Putting in the time

 We did our homework today. :) 

We did our pillar work and then worked on our lunging making sure that her hind feet tracked into her front feet. Nope.. that's not true... We made sure her front feet tracked into her hind feet. ha ha. That's not right either. I made sure that her hind feet followed the tracks of her front feet by pushing her shoulder and barrel out to the track the hind feet were making. I think we did a pretty good job of it today too. We got a lot more stretchy neck and soft neck and bouncy back. There was still a tiny bit of head twisting on the left rein, but no rearing today. And we also worked on the bend cues. 

She was a very good girl! I do feel a little bad for her though because she seems to be isolating herself a little bit. She was hanging out with the crowd today, but she's also been off by herself. Especially at feeding time. But that might be because all three of the others turn into meanie heads at food times. She got a little extra love today. 

And last night too. I went to put clothes on and was crying again because of Dan and after her and I snuggled, she had come up and was sniffing my tears. So we snuggled some last night too. 

Man I love her.

Big Girl Things

 Ahhhh I needed today! Today was lesson day! 

Since Lyric decided she didn't want to haul on Sunday, I opted to bring Funny to our lesson with Dan. Baby girl was ready for some fun! I had Dan loaded and could barely get out of the way and get the butt bar down before she was climbing in the trailer! Simmer down cupcake.. you're coming! 

We got to Rana's and I unloaded Funny and left Dan on the trailer. Right after I unloaded her a flat bed trailer with the tractor and bush hog arrived... and unloaded. Loudly. But Funny was good. She was a little up but not bad. She stopped with her head up staring on high alert once walking to the arena but only had to stare for a few seconds. She responsed very well to pressure and went to pillar 1 and relaxed. Yahoo! Pillars for the win. We went to the arena and did our pillar work. She was a bit keyed up at first and was a bit of her toes but not horrible. We stopped a time or two but she was pretty good. 

When Rana came in, Funny said hi and then she relaxed and stood fairly patiently while we chatted. I started off lunging her and Rana watched. Funny was a bit more up than usual so she was a bit braced at first and quick and runny. She might have even reared a time or two... or four. Maybe 7 total.... ;) But she didn't get loose. She almost did once or twice, but she didn't! Rana noticed a few things... but overall was pleased.

Tracking Right: Funny's left hind swings wide

• Focus my energy and whip direction at Funnys' shoulder. In an effort to push her shoulders in front of her haunches.
• A fair amount of flexion in the poll/neck, even if it's not a truly correct flexion. In order to help keep Funny from dumping on her right shoulder, overbending her a bit inside helps keep her upright. 

]racking Left: Funny is tight on the right side so it's hard to stretch. Might be why she's rearing. 

• Focuse the whip direction and energy at Funny's barrel, to encourage bend
• Not as intense flexion inside this way

Other in hand stuff

touch barrel and inside rein at the same time and release at the same time to help install "bend". 

walk along the rail and use it to keep her hind end in

Then we put the saddle on and did some more lunging.

Good girl. snuggles for a bit, then a rinse, then out in the pasture while it was dans turn.

hauled great coming home. Big girl day!

Sooo much sass

 Oh my!! She is gonna be SOOOO MUCH FUN!!! 

The sass is big in this one. Hee hee.. My little snuggle buns is a heathen! 

I got home early (5 pm) from work today so I grabbed her and we headed to the arena to do some work. We started with our pillar work. She's perfect!!! She was super and we did some lovely Pillar 1s, 2s, and 3's. Then we went to lunge. She got away from me and went careening around the arena. Sliding stops, spins, bolts, kicks, bucks, ... all the antics. She put some serious divots in my footing! But at least I know that it's holding up. Crazy girl! It took me a hot minute to catch her too. I have no idea what set her off but she was having fun! hee hee... 

I did finally catch her and she tried to be silly but then went to work and we got some lovely proper stretching work. Goober!

We finished up and did a good psoas stretch on the hill and then she went back out with her pals. 

I didn't get any photos even though I should have. 

Clearly Related

 Oh how I love that little sis loves her big brother so much that she mimics him! Even if she's not mimicking the best behavior. ;) 

Or maybe it's just in both of them naturally... either way... they were cracking me up this cold chilly morning. 

Lyric and Fleck were happy to come in for hay, although even Fleck was frisky. 

But Funny and Danny were out showing off for the neighbors! 

Evening homework

 And oh was she sassy!! I love it! 

Mike and I spent all day at the mountains but I had just enough daylight when I got home to work the girls. I did Lyric first and then had enough time for Funny. When I finished with Lyric she got all spazzy about something in the corner of the farm (deer??) and took off to the others, who were just by the hay shed. But then they all scooted to the middle field. I grabbed Funny and started to lead her and she got sassy so I thought I'd just lunge her in the pasture. She got snorty and bucky and bolty and got loose, but didn't go far. I caught her and lunged her again and she tried to bolt again a time or two, but I was able to hold her. So we made a few more circles and she was mostly polite. 

 

Then I decided it was probably safer to go to the arena because she was still awfully sassy so we did. She settled a bit but was still giving me the sass face and snake neck. Hee hee. But we got some nice lunging with her relaxing and going long and low and swingy. We also did our pillar walks in hand and some pillar 2 and pillar 3. She's smart! I clicked and treated for pillar 3 and then she started doing it without me asking! Good girl!

We got some pretty sunset photos and then I turned her loose. She walked next to me and stopped at our "psoas stretch" spot and put her head down. GOOD smart girl! You get a cookie! Then we walked on and at the top of the hill she couldn't control herself and took off. :) hee hee. I wasn't asking her to stay and she was polite, so good girl!

Silly Nosy Girl

 Today Meg came to help me work with Lyric and Dan. And while we worked Dan we let Funny in the arena with us. She had fun farting around and messing with Dan. Man, he gets angry when she gets near his treats!! ha ha. She also had a good roll. 

Afterwards we kicked them both out and then worked Lyric. They all came up and at first Dan stood at the gate and watched, but then he left and Funny came up and hung out with us. She's so darn sweet!!

She was making me giggle!

Good Girl and Nosy too

 Funny cracks me up! I just love her. 

This morning I worked her first in the arena. She didn't quite want to leave her friends but she responded nicely to a tiny little whip wave. We did some pillar work and got some nice work. We did all 3 pillars. Then I did a little bit of lunging just in the regular halter. She was good. She started off sassing me with her snakey neck and face but I waved her on and she obliged. There was no rearing today. Just a little sassing off. We got some nice relaxed work on the lunge, although it maybe took a hair longer than usual. Although I feel like that's been the trend in general, not just today. But we did get some really nice work. Good girl!

Then later this afternoon, Flecky and Lyric got rubber shoes put on. Funny was hilarious and kept poking her head out the "window" of her stall investigating. She also kept chewing on the extension cord. No ma'am! Please don't electrocute yourself! Hee hee. I adore her. I so can't wait to ride her!

Ashland Fun Day

 Hack through the woods. Decent amount of trotting.

Funny said NO when her feet hurt. NO MORE WALKING ON ROCKS MOM! Sorry girl

Also did the banks and ditches on XC, trotted a small log.. and did the bank in and out of water. AND trotted through the water complex!! No rolling :) 

good girl!

More arena work and a short jaunt to the lake

 Quick lake hack with dan after some arena work. And sunset photos from earlier this week.

Bored Bunny

Worked in the new arena today!!! 

Rearing for fun. ;) tracking left, to swap going back right. 

Snuggly