This evening I brought Satan back to the round pen. I have noticed he still runs some, not as often, but he is getting a bit pushy again with that troublesome right shoulder. I asked him to move it away instead of planting it, at first he bolted. Eventually he would bend and step over, move his shoulder, and then look to me for what next. I am careful to ask nicely but firmly when necessary and remove any literal or implied pressure as soon as he tries. He was great with the pad today, and I laid a rope across his back, stepped him over, and looped it back through the snap to work on his girth area- something I have not asked since Ive had him. I know he is tight and tense here. He was amazingly agreeable, but cautious. I attached the girth to my english pony saddle, laid it over the top, and asked Satan what he thought. No thanks at the first try. I did not punish or push but simply wait for him to stop backing and shying away, and when he stepped toward me I let him sniff again. I received the Maybe look. I placed it over his withers (this is safer to him than directly toward the back) then removed it before he said no. Lots of licking and chewing. All the while I would jiggle and rub the rope around his girth area. I did this several times, then placed the saddle and stepped back for him to relax. He looked pleased. I let him walk around a minute or two, then carefully moved the girth over his back and draped on his right side below the saddle. I moved to the left, jiggled the rope around his girth, rubbed the girth area, and reached under and grabbed the girth. I slowly buckled it, walked a few steps, tightened, walked some, tightened the other side, over and over until it was snug enough. Holy cow hes saddled! WITH the girth. Hes been saddled before after lots of sweat and some sedatives before I got him. I turned him loose and did some light work, turning and driving him. The leathers were a bit suspicious as the flapped but he tried very hard to be a good pony. No bucking, no bolting. I asked him to turn and face me and come to me, he did. I slowly and happily unsaddled him after only a few minutes and praised him as gently but deliberately as I could. What a good, brave pony! Today when we were done he never broke a sweat. I scratched him on the neck a little more deliberately than he will usually tolerate. He looked so very PLEASED with himself, i would almost say he smirked! He enjoyed his scratches and offered to steal my hat twice. I normally would not allow or encourage cheeky behavior but it was new and wonderful for him to open up his playful side I almost laughed out loud and cried all at once. Wonderful wonderful wonderful. You dont have to work some horses into the ground to make a difference- some like this pony just need patience and lots of time, I havent worked with him since the Santa-hat photos but the proof is in the pudding, this is working for this boy! I hope to apply this patience when I embark on the adventure of entering the Thoroughbred Makeover Challenge thats being put on by the Retired Racehorse Project in Kentucky this year. Ill certainly have hard work ahead of me but the goal isnt to win anything but to get one of the OTTBs from work ( Kentucky Equine Humane Center) adopted. Wish me luck in picking a partner!!
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 00:12:59 +0000
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