Cheeky little chap!

Today was supposed to be a cross country day with Fleck, but... poor guy had an abscess brewing so we headed back home. Since it was such a beautiful day I decided to go back home and bring Danny out. Especially since he was so sad when I took Fleck off this morning. So... that's what we did. And we had a blast!!! 

He loaded right up and hauled great. When we got to Ashland he was so anxious to get off the trailer that he sat on the butt bar and came flying out. So we loaded right back up, stood, and then unloaded calmly and quietly off the trailer. That's a good baby. So we headed out to the cross country field. I started with just the rope halter but took his chifney bit too, just in case! So we headed out and came upon the girls I was supposed to be riding Fleck with. They oohed and aahed over Dan and then... he reared straight up and pawed the air!!! Twit!!! As soon as he came down... on went the chifney bit. He stayed on all four feet after that and we chatted briefly. Then they all headed in and Dan and I headed to the water complex. He didn't really care that they were all leaving him and we tipped his toes into the water. He didn't barge right in but I wasn't ready to get my feet wet yet. So then we headed to the ditches. They were filled with water from all the rain so we walked over the "faux ditch" and he leapt over. We did it twice more with him calming down and then moved onto the baby ditch and then the beginner novice ditch. He did them all! He jumped them all instead of walking through them, but still. He went willing and happily. He leapt for joy, not because he was afraid. So then we went to the banks. He walked right up the little bank and right back down. I almost took him up the next size one but.. it was a little big for a not yet 2 year old. So we did the small one a few times. He was showing off and one of the times coming down, he leapt off and bucked at the same time. Goober!! Upon landing I was glad for the chifney. It's just a bit in his mouth when I don't need it, but when I do, it's a little bit more control. So then we walked back up and WALKED back down. Good baby!

I then trotted him over a few logs. He did great, but because I trot with him, he always lands and drifts left back to me. I meant to bring my lunge line so I could send him over it, but I forgot. Oh well. So then I switched to the right side and had him jump another log. Then we went back to the water. At this point, I was pretty much done, so I figured I could get wet. As we were heading over a friend was out riding and cantered a lap around the edge of the field. Danny was on high alert! He was as tall as he could be and his tail was flipped up high! But he held his ground and didn't get in my space. So then after chatting for a bit, we headed to the water. He went right in and splashed around a good bit. Then he went up the bank and then back down the bank.. into the water!!! Such a superstar. 

So then on the way back up to the trailers I let him on the right again and had him jump another log. He got quite carried away and tried to bolt, but the chifney held him. Sweet!! And without having to really get after him. I didn't even do anything really.. it does it's own work. I think I'm going to like this thing. I don't feel like I have to harass or nag him and he listens. I bet that after a few times with it, he won't need it anymore other than for an occasional reminder to keep it reined it. 

So then we stopped at the ring on our way back and he walked straight through the puddle. On our way out we stopped at the mounting block and I made him stand next to it while I stood above him. He was distracted with the trailers and other horses but stood and behaved.  I fed him lots of cookies and carrots and groomed him and we headed home. He was a good pony and unloaded quite nicely this time.

Such a smart cookie!!!

This was taken this morning with the fog!

Joined up!!

So... poor lonely bored little Dan... Between the flu, the weather, and work, I haven't had time to much with the Squirt. So today, since it was gorgeous, I decided that today was the day to get back to it! So, I headed out to the back to play with Dan. And Dan was running amok! He came galloping up and was being silly. I got video!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151320948805967&comment_id=25751024&notif_t=video_comment

So then we went down to the round pen to work. Since he was running around already I decided to just do a short session so I just put the lunge cavesson on without the surcingle. And he was great. He walked on, and trotted, and walked, and whoa'ed. Just happy as a clam. And he was stretching down too. Lovely! So then I thought... well, now what?! So I dropped the line and walked around trying to find a long stick to use as a "jump". And Dan followed me!!! I'm not sure, but I think we "joined up"!! So maybe I am doing it right :) So I set up a stick in the fence line and propped it up on a bucket. Hee hee. It was maybe a foot tall. I hand led Dan over it and he walked over it. Then I trotted him over it in hand and he jumped it. I praised him and then we tried it while lunging. He did great going to the left but not so much going to the right. He kept skirting around it. So I hand led him over again and then he jumped it. GOOD BOY!! Lots of praise. So then I figured I'd try once more to the left and... turd ball tried to bite it and then tripped over it. So we tried again and he picked it up in his mouth! hee hee... Goober!!! So we had to do it right both directions again and finally managed that. Then I unhooked him completely and he still followed me around. So I trotted over the jump and he followed me, completely naked. We did it both directions.

I love my guy!!!!! Maybe Saturday if the weather cooperates we'll head over to Ashland for a pony ride or for some in hand playing. 

(This photo wasn't today but this was how he was lunging!)

 

Bored baby

Dan and I played today. It's been awhile because I had the flu for a week and that over lapped with my work schedule. I thought he'd be a little wild, but nope... he pretty much slept through todays work. ;) It was pretty warm out so perhaps he was just sleepy and drowsy. He stood while I groomed him and then I put the bridle on him again. It's not going to fit much longer. I'll have to move on to Fleck's bridle. He mouthed the bit a good bit but was back to chewing on the lead rope soon enough. We did a little bit of turning with the bit and he was good. Then we took the bridle off and put the surcingle and cavesson back on. Back to lunging we went. I basically just made sure he knew "walk on", "and trot", "and walk", and "whoa". He did great with going on straight lines too. Then I hooked up the long lines and got behind him and we did a bit more walking this time! Turning is still a bit of an issue, but he's making progress. 
 

Goofy boy.... I cannot wait until it's time to ride him!!