Mr. Kai goes to school

With the round pen up, it was the first day of getting serious about working Kai. I assume he knows nothing, even though he is 4 years old, so I start with the basics. I've already done some ground work with yeilding the face, hip and shoulder in hand, and a little bit of longeing on a short line. Today I started with longeing the full circle of the pen. It was hot and muggy, so I waited until the afternoon so we had at least partial shade.

He sure looks different from when I brought him home 4 months ago. The next step was sacking him out with the saddle pad. Yeah, those horse-eatin' saddle pads.....

Actually, it took a few minutes to get him to let me do that. He tends to object to everything, like a little kid whose automatic reply to being asked to do something is "No!" but he can't buffalo me, so I just keep it up until he just lets me do what I want- he has figured it out than I won't hurt or scare him, so all this weird stuff must be okay.

Once he had that all figured out, I approached with the saddle. I introduced it to him, knowing full well that he has worn the saddle before- once with me and at least once or more with his previous owners.

He was pretty sure that he didn't want to wear the saddle, and my first attempt, he stepped forward just as I was swinging it up, and it landed on his hip... and then on the ground... sigh....
So I decided it was easier for me to swing it up from the right side, less stuff to fling over him. By golly he was ok with that and I got 'er done!

Doesn't look overly pleased, does he?

I checked him out a bit once I had the cinches done up. He just stood there, pouting.

 I longed him again walk  then trot, no trouble, so a little lope, again no trouble. The cinch was a little loose by then so he kind of bowed his neck when it moved too high on his withers, but he had no buck in him. Good boy Kai!

Since there were no issues there, it was time to bridle him. I had been using the bosal for lateral flexion , but I like to start with the snaffle once I start saddling. I may go back to the bosal later on.
I think this was something new for him judging from how much he mouthed the bit.

I played with him a bit more, sending him out on the short line wearing the bridle, and then just dropped the lead rope and took a few photos. He was quite happy to just stand there.

 Tomorrow I'll do more of the same but I will also start teaching him to give to the rein laterally, and will add a few poles to the outer longeing circle. Make him use his brain a little! I'll introduce ropes and some more obstacles like tarps to walk across etc. as the week goes on. I'm in no hurry!