FAIL!
I went way too fast today. I thought she would be alright by going out on the trail in hand, having us work on go forward, stop, and back up. Once we lost sight of the herd, however, Gunny went nuts. I learned a valuable lesson today, and I am glad I didn't push her by trying to RIDE her out there. She's barn/buddy sour and that needs to be addressed a little at a time, in gradual increasing increments. I realized I pushed her too hard, too fast, and expected way too much from her.
The rest of the session she was wound up and pushy. We didn't accomplish much today, but after I finally got her back to the barn (which was a challenge without her running me over), I started some basic control, with both halter and bridle in the indoor arena. She did calm down some, even went on the block for me. She likes the block...she knows she gets treats if she stands on it!
Ellen (my girlfriend) is coming up to visit this weekend, and I hope to get out to the barn at least one more time this week. Our goals need to be small, and as Ellen said, I need to realize that I spent 5 months away from my horse. I need to reconnect with her, assess where she is at in her training, and bond with her again. Things aren't going to be exactly how they were before, immediately. Just like in school -- you can be great at certain math problems, but after summer vacation, you need a little refresher to remember everything. It isn't that you're incapable of doing it, it's just a matter of getting back into the swing of things. I did notice that even after this reprieve, Gunny still seems ouchie around the girth area when I pull up. I don't know if it's because she's been pinched there in the past, or perhaps there's an underlying problem, like a rib out of place or something. Her reaction when I take my hand and gently pull up with the skin in that area is to bring her nose to my hand. I don't know if that's a threat to bite, or just "Mom, I don't like what you're doing" or "Ouch, stop!" or "I'm just curious?" I'll have to keep an eye on it.
If I can find an equine chiropractor in the area that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, maybe I'll get her adjusted. She's never been her entire life, so perhaps that could be the cause of a lot of different behaviors.
I did place the bit in her mouth today...I sat on her bareback to assess her cues, and she was very rusty and very heavy on the bit. It was like she wanted nothing to do with me or anything else. So I got off immediately before I got hurt. I knew I had more groundwork/basic controls to do. She was also still wound up from our "trail excursion" earlier, so that could have been part of it, too.
She does need to get her feet trimmed, but I must say, for not having anything done with her for almost 5 months, her feet are still in great shape!
All in all, I have to take things slowly, even though I want to get rolling again, and take off where I left off before. But I know I can't do that. "Slow and steady wins the race". I have to gain her trust and bond with her and really think and assess the problem before tackling it.
Eventually, when I get back out on the trail in hand, I have to figure out the spot at which she goes from "Green zone" to "Yellow zone" or, where she goes from being relaxed to pre-flight mode. I have to mark that area somehow, if not just mentally, and try to push that boundary little by little, every day. If she gets flighty, I have to get her back into the green zone by allowing her to go backward to where she was comfortable, and begin again. Just by having her take a step past her comfort zone is progress. I have to remember, this is a long, drawn-out process, and it's going to take a lot of time and PATIENCE.
Today felt like a failure, but I know, everybody, including horses, have good days and bad days. I'll just count today as an attempt and a learning experience, and I can be better prepared for the next session.
My goal for the next lesson is doing basic control in the bridle. Not jumping all over me, backing lightly, turning lightly, focusing on me, and eventually, rhythm. Extending her stride and then shortening her stride (in hand to begin with). There's so much that I can do...and although it gets boring and repetitive, it is essential to having a safe, reliable partner. I'll be proud that I did all my "homework".
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