Clinic; Monday, Day 4

Our last day.... We reviewed, got on, did serpentines and one rein stops. Doxee decided that some saddles over by the fence were horse eatin' monsters, and did the whirlaway trick that had unseated me that first time I rode her- not this time though, I had more tools in my toolbox and was ready for her! Buck did get after me for continuing to work her in the spot where she was fearful, which kind of surprised me because I was always taught to have the horse face their fears. I was working her a little farther away from the saddles, but still in her fear zone, and he had me take her right out of there and get to where I had some control over her feet and her mind. I was thankful for that, because it got Doxee back to trusting that I wasn't going to get her in trouble. I thanked Buck for helping me with that.
He also showed us a method for teaching young horses to back from the ground. Most people were geared up with a snaffle and mecate reins. Holding the slobber strap, gently tug rearwards, if the horse doesn't respond, plan B is to bump the side of the face with the ring of the snaffle, then as he steps back go back to just the gentle tug on the strap. You can also hold the strap and walk forwards.  Can also teach the horse to back in an arc doing this.
The afternoon class we watched the first hour and a half, then we had to hit the road to make the border crossing.
There were a couple of things discussed; 4 ways to move the hind quarters: 1. Bend the neck, move the hip over with a leg. 2. Stay soft, straight and centered take a soft feel, move the hip with your leg.3. Use just your leg, no hands. 4. Use just your hands, no leg.
Someone asked about the transition to the hackamore. These are the things Buck said he wants a snaffle bit horse to accomplish before moving on to a hackamore: 1. Walk, trot, or lope either on a loose rein or collected. 2. Upward transitions with a soft feel. 3. Lope small circles. 4. Move the hind quarters with all 4 methods listed above. 5. Simple lead changes. 6. Rope and work a cow. 7. Be safe enough for a kid to ride.
At one point, he brought in his bridle horse for a demo; I think the horse's name is Rebel, and he will be retiring him soon. Here are some photos- what a treat to watch this horse work.

As we left, it was over 100 degrees, and we ran into a road closure due to fire and had to detour. Fortunately we didn't have to sit still for long with a horse in the trailer, we found a detour and kept on going.
I definitely got a lot out of this clinic, and I think I'd like to audit the one coming up in High River in November; Nitro and his person will be in it so it will be a lot of fun to watch him progress.