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.