They Can't Always Be Good...

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Alexis was naughty yesterday. I rode her around the pasture and when we turned back toward the barn she wanted to GO GO GO. Any attempts at slowing her were met with resistance. She stopped but then started hopping in place. When I turned her away from the barn she just started going forward with her head to the side and hopping. (like little rears).
She was being very fresh. And I did realize it was the first time I'd ridden her at home where I didn't lunge her first. (she'd been in the stall all day). So.... I rode her up to the barn and around it a few times, then dismounted and we went out to the round pen and she worked good and hard until she was quite ready to walk. 

Then back to the barn, where I mounted her then worked her around the outside of the barn for a bit. Then we went out into the pasture for a circle or two and called it a day. First time she's been naughty with me in THAT way! BUT I wasn't really surprised because she's been testing the waters lately with not wanting to go into the trailer. Takes all of ten minutes or less to convince her otherwise but ya know, those babies gotta try.

On the bright side the bolting is better!

Alexis at Little Manatee River State Park

Worked with the Horses Today

First I worked with Jagger prepping him for being mounted. Jumping around him like I'm going to hop up (as if I COULD mount bareback by jumping up LOL). Then got the mounting block out and laid over his back, rubbed him all over, rubbed my foot on his butt and over his hips (both sides). He bears weight, all that is left to do is throw that leg over. --- Not yet. Not yet --

Then I did some ground work with Alexis then rode her in the round pen.

She got a lesson in opening the gate

Then we rode around the pasture for a few minutes.

Then afterwards I rode her back to the round pen and got off. Then untacked and washed her, and we went for a nice walk in the woods together. She ate weeds and grass and didn't even spook at the resident wild cat and a snake that slithered across our path.  She was excellent!!!

Updated Measurements 2015

Measured Alexis, Jagger and Cody today. Used a good stick and flat surface.













Alexis 15.1
Jagger 15.1
Cody   16.2

Here they are getting a lesson in patience while I was at it.

Happy Beach Day

Celebrated my birthday by taking Cody and T to the beach with my sister, Peggy!

 

Palma Sola bay in Bradenton, Florida. You can park right beside the bridge and ride up and down the shore. On the North side of the bridge it doesn't drop off too abruptly so you can wade pretty far out. Sometimes the dolphins come up and swim with you. Kind of creepy if you are afraid of fish. Nothing like feeling something rub your leg. You can imagine a horse reaction....