Facing fear

Not my fear- miss Delia's fear. Of cattle.
Today I took her out of the pen and did a walkabout with her, started off with an in hand session of moving her feet and body until she was nice and light and paying attention. Then over to the cows.....
I did a bit of the advance and retreat, she was blowing and snorting and dancing, jumping away and trying to leave- but I was ready for all that; I'm a big girl and she couldn't budge me when she hit the end of the slack in the lead rope.

 Every time she tried, I'd bring her back, wait til she stood still, then back her off circle around and come right back. We eventually got within 5 feet of the very curious cows, who are accustomed to my horses over the fence from them.

Once we were that close and she stood quietly for a minute and licked her lips, we left- but she was in a hurry to leave so we had to make that a schooling opportunity too; walk away 10 ft., turn and walk back; away 15 ft. turn and walk back etc.
After that we went to the hitching rail and I tried my Wade saddle on her- it seems to fit well so I'll use it on her at first until I can determine if it is truly a good fit by the sweat marks.
Back in the shelter, I tried to trim her other front foot- it was a bit of a struggle because THE COWS WERE WATCHING!!!!!  She kept trying to turn into me, only there always seemed to be an elbow or a rasp handle in the way... funny how that works....  I did have to move her out and let her know that I could still control her feet by moving them and finally did get a rudimentary trim done- backed the heels and brought the toe back but until I have someone here to hold her that will have to do.

So what this session has determined is that until I have her full attention on the ground, and she trusts me to keep her safe even around those aliens from outer space cows and stops trying to push through me, riding will be put on hold. You ride the horse you lead, and without respect on the ground you darn sure won't have it in the saddle. The Buck Brannaman clinic is going to be really good for me and her. Since she has led such a sheltered life, it will be good to take her to the indoor arena and let her have a look around there, with some work in the round pen.