Yesterday's Filly Training went well; Ellin tacked up like a pro under the Aussie saddle. This time we added a running martingale and side reins, so Ellin felt pressure from the bit for the first time. Turned her loose and watched the equipment do the work! She took about 15 minutes to figure out where the pressure was coming from and how to carry herself to let the weight of the bit rest in her mouth, how to turn, etc. Everybody wins: we don't fuss at her or miscommunicate, she feels successful by learning on her own, and we build a filly who gives easily with a grocery string mouth!
I did some more heeding with her and brought out the stepstool. Ellin probably hasn't experienced a person being taller than she since she was weaned! She wasn't too keen on me standing up high flapping my arms, but she was a good sport and allowed me to flap all over her and jiggle the weight of one arm and my torso on her back from both sides. We finished up by asking her to lift her front feet and stretch her legs.
It's been hot and humid this week and the flies are miserable. Today we began by moving Penny and Century to the pasture on the far side of the pond. That pasture has been resting for a couple of months so they won't need additional feed for awhile. Miss Ellin put on a bit of a show for the other horses (who didn't give a hoof). We took her over to the "round" pasture and I free longed her at a trot for most of 10 minutes. Since it was so hot and she did actually work, I wanted to hose her off. For a filly who supposedly loves crossing water she sure does hate to get wet! I showed her the water running out of the sprayer (very gently, I may add), then tried to hose off her legs, but she was not on board. She danced, circled, and jigged her way around the yard as I tried to merely sponge her off. Thinking maybe tough love might work, we tied her to the snubbing ring, but she never stopped moving! Even when confronted with the sponge, she'd rather take the water than stand still. I did what I could but didn't make much physical or psychological progress. In a final ploy I brought a sheet out, let her sniff it, and tossed it over her. She didn't mind too much. Alright, let's try the same sheet soaked in water. Nope. Finally we took her back to her pasture, tossed the sheet across and spread it over her, walked her a minute or two, and called it a day.
After Ellin had calmed down some we brought Anna and her round bale over. There's more shade, access to the pond, and I thought both ladies would enjoy having someone to swat their flies. After some initial dominant displays by Ellin (which Anna didn't care much about, as long as she was out of harm's way), the girls settled down and are now grazing head to head.
Champagne caused the other excitement in the house this weekend when she bit Hope in the eye. Of course it was after 6pm on a Saturday, so the vet was on emergency hours. There was a mix-up and some inconvenience when we arrived at the vet; the result was that poor Hope had to stay overnight. She has stitches in her eye and eyelid and must wear the dreaded Cone of Shame 24 hours a day for the next 3 days. Champagne's little escapade cost me $266. I asked her how she intends to make that up; she wagged her tail and brought me a stick in response.
As Charlie Brown always said observing
1 Comment
7/13/2012 05:52:09 pm
Really appreciate this post. It’s hard to sort the good from the bad sometimes, but I think you’ve nailed it!
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Madeline is a fiber artist, author, shepherd, and music student. Ballyhoo Farm is the culmination of her passion for animals, horticulture, and sustainable farming practices, a dream she's worked to build since childhood. Archives
July 2015
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