Circles and some riding

Ride #3:

Had a limited amount of time so I picked 2 main things to work on. Circling and riding. So I got her to where she could go a little longer circling and worked on upward transitions. She is easy to get to stop, perhaps a little too easy. Then I hopped on with the bareback pad and worked on our cue to go and had 2 reins this time. She is not very motivated to go but I did get a trot here and there with a lot of encouragement. I think I need someone in the middle with a long line cueing the trot so she can get used to me riding and so she doesn't get desensitized to my riding cue for go. Once she is used to me bouncing on her back then if I can follow another horse and walk, trot, canter with them that would be great. Got a little more understanding with the hind quarter disengagement too.

First time in the saddle

Ride #2:

First thing was to put the bareback pad on and she had no issues with it, so I figured we do all the groundwork with it on. I worked on her circling game and got her to canter both directions. Now it was time to step it up and get closer to saddling. So I tied a lead rope to the bareback pad and had the heavy clasp end dangle and bonk around while she was running around. She definitely didn't like it at first but then got used to it.

So then it was time for the saddle...

She was fine with saddling, and cinching so I went ahead and had her walk around to give her time to feel the difference and get used to it. Then I went ahead and moved her up into a canter. She did a bunch of hops and jumps and little bucks but finally settled into a rhythm for half a lap and so I gave her a break. Lots of licking and chewing. Then off again the other way with a little less bucks and jumps and was able to get a couple strides of a nice canter a little quicker. She was super sweaty and breathing hard so since she was happy to just stand I figured that it would make a great time to practice mounting.

Up and down and up and down and she did not seem to mind at all. She wanted to go play with the other horses and that was our main distraction but me jumping and standing in the stirrup was not an issue. So on I went and we ended up riding around at a walk practicing the cue to go. Stopping was easy, getting going is harder. We ended at a great note and next time hopefully we will trot and have reins on both sides (as long as I can control my urge to pull on both and use one at a time).

Our first steps together

Had our very first ride and it went so well! She did great. I rode bareback at just a walk and with one rein so we would turn one direction and then i would flip the rope over her head and turn the other way. This way I am never pulling on both reins and making her claustrophobic, or ruining the cue for stop and back.

It was just a few steps and then stopping and and turning and a few steps the other way and turning until we could walk around casually for a bit. Then we were done. That's it for the day as far as riding goes. Then we played a bit on the ground again and called it a day. I don't want to overwhelm her.

Laying all over the place

She has accepted the bareback pad completely, and I did everything with it on. Layed all over her back and can jump up and down on her without her moving or caring too much. Layed on one side, then layed with my feet on her bum then slid off the other side. She seems to be getting pretty comfortable with it, but nobody else was at the farm so I didnt want to sit on her just in case she bucked and I had nobody to help me.

Taught her the circling game, and did a little better at backing yo-yo. The draw is still non existent and she resists coming in a lot. Ended on a great note and cant wait until next session.

Bareback Pad before Saddle

Let her out into the big pasture to play with Jake and Savannah. Savannah is definitely letting Teva know that she is tired of being the bottom of the pecking order. She chased Teva around and around its a good thing they were in a large space.

Tried the bareback pad on her and she did much better. Still a little nervous about it and bucked once but this is definitely a necessary step before the saddle. Left the latigos long on either side so they would dangle. She is connecting to me better and for longer periods of time. Love this lil' girl already.

Trimming time

The farrier came out to trim her today and she did pretty good, not perfect and a little wiggly but there was no dust kicked up. She did step on his foot, but luckily I have an awesome farrier who kept his calm and did not freak out or get mad at her.

I will definitely be stretching her legs around at funny angles to get her more used to that.

Dont forget to break it down

Ok so I saddled her for the first time and let her walk around with it. I figured she could get used to it more and more as we worked on everything else. She did great... until I made her trot. I think I am trying to progress too fast. Lots of bucks and the saddle flies up onto her withers and neck no matter how tight it is. So I couldn't let her just go to figure out that she can't get it off, cause she could, or it would slip around funny. By the end she was so scared that she would do one or two steps and buck and Ill get a couple more steps and buck. I definitely made a step backwards. We ended with a still nervous walk but a walk without bucking so that was the best ending point I think we were going to get.

I should have saddled and unsaddled many times before even asking for the trot. Next time ill try the bareback pad first. I keep telling myself take the smallest steps possible and make sure and give her a very clear release of pressure so she knows there is a right answer.

When I make tiny steps she is so chill and learns quick. It is deceiving because it makes me think that I don't need to spend so much time preparing her for things, but apparently I do need to take those tiny steps adding a little at a time.

Happy healthy horse

All righty. I got all of the shots and dewormer ready for her. I had someone help me hold her because I had no idea how she would react to the shot. My first jab was pitiful because I dont want to poke too hard, but it wasnt hard enough. So I had to re-jab and she flinched but didnt move or freak out.

Check, that was Easy!

Seems sweet

She seems curious and slightly interested in everything going on. She is definitely in heat and Jake is very interested. Savannah doesnt want her to come too close to her or to anyone else, or possibly loves that there is a younger kid around so she doesn't have to be at the bottom of the pecking order anymore. So funny how they react to each other.

I did a lot of friendly and just getting to know her and touch her everywhere. I did a lot of introducing her to different objects and rubbing them all over her body. Teva was a little apprehensive of everything but not overly so. Seems like she is a real level headed horse who has been handled well as she grew up. The breeder did well by her.