The dream is to make Corey a riding AND driving pony. My first time putting him in the full harness didn't go so well - not because he didn't like the harness but because he didn't want to lunge to the right. So, we worked on better lunging skills, and I rode him yesterday. Today, I tried again.
First of all, he got a body work session from Annette Popovich - she does amazing energy healing coupled with massage and other techniques. She is also a wonderful barefoot trimmer and Corey is going to need his hooves done next week. So this was a really nice easy way to introduce him to her.
Annette says he was Really Sweet and very open to the work. She found some tightness issues in his LEFT hind - ME I find a glichiness in his Right Hind. Now what is up with that??? But it is always good to just get releases and make a horse feel better in his body - especially when he has gone from untouched to working in such a short time.
Annette also does work with blocked emotions. She "Asked" him about any emotions and got "Confused". That makes a great deal of sense. I can hardly imagine how confused Corey must be about this sudden life change. I wonder sometimes if he keeps hoping to just return to the Tehachapi mountains. Anyway, it made me more sensitive to how he might be looking at all the silly things I ask him to do.
but it didn't stop me from asking for another weird human idea. I put the driving harness on him again, this time carefully I put the crouper on as well. this will provoke kicking in some horses, but it was not an issue for Corey. I did set it looser than I will use in the end, but at least he didn't clamp his tail or try to buck.
First of all, he got a body work session from Annette Popovich - she does amazing energy healing coupled with massage and other techniques. She is also a wonderful barefoot trimmer and Corey is going to need his hooves done next week. So this was a really nice easy way to introduce him to her.
Annette says he was Really Sweet and very open to the work. She found some tightness issues in his LEFT hind - ME I find a glichiness in his Right Hind. Now what is up with that??? But it is always good to just get releases and make a horse feel better in his body - especially when he has gone from untouched to working in such a short time.
Annette also does work with blocked emotions. She "Asked" him about any emotions and got "Confused". That makes a great deal of sense. I can hardly imagine how confused Corey must be about this sudden life change. I wonder sometimes if he keeps hoping to just return to the Tehachapi mountains. Anyway, it made me more sensitive to how he might be looking at all the silly things I ask him to do.
but it didn't stop me from asking for another weird human idea. I put the driving harness on him again, this time carefully I put the crouper on as well. this will provoke kicking in some horses, but it was not an issue for Corey. I did set it looser than I will use in the end, but at least he didn't clamp his tail or try to buck.
I led him to the round pen and then sent him out to basically lunge - but with driving lines. It was only when we reversed that it became more like ground driving. For the most part he turned and stopped nicely. We had a couple moments where he got a little turned around, but the early training of following pressure paid off and he always turned himself back around.
We worked on walk and trot and lots of standing calmly. I let the far line drop down behind him and he was fine with that pressure. He was initially 'up headed' and a bit braced, but gradually he settled and started really working into the harness.
Next, I will have to add dragging stuff and also the restriction of shafts. But not at the same time - I may ask for confusing stuff but I am not actually crazy. The trick is to add each little step separately and then gradually group them together. I will also pony him off the cart while I drive another horse which will get him used to the sounds of the cart. We have a lot to do and Today basically marks the half way point! But I will continue to "make haste slowly".
Next, I will have to add dragging stuff and also the restriction of shafts. But not at the same time - I may ask for confusing stuff but I am not actually crazy. The trick is to add each little step separately and then gradually group them together. I will also pony him off the cart while I drive another horse which will get him used to the sounds of the cart. We have a lot to do and Today basically marks the half way point! But I will continue to "make haste slowly".
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