Another Daisy Update

Yesterday was trailer lesson day.  My goal was to have her stand quietly at the ramp, and even put her feet on it, but not go in.

She did her usual rearing...but my two horses at the same time made it interesting by galloping around and snorting in the pasture! Daisy didn't know if she should pay attention to me or them.  So I took advantage of the situation and we worked on paying attention to me and walking to the trailer without rearing. When she did rear, I lunged her.

She finally put it together, stood at the trailer, and I gave her a lot of praise, walked away from the trailer and let her graze to release the pressure.  I think she would have gotten on the trailer, but that is not what I was working on.

Windy Day, Re-Trailering Lesson #1

Yesterday we had gale force winds, so of course, I decide to work Daisy on her lunging (just lightly) and her first official "re-trailering" lesson.

I wanted to see how she was with the trailer, and chose my goal from there.  She was okay grazing, but when I led her to the trailer, she started this series of rearing...more like "I don't want to go there" as opposed to "I am afraid to go there."  My goal became "I want you to stand in front of the ramp until I say otherwise". 

It took a while...there were several rearing episodes, but those were more feet in the air, land, see what I was going to do. I just yanked on the rope halter, backed her, and lead her to the trailer again.  After about 3 or 4 of these, she would stand at the ramp and sniff it.  The first few times she pulled away when she thought she was done.  She finally, after rearing, walked to the trailer and stood.  The last time she walked up to the ramp without rearing and stood there.  We quit at that.

I did make sure that after she did what I asked, I released pressure on her by walking away from the trailer and letting her graze.  I can almost see her processing...this morning, when I took her to her pasture, she pointedly stopped and looked at the trailer, as if she was thinking.

Another Rainy Day

Yesterday was stormy here in west Michigan, but I did get to play around with seeing how Daisy reacted to a surcingle...and she was very good!  I had the reins loose so there was no pressure on the bit (I use a snaffle).  She did look at it funny when I put it on and had to sniff it. 

I plan on riding her this weekend...hope the rain stays away!

Another Day...And A New Move For Daisy

Daisy did so well today with her lunging, and getting very good at walk/trot/canter transitions, that I decided to add walk/canter transitions.  She needs more practice, but is getting it.  It's quite obvious that this is new...at first she had to trot between walk/canter.  I also wanted to get her walk/canter transitioning to get her to push with her hind legs more and strengthen her hip muscles.

I do like the way she tries so hard.  It seems obvious to me that when she didn't understand, she was treated roughly, but the more I work with her and she realizes I'll give her the time to figure it out, she stops with her pulling away and focuses on me.