Didn't get a chance to post over the weekend, but I was at the barn on Saturday and didn't ride. I had to go late, so I took the dogs, helped feed, and the dogs played with Margaux's dogs while we worked with the horses. All of the horses, except mine, ran up to the gate for their food. So, I stood there. I called him and waved his grain bag in the air. And called him again. After a minute or so of this, he walked across the pasture to me. Hell, I know it was for the food, but still! It was progress! Margaux had me cracking up - she said Daniel must have been thinking, "Hey! Give the grain bag to the little one!! She walks it over to me!! She brings me my food!" I'm not there that often to feed, but I'm going to make him come to me if he wants to eat.
Sunday was a GREAT day! I met Carol at the barn, and we took Daniel and Cayuga for a trail ride. I was trying to put Daniel's pelham back on his bridle, so I'd have more brakes out on the trail, but I had problems with it. So, I left the snaffle on. He's been awful with the snaffle outdoors, and I've been working with him because I'd rather ride with just a snaffle instead of a curb.
He was being bratty when I tried to mount up - there were cars parked all over in the area where we mount up, plus there were leaf blowers running all over the place, so he was dancing all over the place. I ended up getting on him from the wagons by the outdoor.
We set off across the field by the outdoor, then up Mark and Ann's driveway to the neighboring field. We trotted the field, and circled back along the field. Carol asked if I wanted to go back the same way, or cut through the trails, and we opted to go to the trails. As we walked along behind Mark and Ann's, the horses there galloped, snorted and charged the fence. Daniel and Cayuga were both really well behaved!!! And my boy only had a snaffle!!
He crossed the creek off the trails (which were pretty steep in places), and crossed the creek again at the base of the geldings' field. We walked back up to the barn. All in a snaffle! Yay Daniel!!
He was SOAKED and luckily, it was 70 degrees, so I hosed him off, scraped him, and trimmed his hooves while he dried. We waited for Robin and her some Jacob to come for a visit. Jake is 3 and visits a horse in their neighborhood. He got a kick out of a tour of the farm, the barn, and petting Daniel. We went to take Daniel back out to the field, and the boys put on a show for him - running, bucking, snorting and stomping. They mugged for carrots at the fence too. Donnie bit Daniel in the rear and he even tried to do a little buck, too!
This week, I'm so swamped with work and school that I won't be back out to the barn until Saturday morning. I'm bummed!!! I wish I were able to get there a couple nights this week!
Saturday isn't coming fast enough!!!!
