Kisses! Cece and Mom (Robin)

 

What progress today! Early this morning for barn chores the weather was lovely, warm and quiet. I looked forward to finally tossing my winter coat in the closet and donning a lightweight jacket for today's horse related ventures. So you can imagine my disappointment when 2 hours later the wind was gusting and I had to dress the part of an eskimo! Despite the weather and my goofy attire, Cece neighed a greeting to me as I made my way toward her paddock. She was again leery of my immediate approach but as soon as I touched her neck she relaxed and leaned into my hand.

After a short grooming session we worked on moving away from pressure and turning on her hind quarters and forequarters. She also allowed me to pick up her front feet and play around with her hind feet. All on a loose lead rope without any pressure or force! I want her to choose to stand quietly and not have to rely on her being tied to groom her or in the future tack her up. When she does move, I move with her. She has been learning from the get go that standing still is easier than having to move and work harder for the same result.

I loosely wrapped a lead rope around and in between her legs, around her hindquarters and belly. This was all rather boring and uneventful. She now walks more confidently over the tarp (even as it is blowing around her legs in the wind!).

Our second session for the day was all the more exciting! First of all, she approached me at the gate!!!  I pulled out an old saddle blanket and rubbed her all over with it. I slowly slid it on her back and asked her to move forward so that she could feel it on her back. No reaction. I spent some time taking it off and putting it back on- clumsily, slowly, quickly, slid on, thrown on, all wrinkled up, unfolded, unevenly, ect. Before long she stood like a rock and completely ignored my saddle pad antics. Victory again!

Next came the saddle. For this I expected some excitement. I let her nose it for a minute on the ground. I picked it up and used a corner of it to curry her and rub her down with, started at the shoulder and working my way back. She sniffed it and only took one mini side step away during the whole affair (again, she has the ability to leave it, the lead rope is slack). At this point she is a little distracted by commotion in the other paddock. I slide the saddle up onto her withers and place it on her back, wiggling it into place so she knows it is there. She eyes it and returns her attention to the other horses.

Hmmm... I guess I'll go ahead and loosely girth her up today after all..... She looks at me briefly as if to say "I do see what you are doing!" and returns her attention elsewhere. This of course isn't good enough for me. I bring her attention back to my saddle and I. We go through her paces- turn on the hinds, fore, back, move forward. All with the saddle. We go for a walk in the other paddock since the other horses are contained. I give her the full length of the lead and encourage plenty of motion and movement. She is aware of the saddle and a bit puzzled by the oddity of it, but isn't all that concerned! Woohoo!

 Far more than I planned for the day. My mom holds her so that I can capture proof of our exploits on camera and we call it a day. She gets to hang out with my mom's National Show Horse,  Belle, for 20mins while I finish barn chores. Introductions were anticlimactic; when turned loose together both mares walked to the same pile of hay and started munching head to head!! Wow, pretty and easy to get along with!