Back in the Pen

 

Busy horse day today. It started off with Baby Doll’s farrier appt. When I was riding my mare several times a week, her feet didn’t need trimmed as often. Now, with her just standing around all day, eating and pooping, her feet don’t get much wear, except from the rocks and boulders in her paddock, which end up causing nicks, instead of even wear. She did pretty well for the farrier, except for one moment when she got impatient and tried to pull some funny business. But my farrier got on her quick and didn’t let her get away with it. He’s very kind and patient, but he  also doesn’t put up with any crap from horses that should know better. Afterwards, Baby Doll behaved herself for the rest of her trim, but when he was done, instead of normally hanging around for treats and pets, she turned her butt to us and walked to the other end of her paddock. Talk about attitude. 

Between her grouchy attitude and the fact that I had someone coming over to ride Baby Doll later in the afternoon, I decided I’d do some ground work with her in the round pen. This was the first time I’ve worked with her since she hurt me the second time, and I was very cautious, and a little bit nervous.

First, I decided to give her a wake-up call with her earlier rude behavior and walked down to the end of the paddock, towards my neighbor’s barn where she was also standing along the fence line. I truly think she thought I was bringing snack service as she took a few steps towards me. But I ignored her, turned my back to her, and reached over the fence and called to Nadia, Val’s Arabian mare. She came over to me and I rewarded her with cookies and pets, while Baby Doll licked and chewed behind me. I could hear her and sense her there, not sure exactly what she was thinking. But she was thinking.

  

I gave all my cookies to Nadia, as Baby Doll watched. Then I reached over the fence and gave Nadia pets and scratches. That seemed to be too much for my mare and she nuzzled my arm, head and hands, and kept positioning herself around me so that I might get the idea to turn around and give her pets and scratches, too. I gave her a few butt scratches, which are her favorite, but I didn’t linger and kept her wanting more. I moved away from her and she stepped closer towards me, her head lowered, but then her head came up and bonked the pipe rail fence and she threw her head up….and I got a sick panicked feeling and just wanted to escape. I could hardly breathe and tears were flowing as I left as quickly as I could.

Baby Doll started to follow me, but she stopped when she realized I wasn’t slowing down or calling to her. I sat up in the barn for about 10 minutes and cried like a baby. And then I just breathed deep for a few minutes until I was calm and cowgirled up.

I grabbed the halter and lead rope and went back out to my mare’s paddock. She walked up to me, poked her head into the halter and she was really well behaved during the entire journey down the hill and over to the round pen. She didn’t even get bossy or try to test me when I growled ‘NO’ at her efforts at trying to steal bites of grass as we walked.

 

 I free-lunged her in the round pen for about 15 minutes, and followed up using the lunge rope for another 15 minutes. She did better free-lunging.. On the lunge rope she got lazy and didn’t want to move faster than a walk or a half-hearted trot. I know she is totally taking advantage of me because she can see that I still can’t move fast to get after her, and that is very frustrating. But I was pleased that she did join-up with me, when I invited her in. And then we did a little bit of bending and side-pass work on the ground and afterwards she walked with me at liberty, until I released her to graze on the stubbly grass.

I walked back to the house for a cold drink and sat in the coop to relax and commune with the chickens. (A Silver-laced Wyandotte hen and Barred Rock hens)

 

(Speckled Sussex hen~’Kipper’)

(Japanese Silky Roo~ ‘Mr. Cotton’)

(A little gathering pecking at some fresh grass clippings)

(And my fancy rooster, ‘Sid Vicious’, a Golden-laced, bearded Polish)

(So far he’s a pretty good rooster. He’s kind to the ladies and respects me, even though I can’t say that he really likes me being around his ladies. He does tolerate me. And he even gets along well with his rooster buddy, Mr. Cotton.)

(This picture is for Carolynn of a Glowing Ember, who dreams of living in the South of France and owning her very own rooster)

Then the girls showed up to ride Baby Doll. First the older girl rode my mare bareback in a halter. I don’t think she liked how heavy in the front Baby Doll can be when she starts off at the trot, though. But she rode her for a few minutes bareback and then I went and got the bridle and saddle. The younger girl was already in love with my mare and couldn’t wait to ride her. She wants a barrelracer, 4H, Gymkhana horse but her two older, smaller horses at home aren’t able to do the things she wants to do.

The younger girl rode on a lunge line to start off with, until she felt comfortable. It was a very windy day and Baby Doll had already spooked sideways when my neighbor’s trash can blew over on the road, but the girl rode her right through it. (unlike me. lol) 

It was really nice to hear from these girls how pretty they thought Baby Doll was and how powerful, fast, sensitive she is, and how easy and sharp she turns. She is a good horse, just a little too much horse for me.They were really gentle, yet firm and confidant with my mare, too. No pulled tail and mane, and even when Baby Doll balked a little at taking the bit, they worked with her calmly until she took it.

After only a few minutes on the lunge line, the younger girl felt confidant enough to ride Baby Doll on her own, and it was great to watch how at ease she was on a horse’s back. I was also impressed at how well she posted the trot and rode the lope like she was glued to the seat. (Oh to be young again and learn to ride with such confidence, balance and skill)

 

Of course, Baby Doll made sure not to let things get too boring.

Both girls took it all in stride, though, and seemed unfazed. Though they aren’t able to buy Baby Doll right now, they would like to ride her again. I’ve taken a new stance on this, too. It’s still a win-win because someone is having fun on Baby Doll and my mare is getting ridden and receiving a work-out. I didn’t take many photos while the younger girl was loping Baby Doll, because they both looked to be enjoying themselves. I was told Baby Doll ran barrels before I bought her and I had seen her running them once while she was at my lesson barn. She was fast! But since I’ve owned her, it was hard for me to imagine her as a barrel horse, as she is such a lazy girl, and acts pissy when you make her move faster than a trot.

But I have to admit, even with those ears of hers pinned back while she was being loped, Baby Doll did seem to enjoy herself, if even just a little bit. It looked like, if she would have been given more rein, that she would have went all out galloping.

  

After they left, I was so tired. What a busy day. Just like Phyllis Diller, my Buff-laced Polish hen says, “It’s time to hit the roost”.

 

From the Tower of,