Since I am still waiting on the hives to heal I have done a few different things with Rally. I have a lot more done on her hinds now, still have to use the rope to aid in picking up her hind feet, really saves on my back. I reward her when she rests the toe on the ground; there I can clean them and do a little with the nippers too. Yesterday and today I was able to hold the left foot up by the toe and nip the toe on it, all except the very last little bit and it wasn't worth fighting any longer for that as she started out being a little kicky and had to be Told. A side note here, Rally is very good at reading my energy and absolutely knows when she has crossed the behavior line. No need to get physical.
You can see the last little bit just past where the straw is pointing
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Looking much better so far
Once I finish nipping and can rasp to dress it up, that foot should look decent. Next up, finish that and do the right hind, tomorrow's project.
I have also got her crossing the barrels asking for her to pause once her front feet are over and then step back.
She now steps over and waits to see if I want her to go forward or back. Good girl Rally!
I have also been working on sidepassing from the ground. Her go to when she is confused or just not wanting to do what I ask is to threaten to bite. So I am aware of that and make sure if I see that building in her to make my request even more clear. And love up on her when she does it right. Today she did a couple steps each way correctly, so that was enough.
Trailer loading has become her reward- she sure has come a long way with that!
I always start each session with her feet; clean the fronts and see what they need; today I asked her to bring each foot forward and put it on the trimming stand so I could rasp the flares and round the edges, and that was a success!
Proof!
There is still a bit to clean up on her soles and frog but that can wait now until I get the hinds done. Overall I am pretty happy with her progress.
Patsy update- all back to normal. This morning they had tipped the salt tub over and spilled both blocks and the loose salt. Oy! Refilled and we shall see if they do that again. We had a rocking thunderstorm last night complete with torrential rain, big boomers right overhead and some pea sized hail. All 4 mares stood quietly in their shelter. I think having those older mares not worrying about all the ruckus is good for Patsy, she was as unfazed as they were.
6 comments:
Good work with Rally. She’s getting there. Her feet look great with what you’ve got done. I have a friend who bought a super well trained mare last year. She paid about 9k and picked her up at the North 40 parking lot (she had already test rode her at the farm location) and came straight to the equestrian park and obstacle course. That little mare did all the obstacles in saddle from moment one. See saw bridge included. But my friend said she had one issue: she didn’t like having her feet picked up. I couldn’t believe such a well-trained mare really had that issue, but it turned out to be true. I’m not sure how, or if, she overcame that with her. I’ll have to ask her next time I see her.
Good progress! Wow she loads like a champ!!! Great work Shirley!
What works with Rally is using my blue rope around her pastern, and asking with the least amount of pressure to pick up a foot. Reward the slightest shift of weight. Big reward of praise when she rests her toe on the ground. The blue rope is softer than a lariat and gives a good release. We haven't progressed to letting me hold the foot for long enough to do real work on her back feet, just incremental nips and rasps. She is pretty good with her fronts now though.
We are getting there!
You and Rally are really learning each other and she's making great strides in her education!
Impressive progress!
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