Working Chickory, continued

It just so happened that I ran into my friend this morning, and she came over to help me with Chickory. I decided to get her to longe me on Chicky. Saddled up, and got to looking at the fit of the bosal I've been using. It doesn't fit her on her cheeks, right over where her teeth are; it's too tight there. So I guess I'll have to go back to working her in a snaffle. So today, we just used the rope halter. I looped the leadrope around like reins, and attached a longe line to the halter. We longed her first, and there were some distractions that got her a little jazzed up, so worked her long enough to know she was settled and listening. Then I stepped on up, telling myself that if she jumped around I was NOT going to snatch her head with the rein- and she was good. We got her trotting well both ways, to the point where the directions were coming from me on her back instead of the person on the ground, and some nice stops and back-ups, and called it a day. Good Chickory! Tomorrow, my friend will come over in the evening and we'll go again, but this time, after working on the line, I'll have her unsnap it and go solo. I may do some ground work in the snaffle tonight when it cools off some so that I can use the snaffle tomorrow without surprising her.
Since Chickory had worked up a sweat, she got hosed off, and when I turned her out I made sure to let her go in a grassy area instead of near their favorite dust bath area, because, sure enough.... she just had to roll....

I think Chickory is enjoying her new status as a saddle horse, because she has switched her allegiance from Belle to Gussie.

BFF!