Too Cute!

Well today I worked with Kizzy and I thought I would add some ground poles into the mix. I figured they would be fun and something different. Well she did great and walked and trotted through them calmly only bulking a little bit going to the left. I think it might have been the shadow or her saying "you want what"? She did great and this is all with the little elastic band around her girth area and the training bridle. I need to go get a thicker band and work with that also. We did a lot of hugging and she is getting quite comfortable with pressure all around her. We had to go to town today and when we got back Kizzy was really checking the ground polls out. I just had to film this...

Making progress!

Well to start things off Kizzy's bumps are just teeth bumps and will go away in time. The vet visit last Friday went great. She loaded into the trailer without a bulk and when we arrived she was on her toes but never did a thing. The only time she even bucked and got excited a bit is when Dr. Mikes horses started making some noise and she realized horses were around but out of sight. She did get some happy juice for the x-rays but only because she had to stand so still. After we were finished she loaded up and we headed home. The only tragedy was Gage falling off the horse bus (his name for the horse trailer) and getting a blow to his ego. My anxiety about trailering horses is starting to go away again....What a trooper she was.

I have been working a lot on the ground with Kizzy and getting her used to moving away from pressure and respecting me as the leader. I have been taking my time and introducing things slowly but I felt like I was missing some stuff. I was really having problems with the girth and felt like I needed a little help before I made her scared of the girth for ever.

Leslie came over on Wednesday to trim the horses feet and I asked her for some help. She does natural horsemanship but in her own way and I love how she works horses. She told me to make my signals to Kizzy more clear and to keep things smooth and quiet. I worked with moving Kizzy's hind quarters and front end. She did it so much better when I gave her a clear signal for what I was asking she also didn't ever ask why do I have to do this. Leslie also found out that Kizzy is very claustrophobic and touchy around her belly and girth area which is why the girth has been such an issue. Leslie would walk around her and give her these big bear hugs and hold the pressure and Kizzy would get a little tense then relax the only place that she really jumped was the girth area. Leslie did that area with a bit less pressure and told me she needed more hugging. Leslie also gave me a few elastic bands to work with around her girth area to just get her used to something there. I usually put one on and then work her. All and all she gave me a great lesson and many new things to work on. Kizzy did great and learned some also. She will be going to Leslie's place in August so we can work with her consistently and correctly. I know she will turn out great!!!

Back to normal!

Well everybody has gone home and even though it was awesome to see family and we had a blast I am sure all are ready to be back to normal. Well my normal is working with Kizzy consistently again. I have been working her about 6 days a week and she is coming along very nicely. She does like to test me now and again but once she knows I am not going to quit she seems to say OK and does it. She does have a little bit of a stubborn streak but she is good at working through it. We are working on giving and moving away from pressure, respect of space and getting her used to new things. All of this is ongoing but she gets better every lesson.

She has a bony lump on her jaw between her cheek and her chin. At first I thought she just must have hit it but it has not gone away so I want to get her looked at. It doesn't seem sore anymore and it doesn't seem to bother her but I want Dr Mike to check it out. The fun part of the vet visit is that I am bringing her to the clinic so if he has to take xrays it will be easier. One of my biggest anxieties with horses is having a horse that loads and unloads easily. Kizzy is now realizing what the trailer is and therefore is not as excited to get in it. She is still very good but there is a bit more hesitation and she actually backed out a few times before I asked her and didn't stop when I pulled a bit on the halter. I am taking it pretty slow because I never want this to be a problem and in the future I would love to have her walk in and out by herself so I can take her places by myself. Ah so much to work on...

Busy Busy Busy!!

Well we have been really busy but Kizzy has been getting worked a little everyday. I am still doing ground work with her and working on the whole girth thing. I am hoping next month to bring her to my friends to get her off the property and working on saddling and ground work in a clinic format. I think it will be good for her and a bunch of fun.

Gage graduated from school although he is not really in a grade and not going anywhere different. It was very fun and he was so proud...Dan and I were proud too...

I am going to continue doing what I am doing with Kizzy because she is coming along well and getting used to everything. She is also getting good at her ground work and voice commands. She is trusting me more and more each day...