I did more groundwork with Pepsi today and he was excellent! I wasn't sure if he'd even want anything to do with me after the cone incident yesterday, but when I called to him from the gate he winnied at me and came walking up to me!! :D
Anyway, I took him in and gave him a good grooming and then took him out to the roundpen. There were deer across the street though, so after snorting at them and trying to freak out, we did some ground driving until he was paying attention to ME and not the deer! He was very good and it only took a few minutes before he settled down.
Then we went into the ring and I tortured him with the beach ball! I'm sure he thought I was nuts, but that's ok. I kicked it around his legs, hit it in the air, threw it over him, kicked it under him, etc. I even convinced him to 'chase' it by trotting after me with me holding it. He really didn't seem to understand what the point of THAT was, but at least he did it.
We also went over the ground poles a few times and he WALKED THROUGH THEM CORRECTLY!!! He'd stop, look at them, and then *very carefully* put each foot through the 'maze.' I think he's finally starting to get the concept! (He also gave me a nice little jump over them the first time, and then figured out what I was asking for the next time through.)
Finally, to end the session, we were walking out of the barn when more gunshots went off from close by. He jumped (heck, so did I! Those things are LOUD!) but a jump was all he did. He didn't try to run out, or away from me, or anything else. He stayed right by me when I asked him to and walked calmly back up to the pasture without a fuss after they were over with!
I'm so proud of my pony!!
PS- I've ordered boots for him since he's a little sore still, which is why I haven't been riding. Once they get here we'll start riding again, but for now I think groundwork is probably best for both of us anyway!
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9 comments:
Wacky poles!!!! :) That's adorable that he called to you and came up to you in the pasture. How truly sweet. It's moments like that which make it all worth it. ;)
Sounds like a great workout! Seems like Pepsi's even having fun...!!
I bet all this great groundwork will pay off big when the boots come and you get back in the saddle.
haha, so funny about the poles and how he is so careful.
The first time I went over trot poles with a horse I used to ride, he jumped the whole set (six of them!!) He was 20 y/o, you would think he would have known by then but I guess not.
Pepsi is getting some good groundwork in. Beachballs and all, thats awesome.
Wow! Sounds like you're making a lot of progress. :)
Ignoring gunshots? Thats a HUGE accomplishment! Well done!
Yes, I always love it when he calls to me! And that fact that he is starting to ignore the gunshots IS a huge accomplishment! Yay!!
Im so glad yall are making such great progress..yay !
what kind of boots did you end up getting?
AWESOME! It sounds like Pepsi is REALLY coming along nicely! He loves his Mommy, too!
Laura- I bought the Renegades for him.
Christie- he'd BETTER love me after all the time and money I've put into him!! :p
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