WEEKEND SESSIONS 2 & 3

SATURDAY/SUNDAY – What a great weekend with Nike! We hauled over to Pioneer Park again. It was BUSY both days! Between all the people with horses (some of which were NOT well behaved), loud motorcycles, screaming kids, flaming model rockets and more, Nike was a champ. Admittedly the model rockets sounded horrible and they had a smell that got Nike’s attention she still was a good girl for her humans. She was great with her groundwork! We blasted through the Fundamentals and dove into Intermediate stuff. She is picking up those skills really quick! Then it was under saddle time. On Saturday goal was to improve her “bend” under saddle and to improve her “steering” and “gas pedal” so we Followed the Fence, One Rein Stop and Diagonals at first then we broke out some cones for Post-n-Circle. She did really well. Her self confidence in the faster gaits is improving. She is able to hold them much longer too. Her muscles are developing and she is GROWING again (she gets cuddly when she is in a growth spurt) and is becoming a striking young lady. On Sunday, after our groundwork review, we got crazy and decided to introduce a scary object – the Drag A Bag – which is a feed bag filled with crushed milk jugs attached to a length of rope. She did pretty well considering it was her first time with one. We were able to attach it to the saddle and let her pull it calmly for a little bit by the end of the session. This proved that A) she really has a willing heart even when she is unsure and B) Advance and Retreat WORKS! Under saddle we broke out the cones and logs. After her warm up we worked on listening to the seat/leg cues by walking and trotting around the cones in a serpentine pattern and then over the logs before transitioning into the lope. She did a great job! She was willing and easy. We wrapped up with some Backing under saddle and Yield the HQ and Back Up. She was a tired girl by the end but still had heart enough to charm some kids and their parents who lined up along the rail to “see the horses” and pet a soft muzzle. It was a good weekend! Next week we head to Lodi for the February practice of The Downunder Brumbies Nor-Cal chapter. The facility has a NICE round-pen so we’ll review those skills, a HUGE arena, trails through vineyards and we are going to set up some fun and challenging obstacles! Should be a good time.

 Working the cones!

 Cruising with the Drag A Bag

 Desenitizing