Chance Is Settling In

For awhile there, I was getting worried about Chance. Since I went back to work, I haven't been home to observe what she is doing during the day. My OH was working 12 hour days, so when I got home, I would go out and feed. Chance would be running along the fence line, and wouldn't settle down. I thought that she was still stressing out from weaning, or was upset that the other horses were down at the lower end of their pasture's and she couldn't see them. I had Sunday off, so I was able to observe her all day and get to spend some time with her.

She was happily munching her hay down when I went up to catch her. She let me walk up to her, but she didn't want me to put the lead rope on. It took a couple minutes to get the lead rope attached to her halter. She never tried running from me, she just would move away a couple feet to the side. Once I caught her, I led her up to her shelter so I could get my brushes. I first used my hand and rubbed her all over. I have brushed her before, but it had been a couple weeks. Once she relaxed, I grabbed a brush and started grooming. She was loving it. I can pretty much touch everywhere on her body, except for her hind legs. I haven't tried touching her there yet. I want her to relax a little more before I attempt to rub down her hind legs. She is very accepting to touch everywhere else. I have even moved all the way down her front legs, which she promptly picked up for me. She must know that she is going to be getting her hooves trimmed soon!

My sister arrived and came up to see us. I worked on leading and giving to pressure on the lead. My sister was able to snap a few pictures of us.

Here I am leading Chance. She is doing pretty good. She only stopped a couple times and wouldn't move forward, but it only took a few seconds to get her going again. She likes to walk right behind me, which I am working on. But overall, she is doing really well.



In this picture she was trying to walk behind me, so I was trying to get her to walk beside me.



I even got her to take a step backwards. She is one smart little girl! I swear all I have to do is ask her one time, and she knows what I am asking her to do. She is totally different from Fritzy, who is a brick wall. It can take days for Fritzy to figure out what I am asking her to do, but with Chance, she just gets it. I think this is going to be one easy horse to train. I hope I didn't speak to soon! There is so much for her to learn!

We had a nasty rain storm move in. I have never seen so much rain at once. The horse's pastures are now lakes. Chance has turned one area of her pasture into a mud pit. Hey summer, where did you go? Can you come back, please?

I am giving Chance a hug. She doesn't look like she is enjoying it much, but really she was!



I also brought her other baby halter up. I sacked her out with it, then put the nose piece over her nose a few times. Once she was relaxed, I brought the crown piece behind her ears and buckled it. She did very well with that. I will continue to practice putting on and taking off the halter, before I take her other halter off. Right now I need to be able to catch her. Once she comes up to me, and I can put a halter on with no problems, her other halter will come off permanently.

We ended the day on a good note. I let Chance go. She was very interested in my temporary grooming bag. It is temporary because I am waiting for the feed store to get the pink grooming bags in. They were out of pink ones so I am using another bag for now, which isn't very convenient, but it gets the job done.



The only time it rained today was when I was out working with Chance, of course. So we got a little wet.



Behind Chance you can see the mud pit that she has created from her pacing.



After I went back into the house, I was able to check on her all day. She was totally fine. No pacing, or running around. I even saw her laying down, which I have NOT seen her do since she has been here, but I am sure she has, I am just not home to see it. She does still pace during feeding time, but I think she just gets worked up because it is feeding time. That is why I was thinking she wasn't settling in.



And she is growing! I looked at pictures of her before she came home. She has sprouted up since she has been here.

On to other news....my sister came up to the barn the other day to watch me work a couple horses. I am glad she was able to come. I really wanted her to see what I do during the day. I saved a couple of my favorite horses for her. One was the 3 yr old stallion I have fallen in love with, and the other was the cranky halter/western pleasure mare. Even though she is cranky, I still like her. I still love my job. It is very hard, physical work but I will not complain. I am very happy! Yes, I do have a few injuries, a couple rope burns and a blood blister, but overall nothing to serious.

My crazy Aussie's and cats are wondering why I am not home anymore. I think they really miss me during the day. I just hope Sadie doesn't resort back to her aggression issues with Bailey. I worked so hard with Sadie while I was unemployed. I hope she remembers how to be a good dog.

I think that is about it on the news!