A perfect fall day

What to do on a beautiful day? Why, ride of course. The morning started with a session with Josie and Shayla working in the round pen.
 A short session with the flag, and a few other tools for sacking out and it was plain that Josie remembered her lesson on changing eyes. After that it was saddle time- she is pretty good with being saddled, doesn't seem to have any issues there at all. Remember Kai and how reactive he was to being saddled? They are all so different!

Before we really get to the riding part of Josie's training, we want her to be pretty solid in her ground work- and there's no hurry, she is still pretty young. Today it was about Josie learning the difference between cues and random movement. In this next video, she worked on teaching Josie to move her shoulder or hip over when cued, and not to invade her space with her head- which is a very Josie thing, she always sticks her nose in things. Shayla made it clear that any unwanted behaviour would earn her a disciplinary tap as compared to the clear cue to move the desired body part, which in turn was a separate feel from any random waving or movement of the stick or your body. She learned the difference between all three. And the reward of a rub made it clear when she had got it right.

The afternoon was spent riding the trails, I hauled Clancy up to ride with Shayla on her palomino mare Allie, on the airport trails. I am happy to say that Clancy is really getting with the program for standing still for mounting- one tiny little hip move today and then she remembered that, oh yeah, it's ok to stand still. But she did walk off  too much when I got on- she did have to step to rebalance herself, but walked out of that, so got to stand for a minute before we headed out. And what a lovely day for a trail ride!

Clancy goes well either in front or behind, and she was so nice and relaxed today.

The fall colours are starting to pop. This has to be the loveliest time of the year. We found a nice spot to pose for pics.

Gotta have the dogs along too!

Wearing red because it's hunting season.

Once we got off the trails we took a tour through the neighbourhood on the way back.It sure is pretty out there, I'd love to have a place tucked away in a corner there!