It turned out to be a pretty decent day on Memorial Day. The sun was trying to break through and there weren't any rain drops falling out of the sky. So I decided to head out and play with my Mustang filly, Chance. I also was able to bring her out on Sunday, but did not have a photographer, since Pony Girl is no longer around the farm. But on Monday I was able to get the assistance of my new photographer, my OH. So all photos are taken by no one other then my wonderful other half!
I had lunged her the day before, so I thought it would be good to have 2 days in a row for a lunging lesson. She still tries to take off running in the opposite direction at least once while lunging and it very well could be because I gave her the winter off and hadn't lunged her since September. The minute we started lunging, the neighbors horses came down to the fence to check us out. The other neighbor decided to take their granddaughter for a walk on the property line. I was expecting Chance to get all excited over all this commotion, but she only sped up a little and she handled it a lot better then I thought she would.
I love watching all of her gaits. She has a really nice lope and I am so excited to saddle break her!
This was the first lunging lesson that Chance did not try to run off in the other direction. She kept it mellow, except for a little excitement with the other horses and she just went around and did her job. She is really picking up the walk and trot voice commands.
She always stops immediately when I say whoa. Even when I just bring her out for some ground work and she gets excited, all I have to do is say whoa, and she just stops. Gotta love a horse that responds so well!
After lunging I decided to just playing around. I really want to get the surcingle on her this summer and get her in lines (long lines). My goal is to have her going really good in lines so when it is time to saddle break her, she will already know about the bit and giving to pressure. So in preparation of getting her in lines, I took her lead rope and tied it around her girth area, tightening it a little at a time. Of course she could care less about this.
I then remembered something I had seen on Clinton Anderson a couple weeks ago and thought I'd give it a try. I started on her left side and back by the saddle area, I just started jumping up and down, getting her used to the movement. I put my arms over her back while gently laying my upper body over her, which I have done many times before, and rubbed her all over. I then turned her head in towards me and jumped up on her back. I was on! Okay, not all the way, but halfway! (Clinton Anderson does this in just a halter and lead rope). Chance didn't have a care in the world. She actually touched my butt with her nose, and was like "What are you doing up there?"
I did this a few times and she was totally calm and relaxed. So I went to the offside and started with jumping up and down next to her. Although when I went to turn her head towards me, she does not flex that well to the right, so she kept walking in circles. Something we will have to work on, getting her to bend to the right.
Once she figured out that she needed to bend and stop, well, she didn't really bend this way, but she did stop, I jumped up and ON! She seemed a little more concerned about me being on her from this side. But I slid off and jumped back on a few times and she ended up being perfectly fine!
So I can almost officially say that I have been on my filly! Halfway on anyways! I don't know if I will saddle break Chance this summer. I have plans to do a lot more ground work, and it will all depend on how much more she grows. I still think she is a little small and I don't want to rush anything. I feel she is ready mentally, but not quite ready yet physically. If she was bigger I could probably put a saddle on her now. But I want to do things right and let her grow up.
After the days lesson, we went on another trail ride. This time I remembered the camera! You will have to wait until part two!
Have I ever mentioned before how much I LOVE THIS HORSE? She is always the highlight of my day and she never ceases to amaze me!
21 comments:
Congratulations!! She's coming along so well, and she's so much bigger than I remember. She's going to be a great riding horse!
She's done a LOT of growing! She looks ready to ride. She sounds like she's doing really great.
She's beautiful!!! Congratulations on your steps forward.
I'm amazed, too! She's very special, that's for sure...and so are you for wanting to always do right by her. I think she's telling you that she is ready with her calm, accepting attitude. And wow! Seeing you beside her and on her, really shows her size now.
She's a full-size horse. She already looks bigger than my Apache mare. And I know she's got to be a whole lot bigger than Yalla! And they are pretty close in age I think, too. How tall is Chance now?
Keep up the great work. I'm really glad you were able to get outside and spend some time with your beautiful mustang girl!
~Lisa
WHat a great girl! Congrats she is doing so well
Glad your OH was there to document this! ;-) So exciting! I think you should put a saddle on her this summer, but whether you put you in the saddle is another, I'm not sure.
I bet you'll surprise us, though!
PONY GIRL
Lisa~ Chance is about 14hh now. When I am standing next to her, I don't feel she is very big. But once I see pictures of me standing next to her, she looks a lot bigger. I was just telling my OH that either Chance is bigger then I thought or I am really small, and my OH says "You ARE small!" Men!
Really good work - and she looks pretty calm for most of it! She is growing up and looking more like an adult horse every day. My Drift is 14.3, which is a nice size.
Wow--what a smart girl. She does look big, too! I think she's already bigger than Beautiful. Have you measured her?
Great pictures! She has such a beautiful face. She really looks like a lady. XOXO
Chance looks wonderful!
I really do think that kind of stuff takes any anxiety away from starting them. Megan has been doing the same thing with Beretta and I told her that any time she wants to just get up there and sit on her, that is fine. I also want to get Beretta saddled this summer and maybe lead Megan around on her a few times. Nothing too strenuous, because B is rather fine-boned, but man, time flies before you know it...we'll be trucking around on our babies. :-O
Now I just gotta get Shooter out here and get him started under saddle. He's a full 3 y/o now.
She looks good. I think all the work you been doing with her has really helped, even if it is sporadically, she seems so calm and nice.
Very cool! Looks like she's going to be easy.
Hey! I have a pair of boots just like that! Guess you have to have them to live here though. LOL
I have some horses I plan to get going in the lines this summer too if we ever have summer.
Nothing wrong with 14hh. Poco is only 14.2. Easy height to hop from if things get hairy or scary. She's looking great!
she sure is a keeper!!! good luck ;)
Chance is beautiful! How old is she now? (Time flies!)
I still remember how easy it was to saddle break Isolde, and it was my first timer... I think Chance will be just as easy! What a beautiful sensitive horse she is! You are lucky to have her and she you!
That is so great! She is such a neat horse. I'm sure you will have her going under saddle in no time.
How exciting!
Chance is doing fantastic and looking absolutely gorgeous! Isn't she a month or two older than Chrome? Chrome turned two last month.
She seems very smart and responsive. Chrome is smart, but I think he's too distracted by his hormones right now. I think once I get him gelded he'll settle right into it. He picks things up so quickly that he gets bored with them. :) I'm going to start ground driving him this summer or fall too. He's still a goofy boy sometimes but I think he's ready to start learning that at least. :)
Esther~ Chance turned 2 on April 9th. Time is going so fast! She's so grown up now!!
Weeeeeee!!!!!
Wow, little Chance is growing up so much! I can't believe how far she has come. It seems like just yesterday you brought her home. She looks like she's going to be/is a nice, steady, FUN horse to ride! I'm so happy for you. And also so impressed with your training abilities! You have done such a great job with her. Hoping Brandy is feeling better too.
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