A Breakthrough

Does this photo make you feel upside down? Actually, it's the right way up, I was standing under the tree and looking straight up. We're finally starting to get fall colours here.

Today I tried a different tactic with Chickory. I have left the mares in their dry pen yesterday and today, they have a fresh bale of hay and I've been too busy to take them out to pasture. So, today I took Chickory's halter over my arm and the stall fork in the other and set about doing chores in their pen, ignoring them. When Belle and Velvet came up to me, they got attention, scritches, and sweet talk. Chickory came close and let me pet her nose a couple of times. When I was done with cleaning, I wandered over to inspect their shelter (it needs repairs), then wandered over to the fence to visit with my dogs. Meanwhile, Chickory was watching me, observing how I was loving up on the other two mares, and finally when I went over to the fence and turned my back on all the horses, she came up behind me and bunted me. Not a timid little nudge, but a good solid bunt, as if to say, "okay, I'm over it, you can catch me now!" I couldn't believe it. I calmly haltered her, then took her out for grooming, and hand grazing, and we picked a couple of apples off the tree and she got the cores. (Mnomnom!)

Relaxed and happy, and doing a taste test on her lead rope.

I hope she has put the silliness behind and we can get on with her training!