Today my horsey was VERY good almost the whole time! (He was VERY bad one time, but we'll get to that...)
So I had my A & P test today (2 in fact) and my brain was FRIED by the time I was done with class this afternoon. So I went straight to the barn after supper for some wind-down time with Pookie-head. I groomed him (isn't that the most soothing thing EVER?), threw on his bridle and jumped on him bareback for a hack around the ring. Well, that was my plan. As it turns out, we ended up working on some transitions and some bending and baby collection. It was still nice and relaxing even though I ended up thinking a LOT more than I had originally planned to when I first got on.
Anyway, nothing major happened, I was happy and relaxed, and got off to let him graze while I put his stuff away. While doing that I noticed some of my barnmates 'playing' in the ring with their horses. I went over to watch and see that they're doing groundwork games! Just what I've been trying to do with Pepsi! So I crash the party and immediately start picking their brains. (Bless them for being so nice to me too! Thanks Jennifer & Becky!!)
Anyway, I go get Pepsi and Becky works with him for about 3 minutes. She says he seems willing and that he generally understands what she's asking for- he just isn't very quick and doesn't respond IMMEDIATELY. She uses the crop to get a few points across to him, and then works with me on my body language. After a few minutes I have him doing turns on the forehand, turns on the haunches, backing up, and generally moving any part of his body I ask him to. Since I am a MUCH better rider than I am a groundwork person/handler, this is a MAJOR accomplishment for us both. Becky just tweaked a few things with my body language/positioning and reminded me to stay consistent no matter what! (Another self-admitted weakness!)
Anyway, Pepsi has been SO good and I'm SO happy and I decide to put him up for the night so we end on a fantastic note. (This is the GOOD Boy part!) So I walk him over to the gate, open it, ask him to walk out, and as I'm turning around to close the gate he just TAKES OFF! He pulls the rope out of my hand and heads straight for the barn. So here I am thinking that I've just done ALL this groundwork and really feel like I'm getting somewhere with him, and I drop my guard for a SECOND to close the gate and he takes off! (And really, this came out of NOWHERE! I can read his body language really well, and he walked out of the gate calmly, started turning around calmly, and right as his nose was pointed to the barn he just decided "I'm done!" and took off at a canter away from me.) In case you haven't figured it out yet this is the BAD BOY part!
I was SOOO frustrated, and he knew better than to try anything else after that! He followed me back into the ring, we worked for about another 10 minutes, and when I went to take him back out again we stopped and backed about 5 times before getting near the gate, then stopped about 4 times through the gate, and then did a nice turn on the haunches so I could turn around and close the gate WITHOUT his nose getting away from me. ;)
The good news though is that when we went back in to work, since he knew I was upset, he did EVERYTHING I asked absolutely IMMEDIATELY. There were no delays or evasions, just "Yes ma'am!" and "Did I do that right?" So, thankfully we ended on a good note, which is of course the 'finally a good boy again' part.
Ok, now I need to go to bed and get some sleep!
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7 comments:
Isnt it always like that? You have a great ride and are super happy about it and right before you get off, the horse bucks/spooks/takes off, etc. lol
Im glad you had a good ride!
AWWW Bad Pepsi! I am glad that he ended nicely though.
Next time you work with him on groundwork...try to remember how you moved your body when you were mad and you might find that you get the exact same response without having to be mad.
Good Luck!!
PS. WE WANT PICTURES!!!!!
It sounds like groundwork is EXACTLY what that bad boy needs!
I know I need to work more on that, but its not something I feel as comfortable with as I do when I'm in the saddle...I have a hard to reading the moment to release.
NAUGHTY Pepsi!!! They always seem to pull their tricks riiiiight at the end of the ride. At which point you just have to mentally pretend like you're clearing your schedule for the rest of the day...and BACK to work they go. Glad to see you got it resolved. :)
I'm glad things went well before and after that! I'm glad that things ended on a good note, too.
I very much need to work on my groundwork. I have a difficult time with it and have not done a whole lot.
Totally off topic...is there not a way to edit these things? I ended up deleting mine trying to correct spelling and add to the comment.
Alex- when you come down for the clinic, bring your digital camera with you and you can take AS MANY pictures as you'd like of my horse! ;) Then you can send them to me and I'll post them!
Again, juby does not have a digital camera. Juby WANTS a digital camera, but does not have one. Therefore, my sad and abused pookie-head will have to go without everyone oohing and ahhhing over pictures of him on the internet. Well, for the time being at least.
;)
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