Jessie

So I went out and worked with Jessie this morning. Popped a saddle on her since she has no issues with that. Did work on some ground manners. She likes to be right on top of you so we worked on that, and stopping when I stop, backing up from halter pressure. Did that for about 15-20 minutes. Yes, her manners are THAT bad. Then I broke out the lunge line. Turns out she isn't overly fond of being lunged. She'd pin her ears, was baring her teeth, head straight up, trying to turn her butt to me with her hoof ready, the works. I just kept pushing her to do it and she finally went, but she went off crow-hopping turning her rear to me. I stopped her, made her start again, she crow hopped again. We repeated this, oh only about 15 times until she finally quit. Asked her to move out and this time she trotted off. Ok, so i would prefer a walk but I let it go, and just shook the line a little every few steps to get her to slow down. She trotted a few laps then finally walked. So, i stopped her, and we switched to the other side, and repeated the entire process again. Lunged her in all for about 25-30 minutes just trying to get a relaxed walk out of her.

Then the bridle. She has a lovely habit and trying to use you as a scratching post every chance she gets, so I'd push her head away, and try to slide the bridle on, and repeat. She finally quit and we got the bridle on. Im riding her in a copper mouth d-ring snaffle. By this time it was hot almost 95 out and I was pretty over heated.

I worked on just leading her up to the mounting block and making her stand there. She stands until you go to step on to the mounting block, but the moment you put your foot on the block she either turns her butt away or jumps forward and tries to trot a few steps. So I just kept leading her up, and standing on the block next to her. She finally stood still, let me mess with the saddle, and I leaned over her and she stood for it, so i went ahead and untacked her, hosed her down and put her up.

She is a lot more of a handful than i though before, and she has the "i want to see you make me do it." attitude that she has picked up from getting away with everything. My main goal for her right now is to lunge in a relaxed manner without arguing with everything I ask of her. Im not too concerned with getting on her right this moment but if she is cooperating with me tommorow then I will work on mounting again.

Ride In Sync