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.