s spooking her a bit. I reel her in on a smaller circle and work on moving forward, not just pivoting around, and send her back out to see if she’s got it. Yup, she does, even at the trot. I’m so proud of her I can barely breathe. She has one moment where she thinks about trying to get away again, but sighs and keeps on trotting when I flick the whip at her. I stop her and call it a day. I really couldn’t ask for anything more from either of them.

Sunday I decide to bathe them. Really bathe them. Scrub the tails, clean the teats, wash the face. Anni actually falls asleep during her bath, and only wakes up when a strange truck pulls in the drive. Lo and behold, it’s Scott, the farrier! He was driving by and saw us so wanted to check on the girls. Both girls vied for his attention the whole time. It was so cute to watch both of them push their noses into his chest for face rubs. They really have no concept of personal space, but they aren’t too pushy about it. Clingy, I would call it. He’s happy about the way their feet look, and heads out so I can bathe Adiva. She’s equally good for her bath, and I realize how much easier mares are. I don’t have any sheathes to clean!!!!! By the time I’m done with Adiva, the wind has picked up a bit, and the sun is behind clouds. I really don’t want to turn her out, because she loves to roll when she’s all wet, but A) it’ll take her at least an hour to dry if I hand walk her and B) it’s not like I’m taking them to a show. I mean, yes, I wanted them clean, but it was more to get them used to the process and make sure I didn’t have any problem areas to work thru. Plus, part of the fun of a bath is rolling right after, so I let her straight out. Anni was dry when she went out because Scott had come by, and she isn’t the slob that Adiva is anyway, so she’s still clean. Adiva, of course, hit the first patch of dirt she found, went all the way over, and was promptly a mud bug. Oh well, she looked happy. They both went off to nap after that, and I actually had to wake them a short time later for dinner. Really lucked out with these girls. Really really.