Thursday, April 03, 2008

more good news

That was AFTER i'd had to re-establish the boundaries at the mounting block

Put the combi on as the plan was to see whether i could get down the hill to the 20 acre (even if we didn't get all the way round it).

so Molly's first idea was, turn the bum away! HAH. got the pressure halter, into the arena, 5 minutes ground work, back round, she stood.

I took my short stick.

she didn't set her jaw, and actually wanted to go into the arena but walked calmly along the track and a few steps down the hill, but turned - but DIDN'T set herself.

so back to the yard area in front of the arena where we stood for a couple of minutes, then I turned her round and back down - and she went all the way down, through the gate, and half way round the first half of the 20 acre when it all got too much for her - I rather think she heard a fisherman casting - we can't see them, can only hear them. so turned round, but again without setting. I think she would have "set" had I argued, but I was well pleased with the distance we'd got, considering she hasn't willingly gone anywhere on her own for months and months ....

and we had a nice, balanced trot along the track back to the yard as well, which was good, so something's going well on the getting balanced front!

Then we went back in the arena and some work ...then decided to follow a couple of other horses out the other way - which might have worked, but george & sheila were coming back in and it all went a bit pear shaped ... so she got taken back into the arena. But again, half good - i was really balanced, didn't tense myself, Molly didn't set her jaw and we finished up getting something nice and soft on left rein.

1 comment:

Jean said...

Halfway 'round is better than no way at all! Good going. When Molly does decide to turn around, make it clear it was your idea, not hers. You might circle her a few times, anything so she doesn't realize she has made the choice.

Riding her in the arena after your little hack was brilliant! That way, coming back home didn't "save" her from some more work. Glad she is starting to work for you. Keep up the lessons on the ground, making her obey.