Training and teaching

First off, this colt now has a barn name.

Rascal.

For Lytha:

I started his halter training yesterday, as I need to be able to lead him and his mama out of the pen for some hand grazing. I had to put Belle and him into the stall to confine him so I could get the halter on, and I tied Belle so she would stand still while I worked with getting the colt to face me or at least let me approach him from the side.... but no, he wanted to turn his butt to me and kick. So he got spanked with the halter and lead rope which I had in my hand- just a quick twack across his butt in the same manner a mare would bite him if he did that to her. He tried one more time, with the same reaction from me, and then he decided that it was better not to try to kick me. I haltered him, and then spent about 5 minutes rubbing him all over his body, not forcing myself on him but working with where he would accept rubbing and if he was ticklish I'd retreat and then rub again a little further until he tolerated it everywhere. The only spot he was worried about was on the spot where he felt me twack him, but it only took a few seconds to get him over that. Petting was much preferrable!

After that, I led Belle and Rascal out of the pen. Well, I led Belle out of the pen and Rascal followed. Then I took the slack out of the rope, and stood there. He pulled, I stood, not pulling on him, just holding my position while he flopped around like a fish on a line. He ended up throwing himself about 6 times before he figured out that it wasn't working to pull against me. Every time he stopped and faced me, he got his face petted and a  "good boy". We stood there while he thought about it, on a loose lead, and then I slowly took up the slack again and asked for a step forward and to the side. He gave me a tiny step. And got a big reward of petting and praise. Three times, then we called it a day.

This morning, Belle saw me coming in to the pen with the foal halter, and headed straight for the stall. (Smart mama!) I caught Rascal, petted him all over again, picked up all 4 feet, and opened the gate and let mama out. He followed, and I went with him. When mama stopped, and he did too, I asked gently for one step... and he did! In fact, he didn't fight me at all. Smart Rascal!

"I got this"

He got lots of praise today! I was able to get some video.

He really is a rascal though. So full of himself! Like a typical colt he has to try to impress the other horses, and he is pretty rough with his mama. But she is just smitten with him!

I sure wouldn't want to try to halter train this one at weaning time.  I had Coulee and Mesa out hand grazing yesterday, and Mesa leads like an old broke horse. 😍 Love her!

NG was helping me with chores yesterday, so she got to have a lesson on Beamer. I asked if she wanted a saddle or bareback and she chose bareback, which makes me happy because it helps to teach them balance and helps them to be able to feel the movement of the horse better.

We went to the round pen, and I had her do reaches upward and outward first with one arm and then with both and I longed Beamer at a walk. I had my mecarte bridle on him, and then I taught her how to handle the reins while I directed Beamer with the get-down shank. She caught on quickly, so I let her go on her own.

She did really well. I got to thinking, and I have three 10 yr old girls to teach riding to this summer..... Beamer will get a workout! Rosalee too, but she isn't quite ready to turn loose with children yet.

 I did ride Beamer a bit too, so that I could demonstrate some of the rein handling points and how little it takes to get a response from Beamer. I think teaching children is more important to me than my own riding. I just wish I had a couple of tried and true kids horses so we could all go trail riding or at least go to an arena and teach them some of the games. But this is a good start for them, and it will be up to their parents if they wish their children to progress in the sport. I feel that's it's my job to introduce them to riding with a focus on safety, harmony, and partnership.

 Day 25