Cunning Velociraptor

 Last night doing stalls, she snuck up on me like a sneaky little ninja. I almost jabbed her with the pitchfork.

Today, opted to ride. At home.

tacked up and walked up to arena. told her to not be too crazy because if she scared me or got me hurt, she'd have to go to a cowboy and she wouldn't like that. She shot me a look... and then about 1 minute later as we got to the tree pile by the arena, she spooked, tried to bolt, spun, reared straight up in the air 2 or 3 times, and then flung around me. But, to her credit.. she never ran into or over me and she didn't leave. But.. what did I just say?!?!

Went into arena and did tiny bit of pillar work. Then lunged. Had bridle on so just did it how I do lyric. She was naughty and bucking and cantering and tried to take off a time or two. Managed to pull the bit pretty tight in her mouth a few times as she was rearing and spinning. I did manage to keep her from getting loose and ALMOST made her loose her balance once. She got a little panicky but let me stop her and fix her bit and release the pressure. But seriously girl.. you did it to yourself fool! Then settled and gave me a nice trot. Went to the other way... was going great.. and then I saw it in her eyes... I told her not to do it... but she did. Sassed at me, but much less reactive and aggressive than before. feral child!! Settled nicely so decided to get on.

started off nice. lots of walk and turns. picked up the trot and she was naughty. A couple of mild scoots, one tiny rear and a few tiny bucks. A couple of stop and props. She did get me almost on her withers once and I lost a stirrup but managed to keep her going. I just kicked and sent her. You don't get out of trotting by being naughty! Got a nice trot..brought her down and gave her a break. then trotted again and mostly civilized.

Managed to get through the gate without getting off! Yay. First time doing that. Politely hacked down Jean's driveway and to the trailer. Good girl.

But Jeepers... she's sooo talented... but so sassy! Way naughtier than Dan was in the very beginning. And way naughtier than Lyric. And definitely way naughtier than Fleck. And she's cunning about it. Calculated! Dan's just rowdy... she's working on a plan and executing the plan and learning from it. So.. yeah.. there's that! I just hope I get her on my side soon and get her figured out so we're working together. because she's gonna be soooo nice!!! And having a velociraptor on your side is a good thing!

MY TURN

 Practically galloped into the roundpen when I was trying to work Lyric. So up next

did pillar 3's brielfy. then lunged. Mostly good but slightly feral. 

somehow managed to buck and double barrel a horsefly off her!!!! Quite impressive. it took 3 massive bucks but she sent it flying! And it didn't come back!

mostly good though!

Happiness

 Funny is just such a happy girl!

Last nights sunset and todays shenanigans

Lunge day

So... I was sort of tempted to ride Funny today but... honestly, by the time I had the chance it was hot. And... I do feel sort of guilty riding her already. I go back and forth. Yes, she's only 3 and I could wait til she's 4. Give her more time to build up her strength and muscles and let her bones grow more. But, she's also just like Dan and clearly bored and wants to do things. And I've prepared her pretty well already. And we're only doing a little bit and it's so spaced out. I mostly just want to encourage a good work ethic, teach her the basics, and.. make sure I don't die.  My butt is still sore from the other day! (I've got 4 little bruises so I'm guessing I landed on a stick/root/rocks). 

But anyways.. she was clearly bored. She was chewing on the cavesson I hung on the fence while I hosed Dan off. She pulled it down, chewed on it, and then pawed it into the sand. Funny!!! Naughty girl! So she got a turn. We did some pillar work and then went to lunging. She started out braced and naughty but settled pretty quickly. And then lunged politely. We also did some walk to trot to walks but not as rapid fire as Dan. And she's not quite as good at the downwards as Dan... in the sense that she doesn't always listen. But she was a good girl. 

And these are from the other day but I edited them. Man alive is she pretty!! I hope she stays this coloring and varnishing amount and doesn't get more white. She's so sparkly right now! 

  

10th ride. First Fall

 Loaded right up, even without the butt bar down

lunged, slightly feral

rode bareback to lake with missy. short hack around, but occasionally scooty and bucky. Bugs I guess

played in lake. lots of rolling. Got out to find missy's dragonfly (it fell off in the lake and she also saw my crop earlier that I had lost). When we got on dry land, i had my phone in my hand and was just sitting there and suddenly Funny tucked her toosh and scooted and spun and just... slung me right off. landed on my right butt cheek. owww. missy caught her. rode back home. left missy and indi and went on our way. went behind arenas and up to jump arena. did some poles (including the arc) and then hacked in the woods to go home. I needed a bit more time on her as she was still a bit jumpy heading home. 

good girl. loaded right back up to go home!