2 Trailer ride

A few days ago was Bents second trailer ride. His first was when he came to my place. I wasn't there to see him load. But I did see him unload. He came flying out of that trailer to say the least. But in his defense he had just been weaned from him mom not too long before. Plus he wasn't halter broke either. Well halter broke yes...but couldn't lead. He ran straight into his stall.

Well, in short, we had to move so the horses had to go to a boarding facility. It crossed my mind just before we found the facility that...well I don't have a trailer and well...nothing to practice with. I had to rely on what ground work I had done and hope that when we introduced him to the trailer, for the second time, he would be ok with it. That and the ride itself.

Because of the issues with my pregnancy. The lady hauling my two horses was kind enough to bring one of her hands to help. We both agreed that we would take Tecate, the experienced hauler, and bent out at the same time. The whole idea was to keep the energy level as mellow as possible. Which...it worked great. Both horses were content that the other was near. We also decided that Tecate would load first and Bent would follow.

Tecate head to the trailer to load first. Of course...she has to be a pill. Nothing major but I wasnt the one leading her. She never seems to do well when I'm there and not the one directing her. Especially when it comes to loading. Partly due to the wild fires we had here. She had a bad experience when I was there and one when I wasn't. She had to be evacuated twice. Second evac left her with scars. So she can some anxiety. She loaded ok..lil ancy...but ok. Until they went to shut the divider. She start hollering and stomping. Such a butt. Nothing bad just being seriously impatient and attached to bent.

Next came Mr. Bent man. Again I wasn't leading him so I was crossing my fingers he would do well for the loader. He was a little confused by the mans need to hold the clip of the lead right under his chin. Pretty much holding Bents halter. When he is use to a loose lead and body pressure telling him where to go. But he was a good boy and did what was asked. Even though he was being man handled a bit. Nothing mean...in the mans defence...just more pushy.

I might have let a little bit of a face go when I was watching. Because the lady took Bent from the man and left him on a loose lead. She was in the trailer and asked Bent to step up into the trailer. She wasn't yanking pulling. Just a nice loose lead and asking him gently to step forward. Light little tugs (not even tugs really). Bent looked so cute trying to figure out where the heck the first step was. He was lifting his lil leg be came up a bit short each try. Finally he found the step and took the first step up. Then added his second foot. He was calm this whole time. Even with Tecate stomping and making a ruckus.

Next came the butt. The lady asked him again to come forward and he did. He looked like a dog with shoes on his feet. Haha He was trying to find that step again and just ended up lifting his legs really high and straight up. Not forward. Took him a couple of times to realize he needed to step more forward. Once he did his hind end was up. He stood like a champ. She put a break away tie on him and took his lead off. She stepped out and they shut the door. He tried to follow her once and all it took was an "EH" and he stood still. Such a good boy.

The unloading was even better. Just as calm as a cucumber he waited to be told to unload. You could tell he wasn't expecting the drop out of the trailer to be so much. But he didn't let it bug him. He even stood nice and quiet while Tecate, again being a butt, made it more work than it needed to be to unload. She came out of the trailer pretty darn fast. Almost a little hop out of the trailer straight at bent. He didn't flinch. He just nickered at her.

Through everything not once did the whites of his eyes show, snort, blow, flair his nostrils...nothing. He acted as if this was something he has done a million times over. He did so much better than Tecate. I couldn't be more pleased with him.

Catch up..

Ahh well let see. What has gone on since the last time I posted. A TON. So I'll give a quick run down before I get into the recent stuff. I found out mid November that I am pregnant. This was a bit of a shock. But exciting at the same time. My husband is deploying in Feb. Because of those two things Bent had to go up for sale. Along with the fact I have an old riding injury thats coming back to bite me in the butt. But fortunately we were able to work it out so I don't have to sell Bent.

Woo!

Because of the pregnancy and the wonderful things that come with it. Working with Bent has been off and on. Hormones and a growing baby take a toll on your body. Lemme tell you. So Bent hasn't been ignored just not worked with as much. Although others seem to think I haven't touched him at all. They ate crow later. That's all I'll say. haha

Rewind to a few weeks ago.

Bent was due for his second farrier visit. I had an errand I couldn't avoid that morning. So that left things up to the hubby. I tried like hell to get back in time to help but never made it. The hubby isn't a horse person. What he knows he's learned from me. The only horse he handles is Tecate. He really could handle Bent but I think he's afraid I'm too anal. Haha. That or Bent will do something and he wont handle it right. I dunno. I'm not sure. So with this appointment he was rather nervous. He expressed this to the farrier and also that he wasn't sure I was even working Bent anymore. *sigh*So the farrier decided to do bents feet in his stall. That way no one had to lead him. I left a halter out and lead for the hubby to use. This is what I was told upon returning.

Bentley did great! Even better than the first time. Hubby confessed that he expressed concern about Bent being a bit much to handle because he felt I wasn't working him. The Farrier put Bents halter on and asked for his feet. He picked them up like a pro. No yanking at all. The only adjusting they had to do is straightening him out after he put his foot down and rebalanced. He did tug a little with his right hind but that was due to a bruise. He got a bit excited playing one day and kicked the rail. Now the tug was a small hesitation from what the hubby says. Other than that...total angel. I was so proud. I wasn't even there and he did great. He's very much a one person horse. Although he does respect other people. He just try's harder for me. AND since my working with him has been cut wayyy down he retained all that hard work we've done. He had every chance to be an ass and he held true. So damn proud!

Fast forward to this evening.

I took Bent out today for some play time. I was expecting fireworks but got none. So...sitting out there I got bored and when I get bored I try stuff. Haha. I decided to see how sensitive he was to a whip. I'm wanting to start some small steps to lunging. Before I brought out a whip and started I wanted to make sure I knew what his reaction would be. I've used one on him before but is always been on the opposite side of him. So he never really sees the whole thing. The most I used it for was to tickle his bum. Very very light. Again I always expect fireworks. I guess its my way of being ready for the worst.

I walk in with the whip and Bent looks up at me. Goes back to munching on some grass. I get his attention again and he comes up to me. I show him the whip and he could care less. I decided to touch him with it. Nothing. I rub his whole body with it. Nothing. I lightly tap his whole body with it. Nothing. Then I try again with a little more pressure. All I got was a sigh and a look like "whatttttttttttttttttttttt???"

Welllllllll. Since he didn't mind I was going to try some free lunging. Well basically leading without the lead and just a bit further away than a lead would allow. But close enough I could tickle him with the whip if needed. (this is a dressage whip btw). It took me a second to get him to realize I was asking him to walk. But he caught on, although a bit confused, and we did a lap around the pen. He tried to dive in once but I just lifted my hand and he stepped back out onto the circle. Wooo!! Score some points for both of us! I did have to encourage him with a little clucking though. But I'll filter in body cues later instead of the voice. I like to use the voice as a last resort.

Second time around I asked for a bit more from him. He gave it willingly. Although it was more play than it was actual work. Which is fine with me. He's walking when I ask and giving more energy when I encourage it. By the third lap he got the "game" and I could stay a bit farther from him. Only had to use the whip to get him started. After that I could move and he would follow. Even play when I asked. We only went to the right (he doesn't care if I fuss over him on the right or left) and did a total of 5 circles.

This wasn't anything serious. It was a little test for the both of us. He's very much aware of where I am in regards to his body position. Which I like. He always has an ear on me even when he's playing. Love that. Even when we brought the energy level up he didn't blow through the roof. I could go up to him after each circle and pet him and fuss over him like he had been standing still the whole time. He keeps the high energy as long as I ask him to and then brings it right back down. I hope it stays like that.

I'm debating if I'm even going to use a lunge line. I'm not serious about lunging him. He's not ready for real work. I just want to get the basics in. Give us something to work on while I'm pregnant and limited. A fun lil game if you will. I want to keep everything light and fun. I don't want him to dread me coming out and being with him. I think I'll add the lunge line later on down the line when he's ready for real work. No rush on anything.

I'm so pleased with this colt. He's so mellow and level headed even when his energy level is up. I hope he keeps this once the boys drop. Haha. I'm uploading a video to youtube from today. Once that gets up and running I'll add the link here. Or if you know how to contact me and you really want to see just ask.

Tests

Things have been coming along well with Mr. B. We are enjoying our lil walks to the round pen. He's also not as annoyed by the transitions. He's such a sweet lil boy.

I had him out yesterday. I went out to take a couple of photos of him but got distracted by my phone. I saw him walk up to me and I started scratching him but my full attention wasn't on him. Yes I know bad me. Once I stopped scratching him he felt like he should heed me. The lil bugger tried to nip me as he tried to make ME do a turn away. I didn't smack, yell or get loud. I did something I know would make more sense to him and do a more efficient job. I immediately made him do turns away from me. Now it wasn't a hard nip it was a "I think I have the cajones for this" nip. So I calmly asked for the turns away. No touching just a lil "shhhttt" to back to get him moving and BAM we started the turns away. Not a happy camper I might ad. He tried to duck out once so we just did them the other direction. As soon as he relaxed and went neutral I stopped. A min max and a good lesson taught with no blow ups.

I'm rather enjoying this. Not only am I teaching him quite a bit. He's teaching me boat loads. I got my point across without being loud. I'm not a loud person anyways. But with as quiet as I am when I do up the "pressure" it almost comes across as a scream. He's teaching me the middle grounds and I'm loving it.

Now a jump to today. THE FIRST FARRIER VISIT!!! DUH DUNNNNN!! I've been working with Bentley pretty much everyday. As I've stated before I'm very proud of how well he is doing. Well today was the day for the first farrier visit. I was a nervous wreck. No one would know it because I hold it in. But still if I could have expressed it....well they would of told me to leave. Haha.

When it came time for me to get Bentley the farrier wanted him out of his stall. *Butterflies* Mind you Tecate is getting her feet done. She's getting hot shoed at that. So we have the big truck. The acetylene going. The journeyman banging away on shoes on an anvil. Plus the dogs are running around looking for the yummy trimmings. When I get Bentley I make sure to do some transitions. Mostly for me really. haha. As we approach everything he's a little unsure and has a slight hesitation but comes willing enough. I ask him to stand and he does. He has a moment where he things about a bolt but I breath out to him and he stops. Bill, the farrier, comes over and starts talking to him. He explains to Bentley what he's going to do and funny enough Bentley listens with intent like he understands. First leg goes up and he stands for a min. He feels the hoof knife and rasp. He's a little over stimulated with all the noise and goings on he tried to take his leg away. Bill holds it firm but kind and talks to him. He nips and rasps. First foot done. Such a good boy. Left hind comes up. Poor Mr. Man is going through another growth spurt and is having a hard time holding himself and focusing on all the noise. He almost knocks himself over trying to catch his balance but Bill helps him regain it without lettin go. He then explains to me when they go through the growth spurts they just don't have the strength to properly balance and hold themselves up. We do a small circle and Bill finishes the Left hind. Now comes the right hind. We start the same slow lean followed by the "ACK I CANT HOLD MYSELF". So the Journeyman comes over and almost lays on Benltey. Right arm over his back and cupping his belly. Left arm around the front of his chest. His upper body resting on Bentleys back. Benltey sighed and relaxed. He still wobbled a little and tugged a bit. But there was no bronking, no major fights, or freaking out. Just curiosity, a little unsure, gangly, but calm, cool, and a damn good boy for his first trimming.

After getting done I walked him around the truck. Let him sniff anything he wanted if he wished. Which he could of cared less. He watched Tecate get put up and that was it. I put him in the round pen and he munched on the new grass that was growing. What a trooper!! We have a few things to work on but for the most part I think he passed with flying colors.

While I was taking Bentley out today I decided to try something new. He doesn't like the halt transitions too much. He does them when asked but he's getting impatient with them. He also is getting use to his surroundings. Which it looks to be boring him. Soooo......

First I decided to take him on a different path to the round pen everyday. He's getting comfortable with the route we usually take. He's starting to let his attention wander more when we repeat the path. So I switched it up for him. He was very happy with this. Still had his attention on me the whole time. Just enough new to perk him up. But not enough to disrupt his focus. He just seemed more upbeat about it. His ears didn't say he was irritated. Plus this gives us a chance to work on focus when new things come up. I think it will be fun to go for little walks.

Second I decided not to do so many halt transitions. I don't have to do a complete down transition to actually accomplish one. So I'm varying the tempo. I'll pick up the pace of the walk and ask him to keep up. Then I'll bring it back down and ask him to stay with me. This caught him off guard a little. He seemed confused about slow instead of stop. Or a hesitate instead of the complete down transition. But he picked up on it fairly well. Once he understood the "game" he was more attentive. I think it was enough of a change up to keep him thinking.

I think I just have to remember to mix things up for him a bit. I know sometimes I can get into a habit of just doing something a certain way. Or if I get distracted by anything I tend to go on auto pilot. My mind isn't totally on him when it should be. I expect his full attention when I'm out there. I should give him the same. I think it will work good for both of us.

A lil change

Yesterday I worked Tecate in a surcingle and side reins. Prior to me doing this I had Bentley out. I decided to take the equipment over to the round pen. Why not let him get use to seeing these things right?

I set the equipment on the rails and proceeded to roll up the polo wraps. While doing this Bentley came over and started to inspect the gear. I flapped it around a bit. Banged the D rings from the surcingle on the pipe. He didn't spook. He was more curious than anything.

DO YOU SEE THE CHUNK OF MANE HE RUBBED OUT?! UGH!

At this point I get curious and decide to see how willing he is. I got into the pen and took the blanket down. He moved his head back but didn't really back way. So I gave his neck a good scratch and kept the blanket there. I then started to rub his chest with the blanket and moved up to his neck and along his sides. This boy loves nothing more than a good scratching. So he stopped worrying about the blanket. I casually set it on his back. Nothing. He just stood there. So I took it off opened it up and put it on his back like I would Tecate. Not even a head raise. So I took some more pictures.

Needless to say I got a big kick out of it. He followed me around while I tried to get pictures of him. It was rather hard to get far enough away and not fall on my butt to get a pic. I adjusted it a few times and got nothing from him. I didn't want to get too greedy so I went ahead and took it off. Put him up and worked Tecate.

I love this lil guy. :D

On a side note. I hope to god he looks better after he sheds his winter coat. He looks like a lil pop belly pig. Haha. Plus that chunk of mane missing doesn't help either.

Hissy Fits

Things are moving along quiet well with Bentley. He is getting out of his stall on a regular basis. I'm happy with the pace we are going. Its not rushed but its not lacking either. One issue I've always had was not knowing if I was headed the right direction. Training class was always frustrating for me. I always felt I didn't get very much direction. Thus frustration would set in and I had a hard time seeing the big picture.

For once I can actually see the big picture. I can see the baby steps its going to take to get where I want to go. I know how I want Bentley to progress. He'll have some say on that as we go. But for the most part I feel I have a pretty good grasp on it. I'm very excited to see how this goes. I know I keep saying that. But its very true.

I always ask for transitions on the way to and from the round pen. Bentley listens to me quite well when I'm leading. I ask for the transitions when I feel his attention is wandering away from me. As of recently he seems to be...annoyed...with these transitions. I guess like your typical kid. Doesn't understand why we have to keep stopping. The pen is right there why cant we just go straight to it? So I've been making it a point, when we halt, to give him a good rub and praise him. I want to keep this "training" positive. He's always much more willing and calm on the way back to the stall. So I think its just the anticipation of "play" time that gets him ancy.

A couple of days ago Bentley decided to test me. On the way to the round pen he decided he wanted to go visit Tecate. I was without my whip. So I just wiggled the end of the lead line. Normally that's all the pressure I need to get the steps forward. Not this time. He still said no and wouldn't move. (Now on a side note I'm heeding him not dragging. So there is no tension in the lead at all. There is always a loop.) I then put a bit more pressure on him with the lead from behind and he did something that I thought was hilarious. He splayed out this front feet and dug in with his hind. I couldn't help but laugh. I have no pressure on his head at all. Yet he was planted like I was dragging him. The best part of it was he just kinda slumped into that position. Didn't do a spook or jump into it. Just kind melted into it. His nose was pinched his body tense and he was set in not moving. So I went to the end of my six foot lead. I walked from his left shoulder to the opposite side. We were right by the shed that my whip was leaning against. I then picked up the slack and walked back to his shoulder. This whole time he hasn't moved a muscle. Once back to his shoulder I lift the tip of the whip enough so he can see it. He stands up and we continue on to the pen. What a dork.

Now yesterday I anticipated the same reaction so I changed our route. Not by much just where we passed Tecate. I put a bit more distance between them. After passing Tecate it seems that Bentley realized we didn't walk right past her as usual. He seemed a little peeved. He thought about stopping but I caught it. Entertained the thought of turning away from me to go back but again I caught it. So he opted to just walk past me and go around the other way. He didn't bolt but he picked up the speed and tried to make me do a turn away. I closed him off to that idea and he got upset. Since I had stopped everything he tried so far he swung his butt around and faced me. With that started to go sideways. Not running just a fast walk. He wouldnt let me get back to his shoulder. Instead of making it a fight I lunged ( at a walk) him in a circle. Making him do transitions from the end of the lead.

One I was surprised that I could, at the end of a six foot lead, still get transitions. Even though he didn't want me right at his shoulder I technically still was. He tried to trot off but I asked him to stay at a walk. He swapped directions and we did the same on the other side. His next evasion was to try come in and lean in on me. Push me around basically. I used the butt of the whip to make that uncomfortable. I didn't jab just let him put the pressure on it. He stopped and faced me again. So I sat there and let him relax. He was starting to get tense. Everything up to this point was calm. He was peeved but he wasn't spazing out at this point. I wanted to keep it as calm as I could. He sat there for a second and slowly came up to me licking and chewing. I gave him a good scratching for it and we went on our way.

All in all I think it went well. I didn't take it personal that my lil colt wasn't listening to me and was trying to avoid listening. His head was held high, his nostrils were flared and he may have picked up the pace. Not once did he bolt, spook or really spaz out. In the end the came back up to me on his own will. Nothing has been set back. If anything I feel like we took a nice step forward.

Round pen YAY!!

Our round pen is finally up!! Wooo!!

Well its been up for about a week now. But still its an exciting event for me. I now have a place to really work with Bentley. I wont be doing anything major (lunging etc) with him for a while. But its going to be nice to have room to actually do more than walk in a tight circle.

I was anticipating some issues while walking to the pen. Why? I think I anticipate the worst as to not be caught off guard too bad. This was a longer distance to walk than to the previous turn out area. We had to pass some "scary" new things on top of it all. Not to mention there is more going on over on that side of the property. More noise more than anything really.

For the most part Bentley is at my shoulder the whole time while leading. When he gets unsure he wants to duck behind me and "hide" his face. He has never spooked up to this point. So it hasn't been an issue. Although he has in his stall before (not with me in it). That's one point we have been working on. Getting him confident enough to stay at my shoulder and not duck behind me. Don't really want him to spook and run up behind me. He may only be 6 almost 7 months old. But that's a lot of horse coming up on your butt.

I personally don't want that kind of back massage. I don't understand those who lead the horse with it a good couple of feet behind them. That's asking to get run over. At least if the horse is at your shoulder your out of range of the front hoof and rear hoof. Along with the fact they CANT run you over from behind. They can bump you but if you have your horses attention...hint hint... That shouldn't be too much of an issue. If it does happen a horse that respects its lead "mare", so to speak, will immediately get out of your space. On the same note you have better visual tabs on your horse if its right there with you. I personally cant stand it when someone is dragging the horse behind them. Not giving two hoots about how close that horse is coming to you and your equine. I cant tell you how many kick matches I've seen because of this. Its just dangerous. Period.

Anyways back on topic. Bentley was great going to the round pen. He didn't shy at anything. I did take him up to the things I thought he might scoot away from just to see his reaction. He's different in the fact that if we pass something on his left then pass it on the right he doesn't give a different reaction. I cant tell you how many horses I've handled that are very much left or right sided. Its OK on the left but not the right. Not with him. He doesn't mind me leading him on either side. He doesn't give a different reaction to an object he's seen if I'm on the opposite side. He doesn't shy at something on the right that was OK on the left. He has the "yeah I've seen that before...whatever..whats next?" attitude. That I am very grateful for.

It took him a few turn outs in the round pen to fully use it. To actually play in it. When he finally did. Good lord! That boy can drop it and take off. I always love watching a horse play. Cant help but make me smile.

I've started working the heeding with no line. He enjoys my company enough that he is willing to stand with me. He'll let me switch sides randomly and take it in stride. Although he likes to keep his head at my shoulder if we don't have a lead. Working on that for the time being. I've considered (a little down the road) working the start of lunging. No trot or canter. He's in no way shape or form old enough for that kind of work. Just putting a bigger gap between us and still getting the results I want. I'll see how it goes. He's still very much a baby. What he has given me so far I'm VERY pleased with. He's given more than some "trained" horses have.

I keep our "work" sessions fairly short. I don't want to make him sour about the work. I alternate between work and grooming. Which in a sense is still a work session. But he loves the grooming so much its more like fun than work. I also know his lil mind can only focus for so long. Plus he still needs to be a horse. I don't want to hinder his personality or mental stability by putting too much on him too soon.