Smart, but.... also sassy

 

 So... today we took a few minutes to do some roundpen work. And... ha! It didn't go as smoothly as last time. Hee hee. She started out well and we got some good halts with her in her bubble and relaxed and not in my space. We got some good pillar 1, 2, and 3 work. But then when I went to ask her to do pillar 3 on the lunge/walking... ie doing her "leads", she got confused. I'm not quite sure if my body language is asking her to walk in a circle because she kept turning into me and/or stopping. So I tried to change my body but also had to resort to the flag, which meant she got loose. A few times. And went roaring around. BUT, she did let me turn her easily and came back to me pretty quickly. We did have one big rear, which I made her canter around for a bit after. (Although part of me secretly wants to teach her how to do this on purpose, but I realize that's dumb!).  We did finish on a good note and got some good shoulder abduction with the right "lead" at the walk on a circle. And we finished with a nice halt with a nice soft relaxed neck and eye and no coming at me. 

She did make me giggle because a few times after she ran around and when I let her come in and made her follow me and I finally stopped and asked her to stand she did the alarm blow snort thing at me. Hee hee. I'm not sure exactly what she was trying to say but I'm guessing something along the lines of "FINE!". hee hee.

She's getting so silvery, which makes me a little sad. She's beautiful but I really don't want her to roan out entirely. I wanted her to be red! Though she got a hair sweaty and she turned darker. :) She's also darn near as tall as Dan it seems when she stands next to him. She's also in heat... again, and obsessed with him! Such a flirt. She's chewing on him, practically on top of him, and peeing every time he looks at her. Girl.. get it together!

Told you she was smart!

 So... no photos or videos today because... I didn't have pockets. ;) But... after I went and cheered Peri on at Poplar, I came home and decided to put the ponies in the round pen and do some pillar work and do the cavesson with Dan and the lessons Rana started with Funny. 

I'm not sure if Funny learned and retained... or if she just didn't feel like challenging me... or if she already respects me (which I find hard to believe given ... it's me!) or what, but she was SUPER! Like... she didn't put a foot wrong.

I started with the rope halter and showed her the new purple flag. :) Purple for her. We did some of pillar 1 and she was super. And stayed in her space, not mine. So then we did. 

First "lesson"

 Went to Rana's

Did some roundpen work. Respect... she's tough, but smart, and sensitive. But an alpha mare. 

She wasn't aggressive, but kept getting in the last word. ha ha. naughty! Spicy! a few rears but no feet flailing.

make her stay in her bubble and out of mine. go to her safe space and disengage the neck and relax and be rewarded. 

yield the hind quarters and the shoulders separately. when she gets loose and wants to come back in, make her follow you for a bit before she gets to rest

Smart girl

 Man alive is she smart!!!

Put her in the cavesson to work on "leads" and she's got it. Easily! :) Can't wait to get her all prepped and strong in her back before I even sit on her 

Happy Easter FunBuns

 Hack with Dan

met a balloon, not scary

Growing up!!!

 Baby girl was SUPER today and did some big girl things :) 

We met Peri and Cuart and Kelli and Marvin for a trail ride. I made Funny load up first to Ashland and she did. It only took half a minute and some cookie bribes. Then Dan loaded up and we headed out. When we got to Ashland I left her on the trailer while I groomed and tacked Dan up. She only fussed a little bit. Mostly because she was eating his good alfalfa hay from his hay net. Which is just fine! I've been dropping her alfalfa down because of the calcium phosphorous ratios and then I ran out of the good stuff for everyone, so it was a nice treat. Which, is super helpful information for the future! Then I got her off and groomed her and off we went. 

 

We led the whole way and she was great! At one point she turned around and glared at Cuart. It was hilarious! I've never seen her do the mare stare before but she was telling Cuart to back off! She only did it a few times at a particular section, so who knows! She was great the rest of the time. We did have to walk slow and stop a lot because Marvin was struggling and slow as molasses. 

We avoided creeks and the lake because the girls didn't want to do any of that, so she didn't get to swim. Sad for her. But she was so good. We even trotted the little log in tandem and they were both great. When we got back to the trailer, Peri and Kelli went to the arena. I got off and tied Dan up and loaded Funny up. She went on pretty quickly with treats and then stood there. I got back on Dan and rode him to the arena. She was SOOOOO good. She called a few times, but she had his hay and then Kimberly had come back and she could see Mellow out of the trailer window, so that distracted her some. Dan was awfully distracted and hollowed out looking for her, but we managed to get in one or two good circles. When he was good and soft and she was quiet, I went back. It was probably no more than 7 minutes, but.. it's a start! And now I have the alfalfa as a bribe too. :) 

After we came back I pulled her back off the trailer as a reward and because I wanted to pick her feet. Then I tried to get her to load first again and she said nope! It took about 10 minutes. A little longer because Peri tried to help, which... was kind, but just distracted Funny. I finally told Peri that I thought she was more focused on what Peri was doing behind her than concentrating on getting on the trailer and as soon as Peri walked away, she got on shortly after. 

So yay!!! Great day!